Ear Surgery

The Science Behind Bilateral Ears: Is There A Treatment For Treacher Collins Syndrome?

The Science Behind Bilateral Ears: Is There a Treatment for Treacher Collins Syndrome?

Bilateral ears mean that an organism, including humans, has two ears, one on each side of its head. This positioning of the ears is crucial for understanding the concept of binaural hearing – the ability to isolate and differentiate between various sounds. The human hearing system is exquisitely complex, with an intricate structure and many subtle processes.

Ears help us not only in hearing but also play a considerable role in maintaining balance. Our ears comprise three sections: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Each section plays a significant role in the hearing process. The outer ear captures sound waves, the middle ear translates the sound waves into vibrations, and the inner ear converts these vibrations into nerve impulses, that travel to the brain via auditory nerves.

Having bilateral ears allows us to perceive the 360-degree aspect of sound. It facilitates the localization of sound sources in our environment. Humans can tell if a sound is coming from the left or right, above or below, and even behind based on which ear captures the signal first and the intensity of that sound signal. This ability, known as spatial hearing, helps us navigate our environments safely and efficiently.

Just as with any biological system, the auditory system can sometimes be affected by congenital or genetic disorders. One of these conditions, which particularly impacts the structure and function of the ‘bilateral ears,’ is Treacher Collins Syndrome (TCS). This is a rare genetic disorder characterized by deformities of the ears, eyes, cheekbones, and chin. Individuals impacted by TCS often have underdeveloped or missing ear structures, leading to hearing loss.

Is there a treatment for Treacher Collins Syndrome? Treatment for TCS primarily focuses on managing symptoms and improving quality of life. Currently, there isn’t a ‘cure’ in the typical sense, as the condition is genetic. However, various surgical procedures can be performed to reconstruct facial and ear structures, improve breathing and feeding capability, and address hearing issues. According to the severity of the condition and the patient’s age, different surgical interventions – including hearing aids, bone-conduction hearing devices, or cochlear implants could be recommended by the doctor. Genetics counseling may also be suggested for affected individuals and their families.

Scientific progress in gene therapy might open up new treatment avenues for conditions like TCS in the future. Gene therapy aims to fix or replace the faulty gene responsible for the disorder. However, we should express caution that this is a novel field, and we still have a long way to go before such therapies become clinically practical and globally accessible.

Understanding the importance of ‘bilateral ears,’ the fascinating mechanism of binaural hearing, and the role it plays in our day-to-day lives emphasizes how any abnormalities or conditions, such as TCS, can affect an individual’s quality of life. It further reiterates the importance of continued scientific research in understanding such conditions and working towards more effective treatments.

Puppies For Sale

Puppy Dog Sales: Find The Perfect Companion For Your Family

The Joy of Puppy Dog Sales: Finding the Right Furry Friend

Getting a new puppy is an exciting time for any family. It’s not just about bringing a new member into the home, it’s about making a lifelong commitment to a furry friend who will provide countless moments of joy and happiness. This article will serve as a guide to help you navigate the world of puppy dog sales so you can find the perfect companion for you.

The market for puppy dog sales is diverse. There are various breeds, sizes, and temperaments of dogs to choose from. Some people prefer large, energetic breeds like Labrador Retrievers or German Shepherds, while others may lean towards smaller, more docile breeds like a Maltese or Poodle. It all depends on your personal preferences and lifestyle.

But before you dive into the world of puppy dog sales, it’s important to keep a few central principles in mind. Firstly, always prioritise respected breeders or animal shelters. These places generally provide the most ethical and secure means of finding your new furry friend. Secondly, make sure you are ready for the commitment that comes with owning a pet. They require time, patience, and plenty of love. Lastly, keep in mind the financial costs. Dogs need feeding, grooming, vet check-ups and sometimes they get sick and need further medical attention.

One popular breed of interest is the Cavoodle. This breed is known for its friendly, intelligent, and dependable nature. Not to mention their adorable, soft faces that make it almost impossible not to fall in love with them. They are small dogs, making them perfect for owners living in both houses and apartments.

Cavoodles are a cross breed of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Poodles, hence their name. They encompass the best attributes of both breeds, boasting the friendly, companionable nature of the Cavalier King Charles and the low-shedding, hypo-allergenic coat of the Poodle.

Cavoodle for sale Sydney sees a surge in searches during the spring season. It seems that the warmer weather inspires people to welcome a new, energetic soul into their lives. There are several reputable breeders in Sydney that specialise in Cavoodles. They are known for their particularly high standards of health and temperament in their puppies. If you’re on the fence about taking the plunge and getting a cavoodle of your own, these breeders often welcome visitors or inquiries to learn more about their available puppies.

Purchasing a Cavoodle from a reputable breeder in Sydney also has its benefits such as health guarantees, pet-owner support, and most importantly a well-bred, healthy, and happy puppy. Remember that bringing a puppy into your home is a serious commitment, but if it is a commitment you are ready to make, a Cavoodle might be the perfect addition to your family.

In conclusion, the world of puppy dog sales can be daunting, but also exhilarating. It’s a journey of exploration, discovery, and ultimately intense joy when you find that perfect puppy to bring home. Whether it’s a dynamic and loyal German Shepherd, a regal and gentle Maltese or a sweet, loving Cavoodle, there’s a breed out there that will fit perfectly into your home and heart.

Cash Management

Used Cooking Oil The Unlikely Black Gold

Do you use outdoor containers for your used cooking oil storage? If so, you could be losing hundreds of dollars each year – without even realizing it. You may not think that container of rancid oil is worth much, but to the right recycling company, it can be worth a considerable amount. Due to this, cooking oil theft has actually become a multi-million dollar black market commodity.

The reason for this is simple – recycling oil pays. While cosmetic and livestock feed companies have paid a small amount for used oil for years, the real reason for the upswing in theft is its use in manufacturing biodiesel. It is estimated that cooking oil theft, which costs the industry over $39 billion every year, has more than doubled since 2012. The problem is, many restaurant owners have found that law enforcement really doesn’t take the theft seriously.

Thieves target outdoor used cooking oil storage containers frequently, and you have probably been a victim without even realizing it. The oil snatchers have their own pumping equipment, and they often show up after business hours, when they are likely to have the most uninterrupted time to get the job done.

Therefore, the next question is, why is dirty cooking oil worth a thief’s time? The reason is, there are many companies that pay up to $.32 per pound or more for used cooking oil, and this is why the thefts have become such a problem. Recycling companies that use the oil for biodiesel are more than willing to pay those that bring the oil to them. However, they have no way of knowing if the oil is stolen, or simply from a smaller business that doesn’t need a massive truck coming in to haul it away.

So what does all this mean for those who have outdoor cooking oil storage containers? Well, you basically have three choices. You can start trying to put locks on the containers, ignore the problem altogether, or you also have the option of investing in a storage system that is kept inside the restaurant. For the most part, this is likely the better option. The thieves have been known to break or cut locks quite efficiently, and ignoring the problem means you have no qualms about losing money – and we all know that isn’t true.

While it may be just dirty cooking oil to many, it has become unlikely black gold for thieves – and something you should be worried about protecting.

Facial Plastic Surgery

Can’t Sell House In Shropshire

Submitted by: Andy Urly

There are many different reasons why people try and sell their home. It could be that you are in financial difficulty, want to move up the property ladder, are relocating due to work or lifestyle, are separating from or divorcing your partner or it could be that you simply want a new home for you and your family. However, it s not as easy as putting your home on the market and waiting for a buyer to come along. Many people find that they can t sell their home, especially in today s property market as lending is much more difficult to achieve. If you are unable to sell your home there could be a number of reasons for this.

Selling a home is now much trickier than it was a few years ago, especially if you want to sell your home fast. The property market isn t as buoyant as it previously has been in recent years, and there are less buyers out there. Banks and building societies have a much stricter lending criteria following the economic crisis in 2009, and so there are less first time buyers out there setting off property chains. This has had a severe effect and so people are struggling to get a quick sale.

However, don t be disheartened. Even if the property market is facing tough times, homes that are well presented and realistically priced are still selling. The market isn t dead and it s just a case of making the most of your property and choosing a good agent to sell your property for you.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3JbCKnGH2c[/youtube]

If you have been on the market for some time, make sure that you listen to feedback from people who have been to your home for a viewing. Although you can t do much about the location or size of the property, you can change other aspects such as the d cor, price and sale conditions. If your home is not priced realistically, then this will delay the sale considerably. If it s priced out of the market you won t get people through the door and if it s too low then people will think there is something wrong with it. Take advice from an experienced agent and make sure you do your research to see what price other similar properties are selling for.

Make sure that the property is presented properly and that you spend some money on repairs and redecoration if required. Often people don t want to have to spend money on a home they have just bought. Also ensure it is clutter free, clean, tidy and welcoming. Make sure you use lighting and mirrors to create a sense of space and help viewers envisage their belongings in the home. Use neutral colours, plants and rugs to make the home attractive.

Find a really good estate agent. Do your research, get recommendations and make sure that they are friendly, trustworthy, passionate and knowledgeable. If you are unhappy with their service make sure you talk to them about it and check the contract so that you aren t tied in for more than a few months at a time. Make sure you are paying a reasonable fee and that they are going to use the Internet, newspapers and advertising boards to market your home effectively.

Finally, you could consider selling your home privately to a specialist company that buys homes fast for a good price. This way you could sell your house fast without the hassle of dealing with estate agents, legal fees and estate agent fees. You will often sell your home quicker this way, but make sure you find a reliable and legitimate company, one who could provide you with repossession help should be be needed. Fourth, you need the best agent you can find. The agent needs to be honest, friendly, trustworthy, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. A bad agent who is not interested in selling your home won t do you justice so it s a good idea to first pose as a buyer and see which agent seems the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

If you follow these tips you should be able to sell your home in no time, even in a competitive market.

About the Author: If you d like to find out more information about budgeting, repossession help in Telford or thinking of selling your house fast Shropshire, contact us now on jacky@blackcountryhomebuyers.co.uk or visit us at

blackcountryhomebuyers.co.uk/

.

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Iraqi based war video game pulled by publisher

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The game publisher Konami stated today in a Japanese newspaper that they will not be releasing the game Six Days in Fallujah. The game is based on the Second Battle of Fallujah, a vicious battle between American and Iraqi forces.

“After seeing the reaction to the video game in the United States and hearing opinions sent through phone calls and e-mail, we decided several days ago not to sell it,” Tokyo based Konami told the newspaper. “We had intended to convey the reality of the battles to players so that they could feel what it was like to be there.”

The developer of the game, Atomic Games, received controversial feedback from families of dead soldiers stating the game’s concept as “exploitative and distasteful”, as paraphrased by the The Wall Street Journal.

That paper also quoted a woman whose son had died in the Iraq war, who said “These people who aren’t affected by the war get to sit on their couch and play this ‘fun’ game.”

Video game developer Atomic Games has not yet stated a reaction to Konami’s announcement.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Iraqi_based_war_video_game_pulled_by_publisher&oldid=4513619”

Spreading floods in Pakistan worsen, at least 1600 dead

Friday, August 6, 2010

Since last reported, the flooding in Pakistan has spread and has now struck more than four million people. The UN reports it has left at least 1,600 people dead. The floods have been confirmed as the worst in eighty years.

Heavy monsoon rains led to the flooding of the huge Indus River, destroying homes in the north of the country and causing a large amount of damage in the north-west frontier province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Manuel Bessler of the United Nations said: “What we are facing now is a major catastrophe. We are afraid it will get worse.”

Army and government forces have rushed to evacuate hundreds of thousands of people from parts of the Punjab province of Pakistan, where the disaster spread to yesterday, and from Sindh province, where the flood is expected to reach by the weekend.

The flooding is now in its second week and the situation is unlikely to improve any time soon, especially since in many parts of the country there is still torrential rain, with more forecast. In other parts of Pakistan the water has receded, but this leaves a layer of mud and slime and this covers very large areas. For those affected by the floods, disease is the biggest problem now. The insanitary conditions have already caused diarrhoea and respiratory infections. Cholera and other water-borne diseases may appear if sanitary conditions for those displaced by the calamity are not established. Medical supplies are desperately needed for doctors to keep a pandemic or epidemic of a water-borne disease from infecting the victims of the flooding.

Relief has been hardest to provide in the north-west where many bridges and roads have been washed away. Whole towns have been cut off and this makes providing aid to those areas a very difficult task.

Air force pilots have been volunteering to fly aid missions to badly hit areas, transporting medical supplies, clean water and food to where it is needed. The transport planes carry enough foodstuffs to feed one hundred families for a month. Motivation for the missions among pilots is very high, as is the tension in the transport planes as they fly at 36,000 feet over the flood-hit country. Only from the air is the full extent of the damage visible. Pilots have been flying the maximum number of hours allowed and pushing the limits of their endurance to give the victims of the flood food, water and everything they need to survive.

Many foreign governments and aid agencies are contributing to the disaster relief effort. The U.S. Army has been flying relief missions, airlifting people from areas where they are stranded. The first mission involved four U.S. Chinook helicopters landing in the tourist town of Kalam in the Swat Valley, north-west Pakistan. The resort had been cut off for more than a week, according to a reporter there. The Chinooks flew hundreds of people to safer areas lower down. A U.S. Embassy spokesperson said that 800 people had been evacuated and relief goods had been distributed.

The U.S. government pledged 10 million dollars in assistance following the first reports of the disaster. Yesterday the country promised a further 25 million dollars in aid. A spokesperson from the Embassy said: “The U.S. is making a new contribution of 25 million dollars in assistance to flood-affected populations, bringing its total commitment to date to more than 35 million dollars.” The money will go to international aid organisations and established Pakistani aid groups to provide food, health care and shelter to people displaced by the floods.

Malaysia has also decided to contribute US$1 million for relief efforts in the form of humanitarian aid. The Foreign Ministry said the aid was a manifestation of the government and the people’s concern and sympathy. “The government of Malaysia hopes the contribution will help alleviate the suffering of flood victims in Pakistan.”

In Britain, the Disasters Emergency Committee, an umbrella organisation representing 13 of the leading UK humanitarian agencies, has been coordinating relief efforts and has launched an emergency appeal for public donations to help the victims of the crisis. Charities and aid agencies have been quick to respond to the disaster, sending aid and response teams to the worst hit areas. Food, water, shelter and medical supplies have been provided but much more is needed.

Patrick Fuller of the Red Cross (the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies), who has been based in the country for a few days, described the situation on the ground as “desperate” and said the worst hit areas are “totally dependent” on outside help. He said the Red Cross movement is working with local partners to get aid packages, containing cooking tools and shelter such as tents and blankets, to 35,000 families.

The Red Cross alone has distributed 10,000 food packs and 1000 tents across the affected areas so far. However, figures for the amount of aid distributed are constantly changing as this is an ongoing relief effort.

Fuller reported that in Nowshera, which is in the north-west of the country close to the Indus River, “80% of homes have been badly damaged or destroyed, all the mud-brick houses have been washed away.

“In the most remote areas – where roads are cut off – donkeys are making eight-hour hikes to reach people.

“We are trying to move people into temporary camps – giving them timber, roofing sheets and basic shelter – but there is the added complication that many are reluctant to leave whatever homes they have left.”This has also been a problem in the south of the country in Sindh province, where the flood is expected to reach by the weekend. Evacuations have been going on to move people out of the path of the flood but many will not join the mass exodus and have chosen to brave the waters.

“Many people rely on open wells, which have been contaminated, so access to clean water is a problem. We are worried about communicable diseases, like respiratory infections, skin diseases, diarrhoea,” Mr Fuller said.

The charity have been setting up mobile medical teams to better combat disease and infection.

Though the relief effort at the moment is focused on the survival of those hit by the catastrophe, on those who “had their lives swept away in seconds”, the relief effort is expected to last a full six months.

Those who will be most affected in the long term by this disaster will be the poorest. They will have had everything washed away from them so they will have to start from scratch. Sadly, for those living in the poorest areas in the north and centre of Pakistan, the fight for survival is only just beginning and though they may feel they are enduring much at the moment, getting their lives back together after the first stages of this calamity are over is going to be even harder.

The Disasters Emergency Committee has said it has managed to give aid to 300,000 people so far. Many UK charities have been distributing food and medicine, as well as water purification tablets, cooking tools, shelter and hygiene kits. They have been using rafts, boats and donkeys. Brendan Gormley, chief executive of the DEC, said: “These devastating floods have left millions fighting to survive with little food, clean water or shelter.”

The DEC has appealed for donations from the public of the UK to help the victims of this crisis. The appeal is to allow the charities to continue relief work in the worst hit areas of the country.

Following a television appeal by the DEC, £2.5 million was raised and this has enabled the 13 charities the committee represents to reach 300,000 people with emergency supplies.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Spreading_floods_in_Pakistan_worsen,_at_least_1600_dead&oldid=1218762”
Sports

How To Use Horse Chestnut To Cure Hemorrhoids Naturally

By Bello Gbenga

Horse chestnut, which is also known as Aesculus hippocastanum or Venastat, is an herb that strengthens and increases the tone of the walls of the veins of the body, it also reduces swelling in the legs.

Although this herb is very popular in Europe, it is yet to be officially approved for use by the FDA in the USA, however not withstanding this fact, many hemorrhoid sufferers that have used this drug have found it to be very useful in relieving their symptoms.

European studies on horse chestnut found that it increased blood flow in veins and strengthened connective tissue. Aescin, which is the major ingredient of horse chestnut helps to strengthens venal walls, reduce inflammation, and improve blood circulation.

How can you use horse chestnut?

– It can be taken orally in capsular forms of 50- 300 mg twice daily or 600 mg of chestnut extract daily.

– It can be applied as horse chestnut cream topically to the hemorrhoid swelling.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljPFZrRD3J8[/youtube]

You should never consume or use the raw nut form of horse chestnut, it is very poisonous. The most common form is horse chestnut seed extract standardized at 16-20% aescin.

What are the precautions you must take when you are using this herb?

1 – You should not consume the raw forms of horse chestnuts. The seeds, flowers, leaves, and bark contain a poisonous ingredient called esculin. This highly toxic form of horse chestnuts can lead to poisoning and death.

These are the symptoms of horse chestnut poisoning that you must watch out for: vomiting, diarrhea, headache, paralysis, coma, confusion and coordination problems, muscle twitching.

2 – This herb should not be taken with drugs that increase the risk of bleeding, for example, aspirin ibuprofen, and other blood thinners as the raw horse chestnut further increases the risk of excessive bleeding.

3 – Do not give this herb to children under the age of 18 years, some children have died after eating raw horse chestnut seeds or tea made from horse chestnut leaves and twigs.

4 – Do not give the herb to pregnant women, do not give the herb to women with a history of infertility.

5 – Do not use the herb when you are breast feeding.

6 – Horse chestnut has also been associated with liver and kidney toxicity. If you suffer from any kind of blood disorder, or are prone to bleeding, don’t take this herb without the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.

7 – If you suffer from diabetes, hypoglycemia, or other low-blood-sugar related conditions, don’t take horse chestnut without the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider

8 – When properly processed, horse chestnut seed extract contains little or no esculin. Only take high-quality, or a standardized grade, horse chestnut seed extract purchased from a reputable health supplements supplier. Then, read the directions on the label and follow them. Don’t exceed the recommended dosage.

Because of the many precautions and the potential side effects associated with taking horse chestnut seed extract, it is highly advisable that you discuss with your healthcare provider before you use it. Even the properly processed and standardized extract can result in side effects, such as itching or nausea, it can also cause allergic reactions characterized by dizziness, difficulty in breathing, itchy rash, or swelling.

Although the use of horse chestnut is very good natural piles remedy, it should be used the right way to prevent further worsening of the condition of the sufferer.

So are there other safer and effective natural cures for piles?

About the Author: Yes there are, and you are invited to

hemroidsolution.blogspot.com

to discover safer and more effective natural hemorrhoid remedies. Finally

click here

to download a free book on natural hemorrhoid cures.

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Denny’s Super Bowl free ‘Grand Slam Breakfast’ brings 2 million diners

Friday, February 6, 2009

Denny’s 1,600 chain restaurants across North America, Puerto Rico and Canada, were slammed for eight hours Tuesday with hungry patrons standing on sidewalks for nearly two hours to take advantage of the $5.99 “Grand Slam Breakfast” giveaway.

Denny’s, a dining chain with annual revenue of about $900 million, has advertised in a TV commercial Sunday during the Super Bowl XLIII that it would give away its signature breakfast from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. local time Tuesday, at all its restaurants in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, while supplies lasted.

Denny’s Diner has promoted the iconic dish giveaway heavily, with a bold 30-second appeal ad that aired during the third quarter of the Super Bowl 43 on Sunday, plus another 15-second ad during the post-game show, offering a free breakfast to some 90 million viewers. In addition, it has placed a full-page ad in USA Today‘s Monday edition. The promotion was further announced on The Today Show and notices were also sent out to the chain’s “Denny’s Breakfast Club” members.

The NBC ad, which was bought to unveil a new promotion for customers squeezed by the recession, may have cost as much as $3 million, said Nelson Marchioli, CEO of Denny’s Corp. Super Bowl XLIII’s 30-second commercial time slot costs $2.4 million–$3 million for the airtime alone, excluding production and talent costs.

The game was televised live by the US NBC Sunday Night Football and Canada’s CTV Television Network. BayTSP has reported that, “as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, commercials that initially aired during NBC’s Super Bowl XLIII broadcast subsequently had been watched online more than 28 million times.”

“The promotion has a total cost of $5 million U.S., which includes $3 million for the commercial on NBC,” said a Denny’s spokesman, noting also that the company received about $50 million in news coverage, most of which was positive. According to a Denny’s representative, two million people walked through the restaurant chains’ doors Tuesday, and each Denny’s restaurant served an average of 130 Grand Slams per hour.

With the “Denny’s Feeds America” promotion, the company has reported 14 million hits on its Web site between Sunday night and Monday morning. Denny’s shares rose 6 cents, or 3.1 percent, to $1.98 in afternoon trading. The stock has traded in a range of $1.18 to $4.10 over the past 52 weeks.

“Denny’s free Grand Slam” has ranked in the top 10 Google searches early Tuesday and fell to No. 18 by the end of the promotion, while “denny s locations” was #9 on Google Trends, which tracks fast-rising searches. It has also held spots No. 1 (Denny’s) and 7 (Grand Slam) on Twitter‘s trending topics. It has generated much chat on Twitter, garnering 1,700 tweets on Tuesday, compared with its average of 59. Doritos, winner of the USA TODAY survey for best Super Bowl spot ad, had 933 mentions after reaching a peak of almost 3,300.

The idea of the TV ad was to get people to come in and re-evaluate Denny’s Diner. “A lot of people have forgotten what Denny’s is, or they think they know, while we’ve come out with a whole lot of new products. We felt like we needed to jump start the brand,” Denny’s Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer Mark Chmiel said.

“We’re celebrating the Grand Slam this year,” Chmiel said. According to the company’s financial data, on January 15 Denny’s reported systemwide comparable-store sales for the fourth quarter were down 6.1 percent, compared to a 0.2 percent decline from the same period in 2007.

According to Robert Gonzalez, public relations company Hill & Knowlton spokesman, Denny’s has expected at least 2 million people to eat a free Grand Slam by the end of the promotion. “Every restaurant is packed with people and lines,” Gonzalez said. “Everything today is about fast. People are on the go, and they’re eating fast food. It’s cutting into sit-down dining,” he added.

“Each of the more than 1,500 Denny’s were planning to make about 100 Grand Slams an hour,” Denny’s spokeswoman Cori Rice said. It had predicted it will have served about 1,400 people per location, more than five times the normal volume. “Grand Slam Breakfast” is a four-item option on its menu, consisting of two pancakes, two eggs, two strips of bacon and two sausage links. It weighs in at 44 grams of fat, 56 carbohydrates and 770 calories.

Nationwide, Denny’s expected to sell about 2 million Grand Slams — about 15 percent of the annual tally. According to Mark Chmiel, chief marketing operator and executive vice president, the diner chain has reported approximately 2 million meals worth more than $12 million were given away nationwide and each Denny’s restaurant served an average of 130 Grand Slams per hour. It estimated it has earned about $50 million worth of public relations following the free Grand Slam campaign, Chmiel said.

The company is also experimenting with a Grand Slam Burrito and also has introduced for this year, a Grand Slamwich, which includes eggs, bacon, sausage and cheese between two slices of bread, with a teaspoon serving. “It already has shown strong consumer appeal,” said Chmiel. The company has received flood of e-mails and letters proving the positive impact of the Grand Slam campaign and commercials on its customers.

Chmiel also announced he’s planning a third major promotion in this year’s third quarter, which happens to include another major sporting event, the World Series. “That’s one we’re definitely looking at,” he said.

Jobless Paris Winslow of downtown San Francisco, California has joined the long line which stretched from the front door on Mission Street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, to the corner of Fourth and up the block. “The economy is getting kind of scary. This line looks like those pictures of soup kitchen lines during the 1929 Great Depression,” Winslow said.

“I came all the way from San Francisco for a free $6 meal, Isn’t that pathetic? A year ago, I never would have done this. These days I’m willing to put my ego on the back burner,” said Stephen Weller, a jobless contractor who waited with his dog, Emmett. California Denny’s restaurant managers have issued rain checks (for free chilled meals, as security backed by actual bacon) to anyone who failed to get in by the 2 p.m. deadline.

A big eater could also “Slam It Up” by adding any two additional items for 99 cents each to their meal. Customers on Tuesday were also handed “bounceback” coupon books that include offers for additional free menu items with purchases. Chicago Tribune reporter Kevin Pang has eaten five free Grand Slams on Tuesday at five different Denny’s Diners in four hours. He claims to have consumed 4,100 calories at Harwood Heights, 5:36 a.m, at Schiller Park, 6:22 a.m., at Franklin Park, 7:08 a.m., at Melrose Park, 7:41 a.m. and at Grand Slam No. 5 Oak Park, 8:57 a.m.

“The Grand Slam has always been a Denny’s favorite. This free offer is our way of reacquainting America with Denny’s real breakfast and with the Denny’s brand,” Denny’s CEO Nelson Marchioli said in a statement. In 1977s, the Grand Slam started as a baseball-related promotion in Atlanta, Georgia. Its normal price averages around $5.99. Marchioli said the event was also a way to kick-off its “Year of the Grand Slam” promotion. Denny’s claimed it has sold 12.5 million Grand Slams a year.

“The economy’s tough and people are jumping all the way to fast food to try to figure it out. We all use fast food, whether it’s for time or convenience or for money. But you can go to Denny’s and you don’t have to give up a real breakfast and that was the whole focus of our commercial,” Marchioli explained. McDonald’s (MCD, Fortune 500) has done well during this economic meltdown since the global recession pushes people toward less expensive dining options.

McDonald’s has announced plans Wednesday to open 175 new restaurants in China this year despite the global economic crisis, thereby increasing the number of outlets in China by 17 percent, from 1,050 currently. Last month, McDonald’s 2008 net profit has risen 80 percent from 2007 to 4.3 billion dollars.

Marchioli has also introduced Denny’s $4 Weekday Express Slam, which is a streamlined version of the Grand Slam. “I want to take back share. For too long, we have allowed others to take share, whether it was Starbucks or McDonald’s. They’re fine competitors and I don’t expect to take all their business from them, but I’d like a little bit back,” Marchioli noted.

According to Rafi Mohammed, author of “The Art of Pricing,” people love free. “It triggers a Pavlovian response in people,” said Mohammed. If Pavlov’s dogs salivate when a bell rings, Denny’s free Grand Slam breakfast has attracted 2 million hungry customers. “I believe free maximizes trial and doesn’t devalue a product as long as it is a rare event. Aside from the cost, the major downside is that it attracts customers who truly have no intention of coming back,” he added.

According to University of Portland consumer psychology professor Deana Julka, people flock to free promotions amid just a few dollars saving because there’s nothing in life for free. “So when there’s something out there that costs nothing, it creates a psychological rush. Especially in these times when people feel overtaxed or overburden, there’s an internal reward people feel by getting something for free,” she said. “It’s being thrifty and feeling like you beat the system. Free really hits the spot for a lot of people,” Julka added.

“Free is an emotional hot button. When free is concerned, there is no downside – or, at least, we don’t see the downside immediately. So we overvalue everything that is free. People love free stuff, particularly when money’s tight,” said Dan Ariely, a business professor at Duke University, author of “Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions.”

Experts, however, explained these moves need to be done sparingly, since giveaways can teeter in the balance between desperation and a well designed marketing ploy. “Giving your product away for free is not worth it because it undermines your brand value,” said branding expert Rob Frankel, saying people are attached to the idea of it being free, than the actual product itself.

Free giveaways are not anything new in the food industry. “It just feels good when you can get something for free and not have to worry about it coming out of your wallet,” Frankel noted. Dunkin’ Donuts and Panera Bread all have had free coffee and food promos last year. “In November, Starbucks gave away free cup of coffee to anyone who came in on Election Day. Have you taken a look at how Starbucks is doing now?” Last week it has announced it would shut down 300 stores, in addition to the 600 it already planned to close.

On February 24, IHOP will be offering a free shortstack to every customer to encourage donations (in place of the cost) for Childrens Miracle Network. The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) is a United States-based restaurant chain that specializes in breakfast foods and is owned by DineEquity. The chain had more than 1950 restaurants in all 50 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada and Mexico. Since 2006, IHOP’s National Pancake Day celebration has raised over $1.85 million. In 2008, over 1.5 million pancakes (12 miles high if they were stacked) were given to customers for donations.

Denny’s (“Denny’s Diner”) is a full-service diner/family restaurant chain in the United States. It operates over 2,500 restaurants in the United States (including Puerto Rico), Canada, Curaçao, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, and New Zealand). The resto chain is known for always being open, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert around the clock.

Today, Denny’s operates about 1,600 restaurants in all 50 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. There are also about 578 Denny’s restaurants in Japan operated under a license by a subsidiary of Seven & I Holdings, seven Denny’s locations in New Zealand, and approximately 38 Denny’s diners in the United States. Denny’s headquarters is now located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, headquarters of the parent company Trans World Corporation that acquired Denny’s in 1987.

Denny’s was historically notable for offering a free meal to anyone on their birthday. The offer included a limited number of meal options from a special birthday menu. The promotional ritual ceased in 1993, though occasionally individual franchises will continue the tradition.

In 2008, Denny’s has ceased to be in the ranks among the top diner chains in the $83 billion breakfast market, whose top five firms — McDonald’s, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Burger King and IHOP — accounted for 22 percent of the volume. “A lot of consumers have written Denny’s off their let’s-go-there list,” said Ron Paul, president of Technomic, a consulting firm.

Super Bowl XLIII was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers (15–4) and the National Football Conference champion Arizona Cardinals (12–8) to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2008 NFL season. It was played on February 1, 2009, at Raymond James Stadiumin Tampa, Florida. It has an attendance of 70,774 and 98.7 million viewers. Pittsburgh earned its sixth Super Bowl win, thus securing sole possession of the record for most Super Bowl wins.

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Total evacuation of New Orleans planned

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

A state of emergency has been enacted in New Orleans in the U.S. state of Louisiana today, after the devastating Hurricane Katrina made landfall on Monday. There were earlier erroneous reports by the news media that martial law had been imposed. Mayor Ray Nagin fears that there may be “thousands” of fatalities in his city alone.

Many hospital staff are struggling without power and supplies. As many as 2,500 patients from hospitals in Orleans Parish were to be evacuated, according to US Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, but where they could be sent was still uncertain.

Looters are roaming the city and have already ransacked the city’s upscale shopping district on Canal Street. They have been seen on news reports carrying huge bags of stolen goods. Governor Kathleen Blanco announced plans to completely shut down New Orleans and move everybody left there out of the area. A rescue helicopter was shot at, temporarily halting all rescue operations.

Former mayor Marc Morial summed up his view by saying; “We’ve lost our city, I fear it’s potentially like Pompeii.”

Two of the city’s levees on Lake Ponchartrain failed; one with a football-field size breach.Emergency workers dropped sandbags from helicopters into the levee’s breaches,but the water kept coming.

“It appears that now the bowl is beginning to fill — not rapidly but slowly,” said Walter Maestri, an emergency operations manager. New floods swept through the center of New Orleans and water now covers 80 percent of the city with broken gas lines feeding raging fires. In some locations the water is now at a depth of 20 feet (six meters).

The famous French Quarter, initially less affected by flooding, finally also succumbed.

“Get out of town if you can.” said Ed Freytag, a city worker at the temporary City Hall complex. “We’re damn close right now to that worst-case scenario,” said Dave Cohen, a local radio host.

For those that were staying in the Superdome, officials have begun moving them to the long-vacant Astrodome in Houston, Texas.

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Male Magellanic penguins pine for pairings: Wikinews interviews biologist Natasha Gownaris

Sunday, January 27, 2019

In findings published earlier this month in Ecological Applications, scientists from the University of Washington and Center for Ecosystem Sentinels examine the reason for the plummeting numbers of female Magellanic penguins, Spheniscus magellanicus, that have been reported at the birds’ breeding sites in South America over the past twenty years and more. Wikinews caught up with postdoctoral researcher and study co-author Natasha Gownaris to learn more.

In a press release, Gownaris said, “Two decades ago, there were about 1.5 adult male Magellanic penguins for every adult female at Punta Tombo[…] Today, it’s approaching three males for every female.” The findings suggested a disparity in the death rate of juvenile and adult penguins, rather than differences in chick survival, account for this difference.

Punta Tombo is one of the annual breeding sites for the species; it is in Argentina. The penguins travel thousands of miles each year to reach these sites.

The work involved building population models out of over thirty years of data collected by tagging individual penguins. Findings also suggested the pronounced sex disparity might make population models used to predict survival among other birds with a more even gender balance inappropriate for use on Megallanic penguins.

According to the data, since 1987, overall population of Magellanic penguins in Punta Tombo at one of their annual breeding sites in Argentina has declined 40%, while the male-to-female ratio has greatly increased.

Since 1983, the research team has been putting stainless steel bands on tens of thousands of chicks hatched at the Punta Tombo breeding site in Argentina, noting which juvenile and adult birds make it back to the site the next year and extrapolating how many lived and died. Among juveniles, there was a 17% survival rate for males and 12% for females. Among adults, it was 89% and 85%. These effects became compounded every year, reaching as high as six males to one female among older penguins.

The researchers noted implications for penguin conservation: Gownaris remarked, “Over the years, this team has helped preserve the land and waters around breeding colonies like Punta Tombo[…] But now we’re starting to understand that, to help Magellanic penguins, you have to protect waters where they feed in winter, which are thousands of miles north from Punta Tombo.”

Gownaris answered a series of questions for our correspondent.

((Wikinews)) What prompted your curiosity about Magellanic penguins?

Natasha Gownaris: I’ve wanted to be a marine scientist since I was a child, when I would collect sand crabs (Emerita talpoida) from local beaches in New York. I studied fish as a graduate student, but I have a pair of adopted parrots and I am generally fascinated by birds. Plus, penguins eat fish! Studying penguins seemed like a great way to merge my love for the ocean and my love for birds. Penguins and other seabirds are also important to study because they tell us something about the health of the ocean ecosystems they feed in, similar to the use of canaries to test air quality in coal mines. Unfortunately, the decline of many seabird species worldwide is yet another warning sign of the negative and widespread impacts humans are having on the ocean.

((WN)) How did you approach putting together such a large-scale study?

NG: This study started in 1982, long before my joining the lab in March of 2016. Dr. Dee Boersma began this study as a response to a Japanese company’s interest in harvesting penguins for their skin, meat, and oil. Although the project has evolved over time, Dr. Boersma had the foresight to start banding chicks in 1983 and to set up a standard protocol that we follow each year. Since then, over 44,000 chicks have been banded at Punta Tombo. We’ve been able to follow some individuals for 30+ years, collecting detailed information on things like how often they breed and how many mates they’ve had.

((WN)) How much time did you end up spending in Argentina? What was it like at the breeding site?

NG: Members of the Boersma lab and volunteers spend approximately six months each year at Punta Tombo. I was fortunate enough to spend nearly four months at the colony between 2015 and 2017. It’s an incredible, otherworldly place. Magellanic penguins nest in burrows or bushes, and some areas of the colony are so dense with burrows that you feel like you’re on a different planet. The colony has declined by over 40% since the study started…so I can’t even imagine what it was like in the 1980s. My favorite time of the day is around 8PM, when (hopefully fat) penguins are returning to the colony en masse after a foraging trip. They are also most vocal in the morning and evening, making their characteristic braying sound— the related African penguin earned the name “jackass penguin” because they sound a bit like donkeys. The colony is also full of other beautiful and interesting creatures, including a llama-like species called the guanaco and an ostrich-like species called the rhea.

I was fortunate enough to spend nearly four months at the colony between 2015 and 2017. It’s an incredible, otherworldly place.

((WN)) Do you have any theories on why more female juveniles die at sea? You mention starvation; what might be the causes of that, and are there other possible explanations you can think of?

NG: We are not yet certain why females are more likely to die, but we think it must be related to their smaller body size. Because the mortality is most uneven in juveniles, higher mortality doesn’t seem to be related to greater costs of breeding for females than for males. Female Magellanic penguins are about 17% lighter than males and have smaller bills. We think that, because of this size difference, females have a lower storage capacity, can’t dive as deep, and can’t take as wide a range of prey as males — all disadvantages when faced with limited and unpredictable food resources. These disadvantages hit juvenile females even harder, as juveniles are still learning how to forage and often travel further than adults do in the non-breeding season. Counts of carcasses in the species’ migration range support starvation as the main cause of female-biased mortality; while oiled carcasses have a sex ratio of 1:1, females outnumber males in carcasses of starved birds. The only other possibility is that females are moving to other colonies at higher rates than are males, but this species is known to almost always return to its natal colony to breed.

((WN)) You suggest conservation efforts should look at protection of feeding grounds. What sort of measures do you think might be beneficial?

NG: Because penguins migrate such long distances over the non-breeding season, a mixture of tools (including no-take marine protected areas and traditional fisheries management tools, like catch limits) is likely to be needed. Although there is currently some spatial protection surrounding the species’ breeding colony, this protection does not extend to their migratory route. And, of course, everyone can contribute to penguin conservation by reducing their plastic waste, making more sustainable food choices, and reducing their carbon footprint.

((WN)) What do you think might be causing pressure on food sources for the penguins?

NG: The two main threats to the food sources of this colony are climate change, which cause shifts in primary productivity and fish stocks, and fisheries. Fisheries compete with penguins for fish species such as hake and anchovy.

((WN)) Have you noticed differences in behavior among the penguins as the ratios become increasingly skewed?

NG: In a separate study currently under review, we have shown that aggression between males of Magellanic penguins is higher when the sex ratio at the colony is more skewed towards males. We also showed that nearly all females at the colony breed but that, over time, fewer and fewer males find mates. Single male penguins sometimes intrude [on] nests of mated pairs and interrupt the incubation of eggs or feeding of chicks, leading to mortality. In some cases, they will even attack and kill chicks.

((WN)) Your release mentioned sexing the penguins was problematic; how did you achieve it with confidence?

NG: We have some methods of sexing penguins that we feel confident about — using genetics or measures of cloaca size around egg laying, for example. However, these methods are time intensive, so we have also developed visual cues for sex penguins (bill size, behavior, forehead shape). We looked at individuals that had been sexed using both a certain method (e.g. genetics) and visual methods to calculate how often we got it right based on visual cues alone and found that we have very high accuracy. We also used statistical tools to help to deal with uncertainty in the sex of some individuals.

((WN)) How well can you extrapolate population trends at Punta Tombo based on the birds you tagged? More broadly, how well do you think this work represents global populations?

everyone can contribute to penguin conservation by reducing their plastic waste, making more sustainable food choices, and reducing their carbon footprint

NG: It is likely that females have higher mortality than males at other colonies of this species and in other penguin species. We unfortunately do not have enough information from other colonies of this species (e.g. sex ratio and population trends) for an accurate global assessment of population trends. We do know that some colonies of the species are growing but that, at the global level, the species is still in decline.

((WN)) In your opinion, for how much longer are penguin populations sustainable without intervention?

NG: This is nearly impossible to answer without more information on other colonies of the species, but the Punta Tombo colony is declining rapidly. We estimate declines of at least 43% since 1987 from our annual surveys at the colony, but it is likely that actual declines are higher because of the increasingly skewed sex ratio.

((WN)) What are your next plans moving forward with your work?

NG: We are currently studying the sex ratio in Magellanic penguin chicks (at hatching and at fledging) to determine how this influences the sex ratio in adults. There are two priorities moving forward — 1) estimating sex ratio at other colonies of this species and determining whether females are more likely to leave Punta Tombo for other colonies than are males and 2) determining the mechanisms underlying lower female survival, e.g. by studying the foraging behavior and diet of males and females and the individual characteristics (like body size) that correlate with survival.

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