text:
Major Cities
Indianapolis has long enjoyed a reputation as a major crossroads for the nation, but recently Indiana's capital has established itself as a world-class city in its own right. Downtown Indy is rich with attractions, cultural institutions, historic sites and shopping districts. One of the largest cities in the Midwest at over 800,00 residents, Indianapolis is quickly transforming into one of the nation's most thriving metropolitan centers.
Gary is situated on the shores of Lake Michigan in northwest Indiana, and has historically been known as a steel mill townin close proximity to Chicago, Illinois.
Fort Wayne, the largest city in northeastern Indiana and the state's second largest city, is an industrial and commercial center noted for the manufacture of machinery and metal goods. Evansville is situated onthe Ohio River in the southwestern corner of the state. The city serves as a regional hub for a large area that encompasses parts of Illinois and Kentucky.
Small Towns
As intersting as life in Indiana's big cities can be, the true hallmark of Indiana living is found in the small towns located all over the state. Here you'll find some of the symbols of America at its best: picturesque main streets leading to historic town squares, quiet neighborhoods lined by white picket fences and tall maple trees, high school gymnasiums filled to the rafters with basketball fans, and community events for every season.
Natural Landscape
Relatively flat farmland comprises the majority of Indiana's terrain. The state's fertile soil and nearly unbroken topography create the perfect setting for millions of acres of cropland. The southernmost portion of the state does contain rolling limestone hills and scenic river valleys.
Most think of Indiana's agricultural contributions to the nation, but manufacturing is actually the single most important activity in the state in terms of economic impact. Farmland does cover some 6.1 million acres of Indiana, and corn is the leading crop grown in most years. The state also produces significant quantities of wheat and soybeans.
The various service industries employ a sizable portion of the population, in part due to the state's role as a transportation hub. Wholesale and retail trade industries are prominent in commercial centers around the state.
Culture and Recreation
In Indianapolis, you will find the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, as well as the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is considered one of the best symphonies in the Midwest. Symphony orchestras also perform in Fort Wayne, South Bend, Terre Haute, and Evansville.
Hoosiers also have a strong affinity for sports and recreation. Outdoor activities are popular throughout the state, as are auto racing and football. No sport in Indiana surpasses basketball in popularity. High school games are major events in towns around the state. Loyalties to college teams also run deep, and at the professional level fans can root for the Indianapolis Pacers.


text:
In recent weeks, io9 has been the home of exclusive 'making of' posts for my George R. R. Martin / A Song of Ice and Fire Calendar artworks, including Eddard Stark, Bran Stark, and Sansa Stark and the Hound. This week, I'm sharing some of the process that led to my Jon Snow and Ghost artwork.
From the moment I was first commissioned to illustrate this calendar, I knew I wanted to create a Jon Snow and Ghost artwork amongst my twelve selections. I submitted several rough sketches . Here are three of them:
My depiction of Jon is too bulky here, but I thought the composition might have possibilities.
This much cruder sketch had a more animalistic, crouching stance for Jon, and while I think the composition needed work, I liked the attitude of this one.
This sketch was George's favorite. More dynamism than the other two, even though I knew my quick scrawl of Ghost was really poor. George figured I'd get Ghost right as the process moved along, and this one was approved as the selection.
Next, I asked a friend to model for me. We improvised a quick costume and used one of the official limited-edition Longclaw swords, acquired from the Valyrian Steel company. I shot a series of photographs of him, based on my approved sketch.
When I drew Jon Snow on my final Strathmore 500 board, anatomy was stretched and altered to fit the concept. At the rough sketch stage, I was still unsure how to compose Ghost, but by the final drawing, I figured out how to handle him. Here's the pencil drawing in progress, using Winsor & Newton Liquin as a wash of sorts for some of the foreground and background elements.
Values and elements define themselves by the time the full greyscale is done. Oil paints are combined with pencils to enhance certain areas.
After scanning the greyscale underpainting into Photoshop, I start building my colour layers on top. In this case, they're pretty minimal because of the wintery landscape. This is designed to be a more monochromatic counterpoint to some of the more bombastic colours of my other ASoIaF Calendar pieces. I spatter some white acrylic on a black piece of Canson, and import that into my composition, knocking out the black to create a drift of snow flakes across the composition.
At this point, George made a key suggestion. Because I was trying to do a more full-figure view of Jon, it was a tough trick to also sell the height of the Wall in the distance. So George suggested that I add some tiny scale figures and rigs at the top of it. It was a smart call on his part, and I think it helped the piece to do that.
In the end, as much as Jon Snow is one of my favorite ASoIaF characters, I think I enjoyed figuring out Ghost even more than drawing Jon. I appreciated Ghost as a character even more after I drew him, which is a strange thing, but the best art journeys always surprise you.
John Picacio is a 2012 Hugo Award finalist for Best Professional Artist. Check out his work at www.johnpicacio.com and follow him on Twitter at @JohnPicacio.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Remember the movie Hidalgo? I adore it. The excitement of the race, the bond between the man and his loyal horse, and the perils of the Arabian desert have completely captured my heart and left me dying for more (and, ok, casting Viggo in the lead didn't hurt either). Now imagine all of that, but with magical ancient curses. Even better, right?
Movies have again made me pine for books with the mix of magic and history found in The Mummy. The main character is even a librarian! A YA book series was practically meant to be.
Setting a story in actual Ancient Egypt would be great, but I also love how the Mummy movies took place in the 1920s. It's still historical, but it focuses on the unearthing of all the ancient ruins and totally satisfies my deep love of both snooping and finding treasure.
Now just give me a roguish romantic interest that I can picture looking like Brendan Fraser and I'll be pre-ordering those babies faster than you can say "Don't open that canopic jar!"
(And yes, I know this is pretty much exactly what I'm getting with the Theodosia series by R.L. LaFevers. But I want more!)
Dean Winchester isn't the only one who would jump at the chance to time travel into the old American West. The gunslingers, the showdowns, the beautiful uncharted terrirory, the unbridled masculinity--sign me up! The only thing that could possibly improve upon this formula is magic, and I, for one, think I could do with a little more Wild West Magic in my life.
I know, I know, we're totally saturated with Greek gods, but that's not what I'm looking for here. I'm thinking focusing more on the political scheming, the battles between Greece's city states and her foreign enemies...but now add in magic. NOT magic from the gods, but magic weilded by the people of Greece.
Just think of how fantasy elements could turn the awesome level of the Peloponnesian War up to 11? Still doubt me? Look at the movie 300 to see how the Battle of Thermopylae was improved with the addition of fantasty elements
(and no, I'm not referring to the presence of all those half naked men running around, though I'm certainly not complaining and I'm sure they have been the subject of many a fantasy!)
Again, I'm not looking for the intervention of deities here. Rome offers even more opportunities for magical use with all of those political murders going on. Just think of how the presence of magic expands an assassin's arsenal! And you could totally use magical powers (or the exposure of such powers) to do some dastardly scheming and blackmailing behind the scenes, too. And the battles! I'm telling you, there is massive potential here.
How about all of you? What historical fantasy settings or fantasy elements do you want authors to write about?
Ruby has some requests of her own. Check them out!
Have you entered to win our prize pack giveaways?


text:
HAMDEN, Conn. -- Three goals in the second period powered Clarkson by the Mercyhurst Lakers 5-1 in the 2014 Women's Frozen Four semifinals on Friday evening at Quinnipiac's High Point Solutions Arena.
The Golden Knights improve to 30-5-5 on the season, extending their most successful season in program history, as they will take on Minnesota on Sunday afternoon in the 2014 Women's Frozen Four national championship game. The Gophers defeated Wisconsin 5-3 earlier Friday afternoon to advance to the final.Clarkson dominated tempo early, keeping the puck in the Mercyhurst zone for much of the first five minutes of play. Pressuring the Lakers' goaltender Amanda Makela with five shots on net in the first few minutes, the Knights were kept scoreless by multiple impressive saves.
The Lakers scored first at the 8:02 mark when Jaclyn Arbour took a pass from Shelby Bram on the doorstep and beat senior goaltender Erica Howe with a wrist shot from point-blank range to give Mercyhurst the first-period lead, but that would be the only blemish for Howe on the evening.
Clarkson would go on the power-play shortly after but struggled to get a shot on net. The Lakers cleared the puck midway through the man-advantage and the Knights were unable to get on the scoreboard.
The Lakers nearly doubled their lead with 7:30 remaining in the period when a wrap-around attempt failed but the puck lingered in the crease before Howe was able to get a glove on it and cover it up. Just under two minutes later, the Lakers would lead another rush that ended in a shot off the left post that ricocheted wide of the net.
Both teams would get chances throughout the remainder of the periods but the goaltenders were up to the challenge and the score remained 1-0 in favor of the Lakers after 20 minutes of play. Clarkson outshot Mercyhurst 14-9 in the period and dominated the face-off circle, winning 9 of 12 draws.
Clarkson would tie the game exactly five minutes into the second period as senior Vanessa Gagnon found sophomore defenseman Renata Fast at the blue line. Fast fired a slap shot on net over the glove of Makela to put the Knights on the board and tie the game at one goal a side. The goal was the second of the season and fourth of her career for Fast.
Clarkson would strike again at the 9:16 mark when Patty Kazmaier Award finalist senior Jamie Lee Rattray battled for the puck behind the Mercyhurst net. After beating a Laker defender and controlling the puck she passed it in front of the net where Gagnon finished with a wrist shot by Makela to give the Knights their first lead of the evening at 2-1. The score was Gagnon's 18th on the season.
"We both went for it," Gagnon said. "Jamie Lee pretty much did all the work. She went in the corner and made sure I got the puck. I saw it at the last second and dove for it and got the goal but a lot of credit goes to Rattray who stuck with the puck in the corner there and got it off in front of the goalie. I just had to finish it."
The Knights would double their lead with 3:36 remaining in the second period as Fast again fired a shot from the blue line and junior Christine Lambert redirected the puck under the glove of Makela to give Clarkson the 3-1 lead. Senior Shelby Nisbet was credited with the assist. The goal is Lambert's eighth on the season.
The Knights would pull away from the Lakers at the 6:39 mark in the third period as Rattray led a beautiful two-on-one break with fellow senior Brittany Styner. Rattray skated up the left side of the ice before finding Styner with a pass across the middle of the ice. Styner collected the puck and beat Makela with a top-shelf wrist shot that gave Clarkson the 4-1 lead. The goal is Styner's 14th on the year, and the assist was Rattray's second on the night and 36th on the year.
An interference penalty on the Knights with just more than two minutes to go, coupled with Mercyhurst pulling Makela from net, left Clarkson on the wrong side of a six-on-four advantage, but the Clarkson defense held strong. The Lakers struggled to get anything going on the offensive end in either of the final two periods as Clarkson dominated play.
With the net left empty and less than 30 seconds to play, Nisbet carried the puck into the Mercyhurst zone and left a pass back for sophomore Shannon MacAulay. MacAulay found the empty net with 13 seconds to play to give Clarkson the decisive 5-1 victory.
Howe recorded 18 saves on the evening to earn her 89th career win between the pipes. Clarkson outshot Mercyhurst 35-19 on the evening.


text:
Bears special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis wasn't surprised when Robbie Gould's 58-yard field goal sailed through the uprights late in the first half of last Sunday's season opener.
"It felt reasonable because I saw him hit it in the pregame and because he told us that he could," DeCamillis said Wednesday. "It looked to me like [it would have been good from] about 65, if I had to guess. But he hit that ball. I mean, he really did a nice job."
|Robbie Gould is the fourth most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history.
For his career, Gould is 14 of 18 from 50 yards or more, a 77.8 percentage that ranks third in league history behind Walsh and George Blanda among kickers with at least 10 attempts.
"I just think [Gould] is a competitive guy, and it's important to him," DeCamillis said. "He really wants to be the best, and you can see it the way he brings it to practice every day."
Gould is currently the fourth most accurate field-goal kicker in NFL history at 85.7 percent (209 of 244), trailing Mike Vanderjagt (86.5), Nate Kaeding (86.2) and Rob Bironas (85.8).
Like all kickers, Gould's range changes each game based in part on weather and field conditions.
"You talk about it and try to have a good feel for where the cutoff is," DeCamillis said. "Wind conditions are a big factor, and then how well the ball is traveling that day, all those types of things. But we'll have a good idea of both what we feel is a reasonable make-it and a desperation-type situation."
While some kickers DeCamillis has worked with have tried to convince him they could make a field goal from the next county, Gould is realistic about his limitations.
"This guy has been great so far," DeCamillis said. "He's been outstanding as far as figuring all that stuff out. That's probably the thing I'm most encouraged by with him, is he really understands football. He's not one of those guys that's a soccer player that doesn't. He gets it."


text: Artist: Mystikal f/Master P, Silkk, Fiend, Mac Album: Unpredictable Song: Born to be a Soldier (Intro [Master P]) What's up niggas and bitches. It's the muthafuckin kisarme. It's No Limit, Master P. Im'a introduce y'all to the muthafuckin, one of the hardest liuetenants on the tank, Mystikal. We was all born to be soldiers. See, these evil thoughts, they was scarred into our muthafuckin souls from these wars, the streets, the ghetto, the hood. The ghetto. Chorus: X 7 [Master P] Bitch, I'm a soldier! [Mystikal] I was born to be a soldier! [Mystikal] Ah, ATTEN! Hoo! Muthafuckas don't you move I got what is takes to make your ass feel (?) You don't wanna rest in this parade No Limit soldiers throwin grenades! Strictly, heavy artillery, calm and gunnin I got your ground troops runnin from INCOMING! Go, go go go, the future caliber Bout to rip your (?) vest, split your capita The niggas be marchin in the land camp Bitch we ghetto soldiers, the streets is what made us! No LVE's, no MRE's But we kill our enemies, and drive humvees! Chorus X 5 [Master P] Born, to be, a muthafuckin soldier The colonel don't play, I'm out that tank Money in the bank, make niggas thank At ease when we rank, salute cause we cap Fools run they trap, soldiers bust caps Fools die a million deaths, solider dies once Put that on my gold keys, my gat, and my blunt Candy painted hummer, triple gold D's We bout it, eyes on our CREAM cause we rowdy Battle kicked advil, niggas load they carriages Weapons on the mayor of the cash cause I know character I'm ready to bust keys, niggas (?) Niggas are fuckin, slanging them trees They gon die in New Orleans Chorus X 4 [Silkk] I came out the muthafuckin womb, niggas wanna combat tank My ghetto antics, my ghetto tactics I smack quick, stick another gat nigga to your ass and acrobatic Nigga what? Black, my M-16, is black bitch I was born to drop phat shit Punk your ass like a sac bitch Yeah, I keep a gat bitch (?) I react quick Blow them soldiers, told ya, and that's it But see, I set my shit off like a punt (Go, T, Go) We roll, I said we roll like a muthafuckin blunt See, don't come stunt and don't try to front I'm Silkk the Shocker, I snatch your ass like a muthafuckin duck I put on my camoflauge nigga, straight up my fuckin boot Why would a muthafucka who ain't TRU laugh at old shoot About face, salute! Tell I'ma soldier, by the way I talk Tell I'ma soldier, by the way I march (Right, left, left) I was born to be a soldier! Chorus X 4 [Fiend] Bringin bags and weed Lil Fiend live by the soldiers creed Of broken no seed in the botton pockets of my fatigues War fatigues, playing live chess games with the chain (?) at the gun range, cause I'll bring pain When I'm playing survival games, that's why I sport a vest But niggas are put to rest, but got them right tatted on my chest I was best on my recon, started harm and dis The war from this, is that Fiend was born from this Scarred from this, so all the armies now go hide Cause the crime design, stay from nine to five Enemies retire, and the bigger go up, till my gun show up No Limit soldiers, the world blow up! Chorus X 3 [Mac] Assassin, soldier, sniper, murderer Son of a bitch, arsonist, house burglarer Been there, done most before the sun rose We changin clothes, when the po po's chase Narrow with the bass, got them hoes all in my face And them fake niggas hate, so I started different ways And even when I'm dead and gone My legacy'll live on Tatoo me on your arm and tell niggas he got his rhyme on Murder murder kill killin and shit that I spit For lunatics who be feelin this shit Put the gat in my face, I never squeal, nigga keep it real Pops gave me the game, bout to bag a feel We attack like the Men in Black You react, if you got a gat I'll never die, camoflauge in my vein I'll never change in the purple rain My name manifest pain, I'm a soldier Chorus X 8


text:
New year, new cretins who hate women who dare to like video games. Here are a couple of videos by YouTube user ShrineNI where he tells people how to go about finding and harassing women gamers, particularly those who stream on services like TwitchTV and play World of Warcraft. His main gripe seems to be that they are attractive and are 'using' that against men who are too stupid to resist falling for them and then donating to them (his reasoning, not mine.)
Juicy tidbits from the description of the video above:
They're a 4/10 in the real world, but a 9/10 in the gaming world.
I'm linking it not because I want you to subscribe, but to spread awareness of a disease known as AWS (Attention Whore Syndrome). You can help prevent future cases being developed by subscribing to ShrineNI.
Though really, the title of the video gives it away, huh?
Examining his gripe, it seems to lie with seeing that some women only like certain parts of World of Warcraft, or they don't dedicate all of their time to mastering a particular class. Because of that, they're not legit.
Actual quote from the above video that utterly baffles my mind: "We need to do a stealthy search of all the common spots you might find a girl gamer. In order to do this, we need to get into the MIND of a girl gamer."
It only gets worse as he walks through all the common faults/crimes committed by these women (which can be summarized as 'existing,' 'being attractive,' and 'not playing the way I want them to') and puts forth evidence that they are not hardcore enough to have a right to exist without criticism or harassment.
I'm kind of saddened that this whole thing didn't follow up the whole 'get into the mind of a girl gamer' thing with 'and then we must become the girl gamer.'
Because really, it's so surreal and baffling that an actual human being would be so ignorant and hateful. So much so that I'm almost having trouble believing it's true. Let's postulate, just for a second, that the video is a troll.
First off, there are two of them—see the other embedded video to the left, where he gives more in-depth 'advice' and even shows the reactions of his victims. At one instance she pleads to be left alone, to which he responds that he's going to destroy her.
Okay, maybe this is an elaborate hoax. But! But, but, but. The comments. Dear god, the comments: actually asking for further advice or rooting him on, meaning that even if the YouTube user isn't real, there are still people out there who genuinely think like he does.
And that's horrifying to think about, and part of the reason why this issue keeps coming back up. There are still people like this, despite all the constant attention brought to the issue.
Some samples:
What would you advise for a 2s comp? What would be a good partner for resto druid?
I support you though. Screw ugly whores
i want to thank you for this great idea, me and a friend have been ganking this same girl as the one in the video now for 3 hours it was alot of fun.
If you don't recognize feminism as the blight it has become on mankind, I can just think of you as a moron right back. Men and women are not the same.
You do a great service to society, but are vastly unappreciated. I commend thee, good sir. Please, have my children.
Women being manipulative sadistic bitches who think they're better than men.
The last thing I put forth for your consideration is what he says at the end of the second video, when he explains why he does it all.
"I'm not a hero, I'm a silent guardian. A watchful protector."


text: SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS004 ARLS004 Ten New Satellites in Orbit ZCZC AS04 QST de W1AW Space Bulletin 004 ARLS004 From ARRL Headquarters Newington, CT April 28, 2008 To all radio amateurs SB SPACE ARL ARLS004 ARLS004 Ten New Satellites in Orbit Ten satellites reached orbit April 28 aboard an Indian PSLV-C9 rocket launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center. The primary payloads were India's CARTOSAT-2A and IMS-1 satellites. In addition to the NLS-5 and RUBIN-8 satellites, the rocket carried six CubeSat research satellites, all of which communicate using Amateur Radio frequencies. All spacecraft deployed normally and appear to be functional at this time. The SEEDS satellite is designed and built by students at Japan's Nihon University. When fully operational, SEEDS will download telemetry in Morse code and 1200-baud FM AFSK packet radio at 437.485 MHz. The satellite also has Slow-Scan TV (SSTV) capability. Several stations have reported receiving SEEDS CW telemetry and the team would appreciate receiving more reports from amateurs at their ground station Web page. AAUSAT-II is the creation of a student team at Aalborg University in Denmark. It will downlink scientific telemetry at 437.425 MHz using 1200 or 9600-baud packet. Can-X2 is a product of students at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, Space Flight Laboratory (UTIAS/SFL). Can-X2 will downlink telemetry at 437.478 MHz using 4 kbps GFSK, but the downlink will be active only when the satellite is within range of the Toronto ground station. Compass-One was designed and built by students at Aachen University of Applied Sciences in Germany. The satellite features a Morse code telemetry beacon at 437.275 MHz. Compass-1 will also provide a packet radio data downlink, which will include image data, at 437.405 MHz. Cute 1.7 + APDII is a satellite created by students at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. This satellite will not only provide telemetry, it will also offer a 9600-baud packet store-and-forward message relay with an uplink at 1267.6 MHz and a downlink at 437.475 MHz. Delfi-C3 was designed and built by students at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. It includes an SSB/CW linear transponder. The satellite will be in telemetry-only mode for the first three months of the mission, after which it will be switched to transponder mode. Delfi-C3 downlinks 1200-baud packet telemetry at 145.870 MHz. The linear transponder, when activated, will have an uplink passband from 435.530 to 435.570 MHz and a corresponding downlink passband from 145.880 to 145.920 MHz. NNNN /EX


text:
Clinton: Gay marriage not the end
Chelsea Clinton on Sunday issued a rallying cry to gay activists, calling equality for members of the community the "unfinished business of the 21st century."
"My mother has often said that the issue of women is the unfinished business of the 21st century. That is certainly true. But so too are the issues of LGBT rights the unfinished business of the 21st century," she said in remarks at a Human Rights Campaign conference, according to a video on the group's website.
Clinton's remarks closed the HRC's inaugural Time to Thrive conference, which drew attention over the weekend after actress Ellen Page came out as lesbian while speaking at the event.
( PHOTOS: Where same-sex couples can wed)
"Changing laws and changing the political dialogue, while necessary, is insufficient to ensure that bullying stops, to ensure that every young person is supported by their parents and their teachers as they question who they are and they discover who they are, regardless of their sexuality," Clinton added.


text:
The list of merchants that accept Bitcoin is continuously expanding. However, it's still not possible to purchase everything with Bitcoin. But you can now order your own Bitcoin debit card, thanks to several companies in the Bitcoin ecosystem.
It's as simple as it sounds. Bitcoin debit cards help bridge the Bitcoin world with traditional finance. You can either purchase Bitcoins with your debit card or load a debit card with bitcoins to then spend bitcoins at almost any credit card accepting merchant.
It is incredibly easy to buy bitcoins with a debit card. We recommend SpectroCoin.
Bitcoin debit cards do not allow users to spend bitcoins directly. However, they at least allow people to store balances in bitcoin.
Bitcoin balances can be held up until the need to spend because most debit card top ups only take a couple of seconds to confirm.
In this article, we'll take a look at seven of the market's best Bitcoin debit cards. Bitcoin has made a lot of progress in seven years, and perhaps in the year 2025, the vast majority of the mainstream world will offer a Bitcoin payment option just as ubiquitously as they do PayPal. The world still runs on plastic. That's why the Bitcoin business community has begun to offer more and better debit card options over the last three years.
Pros of Using a Bitcoin Debit Card
The pros are pretty obvious. Now, any place that accepts credit or debit cards would accept your Bitcoin debit card as well, which means that you can now buy virtually anything with Bitcoin. The merchants get paid in their own currency by the debit company and the charge will be deducted from your Bitcoin balance, which allows you to live purely on Bitcoin.
For example, Bitcoin debit card is like the traveller's check of the digital age. I always take my Bitcoin debit card when I travel abroad, as a backup card in case my money gets stolen.
Cons of Using a Bitcoin Debit Card
Centralization is the major con of a Bitcoin debit card. You need to deposit money into your account at the debit card company in order to use the card. This means you're giving control over your coins to a 3rd party. This risk is decreased by not depositing too many Bitcoins into your balance. Basically, you should deposit only an amount you can afford losing in case of a hack. Also, since you are using the service of these companies it comes with a price. This means that you can't ignore the fees that Bitcoin debit card companies charge.
There are seven Bitcoin debit card companies currently available. Here's a short summary of each one and their pros and cons.
Cryptopay Debit Card
The Cryptopay bitcoin debit VISA card is the oldest and most established Bitcoin debit card, with over 23,000 issued. The CryptoPay card comes up first in the results if you look up "Bitcoin debit cards" in Google. Let's see if that means it is the best debit card!
Cryptopay supplies a Bitcoin debit card that is available worldwide, and this card has made it simple for customers to spend bitcoins at millions of businesses around the world.
Benefits include access via the three major currencies, and the card can be bought with these currencies, or with Bitcoin. The card price is slightly above average, at $15, and it is shipped for free anywhere in the world. ATM withdrawal costs $2.5. Also, international currency change adds another 3% on each transaction. You can either order a virtual debit card if you're just into online shopping, or a physical card with a chip & pin. Another great bonus of Cryptopay is that if you don't need high card limits, you do not have to supply full ID verification.
For buys both offline and online, Cryptopay makes the process convenient for users and easier than ever for merchants, and in Europe you'll get faster delivery times (about 5 business days).
- Supplies both physical and virtual cards
- Available worldwide
- Access via the three major currencies
- Maintenance and load fees
- You can only load up to €2500 in your card if you're not verified
Uquid VISA Debit Card
Uquid guaranteed for free access to Bitcoin, DASH, Monero, Ripple, PIVX, Litecoin, Ethereum, and other 75 cryptocurrencies network. Customers can send one of a growing number of supported cryptocurrencies to Uquid. These cryptocurrencies are instantaneously converted into USD, GBP or EUR and loaded onto a visa debit card.
Uquid enables users to utilise all the benefits of transfer coins into the debit card with real market price and without any hassle. This means that you can manage your money in a way that is completely secure.
Unbanked and travellers can obtain a Visa debit card with no identification or credit check required. There is also a free and fast delivery to 178+ countries.
Uquid users can spend over 75 different cryptocurrencies on mobile top ups, bill payments, PIN-less calls, Wi-Fi recharges, transportation tickets, and food and pharmacy vouchers.
- 0% fees for pos buys
- Instant issue and fast delivery with only 1 USD/GBP/EUR
- Free online shopping
- Online Verification
- Linked to Paypal
- Valid for 36 months
- Charges 3% currency exchange fee
- The international cash withdrawals cost $3.00
- Domestic ATM withdrawals are charged at $2.50 per transaction
- Poor English on their website
- New company
SpectroCoin VISA Debit Card
SpectroCoin offers Bitcoin prepaid cards, which can be denominated in dollars (USD), euros (EUR) or pounds (GBP). The card is funded instantly. This means that you do not have to worry about exchanging your bitcoins in advance. Also, these cards can be used at any ATM around the globe or shops as an ordinary payment card.
SpectroCoin is based in London and they started to issue bitcoin debit cards in May, 2015. However, the company is now registered as a Lithuanian Company. It is important to note that you need to provide a passport or ID card or utility bill in order to verify your card.
Both physical and virtual bitcoin debit cards are available and are accepted at the more than 20 million sites and online shops across the internet. Physical bitcoin cards can be used to spend bitcoins anywhere physically and online and they are delivered within 1-4 weeks. Virtual bitcoin cards can be used to spend bitcoins anywhere online and they are issued instantly.
You can pay with bitcoins wherever you want. SpectroCoin bitcoin debit card can be linked to PayPal or any other online wallet, and is also accepted everywhere where MasterCard or VISA is accepted. That includes physical shops, online sites, and automated teller machines (ATMs) for cash withdrawal.
You are not obliged to complete verification immediately. However, you will have to verify your account if you want to benefit from higher debit card limits. Spectrocoin allows max 2 ATM transactions per day, in a total amount of $2000, and verified users can load their Spectrocoin card with maximum $10000 at once. There is no limit for POS usage. Also, Spectrocoin offers POS load services for verified users. The Spectrocoin card is able to receive funds from third party merchants like PayPal and Gambling sites if it is verified. Unverified users may also use Spectrocoin services. However they are then exposed to certain limits. At ATMs unverified users are only able to withdraw $200 at a single time, $400 daily from maximum 2 transactions, and total ATM withdrawal limit for unverified users is $1000. POS load service is not available for unverified users and the maximum top-up amount is only $2500. But even unverified users can shop online or pay at POS terminals unlimited amount of money from their bitcoin debit card.
Immediate loading. Another great thing is that Bitcoin debit cards can be loaded instantly from SpectroCoin wallet.
Verified cardholders enjoy unlimited lifetime withdrawals and deposits to the bitcoin debit card.
Various digital currencies. This debit card can be funded with multiple digital currencies including Bitcoin, DASH and more.
Cards in several currencies are available, and USD (US dollar), GBP (pound), and EUR (euro) cards are issued.
Low fees are guaranteed for SpectroCoin bitcoin debit card holders, and a monthly service charge fee is $1. However, if the balance of the account is zero, this fee is not charged. The dollar, euro or pound denominated debit card costs $9.00/€8.00/£6.00. It is also important to note that there is no inactivity fee. This means that users can try out the card relatively easy and cheap.
- The company card is available
- Apps available for Windows mobile users too
- Available for all users world-wide
- The owners of the company are not listed on the site
- Expensive shipping
- The verification timeline is not detailed
- Scam report and complains
- The FAQ does not offer a search function
Bitwala Visa Debit Card
Bitwala's VISA debit card is another premier Bitcoin debit card by the company that gained fame for its ability to pay bills with Bitcoin. This is the most affordable bitcoin debit card on the market, both in terms of card price and the lowest, transparent fees that follow card usage. Bitwala issues prepaid debit cards that can be used with 44 cryptocurrencies and 20 currencies worldwide. The Bitwala team is based in Berlin since 2012. The 15 000+ Bitwala users are spread across 120 countries. They use one of the fiat or cryptocurrencies with great pleasure.
The Bitwala debit cards are issued in both virtual and physical forms. They cost €2.00 and can be funded with 20 different currencies and 44 cryptocurrencies. Besides the usual USD, EUR and GBP accounts, user may use the Bitwala bitcoin debit card with all European currencies, many currencies in Asia AUD and a couple of currencies in South America. Issuing the PIN code cost 0.80 EUR, while the monthly service fee is €1.
Denominated in Euros, you can use the Bitwala debit card to pay online and offline where VISA is accepted, and cardholders can also cash out at any ATM worldwide with the best rates and transparent fees. ATM withdrawals at domestic machines cost 2.25 EUR. On the other hand, ATM withdrawals at international machines cost 2.75 EUR+ 3% currency exchange rate. As you can see, withdrawing money from ATMs costs a little less than the market average.
Bitwala offers 2 shipping plans for their card:
- Free of charge (after ordering, the card arrives within 7-10 business days)
- For an extra fee of €69 the expedited shipping only takes 3-5 days.
- It has good pricing structure
- It supports 44 altcoins and 20 currencies
- The owners work as C-level directors in the company
- It is not available to US citizens
- There is no search function in FAQ
- It uses third party bitcoin exchanges, not own exchange price
Coinbase / Shift Card
Coinbase has a debit card, the Shift card. This was the first Bitcoin debit card available to U.S. residents, and it is currently available to residents in 41 U.S. states.
The daily spending limit is $1000, and the ATM withdrawal is maximized at daily $200 for customers with Coinbase account and $500 for customers with Dwalla account. After the order is placed, the Shift card arrives in about 5-7 business days. Users can activate the card from the mobile application directly or by calling the Help Desk. The PIN number is set default to the last 4 digit of the phone number provided at registration, which again can be changed by calling the Help Desk.
The Shift card connects to your Coinbase account, and for each debit card buy, it automatically withdrawals the necessary amount of bitcoins based on the dollar value of the transaction.
The Shift card costs $10 at issuance. Unlike other bitcoin debit card providers, the Shift card is completely free for now, but both Shift and Coinbase have announced that in the future there will be transaction fees for each buy. The ATM withdrawals are priced similarly to the other providers on the market, and international ATM withdrawals cost $3.50 while domestic cash withdrawals cost $2.50.
Purchasing online or offline on the US market is free of charge. However, there is an additional 3% currency exchange fee applied for international transactions.
- Ability to easily connect to Coinbase or Dwalla account
- Relatively low fees
- There is no bitcoin conversion fee
- There is no maintenance fee
- Virtual card is priced the same as physical card
- It is available only in 45 states around the US
- It does not have its own wallet
Xapo Debit Card
Xapo was one of the first companies to supply a Bitcoin debit card, beginning operations as a company back in 2013. Xapo serves major markets like China, Japan, Canada, and the U.K, but it does not serve most African countries (except South Africa) and the US.
Xapo claim to offer most secured bitcoin storage option available. Their bitcoin wallets are easy to use and backed with a serious infrastructure, and they are known as of the Fort Knox of bitcoin.
The card arrives within 10 to 25 days depending on the distance and standard shipping is free. However, for an extra $55 DHL expedited shipping delivers the cards just within 7 days.
Xapo's service cannot be used completely anonymously, and even unverified users must provide certain personal information, like name, phone number, e-mail, date and country of birth. Unverified users may withdraw $1 000 cash maximum and spend $2500 online. On the other hand, verified users have no limit on online purchases nor in ATM withdrawals. Only daily limits apply – daily ATM withdrawal at $2 000 which can come from 2 transactions, and POS spending is capped at $20 000.
The Xapo debit card costs $20 with a $1 for the PIN. The first year annual fees are free of charge. However, from next year it costs $12 annually. Xapo charges 1% fee for purchasing bitcoins. However, it has no network transaction fee for sending bitcoins using a Xapo account. Users may withdraw cash from international ATMs for $3.5 and domestic ATMs for $2.5. Buying with the Xapo debit cards cost no money in the card's default currency, but foreign exchange fee is 3% if the purchase currency is not the same as the account's base currency.
Using the Xapo account itself is free, which means that unlike many other bitcoin debit card provider, the funding of the account does not cost anything to the user.
- No top up fees are charged
- It has strong capital structure
- It has high level of security
- Established company reputation
- US citizens are excluded
- Shipping is expensive
- Unverified user have limit for POS and online transactions
- No chip and PIN
BitPay VISA Debit Card
Although this is the newest kid on the block, BitPay's VISA debit card is probably the most exciting of the bunch. Bitpay is a well known company in the Bitcoin ecosystem. It provides payment solutions for individuals and businesses. It is the first Bitcoin debit card that is available to US residents from all 50 states, but you must have a home address (no PO boxes), Social Security number, and government-issued ID to apply.
The card costs a low $9.95 to obtain and there is also no charge to change your PIN (most cards here have a $1 charge.) This card arrives 7-10 days after purchase. It works with any ATM that works with VISA cards, and can also be used online, in-person.
You will pay a fee of 3% when traveling outside of the US to cover the cost of currency conversion. There is a $3.00 fee for any ATM or cash-back withdrawals outside of the US and a $2.00 fee for ATM or cash-back withdrawals inside the US.
Benefits include the highest limits of this comparison, because each card can hold up to $25,000 in funds, and up to $3,000 can be withdrawn daily, $750 at a time. These numbers are all highest in this review, which removes the need for any verification at all.
This card is exactly what you would want in a Bitcoin debit card. Customer support has been solid and the online account is easy to use. Transfers into dollars can be done in less than one minute and no documents needed for high limits.
- Card is accepted worldwide
- Well known and established company
- Plenty of security and currency options to choose from
- Online account is easy to use
- Solid customer support
- It requires verification
- It doesn't have chip and PIN
- It is limited to US citizens only
Services to Avoid
- E-Coin/Wirexapp– The signup process required a phone verification and was extremely poor. Then the account did not even function properly, so I am not sure they even offer a legitimate Bitcoin debit card at all. So I recommend to steer clear of these guys.
- BitPlastic– It was among the first Bitcoin debit cards, but they do not appear to be innovating much. Supposedly they are TOR compatible. However, whenever I try to use their services, I get strange error messages. Maybe there is too much cyber security on my computer for them!! To get started, BitPlastic actually encourages you to use TOR email and a fake name. Your name is not printed on the card because it does not require your ID. This is a double-edged sword. You can take money out of ATM's anonymously. However, it can be difficult to find an offline merchant who will accept a nameless card at checkout.
We have aggregated the top and most widely used Bitcoin debit cards from around the world.
The Full List Of Bitcoin Debit Cards
Bitwa.la | VISA ® Prepaid.Balance in EUR. FAQ, Fees and Limits, Card issuer: MyChoice, 0.5 % Load Fee, Mid-market-rates (BitStamp), Physical and Virtual Cards
WB21 | Due to a high demand the order form is currently deactivated. Mastercard Balance in USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, Account loading with BTC – 1%, Card fees, Plastic Card, Virtual Card, connected with smart phone's NFC
Coinsbank | Mastercard & VISA. Fees and limits Balance in BTC, LTC, USD, EUR, GBP, RUB, Card issuer: MyChoice/WaveCrest (Named VISA), FSC (Anonymous MasterCard), Instant Virtual Cards (MyChoice VISA), Real-time conversion
Xapo | VisaBalance in BTC, Fees, Card issuer: MyChoice, Real-time conversion
Uquid | Visa Fees Limits Balance in USD, EUR. GBP Card issuer: Wave Crest/MyChoice
Advcash | Mastercard. Balance in USD, EUR Fees, Card issuer: Wave Crest/MyChoice
cryptopay.me | Balance in USD, EUR, GBP
Coinizy | VisaBalance in USD, Not available in some countries
Spectrocoin | Visa Fees and limits, Balance in USD, EUR, GBP. Card issuer: MyChoice
BitPay | Visa coindesk, Balance in USD, Card issuer: Metropolitan Commercial Bank
Bitnovo | Balance in EUR
Shift | Visa. Balance in BTC (Coinbase)
worldcore.eu | Fees, Mastercard. Loading with BTC – 3%, Balance in USD, EUR
MoneyPolo | Visa, Mastercard. Balance in USD, EUR, GBP
Wirex (former e-coin) | Fees and limits, Mastercard (plastic), Balance in USD, EUR, GBP, Card issuer MyChoice/WaveCrest
ANX | Visa. Balance in USD, FAQ, Card issuer: mBank (Poland)
DSX.uk | Balance in USD, EUR, MasterCard via epayments
bitstamp.net | Balance in USD, EUR, GBP, Fees and limits, Card issuer: AstroPay
Wagecan | Mastercard. Balance in USD, EUR (soon BTC), Fees, Card issuer: TransForex (Hong Kong)
getonebit.com | in development. Can be used at POS-terminals with NFC, Maestro PayPass and Visa PayWave Balance in BTC, Discussion on reddit
bitnation.co | Visa, Fees and limits
SatoshiTango | Visa. Balance in USD, Card issuer: MyChoice
Bitfinex + Blade Payments | comming soon, Article, Balance in BTC
plutus.it | in development. Can be used at POS-terminals with NFC, Maestro PayPass and Visa PayWave, Balance in BTC, Discussion on reddit
cryptobuyer.io| Visa. Restricted to Venezuelans. Card issuer: MyChoice.
Shakepay.co | Virtual cards + NFC. Balance in 21 currencies (fiat), Visa
capitalist.net | switch to English on top-right. Visa, Balance in USD, EUR, Card issuer: Wave Crest/MyChoice
Source: captainaltcoin


text:
When Macworld first reviewed Zediva, we cheered its innovative approach—streaming actual DVDs via DVD players that the viewer controls—but worried about how the movie studios would react to Zediva's clever but controversial take on the law. Unsurprisingly, the answer was "not well": On Thursday, the company informed subscribers that the service will now take an unplanned, court-mandated hiatus.
The Motion Picture Association of America first filed suit against Zediva in April, alleging that Zediva lacked the necessary licenses to stream movies. In early August, U..S. District Court Judge John Walter issued a preliminary injunction against Zediva, ordering the company to stop streaming DVDs. Early Thursday, Zediva complied with that request. In an email to customers and a message on its website, Zediva writes:
We are suspending Zediva's operations to comply with an order by the United States District Court for the Central District of California. While we hope to be back online soon, we don't know when (or whether) that will happen. We are disappointed by this turn of events, and that we are not permitted to serve you. We are quite aware that some of you have unused credits with us and appreciate your patience as we figure out our next steps. Stay tuned for more information via email.
That last line addresses customers who forked over cash to Zediva, and haven't yet watched all the movies they paid for. Zediva may be torn between the obvious appeal of refunding disgruntled customers and the strong desire to keep some of that precious coin while it plots its next legal maneuver.
Zediva's demise—whether temporary or not— may well help Netflix, which is implementing a cost hike for its customers, beginning in September.


text:
Comodo AdBlocker has been built using the same open source ad blocker code base used by over 50 million people but improved by blocking malware, tracking and ALL display ads.
Using Comodo AdBlocker will have the following benefits for your browsing:
Malvertising Protection
Web advertisements are being increasingly used as vehicles for distributing malware.
A legitimate ad can be infected by a virus or a fraudulent ad can be introduced into a network that places ads on web sites.
Faster Browsing
An ad can slow your computer and use up CPU time by reading and writing cookies, making many connections and downloading unwanted software.
"Malvertising" and other inefficient ads slow your browser's performance by running processor intensive scripts and by reading and writing many cookies on your computer.
Improved Privacy
Cookies, Spyware and other malware spread through advertising banners can monitor your activities and steal your personal information.


text:
He threw 100 pitches yesterday and felt great, hit location. He's had a little situation that he's getting taken care of today just for peace of mind. ... From all the reports that we got after yesterday and he said he felt really good. I talked to the trainers and [pitching coach] Bob [McClure]. ... It seemed like everything was fine.When asked via text if he was starting in G2, Beckett replied, "as far as I know".
Valentine added: "Thumb wrestling is not allowed. We took that out of the program."
Michael Silverman, Herald:
Aceves just told us he was told by Valentine that Beckett has a thumb issue that might require Aceves to start for Beckett in Game 2Gordon Edes, ESPNBoston:
Red Sox source mentioned possible thumb issue with Beckett 10 days ago, but Beckett had no subsequent issues so not mentioned againBrian MacPherson, Journal:
Details are very, very sketchy, but Aceves said he's been told to be on reserve for Beckett's first two starts.A little more from MacPherson.
Beckett threw a controlled bullpen session on Sunday. Bob McClure said nothing about any sort of injury when asked about it.
Per the #RedSox, Beckett is on his way to San Antonio to get his thumb checked on his way to Detroit.
More details will have to wait for Bobby Valentine, who will talk to the media at 11.


text:
State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 9.9 percent in April, down one-tenth of a percentage point, from a revised 10.0 percent in March. The state's jobless rate was 10.1 percent in April a year ago.
"Not only is this the first time in nearly two years that Georgia's unemployment rate has dipped into the single digits, but this is also the third consecutive month of job growth," Butler said. "This developing trend shows increasing confidence in the economy." The last time the state's rate was below 10 percent was in June 2009, when it was 9.8 percent.
And, there were job increases over both the month and year. There were 3,834,100 payroll jobs in April, up 30,100, or eight-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,804,000 in March. Most of the new jobs were added in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, trade, educational and health services, and construction. Also, there was an increase of 2,200 jobs, or one-tenth of a percentage point, from 3,831,900 in April a year ago.
The number of long-term unemployed workers continues to decline. There were 254,800 long-term unemployed Georgians in April, down 6,700, or 2.6 percent, from 261,500 in March. However, the number of long-term unemployed remains 18.4 percent higher than the 215,100 in April of last year. The long-term unemployed account for 55.1 percent of Georgia's 462,370 jobless workers.
Also, 54,337 laid-off workers filed initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in April, an increase of 4,006, or 8.0 percent, from 50,331 in March. Most of the first-time claims were filed in manufacturing, administrative and support services, trade, and construction. But, there was an over-the-year decrease of 6,324 initial claims, or 10.4 percent, from 60,661 filed in April of last year.
April marked the 43rd consecutive month Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 9.0 percent.
But, the last time the Georgia rate dropped over the month, while the U.S. rate increased was April of last year. At that time, the state rate declined one-tenth of a percentage point to 10.1 percent, while the national rate rose one-tenth percent to 9.8 percent.


text:
Left burner: Peking duck soup. Right burner: Green beans, potatoes, onions and kielbasa. My work days are getting long, as they tend to do in January, good time to stock up the freezer with some comfort food to come home to at the end of the day. They had another great guest musician the Dempsey's seisiún on Tuesday night, but I decided to skip it and tend to the cooking -- Sunday's fun, plus a trip to the Peking Duck House on Friday for a consolation dinner for TQ (who couldn't go on Sunday) left me with a refrigerator full of ingredients that I was ready to turn into something good. Or a couple of somethings, as it turned out!
I'm not sure I ever really explained what Sunday's adventure was - the week before, I was just being silly about the jellyfish, Sunday night I was too tired to do anything more than serve up Tillerman's seaweed and the menu, and the week's been a bit hectic. The day's event (as shown on the final menu, the one without the jellyfish, that I posted a picture of on Sunday) was a "Chinatown Shop and Cook", a really fun 2-part event that was put on by one of my favorite local restaurants (there are a few!)The Farm on Adderley. The way it worked was that we all met Tom Kearney, the restaurant's chef, and Stephen, the manager, in Brooklyn's Chinatown (Sunset Park, just to the southwest of Green-Wood Cemetary, where I've gone to watch the parakeets) at 1:00 in the afternoon.
They started out by giving us copies of the evening's menu, and then they walked us around a number of the local markets, with Tom telling us about what we were seeing and what they could be used for as we went around. That lasted over two hours, then we all parted ways for the rest of the afternoon, reconvening that night at restaurant for an absolutely wonderful meal. We walked out with recipes, but even more than just replicating the things we'd had for dinner, the idea was that with this general introduction, we could start thinking of how to use a lot more of the good things you can find in NYC's various Chinatowns in our own cooking.
It was great. I'd jumped at this when I saw it because my office is very close to Manhattan's Chinatown, and I walk through the area all the time. I do shop there but I've never gotten terribly adventurous; I walk in, I look at the unfamiliar items with curiousity, and then I walk out with the same old bok choy and lap cheong I got the time before and the time before that too. With this intro, I think I can start trying some different things. I actually hadn't planned on doing much shopping on Sunday, but as we were in the first market and Tom started talking about how you can use the various preserved vegetables to add good flavors to a soup or a stew, it hit me that I had a nice meaty duck frame in the 'fridge, and I started buying. A jar of bean paste, some Chinese bacon, some dried things -- this is either going to be the best duck soup I've ever made, or completely inedible.
Oh, and how did the other pot on the stove, an easy easy dish of my mom's that I loved when I was a kid, and still do, fit in with Sunday? Well, it does happen that the Chinese bacon found its way into both pots, but the kielbasa was a special bonus find during the break between the tour and the dinner. My friend Gail had joined me and we were going to go watch the parakeets come home to roost in the evening, stopping in whatever stores caught our eyes along the way. One of those was a Polish butcher shop and grocer that had to have been a holdout from earlier days - it was such an interesting anomaly that we had to go in. They had all sorts of Polish delicacies, including a whole case of all sorts of delicious-looking kielbasi. The shopowner didn't speak English too well, but she did her best to tell us about the different kinds, particularly recommending a variety called "domowa", which she said that was the best and her favorite. We were still hemming and hawing, so she made up our minds for us with samples. Sold!
BTW, I did take lots more pictures that day and I'll try to put those up tonight! Note, 9:30 PM - Oops, I won't be putting up my pictures because it would seem that I somehow managed to delete them all. Bummer. I hate that even more than I hate it when the penguins come to my office, and I miss them! However, if you happen to be on Facebook, the folks at the Farm have posted a very nice gallery - Click here to visit.. I knew I wasn't the only person taking pictures. Although drat, I did have a lovely photo of the octopus balls that Gail and I had for an afternoon snack. I'll have to go back for another try!
This has been a lunchtime blogging break. Because the afternoon's project involves a list of Captain Underpants titles and I can't look at those and eat mushroom barley soup at the same time.


text:
Whitney Houston's daughter has been released from a Los Angeles hospital after being rushed there the morning after her mother's death.
A source close to the family who did not want to speak given the sensitivity of the matter says Bobbi Kristina Brown was treated and released for stress and anxiety.
The 18-year-old was taken by ambulance to the hospital around 10:30 a.m. Sunday from the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where her mother was found dead Saturday afternoon.
Brown had accompanied her mother to several pre-Grammy events last week.
Coroner's officials received Whitney Houston's body early Sunday morning, but have not yet said when an autopsy will occur. Any cause of death determination will likely be delayed while they await toxicology results.


text:
Traces of chemicals known to cause human cancer lurk everywhere. But after decades of research, figuring out how many people might contract cancer because of them remains an elusive goal.
More than 60 percent of U.S. cancer deaths are caused by smoking and diet. But what about the rest?
A report by the President's Cancer Panel, released earlier this month, reignited a 30-year-old controversy among cancer experts and environmental epidemiologists about how large a role environmental factors play in the No. 2 killer of Americans.
Some experts, including the President's panel, say a decades-old estimate that six percent of cancer deaths are due to environmental and occupational exposures is outdated and far too low.
But scientists most likely will never be able to tease out the true role of environmental contaminants because environmental exposures, genetics and lifestyle seem to all intertwine.
"It's like looking at strands of a spider web and deciding which one is important," said Dr. Ted Schettler, director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, a nonprofit group that advocates use of science in setting environmental policy.
From the womb to old age, people around the world are exposed to countless carcinogens in their food, air, water and consumer goods.
The National Institutes of Health has classified 54 compounds as known human carcinogens based on studies indicating they cause at least one type of cancer in people, according to the nation's 11th Report on Carcinogens. The highest exposures occur in an occupational setting, but there are environmental exposures as well.
For example, benzene, a known cause of human leukemia, is a common pollutant in vehicle exhaust. Radon, a natural radioactive gas found in many homes, raises the risk of lung cancer. Arsenic, linked to skin, liver, bladder and lung cancer, contaminates some drinking water supplies. Other known human carcinogens include asbestos, hexavalent chromium, aflatoxins and vinyl chloride.
Since 1981, agencies and institutes have cited the same estimate when regulating carcinogens in the workplace, air, water and consumer products. Roughly four percent of cancer deaths – or 20,000 deaths per year - may be attributable to occupational exposures, and two percent – or 10,000 deaths per year – to environmental exposures.
In its new report, the panel, appointed by former President Bush, called that estimate "woefully out of date," reporting that "the true burden of environmentally induced cancers has been grossly underestimated."
But the American Cancer Society took issue with that statement, saying there was no scientific consensus.
"On what grounds do you know it's being grossly underestimated? It's a possibility, but many hypotheses have been proposed, and unless you have real evidence, you can't say that it is," said Dr. Michael Thun, vice president emeritus of epidemiology and surveillance research for the American Cancer Society.
Thun said the President's panel overstates the concern about environmental causes when the best way to prevent cancer is to combat the largest risks that people encounter: tobacco, diet and sun.
But many environmental epidemiologists say quibbling over the numbers becomes a diversionary tactic.
They say the American Cancer's Society's statement sounds a bit like a principle espoused by industry groups – don't act without absolute proof of harm. Many environmental epidemiologists are in favor of moving toward the precautionary principle – reducing people's exposure to environmental pollutants even if there is uncertainty about the risks.
It's an "erroneous exercise" to try to assign each chemical or exposure a specific fraction of cancer, said Richard Clapp of Boston University's School of Public Health, who co-authored a 2005 review and 2007 update on environmental and occupational causes of cancer.
"It's estimating a fiction, because nobody knows and nobody can know," said Clapp. "Why do we keep beating this dead horse? If there are things we can move on, let's work on those."
Cancer is the second leading killer of Americans, and the leading cause of death worldwide. Every year, about 1.5 million new cases are diagnosed in the United States and more than half a million people die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
Experts agree that most cancers are caused by lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet and alcohol. Smoking alone accounts for at least 30 percent of all U.S. cancer deaths, and another one-third is attributed to diet, obesity and physical inactivity, according to the American Cancer Society.
But it's the remaining cancers – about one out of every three – that trigger debate.
A 1981 report by two scientists, Sir Richard Doll and Sir Richard Peto, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, estimated that two percent of cancer deaths were attributable to exposures to pollutants in the environment and four percent to exposures in occupational settings. In 2009, those percentages amounted to about 30,000 U.S. deaths.
"If you looked at the number of deaths per day, if that were a plane crash it would be a national news story," Clapp said.
The 1981 report only considered deaths, not cancer cases. (About half of those diagnosed with cancer die.) Also, the study only included Caucasians under the age of 65, although many cancers increase with age and many minority groups are more highly exposed to environmental contaminants.
The old two percent estimate for environmentally induced cancers is still commonly used – despite advances in modern cancer biology.
New areas of cancer research are focusing on the potential for pollutants to interact with one another and with genetic factors. Carcinogens can act by damaging DNA, disrupting hormones, inflaming tissues, or switching genes on or off.
Also, exposure to hormonally active agents during critical periods of human development – particularly in the womb or during childhood – may trigger cancer later in life. For example, the risk of breast cancer could be influenced by exposures during puberty.
All these elements make it tricky to calculate the magnitude of environmentally induced cancers.
Scientists now know that getting cancer is like being attacked by a multi-headed monster: How can you really be sure which part did the most damage?
Schettler said "we now know from cancer biology that multiple interacting factors" are involved so it's impossible to assign percentages to certain causes.
"It's really important that we understand the limits of this notion. We have to be humbled by this and know that our estimates may be way off," he said.
Margaret Kripke, a professor at University of Texas' M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and co-author of the President's Cancer Panel report, said the idea that cancer biologists can put a number on the environmental component of cancer is fraught with limitations.
She uses the example of a person who is genetically predisposed to lung cancer, but also smokes and lives in an area with high air pollution. If this person develops cancer, it is almost always attributed to smoking because almost 90 percent of lung cancer deaths are caused by tobacco. But researchers can't simply dismiss the remaining 10 percent. The way these fractions are teased apart is crucial, and important contributors are easily overlooked by limitations in study design.
There is substantial evidence that synergism between two different exposures can cause some cancers. Asbestos, for example, enhances the carcinogenicity of tobacco smoke, so the rate of lung cancer was especially high among people who smoked and also were exposed to asbestos in their workplaces.
The major reason that it's so difficult to pin down how many cancers are due to environmental factors is that studies that allow epidemiologists to link human cancers to an environmental pollutant are rare opportunities.
Scientists need a setting where they can be absolutely certain about what and when people were exposed to something, and then be able to follow up with the patients many years later, since cancer takes decades to develop. Yet this is hardly ever possible, said Dr. Richard Jackson, former director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Environmental Health.
Humans aren't lab rats; they tend to move around, so they don't know what they were exposed to, said Jackson, who is now a UCLA professor. Also, tracking systems for environmental exposures and chemicals are inadequate.
Smoking is relatively easy to study – you can ask someone about their smoking habits – but if you ask someone if they were exposed to benzene, chlorinated solvents, or pesticides, they probably won't have the slightest idea or they certainly won't know how much they were exposed to, Schettler said.
There are examples of natural experiments where communities have banned a suspected carcinogen such as a pesticide and then seen cancer rates drop, such as when Sweden banned phenoxy herbicides over a decade ago. While these natural experiments are useful to epidemiologists, they usually only confirm that a chemical is harmful and reveal little about its overall contribution to cancer death.
In most cases, environmental agencies estimate the number of cases attributable to a certain environmental chemical by extrapolating from studies of lab animals or occupational settings where cancer rates rise among workers, then estimating the public's exposures. But those risk assessments carry many uncertainties.
The two members of the President's Cancer Panel believe their claim about the "grossly underestimated" role of the environment is justified because technologies such as CT scans, which expose people to large amounts of radiation, are in greater use today. Also, there are more known carcinogens today, and the original estimates didn't consider multiple exposures over a person's life.
"We think all of those things combine to make the current estimate higher. They certainly won't go down, but are probably much larger than estimated," said Kripke.
She said the panel's intent was to bring attention to human carcinogens in the environment that the public is unaware of, such as radon and formaldehyde, she said.
The panel pointed out bisphenol A, used in polycarbonate plastic and can linings, along with radon, formaldehyde and benzene, as carcinogens that need more regulation.
Clapp said instead of worrying about specific numbers, the focus should be on banning or restricting workplace carcinogens with strong evidence that they are harmful. One example is methylene chloride, used in semiconductor factories.
Reducing use of CT scans and cleaning up military bases are other ways to reduce exposures, according to the President's Cancer Panel report.
The American Cancer Society agreed with much of the panel's report, and in the past, it has expressed concern about environmental chemicals.
"Although the relatively small risks associated with low-level exposure to carcinogens in air, food, or water are difficult to detect in epidemiological studies, scientific and regulatory bodies throughout the world have accepted the principle that it is reasonable and prudent to reduce human exposure to substances shown to be carcinogenic at higher levels of exposure," the American Cancer Society said in a 2009 Cancer Facts and Figures report.
But the group worries that the President's Cancer Panel overstated the risks and detracts from combating the bigger causes of cancer.
"There is no doubt that environmental pollution is an important issue to address to improve the lives of Americans. At the same time, it would be unfortunate if people came away with the message that the chemicals in the environment are the most important cause of cancer at the expense of those lifestyle factors, like tobacco, physical activity, nutrition, and obesity, that have by far the most potential in reducing cancer deaths," Thun said in a statement.
Thun added in an interview that "many of the carcinogens in smoking are the same ones that people worry about in the general environment," such as benzene. But in cigarettes, "they are much more concentrated and people are inhaling them deep into their lungs. The magnitude of exposure is just gigantically different."
But Kripke pointed out that there has been plenty of emphasis on smoking, diet and other causes of cancer over the past few years. Last year's 2009 President's Cancer Panel report focused on lifestyle-related cancers.
"To say that we have ignored those factors doesn't take into account that we have put a lot into work into it," Kripke said. "We're very cognizant that there are other, larger factors that contribute to cancer, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't look at the smaller ones."
The general public can understand that many factors can lead to disease and that all should be addressed, Schettler said.
"People can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can pay attention to many factors at the same time," he said.
This article originally ran at Environmental Health News, a news source published by Environmental Health Sciences, a nonprofit media company.


text:
Despite decades of public health outreach and education, more than 500,000 babies are born prematurely and an estimated 28,000 children die before their first birthday each year in the U.S. Many factors cause these negative outcomes, including health care access, poverty, and negative health behaviors, but research supports that increasing knowledge around health can help people stay healthier.
To help more pregnant women and new moms get information about caring for their health and giving their babies the best possible start in life, the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) launched text4baby, the first free health text messaging service in the U.S.Text4baby supports moms by providing accurate, text-length health information and resources in a format that is personal and timely, using a channel she knows and uses. Over 85% of Americans own a cell phone and 72% of cell users send or receive text messages.
How Text4baby Works
Registration is easy and can be done online here or from your cell phone. Use your cell phone to text the word BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to the number 511411. You'll be asked to enter your baby's due date or your baby's birthday and your zip code. Once registered, you will start receiving free messages with tips for your pregnancy or caring for your baby.
These messages are timed to your due date or your baby's birth date. If you are pregnant and your due date changes, text UPDATE to 511411 to enter your new due date. Once you have your baby, be sure to text in UPDATE with your baby's birthday so you keep getting messages through baby's first year.
If you want to stop receiving messages from text4baby, text STOP to 511411. To start receiving the messages again, you will have to enroll again by sending BABY to 511411 (BEBE to 511411 for Spanish messages).
Text4baby Messages are Free
Thanks to the support of CTIA – The Wireless Foundation and participating mobile operators, all messages you receive from text4baby are free! Even individuals without a text messaging plan can get these messages for free. If someone has limited texts per month, text4baby won't take away from that limit. As long as you have service with one of the carriers listed below, text4baby is free for you.
- Alltel
- Assurance Wireless
- Bluegrass Cellular
- Boost Mobile
- Cellular South
- Cellcom
- Centennial Cellular
- Cincinnati Bell
- Cricket
- Metro PCS
- N-Telos
- Nex-Tech Wireless
- Sprint Nextel
- T-Mobile
- U.S. Cellular
- Verizon Wireless
- Virgin Mobile USA
For further information, please visit http://www.text4baby.org/.


text:
"Blaming others is an act of refusing to take responsibility. When a person can't accept the fact or the reality, they blamed another person or the situation instead of taking accountability."
Dee Dee Artner
"For every King is right in his own eyes and rests the blame to whoever he wishes to carry it."
Auliq Ice
Delegating. While I could argue delegating is one of the most difficult things you learn to do as you move up in an organization <and one you MUST learn or will inevitably fail>, accepting responsibility, blame or accolades, is a whole different discussion and an entirely different learning challenge.
I know.
I know.
That sounds odd even as I type that. You would think no one actually has to learn to accept responsibility for their, well, responsibility. But all you have to do is look around the hallways of any management floor and some leaders in the public eye and you will see a shitload of people who seem to have actually mastered the skill of placing blame on whoever they wish <other than themselves>.
Regardless. I would say that the difference between delegating and accepting responsibility can be captured in two key words — learn versus accept.
You have to learn how to delegate.
You have to accept responsibility.
Here is a truth. No one, and I mean no one, has to learn how to accept responsibility. You either accept it or you do not.
And to explain the 'accept' part let me remind everyone of "double joys and halve the griefs." What I mean is that you learn to double down when accepting responsibility for 'blame' or failure and you only accept half the responsibility, at most, on the successes and accolades. In other words good leaders halve the griefs <if not accept all> to those you delegate to and double the accolades for those you delegate to.
That is the basic "good formula."
But some people want zero the grief and 100% the joy. These are the quasi- leaders who authorize people to do things not out of good delegation but rather to distance themselves from any decision that may create a less-than-positive outcome.
Shit. No. Double shit.
There may be nothing more heinous in leadership management acumen than the delegation of responsibility with the intent to absolve one from potential negative outcomes. All potential repercussions get sifted first and foremost through the hands of the one who has now been authorized.
In other words that crappy leader handed someone some rope to potentially hang themselves with.
Setting my bitching & disdain aside, I have to ask why some run away from this responsibility.
Well. I will admit that making mistakes was a shitload easier years ago when I was a young whippersnapper attempting to move up in the business world. Bosses were fairly forgiving of mistakes and you learned that accepting responsibility for the bad as well as the good not only didn't harm you but actually helped you grow as a person.
In today's business world, shit, in the world itself, forgiveness isn't that normal. Mistakes become opportunities to fire someone, demote someone or, in general, torture them. While in the good old days your mistakes became hallway whispers and break room gossip, today your mistakes become facebook posts, email chains and twitter memes. What this teaches people is assuming responsibility for a mistake has disproportionate consequences and doesn't really help you grow as a person.
The way up, or to survive, seems to be somewhat dependent upon disproportionately shirking responsibility for the errors and disproportionately accepting responsibility for the successes.
It's kind of the worst of both aspects.
In a past post I mentioned … 'accountability in today's business world is stuck in the sludge at the bottom of the business moral barrel.'
I believe accountability for decision making in business is either nonexistent or far too random to be considered standard operating procedure.
To be clear <part 1>.
This is not about someone holding you accountable. This is about you holding yourself accountable especially when no one is holding you accountable.
To be clear <part 2>.
Today's business world is strewn with cowards.
I know that sounds harsh, but not only do people fear being accountable in general they are absolutely scared shitless to be accountable for indirect consequences, i.e., being accountable for anything beyond the obvious cause & effect.
It is cowardly behavior.
And it gets worse in my eyes when I google search 'integrating accountability in business' and I find almost everyone discusses in some form or fashion the need to 'clarify what it means to be accountable.'
This is crazy to me.
Accountability for decision making, to me, equates to a some sense of fearlessness bred within an organization <some people call this "psychological safety">. Fearless in terms of making mistakes <and not being overly chastised for doing so> and fearless in terms of a 'doing what is right' mentality.
All that said. Organization culture or not, people don't need someone to define accountability or honoring commitments or any of that crap, people just need to assume responsibility & accountability as part of who they are and how they act. Holding yourself accountable is nothing more than following through with YOUR commitments and responsibilities whether you have authorized someone or delegated or any other excuse some of these cowardly leaders use to distance themselves from any real consequences.
We are responsible for our actions – all of them.
We are responsible for our inaction – all of them.
We are responsible for the repercussions of our actions & inactions – even the unintended results.
We are responsible for our thoughts and the behavior attached to them.
We are responsible for our mistakes.
And, yes, we are responsible for the actions & inactions of the people we have authorized shit to or delegated to.
Interestingly, an author Linda Galindo argues that the only true accountability is "personal accountability" and the only way to achieve it is to take responsibility for the outcomes of your choices, behaviors and actions – to the level of 85% of everything you touch or are associated with.
I could debate the 85%, but as far as the intent I couldn't agree more. This seems like a hard thought for many in business to not only grasp, but accept.
Why? I could provide an excuse by suggesting in a world where it seems like collaboration is the standard operating procedure and tasks are delegated in a fragmented fashion <often under the guise of 'specialists should work only on their specialty'> the actual outcome has been impacted by so many hands it is difficult to tie it to one hand, let alone the leader decision maker, directly.
This means many business people want to avoid assuming responsibility for others actions, or maybe better said, they don't want to be accountable for something they didn't have 100% ownership of.
This is really silly thinking.
This is cowardly thinking.
Here is the good news.
People who have personal accountability are happier, more respected and more successful professionally.
People who have consistent accountability actually increase the likelihood that they WILL get some credit for indirect positive consequences.
So if you can fight your way thru the doubts in being accountable in certain situations and fight your way thru systems which seem to crucify you for mistakes and accept the responsibility, you will end up in a better place – as a person and professionally.
Best? You also get the satisfaction of laughing at all the cowardly assholes you see mumbling excuses, shifting responsibility and ultimately doing whatever they can to avoid any blame for the mistake/missed deadline/project gone wrong. The ones who are quick to point the finger at anyone and anywhere but themselves.
Yeah. I will admit. Some of those 'blameless assholes' are really slick when it comes to accountability and personal responsibility.
They vocalize responsibility … with caveats.
They accept positive accountability for anything that has any appearance of clear cause & effect wrapping it all up with anything that doesn't have clear cause & effect and deflect negative accountability results with a flick of an "I authorized them to do it."
They seek to have 0% griefs and 100% joy.
They are fucking cowards.
"We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions."
Ronald Reagan
In the end.
This is about personal responsibility and personal choice. If you do not dare to do what is right then … well … it is cowardly behavior.
"Manliness consists not in bluff, bravado or loneliness. It consists in daring to do the right thing and facing consequences whether it is in matters social, political or other.
It consists in deeds not words."
Mahatma Gandhi
I honestly don't care about cowardly behavior, daring behavior or heroic behavior. Doing what is right and accepting responsibility & accountability should be required behavior of our leaders and shouldn't be celebrated, it should just be expected.
Me? I believe no one should have to hold me accountable for my actions & responsibilities. No one but me should set whatever standard I set for myself.
All jobs carry the burden of some responsibility. I don't care if you are the most junior maintenance person or the most senior person in the world. And if you have some responsibility you will also have the burden of accepting responsibility for what you do, what you may have asked someone to do and even some shit that wasn't done <but would have been within your purview if it had been done>.
Shirking that responsibility is the refuge of cowards.
Period. End of story.


text:
First City Monument Bank Garki II Branch
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc is a full service banking group, headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, with the vision 'to be the premier financial services group of African origin'. From its early origins in investment banking as City Securities Limited in 1977, FCMB, established in 1982, has emerged as one of the leading financial services institutions in Nigeria and one of the top eight lenders in the country with subsidiaries that are market leaders in their respective segments. FCMB was incorporated as a private limited liability company on 20 April 1982 and granted a banking licence on 11 August 1983. On 15 July 2004, the Bank changed its status from a private limited liability company to a public limited liability company and was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, by introduction, on 21 December 2004. As at December 2013, FCMB had 2 million customers, N1 trillion in assets, over 270 branches in Nigeria and a licensed banking subsidiary in the United Kingdom (FCMB UK) and a representative office in the Republic of South Africa. Having successfully transformed to a retail and commercial banking-led group, the Bank expects to continue to distinguish itself by delivering exceptional service and taking its unique brand of supportive banking to every household in Nigeria.
PLOT 1640 LADOKE AKINTOLA BOULEVARD, Garki II, Abuja, Nigeria
FCMB ABUJA GARKI II Landmarks:
Phone Number
+234 (0) 1 448 5420, +234 (0) 1 279 3030
Ask question or make announcement
Enter email if you want to be notified when someone reply you.Enter contact number so you can be contacted if necesary.


text:
Young Black Guy With A Thick Ass Jerks His Big Black Cock
Extra Big Dicks weekly update features a very hot new video featuring Dontae Morningwood and his big black cock. When Dontae wakes up in the morning he is usually horny and sporting some thick morning wood. This Sunday morning however, Dontae is extra horny and gets on the phone to call some of his booty calls looking for a nice ass to fuck. When he gets to the last number, the dude tells him he can't come over right now so Dontae asks him for some phone sex. Dontae's buddy on the phone starts directing him on what to do. Dontae's big black cock is sticking out of his underwear before he even has his first instruction. He pulls his underwear down and a huge semi erect black cock hangs out. His black cock is huge and thick. He starts stroking it until he is nearly erect. His buddy on the phone tells him to bend over and stroke his dick. We get to see Dontae's thick black ass as he strokes his big black cock. The guys talk about fucking each other and how they would like to do it. This sexy talk only makes Dontae harder and hornier. Dontae continues to stoke his big black cock until he finally shoots a massive load of cum all over his smooth chest. What a sexy thug! Make sure to check him out!
Click here to download this full length big black cock jerk off video and hundreds more amateur huge cock videos at Extra Big Dicks.
Click here to download this full length big black cock jerk off video and hundreds more amateur huge cock videos at Extra Big Dicks.


text:
Tiara Anklet$70
Product Details and Care
- Available in gold-filled
- Sunstone beads are approximately 3mm
- 9" w/ 1" extension
- Made to order, please allow 5-7 business days for production
Gold Filled & Silver
Frequent cleaning is recommended to maintain its true beauty. We recommend removing your Gold-filled and Vermeil jewelry before bathing, swimming, or using household cleaning products. Soaps, perfumes, natural oils and perspiration can also take a toll on your jewelry.
Sterling silver naturally oxidizes over time, which may lead to slight discoloration of the metal. Clean regularly to reduce tarnishing.
Wipe your jewelry carefully with a non abrasive polishing or lens cloth to keep it clean and free of these elements that oxidize. Daily cleaning is highly suggested.
*Although rare, sometimes individual body chemistries can react with the metal and cause a reaction. Pregnancy, thyroid disorders, hormone levels, medications and more can affect the PH levels within the body alkalinity versus acidity, and may cause a reaction with your piece. It's definitely a wild-card and is based on the individual!


text:
Mã sp : WZ4
Xem thêm sản phẩm cùng thương hiệu Allen & heath (allen-heath.com)
Giá bán : contact
With its simplicity, quality and plentiful inputs, WZ4 16:2 will be loved by seasoned engineers and novice operators alike. This is a true all-purpose mixer, providing a full 16 high specification mic/line inputs in a compact, straightforward format that has made it a consistent best seller.
WZ4 16:2 features our acclaimed 4 band EQ with 2 sweepable mids, high quality 100mm faders, 6 aux sends, 12 segment bargraph metering and our unique QCC connector system for easy desktop, rack or flightcase mounting.
New features for this 4th generation MixWizard console include two newly designed digital FX engines with 20 studio quality FX presets, EQ in/out switching and the option to fit a multichannel USB interface with high quality 16 channel soundcard for easy multitrack recording and 2-track playback.
If you're looking for professional grade, all-purpose analogue mixers in a compact, rack mountable frame, the MixWizards continue to set the bar.
19″ Rack mountable
16 mic/line inputs with balanced XLR/TRS jack, insert and direct output
100mm faders
4 band EQ with 2 swept mids
6 Aux sends – 2x pre fade / 2x switched / 2x post fade*
2 Stereo returns
Dedicated mono output fader – can be switched to provide an L+R mono feed for a centre or fill speaker, or sub bass feed
Independent A-B output for 2-track recording, monitor foldback, speaker fills etc
Tri-colour, 12 segment bargraph metering
Twin FX engines with 20 studio quality FX presets
+48V Phantom Power
Signal and Peak LEDs
Lamp socket
USB multitrack recording option
Footswitch connector (mutes/unmutes the ST1 FX Return)
*Can be reconfigured with internal jumpers
625/6 Xô Viết Nghệ Tĩnh, Phường 26, Q. Bình Thạnh, TP. HCM
028 6274 2258 - 0908 053 799 I firstname.lastname@example.com I www.avitech.vn


text:
TOKYO (AP) — A ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes on record slammed Japan's eastern coast Friday, killing hundreds of people as it swept away ships, cars and homes while widespread fires burned out of control.
Hours later, the tsunami hit Hawaii but did not cause major damage. Warnings blanketed the Pacific, putting areas on alert as far away as South America, Canada, Alaska and the entire U.S. West coast. In northeastern Japan, the area around a nuclear power plant was evacuated after the reactor's cooling system failed.
Police said 200 to 300 bodies were found in the northeastern coastal city of Sendai, the city in Miyagi prefecture, or state, closest to the epicenter. Another 137 were confirmed killed, with 531 people missing. Police also said 627 people were injured.
The magnitude-8.9 offshore quake unleashed a 23-foot (seven-meter) tsunami and was followed for hours by more than 50 aftershocks, many of them of more than magnitude 6.0.
Dozens of cities and villages along a 1,300-mile (2,100-kilometer) stretch of coastline were shaken by violent tremors that reached as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the epicenter. A large section of Kesennuma, a town of 70,000 people in Miyagi, burned furiously into the night with no apparent hope of being extinguished, public broadcaster NHK said.
"The earthquake has caused major damage in broad areas in northern Japan," Prime Minister Naoto Kan said at a news conference.
The quake was nearly 8,000 times stronger than one that struck New Zealand late last month, devastating the city of Christchurch.
"The energy radiated by this quake is nearly equal to one month's worth of energy consumption" in the United States, U.S. Geological Survey Scientist Brian Atwater told The Associated Press.
The government ordered thousands of residents near a nuclear power plant in the city of Onahama to move back at least two miles (three kilometers) from the plant. The reactor was not leaking radiation but its core remained hot even after a shutdown. The plant is 170 miles (270 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo.
Trouble was reported at two other nuclear plants as well, but there was no radiation leak at either of them.
Japan's coast guard said it was searching for 80 dock workers on a ship that was swept away from a shipyard in Miyagi.
Even for a country used to earthquakes, this one was of horrific proportions because of the tsunami that crashed ashore, swallowing everything in its path as it surged several miles (kilometers) inland before retreating. The apocalyptic images on Japanese TV of powerful, debris-filled waves, uncontrolled fires and a ship caught in a massive whirlpool resembled scenes from a Hollywood disaster movie.
Large fishing boats and other vessels rode high waves ashore, slamming against overpasses or scraping under them and snapping power lines along the way. Upturned and partially submerged cars bobbed in the water. Ships anchored in ports crashed against each other.
The tsunami roared over embankments, washing anything in its path inland before reversing directions and carrying the cars, homes and other debris out to sea. Flames shot from some of the homes, probably because of burst gas pipes.
Waves of muddy waters flowed over farmland near Sendai, carrying buildings, some of them ablaze. Drivers attempted to flee. Sendai airport was inundated with thick, muddy debris that included cars, trucks, buses and even light planes.
Highways to the worst-hit coastal areas buckled. Telephone lines snapped. Train service in northeastern Japan and in Tokyo, which normally serve 10 million people a day, were suspended, leaving untold numbers stranded in stations or roaming the streets. Tokyo's Narita airport was closed indefinitely.
President Barack Obama said the U.S. "stands ready to help" Japan.
Jesse Johnson, a native of the U.S. state of Nevada who lives in Chiba, north of Tokyo, was eating at a sushi restaurant with his wife when the quake hit.
"At first it didn't feel unusual, but then it went on and on. So I got myself and my wife under the table," he told The Associated Press. "I've lived in Japan for 10 years, and I've never felt anything like this before. The aftershocks keep coming. It's gotten to the point where I don't know whether it's me shaking or an earthquake."
NHK said more than 4 million buildings were without power in Tokyo and its suburbs.
As night fell, Tokyo's streets were jammed with cars, buses and trucks trying to get around and out of the city. Pedestrians swarmed the sidewalks to walk home, or at least find a warm place to spend the night as the temperatures dropped.
Tomoko Suzuki and her elderly mother stood on a crowded downtown corner, unable to get to their 29th-floor condominium because the elevator wasn't working. They unsuccessfully tried to hail a taxi to a relative's house and couldn't find a hotel room.
"We are so cold," said Suzuki. "We really don't know what to do."
A large fire erupted at the Cosmo oil refinery in the city of Ichihara and burned out of control with 100-foot (30-meter) flames whipping into the sky.
"Our initial assessment indicates that there has already been enormous damage," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said. "We will make maximum relief effort based on that assessment."
He said the Defense Ministry was sending troops to the hardest-hit region. A utility aircraft and several helicopters were on the way.
Also in Miyagi prefecture, a fire broke out in a turbine building of a nuclear power plant, but it was later extinguished, said Tohoku Electric Power Co.
A reactor area of a nearby plant was leaking water, the company said. But it was unclear if the leak was caused by the tsunami or something else. There were no reports of radioactive leaks at any of Japan's nuclear plants.
Jefferies International Ltd., a global investment banking group, estimated overall losses of about $10 billion.
Hiroshi Sato, a disaster management official in northern Iwate prefecture, said officials were having trouble getting an overall picture of the destruction.
"We don't even know the extent of damage. Roads were badly damaged and cut off as tsunami washed away debris, cars and many other things," he said.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the 2:46 p.m. quake was magnitude 8.9, the biggest to hit Japan since record-keeping began in the late 1800s and one of the biggest ever recorded in the world.
The quake struck at a depth of six miles (10 kilometers), about 80 miles (125 kilometers) off the eastern coast, the agency said. The area is 240 miles (380 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo. Several quakes hit the same region in recent days, including one measured at magnitude 7.3 on Wednesday that caused no damage.
A tsunami warning was extended to a number of areas in the Pacific, Southeast Asia and Latin America, including Japan, Russia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Chile. In the Philippines, authorities ordered an evacuation of coastal communities, but no unusual waves were reported.
Thousands fled homes in Indonesia after officials warned of a tsunami up to 6 feet (2 meters) high, but waves of only 4 inches (10 centimeters) were measured. No big waves came to the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory, either.
The first waves hit Hawaii about 9 a.m. EST (1400 GMT). A tsunami about 7 feet (2.1 meters) high was recorded on Maui and a wave at least 3 feet (a meter) high was recorded on Oahu and Kauai. Officials warned that the waves would continue and could get larger.
Japan's worst previous quake was a magnitude 8.3 temblor in 1923 in Kanto that killed 143,000 people, according to USGS. A 7.2-magnitude quake in Kobe in 1996 killed 6,400 people.
Japan lies on the "Ring of Fire" — an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones stretching around the Pacific where about 90 percent of the world's quakes occur, including the one that triggered the Dec. 26, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami that killed an estimated 230,000 people in 12 nations. A magnitude-8.8 temblor that shook central Chile in February 2010 also generated a tsunami and killed 524 people.