Iditarod kicks off with festive ceremonial start

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) ? Mushers and their dogs took a leisurely jaunt through Anchorage on Saturday in the ceremonial start of Alaska's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

The 1,000-mile race kicked off in a festive mood as 66 teams posed with fans and sailed their sleds 11 miles on streets covered with trucked-in snow. Each sled carried an Iditarider, a fan who won the short ride at auction.

"Today is fun, with a capital F," said smiling veteran musher Aliy Zirkle, the runner-up in last year's race. "If you don't have a good time on Saturday with your dogs and all these fans, you're not in the right sport."

The event comes ahead of the real, competitive start of the race Sunday in Willow, 50 miles to the north. This is when teams leave the big crowds behind for remote terrain shared mostly with their dogs.

"Today we have fun. Tomorrow we're serious," defending champion Dallas Seavey, of Willow, said Saturday between chatting with spectators and signing autographs for fans, including Bunky Nistler of Beach, N.D.

Nistler said the Iditarod was on her bucket list following her husband's death of cancer a year ago.

"I've been in love with the Iditarod for over eight years," she said. "This was my dream of a lifetime."

From Willow, where the race clock starts ticking, mushers and their dog teams will begin making their way through unforgiving wilderness toward the finish line in the old frontier town of Nome on Alaska's western coast. Before reaching their destination, the teams will cross mountains, frozen rivers and forests before hitting the wind-pummeled coast. They'll sign in at village checkpoints, sometimes stopping for mandatory layovers.

The winner will get a new truck and $50,400. The rest of the $600,000 purse will be split between the next 29 mushers to cross the finish line.

Participants in the 41st running of the race include six past Iditarod winners, including Seavey and his father, Mitch Seavey. Dallas Seavey also is among six past winners of the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, held just weeks before the Iditarod.

Lance Mackey of Fairbanks ? the only musher to ever win both races the same year ? just scratched from the Quest in February because of a team of ailing dogs. He is going for a fifth win in the Iditarod, this time taking mostly young dogs and only four veterans from the Quest.

At Saturday's ceremonial start, fans regularly stopped by to wish him luck.

"This is like a pregame warm-up," Mackey said of the party-like atmosphere.

Sunday will bring a more highly charged approach among contenders.

"It's game time, and you get your game face on," Mackey said. "Put some blinders on ? and go race."

___

Associated Press writer Mark Thiessen in Anchorage contributed to this report.

___

Follow Rachel D'Oro on Twitter at https://twitter.com/rdoro

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iditarod-kicks-off-festive-ceremonial-start-190500240.html

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Egypt Sawiris tycoons banned from travel

AAA??Mar. 3, 2013?1:12 PM ET
Egypt Sawiris tycoons banned from travel
AP

FILE - In this Saturday, June 2, 2012 file photo, Egypt's former President, Hosni Mubarak, lays on a gurney inside a barred cage in the police academy courthouse in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's state news agency, MEAN, announced Sunday that the retrial of ousted President Hosni Mubarak on charges related to the killings of protesters during the uprising against him will begin April 13. MEAN said Sunday six security officials will also be tried and that Mubarak's two sons and a business associate will be retried on corruption charges. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - In this Saturday, June 2, 2012 file photo, Egypt's former President, Hosni Mubarak, lays on a gurney inside a barred cage in the police academy courthouse in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's state news agency, MEAN, announced Sunday that the retrial of ousted President Hosni Mubarak on charges related to the killings of protesters during the uprising against him will begin April 13. MEAN said Sunday six security officials will also be tried and that Mubarak's two sons and a business associate will be retried on corruption charges. (AP Photo, File)

An Egyptian activist holds a piece of paper with Arabic that reads, ?down with the Muslim Brotherhood, down with Morsi,? in a tent in Tahrir Square, the focal point of the Egyptian revolution, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, March 3, 2013. Security forces re-opened Tahrir Square removing barbed wire across the entrances to allow traffic to flow normally for the first time in months. Protesters have held a sit-in in the square since Nov. 22, 2013 after President Morsi issued a controversial constitutional declaration that rendered his decisions above judicial supervision. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Vehicles pass through Tahrir Square, the focal point of the 2011 Egyptian revolution, for the first time in months, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, March 3, 2013. Security forces re-opened Tahrir Square removing barbed wire across the entrances to allow traffic to flow normally. Protesters have held a sit-in in the square since Nov. 22, 2013 after President Morsi issued a controversial constitutional declaration that rendered his decisions above judicial supervision. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

FILE - In this Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011 file photo, the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak sits during his meeting with Emirates foreign minister, not pictured, at the Presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's state news agency, MENA, announced Sunday that the retrial of ousted President Hosni Mubarak on charges related to the killings of protesters during the uprising against him will begin April 13. MENA said Sunday six security officials will also be tried and that Mubarak's two sons and a business associate will be retried on corruption charges. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)

Egyptians walk next to protester's empty tents in Tahrir Square, the focal point of the 2011 Egyptian revolution, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, March 3, 2013. Security forces re-opened Tahrir Square removing barbed wire across the entrances to allow traffic to flow normally for the first time in months. Protesters have held a sit-in in the square since Nov. 22, 2013 after President Morsi issued a controversial constitutional declaration that rendered his decisions above judicial supervision. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

CAIRO (AP) ? Egypt's state news agency says two of the country's biggest tycoons have been banned from traveling abroad after the country's finance minister requested a criminal case be expedited against them for alleged tax evasion.

MENA news agency reported Sunday that the country's prosecutor has ordered the travel ban for Onsi Sawiris and his son, Nassef. The family manages Orascom Construction Industries, one of the largest employers in the Middle East.

The company allegedly failed to pay roughly $2 billion in taxes from profits on its sale of Orascom Building to France's Lafarge.

Forbes' 2012 list of the 40 richest Africans living in Africa says Nassef Sawiris has a net worth of $5.5 billion.

It was not immediately known if they were in Egypt when the travel ban was issued.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-03-03-Egypt/id-2dd1c938c3734b14b63d1d2fabfc2956

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PJ Lifestyle ? The Paleo Diet: Should We Eat Like Cavemen?

Official description:

Release date:?August 7, 2012

Our great-grandmothers didn?t need nutrition lessons?then again, they weren?t forced to wade through aisle after aisle of packaged foods touting outlandish health claims and confusing marketing jargon. Over the last few decades, we?ve forgotten what ?real food? is?and we?re left desperately seeking foods that will truly nourish our bodies. We?re disillusioned with the ?conventional wisdom? for good reason?it?s gotten us nowhere.Achieving optimal health without calorie-counting, diet foods, or feelings of deprivation has never been easier.?Practical Paleoexplains why avoiding both processed foods and foods marketed as ?healthy??like grains, legumes, and pasteurized dairy?will improve how you look and feel and lead to lasting weight loss. Even better?you may reduce or completely eliminate symptoms associated with common health disorders!

Practical Paleo?is jam-packed with over 120 easy recipes, all with special notes about common food allergens including nightshades and FODMAPs. Meal plans are also included, and are designed specifically to support:

immune health (autoimmune conditions)

blood sugar regulation (diabetes 1 & 2, hypoglycemia)

digestive health (leaky gut, IBS & IBD)

multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndromethyroid health (hypo and hyper ? Hashimotos, Graves)

heart health (cholesterol & blood pressure)

neurological health (Parkinson?s & Alzheimer?s)

cancer recovery

fat loss

athletic performance

a ?squeaky-clean? Paleo approach

Practical Paleo?is the resource you?ll reach for again and again, whether you?re looking for information on healthy living, delicious recipes, or easy-to-understand answers to your questions about how a Paleo lifestyle can benefit you, your family, and your friends.

Official description:

Do you want to lose fat and stay young, all while avoiding cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson?s, Alzheimer?s and a host of other illnesses??The Paleo Solution?incorporates the latest, cutting edge research from genetics, biochemistry and anthropology to help you look, feel and perform your best. Written by Robb Wolf, a research biochemist who traded in his lab coat and pocket protector for a whistle and a stopwatch to become one of the most sought after strength and conditioning coaches in the world. With Robb?s unique perspective as both scientist and coach you will learn how simple nutrition, exercise and lifestyle changes can radically change your appearance and health for the better.

****

Click to submit book suggestions for the new daily feature at PJ Lifestyle.

A book recommendation often with excerpt(s), usually attempting to fit the daily theme. Family and Relationships on Monday, Practical and Technology on Tuesday, Laughter on Wednesday, Culture on Thursday, Intellect on Friday, Health and Fitness on Saturday, and Religion and Ethics on Sunday. Image courtesy shutterstock / robert_s

Source: http://pjmedia.com/lifestyle/2013/03/02/the-paleo-diet-should-we-eat-like-cavemen/

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Watch 15,000 Volts of Raw Power Burn Lightning Strikes into Wood

When lightning flashes across the sky, you only get a chance to glimpse its fractal form for a split second. But when you send 15,000 volts coursing through plywood, you get a much better look at how it grows. Melanie Hoff, a student at the Pratt Institute in New York City did just that, and the result is a timelapse where you can see the patterns slowly grow out and smolder, like lightning made from molasses. [Vimeo Staff Picks] More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/LnkPQFdgkc0/watch-15000-volts-of-raw-power-burn-lightning-strikes-into-wood

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Beam me up, Yoda: Obama flubs 'Star Trek' term

President Barack Obama pause as he speaks to reporters in the White House briefing room in Washington, Friday, March 1, 2013, following a meeting with congressional leaders regarding the automatic spending cuts. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Barack Obama pause as he speaks to reporters in the White House briefing room in Washington, Friday, March 1, 2013, following a meeting with congressional leaders regarding the automatic spending cuts. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? He's not a dictator and won't entertain the idea of a "Jedi mind meld" with opponents. There's no "secret formula or special sauce" he can slip foes to make them see things his way. And not to worry, he says, the situation may look dire but won't be an "apocalypse."

So who was the guy in a suit who showed up Friday in the White House briefing room, mixing metaphors and references to "Star Wars" and "Star Trek"?

"I am not a dictator. I'm the president," Barack Obama declared as he rejected the idea of using burly Secret Service agents to keep lawmakers from leaving until everyone agreed on a budget. He answered reporters' questions shortly after an inconclusive, 52-minute meeting with the Democratic and Republican leaders of the House and Senate.

"So ultimately, if Mitch McConnell or John Boehner say, 'We need to go to catch a plane,' I can't have Secret Service block the doorway. Right?"

Even if he did bar his office ? the oval one ? Obama said he wouldn't do a "Jedi mind meld" with Congress' top two Republicans to persuade them "to do what's right."

Yoda-quoting nerds, Beltway insiders and even Hollywood heroes were instantly abuzz. The presidential mishmash of sci-fi references went viral, turning off geeks who had considered Obama to be one of them with a slip of the tongue that was almost as bad as confusing Klingons and Ewoks, or even Democrats and Republicans.

Jedis are from "Star Wars," while mind-melds happened on "Star Trek."

Mister Spock of "Star Trek" weighed in.

"Only a Vulcan mind meld would be effective on this Congress. LLAP," Leonard Nimoy emailed after The Associated Press sought his reaction. Nimoy signed off with the abbreviation for his "Live long and prosper."

As for the situation that led Obama to the briefing room in the first place, he could have quoted Bobby McFerrin and just said: "Don't worry, Be happy."

Instead, the president went with: "This is not going to be a apocalypse."

___

AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein and Associated Press Writer Caleb Jones in New York contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-03-01-US-Obama-Jedi-Mindmeld/id-33953664a4904accaedea454a6a51a97

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