'Buckliball' means collapsible structures with no moving parts

Jacob Aron, technology reporter

Buckling buildings are normally bad news, but a new a 3D shape dubbed the "buckliball", created by researchers at MIT and Harvard University, could allow architects to create structures with collapsible ceilings or walls without the need for moving parts.

The buckliball is a 3D-printed hollow rubber sphere whose surface is covered with 24 evenly spaced dimples. The name comes from the shape's resemblance to the spherical carbon molecules, known as buckyballs.Sucking out the air from the buckliball causes the spaces between the dimples to collapse, buckling under an even load and closing the dimples to create a 26-sided shape - called a rhombicuboctahedron - which is about half the size of the original sphere.

Reinflating the buckliball returns it to its original shape, opening up a wide range of applications. The researchers say buckliballs could be used to design buildings that collapse and reform, create microscopic drug-delivery capsules or even find their way into a new kind of Transformer toy. Inspiration for the buckliballs themselves actually came from a toy known as the Hoberman Twist-O, which undergoes similar deformations.

The team have calculated that the dimples can be arranged in five different ways across a sphere and still share the buckliball's collapsing properties. And it turns out that viruses already use a similar 60-sided design to inject DNA into a host by opening or closing in reaction to the surrounding chemical environment. Buckliballs could potentially mimic this behaviour, triggering a collapse in response to electrical, thermal or chemical changes.

Journal reference: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences doi: 10.1073/pnas.1115674109

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/1dd69a5f/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Conepercent0C20A120C0A30Cbuckliball0Emeans0Ecollapsible0Es0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Fonline0Enews/story01.htm

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Individual Health Insurance | Direct Insurance

What Is An Individual Health Insurance Plan?

An individual health insurance plan is a plan mainly provided to self-employed and unemployed people. Occasionally, people will elect individual coverage even if their company provides a plan. ?Individual? plans in the health insurance business do not actually refer to insurance provided to one person. It just means that a company or employer does not pay part of the bill. If someone pays the entire premium of a family plan, then such coverage is still considered as ?individual?. Rates for such individual plans will always be more expensive than group plans. The price of a group plan is lower because participating companies buy many plans from an insurance company (at cheaper bulk rate) and then the employer will pay part of the premium for employees.

Individual health plans and group market plans both offer the same type of options (for the most part). They offer health maintenance organization (HMO) plans, preferred provider organization (PPO), point-of-service (POS) plans and traditional fee-for-service arrangement. For those electing a group plan, they can receive a substantial discount on premiums and comprehensive policies. Keep in mind though that a group insurance plan will only cover someone while they are at the same job. If a consumer ends up in a situation without access to a group plan (i.e. laid off without other employment options), then they will quickly learn how expensive that the alternatives can be. Individual plans are usually only recommended to those people without the group plan option.

Disadvantages Of Individual Health Insurance Policies

Insurance companies might not cover people with such plans. This might be pretty scary for those with a family or those in need of serious healthcare. With individual health insurance, there is a requirement to submit an application that is medically underwritten by the insurer. This requires an insurer to examine a candidate?s medical record. As with most other types of insurance (i.e. auto insurance), premium is established by risk. Depending on the risk, insurers can even choose not to offer someone a health insurance policy. Alternatively, an insurer may require certain exclusions to be added to an insurance policy (mainly for those with health problems). Some states offer what is known as ?guaranteed issue?. This law forces insurance companies to provide an individual health plan to those needing one. This is great protection but will ultimately increase premiums.

COBRA Insurance

Another temporary option for those leaving an employer with a group health insurance plan is what is called COBRA coverage. Cobra refers to Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (established 1985). Many employers provide this coverage to employees for an additional 18 months after leaving the company. Such people will be forced to pay the full premium if they elect COBRA insurance coverage. Consumers have 60 days to determine if COBRA works for them. If it is not desirable, consumers should start shopping for individual health insurance coverage. COBRA insurance will cover all family members (even if there are pre-existing conditions). This might be a big advantage over some individual plans.

Tips For Finding An Individual Health Insurance Policy

If you have some favorite physicians, check to see if they are included on an insurance company?s network (i.e. PPO or HMO in-network).
Determine if you want a comprehensive plan (covering numerous potential expenses) or if you want a catastrophic plan covering you in the event of very serious health issues.
Don?t always lean towards the cheapest policy. You need to find a policy that fits all of your personal needs.
Evaluate all financial considerations including annual premium, deductible, co-payments, maximum out-of-pocket expenses and annual limitations.
Some group insurance plans give you the option of converting to an individual health plan. Although the conversion will cost more than a group plan, it is considerably less than buying an individual plan directly.
If you have pre-existing conditions, most states require you to obtain some type of coverage within 63 days or such pre-existing conditions will not be eligible for coverage.
Always check if your spouse has group plan options at her place of employment.
There are other types of group plans offered such as through the AARP and other organizations.

Individual Health Insurance Final Thoughts

Consumers should educate themselves on the types of individual health insurance policies offered. The best place to look is the internet due to accessibility of options and comparison shopping. Insurance premiums can vary significantly from one insurer to the next. Regardless of any personal situation, consumers should always have health insurance to cover themselves in the event of a serious injury or illness. Most consumers don?t adequately research all options. This is surprisingly considering that someone can be stuck with an undesirable policy for an extended period of time.

Cory has a website covering the major types of insurance. You can find many insurance articles, including auto insurance, home insurance, life insurance and health insurance. Also, you can compare numerous insurance quotes from different companies.

Source: http://directinsurance.go4buy.org/individual-health-insurance/

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the stay at home family - New York Mom|The Mama Bird Diaries ...

I keep hearing about this thing that families are doing over the weekend and it has me really intrigued. They describe it like this?

?We just hang out. We have no plan. The kids play and we never even make it out of the house. Never even get out of our pajamas. It?s great.?

I mean, how are you people doing this?

I do like to ?hang out? on the weekends. We like to play in the house, watch some ?American Idol?, play a little dance Wii, jump on the trampoline, make some chocolate chip pancakes, eat another snack 10 minutes later, play some board games, make some pillow forts and then it?s still only 9:30 in the god damn morning.

9:30 AM.

I also can?t do the no shower thing. If there was a Shower Club of America, I would be the president. No, higher than the president. I would be the Queen of the Shower Club of America. Is there anything higher than queen?

I love a nice refreshing body spritz and can?t get through a whole day without one. Don?t think this means that I wash my hair.? I find the hair washing completely unnecessary because my hair looks awesome when it?s dirty. The first day I wash it, it?s like I just came out of a casting call for Xanadu.

(I look so much like Olivia Newton-John in that photo.)

But I can?t skip the body shower.

And well, once I am showered, I might as well go somewhere.

At least a walk to Starbucks. Oh yeah, that ?I don?t go to Starbucks thing? is over.

And my kids can?t spend all day in the house either. They start to bicker over who actually owns a bracelet from a 2010 princess birthday party even though neither of them has even glanced at it since the day after that 2010 princess birthday party.

So we get out of the house. Anywhere really. This past weekend, we found ourselves at the mall. We went to Brookstone where the kids were playing with neck massage things that looked a whole lot like vibrators but who the hell knows. And then we went to the bookstore and read lots of awesome books that we didn?t buy and then we got delicious cinnamon pretzels. And it just felt good to be out.

But I applaud you families who can hang all day at home in your pajamas. You are a comfy, cozy bunch and a lot stronger than I could ever be.

mama bird notes:

Okay, I truly love this campaign from the International Olympic Committee. They are looking for videos of you showcasing your BEST talent. It can be anything (hula hooping, skateboarding, rock climbing, etc). And you could end up getting featured in a global Olympic TV spot or win a trip to the 2012 games in London!! How fancy is that?!

Obviously, I?m thinking about all my glorious talents and trying to hone in on the most impressive one. Right now, I?ve narrowed it down to (1) Eating candy, (2) my chimpanzee impression or (3) standing on my head while eating candy and doing my chimpanzee impression. Obviously feel free to weigh in.

Meanwhile, here is more info on the campaign?.

(This is a sponsored video)

Source: http://www.mamabirddiaries.com/the-mamabird-diaries/the-stay-at-home-family/

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Cisse slapped with four match ban

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cisse-slapped-four-match-ban-205411083.html

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Market HR Manager Mkts 71 73 at Walmart (Lubbock, TX) | Shoe ...

Market HR Manager Mkts 71 73 at Walmart (Lubbock, TX)

the business unitDemonstrates up-to-date expertise in Human Resources and applies this to the development, execution, ? (e.g., Business Administration, Human Resource Development, Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations/Labor?? View Full Job [...]

View Full Job Description

Source: http://www.myshoeangels.com/2012/03/market-hr-manager-mkts-71-73-at-walmart-lubbock-tx/

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Can You Handle An Open Relationship? | - Black Love and Marriage

By Ruth Purple

Open relationships are otherwise known as polygamous or polyamorous relationships. It is defined as a situation wherein couples go into mutual agreement to date and engage in sexual activity with other people although they still continue being in a relationship with each other. In the past, those who blatantly disregarded the definition of monogamy were called swingers.

Nowadays, however, a lot of rules in relationships have evolved, and the number of people in open relationships has increased dramatically. Although it has been something that was frowned upon back in the days, the social embarrassment that used to go along with being engaged in polyamory has seen a significant drop, not only among singles but among those involved in a committed relationship, even marriage.

It might seem like a novel idea but it actually has been around for quite some time already. While some people don?t see a problem with this kind of arrangement, polygamy and open relationships can still throw up some prickly issues and is no doubt never for the fainthearted. Can an open relationship survive in the long run, and what are its benefits and downsides? One of the premises of the concept of an open relationship is that it can enhance a couple?s trust, role flexibility, personal freedom and growth, and most especially introduce the idea of love and sex without the jealousy.

Some couples who are involved in it even maintain that it can in fact spice up an otherwise monotonous and lacklustre marriage. As much as it can do wonders to a marriage, it still can?t be denied that being involved in this kind of partnership has also its own share of threats, especially when it comes to health concerns.

Having multiple sexual partners can significantly increase the likelihood of contracting a sexually transmitted disease or infection. It is a common notion that gays and lesbians are particularly prone to these problems, but the prevalence of polygamy has radically increased even among heterosexual individuals. Also, there is always the possibility of getting pregnant, because sex is alive and kicking, just as it is even in the conventional, monogamous type of relationship.

Another major issue in an open relationship may be abandonment. There is always the concern that some people might steal or take one?s partner away if one permits other people to have sexual contact with him/her. likewise is the element of competition, because the partner may get a far better end of the bargain just because he/she is more gregarious and attractive, going out every night with a new date while you?re stuck at home, watching reruns of Friends just because you are the less attractive one.

Open relationships ultimately require an enormous level of honesty and maturity just like that of a monogamous couple, although the amount of communication needed to overcome problems are far greater and can be more draining. The topic of polygamy is a hot one nowadays, although it is definitely unresolved and debatable.

It may work for some people while others may find it hard to get past its sexual implications. Ultimately, monogamy or polygamy, every relationship has its own set of innate difficulties. Challenges are always part of the package, and it?s mostly up to the couple and the level of commitment they share in making things work.

The author of this article, Ruth Purple, is a successful Relationship Coach who has been helping and coaching individuals and couples for many years. You can read more work from her at http://www.relazine.com

Tagged as: Love & Marriage

Source: http://www.blackloveandmarriage.com/2012/03/can-you-handle-an-open-relationship/

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[OOC] DoYaThing

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You may edit this first post as you see fit.

ProfessorChaos

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