GSA Today: Human transformation of land threatens future sustainability?

Public release date: 27-Nov-2012
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Contact: Kea Giles
kgiles@geosociety.org
Geological Society of America

Boulder, Colorado, USA - Social and physical scientists have long been concerned about the effects of humans on Earth's surface -- in part through deforestation, encroachment of urban areas onto traditionally agricultural lands, and erosion of soils -- and the implications these changes have on Earth's ability to provide for an ever-growing population. The December 2012 GSA Today science article presents examples of land transformation by humans and documents some of the effects of these changes.

Researchers Roger Hooke of the University of Maine, USA, and Jos F. Martn-Duque and Javier Pedraza of Complutense University, Spain, examine factors such as available agricultural land area and discuss some of the implications of their findings in light of human population growth and its relationship to planetary resources.

Overall, they find that just over 50% of Earth's total land surface has been modified by human activity. Because many of these modifications also result in reduction of land available for agriculture -- either by degradation of land quality by processes such as soil erosion, or by transforming agriculture lands to urban uses -- Hooke and colleagues argue that these changes to our planet's land surface also influence the ability of these same lands to sustain local, regional, and, ultimately, global population.

Comparing projections of future changes in land-use with projections of population growth leads them to also suggest that human population may be entering, or already in, a state of "overshoot" -- where the needs of the present population exceed the long-term carrying capacity of a region. Solutions may not be easy to arrive at, but would need to involve a combination of efforts aimed to reduce demand for resources, develop new technical solutions to resource limitations, and to reduce the rate of growth of population.

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ARTICLE
Land transformation by humans: A review
Roger LeB. Hooke, School of Earth and Climate Sciences and Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469-5790, USA; Jos F. Martn-Duque, Dept. of Geodynamics and Geosciences Institute (CSIC-UCM), Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain; and Javier Pedraza, Dept. of Geodynamics, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Pages 4-10, doi: 10.1130/GSATG151A.1.

GSA TODAY articles are open access online; for a print copy, please contact Kea Giles. Please discuss articles of interest with the authors before publishing stories on their work, and please make reference to GSA TODAY in articles published.

www.geosociety.org

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

Public release date: 27-Nov-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Kea Giles
kgiles@geosociety.org
Geological Society of America

Boulder, Colorado, USA - Social and physical scientists have long been concerned about the effects of humans on Earth's surface -- in part through deforestation, encroachment of urban areas onto traditionally agricultural lands, and erosion of soils -- and the implications these changes have on Earth's ability to provide for an ever-growing population. The December 2012 GSA Today science article presents examples of land transformation by humans and documents some of the effects of these changes.

Researchers Roger Hooke of the University of Maine, USA, and Jos F. Martn-Duque and Javier Pedraza of Complutense University, Spain, examine factors such as available agricultural land area and discuss some of the implications of their findings in light of human population growth and its relationship to planetary resources.

Overall, they find that just over 50% of Earth's total land surface has been modified by human activity. Because many of these modifications also result in reduction of land available for agriculture -- either by degradation of land quality by processes such as soil erosion, or by transforming agriculture lands to urban uses -- Hooke and colleagues argue that these changes to our planet's land surface also influence the ability of these same lands to sustain local, regional, and, ultimately, global population.

Comparing projections of future changes in land-use with projections of population growth leads them to also suggest that human population may be entering, or already in, a state of "overshoot" -- where the needs of the present population exceed the long-term carrying capacity of a region. Solutions may not be easy to arrive at, but would need to involve a combination of efforts aimed to reduce demand for resources, develop new technical solutions to resource limitations, and to reduce the rate of growth of population.

###

ARTICLE
Land transformation by humans: A review
Roger LeB. Hooke, School of Earth and Climate Sciences and Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469-5790, USA; Jos F. Martn-Duque, Dept. of Geodynamics and Geosciences Institute (CSIC-UCM), Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain; and Javier Pedraza, Dept. of Geodynamics, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Pages 4-10, doi: 10.1130/GSATG151A.1.

GSA TODAY articles are open access online; for a print copy, please contact Kea Giles. Please discuss articles of interest with the authors before publishing stories on their work, and please make reference to GSA TODAY in articles published.

www.geosociety.org

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/gsoa-gth112712.php

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Google Breaks All Android App Reviews, Threatens Android Fans' Safety

"A Google User" is now the number one Android game and app reviewer on Google Play, Android's version of Apple's App Store. That's because every single one of the millions of existing reviews, possibly including yours, has had its author replaced with this nameless, faceless person.

Screenshots taken by Jeremiah Rice of the Android Police blog show this prolific (but completely generic) author has taken over the Google Play store. Meanwhile, if you visit the store on your Android smartphone or tablet you won't see a name attached to most reviews at all; just the review's title, and the device that the game or app was run on.

Believe it or not, this is all intentional. It's the start of a new Google policy ... one which may threaten some Android fans' safety or privacy.

?Google+, whether you like it or not

Google now requires you to have a Google+ (pronounced "Google Plus") account in order to leave reviews on Google Play, the Chrome Web Store, and Google Maps. No reason for the switchover is given in the pop-up which explains this; you simply click "Continue" if you want your reviews tied to your Google+ account, and if you don't want them linked you don't write them at all. If you don't have a Google+ account, you have to sign up for one before you can write a review.

?Why Google is Plus-ifying everything

Google's success as a company is determined by how many ads it sells. Google's share of the ad market is being eaten into by Facebook, which has essentially "walled off" a huge part of people's day-to-day lives in a place Google can't index or sell any ads on. For better or for worse, Google's execs feel that what they need to do to compete is copy Facebook, in the form of Google+.

Why? Because if everyone is "Plusing" things instead of "Liking" them, and if everything people do shows up on Google+ instead of Facebook, then now Google (instead of Facebook) knows what you're doing online and where you're doing it -- and that gives it a much better position from which to display and sell ads.

?Why this is a problem for many

Besides the obvious privacy concerns (although Google offers limited tools to manage how much it tracks you), Google+'s "real names" policy is dangerous to anyone whose safety is jeopardized by attaching their given name to their online activities. This includes women who are victims of stalking, minors who are victims of abuse, transgender persons in transition, and dissidents in repressive political or religious regimes. By requiring a Google+ account to use more and more of its services, Google is forcing these people to choose between excluding themselves and running the risk of having ?all? of their Google services terminated for a "real name" policy violation, including their personal Gmail accounts.

Google+ policy allows for pseudonymous accounts, if you're widely known by that pseudonym online. Everyone's Google+ page, however, has a button to report what anyone feels is a suspicious name, which puts marginalized persons like those listed above at the mercy of every "troll" who comes by.

Jared Spurbeck is an open-source software enthusiast, who uses an Android phone and an Ubuntu laptop PC. He has been writing about technology and electronics since 2008.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/google-breaks-android-app-reviews-threatens-android-fans-185400561.html

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Benefits of Using Personal Training to Market health club

Because of the
need now-a-days to look your best, combat obesity, especially among young
people, (which is above) the importance of exercise and staying healthy through
nutritional means appearing more and more in the media. This has led to health club membership and surely, the market has become more competitive. Many are now using personal training for the health club and ?market, as many of the markets in the industry as possible.

Weight, engine running and exercise classes are all well and good, but what they can not provide is the scope for a holistic approach to health and wellness that provide pilates training.

People are individuals and have different needs and desires. Personal training can address those issues, and tailor training programs accordingly. They also explained the concept, offer advice, and answer any questions you may have, where other activities at a health club, could not do.

Muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility are the five major components, the target of personal training. The age range that caters Personal training is people aged between 18-50, and healthy, and free of diseases that damage the sport. The age range is very wide, therefore, potentially, the scope for clients in a health club is very spacious.

What stops a long-term clients in the health club? Is that being too busy with other things, such as work or family? Boredom? The knowledge that at any given time the exercise will lose its meaning? Well that's where personal training comes into its own. The relationship between the client and the coach can not be overstated. Exercise more enjoyable, and in turn, clients see better results and then get better and motivated.

Provide feedback and results are positive, the client will see the benefits of personal training. It has the potential to create long-term clients. It all depends on a good relationship with a personal trainer. The good will lead to a sense of their clients can not break training sessions, and the benefits of exercise will be evident. If the client receives advice, then this in turn build motivation, and this leads to better outcomes for the health club.

Certificates are displayed on the walls of the health club, showing the qualifications of a personal trainer, always a good way to promote personal training. Customer pays prefer to know that they are paying for a professional, qualified and all professionals. Ideally, the coach will also have qualifications in CPR. It brings down insurance premiums and meet the demands of the insurance companies.

Although there are benefits in all aspects of marketing a health club, they tend to be hit and miss in terms of results. By encouraging personal training for health club market, clients can see and feel the benefits of exercise, particularly in the areas of improved training techniques, motivation, and knowledge about health. A holistic approach can lead to long-term clients and thus, revenue higher silver sneakers.

Source: http://fashionbyjakel.blogspot.com/2012/11/benefits-of-using-personal-training-to.html

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kathyburkeyx: Department of Sport and Recreation | Martial Arts ...

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Source: http://kathyburkeyx.blogspot.com/2012/11/department-of-sport-and-recreation.html

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Source: http://kipyme.posterous.com/kathyburkeyx-department-of-sport-and-recreati

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