Sleep's memory role discovered

The mechanism by which a good night's sleep improves learning and memory has been discovered by scientists. The team in China and the US used advanced microscopy to witness new connections between brain cells - synapses - forming during sleep. Their study, published in the journal Science, showed even intense training could not make up for lost sleep. Experts said it was an elegant and significant study, which uncovered the mechanisms of memory. It is well known that sleep plays an important role in memory and learning. But what actually happens inside the brain has been a source of considerable debate. Researchers at New York University School of Medicine and Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School trained mice in a new skill - walking on top of a rotating rod. They then looked inside the living brain with a microscope to see what happened when the animals were either sleeping or sleep deprived. Their study showed that sleeping mice formed significantly more new connections between neurons - they were learning more. Analysis This is just the latest piece of science to highlight the importance of sleep. A new reason for sleep was discovered last year when experiments showed the brain used sleep to wash away waste toxins built up during a hard day's thinking. However, there are concerns that people are not getting enough sleep. As part of the BBC's Day of the Body Clock, Prof Russell Foster argued that society had become "supremely arrogant" in ignoring the importance of sleep, leading to "serious health problems". These include: cancer heart disease type-2 diabetes infections obesity The reward for more sleep, Prof Foster argues, is we would all be "better human beings." Further tests showed how significant sleep was. Mice doing up to an hour's training followed by sleep were compared with mice training intensively for three hours but then sleep deprived. The difference was still stark, with the sleepers performing better and the brain forming more new connections. Prof Gan added: "One of the implications is for kids studying, if you want to remember something for long periods you need these connections. "So it is probably better to study and have good sleep rather than keep studying." Commenting on the findings, Dr Raphaelle Winsky-Sommerer, from the University of Surrey, told the BBC: "This is very impressive, carefully crafted and using a combination of exquisite techniques to identify the underlying mechanisms of memory. "They provide the cellular mechanism of how sleep contributes to dealing with experiences during the day. "Basically it tells you sleep promotes new synaptic connections, so preserve your sleep."

US student disarms Seattle university killer gunman

Police in the American city of Seattle have praised the bravery of a student for disarming a gunman who had killed one person and wounded three others. The student overcame the gunman on the campus of Seattle Pacific University as he tried to reload, police said. Pepper spray was used to subdue the attacker. Police said the actions of the student, and others who came to his aid, prevented a more serious tragedy. The gun suspect has been named as Aaron Ybarra, 26, who is in custody. Police say he is being investigated for murder. They say he was not a student at the university and was believed to have been acting alone. He is reported to have been carrying a shotgun and a knife before opening fire after walking into the foyer of the university. A security officer patrols the campus after the shooting at Seattle Pacific University (5 June 2014)

The government recently announced a Sh12.3 billion deal with giant telecoms company Safaricom for establishment of a security surveillance and communication system involving video surveillance (CCTV), digital radios, video conferencing system, central command for the communication system and a mapping system to thwart terrorism. But a self-proclaimed hacker and ‘IT security genius’ now claims Kenya is getting a raw deal, saying what government is acquiring from the cellular data network firm is “old technology that should not be relied on by countries under terror threat”. This, however, is a view that Peter Wanyonyi, an IT consultant in the telecoms sector, whose views The Nairobian independently sought, dismisses as humbug. Sir Neo Roger Branson, who claims to be the founder of ‘Ultimate Global Technology Authorité’ and employee of the ‘G8+ endorsed Global Intelligence, Surveillance and Tactical (GIST)’, also wonders why a government would go to a private telecoms firm to help fix a security problem that should be the preserve of the National Intelligence Service (NIS). (An internet search by The Nairobian does not reveal much about his two companies apart from a website and blogs written by Sir Neo). “Terrorists have been known to influence and compromise even some staff of the world’s leading intelligence firms in the West.So what would stop Al Shabaab, Al Qaeda or any other terrorist group from infiltrating the staff of mobile telephony operators? What if the terrorists create a jamming field on the mobile telephony networks? A terrorist only needs a minute to carry out an attack so, they need a tech that would be ahead of them at all times.

A US intelligence agency is allegedly tapping all phone calls made in Kenya, possibly informing the recent travel advisories and the heightened alert at its Embassy in Nairobi. The spying claim that could be a major breach of privacy for millions of Kenyans is contained in a WikiLeaks exposé by the global whistleblower Edward Snowden. Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000121935/wikileaks-us-eavesdrops-on-kenyans-calls Already, the US Embassy in Nairobi has announced plans to cut down its staff following what it termed information on potential terror threats. Britain has also evacuated its holidaying citizens over what it terms credible terror threats. Documents leaked by Mr Snowden reveal that the National Security Agency is recording millions of phone communications made on mobile and even fixed lines, with the intention of spying and possibly thwarting any terror threats. Further, NSA archives and replays specific conversations of interest for up to a month in a secret surveillance system code-named Somalget. There is no indication, however, whether the information collected could be abused. But the surveillance could be a major concern for ordinary citizens minding their own business. It is expected that the claims, if confirmed, could unsettle Kenya whose relations with the US have been lukewarm at best.Kenya has not granted permission to any country for such surveillance, while such tapping could make up a criminal offence. The Constitution guarantees freedom to privacy that includes communication. The Intercept, an online publication that releases the US’ classified information leaked by Snowden, alleges that the NSA secret programme, Mystic, collects information and content from all phone networks in Kenya and three other countries. “All told, the NSA is using Mystic to gather personal data on mobile calls placed in countries with a combined population of more than 250 million people,” The Intercept reported yesterday. Mystic listens in on mobile networks for information that reveals the time, source, and destination of calls. Somalget is a cutting-edge tool that enables the NSA to vacuum and store the actual content of every conversation in an entire country. The documents claim the spy operation in Kenya is “sponsored” by the CIA, which collects GSM metadata with the potential for content at a later date. “It is believed the focus of the local operation is to intercept phone communication relating to terror since the US works closely with local security forces in combating the militant fundamentalist group Al-Shabaab, based in neighbouring Somalia,” reports The Intercept. Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000121935/wikileaks-us-eavesdrops-on-kenyans-calls

Black Hat Europe, Amsterdam – March 13 – Offensive Security today announced the availability of Kali Linux, the evolution of its popular BackTrack Linux, a free security auditing operating system and toolkit. Showcased at Black Hat Europe in Amsterdam, Kali Linux incorporates more than 300 penetration testing and security auditing programs with a Linux operating system, delivering an all-in-one solution that enables IT administrators and security professionals to test the effectiveness of risk mitigation strategies. “For IT professionals, an experiment is worth a thousand theories. Applied to security, it means that simulating attacks to assess the defenses protecting your organization is the only sure way to understand their effectiveness and the impact of an attack,” said Mati Aharoni, Lead Trainer and Developer, Offensive Security. “That’s why we created Kali Linux; we’ve developed the most advanced penetration testing and security auditing toolkit available to help IT administrators and security professionals put themselves in the shoes of potential attackers.” The new Kali Linux offers a smoother, easier penetration testing experience, making it more accessible to IT generalists as well as security specialists. The new infrastructure incorporates Debian development standards to provide a more familiar environment for IT administrators. The result is a more robust solution that can be updated more easily. Users can also customize the operating system to tailor it to their needs and preferences. All the programs packaged with the operating system were evaluated for suitability and effectiveness before being included. They include Metasploit for network penetration testing, Nmap for port and vulnerability scanning, Wireshark for monitoring network traffic, and Aircrack-ng for testing the security of wireless networks. “When it comes to security, the best defense is offense; you need to test the effectiveness of your own security practices before a real intruder does it for you,” said HD Moore, Chief Architect for Metasploit at Rapid7. “We built Metasploit to level the playing field for defenders; arming them with the same tools the attackers have. Offensive Security takes this even further, bringing hundreds of such tools together in Kali Linux to streamline security auditing.” Additionally, Kali Linux can now run on a wide variety of hardware and is compatible with numerous wireless and USB devices. It also introduced support for ARM devices – typically miniature, battery-powered computers – which are becoming more prevalent and inexpensive. More information on which devices are supported, as well as other documentation, is available on the Kali Linux documentation site. Pricing and Availability

I do not expect that this article will change anyone’s mind about anything. I do feel that someone ought to speak out about this thorny subject and present clear facts and info about it for the benefit of those who have been harassed and made to feel less than human because they mas'tu'rbate. What Is Mastu'rbation? Mastu'rbation is the se'xual stimulation of one’s own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed using the hands, fingers, everyday objects, or dedicated se'x toys. I lifted that definition right off Wikipedia, as it is an accurate description and I do not feel compelled to reinvent the wheel. Mastu'rbation Is Not A Sin As I am a Christian (while this article is not religious in nature), I feel a need to speak out for the Bible. There is not one verse of the Bible that condemns self-stimulation. There is not one that insinuates such a condemnation. Yet, day after day, we hear preachers condemn mas'tu'rbation as a sin. Their arguments? There is the argument that se'x was created for mutual pleasure: Yes; I agree. Se'x was. But mastu'rbation is not s'ex. It is se'xual, and many other things are se'xual, but it is not se'xual intercourse in itself. Se'x is for mutual benefits; mast'ur'bation is for personal benefits. Two different things. Yet, as I shall show later, mastu'rbation can be helpful in enhancing se'xual intercourse. Not only is it not a sin, it is a good thing. There is also the argument that Jesus said if you lust after the opposite se'x in your mind, you are sinning. Yes; that is correct too, but then what part of physically stimulating yourself with the hands, fingers or any other object is lusting after someone in your mind? If a Christian lusts after someone in their heart while mastu'rbating, then such a one has crossed the line that Jesus drew. That does not make mastu'rbation in itself a sin. That person has merely corrupted a clean act and needs to deal with his or her thoughts. Someone asked me yesterday how I want to prove that “those activities are censored and powered by the Holy Spirit”. Let me ask a question in response: Have you ever given any thought to what happens during actual se'xual intercourse? A man and a woman panting, sweating and heaving like two idiots. All those cool looking dudes in suits (yes; that includes me) don’t look so cool when banging their women and look like grotesque demons when having an orgasm. What seems Holy Ghost approved and powered about a hormone-raging man ramming a stiff rod into a woman again and again and having her moan like an animal? And as for the women, all those prim and proper women we see in public often look like demon-possessed pagan priestesses during intercourse. Seriously, apart from the “Jesus!! Jesus!!” that some of the women cry out when in the throes of a good romp or an orgasm, there cannot be anything about se'x that looks like the Holy Ghost gives approval to the activity. Yet, He does. Case closed. The issue of Holy Ghost approval and all that is in the mind. The Bible that Christians claim to uphold does not make an issue of these things or of mastu'rbation. I am tired of Christians being so close-minded that they manufacture rules to help God. First, God doesn’t need your help. Second, take a look around you and ask yourself if this close-mindedness has helped your homes. Se'xually dissatisfied husbands and wives everywhere, many of whom will not speak out though their marriages are in shambles. And many of them stubbornly refusing to look at facts when presented to them. Their call still. Mastu'rbation Is Addictive Yes; it is. But then, so are mobile phones, food, chocolate, wine, Coke, Twitter, Facebook and football. Yet, no-one is screaming “Sin!!!” for all those. Oh, even se'xual intercourse itself is addictive. Let’s just lay aside all those things because they are addictive; shall we? No; how to deal with anything that has the potential for being addictive is not to stay away from it, but to exercise moderation. Mastu'rbation Is Not A Dirty habit Some people call mastu'rbation a dirty habit. In what sense? It produces mostly the same results as se'xual intercourse – the man ejaculates. The woman has an orgasm and in some cases squirts. What else? Mastu'rbation is just as dirty as se'xual intercourse is, as far as I can tell. Mastu'rbation Is Healthy In general, the medical community considers mast'ur'bation to be a natural and harmless expression of se'xuality for both men and women. It does not cause any physical injury or harm to the body, and can be performed in moderation throughout a person’s lifetime as a part of normal se'xual behavior. Source If you use other objects apart from your hands, be careful though so you don’t hurt yourself. Perhaps you should visit a se'x shop for some toys instead. Why You Should Mastu'rbate Now that I have cleared the objections to mastu'rbation, let me tell you why you should mastu'rbate. One: mastu'rbation helps you get comfortable with your se'xuality. You get to know your body and what triggers you. That means you can generally be a better s'exual mate to your spouse. How do you expect your spouse to pleasure you se'xually when you are so clueless about yourself to start with? Do your partner a favour and play with yourself! In counselling couples with se'xual issues over the years, especially where one partner is se'xually naive, I have recommended that he/she mastu'rbates to become more comfortable with their own se'xuality. A woman who is cold and passive during se'x can be a big problem to her husband. Mastu'rbation helps deal with that. She learns what she likes and what triggers her off. She learns what makes her climax. She becomes better at se'x with her husband. Same thing the other way round. Two: With many couples, one person usually has a higher se'xual drive than the other. This can put pressure on the relationship. Mastu'rbation is an outlet for such individuals. Women keep complaining about their husbands mastu'rbating, yet forget that they are the ones who come up with excuses of having had a tired day or having a headache when the poor man wants se'x with them. Such women are evil and insensitive. Totally selfish. This applies to the men too. If your wife has a higher se'x drive than you do, mastu'rbation is a good let off of se'xual pressure. In the alternative, you could let her roam…. Three: For single folks, mastu'rbation is a good way of relieving the se'xual tension that can build up over time. It is safer than casual se'x and doesn’t cost you buying anybody lunch or dinner. Or breaking anybody’s heart just because you are horny. For example, every month whether a woman likes it or not, she gets horny (that’s every 60 seconds for a man, by the way). This is a biological function. For some, it is more intense than others. Mastu'rbation is a good way out. No; in itself, mastu'rbation will not hamper your se'xual intercourse later. Don’t believe the hype. Four: Mastu'rbation produces almost all the other benefits of se'x without actual s'ex. It is a good anti-depressant, relieves tension (not just s'exual tension), helps you sleep, and keeps the mind sharp. Who Mastu'rbates? Almost everybody mastu'rbates, including many of those people who tell you that it is sinful, dirty, and a bad habit (yes; the hypocrisy is filthy). Most people start mastu'rbating from their teens. Remember wet dreams when you first hit your teens? Usually that’s where it starts. A wet dream is a natural procedure by the body. No; it has nothing to do with witches and wizards or spiritual husbands and wives. God knows how many spiritual wives I must have by now if I count all the times I have had a wet dream. Thankfully, I had an educated and enlightened father who explained to me that it was nothing to worry about when he saw my bed stains many years ago as a teenager. Mastu'rbation is a normal part of the growing child’s exploration of his or her body and continues for the rest of the lives of most people. If you mastu'rbate, you are not an oddity. Actually, its those who claim not to mastu'rbate that are the oddities. Don’t let anyone crush your spirit ever again about this. There is nothing wrong with you. There is nothing to be ashamed of about it. As long as you don’t let it become an addiction or a problem to normal s'ex'ual activity with your partner (and usually it becomes a problem when fantasy gets involved), you are all fine and dandy. Did I leave anything out?

http://www4.pictures.stylebistro.com/mp/pApLY-dlFO6l.jpg (Source: Kevin Winter/Getty Images North America) more pics like this » See Full List Prev Next Jennifer Lopez's Top Looks From 'American Idol' 2014 Our favorite reason to tune into American Idol? You know, aside from all that talent—JLo's perpetually glam style. Whether it's tall boots or short leather dresses, she always nails the perfect mixture of sexy and cool. Just in time for the show's finale, take a look back at the judge's most memorable fashion moments.

From K.U To all Comrades... We held a lengthy discussion with Prof Kaimenyi, Dr Belio Kipsang and other Ministry Officials yesterday from 5~7pm. The Student leaders delegation included 3 Secretary Generals of Public Universities and Executive members of National Union of Students Organisation. It was more than evident from the meeting that the ministry HAS NOT sanctioned any FEE INCREAMENT, neither are there plans to do so. Reports going round are misleading and inaccurate. Any such increase must be initiated by University Councils, through a consultative process where stakeholders involved include parliament, senate, Commission for University Education, CCPSB, Students leadership, parents and approved by the ministry. No such process has been Started to this effect. The only process running is determination of maximum differentiated unit Cost for academic programmes, which is not fee increment. In this respect, Any demonstrations today are irrelevant, misplaced and uncalled for. All Students are requested not to participate in any disruptive activities. Let us not allow ourselves to be used by Politicians in their quest to gain Cheap publicity. Regards, Ephraim Wainana Secretary General, KUSA