Senator urges U.S. to investigate the influence of "shooters" for children

Perhaps that is video games are pushing people to the mass killing

According to U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, after the recent tragedy in Newtown (Conn.) Congress should urgently examine the problem of the influence of aggressive video games on the psyche of children.
"In times like these, we need to thoroughly consider all methods to ensure the safety of our children," - said Rockefeller, who was quoted by RIA Novosti.
The proposed bill would force the senator National Academy of Science to find out whether violent games cause people to violence in real life. Rockefeller said that "the video game industry is also responsible for the safety of children."
Recall, on December 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown 20-year-old Adam Lanza (Adam Lanza) killed 20 children aged six to seven years and six adults. The guy shot the kids from guns belonging to his mother, who became his first victim.

Why he shot the children?

Unheard-of cruelty massacre of schoolchildren in Newtown shocked the world

Lt. Paul Vance of the Connecticut State Police warned: it takes a lot of time to create a full picture of the pieces of information that now have detectives, the investigating mass shooting in Sandy Hook Elementary School, in the small town of Newtown.
20-year-old Adam Lanza, going to kill the kids and their teachers had left hundreds of rounds of ammunition. This would be enough to kill all the students in the school, if it was enough time. He fired in a hurry powerful bullets that literally crumbled children's bodies. 12 girls and 8 boys and six adults ... State medical examiner Wayne Carter, who had seen a lot in his life, found that more terrible picture he had ever had to watch.
Connecticut Governor Dennel Minor paid tribute efficiency commando teams SWAT, which arrived on the scene in 10-12 minutes. By the time Adam Lanza was still alive. He killed himself with a single shot to the head, apparently realizing that nowhere to go. So, still aware that he is doing.
The first cry of the country was shocked: "What? Again? "Instantly alive in the memory of the picture shooting in Virginia Tech, in Kolumbaynskoy school in Tucson (Arizona), in Aurora (Colorado). And almost immediately broke indignant: "How long?" And then hung puzzled, sad question: "Why?"
And in fact, for what the devil has suffered two decades of primary school boy, armed assault rifle «Bushmaster» and 9mm pistols «Glock» and «SIG Sauer»?
No answer. There is only speculation.
The origins of seemingly gratuitous violent outbursts are looking for in a child offender, a family atmosphere. The situation was not easy, but not terrible. The boy lived in luxury mansion chetyrehspalennom area 3.100 square feet. His parents divorced in 2008. Father, Peter Lanza, currently vice president of GE Energy Financial Services, agreed to pay child support, which began with the sum of 240 thousand dollars and had to reach in 2015, 298,000. That is, family is obviously not needed. Adam lived with his mother. Those who knew him as a child, point out that it was a strange, silent, quiet.
Adam studied for three years at Western Connecticut State University and had good grades in some subjects, particularly in computer science. The only thing that can be related somehow to the tragedy, it is his illness - a form of autism called "Asperger Syndrome." It is a disorder of brain activity seen in particular in the fact that the patient is not sensitive to the emotions of others and has difficulty in communicating. But is that enough to go on a mass murder?
Harold Koplevits known child psychiatrist in New York, said that the 15 million children and teenagers in the United States suffer from various mental disorders, including autism and "Asbergera syndrome", but they rarely cause pain to others.
Something is brewing
A few days before Adam Lanza made a massacre in Sandy Hook, his mother open up a beer with a friend, who had asked the journalists not to be named. The conversation took place in the bar nyutaunskom My Place. According to the official 54-year-old Nancy Lanza, before she seldom spoke of youngest son, usually display a more favorable 24-year-old brother Ryan. This time, the conversation took an unusual turn.
"She looked down, arrested view mug in her hand, and said slowly:" Do with it gets worse. I'm afraid I'll lose it, "- says a friend. Nancy mentioned that Adam has recently tried to cause yourself pain and brought a lighter flame to his ankles and wrists. He's clearly something going on.
My friend said about Nancy Lanza only good. She grew up in the countryside, loved hawk. She had more than a dozen units of registered firearms, mostly rifles. Adam learned to shoot at age 9 with his mother practiced at the range, but it supposedly taught him to handle weapons carefully and responsibly.
John Tambasio, owner of the bar My Place, which Nancy Lanza attended for the past 17 years, insists that she is not the monster reared and taught him to kill. "Nancy was a strong, kind, loving man," - he said. Why Adam chose his mother his first victim? What happened between them in that terrible day and how it provoked continue the series of murders? We do not know. While this is a mystery and will probably remain a mystery forever. We only know that Adam shot the mother four times in the head with a rifle, and then went to her car to the school where she had taught. And, being in the school, began to shoot 7.6 year old children from high-velocity rifles «Bushmaster» caliber .223.
Who is to blame and what to do?
Foes of America, which is known to many around the world, is certainly relish this topic: Well, they say, they are killing children again. Crazy antics fatal for the world. But what's the truth: in America, affecting more often shoot at a time more victims.
Why? Great country, weapons at the hands of millions of units, in the insane also no shortage. All this is true. Yes, and adds fuel to the fire of popular culture. Previously loved blame Hollywood and comic book writer. Now in its effect on young minds put to the forefront video - technically sophisticated, exciting, interactive. Push a button and sing, watching fly hits the body of the label "enemies." Does this mean that it is necessary to remove such glorifying violence entertainment from circulation and to establish censorship? I do not think it should. And if anyone, and it occurred to hardly have helped.
Prohibit weapons can not. Restrict possible. After all, a limit speed on the roads, and do not prohibit machines that kill no less than the rifles and pistols. America's detractors would be worth to pay attention to something else. Every time there is a disaster such as the mass murder in Newtown, many people appear beautiful qualities which in the ordinary, everyday life often go unnoticed. Now we know what dedication showed school staff. Protecting children, they staked their lives. Director of the school, 47-year-old Don Hohsprang was killed while trying to disarm opoloumevshego shooter.
The teacher of the first class, 27-year-old Victoria Soto, barred children with his body and probably managed to save someone before it fell dead. Librarian Mary Ann Jacob rescued 18 children. When opened fire, she did not lose her, hid in the closet for kids stationery, told them to lock themselves inside and sit quietly.
"The scandal of outrageous proportions"
In Newtown came Obama. During his stay in the White House, it was already the fourth funeral mass for the victims of the massacres in schools and elsewhere. There are various ways to treat Obama's policy, but sincere tears appeared in the corners of his eyes, no doubt made him closer to nationals. At this point in front of them was not a politician, and his father, thinking of his children, and share the grief of other mothers and fathers. "Newtown, you are not alone!" - He cried.
Can do anything this man occupying the highest position in the country? Obama promised that he will use all the means, what has, and will seek to reform the laws on arms. "Can we say that we are doing everything possible to give all the children of this country the chance they deserve to live happily and have a goal? - The President asked the audience, which many did not hesitate to cry. - To be honest with ourselves, that begs an answer: "No". We are not doing enough, and it must change. "
Deliberately or not, but it sounded like a response to a sharp retort Michael Bloomberg, who, after a tragedy has accused Obama of inaction: "I think it's time for the president to prove himself as a leader. This should be the number one item on his agenda. He - the president of the United States, but it does not do anything ... His work does not consist of good intentions. His work - to act. "
New York's mayor, who has long been strongly in favor of restrictive measures on arms trade, very emotional tragedy took in school Sandy Hook. Speaking in a TV program "Meet the Press," he burst out accusatory tirade: "It is unthinkable. This happens only in America, and it is happening again, and again, and again ... We kill people in the schools, we are killing in hospitals, we kill in religious organizations. We kill the young, we kill the old, and we finally have to stop. "
Bloomberg hopes that now, after the occurrence of one of the bloodiest massacres in U.S. history, lawmakers in Washington finally come to their senses and something to really change in the rules governing trade in and possession of firearms.
Commissioner of the New York Police Department Ray Kelly looks at things more skeptical. Like, in the wake discuss the topic, but most will leave it as it is. But maybe this time it is too pessimistic.
"If the death of a child - the tragedy, the murder of twenty - the scandal of outrageous proportions," - said the Nobel Peace Prize winner Eli Wiesel.
The powerful gun lobby in Washington forced by public pressure to soften its stance. "The circumstances are so desperate that require aggressive actions," - said Rep. Rick Reholl, a Democrat from West Virginia. Agree with him many of his colleagues. So, perhaps, some kind of a restrictive measures in the legislation still to be introduced.

5 ways to prolong life

Choose any!
Demographers study clearly show that the human lifespan depends primarily on social factors - quality of life and the state of medicine in the country where he lives.
In Japan, for example, life expectancy in the last 20 years has grown to 82.15, and in the kingdom of Swaziland also increased - to 32.3. Therefore calculate biologicheskiĭ "lifetime" of a person is difficult, especially since most of the elderly dying of lyudeĭ bolezneĭ, not of old age. Most, but not all.
In the XIX century, scientists discovered the law, carries the names kotoryĭ Gompertz and Meĭkhema and describes the dependence of mortality on age. Initially with increasing age mortality increases exponentially. It seems obvious that the 70-year-old died more than 60 years, and 80-year-olds - more than 70 years. But in opisyvayuscheĭ law krivoĭ is one mystery - after the turn of the 90 years it goes to the so-called plateau. This means that if a man has stepped over that age, the probability of death - 90, 100 years or more to him about the same. This phenomenon dolgozhiteleĭ scientists can not explain.
Likely to plateau out the lucky ones who managed to avoid senile bolezneĭ. and it can be assumed and that the aging process in old age, as it were stopped. However, aging gives researchers more mysteries than longevity. This is evident in the very first number theory aging.
SO, aging - it's ...
1. Program: "Better to die than to make a mistake"
This postulate is the basis of the theory of one of the main experts on aging in Russia Vladimir Skulachev. He introduced the concept of "phenoptosis" - the programmed death of an organism, similar to apoptosis, programmed cell death. It would seem, why a program to death? Then, it is beneficial populations and species. In the words of Skulachev, nature has a "Samurai law of biology", which states that "it is better to die than to make a mistake." This means that the body, which is no longer needed, but a hundred times-renie - a program that believes Vladimir Skulachev, means "you can cancel it." In support of his theory, he gives examples of non-aging organisms in nature, in which the death occurs without aging.
Other scientists - the adherents of evolutionary theories of aging emphasize that the body makes a choice between repair and reproduction. Repair of cells and tissues requires a lot of energy - cheaper, faster multiply.
2. Damage accumulation: with age, the body begins to work less
Because with age, the body begins to work less, then it's some spoils. The question is what it is. Some experts believe the most important thing that the port proteins. For example, in the molecules of collagen, which is about one third of the structural proteins in the body, between the long helical filaments crosslinking "bridges" that are stitched together the threads, resulting in tissue loses its elasticity.
At the level of the cell deteriorate mitochondria - cellular power substation. This can lead to the fact that the cell gets in the way of programmed death.
3. Spoilage genes body accumulates harmful mutations
Finally, in old age appear genetic damage. After the body has ceased to multiply, it accumulates harmful mutations. There is no transfer of risk to their offspring, then, can be "spoiled" as they want. Harmful mutations can lead
and impairment of protein synthesis, and to cancer, for example. To genetic factors, aging and many are still mysterious mobile elements - short sequences that move along the DNA molecule and affect genes. With age, they become more. And there are mutations that directly cause premature aging - progeria or, conversely, "forever young."
4. Razregulyatsiya: breaking mechanism of gene regulation
About ten years ago, American scientists have found out why the yeast aging - they break the mechanism of gene regulation. The new study showed that in mammals are all exactly the same. This is a universal cause, scientists say. Hence, the causes of aging can not be genetic and epigenetic, that is lying next to the genes.
5. Blight "packaging" of DNA sections: Getting Started unnecessary and harmful genes
In the cell nucleus the DNA molecule is wound on histone proteins. These proteins can be modified, which determines the density of packing. With age, the chromatin in the nucleus becomes more loose, and it leads to what is beginning to work unnecessary and harmful genes. The packing is dense - genes do not work, wrap loose - genes work.
In general, the body is too complex, consists of a large number of elements, and when some of the elements fails, the system crashes. There are even attempts to mathematically explain aging to the theory of fractals, this theory develops Russian researcher Alexey Moskalev.
This is only the basic theory. So scientists wishing to find the "elixir of immortality", increase life expectancy, or at least to slow aging is, where to roam. The main thing - to find the target, which can be affected. On this task beating gerontologists around the world, practicing approaches in laboratory animals: nematode worms, fruit flies, mice. Some things work.
So, to defeat aging, you can ...
1. Manipulate genes
Schmukler Robert Rees, professor at the University of Arkansas, switched off in the genome of the nematode C.elegans one gene - Age-1. And in this way he was able to increase the life of the worm in 10 times! Nematode rather simple organism, and expect such impressive results on other sites do not have. Russian researcher Alexey Moskalev way extended the life of the fly Drosophila by only 10%.
2. Build on telomeres
Overcome aging organs and tissues of mice by an add telomeres in stem cells have scientists from Harvard Medical School. True, they did not work with normal mice, and the mutants that are rapidly getting old. The enzyme telomerase, which builds telomeres to normal length, these mice did not work even in stem cells, where it should provide long division. And of mice themselves into quite a young age appeared signs of aging: degraded testes, spleen, brain, broken nose.
Degeneration was reversed when scientists biochemically restored telomerase activity in the cells. This led to a lengthening of telomeres and the resumption of cell division. In mice that have been restored in testis, spleen, and brain, and they again began to smell.
3. Arrange attack antioxidants
Antioxidants - these nutrients - found in green tea, grape seed, red wine and other products. But scientists, including Vladimir Skulachev, argue that the natural antioxidants is low, because this is not the most "hot spots" are not in the mitochondria. Skulachev invented their antioxidants, which in his honor called "Skulachev ions". This positively charged ions, the properties of which allow them to penetrate into the mitochondria. there is something they neutralize reactive oxygen species.
Skulachev ions are tested on animals. True, drastically extend the life of experimental mice is not possible - only 30%, but managed to push their old age. "Animals are active until shortly before his death, showing the typical signs of aging, - said Vladimir Skulachev. - We were able to struggle with aging, but not with mortality in very old age. "
4. Restrict caloric intake
This is a very popular way that many times been tested on animals. Reduction of rats and mice consumed calories by 30% on average 30% increase life expectancy.
Trying to explain this phenomenon, the researchers first decided that calorie restriction slows the aerobic respiration, which is a source of reactive oxygen species. But it turned out that the breath while limiting calories increases, and thus, increases the level of reactive oxygen species. Another hypothesis equates to a moderate calorie restriction oxidative stress, which, as it fits the body for subsequent high oxidative stress. That is, when the age of reactive oxygen species is much trained in small doses, the body easier to cope with them.
However, another study in mice showed that fasting does not prolong the life of all animals, but only in mice that were genetically prone to obesity and body which the observed energy imbalance. Scientists believe that it can be fully attributed to the people. They warn people with normal physique on to diet and otherwise limit myself, they do not need. But the fat man's dietary restriction will benefit.
5. Increase physical activity.
The experimental mice were forced to run on the treadmill and in the wheel longer retain youth and health than their sedentary counterparts. Scientists believe that physical activity increases the number and quality of mitochondria. Researchers at McMaster University (Canada), for example, worked with mice prone to premature aging due to high levels of mutations in mitochondrial DNA. One group of mice lived in normal conditions, and the other three times a week to play sports. Three months later, it was found that the mouse-athletes to preserve youth and health, comparable to that of wild animals. Their mitochondria remain functional full. The fate of the control group was sad.

Doctors surprised that people do not get fat from eating and sedentary life

The causes of obesity are covered entirely different

Scientists have long recognized: the almost simultaneous increase in the number of obese people in most difficult to explain to a poor diet and lack of exercise. Obesity spreads so very rapidly. Like some kind of infection. And surprisingly found the cause of her sudden Chinese scientists from the Shanghai University.
Their research showed that people get fat because of a bacterial infection. Scientists conducted an experiment: mice fed fatty food and forced to sedentary life. It turned out that obesity is developed only in the group of mice "infected" enterobacter bacteria. According to biologists, the bacterium unbalances genes that control metabolism. Since bacteria encourages the body to produce and store fat. In addition, enterobacteria produces compounds that trigger insulin resistance. Patients eat more because they do not have a sense of satiety.
Study leader Professor Zhao Liping claims to have already cured of obesity in extreme stage. According to him, for 23 weeks, he lost 29% of body weight, and simultaneously recovered from diabetes, hypertension and fatty liver. The patient kept a special diet, depressing activity enterobacteria: whole grain products, tools, traditional Chinese medicine and indigestible carbohydrates.
By the way, and viruses fattening. Dr. Leah Uighem the University of Wisconsin (USA) says that obesity can spread from person to person so called adenovirus - common cold germs. As has been established, they make fat cells actively grow and multiply. It is not known, so far, why. Know something else: more than 20 percent of Americans are chronically infected with adenovirus. And usually, it's fat men.

United States decided not to anger the Japanese and declined to exercise a MV-22 Osprey on Okinawa

At the gates of the U.S. military bases in Japan are regularly protests

The U.S. military command has decided to abandon the exercises with konvertplanov MV-22 Osprey on the Japanese island of Okinawa to avoid causing new protests of local residents.
Decided to spend three weeks of maneuvers in the Pacific island of Guam.
Recall, at the gates of U.S. military bases in Japan are regularly protests. So, to prevent the Americans moved his base to konvertoplany Iwakuni Air Base, U.S. Marine Corps base Futemma, October 1, the Japanese blocked the entrances to own cars. Calls to the local police voluntarily remove cars from the road or have failed, so the guards of the order had to drive to the place of incident, heavy equipment and take away their truck.
Konvertoplan MV-22 Osprey - a joint development Boeing and Bell, a combination of an airplane with a helicopter. Independent type of aircraft with fixed wing, having the opportunity to turn the engine (usually propellers) 90 degrees, so that it can land and take off vertically.
In September, the U.S. government managed to persuade the Japanese, and get permission to place these "hybrids" on U.S. military bases in Japan, according to ITAR-TASS.

Fire in the U.S. State Department: there are victims

Part of the agency staff had been evacuated

A small fire occurred on Saturday in the main building of the U.S. State Department. As told reporters Foreign Ministry spokesman Victoria Nuland, as a result of the incident suffered some of the technical staff.
"In the course of work on routine maintenance in-house where technical communications, on Saturday at around 11:00 local time, there was a fire. Arrived at the scene firefighters put out the fire, a few people from the service technicians injured and were taken to the hospital for care. Part State Department employees were evacuated to reserve facilities for continuing support of the authorities, "- quoted by RIA Novosti Nuland.
She added that the fire was quickly put out and the diplomats were able to return to work.
The causes of fire are under investigation.

U.S. will not send weapons to Syria

President Barack Obama said that Washington has no plans to supply weapons to the Syrian rebels. At least through official channels. Such a statement Obama made during his first press conference after the election of the U.S. president for a second term.
U.S. leader said that the United States considers the Syrian national coalition, which has recently been established in Qatar, as the "legitimate representative of the Syrian people." However, according to the White House, he must make sure that this "coalition is committed to building a democratic, modern Syria." Obama made it clear that only this circumstance Washington's refusal to supply arms Syrian rebels.
According to observers, almost hour Obama's speech to the press, "was in an offensive style." Won the trust for a second term, the White House held more relaxed and confident than during the campaign: he took matters into their own hands, not waiting for a reporter's question, do not hesitate to "prick the Republicans" tried to speak directly and clearly, avoiding flowery phrases. "I hope and expect the second term to be even better president than the first. I have one mandate - to help middle-class families and families who want to get into the middle class. Such was the mandate of the American people," - said in the beginning of Obama's speech .2 percent of Americans believe Obama should pay higher taxes.
In the foreign policy part of the speech in addition to the Syrian issue as a priority, he outlined the intensification of political dialogue with Tehran. About Russia in his speech Obama said nothing. Most of the questions and the answers came to a difficult political situation in the country: after November 6 elections in the U.S. have shown that America is split into two camps, largely because diametrical approaches of Republicans and Democrats on economic issues. It is no accident that during the briefing Obama directly addressed the congressional Republicans, asking them to support his tax policy. "We need to keep taxes the same for 98 percent of the population, while for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans, they should rise, - said the U.S. president. - If stubbornness in Congress comes to the point that we can not even agree on tax cuts for middle class, the taxes for these families greatly increase, and this will be a great shock to them. " This option would, in his words, a recession in the entire national economy.
Interesting story was continued with the appointment of a new Secretary of State. To replace Hillary Clinton in the White House appears ready to another lady: U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice. Noting that Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham are prepared to block the appointment, a reporter asked Obama to comment. The U.S. president was brief, energetic and even aggressive. "When they attack the ambassador to the UN, apparently, because it seems to them an easy target, they will have a problem with me. If I decide that she is the right person to serve America in this capacity, the Department of State, I have it appointed to the post "- did not leave a shadow of doubt in his personnel selection Obama, stressing that in fact until this final decision has not yet accepted. Of no less interest was the President's comments about the investigation against ex-CIA director David Petraeus. Obama said that "this case does not concern any leakage of sensitive information." However, just a couple of hours on the case Petreusa investigators told reporters that the computer Paula Broadwell, the mistress of former head of the CIA, "discovered a significant amount of sensitive information."