Disturbers

Microsoft's Windows Phone grabbed third place from BlackBerry in global smartphone shipments in the first quarter, market researcher IDC said Thursday.
Windows Phone accounted for shipments of 7 million smartphones, earning itself a market share of 3.2 percent last quarter. That was a gain from the first quarter of 2012, which saw shipments of 3 million and a market share of 2 percent.

Over the same period, BlackBerry saw its fortunes fall. Last quarter, shipments fell to 6.3 million from 9.7 million in the year-ago quarter, while BlackBerry's market share dropped to 2.9 percent from 6.4 percent.
Windows Phone posted the largest gain among all operating systems, a feat largely due to Nokia, IDC said in its report. The Finnish phone maker was responsible for 70 percent of all Windows Phone shipments last quarter. Since partnering with Microsoft, Nokia has shipped a total of 20.3 million Windows Phone handsets. Other vendors also offer Windows Phone devices but mostly as an alternative to their mainstay Android phones.
"Windows Phone claiming the third spot is a first and helps validate the direction taken by Microsoft and key partner Nokia," IDC analyst Kevin Restivo said in a statement. "Given the relatively low volume generated, the Windows Phone camp will need to show further gains to solidify its status as an alterative to Android or iOS."
Despite the boost for Windows Phone, Google's Android and Apple iOS operating systems still completely dominate the smartphone landscape.
Android phones saw shipments of 162.1 million last quarter, up from 90.3 million for the prior year's quarter. Market share climbed to 75 percent from 59.1 percent.
Apple shipped 37.4 million iPhones in the first quarter, up from 35.1 million, though its slice of the market dropped to 17.3 percent from 23 percent.

Actress Angelina Jolie has today written an op-ed in The New York Times explaining that she has opted to have a double mastectomy because she carries the hereditary BRCA1 gene, which she says increases her risk of breast cancer by 87%. Her mother died from breast cancer after a ten-year struggle at the age of 56.
We asked an expert in breast cancer and genetics to explain more about the breast cancer genetic mutation and what it means for women.
What are the BRCA1 (and BRCA2) gene mutations?
BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that have been linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Women who inherit one of these faulty genes are at an increased risk of breast or ovarian cancer. Men who inherit a faulty gene may be at increased risk of prostate cancer. Breast cancer in men carrying BRCA2 has also been described in the medical literature.
These genes are important in helping repair breaks in the DNA in our cells, so a faulty gene can mean that DNA repair is less than optimal. In some people this can lead to the development of cancer.
Should I be getting tested for them?
Not routinely. In general terms, genetic testing should be carried out following counselling in a familial cancer centre after a proper assessment of risk.
Testing is offered to people who have developed breast or ovarian cancer where there are features that might suggest a mutation is present.
These can include an early age of onset of cancer, or cancer in both breasts, multiple cancers in the family, male breast cancer, ovarian cancer, certain ancestry (such eastern European Jewish ancestry), or where there is a known mutation in the family.
Sometimes the appearance of a tumour, reported by the pathologist can help make a decision regarding whether testing is necessary.
How are they tested for?
This is generally done through a blood sample.
What is the cost of the test/s and why?
At present testing for these genes in Australia is expensive – about A$2,000 to A$2,500 – but costs are coming down.
Once a mutation has been identified in a family member, other members can be tested and this is much cheaper.
In Australia, the test is offered for free in familial cancer centres where a person meets suitable criteria for testing.
How many people are affected?

It was a moment Hitler had been working towards for years. Having joined the small German Workers Party in the autumn of 1919, the young World War I veteran -- originally from the Austrian border town of Braunau am Inn -- worked ceaselessly to transform the small group of conservative agitators into a national political force. Relying on a mix of nationalist demagoguery, vicious anti-Communism and virulent anti-Semitism -- topped off with an unceasing flood of invective aimed at the Treaty of Versailles -- Hitler rode a wave of street popularity he hoped would help him overthrow the Berlin government.
His first attempt, in November 1923, would fail in a hail of bullets in Munich -- the so-called Beer Hall Putsch. Yet even though the Weimar Republic -- the democratic regime which emerged out of Germany's post-World War I chaos -- managed to stabilize the country both politically and economically in the mid-1920s, Hitler's Nazis would get a second chance.

From today's perspective, it is tempting to pin the blame for Hitler's eventual rise to power on the great New York stock market crash of 1929, an event which put millions of German workers out of a job. Others point to the onerous conditions placed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles, which required Germany to accept responsibility for starting World War I and forced Berlin to pay 132 billion goldmarks in war reparations. Still others argue that Germany's history somehow made the country predestined for the kind of murderous dictatorship that Hitler's reign became.



The NSDAP got most of its support in the July 1932 election in northern Germany.
Entire libraries have been filled with books attempting to explain how a once-homeless failed artist could have launched a war machine that eventually resulted in 60 million dead, and a death machine that killed 6 million in the Holocaust's gas chambers. More are certainly to come. The rise of the Nazis defies any simple narrative, coming as it did out of a myriad of interlacing events, ideologies and historical accidents.
One thing, however, is clear. Nazi Germany, and the flood of destruction it unleashed on Germany, Europe and the world, was far from inevitable.

Bear Grylls will be the UK’s youngest Chief Scout, aged 34. Whether it is crossing oceans in an open boat, scaling Mount Everest or flying a powered paraglider to 29,000ft in the Himalayas, Bear knows a thing or two about adventure.

As an ex Special Forces soldier, he is not only known around the world as the host of the hit TV series Born Survivor and Man Vs Wild, he is also an inspirational speaker, best selling author of nine books and a fervent supporter of young people getting out there to experience adventure for themselves.

Bear got his taste for the outdoors as a Scout, whilst a young boy. He was taught to climb by his late father on the sea cliffs of the Isle of Wight, and this interest rapidly developed when he left school.

His military service saw him trained in combat survival, parachuting, demolitions, trauma medics and mountain warfare as a trooper with 21 SAS.

During one parachute jump he sustained a massive injury breaking his back in three places. After intense military rehabilitation, he made a full recovery and went on to become one of the youngest climbers ever to reach the summit of Everest and has led numerous other expeditions around the world.

‘Honoured to be offered this position’


When invited to take on this role with the UK’s largest co-educational youth movement Bear said ‘I feel so honoured to be offered this position, and have always held such admiration for Scouts and all they do around the world. The Scouting Movement is a massive force for good, touching many, many young lives. Above all, it gives millions of kids the chance to live and learn about the wild and to experience real adventure. My hope is to help Scouts of all ages, including adults, to reach their full potential, to follow their dreams and to enjoy the camaraderie that the Scouts is famous for.

'In particular I want to continue the inspirational work that the current Chief Scout Peter Duncan has begun by showing the public how Scouting continues to open young people’s eyes to a world of extraordinary promise and possibilities.'

This is not Bear’s first volunteer role. He is also an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and is Vice President of the Journey of a Lifetime Trust, which helps young people from troubled backgrounds experience the 'journey of a lifetime'.

Bear also balances his demanding life with a young family. Married to Shara, he has three sons all aged under six.

A global ambassador for a global movement


Scouting is a global movement and Bear has travelled extensively to every continent in the world. Known and respected in many countries outside the UK he is truly a global ambassador for a global movement. His languages include Spanish and French, and he has a deep respect for diverse faiths and cultures.

‘I can't wait to

We rarely find examples of constant persistence for success, like those of Abraham Lincoln. If anyone wants the inspiration of how many efforts a human can make, here’s his life sketch.
Born in poverty, he had to face defeat throughout his life. He lost eight elections, twice failed in business, suffered nervous breakdown and was bedridden for six months. He could have quit many times, but he didn’t quit and became one of the greatest presidents in America.
Here is a sketch of Lincoln’s road to White House
His family was forced out of their home AND He had to work to support them
His mother died
Failed in business
Ran for State legislature –lost
Also lost his job-wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in.
Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year
He was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this debt.
Ran for state legislature again—won
Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken
Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months
Sought to become speaker of the state legislature – defeated.
Sought to become elector – defeated
Ran for Congress –lost
Ran for Congress again – this time he won-went to Washington and did a good job
Ran for re-election to Congress-lost
Sought the job of land officer in his home state-rejected
Ran for Senate of the United States-lost
Sought the Vice Presidential nomination at his party’s national convention – got less than 100 votes
Ran for U.S. Senate again- again he lost *
Elected President of the United States.
The part was worn and slippery. My foot slipped from under me, knocking the other out of the way, but I recovered and said to myself," It’s a slip and not a fall". Abraham Lincoln –After losing a senate race-1858
One who never fails, but learns, succeeds finally.
Abraham Lincoln