From The New York Times

Nobody likes going to the dentist, but redheads may have good reason.

A growing body of research shows that people with red hair need larger doses of anesthesia and often are resistant to local pain blockers like Novocaine. As a result, redheads tend to be particularly nervous about dental procedures and are twice as likely to avoid going to the dentist as people with other hair colors, according to new research published in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

Researchers believe redheads are more sensitive to pain because of a mutation in a gene that affects hair color. In people with brown, black and blond hair, the gene, for the melanocortin-1 receptor, produces melanin. But a mutation in the MC1R gene results in the production of a substance called pheomelanin that results in red hair and fair skin. -NYTIMES

THE REDBACK IS COMING

THE REDBACK IS COMING

THE REDBACK IS COMING:

China is rapidly accelerating its efforts to internationalise its currency with a series of manoeuvres that could see the renminbi soar to become one of the top three traded monetary units in the world.

By 2012, say analysts in Shanghai, as much as $2 trillion (£1.69 trillion) worth of trade flows may be settled using the “redback” as China stretches its commercial tentacles throughout the commodity-producing world and the emerging economies of Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

The radical change in attitude may arise from a desire to protect China from the “dollar trap” — the problem that emerges when exporting countries are effectively forced to shovel large chunks of their reserves into the US treasury and suffer the consequences in times of high volatility. –The Times of London

A New York City woman who says she can’t find a job is suing the college where she earned a bachelor’s degree.

Trina Thompson filed a lawsuit last week against Monroe College in Bronx Supreme Court. The 27-year-old is seeking the $70,000 she spent on tuition.

Thompson says she’s been unable to find gainful employment since she received her information technology degree in April. -WCBS

FOWLERVILLE, Mich. — At the Fowlerville Family Fair here, John Fletcher wrapped himself in more than 12,000 firecrackers and got ready to set them all off.

He tucked his ponytail under his protective suit, grasped a cigarette lighter with his left hand and planted his feet in a hydraulic bucket crane. As about a hundred people looked on, he gave the order to raise the bucket. “I started to cry a little bit when I put my goggles on and saw the crowd,” Mr. Fletcher recalls. He admits he was scared.

Mr. Fletcher, who is 47 years old, has performed his act as “Ghengis [sic] John the Human Firecracker” dozens of times over more than 10 years. He estimates that he has ignited more than 300,000 firecrackers attached to the get-ups he creates to protect himself. Each year, he tries to make the act a bit more exciting for the crowd — using more firecrackers or, as he did this year, more powerful ones.

Before putting on his exploding suit, Mr. Fletcher strapped on his body armor, made of five layers of compressed leather, and took a swig from a two-liter bottle of Mountain Dew. Four friends draped the $200 suit on Mr. Fletcher’s scarecrow frame. He had forgotten to put in his earplugs. “I’ve done it so many times, it’s not going to make a difference,” he said. – Wall Street Journal

West Virginia:

A Mingo County man who says he is school bus driver and youth minister is facing a charge of soliciting a minor via computer. Steve Steinbrecher of Kermit was being held Friday in the Southwestern Regional Jail. Bail is set at $100,000.

West Virginia State Police accused the 38-year-old man of attempting to seduce a 17-year-old girl by sending her instant messages through the social networking Web site MySpace. Steinbrecher, known as Philbilly on MySpace, lists his occupation as a part-time school bus driver. He also says he is a youth minister at Jenny’s Creek Gospel Church. –THE STRANGER

On the eve of the release of the over-hyped “anti-romantic comedy” (500) Days of Summer, I can finally quite confidently declare: “Zooey Deschanel – I am so over you.”

So, in honor of this epiphany, I wish to tell the story of our relationship – the good times, and the bad.
*Inevitably, some days (i.e. films I haven’t brought myself to watch) will be skipped.

Day (1) -We first became acquainted when you appeared in Almost Famous, a fantastic movie with great heart and soul and Tiny Dancer and Penny Lane and Band Aids. Maybe it was because your lines were so few and dialogue so well-written, but I thought you were the best thing since sliced anguished older sisters-turned stewardesses. You had me at “Someday, you will be cool.” -FOR MORE GO TO SOME IRONIC TITLE BLOG

2. Clowns can’t run a huddle – don’t forget to have fun but don’t be the class clown. Clowns and leaders don’t mix. Clowns can’t run a huddle.

3. Fat QBs can’t avoid the rush – A quarterback throws with his legs more than his arm. Squat and run.

4. Know your job cold – this is not a game without errors. Keep yours to a minimum. Study.

5. Know your own players – Who’s fast? Who can catch? Who needs encouragement? Be precise. Know your
opponent.

6. Be the same guy every day – in condition. Preparing to lead. Studying your plan. A coach can’t prepare you for every eventuality. Prepare yourself and remember, impulse decisions usually equal mistakes.

7. Throwing the ball away is a good play – sacks, interceptions and fumbles are bad plays. Protect against those.

8. Learn to manage the game – personnel, play call, motions, ball handling, proper reads, accurate throws, play fakes. Clock. Clock. Clock. Don’t you ever lose track of the clock.

9. Get your team in the end zone – passing stats and TD passes are not how you’re going to be judged. Your job is to get your team in the end zone and that is how you will be judged.

10. Don’t panic – when all around you is in chaos, you must be the hand that steers the ship. If you have a panic button so will everyone else. Our ship can’t have a panic button.

11. Don’t be a celebrity QB – we don’t need any of those. We need battlefield commanders that are willing to fight it out, every day, every week and every season and lead their team to win after win after win.

The issue is a delicate one, given the predominantly youthful makeup of the armed forces and the popularity within that age group and beyond of sites such as Twitter and Facebook. The Defense Department itself has gotten into the game with its own Facebook page, and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, has more than 4,000 followers on his Twitter account.

Official opinion within the circle of those involved in the discussions range across the “full spectrum” from an outright ban to leaving things as they are, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. -Military Times

Producers and associate producers put together rundowns in newscasts.  They write.  A lot.  They pick which stories are in their newscasts each night and what order the stories will go in, create graphics, manage reporters, and time the newscasts so we get off on-time every night.

Director and assistant directors carry out the vision of producers. These people have a great eye for production and what looks visually appealing.  They have to be able to adjust to change quickly and manage all of the people in the studio which includes, anchors and camera operators.  Newscasts change on the fly with breaking news – so they must always be thinking of “where” the next element is coming from. -13WHAM.com