Last Neanderthals of southern Iberia may not have coexisted with modern humans, new data suggest

Feb. 4, 2013 ? The theory that the last Neanderthals -- Homo neanderthalensis -- persisted in southern Iberia at the same time that modern humans -Homo sapiens- advanced in the northern part of the peninsula, has been widely accepted by the scientific community during the last twenty years. An international study, in which researchers of the Spanish National Distance Education University (UNED) participate, questions this hypothesis.

"It is improbable that the last Neanderthals of central and southern Iberia would have persisted until such a late date, approximately 30,000 years ago, as we thought before the new dates appeared," assures Jes?s F. Jord?, researcher of the Department of Prehistory and Archaeology of the UNED and co-author of the study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

The scientific team, with researchers from Oxford University (United Kingdom), Australia National University, UNED (Madrid), University of La Laguna (Tenerife), Archaeological Museum of Lucena (C?rdoba), and National Museum of National History (Paris), applied a new technique in order to repeat analyses at the sites of Jarama VI (Guadalajara) and Zafarraya (Malaga), considered up to now two of the last refuges of the Iberian Neanderthals.

To the usual radiocarbon dating method, the ultrafiltration protocol was added, which aims to purify the collagen of the bone samples from contaminants. The AMS dating technique was applied that requires minimum sample quantities.

The scientists, by applying this new method, assure that the neanderthal occupation of the sites did not last until as late as previously thought; instead it should be placed approximately 45,000 years ago.

"The problem with radiocarbon dating alone is that it does not provide reliable dates older than 50,000 years," explains Jord?. An additional problem is contamination; the older the samples are the more residues are accumulated. If contaminants are not removed the obtained dates are incorrect.

Re-writing Prehistory books

New analyses were applied to bone remains found in the archaeological deposits in association with Middle Paleolithic stone artifacts. Bones bearing clear signs of human manipulation (cut marks, marks of percussion or intentional breakage) were selected in order to rule out possible intrusions by carnivores.

Despite the fact that samples were collected from numerous sites in southern Iberia, it was only possible to date those of Jarama VI and Zafarraya, as the remaining samples did not contain enough collagen to be dated.

Cueva Ant?n (Murcia) is the only site that still provides recent dates in accordance with what has until now been postulated in relation to the persistence of the Neanderthals. However, neither the technological remains are clearly related to the Neanderthals nor are the dated charcoal samples perfectly associated with the lithics.

In view of the new data according to Jord? "prehistory books would need revision," especially as new results become available. "Although it is still controversial to change the theory in force, the new concept, which presents new data indicating that Neanderthals and H. sapiens did not co-exist in Iberia, is becoming accepted" he adds.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by UNED National Distance Education University, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Rachel E. Wood, Cecilio Barroso-Ru?z, Miguel Caparr?s, Jes?s F. Jord? Pardo, Bertila Galv?n Santos and Thomas F. G. Higham. Radiocarbon dating casts doubt on the late chronology of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in southern Iberia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 04-02-2013 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1207656110

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/1ZkmGiT7rVQ/130204153714.htm

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Email Disclaimers: Toothless, Useful, Or A Little Of Both? | The ...

A Simple Email Disclaimer Cannot Hurt & Can Only Help

Boilerplate email disclaimers at the bottom of messages are so ubiquitous that most of us hardly notice them anymore. They certainly take up a lot of text space and can be annoying to some, but are they legally effective or just plain toothless?

In the real estate context, where Realtors and attorneys write in the language of contract everyday, I believe that a good email disclaimer may help, and certainly cannot hurt, the sender (aside from annoying a snarky recipient or two).?In this post, I will discuss a few common real estate situations where an email disclaimer could come into play, then give you the disclaimer that I use in my emails. Now I have my own disclaimer here: A court will determine each case individually, and there is no guarantee that any particular disclaimer will be effective in any given case.

Contract Negotiations

The most common situation where an email disclaimer could come into play is during real estate contract negotiations. For many agents and attorneys, e-mail has become the default mode of communication, replacing the telephone and the outdated fax. E-mail, however, can provide the ?smoking gun? in litigation because it?s nearly impossible to delete permanently, and people tend to be more casual and less introspective before hitting ?send.? And don?t get me started with texting, which is even worse.

Realtors must remember that under Massachusetts agency law they are agents with actual or apparent legal authority to bind their clients to the statements they make in emails and other forms of communication. Like the Miranda warnings given by the police, a real estate agents? statements ?can and will be used against them in a court of law.? The same is true for attorneys.

A case in point: In the recent well-publicized case of?Feldberg v. Coxall, a Massachusetts judge ruled that a series of e-mail exchanges between the buyer and seller?s attorney, the last one attaching a revised, but?unsigned, offer to purchase, could create a binding agreement entitling the buyer to a?lis pendens. This is also one of the first cases applying the new Massachusetts E-Sign law to preliminary negotiations in real estate deals. There have been cases in other jurisdictions coming to the same conclusion.

Practice Pointer:

?Emails sent or received shall neither constitute acceptance of conducting transactions via electronic means nor shall create a binding contract in the absence of a fully signed written agreement.?

This is the new email disclaimer that I?ve formulated after the Feldberg ruling. It does two things. First, it provides that only a fully signed contract can bind the parties. Second, it attempts to counter the presumption in the E-sign Act of conducting the transaction electronically via email. It has not been tested in court yet, but again, aside from taking up some pixel space, it can?t hurt. Now remember, this type of disclaimer would favor a selling/listing agent, but not necessarily a buyer?s agent, because the buyer?s agent would typically want to enforce preliminary negotiations. So, caveat emptor (buyer beware).

Practice Pointer: ?Subject to final client review/approval?

Another best practice that Realtors and attorneys should get in the habit of doing is to write ?subject to final client review and approval? or words to that effect in the midst of email contract negotiations and draft agreements being circulated. This could sway a court from determining that a binding deal was formed, and plus, it gives you an ?out? in case a client has last minute changes.

Confidential Communications

Attorneys love to use long confidentiality disclaimers in their email. Do they work? Occasionally. Do they matter in real estate? I still think so.

First, the concept of legal confidentiality is limited to those situations governed by legal privilege. There is an attorney-client privilege between lawyers and their clients, obviously. While there is no?legal privilege between a Realtor and his/her client as for communications solely between the agent and the client, the attorney client privilege will likely attach to emails and communications between and among the real estate agent, the attorney, and the client provided that legal advice is being given. But a particular email does not automatically get confidentiality protection simply because the attorney is copied on it.?Some courts have pointed to email disclaimers as a factor in upholding the confidentiality. But there have been many court rulings where judges have discarded the disclaimers.

While attorneys should absolutely have a confidentiality email disclaimer, do Realtors need one? I say yes, because sometimes emails between attorney and client wind up in Realtors? inboxes and sometimes they get forwarded on purpose or by mistake when they shouldn?t, and that could waive any privilege which is attached and become the ?smoking gun.?

Practice Pointer:

I use this simple email disclaimer:

CONFIDENTIALITY: This e-mail message and any attachments are confidential and may be privileged.

The best practice, of course, is to cleanse and delete portions of any email with attorney-client or confidential information before forwarding. And of course, THINK BEFORE YOU HIT SEND!

**Thank you to Cambridge MA Realtor Charles Cherney for suggesting this topic!

______________________________________________________

Richard D. Vetstein, Esq. is a nationally recognized real estate attorney who writes frequently about legal issues facing the real estate industry. He can be reached at info@vetsteinlawgroup.com.

Related Posts:

Tagged as: email disclaimers, Feldberg v. Coxall, Massachusetts lis pendens, massachusetts real estate attorney, Massachusetts real estate emails binding, Massachusetts Real Estate Law, real estate email disclaimer

Source: http://www.massrealestatelawblog.com/2013/02/02/email-disclaimers-toothless-useful-or-a-little-of-both/

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Suicide car bomb kills 15 in northern Iraq

BAGHDAD (AP) ? Officials say a suicide car bomb targeting a provincial police headquarters has killed at least 15 people in a disputed northern Iraqi city.

A police officer says at least one attacker drove his car into the headquarters building in Kirkuk on Sunday morning. He said another 70 people were wounded.

The officer spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to release information. The head of the provincial health directorate, Sidiq Omar Rasool, confirmed the casualty figures.

Kirkuk, 290 kilometers (180 miles) north of Baghdad, is home to a mix of Arabs, Kurds and Turkomen, who all have competing claims to the oil-rich area. The Kurds want to incorporate it into their self-ruled region in Iraq's north, but Arabs and Turkomen are opposed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/suicide-car-bomb-kills-15-northern-iraq-074926662.html

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SUPER BOWL WATCH: Saints jerseys, pistol O, McGraw

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? Around the Super Bowl and its host city with journalists from The Associated Press bringing the flavor and details of everything surrounding the game:

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WHO DAT?

Wander the streets of New Orleans this week and you'd think the Saints are one of the teams playing in Sunday's Super Bowl.

Entire families are sporting Drew Brees jerseys. Women are wearing rhinestone-studded Saints T-shirts and fleur-de-lis earrings. Men are in Saints jerseys and sweatshirts.

Of course, fans in every host city show pride in their home team. But there's a special bond between the Saints and the people of New Orleans. While they're happy to welcome the Ravens and the 49ers, this city will always belong to the Saints.

?Nancy Armour ? http://www.twitter.com/nrarmour

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THE PISTOL, EXPLAINED

You'll hear about it from the first time 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick stands behind center, and listen to it be endlessly dissected in the Super Bowl.

But just what is this pistol offense San Francisco is running?

Put simply, it's a variation of the shotgun, a formation that has been in the NFL for decades. Former Nevada coach Chris Ault invented it, and gave it the name because it reminded him of a shorter version of the shotgun.

In the pistol, the quarterback lines up 4-5 yards behind the center. Unlike the shotgun, the running backs line up behind the quarterback instead of next to him so they can be in motion when they get the ball and run north and south more easily.

The tweak that makes the pistol even more effective, though, is the read-option. This what Kaepernick runs so well, and what Baltimore has spent two weeks preparing to stop.

In the read-option, Kaepernick turns to his right and tucks the ball in the belly of his running back ? all while keeping his eyes on the defense. Based on the first move the defensive end makes ? either to the outside or toward the quarterback ? Kaepernick will either leave the ball with the running back or pull it out and take off himself to the outside.

Defensive players say the move causes problems because it forces them to hesitate a split-second to see what Kaepernick does with the ball. Often, that is just enough time for running back Frank Gore to slash up the middle or for Kaepernick to take the ball around the right end down the field for a big gain.

? Tim Dahlberg ? http://twitter.com/timdahlberg

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GET HERE EARLY

Anyone wanting a cafe au lait or a beignet from New Orleans' most famous coffee shop better be prepared to wait.

Tables were filled, and lines were stretching down the sidewalk at Cafe Du Monde by midday Saturday.

? Nancy Armour ? http://twitter.com/nrarmour

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QUICKQUOTE: RAY LEWIS

There are many sides to Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

Even he admits that the guy he professes to be most of the time ? deeply religious, a caring mentor, a humble leader ? is not the one you see when he puts on his helmet and pads.

"I turn into a different person on the field," Lewis said. "I am a totally different person off the field. But on the field, I'm driven to do whatever it takes for my teammates. There are so many of my teammates here today who I've honored and told them that I would do anything in my power so we can feel that confetti drop together, because that is the ultimate. For me being a leader of this team, I owe that to them."

? Paul Newberry ? http://twitter.com/pnewberry1963

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CULLIVER SENSITIVITY TRAINING

After playing in the Super Bowl, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver is immediately starting sensitivity training.

The 24-year-old took a hit to his image this week after making anti-gay remarks to a comedian, saying he wouldn't welcome a gay player in the locker room.

Now, his public relations spokesman Theodore Palmer says Culliver will begin working with "The Trevor Project," an organization that provides crisis and suicide intervention to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.

Palmer says the group wants to be sure Culliver is genuine about his words.

"It's just an opportunity for him to learn about his comments and educate himself about the LGBT community, and grow," Palmer said. "It's the first step in learning about his words."

After an educational program, Culliver is expected to then pursue volunteer work related to helping gay youth.

? Janie McCauley ? http://twitter.com/JanieMcCAP

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MCGRAW ROOTING FOR BLIND SIDE

Country music superstar Tim McGraw doesn't want to explicitly share who he's rooting for to win the Super Bowl. But he gave a pretty big hint.

"It would be nice to see Michael win and see that whole 'Blind Side' story come to completion," McGraw says.

He's referring to Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher, whose life was the subject of the film "The Blind Side." It starred McGraw and Sandra Bullock, who won an Oscar for her role.

McGraw, whose new album, "Two Lanes of Freedom," comes out on Tuesday, was in New Orleans on Friday for a very early performance at the House of Blues broadcast live on ABC's "Good Morning America."

? John Carucci ? http://twitter.com/jcarucci_ap

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EDITOR'S NOTE ? "Super Bowl Watch" shows you the Super Bowl and the events surrounding the game through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across New Orleans and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/super-bowl-watch-saints-jerseys-pistol-o-mcgraw-211206511--spt.html

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US Energy Secretary Steven Chu Will Resign | Popular Science

Energy Secretary Steven Chu Wikimedia Commons

United States Energy Secretary Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize winner and fierce proponent of alternative energy, announced today that he will resign his governmental position and return to academia. Chu was the director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and a professor at the University of California, Berkeley when appointed Energy Secretary. He is well-known for his advocacy of alternative energy as a method of correction against climate change, and has speculated on future energy possibilities based on high-glucose tropical plants. During his time as Secretary, renewable energy use in the US doubled. Chu says he will return to academia in California. [via CNN]

Source: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-02/us-energy-secretary-steven-chu-will-resign

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Four questions that will be answered by UFC 156

UFC 156 is the UFC's annual Super Bowl weekend card, and as usual, it's a big one. A former champion will drop down to try to win a belt in a new weight class, a Strikeforce champion will try to win a shot at the UFC heavyweight belt, and these questions will be answered.

What have the layoff and injuries done to Jose Aldo? By the time he walks into the cage on Saturday night, it will have been 385 days between Aldo's fights. He had several injuries and had bouts canceled twice. It's hard to say if we'll see the invincible Aldo who fought Chad Mendes last January.

How does the new weight class suit Frankie Edgar? Since starting as a lightweight, Edgar has had doubters because he was on the small side for 155 lbs. It worked for him, as he did win and defend the UFC lightweight championship. Now that he's lost it, he's trying again for the belt at 145 lbs. Will the new weight class fit him even better than lightweight did?

Did Alistair Overeem look past Antonio Silva? At the pre-fight press conference, Overeem called the bout with Silva a warm-up fight.

"Obviously I've not fought for 13 months, so it's going to be a good test for me," Overeem said. "I should not overlook 'Bigfoot' Silva, but if I look at my training and what I do to my sparring partners, I should not make 'Bigfoot' Silva more than he is. He should not be a problem, but that's why it's a warm-up fight."

That's dangerous ground to tread, as looking past the man who is about to punch you makes it lightly you'll get knocked out. Overeem should beat Silva, but the one way he can lose is to not take Silva seriously.

Can Jon Fitch use his wrestling to neutralize Demian Maia? You may not like to watch Fitch's matches. You may have used the words "lay and pray." But you cannot deny Fitch's ability to use his wrestling to hold off opponent's strengths. This time, he'll be using it against Maia, whose submissions and jiu-jitsu are tough to beat. This is Fitch's chance to show he can hold off even the best ground games.

What are you most looking forward to for UFC 156 -- or are you not looking forward to it at all? Speak up in the comments, Facebook or Twitter.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/four-questions-answered-ufc-156-183941245--mma.html

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Winter doesn't have to be a season full of doom and gloom. Fight ...

The winter months can leave you feeling depressed, unhealthy and discontent. Waking up in the dark, fighting the urge to hit snooze yet again, struggling to work through the snow and the cold - only to return home in darkness, with enough motivation to snuggle on the sofa, but little else. This sums up winter for many of us! The end result is catastrophic - for your mental and physical health. Consequently, it is time to make a change and take up a new hobby this winter!

Boxing is a sport enjoying a reprise, with the recent comeback of Ricky Hatton and Freddie Flintoff's boxing debut. Once seen as the preserve of men, in dark, industrial gyms, with undesirable physical results; now, it is now respected as a great form of exercise. Using a huge variety of muscles, and requiring quick reflects [enhancing your cardiovascular abilities], boxing is a great way to stay in shape or improve your fitness this season!

We have all had awkward days at the office or have experienced the frustrations that arise when driving for long distances. Some people express these irritations through adult-language, others allow them to build up inside, causing unseen damage to their mental health. It doesn't have to be this way! Boxing is a sport requiring great discipline and personal control; however, there is an undeniable opportunity to vent your frustrations with enthusiasm. Expressing your anger through controlled use of a punch bag can be incredibly satisfying, and a great antidote to the pressures of our day-to-day lives!

If boxing isn't for you, skiing might be just the ticket. The rise in indoor ski slopes means you can enjoy all the benefits of this sport throughout the year, regardless of the weather! It is an activity suitable for the entire family, packed with fun to be enjoyed. Finding a form of exercise that always feels like an exciting day out is rare, but skiing succeeds in this area. You can develop your balance and co-ordination, useful for a variety of other sporting and non-sporting activities, whilst increasing your all-round fitness. Perfect!

Source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/1502400/winter-doesnt-have-to-be-a-season-full-of-doom-and-gloom-fight-back-against-the-long-dark-nights-by-taking-up-a-new-hobby.htm

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