Quiet ‘epidemic’ has killed half a million middle-aged white Americans | Science Codex

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PRINCETON, N.J.–Despite advances in health care and quality of life, white middle-aged Americans have seen overall mortality rates increase over the past 15 years, representing an overlooked “epidemic” with deaths comparable to the number of Americans who have died of AIDS, according to new Princeton University research.

The results are published in a new paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences from Anne Case, the Alexander Stewart 1886 Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, and Angus Deaton, the 2015 Nobel laureate in economics and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Professor of International Affairs and professor of economics and international affairs.

With data from a variety of surveys and reports, the paper reports a sharp increase in the death rate for middle-aged whites after 1998, which the researchers tie to drugs and alcohol, suicide, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. This turnaround in mortality reverses decades of progress, the researchers write, and the same pattern is not seen in other rich countries, nor is it seen among African Americans or Hispanics in the United States.

Although death rates related to drugs, alcohol and suicides have risen for middle-aged whites at all education levels, the largest increases are seen among those with the least education, the researchers found. For those with a high school degree or less, deaths caused by drug and alcohol poisoning rose fourfold; suicides rose by 81 percent; and deaths caused by liver disease and cirrhosis rose by 50 percent.All-cause mortality rose by 22 percent for this least-educated group. Those with some college education saw little change in overall death rates, and those with a bachelor’s degree or higher actually saw death rates decline.

Source: Quiet ‘epidemic’ has killed half a million middle-aged white Americans | Science Codex

Eco-Tourism Worth More to African Economies than Trophy Hunting | Michael Markarian

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The trophy hunters make the Orwellian argument that they must kill animals in order to save them, that they are sprinkling dollars on local economies with their “pay-to-slay” activities. But what is the value of living Cecils–whether they are lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards or any of the other animals sought by big-game hunters–as compared to the value of dead specimens? An American dentist paid $55,000 to shoot Cecil, but it’s estimated that a living Cecil would have generated nearly $1 million in tourism over his lifetime.

Wildlife-based eco-tourism, in fact, is a big industry in Africa and dwarfs trophy hunting in its economic impact. According to a report by the World Tourism Organization, wildlife-based eco-tourism generated an estimated $34.2 billion in tourist receipts in 2013. In Zimbabwe, tourism provides 6.4 percent of the Gross Domestic Product of the country.

Source: Eco-Tourism Worth More to African Economies than Trophy Hunting | Michael Markarian

Positive consumer sentiment continues to rise in wake of majority Liberal win (released November 2, 2015)—Bloomberg-Nanos

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Bloomberg Nanos Weekly Consumer Confidence Tracking

In the wake of a Liberal majority win, forward looking consumer sentiment hit a one year high in the Expecations Sub-indice which is a subset of the Bloomberg Nanos Canadian Consumer Confidence Index.

“Perceptions related to job security and the future strength of the Canadian economy are realizing positive pressure in the period initially following the Liberal majority win in the recent Canadian election”, said Nanos Research Group Chairman Nik Nanos.

“Canada’s economy is growing again and economists are now anticipating a healthy third-quarter increase, which coincides with the jump in consumer expectations. Nevertheless, Canada’s real GDP growth remains well below long-term trends, and the output gap is not expected to close for another year and a half”, said Robert Lawrie of Bloomberg Economics.

The BNCCI, a composite of a weekly measure of financial health and economic expectations, registered at 57.92 compared with last week’s 57.53. The twelve month high stands at 57.99.

The Bloomberg Nanos Pocketbook Index is based on survey responses to questions on personal finances and job security. This sub-indice was at 59.31 this week compared to 58.83 the previous week. The Bloomberg Nanos Expectations Index, based on surveys for the outlook for the economy and real estate prices, was at 56.53 this week (compared to 56.24 last week).

The average for the BNCCI since 2008 has been 56.73 with a low of 43.28 in December 2008 and a high of 62.92 in December 2009. The index has averaged 55.26 this year.

To view the weekly tracking visit our website. 

Methodology

The BNCCI is produced by the Nanos Research Corporation, headquartered in Canada,  which operates in Canada and the United States.  The data is based on random telephone interviews with 1,000 Canadian consumers (land- and cell-lines), using a four week rolling average of 250 respondents each week, 18 years of age and over. The random sample of 1,000 respondents may be weighted by age and gender using the latest census information for Canada and the sample is geographically stratified to be representative of Canada. The interviews are compiled into a four week rolling average of 1,000 interviews where each week, the oldest group of 250 interviews is dropped and a new group of 250 interviews is added. The views of 1,000 respondents are compiled into a diffusion index from 0 to 100. A score of 50 on the diffusion index indicates that positive and negative views are a wash while scores above 50 suggest net positive views, while those below 50 suggest net negative views in terms of the economic mood of Canadians.

A random telephone survey of 1,000 consumers in Canada is accurate 3.1 percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20.

All references or use of this data must cite Bloomberg Nanos as the source.

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CANUCKS BANTER: Philadelphia Visits Vancouver Tonight In First Match Up Of Season

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CANUCKS BANTER     By Andrew Chernoff    November 2, 2015

Canucks Go For 2nd Straight Home Win

The Canucks begin a short 2-game home stand and go for their 6th win of the young season tonight, as they try to keep up with the Los Angeles Kings atop the Pacific Division. The Kings play on the road against the Chicago Black Hawks tonight.

The Flyers come into Vancouver having lost their last 3-games, the most recent against the Buffalo Sabres 3-1 on October 30, 2015.

The Canucks enter their 12th game of the season with a 1-game winning streak having defeated the Arizona Coyotes on October 30, 2015 by a 4-3 score.

Vancouver won their last home game, an exciting match against the Montreal Canadians, on October 27, 2015 by a 5-1 margin.

The Canucks are currently tied for 1rst place with Los Angeles ,in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, with 14-points; 2-points ahead of San Jose, who are alone in second place. Arizona currently is in 3rd place with 11-points, three points ahead of Edmonton in 4th place with 8-points. Vancouver, San Jose, and Arizona both have a game in-hand on Edmonton and Calgary. Los Angeles has a game in-hand on Vancouver, San Jose,Arizona and Anaheim; two games in-hand on both Edmonton and Calgary.

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Vancouver is among the top 7-teams in the Western Conference, and are tied for the 5th best team in the conference with their 14-points. The Dallas Stars are at the  top of the conference with 18-points, currently sporting a 3-game winning streak.

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Canucks are among the top 13-teams in the NHL, and are tied for the 6th best team in the league with their 14-points. The Montreal Canadians are the top team with 22-points, on 11-wins and 2-losses, all wins in regulation play.

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Philadelphia is tied for 6th-place with Carolina, in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, with 10-points. Washington and the New York Rangers share top spot in the division, both with 16-points; followed by the New York Islanders with 15-points, and the Pittsburgh Penguins with 14-points. New Jersey is currently in 5th place in the division with 13-points.  Philadelphia and Washington both have a game in-hand on the Rangers, Penguins, Devils; two games in-hand on the Islanders, Panthers, and Blue Jackets.

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Daniel Sedin leads the Canucks in scoring with 9-points including a team high 6-assists, followed by Alex Burrows with 8-points; Brandon Sutter with 7-points, Henrik Sedin with 6-points.  Radim Vrbata, Brandon Prust, Alex Edler and rookie Jared McCann have 5-points each. Jannik Hansen, Luca Sbisa and rookie Ben Hutton, closely follow with 4-points.

Rookie Jared McCann leads the Canucks as the top sniper with 5-goals in 9-games played.

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For the Flyers, defenseman Mark Streit, leads Philadelphia with 7-points, followed by Brayden Schenn, with 6-points. Claude Giroux, Sam Gagner and Wayne Simmonds all have 5-points. Schenn leads the Flyers with goals scored with 4-goals.

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GAME JOTTINGS

The following are with thanks to SportingCharts

imageFireShot Screen Capture #047 - '2015 Vancouver Canucks vs_ 2015 Philadelphia Flyers - Compare Stats, Leaders and Past Matchups' - www_sportingcharts_c shotschart

Thanks to the NHL for assistance with this posting as well as SportingCharts