Source: http://ojoconelsordo.com/?p=2097
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Friday, April 12, 2013
Nearing Home Improvement Venture? Always keep These Pointers ...
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Home improvement is not only for specialized fanatics. Any home owner can ... Rearranging your furniture may be fun, but often you require visible aides to determine where you should place everything. A terrific way to set up ...
Interactions between drugs can also be measured at lowest doses
Apr. 11, 2013 ? Clinical pharmacologists at Heidelberg University Hospital have achieved major progress for improving the reliability of drugs. In a pharmacological study, they showed for the first time that interactions between drugs can be detected with minute doses in the range of nanograms. However, at these low doses, the drugs are neither effective nor do they have side effects. This means that studies on interactions occurring in drug combinations can be conducted practically without posing risks or negative impacts on the participants. This is true not only for healthy volunteers, as has been observed to date, but also for patients. The study was published in the medical journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics.
"Many chronically ill or elderly patients today take several different drugs. Around two percent of all hospital stays in Germany are the result of interactions between the drugs," said Professor Walter E. Haefeli, Medical Director of the Department for Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology at Heidelberg University, where the new technique of "nano-dosing" has been developed and tested. "Many interactions could be avoided if we were aware of them and took them into account."
Drug combinations rarely studied for interactions
However, very few drug combinations have been systematically tested for interactions to date. "Many risks remain unknown to date and need to be studied," Prof. Haefeli explained. After initial tests conducted in animals, combinations are currentlybeing studied in healthy participants -- with the usual therapeutic doses. Depending on the drug, this can strongly impact the body. Furthermore, a healthy person may react differently to a drug than a sick person does. This means that study findings can only be transferred to a limited extent.
Using mass spectrometry, an ultrasensitive technique, the team led by Prof. Haefeli succeeded in drastically reducing the dose for studies on interactions in study participants. Mass spectrometers are so sensitive that they are able to identify the drug in a single drop of blood. The scientists conducted a study on interactions in 12 healthy test persons taking the fungicide ketoconazole and the sedative midazolam simultaneously. For the study, they administered midazolamdoses of 0.0000001 g, which was 30,000 times lower than the amount used for therapy. Comparisons with higher doses revealed that the drugs behaved identically at all concentrations. Therefore, even a minimal concentration in the body is sufficient to reliably predict the extent of the interaction during normal use.
Inhibition of the liver enzyme measurable in the nanogram range
With the help of ultrasensitive mass spectrometers, the speed with which a drug is degraded can be measured. They are used wherever small amounts need to be detected in liquids, e.g., contamination in drinking water, doping agents or environmental toxins. To this end, a small amount of blood or other body fluid is withdrawn after certain time intervals in order to determine the remaining concentration of the drug. The mass spectrometer sorts the molecules and determines their concentration. Based on their characteristic properties, the drugs can be reliably identified. "For the first time, we have proven that with this technique, we are able to find drugs in the blood even at extremely low doses, and that we can quantitatively determine them and identify their interactions," Prof. Haefeli said.
In the published study, the team investigated the interaction between the sedative midazolam, which is metabolized in the liver by the protein cytochrome P450 3A, and the fungicide ketoconazole, a well-known inhibitor of this cytochrome. The inhibition of the cytochrome and, in turn, the reduced degradation of midazolam, were already precisely measured in the nanogram dose. This interaction in particular plays an important role for patients who need to take several drugs simultaneously. Many drugs inhibit this enzyme, which metabolises around half of all regularly used medicines. However, if a drug is degraded too slowly, at normal doses, it accumulates in the body and, in the worst case, can cause toxicity.
Further studies planned
Prof. Haefeli and his team are now testing the new method in patients. "Since we can use minimal drug doses, these studies are also safe for patients," Prof. Haefeli explained. Heidelberg University pharmacologists will also examine the interactions of other medications that influence other metabolic enzymes. "The method could also be used in the many studies in which interactions are relevant for approval by the authorities, for instance," said Prof. Haefeli, looking toward the future.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Heidelberg University Hospital.
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Journal Reference:
- Halama B, Hohmann N, Burhenne J, Weiss J, Mikus G, Haefeli WE. A nanogram dose of the CYP3A probe substrate midazolam to evaluate drug interactions. Clin Pharmacol Ther, February 8, 2013 DOI: 10.1038/clpt.2013
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/CT3s3p3DcIE/130411124010.htm
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Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Microsoft reportedly planning to launch Office for iOS in late 2014
There has been report after report that Microsoft Office is seriously, for real this time, coming to iOS, but now it appears that Office might not be making its way to iOS until late 2014. Yes, really. In an apparent leak of their Office product roadmap, called Gemini, Microsoft details different waves in which products will be launched, and Office for iOS and Android is scheduled for October 2014. ZDNet has the details:
Gemini Wave 1.0 (October 2013): Windows Blue app updates
Gemini Wave 1.5 (April 2014): Office for Mac; Office RT refresh; Perceptive Pixel support; Windows Phone support refresh
Gemini Wave 2.0 (October 2014): Outlook RT; Office for iOS/Android
If leak proves to be accurate, it shows that Microsoft has really lost the plot. Sure, plenty of people rely on Office for work, but people who want Office on their mobile devices have done one of two things: they?ve either already purchased a Windows Phone device and/or a Windows tablet, or they?ve found another solution on iOS or Android. Both Apple?s iWork and Google Docs are cheaper and while they might not have every feature of Office, they have the features that most people need. You also don?t need to buy them again when you want the latest version.
Many businesses might still be entrenched in the thought of needing Office, but that is changing, albeit slowly. But that change will continue and it will continue to build momentum. If Microsoft is really going to wait until fall of next year to launch Office for iOS, they?re going to find that many, maybe most, of their potential customers are going to have moved on, and I?m afraid that may surprise them. And it shouldn?t.
If this roadmap is real, by late 2014, do you think you'll still want or need Office for iOS?
Source: ZDNet
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/7ME558q9a_Q/story01.htm
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The 7-Step Soil Improvement Plan
Gardeners know they need to weed, water, and prune for a healthy, vibrant garden. What they might forget, says Gary Heilig, horticulture educator at Michigan State University Extension, is some soil TLC.
This is nonnegotiable: Get a soil test to find out its nutrient levels. Check with your local extension office, which probably offers testing services. There are also private companies that offering soil testing. You'll get know the status of what Heilig calls the big three???nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium???as well as the pH level of the soil and possibly the organic-matter levels.
Soil consists of a mixture of sand, silt, and clay particles, along with organic matter. As part of the soil test, Heilig says, have a soil-texture test run to show what you're dealing with.
It takes a while to change the texture of your soil, but it is possible. Heilig advises working 6 to 8 inches of organic matter, such as leaves, into the soil. Spread leaves on your garden, use your lawnmower to chop them up, and then spread liquid nitrogen on top to speed up the decomposition process. Let this sit for about a month, then turn it into the soil. The earthworms will do the rest. (Ideally, you want to do this in the fall before it gets cold.)
"Every time you harvest something out of your garden, it's like making a withdrawal from your soil, like a withdrawal from the bank," Heilig says. "If you want to have a healthy situation at the bank, you have to make some deposits too. It's the same thing in the garden. You need to put something back if you want to keep the soil healthy."
Organic will do more for the soil overall, and some types, such as manure, also add valuable fungi that help improve the till and water-holding capacity. The downside: It's more expensive, and you'll need to apply more.
Liquid fertilizer is valuable for its secondary benefits and extra micronutrients. However, because it's diluted with water, you'll need to apply it more often???around every two weeks.
Particularly for ornamentals, selecting plants that grow well in your soil will save you time and work. This is another job for your local extension office, which ought to have a list. Native plants are always a good idea, as they're acclimatized to your area.
"When we grow something in the soil and harvest it, we're always taking nutrients out," he says. The changes may be imperceptible initially, but eventually you'll find your plants are smaller, more susceptible to problems, and maybe discolored and misshapen. If your garden goes downhill and other problems like pests aren't too blame, you could have poor soil quality. Keep your soil healthy and fertile with this seven-step soil-improvement plan.
1. Get Your Soil Tested
This is nonnegotiable: Get a soil test to find out its nutrient levels. Check with your local extension office, which probably offers testing services. There are also private companies that offering soil testing. You'll get know the status of what Heilig calls the big three???nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium???as well as the pH level of the soil and possibly the organic-matter levels.
2. ID Your Soil Type
Soil consists of a mixture of sand, silt, and clay particles, along with organic matter. As part of the soil test, Heilig says, have a soil-texture test run to show what you're dealing with.
Or, try this quick test: Rub some soil in your hands, and if it's sandy, you'll feel the sand particles. If it's heavy clay, it will feel very slippery when wet because clay particles are the smallest. Heavy clay soil also is slower to drain and takes longer to warm up and dry off in the spring. Silty soil is usually found on land near water that may have flooded and left the silt sediment.
The preferred soil, says Heilig, is a sandy (but not too sandy) loam???it's easier to work with and drains quickly.
3. Soil Adjustment
It takes a while to change the texture of your soil, but it is possible. Heilig advises working 6 to 8 inches of organic matter, such as leaves, into the soil. Spread leaves on your garden, use your lawnmower to chop them up, and then spread liquid nitrogen on top to speed up the decomposition process. Let this sit for about a month, then turn it into the soil. The earthworms will do the rest. (Ideally, you want to do this in the fall before it gets cold.)
4. Choose the Right Fertilizer
"Every time you harvest something out of your garden, it's like making a withdrawal from your soil, like a withdrawal from the bank," Heilig says. "If you want to have a healthy situation at the bank, you have to make some deposits too. It's the same thing in the garden. You need to put something back if you want to keep the soil healthy."
This is why a soil test is important???so you can choose the fertilizer with the correct ratio of nutrients. "What you need to do is put it down in the amounts you need and not apply stuff that you don't need," Heilig says. For instance, nitrogen often has to be added. Find a fertilizer with the correct phosphorus and potassium ratio and add nitrogen separately.
5. Choose Between Organic and Conventional Fertilizer
Organic will do more for the soil overall, and some types, such as manure, also add valuable fungi that help improve the till and water-holding capacity. The downside: It's more expensive, and you'll need to apply more.
Conventional fertilizers are cheaper and easier to apply, but you won't get the same soil-building benefits. You can mix organic and conventional. One example: If you need to up potassium levels, use potassium sulfate or potassium, then revert to organic.
"You need to look at things in a holistic way," Heilig says. "There are about 16 nutrients that plants need, and the majority of fertilizers only give you about three or four." The best way to get the remainder is by composting. A simple method: Dig a hole in your garden about 16 inches deep and throw in your kitchen scraps. Cover it, and let the earthworms do their thing. You can do this in several areas of your garden where the soil needs help, both before you plant in the spring and after garden season.
6. Choose Between Liquid and Granular
Liquid fertilizer is valuable for its secondary benefits and extra micronutrients. However, because it's diluted with water, you'll need to apply it more often???around every two weeks.
With granular fertilizer, you'll need only about two applications, but you won't get the extra nutrients. Before you plant, put down all of phosphorus, potassium, and two-thirds of the nitrogen, and till into the soil. Put the remaining one-third of the nitrogen six to eight weeks after the garden is growing.
7. Choose Plants for Your Soil
Particularly for ornamentals, selecting plants that grow well in your soil will save you time and work. This is another job for your local extension office, which ought to have a list. Native plants are always a good idea, as they're acclimatized to your area.
If you have poor-quality topsoil, heavy clay content, and a lot of rocks, some root crops, such as carrots, will be tricky. You can select varieties with shorter roots, and some of the many varietals that grow well in poor soil, such as these carrots and cabbage.
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Even in death, Thatcher draws scorn from some
LONDON (AP) ? While some Britons mourned the passing of Margaret Thatcher, others raised glasses of champagne in impromptu street parties. And "The Wizard of Oz" song "Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead" is surging up the UK singles charts.
A Guardian newspaper cartoon depicted Thatcher descending into hell, the Socialist Worker front page said "Rejoice," and a movie marquee was rearranged to read: "Margaret Thatchers Dead LOL."
Many societies soften their take on divisive leaders as they age ? notably the United States, where even unpopular presidents are warmly eulogized in death ? but emotions in Britain are as raw as they were when the Iron Lady was in power.
Yes, Thatcher was an unusually divisive figure blamed by many for crippling Britain's labor unions and sabotaging workers' rights, but the willingness of small groups of Britons to publicly mock a longtime national leader hours after her death reflects a British contempt for power and its practitioners that many believe stands in contrast to attitudes in the United States.
There were no similar scenes of jubilation after the 1994 death of Richard Nixon, a polarizing figure who is the only U.S. president to resign from office, said Robert McGeehan, an associate fellow at the Institute for the Study of Americas.
"This really shows the dissimilarity between the two countries," said McGeehan, a dual national who worked with Thatcher in academia after she left office. "One does not recall, with the passing of controversial figures in the U.S., anything remotely resembling the really crude approach we've seen over here," he said. "There is a class ingredient here that we simply don't have in America. They like to perpetuate this; the bitterness goes from father to son."
In contrast, he said, Nixon ? disgraced by the Watergate scandal and facing impeachment ? eventually rehabilitated his public image and was treated as a respected elder statesman by the time of his death.
There are key differences between the two political systems, despite their common roots. In Britain, the prime minister is not the head of state ? a position filled by the monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who is also the head of the Church of England ? while in the U.S. the president fills the dual role as head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
While some Britons are comfortable condemning a prime minister they detested, they would not act that way after the death of the queen or a senior royal, said Robert Worcester, an American who founded MORI, one of Britain's leading polling firms.
"Any member of the royal family will be revered, but few prime ministers are," he said, pointing out that thousands of people stood on line for hours in the middle of the night for a chance to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, when she died in 2002 at age 101.
Worcester said there is general affection for Thatcher in many quarters but that it would not be possible, for example, to name a major naval vessel after her because shipbuilders would "put down their tools" rather than honor the woman blamed by many for destroying the labor movement. He predicted that some opponents would carry "Good Riddance" signs to her funeral next week.
The anti-Thatcher movement spread to Northern Ireland, with celebrations of her death in several cities and taunting graffiti appearing overnight. "Rot in hell Maggie Thatcher" was one offering in Belfast.
Americans tend to put presidents on a pedestal, particularly after they leave office and move beyond the political give-and-take of the Oval Office. They are called "Mr. President" for the rest of their lives ? and the first woman president will be called Madame President or something similar after she leaves office. But no one in Britain calls Tony Blair, John Major or Gordon Brown "Mr. Prime Minister."
There is also a strong tendency in Britain to tear people down after building them up, and many have no qualms about attacking leaders they disliked, even in the emotionally charged days between their death and their burial.
"Having lived in both places, I can see the UK is far more deprecating, far more critical, and has far fewer taboos in criticizing leaders," said Robin Niblett, director of the Chatham House think tank. "In a way, her death is allowing people to vocalize the sense of frustration they are feeling with the current economic crisis."
While others condemned anti-Thatcher rallies as in horrendous taste, Niblett said they reflect how Britain does not need to build any patriotic myths about its leaders.
"America is building itself still and needing to believe there is a higher goal to which all Americans aspire, despite the partisan battles," he said. "When I see the trashing of Thatcher, I think of how strong Britain is and how in a way we don't need to do that. We don't rally round the flag, except in the most desperate moments. We don't eulogize our politicians."
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/even-death-thatcher-draws-scorn-163952814.html
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McIlroy arrives at Augusta with new confidence
Spectators take photos of Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, as he chips on the seventh green during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Spectators take photos of Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, as he chips on the seventh green during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits on the seventh fairway during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, catches a ball while hitting on the driving range during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits balls on the driving range during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) ? Three months into the season, Rory McIlroy feels as if it's already been a long year.
The splashy announcement of his Nike deal, and the commercial with Tiger Woods that raised hopes of a big rivalry. The missed cut in Abu Dhabi. The first-round exit from the Match Play Championship. Quitting halfway through the second round of the Honda Classic. The loss of his No. 1 ranking.
And now, McIlroy is ready to get started.
"I've always said the main golf season is from the start of April to the end of August, so that's when I want to play my best golf," McIlroy said Tuesday.
It all starts with the Masters.
McIlroy can't simply dismiss the last three months and the endless questions about the state of his game and his new equipment. He at least brings some measure of form to the first major championship of the year. Desperate to find his game, he added the Texas Open at the last minute and in turned out "almost perfectly." The 23-year-old from Northern Ireland didn't think about his swing, only his score. He challenged in the final round and wound up the runner-up.
Whether he's ready for Augusta National won't be known until Thursday. But at least he knows it's there.
"I've went through these patches before where I haven't played so well and the game feels quite far away, and then something clicks and then all of a sudden, it's back again," McIlroy said. "I probably should have learned more from it from last summer when I was going through those struggles. ... When I don't play my best, it's when I get into bad habits in my golf swing. Whenever my golf swing is where I want it to be, that's when I produce results.
"And that's what I've seen has started to happen over the past few weeks."
The problem has been the swing, not the clubs he was swinging.
Even so, McIlroy conceded the adjustment took some time. Woods took nearly five years before working all the Nike clubs into his bag. McIlroy did it all at once, and when he played poorly the first two months of the year, it only added to the scrutiny.
"The way I was hitting the ball at the start of the year, I needed a short game just to get myself around the golf course," McIlroy said. "Off the tee has been a big improvement. There was a little bit of an adjustment period getting the driver that really suited me. And once I got that, you gain confidence whenever you play rounds and you see yourself hitting good drives, hitting it in the fairway and setting yourself up with iron shots into the greens."
McIlroy has plenty at stake this year.
He already has two legs of the career Grand Slam, having set the scoring record at the U.S. Open when he won at Congressional in 2011, and then lapping the field at Kiawah Island last summer to win the PGA Championship. A win this year would put him exclusive company. Dating to 1960, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are the only players to win majors in three straight seasons.
Boy Wonder would love for that to happen at the Masters, and he's provided enough evidence that it could happen. McIlroy smiled when he was introduced for his news conference, and the moderator mentioned his best finish was a tie for 15th. That was in 2011, the year he took a four-shot lead into the final round, and still was leading by one shot going to the back nine until his game imploded. He closed with an 80.
A year ago, he was one off the lead going into the weekend, and this time self-destructed on the front nine. He closed with 77-76 and tied for 40th.
But there is no denying the affection McIlroy has for the Masters, which he calls his favorite major. He remembers playing Augusta for the first, so inspired by the purity of the place that he was afraid to take a divot.
Just a month ago, he was happy to make the cut and make progress. Now his goals are back where they should be.
"Would anything less than a win be a disappointment this week? Yeah, it would be," he said. "Every time you come here to Augusta, you're wanting to win that green jacket, and every time that you don't, it's another chance missed. But if I'm sitting here on Sunday night and I've finished second or if I've give it a good run, you can't be too disappointed because you've had a great tournament. But the ultimate goal is getting one of those jackets."
Among those who could be in his way is Woods, the prohibitive favorite with wins at Torrey Pines, Doral and Bay Hill in the last few months.
There was hope of a rivalry between generations, only that hasn't materialized. They only thing they have in common this year is that both have a swoosh on their shirts, both started the year by missing the cut and both have celebrity girlfriends ? tennis star Caroline Wozniacki for McIlroy, Olympic ski champion Lindsey Vonn for Woods.
Woods has had plenty of rivals over the years, and sees McIlroy as the next one.
"Over the course of my career, I've had a few. Certainly, Rory is this generation," Woods said. "I've had Phil (Mickelson) and Vijay (Singh) and Ernie (Els) and David (Duval) for a number of years, and now Rory's the leader of this new, younger generation. So, yes, definitely."
McIlroy isn't so sure.
Never mind that he became the first player to win consecutive PGA Tour events with Woods in the field, or that he built a big gap in the world ranking by the end of last year. Padraig Harrington once said it could be McIlroy ? not Woods ? who has the best chance of breaking Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 professional majors.
Not so fast, McIlroy replied.
"When you speak of rivals, you tend to put rivals who have had similar success," McIlroy said. "He's got 77 PGA Tour wins. I've got six. He's got 14 majors. I've got two. If I saw myself a rival to Tiger, I wouldn't really be doing him much justice."
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Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Cookie Monster, Elmo get in Times Square trouble
An Elmo character poses for photos in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
An Elmo character poses for photos in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
A Super Mario character, left, uses a woman's mobile phone camera to photographer her with a pair of Elmo characters in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Elmo and two Hello Kitty characters pose for photos with a little girl in New York's Times Square, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
A woman gives a monetary tip to characters in New York's Times Square after she photographed the girl with them, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A string of arrests in the last few months has brought unwelcome attention to the growing number of people, mostly poor immigrants, who make a living by donning character outfits, roaming Times Square and charging tourists a few dollars to pose with them in photos. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
NEW YORK (AP) ? Cookie Monster stands accused of shoving a 2-year-old. Super Mario was charged with groping a woman. And Elmo was booked for berating tourists with anti-Semitic slurs.
Times Square is crawling with entrepreneurs who dress up as pop-culture characters and try to make a few bucks posing for photos with visitors to the big city. But some of these characters are unlike anything you've seen on "Sesame Street" or at Disney World.
They smoke, they use foul language, and they can be aggressive. At least three of them have been arrested in the past seven months.
"He was using words that were really bad," said Parmita Kurada of Stamford, Conn., who told police she got into a dispute this week with a man in a Cookie Monster costume who demanded $2 for posing with her 2-year-old son, Samay.
Kurada said that when she told the Cookie Monster that her husband needed to get cash, the shaggy blue creature pushed the boy and began calling her and the child obscene names.
"It was very scary for us, and I was crying. I didn't want to provoke him, so I said, 'We'll give you the money, but stop yelling!'" she said.
Osvaldo Quiroz-Lopez, 33, was charged with assault, child endangerment and aggressive begging. His lawyer did not immediately return a call for comment.
Asked by a WNBC-TV reporter why he no longer likes the character he sees on "Sesame Street," little Samay said: "Because Cookie Monster give me boo-boo."
In the wake of the latest arrest, the bustling "Crossroads of the World" was filled Tuesday with performers, including multiple versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Hello Kitty, a Transformer robot, Lady Liberty, Super Mario and Elmo.
Many of them are immigrants trying to eke out a living in what appear to be knockoff costumes.
As street performers protected by the First Amendment, they are free to roam Times Square and work for tips that average between $2 and $5 a photo as long as they don't block traffic, sell merchandise or demand payment, police say. That's a ticketable offense that can cost about $60.
"I don't think they should charge, but if they're unemployed or homeless, and this is the only way they can make money, it's OK," said Lauren Larcara of Oakland, N.J., who posed with a torch-carrying Statue of Liberty.
Laura Vanegas, a 45-year-old native of Ecuador, changes into her Liberty robes and applies copper-green face paint behind the Times Square military recruiting station. She said she picks up $30 to $50 on her eight-hour shift.
Steve Crass, dressed as a robot in fluorescent red and white plastic panels, said he has made as much as $280 during his six-hour stint in front of Toys R Us. He acknowledged: "Some of the characters are a little too aggressive."
Police spokesman Paul Browne said in an email that the department has had "occasional issues with the 'faux paws' in Times Square, but they're nominal."
The case against the Super Mario charged with groping is still pending. The Elmo accused of an anti-Semitic rant pleaded guilty in September to disorderly conduct and was sentenced to two days of community service.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn called the Cookie Monster case "just horrible" and said lawmakers have been looking into how to regulate the characters. But she noted the issue is, well, fuzzy.
"It's very challenging legally because dressing up in a costume and walking around Times Square is, we believe, a First Amendment-protected activity," said Quinn, a candidate to be New York's next mayor.
Similar cases of misbehavior by costumed performers have been reported in Hollywood.
Disney did not respond to a request for comment, while the Sesame Workshop, the organization behind "Sesame Street," said it has not authorized such uses of any its characters in any city and is looking into what actions it can take.
Anthony Elia, a New York lawyer in the intellectual-property field, said the entertainment groups probably have a case for trademark infringement, but "the challenge probably would be getting a bunch of self-employed entrepreneurial individuals to stop."
It's not the easiest way to make a living. On a day when temperatures pushed 80, they sweated in their outfits, coming out from under their oversized costume heads only to grab a hot dog or a smoke. When one posed for a photo, two or three others dashed over and joined in.
"Want to take a picture?" a furry red Elmo asked a tourist. Moments later, he declined to speak to a reporter, saying through his costume, "I no speak English."
A Minnie Mouse offered a toddler in a stroller her hand and positioned herself at the handlebar. A Super Mario rushed over to join her.
"She said, 'Can you give us money?'" said the child's mother, Melanie Somogyi of Hamilton, Ontario. "And they grabbed the stroller!"
___
AP reporters Colleen Long, Karen Matthews and Jennifer Peltz in New York contributed to this report.
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