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Source: http://getglue.com/conversation/stephen_ruddock/2011-12-31T04%3A31%3A57Z
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Saturday, December 31, 2011
93% Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol
All Critics (174) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (161) | Rotten (12)
As usual with the series, the movie combines a plot line a toddler could understand with gadgets that would baffle an engineering Ph.D.
I'm thinking it, so I might as well say it: Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is no Fast Five.
...it's pretty much state-of-the-art.
[Bird's] fresh touch gives breathless energy, tremendous excitement and, above all, humor to what could have been a wearying genre exercise.
Powered by Cruise's moxie, Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol proves that in a Hollywood action-ride culture drenched in fake adrenaline, it's cathartic to encounter the real thing.
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is top-notch popcorn entertainment, chock-full of dazzling stunts and heroic moments, played out at a near-hysterical pitch.
Ghost pulls off the impossible.
Film number four has found its optimum screen display, its best director for the job and its sense of humour while increasing the gadgets and death-defying stunts.
Something goes wrong and the entire Kremlin blows up. 'The wattage of my smile has overpowered the antiquated Russian electrical grid,' explained Tom.
The cinematography is rewarding enough for a travelogue. The good guy vs. the world with a hateful bad guy is involving. This is another film where you should just leave your brain at home, relax, and enjoy it.
Welcome to the post-Pixar action movie.
Best line of 2011 delivered by Jeremy Renner: "That's it. Next time I get to seduce the rich guy." Why is MI4 so terrific? I screamed out in the theater: "The pants are gonna rip!"
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It's actually pretty entertaining... but a certain genericness is creeping in.
A mature Tom Cruise is in top form here, displaying a relatively-sophisticated savoir faire in lieu of the easy boyish charm that's served him so well in the past.
It's a great mix that feeds an action junkie's need for death defying stunts but reminds us how dangerous it all really is so that we remain engaged in the tension of the scene.
Exhilarating, nerve-wracking, vertigo-inducing, action-packed popcorn picture, filled with spectacular feats of derring-do.
This is some Star Trek level techno-nonsense, but the locations, stunts, and ambient batsh*ttedness of the entire endeavor provide ample distraction.
Could be the poster boy for disposable films.
By turns eye-watering, knee trembling, heart-pounding and rib-tickling, this gravity-defying blockbuster is what popcorn was invented for. Chomp away!
...a perfectly watchable (yet undeniably overlong) entry in an almost remarkably consistent series...
This franchise has never dazzled with brilliance but it certainly baffles with something else. Mostly it's video game-style violence... occasionally pausing for necessary exposition that at home would be times to rest your thumbs.
Perhaps we shouldn't expect too much in the way of character in this kind of thing - but action always seems more fun when it's done by real people.
What the script lacks in plausibility - almost everything - it compensates with all-guns-blazing fun.
M:I4 proves to be a sugar rush of pure, unadulterated entertainment. Even with a running time of two-plus hours, there's not an ounce of fat.
More Critic ReviewsSource: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mission_impossible_ghost_protocol/
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Friday, December 30, 2011
How to convert mod to Apple TV files on Mac with Mac mod to Apple TV converter?
What is mod?
MOD are informal names of tapeless video formats used by JVC, Panasonic and Canon in some models of digital camcorders. Format names correspond to extensions of video files. Neither JVC nor Panasonic, who pioneered the format, explained meaning of the file extensions. MOD is used exclusively for standard definition video files. The formats were never given an official name.
Mod to Apple TV Converter Mac?is able to convert .mod files to Apple TV H.264, MPEG-4, MP3, WAV, etc. files. Mac Mod to Apple TV converter allows you to transfer .mod files to acceptable videos by most media player including iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, PSP, Zune, Blackberry, Creative Zen, etc with no quality loss.
Tutorial: How to Convert JVC, Panasonic, Canon MOD files to Apple TV H.264, MPEG-4, MP3 on Mac OS?
Step 1: Download and install Mod to Apple TV Converter for Mac
Step 2: Add a .mod file to Mod to Apple TV for Mac
Click the Add File...to choose mod files that need to be converted, you are allowed to load more video files in different formats.
Step 3: Specify the output profile and destination.
You can select proper output video by hitting the drop-down list, and specify an output path for resulted video by click browse button.
Step 4:?Convert Mod to Apple TV Mac.
Now, click 'Convert' button to carry out the conversion of MOD to MPEG-4.
?
Tags:mod to apple tv for mac, mac mod to apple tv converter, convert mod to apple tv mac
Source: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r5675540639&f=378
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HTC updates bootloader unlock utility to support latest Android lineup
HTC updates bootloader unlock utility to support latest Android lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Occupy protesters arrested at Paul, Democratic HQ
Ankeny Police Lt. Ben Bowersox tries to talk to a group of protesters affiliated with Occupy Des Moines in front of Ron Paul?s Ankeny, Iowa, campaign headquarters Dec. 29, 2011. Five people were arrested while protesting Paul?s stance on the Environmental Protection Agency. (AP Photo/The Des Moines Register, Regina Zilbermints)
Ankeny Police Lt. Ben Bowersox tries to talk to a group of protesters affiliated with Occupy Des Moines in front of Ron Paul?s Ankeny, Iowa, campaign headquarters Dec. 29, 2011. Five people were arrested while protesting Paul?s stance on the Environmental Protection Agency. (AP Photo/The Des Moines Register, Regina Zilbermints)
An Ankeny police officer arrests protester Julie Brown Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, outside Ron Paul's campaign office in Ankeny, Iowa. Brown, 34, of Des Moines painted black tears on her face and wore all black to symbolize her mourning of a dying planet. She was among those arrested protesting Paul?s proposal to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency to stimulate job growth. ?I feel like it was the right thing to do,? said Brown, who was arrested last week inside the Iowa Democratic Party?s headquarters. ?Abolishing the EPA is not an effective way to deal with the economy.? (AP Photo/The Des Moines Register, Grant Rodgers) MAGS OUT, TV OUT, NO SALES, MANDATORY CREDIT
Megan Felt, 24, is arrested while protesting Ron Paul's stance on the Environmental Protection Agency outside his Ankeny, Iowa, campaign office on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. Felt was also arrested at Wednesday's protest inside a Des Moines Wells Fargo bank branch. (AP Photo/The Des Moines Register, Regina Zilbermints)
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) ? Police arrested more than a dozen Occupy protesters Thursday in Iowa who are targeting Democrats and Republicans just days before the state's closely watched lead-off presidential caucuses.
Five protesters were arrested outside the Iowa campaign headquarters of presidential contender Ron Paul in Ankeny before the group moved on to the Iowa Democratic Party headquarters in Des Moines, where 12 more were taken into custody. All were ticketed for trespassing and released.
The protests are part of an Occupy the Caucuses effort launched this week in Des Moines that has attracted activists from around the country. Many of them have promised to interrupt campaign activities, and organizers promised more confrontations on Friday with campaign offices of Republican presidential hopefuls.
Occupy the Caucuses spokeswoman Danielle Ryun, who was among those arrested at the state Democratic Party headquarters, said the goal is not to be arrested. But since campaign officials won't listen to them, protesters are willing to be arrested to get their message across, she said.
"It would be great if we could show up, issue our concerns and have the candidates acknowledge us and change their platform," she said.
Those arrested in Des Moines included a 14-year-old girl who was released to her father at the scene. On Thursday, seven protesters were arrested outside Republican Mitt Romney's Des Moines headquarters.
Iowa Democratic Party Executive Director Norm Sterzenbach said the protesters were given the opportunity to express their opinions and party officials listened to their concerns, but he said occupying the party offices was unacceptable.
"Not only does it interfere with the important work that our volunteers and staff do to engage Iowans in the political process, by physically blocking our staff from entering or exiting the building sets a very dangerous precedent," Sterzenbach said in a statement.
Protesters at Paul's campaign headquarters were protesting his proposal to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency if elected.
Ryun said the Paul campaign headquarters were locked when protesters arrived. By locking their doors, campaigns "are signaling to us that they have become disengaged," Ryun said.
A telephone message left for a Paul campaign spokesman was not returned.
At the Iowa Democratic Party's offices, protesters targeted President Barack Obama, demanding that he put a stop to home foreclosures, turn down campaign donations from Wall Street, and end indefinite detentions of detainees at Guantanamo Bay.
"They're all going to get equal play on this," Ryun said. "We are very disillusioned with every candidate."
Eight protesters were arrested at the party's offices on Dec. 19.
Police in Des Moines and Ankeny said the protesters were given the option of leaving and told if they refused they would be arrested. Police said the arrests were peaceful and no force was used.
The Occupy movement began in New York and has spread across the country. Activists generally protest the growing gap between rich and poor and corporate influence over government.
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Thursday, December 29, 2011
Video: Avastin could buy time in battle with ovarian cancer
Two studies out Wednesday show that Avastin, a drug that is already approved for other cancers -- but is also controversial -- could help women buy more time in the battle with ovarian cancer. More from NBC's Chief Science Correspondent Robert Bazell.
Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/45809909/
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Knockout Thursday feat. live boxing, College Night
When: 11:00 pm
Where: DJ Holleywood's Chameleon
How Much: No Cover
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Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Bit-tech's Mod of the Year contest underway: finally, something you're comfortable voting on
[Thanks, Antony]
Bit-tech's Mod of the Year contest underway: finally, something you're comfortable voting on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink |bit-tech | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/26/bit-techs-mod-of-the-year-contest-underway-finally-something/
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Kim Jong Il's heir meets with SKorean delegation (AP)
PYONGYANG, North Korea ? North Korea's next leader burnished his diplomatic skills Monday, welcoming a private South Korean mourning delegation as state media revealed a new title that gives Kim Jong Un authority over political matters.
Kim Jong Un has rapidly gained prominence since the death of his father Kim Jong Il on Dec. 17, and his brief meeting with a group led by a former South Korean first lady and a prominent business leader shows Seoul that he is assured in his new role.
State media have showered Kim with new titles. On Saturday, the North referred to him as "supreme leader" of the 1.2 million-strong armed forces and said the military's top leaders had pledged their loyalty to him. On Monday, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper described him as head of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party ? a post that appears to make him the top official in the ruling party.
On Monday, a South Korean delegation stood in a line on a red carpet and bowed silently during their visit to the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where Kim Jong Il's body is lying in state in a bier surrounded by flowers and flanked by an honor guard.
Kim Jong Un gave the South Koreans his thanks after they expressed condolences and sympathy, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said. Seoul's Unification Ministry confirmed the meeting in a statement but didn't elaborate.
The lead delegates were the widow of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who engineered a "sunshine" engagement policy with the North and held a landmark summit with Kim Jong Il in 2000, and Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun, whose late husband had ties to the North.
Their meeting with Kim Jong Un could be intended to push South Korea to pursue previously agreed upon cooperative projects that would give North Korea much-needed aid, said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, which is in South Korea.
Footage from AP Television News in North Korea earlier showed the South Koreans being greeted by North Korean officials during a stop at a factory park in the North Korean border town of Kaesong. North Korea sent delegations to Seoul when the women's husbands died.
Monday's meeting appeared to be Kim Jong Un's first reported meeting with South Koreans since his father's death.
The Kim family has extended its control over the country of 24 million people to a third generation with Kim Jong Un, who is in his late 20s and was revealed last year as his father's choice among three sons for successor.
Kim Jong Il, who ruled North Korea for 17 years, wielded power as head of three main state organs: the Workers' Party, the Korean People's Army and the National Defense Commission. His father, North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, remains the nation's "eternal president" long after his 1994 death.
Kim Jong Un was named a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party last year, but was expected to ascend to new military and political posts while being groomed to become the next leader.
Monday's reference to his new title was in commentary in the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Workers' Party, urging soldiers to dedicate their lives "to protect the party's Central Committee headed by respected Comrade Kim Jong Un." Rodong Sinmun has also called on the people to become "eternal revolutionary comrades" with Kim Jong Un, "the sun of the 21st century."
The language echoed slogans used years ago to rally support for Kim Jong Il, and made clear the son is quickly moving toward leadership of the Workers' Party, one of the country's highest positions, in addition to the military.
North Korea refers to Kim Il Sung as the "sun" of the nation and his birthday is celebrated as the "Day of the Sun," and state media have sought to emphasize Kim Jong Un's role in carrying out the Kim family legacy throughout his succession movement.
His titles are slight variations of those held by his father, but appear to carry the same weight. It was unclear whether the nation's constitution had been changed to reflect the transfer of leadership as when Kim Jong Il took power after his father's death.
Mourning continued, meanwhile, despite frigid winter weather, in the final days before Kim Jong Il's funeral is set to take place Wednesday and a memorial Thursday.
People continued lining up Monday in central Kim Il Sung Square, where a massive portrait that usually features Kim Il Sung has been replaced by one of Kim Jong Il, to bow before his smiling image and to lay funereal flowers. Heated buses stood by to give mourners a respite from the cold, and hot tea and water were distributed from beverage kiosks.
___
Associated Press writers Foster Klug, Hyung-jin Kim and Jiyoung Won in Seoul, South Korea, and AP Korea bureau chief Jean H. Lee, contributed to this report. Follow AP's Korea coverage at twitter.com/newsjean and twitter.com/APKlug.
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Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Band Roleplay
Well, I have felt an inexorable urge to create a character for a band in an RP lately. The problem being, of course, that that would require a band roleplay, and I've been as of yet unable to find one active on this site. So the obvious solution is, of course, to create my own. I played with the idea for a bit, before I decided indeed to go ahead with it--but I'm posting here with an interest check to see if anyone even would want to join such a roleplay, and to get at least a couple of people on board before I put the actual RP up on the RP tab. This thread can be used by those interested to request spots be kept for them (and I will check to make sure you are a half-way decent RPer, they ain't goin' out to just anybody and everybody :v), to discuss the genre of whatever band you're affiliated with, band names, details like that. I'm thinking there will be two bands, their fame and popularity can be determined, but beyond that I really haven't come up with a plot foundation. Maybe the two bands go on tour with one another--that can be determined if and when people show interest.
Anyway, I'm gonna lay some things down to begin with. This will not be a boy-band, alternative rock, pop-punk-esque sort of thing. What I am aiming for here is metal bands, though I will accept subgenres of real punk as well (so no, not Offspring, or Blink 102. They are not real punk. I'm thinking crust punk, like Doom, or Amebix would be good). Any metal, whether it be Megadeth-style thrash, straight up heavy metal, death metal, or even grindcore if you are so compelled. Speaking for myself (and I will be claiming the guitarist/vocalist of Band 1, let's just call them Band 1 and Band 2) I would like for Band 1 to have a death metal style reminiscent of Nile (skip over to around 1:00 mark), with very high-speed, technical riffing, but I am also open to other options. I intend for it to have a two lead guitarist set up (in lieu of a rhythm/vocals and lead) with one doing vocals, with both guitarists switching off on solos.
Is that going into too much detail for an interest check? x_x Anyway, if you have any questions, comments, or are interested in this, please post here and let me know. I'm very eager to do a band RP.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/79OsjY_FMVM/viewtopic.php
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Prosecutors seek delay in mayor?s sex trial
Prosecutors seek delay in mayor's sex trial ??
?????Tuesday 27th December, 2011??Source: The Sun Herald ??
| JACKSON -- Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to delay the trial of Grady Sims, who is the mayor of Walnut Grove and a former jail warden accused of sexually assaulting an inmate and trying to cover it up. Sims, former warden of Walnut Grove Transition Center, was indicted in October. The indictment says the eight-term mayor sexually assaulted ... | Breaking News |
|
Source: http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?rid=202162569&cat=a97a4109a449ff84
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Monday, December 26, 2011
UPDATE 2-Cricket-Sri Lanka v South Africa scoreboard
(Refiles to tabulate)
DURBAN, South Africa, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Scoreboard on the first day of the second test between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Kingsmead on Monday.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first.
Sri Lanka first innings T. Paranavitana c Boucher b De Lange 12 T. Dilshan c Morkel b Tahir 47 K. Sangakkara c Boucher b De Lange 0 M. Jayawardene b Morkel 31 T. Samaraweera not out 86 A. Mathews c & bowled De Lange 30 D. Chandimal c Boucher b Morkel 58 T. Perera c Amla b De Lange 12 Extras (lb-8, nb-5) 13 Total (for 7 wickets, 89.3 overs) 289
Fall of wickets: 1-35 2-47 3-84 4-117 5-162 6-273 7-289.
Still to bat: R. Herath, C. Welegedara, D. Fernando.
Bowling: Steyn 19-3-55-0, Morkel 17-2-55-2 (nb-3), De Lange 16.3-2-60-4, Tahir 28-3-87-1 (nb-2), Kallis 9-1-24-0.
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U.S. Tech Firm to Set Up Branch in Chinese City
By IANS, Friday, 23 December 2011, 04:57 Hrs
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'); manageControls(currentPosition); $('.control') .bind('click', function(){ currentPosition = ($(this).attr('id')=='rightControl') ? currentPosition+1 : currentPosition-1; manageControls(currentPosition); $('#slideInner').animate({ 'marginLeft' : slideWidth*(-currentPosition) }); }); function manageControls(position) { if(position==0) { $('#leftControl').hide() document.getElementById("p2").style.display = "block"; document.getElementById("p3").style.display = "block"; $('#rightControl').show() } else if(position==numberOfSlides-2 ) { $('#leftControl').show() document.getElementById("p3").style.display = "block"; $('#rightControl').show() } else if(position==numberOfSlides-1 ) { $('#leftControl').show() document.getElementById("p2").style.display = "block"; $('#rightControl').hide() } } });
Beijing: Qualcomm, the world's largest wireless semiconductor company, has announced it will set up a branch in Xi'an, capital of China's northwest Shaanxi province, the authorities said.Over the years, the U.S-based global leader in 3G and next generation wireless telecommunication technologies has established cooperative relationships with Chinese counterparts such as Huawei, ZTE, Yulong Coolpad and Wingtech, Xinhua reported.
Qualcomm's branch in Xi'an is a strategic option and also a good beginning, said Zhao Hongzhuan, director of the Xi'an high-tech area management committee.
Zhao added that the area will provide "big support and quality service" to Qualcomm.
China has already become one of the fastest growing markets for Qualcomm, said Wang Xiang, president of Qualcomm greater China.
"Qualcomm decided to set up its branch in Xi'an because of the city's complete industrial chain, strong technical strengths and rich talent," Wang said.
Qualcomm entered the Chinese market in the late 1990s and already has branches in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.
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Sunday, December 25, 2011
Suicide bomb kills at least 20 in northern Afghanistan (Reuters)
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan (Reuters) ? A suicide bomber killed at least 20 people, including a member of parliament, and wounded 50 in Afghanistan's northern city of Taloqan on Sunday, police said.
The once-peaceful northern Takhar province has seen a series of high profile attacks and assassinations over the last year, including the killing of a top police commander in May.
"People were gathering for a funeral when a suicide bomber detonated himself," Mahmod al-Hussain, a senior police detective for the northern Takhar province, told Reuters.
A member of parliament, Mutalib Bik, was among the dead, he added.
Takhar was once so peaceful that there is no major permanent base for foreign troops there. German troops supervise the area from a base in neighboring Kunduz province.
Despite the presence of tens of thousands of Western forces in Afghanistan, the United Nations and other groups say violence is at its worst since U.S.-led Afghan forces toppled the Taliban from power in late 2001.
NATO-led forces say they have seen a decline over recent months in attacks launched by insurgents against their troops.
(Reporting by Mohammad Hamed and Mirwais Harooni; Writing by Agnieszka Flak; Editing by Yoko Nishikawa)
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Clashes between sect, police kill 61 in Nigeria
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria?? Fighting between a radical Muslim sect and paramilitary forces in Nigeria has killed at least 61 people over several days of violence in the nation's northeast that has left churches bombed and people hiding in fear, authorities said Saturday.
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In hard-hit Yobe state, where at least 50 people died, the government ordered a dusk-till-dawn curfew following attacks by the sect known as Boko Haram. In Maiduguri, the capital of neighboring Borno state, bombs reduced at least three churches to rubble and raised fears of further attacks by a group that claimed Christmas Eve bombings last year that killed dozens.
The fighting began Thursday in the two states, with gunfire and explosions heard into the night and the following day in an arid region that borders Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Damaturu, the capital of Yobe state, and the town of Potiskum bore the brunt of the violence.
In Damaturu, residents fled their homes near the city's central mosque ahead of a combined attack by soldiers and the federal police's feared Mobile Police, known as "kill-and-go" for their propensity for violence. The paramilitary forces raided the area in armored personnel carriers and tanks, with heavy gunfire marking their arrival.
"We were able to kill 12 of the Boko Haram armed sect and bombers," local police commissioner Lawan Tanko said. The police commissioner said officers also recovered Kalashnikov rifles, ammunition and explosives.
In Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, a mortuary official who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter told The Associated Press at least 11 bodies had been brought in from the violence. Authorities blamed Boko Haram for firebombing at least three churches around the capital, attacks that killed one pastor and his young child.
This is just the latest in a series of bombings over the last year by Boko Haram. The group, whose name means "Western education is sacrilege" in the local Hausa language, wants to implement strict Shariah law across a nation of more than 160 million people that is home to both Christians and Muslims.
Boko Haram claimed responsibility for a Nov. 4 attack on Damaturu, Yobe state's capital, that killed more than 100 people. The group also claimed the Aug. 24 suicide car bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Nigeria's capital that killed 24 people and wounded 116 others.
While initially targeting enemies via hit-and-run assassinations from the back of motorbikes, violence by Boko Haram now has a new sophistication and apparent planning that includes high-profile attacks with greater casualties. The sect is responsible for at least 465 killings in Nigeria this year alone, according to an AP count.
Boko Haram has splintered into three factions, with one wing increasingly willing to kill as it maintains contact with terror groups in North Africa and Somalia, diplomats and security sources say. That, as well as its increasingly violent attacks, have some worried the group will carry out further attacks around Christmas and New Year's.
Last year, a series of Christmas Eve bombings in the central Nigerian city of Jos claimed by Boko Haram killed at least 32 people and wounded at least 74 others.
With those attacks in mind, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria's capital of Abuja issued a warning Friday to citizens to be "particularly vigilant" around churches, large crowds and areas where foreigners congregate.
Analysts say the government's response remains strained as President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the country's south, remains worried about alienating the country's predominantly Muslim north with heavy-handed tactics. In 2009, a military and police crackdown following rioting by Boko Haram members in and around Maiduguri left 700 people dead.
Yet since Thursday, authorities have been using paramilitary police and soldiers more freely. Tanko, the Yobe state police commissioner, said joint patrols by the military and police would continue.
"When you are fighting people you don't know, you cannot say that's the end of the exercise," Tanko said. "We are trying to ensure that will be the end, but we are monitoring what is going on. But we know we cannot specifically say that will be the end."
___
Jon Gambrell reported from Lagos, Nigeria and can be reached at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45782867/ns/world_news-africa/
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Saturday, December 24, 2011
Video: Despite prices, millions travel for holidays
Millions of Americans are beginning their holiday trek even though prices for flying, driving and accommodations have continued to increase since last year. NBC?s Tom Costello reports.
Related Links:
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Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/45775347/
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Nick Lachey: There?s No ?Sense of Urgency? to Have Kids
"I don't think there's necessarily any timetable for it," Nick told PEOPLE while at Tostitos' Party with a Purpose to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/LcGsimZPxQI/
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Friday, December 23, 2011
Sea cucumbers: Dissolving coral reefs?
Friday, December 23, 2011
Coral reefs are extremely diverse ecosystems that support enormous biodiversity. But they are at risk. Carbon dioxide emissions are acidifying the ocean, threatening reefs and other marine organisms. New research led by Carnegie's Kenneth Schneider analyzed the role of sea cucumbers in portions of the Great Barrier Reef and determined that their dietary process of dissolving calcium carbonate (CaCO3) from the surrounding reef accounts for about half of at the total nighttime dissolution for the reef. The work is published December 23 by the Journal of Geophysical Research.
Reefs are formed through the biological deposition of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Many of the marine organisms living on and around a reef contribute to either its destruction or construction. Therefore it is crucial that the amount of calcium carbonate remain in balance. When this delicate balance is disrupted, the reef ceases to grow and its foundations can be weakened.
In order to fully understand a reef's ability to deposit carbonate and grow, it is necessary to understand the roles that the various elements of sea life play in this process. This is especially important because increased atmospheric carbon dioxide is predicted to decrease the amount of carbonate available due to acidification.
The research group set out to examine the role that sea cucumbers play in the reef environment.
Schneider's team included Carnegie's Ken Caldeira, as well as Jacob Silverman, of the Israeli Limnology and Oceanography Institute; Maria Byrne and Erika Woolsey, both of the University of Sydney and the latter also from James Cook University; and Hampus Eriksson of Stockholm University.
They studied the growth and dissolution of One Tree Reef, which surrounds One Tree Island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Focusing on an area of the reef known as "DK13", they found that sea cucumbers were abundant. They collected some of these sea cucumbers and placed them in aquaria to study the effect on sea water resulting from the sand and rubble transported through their gut system as part of their digestive process.
As part of another ongoing study in this area, the team found that the coral reef was dissolving at night. They found that sea cucumbers play a crucial part in this process. They live off the bits of organic matter in the carbonate sand and rubble that they ingest; in this process, their digestive systems produce acids that dissolve parts of these carbonate minerals. The dissolved carbonate minerals are then released into the surrounding environment. The researchers found that these lowly organisms might be responsible for half of the CaCO3 of the reef observed at night.
The burning of coal, oil, and gas releases CO2 into the atmosphere, which is later absorbed by the ocean, causing the ocean to acidify. Ocean acidification is expected to slow reef growth. With slower reef growth, the dissolution of CaCO3 within the guts of sea cucumbers is expected to become even more important to the reef CaCO3 budget.
"Even though the sea cucumbers dissolve CaCO3 on the reef, in a lagoon such as the one at One Tree Reef, where there is limited seawater exchange with the surrounding ocean, they can be important in recycling of nutrients to support primary productivity. They also increase sea water buffer capacity to partially offset ocean acidification effects, helping to maintain the overall health of the coral reef," Schneider said. "Although sea cucumbers may play a part in reef dissolution, they are also an important part of an incredible marine environment."
###
Carnegie Institution: http://www.ciw.edu
Thanks to Carnegie Institution for this article.
This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.
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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/116290/Sea_cucumbers__Dissolving_coral_reefs_
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Thursday, December 22, 2011
Spotted: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Charlotte ? Tutu Cute
Sarah Michelle Gellar and daughter Charlotte Grace, 2, toughen up their look with black boots while leaving class on Monday in Los Angeles.
Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/lbjjfxBSF74/
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Sunday, December 18, 2011
Why This Company Can't Stop Falling (The Motley Fool)
Best Buy (NYSE: BBY - News) disappointed analysts when it came out with third-quarter profits that were significantly lower than expected because of aggressive pricing and promotional activity. Can the company stay afloat as it tries to keep up with its competitors?
Ringing it up
The retailer's revenues increased by 2% from the previous year's quarter to $12.09 billion. Comparable-store sales, on the other hand, rose by just 0.3%, mainly driven by sales of mobile devices, including tablets, e-readers, appliances, and movies.
Best Buy's aggressive Black Friday promotions, coupled with free shipping for online purchases, caused the company to pay a steep price in the form of a 29% cut in net income from the prior year's quarter. The current figure is $154 million.
When a shopper's paradise becomes a retailer's nightmare
A major reason for Best Buy's poor profits are the aggressive advertising and pricing it adopted to compete with players such as Costco (Nasdaq: COST - News), hhgregg (NYSE: HGG - News), Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT - News), and especially Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN - News).
In fact, the sector as a whole is seeing more price competition, as retailers push further with more promotions and discounts to attract penny-pinching, price-conscious consumers.
Best Buy's CEO said the company resorted to these measures to shore up revenues and market share. On the bright side, it did result in increased traffic and comparable-store sales, coupled with a significant increase in online revenue growth. However, lower profit was the price the company had to pay.
More competition in the online retailing jungle
Of late, online retailer Amazon has been giving all brick-and-mortar stores a run for their money. Early in December, Amazon promoted a mobile app that buyers could use to get a special discount on Amazon.com if they used the app to scan an item while in a competitor's store. Amazon's clever little scheme not only made customers see the difference in prices but also served as a valuable source of information on retail store prices.
So ultimately, it's promotional efforts like these that are forcing businesses such as Best Buy to slash prices just to preserve market share rather than grow it in any significant way.
As evidence of the effectiveness of its competitors' actions, Best Buy also announced plans to cut down on its big-box store space by 10% during the next five years. I don't think this will be a magic fix for the retailer's problems, though. What it really needs are more traffic and better margins, not necessarily less space.
The Foolish bottom line
Since price competition cannot be done away with, the only way the company can shore up profits is by simply reducing overhead costs and somehow increasing its sales. Shifting most of its emphasis to online retailing could possibly do the trick. However, more powerful players such as Amazon could continue to give Best Buy some very tough competition in that space.
What do you Fools think of the intensely competitive retail sector? Let us know by leaving your comments in the box below. And don't forget to stay up to speed with Best Buy by adding it to your watchlist. It's free and lets you stay up to date with the latest news and analysis for your favorite companies. You can get started today.
Fool contributor Keki Fatakia holds no shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article. The Motley Fool owns shares of Costco Wholesale, Amazon.com, Wal-Mart Stores, and Best Buy.
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'AutoLoans.com' Confirms Recovery of Automotive Market Due to ...
Tempe, AZ -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/16/2011 -- Although the economy is still struggling in some areas, a website that is devoted to helping its customers compare and contrast rates on auto loans has some good news to report.
The staff at AutoLoans.com said it can confirm a recovery of the automotive market, as auto financing requests are increasing right along with automobile purchases.
AutoLoans.com has earned its reputation as a proven leader in auto loans and car financing. Visitors to the website can take their time browsing and comparing the auto finance options that are available to them, only without any hassles or obligation to buy. For people who are considering buying a new or used vehicle, AutoLoans.com can help simplify the process as well as allowing them to spend less of their hard-earned money.
?We have partnered with some of the best lenders in the industry to ensure that you get the best deal.? an article on the website explained.
?You have the ability to make lenders compete for your business. We also include countless resources and articles aimed at assisting you throughout the entire vehicle loan process.?
Using the website is easy and stress-free; simply log onto the home page and begin browsing through the information and articles about auto loans and car financing. Those who are interested in getting free quotes can fill out a quick and easy application form right on the website, which will let them to see the various auto loan rates that are available to them from prominent national lenders.
AutoLoans.com also helps explain the often-confusing language of car finance. Short articles near the bottom of the home page define terms like bad credit auto loans, 100% online car loans, and auto loans with fast approval. The website can also help customers who want to refinance their existing car loan by showing them what types of rates they can get for their car or truck.
?In today's trying economy, searching exhaustively for the most competitive auto loan rates is critical. Finding a good rate could mean the difference between an affordable car payment and a crushing one,? an article on the website noted, adding that auto loan features are customized to each customer?s borrowing priorities.
For more information on AutoLoans.com, please visit http://www.autoloans.com
About AutoLoans.com
AutoLoans.com is a website devoted to helping consumers compare the various auto loan rates and terms that are available to them. By filling out a simple online application, visitors to the site can get fast and free quotes from a variety of auto loan companies. The website also includes resources and articles that help people throughout the car loan process.
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Saturday, December 17, 2011
Simoneau, Randolph chosen AP Little All-Americans (AP)
NEW YORK ? Harlon Hill Trophy finalists Dane Simoneau of Washburn University and Jonas Randolph of Mars Hill College have been selected to The Associated Press Little All-America team.
The Little All-America team honors players from Division II, III and NAIA.
Simoneau passed for 4,089 yards and 38 touchdowns, leading Washburn in Topeka, Kan., to a 10-3 season and a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Randolph was Division II's leading rusher at 2,170 yards for Mars Hill in North Carolina.
The Harlon Hill Trophy was to be presented to Friday night.
Joining Randolph in the backfield was running back Levell Coppage of Wisconsin-Whitewater, which was to play Mount Union for the Division III title Friday night.
Defensive back Nick Driskill of Mount Union was selected to the first team.
The other running back on the first team was Hillsdale's Joe Glendening, who is second in Division II in rushing with 1,600 yards and has scored 31 touchdowns, tops in the nation.
Wayne State University in Michigan, which plays Pittsburg State in Alabama on Saturday for the Division II championship, placed two players on the first-team: offensive tackle Joe Long and defensive back Jeremy Jones.
Wayne State receiver Troy Burrell was a third-team selection.
Linebacker Nate Dreiling was Pittsburg State's lone representative in the first team and receiver and kicker returner John Brown was chosen as the all-purpose player on the second team.
Trevor Kennedy of Mercyhurst and Trey McVay of Northeastern State, the top two in Division II in receiving yards per game, were the Little All-American receivers.
Joining Long on the line were four more 300-pounders: Midwestern State's Amini Silatolu, Delta State's Darrell Leopold, Alex Smith of Division III Salisbury and North Alabama's Kyle Thornton.
The kicker was Missouri Western State's Greg Zuerlein, who converted 23 of 24 field goal attempts.
Jonathan Woodson of Texas A&M-Kingsville was the all-purpose player. He led the nation in all-purpose yards at 2,309.
Joining Dreiling on defense were linebackers Chad Kilgore of Northwest Missouri State and Jamarkus Gaskins of Albany State.
Lincoln University's Tim Green, who leads Division II in sacks per game at 1 1/2, highlights the defensive line. He is joined by Todd Storm of Michigan Tech, Aston Whiteside of Abilene Christian and Chris Mayes of Division III Wesley.
Joining Jones and Driskill in the secondary were Rontez Miles of California University in Pennsylvania and Alton Keaton of Winston Salem State.
The punter was Randy Weich of Wayne State College in Nebraska.
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Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Video: Did president miss chance to lead in debt talks?
October 30: Plouffe, roundtable
Nearly a year away from the 2012 election, we?ll talk to the president?s 2008 campaign manager, now White House Senior Adviser, David Plouffe. Then author of the definitive new biography on the late Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson; Author of the new book ?The Time of Our Lives,? NBC News Special Correspondent, Tom Brokaw; Former Governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm; and Republican strategist, Mike Murphy.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/vp/45541678#45541678
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Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Italy's Monti seeks broad support for crisis measures (Reuters)
ROME (Reuters) ? Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti met party leaders Saturday to drum up support for new measures designed to shore up public finances, helping growth and calming the debt crisis in the euro zone's third-largest economy.
His cabinet is scheduled to approve the package of reforms Monday, a step widely seen as vital for re-establishing Italy's shattered credibility with financial markets after a series of unfulfilled promises by the previous government.
The plan will then be outlined during two news conferences -- one with foreign reporters -- and presented in both houses of parliament.
Italy has been at the center of Europe's debt crisis since yields on its 10-year bonds shot up to around 7 percent, similar to levels seen when countries like Greece and Ireland were forced to seek a bailout.
Government sources familiar with the planned reforms say the mix of cuts and tax rises will total about 20-25 billion euros ($31.2-38.9 billion) over the next two years, about half of which will be used to reduce the budget deficit and help balance the budget by 2013 despite the economic downturn and rising borrowing costs.
The rest will free up resources to try to regenerate Italy's recession-bound economy.
Pier Ferdinando Casini, head of the centrist UDC party, said after meeting Monti that the measures would be severe but hopefully also fair.
"When the doctor arrives, it's difficult to prescribe nice medicine. Medicine is always bitter, but sometimes inevitable to prevent the patient dying," he told a news conference.
Angelino Alfano, secretary of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's PDL party, urged Monti to ensure the cuts did not fall heavily on people who have always shouldered the burden, and to show special consideration for families.
The plan is expected to include an increase in the retirement age for many workers, liberalize professional services, increase income tax in higher income brackets and introduce new taxes on private assets and luxury goods.
But it has not yet fully convinced the center-left Democratic Party's leader Pier Luigi Bersani, who said groups like low earners and pensioners needed greater protection and that measures to fight tax evasion were insufficient.
FAIRNESS
Monti will meet unions and local authorities Sunday to try to reach a broad consensus on the plan. He has said fairness is one of the key priorities of his reforms, but unions are grumbling about possible pension and labor market changes.
Susanna Camusso, secretary of Italy's biggest union CGIL, said she was struggling to see signs of equity in the plan, based on what she knew so far from reports, but would wait until after speaking to Monti Sunday to make her judgment.
"We are ready to support the right decisions but also determined to oppose those we consider wrong," she said at a union meeting Saturday.
Monti will have to balance the competing needs of showing budget rigor while not choking off growth, without which it will be impossible to reduce a debt mountain equivalent to 120 percent of gross domestic product.
Changes to pensions will be key in the new reform plan, with eligibility requirements toughened up for so-called seniority pensions which are based on a combination of workers' age and the years for which they have paid contributions.
Programmed cuts to the national health service budget are expected to be accelerated by one year, to reduce spending by 2.5 billion euros in 2012 and 5 billion euros from 2013, a local government source said.
A local housing tax (ICI) may also be reintroduced, bringing in estimated revenue of at least 3.5 billion euros per year.
Other expected measures include further increases in value added tax rates and a ban on cash transactions above 500 euros in an effort to tackle tax evasion.
(Editing by David Cowell and Ralph Gowling)
Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111204/bs_nm/us_italy
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