Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/287086176?client_source=feed&format=rss
Presidential Polls California Propositions Electoral College
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Video claims Nigeria sect holds 7 French hostages
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) ? A video posted online Monday apparently shows seven French hostages kidnapped from northern Cameroon, with a masked militant claiming the radical Islamic group Boko Haram from neighboring Nigeria holds them.
The video, posted to YouTube and mentioned on a jihadist website, shows one of two French men reading a statement, with a woman in between them. Four children sit on the ground near them, flanked by two masked militants wearing camouflage uniforms and holding rifles.
A masked militant in front says in the video that Boko Haram kidnapped the French hostages, a family of three adults and four children who were taken from outside a national park in Cameroon's Far North Region on Feb. 19. A black banner in the background, bearing the images of the Quran flanked by two Kalashnikov assault rifles, also resembles a symbol previously used by Boko Haram.
The man says the kidnappings came due to the French military intervention in northern Mali, where its troops have fought with Malian soldiers against Islamic extremists who took over the north in the months following a coup last year. The man also threatens the Nigerian and Cameroonian government, calling on them to release their imprisoned members.
"Let the French president know that he has launched war against Islam and we are fighting him everywhere," the man says in Arabic. "Let him know that we are spread everywhere to save our brothers."
The man threatens to kill the French hostages if the group's demands are not met.
The Associated Press could not immediately confirm the video's authenticity Monday, though it shares similarities with some Boko Haram propaganda videos published in the past.
However, in this video, the man speaks entirely in Arabic, while other Boko Haram videos have its leader Abubakar Shekau also speaking the Hausa language of Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north. Boko Haram has not published a video featuring hostages before. The video appears to have been filmed outside, as prayer mats hung in the background sway in a breeze.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in a statement that "for us, these images are horribly shocking. They show cruelty without limits." He said France is fully mobilized to free the hostages but "verifications needed in these circumstances" are under way.
Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault of France told journalists his country's intelligence services are analyzing the video and "examining the nature of the demands."
The French gas group GDF Suez last week identified the captives as an employee working in Yaounde, the Cameroon capital, and his family. The group was vacationing in the north, a company statement said without elaborating. Cameroonian and Nigerian soldiers continue to search for them in the arid, rural border region the two countries share in West Africa.
Waza Park, a natural wildlife reserve in Cameroon's Far North Region attracts mainly foreign tourists. But the area often suffers from raids by bandits lurking in Cameroon, Chad and neighboring Nigeria, who abduct locals for ransom. A local witness told the AP he saw gunmen on motorcycles abduct the tourists on Feb. 19.
Boko Haram ? which means "Western education is sacrilege" ? has launched a guerrilla campaign of bombings and shootings across Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north. It is blamed for at least 792 killings last year alone, according to an AP count. It is known to have ties to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, an Algerian-based group that opened a front in Mali.
The sect, which typically speaks to journalists in telephone conference calls at times of its choosing, could not be immediately reached for comment Monday.
Boko Haram remains highly fragmented, without a clear command-and-control structure. One splinter organization launched from Boko Haram appears to be Ansaru, which has claimed the recent north Nigeria kidnappings of a British citizen, a Greek, an Italian, three Lebanese and one Filipino, all employees of a Lebanese construction company called Setraco. The group earlier claimed the kidnapping in December of a French national working on a renewal energy project in Nigeria's northern Katsina state.
However, the video claiming the kidnapping comes after supposed Boko Haram leaders denied this weekend that they took part in the kidnapping of the seven French citizens ? leading to more questions about who actually remains in control of the group. Shekau hasn't been seen in a video since late November.
A total of 15 French citizens are currently being held in western Africa. In addition to the seven kidnapped in Cameroon, there is one other in Nigeria and seven thought to be in northern Mali.
___
Associated Press writers Maamoun Youssef in Cairo and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report.
___
Jon Gambrell can be reached at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP .
Associated Press
Monday, February 25, 2013
Trial by Jury, Gay Adoption, Legal Awards Season ? The Human ...
Welcome back to the UK Human Rights Roundup, your regular booster shot of human rights news. The full list of links can be found?here. You can also find our table of human rights cases?here?and previous roundups?here.
Unsurprisingly, Theresa May?s views on the role of immigration judges sparked much debate this week ? yet haven?t stopped the judges making findings that Immigration Rules are unlawful.? The consequences of the dismissal of the Pryce jury are still playing out, while the Strasbourg Court has made an important ruling on discrimination based on sexual orientation.? Keep an eye out on some new events advertised this week, and various updates in the legal blogging world.
In the news
Blogs and Awards
Sad news for the world of online legal journalism with the?announcement?that?Guardian Law?is to abolish its position of editor and become ?semi-automated?.? The pill, however, is sweetened with the news that our very own UKHRB has been?nominated?for the Legal Journalism Award at this year?s Halsbury Legal Awards.? Nominations are also open for the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year, for which information can be found?here.
Theresa May v Immigration Judges & Other Immigration News
Following Adam?s UKHRB post last week, the key news item has been the fallout from Theresa May?s public attack on immigration judges in last week?s Mail on Sunday.? T
ObiterJ notes?the ?major inaccuracies? in Mrs May?s article, particularly that in fact no immigration judge actually considers Article 8 (right to respect for family life) to be an absolute and unqualified right.? The blogger also makes very clear that the Immigration Rules, although voted upon by one chamber in Parliament, do not constitute primary legislation, and accordingly will not be treated by judges as such.
The Free Movement blog raises the possibility that Parliament may, in light of this incident, modify the Human Rights Act, and questions with caution that if foreign criminals become a first exception, who might follow?? The Spectator also nods in the direction of repealing or amending the Human Rights Act, though sets Mrs May?s comments in the current political context of the Eastleigh by-election, ?where immigration may play as an issue?.
The Upper Tribunal was, however, seemingly not put off by Theresa May?s views, as displayed by a two-part post on the Ogundimu case relating to the new rules pertaining to Nigeria.? The first?points to the UT?s finding that the First Tier Tribunal made a ?serious error of law? by finding that ?Article 8 was not even engaged.?? The second?goes on to explain the Tribunal?s finding that deportation was not a proportionate response to the legitimate aim of preventing crime, given the appellant?s family circumstances.? The Court of Appeal has also found?the country guidance for Burma to be flawed, a finding which has essentially reopened all Burmese asylum cases.
Sexual Orientation and Reform at the ECtHR
Paul Johnson briefly summarises the decision of the ECtHR in X and Others v Austria on the ECHRSO blog, before turning his eye to deeper analysis on the ECHR blog.? The Court found that Austrian domestic law did discriminate against same-sex couples when it comes to ?second parent [step-parent] adoptions?, breaching Article 14 in conjunction with Article 8 of the ECHR.? Johnson?s view is that the Court?s conclusion and method are consistent with an established line of case law, but he criticises the continued view of the Court that gives states a wide ?margin of appreciation? under Article 12 to maintain a ?heteronormative? view of marriage.
In a busy week for the ECHR Blog, it also points to?the Council of Europe?s new webpage that brings together all the relevant material associated with reform of the ECtHR.? For a digestible background piece, see the Council of Europe?s page?on the history of the reforms.? The blog also provides a useful collation of commentary of the Court?s earlier decision in El-Masri.
The Pryce of Trial by Jury
Expect some more on this next week, but the fallout from the dismissal of the jury in the Vicki Pryce case is starting to animate the pens of legal commentators.? Mark Elliott provides?some useful background to many of the relevant issues at play, including his own suggestion that perhaps juries ought to be expected to give reasons for their decisions.? Richard Moorhead, however, suggests?that we are asking the wrong questions: it is not a matter of whether trial by jury is an appropriate method of dispensing justice, but rather we should focus on how judges direct said jurors. Meanwhile, Joshua Rozenberg and David Allen Green discuss the issue in a joint piece in today?s Observer.
Also in the News
Just a quick blitz through some other items making this week?s headlines, starting with a couple of pieces on children and the law.? David Burrows questions?whether those who provide information on alleged abuse ought to be entitled to public interest immunity, with the Supreme Court finding that the right to a fair trial overrides the concomitant right to privacy.? Meanwhile, Family Lore outlines?the recent judgments of the Supreme Court in L and B and in J, with links to case summaries.
Finally, some interesting takes on matters of public law: Brodies LLP have undertaken research?into judicial review in Scotland, noting in particular the low success rate of applications and relatively steady rate of applications.? Andrew Le Sueur on the UK Constitutional Law Blog observes?that the Wikipedia article on the UK constitution is broadly written by non-experts, and invites fellow experts to make contributions as a method of public education.? The UKSC blog provides a useful outline of a speech given by Lord Reed on an ?insider?s? view of the Supreme Court, with some fascinating insights into the mechanisms of the Court.? Finally, in light of the government?s decision not to implement aspects of the Equality Act, and to repeal others, Sir Bob Hepple QC indicates?the vital role to be played by the Equality and Human Rights Commission with its remaining resources.
In the Courts
X and Others v Austria?(Application no. 19010/07) Austrian domestic law preventing same-sex couples carrying out ?second parent? adoptions breaches Articles 14 and 8.
Durani v Secretary of State for Home Department [2013] EWHC 284 (Admin)?21 day immigration detention of minor unlawful due to obviously flawed local authority age assessment, rules High Court
Horncastle and Others v United Kingdom (Application no. 4184/10)?Horncastle case returns to the ECtHR for questions to parties
Upcoming Events
To add events to this list,?email Adam Wagner. Please only send events which (i) have their own webpage which can be linked to, and (ii) are relevant to topics covered by the blog.
- Human Rights Law in Practice: Policy, Politics and Potential Saturday 9th March, 09:30 ? 17:00,?Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- The Economics of Killing Tuesday 5th March 2013, 18:00 ? 20:00, Warwick University
- Public Law Project Wales Conference 2013 Thursday 11th April 2013, 09:30 ? 17.30. Venue: Cardiff University
- International Graduate Legal Research Conference King?s College London, April 8-9, 2013 (including 2 human rights panels and one on environmental law).
- Justice and Security Bill ? Closed hearings in civil cases ? ALBA 05 March 2013, Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP and Shami Chakrabarti, chaired by Lord Justice Lloyd Jones ? ALBA members only, booking required
- The Power of Literature and Human Rights Saturday 2 March 2013, 11am-12.30pm Venue: LSE Wolfson Theatre, New Academic Building
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Sunday, February 24, 2013
India needs larger banks, consolidation greater need: Parekh
India needs larger banks, consolidation greater need: Parekh | mydigitalfc.com
wwa.mydigitalfc.comWelcoming RBI's guidelines for grant of new bank licences, eminent banker Deepak Parekh has said consolidation is a greater need for the Indian banking space to create some large banks
Source: http://www.facebook.com/FCLive/posts/575434139136510
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In the News: Nike, Volkswagen, Google and more
brand news
Posted by Dale Buss on February 22, 2013 08:58 AM
Nike?quickly?backs away?from Oscar Pistorius.
Volkswagen?putting?plug-in hybrid?into production.
Google?unveils?touch-screen laptop.
Apple sees hedge-fund manager press his case against it.
Avon weighs exits from more countries.
Billabong posts record loss.
Boeing CEO stays in background to work on Dreamliner problem.
Citigroup toughens rules for executive bonuses.
Facebook COO bombs glass ceiling with new book.
Ford boosts domestic production of EcoBoost engines.
H-P tries to put the worst behind it as profit falls.
Lego shrugs off toy-market blues.
Lockheed Martin makes flawed F-35 fighter a defense project too big to kill.
Nielsen plans to expand ratings from TV to broadband views.
Nissan to introduce Datsun brand to South African market.
Oscars raises profile as important advertising platform and seeks young audience via host Seth MacFarlane.
Prada handbag business booms.
Samsung copies BlackBerry playbook to pursue business clients.
Vodafone leaves options open on Verizon.
Volvo purges more vestiges of Ford ownership and plans to cut jobs.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Brandchannel/~3/0_eKAphrIUM/post.aspx
Saturday, February 23, 2013
They bailed on mortgage but want to buy again
Home sales are slowly climbing back, thanks to investor demand, improving consumer confidence in housing, and the surprising return of former homeowners who once walked away from their commitments.
These so-called "strategic defaulters," some of them investors and some owner-occupants, are coming back to the market, despite damaged credit, and apparently the market is welcoming them back.
Read More: The Real Estate Recovery, in Your Neighborhood
A new survey of past clients by YouWalkAway.com, a website that assists borrowers in the legal pitfalls of strategic default, found that nearly 80 percent expressed a desire to buy a home again within the next 12 months. It also cites data by Moody's analytics, showing that the number of eligible home buyers who have had a previous foreclosure will be 1.5 million by the first quarter of 2014.
Crashing home prices and sketchy mortgage products caused millions of Americans to default on their loans and eventually lose their homes. For some, it was a tragic fight to the end to keep their single largest investment; for others it was a conscious decision to walk away from their mortgage commitments, given the real fact that they would likely not see home equity again for many years to come.
Some saw this as morally reprehensible, others as a sensible business decision.
Read More: Fewer Borrowers Are Behind on Mortgages, but for How Long?
While home ownership has fallen dramatically since the recent housing boom, from a high of 69.2 percent in 2004 to 65.4 percent at the end of 2012, according to the U.S. Census, the desire to own a home is still strong. About 70 percent of Americans surveyed by online real estate website Trulia.com said homeownership was still a part of the "American Dream." Of those surveyed by Fannie Mae in January of 2013, 65 percent said that if they had to move, they would buy a home, rather than rent.
Coming back to home ownership may not be as difficult as some think. Consumers who only defaulted on their mortgage during the recent recession were far better risks than those who went delinquent on multiple credit accounts, like credit cards and auto loans, according to a 2011 study by TransUnion.
"There appears to be a pocket of opportunity among mortgage-only defaulters that is not the result of excess liquidity, but rather the unique circumstances of the recent recession," said Steve Chaouki, group vice president in TransUnion's financial services business unit in the study release. "This new market segment that the recession created is an important one for lenders to understand. They have the potential, today, to be stronger and more reliable customers."
Not surprisingly, given this potential, YouWalkAway.com is launching the "AfterForeclosure.com Pass/Fail App," which claims to tell potential borrowers in just one minute, "if they have a shot at home ownership."
"We want people to know that it's possible and, in a lot of cases, it's advantageous," says Jon Maddux, former CEO and co-founder of YouWalkAway.com.
Read More: Americans Are Using Their Houses as ATMs Again
It is possible, but mortgage underwriting is far more strict today than during the housing boom, and there are varying waiting periods before former homeowners who went through foreclosure can qualify for a new loan. The Federal Housing Administration, the government insurer of home loans which now backs just over 20 percent of new loan originations, requires a three-year wait. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which own or guarantee the bulk of the remaining new loan originations, require up to seven years for a strategic defaulter to qualify again for a mortgage.
Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/they-bailed-mortgage-now-want-buy-again-1C8496356
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Magic trade Redick, 2 others to Bucks
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) ? When he first took over as Orlando's general manager this past summer, Rob Hennigan was adamant that it would take a deliberate process to rebuild the team following the decision to trade All-Star center Dwight Howard.
Hennigan said that process took its next step via another tough decision he made in the final minutes of the Thursday's trade deadline.
The Magic traded veteran shooting guard and fan favorite J.J. Redick, along with center Gustavo Ayon and reserve point guard Ish Smith to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for guards Doron Lamb and Beno Udrih, as well as forward Tobias Harris.
In a separate trade, Orlando also acquired forward Hakim Warrick and cash considerations from the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for forward Josh McRoberts. The team said it intends to waive Warrick.
"As we evaluated all our options leading up to the deadline...We made the deliberate decision to go ahead and make this move because we feel like it sets us in a direction that we're trying to go, which is to create something that is sustainable," Hennigan said. "At the end of the day we liked the Milwaukee deal because we felt we were able to get back some players that addressed some needs for us. We got some players we feel fit the timeline we're trying to put together to create a competitive window."
Hennigan said the Magic talked to about a dozen teams about various trades. He said the decision to take Milwaukee's deal was made about four minutes before the deadline because the consensus was the pieces they picked up helped them long-term.
He acknowledged Orlando was also setting itself up for the future and he is looking to make his roster younger and build through future drafts.
Hennigan said he does that by acquiring two young players in the rookie Lamb, and second-year Harris. The Magic also pick up a true backup point guard in Udrih to play behind veteran Jameer Nelson.
The new players are expected to get physicals on Friday and could be ready to suit up as early as Saturday when Orlando hosts Cleveland.
But Hennigan's first call Thursday was to the departing Redick, who had said handled the news as a "professional" and was "a class act." But he dismissed the notion that the move was at all inevitable because of the possible asking price for Redick as he enters free agency this summer.
A former first-round pick in his seventh season, Redick was a coveted name on the trade market. A 2006 Orlando draft selection, he is averaging career highs in points (15.1) and field goal percentage (45.0).
Now in the final year of a three-year $19 million contract and is likely to seek a long-term deal this summer. By comparison Ayon, who was acquired this summer in a sign-and-trade deal, is making about $1.5 in his second season. Smith was a preseason free-agent signing and is making less than $1 million.
"It was not an easy decision for us by any means," Hennigan said. "It was a hard decision, and I'll be honest with you guys. But when you look at it, you take all the different parts and you analyze what was available, we felt like this was a move we had to do to further the process of trying to create competitive team that's gonna be competitive for a long time."
Redick said this week that he was pleased with Hennigan's candidness throughout the season and remained open to the idea of staying in Orlando to finish the season.
He also told reporters after the Magic's loss to Dallas on Wednesday night that he recognized he could also be dealt.
"I can sit here and say I don't want to come back, I can sit here and say I do want to come back. Ultimately, it's their decision," Redick said.
Redick was a restricted free agent when he signed an offer sheet with Chicago in the summer of 2010, but Orlando matched his deal. With no restrictions after this season, the Magic had no guarantee that he would re-sign.
Still, the decision to deal Redick was not an unexpected move for a Magic team that has parted ways with a franchise player in Howard and last season's NBA Most Improved Player in Ryan Anderson.
Having been a part of all three decisions, the 30-year-old Hennigan joked that "I started dying my hair two months ago." He said knows fans will begin looking for results from the moves sooner than later.
"What I can tell you is this is a pressure business," he said. "It is what it is. We feel that pressure. We embrace that pressure. It's something that you really have to look at from, I think, a bigger picture and bigger perspective and understand that there are decisions you make because you believe in the process.
"And we believe in what we're doing. We believe in the way we make decisions. We believe in the research we do. It's our hope that our fans believe in that with us."
___
Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/magic-trade-redick-2-others-bucks-040456683--spt.html
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Friday, February 22, 2013
'American Idol' Recap: Nicki Minaj Offers To Have Contestant's Babies
Five guys get cut during the Thursday's sudden death round, including alum Johnny Keyser.
By Adam Graham
J'DA performs on "American Idol"
Photo: Michael Becker/ Fox
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1702396/american-idol-nicki-minaj-babies.jhtml
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The Aftership API: Great Customer Service on Shipping for Online ...
Great customer service has long been a competitive advantage for any business. But for online merchants, that can take up valuable extra time, as customers wonder where their packages are. ?Amazon?s massive online retail business has done many things, such as famously upended the book industry. It?s also ?changed customer expectations?free shipping (or shipping by subscription), fast delivery, giving customers the ability to track with a click of a button. It puts the mom-and-pop online stores?and many other large operations?at a disadvantage. Aftership provides the Aftership API to help level the playing field.
The company helps smaller retailers by providing notifications to customers of online stores so they ?are informed before they get worried or upset.? ?The website for the Aftership API shows that it uses JSON over HTTP, following REST principles. API keys are required. Requests are limited to 100 calls every 10 minutes.
Beyond the big 3 of USPS, Fedex and UPS,?Aftership tracks packages ?from over 40 carriers, including international shipper DHL.
The power of the API is that your developer doesn?t have to worry about all those different shippers, in order to push notification, and access tracking. The webmaster inserts just one piece of code that accesses the entire Aftership system, explains Darrell Etherington in Techcrunch. But, he continues, there are a lot of features included, like making sure you don?t spam your customers,
?Chan gave me a run-through of the AfterShip dashboard that merchants see, which allows them to see at-a-glance the status of all open and closed orders, where they are and what their current shipping status is across carriers. Vendors can also customize notification emails sent to customers, and send both emails (included in API subscription pricing) and SMS (with fees that vary depending on volume). Chan points out that a merchant can tweak which notifications get sent as well as their content, ensuring that they don?t spam their customers, and also include sales-generating opportunities in their messages, like sale notifications for items related to that customer?s order, giving them more post-sales revenue-generation opportunities.?
After winning the 2011 Start Up Weekend in Hong Kong, Aftership launched in March of 2012, and has already tracked nearly half a million shipments in less than a year. Prices are tiered starting at free for fewer than 100 shipments a month, rising from there.
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Thursday, February 21, 2013
Flint mayor wants transition out of state control
Flint ? Flint's mayor says he wants the city to be a statewide model for making the transition out of an emergency financial manager's control.
Dayne Walling said Monday during his State of the City address that he wants Gov. Rick Snyder to appoint a transition team to make that happen. The Flint Journal reports Walling said it's "time to move on" from the state-overseen structure.
Snyder spokeswoman Sara Wurfel says the governor would be open to considering the option if the city makes the appropriate request. She says Flint still has financial challenges, but the eventual goal is to transition back to local government control.
Flint has been under state financial control since 2011.
Walling says other priorities include setting a long-term financial plan and adopting a comprehensive master plan.
Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130219/METRO/302190370/1361/rss41
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Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Career outlook is bleak for kid Oscar nominees
By Rick Warner, TODAY contributor
If 9-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis wins an Oscar for "Beasts of the Southern Wild," she?ll be the youngest performer ever to capture an adult version of Hollywood?s most coveted prize. Unfortunately for Wallis, her chances of taking home the gold-plated statuette for best actress are slim, and if history is a predictor, being bestowed with an Oscar at such a young age won't do much for her career anyway.
Reuters, WireImage
If Wallis, left, wins, she'd be the youngest winner ever. Anna Paquin, right, was 11 when she won for "The Piano" in 1993, but Tatum O'Neal was just 10 when she won for "Paper Moon" in 1973.
Wallis, who was only 6 when she made "Beasts of the Southern Wild,"? is the 22nd actor or actress to get an Oscar nomination before turning 18. Only three have won, however, and all for supporting roles: Tatum O?Neal, Anna Paquin and Patty Duke.? That?s not counting the honorary juvenile award first given to 6-year-old Shirley Temple in 1935 and last handed out to 14-year-old Hayley Mills in 1961.
The youngest winner was O?Neal, just 10 when she was honored for her precocious performance as the sidekick of a Depression-era con man (played by her father Ryan) in 1973?s "Paper Moon." She went on to star in "The Bad News Bears" and "International Velvet," but drug problems -- the result, according to her autobiography "A Paper Life," of growing up with an alcoholic mother and abusive father living in Hollywood?s fast lane -- derailed her career and marriage to tennis great John McEnroe.
Paquin, who was 11 when she won for 1993?s "The Piano," is the anomaly. She stars in HBO's "True Blood," had a recurring role in the "X-Men" series and has scored great film roles in "Almost Famous" and "The Squid and the Whale."
Duke's career trajectory was much different. Winning the the supporting-actress award for playing Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker" (1962) when she was 16 did not "open any doors for me," she told TODAY.com.
Sure, she parlayed her Oscar into a TV series, "The Patty Duke Show," but her feature-film career fizzled as an adult and she mostly appeared in made-for-TV movies."It's a kick when people refer to me as an Oscar winner," she said. "But part of me says, 'Hey, I?m 66 years old. When are you going to give me another part for which I could be nominated?' "
Fox Searchlight Pictures
While Wallis is the youngest best actress nominee, she's not the youngest nominee ever -- that goes to Justin Henry, only 8 when he played the child of divorcing parents in "Kramer vs. Kramer?? (1979).? He?s never given up acting, but he hasn?t achieved the same kind of recognition again, and now works as a sales director for an Internet ad company.
" 'Kramer vs. Kramer' spoiled me," he told TODAY.com. "When you have such a magical experience with your first movie, it?s hard to match after that."
Haley Joel Osment, who was 11 when he was nominated as the boy who sees dead people in "The Sixth Sense" (1999), later starred in Steven Spielberg?s "A.I." and recently finished filming the sci-fi thriller "I?ll Follow You Down.?? But like many young Oscar nominees, he?s had a hard time duplicating his early success.
"When you?re young, it seems like a blur," Osment said. "You don?t realize what a unique situation you?re in."
Monday, February 18, 2013
China Lunar New Year festival retail sales post 15 rise
Intellasia Sunday 17th February, 2013
Shop and restaurant sales in China during the week-long Lunar New Year festival rose 14.7 percent compared with the holiday period last year to 539 billion yuan ($86 billion), according to the Ministry of Commerce. Food sales increased 9.8 percent in the Feb. 9 to Feb. 15 period from the year-earlier break, jewelry sales surged 38.1 percent and garment sales gained 6.3 percent, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website yesterday. The Lunar New Year, the biggest buying season of the year, is a period when consumers splurge on everything from beauty products to lavish family din...
Read more
Source: http://www.asiabulletin.com/index.php/sid/212642616/scat/bf053b50c46383e0
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Shark skin suit for a more energy-efficient aircraft?
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Gun Raffles Stir Up Controversy In Wake Of Deadly Shooting
CONCORD, N.H. -- Police chiefs in New Hampshire wanted more money for their youth training program. A youth hockey team in North Dakota needed more ice time.
Both saw giving away guns as the answer.
From car dealerships to political parties to hockey teams to yes, even police chiefs, gun giveaways are an attractive way to make money or draw in customers. But in the wake of the deadly shooting rampage in a Connecticut elementary school, such raffles are drawing criticism as the ease of obtaining firearms fuels gun-control debates nationwide.
The New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police is raffling off a gun every day in May, including a Ruger AR-15-style rifle with 30-round magazine similar to the one used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that killed 20 children and six educators in December. The players in West Fargo's Youth Hockey Association will raffle off 200 guns and an all-terrain vehicle next month. Up for grabs are shotguns, handguns hunting rifles and semi-automatic rifles.
Both were planned long before the shooting in Newtown invigorated calls for increased gun control. That didn't stop critics from blasting the raffles as, at best, in poor taste and, at worst, criminal.
John Rosenthal, founder and director of the Massachusetts-based Stop Handgun Violence, called the chiefs' raffle "insane" and "criminally irresponsible."
"In 33 states, including Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, the winner of this AR-15 can turn around the same day and sell it to anyone without an ID or background check," Rosenthal said. "They should cancel their raffle and give away a nice mountain bike or snowmobile."
Jonathan Lowy, director of the legal action program at the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said he knows of no state in which the raffle would be illegal. But "having these gun giveaways and gun raffles can trivialize the seriousness of firearms," Lowy said.
In a letter posted on the chiefs association website, Salem Police Chief Paul Donovan extended his sympathies to the families of those killed in Newtown but stressed it and other tragic shootings "are contrary to lawful and responsible gun ownership."
Donovan, who did not respond to interview requests, wrote that the raffle's rules require winners meet all applicable state and federal laws, including background checks. The goal of the raffle ? to raise $30,000 to offset the cost of the weeklong police cadet training academy ? has already been met. The 1,000 raffle tickets, at $30 apiece, sold out last month.
Three of the guns being raffled off are named on a list of weapons that would be prohibited under a proposed ban introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., in the wake of the Sandy Hook rampage. That proposal would also ban ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.
While the Newtown shooting has intensified the criticism of the chiefs' raffle, other giveaways have had similarly inauspicious timing.
After a 2011 shooting rampage in Arizona wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and killed six others, the county Republican Party raffled off a Glock handgun to raise money for voter outreach. Its slogan was "Help Pima GOP get out the vote and maybe help yourself to a new Glock." The county GOP interim chairman said at the time he didn't think there was anything inappropriate about the promotion.
Missouri state Rep. John McCaherty raised campaign funds last August by raffling off an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, a month after a similar gun was used in the Aurora, Colo. movie theater shooting that killed 12 people and wounded 58. McCaherty didn't return calls seeking comment.
The owner of an Atlanta-area sporting goods store doesn't understand the outrage.
Last November, Jay Wallace offered anyone who brought their "I Voted" sticker a raffle ticket to win a handgun or rifle from his store, Adventure Outdoors. When Georgia's secretary of state pointed out it's a felony to offer gifts for votes, Wallace opened it up to anyone.
Wallace said the whole thing had been resolved by the time a local state senator filed a complaint about the raffle with the state, setting off a barrage of publicity.
"It was really unbelievable ? it made it around the world," he told the Associated Press. "Thousands of people signed up for the raffle. We were really grateful to him."
Wallace said he sees no problem with chiefs of police or anybody else raffling guns.
"It's going to a good cause," Wallace said. "People want a chance to win something that they want. Everybody wins."
Jack Kimball, chairman of Granite State Patriots and organizer of a rally outside the New Hampshire statehouse last month opposing gun control, said it angers him that people are using Sandy Hook and other tragic shootings to bash the New Hampshire chiefs.
"It's hysteria that doesn't belong here," said Kimball. "They shouldn't wavier. They should have the raffle."
The gun raffle is the first held by the chiefs association and could be the last if Robert Sprague gets his way.
The marketing consultant wrote Donovan 31 emails ? one for every gun being raffled ? before he finally heard back. Although he couldn't stop this year's raffle, Sprague said Donovan seemed open to his offer of help to promote a different kind of fundraiser next year.
"I feel we've made some progress, and that's better than no progress," Sprague said. "I just don't think peace officers should be putting guns on the streets."
Sprague discussed his concerns on WNHN radio, which began its own fundraising campaign to try to raise $30,000 for the cadet academy so the association wouldn't have to raffle the guns.
"If we aren't successful, we're going to donate the money to organizations that serve victims of gun violence," station manager Brian Beihl said.
Any ticket holders disappointed at not winning a firearm in the chiefs association drawing might consider buying a ticket for the Cheshire County Shooting Sports Education Foundation raffle. It's giving away a gun a day in June.
Also on HuffPost:
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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/17/gun-raffles-newtown-shooting_n_2707618.html
2013 NFL Draft Podcast: Scouting philosophy & the wide receiver group, part I
The third installment of Derek Stephens (ScoutTheSeahawks.com) and Davis Hsu's (@DavisHsuSeattle) NFL Draft Podcast series is now recorded and ready for your listening pleasure. This week, in part one of what will be a two parter on the WR group, the fellas talk about general scouting philosophies to keep in mind, and then break down some of the wide receivers group in this year's draft.
If you missed Part I, on outside linebackers, or Part II, on defensive tackles, you probably want to go back and take a listen to those as well.
Davis' knowledge on the Seahawks' salary-cap and NFL Draft tendencies meshes perfectly with Derek's top-level expertise on prospects for this year's Draft through his deep scouting, for his own website and for Rob Rang and NFLDraftScout.com and the Lindy's Draft publication, and makes this an awesome listen for any Seahawks or NFL fan.
PART ONE OF THE WIDE RECEIVERS GROUP (right click to download).
----------------------------------------------
If you missed parts I or II:
Seahawks NFL Draft Podcast I: Derek Stephens & Davis Hsu on the OLB group
Seahawks NFL Draft Podcast II: Derek Stephens & Davis Hsu on potential targets at DT
You can find all of Derek's stuff at ScoutTheSeahawks.com and he posts on Field Gulls as well. In the next few months, Derek will also be working with Rob Rang and NFLDraftScout, doing player reports for the upcoming 2013 draft, and hopefully contributing here as well, time permitting. Follow him on twitter @dstephensscout. Derek also maintains a really great free agent tracker in addition to his Draft focus that is much more in-depth than most places because of his background doing deep scouting of NFL Draft prospects.
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Saturday, February 16, 2013
Obama Reaffirms Commitments to Defend Japan
Xinhua
February 15, 2013
US President Barack Obama on Wednesday reaffirmed his country?s commitments to Japan?s security, including defending Japan with US nuclear umbrella.
Obama called Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by phone over a fresh nuclear test by the Democratic People?s Republic of Korea and they discussed steps to respond to this ?highly provocative violation? of DPRK?s international obligations, the White House said in a statement.
?President Obama reaffirmed that the United States remains steadfast in its defense commitments to Japan, including the extended deterrence offered by the US nuclear umbrella,? the statement said.
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This article was posted: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 11:07 am
Tags: war
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Source: http://www.infowars.com/obama-reaffirms-commitments-to-defend-japan/
Friday, February 15, 2013
Mississippi’s First Lady Deborah Bryant Tours Tornado Damage
Mississippi?s First Lady Deborah Bryant spent a portion of Thursday morning touring areas of The University of Southern Mississippi campus damaged by last Sunday?s tornado.
The F-4 twister caused extensive damage to at least six buildings on the front part of the Hattiesburg campus ? Ogletree House, home of the Alumni Association; Fine Arts Building; Mannoni Performing Arts Center; Jazz Station; Marsh Hall and McLemore Hall.
(Photo by Danny Rawls)
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Thursday, February 14, 2013
4 in 10 have had an office romance, survey finds
ABC
Workplace romance is a staple of TV shows, and not that uncommon in real life, either.
By Allison Linn, TODAY
Love across the cubicle walls is pretty commonplace, but you may not want to hold out for your co-worker sweetheart to put a ring on it.
A just-in-time for Valentine?s Day survey from jobs website CareerBuilder finds that 39 percent of workers have dated a co-worker at least once over the course of their career.
Still, only 30 percent of those who had dated a co-worker said the romance led to marriage.
The online survey of more than 4,000 workers was conducted by Harris Interactive in November.
The survey also found that most co-workers had dated a peer, but three in 10 admitted to dating their boss or someone else above them in the hierarchy.
Most people were open about their office romance, but a substantial minority ? 35 percent ? said they?d kept their romance confidential.
Are office romances common at your workplace?
?
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Tetris Blitz Announced for iOS and Android | Video Game Blog ...
Electronic Arts has announced Tetris Blitz, a freemium re-imagining of the classic game in which players attempt to earn as many points as possible within a two minute window. It promises crisp graphics, innovative new controls and social leaderboards.
EA Announces Tetris Blitz for Apple and Android Devices
First-Ever Freemium Tetris Title Puts a New Twist on Iconic Puzzle Game
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.?(BUSINESS WIRE)?Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and The Tetris Company, LLC announced today the development of Tetris? Blitz, an innovative new twist on the world famous puzzle game. This lightning-fast, ?Blitz?-style game challenges players to race against the clock and contains fresh new features and stunning visuals for the ultimate Tetris experience. Available for both Apple? and Android? smartphones and tablets, Tetris Blitz is EA?s first-ever freemium Tetris game.
?The crisp graphics, innovative new controls and social leaderboards are bound to make Tetris Blitz a captivating gaming experience for longtime Tetris fans and newcomers alike.?
Tetris Blitz introduces all new strategies to the iconic Tetris gameplay in a two-minute sprint to clear lines and rack up as many points as possible before time runs out. Fans will get blown away by stunning cascades by clearing multiple lines back-to-back, to trigger the elusive Frenzy Mode for a huge score multiplier. Players can also boost their score by choosing from the game?s collection of explosive power-ups?- and with new power-ups released every week, the combinations are endless. Blitz also innovates on the fan favorite One-Touch controls with the addition of the new ?Drag and Place? option, while also including the traditional ?Swipe? option for Tetris players who prefer the classic controls.
?Tetris Blitz wraps all of the best elements of the iconic Tetris game inside a bite-sized, frenzied experience that is perfect for smartphones and tablets,? said Nick Earl, Senior Vice President and General Manager for EA?s All Play label. ?The crisp graphics, innovative new controls and social leaderboards are bound to make Tetris Blitz a captivating gaming experience for longtime Tetris fans and newcomers alike.?
Additionally, Tetris Blitz will feature Facebook? Connect integration, which will let players compete with friends in a weekly competition, share high scores and brag as they fly past friends on the leaderboards.
?Tetris Blitz is a re-imagined extension of the original Tetris game for smartphone and tablet gamers,? added Henk Rogers, Managing Director of The Tetris Company. ?New additions like the two-minute countdown timer and Facebook Connect are welcome updates to the Tetris legacy and will provide a fast-paced and fun on-the-go experience for today?s Tetris gamers.?
Tetris Blitz will be available later this spring on the Apple App Store SM, Google Play and Amazon App Store.
For the latest news on Tetris Blitz and to get a notification when it launches, visit the game?s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TetrisBlitz. For additional assets, please visit http://info.ea.com.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, personal computers, mobile phones, tablets and social networks. EA has more than 275 million registered players and operates in 75 countries.
In fiscal 2012, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.1 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality blockbuster brands such as The Sims?, Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed?, Battlefield? and Mass Effect?. More information about EA is available at http://info.ea.com.
The Sims and Need for Speed are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Mass Effect is a trademark of EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. Battlefield is a trademark of EA Digital Illusions CE AB. Tetris is a trademark of Tetris Holding. John Madden, NFL and FIFA are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and iTunes are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About the Tetris? Brand
The Tetris? brand is one of the leading and most distinctive video game brands and franchises in the world. In the game?s 29 year history, hundreds of millions of players have experienced the Tetris Effect. Tetris branded games are played over one billion times per month. Loved globally by people of all ages and all cultures, the Tetris game continues to be one of the most widely recognized video games of all time. Tetris Holding, LLC is the owner of Tetris rights worldwide and The Tetris Company, LLC is its exclusive licensee. For the latest information about the Tetris brand and Tetris products, please visit http://www.Tetris.com.
Follow Tetris on Twitter (@Tetris_Official) and become a fan of Tetris on Facebook (www.facebook.com/tetris)
Source: http://gamersyndrome.com/2013/iphone/tetris-blitz-announced-for-ios-android/
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Dan Solin: The Hidden Danger That Could Destroy Your Savings
There is potential danger lurking within all of us that could destroy everything we own. It could decimate our savings and deprive our heirs of their inheritance.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease. It affects one in eight older Americans. While those afflicted with Alzheimer's cannot manage their finances, even milder cognitive impairments can cause major problems.
An article in Financial Advisor recounted heartbreaking stories of impaired elders being ripped off by unscrupulous scam artists, securities salesmen and even relatives.
The problem is circular and vexing. You want to stay in control of your finances while you are able to do so. Yet, you won't know when you are impaired and need to relinquish control. This is an uncomfortable subject that is often avoided in the estate planning process. Technically, it really isn't "estate planning," since this issue arises while we are still living.
An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association cautions that early signs of inability to manage finances are an inability to count money, trouble paying bills, concerns about stolen or missing money, calls from financial institutions about problems with accounts and financial abuse.
Advance planning is critical to avoid the dire consequences of cognitive impairment. Since every situation is different, you need to discuss this issue with your attorney. A common recommendation is a durable power of attorney that names a designated agent who is authorized to take over your finances if you become incapacitated. If the power of attorney is not "durable," it will automatically terminate once you become impaired, which defeats its purpose.
Another option is a "springing" power of attorney, which becomes effective only once a determination of impairment has been made. Usually the diagnosis has to be from one or two qualified physicians. The problems with these requirements are that the diagnosis can be difficult and doctors are often reluctant to make it. For these reasons, many attorneys prefer a durable power of attorney that does not require the satisfaction of these conditions.
If you have significant assets, you should consider appointing a trust company to manage your assets in the event of impairment. Your attorney should consult with the legal department of the trust company to be sure the power of attorney you execute is in a form acceptable to them.
You worked your entire life to save for retirement and to leave a legacy to your loved ones. With a little advance planning, you can protect your assets from the hidden danger of cognitive impairment.
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Follow Dan Solin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DanSolin
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Dead Space 3 Artifacts Locations Guide - Video Games Blogger
Welcome to the Dead Space 3 Artifacts locations guide that helps you find the total of 40 Artifacts locations (10 Alien Artifacts, 6 Earth Gov Artifacts, 18 S.C.A.F. Artifacts & 6 Unitologist Artifacts) for the Xbox 360, PS3 & PC survival-horror shooter game.
Finding all 40 Artifact locations and picking them up will help unlock the following?
* Achievement / Trophy: ?The Professor? (25 Gamerscore / Bronze Trophy) ? Collect all Artifacts.
* Achievement / Trophy: ?Aliens? (15 Gamerscore / Bronze Trophy) ? Collect all alien artifacts.
* Collect all Artifacts Sets to unlock: MK-II Overclocked Tip Set, and Flight Suit.
* Collect all Earth Gov artifacts to unlock: Earth Gov Circuit Set.
* Collect all Unitologist artifacts to unlock: Unitologist Circuit Set.
* Collect all S.C.A.F. artifacts to unlock: S.C.A.F. Circuit Set.
* Collect all Alien artifacts to unlock: Alien Circuit Set.
The Timeline for all these in-game Artifacts locations is listed per chapter.
Table of Contents
Index of Dead Space 3 Guides:
Where to find all Artifacts locations in Dead Space 3?
The in-game collectibles locations for the Artifacts are shown in these detailed video guides.
The Artifacts locations are listed in the video in the order that they appear.
Does the game save each Artifact you collect?
Not right away. But yes, the game will save the Artifacts you just collected on the next checkpoint. That means you have to play to the level?s next checkpoint to save your progress. If you die or restart the last checkpoint, then you might have to collect some items all over again.
Where can I check the Artifacts I?ve collected?
The progress per chapter can be seen by going to the pause menu/main menu?s Chapter Select and pressing the Triangle button (on PS3) or the Y button (on Xbox 360).
Below we?ve listed the Artifacts in the order you might find them in as you progress through the game.
These tips will help you find all Artifacts in Prologue: ?Beginnings?.
In Prologue you can find:
Artifacts: 1
Timeline in minutes for the Artifacts locations Guide:
0:04 ? S.C.A.F. Artifact 01
Below we?ve listed the Artifacts in the order you might find them in as you progress through the game.
These tips will help you find all Artifacts in Chapter 1: ?Rude Awakening?.
In Chapter 1 you can find:
Artifacts: 2
Timeline in minutes for the Artifacts locations Guide:
0:36 ? Earth Gov Artifact 01
0:55 ? Unitologist Artifact 01
Below we?ve listed the Artifacts in the order you might find them in as you progress through the game.
These tips will help you find all Artifacts in Chapter 2: ?On Your Own?.
In Chapter 2 you can find:
Artifacts: 1
Timeline in minutes for the Artifacts locations Guide:
0:23 ? Earth Gov Artifact 02
Below we?ve listed the Artifacts in the order you might find them in as you progress through the game.
These tips will help you find all Artifacts in Chapter 3: ?The Lost Flotilla?.
In Chapter 3 you can find:
Artifacts: 1
Timeline in minutes for the Artifacts locations Guide:
1:21 ? S.C.A.F. Artifact 02
You?ll need to play Dead Space 3 in co-op mode in this chapter to get all the collectibles.
Below we?ve listed the Artifacts in the order you might find them in as you progress through the game.
These tips will help you find all Artifacts in Chapter 4: ?History?s Ember?.
In Chapter 4 you can find:
Artifacts: 6
Timeline in minutes for the Artifacts locations Guide:
0:46-Earth Gov Artifact 03
1:54-S.C.A.F. Artifact 06
3:40-S.C.A.F. Artifact 08
6:41-Alien Artifact 01
7:33-S.C.A.F. Artifact 09
9:33-Eart Gov Artifact 04
Dead Space 3 Artifacts locations Guide continues on Page 2 with Chapter 5.
Continue Reading on: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4
About the author
Source: http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2013/02/11/dead-space-3-artifacts-locations-guide.htm
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Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Reproductive workings of a harvester ant dynasty
Feb. 12, 2013 ? Ants are just about everywhere you look, and yet it's largely unknown how they manage to be so ubiquitous. Scientists have understood the carnal mechanism of ant reproduction, but until now have known little of how successful the daughters of a colony are when they attempt to found new colonies.
For the first time, Stanford biologists have been able to identify specific parent ants and their own children in wild ant colonies, making it possible to study reproduction trends.
And in a remarkable display of longevity, an original queen ant was found to be producing new ants several decades after mating, sending out daughter queens throughout her 20- to 30-year lifespan.
"Most animals produce offspring for a while, and then they enter a life stage where they don't," Gordon said. "These queen ants are mating once, storing that sperm in a special sac, keeping it alive and using it to fertilize eggs for another 25 years."
From an ecological viewpoint, an ant colony is much like a tree putting out seeds, with the potential to create new trees. An ant queen produces genetically identical worker ants that live in the same colony, and also produces sons, and daughter queens. The daughter queens, after mating, establish new colonies of their own.
Deborah Gordon, a biology professor at Stanford and a senior fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, has been studying a particular population of harvester ant colonies in southeastern Arizona for 28 years, meticulously recording when a new colony rises or an older one falls.
Gordon's group took the DNA fingerprint of each colony by analyzing a section of microsatellite, or "junk," DNA to identify which colonies were related. By pairing the genetic analysis with the long-term observations, Gordon was able to determine the original queen and colony, and the order in which the daughter queens and subsequent generations established new colonies.
The researchers also found that only about 25 percent of the colonies reproduce at all, and many of the daughter queens are not successful. The entire population -- the study group consisted of about 300 colonies -- relies on just a few queens to make most of the offspring year after year.
"We don't know whether all harvester ant populations always behave this way, or whether these trends hold true for all 11,000 ant species, because nobody has identified colony offspring before," Gordon said. "This gives us new insight on how ant populations change over time."
In general, ants play an important role in agriculture around the world, with some helping to disperse seeds while others eat herbivorous insects. Understanding how populations of ant colonies reproduce and expand, and the rate at which they do so, could be useful in managing invasive ant species, predicting crop yields and understanding the ecology of tropical forests.
"If you're trying to understand how a population grows -- say, you are trying to keep a population of lions going -- the first thing you need to know is how many lionesses you have, and how many cubs they have and can support per year," Gordon said. "For ecological purposes, it's very useful to be able to say how ant populations will grow. This is the first step toward understanding how to predict numbers of ant colonies."
The study was published Jan. 31 in the online version of the Journal of Animal Ecology.
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Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Stanford University. The original article was written by Bjorn Carey.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Krista K. Ingram, Anna Pilko, Jeffrey Heer, Deborah M. Gordon. Colony life history and lifetime reproductive success of red harvester ant colonies. Journal of Animal Ecology, 2013; DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12036
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CRNn5M-d0nM/130212154619.htm
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Robbie Keane would like to manage Ireland one day
By RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer
Associated Press Sports
updated 4:06 p.m. ET Feb. 11, 2013
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) - Robbie Keane would like to manage Ireland in the future.
The 32-year-old forward is Ireland's captain and career scoring leader with 54 goals. He has won two Major League Soccer titles with the Los Angeles Galaxy and last month agreed to a contract through 2014. When he's done playing, he'd like to move into management.
During an interview with The Associated Press on Monday at Red Bull Arena, Keane said, "Of course, that's my next step."
Keane says he wants to be an assistant first and "learn the ropes," then become a head coach.
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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PST: Currently in fine form for Puebla, DaMarcus Beasley could yet find his way back into Jurgen Klinsmann's good graces.
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/50773809/ns/sports-soccer/
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Monday, February 11, 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Family Tree Frog: February Photo Collage Festival - Day 10
This is my contribution for Day Ten of the February Photo Collage Festival.
There is nothing on the back of this photo but I'm guessing it was taken sometime around 1945-1947.? And I have no idea where it was taken - somewhere in Australia though.? I'm thinking Bankstown airport or maybe in Queensland at the end of the war.
It is of my uncle, Edwin Oswald Conner - my father's older brother.
I never knew him.? He died in October 1947 at the age of just 21.
He was named after his father - Edwin Conner - and I suppose his uncle - my grandmother's younger brother Oswald Carrett or Ossie. ?
I blogged about Ted's life on my old blog here.?
You can read his service record here
I particularly like the reference from his old school principal at North Newtown Intermediate High who described him as :
"a lad of fine type, of good moral character, of good address and of pleasing personality.? He is well balanced and sensible, he is discreet in his choice of companions and he has enjoyed a good home training."
Having said that, he did lie about his age to get in to the RAAF!
Ted was a draughtsman with Richard Wildridge and Co. of 12 Spring Street Sydney when he enlisted in July 1944 just a month or two shy of 18 years.? He had to bring with him a razor, comb, tooth brush, hair brush, and a shaving brush.? He was to earn 10 shilllings and sixpence a day.? He was 5 foot 8 inches with brown eyes and brown hair.? Off he went to the No. 3 Training School.
There's some interesting info re the training scheme here. ?
Here is an amusing You Tube clip about how to fly a Tiger Moth.
It almost makes you believe you could do it, doesn't it?
Have you ever had a joy ride in a Tiger Moth or flown one yourself??
Source: http://familytreefrog.blogspot.com/2013/02/february-photo-collage-festival-day-10.html
Friday, February 8, 2013
Electricity Gives Bubbles Super Strength
Are you saying the Powerpuff Girls grew up and became hookers? I knew the economy was bad but that is just depressing...
I don't know about depressing... I always had a thing for Blossom; so now if she'll just take a bit of cash, my childhood fantasy can come true!
Are you serious? How the hell do you make it to Slashdot and not know about Rule 34?!
From the Rules of the Internet:
Rule 34: If it exists there is porn of it, no exceptions.
Rule 35: If no porn is found at the moment, it will be made.
Just add "rule 34" to any search term for the porn version. [google.com] (search results w/ safe=off, links may be NSFW). Since this is your first time here's some complimentary Star Wars Rule 34. [imgur.com], or if you're more the mile-high club type: Why not declare Rule 34 on Jets? [photobucket.com] (both S
Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/ThUmC-07bsI/story01.htm
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