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Sunday, March 31, 2013
The Most Accurate Map of Gay Marriage Support in America
Saturday, March 30, 2013
North Korea puts rockets on standby as US official warns regime is no 'paper tiger'
Baengnyeong Island, home to 5,000 South Korean civilians, sits just 10 miles from the border with North Korea. Fearing an attack from the north, the island has become a fortress with fences, bomb shelters and mine fields. NBC's Ian Williams reports.
By Courtney Kube and Ian Johnston, NBC News
North Korea put its rocket units on standby Friday to attack U.S. military bases in South Korea and the Pacific, after repeated threats one day after two American stealth bombers flew over the Korean Peninsula in a military exercise.
A U.S. official warned that the isolated communist state is ?not a paper tiger? and its reaction should not be dismissed as ?pure bluster.?
According to South Korea's news agency, Yonhap, North Korea announced Saturday that it had entered a state of war against South Korea. "In a special statement, the North said it will deal with every inter-Korean issue in a wartime manner," Yonhap reported. NBC News could not immediately confirm.
The two Koreas have been in a technical state of war because their 1950-53 conflict ended under an armistice and not a peace treaty.
NBC's Andrea Mitchell examines North Korea's brewing threats and what they mean for neighboring South Korea.
According to North Korea's official KCNA news agency, the country's leader Kim Jong Un ?judged the time has come to settle accounts with the U.S. imperialists in view of the prevailing situation? at a midnight meeting of top generals, Reuters reported.
The latest threats come one day after?two nuclear-capable stealth bombers flew from Missouri?to drop inert munitions on a range in South Korea as part of a major military exercise.
The U.S. official emphasized the danger posed by North Korea?s military and the unpredictable nature of its 30-year-old leader.
?North Korea is not a paper tiger so it wouldn't be smart to dismiss its provocative behavior as pure bluster. What's not clear right now is how much risk Kim Jong Un is willing to run to show the world and domestic elites that he's a tough guy,? said the official, who asked not to be named. ?His inexperience is certain -- his wisdom is still very much in question.?
There was a mass demonstration in support of Kim?involving tens of thousands of people?in the main square of North Korean capital Pyongyang Friday, The Associated Press reported.
Placards read "Let's crush the puppet traitor group" and "Let's rip the puppet traitors to death!"
'War for national liberation'
The state-controlled KCNA also published an article that said the ?opportunity for peacefully settling the DPRK-U.S. relations is no longer available as the U.S. opted for staking its fate. Consequently, there remains only the settlement of accounts by a physical means.? DPRK stands for Democratic People?s Republic of Korea, the North's official name.
David Guttenfelder / AP
As chief Asia photographer for the Associated Press, David Guttenfelder has had unprecedented access to communist North Korea. Here's a rare look at daily life in the secretive country.
?A battle to be fought by the DPRK against the U.S. will become a war for national liberation to defend the sovereignty and dignity of the country and, at the same time, a revolutionary war to defend the human cause of independence and the justice of the international community,? the article by ?news analyst? Minju Joson said.
South Korea?s Yonhap news agency quoted a South Korean military official as saying that there had been ?increased movement of vehicles and forces? at missile launch sites in the North. ?We are closely watching possibilities of missile launches,? the unnamed official said.
North Korea routinely issues hostile statements but analysts have noted recent remarks have become more belligerent. In December, the North carried out a long-range rocket test and then detonated a nuclear bomb in a test earlier this year.
At a daily news briefing Friday, China?s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China was calling for an easing of tensions.
But some fear the situation could be getting out of control.
North Korea's young leader Kim Jong-un has issued almost daily threats, including the threat of nuclear strikes on Washington, D.C., and Seoul. In addition, Pyongyang has put its troops on combat readiness, warning that war "may break out at any moment." NBC's Ian Williams reports.
"It seems that Kim Jong Un is in the driving seat of a train that has been taken on a joyride," Lee Min-yong, an expert on North Korea at Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul, told Reuters.
Russia, meanwhile, appeared to criticize the U.S. over Thursday's bomber mission.
"We are concerned that alongside the adequate, collective reaction of the U.N. Security Council, unilateral action is being taken around North Korea that is increasing military activity," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Moscow, according to Reuters.
"The situation could simply get out of control; it is slipping toward the spiral of a vicious cycle," he said.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related:
PhotoBlog: North Koreans rally in support of leader's call to arms
Nuclear-capable stealth bombers sent to South Korea amid Kim Jong Un's threats
Despite rhetoric from North, South Koreans carry on
This story was originally published on Fri Mar 29, 2013 5:11 AM EDT
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Got Credit? Use These Tips To Make The Most Of It - Finance News ...
Credit cards have created problems for some people for as long as they have been available. Bank cards can be hard to manage and use if your understanding of how they work is not good. The following advice will teach you what you need to know to use charge cards properly.
Review all the credit card accounts you have and think about closing those that you do not use. Closing accounts that are old reduces the risk of having those accounts used fraudulently. You can close accounts that you don?t want anymore, even if you still have a balance, too. Simply keep paying the balance off until it is completely repaid.
It may not be a great idea for someone to get credit cards when they turn 18. While this is what many people do, you need to get a few months of understanding the credit industry behind you before you go all out. See what it is to be an adult before you jump head first into your first credit card.
Interest Rate
You may have a good payment history, and a good credit score, but still be paying a high interest rate on your credit card. Ask your company to lower the interest rate. In a few cases, this will happen. Any reduction in interest rate can really add up to huge savings for you in the long run.
Whenever you are about to go traveling, especially when going overseas, carry a couple of charge cards on you. Having cards from two separate banks gives you more options. If one card is declined, you probably won?t be able to use another one issued by the same bank. Your access to credit will be far more secure if you have two completely different ways to make charges.
Keep an eye on your credit score. Most creditors think of 700 as the lowest number you can have while still being considered to have good credit. Improve your spending habits by spending to improve your credit score. With a credit score of at least 700, you will receive the lowest interest rates and best credit offers.
As soon as your monthly card statements are received, immediately check them. Be sure your charges match up to your purchases. That is the most effective way to be aware of duplicated or unauthorized transactions. If you notice them, they need to be reported as soon as possible so the matter can be resolved.
Credit Card
You should review your credit card statement thoroughly every month. Check?and double check?every new charge that appears on your statement. If you see any charges that you cannot identify or that show the wrong amount, get in touch with the credit card company right away. If you initiate any complaints or disputes when they happen, they are much easier to get resolved.
Keep one credit card open. Keep the one you have had the longest, or the one that has the best record of timely payments. This shows that you are able to manage an account for an extended amount of time.
It is highly recommended that your credit card limits remain less than 75% of the total money you make every month. If you have a limit higher than a month?s salary, you should work on paying it off immediately. This is because your interest will just keep growing bigger and bigger.
Most charge cards come with a pre-set limit on the amount of money you are able to spend. Be careful not to go past this limit, and try to avoid using your card unless it is an emergency. If you are close to your credit limit, you may not be able to use your card during an emergency.
If your credit is poor, you might want to consider a secured card. You may need to front a few hundred dollars to get started, but such cards can improve credit scores significantly if used wisely.
Do not lend other people your credit card for any reason. Even though a good friend might have a need, it is never a good decision to lend it to anyone. This can lead to excessive charges, over the limit fees, and other problems if your friend happens to charge more than they should.
Look at your credit card receipt as soon as the transaction is completed in the store. If anything on the receipt needs to be corrected, this is the easiest time to get it done!
Every year you should make sure to ask for a free credit report from each of the credit bureaus. Take out your card statements, and make sure those amounts equal the recorded amount of debt on your credit history.
Interest Rate
Understand what your interest rate will be. You should completely understand the interest rate prior to signing up for a credit card. If you are unaware, you may end up paying far more than the initial price. If your interest rate is high, there is a good possibility that you won?t have enough money to pay your debt at the end of the month.
Don?t start using bank cards to purchase things you aren?t able to afford. No matter how nice an item is, you shouldn?t use a credit card to finance an item if you cannot afford it. You will pay a lot of interest and monthly payments that you could not pay for. Exit the store and mull over your purchase for a couple of days before making your final decision. If you still want to purchase the item, the store?s financing typically provides the lowest interest rates.
As discussed previously, frustration and confusion can often come with attempting to understand your credit card accounts. If you know how to use them, though, they do not have to cause you trouble. Knowledge is the key to using bank cards appropriately.
Blue widgets is an important topic and you should do more research. Now you should have enough information to get you started. Do not worry if it all seems unfamiliar to you. This is normal, and you?ll be in the pro league in no time.
Source: http://www.sonipa.net/got-credit-use-these-tips-to-make-the-most-of-it/
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E.P.A. Wants to Cut Amount of Sulfur in Gasoline
[unable to retrieve full-text content]The Environmental Protection Agency?s proposal to cut sulfur levels, to match standards used by California, could raise the cost of gasoline by up to 8 cents.
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Declaring a truce with our microbiological frenemies
Mar. 28, 2013 ? Managing bacteria and other microorganisms in the body, rather than just fighting them, may be lead to better health and a stronger immune system, according to a Penn State biologist.
Researchers have historically focused on microbes in the body as primarily pathogens that must be fought, said Eric Harvill, professor of microbiology and infectious disease. However, he said that recent evidence of the complex interaction of the body with microbes suggests a new interpretation of the relationship.
"Now we are beginning to understand that the immune system interacts with far more beneficial bacteria than pathogens," said Harvill. "We need to re-envision what the true immune system really is."
Harvill said that this reinterpretation leads to a more flexible approach to understanding how the immune system interacts with microbes. This approach should balance between defending against pathogens and enlisting the help of beneficial microbes.
While the role that some bacteria play in aiding digestion is better known, microbes assist in improving body functions, including strengthening the immune system and responding to injuries.
In some cases, attacking pathogens can harm the beneficial effects microbes have on immune system, according to Harvill. For example, patients on antibiotics have an increased risk of contracting yeast infections and MRSA.
"Viewing everything currently considered immunity, including both resistance and tolerance, as aspects of a complex microbiome management system that mediates interactions with the sea of microbes that surround us, many of which are beneficial, can provide a much more positive outlook and different valuable perspectives," Harvill said.
The system that includes bacteria and other microbes in the human body, or the microbiome, is much larger and more integrated into human health than most people suspect, according to Harvill.
"The human body has 10 times more bacterial cells than human cells," said Harvill.
Adding to the complexity is the adaptive capacity of the human immune system. The immune system can develop antibodies against certain pathogens, which it can reuse when threatened by future attacks from the same pathogen.
Harvill, who described his alternative viewpoint in the latest issue of mBio, said that some researchers have not yet accepted this broader approach to the immune system.
"Among immunologists or microbiologists this is an alien concept," said Harvill. "It's not part of how we have historically looked at the immune system, but it's a useful viewpoint."
Other researchers who study plant and nonhuman biology are already starting to embrace the concept. For example, plant biologists are beginning to recognize that viruses can help plants resist drought and heat.
"Within nonhuman immunology, this is not an alien concept because they have seen many examples of beneficial relationships between the host and its microbial commensals," Harvill said.
Harvill said adopting this new perspective could be the first step toward new medical treatments.
"This new viewpoint suggests new experiments and results will published," said Harvill. "And, hopefully, the concept becomes more and more mainstream as supporting evidence accumulates."
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences supported this work.
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Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Penn State. The original article was written by Matthew Swayne.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- E. T. Harvill. Cultivating Our "Frienemies": Viewing Immunity as Microbiome Management. mBio, 2013; 4 (2): e00027-13 DOI: 10.1128/mBio.00027-13
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/zVlE42gbOgI/130328125228.htm
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Friday, March 29, 2013
Hands-on with Katamari Damacy creator's crazy 16-button game controller (video)
You don't often see a video game specifically designed for a 16-button bespoke controller and for a special one-time party, but that's exactly what Keita Takahashi has done with Tenya Wanya Teens. If that name sounds familiar, it's because Takahashi is responsible for the enormously popular game franchise that is Katamari Damacy along with cult favorite Noby Noby Boy. Teens is his first foray as an independent creator under Uvula, a studio he formed with his wife Asuka Sakai, and is a result of a collaboration with event organizers Wild Rumpus and video game website Venus Patrol. As for the party in question, it's one that is being held concurrently with the 2013 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, which is where we saw the controllers and the game in action.
As you can see above, the controller looks a lot like a modified arcade stick. A hand-made effort by programmer George Buckenham, both boxes were built in about five days for around 200£ ($302.50) each. According to Buckenham, the easiest part was assembling the electronics; it was the plywood housing that took him awhile to master. As for the game, Tenya Wanya Teens is a highly whimsical effort that is described as "a coming-of-age tale about love, hygiene, monsters and finding discarded erotic magazines in the woods." Tasks include peeing in the shower, punching monsters and taking on grizzly bears.
Filed under: Gaming
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/27/tenya-wanya-teens-16-button-controller/
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Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Watch Sistine Chapel Chimney Smoke Online (LIVE STREAM)
Black smoke emerges from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel as cardinals voted on the second day of the conclave to elect a pope in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Black smoke indicates that no pope was elected. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Black smoke emerges from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel as cardinals voted on the second day of the conclave to elect a pope in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Black smoke indicates that no pope was elected. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Black smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, meaning Roman Catholic cardinals have not elected a pope in their second or third rounds of balloting, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Cardinals voted twice Wednesday in Michelangelo's famed frescoed chapel after a first vote Tuesday in a conclave to elect a successor to Benedict XVI, who stunned the Catholic world last month by becoming the first pope in 600 years to resign. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
VATICAN-CARDINALS-POPE-CONCLAVE
A faithful holds a US flag on St Peter's square waiting for the smoke announcing the result of the second vote of the conclave on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. The 115 cardinals held a first inconclusive vote in the Sistine Chapel yesterday as they began the process of finding a successor to Benedict XVI, who brought a troubled eight-year papacy to an abrupt end by resigning last month. AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO (Photo credit should read VINCENZO PINTO,VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images)
VATICAN-CARDINALS-POPE-CONCLAVE
Faithful stand on St Peter's square waiting for the smoke announcing the result of the second vote of the conclave on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. The 115 cardinals held a first inconclusive vote in the Sistine Chapel yesterday as they began the process of finding a successor to Benedict XVI, who brought a troubled eight-year papacy to an abrupt end by resigning last month. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI (Photo credit should read ALBERTO PIZZOLI,ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images)
VATICAN-CARDINALS-POPE-CONCLAVE
People look at a giant screen displaying an image of the Sistine Chapel's chimney on St Peter's square as they wait for the smoke announcing the result of the second vote of the conclave on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. The 115 cardinals held a first inconclusive vote in the Sistine Chapel yesterday as they began the process of finding a successor to Benedict XVI, who brought a troubled eight-year papacy to an abrupt end by resigning last month. AFP PHOTO / TIZIANA FABI (Photo credit should read TIZIANA FABI,TIZIANA FABI/AFP/Getty Images)
A pilgrim from Argentina holds some rosary beads as they stand in St. Peter's Square during the second day of the conclave to elect a new pope at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Crowds gather in front of St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square as they wait for smoke from the Sistine Chapel during the second day of the conclave to elect a new pope at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
The Papal Conclave Day Two
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 13: Photographers' cameras are protected with waterproof material and umbrellas as the media awaits news from the Conclave in St Peter's Square on March 13, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI's successor is being chosen by the College of Cardinals in Conclave in the Sistine Chapel. The 115 cardinal-electors, meeting in strict secrecy, will need to reach a two-thirds-plus-one vote majority to elect the 266th Pontiff. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
A nun holds her umbrella inside St. Peter's Square as cardinals are gathered in the Sistine Chapel for the second day of the conclave to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Cardinals are returning to the Sistine Chapel for a second day of voting to choose a new pope after their first ballot yielded no winner and a great plume of black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Black Smoke Emerges on First Day
Black smoke rises from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel meaning that cardinals failed to elect a new pope in the first ballot of their secret conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO (Photo credit should read ANDREAS SOLARO,ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images)
The Papal Conclave Day One
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 12: Black smoke billows out from a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel indicating that the College of Cardinals have failed to elect a new Pope on March 12, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI's successor is being chosen by the College of Cardinals in Conclave in the Sistine Chapel. The 115 cardinal-electors, meeting in strict secrecy, will need to reach a two-thirds-plus-one vote majority to elect the 266th Pontiff. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
Black smoke emerges from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Tuesday, March 12, 2013. The black smoke indicates that the new pope has not been elected yet. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Black smoke emerges from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Tuesday, March 12, 2013. The black smoke indicates that the new pope has not been elected by the cardinals. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
VATICAN-POPE-VOTE-CONCLAVE-BLACK SMOKE
Black smoke rises from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel meaning that cardinals failed to elect a new pope in the first ballot of their secret conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO (Photo credit should read VINCENZO PINTO,VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images)
In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, cardinals, in red, and other prelates and faithful attend a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Tuesday, March 12, 2013. Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday to elect the next pope amid more upheaval and uncertainty than the Catholic Church has seen in decades: There's no front-runner, no indication how long voting will last and no sense that a single man has what it takes to fix the many problems. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, cardinals, in red, and faithful attend a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Tuesday, March 12, 2013. Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday to elect the next pope amid more upheaval and uncertainty than the Catholic Church has seen in decades: There's no front-runner, no indication how long voting will last and no sense that a single man has what it takes to fix the many problems. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, cardinals, in red, and faithful attend a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Tuesday, March 12, 2013. Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday to elect the next pope amid more upheaval and uncertainty than the Catholic Church has seen in decades: There's no front-runner, no indication how long voting will last and no sense that a single man has what it takes to fix the many problems. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho)
Cardinals Conduct Their Final Mass Before Entering Into The Conclave
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 12: Cardinal Angelo Scola attends the Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass at St Peter's Basilica, before they enter the conclave to decide who the next pope will be, on March 12, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals are set to enter the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI after he became the first pope in 600 years to resign from the role. The conclave is scheduled to start on March 12 inside the Sistine Chapel and will be attended by 115 cardinals as they vote to select the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Cardinals Attend Pre-Conclave Mass
Cardinals attend a mass at the St Peter's basilica before the start of the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation.The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Cardinals Conduct Their Final Mass Before Entering Into The Conclave
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 12: (Editor note: A fisheye lens has been used for this picture) Cardinals attend the Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass at St Peter's Basilica, before they enter the conclave to decide who the next pope will be, on March 12, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals are set to enter the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI after he became the first pope in 600 years to resign from the role. The conclave is scheduled to start on March 12 inside the Sistine Chapel and will be attended by 115 cardinals as they vote to select the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Cardinals Conduct Their Final Mass Before Entering Into The Conclave
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 12: (Editor note: A fisheye lens has been used for this picture) Cardinals attend the Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass at St Peter's Basilica, before they enter the conclave to decide who the next pope will be, on March 12, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Cardinals are set to enter the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI after he became the first pope in 600 years to resign from the role. The conclave is scheduled to start on March 12 inside the Sistine Chapel and will be attended by 115 cardinals as they vote to select the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Dean Of College of Cardinals Leads Mass
The dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Sodano, leads a grand mass in St Peter's Basilica ahead of a papal election conclave on March 12, 2013 in St Peter's basilica at the Vatican. Cardinals prayed in St Peter's Basilica on Tuesday ahead of a conclave to elect the next pope with no clear frontrunner after Benedict XVI's historic resignation as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics left behind a Church beset by scandals. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Cardinal Dolan and Cardinal Hon
US cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan (L) and Hong Kong cardinal John Tong Hon attend a mass at the St Peter's basilica before the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation.The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Cardinal Dolan Attends Mass Before Conclave
US cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan attends a mass at the St Peter's basilica before the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation.The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
VATICAN-CARDINALS-POPE-CONCLAVE-MASS
Cardinals attend a mass at the St Peter's basilica before the start of the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation.The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
VATICAN-CARDINALS-POPE-CONCLAVE-MASS
Cardinals attend a mass at the St Peter's basilica before the start of the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation.The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Cardinals Attend Pre-Conclave Mass
Cardinals attend a mass at the St Peter's basilica before the start of the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation.The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Cardinal Angelo Scola
Italian cardinal Angelo Scola arrives for a grand mass in St Peter's Basilica ahead of a papal election conclave on March 12, 2013 in St Peter's basilica at the Vatican. Cardinals prayed in St Peter's Basilica on Tuesday ahead of a conclave to elect the next pope with no clear frontrunner after Benedict XVI's historic resignation as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics left behind a Church beset by scandals. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Cardinal Giuseppe Betori
Italian cardinal Giuseppe Betori arrives for a grand mass in St Peter's Basilica ahead of a papal election conclave on March 12, 2013 in St Peter's basilica at the Vatican. Cardinals prayed in St Peter's Basilica on Tuesday ahead of a conclave to elect the next pope with no clear frontrunner after Benedict XVI's historic resignation as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics left behind a Church beset by scandals. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Cardinal Scherrer
Brazilian cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherrer walks in procession during a grand mass in St Peter's Basilica ahead of a papal election conclave on March 12, 2013 in St Peter's basilica at the Vatican. Cardinals prayed in St Peter's Basilica on Tuesday ahead of a conclave to elect the next pope with no clear frontrunner after Benedict XVI's historic resignation as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics left behind a Church beset by scandals. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Cardinals Attend Pre-Conclave Mass
Cardinals attend a mass at the St Peter's basilica before the start of the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation.The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Cardinals Attend Pre-Conclave Mass
Cardinals attend a mass at the St Peter's basilica before the start of the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation.The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Visitors Watch Mass
Visitors watch a mass at St. Peter's Basilica shown on a video monitor in Vatican Square attended by cardinals before sequestering themselves in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave to elect the next pope at the Vatican, Tuesday, March 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
American Cardinals
From left, US Cardinals Donald Wuerl, Timothy Dolan, Francis George and Roger Mahony exit the North American College to go to the Vatican's Domus Sanctae Martae, the Vatican hotel where the cardinals stay during the conclave, in Rome, Tuesday March 12, 2013. Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday to elect the next pope amid more upheaval and uncertainty than the Catholic Church has seen in decades: There's no front-runner, no indication how long voting will last and no sense that a single man has what it takes to fix the many problems. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nuns Arrive For Mass
Nuns arrive to attend a mass at the St Peter's basilica on the first day of the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation. The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE (Photo credit should read JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)
Visitors In Line To Attend Mass
People queue to attend a mass at the St Peter's basilica on the first day of the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation. The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE (Photo credit should read JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)
American Cardinals Wave To Seminarians
ROME, ITALY - MARCH 12: Seminarians at the North American College line the road to watch as a bus takes the American Cardinals to St. Peter's Basilica where a Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass will be celebrated before the Cardinals enter the Conclave to decide who the next pope will be on March 12, 2013 in Rome, Italy. Cardinals are set to enter the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI after he became the first pope in 600 years to resign from the role. The conclave is scheduled to start in the afternoon inside the Sistine Chapel and will be attended by 115 cardinals as they vote to select the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Nuns Wait On Line To Attend Mass
Nuns queue to attend a mass at the St Peter's basilica on the first day of the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation. The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / JOHANNES EISELE (Photo credit should read JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)
Cardinals Attend Pre-Conclave Mass
Cardinals attend a mass at the St Peter's basilica before the start of the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation.The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Cardinals Attend Pre-Conclave Mass
Cardinals attend a mass at the St Peter's basilica before the start of the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation.The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Cardinals Attend Pre-Conclave Mass
The dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Sodano, leads a grand mass in St Peter's Basilica ahead of a papal election conclave on March 12, 2013 in St Peter's basilica at the Vatican. Cardinals prayed in St Peter's Basilica on Tuesday ahead of a conclave to elect the next pope with no clear frontrunner after Benedict XVI's historic resignation as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics left behind a Church beset by scandals. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
The Papal Conclave Day One
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 12: A pilgrim prays in St Peter's Square as cardinals attend mass before entering the conclave on March 12, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI?s successor is being chosen by the College of Cardinals in Conclave in the Sistine Chapel. The 115 cardinal-electors, meeting in strict secrecy, will need to reach a two-thirds-plus-one vote majority to elect the 266th Pontiff. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
The Papal Conclave Day One
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 12: A pilgrim walks across St Peter's Square as cardinals attend mass before entering the conclave on March 12, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI?s successor is being chosen by the College of Cardinals in Conclave in the Sistine Chapel. The 115 cardinal-electors, meeting in strict secrecy, will need to reach a two-thirds-plus-one vote majority to elect the 266th Pontiff. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
The Papal Conclave Day One
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 12: A pilgrim prays in St Peter's Square as cardinals attend mass before entering the conclave on March 12, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI?s successor is being chosen by the College of Cardinals in Conclave in the Sistine Chapel. The 115 cardinal-electors, meeting in strict secrecy, will need to reach a two-thirds-plus-one vote majority to elect the 266th Pontiff. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
VATICAN-CARDINALS-POPE-CONCLAVE-MASS
Ghanaian cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson (C) gives the sign of peace with other cardinals during a grand mass in St Peter's Basilica ahead of a papal election conclave on March 12, 2013 in St Peter's basilica at the Vatican. Cardinals prayed in St Peter's Basilica on Tuesday ahead of a conclave to elect the next pope with no clear frontrunner after Benedict XVI's historic resignation as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics left behind a Church beset by scandals. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
VATICAN-CARDINALS-POPE-CONCLAVE-MASS
Ghanaian cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson (R) takes the communion during a grand mass in St Peter's Basilica ahead of a papal election conclave on March 12, 2013 in St Peter's basilica at the Vatican. Cardinals prayed in St Peter's Basilica on Tuesday ahead of a conclave to elect the next pope with no clear frontrunner after Benedict XVI's historic resignation as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics left behind a Church beset by scandals. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
VATICAN-CARDINALS-POPE-CONCLAVE-MASS
Austrian cardinal Christoph Schonborn attends a mass at the St Peter's basilica before the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation.The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
VATICAN-CARDINALS-POPE-CONCLAVE-MASS
French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray (C) says goodbye to cardinals at the end of a mass at the St Peter's basilica before the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation.The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
VATICAN-CARDINALS-POPE-CONCLAVE-MASS
Italian cardinal Angelo Scola attends a mass at the St Peter's basilica before the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation.The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
VATICAN-CARDINALS-POPE-CONCLAVE-MASS
Canadian cardinal Marc Ouellet attends a mass at the St Peter's basilica before the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals moved into the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear frontrunner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI's historic resignation.The 115 cardinal electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS,GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
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Monday, March 11, 2013
BP warns of rising costs from spill settlement
NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? BP is warning investors that the price tag will be "significantly higher" than it initially estimated for its multibillion-dollar settlement with businesses and residents who claim the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico cost them money.
The London-based oil giant estimated last year that it would spend roughly $7.8 billion to resolve tens of thousands of claims covered by the settlement agreement. But in a regulatory filing this week, BP PLC said businesses' claims have been paid at much higher average amounts than it had anticipated.
The company also said it can't reliably estimate how much it will pay for unresolved business claims following a ruling Tuesday by the federal judge supervising the uncapped settlement. U.S District Judge Carl Barbier rejected BP's interpretation of certain settlement provisions.
Barbier upheld claims administrator Patrick Juneau's interpretation of settlement terms that govern how businesses' pre- and post-spill revenue and expenses ? and the time periods for those dollar amounts ? are used to calculate their awards.
BP had argued that Juneau's interpretation would lead to "absurd results" and "false positives," but the judge said the settlement agreement anticipated that "such results would sometimes occur."
"Objective formulas, the possibility of 'false positives,' and giving claimants flexibility to choose the most favorable time periods are all consequences BP accepted when it decided to buy peace through a global, class-wide resolution," Barbier wrote.
BP spokesman Geoff Morrell said the company believes the way Juneau is processing business economic loss claims is "contrary to the agreement."
"His approach has produced unjustified windfall payments to numerous business claimants," Morrell said in a statement, adding that BP will pursue "all available legal options" to challenge Barbier's decision.
BP already had revised its estimate for the total cost of the settlement before Barbier's ruling, saying earlier this year that it expected to pay $8.5 billion instead of the $7.8 billion it estimated when it first cut the deal.
In this week's regulatory filing, the company said it has been analyzing the processing of recent claims to determine if they can be used to predict future claims, but concluded it can't.
Excluding business claims that Juneau hasn't received or processed yet, the company now estimates it will pay $7.7 billion to resolve the rest of the claims covered by the settlement.
"If BP is successful in its challenge to the court's ruling, the total estimated cost of the settlement agreement will, nevertheless, be significantly higher than the current estimate of $7.7 billion because business economic loss claims not yet received or processed are not reflected in the current estimate and the average payments per claim determined so far are higher than anticipated," the company said.
Barbier also is presiding over a non-jury trial designed to determine the causes of BP's April 2010 well blowout and assign percentages of fault to the companies involved in the disaster, which killed 11 workers and spawned the nation's worst offshore oil spill.
The trial, which opened Feb. 25 and is scheduled to resume Monday, could last several months if BP doesn't settle separate claims by the federal government and Gulf states over environmental and economic damage from the spill.
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Elle Macpherson Engaged!
He asked, she said yes and now Elle Macpherson is engaged. The supermodel is set to wed?billionaire?Jeffrey Soffer. US Weekly was first to break the news that Elle and her fiance’ Jeffrey are getting hitched. Although a rep for the former The Fashion Star host has yet to confirm the engagement, a “source” close to the happy couple confirms that the two are going to take a walk down the asile. The blonde bombshell is also keeping mum about her new fiance’ status, she has not said a peep about it on her Twitter account. However I have a feeling that will change soon. The soon to be husband and wife duo dated for two years before they split last year. However despite her reportedly being romanced by?financier?Roger Jenkins after the break up and he a young 20 something, it seems that the love of Macpherson and Sofer could not be denied. In November of last year the couple reconciled after he was injured in a helicopter crash. It looks like this time they are not letting each other go. As for when the wedding will take place something tells me that we won’t know that until after the two [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/nAc0Ea75yIQ/
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Sunday, March 10, 2013
Official: Syrian rebels free 21 U.N. peacekeepers
BEIRUT (AP) ? Syrian rebels freed 21 U.N. peacekeepers on Saturday after holding them hostage for four days, ending a sudden entanglement with the world body that earned fighters trying to oust President Bashar Assad a flood of negative publicity.
The episode is bound to prompt new questions about U.N. operations in war-torn Syria. The peacekeepers were part of a force that has spent four decades monitoring an Israeli-Syrian cease-fire without incident.
The Filipino peacekeepers crossed from Syria to safety in Jordan on Saturday afternoon, said Mokhtar Lamani, the Damascus representative of the U.N.-Arab League peace envoy to Syria.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed their release, and called on all parties in Syria to respect the peacekeepers' freedom of movement.
The peacekeepers were seized Wednesday and were held in the village of Jamlah in southwestern Syria, near Jordan and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
Their captors from the Martyrs of the Yarmouk Brigades initially said they would only release the hostages once Syrian troops withdrew from the area. In the days leading up to the abduction, rebels had overrun several regime checkpoints and apparently feared reprisals.
However, as the abduction made headlines, the rebels eventually dropped their demand and began negotiating a safe passage for the peacekeepers with U.N. officials. On Friday, a U.N. team tried to retrieve the hostages, but aborted the plan because of heavy regime shelling of the area.
On Saturday, another U.N. team headed toward Jamlah to try again, said a rebel spokesman, who spoke via Skype, insisting on anonymity for fear of reprisals.
He said the U.N. team aborted the mission because of fighting in the area, and that the rebels instead escorted the hostages to the Syrian-Jordanian border.
Lamani said the U.N. team was near Jamlah and was waiting for the rebels to hand over the hostages when the rebels changed their minds and instead drove the peacekeepers to the Jordanian border.
"We don't know why (the rebels changed the plan), and there were lots of talks on this issue," he said. "We were surprised when we got the news through a TV station that they had reached Jordan."
Many rebel groups operate independently, despite efforts by the Syrian opposition to unify the fighters under one command. The abduction appeared to have been such a local initiative, and leaders of the political opposition repeatedly urged the Jamlah rebels to free the hostages.
On Friday, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland warned the rebels that holding the peacekeepers "is not good for them, it's not good for their reputation."
The peacekeepers are part of a U.N. monitoring mission known as UNDOF. It was set up in 1974, seven years after Israel captured the plateau and a year after it managed to push back Syrian troops trying to recapture the territory in another regional war.
The U.N. monitors have helped enforce a stable truce between Israel and Syria.
But in recent months, Syrian mortar shells overshooting their target have repeatedly hit the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. In Israel's most direct involvement so far, Israeli warplanes struck inside Syria in January, according to U.S. officials who said the target was a convoy carrying anti-aircraft weapons bound for Hezbollah, a Lebanese militia allied with Assad and Iran.
Israeli officials have expressed concern that the violence might prompt UNDOF to end its mission.
On Friday, U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said "the mission in the Golan needs to review its security arrangements and it has been doing that."
He said the mission has been looking at different scenarios and arrangements on how to operate "in these new rather difficult and challenging circumstances."
It was the first time that Filipino peacekeepers, of whom 600 are deployed worldwide and 333 in the Golan Heights, have been seized. The incident has prompted President Benigno Aquino III to review the Philippines' contributions to U.N. peacekeeping operations.
The Syria conflict began two years ago, starting with largely peaceful protests against Assad. A harsh regime crackdown triggered an armed insurgency that has turned into a full-scale civil war.
The U.N. estimates that the conflict has claimed more than 70,000 lives and forced nearly 4 million people from their homes. The fighting has devastated large areas of the country.
___
Associated Press writer Jamal Halaby in Amman, Jordan, contributed to this report.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syria-rebels-free-21-un-peacekeepers-144408066.html
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PFT: Harrison rejected pay cut prior to release
Getty ImagesWhen it comes to obtaining public funding for an NFL stadium, the best approach is to not approach the voters directly.? In Miami, the plan making its way through the legislature would, if successful, result in a public referendum.
Thus, getting the bills passed has been much easier than the voter-circumvention strategy employed elsewhere, such as Minnesota.
Via the Associated Press, three legislative committees in Florida have approved a bill that would guarantee $3 million per year for 30 years to help pay for an upgrade of SunLife Stadium, which is owned by Dolphins owner Stephen Ross.? If the bill becomes law, the voters will then become involved.
Some lawmakers nevertheless oppose the effort.? ?The NFL is conning us, vote against this madness,? Rep. Bill Hager, a Republican representing Delray Beach, told the AP.
Nationwide, the trend among voters is to reject such measures.? In Miami, current polling conducted not by the Dolphins indicates that opposition is significant.
That?s why the Dolphins need to make an extra-big splash in free agency this year.? They need to create the kind of excitement that will increase supporters of the effort and motivate them to show up and cast ballots at the appropriate.
Still, unless and until the Dolphins have the leverage that comes from a potential relocation of the franchise, the locals will remain ambivalent, at best.
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Duke Crushes UNC 69-53: Seth Curry Leads No. 3 Blue Devils Past Tar Heels (VIDEO)
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. ? Seth Curry kept burying shots against helpless North Carolina defenders to give No. 3 Duke a big lead, then Mason Plumlee dominated inside to keep the Blue Devils in complete control against their fiercest rival.
This performance was about more than just beating up the Tar Heels. It was the Blue Devils showing they're determined to play their best in March.
Curry hit his first seven shots during Duke's torrid start, helping the Blue Devils cruise to a 69-53 victory Saturday night in a game that was never in doubt.
Curry finished with 20 points, while Plumlee had his best performance in a month with 23 points and 13 rebounds. That duo provided Duke (27-4, 14-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) all the punch it needed to earn a season sweep of the Tar Heels.
"You want to be playing at your best going into the tournament and you can't afford a loss at this point in the season where you're questioning your lineups and what your identity is," Plumlee said. "It was the kind of win we needed going into tournament time."
Duke scored the game's first 14 points, never let UNC (22-9, 12-6) closer than nine and led by 25 points after halftime. The Blue Devils shot 55 percent, including 18 for 26 (69 percent) in a first half that silenced a once-rowdy Smith Center crowd and overwhelmed the once-surging Tar Heels.
If Saturday night was any indication, Duke is ready for next week's ACC tournament in Greensboro and beyond.
Curry and the Blue Devils came out with a shooting display that ran North Carolina right out of the Dean Dome by halftime. Not to mention it turned the latest renewal of the famed rivalry into a colossal dud.
Curry made one 3, hit a scooping layup and banked in a runner during Duke's 6-for-6 start that helped the Blue Devils to a football-esque 14-0 lead.
At one point, he even hit one as he fell backward to the floor, the kind of play that eliminates any doubt about whose night it's going to be.
"Guys set screens for me and I was able to create some space to get shots off, keep the defense off balance, and I was feeling good to start the game," Curry said. "I wanted to come in and set the tone for my team that we could win in this environment."
After Curry made his seventh straight shot, UNC coach Roy Williams practically wandered out near midcourt to shout at his players as they ran down on offense.
"He just toyed with us," Williams said. "He was in complete control on the offensive end."
Curry finished 8 for 13 and Plumlee took over inside by making 10 of 15 shots against the Tar Heels' undersized frontline.
"Seth's performance in the first half, he just the best player on the court," coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "In the second half, we had the best player on the court in Mason."
In each of the past two seasons, Duke had won the first meeting only to have UNC win the second to clinch the ACC regular-season title.
That story line was off the table this time. Miami took care of that by beating Clemson for the outright title earlier Saturday. Duke ? which is integrating senior Ryan Kelly back into the lineup after a two-month absence due to a foot injury ? had already clinched the No. 2 seed for the ACC tournament. North Carolina State's loss at Florida State meant the Tar Heels would be the No. 3 seed but could still tie Duke for second in the standings.
Instead, it turned into a reversal of last year's finale at Cameron Indoor Stadium, where the Tar Heels jumped all over the Blue Devils early in a blowout win.
It was the first "Senior Night" loss for Williams as a head coach, both at Kansas and at North Carolina.
UNC had gone 6-1 since going to a four-guard lineup in that first meeting, but the Tar Heels looked rattled once the Blue Devils charged in front and never recovered.
"I wasn't concerned about the score, but I was really concerned about the look on our face," Williams said. "I felt like every shot we took we were hesitant or tight ... but I didn't like the way we looked on every shot we took. We never got out of that hole."
James Michael McAdoo finished with 15 points to lead the Tar Heels despite playing with a bulging disk in his back, but the rest of his teammates did little to help him. The Tar Heels all too often settled for jumpers and didn't seem interested in attacking the rim on the way to shooting just 34 percent.
That included missing their first 11 3-point tries and finishing 1 for 14 from behind the arc, an area where they had thrived since Williams inserted 6-foot-5 sophomore P.J. Hairston into the starting lineup at the 4-spot.
Hairston finished with 14 points on 4-for-12 shooting and hit the Tar Heels' only 3 to cut the deficit to 63-49 at the 5-minute mark. But Quinn Cook answered with two driving baskets, the second a hanging shot that dropped through as the shot clock expired and took back any fleeting momentum North Carolina had built.
Cook scored 12 and completely outplayed UNC freshman point guard Marcus Paige, who regressed from his recent strong play with four points on 1-for-6 shooting and five turnovers.
"We did keep fighting, and we never gave in," Hairston said. "We still played offense and still tried to make shots, and we still tried to do different things on the defensive end to slow them down. They were just making everything they put up."
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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/09/duke-unc-6953-seth-curry-blue-devils-plumlee_n_2846474.html
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Saturday, March 9, 2013
Video: Costco CEO joins Obama, calls for increase in minimum wage
>>> welcome back. the ceo of one of the country's biggest retailers costco joining president obama calling for an increase in the minimum wage . costco 's ceo says instead of minimizing wages, it is profitable in the long term to minimize employee turnover and maximize employee productivities, commitment and loyalty. he's backing a bill to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 by 2016 . state of the union address , president made a call on congress to act.
>> let's declare that in the wealthiest nation on earth no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty. and raise the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour.
>> but not all business leaders agree that it's a good idea. subway ceo fred deluca says it's a bad idea. joining me is co-founder and ceo of the u.s. women's chamber of commerce . thank you for joining us, margo.
>> thank you for having me, tamron.
>> in this world it's difficult to get a consensus on anything but seeing two ceos, costco and subway, so different in the opinions on this, we thought we'd bring in an independent voice and get your thoughts at least on the debate over minimum wage here. both sides of the case. first, let's look at the case of it will cause prices to increase for consumers. what proof of that exists?
>> well, tamron, i don't know that there is any proof of that. this is an argument over the years every time we tried to raise the man mum wage and we have done so we have not found that to be a fact. in fact, what we would see is increase in consumer spending which would be very beneficial for business owners.
>> speaker boehner right after the state of the union said when you raise the price of employment, guess what happens. you get less of it. at a time when the american people are asking when where's the jobs, why would we want to make it hader for small employers to hire people? is this the indication of the size of the company? we're talking about tremendously successful companies of costco and subway. is it a different dynamic looking at a smaller business?
>> i believe it is. and i can speak for firms that we represent and women-owned firms tend to take a living wage to begin with so this bill and raising the minimum wage would not impact them. in fact, it would level the playing field so when they go out to compete against those firm that is are not paying fairly, everybody will have the same grounds for payment and that would help them access contracts.
>> obviously, just by the numbers here, wanting to show people to remind them, yearly income at the minimum wage is about $15,000 a year. and i think a lot of people one point in time when they thought about a minimum wage jobs, they would think of teenagers but we know in this economy with so many people out of work so long and taking jobs to make ends meet, these are adults caring for their families and themselves and trying to make it on $15,000 a year, margot. that's absolutely right. it impacts two thirds of the minimum wage worker who is are women. and additionally, i think the key thing that people aren't thinking about is flip side is as a taxpayer. as a taxpayer, i'm now asked to subsidize the corporations not paying a living wage by providing government assistance programs and thinking in those terms, it would be good for everyone to pay a living wage so that these workers would be able to self sustain and put money back in to the pocketbooks and ultimately in to purchases within their communities.
>> margot, we greatly appreciate you joining us. the president mentioned many things in the institution and we see how soon the conversation heats up over the minimum wage . thank you.
>> thank you.
Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/newsnation/51105128/
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South Dakota allows armed teachers, Georgia advances gun-carry rights
(Reuters) - South Dakota school districts could arm teachers under a bill introduced after the Connecticut school shooting rampage and signed into law on Friday, a day after Georgia lawmakers advanced legislation to end a ban on firearms in bars, churches and college classrooms.
The "school sentinels" law signed by South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard, a Republican, allows the state's 152 school districts to decide whether they want to arm teachers, other employees, hired security guards or volunteers.
School boards must get approval for their program from local law enforcement officials, and sentinels would have to pass a training program to carry weapons in the schools. District residents could put the issue to a voter referendum.
The law in South Dakota and the proposal in Georgia are two moves by state legislatures that aim to expand gun rights at a time when other state and federal leaders consider new limits following the December killing of 26 children and adults at an elementary school in Connecticut.
In Georgia, the Republican-led state House voted 117-56 on Thursday to advance the measure to restore gun carry rights that have been chipped away over the years, said one sponsor, state Representative John Meadows, a Republican.
The Georgia legislation also would allow licensed gun owners to take weapons inside some unsecured government buildings where they are currently banned, starting on July 1. They would still be outlawed from college dormitories and sporting events, Meadows said on Friday.
The bill does not specify or make any exemptions on the types of weapons and applies to all legal guns, Meadows said.
Democratic state Representative Karla Drenner, who opposed the measure, said it was part of a backlash against a national push to strengthen gun control laws after the Connecticut killings.
Drenner, an instructor at several colleges, said she was concerned about the impact on potential confrontations with angry students, recalling on Friday how a student once screamed at her for mispronouncing his name.
"If he had a gun, the outcome could have been much different," Drenner said.
Asked about Drenner's concerns, Meadows said, "She ought to be armed."
The measure next moves to the Georgia state Senate for consideration. Meadows predicted it would pass, based on the response he said he had received from senators.
Senate President Pro Tem David Shafer, a Republican, said in a statement on Friday the bill would be assigned to a Senate committee next week.
"The Senate passed strong pro-Second Amendment legislation of its own, and I am confident that we will reach agreement with the House," Shafer said.
Any measure advanced from the legislature would go to Republican Governor Nathan Deal for his signature.
On Friday, Deal spokesman Brian Robinson said the governor agreed with language in the proposal that would make it harder for the mentally ill to obtain licenses to carry concealed weapons. He declined to say whether Deal supports other parts of the proposal.
(Editing by Colleen Jenkins,; Jeffrey Benkoe and Dan Grebler)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/georgia-lawmakers-approve-gun-carry-rights-college-classrooms-194042722.html
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Obama dines with Hillary, Bill Clinton
WASHINGTON (AP) ? The White House says President Barack Obama held a private dinner recently with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest says the trio enjoyed the conversation but isn't releasing details.
Hillary Rodham Clinton stepped down in February as Obama's chief diplomat after serving in that role throughout his first term.
On Wednesday, Obama shared another notable meal with a dozen Republican senators near the White House. He had lunch Thursday with Paul Ryan, the Republican chairman of the House Budget Committee, and Chris Van Hollen, the committee's top Democrat.
Those meals are part of a broader attempt by Obama to improve relations with congressional Republicans in hopes of jumpstarting budget talks and rallying support for other proposals.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-dines-hillary-bill-clinton-183242451--politics.html
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Friday, March 8, 2013
Mourning Venezuelans parade Chavez's coffin, prepare for vote
CARACAS (Reuters) - Sobbing and shouting, a throng of Hugo Chavez's supporters paraded his coffin through the streets of Caracas on Wednesday in an emotional outpouring that could help his deputy win an election to keep his socialist revolution alive.
Hundreds of thousands of "Chavistas" marched behind a hearse carrying the body of the flamboyant and outspoken president, draped in Venezuela's blue, red and yellow national flag.
Avenues resounded with chants honoring the former paratrooper as supporters showered flowers on his coffin and jostled to touch it. Loudspeakers played recordings of the charismatic socialist giving speeches and singing.
Some supporters held heart-shaped placards that read: "I love Chavez!" Others cheered from rooftops, waving T-shirts.
Ending one of Latin America's most remarkable populist rules, Chavez died on Tuesday at age 58 after a two-year battle with cancer that was first detected in his pelvis.
His body was taken to a military academy to lie in state at the tip of a grand esplanade until his state funeral on Friday. Late into the night, a somber procession of thousands filed past the glass-topped coffin.
Soldiers saluted from behind a red rope and members of the public sobbed. Some were pushed through in wheelchairs. With a touch of the elbow and a quiet word, security men kept the line moving as top members of the government looked on.
The future of Chavez's socialist policies, which won him the admiration of poor Venezuelans but infuriated opponents who denounced him as a dictator, now rests on the shoulders of acting President Nicolas Maduro, the man he tapped to succeed him.
"We ask our people to channel this pain into peace," Maduro said.
Maduro, a 50-year-old former bus driver and union leader, will face Henrique Capriles, the centrist governor of Miranda state, in an election due within weeks in the OPEC nation with the world's largest oil reserves.
Opposition parties and Capriles have agreed he will make another bid for the presidency, sources said on Wednesday.
He lost to Chavez in last year's election but had a respectable 44 percent of the vote, the best performance by any candidate against Chavez in a presidential contest.
One recent opinion poll gave Maduro a strong lead over the 40-year-old Capriles. Maduro, who wore a track-suit top in the colors of the Venezuelan flag and hugged mourners as he stood by Chavez's coffin, will likely benefit from the surge of emotion.
Authorities said the vote would be called within 30 days, as stipulated by the constitution, but did not specify when.
The tall, mustachioed Maduro has long been a close ally of Chavez. He pledges to continue his legacy and it is unlikely he would make major policy changes.
He will now focus on rallying support from Chavez's diverse coalition, which ranges from leftist ideologues to business leaders who have contracts with the state, and armed groups known as "colectivos."
Some have suggested Maduro might try to ease tensions with foreign companies and the U.S. government. Yet hours before Chavez's death, Maduro accused "imperialist" enemies of infecting the president with cancer and expelled two U.S. diplomats accused of conspiring with domestic opponents.
Venezuela's military commanders pledged loyalty to Maduro, who will be caretaker leader until the election, and soldiers fired 21-gun salutes to Chavez in barracks across the nation.
A victory by Capriles, a centrist politician who says Venezuela should follow Brazil's softer center-left model, would be welcome by investors and bring big changes - although he has called for calm and respect for many people's sense of loss.
"Don't be scared. Don't be anxious. Between us all, we are going to guarantee the peace this beloved country deserves," Capriles said in a condolence message.
Venezuelan debt prices fell on Wednesday as investors locked in gains chalked up in anticipation of Chavez's death, citing short-term political uncertainty.
ALLIES
The stakes are also huge for leftist Latin American allies like Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Bolivia that for years have relied on Chavez for economic aid.
But leaders of other countries in the region - mainly free-traders like Peru, Chile, Colombia, Panama and Mexico - periodically rejected his overtures, criticized his statist policies and, for Washington, served as a buffer against him.
It was not immediately clear where Chavez would be buried.
He had ordered a striking mausoleum built in downtown Caracas for the remains of 19th century independence hero Simon Bolivar, his inspiration, and it is due to be finished soon. Some allies said he should be buried there.
Despite the tumult around the coffin procession, much of Caracas was quiet on Wednesday. There were long lines outside gasoline stations.
A stony-faced Bolivian President Evo Morales joined Maduro at the front of the procession. The presidents of Argentina and Uruguay joined them for a vigil by the coffin. Other regional leaders are expected to attend his funeral.
"This has hit me very hard, I'm still in shock," said Leny Bolivar, a 39-year-old Education Ministry worker, her eyes red from crying. "We must keep fighting; he showed us the way."
Condolences flooded in from around the world - ranging from the Vatican and the United Nations to allies like Iran and Cuba.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad mourned Chavez's death as a great loss, extolling his opposition to the "war on Syria."
OBAMA REACHES OUT
U.S. President Barack Obama was less effusive about a man who put his country at loggerheads with Washington, saying his administration was interested in "developing a constructive relationship with the Venezuelan government."
In a potentially conciliatory gesture, the United States, a major oil client of Venezuela, is expected to send a delegation to the funeral.
Opponents at home hoped for a fresh start.
"Chavez was very dominant and used the powers of state in a very discretional way, as though this was his own estate," Juan Vendrell, a 58-year-old engineer, said in a wealthy neighborhood of Caracas. "I would like a change and for institutions and democracy to be restored."
Chavez led Venezuela for 14 years and won a new six-year term in last October's election.
His folksy charisma, anti-U.S. diatribes and oil-financed projects to improve life for residents of long-neglected slums created an unusually powerful bond with many poor Venezuelans.
That emotional connection underpinned his rule, but critics saw his autocratic style, gleeful nationalizations and often harsh treatment of rivals as hallmarks of a dictator whose policies squandered a historic bonanza of oil revenues.
The nationalizations and strict currency controls under Chavez frightened off investors. Even some of his followers complained that he focused too much on ideological issues at the expense of day-to-day problems such as power cuts, high inflation, food shortages and violent crime.
Chavez's health declined sharply just after his re-election on October 7, possibly because of his decision to campaign for a third term instead of stepping aside to focus on his recovery.
The government declared seven days of mourning.
(With reporting by Enrique Andres Pretel, Deisy Buitrago, Marianna Parraga, Ana Isabel Martinez and Daniel Wallis; Editing by Terry Wade, Kieran Murray and Peter Cooney)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mourning-venezuelans-parade-chavezs-coffin-prepare-vote-010146983.html
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