Monday, April 29, 2013

Syrian state TV says prime minister has escaped assassination attempt in Damascus

DAMASCUS, Syria - State-run Syrian TV says the country's prime minister has escaped an assassination attempt when a bomb went off near his convoy.

The TV says Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi was unhurt in the attack in the capital's western neighbourhood of Mazzeh. The TV said Monday's bombing left a number of casualties.

The attack was not the first targeting a high official in the Syrian capital.

On July 18, a blast at the Syrian national security building in Damascus during a meeting of Cabinet ministers killed the defence minister and his deputy, who was President Bashar Assad's brother-in-law. That attack also wounded the interior minister.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-state-tv-says-prime-minister-escaped-assassination-073754407.html

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Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto: Married!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/michael-jordan-and-yvette-prieto-married/

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End for Herschel space telescope

Europe's flagship space telescope has stopped working.

The billion-euro Herschel observatory has run out of the liquid helium needed to keep its instruments and detectors at their ultra-low functioning temperature.

This equipment has now warmed, meaning the telescope cannot see the sky.

Herschel, which was sensitive to far-infrared and sub-millimetre light, was launched in 2009 to study the birth of stars and the evolution of galaxies.

Its 3.5m mirror and three state-of-the-art instruments made it the most powerful observatory of its kind ever put in space.

The end of operations is not a surprise. Astronomers always knew the helium store onboard would be a time-limiting factor.

Continue reading the main story

?Start Quote

The telescope gathered images and information in such volume that astronomers have barely scratched database?

End Quote Prof Matt Griffin Cardiff University, UK

The "blind" satellite is currently located about 1.5 million km from Earth on the planet's "night side".

Controllers at the European Space Agency's (Esa) operations centre in Darmstadt, Germany, will run some final tests on the spacecraft in the coming weeks before putting it in a slow drift around the Sun.

"We will push it out into a heliocentric orbit and passivate it," said Micha Schmidt, the Herschel spacecraft operations manager.

"We will switch off the transponder and the spacecraft will go silent."

Herschel should not come anywhere near the Earth again for several hundred years.

Data legacy

The telescope will be remembered for its great vistas of gas and dust; the billowing clouds and threading filaments that trace the locations where future stars will form.

Over the course of the mission, it gathered thousands of such images. It also acquired detailed spectrographic data on many of its subjects, revealing their chemistry.

All of the information is now being assembled into a public archive.

Jonathan Amos inspected Herschel just before its launch in May 2009

This will become an important resource for future study and a starting point to plan follow-up observations with other astronomical facilities.

This is already happening with the recently opened, ground-based Alma telescope in Chile, which views the sky at frequencies that overlap those pursued by Herschel.

A US-German telescope called Sofia, which is mounted on a converted Boeing 747, can also see some of Herschel's frequencies.

"But the amazing thing about Herschel is that its maximum productivity in science terms probably won't be reached for another five years yet," said Prof Matt Griffin, the principal investigator on Herschel's Spire instrument.

"The telescope gathered images and information in such volume that astronomers have barely scratched the database," the Cardiff University, UK, scientist told BBC News.

Engineers issued an alert early in March warning astronomers that observations were coming to an end.

Herschel used special light detectors in its instruments known as bolometers. Although supremely efficient at capturing light, the technology must be kept close to absolute zero (-273C) to work properly.

This was achieved with the aid of 2,300 litres of liquid helium that was held in a giant flask, or cryostat.

But as the mission progressed, the cryogen gradually boiled away, and, on Monday, the Darmstadt controllers received telemetry from Herschel confirming every last drop was gone.

Continue reading the main story

Herschel Space Telescope

  • Herschel was one of the largest space telescopes ever launched; its 3.5m diameter mirror perfectly captured infrared light
  • It clocked more than 1,430 days of operations; making 22,000 hours of scientific observations; resulting in 600 scholarly papers... so far
  • Infrared shines through gas and dust clouds that can block visible light - Herschel could see deep into dusty, star-forming regions
  • The telescope was named after the astronomer William Herschel, who discovered infrared radiation while studying the Sun in 1800
  • The Earth's atmosphere is an infrared absorber, so Herschel was launched in 2009 to get a clear view of the long-wavelength Universe

Herschel's demise occurred close to the time forecast at the start of operations nearly four years ago.

If anything, astronomers got a few months' more observations than they were expecting.

Herschel's cryostat approach to cooling was evolved from a previous Esa mission - the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), which operated in the 1990s.

This approach is described as a "passive" system because once initial conditions are set inside the flask, a continuing presence of helium and good insulation is all that is required to maintain those conditions.

An "active", or mechanical, cooling system was considered for Herschel in the initial feasibility studies. This would have involved a chain of Stirling units that use a cycle of compression and decompression in a fluid to get to low temperatures.

Theoretically, mechanical coolers could have given Herschel more life, but engineers considered such a design to be too risky.

"There was a competitive concept but it involved a lot of stages, a lot of machines," recalls Jean-Jacques Juillet, the director of scientific programmes at Thales Alenia Space, the company that led the industrial development of Herschel.

"If one of those stages had failed, it could have been a disaster for the continuity of the mission. The cryostat option was the safest option," he told BBC News.

With the cryostat path adopted, engineers then set about constructing the largest possible helium vessel they could fit inside an Ariane launch rocket.

Esa hopes to join a future far-infrared telescope project called Spica. This is a Japanese venture that could fly in the early 2020s.

Europe would provide important components, including the primary mirror and a spectrograph. Unlike Herschel, Spica is likely to use mechanical coolers.

Continue reading the main story

Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21934520#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

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Home Brew ? Bottling Mead at The Honey House | Easy Vegan ...

Bottling mead

?

I spent my evening bottling mead with my father. What is mead you ask? Mead or ?Honey wine? is an alcoholic beverage with many dimensions. Depending on the recipe, or traditions practiced this alcohol maybe anywhere between 8% and 18% and may be still, sparkling , sweet, dry or semi-sweet.

Mead is known as the first type of fermented drink, or ancestor to all alcohol. The vikings and danish drank it heavily,?and it has played an important role in many mythologies,?beliefs?and traditions.

Candice hutchings

My father has been making this delicious drink for years. I remember bottling my first few bottles when I was a teenager and I split it all over the kitchen floor. I can grown quite fond of the chemistry involved and I think that may be why I am so drawn to food and the harmony and energy between different plants, or ingredients.

Candice hutchings

I realize that some of you are looking at this post and wondering why, as a vegan, I am posting about something considered not to be vegan. Well truth is.. I am not technically a VEGAN, I am a BEEGAN? a vegan that uses or consumes honey. I am not one for labels, but most of you are so here I am, labeling?myself once again. I?believe?in the power of bees and their honey. I have had many health issues in the past that were healed by it?s natural?occurring?antibiotics and I will continue to use it to keep my body strong. I am open to all opinions, and this just happens to be mine :)

bottling mead

?

My father is a bee farmer and so I have always loved the science behind the bee and it?s honey. It has been used for years to celebrate and to heal. But using it to create such a delicious drink is one of my favorite uses by far! I love to make my own beer and various liquors ( some are lovely, but they often fail). I hope to make a few different types of homemade beer this summer, then I am able to ensure that I will be drinking beer that I can feel good about!

?

What adventure will you be tackling this summer?

The edgy veg

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?

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Source: http://theedgyveg.com/2013/04/27/home-brew-bottling-mead-at-the-honey-house/

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Stonehearth: A Sandbox Game With Town-Building, Massive Battles, And Cthulhu? Yes, Please

stonehearthTom and Tony Cannon are former Silicon Valley programmers who, in 2011, turned to indie game making. They are launching a new game, called Stonehearth, that looks like a cross between Civilization, Minecraft, and Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/zqpvmyWqD5c/

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Friday, April 26, 2013

Switzerland shuts the door on EU migrants: A new 'us vs. them' in Europe?

News that Switzerland is capping residence permits for Western Europeans reached the Monitor's Europe bureau chief as she was having her own intolerable immigration experience.

By Sara Miller Llana,?Staff writer / April 25, 2013

A cafe is seen in Zurich is seen in this photo taken April 18.

Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters/File

Enlarge

The anti-immigration class across Europe has found many new adherents as of late, especially in the most economically devastated countries, like Greece and Italy. But now these Europeans might themselves become the unwelcome migrants, at least in Switzerland.

Skip to next paragraph Sara Miller Llana

Europe Bureau Chief

Sara Miller Llana?moved to Paris in April 2013 to become the Monitor's Europe Bureau?Chief. Previously she was the?paper's?Latin America Bureau Chief, based in Mexico City, from 2006 to 2013.

Recent posts

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As I happened to be standing in the most intolerable immigration line that I've ever faced ? more on that later ? I read on my Twitter account that the Swiss government on Wednesday announced a new policy to cap residence permits for all of Western Europe. Switzerland, which is not part of the EU but joined the Schengen bloc that allows freedom of movement of people across European borders, says that it is being overwhelmed by arrivals from across the continent, to the tune of 80,000 people each year.

So it is invoking a ?safeguard clause? it negotiated during the 1999 Schengen treaty talk, which it already implemented for eight Central and Eastern European states. Now, as of May 1, residence permits for the citizens of 17 older EU states, from Germany to Spain, will be capped at 53,700 for a year.

According to the EU Observer, the Swiss said that the million-plus EU residents who live in the country have "had a positive impact ? in particular in terms of consumer spending and on the construction industry," but that restrictions are ?needed to make immigration more acceptable to society.?

The move drew immediate criticism from Brussels. ''The measures disregard the great benefits that the free movement of persons brings to the citizens of both Switzerland and the EU,? Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, said in a statement.

Is this a new manifestation of intolerance in Europe? The levels of resentment continent-wide against the migrants from Africa and the Middle East are already clearly documented, but in the midst of crisis, is Europe even excluding Europe? And what does that mean for identity and equality moving forward?

The possibility of a new, intra-European divide struck a chord for me, as I experienced my own "us vs. them" moment in France today.

Well, more than a moment. Eight hours, in fact.

That's how long I waited in a Paris prefecture along with Moroccans, Romanians, Malians, Senegalese, Tunisians, and Peruvians ? most of us, like me, there only to get information about what we needed to have with us, only to return and stand in line again.

I got to know my fellow immigrants well as we stood outside. Some around me had been in this line before, but were told they were missing a translation, a photocopy, or any of myriad document requirements that are not posted in their totality anywhere on the Internet ? or even on the wall of the prefecture where we line up ? but rather seem to be, at least from my informal surveys today, requested at the whim of whichever officer is behind the desk. One woman was told to bring back her CV.

Some of my linemates felt the French immigration officials were being deliberately obstructionist.

?They don?t want us to get the carte de sejour,? said the Malian, referring to the permission that allows foreigners to reside in France (and, with it, the right to tap into the country?s amazing social security system).

?They do everything they can to hold us back,? said the Romanian, who was on her third trip here ? and the third day lost on her job as a cleaning woman. Today, she was told that the pay stub she brought didn?t have the minimum number of hours on it, so she needed to bring in another stub. Another lost day of productivity for this poor woman.

Regardless of the motivations, one can see the "us vs. them" motif very clearly at the prefecture. On the one side, masses desperate to get in, and feeling unwelcome all the while. And on the other side of the glass wall, a society wanting to protect a social system that is replicated in few other places in the world.

By the end of the day in the unforgiving sun, some people were clearly losing their cool, me among them. (I, an American, was more indignant about the inefficiency than most, which makes me wonder if that?s a nationality trait, but that's a subject for another time.)

?But this can?t be!? I kept saying. ?How can people waste an entire day in a line ? and for nothing! Just to come back and stand in the line again??

?Welcome to France,? said the Malian, smiling.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/oDdxIU-utNE/Switzerland-shuts-the-door-on-EU-migrants-A-new-us-vs.-them-in-Europe

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Hagel: Syria used chemical weapons

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? U.S. intelligence has concluded "with some degree of varying confidence," that the Syrian government has used sarin gas as a weapon in its 2-year-old civil war, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday.

Hagel, speaking to reporters in Abu Dhabi, said the White House has informed two senators by letter that, within the past day, "our intelligence community does assess, with varying degrees of confidence, that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons on a small scale in Syria, specifically, the chemical agent sarin."

"It violates every convention of warfare," Hagel said.

No information was made public on what quantity of chemical weapons might have been used, or when or what casualties might have resulted.

President Barack Obama has said the use of chemical weapons would be a "game-changer" in the U.S. position on intervening in the Syrian civil war, and the letter to Congress reiterates that the use or transfer of chemical weapons in Syria is a "red line for the United States." However, the letter also hints that a broad U.S. response is not imminent.

White House legislative director Miguel Rodriguez, who signed the letter, wrote that "because the president takes this issue so seriously, we have an obligation to fully investigate any and all evidence of chemical weapons use within Syria."

The letters went to Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Carl Levin, D-Mich.

The assessment, Rodriguez says, is based in part on "physiological samples."

He also said the U.S. believes that the use of chemical weapons "originated with the Assad regime." That is consistent with the Obama administration's assertion that the Syrian rebels do not have access to the country's stockpiles.

In Washington, McCain quoted from the letter the White House sent to several senators who had pressed the administration about Syria's possible use of chemical weapons.

"We just received a letter from the president in response to our question about whether Assad had used chemical weapons," McCain told reporters following a closed briefing with Secretary of State John Kerry on Syria and North Korea.

___

AP White House Correspondent Julie Pace and AP writer Donna Cassata contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hagel-says-syria-used-chemical-weapons-155008837--politics.html

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No Time to Relax, More Significant Correction May Be in the Works

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013
By George Leong, B.Comm. for Profit Confidential

No Time to RelaxThe stock market came off its worst week this year; but even given the minor correction, I don?t think we can relax enough to re-enter the market and buy, based on my stock analysis.

I think there could be a more significant market correction down the road that could shave another five percent off the current levels.

Yet even so, the selling over the recent sessions have driven the key stock indices down to levels that are more realistic compared to levels at the end of the first quarter, according to my stock analysis.

Simply put, the previous rate of the advance was not sustainable.

My stock analysis shows that with April coming to an end, we could also be seeing the final leg of the current six-month bull cycle from November to April that has historically resulted in the best gains, according to the Stock Trader?s Almanac.

This doesn?t mean that stocks are not worth a look for the next six months. But if the historical cycles pan out, the best gains may have already been made, so it will come down to stock selection, according to my stock analysis.

Let?s take a look at the investment climate at this juncture.

What?s critical right now is the first-quarter earnings season. So far, with about 104 S&P 500 companies having reported, the results have more or less been in line with the previous quarters, with about 67.3% beating earnings-per-share (EPS) estimates, according to Thomson Financial.

Another 170 S&P 500 companies are reporting this week.

Of the 20% of the S&P 500 companies that have reported, the results have been largely mixed, but Wall Street expected this.

We saw encouraging results from several technology giants, including Google Inc. (NASDAQ/GOOG) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ/MSFT). On the other hand, my stock analysis suggests that some key Dow stocks disappointed, including International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE/IBM), McDonalds Corporation (NYSE/MCD), General Electric Company (NYSE/GE), and Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE/CAT).

On the economic front, stocks and commodities got slammed on news that China may again be stalling; there could be an asset bubble forming, based on my stock analysis.

Goldman Sachs slashed China?s gross domestic product (GDP) to 7.8% for this year. The cut followed on the heels of a softer-than-expected first-quarter GDP growth recently reported.

As I said, the renewed slowing fears in China means a potential decline in demand for commodities, such as energy, silver, and copper used in industrial applications, and the precious metal gold used for jewelry and as a hedge against risk, based on my stock analysis.

Gold doesn?t look that good on the chart, despite rallying back above $1,400 an ounce, based on my technical analysis. Looking ahead, I?m not 100% convinced that gold will rally higher.

Oil prices are moving lower, which has resulted in lower gas prices at the pumps. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has come out and said it desires $100.00 a barrel as a lower limit for oil. In the past, the lower limit was $80.00 a barrel. The problem is that OPEC may cut its daily production quota. But given that the U.S. now imports less oil from OPEC, the effect on the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price may be less, based on my stock analysis.

I would continue to advise caution. We are seeing some decent buying support following weakness, but my stock analysis indicates that it may be more of a red flag. Stocks will move lower, so be careful.

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Source: http://www.profitconfidential.com/stock-market/no-time-to-relax-more-significant-correction-may-be-in-the-works/

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Thursday, April 25, 2013

New battery design could help solar and wind power the grid

Apr. 24, 2013 ? Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University have designed a low-cost, long-life battery that could enable solar and wind energy to become major suppliers to the electrical grid.

"For solar and wind power to be used in a significant way, we need a battery made of economical materials that are easy to scale and still efficient," said Yi Cui, a Stanford associate professor of materials science and engineering and a member of the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, a SLAC/Stanford joint institute. "We believe our new battery may be the best yet designed to regulate the natural fluctuations of these alternative energies."

Cui and colleagues report their research results, some of the earliest supported by the DOE's new Joint Center for Energy Storage Research battery hub, in the May issue of Energy & Environmental Science.

Currently the electrical grid cannot tolerate large and sudden power fluctuations caused by wide swings in sunlight and wind. As solar and wind's combined contributions to an electrical grid approach 20 percent, energy storage systems must be available to smooth out the peaks and valleys of this "intermittent" power -- storing excess energy and discharging when input drops.

Among the most promising batteries for intermittent grid storage today are "flow" batteries, because it's relatively simple to scale their tanks, pumps and pipes to the sizes needed to handle large capacities of energy. The new flow battery developed by Cui's group has a simplified, less expensive design that presents a potentially viable solution for large-scale production.

Today's flow batteries pump two different liquids through an interaction chamber where dissolved molecules undergo chemical reactions that store or give up energy. The chamber contains a membrane that only allows ions not involved in reactions to pass between the liquids while keeping the active ions physically separated. This battery design has two major drawbacks: the high cost of liquids containing rare materials such as vanadium -- especially in the huge quantities needed for grid storage -- and the membrane, which is also very expensive and requires frequent maintenance.

The new Stanford/SLAC battery design uses only one stream of molecules and does not need a membrane at all. Its molecules mostly consist of the relatively inexpensive elements lithium and sulfur, which interact with a piece of lithium metal coated with a barrier that permits electrons to pass without degrading the metal. When discharging, the molecules, called lithium polysulfides, absorb lithium ions; when charging, they lose them back into the liquid. The entire molecular stream is dissolved in an organic solvent, which doesn't have the corrosion issues of water-based flow batteries.

"In initial lab tests, the new battery also retained excellent energy-storage performance through more than 2,000 charges and discharges, equivalent to more than 5.5 years of daily cycles," Cui said.

To demonstrate their concept, the researchers created a miniature system using simple glassware. Adding a lithium polysulfide solution to the flask immediately produces electricity that lights an LED.

A utility version of the new battery would be scaled up to store many megawatt-hours of energy.

In the future, Cui's group plans to make a laboratory-scale system to optimize its energy storage process and identify potential engineering issues, and to start discussions with potential hosts for a full-scale field-demonstration unit.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by DOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. Yuan Yang, Guangyuan Zheng, Yi Cui. A membrane-free lithium/polysulfide semi-liquid battery for large-scale energy storage. Energy & Environmental Science, 2013; DOI: 10.1039/C3EE00072A

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/dKbtCcUUT2g/130424140603.htm

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How To Transform Your Basement Into A Game Room ...

TIP! Use bleach to maintain a clean toilet bowl. Bleach has a strong smell, but it is terribly effective at killing germs.

Home improvement projects are a great way to do something constructive while increasing the value of your home. Your best bet for success is to have the right knowledge. Follow the advice presented here to transform your existing home into your dream home.

TIP! One home improvement tip that works well is to be sure you create a contract with the person doing the work when they come to see your problem. If you have a clear contract, you won?t be taken advantage of or surprised with unexpected charges.

Enhance your home with a unique addition. You could for instance create a wine cellar, a library or a shelving. It will impress your guests and anyone that is interested in purchasing your property.

TIP! If you will be embarking on a DYI renovation, write a list with steps needed to complete the project, then have a builder or contractor review it. One missed step during the planning stage can result in shoddy work which can lead to a much more costly renovation project.

It is a good idea to do home improvements soon after you notice there is an issue. There are many flaws that you can easily tolerate and forget. It?s crucial that you don?t give into this urge! Your home has interconnected systems, which can all be damaged at once. Before you know it, a little issue has turned into a major mess.

TIP! You can reduce your homeowner?s insurance premium by installing smoke alarms in your home and checking them regularly. You might notice more of a savings with an older house.

You should talk to your neighbors and local government about drainage before doing any major work on your landscaping. You will want to get rid of all water from your property. The best method for doing this is to pour all the water on your neighbor?s property; however, your neighbor probably won?t enjoy this. Drainage plans can only be coordinated with proper communication.

TIP! Dedicate some time to making both the inside and the outside of your home look nice. Home improvement also includes how your home looks.

Do you have spots on your lawn where grass won?t grow? Purchase some grass seeds to rejuvenate your yard. Your home won?t look that great unless your lawn is even. Take care of your lawn today.

TIP! Hang a big mirror in small or narrow rooms. The mirror provides an illusion that the room is larger than it is by reflecting the interior.

You can do a lot of repairs by yourself. Hiring someone will run up your bill extensively. Painting, basic plumbing work, and even some drywall jobs can all be taken care of without the assistance of professionals. Doing things yourself can really keep costs down.

TIP! Look at your house from the curb to judge how inviting it is. Begin by improving the appearance of your yard.

Flexibility is an excellent quality in all things, including home improvement. Sometimes, you will realize that a job will take more time than anticipated. Perhaps you want to spend only a certain amount on your home improvement project; however, it?s important to understand that home improvement projects generally cost much more than you anticipated. Flexibility will help reduce stress, while saving you time and money.

TIP! Ziploc bags are very handy for keeping your paint brushes and other equipment from drying out during breaks or even overnight. Seal the paint rollers when you take a break from painting.

You need to do some research before demolishing anything. Cutting, ripping and demolishing walls may look like fun. Make sure that the electricity is off in the area you will be demolishing. It?s pricey to get rid of the whole thing, so give it a look first.

TIP! If you?re planning a major kitchen remodel, you should be sure to put together a makeshift kitchen. It may be a few weeks before you can use a kitchen.

When you are ready to replace your home?s siding, be sure to consider the importance of good insulation. Your energy bills will decrease while your home?s value will increase. This is an excellent way to invest in your home.

TIP! You should always turn off the gas if you?re working around gas components. Even if you?re not a smoker, you may still start a spark.

If your roof is starting to leak, you should start by checking near the chimney, around your skylights, in any low spots, and near your wall step flashing. Gutters can be trouble spots, too. Damaged gutters are often the cause of a leaky roof because the water will run directly down the exterior of the house.

TIP! Certain home improvement projects can be very tumultuous. You can never know how the project will go, and it?s good to be aware of any potential problems that may crop up.

Devoting time to improving your home is often quite satisfying. If you have plans to take on a new project, just make sure to educate yourself first so that you can get the project done right the first time. This article will show you the path to great success.

Source: http://www.floorkitchenbath.com/how-to-transform-your-basement-into-a-game-room/

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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Israeli focus on Syria gives Hagel respite on Iran

JERUSALEM (AP) ? On Chuck Hagel's inaugural visit to Israel as U.S. defense secretary, Syria surpassed Iran as the security threat of greatest urgency to the U.S.' closest Mideast ally. That quite unexpectedly gave the new Pentagon chief a temporary respite from the delicate duty of tempering Israeli warnings about attacking Iran to stop it from building a nuclear bomb.

Israeli leaders see Iran's nuclear ambitions as a threat to their country's very existence, given Tehran's vow to wipe it off the map. But Syria suddenly has emerged so prominently that it overshadowed Iran during Hagel's three days in Israel.

That explains, in part, why Hagel repeatedly stressed in public Israel's right to defend itself and to decide on its own, if necessary, whether and when to attack Iran. He gave less emphasis than usual by American officials to Washington's wish that diplomacy and sanctions be given more time to persuade Iran to change course.

Notably, Israel's new defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, said at a joint news conference with Hagel on Monday that he, too, thinks non-military means ought to be pursued further.

"By one way or another, the military nuclear project of Iran should be stopped," Yaalon said. "Having said that, we believe that the military option, which is well discussed, should be the last resort anyhow." He added, "There are other tools to be used and to be exhausted, whether it is diplomacy, economic sanctions, or even more support of the opposition in Iran."

Hagel seemed to sense slightly less urgency in the Israeli concern about Iran, although he by no means dismissed the problem. One year ago, Hagel's predecessor, Leon Panetta, was letting it be known that he feared Israel could attack Iran in a matter of weeks. Washington worries that such a strike could ignite a wider war in which it would be difficult for the U.S. to avoid getting involved.

That was before the Syrian civil war had reached the point of widespread concern that its illicit stockpiles of chemical weapons could pose a threat to Israel and other neighbors.

Jordan, too, is worried about transfers of Syrian chemical weapons. Hagel stopped briefly in Jordan Tuesday.

"The United States and Jordan share mutual concerns about the ongoing crisis in Syria and continue to consult closely on a number of issues including chemical weapons and the demands posed by the influx of Syrian refugees fleeing the violence," Pentagon press secretary George Little said after Hagel's meeting in Amman.

Little said the Pentagon has provided more than $70 million to Jordan this year to help secure its border and prevent the transfer of chemical weapons from Syria.

Hagel ended his day in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he met with Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, who also serves as the Saudi defense minister. Little said they discussed a proposed sale of advanced U.S. missiles for Saudi F-15 fighters as well as mutual concerns about Iran's nuclear program and the violence in Syria.

The Israelis see immediate dangers in the Syrian civil war, not only in the threat along Israel's northeastern border but also in the grim possibility that Syrian chemical weapons could fall into the hands of extremists. Israel says each of those possibilities is a "red line" beyond which it would have to act.

The concern is that if President Bashar Assad is overthrown, any of the Islamic extremist groups trying to oust him could turn his extensive arsenal against Israel.

A senior Israeli military intelligence official said Tuesday that Assad has repeatedly used chemical weapons against insurgent groups. It was the first such public claim by Israel and appeared to increase pressure on Washington and other Western countries to intervene in Syria.

President Barack Obama has warned that the use of chemical weapons by Assad would be a "game changer." Little, the Pentagon press secretary, said Tuesday the U.S. government is still assessing reports of Syrian chemical weapons use, adding that such acts would be "entirely unacceptable." He did not elaborate on possible U.S. actions.

The White House said Tuesday the U.S. hasn't yet come to the conclusion that Assad has used chemical weapons even though close U.S. allies say he has.

In his assessment, Brig. Gen. Itai Brun, the head of research and analysis in Israeli military intelligence, told a security conference in Tel Aviv that Assad has used chemical weapons multiple times, including near Damascus, the capital, last month.

During Hagel's visit, Israeli leaders still emphasized the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran ? as did Hagel. But to a degree not foreseen when Hagel arrived in Israel over the weekend, the threat posed by Syria's chemical weapons overshadowed Iran.

Hagel wrapped up his visit Tuesday by meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who greeted him with a brief but pointed caution about resolving the Iran problem. He complained of Iran arming terrorist groups with sophisticated weapons, and its "attempt to arm itself with nuclear weapons."

"This is a challenge that Israel cannot accept, and as you and President Obama have repeatedly said, Israel must be able to defend itself, by itself, against any threat," Netanyahu said.

___

Associated Press writer Ariel David contributed to this report.

Robert Burns can be followed on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/robertburnsAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israeli-focus-syria-gives-hagel-respite-iran-190331708--politics.html

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Native Ad Startup Nativo Raises $3.5M Round Led By Greycroft

nativo_logoNativo, a startup aiming to make it easy for online publishers to run sponsored content, and for advertisers to distribute that content, has raised $3.5 million in Series A funding. I covered the company last year under its old name, PostRelease. Despite the name change, the vision remains the same ? publishers add some code to their site and create a template for sponsored content, advertisers upload their content, then it's displayed across relevant sites and formatted to match the look of each site.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Re8z8xpY4os/

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Monday, April 22, 2013

Boeing begins fixing Dreamliners

TOKYO (Reuters) - Boeing Co on Monday began installing reinforced lithium ion batteries on five grounded 787 jets owned by launch customer All Nippon Airways , starting a process that should make the first commercial Dreamliners ready to fly again in about a week.

Teams of Boeing engineers are working on the ANA jets at four airports in Japan, including Tokyo's Haneda and Narita hubs, Ryosei Nomura, a spokesman for the carrier said.

The Dreamliners have been parked since regulators in the United States and elsewhere ordered all 50 planes out of the skies in mid-January after batteries on two of them overheated.

ANA is the world's biggest operator of the carbon-composite aircraft with 17 of the planes. After ANA, the biggest 787 operator is local rival Japan Airlines Co with seven jets, followed by United Continental Holdings Inc's United Airlines and Air India with six each.

ANA plans about 100 to 200 round trip test flights in May of its repaired aircraft before carrying passengers again from June, sources knowledgeable about ANA's operations told Reuters last week. The flights will check the safety of the aircraft, and allow ANA's 180 Dreamliner pilots to get accustomed to flying it again and renew their licenses after more than a three-month break.

ANA has not said how much the 787's grounding has cost it to date, though it has said it lost about $900,000 in revenue per plane in the last two weeks of January. The grounding has cost Boeing an estimated $600 million.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the U.S. on Friday approved a Boeing plan to encase the 787s lithium ion batteries in steel box, install new battery charges, and add a duct to vent gases directly outside the aircraft that could cause overheating.

Investigators in the United States and Japan have yet to unravel what caused a 787 battery onboard an ANA jet in Japan and one on another JAL Dreamliner parked at Boston's Logan Airport to overheat.

(Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Chris Gallagher and Edwina Gibbs)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/boeing-begins-fixing-dreamliners-starts-five-ana-787s-004409553--finance.html

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Saturday, April 20, 2013

China's Sichuan hit by earthquake

BEIJING (AP) ? A powerful earthquake jolted China's Sichuan province on Saturday, in the same area where a devastating quake struck five years ago.

The Chinese government's seismological bureau and state-run television said there were no initial reports of casualties in the quake, which hit shortly after 8 a.m. near the town of Linqiong.

The bureau initially measured the quake at magnitude-7, while the U.S. Geological Survey recorded it at 6.6-magnitude, powerful enough to cause severe damage. Its depth was shallow, less than 13 kilometers or 8 miles, which could magnify the impact.

The Xinhua News Agency said that the quake rattled buildings in the provincial capital of Chengdu 115 kilometers, or 70 miles, to the east.

The epicenter lies along the same Longmenshan fault where the devastating 7.9-magnitude quake struck in May 2008, leaving more than 90,000 people dead or missing and presumed dead.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-04-19-China-Earthquake/id-7990c07d3ad2465fad3504eba0575d07

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Friday, April 19, 2013

AAPL, below $400 a share, may fall more

AAPL needs to announce a dividend increase or its share price will fall even more, warns analyst Dan Niles. Its lack of products at the low end and middle range of the market has already pushed AAPL down from more than $700 a share to less than $400.

By Cadie Thompson,?CNBC.com Technology Editor / April 18, 2013

An Apple Store employee sells Apple's iPad to a customer at the 5th Avenue Apple Store in New York last year. The slumping share price of Apple (AAPL) could slump more because of fierce competition in the marketplace.

Shannon Stapleton/Reuters/File

Enlarge

If?Apple?doesn't announce a dividend increase when it reports earnings next week, you can expect to see the stock price continue to drop, Dan Niles, a senior portfolio manager for AlphaOne Capital Partners, told CNBC's?"Squawk on the Street"?Thursday.

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"In the near-term the biggest excitement, quite honestly, is if they move the dividend up when they report the quarter, a better cash return," Niles said. "That's what I'm looking for and if they don't do that then the stock could go quite a bit lower."

Apple's stock price has tumbled to below $400 recently, far from its all-time high of over $700 last September. And the stock price will move even lower if Apple doesn't tackle some fundamental problems with its business strategy, Niles said.?

"The only thing you know for certain right now is that Apple is not producing products for the entire market space and?Samsung?is absolutely killing them. They are not producing phones for the mid-range to low-end of the market and they are not producing phat phones like Samsung is and they are not with all the carriers either," Niles said.?(Read More:?Forget the Phone or Tablet: Get Ready for the 'Phablet'?)

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Watch Patton Oswalt's epic 'Parks and Rec' 'Star Wars' rant [VIDEO ...

Comedian and actor Patton Oswalt ? who penned a viral tribute to Boston after Monday?s attacks ? will appear on this Thursday?s episode of ?Parks and Recreation? as a Pawnee citizen who is upset about Leslie Knope?s (Amy Poelher) proposed changes to outdated or sexist laws on the town charter.

Oswalt?s character attempts to perform a ?citizen filibuster? for as long as he possibly can so that the town council can?t vote on the changes.

?Parks and Rec? producers told Oswalt to improvise, so for eight minutes the comedian rambled on about his proposed plot to the forthcoming ?Star Wars VII? plot. It involves a headless Chewbacca, some of the ?top tier? superheroes from ?The Avengers,? with cameos by ?Iron Man?s? Tony Stark and Wolverine.

If you haven?t laughed today, watch Oswalt outline his plot. Are you listening, JJ Abrams?

WATCH:

Follow Taylor on Twitter

Source: http://dailycaller.com/2013/04/17/patton-oswalt-filibusters-pawnee-city-council-with-epic-star-wars-vii-plot-proposal-video/

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Lingerie for Night Sweat | Style Goes Strong

Angela Newman had pre-menopausal night sweat. And surprise, surprise, this UVA and Harvard grad couldn't find non-synthetic panties to keep her cool.

So she invented some.

Welcome to one of the fastest growing and award-winning companies to hit women's lingerie. It's called Knock out.

They use a unique blend of Supima cotton that is naturally absorbing and both creates wicking and moisture control. That's right, you heard me: COTTON.

Furthermore because said cotton is imbedded with odor-absorbing molecules akin to the same absorbers that work so well in Febreeze, well then you have this lingerie's super secret: it keeps us smelling fresh.

When our menopause age hits (or when we have health challenges like hormone fluctuation or God forbid cancer, thyroid and heart disease among many others) where we might experience hot flashes, we need relief. And Knock out's line of Smart Panties, Mighty Nighties and Workout Warriors (workout clothes) were made breathable, cool and supremely soft just for us.

"We are the only cotton wicking sleepwear designed for night sweats," says Newman. She adds that all of her product is proudly made in the USA.

She should also tout that the variety of styles and beautiful lace designs also keep them out of granny panty territory.?

There are T-shirts, boxers and briefs for men too.

While a traditional treatment for hot flashes might be to drag ourselves out of bed and begrudgingly change pjs in the middle of the night, now we can just roll over and let the patented fabric do all the work to keep us cool and both our bodies AND the sheets dry.

I have to add that the $3 shipping fee at www.knockoutpanties.com?for USA-based orders is a big plus.

And there's gotta be something to Knock out's recent win of the Harvard Business School's Global New Venture Award (thus the gold medal around those pink panties pictured upper right).

I mean, what panties have you seen win a gold medal?

Maybe it's time we knock ourselves out with this one.

Pictured clockwise from left to right: black Lacy Cami $58 and Anytime Pant $85; pink Lacy Panty $36; black lacy brief $36-38.

Source: http://style.lifegoesstrong.com/article/lingerie-night-sweat

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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Quake kills at least 46 along Iran-Pakistan border

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? A major earthquake described as the strongest to hit Iran in more than half a century flattened homes and offices Tuesday on both sides of the Iran-Pakistan border, killing at least 46 people in the sparsely populated region and swaying skyscrapers and buildings as far away as New Delhi.

Iran's Red Crescent said it was facing a "complicated emergency situation" in the area with villages scattered over desolate hills and valleys.

Iran's semiofficial ISNA news agency and others described the quake, measured at least magnitude 7.7, as the strongest quake in more than 50 years. State-run Press TV called it a "massive quake."

It also was the second deadly quake to hit Iran in less than a week after a magnitude 6.1 temblor struck near Bushehr, on Iran's Persian Gulf coast, killing at least 37 people and raising calls for greater international safety inspectors at Iran's lone nuclear reactor nearby.

Press TV said the quake was centered near Saravan, about 50 kilometers (26 miles) from the Pakistani border. A previous report citing the country's seismological center placed the strength at magnitude 7.5, but it was apparently revised upward. The U.S. Geological Survey put the preliminary magnitude at 7.8 and at a depth of 15.2 kilometers (nine miles).

Press TV said least 40 people were killed, but gave no other immediate details on the extent of damage or casualties. State-run Pakistan Television, meanwhile, said at least six people were killed on its side of the border and at least 47 others were injured. Up to 1,000 mud homes were damaged, it added.

The quake was felt over a vast area from New Delhi to Gulf cities that have some of the world's tallest skyscrapers, including the record 828-meter (2,717 -foot) Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Officials ordered temporary evacuations from some high-rises as a precaution.

A resident in the quake zone, Manouchehr Karimi, told The Associated Press by phone that "the quake period was long" and occurred "when many people were at home to take a midday nap."

Pakistani news channels showed buildings shaking in the southern city of Karachi, where people in panic came out from offices and homes.

In a message posted on Twitter, British Foreign Secretary William Hague sent condolences to families of those lost in the Iran earthquake.

In 2003, some 26,000 people were killed by a magnitude 6.6 quake that flattened the historic southeastern Iranian city of Bam.

___

Associated Press writer Abdul Sattar in Quetta, Pakistan, contributed to this story.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/quake-kills-least-46-along-iran-pakistan-border-132849716.html

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Buying new computer for gaming ?900 ish budget


Looking to get a new PC for gaming, I play most new games that come out like the new tomb raider, bioshock and most adventure/RPG games. As well as, many MMOs like; Rift, WoW, Tera and SWTOR etc.. I wish to get a PC which can play games at almost max graphical level (sometimes I realise this is unachievable) dropping no less that 35ish fps.

Is it wise to go with the monthly dolphin, narwhal and whatever displayed on front page of mmo-champion? Or if you guys would outline the key components needed for this computer or to look for in the computer I want.

I can stretch to roughly 900 pounds (1379.16 US Dollar, 1053.92 Euro). I would prefer like between 800-900 quid but, if my wants for the computer outweigh what I can pay for then so be it.

Or would I even need to spend that much?

Thank you if you answer my query.

EDIT: resolutions are all 1920x1080 (1080p).

An operating system is needed (pref windows 7 64 bit).

I am selling my old PC as it is, so this would be a new build. Possibly re-use wireless adapter.

I am probably needing a wireless network adapter. Currently using http://www.advancetec.co.uk/edimax-e...s-adaptor.html

Source: http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/1288183-Buying-new-computer-for-gaming-%C2%A3900-ish-budget

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James Deen to Farrah Abraham: I'm Obviously Medium-Sized!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/james-deen-to-farrah-abraham-im-obviously-medium-sized/

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Monday, April 15, 2013

Good day to be a duck, Cabrera leads Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) ? Angel Cabrera was in his element on a gloomy Sunday at Augusta National, pulling out to a two-stroke lead over Brandt Snedeker as they made the turn, nine holes away from his second green jacket.

Cabrera's nickname is "El Pato," which translates to The Duck. Maybe that's why he wasn't bothered by the wet conditions, strolling between shots lugging a giant umbrella, his son on the bag.

The 43-year-old from Argentina began the final round tied with Snedeker but with plenty others right on their heels. But only Cabrera was steady through the front side, making a birdie at the par-5 fifth, another at the seventh, and nothing but pars on the rest of his card for a 9-under total.

Cabrera came in at No. 269 in the world rankings, but that's not really a factor when he gets on the biggest stages. His last PGA or European Tour win was at the 2009 Masters. Before that, it was the 2007 U.S. Open, where he won his first major title.

If Cabrera can hold on, he would be the lowest-ranked player ever to win the Masters ? breaking his own mark of 69th from four years ago ? and lowest to capture any major title since 396th-ranked Ben Curtis at the British Open a decade ago.

Snedeker was looking for his first major title. Until now, he's best remembered for his wild final round at the 2008 Masters, when he shot 77 and couldn't stop sobbing afterward.

That day, Snedeker pulled into a tie for the lead after an eagle at the second hole, but an 11-hole stretch beginning at the sixth did him in. He made eight bogeys, two birdies and only two pars.

On Sunday, Snedeker stumbled at bit with bogeys at the fourth and fifth, but managed to steady his nerves. A birdie at the par-5 eighth pulled him closer to Cabrera before they made the turn in the final group.

Australians Jason Day and Adam Scott were at 6 under midway through the round, both looking to spark quite a celebration Down Under.

No Australian has ever won the Masters.

After a shaky start, Tiger Woods finally steadied with back-to-back birdies around the turn. But he was still at 3 under ? where he started ? and needed the greatest comeback of his career to claim a fifth green jacket.

Woods has never won any of his 14 major titles when trailing after the third round, and he needed to make up two extra strokes after being penalized for an improper drop in the second round.

Bernhard Langer briefly surged into contention with three straight birdies to start the final round. But any thoughts of becoming the oldest major champion (55) quickly faded with four bogeys over a seven-hole stretch.

Under overcast skies, some of the early finishers put up impressive scores ? a sign the greens weren't as slick as usual on a Sunday, setting up the potential for plenty of shuffling on an already crowded leaderboard.

Among those going out in the morning, Michael Thompson shot a 5-under 67, Ryo Ishikawa and Ryan Moore posted 68s, while Rory McIlroy and Keegan Bradley signed for 69s.

But Augusta had plenty of bite.

Defending Masters champion Bubba Watson and Kevin Na both made 10s on the par-3 12th, the most picturesque hole on the course. Watson finished with a 77 for a 7-over 295.

Shaking off the disappointment of closing the third round with two straight bogeys, Day rolled in a birdie putt at the very first hole. Then he pulled off a really memorable shot at the par-5 fifth. After going into the front bunker with his approach, he blasted out of the sand and watched it roll in for an eagle 3, thrusting his club toward the gray sky to celebrate.

But it was a forgettable Masters for three-time winner Phil Mickelson. He closed with a 73 for a 297 ? the second-worst score he's ever posted at Augusta when making the cut. He had a 299 six years ago, but that was in much tougher conditions.

As for Guan Tianlang, time to get back to his homework.

He already gets an A for his first Masters.

The 14-year-old Chinese golfer wrapped up a memorable debut at Augusta National by shooting a 75, his experience not dampened in the least by a debated one-stroke penalty for slow play.

"It's such a great week for me," said Guan, the youngest player to make the cut at a major in the PGA era. "I learned a lot."

Guan's performance over four days was truly remarkable for the youngest player by far to play the Masters. He never had a three-putt on Augusta's perilous greens ? well, he counts one from off the green ? and his worst hole was a bogey.

"I played pretty good," he said. "I feel a little bit tired today. There are still a lot of things to improve. My short game's good, but I still need to be better. My driver probably needs to be a little longer."

Guan made a couple of birdies on the back side, but took a bogey at No. 17 after knocking at shot into a spectator's plastic bag. At the final hole, he two-putted from about 40 feet for a 12-over 300, receiving a big cheer from the gallery and a handshake from Augusta National chairman Billy Payne.

Guan can't take any prize money since he's an amateur. But he'll get a silver cup as the only amateur to make the cut.

There are no plans to turn pro anytime soon.

"It won't be too early because there are still a lot of things to learn, to improve," Guan said. "So nothing to rush."

___

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/good-day-duck-cabrera-leads-masters-211819985--golf.html

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Trayvon Martin targets: Fired cop fires back, saying it's a conspiracy (+video)

Trayvon Martin targets were not for target practice but were a 'no-shoot training tool,' says the Florida cop who was fired Friday for showing them to colleagues.

By Mark Sappenfield,?Staff writer / April 14, 2013

Entertainer Jamie Foxx (r.) speaks alongside Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, the parents of Trayvon Martin, during a candlelight vigil in Union Square earlier this year to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the fatal shooting of their 17-year old son by neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman in Florida.

John Minchillo/AP/File

Enlarge

First, a police sergeant in a Florida department only an hour away from where Trayvon Martin was killed gets fired for allegedly bringing targets that resembled Trayvon to a shooting range.

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Now, the officer has responded in an online video, suggesting that he brought the pictures as a "no-shoot training aid," and that he might be a pawn in a broader conspiracy to bring down the chief of the Port Canaveral Police Department.

So what began as a national upwelling of outrage at what appeared to be an appalling piece of judgment has now seemingly become a nationwide airing of a squabble within one small Florida police department.

It is a reminder of the power and speed of the Internet to ruin ? and perhaps resuscitate ? reputations all within the space of a weekend. With his video response, the accused officer, Ron King, has taken his case directly to a nation of YouTubers, putting pressure on Port Canaveral to disprove his assertions and justify his firing ? all while an attendant America watches and judges.

Because Port Canaveral police oversee the port, not any municipality, it was the Port Authority's CEO, Jim Walsh, who announced Mr. King's firing Friday. "Whether it was his stupidity or his hatred, [this is] not acceptable," Mr. Walsh said, according to news reports.

But King's video rebuttal Sunday portrays him as the victim. In it, he admitted to buying targets that show gun crosshairs on a black hooded sweatshirt with Skittles in one pocket and an iced tea in one hand ? which is what Trayvon was wearing, and what he had gone to a convenience store to buy, when he was shot. But as a firearms-safety trainer for more than 20 years, King said he saw it as a potential training tool.

"While others have used it as a novelty, I view it as a tool for scenario-based firearms training," he said.

At another point in the video, he said: "As an instructor in the law enforcement field, I can tell you that using real-life situations as a training scenario is not uncommon."

His purpose, he added, was to "look for training methods to prevent another such situation."

In the video, he apologizes to the Martin family, suggesting that others are using "the Martin family and myself as a way to further their own political and career agendas."

The person who reported him doesn't like the chief of the department, King said.

"I cannot help but think that he is using this in order to try to shed bad light on the chief in an effort to further that agenda," he added.

Of course, the video proves nothing. Media reports suggest that King's firing came after an internal investigation, and details of that investigation might come to light in coming days ? or hours.

But in his video, King has circumvented lawyers or handlers to take his case directly to the American people. While the quality is clearly homemade, the statement has all the trappings of official press statements ? King reads from a prepared script and at one point waves pieces of paper that he said are "copies of the statements made by the complaining party and a witness" proving that he said the targets were a "no-shoot training aid."

A USA Today report suggests Walsh was unmoved. "I found the entire situation unacceptable," he said. "It is not the type of behavior that I want a police officer to have on both a personal and professional level."

Trayvon was killed by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman on Feb. 26, 2012. Mr. Zimmerman says he was attacked and shot Trayvon in self-defense. The Martin family notes that Trayvon was unarmed and says Zimmerman is at fault. Zimmerman faces a charge of second-degree murder. The trial is expected to begin this June.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/UWSxiuUrJbI/Trayvon-Martin-targets-Fired-cop-fires-back-saying-it-s-a-conspiracy-video

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'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' Trailer: Watch Now!

Liam Hemsworth introduces an exclusive first look at the dystopian drama during Sunday's MTV Movie Awards.
By Amy Wilkinson


Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"
Photo: Lionsgate

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1705636/catching-fire-hunger-games-movie-awards-2013.jhtml

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Sunday, April 14, 2013

Mother Regrets Having Children, Braces For Online Backlash

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/mother-regrets-having-children-braces-for-online-backlash/

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Calvin Coolidge, a president who actually lowered debt

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Power Players

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/power-players-abc-news/washington-could-learn-president-calvin-coolidge-112431869.html

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