Friday, November 30, 2012

French Montana Gifts Birdman A Very 'Special' 'Shout Out'

'Special things happen at special moments,' French tells MTV News of their newest single and upcoming video.
By Rob Markman


Birdman on the set of "Shout Out"
Photo: MTV News

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1698141/birdman-french-montana-gudda-gudda-shout-out-set-visit.jhtml

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Huge Sports Memorabilia Rummage Sale | Brookfield Sports ...

Internet down nationwide in Syria

In this citizen journalism image provided by the Homs City Union of The Syrian Revolution, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Syrian citizens walk in a destroyed street that was attacked on Wednesday by Syrian forces warplanes, at Abu al-Hol street in Homs province, Syria, Thursday Nov. 29, 2012. Two US-based Internet-monitoring companies say Syria has shut off the Internet nationwide. Activists in Syria reached Thursday by satellite telephone confirmed the unprecedented blackout, which comes amid intense fighting in the capital, Damascus.(AP Photo/Homs City Union of The Syrian Revolution)

In this citizen journalism image provided by the Homs City Union of The Syrian Revolution, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Syrian citizens walk in a destroyed street that was attacked on Wednesday by Syrian forces warplanes, at Abu al-Hol street in Homs province, Syria, Thursday Nov. 29, 2012. Two US-based Internet-monitoring companies say Syria has shut off the Internet nationwide. Activists in Syria reached Thursday by satellite telephone confirmed the unprecedented blackout, which comes amid intense fighting in the capital, Damascus.(AP Photo/Homs City Union of The Syrian Revolution)

In this image taken from video obtained from the Ugarit News, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, smoke leaps the air from a building after a warplane attack in Homs, Syria, on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Ugarit News via AP video)

In this image taken from video obtained from the Ugarit News, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Free Syrian Army fighters capture a helicopter at the Marj al-Sultan military air base in Damascus, Syria, on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Ugarit News via AP video)

In this image taken from video obtained from the Ugarit News, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, Smoke leaps the air from a building after a warplane attack in Homs, Syria, on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Ugarit News via AP video)

(AP) ? Internet services were down across Syria on Thursday as rebels and government troops waged fierce battles near the Damascus airport, wounding two Austrian peacekeepers and forcing international airlines to suspend flights.

Activists accused the government of pulling the plug on the Internet, and warned the move may signal the regime is readying a major offensive on rebel fighters. The government denied the Internet was down nationwide, but offered conflicting reasons for what it said were only regional outages ? terrorists and a technical failure.

The blackout, which two U.S-based companies that monitor online connectivity confirmed as nationwide outages, is unprecedented in Syria's 20-month-old uprising against President Bashar Assad. Regime forces have suffered a string of tactical defeats in recent weeks, losing air bases and a hydroelectric dam, and the Internet outage may be an attempt by the government to dull any further rebel offensives by hampering communications.

Authorities also often cut phone lines and Internet access in select areas where regime forces are conducting major military operations to disrupt rebel communications. Activists in Syria reached Thursday by satellite telephone confirmed the blackout, and said cellphone services were also down in select areas.

Renesys, a U.S.-based network security firm that studies Internet disruptions, said in a statement that Syria effectively disappeared from the Internet at 12:26 p.m. local time.

"In the global routing table, all 84 of Syria's IP address blocks have become unreachable, effectively removing the country from the Internet," Renesys said. It added that the main autonomous system responsible for Internet in the country is the Syrian Telecommunications Establishment, and that "all of their customer networks are currently unreachable."

Akamai Technologies Inc., another U.S-based company that distributes content on the Internet, also confirmed a complete outage for Syria.

Syrian state TV it was caused by a technical failure, only affected some provinces and that technicians were trying to fix the problem. The pro-government Al-Ikhbariya station, meanwhile, quoted the information minister as denying the government was behind the blackout and saying "terrorists have targeted the Internet cable, which caused an interruption of the service in several Syrian cities."

With pressure building against the regime on several fronts, and government forces on their heels in the key fight over the northern commercial hub of Aleppo, rebels have been trying to push their way back into Damascus after being driven out after a July offensive.

On Thursday, opposition fighters were battling government troops near the city's international airport, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, forcing the military to shut the road to the airport.

The Syrian Information Ministry said later that the airport road was secure after attacks by "terrorist groups" on motorists, according to state TV. It was not immediately clear whether the road had been reopened.

Austria Press Agency said two Austrian soldiers assigned to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights were wounded Thursday afternoon after their convoy came under fire on the way to the airport. The report, quoting the Defense Ministry spokeswoman, said the two did not appear to be critically wounded.

Rami Abdul-Rahman, the head of the Observatory, said the regime has started a major offensive around the airport on the southern edge of Damascus where rebels have been particularly active in recent weeks.

Abdul-Rahman, who relies on a network of activists throughout Syria, said large convoys of government reinforcements were seen on the airport road heading south in the direction of the airport, 25 kilometers (15 miles) southeast of Damascus.

He said the fighting on Thursday was concentrated in and around the villages of Beit Saham and Aqraba near the airport.

State-run Syrian TV said government forces were chasing "al-Qaida elements" around the capital, mostly in the eastern suburbs of Douma and the southern suburb of Daraya.

The operation around the capital comes days after rebels made significant advances around Assad's seat of power. Last week, they captured a major helicopter base just outside the capital, and rebels and activists recently said a major opposition offensive on Damascus was in the works.

Despite months of sporadic fighting and crumbling security in Damascus, the city's airport has remained open. But the fighting Thursday prompted both the Dubai-based airline Emirates and EgyptAir to temporarily suspend flights to Damascus.

A senior EgyptAir official said the flight to Damascus scheduled for Friday has been canceled and that the airline has scheduled an emergency meeting to look into whether to halt all flights to the Syrian capital.

The airport lies on Damascus' southern outskirts, and the surrounding districts have been strongholds of support for the rebels since the start of the uprising.

Government warplanes struck the rebellious districts around Damascus on Thursday, including Daraya, where fighting has raged for days, the Observatory said.

In the country's south, rebels detonated a car bomb near the house of a senior member of the country's ruling Baath party Thursday, killing him and his three body guards, activists said. The bombing took place in Daraa, where the uprising began in March 2011. Since then, rebels have frequently targeted regime figures and military commanders.

The SANA state news agency said there were casualties in the blast, but did not say how many or whether the official, Hussein Rafai, was among them.

The bombing came a day after twin suicide car bombs ripped through a Damascus, killing at least 34 people and wounding more than 80.

Damascus, the seat of Assad's power, has been the scene of scores of car bombs and mortar attacks targeting state security institutions and troops, areas with homes of wealthy Syrians, army officers, security officials and other members of the regime.

Also Thursday, activists reported heavy fighting between rebels and regime troops in the northern Idlib province and in Aleppo, where 15 people were killed, including 5 children, according to the Observatory.

The revolt in Syria began with peaceful protests but turned into a civil war after the government waged a brutal crackdown on dissent. Activists say more than 40,000 people have been killed.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-11-29-Syria/id-5c10aa917565421891f4059f066899ee

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Best Skincare Tips for a Healthy Glow This Holiday Season - iVillage

The holidays are here and you want your skin to look?and feel?wonderful. That?s the inspiration for this digital magazine: to help you get great, glowing skin. In this issue, look for ways to get Jessica Par??s look, tips on kissable lips, last-minute fixes for blemishes that pop up right before a party and easy ways to steal skin and hair looks from the fashion show runways. Plus, find money-saving insider advice on skincare, the secrets of happy feet during the winter and tips on coping with psoriasis. Top it off with one mom?s essay about how she got makeup tips from her middle school daughter. Just click on the red "next" arrow below to keep reading!

Download a PDF of?Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4 or Issue 5.

Like this article? Bookmark this page and share!

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Source: http://www.ivillage.com/best-skincare-tips-healthy-glow-holiday-season/4-b-505005

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Syria's stalemated conflict picks up speed again

Syrian rebels say they never expected the war with the regime to last this long. A string of strategically important victories may move the conflict along again.

By Whitney Eulich,?Staff writer / November 28, 2012

A crowd gathers at the site of a blast in Jaramana district, near Damascus, November 28. Twin car bombs detonated in Damascus Wednesday, along with two blasts in nearby suburbs, killing and injuring scores.

Courtesy of Syria's national news agency Sana/Reuters

Enlarge

? A daily summary of global reports on security issues.

Skip to next paragraph Whitney Eulich

Latin America Editor

Whitney Eulich is the Monitor's Latin America editor, overseeing regional coverage for CSMonitor.com and the weekly magazine. She also curates the Latin America Monitor Blog.

Recent posts

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Twin car bombs detonated in Damascus today, along with two blasts in nearby suburbs, killing and injuring scores ?? events whose grim familiarity underscores the unexpectedly protracted nature of Syria?s civil war, now in its 21st month.?

"We no longer count the days," Ramiz Moussa, a rebel fighter and former civil servant told the Associated Press. "Today we're in a battle, but we can't remember when it started, much less the past battles. You could ask me what day it is, but I can't tell you."

What started out as political protests during the 2011 Arab uprisings segued into a brutal crackdown by government forces, and then today's bloody civil war that opposition groups say has claimed between 30,000 and 40,000 lives.

"At the start, I never imagined it would last this long," another rebel fighter, Abdulllah Qadi, told the AP. "We have been at it for 20 months and we could be at it for 20 more. All we can do is keep fighting."

Today?s car bombs all detonated?within a span of five minutes in an area of the city that?s home to Christians and Druze, groups largely seen as supporters of President Bashar al-Assad?s regime, according to a separate AP report. Though no one immediately claimed responsibility for the blasts, state media said the attacks were the work of ?terrorists,? a term frequently used to describe rebel fighters. Some speculate that the ?government is behind the blasts as a way of spreading fear among Syria's minorities,? reports the Guardian.

Recent reports show rebel groups gaining ground against Assad?s regime in parts of the country, with a diplomat in Damascus telling Reuters that "there is a sense that the flames are licking at the door.?

The steady capture of military installations and arsenals is sapping the morale of Assad's forces and also ensuring a modest supply of new weapons to relatively ill-equipped rebels whose calls for a no-fly zone ? which proved crucial in the Libyan uprising ? have been ignored.

Although they have yet to seize control of a single city, or translate their dominance in swathes of rural Syria into "liberated" territory free of air and artillery strikes, rebels say that their increasing prowess on the battlefield and growing armories have finally allowed them to take the initiative.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/kgt9Fy0NooY/Syria-s-stalemated-conflict-picks-up-speed-again

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Fanta Z Online Gaming Mlm Review | Write The Game

Fanta Z Online Gaming Mlm Review
?

If online gaming is your thing, then this is what you have been waiting for. The greatest gaming destination where you can actually earn a living playing video games. Could it really be possible? Fanta Z is an MLM Compay whose product is an online video game platform. The new MLM is set to open for business sometime in September 2010. The corporation projects that subscriptions will grasp one million individuals in the first ninety days! The Fanta Z product is all digital so there are no material products for distributors to pay for or warehouse.

The facts are staggering, 85 million people play games online in the United States alone and 217 million people partake world wide. On average each of these folks call in on their favorite gaming site nine times a month. In addition to these staggering numbers, 27 million persons play Fantasy Sports. Globally, Fantasy Sports account for over 4 billion dollars spent yearly. Over 20 million gamers have spent 17 billion hours on X-Box Live. Games such as Fanta Z Football, Space Invaders, Bejewled, and tournament play games for funds and countless others are all offered by the company. Players can purchase points, fuel, coins, and additional objects to help advance in level. Fanta Z allows you to pick out between being one of three separate levels as a distributor, or simply joining, and playing for free with a chance to win cash and prizes.

The Fanta Z compensation plan is based on a uni-level structure and pays you on yourself in addition to seven added levels and enables you to sponsor one line of distributors, consequently everyone you sponsor is on your frontline. There are no width restrictions to this diagram and commissions are customarily paid out on a partial depth; hence, the collective goal of this plan is to recruit a considerable number of frontline distributors and then support them to do the same. Envision being able to earn money simply from people coming to YOUR website and having entertainment playing games. Visualize being able to host your very own online gaming tournaments. Visualize being able to attain cash for playing skill games. Also don?t forget persons who adore the Fantasy Sports.

All in all, it will be very exciting to watch this new Network Marketing Company explode before our very eyes. When you join this team and opportunity, what is your plan to market your new business? How are you going to propel endless traffic to your site to play games, and in the end foster that priceless downline. All in all, it does not matter what your product is or what Network Marketing Company you are among, if you do not know how to promote it, you will not move it. Most individuals jump on an Network Marketing Business with no vision or plan in place. You see, it?s not about marketing your product, it?s about marketing yourself as a leader. When you put yourself out there as a leader people will want to join you. They will want to be a fan of you. When they see you in that light,they will gravitate towards you. If you are ready for them, you will drive them right into your tested sales funnel and generate an infinite sum of leads while at the same time generating lasting income through affiliate programs.

Source: http://writethegame.com/fanta-z-online-gaming-mlm-review

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Ground-based laser zaps rockets in tests

6 hrs.

A portable, ground-based laser has successfully destroyed four rockets and zapped an unmanned aerial system in a series of tests designed to demonstrate the war-fighting technology, Lockheed Martin announced Tuesday.?

The security and aerospace company is building the Area Defense Anti-Munitions system to provide militaries with a defense against short-range threats. It could prove particularly useful as protection for forward operating bases.

ADAM?s tracking system can lock onto a target more than 3.1 miles distant and keep it in sight even in cluttered optical environments. Its 10 kilowatt laser can destroy targets up to 1.2 miles away.?

Earlier this summer, the company released a video showing the portable laser disable an Osprey UAV with an 11-foot wingspan at a range of 0.9 miles. The company today announced it has also ?destroyed four small-caliber rocket targets in simulated flight at a range of approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles).?

The development adds to a growing list of high-tech weaponry that?s changing the face of war.?

Some systems, such as the Iron Dome, are already in use by the Israel Defense Forces to ground incoming rockets fired on densely populated cities. Others, such as killer robots, could reshape the battlefield in the future, unless a campaign to stop them prevails.?

John Roach is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. To learn more about him, check out his website. For more of our Future of Technology series, watch the featured video below.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/ground-based-laser-zaps-rockets-tests-1C7284867

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Land Board watchdog: 'Our government is on its way to becoming ...

Former state legislator and Land Board at odds over what constitutes

Former state legislator and Land Board at odds over what constitutes "land" under the Idaho Constitution.

?Every business owner and would-be business owner in Idaho needs to be made aware,? says a former state legislator. ?Our government is on its way to becoming the largest real estate agent in the state.?

The warning comes from Bob Forrey, a former member of the Idaho House of Representatives in the mid-1980s. Forrey has assumed a ?watchdog? role in recent years with respect to the Idaho Department of Lands (IDOL), and he?s especially concerned now.

?The Land Board has a plan in place,? Forrey recently told IdahoReporter.com. ?They call it the Asset Management Plan, and it?s a plan for the board to buy up more commercial businesses.?

Indeed, the department does have such a plan, and it has been in place since December of 2011 (it can be viewed here).? However, Emily Callihan, spokesperson for IDOL, rejects the ?plan to buy up commercial businesses? description.

?A better characterization would be to say that by approving the Asset Management Plan, the Land Board provided direction regarding the need to diversify the land assets,? Callihan told IdahoReporter.com.

According to her, this quest for a more diverse portfolio includes? the pursuit of ?more leasing activities such as office-retail, commercial energy resources, commercial recreation, communication sites, industrial facilities, and many other types of leasing scenarios that fit under the ?commercial real estate? asset classification.?

But even before devising its Asset Management Plan, the Idaho Land Board has been criticized for investing in commercial property and thereby competing directly with private for-profit enterprise. Members of the board argue that the Idaho Constitution requires that public lands must be managed ?in such manner as will secure the maximum long term financial return to the institution to which granted,? and this is said to imply a ?fiduciary responsibility? for the board members.

But Forrey believes that the language in the Idaho Constitution regarding the management of public lands is being interpreted inappropriately. ?It says ?land.? The constitutional language makes no reference to the government acquiring buildings or private businesses. It only makes reference to land, and even at that, the language references land that was acquired from the federal government at the time of statehood, and land that might be acquired from the federal government in the future.?

For this reason, Forrey is proposing that businesses that have been purchased by the Idaho Land Board be sold.

The former state representative is not alone in his concerns. When the Land Board acquired a commercial building in downtown Boise earlier this year and then leased the building to 10 Barrel Brewing Company, an Oregon company, Rep. Erik Simpson, R-Idaho Falls, told IdahoReporter.com that ?we need to be very careful with what we deem to be within the so-called ?fiduciary responsibilities? of the state. There are good intentions involved with their (the Land Board?s) current approach, but if we?re not careful we can end up doing what President Obama has done with General Motors.?

State Rep. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, expressed similar concerns regarding the Land Board?s acquisition in 2010 of the Affordable Storage business in Boise. ?The Land Board seems to have adopted a policy of injecting itself into the private sector,? Burgoyne told IdahoReporter.com in October of this year. ?They have now come down to the point of trying to dictate to those in charge of the operations of the Affordable Storage business, even to the point of dictating who is and who is not employed there.?

But Forrey is also championing legislation that would require the Land Board to open up competitive auctions for state-owned land that is to be leased. He believes his approach is consistent with a recent decision at the Idaho Supreme Court, when in June of this year the court struck down a law that shielded state-owned cabins from competitive bidding.

?There is no limit to what this current Land Board will try to acquire and own, and they need to be reined-in,? Forrey says. ?I once asked Secretary of State Ben Ysursa (a member of the Land Board) if he thought it would be appropriate for the Land Board to buy Albertsons. He told me ?yes, if we had the money, I?d want the board to buy Albertsons.?? This is very destructive to our economy, and our private sector, and it needs to be stopped.?

When asked by IdahoReporter.com if there are any limits on the types of businesses that the Land Board would try to acquire, IDOL spokesperson Callihan replied that ?the department is not in a position to state what types of commercial properties this board or a future Land Board would not consider acquiring.?

Source: http://www.idahoreporter.com/2012/land-board-watchdog-our-government-is-on-its-way-to-becoming-idahos-largest-real-estate-agent/

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Costco pays special 'fiscal cliff' dividend to investors

Costco is paying shareholders a special dividend of $7 per share, in addition to the regular quarterly payout the wholesaler gives investors. Costco is one of many companies making special payouts because investors may have to pay higher taxes starting in January.?

By The Associated Press / November 28, 2012

In this May 2012 file photo, David Lee shops at a Costco Wholesale store, in Portland, Ore. Costco is adding a special dividend to its quarterly payout to investors in anticipation of investor tax rates possibly rising in January.

Rick Bowmer/AP/File

Enlarge

Costco?plans a special dividend of $7 per share next month in addition to the regular quarterly dividend the wholesale club operator pays shareholders.

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The Issaquah, Wash., company said Wednesday that the special dividend will be payable Dec. 18 to shareholders of record Dec. 10.?Costco?Wholesale Corp.'s regular quarterly dividend of 27.5 cents per share will be paid Nov. 30 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 16.

Costco?also said Wednesday that its November revenue climbed nearly 9 percent to $8.15 billion. Revenue from stores open at least a year climbed 6 percent. The increase was 5 percent excluding gains from gasoline price inflation and stronger foreign currencies.

Revenue from stores open at least a year is a key gauge of a retailer's health because it excludes results from stores recently opened or closed.

Costco's?shares rose 4.7 percent, or $4.49, to $101 in premarket trading.

Many companies are making special end-of-year dividend payments or moving up their quarterly payouts because investors may have to pay higher taxes on dividend income starting in January.

Investors have paid a maximum 15 percent on dividends since 2003. But that historically low rate will expire in January unless Congress and President Barack Obama reach a compromise on taxes and government spending.

As it stands, dividends will be taxed as ordinary income in 2013, the same as wages, so rates will go up depending on which income bracket a taxpayer is in. For the highest earners, the dividend rate would jump to 43.4 percent.

Even if a compromise is reached, there's no guarantee that the tax rate for dividends will remain at its current level.

Costco?runs 618 warehouses in several countries, including 447 in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/nTEA2hWNN8I/Costco-pays-special-fiscal-cliff-dividend-to-investors

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Humans head for moon's orbit ? and beyond

"I JUST have to say pretty bluntly here: we've been there before." So said President Obama in 2010 as he ruled out a return to the moon. But there are signs on the NASA grapevine and from the world of commercial space flight that humans are once more headed that way.

A NASA crewed mission to lunar orbit could focus on exploring the moon's dark side and testing technologies to speed up exploration of Mars and other planets. Unfettered by the demands of state funding, a private mission may attempt something even more novel.

Since Obama's speech, there have been hints that NASA might be changing its tune. Rumour has it that the agency plans to build a hovering moon base about 60,000 kilometres above the moon's far side at a Lagrange point, where the pull of Earth's gravity cancels out the moon's. From this point ? called L2 ? astronauts would steer rovers round the surface in close to real time, much cheaper than actually landing on the moon.

NASA hasn't commented on the rumour, but the European Space Agency says it is collaborating with NASA on two lunar missions, one crewed and scheduled for 2019 (see "Europe has right stuff to take NASA back to moon").

Unexplored world

What's more, Jack Burns of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and colleagues, two of whom work for NASA, have written a paper, to appear in Advances in Space Research, that suggests what a mission to the far side might achieve (arxiv.org/abs/1211.3462).

An unexplored wilderness, the far side hosts one of the solar system's oldest and largest impact basins, the 8 kilometre deep South Pole-Aitkin basin, flagged as a research priority by the US National Research Council in 2011. It could help fill in a timeline for early solar system evolution and discover if impactors brought organics to the infant Earth. "The far side is effectively a whole new unexplored world in our own backyard," says Burns.

It may also be the only place near to Earth where it is possible to observe when and how the first stars and galaxies formed from the neutral hydrogen atoms that filled space in these cosmic "dark ages". The light from those ancient hydrogen atoms is still reaching Earth now, but gets drowned out by the ionosphere and signals from human technology.

Brains in orbit

Why control robots from L2, not Earth? It's a dry run for Mars, Burns says. The ability to hover above the Red Planet and operate robots on its surface would be a huge advantage. Currently, there is a 20-minute time lag each way when Earth talks to the Mars rover Curiosity, so each night the team sends up all the instructions for the next day. That makes things slow ? if something goes wrong you won't even know about it until the next day, let alone be able to fix it. Burns believes that space exploration in future will involve wheels, not (moon) boots, on the ground, and human brains in orbit.

Mars isn't the limit, adds Dan Lester of the University of Texas at Austin: "We could send human beings into orbit around Titan. They could do virtual scuba diving in the methane lakes." Burns's team is presenting the idea to NASA this week.

But wouldn't it be disappointing to merely orbit the moon or Mars, without planting any flags? Enter private companies. In recent weeks, space-minded media have been abuzz with a rumour that a new private outfit, allegedly staffed by former NASA astronauts and engineers, would soon announce its intention to put humans on the moon.

Even if it doesn't pan out, commercial outfits may be the ones to raise the funds for a crewed mission. Options include mining, tourism or even carrying out the stunt for the sake of publicity. A commercial mission may yet boldly go where governments fear to tread.

Reference: arxiv.org/abs/1211.3462

Read more: "Europe has right stuff to take NASA back to moon"

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Senate Dems divided over cuts to benefit programs

In this Nov. 27, 2012, photo, White House press secretary Jay Carney speaks during his daily news briefing at the White House in Washington. Senate Democrats are deeply divided over whether cuts to popular benefit programs like Medicare and Medicaid should be part of a plan to address the nation?s financial problems, raising a big obstacle to an agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff, even if Republicans agree to raise taxes. Much of the focus during budget negotiations has centered on whether congressional Republicans would agree to raise taxes in exchange for spending cuts. "It is the president's position that when we're talking about a broad, balanced approach to dealing with our fiscal challenges, that that includes dealing with entitlements," Carney said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

In this Nov. 27, 2012, photo, White House press secretary Jay Carney speaks during his daily news briefing at the White House in Washington. Senate Democrats are deeply divided over whether cuts to popular benefit programs like Medicare and Medicaid should be part of a plan to address the nation?s financial problems, raising a big obstacle to an agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff, even if Republicans agree to raise taxes. Much of the focus during budget negotiations has centered on whether congressional Republicans would agree to raise taxes in exchange for spending cuts. "It is the president's position that when we're talking about a broad, balanced approach to dealing with our fiscal challenges, that that includes dealing with entitlements," Carney said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

(AP) ? Deep divisions among Senate Democrats over whether cuts to popular benefit programs like Medicare and Medicaid should be part of a plan to slow the government's mushrooming debt pose a big obstacle to a deal for avoiding a potentially economy-crushing "fiscal cliff," even if Republicans agree to raise taxes.

Much of the focus during negotiations seeking an alternative to $671 billion in automatic tax increases and spending cuts beginning in January has centered on whether Republicans would agree to raising taxes on the wealthy. President Barack Obama has insisted repeatedly that tax increases on the wealthy must be part of any deal, even as White House officials concede that government benefit programs will have to be in the package too.

"It is the president's position that when we're talking about a broad, balanced approach to dealing with our fiscal challenges, that that includes dealing with entitlements," White House press secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday, referring to the mammoth Social Security and Medicare programs.

But even if GOP lawmakers agree to raise taxes, there is no guarantee Democrats can come up with enough votes in the Senate to cut benefit programs ? as Republicans are demanding.

"I hope not if it means Social Security or Medicare benefit cuts," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

There's a growing consensus among Senate Democrats and the White House that Social Security should be exempt from any deficit-reduction package. But some centrist Democrats in the Senate argue that fellow Democrats must be willing to consider cuts to Medicare and Medicaid in order to get concessions from Republicans on taxes.

"It has to be both ? a significant revenue increase as well as spending cuts," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., who is retiring as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said rising health care costs in Medicare and Medicaid are helping to drive future spending, making them an essential part of a long-term deficit-reduction package.

"I've been part of every bipartisan group here. We've always put everything on the table," Conrad said. "If you're going to solve this problem, you're going to have to deal with where the spending is and the revenue can be raised."

But senators like Baucus and Conrad increasingly are being drowned out by other Democrats emboldened by the recent election results to fight against benefit cuts.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said he is willing to find savings in Medicare and Medicaid by making them more efficient. But, he said, he won't support benefit cuts.

"I think the election spoke very strongly about the fact that the vast majority of American people don't want to cut these programs," Harkin said.

Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate leadership ranks, said he doesn't think there should be a rush to overhaul entitlement programs in connection with the move to avert the fiscal cliff in the remaining weeks of the current session.

The Illinois Democrat said in a CNN interview Wednesday that "what we need to put on the table short-term is mandatory deficit reduction." Durbin said entitlement reforms to programs like Medicare and Medicaid should be "part of the long-term strategy" of reining in federal deficits.

Durbin repeated his position that Social Security should not be a part of the discussions. And he said that "we want to make sure that Medicare at the end of the day is a program that is solvent and we can count on it for years to come."

Congress and the White House are devoting the next three weeks to finding at least a bridge over the fiscal cliff by reducing the sudden jolt of higher taxes and spending cuts in January while laying a framework for addressing the nation's long-term financial problems next year.

Obama wants to let tax rates rise for wealthy families while sparing middle- and low-income taxpayers. Some Republican leaders, including House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, have said they were willing to consider making the wealthy pay more by reducing their tax breaks. But most Republicans in Congress adamantly oppose raising anyone's tax rates.

Negotiations are going slowly as each side waits for the other to make concessions.

Democrats already have tried to take Social Security off the table. Carney, the White House spokesman, said Monday that changes to the massive retirement and disability program should be done separately from any plan to reduce the deficit. That's the same position taken by 28 Democratic senators and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in a letter to fellow senators in September.

"We will oppose including Social Security cuts for future or current beneficiaries in any deficit-reduction package," said the letter, which was signed by many top Democrats, including Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. In the House, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has taken the same position, not only on Social Security, but also on Medicare and Medicaid.

"There hasn't been the slightest suggestion about what they're going to do about the real problems, and that's entitlements," said Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee. "There's a certain cockiness that I've seen that is really astounding to me since we're basically in the same position we were before" the election.

Durbin has tried to find common ground, saying he would be willing to require wealthy seniors to pay more for Medicare benefits.

"If we simply stand by and say 'don't touch Medicare in any way, for any reason, ever' we are inviting a crisis that opponents can exploit to eviscerate Medicare or even to end it," Durbin said Tuesday. "Progressives should be willing to talk about ways to ensure the long-term viability of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, but those conversations should not be part of a plan to avert the fiscal cliff."

___

Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stephenatap

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-11-28-Fiscal%20Cliff-Entitlements/id-bad9780410a24e13a81413d6874ba343

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Senate Dems divided over cuts to benefit programs

In this Nov. 27, 2012, photo, White House press secretary Jay Carney speaks during his daily news briefing at the White House in Washington. Senate Democrats are deeply divided over whether cuts to popular benefit programs like Medicare and Medicaid should be part of a plan to address the nation?s financial problems, raising a big obstacle to an agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff, even if Republicans agree to raise taxes. Much of the focus during budget negotiations has centered on whether congressional Republicans would agree to raise taxes in exchange for spending cuts. "It is the president's position that when we're talking about a broad, balanced approach to dealing with our fiscal challenges, that that includes dealing with entitlements," Carney said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

In this Nov. 27, 2012, photo, White House press secretary Jay Carney speaks during his daily news briefing at the White House in Washington. Senate Democrats are deeply divided over whether cuts to popular benefit programs like Medicare and Medicaid should be part of a plan to address the nation?s financial problems, raising a big obstacle to an agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff, even if Republicans agree to raise taxes. Much of the focus during budget negotiations has centered on whether congressional Republicans would agree to raise taxes in exchange for spending cuts. "It is the president's position that when we're talking about a broad, balanced approach to dealing with our fiscal challenges, that that includes dealing with entitlements," Carney said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

(AP) ? Deep divisions among Senate Democrats over whether cuts to popular benefit programs like Medicare and Medicaid should be part of a plan to slow the government's mushrooming debt pose a big obstacle to a deal for avoiding a potentially economy-crushing "fiscal cliff," even if Republicans agree to raise taxes.

Much of the focus during negotiations seeking an alternative to $671 billion in automatic tax increases and spending cuts beginning in January has centered on whether Republicans would agree to raising taxes on the wealthy. President Barack Obama has insisted repeatedly that tax increases on the wealthy must be part of any deal, even as White House officials concede that government benefit programs will have to be in the package too.

"It is the president's position that when we're talking about a broad, balanced approach to dealing with our fiscal challenges, that that includes dealing with entitlements," White House press secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday.

But even if GOP lawmakers agree to raise taxes, there is no guarantee Democrats can come up with enough votes in the Senate to cut benefit programs ? as Republicans are demanding.

"I hope not if it means Social Security or Medicare benefit cuts," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

There's a growing consensus among Senate Democrats and the White House that Social Security should be exempt from any deficit-reduction package. But some centrist Democrats in the Senate argue that fellow Democrats must be willing to consider cuts to Medicare and Medicaid in order to get concessions from Republicans on taxes.

"It has to be both ? a significant revenue increase as well as spending cuts," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., who is retiring as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said rising health care costs in Medicare and Medicaid are helping to drive future spending, making them an essential part of a long-term deficit-reduction package.

"I've been part of every bipartisan group here. We've always put everything on the table," Conrad said. "If you're going to solve this problem, you're going to have to deal with where the spending is and the revenue can be raised."

But senators like Baucus and Conrad increasingly are being drowned out by other Democrats emboldened by the recent election results to fight against benefit cuts.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said he is willing to find savings in Medicare and Medicaid by making them more efficient. But, he said, he won't support benefit cuts.

"I think the election spoke very strongly about the fact that the vast majority of American people don't want to cut these programs," Harkin said.

Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate leadership ranks, said he doesn't think there should be a rush to overhaul entitlement programs in connection with the move to avert the fiscal cliff in the remaining weeks of the current session.

The Illinois Democrat said in a CNN interview Wednesday that "what we need to put on the table short-term is mandatory deficit reduction." Durbin said entitlement reforms to programs like Medicare and Medicaid should be "part of the long-term strategy" of reining in federal deficits.

Durbin repeated his position that Social Security should not be a part of the discussions. And he said that "we want to make sure that Medicare at the end of the day is a program that is solvent and we can count on it for years to come."

Congress and the White House are devoting the next three weeks to finding at least a bridge over the fiscal cliff by reducing the sudden jolt of higher taxes and spending cuts in January while laying a framework for addressing the nation's long-term financial problems next year.

Obama wants to let tax rates rise for wealthy families while sparing middle- and low-income taxpayers. Some Republican leaders, including House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, have said they were willing to consider making the wealthy pay more by reducing their tax breaks. But most Republicans in Congress adamantly oppose raising anyone's tax rates.

Negotiations are going slowly as each side waits for the other to make concessions.

Democrats already have tried to take Social Security off the table. Carney, the White House spokesman, said Monday that changes to the massive retirement and disability program should be done separately from any plan to reduce the deficit. That's the same position taken by 28 Democratic senators and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in a letter to fellow senators in September.

"We will oppose including Social Security cuts for future or current beneficiaries in any deficit-reduction package," said the letter, which was signed by many top Democrats, including Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. In the House, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has taken the same position, not only on Social Security, but also on Medicare and Medicaid.

"There hasn't been the slightest suggestion about what they're going to do about the real problems, and that's entitlements," said Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee. "There's a certain cockiness that I've seen that is really astounding to me since we're basically in the same position we were before" the election.

Durbin has tried to find common ground, saying he would be willing to require wealthy seniors to pay more for Medicare benefits.

"If we simply stand by and say 'don't touch Medicare in any way, for any reason, ever' we are inviting a crisis that opponents can exploit to eviscerate Medicare or even to end it," Durbin said Tuesday. "Progressives should be willing to talk about ways to ensure the long-term viability of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, but those conversations should not be part of a plan to avert the fiscal cliff."

___

Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stephenatap

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-11-28-US-Fiscal-Cliff-Entitlements/id-f81f2d15576148f5898ca3106879b824

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Tips On Fixing Your Finances After Bankruptcy | Siben & Siben Long ...

TIP! If student loans comprise a major portion of your debt, filing for bankruptcy may prove difficult. While each state has its own regulations, it is extremely difficult to have student loan debt discharged.

You might fear the IRS because they could seize assets, such as your car. Stop the calls from your creditors, and look over your finances. You may discover that you need to file for bankruptcy. Keep reading for useful tips to help you through the process.

TIP! Never take big cash advances from the credit cards that you own prior to filing for bankruptcy, even though you know that the debt will be erased. This is fraud, and you will be required to pay that money back.

Before you commit to a bankruptcy filing, make sure that your most troublesome debts can actually be discharged through bankruptcy. Some debt, such as student loans, will remain on your credit history regardless of if you file. These types of debts need to be taken care of through alternate means, such as credit counseling or debt consolidation.

TIP! If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, do not assume that your debts will just be dismissed. Secured debt will have to be reaffirmed, meaning you must come up with a brand new agreement which shows a new payment plan, while other debts you cannot discharge.

You do not have to lose everything you own when filing for bankruptcy. Most of the time, you retain your personal possessions. Things like jewelry, clothes, and electronics are included in this category. This depends on the laws in your state, the bankruptcy type for which you file, and your unique finance situation, but it may be possible to retain your home, car and other large assets.

TIP! If a personal recommendation comes your way, this should be a lawyer you focus on. There are many companies who take advantage of financial desperation; that is why it is important that you get someone that is trustworthy.

It is wise to meet with several lawyers before making a final decision, take advantage of the free consultations to find one that is a good fit for you. Talk to the lawyer and not his assistant, who may not be legally able to help you. Take some time to talk to different lawyers to find one that fits your needs, and meshes well with you.

TIP! If you intending to file bankruptcy, do not transfer any of your assets over to someone else within 12 months of filing. This is an obvious ploy to hide your assets.

Seek a less serious option prior to filing for bankruptcy. For example, you want to look into credit counseling. This is the best option for small debts. Sometimes you can negotiate a reduced payment, though you must strive to get it all in writing.

TIP! Learn about the various bankruptcy laws before you consult an attorney. In order to protect your financial future, you are advised to talk with your attorney and learn as much as you can about the bankruptcy process.

Do not continue to use your credit cards if you know that you will be filing for bankruptcy. You might be tempted to max out your credit cards, but remember that the court will not approve of this. Practice sound financial management to the greatest degree that you can. Now is the best time to begin displaying smart financial behavior.

TIP! Check the accuracy of all information before it is filed. Inaccurate or incomplete information can lead to your petition being denied.

Adopt a positive attitude toward filing for bankruptcy and researching the topic. Although it may be very difficult to admit that bankruptcy is the answer for you, it will be much harder to continue spiraling into a debt quagmire. The time to seek out professional advice on bankruptcy is as early as possible. Your financial situation will get complex very quickly, so wise counsel is more valuable the earlier you get it.

TIP! Keep with what you have decided to do. When you file for personal bankruptcy, you may even be able to retrieve personal property that has been repossessed.

There are two different kinds of personal bankruptcy you can file for: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. There is a wealth of information online about each type of bankruptcy and their respective pluses and minuses. If you don?t understand the information you researched, consult with your attorney about the details before you decide which type of bankruptcy you want to file.

TIP! If you are moving forward with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you need to learn how that can negatively affect anyone who shares loans with you. Debts that involved a co-signer can be discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Be sure you know the bankruptcy laws before you think about filing. For instance, somebody cannot transfer assets from a filer?s name up to a year after they file. Also, it is against the law for a person to acquire more debt on their credit card prior to filing.

TIP! If you get a second job, there is no reason to put off your bankruptcy. Bankruptcy may still be what is best for you.

Although personal bankruptcy is always an option, do not pursue this before looking into other avenues. Keep in mind that services that promise debt consolidation are usually scams that make your financial problems worse. Keep the advice you read in mind so that you?re able to make smart choices and stay out of debt in the future

Source: http://www.sibensiben.com/long-island-injury-lawyer-blog/uncategorized/tips-on-fixing-your-finances-after-bankruptcy-4-2-2-2

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YouTube Japan adds new 'original content' channels: Trains, horror and drawing on faces

YouTube Japan rolls in new 'original content' Trains, horror and drawing on faces

We've seen our fair share of out-there Japan TV programming -- and that looks likely to increase. YouTube has struck a deal with 13 companies that will add original shows and videos to the constantly-growing Japanese library, new videos promised daily. There's a pretty broad array of partners, with a slight focus on comedy and pop-culture, which should mean a shorter language hurdle for us occasional global viewers. Into high-speed trains? There's a whole channel dedicated to the Land of the Rising Sun's unsung tech export. We've got Catherine The Thirteenth (computer-generated chat show host, obviously) discussing the convenience of iPads after the break, but if we had a say in future channels, it'd throw in more mechanized beetle tanks and robot hotplate chefs.

Continue reading YouTube Japan adds new 'original content' channels: Trains, horror and drawing on faces

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Source: YouTube Japan Blog (translated)


Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/qCib2VRCI1E/

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Knockoff Sellers Knocked Offline on Cyber Monday

On Cyber Money -- the Super Bowl, if you will, of online shopping -- U.S. authorities seized some 130 domain names in several countries to prevent them from selling counterfeit merchandise. This is the third straight year authorities have launched a Cyber Monday counterfeit crackdown.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/26048a29/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C767120Bhtml/story01.htm

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

What Can Climate Talks in Doha Accomplish?

The international community's attempts to address global warming, and its potentially devastating consequences, resume in earnest today (Nov. 26), as delegates gather in Doha, Qatar.

This is the latest round in two decades of U.N. climate talks that have sought to stem rising greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which climate scientists warn will lead to devastating sea-level rise, changes in weather and other natural systems.

In 2009, at talks in Copenhagen, negotiators established a goal: Cut emissions enough to cap warming at 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above the pre-industrial average, and so avert the worst repercussions.

Over the next two weeks, negotiators will, once again, take a crack at closing the gap between this target and current emissions trajectories, which some worry have placed the planet on a track for considerably more warming and more devastating effects. [How 2 Degrees Will Change Earth]

Here are some of the main points negotiators are expected to tackle in Doha:

Cutting emissions before 2020 & beyond

In Copenhagen, three years ago, some nations made pledges to cut emissions by 2020. The United States, for instance, said it would cut its emissions to 17 percent below the level in 2005. However, as three successive U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) reports have pointed out, even if nations meet these pledges, global emissions are on track to surpass the target in 2020.

There are several potential ways to raise the level of ambition toward meeting this short-term goal, said Niklas H?hne, director of energy and climate policy at the independent research and consulting company Ecofys and a UNEP report author.

These include agreements by pledged countries to deepen their reductions; reductions from areas outside the realm of current national pledges, such as international transport; and pledges from new countries, including those in Middle East, H?hne said.

(Qatar, which is hosting this year's talks, emits the most carbon dioxide per capita in the world, according to World Bank figures. It did not make a pledge.)

Separately from these pledges, the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty that required developed nations to cut emissions, may get new life in the short term. A small group of nations, including the European Union and Australia, may sign on to a second commitment period under the treaty.

The Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period expires this year. While the United States never signed on, other nations, including Canada, Japan and Russia, pulled out of the treaty.

And finally, there is a long-term agreement on the horizon. At Durban, a year ago, negotiators looked further into the future, laying the groundwork for a new agreement to be set up by 2015 and implemented in 2020. Many important details of this agreement remain to be resolved.

What needs to be done?

The nongovernmental group Climate Interactive has performed model simulations of the global energy system to look at possible pathways toward the warming cap. Their work has shown all successful pathways tend to include three components: more energy efficiency, more use of renewable energyand some kind of cost attached to carbon-dioxide emissions, Beth Sawin, the group?s co-director told LiveScience. [Top 10 Craziest Environmental Ideas]

Limiting carbon-dioxide emissions from deforestation and successfully limiting other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, are also important, Sawin said.

"Without those elements, our model has difficulty producing pathways to 2 degrees [the cap on warming]," she said, adding, however, "if we are smart and start soon, the 2-degree goal seems to be within reach."

Part of the solution may come from outside the U.N. negotiation process, H?hne said.

He and colleagues, writing in the journal Nature Climate Changein an article published online in June, list 21 greenhouse-gas reducing initiatives for companies, cities and other entities, that cumulatively could put the 2-degree warming cap within reach.

These include emissions cuts by companies spearheaded by an association such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development; and a coalition-led effort to reduce major cities' emissions.

"It has to be a combination of both," H?hne said of the top-down U.N. negotiation process and the sort of bottom-up efforts described in the paper. "Each one individually will not work."

The climate talks are scheduled to end Friday, Dec. 7.

Follow LiveScience on Twitter @livescience. We're also on Facebook?& Google+.

Copyright 2012 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/climate-talks-doha-accomplish-131552213.html

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Sandia Lab Celebrates Inventor of the Modern Clean Room

Cleanrooms are pretty much dead technology. I work in one of the few large-scale 'real' cleanrooms left (100k+ square feet at class

200mm wafers were small enough for people to carry around and material handling robots were less advanced, so it made sense to make the entire fab into laminar-flow cleanroom and have people carry wafers around exposed to the air. This is obviously absurdly expensive, given the square footage of HEPA filters and sheer air-moving horsepower needed.

Now, a full lot of 300mm wafers is too heavy for a person to carry around all day, cleanliness standards are higher, and material handling robots are cheap enough to replace humans. The new fabs store all wafers in sealed plastic FOUPs which are robotically delivered to each process tool. Only the inside of the positively-pressurized process tools has to be truly clean. The big squirrel-cage VLF fans have been replaced by an array of axial fans covering the roof that can be individually tweaked and adjusted to optimize airflow and power.

Companies still pretend it's a cleanroom and force people to wear smocks out of habit, but most of them are only held to class 10,000 or so, which is cleaner than your living room but not clean enough to make wafers in, without the FOUPs.

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/-Ce8sPDte6c/story01.htm

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Monday, November 26, 2012

Cops shoot dead 7 robbers in South Africa

By Reuters

JOHANNESBURG - An elite South African police unit shot dead seven men who tried to rob a cash depot in western Johannesburg on Saturday evening, a spokesman for the unit said.

Nine others were injured and under police guard in hospital, a spokesman of the unit known as Hawks told Reuters.

Police also confiscated 11 vehicles and four firearms.

"We believe we got the kingpin down. We are convinced that we got all the robbers - dead or arrested," Paul Ramaloko said.

The depot belonged to Protea Coin, a security company which runs a cash-in-transit business.

Crime is a chronic problem for South Africa. It has one of the highest murder rates in the world outside a war zone.

About 40 percent of the adult population is jobless - a percentage expected to rise substantially in the coming years - and this is seen driving crime and widening economic inequality.

Officials in South Africa confirmed today that 34 people were killed and 78 injured when police opened fire on striking uranium miners and supporters they allege charged at them. TODAY's Natalie Morales reports.

More world stories from NBC News:

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Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/25/15423761-cops-shoot-dead-7-robbers-in-south-africa?lite

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A Dress For The Holidays! - The Gerber Babies Blog Product ...

The holidays are upon us and many are already planning menus and ordering gifts. I've been busy?but luckily,?I've already finished my shopping. Now, I'm cleaning house, planning holiday activities and getting ready to spend the day with my family?to go and pick out a Christmas tree. We?make a plan to get one every?December 1! I'm also busy?trying to keep the kids from discovering their unwrapped presents. That's harder than it sounds!?While I don't have my hands completely full because I'm not hosting a large party this year, I am entertaining a few nights before Christmas. I like things to be perfect and I work hard to make sure my parties are memorable.?A few years ago, ?I would get so wrapped up in all the little details, I'd forget to find a new dress or outfit to dazzle my guests. When that happens, I usually just pull something from my closet. The next time?I host a holiday bash, I am going to WOW everyone with my party and my?party?dress! While there are some fashions?I really wish I could wear, I'll stick with classic and slightly conservative choices. But just wait. One day I'm going to buy a dress that wows, even if I don't have anywhere to wear it!
I've been tempted to get something extraordinary to wear. Maybe next year, I'll have the chance to host?the first of many, lavish parties and wear an elegant and memorable?dress. I think?I can pull it off. I'll invite my favorite people and we can sip champagne and spread a little holiday cheer. Wouldn't that be fun! This year, I'm keeping it simple. A dinner party with friends and family. We'll drink eggnog and listen to Christmas music by the fire, and maybe roast a few chestnuts. Next year, I'm going all out, and my dress will be the first item I check off my list of things to buy!

Source: http://2gerberbabies.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-dress-for-holidays.html

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2014 World Cup mascot named Fuleco

Associated Press Sports

updated 10:01 p.m. ET Nov. 25, 2012

SAO PAULO (AP) -Brazilians have voted to name the 2014 World Cup mascot Fuleco.

FIFA says more than 1.7 million people in Brazil took part in the vote to select the name for the three-banded armadillo. The other options were Zuzeco and Amijubi.

Fuleco comes from the Portuguese words "futebol" (football) and "ecologia" (ecology), and FIFA says it "seamlessly represents the way in which the FIFA World Cup can combine the two to encourage people to behave in an environmentally friendly way."

Football's governing body said Sunday that Fuleco received 48 percent of the vote, while 31 percent went for Zuzeco and 21 percent for Amijubi.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Chelsea is held 0-0 by Man City

??Rafa Benitez endured a hostile reception and gave the restless Chelsea fans nothing to cheer about as his first match in charge ended in a drab 0-0 draw with Manchester City on Sunday.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/49960280/ns/sports-soccer/

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More than 100 killed in Bangladesh factory fire

Hasan Raza / AP

Bangladeshi firefighters battle a fire at a garment factory in the Savar neighborhood in Dhaka, Bangladesh, late Saturday.

By NBC News wire services

Updated at 5:20 a.m. ET: DHAKA, Bangladesh -- More than 100 people were killed as a fire swept through a garment factory on the outskirts of Bangladesh's capital, the chief of the fire brigade said Sunday.

The fire at the nine-story factory in the Ashulia industrial belt started on the ground floor late Saturday and quickly spread, trapping hundreds of workers.

"So far, the confirmed death toll is 109, including nine who died by jumping from the building," Mizanur Rahman, deputy director of the fire brigade, told Reuters.?

However, other sources earlier said the toll could be much higher.?Abu Nayeem Mohammad Shahidullah, director general of the fire brigade, told Reuters 120 bodies had been recovered. It was not clear if his count had been revised.


Fire department Operations Director Maj. Mohammad Mahbub told The Associated Press that?the nine-story factory was operated by Tazreen Fashions.

Witnesses said the workers, mostly women, ran for safety as the fire engulfed the plant, but were unable to come out through narrow exits.

"Many jumped out from the windows and were injured, or died on the spot," said Milon, a resident.?"We are appalled to see the charred bodies coming out of the factory since last night. It was an endless stream."

Mahbub said army soldiers and border guards had been deployed to help police keep the situation under control as thousands of anxious relatives of the factory workers gathered at the scene.?

Bangladesh has around 4,500 garment factories that make clothes for such ?brands as Tesco, Wal-Mart, JC Penney, H&M, Marks & Spencer, Kohl's and Carrefour.

Bangladesh is the world's biggest exporter of clothing after China, with garments making up 80 percent of its $24 billion annual exports.?

But safety standards at the factories are poor and not enforced strictly, causing scores of accidents each year.?

Saturday's fire was the worst in years, and rescuers and police said the death count may surpass any previous toll.?

This article includes reporting by Reuters and The Associated Press.

More world stories from NBC News:

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Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/24/15420144-fire-sweeps-clothing-factory-in-bangladesh-over-100-killed?lite

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