Friday, May 24, 2013

Founder of Virgin, Richard Branson, on stage at C2MTL. Energy is over the top! F...

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=597361780282907&set=a.146113705407719.24009.135574043128352&type=1

coolio ricky rubio day light savings time peter paul and mary edgar rice burroughs dallas clark litter

BBC's experimental Perceptive Radio intelligently adjusts what's playing

DNP BBC shows off the Perceptive Radio,

At today's Thinking Digital conference, the BBC exhibited the first gadget designed through its Perceptive Media Project: the Perceptive Radio, created by Ian Forrester of the corporation's Future Media division. When the BBC announced the project last summer, the response included some head scratching, mostly due to a lack of clarity about what perceptive media entails. The BBC's R&D department defines perceptive media as distinct from personalized or pervasive media in that it intelligently adapts to specific audiences and surroundings. The Perceptive Radio accomplishes this through the use of light, sound and proximity sensors that adjust what the radio plays according to environmental factors like time, location and the listener's distance from the device. At the moment, the list of tricks ready to demo on the Perceptive Radio is short, but the BBC plans to open-source the design soon, allowing tinkerers to fiddle with it to their hearts' content.

Filed under: ,

Comments

Via: The Next Web

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/JpQsQKqZ1zI/

april fools day pranks ohio state vs kansas daniel von bargen 8 bit google maps kids choice awards 2012 micah true blood diamond

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Japan bond yields jump following Fed comments

TOKYO (AP) ? Yields on 10-year Japanese government bonds briefly topped 1 percent for the first time in a year on Thursday, unnerving some investors at a time when Japan's already overburdened government finances are vulnerable to rises in interest rates. Japanese shares fell sharply.

The spike in long-term debt comes despite the Bank of Japan's aggressive efforts to keep interest rates down. It followed overnight news that some officials of the U.S. Federal Reserve are willing to scale back the American central bank's stimulus effort as soon as June if the economy perks up.

The benchmark long-term bond yield later dropped back to about 0.9 percent, near its recent trading level.

Like the Fed, the BOJ is buying massive amounts of government bonds, seeking to keep interest rates low to encourage people and businesses to borrow and spend more ? the main tenet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's "Abenomics" economic strategy.

The aim is to break out of a deflationary rut of sagging prices that has slowed investment and is thought to be discouraging consumers from spending. By raising expectations that rising prices mean their savings will go further now than later, the government hopes to get Japanese to step up spending, especially for big ticket items like cars and houses.

So far, the effort to "reflate" the economy has pushed share prices sharply higher: the benchmark Nikkei stock index has surged past 15,000, its highest level in over five years, though mid-afternoon Thursday it was down more than 6 percent because of the spike in bond yields and weak Chinese manufacturing figures. Meanwhile, the value of Japan's currency has fallen by 25 percent against the U.S. dollar since late last year. The yen was trading at about 102.6 to the dollar on Thursday after briefly passing 103 to the dollar.

If the central bank succeeds in reviving inflation, it will eventually have to raise interest rates to keep price rises in check. But low long-term rates are a priority for Japan because its government debt amounts to over twice the size of the economy. Higher rates would vastly increase the government's repayment burden as it continually sells new bonds to finance its deficits.

"Japan really has a long-term debt problem," said Franklin Allen, a professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. "If the long-term JGB (Japanese government bond) goes to 2.5 percent to 3 percent, there will be a financial stability problem."

The central bank has been grappling with unexpected swings in the market for Japanese government bonds since its new governor Haruhiko Kuroda announced in early April a drastic shift in policy aimed at doubling the amount of cash circulating in Japan's economy. The goal of the policy is to attain a 2 percent inflation target within two years.

"We've never seen this volatility in percentage terms on a daily basis that we're seeing today in the Japanese market," said Ken Courtis, a former Goldman Sachs vice chairman and investment banker.

The volatility raises questions over how much influence the BOJ wields over the market, despite soaking up about 70 percent of all new bond issuance.

Paying interest on the government debt already takes a quarter of government spending, he said.

"What will Japan do, he said, "when interest rates go up and debt servicing starts to swallow the entire budget?"

The level of Japan's debt is higher, relative to its economy, than even some of the crisis-stricken European countries. But because it is mostly owned by domestic investors, especially huge banks and insurance companies, the country's credit rating has remained steady.

But many Japanese financial institutions, especially regional banks and credit cooperatives, would be unable to keep such large holdings of government bonds if the value of those bonds drops too far, Allen said.

Japan's economy expanded at a faster-than-expected annual pace of 3.5 percent in the last quarter, a development many supporters view as a vindication of Abe's approach. The Bank of Japan ended a two-day policy meeting on Tuesday with no change in policy, saying the economy was "picking up," despite the lack of any change in price trends so far.

Critics contend that keeping interest rates artificially low to encourage borrowing merely encourages companies to waste money and avoid improving their efficiency and competitiveness.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/japan-bond-yields-jump-following-fed-comments-063408659.html

live free or die hard carlos pena amanda bynes arrested f 18 jet crash in virginia beach john tortorella nicki minaj beez in the trap video

Heinrich Rohrer, Physicist Who Won Nobel, Dies at 79

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Dr. Rohrer helped invent the scanning tunneling microscope, which made it possible to see individual atoms and move them around.
    


Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/22/science/heinrich-rohrer-physicist-who-won-nobel-dies-at-79.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

St Patrick lisa vanderpump Dancing With the Stars 2013 NIT Bracket March Madness 2013 bracket March Madness 2013 selection sunday

Study links chemicals widely found in plastics and processed food to elevated blood pressure in children and teens

Study links chemicals widely found in plastics and processed food to elevated blood pressure in children and teens

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Plastic additives known as phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates) are odorless, colorless and just about everywhere: They turn up in flooring, plastic cups, beach balls, plastic wrap, intravenous tubing and?according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?the bodies of most Americans. Once perceived as harmless, phthalates have come under increasing scrutiny. A growing collection of evidence suggests dietary exposure to phthalates (which can leech from packaging and mix with food) may cause significant metabolic and hormonal abnormalities, especially during early development.

Now, new research published this Wednesday in the Journal of Pediatrics suggests that certain types of phthalates could pose another risk to children: compromised heart health. Drawing on data from a nationally representative survey of nearly 3,000 children and teens, researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Washington and Penn State University School of Medicine, have documented for the first time a connection between dietary exposure to DEHP (di-2-ethyhexylphthalate), a common class of phthalate widely used in industrial food production, and elevated systolic blood pressure, a measure of pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts.

"Phthalates can inhibit the function of cardiac cells and cause oxidative stress that compromises the health of arteries. But no one has explored the relationship between phthalate exposure and heart health in children" says lead author Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP, associate professor of pediatrics, environmental medicine and population health at NYU Langone Medical Center. "We wanted to examine the link between phthalates and childhood blood pressure in particular given the increase in elevated blood pressure in children and the increasing evidence implicating exposure to environmental exposures in early development of disease."

Hypertension is clinically defined as a systolic blood-pressure reading above 140 mm Hg. It's most common in people over 50 years old, although the condition is becoming increasingly prevalent among children owing to the global obesity epidemic. Recent national surveys indicate that 14 percent of American adolescents now have pre-hypertension or hypertension. "Obesity is driving the trend but our findings suggest that environmental factors may also be a part of the problem," says Dr. Trasande. "This is important because phthalate exposure can be controlled through regulatory and behavioral interventions."

Researchers from NYU School of Medicine, the University of Washington and Penn State University School of Medicine examined six years of data from a nationally representative survey of the U.S. population administered by the National Centers for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Phthalates were measured in urine samples using standard analysis techniques. Controlling for a number of potential confounders, including race, socioeconomic status, body mass index, caloric intake and activity levels, the researchers found that every three-fold increase in the level of breakdown products of DEHP in urine correlated with a roughly one-millimeter mercury increase in a child's blood pressure. "That increment may seem very modest at an individual level, but on a population level such shifts in blood pressure can increase the number of children with elevated blood pressure substantially," says Dr. Trasande. "Our study underscores the need for policy initiatives that limit exposure to disruptive environmental chemicals, in combination with dietary and behavioral interventions geared toward protecting cardiovascular health."

###

NYU Langone Medical Center / New York University School of Medicine: http://www.med.nyu.edu

Thanks to NYU Langone Medical Center / New York University School of Medicine for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 54 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/128354/Study_links_chemicals_widely_found_in_plastics_and_processed_food_to_elevated_blood_pressure_in_children_and_teens

www.walmart.com Macho Camacho Rise of the Guardians Pumpkin Pie Jack Taylor Apple Pie Recipe black friday

Moniz: LNG exports on hold until data reviewed

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said Tuesday he will delay final decisions on about 20 applications to export liquefied natural gas until he reviews studies by the Energy Department and others on what impact the exports would have on domestic natural gas supplies and prices.

Moniz, who was sworn in Tuesday as the nation's new energy chief, said he promised during his confirmation hearing that he would "review what's out there" before acting on proposals to export natural gas. Among the things Moniz said he wants to review is whether the data in the studies are outdated.

A study commissioned by the Energy Department concluded last year that exporting natural gas would benefit the U.S. economy even if it led to higher domestic prices for the fuel.

Senate Energy Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and other critics have said the DOE study was flawed and relied on old data and unrealistic market assumptions.

Moniz, speaking to reporters after a brief speech to a forum on global energy efficiency, said he wants to complete his review as quickly as possible.

"Right now we have no plans of commissioning new studies, but everything's on the table until I have done my analysis," he said. "That's my commitment to Chairman Wyden."

Many U.S. energy companies are hoping to take advantage of an ongoing natural gas boom by exporting liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to Europe and Asia, where prices are far higher. About 20 applications to export LNG to countries that do not have free trade agreements with the United States are pending before the Energy Department.

Business groups support LNG exports as a way to create thousands of jobs and spur more U.S. production.

Consumer advocates and some manufacturers that use natural gas as a raw material or fuel source oppose exports, saying they could drive up domestic prices and increase manufacturing costs. Many environmental groups also oppose LNG exports because of fears that increased drilling could lead to environmental problems.

Natural gas results in fewer global warming emissions than other fossil fuels such as coal or oil, and Moniz has backed natural gas as a bridge fuel to reduce carbon dioxide and other pollutants that contribute to global warming. Environmental groups worry that drilling techniques such as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, could harm drinking water supplies or cause other problems.

Moniz replaces Steven Chu, who served as energy secretary in President Barack Obama's first term. Moniz served as an energy undersecretary in the Clinton administration. He joked Tuesday that his return to government was like a second marriage, "where you place hope over experience."

In an email to Energy Department employees, Moniz said he looks forward to advancing Obama's all-of-the-above energy strategy, as well as promoting innovation in clean energy technology, boosting nuclear security and cleaning up nuclear waste left over from the Cold War.

"I believe we can, and must, commit ourselves to the highest standards of management excellence, delivering results for the American people as efficiently and effectively as possible and enhancing our capacity to succeed in our critical missions," Moniz said.

___

Follow Matthew Daly on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewDalyWDC

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/moniz-lng-exports-hold-until-204728135.html

albert pujols the shining mariano rivera mariano rivera jobs report tiger woods masters 2012 nikki haley

UK PM: London attack terror could be terror

LONDON (AP) ? A brutal attack in broad daylight near a military barracks in London left one man dead and two suspects hospitalized Wednesday after a shootout with police. British Prime Minister David Cameron said the attack appeared to be terror related.

The afternoon attack occurred in the southeast London neighborhood of Woolwich, just a few blocks from the Royal Artillery Barracks.

One man was found dead and two men were shot by police and taken to separate London hospitals, Commander Simon Letchford said. One of the men was in serious condition, according to London Ambulance Service.

A number of weapons ? including butchers' knives ? could be seen on the blood-spattered street.

French President Francois Hollande, speaking at a press conference in Paris with Cameron, said it was a British soldier who was killed. Cameron didn't immediately confirm that fact but the Britain's Ministry of Defense said it was urgently investigating if a U.K. soldier was involved.

One British broadcaster ran video footage of what appeared to be one of the attackers, his hands covered in blood, making political statements about "an eye for an eye" to an unknown cameraperson as a body lady behind him on the ground.

There was no immediate way for the Associated Press to verify who the cameraman was.

The footage ? obtained by ITV news ? showed a man in a dark jacket and knit cap walking toward a camera, clutching a meat cleaver and a knife in what appear to be bloodied hands. With a British accent, he apologized in English for the women passers-by who "have had to witness this" attack, saying that "in our land our women have to see the same."

He gave no indication what that land was.

"We must fight them as they fight us," the man told the camera as people milled around behind him. The camera then panned away to show a body behind the man.

The Associated Press examined the footage to verify its authenticity. The AP cross referenced images from the scene, aerial shots, the location of a car behind the alleged attacker and appearance of a body and car in the background of the image.

Cameron said there were "strong indications" it was a terrorist incident.

"We have suffered these attacks before, we have always beaten them back," Cameron said. "We will not be cowed, we will never buckle."

The British Cabinet's emergency committee immediately called a meeting and the prime minister's office said security was stepped up at barracks across London.

Cameron cut short his Paris trip to return to London and his office said he would chair another emergency committee meeting Thursday.

The barracks ? which house a number of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and independent companies of the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards ? were the site of shooting events during the 2012 London Olympics.

Fred Oyat, a 44-year-old who lives in a high-rise near where the attack occurred, said he heard four gun shots and then went straight to the window.

"I saw one man lying there bleeding, another lying on the pavement being disarmed. A policeman was pointing a gun at him. A third man was lying further up the street ... he was bleeding profusely," Oyat said. "There were four knives on the ground ? big kitchen knives. The knives were very bloody."

David Dixon, head teacher of a nearby primary school, saw a body lying in the road outside and said police told him there was a serious incident. He told the BBC he then made sure children were inside and put the school into a lockdown mode. He said he then heard shots fired.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is called in when officers are involved in shootings, confirmed that it is investigating the attack.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uk-pm-london-attack-terror-could-terror-194659178.html

Thanksgiving Day cooking a turkey toysrus how to carve a turkey ipad 2 wal mart happy thanksgiving

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://pheedo.msnbc.msn.com/id/9548203/device/rss/

winter solstice Jabari Parker 2012 australia Brothers Grimm Tate Stevens Miss Universe 2012

S.Africa stocks hit record high on weaker rand

(adds confirmation) PARIS, May 22 (Reuters) - World number seven Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina has pulled out of next week's French Open tennis after failing to recover from a virus, organisers said on Wednesday. Del Potro, who reached the quarter-finals at the claycourt grand-slam event last year, flew home after losing to Frenchman Benoit Paire in the Rome Masters last 16 last week. "He has withdrawn," a French Federation spokesman told Reuters, confirming Argentine media reports. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/africa-stocks-hit-record-high-weaker-rand-080006710.html

whitney houston death the vow the voice season 2 ron paul maine safe house jay z and beyonce baby cpac

Do men's and women's hearts burn fuel differently?

Do men's and women's hearts burn fuel differently? [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 21-May-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Sharon Parmet
sparmet@uic.edu
312-413-2695
University of Illinois at Chicago

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine will study gender differences in how the heart uses and stores fat -- its main energy source -- and how changes in fat metabolism play a role in heart disease, under a new $2 million, 4-year grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

When stressed, the heart changes how it uses fuel for energy. These changes may play a major role in the development of heart disease and are different in men and women, says E. Douglas Lewandowski, director of the UIC Center for Cardiovascular Research. The changes occur long before any symptoms, he said, and may be key to early diagnosis and treatment.

Lewandowski, who is principal investigator on the grant, uses imaging techniques he developed to see fat molecules and the rate at which they are being burned in beating hearts. In healthy hearts, the balance between using fat for energy and storing it in tiny droplets within the cells is in a dynamic equilibrium.

When a female heart is stressed, such as through chronic disease like hypertension, it becomes much less efficient at metabolizing fat, Lewandowski says. When a male heart is stressed, it starts using more sugar as fuel. These changes in the heart can also affect how fat is stored and used in other parts of the body.

"Because the heart is the body's number-one consumer of fat, when it starts using fat differently, there are consequences throughout the entire body," Lewandowski said. He thinks that changes in fat metabolism in the heart may send out signals to fat cells in other parts of the body to store more fat, and to insulin-producing cells in the pancreas that may trigger the onset of diabetes, which is often present along with heart disease.

Lewandowski will further investigate how gender differences in fat metabolism are related to the development of heart disease in men and women. He will also look at how higher levels of fat accumulation in heart cells may cause stiffness and lower the efficiency of heart muscle contraction. Understanding these changes may help identify targets for therapies, or lead to better diagnostic tests for heart disease.

Lewandowski also received a prestigious MERIT Award from the National Institutes of Health for his pioneering work in developing the imaging technique he uses to measure metabolic rates in intact, functioning organs in the body.

###

This study is supported by the following grants from the NHLBI: 1 R01 HL113057, 5 R37 HL049244 MERIT Award and 5 R01 HL062702.

NOTE: Please refer to the institution as the University of Illinois at Chicago on first reference and UIC on second reference. "University of Illinois" and "U. of I." are often assumed to refer to our sister campus in Urbana-Champaign.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Do men's and women's hearts burn fuel differently? [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 21-May-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Sharon Parmet
sparmet@uic.edu
312-413-2695
University of Illinois at Chicago

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine will study gender differences in how the heart uses and stores fat -- its main energy source -- and how changes in fat metabolism play a role in heart disease, under a new $2 million, 4-year grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

When stressed, the heart changes how it uses fuel for energy. These changes may play a major role in the development of heart disease and are different in men and women, says E. Douglas Lewandowski, director of the UIC Center for Cardiovascular Research. The changes occur long before any symptoms, he said, and may be key to early diagnosis and treatment.

Lewandowski, who is principal investigator on the grant, uses imaging techniques he developed to see fat molecules and the rate at which they are being burned in beating hearts. In healthy hearts, the balance between using fat for energy and storing it in tiny droplets within the cells is in a dynamic equilibrium.

When a female heart is stressed, such as through chronic disease like hypertension, it becomes much less efficient at metabolizing fat, Lewandowski says. When a male heart is stressed, it starts using more sugar as fuel. These changes in the heart can also affect how fat is stored and used in other parts of the body.

"Because the heart is the body's number-one consumer of fat, when it starts using fat differently, there are consequences throughout the entire body," Lewandowski said. He thinks that changes in fat metabolism in the heart may send out signals to fat cells in other parts of the body to store more fat, and to insulin-producing cells in the pancreas that may trigger the onset of diabetes, which is often present along with heart disease.

Lewandowski will further investigate how gender differences in fat metabolism are related to the development of heart disease in men and women. He will also look at how higher levels of fat accumulation in heart cells may cause stiffness and lower the efficiency of heart muscle contraction. Understanding these changes may help identify targets for therapies, or lead to better diagnostic tests for heart disease.

Lewandowski also received a prestigious MERIT Award from the National Institutes of Health for his pioneering work in developing the imaging technique he uses to measure metabolic rates in intact, functioning organs in the body.

###

This study is supported by the following grants from the NHLBI: 1 R01 HL113057, 5 R37 HL049244 MERIT Award and 5 R01 HL062702.

NOTE: Please refer to the institution as the University of Illinois at Chicago on first reference and UIC on second reference. "University of Illinois" and "U. of I." are often assumed to refer to our sister campus in Urbana-Champaign.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-05/uoia-dma052113.php

Adam Greenberg Fall Leaves Jim Lehrer 666 Park Avenue Kara Alongi Sahara Davenport Resident Evil 6

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Activists say 28 Hezbollah members killed in Syria

In this Saturday, May 18, 2013 citizen journalism image provided by Qusair Lens which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrians inspecting the rubble of damaged buildings due to government airstrikes, in Qusair, Homs province, Syria. The town of Qusair has been besieged for weeks by regime troops and pro-government gunmen backed by the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group. The siege is part of a withering offensives forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad have been pushing in recent weeks to regain control of the towns and villages along the Lebanese frontier. (AP Photo/Qusair Lens)

In this Saturday, May 18, 2013 citizen journalism image provided by Qusair Lens which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrians inspecting the rubble of damaged buildings due to government airstrikes, in Qusair, Homs province, Syria. The town of Qusair has been besieged for weeks by regime troops and pro-government gunmen backed by the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group. The siege is part of a withering offensives forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad have been pushing in recent weeks to regain control of the towns and villages along the Lebanese frontier. (AP Photo/Qusair Lens)

This citizen journalism image provided by Qusair Lens which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrian rebels preparing to repel a coordinated attack by government forces, in Qusair, Homs province, Syria, Sunday, May 19, 2013. Syrian troops backed by tanks and warplanes launched an assault Sunday on a strategic rebel-held town near the Lebanese border, pounding the area with airstrikes and artillery salvos that killed tens of people and forced residents to scramble for cover in basements and makeshift bunkers, activists said. (AP Photo/Qusair Lens)

BEIRUT (AP) ? Fierce street fighting in a Syrian town near the Lebanese border has killed at least 28 elite members of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group, activists said Monday, as Syrian government forces pushed deeper into the strategic, opposition-held town.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks Syria's civil war, said that more than 70 Hezbollah fighters have also been wounded in the fighting around the town of Qusair. If confirmed, the casualties would be a significant blow to the Iranian-backed Shiite group, which has come under harsh criticism at home for its involvement in the war next door.

A staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Hezbollah is heavily invested in the survival of the Damascus regime and is known to have sent fighters to aid government forces. The Lebanese group's growing role in the conflict also points to the deeply sectarian nature of the war in Syria, in which a rebellion driven by the country's Sunni majority seeks to overthrow a regime dominated by the president's Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

The increasingly overt Hezbollah involvement in the Syrian conflict is almost certain to threaten stability in Lebanon, which is sharply split along sectarian lines, and between supporters and opponents of Assad.

The Observatory, which relies on a wide network of activists on the ground in Syria, cited "sources close to the militant group" for the death toll but declined to reveal their identity. It said at least 50 Syrian rebels were also killed in the battle for Qusair on Sunday, including two commanders.

Qusair has been the target of a withering government offensive in recent weeks, and the countryside around the town has been engulfed in fighting as regime troops backed by Hezbollah fighters seized villages while closing in on Qusair itself. The opposition estimates that some 40,000 civilians are currently in the town.

The intensity of the fighting reflects the importance that both sides attach to the area. In the regime's calculations, Qusair lies along a strategic land corridor linking Damascus with the Mediterranean coast, the Alawite heartland. For the rebels, overwhelmingly Sunni Qusair has served as a conduit for shipments of weapons and supplies smuggled from Lebanon to opposition fighters inside Syria.

Regime troops and Hezbollah fighters, who laid siege to Qusair weeks ago, launched an offensive to regain control of the town, with Hezbollah's elite fighters advancing from the east and south, an opposition figure said.

He added that it took Hezbollah troops a few hours to take control of the town's main square and municipal building. By the end of the day Sunday, they had pushed out rebel units, including the al-Qaida-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra, from most of Qusair, he said on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation by both sides.

He said fighting was focused in the northern part of the town on Monday.

The account matched that of Syria's state news media, which said President Bashar Assad's troops took control of most of Qusair on Monday. State-run TV said forces restored stability to the entire eastern front of the town, killing scores of "terrorists" there ? the term used by the Syrian regime to refer to all rebels.

An official in the Homs governor's office told the AP on Monday that more than 60 percent of the city is in government hands after scores of gunmen were killed or surrendered Sunday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to give information to the media during an ongoing military operation, said more than 1,500 residents fled the city due to intensified fighting.

Qusair-based opposition activist Hadi Abdullah denied official reports that the army was advancing in the town, saying they were still trying to storm it.

"They go in and out, until now I can say with confidence that they have not been able to enter the town and stay there," Abdullah said.

Hezbollah members have made use of their expertise in guerrilla tactics to significantly boost regime forces in the fight for Qusair. Their presence, along with that of Hezbollah-backed Shiite fighters, is meant to shore up overstretched government troops fighting on several other fronts.

Residents on the Lebanese side of the border just across from Qusair reported seeing more than 30 plumes of smoke billowing from inside Syria and hearing the heavy thud of artillery and airstrikes late into the night Sunday and on Monday morning.

"Nobody could sleep last night from the sounds of battle," said Ali Jaafar, deputy mayor of the Lebanese border town of Hermel, adding that residents did not send children to school Monday for fear of fighting spilling over into Lebanon.

Lebanese security officials confirmed at least four funerals were being held Monday morning for Hezbollah fighters or their supporters killed in Syria. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations.

Army units "restored security and stability" to most of the city on Monday and killed "many terrorists," the majority of them foreign fighters who have been fighting alongside opposition forces, the state news agency said. The military also destroyed rebel hideouts and seized "large amounts of weapons and ammunition," it said, adding that government troops are fighting pockets of resistance in southern and northern districts of Qusair Monday.

The Syrian regime claims there is no civil war in the country but that the army is fighting foreign-backed terrorists trying to topple Assad's government.

More than 70,000 people have been killed in Syria since March 2011.

At least 1.5 million Syrians have sought shelter in neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, while millions more have been displaced inside Syria and are in urgent need of basic aid, according to the United Nations.

The international aid organization Oxfam appealed for more funds to help Syrian refugees, saying warmer weather will increase health risks due to lack of shelter, water and basic sanitation in Lebanon and Jordan. The Britain-based group said in a statement Monday that diarrhea and skin infections have already been noted among refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. The two countries host the bulk of 1.5 million Syrian refugees.

In addition to funds, aid organizations have also complained of a lack of access to civilians in areas most affected by fighting, saying that government bureaucracy often delays convoys for weeks from reaching civilians in dire need of basic supplies.

In a statement Monday, the International Committee of the Red Cross condemned the killing of a driver for the group's affiliate branch in northern Syria. The ICRC said Abdo Darwish, a driver for the Red Crescent Society in Hassakeh was killed May 14 on his way to work. He was wearing his Syrian Red Crescent uniform, "clearly indicating his affiliation with the Movement, when he was targeted by snipers," the ICRC said.

Syria's civil war has claimed the lives of 20 Red Crescent volunteers, the statement said, adding that all of those who died had been killed while carrying out their humanitarian duties.

___

Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-05-20-ML-Syria/id-04dd399a5069423e8aa0b365a86728cc

chicago weather star jones photo of whitney houston in casket carrot top george huguely whitney houston casket photo match play championship

Marissa Mayer Just Explained Yahoo's $1.1 ... - Business Insider

At 9 A.M. eastern,?Yahoo hosted a conference call to discuss its $1.1 billion acquisition of Tumblr.

-Tumblr is going to run separately from Yahoo. CEO David Karp will report directly to Mayer. The brands will not co-mingle.?

-Yahoo plans to retain all Tumblr employees.?Yahoo will help it hire more engineers and ad sales people.

-Yahoo believe the deal pushes it over 1 billion users.

-The deal is $1.1 billion, payable almost all in cash. Karp will get some Yahoo stock.

-Yahoo does not expect Tumblr to materially contribute to its revenues until sometime in 2014.

-Mayer says that Tumblr is ahead of Yahoo in mobile.

-Mayer says Yahoo hopes to get search traffic from Tumblr users.

-Yahoo will feature Tumblr blogs on its media properties. She says this should boost Tumblr's traffic and make Yahoo's media properties more attractive to Tumblr's demographic.

-Karp missed the earnings call because he had to host an "all-team" meeting with employees. Mayer is going to start calling Yahoo all-employee meetings all-team meetings, too.

-Karp held a meeting with his senior staff on Friday night, and all of them "signed on" to the deal.

-Mayer isn't worried about all the NSFW content on Tumblr. ?"The width and breadth of content on Tumblr is what's exciting and has allowed it to reach more users."

-Yahoo will bring in-stream ads to the Tumblr dashboard, at some point. It will also help Tumblr bloggers sell ads, if they want to.

She says the complimentary nature of Tumblr and Yahoo is "uncanny."

She says Tumblr is young and artsy. Yahoo is business-y, sports-interested, and older.

She says Yahoo will benefit from new search traffic.

She's says Tumblr gets search technology, personalization technology, and reach from Yahoo.

She says both companies have "gorgeous" mobile apps.

She calls Karp "inspiring."

The deal is $1.1 billion, payable all in cash. It's going to close in the second half of this year.

Yahoo's cash was $5.4 billion at the end of Q1. Thanks to a redemption from Alibaba, it exceeded $6 billion "pro forma."

This transaction will not be material this year. It will add traffic and ad inventory.

It will enhance Yahoo revenue in 2014. Operationally, Tumblr will run separately. All current employees will remain. Yahoo will help it hire more engineers and ad sales people.

David will remain CEO and will report to Marissa.

Yahoo will integrate Tumblr content into Yahoo.com.

Goldman says the valuation came out of cash-flow analysis, forward EBITDA analysis, enterprise value in terms of monthly active users and unique users versus other transactions, and precedent transactions like Instagram and Yammer.?

Mayer says that Yahoo released "Yahoo Stream Ads" in May, which take text ads and put them in the news stream on Yahoo.com. She says you can expect more of that on Tumblr. On Tumblr, there is the dashboard, which is like Facebook's News Feed or inbox. Today, Tumblr does some advertising there. Yahoo would like to "introduce a very light ad load" there. ?Yahoo also might work with some bloggers who want ads on their blogs. That would only be done with permission.

Yahoo will possibly provide some Web search on Tumblr.?

Mayer says Tumblr will help grow engagement on Yahoo media brand pages and will also help grow its search business.

Mayer says that there are 700mm users on Yahoo. On Tumblr, they have 300mm. After de-duplication the number is larger than 1 billion.

Mayer says Tumblr has a good mobile story. It's ahead of Yahoo, she says. Users average 7 sessions per day.

Goldman says revenues will start to materialize "in a major way" in 2014. It will materially contribute to our revenues in 2014 and beyond.?

Mayer says Yahoo's talent aquisitions will continue. She says this larger, more strategic acquisition is an exception. The last time Yahoo did an aquisition of this scale was Overture. She says that buys of that scale become a core part of the strategy.

Mayer says that brands are a Yahoo strength. She says all the movie studios use Tumblr. She says 8 of the top 10 brands use Tumblr.?

She says Yahoo can help Tumblr host blogs at scale. She says it can send traffic to Tumblr blogs through its own media brands.

Mayer says the ad units will be native and follow the form and function of Tumblr. She says that you can tell interests of users.

Goldman: There is a small amount of stock related to David Karp, the founder, otherwise its all cash.

Mayer says that Tumblr operates in a fast, nimble way and "there's a lot we can learn from that."

She says their search tech is very visual.?

All-hands meetings are not called that, they are called All-team meetings, and Yahoo is now going to call its that, too.

Mayer says that the plan is to let Tumblr be Tumblr. Yahoo may power Tumblr search and get some Tumblr users that way. Yahoo will also link more to Tumblr posts from Yahoo media properties, therefore making those properties more relevant to the types of people who like Tumblr.?

Mayer says Tumblr's brand will grow apart from Yahoo. "We want to let Tumblr be Tumblr," she keeps saying. She cites eBay-Paypal and Google-YouTube as other big aquisitions that worked because the brands stayed independent.

Mayer says she and Karp both want online ads to be as good as the content. She says they both wistfully remember ads that were "aspirational" and made you want to buy a car or see a movie.

Mayer says that Tumblr's content will evolve as its users evolve ("creators," she calls them).?

A lot of the posts on Tumblr are graphical, and there are synergies there, but Mayer hasn't looked at specific integrations. Flickr could provide storage for albums or slideshows.

Karp told his key management team on Friday night, and the entire management team was excited. They made a point of signing on to the deal.

Mayer says "the width and breadth of content on Tumblr is what's exciting and has allowed it to reach more users."

How to address advertiser concerns: We need to have good tools for targeting.

In terms of monetization, Mayer cites the social network movie where they say why would you try to make money when you don't know what you are yet.?

Goldman says Yahoo is focusing on growth.?

Mayer thanks you for your time and says you should read the 2.3 billion blog posts that came to Tumblr during the call.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/live-marissa-mayer-talks-about-buying-tumblr-for-11-billion-2013-5

cnn News nbc news msnbc reddit abc news Boston Police Scanner

Google+ app update for Android adds auto-backup and enhancement tools for photos

Google Plus app update for Android adds autobackup and enhancement tools for photos

Google (and especially the Google+ team) are keeping very busy. While I/O 2013 may have wrapped up last week, the company's just unveiled a new update for its social network on Android devices. Packing some familiar new photo features (like auto-backup and auto-highlights), the refresh includes even more Snapseed filters and tools. Location sharing can now tap into your circle arrangements, and you'll be able to share geo-locations with specific sets of people. Related hashtags will now function within the app, like we've already seen on the web-based version, while (perhaps predictably) there's now one-tap access to Mountain View's Hangouts app too. Gotta keep 'em all connected, right?

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Source: Google Plus

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/kDmAwbgsIX4/

budweiser shootout animal house invincible jesse jackson whitney houston funeral video tyler perry whitney houston r kelly

Activists say 28 Hezbollah members killed in Syria

In this Saturday, May 18, 2013 citizen journalism image provided by Qusair Lens which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrians inspecting the rubble of damaged buildings due to government airstrikes, in Qusair, Homs province, Syria. The town of Qusair has been besieged for weeks by regime troops and pro-government gunmen backed by the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group. The siege is part of a withering offensives forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad have been pushing in recent weeks to regain control of the towns and villages along the Lebanese frontier. (AP Photo/Qusair Lens)

In this Saturday, May 18, 2013 citizen journalism image provided by Qusair Lens which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrians inspecting the rubble of damaged buildings due to government airstrikes, in Qusair, Homs province, Syria. The town of Qusair has been besieged for weeks by regime troops and pro-government gunmen backed by the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group. The siege is part of a withering offensives forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad have been pushing in recent weeks to regain control of the towns and villages along the Lebanese frontier. (AP Photo/Qusair Lens)

This citizen journalism image provided by Qusair Lens which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrian rebels preparing to repel a coordinated attack by government forces, in Qusair, Homs province, Syria, Sunday, May 19, 2013. Syrian troops backed by tanks and warplanes launched an assault Sunday on a strategic rebel-held town near the Lebanese border, pounding the area with airstrikes and artillery salvos that killed tens of people and forced residents to scramble for cover in basements and makeshift bunkers, activists said. (AP Photo/Qusair Lens)

(AP) ? Fierce street fighting in a Syrian town near the Lebanese border has killed at least 28 elite members of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group, activists said Monday, as Syrian government forces pushed deeper into the strategic, opposition-held town.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks Syria's civil war, said that more than 70 Hezbollah fighters have also been wounded in the fighting around the town of Qusair. If confirmed, the casualties would be a significant blow to the Iranian-backed Shiite group, which has come under harsh criticism at home for its involvement in the war next door.

A staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Hezbollah is heavily invested in the survival of the Damascus regime and is known to have sent fighters to aid government forces. The Lebanese group's growing role in the conflict also points to the deeply sectarian nature of the war in Syria, in which a rebellion driven by the country's Sunni majority seeks to overthrow a regime dominated by the president's Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

The increasingly overt Hezbollah involvement in the Syrian conflict is almost certain to threaten stability in Lebanon, which is sharply split along sectarian lines, and between supporters and opponents of Assad.

The Observatory, which relies on a wide network of activists on the ground in Syria, cited "sources close to the militant group" for the death toll but declined to reveal their identity. It said at least 50 Syrian rebels were also killed in the battle for Qusair on Sunday, including two commanders.

Qusair has been the target of a withering government offensive in recent weeks, and the countryside around the town has been engulfed in fighting as regime troops backed by Hezbollah fighters seized villages while closing in on Qusair itself. The opposition estimates that some 40,000 civilians are currently in the town.

The intensity of the fighting reflects the importance that both sides attach to the area. In the regime's calculations, Qusair lies along a strategic land corridor linking Damascus with the Mediterranean coast, the Alawite heartland. For the rebels, overwhelmingly Sunni Qusair has served as a conduit for shipments of weapons and supplies smuggled from Lebanon to opposition fighters inside Syria.

Regime troops and Hezbollah fighters, who laid siege to Qusair weeks ago, launched an offensive to regain control of the town, with Hezbollah's elite fighters advancing from the east and south, an opposition figure said.

He added that it took Hezbollah troops a few hours to take control of the town's main square and municipal building. By the end of the day Sunday, they had pushed out rebel units, including the al-Qaida-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra, from most of Qusair, he said on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation by both sides.

He said fighting was focused in the northern part of the town on Monday.

The account matched that of Syria's state news media, which said President Bashar Assad's troops took control of most of Qusair on Monday. State-run TV said forces restored stability to the entire eastern front of the town, killing scores of "terrorists" there ? the term used by the Syrian regime to refer to all rebels.

An official in the Homs governor's office told the AP on Monday that more than 60 percent of the city is in government hands after scores of gunmen were killed or surrendered Sunday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to give information to the media during an ongoing military operation, said more than 1,500 residents fled the city due to intensified fighting.

Qusair-based opposition activist Hadi Abdullah denied official reports that the army was advancing in the town, saying they were still trying to storm it.

"They go in and out, until now I can say with confidence that they have not been able to enter the town and stay there," Abdullah said.

Hezbollah members have made use of their expertise in guerrilla tactics to significantly boost regime forces in the fight for Qusair. Their presence, along with that of Hezbollah-backed Shiite fighters, is meant to shore up overstretched government troops fighting on several other fronts.

Residents on the Lebanese side of the border just across from Qusair reported seeing more than 30 plumes of smoke billowing from inside Syria and hearing the heavy thud of artillery and airstrikes late into the night Sunday and on Monday morning.

"Nobody could sleep last night from the sounds of battle," said Ali Jaafar, deputy mayor of the Lebanese border town of Hermel, adding that residents did not send children to school Monday for fear of fighting spilling over into Lebanon.

Lebanese security officials confirmed at least four funerals were being held Monday morning for Hezbollah fighters or their supporters killed in Syria. They spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations.

Army units "restored security and stability" to most of the city on Monday and killed "many terrorists," the majority of them foreign fighters who have been fighting alongside opposition forces, the state news agency said. The military also destroyed rebel hideouts and seized "large amounts of weapons and ammunition," it said, adding that government troops are fighting pockets of resistance in southern and northern districts of Qusair Monday.

The Syrian regime claims there is no civil war in the country but that the army is fighting foreign-backed terrorists trying to topple Assad's government.

More than 70,000 people have been killed in Syria since March 2011.

At least 1.5 million Syrians have sought shelter in neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, while millions more have been displaced inside Syria and are in urgent need of basic aid, according to the United Nations.

The international aid organization Oxfam appealed for more funds to help Syrian refugees, saying warmer weather will increase health risks due to lack of shelter, water and basic sanitation in Lebanon and Jordan. The Britain-based group said in a statement Monday that diarrhea and skin infections have already been noted among refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. The two countries host the bulk of 1.5 million Syrian refugees.

In addition to funds, aid organizations have also complained of a lack of access to civilians in areas most affected by fighting, saying that government bureaucracy often delays convoys for weeks from reaching civilians in dire need of basic supplies.

In a statement Monday, the International Committee of the Red Cross condemned the killing of a driver for the group's affiliate branch in northern Syria. The ICRC said Abdo Darwish, a driver for the Red Crescent Society in Hassakeh was killed May 14 on his way to work. He was wearing his Syrian Red Crescent uniform, "clearly indicating his affiliation with the Movement, when he was targeted by snipers," the ICRC said.

Syria's civil war has claimed the lives of 20 Red Crescent volunteers, the statement said, adding that all of those who died had been killed while carrying out their humanitarian duties.

___

Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-05-20-ML-Syria/id-04dd399a5069423e8aa0b365a86728cc

Huell Howser Justin Bieber Smoking Weed Katherine Webb Cut for Bieber AJ McCarron Johnny Manziel ups

Arias attorneys will put one witness on: Arias

PHOENIX (AP) ? Complaining that Jodi Arias' sensational murder case has become a modern-day "witch trial," her lawyers tried to quit in the middle of the death-penalty phase Monday, then said they will call only one witness: Arias.

When Arias addresses the jury on Tuesday, the big question will be whether she pleads for mercy or repeats what she told a TV reporter minutes after she was convicted: that she would rather be executed than spend the rest of her life in prison.

The courtroom fireworks came as the jury that found Arias guilty of murder in the 2008 shooting and stabbing death of boyfriend Travis Alexander was hearing evidence on whether the former waitress should get the death penalty or a life sentence.

Last week, Alexander's brother and sister tearfully described for the jury how his killing had torn their lives apart. This week, the defense planned to call its own witnesses, including a female friend and an ex-boyfriend of Arias, in hopes of convincing the jury her life is worth saving.

But defense attorney Kirk Nurmi told the court Monday morning that the female witness refused to testify after receiving threats, and he asked the judge to declare a mistrial in the penalty phase. He argued that he could no longer effectively defend Arias without all of the intended witnesses, and that "a partial picture is not good enough for this jury."

Nurmi also renewed arguments that the judge should have sequestered the jury during the nearly five-month trial and that it should never have been broadcast live. The case became a tabloid and cable sensation, with its tales of sex, lies and death.

"The court had a duty to protect Ms. Arias' right to a fair trial and failed to do so time and time again," Nurmi told the judge. "This cannot be a modern-day version of ... a witch trial."

Judge Sherry Stephens denied the mistrial request. Nurmi then asked that he and co-counsel Jennifer Willmott be allowed to withdraw from the case, saying they could not effectively represent Arias.

The judge turned down that request too, to which Nurmi quickly replied, "We will not be calling witnesses in the defense case."

Arias' attorneys also tried without success to quit after she gave the interview in which she said she would prefer death over life in prison.

Arias, 32, initially claimed she knew nothing about the slaying, then blamed masked intruders, then claimed self-defense. Prosecutors argued she killed Alexander in a jealous rage because he wanted to end their relationship and go to Mexico with another woman.

Experts say the sheer brutality of the killing has probably already sealed Arias' fate, so any witnesses presented during the penalty phase would have been pointless.

The victim suffered nearly 30 knife wounds, his throat was slit from ear to ear, and he was shot in the forehead. Arias then dragged him into his shower, where his decomposed body was found days later.

"I think they could put Mother Teresa on there and it's not going to spare her life," said Phoenix defense attorney Mel McDonald, a former judge and federal prosecutor.

San Francisco-area criminal defense lawyer Michael Cardoza said the request to quit the case and the defense decision not to call any witnesses on Arias' behalf could very well be a strategic move ? but one that could backfire.

"She could argue ineffective counsel on appeal, but the fact is, it's anything but ineffective because what they're doing is handing her an appeal," Cardoza said. "So it's actually very effective counsel."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/arias-attorneys-put-one-witness-arias-214024843.html

lifelock chevy volt christina hendricks camp david hawaii weather the jerk lake havasu

Netanyahu: Israel will take action to prevent Syrian 'weapons leakage' to Hezbollah

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Israel would prevent the movement of weapons from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime to Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. He made no mention of past or future air strikes.

By Jeffrey Heller,?Reuters / May 19, 2013

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, (l.), speaks as he sits next to Cabinet Secretary Avichai Mandelblit during a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Israel, Sunday.

Ronen Zvulun/AP

Enlarge

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held out the prospect on Sunday of further Israeli strikes inside?Syria, pledging to act to prevent advanced weapons from reaching Hezbollah and other militant groups.

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; // google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

Although?Israel?has not publicly taken sides in the civil war between Syrian President?Bashar al-Assad?and rebels trying to topple him, Western and Israeli sources say it has launched air strikes in?Syria?to destroy weapons it believed were destined for?Lebanon's Hezbollah.

In public remarks at the weekly meeting of his cabinet, Netanyahu made no direct mention of those attacks, but said?Israel?was prepared to take action in the future and was "preparing for every scenario" in the Syrian conflict.

Israel?had a policy "to prevent, as much as possible, the leakage of advanced weapons to Hezbollah and terror elements," he said.?"We will act to ensure the security interest of?Israel's citizens in the future as well."

Tzipi Livni, a member of?Netanyahu's security cabinet?and a former foreign minister, said: "I don't think there is anyone in?Israel?eager to take action" in?Syria, hinting at concerns that any strike could provoke a wider conflict.

In an interview with?Israel's?Army Radio, Livni also said Israeli politicians ought to avoid taking sides.

"Israel?isn't popular in?Syria. Therefore any such statement could only be used as ammunition by one of the sides to try and divert the debate or the violence toward?Israel?and that's the last thing we need," Livni said.

Israel?has neither confirmed nor denied reports that it attacked Iranian-supplied missiles stored near?Damascusthis month that it believed were awaiting delivery to Hezbollah, which fought a war with?Israel?in 2006 and is allied with Assad.

SUPERSONIC MISSILE

A Russian shipment of Yakhont anti-ship missiles to?Syria?was condemned by the?United States?on Friday, andIsrael?is also alarmed by the prospect of?Moscow?supplying S-300 advanced air defence missile systems toDamascus.

Netanyahu held talks in?Russia?on Tuesday with President?Vladimir Putin?on the Syrian crisis but gave no public indication whether?Israel's concerns over the Russian weaponry had been eased.

Amos Gilad, a senior?Israeli Defence Ministry?official, said on Saturday the S-300 and the Yakhont, weapons that could complicate any plans for foreign military intervention in?Syria, would likely end up with Hezbollah and threaten both?Israel?and U.S. forces in the Gulf.

"Yakhont is a cruise missile that can hit targets at sea and strategic targets. (It is) a supersonic missile, (with) a range of 300 km, very sophisticated," Gilad said on?Israel's Channel Two television on Saturday.

"The Russians sent it to?Syria, beside the strategic defence system called the S-300. There are a number of versions, and they are sending them one of the good versions," he said.

General?Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Friday?Russia's delivery of anti-ship missiles to Assad was "ill-timed and very unfortunate" and risked prolonging a war that has already killed more than 80,000 Syrians.

A spokesman for Putin, while not responding directly to assertions?Russia?had sent the anti-ship missiles, saidMoscow?would honour contracts to supply?Syria, a long-time weapons customer.

Additional reporting by Allyn Fisher-Ilan

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/VvB4UQbMoJo/Netanyahu-Israel-will-take-action-to-prevent-Syrian-weapons-leakage-to-Hezbollah

best new artist 2012 grammys foo fighters nikki minaj album of the year grammy red carpet grammy award winners

Enhanced Living Via Home Improvement | mb4uli

How your house looks influences the way you feel on a daily basis. You spend so much of your life in your home, even more if you have a home business. There is a direct correlation between how you feel each day and whether or not you like your home. Make an effort to turn your home into a place you can relax and enjoy yourself, and all your other worries will then seem to melt away. Below are some of the most effective ways to improve your home.

You will want your home to be as comfortable as it possibly can be. There are some things that you dislike, and there is no point in being unsatisfied with having them in your house. If you want to be truly happy, you need to be completely satisfied with your house. If there are additions in your home that you don?t enjoy, such as a bathtub, you need to make changes so that you can replace it with something you will actually enjoy.

Increase the amount of living space available to you. Regardless of how neat and clean you might be, your home may still seem like it is not large enough. If you create more space for yourself, you will be more comfortable without having to move to a new home. You can stop clutter by adding just a little more space to your home.

Try to add more entertainment features to your home. While it is certainly true that swimming pools and spas are great items to have on your property, less substantial things, such as workout rooms are also highly favored. An extra benefit to incorporating these types of recreational features is that they can boost your home?s value.

Never underestimate the importance of lighting in your spaces. Making alterations in your lighting scheme helps alleviate vision issues, can add function to a variety of spaces, and can contribute a new design aesthetic to any room. Replacing light fixtures is an ideal DIY project for beginners that is not too difficult; these simple improvements can really make a difference in the way your home looks.

Grab your gardening tools, and get started! You will want to spend more time at your house if you put effort into creating a beautiful garden. Those who don?t have a green thumb can always consider consulting a gardener to turn your yard into a green paradise. Relaxing in your garden will reduce your stress levels and help make your home a luxurious retreat. Don?t forget that having lots of plants and greenery around will improve the quality of air you are breathing. Your garden can be very beneficial to your home. Vegetables and herbs can make your cooking delicious, and flowers can make your home beautiful.

Focus on the outside of your home. You can bring a fresh new look to your home by adding a new color of siding, updating the windows or even changing the roof. Each time you pull up at home, you will be proud of what you see and enthusiastic about the improvements to your home.

If you spend a lot of time at home, you should be happy with it. For this reason, doing home improvements is not only a value-building, financial investment, but also an investment in bettering your overall well-being.

suplementy ??d? suplementy krak?w suplementy

Like this:

Like Loading...

Source: http://www.mb4uli.com/enhanced-living-via-home-improvement/

Daddy Yankee jay leno Brian Banks amber alert LucasArts Finding Dory Chaz Ebert

Microsoft launches The Music Room, an interactive TV series on Xbox Live

DNP Interactive TV project, The Music Room, heads to Xbox Live

A day ahead of its hotly anticipated Xbox event, Microsoft has announced a new interactive TV series entitled The Music Room, exclusively on Xbox Live. As a part of Microsoft's drive to beef up Xbox's entertainment content, the two-part program will be available to Gold subscribers on May 29th at 8:30 BST (3:30 ET). Host Laura Jackson will be joined by special guest Carl Barât, formerly of the Libertines, and the lineup is set to include Everything Everything, Don Broco and Swim Deep. Viewers will be able to get in on the action by selecting from a list of options to determine what course the show will take, kind of like a musical choose-your-own-adventure. If indie British bands are your thing, you might want to check out the preview for The Music Room after the break.

Filed under: ,

Comments

Via: EDGE

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/9d2pu-prMuY/

harry connick jr cher Marc Maron amanda knox Carolyn Moos Danny Brown The Following