Sunday, September 30, 2012

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Obama Blocks China's Second-Richest Man From Owning Wind Farm Near Secret Navy Base

President Obama made a fascinating move yesterday in issuing an executive order prohibiting a Chinese company from owning and operating a wind farm near the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman, Ore. The base is said to be home to a fleet of unmanned drones and planes specializing in electronic warfare.

The order marks the first time in 22 years that a president has scotched the foreign acquisition of a business in the U.S.

In his executive order, the president stated that ?there is credible evidence? that the ownership group, comprising Ralls Corporation, the Sany Group, and a group of Chinese nationals, ?might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States.?

The Sany Group is controlled by China?s second-richest man, Liang Wengen, who has recently been appointed to the Central Committee of China?s Communist Party. In our most recent tally of global billionaires, Forbes estimated his net worth at $8.1 billion.

The president didn?t just order the Chinese group to divest the assets, but to remove ?all items, structures, or other physical objects or installations of any kind (including concerete foundations) that the Companies or persons on behalf of the Companies have stockpiled, stored, deposited, installed or affixed thereon.?

Neither the presidential order, nor a statement from the Treasury Department detailed any particular threats that the Chinese companies pose to the Navy base. But it?s not hard to imagine that the Chinese government could seek to install surveillance devices inside the turbine towers with the intent of watching drone flights or listening to base communications.

Not matter how nice a guy Liang Wengen might be, it seems a wise move not to give the Chinese government a listening post just outside a base full of military secrets.

There are a couple of other Chinese companies that will view this presidential move with great interest. China?s state-controlled oil company Cnooc is seeking to buy Canada?s Nexen, and needs U.S. approval to take over Nexen fields in the Gulf of Mexico. Wanxiang Group is also vying to acquire battery company A123 Systems.

If wind turbines could serve as communist listening posts, might Nexen?s offshore oil platforms or drilling rigs pose a similar threat? Maybe. But Chinese secret agents could just as easily outfit a high-rise apartment building with survelliance gear. Let?s hope the action against Sany and Ralls is a one-off and not the precursor to political contretemps.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2012/09/29/obama-blocks-chinas-second-richest-man-from-owning-wind-farm-near-secret-navy-base/

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Powerful typhoon hits Japan mainland

Crashing waves on the beach in Kamakura, south of Tokyo in 2010 when Typhoon Chaba hit the mainland.

Crashing waves on the beach in Kamakura, south of Tokyo in 2010 when Typhoon Chaba hit the mainland.

Image: AP/Press Association Images

POWERFUL TYPHOON JELAWAT made landfall today on the Japanese mainland a day after hitting southern Okinawa island, where local media said it left one dead and some 140 people injured.

Packing winds of up to 180 kilometres per hour, the typhoon made landfall in central Aichi prefecture at around 7pm local time (10.00 GMT) and was moving up the main island of Honshu, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

A 29-year-old man was swept away by high waves when Jelawat hit Okinawa and was later confirmed dead, while at least 140 people were injured in eight prefectures, according to public broadcaster NHK.

The typhoon is forecast to churn north-eastwards towards Tokyo over the next 24 hours and bring torrential rainfall and towering waves up to 10 metres high.

More than 500 flights, mainly in western Japan, were cancelled today and some shinkansen bullet train services across the country had been suspended, Kyodo said.

Local authorities have ordered more than 2,000 in central Mie to evacuate, while tens of thousands of people were advised to leave home for safe shelter, according to NHK.

Read: Japan-China dispute islands: oil bonanza or just rocks?>

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Source: http://www.thejournal.ie/typhoon-japan-616525-Sep2012/

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White shark diets show surprising variability, vary with age and among individuals

ScienceDaily (Sep. 28, 2012) ? Many white sharks shift from fish to marine mammals as they mature, but individual sharks show surprising variability in dietary preferences.

White sharks, the largest predatory sharks in the ocean, are thought of as apex predators that feed primarily on seals and sea lions. But a new study by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, shows surprising variability in the dietary preferences of individual sharks.

The researchers described their findings in a paper published online September 28 in PLoS ONE. They analyzed the composition of growth bands in shark vertebrae to trace variations in diet over a shark's lifetime. Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen incorporated into an animal's tissues serve as a natural tracer of dietary inputs.

"We did find that white shark diets changed with age, as expected, but we were surprised that the patterns and extent of change differed among individuals," said Sora Kim, who led the study as a UCSC graduate student and is now at the University of Wyoming.

The researchers analyzed vertebrae of 15 adult white sharks that had been caught along the west coast (14 off California and one off Baja California). Sharks in this population consume a wide range of prey, including seals, sea lions, dolphins, fish, and squid. But not every shark eats the same mix of prey, said coauthor Paul Koch, professor of Earth and planetary sciences at UCSC.

"We confirmed that the diets of many individuals observed at seal and sea lion rookeries shift from fish to marine mammals as the sharks mature," he said. "In addition, we discovered that different individual sharks may specialize on different types of prey. These two types of flexibility in feeding behavior are difficult to document using traditional methods, but may be very important for understanding how the population is supported by the eastern Pacific ecosystem and how it may respond to changes in that ecosystem."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently announced that it will consider whether to protect the west coast population of white sharks under the Endangered Species Act.

Tagging studies have shown that the white sharks found along the California coast have a regular migratory pattern, cruising coastal sites from late summer to early winter and moving to offshore areas during the rest of the year. While sharks within this population may have predictable movement patterns, the new study shows that there are important dietary and behavioral differences among individual sharks.

The study relied on vertebrae obtained from white shark specimens in various collections. The sharks had been caught at different times and places along the coast from 1957 to 2000. "Interestingly, we do see a small shift in diet as marine mammal populations increased after the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972," Kim said.

In addition to Kim and Koch, the coauthors of the paper include James Estes, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UCSC, and Tim Tinker, a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and adjunct professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UCSC. This research was funded by the National Science Foundation.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of California - Santa Cruz. The original article was written by Tim Stephens.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Kim SL, Tinker MT, Estes JA, Koch PL. Ontogenetic and Among-Individual Variation in Foraging Strategies of Northeast Pacific White Sharks Based on Stable Isotope Analysis. PLoS ONE, 2012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045068

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/strange_science/~3/jMjVYCiUi9g/120929140238.htm

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Ancient souk burns as fighting rages in Syria's Aleppo

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Hundreds of shops were burning in the ancient covered market of the Old City of Aleppo on Saturday as fighting between rebels and state forces in Syria's largest city threatened to destroy a UNESCO world heritage site.

The uprising-turned-civil war that is now raging across Syria has killed more than 30,000 people, according to activist groups like the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

But beyond the dramatic human cost, many of Syria's historic treasures have also fallen victim to an 18-month-old conflict that has reduced parts of some cities to ruins.

Rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad announced a new offensive in Aleppo, Syria's commercial hub of 2.5 million people, on Thursday, but neither side has appeared to make significant gains.

In Aleppo, activists speaking via Skype said army snipers were making it difficult to approach the Souk al-Madina, the medieval market of vaulted stone alleyways and carved wooden facades that was once a major tourist attraction.

Videos uploaded to YouTube showed dark black clouds hanging over the city skyline.

Activists said the fire might have been started by heavy shelling and gunfire on Friday and estimated that 700 to 1,000 shops had been destroyed so far. The accounts are difficult to verify because the government restricts access to foreign media.

Aleppo's Old City is one of several locations in Syria declared world heritage sites by UNESCO, the United Nations cultural agency, that are now at risk from the fighting.

UNESCO believes five of Syria's six heritage sites - which also include the ancient desert city of Palmyra, the Crac des Chevaliers crusader fortress and parts of old Damascus - have been affected.

The British-based Observatory, which has a network of activists across Syria, said Assad's forces and rebels were blaming each other for the blaze.

NEITHER SIDE MAKES GAINS

Activists also reported heavy clashes at Bab Antakya, a stone gateway to Aleppo's old city, which sits on ancient trade routes and has survived a parade of rulers throughout its construction between the 12th and 17th century.

Rebels said they had taken control of the gate, but some activists said the fighting there was continuing and neither side was truly in control.

"No one is actually making gains here, it is just fighting and more fighting, and terrified people are fleeing," said an activist contacted by telephone who declined to be named.

He said bodies were lying in the streets and residents were not going out to collect them for fear of snipers.

By noon on Saturday, 40 people had been killed in fighting across Syria, according to the Observatory.

The bloodshed in Syria has escalated since rebels took their fight to the major cities. Activists reported fresh clashes in the capital Damascus and surrounding suburbs and said security forces were torching homes as helicopters buzzed overhead.

The revolt, which began in March 2011 as peaceful protests, has become an armed insurgency that is now able to hold ground in Aleppo and rural towns of northern Syria, close to the Turkish border, but can do little to fend off Assad's air force and artillery.

Assad has defended the fierce crackdown that spawned the armed rebellion, arguing that he has been fighting Islamist militants funded from abroad.

One activist contacted by phone read out text messages that have been sent to all Syrian mobiles since rebels in Aleppo announced their new offensive. The text messages called on the rebels to surrender.

"To those who have implicated themselves against the state: Those who have offered you money have left you with two options: You will be killed fighting the state or it will kill you to get rid of you," one message read.

"The state is more merciful than you. Think and decide. The Syrian Army."

(Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ancient-souk-burns-fighting-rages-syrias-aleppo-122301221.html

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Cabrera ties Hamilton in HRs; Tigers beat Twins

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ? Miguel Cabrera's line drive home run in the eighth inning against Minnesota moved him into a tie with Texas star Josh Hamilton for the AL lead, bringing the first triple crown since 1967 that much closer to reality.

The blast may have been even bigger for Detroit's playoff chances.

Cabrera's home run gave the Tigers a five-run cushion they would end up needing and Justin Verlander struck out eight in seven innings in a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday that gave them a two-game lead in the AL Central.

Cabrera's blast in the eighth inning off Casey Fien was his 43rd home run for the year. He also leads the AL in batting average (.327) and RBIs (136) as he looks to become the first player since 1967 to lead the league in all three categories.

"It's unbelievable what he's done this year," said Verlander, the reigning AL MVP who was wearing a dark blue t-shirt with the message "Keep the MVP in the D" and Cabrera's name on the front. "It's amazing to me how he keeps getting better. He's already the best hitter in the game and he keeps taking it to another level."

Verlander (17-8) allowed four hits and one unearned run to drop his ERA to 2.64 for the Tigers, who had to sweat out another close one.

Cabrera's homer proved to be a big one after Ryan Doumit hit a grand slam off of Joaquin Benoit in the eighth.

Al Alburquerque helped the Detroit bullpen do what it couldn't do against the lowly Twins on Friday night ? finish the game. Jose Valverde picked up his 33rd save. Prince Fielder and Andy Dirks also went deep for Detroit.

Chicago lost to Tampa Bay 10-4 moments before the final out of the Tigers game.

"I want to talk about the team," Cabrera said respectfully. "There's too many distractions right now and been talking too much about triple crowns. I pull too much attention. I don't want to do that. I want to go out there and play my game."

P.J. Walters (2-5) gave up two runs on four hits with five strikeouts in five innings for the Twins. Joe Mauer went 0 for 3 with two walks, dropping his average to .320.

One day after Detroit lost a game of cushion to the White Sox when reliever Brayan Villarreal couldn't find the plate in the eighth inning of a 4-2 loss to the lowly Twins, Verlander came out determined to make sure the Tigers kept the pressure on Chicago.

"That was a huge game for us," manager Jim Leyland said. "You look at the scoreboard and see the White Sox most likely are going to lose. That's a game you've got to win."

With a free and easy delivery, the right-hander kept his fastball at 93 or 94 mph while keeping the Twins off balance with an array of off-speed pitches. He started to ramp things up in the fourth when he blew Justin Morneau away with consecutive fastballs of 98 and 99 and hit 100 later in the inning.

It wasn't just Verlander's dazzling stuff that gave the Twins hitters problems. The afternoon shadows at Target Field make it very difficult for hitters to pick up the ball coming out of the pitcher's hand and often contributes to slow days for the offense.

That appeared to be the case early for Cabrera as well, who was befuddled by Walters. The slugger struck out in his first two at-bats and flew out to right in his third. Cabrera entered the day leading Mauer by five points in the batting race, Hamilton by eight in the RBI race, but trailing Hamilton by one in homers.

So will he be watching Hamilton down the stretch?

"I'll let you guys keep Hamilton in your eyes," Cabrera said. "I'll go to the hotel and get some breakfast tomorrow and try to win tomorrow."

The bigger prize, of course, is the division title. Neither the Tigers nor the Sox will qualify for one of two wild cards in the American League, so their only way in is through the division door.

"The last couple weeks, there's too much attention right now," Cabrera said of the triple crown. "I don't like too much of that stuff. But it's always good. You've got to feel comfortable with that. You've got to feel positive and be ready to play."

NOTES: Verlander left with nobody out in the eighth after Denard Span reached on an error, marking just the fourth time all season he's been taken out in the middle of an inning. ... One night after making a costly error late in a 4-2 loss to the Twins, Fielder was sharp at 1B, making a quick decision on a hot grounder from Jamey Carroll in the fifth. Fielder threw to third base and Cabrera chased Trevor Plouffe down to get the lead runner. ... Plouffe snapped an 0-for-18 skid with a double in the fifth inning. ... The Tigers will send RHP Anibal Sanchez (4-6, 3.95) to the mound for the series finale against Twins RHP Liam Hendriks (1-8, 6.09). Sanchez is coming off of his first shutout in more than a year, a three-hitter against Kansas City that put the Tigers into a tie for first place.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cabrera-ties-hamilton-hrs-tigers-beat-twins-233506081--mlb.html

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Should You Trust Your Gut? The Answer Is Yes.

Editor?s note:?Derek?Andersen?is the founder of?Startup Grind, a 30-city event series hosted in 15-countries that educates, inspires, and connects entrepreneurs.?He?s ex-Electronic Arts as well as the founder of Commonred. A few years ago I asked a successful entrepreneur for advice on what I should do with my latest product idea. His reply was simple. ?Trust your gut. What does your gut tell you?? I confidently replied,??That this is a $100MM business." To which he added, ?Then go for it.? So that?s exactly what we did. We went for it and a year later we didn?t have a $100MM business or even a $10MM business. We didn?t even have a?.ok I?ll stop there. But how did I get it so wrong? Is my gut untrustable? Was I wrong to follow it??Or was my stomach just acting up after a recent trip overseas??I recently sat down with Charles River Ventures?Partner?George Zachary?who has had his fair share of big successes.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/2qFmCmfGQQo/

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Scrapbooking With Material | Home and Family

If you are a scrapbooker, chances are that you also do other crafts such as quilting and sewing. This could be very useful, especially if you have enough material on that you have saved but do not know why! There are several things you can do with the content of the pages of your album. The good thing is, you need very little equipment and can get the vestige of use scrapbook pages.

Search hardware that is not too busy or colorful background and you can do it on your layout. Not only the technical background fast, but it is your page depth and texture.

To use up remnants of a very small reasonable thickness covering a piece of cardboard to avoid bending when you cover it. Either the material strip on the back of the adhesive or the use of cards. The card must be large enough to make a border around your main photo. Now you can attach your photo in the center of the card. The black and white you can use virtually any piece of content.

Other use of your content embellishments for your layout. To make a flower you need a small circle of double-sided adhesive paper on one inch in diameter (I use paper ?Jac?). Cut a strip of say 2 inches wide and 7.5 inches long. Delaminate one side of the circle and one end of the adhesive material, because of which the center of the circle. Now work your way around the circle, gather the material in about half an inch bites until you work your way to the right around the circle. To hold the material in place, whether basic or just use a few points to keep. You really need to hide the staple or sew and I would do great with brads or buttons. Everything you do now that you back off the sticky paper and put the flower on your main page.

Source: http://mynewpuppy.info/scrapbooking-with-material.html

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How can you get bank loan or cash loan?


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Based on your problem associated with residence, work standing as well as profits, you'll be able to be eligible for a a loan up to $1500, and some creditors may loan a maximum of $500. You will have opportunity to observe how much you be eligible for a before accepting any kind of loan contract.


There is certainly an essential legal distinction from a gift as well as a bank loan. A very generous relative as well as pal could give you $5000 for car repairs, as an example. In case there's no hope associated with payment, the cash can be viewed as a present. The giver could not file suit for payment later inside a civil match. When the credit provider designates the money just like a loan as well as the customer pays back again a buck, the amount of money may very well be a real bank loan and also the loan company could demand payment whenever. Little statements courts invest a lot of period identifying no matter whether a transaction which includes money will be a gift or perhaps loan. For that reason papers is important when creating private lending options in order to buddies as well as loved ones.

The needs to get a loan are pretty straight forward. In case you are employed, having a regular monthly profits of $800 or higher, this will let you checking account, you satisfy the fundamental qualifications. Some creditors within our network might have additional requirements.

Money financial loans tend to be unsecured financial products removed on the following salary. Since they are short-term lending products, they could be small; various from $100 to $1500 and also repayment comes to your next payday. They may be very helpful for overcoming a brief monetary unexpected emergency, but really should not be viewed as the long-term financial option.

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Most home loan programs are addressed through finance institutions or another expert lenders. They could use a variety of conditions to find out if the potential client is qualified for a financial loan. Earlier credit rating is nearly usually deemed, together with current income as well as assets. The objective of the credit may also be an issue-a established expense possibility might have much more appeal as compared to an misguided concept for just about any new cafe. One essential point could be the earnings in order to credit card debt ratio from the customer. Can the customer manage to pay the bank loan back again interest? Skilled loan providers basically 'sell' income, so customers must be aware just how much financing really 'costs' with regards to real cash.

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Source: http://vikcheroky.livejournal.com/79586.html

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Griz outscore Eastern Washington 13-0 in the third quarter. They lead 23-17 with...

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Hear this: Earphone cords make cool portraits

By Courtney Garcia, TODAY contributor

The Internet has helped promote artists who work with such varied mediums as hole-punch dots, breakfast foods, and pennies. The latest unexpected art tool? Those oft-tangled earphone cords that come with your iPods.

Courtesy of Etcetera

One of the portraits created with earphone cords.

A project devised by Amsterdam-based marketing agency Etcetera and CGI post-production studio Souverein consists of a series of portraits created out of the twisty cords of earbuds. It was created for a promotional campaign surrounding T-Mobile?s ?Life for Sharing? collaboration with Deezer music, and is meant to highlight a new streaming add-on for mobile phones that allows users to create playlists and share them with their friends.

To embody the musical camaraderie, the promotion crew decided to bring their friends to life with cords.

?We made portraits of people who created a playlist with earphones, which symbolizes someone?s personal taste of music,? Stan van Zon, creative director of Etcetera told NBCNews.com. ?We started with photos of random people. Then we had a sketcher take a look at it, and emphasize the true characteristics with just a couple of strokes. We simplified these sketches to make the complete drawing with just two single strokes.?

Courtesy of Etcetera

The company is working on a project where anyone can create an image using the cords.

From there, the design was given to Sovereign, a company who specializes in image manipulation, CGI/3D, Photography and Fine Art printing.

?They prepared the job by modeling all kinds of earphones, just to see what works best,? van Zon explained. ?Black lines, black earplugs, not too much design-y stuff, and an off-white background.?

While the project began for advertising purposes, the flair of the idea has already inspired new editions. The original models were based on the faces of colleagues and friends, but Etcetera is working on a project that will enable music lovers to create their own portraits with earphones in conjunction with their personal playlists. Their plan is to?have the computer produce an earphone image based on someone?s Facebook profile or another photo available online. That portrait will then become a kind of album cover for the person?s playlist.

These renditions will likely prove a simpler task to construct than their prototypes.

?When the means to make an expression are so limited, really everything needs to be exactly right,? commented van Zon. ?Of course, this also depends on the specific characteristics of a person. With a nose twice as big as usual, it?ll make the job somewhat easier.?

What do you think of the unusual art? Tell us on Facebook.

Related content:

Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2012/09/28/14138652-now-hear-this-twisted-earphone-cords-create-cool-portraits?lite

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Advice That You Can Use When Buying A Home | Eric Chua : Life ...

There never existed a better time in our economy to buy real estate. This is a very profitable market and comes with lower rates and a lower investment to begin with. The advice provided in this article will assist you in finding a property that is both affordable and profitable.

When you are buying a property, have some extra money so that you can pay for costs that you did not expect. Buyers will often calculate the final closing costs by combining the amount for the down payment, any points that go to the bank, as well as any prorated taxes for real estate. You have to keep in mind that the closing costs might include other items like school taxes or improvement bonds.

Ask for closing cost assistance from the seller to save yourself some up front expenses. For example, you could ask for a seller to buy down your interest rates for a limited period of time. Keep in mind, though, if you request financial incentives from the seller, he will probably be less willing to negotiate on the home?s selling price.

TIP! Keeping an approval letter with you will make you much more attractive to your sellers. If you wait to get an approval, it will lengthen the amount of time it takes to buy the home, which could cost you more in the end.

Assume that needed repairs are a given when you are considering purchased any foreclosed home. Many of the foreclosed homes that are on the market have been vacant for quite some time. Regular maintenance has more than likely not been done on the home, which means significant repairs should be expected. Foreclosed homes often will require HVAC systems installed, and may be infested with pests.

If you get any home you are looking to buy appraised, accept an appraiser with no less than five years of experience. Don?t hire appraisers recommended by real estate agents. There is possibly a pretty stern conflict of interest. The appraiser that you hire must be state-certified or state-licensed.

TIP! When negotiating with a seller, make a reasonable offer. A lot of people adopt an aggressive attitude in the hope that the other party will cave.

Always obtain home warranty protection. It doesn?t matter whether you are buying a new home from the person who builds it or from a previous owner. You should still ask them for a home warranty. Any quality builder will stand behind the home he or she has built for a certain period of time. Prior owners of your newly-purchased home should have no problem providing a home warranty of some duration as a way of compensating you for repairs that may need to be made.

When you are plunging into real estate, make sure you have clear goals in mind. Categorize your long-term and short-term goals. If the investment doesn?t match the goals you have in place, don?t bother with it. If you don?t consider your own needs before investing, you?re likely to lose money on the deal or get frustrated with your investment.

Be pre-qualified for a mortgage loans before looking at houses. You don?t want to end up coming across the house of your dreams to be told that you can?t get a large enough loan to buy it. Also, getting a loan can be a long process that you do not want to wait until last minute to begin.

TIP! When purchasing a foreclosed home, it is wise to assume that there will be repairs that will need to be made. Most foreclosed properties are in need of repair, because they have not been maintained for a very long time.

If you are interested in a home with a beautiful view, don?t pay that much more because of the viewing possibilities. Even though you might appreciate the view, in the long term, potential buyers may not. Therefore, you can buy the house with the view, just make sure you don?t overpay for it.

Get a professional to look at the building you want to buy. It will cost a bit of money, but do not have a friend or relative inspect the home, because should they miss something, there is nothing you can do.

Those who are wise and jump into this swirling market should follow the above article closely. It will help you avoid trouble and walk away with real estate that is under-priced and growing constantly in value. The key is to purchase the property and hold until the time is right before you make your big

TIP! If you?re thinking about relocating, you may want to consider looking online at the neighborhood of the house you?re thinking of purchasing. There is a wealth of information available on the Internet, even for small cities and towns.

Join me on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/maynaseric

Source: http://www.maynaseric.com/advice-that-you-can-use-when-buying-a-home

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Saturday, September 29, 2012

Report: Apple Maps usage down to four percent

Before iOS 6, 25 percent were using Google Maps daily

Utilization of Apple's iOS 6 Maps app appears to have plummeted in the days since its release. According to one study from data management company Snappli, only four percent of users running iOS 6 are still using Apple Maps, a dramatic drop from just a week ago, when the app debuted. Snappli's figures also show that Apple Maps usage is far below the levels the company saw when Google's Maps app was the standard on iOS.

Snappli helps users stay within their limits by compressing data and video. To derive its maps figures, the company looked at data usage among its 5,000 users in the days since iOS 6 was released. The company found that 64 percent of its users in the US and UK had migrated to iOS 6.

Prior to the release of iOS 6 25 percent of Snappli users were viewing Google Maps at least once a day. Shortly after the release of iOS 6, 35 percent of Snappli users on that operating system were using Apple Maps. Now, though, that figure has dropped to four percent.

The degree to which one can extrapolate Snappli's figures to the wider iOS 6 user base is uncertain. The app serves a particular subset of users, and those users may well be particularly disinclined to use iOS 6 Maps. The study does, though, add a numerical element to the ongoing fiasco surrounding the iPhone maker's decision to switch away from Google's maps in favor of its own solution.

By Electronista Staff

Source: http://electronista.feedsportal.com/c/34342/f/626172/s/23f4a01e/l/0L0Selectronista0N0Carticles0C120C0A90C290Cbefore0Bios0B60B250Bpercent0Bwere0Busing0Bgoogle0Bmaps0Bdaily0C/story01.htm

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Black leather, tattoos, sky high stilettos and master chefs ? Richard ...

It seemed that everyone's inner rocker was outward bound Thursday night when Joyce and Hugh Echols opened their River Oaks mod pod for artist Richard Grieco's show of 14 wildly contemporary (he calls it "abstract emotionalism") paintings.

The invitation called for "rocker chic" attire and with the hipster Echolses as hosts, few dared enter without at least a swath of leather, a little exposed flesh or a serving of bling. In fact, Grieco's powerful paintings almost played second fiddle to the wild fashion display.

And then there were the generously tattooed, if scantily-clad waitresses.?

Consider the hostess in a fetching peekaboo black dress by Isabel Marant, cinched by a wide Balmain belt and accented with a necklace from Agent Provocateur.?

And then there were the generously tattooed, if scantily-clad waitresses ? a special request from event organizers Reyne Hirsch and Nancy Marcus Golden ? providing an edge that complimented the risky nature of the paintings that filled the walls of the Echols home.

Those attending the cocktail showing received invitations to Grieco's first major show, an exclusive event on Nov. 2 and 3 at Wyland Galleries???Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.

Beyond the energy generated by the paintings and by the risqu? fashion, the arrival of master chefs Daniel Boulud and Jerome Bocuse accompanied by jeweler Franco Valobra caused a secondary ripple through the gyrating crowd. After perusing the art work, the trio headed for the kitchen where Houston's own celebrity chef and their pal?Charles Clark worked his magic on scrumptious hors d'oeuvres.?

The crowd spread across the various rooms of the contemporary house where fashionistas included Becca Cason Thrash in a glittering Givenchy top that she had originally purchased for a Duran Duran party, Diane Lokey Farb in bling-encrusted party dress by Miu Miu and Mauney Mafrige in hot white wig and skin tight leather leggings.

Among those checking out Grieco's works were Aries Milan, Bubba McNeely, Regina and Mark Duke, Liz and Tom Glanville, Trey Schwarz, Marcy de Luna, Stephanie Eustis, Michael McConnell, Debbie Festari, Judith Oudt, Beth Muecke, Heidi and Ali Davoudi, Souad Malouf Bejjani and Angelica and Ed Chapman.

Source: http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/09-28-12-10-51-black-leather-tattoos-and-sky-high-stilettos-richard-griecos-art-party-rocked/

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In case you missed it: DMX Becomes A Deacon At His Old Church http://lp21.me/KvLn6R

DMX Becomes A Deacon At His Old Church | Loop21

www.loop21.com

For years, DMX?has stood for for Dark Man X. Now it looks like the "D" has another meaning. The rapper born Earl Simmons, Jr. claims that he has been named a deacon at his old church. In an interview with GlobalGrind.com he says: Yeah,

Source: http://www.facebook.com/theloop21/posts/366248013456480

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Wall Street eyes best third quarter since 2010

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street was set to finish its best third quarter since 2010 after a wave of central bank actions sparked a dramatic reversal in equity markets, but signs of weakness in the economy on Friday pushed stocks lower and raised questions about the rally.

The S&P 500 advanced 5.9 percent over the past three months were mainly due to expectations central banks would boost their economies. That brings the benchmark index's yearly advance to 15 percent.

But on Friday investors grappled with disappointing U.S. economic data. The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago's index of Midwest business activity showed contraction for the first time since 2009, falling to 49.7 in September from 53.0 in August.

The data follows other weak regional manufacturing reports and a sharp drop in durable goods orders last month.

"The reality is that the fundamentals of the market certainly don't support a 17-plus percent run up year-to-date, but with all the QE (quantitative easing) action, that has had a huge, huge impact," said Oliver Pursche, president at Gary Goldberg Financial Services in Suffern, New York.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.dji> dropped 33.98 points, or 0.25 percent, to 13,451.99. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.spx> fell 4.07 points, or 0.28 percent, to 1,443.08. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.ixic> lost 13.00 points, or 0.41 percent, to 3,123.60.

However, stocks were off their lows of the day after Spanish bank stress tests were mostly within expectations. The independent audit showed banks will need 59.3 billion euros ($76.3 billion) in extra capital to ride out a serious downturn.

Meanwhile, Moody's review of Spain's credit rating, due later in the day, could add to its challenges.

The final reading on the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan survey on consumer sentiment was also less than expected, though it advanced to its highest in four months.

U.S. consumer spending rose in August by the most in six months as households stretched to pay for higher gasoline prices, according to a Commerce Department report.

Recent protests in Greece and Spain against austerity plans have also heightened investors' concerns as the turmoil could impede political maneuvering.

Trading was light on the quarter's last day when money managers reposition their portfolios.

Reflecting the defensive tone, nine of the 10 S&P sectors fell. Only the S&P utilities index <.gspu> was positive, up just 0.4 percent.

The decline in the S&P technology sector index <.gspt> was limited, as Accenture PLC climbed 7.6 percent to $70.39. Accenture's gain followed its forecast of full-year earnings higher than analysts' estimates as the company bolsters its outsourcing business.

Elsewhere in the tech arena, U.S.-listed shares of Research in Motion jumped 6.3 percent to $7.60 a day after a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss.

Nike Inc warned of slowing orders in China, becoming the latest company to sound a note of caution about how economic weakness in the world's second-largest economy was affecting its business. Nike's stock fell 0.5 percent to $95.55.

The S&P 500 is down 1.2 percent this week so far, putting the index on track for its second consecutive weekly decline and worst weekly percentage drop since early June as markets have struggled to maintain upward movement after the Fed's latest stimulus plan announced on September 13.

(Editing by Kenneth Barry)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/stock-index-futures-point-slightly-higher-081153117--finance.html

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Genealogy and Family History Conferences for Fall - Genealogy ...

by Jen Thorpe | More from this Blogger

luggage Genealogy conferences, and family history conferences, can be exciting to attend. Instead of watching a webinar while you sit at home, you get to travel and to meet with other genealogists. The FamilySearch blog has a short list of upcoming genealogy and family history conferences that are happening this Fall. I've added in a few additional ones.

The AAHGS, which stands for the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, is having their 33rd AAHGS Conference on October 4, 2012, through October 7, 2012. It will take place in the Embassy Suites Airport Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina. The theme is "Our African & Southern Heritage". You can register for the conference through the AAHGS website.

The Logan Utah Family History Center, which is located in Logan, Utah, will hold an FHC Conference on October 13, 2012. The theme is: "Find Your Tree in the Forest". The Keynote Speaker will be Michael D Rossetti, who will be presenting "Using Google Search to Connect with Your Past". Registration is free. Please pre-register so they know how many people to expect. You can order a sack lunch for $7.00, and a printed syllabus for $8.00.

The Illinois State Genealogical Society will have the 2012 ISGS Fall Conference on October 19, 2012 and on October 20, 2012. It will take place in Rockford, Illinois in the Best Western Clock Tower Resort & Conference Center.

Register by October 1, 2012, and it will cost $89.99. It might cost more if you wait to register after that date. There will be several speakers, including Thomas MacEntee, John Phillip Colletta, Dr. Daniel Hubbard, and more.

The 2012 Sioux Falls Family History Conference will happen on October 27, 2012. It will take place at their meetinghouse, which is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The theme is: "Celebrating the Past". The Keynote Speaker will be Virginia Hanson, who is an Archivist for the South Dakota State Archives. There is no charge to attend the conference classes. You can pre-pay for a sandwich/salad buffet for $6.50 (or can provide your own lunch).

The Texas State Genealogical Society will hold the 2012 TSGS Annual Conference from November 1, 2012, through November 3, 2012. It is going to take place in the Riley Conference Center, which is located in Fort Worth, Texas. The theme is: "Saddlebags to Social Networking: Following Ancestors Through History".

The featured speaker will be Curt B. Witcher, MLS, FUGA, IGSF. He is the Senior Manager for Special Collections at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Texas. It is expected that there will be a way to register for the Conference online, soon.

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I am currently writing for the Insurance, Deals, Genealogy, and Special Needs blogs.I have also written for the Parenting,Money, Homeschooling, Preschool, Health, Food and Weightloss blogs.

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Source: http://genealogy.families.com/blog/genealogy-and-family-history-conferences-for-fall

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Gramophone Awards 2012 to pianist Murray Perahia, conductor ...

Gramphone magazine's prestigious recordings awards include honors for pianist Murray Perahia and conductor Claudio Abbado. Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja was named Artist of the Yearand 20-year-old pianist Benjamin Grosvenor was named Young Artist of the Year.?
Perahia wins in a new category: the "Piano Award." And in choosing Abbado's recording of "Fidelio," critic Richard Osborne writes:
"The revised dialogue provided by stage director Tatjana G?rbaca is not without controversy. In Act 1, her cuts and rewrites remove all hint of domesticity and private affection; in Act 2, she omits just about everything. The result is Beethoven?s lofty Singspiel recast as musical meta-theatre. Happily, the cast is as fine as any that might be assembled today and Abbado himself conducts a performance the like of which we have not heard since the time of Furtw?ngler. It is a no-frills yet at the same time deeply expressive reading which goes like a bolted arrow directly to the heart of the matter. If Fidelio speaks as no other opera does of the miraculous resilience of the human spirit, Claudio Abbado?s late re-creation of it serves only to compound that miracle."
-- David Stabler

Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2012/09/gramophone_awards_2012_to_pian.html

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PFT: Replacement ref said they were 'pawns'

Reggie+Bush+New+York+Jets+v+Miami+Dolphins+bnB-l520_SAlGetty Images

We cover all of the biggest injury stories throughout the day on Friday, but feel free to use this as a one-stop shop to catch up on those posts and any other names worth mentioning that we?ll throw in here every Friday.

Panthers at Falcons

Linebacker Jon Beason is questionable for the Panthers and the team has already said that they won?t be moving Luke Kuechly to the middle in the event Beason can?t play on Sunday. Linebacker Thomas Davis is also questionable and guard Mike Pollak is out. For the Falcons, wide receiver Julio Jones is probable while cornerback Christopher Owens is the most notable of the four Falcons listed as out this week.

Bengals at Jaguars

The Bengals have issues at cornerback. Dre Kirkpatrick is still out and Jason Allen and Nate Clements are both doubtful. Leon Hall missed practice all week with a hamstring injury, but is listed as probable. Linebacker Daryl Smith is out for the Jags and they should get running back Rashad Jennings is likely to make his return to the lineup after being listed as probable.

Dolphins at Cardinals

Running back Reggie Bush and cornerback Richard Marshall are listed as questionable, but the expectation is that each of them will play this week. The news isn?t quite so good for Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett. He?s doubtful because of a hamstring injury and tight end Todd Heap and running back LaRod Stephens-Howling both earned the same designation.

Vikings at Lions

Both quarterbacks are probable after dealing with injuries this week. Linebacker Erin Henderson is out again for the Vikings thanks to a concussion, but defensive end Jared Allen is probable. Lions defensive tackle Corey Williams will miss the game after having knee surgery this week, running back Mikel Leshoure is questionable and safety Louis Delmas is doubtful as he makes an extended recovery from his own knee surgery.

Patriots at Bills

The Patriots will be without wide receiver Julian Edelman and tight end Aaron Hernandez. Tight end Rob Gronkowski, guard Logan Mankins and tackle Sebastian Vollmer are all questionable. The Bills hope to have running backs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, although both are listed as questionable following limited practice participation this week.

Saints at Packers

Defensive end Turk McBride, linebacker David Hawthorne and linebacker Jonathan Casillas are all out for the Saints. Wide receiver Greg Jennings is probable for the Packers, as is running back James Starks.

Raiders at Broncos

Oakland has ruled out tackle Khalif Barnes and cornerback Shawntae Spencer for a second straight game. Running back Darren McFadden is probable after being slowed by a shoulder injury this week and wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, while eager to get back on the field, is doubtful thanks to the blow to the head and neck he took in last week?s win against the Steelers. The Broncos are fairly healthy with the exception of safety Quinton Carter, who is out, and guard Chris Kuper, listed as doubtful.

Chargers at Chiefs

Chargers cornerback Shareece Wright is out again this week while tackle Jared Gaither has climbed the ladder to questionable while dealing with his ever-present back injury. Kicker Nate Kaeding is also listed as questionable, but he?s not going to Kansas City and Nick Novak will kick. The Chiefs offense could be in a tough way. Tight end Kevin Boss is out, running back Peyton Hillis is doubtful and three wideouts ? Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston and Dexter McCluster ? are all questionable.

49ers at Jets

The 49ers continue to list running back Brandon Jacobs and wide receiver Ted Ginn as questionable, just as they have before they?ve missed the team?s other games this season. Cornerback Darrelle Revis is out (and will be until his triumphant return for the Super Bowl) and wide receiver Stephen Hill is listed as doubtful, although you can go ahead and downgrade him based on Rex Ryan?s assessment of his chances of playing. Tight end Dustin Keller and linebacker Bryan Thomas, who have each missed the last two games, are questionable.

Seahawks at Rams

Seattle listed guard John Moffitt as doubtful and linebacker LeRoy Hill is questionable. The Rams will have another game-time decision with running back Steven Jackson and rookie defensive tackle Michael Brockers could make his regular season debut after missing the first three games with an ankle injury.

Titans at Texans

Tennessee wide receiver Kenny Britt and tight end Jared Cook are both questionable, although Cook was the only one to practice at all this week. The Texans listed wide receiver Lestar Jean as out and they have a slew of players, including quarterback Matt Schaub and running back Arian Foster, as probable.

Redskins at Buccaneers

Cornerback Cedric Griffin is out for the Redskins while wide receiver Pierre Gar?on and tackle Trent Williams have both been listed as questionable. The Buccaneers will be without cornerback Anthony Gaitor, but are otherwise injury free.

Giants at Eagles

The Giants won?t have tackle David Diehl again this week and cornerback Jayron Hosley and linebacker Keith Rivers have also been ruled out. Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks is doubtful and likely to miss a second straight game. Demetress Bell will start at left tackle for the Eagles in place of King Dunlap, but wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and defensive end Trent Cole are both probable for the game.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/28/replacement-ref-we-were-pawns-in-a-business-deal/related/

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Obama, Romney camps agree: The other guy is a great debater (cbsnews)

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JT&#39;s ?800k legal bill - The Sun

JOHN TERRY faces a mega ?800,000 bill over the Anton Ferdinand race row.

And Chelsea will not pay a penny of it.

JT was ?disappointed? after the FA yesterday found him guilty of racially abusing the QPR defender.

He copped a four-game ban and an FA record ?220,000 fine.

But that is only a fraction of the sum Chelsea?s captain spent fighting his case.

Terry, 31, has run up legal fees estimated at ?750,000 battling his criminal and FA charges.

He hopes to recoup around ?400,000 from the court case, where he was found not guilty.

But the ex-England skipper is now liable to pay the costs of the FA hearing, too, said to be at least ?200,000.

That brings his total bill to a whopping ?770,000.

But if Terry decides to continue his fight and appeal against the FA?s punishment, his legal bill will rise even further.

A statement issued on his behalf said: ?Mr Terry is disappointed that the FA commission has reached a different conclusion to the clear not guilty verdict of a court of law.

?He has asked for the detailed written reasons of the decision and will consider them carefully before deciding whether to lodge an appeal.?

Terry has 14 days from receiving the FA commission?s written report to decide what to do next.

His fine and ban will be suspended until any appeal is heard, the 14 days expire or Terry announces he will not appeal.

But if the Blues defender does appeal and loses, the FA?s punishment could be increased.

Terry announced on Sunday he was quitting international football, claiming the FA had made his position in the England team untenable by continuing to persue the charge against him.

Westminster Magistrates cleared him in July of racially abusing Ferdinand, 27, after Chelsea?s Premier League clash at QPR last October.

Terry admitted in court using obscene words towards Ferdinand ? but not as a racist insult.

A club statement last night said: ?Chelsea Football Club notes and respects today?s decision.

?We also recognise that John has the right to appeal that decision.

?It is therefore inappropriate for us to comment further on the matter at this time.?

Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4560852/John-Terry-faces-800000-legal-bill-over-Anton-Ferdinand-race-row.html

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Are You Overlooking One Of The Most Essential Skills For ...

Article by Alex Yeo

You already have the ability to be a great communicator. After all, you have been practising from an early age. However, somewhere along the way, that ability may have become suppressed. An overbearing parent can suppress a child?s ability to communicate, as well as an overly critical teacher or even a bullying boss. They gave out mixed signals which detract from your in-born spontaneity. Excellent communicators act naturally. There are no mixed signals in the messages they relay and their sincerity is apparent. Regardless of your present level of skills in this area, the good news is that you can make rapid progress developing communication, with instant results!

What are the qualities you associate with that of being a good communicator? I believe you will name a few common traits, such as the ability to listen, to relay information clearly and to present and respond to ideas with enthusiasm. But, there is one quality that is often overlooked: CONSIDERATION. The most effective communicator always extends consideration to the listener and audience. Even when they want to get a point across, they provide space for consideration. What do I mean by that? Effective communicators limit their talk time so that the listener can respond and give feedback. They will also ensure that written correspondence is as clear as possible.

How many times have you received a letter or an e-mail and wanted to throw it in the bin immediately? Perhaps the next time you do it, you may want to think about why it did not hold your attention. Was it full of jargon? Was it irrelevant to your needs? Or it reeked of insincerity? This is a very useful exercise as it helps you to identify what caused you to disregard the message. In other words, you need to consider your methods of communication before you ?send? it out to other people. Being aware of of ineffective communication can steer you away from using it. On the other hand, when something gets your attention, make a note of why. Do the same thing with verbal communication.

It is a good idea that you use a journal to list the things that make you a good communicator as compared to a bad one. It may help you to think of the people you know, such as a friend who is a great story teller and can hold a captive audience, or the all-time bore who always interrupts and talks over everyone. Once you establish the ?consideration-before-you-communicate? trait, you will be in a better position to negotiate with people in order to fufill your goals and become more successful in your communication.

About the Author

Alex Yeo is a leading provider of online personal development and self-help information. Click Here to download FREE self-help audios and informative ebooks. Get access to his special e-Courses and weekly inspiration quotes at www.SelfHelpSpot.com.

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author?s information and copyright must be included.

Alex Yeo is a leading provider of online personal development and self-help information. Click Here to download FREE self-help audios and informative ebooks. Get access to his special e-Courses and weekly inspiration quotes at www.SelfHelpSpot.com.












Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author?s information and copyright must be included.

Source: http://justarticles.net/09/are-you-overlooking-one-of-the-most-essential-skills-for-communication-success/

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Refs cheered at first NFL game following lockout

BALTIMORE (AP) ? No one is complaining that the refs cost the Cleveland Browns the game. That mere fact is a major victory for the NFL and the seven-man crew led by referee Gene Steratore, who brought official harmony back to the nation's most popular league.

Cheered from the moment they walked onto the field, the men in stripes ran a smooth and efficient game Thursday night as the NFL's lockout of officials came to an end with the Baltimore Ravens' 23-16 win over the Browns.

"To just be applauded by 50,000 people prior to anything happening, it was something that kind of chokes you up," Steratore said. "It was a very special feeling."

Sure, there were calls that made both sides unhappy. Browns coach Pat Shurmur drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for arguing an intentional grounding call, and Ravens left tackle Michael Oher could be heard raising all kinds of beef about a holding call.

But, overall, the officials kept the game in control, curtailing the chippy play and choppy pace ? not to mention the inconsistent calls ? that had marred the three weeks of games with replacement officials.

"It was great to have those guys back," Ravens running back Ray Rice said. "It looked like they knew what they were doing."

An agreement to end the lockout was reached late Wednesday after marathon negotiations, two days after a "Monday Night Football" finish brought debate over the use of the replacements to a fevered pitch nationwide.

That game ended when a 24-yard desperation pass on the last play was ruled a touchdown ? even though replays appeared to show it should have been an interception ? giving the Seattle Seahawks a disputed 14-12 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

The stage was set for something eerily similar Thursday. A fourth-down unnecessary roughness penalty on Baltimore's Paul Kruger ? a good call, given the way he shoved Cleveland's Joe Thomas after the whistle ? gave the Browns one final play from the 18-yard line.

But Brandon Weeden's 18-yard pass sailed high as time expired. No controversial ending this time.

"I thought they handled (the game) great," Cleveland coach Pat Shurmur said. "I had all the confidence in the world that this was going to be officiated in the right way."

The newfound love for the refs was evident all evening.

About an hour before kickoff, they made their first appearance on the field and heard cheers from the early arrivals. A few minutes later, Steratore was shaking hands with Shurmur near midfield and getting a hug from Ravens face-of-the-franchise Ray Lewis at the 30-yard line.

Later, when the crew returned, they received a standing ovation and doffed their caps to the crowd. One fan held up a sign that read: "Finally! We get to yell at real refs! Welcome back!"

"It was very chaotic with the replacement refs," said Karen Riley, a 44-year-old fan wearing a Rice jersey. "They couldn't control the players on either side. There were bad calls, constantly, and in some cases refs making different calls at the same time."

When Steratore then turned on his microphone to greet the captains for the pre-game coin toss, the crowd heard him say: "Good evening, men. It's good to be back."

The stadium erupted in a roar.

"You know we always pride ourselves in being a face without a name," Steratore, a 10-year league veteran, told The Associated Press about an hour before kickoff. "This will be a little different, but I don't expect it to last too long. And that's the goal ? is that we can let them get through that portion of this. It's happy to be back, it's happy to be appreciated. But then as soon as the game starts, it's happy to disappear again and let the entertainers entertain."

The deal to end the lockout is only tentative ? it must be ratified by 51 percent of the union's 121 members in a vote scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Dallas ? but both sides nevertheless went forward with the plan to have the regulars back for Thursday's game.

So Steratore hustled to Baltimore, making the 3?-hour drive Thursday morning from his home in the Pittsburgh area. He's usually in place the day before a game, but none of his regular pregame meetings had to be changed because the Browns-Ravens game was at night.

"We've had a few weeks to actually realize that this was the first September that I was home for multiple Saturdays and Sundays for almost 30 years of my life, continuously. ... It just feels completely different," Steratore said. "To be away from something that is involved with this level of professional sport, just to come back and feel that again, it doesn't take long to realize why you were missing it as much as you were missing it."

Steratore, who is a basketball official in the Big East Conference among others, also was fully aware he would be jeered the first time his crew made a questionable call ? just like always.

"Without a question," he said. "I've been yelled at by my own children many times, so this won't be any different."

Sure enough, the same fans that cheered the coin toss let out a full chorus of boos when line judge Jeff Seeman tossed his yellow flag some 20 yards to whistle Baltimore safety Bernard Pollard for a personal foul in the third quarter. Replays showed it was a good call: Pollard led with his helmet to make contact with a defenseless receiver, costing the Ravens 15 yards in a drive that led to a field goal for the Browns.

Steratore's crew nearly made a misstep in the first quarter, incorrectly spotting the ball by 2 yards after a misapplication of the rules following a holding call on the Browns. But two members of the crew caught the mistake and notified the referee before the next snap. A brief huddle ensued, and the ball was moved to its correct spot.

The crew made it clear it wouldn't tolerate the extra shoving and yelling after the whistle that had been frequently permitted by the replacements. Offsetting personal fouls were called on Cleveland's Johnson Bademosi and Baltimore's James Ihedigbo for extracurricular roughness on a punt return in the first quarter.

Then there was Shurmur's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Replays appeared to validate the grounding call he was trying to contest, and the coach took responsibility for his loss of temper.

"I can't do that," Shurmur said. "It's an emotional game, and I got to make sure I keep my emotions in check."

There were 18 penalties called in the game, mostly the familiar calls for holding and false start. There were two rare ? and indisputable ? whistles for fair catch interference on punt returns, and a hands-to-the-face call on Baltimore's Kelechi Osemele was so obvious that it drew three flags.

The league's new agreement with the officials runs for eight years. Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged the ending of the Seahawks-Packers game "may have pushed the parties further along" in the talks.

"Obviously when you go through something like this it is painful for everybody," Goodell said. "Most importantly, it is painful for our fans. We are sorry to have to put our fans through that, but it is something that in the short term you sometimes have to do to make sure you get the right kind of deal for the long term and make sure you continue to grow the game."

The dispute even made its way to the campaign trail, with President Barack Obama's spokesman, Jay Carney, calling Thursday "a great day for America."

"The president's very pleased that the two sides have come together," Carney said.

___

AP Sports Writer Rachel Cohen and AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner in New York, AP Pro Football Writer Howard Fendrich in Washington, and AP Sports Writer David Ginsburg in Baltimore contributed to this report.

___

Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

___

Online: http://bigstory.ap.org/NFL-Pro32 and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/refs-cheered-first-nfl-game-following-lockout-081746847--nfl.html

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Amazon breaks down its Kindle Paperwhite light technology (video)

Amazon breaks down its PaperWhite technology video

Amazon's certainly not the first company to deliver an illuminated e-reader, but the mega-retailer's psyched about its new Kindle Paperwhite nonetheless, and after playing around with the device a bit, it's easy to see why. According to CEO Jeff Bezos, R&D's been working on the technology for years now, attempting to get the perfect balance of brightness and battery life, all while ensuring an even distribution across the display. How does it achieve this? We've heard the technology described as an optical cable laid flat across the display. The company goes into a bit more detail on the technology that powers the reader, via a few Beautiful Mind-esque shots in the video after the break. It'll give you something to do while you wait for your reader to ship early next month.

Continue reading Amazon breaks down its Kindle Paperwhite light technology (video)

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Friday, September 28, 2012

Ex-Sen. Bond now backing Akin's Mo. Senate bid (The Arizona Republic)

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Study finds birth defects down among IVF babies

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Though assisted-reproduction techniques (ART) are known to come with a higher risk for birth defects, a new review of defect rates in Western Australia shows major birth defects becoming less common over the course of a decade among babies born through ART.

It's unclear why there have been fewer birth defects in more recent years.

"Changes to clinical practice may be largely responsible with improved (laboratory techniques) leading to the transfer of 'healthier' embryos," suggested Michele Hansen, the lead author of the study and a researcher at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Subiaco, Western Australia.

It's also not known why babies conceived through ART are likelier to have an increased risk of birth defects in the first place.

A recent estimate, based on the results of several dozen studies, found that ART is linked with a 37 percent increase in the risk of being born with a birth defect (see Reuters Health story of April 19, 2012).

Hansen said she and her colleagues wanted to get an update on those rates using a database of all births in Western Australia.

They collected information on more than 207,000 births, including babies conceived through two common techniques, 1,328 by in vitro fertilization and 633 by intracytoplasmic sperm injection, from 1994 to 2002.

The data also included pregnancies terminated due to a defect in the fetus.

Overall, major birth defects, including cleft lip, hip dysplasia and malformations of the heart, abdominal wall and genitals, affected about eight percent of singleton babies conceived by ART, compared to about five percent of babies conceived without assistance.

When the researchers compared the period between 1994 and 1998 to the years between 1998 and 2002, they saw a decline in birth defects over time among babies whose parents used ART.

In the first period, nearly 11 percent of ART babies had a birth defect diagnosed by age six, compared to about 7.5 percent in the second period.

In the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hansen calls the results "encouraging," though she can't explain them.

The researchers speculate they could stem from a combination of ART techniques becoming available to a wider swath of the population, and changes in how the techniques themselves are applied.

"It is very difficult to assess the impact of each of these changes on birth defect risk, however, we believe that changes to laboratory practice...changes to the medications used for ovarian stimulation requiring lower doses and shorter stimulation periods; together with a decrease in the number of embryos transferred may all have had a positive impact on the 'health' of embryos transferred in ART treatments," she told Reuters Health in an email.

"Whilst our study does still show that babies born using Assisted Reproductive Technology remain at a higher risk of birth defects, couples seeking ART treatment can be reassured that the vast majority of ART infants are born healthy and do not have a birth defect," said Hansen.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/SnGBpA Obstetrics & Gynecology, October, 2012.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/study-finds-birth-defects-down-among-ivf-babies-223644343.html

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