Bus

josephaaron

BANGKOK ? Asian stock markets fell Monday, with slower-than-expected growth in the U.S. and uncertainty about a tentative deal to resolve Greece's debt crisis weighing on investor sentiment.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell 0.6 percent to 8,785.22. South Korea's Kospi was 1.2 percent lower at 1,940.82 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 0.5 percent to 20,401.32. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.4 percent at 4,272.40.

Benchmarks in Singapore and the Philippines also fell. Shares in mainland China were mixed after being closed for a week for Chinese New Year holidays. Taiwan and New Zealand rose.

European leaders were to meet later Monday in Brussels to discuss austerity and belt-tightening measures as well as a tentative deal reached Saturday between Greece and its private investors that could avert a disastrous Greek default on its debt.

If the deal holds and works, it will help prevent a potential shock to the world banking system. But it doesn't resolve the weakening economic conditions in Greece and other European nations as they rein in spending to get their debts under control.

Stan Shamu of IG Markets in Melbourne said that "the Greece debt issues will remain a source of uncertainty and might dampen the risk mood ahead of the EU summit today."

Under the agreement, investors holding 206 billion euros ($272 billion) in Greek bonds would exchange them for bonds with half the face value. The replacement bonds would have a longer maturity and pay a lower interest rate.

The deal would reduce Greece's annual interest expense from about 10 billion euros to about 4 billion euros. When the bonds mature, Greece would have to pay its bondholders only 103 billion euro.

It is unclear how investors who buy and sell the bonds of other debt-burdened countries, such as Italy, Spain and Portugal, will react. If they drive up borrowing costs for those countries, the debt crisis could get worse.

Private investors hold two-thirds of Greece's debt, which is equal to an unsustainable 160 percent of its annual economic output. By restructuring the debt, Greece hopes to make it a more manageable 120 percent by decade's end.

On Wall Street, stocks mostly fell Friday after the government said the U.S. economy grew more slowly than expected in the last three months of 2011.

Economic growth for October through December came in at an annual rate of 2.8 percent. That was the fastest of 2011 but lower than the 3 percent that economists were looking for.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.6 percent to 12,660.46. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 0.2 percent to 1,316.33. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.4 percent to 2,816.55.

Benchmark oil for March delivery was down 36 cents to $99.20 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 14 cents to end at $99.56 per barrel on the Nymex on Friday.

In currencies, the euro fell to $1.3180 from $1.3208 late Friday in New York. The dollar rose slightly to 76.74 yen from 76.72 yen.

(This version CORRECTS Updates paragraph 2, corrects Hang Seng figure.)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/stocks/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120130/ap_on_re_as/world_markets

will rogers ohio university ohio university keystone xl pipeline idaho potato bowl cagayan de oro cagayan de oro

josephaaron

KABUL, Afghanistan ? An Afghan woman has been strangled death, apparently by her husband, who was upset that she gave birth to a second daughter rather than the son he had hoped for, police said Monday.

It was the latest in a series of grisly examples of subjugation of women that have made headlines in Afghanistan in the past few months ? including a 15-year-old tortured and forced into prostitution by in-laws and a female rape victim who was imprisoned for adultery.

The episodes have raised the question of what will happen to the push for women's rights in Afghanistan as the international presence here shrinks along with the military drawdown. NATO forces are scheduled to pull out by the end of 2014.

In the 10 years since the ouster of the Taliban, great strides have been made for women in Afghanistan, with many attending school, working in offices and even sometimes marching in protests. But abuse and repression of women are still common, particularly in rural areas where women are still unlikely to set foot outside of the house without a burqa robe that covers them from head to toe.

The man in the latest case, Sher Mohammad, fled the Khanabad district in Kunduz province last week, about the time a neighbor found his 22-year-old wife dead in their house, said District Police Chief Sufi Habibullah. Medical examiners whom police brought to check the body said she had been strangled, Habibullah said.

The woman, named Estorai, had warned family members that her husband had repeatedly reproached her for giving birth to a daughter rather than a son and had threatened to kill her if it happened again, said Provincial women's affairs chief Nadira Ghya, who traveled to Khanabad to deal with the case. Estorai gave birth to her second daughter between two and three months ago, Ghya said. Officials did not have a family name for either Sher Mohammad or Estorai.

Police took the man's mother into custody because she appears to have collaborated in a plot to kill her daughter-in-law, Habibullah said. Ghya, who visited the man's mother in jail, said that she swears that Estorai committed suicide by hanging. Police said they found no rope and no evidence of hanging from the woman's wounds.

Boy babies are traditionally prized much more highly than girls in Afghanistan, where a son means a breadwinner and a daughter is seen as a drain on the family until she is married off. Even so, a murder over the gender of a baby would be rare and shocking if proved true.

The U.S. Embassy issued a statement Monday praising the Afghan government for recent declarations supporting women's rights in the wake of the latest abuse cases that have garnered media attention.

"The rights of women cannot be relegated to the margins of international affairs, as this issue is at the core of our national security and the security of people everywhere," the statement said. It did not address the killing of the young woman in Kunduz.

(This version CORRECTS Corrects coding.)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120130/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan

jets patriots breaking bad breaking bad nancy shevell nancy shevell weezer weezer

josephaaron

When your laptop goes missing, your first reaction may be blind, unreasoning panic. If the laptop has Notebak Anti-Theft ($29.95/year direct) installed, though, you can relax a bit. That is, as long as you've configured the product correctly for maximum security. Notebak offers a wide variety of features to help you protect and recover your laptop and the data that it holds.

During installation you define a password for connecting with the Notebak Web portal, along with a separate secret key which can't be the same as the password. To make remote requests of the client installed on the laptop you'll need to enter this secret key.

To open the local Notebak client on the laptop itself you can either double-click its icon or press Shift+Ctrl+V. If desired you can set Notebak for stealth mode, hiding the icon. In that case, the special keystroke becomes the only way to open Notebak.

Lock and Alarm
Any time you have to leave your laptop unattended, you really should lock Windows, so nobody can even look at what you've been doing. Notebak can't do that for you, since it can't tell that you've walked away. However, it can lock automatically if a thief closes the lid or unplugs the power in preparation for running off with the laptop.

From the local client you can choose several alarm and lock options. Just setting it to sound the alarm if the laptop is unplugged or the lid closed won't help you much, since the thief can just click a big on-screen button to turn Notebak off. Instead, set it to sound the alarm and lock the computer. You can choose from a dozen alarm sounds.

As with Laptop Superhero ($29.99/year direct, 2.5 stars) and LaptopSentry 3.1 ($9.99 direct, 2.5 stars), Notebak's alarm could be silenced by plugging headphones (or even a simple audio jack) into the headphone socket. The startled thief probably won't think of this ploy.

Serious Lockdown
The DigitaLabel feature goes way beyond merely invoking Windows's computer lock. When active, it displays a big notice on the laptop screen before Windows ever boots, saying "REWARD FOR RETURN." The notice contains a unique identifier along with Notebak's Web address. An honest user can report the find using the unique ID, without ever receiving your personal connection information. As the owner, you can bypass that screen by typing in a four-digit code that you'll find by logging in to the Notebak Web portal.

Naturally I tried to break through this protection, to somehow gain access without entering the four-digit code. I couldn't do it. The product includes advice to foil a thief who wants to reformat the drive, though of course there's no hope if the thief physically extracts the drive and installs it in another computer.

When a good Samaritan reports finding a lost laptop, the recovery process is flexible. If you want to pay a reward, Notebak will negotiate with the finder. They can set up a meeting or have the finder ship them the laptop (at your expense). You (and the finder) can remain anonymous. The point is to give you the best a chance at recovery.

For maximum security, you can set DigitaLabel so it's always active. That means each time you restart or unlock the computer for your own use, you'll need to enter that four-digit code. You can also set it to activate any time the laptop's location is outside a user-defined geofence (more about geofencing shortly).

At a minimum, the company recommends you set DigiaLabel to turn on automatically if the laptop hasn't connected to the Internet for a full day. Like the offline lock feature in Laptop Superhero, this helps ensure that a thief can't totally foil Notebak by isolating it from your remote commands.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/NnEnW6uOuJA/0,2817,2399391,00.asp

9 9 9 delmon young sprint chris tucker phoenix jones danielle chiesi walter payton

josephaaron

FILE - Sens. Charles Schumer of New York, left and Mark Pryor of Arkansas said Sunday Jan. 29, 2012 that federal funding in a pending transportation funding bill be used for research and to train police in identifying drugged drivers, who don't show the same outward signs of intoxication as drunken drivers do, such as slurred speech.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) ? The federal government should help police departments nationwide obtain the tools and training needed to attack a rising scourge of driving under the influence, two U.S. senators said Sunday.

Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Mark Pryor of Arkansas proposed that federal funding in a pending transportation funding bill be used for research and to train police. They said police have no equipment and few have training in identifying drugged drivers, who don't show the same outward signs of intoxication as drunken drivers do, such as slurred speech.

"Cops need a Breathalyzer-like technology that works to identify drug-impaired drivers on-the-spot ? before they cause irreparable harm," Schumer said. "With the explosive growth of prescription drug abuse it's vital that local law enforcement have the tools and training they need to identify those driving under the influence of narcotics to get them off the road."

Schumer says drugged driving arrests rose 35 percent in New York since 2001, but he says that's a fraction of the cases.

The Democrats cited a 2009 federal report in which 10.5 million Americans acknowledged that they had driven under the influence of drugs. Schumer said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in a 2007 roadside survey, more than 16 percent of weekend and night-time drivers tested positive for illegal prescription drugs or over-the-counter drugs. Eleven percent of them were found to have taken illegal drugs.

The administration also found that a third of 12,055 drivers tested who died in car crashes in 2009 had used drugs.

Yet police have no approved equipment to help identify drugged drivers, though saliva tests are being researched.

Pryor wants to create federal grants so police can participate in programs that require up to 200 hours of instruction to detect drugged driving.

Schumer said the effort is prompted in part by two fatal December crashes in the New York City area in which two boys ? one 5 years old and the other, 4 ? died. Prescription drug abuse is being investigated in both cases.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-29-Drugged%20Driving/id-b86efa49b6764878a1489b29603d5837

parks and rec facebook announcement tyler clementi beebe michelle malkin goodrich death penalty

josephaaron

Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, center, waves her hand to supporters on her arrival in Dawei, about 615 km (380 miles) south of Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012. Thousands of supporters in Myanmar's countryside cheered opposition leader Suu Kyi on Sunday as she made a political tour ahead of by-elections, highlighting how quickly and dramatically politics is changing in the long-repressed Southeast Asian nation. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)

Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, center, shakes hands with a supporter on her arrival in Dawei, about 615 km (380 miles) south of Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012. Thousands of supporters in Myanmar's countryside cheered opposition leader Suu Kyi on Sunday as she made a political tour ahead of by-elections, highlighting how quickly and dramatically politics is changing in the long-repressed Southeast Asian nation. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)

Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, center, waves her hand to supporters on her arrival in Dawei, about 615 km (380 miles) south of Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012. Thousands of supporters in Myanmar's countryside cheered opposition leader Suu Kyi on Sunday as she made a political tour ahead of by-elections, highlighting how quickly and dramatically politics is changing in the long-repressed Southeast Asian nation. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win)

DAWEI, Myanmar (AP) ? Euphoric seas of supporters waved opposition party flags and offered yellow garlands. They lined crumbling roads for miles and climbed atop trees, cars and roofs as Aung San Suu Kyi spoke at impromptu rallies. Some cried as her convoy passed.

Cheered by tens of thousands, the 66-year-old opposition leader electrified Myanmar's repressive political landscape everywhere she traveled Sunday on her first political tour of the countryside since her party registered to run in a historic ballot that could see her elected to parliament for the first time.

"We will bring democracy to the country," Suu Kyi said to roaring applause as her voice boomed through loudspeakers from the balcony of a National League for Democracy office in the southern coastal district of Dawei. "We will bring rule of law ... and we will see to it that repressive laws are repealed."

As huge crowds screamed "Long Live Daw Aung San Suu Kyi!" and others held banners saying "You Are Our Heart," she said: "We can overcome any obstacle with unity and perseverance, however difficult it may be."

Suu Kyi's campaign and by-elections due April 1 are being watched closely by the international community, which sees the vote as a crucial test of whether the military-backed government is really committed to reform.

The mere fact that Suu Kyi was able to speak openly in public in Dawei ? and her supporters were able to greet her en masse without fear of reprisal ? was proof of dramatic progress itself. Such scenes would have been unthinkable just a year ago, when the long-ruling junta was still in power and demonstrations were all but banned.

Suu Kyi's visit was equivalent to waking a sleeping dragon, said environmental activist Aung Zaw Hein.

"People had been afraid to discuss politics for so long," he said. "Now that she's visiting, the political spirit of people has been awakened."

Looking into the giant crowds, Hein added: "I've never seen people's faces look like this before. For the first time, they have hope in their eyes."

Businesman Ko Ye said he was ecstatic that Suu Kyi came, and like most people here, he welcomed the recent dramatic changes that made her trip possible. "We are all hoping for democracy," the 49-year-old said, "but we're afraid these reforms can be reversed at anytime."

After nearly half a century of iron-fisted military rule, a nominally civilian government took office last March. The new government has surprised even some of its toughest critics by releasing hundreds of political prisoners, signing cease-fire deals with ethnic rebels, increasing media freedoms and easing censorship laws.

Suu Kyi's party boycotted the 2010 election as neither free nor fair. It sought to have its legal status restored after the government amended electoral laws. Her party has been cleared to offer candidates in the April vote, and an Election Commission ruling on Suu Kyi's candidacy is expected in February.

Some critics are concerned the government is using its opening with Suu Kyi to show it's committed to reform. The government needs her support to get years of harsh Western sanctions lifted.

On Sunday, Suu Kyi said the opposition had struggled for democracy for decades, but the best way to do that now was to fight "from within parliament." But she also expressed caution over the challenges ahead. "It's easy to make problems, but it's not easy to implement them," she said. "We have a lot to do."

An NLD victory would be highly symbolic, but her party would have limited power since the legislature is overwhelmingly dominated by the military and the ruling pro-military party. Up for grabs are 48 seats vacated by lawmakers who were appointed to the Cabinet and other posts.

Suu Kyi has spent 15 of the past 23 years under house arrest, and as a result, has rarely traveled outside Yangon. Although she conducted one successful day of rallies north of Yangon last year, a previous political tour to greet supporters in 2003 sparked a bloody ambush of her convoy that saw her forcibly confined at her lakeside home.

She was finally released from house arrest in late 2010, just days after the elections that installed the current government and led to the junta's official disbandment.

Suu Kyi met with party members in Dawei, including one running for a parliament seat. She will make similar political trips to other areas, including the country's second-largest city, Mandalay, in early February before officially campaigning for her own seat, party spokesman Nyan Win said.

Suu Kyi is hoping to represent the constituency of Kawhmu, a poor district just south of Yangon where some villagers' homes were destroyed by Cyclone Nargis in 2008.

Lay Lay Myint, a 35-year-old grocery store manager, said Suu Kyi's platform in parliament would allow her to "let the world know what is happening" in Myanmar.

"People have been living in fear here," Myint said. "Just seeing her hear makes us braver, more courageous."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-01-29-AS-Myanmar-Suu-Kyi/id-13043acd35f44c4fa7687d14ee86b54b

brownback brownback salvia cybermonday deals cybermonday deals steve johnson norman reedus

josephaaron

Demi Moore arrives at Variety's 3rd Annual Power of Women Luncheon in Beverly Hills, Calif., in this Sept. 23, 2011 photo. A 911 recording released Friday Jan. 27, 2012 by Los Angeles fire officials revealed frantic efforts by friends of Demi Moore to get help for the actress who was convulsing as they gathered around her and tried to comfort her. Moore was "semi-conscious, barely," according to a female caller on the recording. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? A 911 recording revealed frantic efforts by friends of Demi Moore to get help for the actress who was convulsing as they gathered around her and tried to comfort her.

Moore was "semi-conscious, barely," according to a female caller on the recording released Friday by Los Angeles fire officials.

The woman tells emergency operators that Moore, 49, had smoked something before she was rushed to the hospital on Monday night and that she had been "having issues lately."

"Is she breathing normal?" the operator asks.

"No, not so normal. More kind of shaking, convulsing, burning up," the friend says as she hurries to Moore's side, on the edge of panic.

Another woman is next to Moore as the dispatcher asks if she's responsive.

"Demi, can you hear me?" she asks. "Yes, she's squeezing hands. ... She can't speak."

When the operator asks what Moore ingested or smoked, the friend replies, but the answer was redacted.

Asked if Moore took the substance intentionally or not, the woman says Moore ingested it on purpose but the reaction was accidental.

"Whatever she took, make sure you have it out for the paramedics," the operator says.

The operator asks the friend if this has happened before.

"I don't know," she says. "There's been some stuff recently that we're all just finding out."

Moore's publicist, Carrie Gordon, said previously that the actress sought professional help to treat her exhaustion and improve her health. She would not comment further on the emergency call or provide details about the nature or location of Moore's treatment.

The past few months have been rocky for Moore.

She released a statement in November announcing she had decided to end her marriage to fellow actor Ashton Kutcher, 33, following news of alleged infidelity. The two were known to publicly share their affection for one another via Twitter.

Moore still has a Twitter account under the name mrskutcher but has not posted any messages since Jan. 7.

Meanwhile, Millennium Films announced Friday that Sarah Jessica Parker will replace Moore in the role of feminist Gloria Steinem in its production of "Lovelace," a biopic about the late porn star Linda Lovelace. A statement gave no reason for the change. The production, starring Amanda Seyfried, has been shooting in Los Angeles since Dec. 20.

During the call, the woman caller says the group of friends had turned Moore's head to the side and was holding her down. The dispatcher tells her not to hold her down but to wipe her mouth and nose and watch her closely until paramedics arrive.

"Make sure that we keep an airway open," the dispatcher says. "Even if she passes out completely, that's OK. Stay right with her."

The phone is passed around by four people, including a woman who gives directions to the gate and another who recounts details about what Moore smoked or ingested. Finally, the phone is given to a man named James, so one of the women can hold Moore's head.

There was some confusion at the beginning of the call. The emergency response was delayed by nearly two minutes as Los Angeles and Beverly Hills dispatchers sorted out which city had jurisdiction over the street where Moore lives.

As the call is transferred to Beverly Hills, the frantic woman at Moore's house raises her voice and said, "Why is an ambulance not on its way right now?"

"Ma'am, instead of arguing with me why an ambulance is not on the way, can you spell (the street name) for me?" the Beverly Hills dispatcher says.

Although the estate is located in the 90210 ZIP code above Benedict Canyon, the response was eventually handled by the Los Angeles Fire Department.

By the end of the call, Moore has improved.

"She seems to have calmed down now. She's speaking," the male caller told the operator.

Moore and Kutcher were wed in September 2005.

Kutcher became a stepfather to Moore's three daughters ? Rumer, Scout and Tallulah Belle ? from her 13-year marriage to actor Bruce Willis. Moore and Willis divorced in 2000 but remained friendly.

Moore can be seen on screen in the recent films "Margin Call" and "Another Happy Day." Kutcher replaced Charlie Sheen on TV's "Two and a Half Men" and is part of the ensemble film "New Year's Eve."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-28-People-Demi%20Moore/id-f8df779117d14f14be66bbb28d422eaa

michael lewis palin occupy wall street second time around bill gates steve jobs bill gates steve jobs 99%

josephaaron

Friday, January 27, 2012

In a study published in the journal Geology, scientists at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science suggest that the large changes in the carbon isotopic composition of carbonates which occurred prior to the major climatic event more than 500 million years ago, known as 'Snowball Earth,' are unrelated to worldwide glacial events.

"Our study suggests that the geochemical record documented in rocks prior to the Marinoan glaciation or 'Snowball Earth' are unrelated to the glaciation itself," said UM Rosenstiel professor Peter Swart, a co-author of the study. "Instead the changes in the carbon isotopic ratio are related to alteration by freshwater as sea level fell."

In order to better understand the environmental conditions prior to 'Snowball Earth', the research team analyzed geochemical signatures preserved in carbonate rock cores from similar climactic events that happened more recently ? two million years ago ? during the Pliocene-Pleistocene period.

The team analyzed the ratio of the rare isotope of carbon (13C) to the more abundant carbon isotope (12C) from cores drilled in the Bahamas and the Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. The geochemical patterns that were observed in these cores were nearly identical to the pattern seen prior to the Marinoan glaciation, which suggests that the alteration of rocks by water, a process known as diagenesis, is the source of the changes seen during that time period.

Prior to this study, scientists theorized that large changes in the cycling of carbon between the organic and inorganic reservoirs occurred in the atmosphere and oceans, setting the stage for the global glacial event known as 'Snowball Earth'.

"It is widely accepted that changes in the carbon isotopic ratio during the Pliocene-Pleistocene time are the result of alteration of rocks by freshwater," said Swart. "We believe this is also what occurred during the Neoproterozoic. Instead of being related to massive and complicated changes in the carbon cycle, the variations seen in the Neoproterozoic can be explained by simple process which we understand very well."

Scientists acknowledge that multiple sea level fluctuations occurred during the Pliocene-Pleistocene glaciations resulting from water being locked up in glaciers. Similar sea-level changes during the Neoproterozoic caused the variations in the global carbon isotopic signal preserved in the older rocks, not a change in the distribution of carbon as had been widely postulated.

###

University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu

Thanks to University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science 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 73 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/117150/What_really_happened_prior_to__Snowball_Earth__

arkansas football maggie daley black friday online deals black friday news gamestop albert haynesworth banana republic

josephaaron · Jan. 26, 2012

/

By The Associated Press

updated 1:38 a.m. ET Jan. 26, 2012

Five months before the start of World Cup qualifying, the United States got an exhibition win in Central America under some of the conditions the players will face on the road to the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

Graham Zusi scored his first international goal in the eighth minute, and the Americans beat Panama 1-0 Wednesday night at Panama City for their third straight win.

"We wanted to introduce the players to those difficult games in different environments, especially away from home outside of their comfort zone," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "We wanted them to come here and experience this atmosphere and a different way of doing things. I think they did very well with all that."

Using mostly backups while the regulars remained with their European clubs and playing nearly the entire second half a man short, the Americans evened their record at 4-4-1 under Klinsmann, who replaced Bob Bradley as coach last summer.

"It was fun. The crowd was great. It was a fun environment to play in," Zusi said. '

Panama, which upset the U.S. in the first round of last year's CONCACAF Gold Cup, had a man advantage after Geoff Cameron received a red card in the 52nd minute for shoving Blas Perez from behind on a breakaway just outside the penalty area.

Perez nearly tied it in the 78th but sent a short downward header wide.

"In the first half I think we were the better team," said midfielder Jermaine Jones, who served as the U.S. captain for the second straight match. "The second half was difficult because we were a man down and Panama pushed hard."

Other than the goal, the Americans rarely threatened ? the U.S. didn't have its first corner kick until the fifth minute of stoppage time in the second half, just before the final whistle.

Goalkeeper Nick Rimando, making his first national team appearance in a year, had several difficult saves to prevent the hosts from scoring. The U.S. was coming off a 1-0 win over Venezuela on Saturday at Glendale, Ariz., its first victory over a South American opponent in nearly five years.

"To get two victories and come down to Central America and beat Panama is huge," Rimando said. "It's a testament to all the hard work everyone has put in."

During a three-week training camp, Klinsmann got to test the depth of his player pool as the Americans prepare for their opening qualifier, on June 8 against Antigua and Barbuda.

"It was good to help us prepare for what we will see in World Cup qualifying," midfielder Brek Shea said. "It's a battle. It's not always pretty, but you have to get the results."

Most of the top American players will return for the next game, an exhibition against Italy at Genoa on Feb. 29.

Zusi, a 25-year-old midfielder with Major League Soccer's Sporting Kansas City, made his national debut last weekend. His goal came after left back Zach Loyd's cross fell at Teal Bunbury at the top of the 6-yard box and appeared to bounce off him to Zusi, who slammed it in with a right-footed shot from 7 yards.

"Zach sent a ball in that took a fortuitous bounce in my direction, and I was just there to clean it up," Zusi said. "It's a cool experience to get that first goal, but the win is still the most important thing."

Rimando dove midway through the first half to block Luis Renteria's point-blank shot, which bounded in front of the net. Rimando then got up and managed to poke the ball away before the rebound could be knocked in.

Jones nearly made it 2-0 in the 30th, but goalkeeper Luis Mejia parried his 30-yard shot, then dived back to save Chris Wondolowski's header at the goal line. Five minutes later, Rimando athletically got his left leg out to block Perez's close-range shot.

"Our team had a very hard three weeks, and they had tired legs today and you could see that," Klinsmann said. "A lot of the young players learned their lesson today."

NOTES: After scoring in the seventh minute of stoppage against Venezuela. MF Ricardo Clark had started for the first time since June 26, 2010, when he was stripped of the ball leading to Ghana's opening goal in the 2-1 overtime loss that eliminated the U.S. from the World Cup. ... D Jeff Parke made his debut in the 55th minute, coming in for Wondolowski after Cameron's red card.

More newsChristopher Pasatieri / Getty Images

'She wants the best for me'

U.S. defender Tim Ream cancels his honeymoon in Tahiti and heads east after being contated by English Premier League club Bolton.

Solo out?

Hope Solo has an ailing leg, the result of some extra work she was putting in to get back into playing shape after "Dancing With the Stars."

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/46141711/ns/sports-soccer/

indiana jones and the last crusade hope solo hope solo texas high school football fugazi fugazi nba lockout

josephaaron

WARSAW (Reuters) ? Poland fears planned defense cuts by the United States may stall the development of an anti-missile system on Polish soil and leave it more vulnerable to Russia, a senior government source said.

U.S. President Barack Obama's drive to cut nearly half a trillion dollars in defense spending over the next 10 years means Washington is reviewing already announced programs to reflect a stronger focus on Asia.

This review covers a planned U.S. missile shield endorsed by NATO. Missile interceptors are planned to be deployed in Poland from 2018 but the plan is vehemently opposed by its neighbor Russia, which regards the shield as a threat to its security.

"From Poland's point of view, the worst-case scenario is that Russia, sensitive to this issue, as a retaliation places various elements in Kaliningrad while the missile shield, now reviewed by Americans, never comes true," the source said under condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Moscow worries the missile shield would undermine its nuclear deterrent capability. It has said it would take military counter-measures if needed and could deploy Iskander missiles in its Kaliningrad enclave, a region separated from the rest of the country and sitting between NATO members Poland and Lithuania.

In November President Dmitry Medvedev opened an early-warning radar facility there.

NATO dismisses Moscow's argument and says the shield is aimed at protecting its European allies from potential attacks by the so-called rogue states like Iran. But talks between Russia and the 28-nation alliance are stalled.

Poland, one of the most pro-American countries in Europe and once a member of the Soviet bloc, hopes enhanced military cooperation with the U.S. would upgrade its defense systems.

Washington already rotates a Patriot missile battery through Poland and last year sealed a deal with Warsaw on stationing U.S. air force personnel on Polish soil.

But this too may come into question, analysts say, under the new U.S. defense strategy.

(Editing by Robert Woodward)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120124/wl_nm/us_poland_us_russia

gary johnson stephen curry girl with the dragon tattoo hes just not that into you hes just not that into you monta ellis kawasaki disease

josephaaron

By John W. Schoen, Senior Producer

?

Falling home prices have sent many would-be buyers to the sidelines. If all goes well, record low interest rates and rising rents may soon prompt some of them to take a second look at buying.

Unfortunately, that's a big "if," according to Paul Diggle, a housing economist at Capital Economics.

Much of the decision to buy a house still depends on your personal finances and preferences, your career or family life, or level of financial security.

But if you?re comparing just the cost of owning and renting, buying a house may soon be the better choice, according to Diggle.

Until recently, home ownership was no bargain compared to renting, according to his analysis. ?A 33 percent drop fall in home prices, a plunge in mortgage rates and 15 percent rise in rents since the housing crash has evened the scales. Today, the median monthly mortgage payment of about $700 has fallen to about the level of a median monthly rent check. If mortgage rates keep falling and rents keep rising, the equation will tip even further toward owning.

But that analysis doesn?t include the total cost of owning versus renting. A full accounting includes ?closing costs, maintenance, insurance and property taxes, tax savings from mortgage deductions, gains or losses from home equity, among other factors. Renters have to think about broker fees and future rent hikes. Both have to make assumptions about future trends in housing prices and rents.

When you take those factors into account ? which Diggle has done with a homegrown ?calculator? ? someone who plans on staying put for seven years would come out ahead by about $9,000 if they bought a median-priced home rather than being a tenant in a median-priced rental. Diggle?s calculation assumes that rents keep rising by about 3 percent a year and that house prices stay flat in 2012 and 2013 and begin rising in 2014 at about 3 percent a year.

If house prices fall further, all bets are off, said Diggle. In that case, the renters come out ahead.

?At the moment, (that) downside scenario is more likely to materialize than the upside one,? he said.

Even if Diggle's calculator were to signal a ?strong buy? for home ownership, he doesn?t expect that would spark a buyers' stampede. Most first-time buyers or households who lost a? home to foreclosure don?t have the 20 percent down payment many lenders are insisting on. They may also have trouble getting a mortgage without a credit score of 700 or more ? a higher bar than the 650 score that was the norm for the past two decades.

?A large share of the population has dropped out of the pool of potential buyers,? he said. ?Given that the choice between owning and renting a home is a luxury than many Americans simply do not have, the fact that this does appear to be the time to buy will have only a minimal effect on actual sales. Accordingly, we expect only a modest housing recovery over the next few years."

When would you consider buying a house?

?

Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/23/10217301-home-buying-could-soon-beat-renting

the hobbit movie trailer tcu xfactor frankincense cloudy with a chance of meatballs the hobbit movie orcl

josephaaron

NAPLES, Fla. ? Buoyed by strong crowds, Republican Newt Gingrich put a greater emphasis Tuesday on a possible matchup with President Barack Obama and spent less time drawing contrasts with GOP presidential rival Mitt Romney.

The former House speaker saw his crowd sizes swell into the thousands, including an event at a U.S. flag-draped Sarasota airport hangar and another overflow event at a town square in Naples. He also enjoyed a burst of fundraising with a week to go before Florida's presidential primary. An official at a political action committee backing his White House bid said they were buying $6 million in Florida ad time.

All day, Gingrich made brief mentions of Romney. Gingrich referred to his rival as the moderate in a race where conservative credentials matter most. He linked Romney to Florida's former Republican governor-turned-independent, Charlie Crist, by talking about campaign staffers common to both men.

But he swung harder at Obama, saying he would offer the most striking choice against the incumbent in a November election.

Gingrich's remarks were partially timed to Tuesday night's State of the Union address. Gingrich said Obama should stop blaming his Republican predecessor for the country's economic woes.

"This is the fourth year of his presidency. He needs to get over it," Gingrich said. "A friend of mine says, `He has shifted from Yes We Can to Why We Couldn't.'"

Barely a half-year after his campaign all but imploded, Gingrich is reveling in a surge. He rebounded from disappointing showings in Iowa and New Hampshire to trounce Romney in South Carolina. Since then, he has shot to the front of many polls in Florida and nationally.

It's showing in his campaign finances, too. Gingrich officials said they raised more than $2 million since his win Saturday in South Carolina and expected hundreds of thousands more from finance events Tuesday.

A fundraising appeal sent out to supporters Tuesday underscored the new-found confidence.

"There is no longer any doubt that we can win the GOP nomination," Gingrich says in the pitch.

Winning Our Future, a Super PAC run by former Gingrich adviser Rick Tyler, said separately it would use its newly purchased ad time to criticize Romney on health care. Romney approved a health law as governor of Massachusetts that some have described as a model for the controversial insurance mandate achieved by Obama.

The PAC is financed largely by the family of a Las Vegas casino magnate.

___

Associated Press writer Shannon McCaffrey in Atlanta contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120125/ap_on_el_pr/us_gingrich

costco kmart urban meyer ohio state traffic report traffic report opensky dia frampton

josephaaron

MONDAY, Jan. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Many children with autism also have other developmental or psychiatric conditions, including learning disabilities, speech delays, attention or seizure disorders and anxiety.

According to new research, some of those co-occurring conditions may explain why autism diagnoses often change as children get older.

In a survey by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, more than one-third of parents with children between 6 and 17 years old reported that their child's diagnosis of autism had changed over time.

"We don't know what changed the diagnosis. However, we want to deliver the message that it's important to look at the other coexisting conditions, evaluate them before you make a diagnosis, and also recognize these conditions vary by development age," said study author Li-Ching Lee, an associate scientist in the epidemiology and mental health departments at the School of Public Health.

Autism is a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by problems with social interaction, communication and restricted interests and behaviors.

In the study, researchers used 2007-2008 survey data from the parents of nearly 1,400 children aged 3 to 17 who had received a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including autism, Asperger disorder -- a mild form of autism, and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified.

Parents were asked if their child currently had a diagnosis of autism or an ASD, or had had one in the past.

Nearly 26 percent of parents of children aged 3 to 5 reported a change in diagnosis, the researchers said. Nearly 34 percent of parents of children aged 6 to 11 and 35 percent of the parents of 12- to 17-year-olds reported their child was diagnosed with autism at some point but no longer was considered to have autism, the researchers found.

Overall, children with two or more co-occurring developmental or psychiatric conditions were five times more likely than kids with fewer coexisting conditions to continue to have an autism diagnosis, the researchers said.

Kids who had a moderate-to-severe learning disability were 11 times more likely to continue to have an autism diagnosis over time, while kids with a developmental delay were nine times more likely to retain an autism diagnosis, the study authors said.

Researchers didn't look at why certain conditions are associated with a change in autism diagnosis. But some of the symptoms of various development and psychiatric conditions can overlap, so it's possible that having certain ones can lead to a misdiagnosis until the child gets older and their issues become more clear, according to the study.

For example, kids diagnosed with a hearing problem showed a tendency to "lose" their autism diagnosis over time. Researchers speculated that behaviors that initially resembled autism symptoms -- not responding or not engaging -- were later discovered to stem from impaired hearing.

The study is published in the February issue of Pediatrics.

Dr. Joseph Horrigan, assistant vice president and head of medical research for the advocacy group Autism Speaks, cautioned not to make too much of the findings. The children weren't actually followed over time, nor were they actually examined, a methodology that would be the "gold standard" of research.

Because the results were based on a telephone survey, Horrigan said, "I'd be a little cautious about over-interpreting whether this means there's likely to be change in an autism diagnosis or a loss of an autism diagnosis for a given individual."

Nor did researchers look at kids whose diagnosis went the other way -- that is, they were initially not diagnosed with autism but were later diagnosed with it.

However, the findings highlight how often kids with ASD experience other conditions, some of which may be treatable with medications or with educational interventions. These include anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, epilepsy and learning disabilities.

"Up until the recent past, there's been a tendency to spend most of the time and energy on the autism and the autism diagnosis, and thinking about a treatment package that's keyed directly to the autism," Horrigan said. "What's important here is they are highlighting some of the most common co-occurring disorders, a number of which are readily amenable to treatments."

An estimated one in 110 U.S. children -- many more boys than girls -- has autism, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on autism.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/parenting/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20120123/hl_hsn/cooccurringdisordersmayexplainchangeinautismdiagnosis

juelz santana greg halman greg halman dancing with the stars results ucla basketball walmart black friday sales walmart black friday sales

josephaaron

LOS ANGELES ? Kate Beckinsale is back with a vengeance, with her latest "Underworld" movie opening at No. 1 this weekend.

"Underworld Awakening" made an estimated $25.4, distributor Sony Screen Gems reported Sunday.

This is the fourth film in the vampire action saga. Beckinsale starred in the first two movies as the warrior Selene, then bowed out of part three but returned for this latest installment. "Underworld Awakening" was shown for the first time in 3-D as well as on IMAX screens, where it made $3.8 million. That's 15 percent of the film's weekend gross, which is a record for an IMAX digital-only run.

Sony had hoped the film would end up in the low-$20 million range. But Rory Bruer, the studio's president of worldwide distribution, says the fact that it did even better ? despite a snow storm that hit much of the Midwest and East Coast ? primarily has to do with Beckinsale's return.

"She is such a force. Her character ? you just can't take your eyes off of her. I know the character is very dear to her, as well, and she just kills it," Bruer said. "The 3-D aspect of the film also brings something, makes it a fun, visceral ride."

Opening in second place was "Red Tails" from executive producer George Lucas, about the Tuskegee Airmen who were the first black fighter pilots to serve in World War II. It made an estimated $19.1 million, according to 20th Century Fox, which was well above expectations; the studio had hoped to reach double digits, said Chris Aronson, executive vice president of domestic distribution.

"I believe what George Lucas has stated all along: This is an important story and a story that must be told. It is a true story of American heroism and valor and audiences have really responded to this message," Aronson said. "People want to feel good about themselves, they want to be uplifted. We have enough hard crud going on in this country right now. Times are tough, and if we look back and are told a story of some really fantastic deeds, that's really compelling moviegoing."

Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian said a grass-roots effort to get groups of people into the theaters to see "Red Tails," along with positive word-of-mouth, helped its strong showing. The film saw an uptick from about $6 million on Friday to $8.65 on Saturday.

Overall box office is up 31 percent from the same weekend a year ago, Dergarabedian said, thanks to new releases as well as movies like "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," which had limited runs for awards consideration at the end of 2011 and are now expanding nationwide. The 9/11 drama from Warner Bros., starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, came in fourth place with $10.5 million.

Last week's No. 1 film, the Universal smuggling thriller "Contraband" starring Mark Wahlberg, dropped to the No. 3 spot with $12.2 million. It's now made $46.1 million in two weeks. Meanwhile, Steven Soderbergh's international action picture "Haywire" from Relativity Media, starring mixed martial arts superstar Gina Carano in her first film role, opened in fifth place with $9 million, which was above expectations.

"This is a great, perfect January weekend. You've got these holdover films and newcomers creating an overall marketplace that people are really responding to," Dergarabedian said. "It sounds clich? but this marketplace really has something for everyone."

As for worldwide box office, "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 1" has now crossed the $700 million mark. The first half of the finale of the girl-vampire-werewolf love triangle franchise has grossed an estimated $701.3 million in global box office receipts since its release last November, according to Lionsgate, which recently acquired Summit Entertainment, which distributes the series.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Underworld Awakening," $25.4 million ($13.4 million international).

2. "Red Tails," $19.1 million.

3. "Contraband," $12.2 million.

4. "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," $10.5 million.

5. "Haywire," $9 million.

6. "Beauty and the Beast (3-D)," $8.6 million.

7. "Joyful Noise," $6.1 million.

8. "Mission: Impossible ? Ghost Protocol," $5.5 million. ($9.4 million international).

9. "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," $4.8 million. ($18.1 million international).

10. "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," $3.75 million ($15.7 international).

___

Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:

"Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," $18.1 million.

"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," $15.7 million.

"Underworld Awakening," $13.4 million.

"Mission: Impossible ? Ghost Protocol," $9.4 million international.

"Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked," $9.3 million.

"Puss in Boots," $8.7 million.

"Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," $8.2 million.

"War Horse," $7.3 million.

"The Descendants," $6.2 million.

"The Darkest Hour," $5.1 million.

___

Online:

http://www.hollywood.com

http://www.rentrak.com

___

AP Movie Writer Christy Lemire can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/christylemire/

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120122/ap_en_ot/us_box_office

dancing with the stars elimination nexus prime nexus prime new iphone new iphone tmobile iphone van jones

josephaaron

COMMENTARY | The South Carolina primary is less than a day away, with polls opening on Saturday. The remaining Republican Party hopefuls are pushing hard to win the state and controversy abounds. Amid bizarre and unusual revelations about the candidates right-wing voters continue to cheer enthusiastically for their favorites. It makes me wonder, "Are they blind, dumb, nuts, or D-all of the above?"

Newt Gingrich dumped his first wife for being too ugly, says the LA Times, while claiming his support of "family values." He cheated on his second wife and then dumped her when she refused to have an open marriage, eventually marrying his mistress, according to the New York Times. Gingrich is surging in the polls according to the Christian Science Monitor. When did "wanting to sleep with anything that walks and ditching your wives when they get sick" become a right-wing, Christian "family value?

Rick Santorum may have won the Iowa caucuses after all, according to the Associated Press. Santorum carries a rebranding of his name to mean something repugnant (definitely not a work-safe link). In a 2003 AP interview Santorum bashed gay marriage, which is no surprise for him. He lost his composure and called it a gateway to "man on dog" action. Does America really need a president fascinated with that kind of phrasing and activity?

Ron Paul, and it's important to remember he is a medical doctor, may be the least offensive of the bunch. He's lost touch with reality, though. CBS reports Paul does not believe in evolution. He's a doctor, supposedly well versed in the science of biology. He's probably studied generational mutation of bacteria and other single-cell life, actually seeing evolution in progress in ways non-medical people rarely will, but he claims not to believe in it. Is irrationality a virtue cherished by conservatives?

Mitt Romney embraces a religion with a holy book that proclaims in 2 Nephi 5:21-23 that black skin is a curve from God and a punishment for sin, and warns against interracial marriage. He's a plutocrat multimillionaire paying a tax rate so low average Americans will never match it, according to ABC. Why elect a man who will never relate to the economic problems of the citizenry?

If this is the best the Republican Party has to offer America, I'll gladly enjoy another four years with Barack Obama in the White House.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120121/pl_ac/10861873_why_cant_republicans_see_candidates_huge_flaws

the brothers grimm the brothers grimm grimm fairy tales grimm fairy tales gold rush gold rush weather boston

josephaaron

Somali women gather together in a camp for those displaced by last year's famine or by conflict, in Mogadishu, Somalia Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. Six months after the U.N. declared Somalia's capital a famine zone the number of famine refugees there is dwindling, as most of the men have gone home to try to revive devastated herds and withered crops. The women and children would like to join them but many don't have enough money to make the long journey, meaning there will be fewer hands on farms and smaller harvests. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Women queue up to receive basic foodstuffs at a food distribution center for those displaced by last year's famine or by conflict, in Mogadishu, Somalia Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. Six months after the U.N. declared Somalia's capital a famine zone the number of famine refugees there is dwindling, as most of the men have gone home to try to revive devastated herds and withered crops. The women and children would like to join them but many don't have enough money to make the long journey, meaning there will be fewer hands on farms and smaller harvests. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

A young girl stands by makeshift tents in a camp for those displaced by last year's famine or by conflict, in Mogadishu, Somalia Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. Six months after the U.N. declared Somalia's capital a famine zone the number of famine refugees there is dwindling, as most of the men have gone home to try to revive devastated herds and withered crops. The women and children would like to join them but many don't have enough money to make the long journey, meaning there will be fewer hands on farms and smaller harvests. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

A child walks away carrying a bowl of food after receiving it at a food distribution center for those displaced by last year's famine or by conflict, in Mogadishu, Somalia Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. Six months after the U.N. declared Somalia's capital a famine zone the number of famine refugees there is dwindling, as most of the men have gone home to try to revive devastated herds and withered crops. The women and children would like to join them but many don't have enough money to make the long journey, meaning there will be fewer hands on farms and smaller harvests. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Children line up to receive a meal at a food distribution center for those displaced by last year's famine or by conflict, in Mogadishu, Somalia Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. Six months after the U.N. declared Somalia's capital a famine zone the number of famine refugees there is dwindling, as most of the men have gone home to try to revive devastated herds and withered crops. The women and children would like to join them but many don't have enough money to make the long journey, meaning there will be fewer hands on farms and smaller harvests. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) ? Heavy fighting broke out in Somalia's capital on Friday as the African Union peacekeeping force encountered resistance as it pushed to Mogadishu's outskirts for the first time, the latest move in an offensive against Islamist insurgents.

Hundreds of residents fled a northern Mogadishu neighborhood after waking to the sound of mortars and gunfire. AU troops have largely pushed al-Shabab militants out of the city over the last year, but pockets of resistance remain.

Resident Abdirahman Ahmed said he was awakened by "noisy mortars" on Friday, said that al-Shabab fighters appeared to be moving back into the northern neighborhood of Heliwa.

"We want to flee now," he said, adding: "People are nervous."

Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, the spokesman for the AU force that is known as AMISOM, said Friday was the first time that AU forces moved outside of Mogadishu.

"We are moving out of the city now so we can defend the city from outside now. Our troops have captured strategic bases from al-Shabab," Ankunda said.

The nearly 10,000-strong AU force was confined in previous years to small slices of Mogadishu, but the push to expand their zones of control over the last year have been largely successful. The AU force is working side by side with Somali troops, but most of the gains have been made by the better trained and equipped troops from Uganda and Burundi.

Al-Shabab is also being pressured by Kenyan military forces in Somalia's south and Ethiopian forces in the west.

Militants continue to carry out suicide and roadside bomb attacks in Mogadishu. At least six bombs were found or exploded in the capital since Wednesday, including a blast on Thursday that killed six people.

Meanwhile, the AU force commander, Maj. Gen. Fred Mugisha, said that around 3,000 Somali troops had not received their wages for the past four months. The AU is supposed to pay them with money donated by Italy, but Mugisha said the Italians had not yet sent the cash. The delay in payment had caused some soldiers to desert their posts, he said.

"It will have an impact on morale," he said.

Around 7,000 other Somali soldiers are paid by the U.S. through a separate program.

Somalia hasn't had a functioning government in more than 20 years. The current transitional government, whose mandate ends in August, is paralyzed by political infighting. The U.N. is pressing government leaders to resolve their differences and expand the areas in the country the government provides services to.

Somalia has also been dealing with a famine the last six months that is estimated to have killed between 50,000 and 100,000 people. Friday was the six-month mark since the U.N. declared famine in Somalia on July 20.

___

Associated Press reporter Katharine Houreld contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2012-01-20-AF-Somalia/id-9518ed971d8a4ab3ba3b6d5104af4cd5

paul krugman andy whitfield dr. phil dr. phil philippines hgtv design star definition of love

josephaaron

MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE: WFR - News), a supplier of silicon wafers to solar and semiconductor manufacturers, is planning to restructure its business, which would involve slashing its workforce by 20%, or 1,300 jobs. In addition, the company plans to put some of its facilities on hold in order to ride the slump in the renewable-energy sector.

Weak demand along with painfully low silicon prices in the semiconductor and solar industry are driving the changes. The restructuring would help the company trim its operating costs and strengthen its operating cash flows for the near term. Let's take a look at the company's latest third-quarter figures.

Woeful figures
The latest quarterly results were highly disappointing, with a 31% sequential fall in MEMC's top line and a net loss of $94.4 million.

But it's not just MEMC that's facing the heat. Industry peers like LDK Solar and ReneSola have also witnessed sharp falls in revenue as well as profitability margins. This is forcing them to either cut capacity or close up shop altogether.

MEMC's restructuring process is expected to cost the company $700 million in the fourth quarter. As part of its restructuring plan, it will also cut the capacity of its Portland, Ore., crystal facility and leave idle its polysilicon facility in Merano, Italy.

Apart from this, MEMC would also combine its solar material facility, which is struggling at present, with its SunEdison solar development unit. The hope is to improve efficiency and expand in the solar sector, which is considered less vulnerable to price swings, barring the present slowdown.

Facing the heat
Polysilicon prices have witnessed a tremendous crash since manufacturers raced to raise their production capacity when prices were at loftier levels of $500 per kilogram. Since then, the price has plunged over the years to as little as $25.

To make matters worse, the solar energy market in Europe is facing sunstroke as subsidies have started to shrink, thus adversely affecting demand. Moreover, Chinese competitors are relentlessly dumping their cheap products, causing prices to go southward.

The Foolish bottom line
After MEMC burned its hands with falling polysilicon prices, its restructuring initiative is definitely a welcome change. With its exit from the bottomless pit of solar materials, the company can now focus on restoring the stability of its margins and its business as a whole. So what do you Fools think about the company? Leave your comments in the box below.

Keki Fatakia does not hold shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personalfinance/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/fool/20120118/bs_fool_fool/rx174512

crimson tide crimson tide dixville notch 2013 ford fusion lsu football lsu football bcs

josephaaron

Find out by Car Hire Seville Airport. So commencing with the capital, Bratislava, you will discover a gorgeous medieval old city surrounded by not so interesting block flat suburbs. The city is strange in that it borders two other nations, Austria and Hungary, and as a make a difference of interest Vienna is a mere 60km away! The internal metropolis is largely a pedestrianised area so you can depart your rental just exterior and stroll in. You can immediately walk across the metropolis centre in a issue of minutes. But as you do so you?ll identify countless helpful buildings this kind of as the Aged City Hall, developed in the 14th century and now serves as the Bratislava Metropolis Museum. Other web sites to see incorporate Bratislava Castle, Grassalkovich Palace, the Slav?n memorial and there are a great number of alot more.

Heading east and north along the D1 Motorway for about 45kms, you?ll come to Trnava which is an imperative historic town that also serves as the Roman Catholic Archbishopric in Slovakia. The metropolis centre has quite a bit to see and visit so it?s well price some of your time. Auto Hire in Dubai ? A Mini-Guide

I fly to Dubai at least five instances a 12 months for work. My conclusion at the finish of every last journey? If you want to help save time and bucks, go for a car employ in Dubai. It lets you get to in which you have to be immediately, with out compromising your tight finances. An alternative bonus to this arrangement is that it?s very simple and inexpensive to rent a auto in the UAE.

Here are the other stuff I learned from encounter. Hopefully, these secrets will demonstrate handy to you when you pay a visit to this city-state.

Do Not Overlook The Auto Car Hire Excess Insurance. To tell the fact, on the real day last week when I went to hire the automobile the considered of taking out the automobile employ excessive insurance coverage did not even come into my brain. This I suppose is 50 percent of the main problem ? I have to have to be quite a bit much more organised in the long run and so on.

The crash by itself was one particular that was very hard to refrain from and luckily each and every and just about every particular person who was concerned in the accident came out of it unharmed. This is the initial time that I have ever before been involved in any type of accident in a carhiremurciaairport and I was underneath the impression that the car or truck employ small business would offer with the circumstances. This yet again is purely my fault for not learning the total methods ? I guess we do not ever suppose that we are heading to crash. Auto Employ Insurance ? Purchased Yours But

Source: http://www.daysofthevoice.com/vehicle-hire-excessive-insurance-coverage/

jesse ventura drew barrymore keri russell bill o brien will kopelman portland trailblazers casey anthony

josephaaron

NEW YORK (AP) ? The theatrical prequel to "Peter Pan" has found its Broadway home.

Producers of "Peter and the Starcatcher" said Thursday that the play will be performed at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre and previews performances will begin March 28. Opening night is slated for April 15.

The play is written by Tony Award nominee Rick Elice. Co-directors are Roger Rees, who is now starring in "The Addams Family," and Alex Timbers, who directed "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson." Twelve actors play some 50 characters.

The madcap look at Peter Pan's background is based on the novel of the same name by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Earlier versions have been staged at the La Jolla Playhouse and New York Theatre Workshop.

The Broadway cast will be announced later.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-01-19-Theater-Peter%20and%20the%20Starcatcher/id-50cebb52207045c6b5bf76d4c63ec012

amityville horror chili recipe chili recipe grimm tashard choice tashard choice puss in boots

josephaaron

Passer la navigation
Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
Passer cette ?tape
Connexion

Usain Bolt #Olympics king doesn?t have this record: London hug bid, this week: bit.ly/xwqjTZ Il y a environ 3 heures via TweetDeck Retweeted by 1 person

ArchantLondon24

London24

Pied de page

Source: http://twitter.com/ArchantLondon24/statuses/159681264599834624

lakers oklahoma city thunder florida state football florida state football ben breedlove kid cudi ben breedlove matt barnes

josephaaron

New York ? Send messages from beyond the grave through everyone's favorite social network?

Leaving posthumous messages for loved ones is nothing new. But now the departed have a new way to communicate from beyond the grave: Facebook. A new app called "If I Die" lets users record messages to be posted on the social network in the event of their death. Here's what you should know about this morbid new app:

How does it work??
If I Die allows you to record a final message to be posted to your wall and send messages to friends that won't go out until you're gone. Once the app is installed, a user designates three "trustees" responsible for verifying his demise with Facebook. "One that's done, the messages will go out in whatever manner has been pre-determined," says Christina Ng at ABC News. The posthumous notes can come in video or text form, and can be scheduled to be posted in intervals ? say, every year on your child's birthday ? or released all at once.?

SEE MORE: Will Facebook's 'Listen With Friends' feature kill Turntable.fm?

?

Who came up with this idea??
The app's co-founder and CEO, Eran Alfonta, got started after two of his married friends "traveled to Italy without their children and narrowly escaped a fatal car crash with a truck," says Zachary Sniderman at Mashable. After the close encounter, the couple asked Alfonta to create a service "where they could record something secret to their kids that would only be sent if they died."?

And people are really using this?
Apparently so. The app already has over 4,000 likes on Facebook, and Alfonta expects the service to hit 100,000 users in the next couple of months. "Last words," says the British narrator demonstrating the service in the video below. "We all hope we'll get a chance to say some, but not knowing when or where we're going to die makes it a bit tricky."?

SEE MORE: Facebook's $100 billion IPO: By the numbers

?

Sources:?ABC News,?Chicago Tribute,?Mashable

View this article on TheWeek.com
Get 4 Free Issues of The Week

Bus

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Asia stocks fall as US economic growth falls short (AP)

Afghan woman killed, apparently for bearing girl (AP)

Monday, 30 January 2012

Notebak Anti-Theft

APNewsBreak: Police seek help on drugged driving

Sunday, 29 January 2012

Suu Kyi galvanizes once-repressed Myanmar politics

911 call reveals frantic efforts to help Moore

Saturday, 28 January 2012

What really happened prior to 'Snowball Earth'?

Thursday, 26 January 2012

Zusi's goal lift US men to 1-0 win over Panama

'She wants the best for me'

Solo out?

Poland fears U.S. defense cuts make it vulnerable to Russia (Reuters)

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

Home buying could soon beat renting

Drawing thousands, Gingrich goes hardest at Obama (AP)

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

'Co-Occurring' Disorders May Explain Change in Autism Diagnosis (HealthDay)

Monday, 23 January 2012

`Underworld' sinks teeth into box office with $25M (AP)

Why Can't Republicans See Candidates' Huge Flaws? (ContributorNetwork)

Sunday, 22 January 2012

African Union troops reach outskirts of Mogadishu

Saturday, 21 January 2012

MEMC Struggles to Shine in a Gloomy Solar Market (The Motley Fool)

Friday, 20 January 2012

Vehicle Hire Excessive Insurance coverage Days of the Voice

Prequel to 'Peter Pan' finds a Broadway theater

Thursday, 19 January 2012

ArchantLondon24: Usain Bolt #Olympics king doesn?t have this record: London hug bid, this week: http://t.co/nDXIm7sb

Pied de page

'If I Die': The Facebook app that posts your last words (The Week)

Followers

Blog Archive

About Me