Saturday, December 31, 2011

Mom of Iran detainee questions alleged confession (AP)

WASHINGTON ? The mother of an Iranian-American detained in Iran for four months on espionage charges says his alleged confession was made under duress.

Behnaz Hekmati says that her son, Amir, a former US military translator, was in Iran to visit his two grandmothers and that the charges against him make no sense.

In a statement provided to The Associated Press on Wednesday, Behnaz Hekmati appealed to Iranian authorities to treat him fairly and provide him due process.

"It is clear to me and our entire family that Amir is speaking under duress," she said.

"The statement from the courts that Amir planned on permanently leaving the United States to reside in Iran is totally false. It is an indication that he is not speaking freely but being forced to say something that isn't true."

Behnaz Hekmati said her son has financial and business investments in the U.S. and "would never walk away from them."

Iranian prosecutors claim Hekmati was working for the CIA and he could face the death penalty if convicted.

Behnaz Hekmati appealed for her son to be treated fairly and be accorded due process.

"In this environment Amir is a victim. We are convinced that there is a mistake or misunderstanding," she said. "We pray and hope he will be allowed to come home soon."

The State Department has called for Hekmati's release and said on Wednesday that it was still waiting for Iranian authorities to grant Swiss diplomats access to him in prison.

Spokesman Mark Toner said the Swiss, who represent US interests in Iran, have been denied access to Hekmati three times. Hekmati has been imprisoned since August.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/iran/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111229/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iran_american_detained

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Friday, December 30, 2011

What Did Kristen Stewart Get Robert Pattinson for Christmas?


It's still unclear whether or not Robert Pattinson actually plans to release an album.

But if the actor ever does choose to add "musician" to his resume, girlfriend Kristen Stewart has made sure he's prepared: Us Weekly confirms the Twilight Saga star purchased two vintage guitars for Robert over Christmas, a 1959 Fender Jazzmaster and a 1947 K&F Lap Steel. Total price tag: $12,000.

Robsten Premiere Pic

"She said 'He's gonna sh-t when he sees them!'" Norman Harris, the owner of Norman's Rare Guitars and the man who sold the items to Stewart, told the tabloid.

It's unclear what Rob got Kristen in return, but this much is certain: despite various rumors to the contrary, these two are doing just fine.

[Photo: Pacific Coast News]

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/12/what-did-kristen-stewart-get-robert-pattinson-for-christmas/

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The impact of human activities on a selection of lakes in Tanzania

ScienceDaily (Dec. 28, 2011) ? An increase in human activity is posing a threat to natural aquatic ecosystems in Tanzania and contributing to environmental damage and ecological changes.

Doctoral research carried out by Hezron Emmanuel Nonga shows that agriculture and livestock farming leads to eutrophication in lakes and the proliferation of cyanobacteria which produce microcystins. New information about microcystins and other mycotoxins in Tanzanian lakes is useful for appraising the risk linked to drinking water and edible fish, which in turn affects the health of both humans and animals.

In Tanzania, there are many and varied wetland areas and aquatic ecosystems which are productive but also vulnerable. Hezron Emmanual Nonga's doctoral research project has studied how human activities affect ecosystems in wetlands and has also examined the incidence of cyanobacteria, the production of microcystins and the possible effects of these toxins on wild species.

The study was carried out on three alkaline (high pH) lakes (of which lake Manyara was the most important) in the north of Tanzania. In addition, similar experiments were conducted in the fresh-water Lake Victoria in the Northwest of the country.

Sociological, cross-sectional studies were conducted in order to ascertain what effects human activities have had on the wetlands and ecosystems around the lakes. The results of these studies show that non-sustainable human activities contributed significantly to the environmental damage detected in the selected lakes in Tanzania.

In addition, Nonga carried out field and laboratory experiments over a period of time in order to determine physical and chemical parameters, the incidence of phytoplankton, concentrations of different microcystins and microcystin-producing bacteria in the lakes. This research has resulted in new data which will be useful for appraising the risk of the lakes as sources of drinking water and edible fish.

Pathological examinations of dwarf flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor Geoffroy) at Lake Manyara revealed a high concentration of microcystins in the birds' liver, which may be one of the reasons for the observed mass death of these birds. However, further studies are needed in order to confirm whether microcystins are to blame for this increase in mortality.

The sociological study showed that Lake Manyara and the surrounding wetlands are valuable resources for local communities but that exploitation is too intensive. The main source of income for people living near the lake is from agriculture and livestock, and these are currently far from sustainable. Limited access to expertise, easily available pesticides and lack of knowledge about the latter has led to the uncontrolled spread of chemicals, with hitherto unknown consequences for the environment. Soil erosion and the frequent drying-out of Lake Manyara and rivers in the area have moreover led to a lack of water and high animal mortality.

In order to protect the resources of these wetland areas, human activities must be better controlled and a more sustainable exploitation of land and water resources introduced. It is necessary to make the farmers aware of the importance of environment-friendly agriculture and train them in the use of pesticides and pest control.

Nonga's doctoral research was carried out in Tanzania and at The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science in Norway.

Hezron Emmanuel Nonga defended his doctoral thesis on 19th December 2011 at The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science. His thesis is entitled: "Impact of human activities in selected lake ecosystems in Tanzania and occurrence of microcystins and potential microcystin-producing cyanobacteria."

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VXaUXEKsQcA/111228134844.htm

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Cops: Mom, son rescued after Facebook post

A Utah woman used Facebook to seek help after she and her 17-month-old son were held hostage at a residence for nearly five days, police said.

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Police Sgt. Jon Arnold said the woman hid in a closet with a laptop to post her plea for help on the social networking website, saying she and her son would be "dead by morning" if they were not rescued.

The post prompted someone to call police, who went to the home to check on the woman's welfare.

"Facebook was her only outlet that she had at the home," Arnold said. "It just happened that she was able to use it."

Police arrested Troy Reed Critchfield, 33, and booked him into jail Saturday for investigation of aggravated kidnapping, forcible sodomy, aggravated assault, domestic violence, child abuse, animal cruelty and other charges.

Salt Lake County Jail records show Critchfield initially refused to let police in the house.

The papers say the woman shook her head to indicate "No," when officers asked if she was OK.

After police separated the couple, the woman told officers she and her child had not been allowed to leave the home and that she repeatedly had been hit, choked and sexually abused over a period of nearly five days. Jail records show the woman also claimed Critchfield had taken her cell phone and the phone of a disabled child also in the home.

"She claims that any time she went to go to a door, he physically assaulted her," Arnold told The Associated Press on Monday.

Story: Man jailed after Facebooking a store burglary

The woman had bruises and other physical injuries consistent with allegations, but refused to go to a hospital for treatment, he said.

She also told officers that Critchfield grabbed the boy's arms and treated him roughly, while also refusing to let her feed the family dog, jail papers state.

Critchfield remained in jail on Monday. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney.

Utah State Court records show that in December 2010 Critchfield pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault and obstruction of justice charges in connection with a domestic violence incident.

A judge sentenced Critchfield to a prison term of five years, but suspended the punishment for a 120-day jail term and three years of probation.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45792838/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

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Is the Obama Boomlet Over? (Powerlineblog)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/180351215?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

AGW_Prof: RT @TheCostOfEnergy: Doc alert: Response to climate change in NY State ? The Cost of Energy http://t.co/rO2vhdVZ

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High stakes fueling patent wars: No clear victor as firms fight it out in court" ["Technology firms like Google Inc., Samsung Corp., Microsoft Corp., and especially Apple - which is one of the most active combatants - are embroiled in about 100 patent laws

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TUESDAY BLOWOUT: Every NEW or RENEWING paid subscriber receives 2 YEARS FREE....

Did you have an Apple-filled Christmas? Cast your vote in "Today's Poll..." in the left column below or go straight to the results here.

Monday Highlights: Tom Krazit starts his look at 2012 with what's in store for Apple, doesn't see the Cook-team losing steam, sees Apple as "most influential company in consumer technology, hands down"; Posts at Eventide expects Tim Cook's first quarter sans-Jobs to be "monster quarter", maintains his expectation of $640/share target; Boston Globe examines the current state of technology patent wars which have no clear victor but at stake is "domination of the multibillion-dollar" smarthphone/tablet/software market; Intego warns of phishing scam coming across as an email from Apple Billing Information; Macworld has suggestions for your New Years system-backup resolution; top stories of 2011: Steve Jobs' tragic death; "stick-to-it-iveness" a hallmark of Apple puts them in Investor's Business Daily's top 50 of 2011; word from China hints that iPhone 4S will be unveiled before the Chinese New Year; Apple year in review video created by teen; dad creates iPhone gadget for his daughter, stricken with brain tumor, to help her learn to write; GeekMom's first part of her iPads in the classroom case-study; Apple's iWatch, or at least we hope; Harry McCraken tells how his iPad 2 became his favorite computer; Steve Jobs attacked harshly via review of his bio?; meanwhile, over at TechNN, Google, MS both in search of new "game changer"; Bernstein report says Microsoft not in as bad a place as many think; Windows 8 may come with gesture-based login; Qualcomm seen as numero uno threat to Intel.

Today's MacUpdate Promo offers 60% off Fumy 2.0.1. "Fumy (was Smoke) is an unusual bitmap editor with unique tools that allow you to brush and render stunning graphics that resemble smoke."

Welcome to MacSurfer's Headline News!
Is this the headline you are looking for?

Mon Dec 26
"High stakes fueling patent wars: No clear victor as firms fight it out in court"" [""Technology firms like Google Inc., Samsung Corp., Microsoft Corp., and especially Apple - which is one of the most active combatants - are embroiled in about 100 patent lawsuits in at least 10 countries. The stakes are high: potential domination of the multibillion-dollar market for smartphones, tablet computers, and the software that runs them.""] Boston Globe 7:44 AM
  • "By keeping an unlawful feature, Google will disadvantage HTC, rile Apple, and alienate the ITC"?Foss Patents?7:38 AM
  • "iPhone and iPad users account for 92% of mobile purchases, study finds"?BGR?1:13 PM
  • "iOS Took 13.4% of Online Sales on Christmas Day"?Forbes?7:13 PM
  • "Apple dominates Google's Zeitgeist 2011"?CNET News?2:43 PM
  • "Apple Loses European Market Share, Cash Strapped Buyers Pass On iPhones"?Forbes?11:05 AM

Mac RAM Upgrades: MacBook Pro 16GB kits $475, 8GB Kits for $119.99! iMac 16GB RAM Kits (4x 4GB) for $229.99! Mac Pro Memory 32GB Kit for $399.99, 64GB Kit for $889.99! Mac Hard Drives 2TB Seagate SATA II for $249.99! Click Here!

TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Holiday Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!!

Mac Poker Did you know that you can download an online Mac poker game? Start winning right now and play Poker for Mac Now.


News
  • "Apple clarifies iTunes Match with new setup guide, walkthrough Video, FAQs"?9 to 5 Mac?11:22 AM
  • "Beware of 'Apple Billing Information' Phishing E-mails"?Intego?7:59 AM
Reviews/How-To/Tips
  • "Scrivener 2.1 review: Comprehensive writing tool brings order to creativity and learning"?Macworld UK?7:43 AM
  • "Apple Support discussions has many Reports of problems with Safari having problems with Citrix and web sites, and a way to fix what seems to be a common problem."?MacInTouch?4:05 PM
  • "How to Set Up the AirPort Extreme"?Macinstruct?7:50 AM
  • "How to Hide Your AirPort Extreme Network"?Macinstruct?1:44 PM
  • "How to Use Your Mac as a Wireless Router"?Macinstruct?7:05 PM
  • "How to Connect to Hidden Wireless Networks"?Macinstruct?1:44 PM
  • "Quickly add to do items to iCal's Reminders from anywhere with a keyboard shortcut"?Mac OS X Tips?11:07 AM
Op/Ed
  • "I can see why those who have moved on to other finance software view Intuit's recent Quicken announcement to be tragically late. I have tried exporting to several of the alternative packages and have not been able to get an accurate transfer of my data. Thus, I have been stuck in Quicken, and consequentially, Snow Leopard. For me, this announcement is a wonderful holiday gift!"?MacInTouch?4:05 PM
  • "New year's resolution: A backup plan/It's not as hard as you might think to start backing up your Mac today"?Macworld?8:24 AM
Press Releases
  • "Boxee To Drop Support for Windows, Macs, and Linux"?ReadWriteWeb?11:23 AM
  • "Boxee releases 1.5 app as last Mac, PC version"?Electronista?11:05 AM
  • "iFunia Video Converter HD Comes to the Mac App Store"?prMac?7:57 AM
  • "2011"s top stories: Steve Jobs/We take a look back at the top stories about Steve Jobs and his tragic death"?Macworld UK?7:43 AM
  • "2011 In Review - The Year In Growth Technology"?Investopedia?8:49 AM
  • "Apple, 3 Other Techs In IBD 50 Start And End Of 2011: Staying power. Stick-to-it-iveness. Whatever you want to call the ability to hang in there, it's a pretty good trait in a person. It's also a pretty good trait in a company."?Investor's Business Daily?8:24 AM
  • "Apple iPhone 4S Santa Ad Ranked Most Effective of the Season"?The Mac Observer?8:14 AM
  • "IPhone 4S to hit market before Chinese New Year"?Beijing Daily?7:35 AM
  • "Rumors Say China Unicom Will Release iPhone 4S on January 6"?M.I.C. Gadget?7:42 AM
  • "Foxconn Doubling Down on Zhengzhou iPhone Plant"?AllThingsD?1:58 PM
  • "Apple gets off easy in EFF Holiday Wish List"?ZDNet?7:24 AM
  • "EFF's Wish List Includes Apple Providing Instructions on Rooting Its Device"?The Mac Observer?2:13 PM
  • "Perry Wins IPad and IPhone Vote (We CAN take on China and win!)" ["While the rest of the country has been suffering from Obama-itis (too much government regulations and power hungry unionism), Texas has been trying to make itself attractive to business (by limiting regulations, empowering free work rules, limiting frivolous lawsuits, educating ALL its people, limiting taxes) Which brings me back to the IPad and IPhone. As many of you know (well, at least the tech-knowledgeable among us), the brains of the IPAD and IPhone is the A5 chip. These chips are now made in Texas in a new $3.6 Billion facility."]?Free Republic?8:06 AM
  • "Teen Makes Another Apple 'Year in Review' Video for 2011"?iPhoneinCanada?7:40 AM
  • "Appy days: Doting father invents iPhone gadget to help daughter, 3, with brain tumour learn how to write"?Daily Mail (UK)?7:36 AM
  • "Reminder: Apple's 12 Days of Christmas app starts today, free iTunes content for Europe and Canada"?TiPb?8:06 AM
  • "Apple's 12 Days of Christmas giveaway kicks off in Europe and Canada"?AppleInsider?8:59 AM
  • "Cool Things: North Point's iBand Does Feliz Navidad on iPads and iPhones"?iSource?11:43 AM
Non-Apple News
  • "Google to Launch Major New Social Network Called Circles, Possibly Today (Updated)"?ReadWriteWeb?8:01 PM
  • "This is what a 5MB hard drive looked like in 1956 (note: required a forklift)."?The Next Web?1:15 PM
  • "Facebook is beating Google in 'the battle for eyeballs'"?ZDNet?1:14 PM
  • "Robots bake, fly and kick at US labs" [Slideshow]?CNET News?11:32 AM
  • "Buyer's Remorse: What to Do with Tech Gifts You Don't Want/Just because you didn't get the perfect gift during the holidays, it doesn't mean you can't get what you want"?Techland?11:21 AM
  • "A Rundown of Holiday Gift Return Policies: Every retail and online store?from Amazon, GameStop, Walmart and more?have very specific gift return policies. Here's what you need to know to swap out a holiday present you didn't love."?PC Magazine?11:00 AM
  • "LG Prepping Ice Cream Sandwich Update For Q2 2012 Release"?TechCrunch?11:18 AM
  • "LG Display Unveils World's Largest OLED TV Panel"?eWeek?10:42 AM
  • "Acer to not give up tablet PCs, says founder"?DigiTimes?10:40 AM
  • "Expect more cyber-espionage, sophisticated malware in '12, experts say"?IDG News Service?10:36 AM
  • "Anonymous denies Stratfor hack"?TG Daily?11:19 AM
  • "Confidential Client List Safe from Anonymous, Says Hacker Target"?PCWorld?11:02 AM
  • "Stratfor Hacked; Anonymous Claims Responsibility"?Forbes?10:44 AM
  • "Nokia Windows phone fails to impress in Europe"?CIOL?10:10 AM
  • "Smartphones at center of a fierce commercial battle"?Denver Post?10:09 AM
  • "Google Nexus launch likely to affect sales of Android 4.0 tablet PCs, say sources"?DigiTimes?10:40 AM
  • "Google explains why it invests in Mozilla"?Fudzilla?9:53 AM
  • "App aims to make a social network more personal"?Reuters?9:49 AM
  • "Meet Telecomix, The Hackers Bent On Exposing Those Who Censor And Surveil The Internet"?Forbes?9:42 AM
  • "Samsung to Buy Sony's Share of LCD Panel Joint Company for $934 Million"?IDG News Service?7:38 AM
Publications/Podcasts
  • "Engadget Mobile Podcast 118 - 12.26.2011" ["01:22:05 - ITC sides with Apple, bans sale and import of some HTC phones (updated)"]?Engadget?11:53 AM
  • "iWake With AppAdvice For Monday Now Available"?App Advice?7:38 AM

Deal Brothers Daily Deal: Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 12MP Digital Camera:? $148.00 Delivered - $30 Drop


  • "Google, Microsoft each seek search 'game changer': Analysts expect big moves after Google and Bing maintain leadership positions in 2011"?Computerworld?10:13 AM
  • "Three reasons Microsoft's Bing will gain ground against Google in 2012"?Computerworld Blogs?2:48 PM
  • "Microsoft in a better place than many people think, concludes Bernstein report"?GeekWire?10:13 AM
  • "A look back at Microsoft's busy year, A to Z"?Seattle Times?11:08 AM
  • "Microsoft: Five things to look for in 2012"?CNET News?9:47 AM
  • "Microsoft And Intel Try To Fend Off iPad Frenzy With Ultrabooks"?Forbes?11:36 AM
  • "Report: Windows Phone Will Have 6.2% Marketshare In 2012 With 40 Million Units Sold"?WMPoweruser?10:09 AM
  • "Windows 8 gesture login, perform gestures to unlock your device"?TweakTown?10:09 AM
  • "Xbox Live To Remove Guns From Avatar Marketplace In January"?GamerFront?10:11 AM
  • "IBM's Emptoris Deal Expands Smarter Commerce Initiatives"?Forbes?10:16 AM
  • "IBM's Watson Shows up for Work at Cedars-Sinai's Cancer Center"?Computerworld?2:45 PM
  • "Dell To Host Customers And Partners At Inaugural Dell Storage Forum In Europe"?VAdvert?9:56 AM
  • "AMD's Bulldozer Architecture: Overclocking Efficiency Explored"?Tom's Hardware?9:53 AM
  • "Broad base helps Intel expand lead over rivals"?Taipei Times?2:47 PM
  • "Intel Antitrust Case Heads to State Court"?WSJ.com [Paid Membership Required]?3:47 PM
  • "Intel considers Qualcomm threat No.1"?Fudzilla?10:04 AM
  • "Intel adjusts Atom development focus, say sources"?DigiTimes?10:40 AM
  • "Intel and Kraft's iSample vending kiosks study shoppers"?BBC?10:03 AM
  • "Booting an Intel Architecture System, Part I: Early Initialization"?Dr. Dobb's?10:03 AM
  • "Intel Thunderbolt to be available in April"?DigiTimes?8:20 PM
  • "With CloudVerse, Cisco Shows How Clever It Is"?ITBusinessEdge?9:54 AM
  • "The 10 biggest tech stories of 2011"?CNN?10:20 AM
  • "Top 10 articles of 2011: Windows 8, iPhone 5 hype and tablet fever"?V3?11:25 AM
  • "Tech stories of 2011: Jobs, Android, and Anonymous rank in top 10"?IDG News Service?10:48 AM
  • "25 Top Network and IT Industry News Stories of 2011"?Network World?9:54 AM
? ?

Source: http://www.macsurfer.com/redirr.php?u=651338

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

New fee coming for medical effectiveness research

(AP) ? Starting in 2012, the government will charge a new fee to your health insurance plan for research to find out which drugs, medical procedures, tests and treatments work best. But what will Americans do with the answers?

The goal of the research, part of a little-known provision of President Barack Obama's health care law, is to answer such basic questions as whether that new prescription drug advertised on TV really works better than an old generic costing much less.

But in the politically charged environment surrounding health care, the idea of medical effectiveness research is eyed with suspicion. The insurance fee could be branded a tax and drawn into the vortex of election-year politics.

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute ? a quasi-governmental agency created by Congress to carry out the research ? has yet to commission a single head-to-head comparison, although its director is anxious to begin.

The government is already providing the institute with some funding: The $1-per-person insurance fee goes into effect in 2012. But the Treasury Department says it's not likely to be collected for another year, though insurers would still owe the money. The fee doubles to $2 per covered person in its second year and thereafter rises with inflation. The IRS is expected to issue guidance to insurers within the next six months.

"The more concerning thing is not the institute itself, but how the findings will be used in other areas," said Kathryn Nix, a policy analyst for the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank. "Will they be used to make coverage determinations?"

The institute's director, Dr. Joe Selby, said patients and doctors will make the decisions, not his organization.

"We are not a policy-making body; our role is to make the evidence available," said Selby, a primary care physician and medical researcher,

But insurance industry representatives say they expect to use the research and work with employers to fine-tune workplace health plans. Employees and family members could be steered to hospitals and doctors who follow the most effective treatment methods. Patients going elsewhere could face higher copayments, similar to added charges they now pay for "non-preferred" drugs on their insurance plans.

Major insurers already are carrying out their own effectiveness research, but it lacks the credibility of government-sponsored studies.

Not long ago, so-called "comparative effectiveness" research enjoyed support from lawmakers in both parties. After all, much of the medical research that doctors and consumers rely on now is financed by drug companies and medical device manufacturers, who have a built-in interest in the findings. And a drug maker only has to show that a new medicine is more effective than a sugar pill ? not a competing medication ? to win government approval for marketing.

The 2009 economic stimulus bill included $1.1 billion for medical effectiveness research, mainly through the National Institutes of Health. It was not considered particularly controversial. But things changed during the congressional health care debate, after former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin made the claim, now widely debunked, that Obama and the Democrats were setting up "death panels" to ration care.

As a result, lawmakers hedged the new institute with caveats. It was set up as an independent nonprofit organization, with a .org Internet address instead of .gov. The government cannot dictate Selby's research agenda. And there are limitations on how the Health and Human Services department can use the research findings in decisions that affect Medicare and Medicaid.

Selby says the institute is taking seriously the term "patient-centered" in its name. Patients will not be merely subjects of research; they and their representatives will be involved in setting the agenda and overseeing the process.

"We are talking about patients as partners in the research," said Selby. Findings will be presented in clear language ? a kind of Consumer Reports approach ? so that patients and doctors can easily draw on them to make decisions.

"Our goal, our hope, is that over time, by involving patients in research, two things will happen," said Selby. "One is that we will start asking questions in a more practical fashion, so the results would speak more consistently to questions that patients want to know the answers to. And two is that, by our example of involving patients in the research, trust will rise." He expects to unveil the institute's proposed research agenda in the next few weeks.

Former Medicare administrator Gail Wilensky says that agenda should focus on high-cost procedures and drugs on which the medical community has not developed a consensus, and which have widely different patterns of use around the country. A Republican, Wilensky believes opposition to the institute's work is shortsighted.

"This just strikes me as a component of finding ways to treat better and spend smarter," she said.

___

Online:

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute - www.pcori.org

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-12-27-US-New-Insurance-Fee/id-c7960586e5ed498f8203d890adb10263

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Can Struggling Hollywood Ride Broadway's Coattails? | Reuters

www.reuters.com:

With the motion picture box office in a slump, and Broadway on an upswing, an increasing number of film franchises are being transformed for the stage.

In fact, theatrical productions of feature films including "The Notebook," "Rocky," "Austin Powers," "Ghost," "Finding Neverland," "Once," "Diner" and "The Goonies" are all in the works. It's easy to see why.

Domestic box office attendance is at its lowest level in 16 years, and studios have struggled to fill seats throughout a sluggish 2011, during which ticket sales are down around 5 percent.

Read the whole story: www.reuters.com

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/26/can-struggling-hollywood-_n_1170388.html

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Monday, December 26, 2011

2011 Christmas weekend TV: Movies, marathons and football

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Source: www.ky3.com --- Saturday, December 24, 2011
Are you looking for TV to tune into during the upcoming Christmas holiday weekend? Maybe you can't get home to your family this year, or you aren't celebrating Christmas, or you just don't like those relatives of yours and would rather watch a "Hoarding: Buried Alive" marathon. Whatever the reason, Zap2it has you covered for all the sports, marathons and specials over the holidays. (Don't worry, we'll have a new post for next week's New Years holiday.) ...

Source: http://sns.tribune.com/entertainment/zap-2011-christmas-weekend-tv-movies-marathons-and-20111222,0,4490339.story?track=rss

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The First 15 iPad Apps You Must Download (AAPL)

Summary

The iPad is Apple's tablet computer, unveiled in January, 2010, and launched in April, 2010. The second generation of the iPad -- the iPad 2 -- was unveiled on March 2, 2011. It will be available for sale in the U.S. on March... More ?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/tools/~3/NSlhcAJxMVs/best-ipad-apps-2011-12

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

VT nears completion of HokieSpeed, world's 96th most powerful supercomputer

If basking in the presence of a powerful supercomputer is on your list of "must-haves" when selecting a proper university, then you may wish to fire off an admissions application to the Hokies at Virginia Tech. The school's HokieSpeed system is now in its final stages of testing, which combines 209 separate computers, each powered by dual six-core Xeon E5645 CPUs and two NVIDIA M2050 / C2050 448-core GPUs, with a single-precision peak processing capability of 455 teraflops. To put things in perspective, HokieSpeed is now the 96th most powerful computer in the world, and yet it was built for merely $1.4 million in loose change -- the majority of which came from a National Science Foundation grant. As a further claim to fame, HokieSpeed is the 11th most energy-efficient supercomputer in the world. Coming soon, the system will drive a 14-foot wide by four-foot tall visualization wall, which is to consist of eight 46-inch Samsung 3D televisions humming in unison. After all, with virtually limitless potential, these scientists will need a fitting backdrop for all those Skyrim sessions. The full PR follows the break, complete with commentary from the system's mastermind, Professor Wu Feng.

Continue reading VT nears completion of HokieSpeed, world's 96th most powerful supercomputer

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Gingrich fails to qualify for Va. primary ballot (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich failed to qualify for Virginia's Super Tuesday primary ballot, the latest setback for a candidate whose standing in polls has been slipping. Gingrich's campaign said he would pursue an aggressive write-in campaign, though state law prohibits write-ins on primary ballots.

The state party said early Saturday that Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry had failed to submit the required 10,000 signatures to appear on the March 6 ballot.

Failing to get on the ballot in Virginia, where Gingrich lives, underscores the difficulty first-time national candidates have in preparing for the long haul of a presidential campaign.

And it illustrates the advantage held by Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, who has essentially been running for president for five years. Romney's team, larger than those of most of his opponents, has paid close attention to filing requirements in each state. He will appear on the Virginia ballot along with Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who also has run a national campaign before.

Ironically, Gingrich had a slight lead over Romney in a Quinnipiac poll of Virginia Republicans released earlier in the week.

The former House speaker surged in popularity in early December and tried to use that momentum to make up for a stalled campaign organization. But his standing in polls has slipped in recent days amid a barrage of negative ads in Iowa, where the Jan. 3 caucuses begin the contest for the Republican presidential nomination.

Three other candidates ? Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman ? did not submit signatures before Virginia's deadline of 5 p.m. Thursday.

Gingrich's campaign attacked Virginia's primary system on Saturday, saying that "only a failed system" would disqualify Gingrich and other candidates and vowing to run a write-in campaign.

"Voters deserve the right to vote for any top contender, especially leading candidates," Gingrich campaign director Michael Krull said in a statement. "We will work with the Republican Party of Virginia to pursue an aggressive write-in campaign to make sure that all the voters of Virginia are able to vote for the candidate of their choice."

However, according to state law, "No write-in shall be permitted on ballots in primary elections."

"Virginia code prohibits write-ins in primaries. He can't do it," said Carl Tobias, a law professor at University of Richmond.

Tobias said Gingrich may have had trouble meeting a requirement that he must submit 400 signatures from each of Virginia's 11 congressional districts.

Gingrich's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Gingrich had been concerned enough to deliver his signatures personally. Rushing Wednesday from New Hampshire, which holds its primary on Jan. 10, he had supporters sign petitions before entering a rally in Arlington, Va.

Virginia GOP spokesman Garren Shipley said in a statement that volunteers spent Friday validating signatures on petitions that Romney, Paul, Perry and Gingrich had submitted. "After verification, RPV has determined that Newt Gingrich did not submit required 10k signatures and has not qualified for the VA primary," the party announced early Saturday on its Twitter feed. Shipley did not respond to telephone calls Saturday seeking comment.

Forty-six delegates will be at stake in Virginia's Super Tuesday primary. That's a small fraction of the 1,144 delegates needed to win the nomination. But they could prove pivotal in a close race, especially for a candidate like Gingrich, who expects to do well in Southern contests.

Gingrich already missed the deadline to appear on the ballot in Missouri's Feb. 7 primary, though he insists it doesn't matter because the state awards delegates based not on the primary but on a Republican caucus held in March.

Meanwhile, Virginia's Democrats said President Barack Obama's re-election campaign gathered enough signatures to get him on the state's primary ballot though he was the only candidate who qualified.

___

Associated Press writers Will Lester and Stephen Ohlemacher contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111225/ap_on_el_pr/us_gop_ballot

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Saturday, December 24, 2011

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Michael Buble's Christmas Retains #1 Billboard Spot

Adele's 21 and Justin Bieber's Under the Mistletoe snag #2 and #3 spots.
By Rob Markman


Michael Buble's Christmas
Photo: Reprise

Wondering what gifts will await you on Christmas morning? Don't be surprised if Ol' St. Nick stuffs your stocking with a copy of Michael Bublé's Yuletide LP. The throwback singer sold almost 448,000 copies of his Christmas album this past week while shoppers rushed stores to snag gifts for their loved ones. The sales number was more than enough to once again perch Bublé atop the Billboard albums chart like a partridge in a pear tree and bring him that much closer to a double-platinum plaque, according to SoundScan.

Adele put in work as well, securing the #2 spot on the charts, as another 277,000 music lovers realized they should run out and buy her masterpiece 21, 43 weeks after its release. Justin Bieber's Under the Mistletoe (#3, 171,000), Lady Antebellum's Own the Night (#5, 81,000) and Drake's Take Care (#7, 77,000) all pushed past platinum this week, while the Black Keys' El Camino and Amy Winehouse's posthumous Lioness: Hidden Treasures remained in the top 10 in their second week of release. Nickelback's Here and Now (#6, 80,000), Andrea Bocelli's Concerto: One Night in Central Park (#8, 76,000) and "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery's Clear as Day (#9, 66,000) rounded out the rest of the top 10.

Soul vocalist Anthony Hamilton saw his fifth studio album, Back to Love, miss the top 10 in its debut week, landing in the #12 position by selling almost 63,000 copies. Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa's Mac & Devin Go to High School movie soundtrack was the week's second notable debut, but one would have to imagine that the duo expected to land higher than #29. Still, once the accompanying film is actually released in 2012, the album could potentially move up.

It'll be interesting to see where veteran rappers Common and Young Jeezy will land next week with their respective albums, which were both released Tuesday.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1676374/michael-buble-christmas-sounscan-chart.jhtml

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Friday, December 23, 2011

Aaron Rodgers is 2011 AP Male Athlete of Year

FILE - In this Jan. 15, 2011, file photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) scrambles past Atlanta Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton (50) on a 7-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game in Atlanta. Rodgers is the 2011 Male Athlete of the Year chosen by members of The Associated Press after his MVP performance in the Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl victory in February and his stellar play during the team's long unbeaten run this season. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 15, 2011, file photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) scrambles past Atlanta Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton (50) on a 7-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game in Atlanta. Rodgers is the 2011 Male Athlete of the Year chosen by members of The Associated Press after his MVP performance in the Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl victory in February and his stellar play during the team's long unbeaten run this season. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 6, 2011, file photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 in the NFL Super Bowl XLV football game in Arlington, Texas. Rodgers is the 2011 Male Athlete of the Year chosen by members of The Associated Press after his MVP performance in the Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl victory in February and his stellar play during the team's long unbeaten run this season. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 6, 2011, file photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates with Jordy Nelson, left, after Nelson scored a touchdown during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLV football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Arlington, Texas. Rodgers is the 2011 Male Athlete of the Year chosen by members of The Associated Press after his MVP performance in the Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl victory in February and his stellar play during the team's long unbeaten run this season. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 6, 2011, file photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates the Packers' 31-25 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers after the NFL Super Bowl XLV football game in Arlington, Texas. Rodgers is the 2011 Male Athlete of the Year chosen by members of The Associated Press after his MVP performance in the Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl victory in February and his stellar play during the team's long unbeaten run this season. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

(AP) ? When Aaron Rodgers needs to rekindle the feelings that drove his rise from a junior college quarterback to Super Bowl MVP, he doesn't have to look too far.

Rodgers held on to the many rejection letters he received from marquee college programs as he was coming out of high school. Even today, he leaves a few of them sitting out at his house.

"I chose the couple that I thought were most demeaning to display in a space in my house that really nobody is able to see but myself," Rodgers said. "It's something that I think is important to keep fresh on your mind. Maybe not every day, but once a week your eyes might pan across it and you have a little laugh about the journey you've been on ? at the same time, remembering that there still are people out there that you can prove something to."

Good luck finding those doubters now.

Rodgers is the 2011 Male Athlete of the Year, chosen by members of The Associated Press, after he turned in an MVP performance in the Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in February and then went on to lead his team on a long unbeaten run this season.

Rodgers received 112 votes out of the 212 ballots submitted from U.S. news organizations that make up the AP's membership. Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander finished second with 50 votes, followed by tennis standout Novak Djokovic (21), Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton (6) and NASCAR champion Tony Stewart (5).

Rodgers is one of three quarterbacks to receive the honor in the past five years. The New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees won in 2010 and the New England Patriots' Tom Brady won in 2007.

Rodgers says it still feels "surreal at times" to be considered among the biggest names in sports.

"Those guys are household names, the best of the best," Rodgers said. "(It's) special to win the award, and something I'll remember."

Through 14 games this season, Rodgers has completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 4,360 yards with 40 touchdowns and six interceptions. The Packers are 13-1, and Rodgers' play is leaving people speechless ? even his coach, Mike McCarthy.

"I'm running out of things to say about him," McCarthy said earlier this month, after Rodgers drove the Packers into position for a last-second, game-winning field goal to beat the New York Giants.

Green Bay's 19-game winning streak came to an end at Kansas City on Sunday, but the Packers remain a strong favorite to repeat as champions. That's thanks in large part to Rodgers' knack for making big plays without major mistakes.

It has been a long and challenging journey out of obscurity for Rodgers, who wasn't offered a big-time scholarship out of high school and had to play a year in junior college. Then came his agonizing wait on draft day, three seasons on the bench behind Brett Favre and a tumultuous first year as a starter.

If Rodgers' path to stardom had been smoother, he says he wouldn't be the player ? or person ? he is today.

"It's something that gives me perspective all the time, knowing that the road I took was difficult. But it did shape my character and it shaped my game as well," Rodgers said. "I try and keep that on my mind as a good perspective, but also as a motivator, knowing that it took a lot to get to where I am now and it's going to take a lot to stay where I'm at."

Strangely, earning widespread respect throughout the sports world could become a challenge in and of itself for Rodgers, who draws motivation from proving himself to his doubters and critics.

Is that becoming more difficult?

"It would only be tougher if you stopped remembering or drawing or thinking about those things," Rodgers said. "And I think a great competitor has to have at least some sort of chip on their shoulder, or at least the attitude that you have something to prove every time you take the (field)."

Unable to attract attention from a big-time college program, Rodgers played a year at Butte College in Oroville, Calif., near his hometown of Chico. His play there eventually got the attention of Cal coach Jeff Tedford, and Rodgers transferred.

Rodgers thrived at Cal and went into the 2005 NFL draft expecting to be taken early in the first round. But he didn't hear his name called until the Packers chose him with the 24th overall pick.

Once in Green Bay, Rodgers found himself backing up Favre, a revered Packer who didn't necessarily like the idea that the team had put his eventual successor in place. Favre kept fans and the franchise on their toes every offseason, flirting with the idea of retiring but always coming back.

Then came the summer of 2008, when tension between Favre and the Packers' front office finally snapped after Favre retired, changed his mind and asked for his job back ? or a chance to play elsewhere. Favre was traded to the New York Jets and Rodgers finally had his chance.

Rodgers wasn't immediately embraced by a segment of fans who supported Favre. He even was booed at the team's "Family Night" scrimmage. He stayed calm on the outside and played pretty well in his first year as a starter despite the team's 6-10 record.

But he still had his doubts.

"I had a lot of confidence in my abilities," Rodgers said. "But the doubts and worries are associated with, 'How am I going to be perceived by my teammates? How's my performance going to be scrutinized?' And you go through a point where you're reading your own clippings. You're 6-10 your first season, and you're reading some of these (Internet) comment boards, in the back of your mind, that negative voice is telling you, 'You know, you're not going to live up to any expectations you put on yourself, and you're not as good as you think you are.' Those can mess with you a little bit, but you can also draw some motivation from those negative thoughts. And I did."

Rodgers led the Packers to the playoffs in 2009 season ? then won it all last February.

"I think a weight comes off your shoulders after you win a Super Bowl, and you realize that all those doubts and worries and successes and failures you had before then, a lot of those get wiped away and the slate almost goes clean," Rodgers said. "Because you won the ultimate prize, and you had the chance to silence some of your critics, the challenges change, the way you're viewed changes. I think a lot of the things that you really worried about too much become very little in importance."

___

Connect with AP Sports Writer Chris Jenkins: www.twitter.com/ByChrisJenkins

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2011-12-21-FBN-Male-Athlete-of-the-Year/id-9a0ca6f93eda4aed93d83b3075ec0776

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U.S. authorities bust Mexico drug network in Arizona (Reuters)

TEMPE, Ariz (Reuters) ? U.S. authorities have arrested 203 people and smashed a Mexican trafficking ring that funneled millions of dollars in drugs to Arizona for the powerful Sinaloa cartel, officials said on Tuesday.

The multi-agency bust, led by Tempe police and the Drug Enforcement Administration, dismantled a cell running heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana to Arizona for the Sinaloa Cartel, headed by Mexico's most wanted man, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman.

"Operation Crank Call" began when a Tempe police officer arrested two men in a street-level drug deal last year. One of the suspects was later identified as a delivery driver for the Mexican smuggling ring.

It subsequently led to 203 arrests, the seizure of more than 1,200 pounds of narcotics, $7.8 million in drug cash and 44 guns across the Phoenix valley area over a 15-month period, police said.

"Operation Crank Call deals another significant blow to the drug trafficking organizations that continue to try and make the Phoenix metropolitan area a primary hub of drug distribution," said Doug Coleman, the DEA's acting special agent in charge.

"By dismantling this group, DEA and our partners have taken large quantities of drugs, millions of dollars in drug trafficker assets, and powerful weapons off our streets," he added.

The Sinaloa cartel is fighting rival traffickers in Mexico, where surging drug-related violence has killed more than 44,000 people since President Felipe Calderon took office in 2006 and sent the military to crush the powerful smugglers.

The cartel funnels narcotics through the Mexico border state, sneaking loads through the ports of entry, through clandestine tunnels and over the porous border and through the desert.

Police said those arrested included U.S. and Mexican citizens. Charges brought in the case ranged from simple possession and drug paraphernalia offenses to trafficking charges.

Coleman said the investigation was ongoing and expected further arrests.

(Reporting by Tim Gaynor; Editing by Jerry Norton)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mexico/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111220/us_nm/us_usa_mexico_drugs

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