Thursday, December 27, 2012

Marvel's Peter Parker in perilous predicament

This undated photo provided by Marvel Comics shows the cover of the 700th and final issue in the comic book series ?The Amazing Spider-Man,? issued Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012. The series ends as Peter Parker meets his doom. But Spider Man's adventures will continue with the debut of ?Superior Spider-Man? in January 2013. (AP Photo/Marvel Comics)

This undated photo provided by Marvel Comics shows the cover of the 700th and final issue in the comic book series ?The Amazing Spider-Man,? issued Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012. The series ends as Peter Parker meets his doom. But Spider Man's adventures will continue with the debut of ?Superior Spider-Man? in January 2013. (AP Photo/Marvel Comics)

(AP) ? After 50 years of spinning webs and catching a who's who of criminals, Peter Parker is out of the hero game.

But Spider-Man is still slinging from building to building ? reborn, refreshed and revived with a new sense of the old maxim that Ben Parker taught his then-fledgling nephew that "with great power, comes great responsibility."

Writer Dan Slott, who's been penning Spidey adventures for the better part of the last 100 issues for Marvel Entertainment, said the culmination of the story is a new, dramatically different direction for the Steve Ditko and Stan Lee-created hero.

"This is an epic turn," Slott said. "I've been writing Spider-Man for 70-plus issues. Every now and then, you have to shake it up. ... The reason Spider-Man is one of the longest running characters is they always find a way to keep it fresh. Something to shake up the mix."

And in the pages of issue 700, out Wednesday, it's not just shaken up, it's turned head over heels, spun in circles, kicked sky high and cracked wide open.

Parker's mind is trapped in the withered, decaying dying body of his nemesis, Doctor Octopus aka Otto Octavius. Where's Doc Ock? Inside Parker's super-powered shell, learning what life is like for the brilliant researcher who happens to count the Avengers and Fantastic Four as friends and family.

The two clash mightily in the pages of issue 700, illustrated by Humberto Ramos and Victor Olazaba. But it's Octavius who wins out and Parker is, at least for now, gone for good, but not before one more act of heroism.

Slott said that it's Parker, whose memories envelop Octavius, who shows the villain what it means to be a hero.

"Gone are his days of villainy, but since it's Doc Ock and he has that ego, he's not going to try and just be Spider-man, he's going to try to be the best Spider-Man ever," said Slott.

Editor Stephen Wacker said that while Parker is gone, his permanence remains and his life casts a long shadow.

"His life is still important to the book because it affects everything that Doctor Octopus does as Spider-Man. Seeing a supervillain go through this life is the point ? trying to be better than the hero he opposed," Wacker said.

"Doc has sort of inspired by Peter's life. That's what I mean when he talks about the shadow he casts," he said.

The sentiment echoes what Uncle Ben said in the pages of "Amazing Fantasy" No. 15, Slott said.

Editor Stephen Wacker called it a fitting end to the old series, which sets the stage for a new one ? "The Superior Spider-Man" early next year ? because it brings Peter Parker full circle, from the start of his crime-fighting career to the end.

"In his very first story, his uncle died because of something he did so the book has always been aimed at making Peter's life as difficult as possible," Wacker said. "The book has always worked best when it's about Peter Parker's life, not Spider-Man's."

And with Octavius influenced by Parker's life ? from Aunt May to Gwen Stacy to Mary Jane ? it will make him a better person, too.

"Because Doctor Octopus knows all of those things and will make decisions on what he saw Peter going through," Wacker said. "In a way, he gets the ultimate victory as he becomes a better hero."

___

Follow Matt Moore at www.twitter.com/MattMooreAP

___

Online:

http://bit.ly/V4q8FT

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-12-26-Peter%20Parker's%20Predicament/id-b0a01d00bd1343f5858dcc69dd0cc2ac

rich forever rick ross project runway all stars elin nordegren tangled ever after kansas state last house on the left last house on the left

Denver rolls, keeps top spot in AP Pro32 rankings

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning sets to throw a pass in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning sets to throw a pass in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Wesley Woodyard (52) pushes off of Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy (12) after sacking him in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Denver. Denver won 34-12. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

(AP) ? Peyton Manning and his Broncos are closing in on the playoffs as the top team in the AP Pro32 NFL power rankings.

Denver strengthened its grip on the top spot Wednesday following its 10th win in a row, receiving nine first-place votes and 381 points in balloting by The Associated Press panel of 12 media members who regularly cover the league.

The AFC West champion Broncos (12-3) close out the regular season at home against Kansas City (2-13), 32nd and last in the rankings. The final AP Pro32 rankings will be released next Wednesday.

The NFC South champion Atlanta Falcons (13-2) moved up two places to second with one first-place vote and 363 points. Last week, the Broncos were first by three points over San Francisco, which dropped to sixth after being blown out by Seattle.

"Eleven in a row (after KC this weekend) and primed for a Super Bowl run," Rich Gannon of CBS Sports/Sirius XM said in voting the Broncos first.

"As expected the Broncos have become a scoring machine that also has good pass rushers. Still a chance they are the No. 1 seed in the AFC," Pat Kirwan of SiriusXM NFL Radio/CBSSports.com said.

The Seahawks (one first-place vote) were up two spots to fifth after routing the 49ers 42-13 on Sunday night.

"They have scored 120 points more than their last three opponents and officially have become the team no one wants to play in the postseason," Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune said.

Despite the loss, the 49ers still received a first-place vote.

"Admittedly, a HUGE mulligan," said ESPN's Chris Berman in sticking with the 49ers at No. 1.

Green Bay was up three spots to third after its 55-7 rout of Tennessee, while New England dropped a place to fourth after hanging on for a 23-16 win over No. 31 Jacksonville.

"If there's any solace from an unimpressive win at Jacksonville, the Patriots also seemed disinterested in their final two regular-season games last year before reaching Super Bowl," Alex Marvez of Foxsports.com said.

"Yes, the Patriots are hard to figure out, but this isn't: They're always a Super Bowl factor as long as Tom Brady is healthy," Clark Judge of CBSSports.com said.

Indianapolis, which clinched a playoff spot with a win over Kansas City, moved up to 10th in a season in which the Colts started out No. 32 in the first AP Pro32 rankings.

"Can an assistant coach be named the NFL's coach of the year? Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians has put himself in that position for his interim work filling in for ailing head coach Chuck Pagano this season," Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News said.

And yes, Arians can win the award.

Minnesota, meanwhile, rose to No. 12 this week, and needs a win over Green Bay to earn a playoff spot. The Vikings started the season 29th.

"Adrian Peterson is finally getting a little help from his friends," Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune said.

Philadelphia began the season No. 8 and dropped three more spots to No. 27 after a 27-20 loss to Washington. The Redskins, meanwhile, went the other way, starting at No. 25 and rising to No. 9 this week.

"It's very simple for the resurgent Redskins: beat the Cowboys on Sunday, and the division is theirs," Bob Glauber of Newsday said. "Would be an incredible finish for a team that looked to be out of it at 3-6."

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

___

Follow Richard Rosenblatt on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/rosenblattap

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-26-AP%20Pro32%20Rankings/id-b55517d535eb4809a86e5cca8b8ebbd0

jaleel white levi johnston 2013 srt viper scott walker recall fisker atlantic social darwinism jamie lynn spears

Will 2013 Bring Financial Reform?

Slate:

Here's an odd prediction for the coming year: 2013 will be a watershed for financial reform.

Read the whole story at Slate

"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/25/2013-financial-reform_n_2362453.html

Bram Stoker books Paula Broadwell Photos Veterans Day 2012 Nate Silver stock market stock market Obama Acceptance Speech 2012

Whither the birthplace of Jesus?

Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem @ UNESCOChurch of the Nativity, Bethlehem @ UNESCO

For centuries, Christians have been making the pilgrimage to Bethlehem to pay their respects to Jesus ? except they may have been making a wrong turn.

According to NPR and the London Times, the son of Mary wasn't born in the little town of Bethlehem in Palestine's West Bank area. Instead, archaeologists think it's the little village called Bethlehem of the Galilee, about 100 miles north.

As if shifting a well-traveled holy route wouldn't be awkward enough, the United Nations just designated Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in November ? the first for Palestine. This year, AFP reported that an estimated 15,000 are visiting Bethlehem. People even pay homage online: Searches on Yahoo! have rise for "bethlehem" (+109%), "o little town of bethelem lyrics" (+50%), and "bethlehem israel" (off the charts) in the past day.

The hypothesis isn't a new one among scholars, and the Israeli Antiques Authority (IAA) has been talking about evidence unearthed in an excavation that may point to where the real manger lies. "It makes much more sense that Mary rode on a donkey, while she was at the end of the pregnancy, from Nazareth to Bethlehem of Galilee which is only 7 kilometers rather then the other Bethlehem which is 150 kilometers," IAA senior archaeologist Aviram Oshri explained to NPR, adding that West Bank's Bethlehem (also called Judea) didn't even have residents back in the first century.

Religious scholars have noted how the Bible refers to Jesus as "Jesus of Nazareth." In 2008, the National Geographic points to a passage (John: 7:41-43) noting how his origins from Galilee counted against him.

Oshri wrote about how the evidence changed his mind for Archaeology magazine in 2005:

I had never before questioned the assumption that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. But in the early 1990s, as an archaeologist working for the IAA, I was contracted to perform some salvage excavations around building and infrastructure projects in a small rural community in the Galilee. When I started work, some of the people who lived around the site told me how Jesus was really born there, not in the south. Intrigued, I researched the archaeological evidence for Bethlehem in Judea at the time of Jesus and found nothing. This was very surprising, as Herodian remains should be the first thing one should find. What was even more surprising is what archaeologists had already uncovered and what I was to discover over the next 11 years of excavation at the small rural site--Bethlehem of Galilee.

The IAA stopped the excavations in 2006, citing a lack of funding; right now nobody's investing in any more digs at the Bethlehem of the Galilee. Oshri doesn't think any new evidence would change anything anyhow. "I don?t think it will make a difference to people,? Oshri told the London Times. ?Christianity is leaning on the Old Testament, and in the Old Testament the Messiah should come from the house of David and Bethlehem near Jerusalem."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/whither-birthplace-jesus-o-little-town-bethlehem-vs-184009556.html

nfl draft d rose iman shumpert mayweather vs cotto shumpert hopkins hopkins

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Keep politics to a minimum with new U.S. Attorney: James Varney ...

?

It won't be long into 2013 that Sen. Mary Landrieu submits to President Obama her short-list of candidates to become the next U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. It may be a long time, however, before she makes another move so important.

It is a sad, infuriating fact that the federal prosecutors in Louisiana have so much to do, but it is a fact nonetheless. Departed U.S. Attorney Jim Letten set a high bar, managing to nail corrupt politicians and get involved in the dirtier sort of crimes, like those committed by some New Orleans Police Department officers after Hurricane Katrina.

That sort of track record shows the broad reach a talented and aggressive U.S. attorney enjoys, and it also, more lamentably, reflects the deep list of targets available in our neck of the woods.

It also means that, above all, Landrieu cannot let political considerations be her guiding principle. To be sure, it's not as if the process will ever be, or need be, politically-free. In the realm of political patronage, a job as U.S. attorney is a ripe plum. Elections have consequences, and a victorious president gets to make these calls. So no one is na?ve enough to think politics will not play a role here.

But it can't have the lead role. I mean, it's not as if a president can take office and immediately pink slip every U.S. attorney. That would look like the president had something to hide or wasn't expecting to abide by the rules in the future and thus needed to neuter the Justice Department, would it not? That's a big reason why, with few exceptions, presidents on the up-and-up take a more measured approach to picking and choosing federal prosecutors, even if they eventually get a full slate of their own men and women.

So what's Landrieu to do? One smart move would be to pick a prosecutor, not a politician. For example, two names that have already floated about have been Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro and state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson. Both have law degrees and both, as their Louisiana careers attest, are talented, adroit politicians.

But Cannizzaro is, in fact, a prosecutor; Peterson chairs the Louisiana Democratic Party. As befits the position and the situation, neither Peterson nor Cannizzaro have been publicly campaigning for the job and it's not known if either of them even wants it - although it is a hell of a job. The point is if Landrieu were to choose between two such resumes, the choice should be clear.

That difference also underscores the fact appearances matter in a job like this. Indeed, it was the appearance of Letten's office, with underlings engaged in ill conceived, if occasionally funny, online commentary more than anything Letten actually did that spelled his end. So Landrieu must not suggest, or Obama approve, someone whose key qualification appeared to be a capital letter in parentheses after their name. In that case, it would be reasonable for the public the prosecutor is sworn to protect to conclude partisan considerations trumped public safety.

That's especially true in New Orleans, where a Democratic machine has controlled the city for decades. Indeed, with few exceptions U.S. cities today are one-party fiefdoms and many of them are being, or have been, run into the ground by corrupt, intellectually bankrupt Democratic machines.

Insiders of former Mayor Marc Morial were convicted, all indications are that former Mayor Ray Nagin is squarely within the federal prosecutorial crosshairs. Former City Councilman Oliver Thomas went down, as did former U.S. Rep. Bill Jefferson. This is a long list of high-ranking Democrats, and it shows that while the next U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana will come with the imprimatur of the modern liberal establishment, party affiliation must be ignored in the execution of the office's duties.

To be sure, there will be Republicans deserving of the federal hammer around, too. Former Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price shows the GOP hasn't been vaccinated against the Louisiana political corruption virus. But the situation will be one in which, primarily, a Democrat is watching over Democrats.

Still, as outside-the-city malefactors like Price or former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard prove, the local U.S. attorney isn't only worried about New Orleans criminals. Thus, Landrieu should not be swayed unduly by local "groups," such as the unnamed one recently featured in a local television report. Vague musings about "justice for African-Americans" and complaints Letten was insufficiently diligent in pursuing unspecified allegations often act like a siren call for modern Democrats, but the constituency being served here is a broader one.

Landrieu faces her own re-election challenge in 2014. It's unlikely (though not inconceivable) her suggestions on this matter will have an impact on that race. But it's certain the choice now will have a big impact for a potentially longer timeframe, and on a great many, diverse people. All of which means that while this process is never pure, it's got to at least be played smart and straight.

Source: http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2012/12/keep_politics_to_a_minimum_wit.html

Breaking Amish Indianapolis explosion mike brown bcs rankings jay cutler applebees jeff gordon

Former Braves player arrested on battery charge

(Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

(Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

DULUTH, Ga. (AP) ? Former Atlanta Braves star center fielder Andruw Jones was free on bond after being arrested in suburban Atlanta early Tuesday on a battery charge, according to jail records.

Around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a call for a domestic dispute between Jones and his wife in Duluth.

Gwinnett County Detention Center records say Jones was booked into the jail around 3:45 a.m. and had been released on $2,400 bond by 11 a.m.

Once one of the premier players in the big leagues, Jones broke into the majors with the Atlanta Braves in 1996 and won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves from 1998-07 as their center fielder. He has 434 career home runs over the span of 17 seasons in the majors.

Jones earlier this month signed a $3.5 million, one-year contract with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan?s Pacific League.

(? Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Source: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/12/25/former-braves-player-arrested-on-battery-charge/

jessie j jessie j David Boudia David Rakoff Bourne Legacy Chad Johnson London 2012 Soccer

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

HP Could Layoff At Least 70 Autonomy Employees - Business Insider

HP plans to lay off a bunch of Autonomy employees, according to several news reports.

Up to 200 Autonomy employees are bracing themselves for a pink slip, writes Jon Rees at the U.K. publication, the Daily Mail.

The actual number of cuts could be closer to 70, reports Arik Hesseldahl from AllThingsD, naming sources close to the company.? These 70 will be mostly salespeople who were hired before HP bought Autonomy.

The layoffs were reportedly in the works before HP announced an $8.8 billion writedown of Autonomy, Hesseldahl reports.?

HP claimed that $5 billion of that write-down was due to fraud in Autonomy's book. Autonomy's founder and former CEO, Mike Lynch, has adamantly denied any wrong-doing.

Word of Autonomy-specific layoffs shouldn't be surprising. In addition to the massive write-down on the value of Autonomy, HP has been involved in a multi-year effort to shed 29,000 jobs from its payroll by the end HP's 2014 fiscal year.

HP declined comment.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/hp-could-layoff-at-least-70-autonomy-employees-2012-12

netflix les miserables a christmas story twas the night before christmas Django Unchained merry Christmas Jack Klugman

William Spengler Identified As Webster Firefighter Shooter; Killed Grandmother In 1980s

The shooter who shot and killed two responding firefighters and injured two others in Webster, New York this morning has been identified as convicted killer William Spengler, 62.

Police say that Spengler spent 17 years in prison for killing his grandmother in 1980. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the violence at the fire this morning.

Webster Police Chief Gerald Pickering said Spengler set a home on fire on Lake Road and waited for firefighters to arrive, ambushing them with gunfire. His motive is unclear. The shooting killed Lt. Mike Chiapperini, 43, a volunteer firefighter and Webster Police Department?s public information officer, and firefighter Tomasz Kaczowka. Theodore Scardino and Joseph Hofsetter were also shot and are recovering in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital.

In addition a police officer from Greece who was driving by was hit by shrapnel and injured.

Several weapons were used at the shooting today, including "at least" an assault rifle, Pickering said.

"This is an individual who obviously had a lot of problems," he said, adding that there were "probably some mental health issues."

Pickering said Spengler was arrested in 1980 and convicted of killing his grandmother, serving time until 1998.

The fires are reportedly under control, Webster police officials said at a press conference. Four homes were completely destroyed in the blaze and four more were damaged.

"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/24/william-spengler-identified-webster-shooter_n_2360280.html

marbury v. madison 2013 lincoln mkz burger king mary j blige google project glass google goggles one tree hill projectglass

We've Got Live Tech Support To Answer Questions on All Your New Gadgets

Did you get a bunch of new gear today? Got some questions about how to use it? More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/AYMzejAeh20/weve-got-live-tech-support-to-answer-questions-on-all-your-new-gadgets

censorship wikipedia sopa and pipa bills censoring the internet blackout blackout congress

layanau: writ trig: Bodybuilding Basics | Sports n Recreation Info ...

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

Source: http://beachromanticvacations.falyorumlari.com/1153/layanau-writ-trig-bodybuilding-basics-sports-n-recreation-info/

josh smith birdsong teresa giudice atlanta hawks flyers 2012 white house correspondents dinner forrest gump

Monday, December 24, 2012

Japan's Kawaguchi may serve as foreign minister again: media

TOKYO (Reuters) - Incoming Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe might ask upper house lawmaker Yoriko Kawaguchi to return for another stint as foreign minister, Kyodo reported on Monday.

Japan's next foreign minister will serve against a backdrop of rising tensions with China, over a territorial dispute involving uninhabited isles in the East China Sea. Abe has called for a tougher stance toward China.

Abe is now deciding on the lineup for his Cabinet, which is likely to be formally inaugurated on Wednesday, Kyodo said.

Kawaguchi, a career diplomat, served as foreign minister from 2002-2004 under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and she also served as environment minister in 2001 under Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.

Some members of Abe's Liberal Democratic Party, which swept to victory in Japan's December 16 election, favor giving the foreign minister post to former financial services minister Toshimitsu Motegi or to former LDP secretary general Nobuteru Ishihara, the Kyodo report said.

Motegi is also being considered as a candidate for economy, trade and industry minister or internal affairs and communications minister.

Abe is likely to tap former defense minister Yuriko Koike as LDP policy chief, a separate Kyodo report said.

(Reporting by Lisa Twaronite; Editing by Michael Perry)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/japans-kawaguchi-may-serve-foreign-minister-again-media-045432207--business.html

williams syndrome hoya casa de mi padre corned beef and cabbage diners drive ins and dives jeff who lives at home 49ers news

US citizen killed by Afghan policewoman in Kabul

By Akbar Shinwari, NBC News

A U.S. citizen was killed inside Kabul?s police headquarters when a policewoman opened fire in apparent ?insider? attack, officials told NBC News on Monday.

The victim, a logistics adviser to the Kabul police, was severely wounded and died on Monday in the office of the local police chief, according to Mohammad Zahir, head of the criminal investigation department.

Zahir described the incident as an ?insider attack? in which Afghan forces turn their weapons on Western military they are supposed to be working with.?

What's leading Afghan troops to turn on coalition forces?

A spokesman for the NATO forces in Afghanistan told Reuters: ?A U.S. police adviser was killed in an attack by an Afghan policewoman.?

No further details were immediately available.

Earlier this year, U.S. military officials briefly suspended the training of Afghan Local Police (ALP) in the wake of a deadly series of insider killings, also known as ?green on blue? attacks.

A blast killed 10 Afghan girls who were collecting firewood in eastern Afghanistan, according to government officials. In a separate incident, two Afghans died in an attack in Kabul. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.

More world stories from NBC News:

Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

?

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/24/16119008-us-citizen-killed-by-afghan-policewoman-in-insider-attack?lite

Colorado Marijuana Washington Election Results drudge report Presidential Election 2012 Incumbent politico Tammy Baldwin

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Feds, shuttered NM peanut butter plant reach deal

File-This Nov. 27, 2012 file photo shows the Sunland Inc. peanut butter and nut processing plant in eastern New Mexico, near Portales, which has been shuttered since late September due to a salmonella outbreak that sickened dozens. The Department of Justice is seeking a permanent injunction against the nation's largest organic peanut butter plant, an eastern New Mexico facility that has been linked to a salmonella outbreak that sickened 42 people in 20 states. (AP Photo/Jeri Clausing, File)

File-This Nov. 27, 2012 file photo shows the Sunland Inc. peanut butter and nut processing plant in eastern New Mexico, near Portales, which has been shuttered since late September due to a salmonella outbreak that sickened dozens. The Department of Justice is seeking a permanent injunction against the nation's largest organic peanut butter plant, an eastern New Mexico facility that has been linked to a salmonella outbreak that sickened 42 people in 20 states. (AP Photo/Jeri Clausing, File)

(AP) ? A peanut butter plant shuttered by a widespread salmonella outbreak has been given the go ahead to start harvesting a bumper crop of prized eastern New Mexico Valencia peanuts next week under an agreement that ends a tense, monthslong standoff with federal regulators.

A consent decree filed in federal court Friday says Sunland Inc. can reopen its plant in Portales if it hires an independent expert to develop a sanitation plan, which then must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Conditions at the plant, which is the largest organic peanut butter producer in the country, prompted the FDA in November to use new authority for the first time to revoke the company's operating certificate without a court hearing. The action came after the plant was linked to a salmonella outbreak that sickened 42 people in 20 states this fall.

Friday's filing reinstates Sunland's food facility registration. But the company cannot process or distribute food from its peanut butter or peanut mill plants in Portales until it has complied with the consent decree's requirements and receives written authorization from the FDA.

"This consent decree prohibits Sunland from selling processed foods to consumers until it fully complies with the law," Stuart F. Delery, principal deputy assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's civil division, said in a statement. "As this case demonstrates, the Department of Justice and FDA will work together to protect the health and safety of Americans by making sure that those who produce and sell the food we eat follow the law."

Sunland said the agreement came after it "provided additional information to FDA to demonstrate that recommended actions have been taken and required corrective actions are being implemented."

Sunland spokeswoman Katalin Coburn said that after the decree was filed, the FDA gave the plant permission to reopen its peanut processing facility while it works on the plan for reopening the peanut butter plant. She said work will resume the day after Christmas.

The Sunland plant was shuttered and hundreds of its products recalled in September and October after the salmonella outbreak was linked to Trader Joe's Valencia peanut butter manufactured at Sunland.

The recall and plant shuttering came as the region was finishing a bumper harvest of the prized Valencia peanuts grown almost exclusively in the region. The peanuts are favored for organic and natural peanut-butter products because of their sweet flavor, which requires few additives.

Sunland produces products for a number of national grocery and retail chains, and New Mexico Peanut Growers Association President Wayne Baker says the industry generates about $60 million in the region each year.

The FDA took the unusual step in November of revoking Sunland's registration just as the plant was hoping to reopen its processing plant to begin work on the millions of pounds of Valencia peanuts piled up in barns after this year's harvest.

The action was denounced as unfair and unnecessarily heavy-handed by many in the conservative farm town of Portales, where Sunland is the largest private employer. At the end of November, the plant had laid off about 30 percent of its 150 workers. Coburn said she was unsure how quickly the laid-off workers would be recalled.

The FDA said inspectors found samples of salmonella in 28 different locations in the plant, in 13 nut butter samples and in one sample of raw peanuts. Inspectors found improper handling of the products, unclean equipment and uncovered trailers of peanuts outside the facility that were exposed to rain and birds. Inspectors also said employees lacked access to hand-washing sinks, and dirty hands had direct contact with ready-to-package peanuts.

The FDA said it inspected the plant at least four times over the past five years, each time finding violations. Michael Taylor, the FDA's deputy commissioner for foods, said the agency's inspections after the outbreak found even worse problems than what had been seen there before.

Plant officials have said they were never notified of past violations.

__

Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Follow Jeri Clausing on Twitter at http://twitter.com/.!/jericlausing

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-12-22-Tainted%20Peanut%20Butter/id-85148f575bc147d4924a039c0da89391

the cell dickclark gavin degraw gavin degraw alec time 100 bob beckel

The Mayan Apocalypse and John Boehner?s own human sacrifices (Americablog)

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 Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/272483013?client_source=feed&format=rss

ozzie guillen castro comments phish gluten free diet barry zito mac virus santorum drops out bby

'Fiscal cliff' setback shaves 200 points off Dow

6 hrs.

Stocks are down nearly 1.4 percent as a setback in talks to avert the looming "fiscal cliff" have rattled investors. The S&P 500 is having its biggest drop since November 7.?

Speaker Boehner said in a press conference this morning that the failure to vote on the tax bill was not the outcome he wanted. "Unless the President and Congress take action," Boehner said, "tax rates will go up on every American taxpayer and devastating defense cuts will go into effect in 10 days." But he did leave the door open to working with Democrats on the problem.?

With time running short to find a solution before Christmas, the White House said it would work with Congress to avoid the series of tax increases and spending cuts set to kick in at the start of next year. President Barack Obama said he was hopeful a deal can be reached quickly.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is off 1.4 percent, led by losses in shares of Bank of America and Caterpillar.?

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq were both also down more than 1 percent. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, spiked to near 20.

Among S&P sectors, energy and financials are pacing declines.?

"The odds of the U.S. slipping over the fiscal cliff have clearly risen. In a moment of bad political misjudgement, John Boehner tried to take a deal through Congress that clearly failed to have the President's support, only for it to be rejected by hawks in his own party," Rebecca O'Keeffe, head of investment at Interactive Investor said in a morning note.

"The market still expects agreement to be reached, but as we head towards the final week of the year, many investors will be reluctant to hang up their stockings and take a break as the issue goes down to the wire."

Barry Knapp, head of U.S. equity portfolio strategy at Barclays, said he thought the market was vulnerable to selling pressure even in a best case scenario. "Between now and when we finally get something done, we should be at 1,325 or 1,300 on the S&P," he told CNBC this morning.?

The fiscal cliff wrangling overshadowed some better-than-anticipated economic data. November personal income rose 0.6 percent while spending increased 0.4 percent. Economists polled by Thomson Reuters forecast income rose by 0.3 percent and spending rose by 0.4 percent.

Durable orders data for November, meanwhile, rose 0.7 percent. Economists polled by Reuters forecast growth in orders will remain at 0.5 percent. Orders rose 1.1 percent in October.?

The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment survey for December came in at 72.9, down from 82.7 in November and lower than the 74.5 economists were expecting.?

Research In Motion shares tumbled after reporting a drop in subscriber rolls for the first time in its history. It also worried investors during a conference call in saying it plans to alter its service revenue model. CEO Thorsten Heins told CNBC that worries about falling service revenue during the transition to BlackBerry 10 are unfounded.

Micron lost $0.27 per share in the fiscal first quarter, seven cents wider than analysts had anticipated. Revenue also came in below consensus, as the chipmaker suffered the effects of slowing personal computer sales and overall economic uncertainty.

Red Hat reported third-quarter profit of $0.29 per share, in line with estimates, with revenue exceeding estimates. The provider of Linux software saw strong growth in its subscription business.

Nike earned $1.14 per share for its second quarter, 14 cents above estimates, with revenue in line with estimates. Gross margin fell for the eighth straight quarter, but that streak could end soon based on the athletic footwear and apparel maker's current financial projections.

Drugstore chain Walgreen reported a fiscal first-quarter profit of $0.58 per share, excluding certain items, well below estimates of $0.70. Revenue also was slightly short of estimates. Walgreen said non-operational factors weighed on results, but the underlying business remains strong.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/fiscal-cliff-setback-shaves-200-points-dow-1C7660245

Jennifer Lacy Honey Baked Ham hostess israel AMA Carly Rae Jepsen BCS Standings 2012

Saturday, December 22, 2012

5 Real Estate Resolutions for 2013 | Zillow Blog

At the end of every December, people make all kinds of resolutions for the coming year. Typically, these are things they want to improve about themselves, ways to make their day-to-day personal or work life better or ideas to put them on track for a change. Many times these surface as a result of mistakes made in the past 12 months.

When it comes to real estate, resolutions don?t?necessarily apply as it?s unlikely that you do a real estate transaction each year.? Furthermore, you can?t actually resolve?to buy your neighbor?s house or sell your $350,000 home for $1 million. Well, you could, but you?d probably be setting yourself up for?disappointment?right from the start.

Some things are simply out of a would-be buyer or seller?s control. But, as a would-be buyer or seller, you can learn from and make resolutions based on those who have gone before you. There exists a former buyer who, if he could, would resolve to have done more legwork before buying. Conversely there?s a current seller who resolves to take the next under-asking-price offer from a buyer more seriously.

Whether you plan to buy or sell, there are some real estate resolutions that buyers and sellers can ? and should ? make. Here are five to get you started.

Buyers: Resolve to get your financial house in order

Planning a home purchase takes time and effort, so you should consider meeting with a mortgage professional early in the year. Know your credit score and?understand?what?your financial?situation?looks like from a lender?s perspective. If?you?have?credit issues, identify what?they?are and the necessary steps to correct them. Sometimes, it can take six months to see your FICO score move up the much-needed 20 points to get you a better mortgage rate. A good real estate agent can recommend an experienced, local mortgage processional. Local is always?important,?because?many real estate deals are made on relationships, and being able to meet face-to-face with your mortgage professional can be a big plus.

Sellers: Resolve to think of your home as a product

When it comes time to sell, your home becomes another product on the?market. Buyers will compare it?and?its price to competing properties. You must put your best foot forward, because the properties that are priced right and show well sell the quickest. Pricing will get worked out once you?re ready to list, but showing well can start way in advance. A home that shows well is free of clutter, clean and as up-to-date as possible.

Start?clearing?out old stuff now. If there are things deep in?your?closets that you?don?t?think you?ll use between January and the time you move, consider a storage locker or making space?in the?garage. Does your real estate agent suggest that the basement needs a?paint job??Get some painting bids now. Have you always hated how the bathroom vanity takes up so much space? Consider changing it now so buyers will perceive your bathroom as bigger. This will also help you spread out the costs of home repairs and changes over several months.

Buyers: Resolve to start feeling out the market early

You may think you only need to go to open houses once you?re ready to buy. But in reality, a buyer needs a couple of months?learning the?marketing, understanding home values, the prices per neighborhood and the market in general. Going to open houses in?the?neighborhoods where you want to buy will allow you to start?feeling out?the?market.?It may also be the best way to meet your future real estate agent. Many agent/buyer?relationships?are forged at open houses.

Once you engage an agent, you may make several offers before you get into your dream home. Having your agent along for the ride will allow?you?to?compare and contrast homes you?ve visited to the home you?eventually?buy.?The homes you see and your?experience?feeling out?the market will serve as the building blocks toward becoming an informed buyer and making your best offer.

Sellers: Resolve to understand your timing and exit strategy

One of the biggest stresses?on a?seller is trying to plan a?purchase?and a sale at the same time. Can you afford to close on the new home before selling??If so, for how long? Do you need to sell the property first? If so, will the potential sale price support a home purchase?in the?neighborhood you want to be in??If not, what other areas?should?you be looking in??Selling and buying at the same time brings up all kinds of?financial, emotional and physical stress.

Uprooting?yourself?from your home is not easy. What if you have to go into short-term housing? How will you get that set up and how long would you need to commit for??If you can afford to purchase and then sell, do they need to happen quickly? Are there things you can be doing in your current home so that once your new home closes, you?ll be ready to list? It?s a lot to think about and plan for, and it helps to have a strategy in place well before you have to take action.

Buyers and sellers: Resolve to engage a real estate agent now

Planning a home purchase or sale takes time.?Engaging a real estate agent early in the process will allow you to have an expert on hand as you start to put the pieces together. A good real estate?agent?doesn?t?just show?and sell homes: They can be your strategic adviser, even well in advance of any actual transaction.

On the?seller side,?if you pulled a permit to install some new windows or replace some dry rot in 2005, likely the contractor issued a permit. But did he close it out? A good agent will figure that out and clean it up before it becomes a transaction issue. You should use your agent to literally get your house and listing in order.

For buyers, having an agent?with you from the start is like having an experienced, second set of eyes and ears. Having so many?transactions?under the belt and years of market knowledge in their head, a real estate agent?s opinions,?thoughts?and ideas can save you a lot of time and money. What?s more, they can keep?you?on the?right path toward identifying the best home, and they?ll see you through the process all the way to the closing.

Related:

Brendon DeSimone is a Realtor, a regular HGTV contributor and one of the nations leading?real estate experts. He has collaborated on multiple real estate books and his expert advice is regularly sought out by print, online and television media outlets like FOX News, CNBC and Forbes. An avid investor, Brendon owns real estate around the US and abroad and is licensed to sell in both California and New York. You can find Brendon?online?or follow him on?Twitter.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2012-12-21/5-real-estate-resolutions-for-2013/

magic mike trailer Alan Turing brave Stephanie Rice Meet the Pyro Karen Klein Colorado fires

Friday, December 21, 2012

Porn web site viewers vulnerable to ransom demands by online gangs

MONTREAL ? Visit a porn site and you could have your computer locked down and an online ransom demanded, a security threat now expected to spread to other areas of the cyber world in 2013.

It?s called ?ransomware? and the idea is to scare computer users into paying money to get their machine working again and their data back, said Kevin Haley of Symantec Corp., maker of software security programs.

?The scam is usually, ?Hey we see that you have pornography on your machine and we?re the police and you?re going to jail for it,? Haley said.

Unless you pay a fine or ?ransom,? he said.

That means being told online by cyber criminals to buy a prepaid card with a specific amount. The user enters the card?s PIN number on the computer keyboard?s numeric pad, the only thing not locked down, Haley said.

?But because it has been successful and there?s money to be made, we see it expanding,? said Haley, a director with Symantec?s security response team in Culver City, Calif.

?So it?s not just going after people who visited pornographic sites, it?s going after anybody.?

Smaller corporations, executives and even individuals, all of whom may not have their data backed up, are at risk in 2013, as attackers broaden their base, he said. And the victims will likely not get their data back.

?These are not honourable people. Unfortunately, we will see some really diabolical and nasty tricks used to try to force people to pay.?

There are at least 16 different gangs that are involved in this based on the malware used, Haley said, adding the attacks appear to have originated in Russia and moved to Germany and beyond.

Ransomware could also hit mobile phones next year.

?People get upset when their computer gets taken over, could you imagine how upset somebody will be if they can?t access their phone? People will pay anything to get their phone back,? Haley said.

Steve Durbin, global vice-president of the Information Security Forum, said the move toward accessing more and more information on mobile phones, especially if they?re not secure, is a threat.

?I think that?s compounded further if you happen to be combining your work and personal data because then you?re not just compromising your own information but also the enterprise?s information,? he said from London.

The U.K.-based Information Security Forum deals with cyber security challenges that its corporate and public sector members are facing.

Data that companies gather about their customers is also at risk for cyber tampering, said Durbin.

?You don?t need to steal the data anymore. You just need to put something in there that?s going to skew the results and you could put your competitors out of business.?

Durbin said it?s important for companies or governments that are attacked to be able to recover quickly.

?We don?t talk about how you can prevent these things from happening anymore. We talk about resilience.?

Despite the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, the enduring Nigerian 411 online scam is still the most popular, said Symantec?s Haley.

The scammer tries to convince somebody that ?the prince still has lots of money and if you just send him a little bit of money he will be free and he will share his millions with you,? Haley said.

?It?s a prepayment scam that still lives.?

Source: http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/internet/Porn+site+viewers+vulnerable+ransom+demands+online/7725824/story.html

tax day freebies madison bumgarner wnba draft tax day april 17 boston marathon tu pac hologram

Samsung Bendable Display At CES - Business Insider

There have been a lot of reports lately that Samsung will start making phones and tablets with unbreakable displays next year.?

While those reports haven't been confirmed yet, Samsung will be showing off the technology that will make it all possible at the Consumer Electronics Show next month.?

CNET confirmed ?that Samsung will show a 5.5-inch bendable display with a 1,280 x 720 resolution. The purpose of such displays isn't to make a phone that folds up, but to make one that can withstand drops without cracking.

But don't get too excited. There's a slim chance those displays will be ready in time for Samsung's next flagship phone, the Galaxy S IV. That phone is expected to launch in the spring, but Samsung likely won't be able to start making devices with unbreakable displays untilt he second half of 2013 at the earliest.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-bendable-display-at-ces-2012-12

duke basketball miranda july joe paterno near death joepa sc primary bill moyers heidi klum and seal divorce

Cee Lo: Nicholas 'should have won' 'The Voice'

By Randee Dawn, TODAY contributor

Season three of "The Voice" is over, and coach Cee Lo Green has nothing but well wishes for winner Cassadee Pope. But don't mistake his support for acceptance of the results.

"I really did think that my Nicholas (David) did have a very strong chance, and I do believe that he should have won," he told TODAY's Savannah Guthrie Thursday morning, just prior to a performance of "This Christmas" from his album, "Cee Lo's Magic Moment."

Nicholas was the last remaining member of Team Cee Lo, and when Cassadee beat him out, that meant Blake Shelton's team had provided winners two seasons in a row.?

But, added Cee Lo quickly, "Cassadee is really talented, so we also congratulate her as well."

He also assured everyone that while he's taking a break from the competition next season, he's definitely coming back for season 5 of the show.

But that wasn't all Cee Lo had to contribute on Thursday. His singing prompted "Meet the Press" host David Gregory to shake his groove thing in the background during the song (a fun animated image of said grooving can be found here), and then he stuck around to chat with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford later in the morning.

During that interview, Cee Lo explained a bit more about his need to take a break from "The Voice." "People forget because of the television success that we're having that I'm a musician. I like to get back to my music and my music fans," he said.

Meanwhile, "The Voice" winner Cassadee Pope also showed up on the TODAY Plaza to discuss her win, which she's still getting used to. "Hearing (host) Carson (Daly) say my name was just unreal," she said. "I felt like I was dreaming."

Prior to coming on "The Voice," Cassadee was the lead singer for a band called Hey Monday. And now that the finale is over, she says she's working on getting back up to speed in the real world, since being "sequestered in a hotel for the past two months" was a little isolating.

But, as she noted: "It's like a whirlwind, but I'm so ready -- I've been ready for years, and it's ... finally happening."

Related content:

More in The Clicker:

Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2012/12/20/16041284-cee-lo-green-nicholas-david-should-have-won-the-voice?lite

Marvin Hamlisch Megan Rossee NASA grenada grenada Sikh andy reid

Thursday, December 20, 2012

South Korean president congratulates Park on win

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) ? The office of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has congratulated party colleague Park Geun-hye (Bahk guhn-hae) for winning the presidency, though officials are still counting votes in Wednesday's election.

The daughter of late dictator Park Chung-hee is taking on liberal Moon Jae-in (Moon Jay-in) in a close race.

Seoul's National Election Commission says 16 percent of the vote is uncounted.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/south-korean-president-congratulates-park-win-143746581.html

snow white and the huntsman snow white and the huntsman rupaul drag race walking dead comic kratom broncos broncos

10 scientists who made a difference in 2012

Scientists were plenty busy this year, with landing the 1-ton rover Curiosity on Mars, announcing the discovery of what is likely the Higgs boson and even revealing a little-dirty secret in research.

For the second year, the editors of the scientific journal Nature have announced their "Nature's 10," the top 10 scientists who mattered in 2012, with profiles that dig deeper into the personal stories behind the achievements. Here's a look at their picks.

A heavenly discovery?
A particle sought after for decades came to light in spectacular fashion on July Fourth this year, with physicists from two experiments being conducted in the Large Hadron (LHC) Collider near Geneva announcing they had found a particle that looked eerily similar to the Higgs boson, predicted to give all other matter its mass.

While several billion neurons (not to mention the Wattage used in the LHC) were behind the discovery, director general of LHC's host lab CERN, Rolf-Dieter Heuer, made sure the world heard about it, according to Nature editors. Apparently neither group was willing to claim an actual "discovery" until their evidence was proven to a certain level of certainty. With a gentle hand, Heuer nudged for the announcement, but let the scientists be scientists and stick to the facts (for instance saying they had a 5 and 4.9 sigma level of certainty, respectively), while he used, only once, the word "discovery." (A 5 sigma means there is only a one in 3.5 million chance the signal seen in the LHC data isn't real.) [ Top 5 Implications of Finding the Higgs Boson ]

Mars madness
Another whopper for science in 2012 was arguably the landing of the Mars rover Curiosity on the Red Planet's surface. Leading the 50-person team behind the smooth landing was engineer Adam Steltzner, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. The touchdown technique was a first: Curiosity was lowered to the Martian surface on cables by a rocket-powered sky crane, one that had an alien look on its own. "Because it looked so outlandish, we all felt very exposed," Steltzner told Nature. "If it failed, people would have been like, 'You idiots.'" It didn't.

  1. Space news from NBCNews.com

    1. Holiday treats from Saturn and beyond

      Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: The holiday season is bringing beautiful baubles from outer space, including an unconventional view of Saturn from the Cassini orbiter, a gaudy nebula from the Hubble Space Telescope and a loopy picture of a supernova's leftovers.

    2. Gaze into the Great Blue Hole from space
    3. Astronaut study holds promise for elderly
    4. An expert's views on buying a telescope

Since its spectacular touchdown, Curiosity has discovered an ancient streambed where water likely flowed for thousands of years long ago and hints of possibly life-giving organic compounds.

Hurricane Sandy Cassandra
Not all happenings were so uplifting. After Hurricane Sandy battered the East Coast and left transportation tunnels flooded and millions without power, climatologist Cynthia Rosenzweig wasn't surprised. That's because the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies researcher and a team of other scientists had forecasted such cataclysmic events in 2000 as part of a report for the U.S. Global Change Research Program. The dozen years of warning helped city officials incorporate climate change into city planning. Rosenzweig, who started off as a farmer in Tuscany but eventually moved from agricultural science to climate science, is now trying to assess whether those efforts reduced Sandy's damage. [ On the Ground: Hurricane Sandy in Images ]

Can you repeat that?
It's a dirty-little secret that many scientific results can't be reproduced. In 2006, Elizabeth Iorns, a geneticist at the University of Miami, tried to replicate a study about a cancer gene and couldn't. She found that few scientific journals wanted to publish her findings and that she got blowback from colleagues. That lit a fire in her belly to ensure that more scientific results are rigorously tested. To that end, she created a startup based in Palo Alto, Calif., called the Reproducibility Initiative. The goal of the fledgling nonprofit is to have third-party researchers replicate important scientific experiments. If the startup can make headway, it may help scientists know which results are real.

Sex bias
While it's no surprise that women are underrepresented in science, pinning that to discrimination, rather than gender differences in aptitude or interest, has been tricky. But when Yale University microbiologist Jo Handelsman showed that researchers offer fictitious female job applicants about $4,000 less in salary and rate them as less competent and worthy of mentorship than male counterparts, she produced strong evidence for sexual bias. Handelsman says she hasn't personally experienced strong bias, but became motivated to speak out about it when other women scientists described their experiences with sex discrimination.

Mad man
Timothy Gowers isn't a likelier crusader in the world of scientific journal publishing. The Cambridge University mathematician has won the Fields Medal (mathematics highest honor) and has been knighted for his influential work. But he made waves this year when he spearheaded a global boycott of the giant publishing group Elsevier, discontented with the publishing group's sky-high prices and their fight against open-access scientific publishing, which can be viewed by everyone without a subscription. The boycott has fueled growing interest in open-access publishing and may even have influenced Elsevier to withdraw its support for a controversial, anti-open access political bill. The bill, the Research Works Act, would have allowed scientists to publish research funded with U.S. taxpayer money in journals that would be closed off to the general public.

Deadly research
When Ron Fouchier, a virologist at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, used just four genetic tweaks to create a highly lethal strain of the H5N1 bird flu that could spread through the air, it sparked a global discussion about whether such deadly pathogens should be created. Critics argued that the mutant bird flu could be accidentally released and that publishing the findings could give would-be terrorists a road-map for creating a biological weapon. Fouchier's results were eventually published in Nature with key methodological details removed, but not without a flurry of discussion over the ethics of the research. Throughout it all, Fouchier has been arguing that the research is necessary and safe. In January 2012, Fouchier and other flu researchers agreed to a moratorium on researching this particular type of flu. Now he has set his sights on a mysterious, deadly form of pneumonia that has emerged from a bat virus in Saudi Arabia.

Watching cells grow
Cedric Blanpain doesn't trust Petri dishes, sort of. This skepticism in the ability of lab-dish cell growth to replicate what happens in real life led Blanpain to uncover, in 2011, distinct stem cells in the adult mammary gland. This year, he applied a carcinogen to mouse skin and then followed tumor growth using a cell-tracking method; his results showed not all cells contribute equally to tumor growth, with some dwindling after a few cell divisions and others, the stem cells, generating thousands of clones ? the tumor-generating cells. "I saw the first slide, and I said 'show me the second one.' After the fifth, I was sure what I was seeing," Blanpain told Nature.

Manslaughter verdict
A reminder that science doesn't always, and sometimes cannot, stay in the ivory towers, this year brought a devastating manslaughter verdict for six Italian scientists and one government official Bernardo De Bernardinis (an engineer by training) accused of being too reassuring about the risk of an earthquake prior to a temblor in 2009 that killed 309 individuals in the town of L'Aquila. [ See Photos of L'Aquila Earthquake Destruction ]

Seismologists across the globe expressed appall at a verdict that didn't account for the fact that earthquakes cannot be predicted with any level of accuracy. Even so, De Bernardinis not only showed compassion for those who lost loved ones in the earthquake, but he also showed up at every hearing, Nature reported. Insisting that he only listened to what the seismologists told him before the infamous press conference at the center of this trial, De Bernardinis also admits he should've waited for a concise statement from the scientists before addressing the public. Now, he hopes the trial will lead to better risk-prevention systems in Italy that have clear-cut expectations for scientists, government officials and the media.

Sequencing genomes
The head of the Chinese genome-sequencing institute, BGI, Jun Wang has shown modesty and confidence in the significance of what he and colleagues are doing. And the numbers speak worlds: BGI is leading the sequencing of 10,000 vertebrates (animals with backbones), 5,000 insects and other arthropods, and more than 1,000 birds, including some extinct ones. In this year alone, BGI was listed in 100 scientific publications, Nature reports, adding the organization is a "main player" in the 1,000 Genomes Project Consortium, whose aim is to find genetic factors behind disease.

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

? 2012 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50250595/ns/technology_and_science-science/

department of justice doj dept of justice weather chicago swizz beatz mpaa south carolina debate

International Dating Coach Association to Sponsor the 10th Annual "iDate" Dating Industry Super Conference in Las Vegas

WEBWIRE ? Thursday, December 20, 2012

New York, NY--Ticonderoga Ventures, Inc. announces that the International Dating Coach Association is a sponsor the 10th Annual Dating Industry Conference on January 16-19, 2013 in Las Vegas.?
?
The International Dating Coach Association (IDCA) is the largest worldwide resource for dating sites who seek the services of professional dating coaches for their customers.
?
Over 65 speakers are scheduled for the January 16-19, 2013 Dating Industry Super Conference in Las Vegas.? iDate in January is the largest event of the year with most of the dating industry present.
?
Registration for the event can be made at http://idate2013.com/register-las-vegas-2013.php
?
?
?
About the International Dating Coach Association
?
Formed in 2005, the IDCA is the leading global organization dedicated to advancing the dating coaching profession by setting high professional standards, providing independent certification, and building a worldwide network of credentialed coaches. It supports and advances the profession through programs and standards supported by our members and through a strong Code of Ethics. As a result, the IDCA has become an authoritative source on coaching information and research.
?
?
About the iDate Dating Industry Super Conference
?
In the dating industry, iDate is the largest conference.?? In 2004, iDate was the first to bring CEOs from the top dating businesses together. Each event provides senior dating business executives education, ideas, insight and networking to identify new opportunities, gain higher levels of revenue.
?
iDate Las Vegas is the 33rd dating industry conference.? It discusses online dating, matchmaking, date coaching, marketing methods, speed dating, mobile dating, software and other forms of the business.
?
For more information, please visit the website http://www.internetdatingconference.com? or contact:
?
Ticonderoga Ventures, Inc.
Marketing and Logistics Representative
Tel /Fax???????? USA +1 (212) 722-1744 ext 71
E-mail: info-17@internetdatingconference.com
Twitter:? @idateconference
Linkedin Industry Group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2190639
?
Media Relations:
Mark Brooks, Online Personals Watch
Tel: USA +1 (212) 444-1636?????????
Email: mark@onlinepersonalswatch.com
?
?This press release may contain forward-looking statements, particularly as related to the business plans of the company, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by these sections. Actual results may differ materially from the company?s expectations and estimates.
?
?


WebWireID166970

?
 iDate
 IDCA
 dating coach
 dating business
 dating convention
Contact Information
Marc Lesnick
President
Ticonderoga Ventures, Inc.
(1) (212) 722 1744 x 71
info-17@internetdatingconference.com


This news content may be integrated into any legitimate news gathering and publishing effort. Linking is permitted.

News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.

Source: http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=166970

mark zuckerberg maurice jones drew Yash Chopra George McGovern braxton miller braxton miller Whitney Heichel

Medical teams in Iraq to help treat Talabani

BAGHDAD (AP) ? Foreign medical experts rushed to Baghdad on Wednesday to assist Iraqi doctors treating ailing President Jalal Talabani, whose condition is said to be improving after he suffered a stroke.

Talabani, a member of Iraq's Kurdish minority, was taken to the hospital late Monday and doctors worked to stabilize him into the following day. His illness raises new concerns about Iraq's stability, which is being tested anew by a recent spike in tensions between the central government and the Kurds.

Talabani's doctors have not formally said that the 79-year-old statesman suffered a stroke, though several other government officials have confirmed that is the case.

Deputy Health Minister Issam Namiq said medical teams from Iran and Germany had arrived to assist with the treatment, and that additional experts from Britain are on their way.

He told reporters the president is getting better, though he offered no details about the severity of the illness.

"His condition is stable. And I underline here that there is an improvement in his condition compared with yesterday," he said.

Neighboring Turkey has offered to send an air ambulance to fly the president to a hospital abroad.

Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman also described Talabani's condition as improving, saying in a phone interview that he is "in a better situation than yesterday."

Doctors are considering whether to send Talabani abroad for treatment, but no decision has been made, Namiq said.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad expressed hopes for a speedy recovery. Word of Talabani's illness had trickled out on Tuesday, which marked the one-year anniversary of the end of the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Talabani's official powers are limited, but he is seen as a rare unifying figure seen as able to rise above the ethnic and sectarian rifts that still divide the country.

Iraq's parliament has the authority to choose a new president should Talabani's office become vacant.

Before he fell ill, he was actively involved in trying to mediate an ongoing crisis between Baghdad and the Kurds, who have their own fighters and considerable autonomy in their enclave in northern Iraq.

The two sides last month moved additional troops into disputed areas along the Kurds' self-rule northern region, prompting fears that fighting could break out.

Talabani last week brokered a deal that calls on both sides to eventually withdraw troops from the contested areas, though there is no timetable for how soon the drawdown might take place.

___

Associated Press writers Sinan Salaheddin and Qassim Abdul-Zahra contributed to this report.

___

Follow Adam Schreck on Twitter at http://twitter.com/adamschreck

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/medical-teams-iraq-help-treat-talabani-112426531.html

weather dallas pat summitt real housewives of atlanta colton bo ryan the last waltz earth day activities