Hagel: Israel did not tell him of intel on Syria

CAIRO (AP) ? U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel indicated on Wednesday that he was caught by surprise when Israeli officials publicly revealed their assessment that Syria has used chemical weapons in its civil war.

Hagel told reporters that his Israeli counterpart, Moshe Yaalon, did not alert him to the assessment when they met in Tel Aviv on Monday. The assessment was announced publicly on Tuesday by a senior official with Israel's military intelligence office.

"They did not give me that assessment; I guess it was not complete," Hagel said after several hours of meetings with senior Egyptian officials on the fourth stop of a week-long Mideast tour. "So I have not seen the specifics of it" or discussed it with Israeli officials.

He said he and Yaalon discussed the issue of Syria's chemical weapons, but Hagel would not elaborate further.

The Obama administration has said Syrian government use of chemical weapons would be a "game changer," implying that it might, if confirmed, compel the U.S. to get more directly involved in the civil conflict.

Hagel said that Washington is looking for "real intelligence" on the issue of Syrian chemical weapon use.

"Suspicions are one thing. Evidence is another," he said. "I think we have to be very careful here before we make any conclusions, draw any conclusions, based on real intelligence." He said his comments should not be interpreting as questioning the validity of other counties' intelligence on Syria. The important point, he said, is that "the United States relies on its own intelligence ? and must."

After his meetings in Cairo, which included talks with President Mohammed Morsi and the Egyptian defense minister, Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, Hagel flew to Abu Dhabi on the Persian Gulf.

Hagel said his Cairo stop was important for reinforcing U.S. support for the Egyptian government's transition to democracy and its efforts at economic reform.

By including Cairo on his first Mideast tour as defense secretary, Hagel was highlighting the Obama administration's hope of preserving influence with the Egyptian military as the country struggles with its transition to democracy.

Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel. The U.S. is deeply concerned, however, that continued instability in Egypt will have broader consequences in a region already rocked by unrest, including in the increasingly lawless Sinai Peninsula.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hagel-israel-did-not-tell-him-intel-syria-184631082--politics.html

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Traffic pollution, noise linked to heart diseases | Eco News

According to a German study, which for the first time explored the links between the two, exposure to traffic pollution and noise can in the long run lead to heart disease or atherosclerosis.

The study, which was based on data from the German Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study, calculated the long-term exposure to particle pollutants of 4814 participants who live near roads with high traffic volume.

The results were presented at a European Society for Cardiology event in the Italian capital, Rome.

For the first time, the cardiological study also took account of road traffic noise and its effect on cardiovascular diseases, as recorded by validated tests.

The test group?s level of atherosclerosis was then evaluated by measurement of vascular vessel calcification in the thoracic aorta by computed imaging.

Results showed that in 4238 subjects small particulate matter and proximity to major roads were both associated with an increasing level of aortic calcification.

For every increase in particle volume up to 2.4 micrometres, the degree of calcification increased by 20.7 per cent and went up an extra 10 per cent for every 100 metre of proximity to heavy traffic.

The study also found a increase in atherosclerosis associated with night time noise.

Dr Hagen K?lsch from the West-German Heart Centre in Essen said that long-term exposure to fine particle matter air pollution and to road traffic noise are both independently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis.

?These two major types of traffic emissions help explain the observed associations between living close to high traffic and subclinical atherosclerosis.

?The considerable size of the associations underscores the importance of long-term exposure to air pollution and road traffic noise as risk factors for atherosclerosis,? Dr K?lsch said.

The association between road traffic and heart disease has been suggested in previous studies.

In 2012 a study from Denmark showed that traffic noise was significantly associated with risk of heart attack.

For every 10-decibel increase in noise exposure, there was a 12 per cent increased risk, the study found.

Fine particle matter and traffic noise are believed to act through similar biologic pathways, thereby increasing cardiovascular risk.

They both cause an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, which feeds into the complex mechanisms regulating blood pressure, blood lipids, and glucose level.

Source: http://econews.com.au/news-to-sustain-our-world/traffic-pollution-noise-linked-to-heart-diseases/

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Warmer Days are Here! - Portland Food and Drink

I do my best to keep the outdoor dining guide updated, and as it looks like warmer weather is headed towards Portland, I wanted to remind everyone that the list is here!

As always, corrections/deletions are welcome. If you have a patio that you?d like listed, fill out the simple form here.

"I have a wide-range of food experience - working in the restaurant industry on both sides of the house, later in the wine industry, and finally traveling/tasting my way around the world. Whether you agree or disagree, you can always count on my unbiased opinion. I don't take free meals, and the restaurants don't know when, or if, I am coming."

?

Source: http://portlandfoodanddrink.com/warmer-days-are-here-dont-forget-the-newly-updated-outdoor-dining-guide/

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Ancient DNA reveals Europe's dynamic genetic history

Apr. 23, 2013 ? Ancient DNA recovered from a series of skeletons in central Germany up to 7,500 years old has been used to reconstruct the first detailed genetic history of modern Europe.

The study, published today in Nature Communications, reveals a dramatic series of events including major migrations from both Western Europe and Eurasia, and signs of an unexplained genetic turnover about 4,000 to 5,000 years ago.

The research was performed at the University of Adelaide's Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD). Researchers used DNA extracted from bone and teeth samples from prehistoric human skeletons to sequence a group of maternal genetic lineages that are now carried by up to 45% of Europeans.

The international team also included the University of Mainz in Germany and the National Geographic Society's Genographic Project.

"This is the first high-resolution genetic record of these lineages through time, and it is fascinating that we can directly observe both human DNA evolving in 'real-time', and the dramatic population changes that have taken place in Europe," says joint lead author Dr Wolfgang Haak of ACAD.

"We can follow over 4,000 years of prehistory, from the earliest farmers through the early Bronze Age to modern times."

"The record of this maternally inherited genetic group, called Haplogroup H, shows that the first farmers in Central Europe resulted from a wholesale cultural and genetic input via migration, beginning in Turkey and the Near East where farming originated and arriving in Germany around 7,500 years ago," says joint lead author Dr Paul Brotherton, formerly at ACAD and now at the University of Huddersfield, UK.

ACAD Director Professor Alan Cooper says: "What is intriguing is that the genetic markers of this first pan-European culture, which was clearly very successful, were then suddenly replaced around 4,500 years ago, and we don't know why. Something major happened, and the hunt is now on to find out what that was."

The team developed new advances in molecular biology to sequence entire mitochondrial genomes from the ancient skeletons. This is the first ancient population study using a large number of mitochondrial genomes.

"We have established that the genetic foundations for modern Europe were only established in the Mid-Neolithic, after this major genetic transition around 4,000 years ago," says Dr Haak. "This genetic diversity was then modified further by a series of incoming and expanding cultures from Iberia and Eastern Europe through the Late Neolithic."

"The expansion of the Bell Beaker culture (named after their pots) appears to have been a key event, emerging in Iberia around 2800 BC and arriving in Germany several centuries later," says Dr Brotherton. "This is a very interesting group as they have been linked to the expansion of Celtic languages along the Atlantic coast and into central Europe."

"These well-dated ancient genetic sequences provide a unique opportunity to investigate the demographic history of Europe," says Professor Cooper.

"We can not only estimate population sizes but also accurately determine the evolutionary rate of the sequences, providing a far more accurate timescale of significant events in recent human evolution."

The team has been working closely on the genetic prehistory of Europeans for the past 7-8 years.

Professor Kurt Alt (University of Mainz) says: "This work shows the power of archaeology and ancient DNA working together to reconstruct human evolutionary history through time. We are currently expanding this approach to other transects across Europe."

Genographic Project director Spencer Wells says: "Studies such as this on ancient remains serve as a valuable adjunct to the work we are doing with modern populations in the Genographic Project. While the DNA of people alive today can reveal the end result of their ancestors' ancient movements, to really understand the dynamics of how modern genetic patterns were created we need to study ancient material as well."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Adelaide.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Paul Brotherton, Wolfgang Haak, Jennifer Templeton, Guido Brandt, Julien Soubrier, Christina Jane Adler, Stephen M. Richards, Clio Der Sarkissian, Robert Ganslmeier, Susanne Friederich, Veit Dresely, Mannis van Oven, Rosalie Kenyon, Mark B. Van der Hoek, Jonas Korlach, Khai Luong, Simon Y.W. Ho, Lluis Quintana-Murci, Doron M. Behar, Harald Meller, Kurt W. Alt, Alan Cooper, Syama Adhikarla, Arun Kumar Ganesh Prasad, Ramasamy Pitchappan, Arun Varatharajan Santhakumari, Elena Balanovska, Oleg Balanovsky, Jaume Bertranpetit, David Comas, Bego?a Mart?nez-Cruz, Marta Mel?, Andrew C. Clarke, Elizabeth A. Matisoo-Smith, Matthew C. Dulik, Jill B. Gaieski, Amanda C. Owings, Theodore G. Schurr, Miguel G. Vilar, Angela Hobbs, Himla Soodyall, Asif Javed, Laxmi Parida, Daniel E. Platt, Ajay K. Royyuru, Li Jin, Shilin Li, Matthew E. Kaplan, Nirav C. Merchant, R John Mitchell, Colin Renfrew, Daniela R. Lacerda, Fabr?cio R Santos, David F. Soria Hernanz, R Spencer Wells, Pandikumar Swamikrishnan, Chris Tyler-Smith, Pedro Paulo Vieira, Janet S. Ziegle. Neolithic mitochondrial haplogroup H genomes and the genetic origins of Europeans. Nature Communications, 2013; 4: 1764 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2656

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/w9mrM1bOOEA/130423134037.htm

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Jupiter's atmosphere still contains water supplied by the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet impact

Apr. 23, 2013 ? Astronomy & Astrophysics is publishing Herschel observations of water in Jupiter's stratosphere. It is a clear remnant of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet impact on Jupiter nearly 20 years ago.

In July 1994, the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 (SL9) hit Jupiter and left visible scars on the Jovian disk for weeks. This spectacular event was the first direct observation of an extraterrestrial collision in the solar system, and it was followed worldwide by professional and amateur astronomers.

SL9 was discovered orbiting Jupiter by astronomers David Levy and Carolyn and Eugene M. Shoemaker on March 24, 1993. It was the first comet observed orbiting a planet rather than the Sun. SL9 was found to be composed of 21 fragments. Soon after that, orbital studies showed that the comet had passed within Jupiter's Roche limit in July 1992. Inside this limit, the planet's tidal forces are strong enough to disintegrate a body held together by its own gravity, thus explaining SL9's fragmentation. Even more interestingly, the studies showed that SL9's orbit would pass within Jupiter in July 1994 and that the comet would then collide with the planet, with impacts in the southern hemisphere near 44?S latitude.

The SL9 impact and its subsequent scars on Jupiter were observed for weeks, but its chemical impact on Jupiter's atmosphere lasted even longer. Emission from water vapor was observed during the fireball phase of the SL9 impacts, but from that observation, it was difficult to assess how this would modify Jupiter's composition on the long term. In 1997, the ESA Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) detected water vapor in the stratosphere of Jupiter. At that time, astronomers suspected that it might be a consequence of the SL9 impact because comets are known to be water-rich bodies. However, there were other possible sources of water: interplanetary dust particles produced by cometary activity and asteroid collisions, icy rings, or one of the 60 Jovian satellites.

Nearly twenty years after this major impact, astronomers are still observing its consequences on Jupiter. T. Cavali? and his colleagues [1] observed Jupiter with the ESA Herschel Space Observatory, which is sensitive enough to map the abundance of water vs. latitude and altitude in the Jovian stratosphere. These observations, which have now been published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, show a clear north-south asymmetry in the distribution of water, with more water in the south. They indicate that 95% of the water currently observed on Jupiter comes from the comet.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Astronomy & Astrophysics.

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Journal Reference:

1. T. Cavali?, H. Feuchtgruber, E. Lellouch, M. de Val-Borro, C. Jarchow, R. Moreno, P. Hartogh, G. Orton, T. K. Greathouse, F. Billebaud, M. Dobrijevic, L. M. Lara, A. Gonz?lez, H. Sagawa. Spatial distribution of water in the stratosphere of Jupiter fromHerschelHIFI and PACS observations. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2013; 553: A21 DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201220797

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/CXcnp-4LL4M/130423102335.htm

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China says new North Korea nuclear test possible

BEIJING (AP) ? China's top general said a fourth North Korean nuclear weapons test is a possibility that underscores the need for fresh talks between Pyongyang and other regional parties.

Chief of the General Staff Gen. Fang Fenghui said Beijing firmly opposes the North's nuclear weapons program and wants to work with others on negotiations to end it. He said Beijing's preference is for a return to long-stalled disarmament talks involving the two Koreas, China, Russia, Japan and the U.S.

"We ask all sides to work actively to work on the North Koreans to stop nuclear tests and stop producing nuclear weapons," Fang told reporters. "We believe that dialogue should be the right solution."

Fang offered no indication as to when Beijing thought a test might happen or give other details.

His comments Monday followed a meeting with Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whose first visit to China in that position comes amid heightened tensions between Pyongyang, South Korea and the U.S.

North Korea has been threatening to attack the U.S. and South Korea over recent military drills and sanctions imposed as punishment for its third nuclear test in February. Pyongyang calls the annual drills a rehearsal for invasion. South Korean officials have said the North is poised to test-fire a medium-range missile capable of reaching the American territory of Guam.

China is North Korea's most important diplomatic ally, main trading partner, and a key source of food and fuel aid. Yet while Beijing signed on to tougher U.N. sanctions following the February test, it says it has limited influence with Pyongyang and Fang declined to say whether Beijing would adopt tougher measures to pressure the North into reducing tensions.

In other remarks, Fang also sought to reassure Dempsey over recent reports of Chinese military-sponsored hacking attacks on U.S. targets, saying China opposed all such activity. The new spotlight on a long-festering problem has prompted calls for Washington to get tough on Beijing, and the administration is reportedly considering measures ranging from trade sanctions to diplomatic pressure and electronic countermeasures.

Fang repeated China's portrayal of itself as a major victim of hacking, saying China is heavily reliant on the Internet and has a strong vested interest in ensuring cybersecurity, Fang said.

"If control is lost over security in cyberspace, the effects can be, and I don't exaggerate, at times no less than a nuclear bomb," Fang said.

For his part, Dempsey sought to allay Chinese unease about the U.S. military's renewed focus on Asia. That has reawakened Chinese fears of being encircled by U.S. bases and alliances and brought strong criticism from the military.

"One of the things I talked about today with the general, is we seek to be a stabilizing influence in the region. And in fact, we believe, that it would be our absence that would be destabilizing, not our presence," Dempsey said.

However, while Washington is committed to building a "better, deeper, more enduring" relationship with China, its traditional alliances in Asia ? including with Japan and other Chinese rivals ? could at times create friction, he said.

While distrust lingers on both sides, efforts to expand cooperation between the Chinese and U.S. militaries have gained friction in recent months, and new anti-piracy and humanitarian relief drills are planned.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/china-says-north-korea-nuclear-test-possible-132839458.html

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Why "The Gap" Is the Personal Finance Number That Matters the Most

Personal finance is a numbers game. As much as I like to vouch for the ?personal? part of personal finance, it?s only half of the story??finance? is part of the phrase, too. In the end, you?re still looking at the dollars and cents on your paycheck, on your income tax forms, on your investments, in your retirement accounts, and so on.

This is a guest post from The Simple Dollar.

A long time ago, I wrote a post called Everything You Ever Really Needed to Know About Personal Finance on the Back of Five Business Cards. Since this post went up more than five years ago, I?m sure many of you don?t remember it, so here are those five cards.

The first four cards really just focus on one specific thing: the gap. I consider the size of that gap to be the most important number in personal finance.

In more straightforward terms, the ?gap? refers to the percentage of your income that you save for the future.

Here?s a quick way to figure out your ?gap,? and it?s pretty timely since most of us have this information sitting in front of us thanks to tax season.

First, figure out exactly how much your family earned in 2012. You can use either net (after taxes) or gross (before taxes), whatever makes you feel more comfortable, as long as you?re consistent about it. If you use gross for this calculation, always use gross. I usually suggest excluding any big one-time income streams from this calculation?for example, a big one-year bonus can really mess up this calculation.

Second, figure out exactly how much your family saved in 2012. How much of the income that was brought in by your family is now sitting in a savings or investment somewhere? For this info, you might have to look at bank statements and investment account statements.

Then, merely divide the amount saved by the amount earned using your calculator or a spreadsheet, then multiply that by 100 if you prefer to work with percentages. This will tell you the percentage of your income that you?re saving for the future. The bigger that number is, the better you?re doing financially. I haven?t found a single number that so accurately reflects how powerfully a person is working to improve their finances than this single number.

It works for any income level. A person that earns $18,000 a year and saves $1,800 is doing just as well as a person who saves $10,000 on an income of $100,000. Why? They?re both saving 10% of their income, and that 10% is going to have a similar profound life effect on each of them, though it will show up in different ways. It also leads toward self-sufficiency at exactly the same pace for each of them.

You can cause improvement in the number via both frugality and increased earnings. If you earn more without increasing your spending, the amount you save will go up. If you spend less without a change in income, the amount you save will go up. You can tackle this number from both sides if you wish, or focus on just one side or another. It?s also an incredible motivator. Want to push yourself to improve your finances? Focus on finding ways to beat your savings percentage from the previous year.

For us, our percentage has remained almost exactly the same for the last four years?about 35%. Over certain stretches of months, it?s been as high as 50%, but during other stretches, it?s been lower (thanks to vacations and so forth). My focus is mostly on maintaining this number. Another tip?debt repayment accelerates the growth of this number. Paying off a debt early makes it much easier to start saving a higher percentage of your income sooner rather than later.

Where should you be saving? The answer to that question depends heavily on your lifestyle and your goals. A single twentysomething who wants to be ?set for life? at the first possible second is going to save in different ways than a family in their thirties with lifetime career goals. If you?re not sure how you should be saving, sock money away in a savings account for now and start studying up, then use that saved money to set things up as you see fit.

Your ?gap? (or savings percentage) is a vital number. The bigger you make it, the better off you?ll be.

The Personal Finance Number That Matters Most | The Simple Dollar

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The Simple Dollar is a blog for those of us who need both cents and sense: people fighting debt and bad spending habits while building a financially secure future and still affording a latte or two. Our busy lives are crazy enough without having to compare five hundred mutual funds ? we just want simple ways to manage our finances and save a little money.

Image remixed from Galyna Andrushko (Shutterstock).

Want to see your work on Lifehacker? Email Tessa.

Source: http://lifehacker.com/why-the-gap-is-the-personal-finance-number-that-matte-476815605

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3 Doors Down Bassist Charged With Vehicular Homicide

Robert Todd Harrell told police he had been drinking and taking prescription medication when he struck another vehicle on Friday.
By Gil Kaufman

3 Doors Down bassist Robert Todd Harrell's booking photo
Photo: Davidson County Sheriff

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1706097/3-doors-down-bassist-robert-todd-harell-arrest.jhtml

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Federal officials ask to interview wife of slain bombing suspect

By Michelle R. Smith, The Associated Press

PROVIDENCE, R.I. ??Federal authorities have asked to speak with the wife of suspected Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, and her lawyer said Sunday he is discussing with them how to proceed.

John Tlumacki / Boston Globe / Getty Images Contributor

Police officers with their guns drawn hear the second explosion down the street. The first explosion knocked down a runner at the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon.

Amato DeLuca told The Associated Press that Katherine Russell Tsarnaev did not speak to federal officials who came to her parents' home in North Kingstown, R.I., Sunday evening, where she has been staying since her husband was killed during a getaway attempt early Friday.

Tsarnaev, 26, and his brother, Dzhokhar, 19, two ethnic Chechen brothers from southern Russia, are accused of planting two explosives near the marathon finish line Monday, killing three people and injuring more than 180. A motive remains unclear.

DeLuca said he spoke with the officials instead, but would not offer further details.

"I spoke to them, and that's all I can say right now," he said. "We're deciding what we want to do and how we want to approach this."

DeLuca also offered new details on Tamerlan Tsarnaev's movements in the days after the bombings, saying the last day he was alive that "he was home" when his wife left for work. When asked whether anything seemed amiss to his wife following the bombings, DeLuca responded, "Not as far as I know." He said she learned her husband was a suspect in the bombings by seeing it on TV. He would not elaborate.

DeLuca said his client did not suspect her husband of anything, and that there was no reason for her to have suspected him. He said she had been working 70 to 80 hours, seven days a week as a home health care aide. While she was at work, her husband cared for their toddler daughter, DeLuca said.

In the mountainous region of Dagestan, relatives and friends of the suspected Boston bombers are in shock that two of their own may have been responsible for the marathon bombings. NBC's Adrienne Mong reports.

"When this allegedly was going on, she was working, and had been working all week to support her family," he told the AP.

He said Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was off at college and she saw him "not at all" at the apartment they shared with her mother-in-law.

Katherine Russell Tsarnaev was attending Suffolk University in Boston when friends introduced her to her future husband at a nightclub, DeLuca said. They dated on and off, then married in 2009 or 2010, he said.

She was raised Christian, but at some point after meeting Tamerlan Tsarnaev, she converted to Islam, he said. When asked why she converted, he replied: "She believes in the tenets of Islam and of the Koran. She believes in God."

Related:

? 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653381/s/2affb1e1/l/0Lusnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A40C220C178547590Efederal0Eofficials0Eask0Eto0Einterview0Ewife0Eof0Eslain0Ebombing0Esuspect0Dlite/story01.htm

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They sing and they dance (oh way oh) (Unqualified Offerings)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/300552124?client_source=feed&format=rss

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What really is a vampire?

I find that vampires are extremely complicated, and everyone like you said has an opinion on what they should or shouldn't be.

Me personally? I detest Twilight (didn't like 30 Days of Night either), and adore finding new and creative ways to skewer it in my Mythical Crimes Unit writings. However I have yet to have a vampire explode into a pile of herpes ridden glitter and be allowed to use the phrase "clean up on aisle 13." :(

But in all seriousness it's a good question to ask because here on RPG everyone has a different idea of what a vampire is. On Yahoo when there were user rooms I remember a group of players running around with something called a "golden vampire", I never really got to ask what their particular stuff was based on though. It seemed interesting though. The versions I tend to use for play are based heavily on old world myths, with a dose of Bram Stoker's Dracula because that seems to be what is most familiar to people.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/4M4pOGgNmVE/viewtopic.php

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Kerry pushes Turkey-Israel rapprochement

ISTANBUL (AP) ? Wrapping up a 24-hour visit to Istanbul, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday sought to cement and speed up an improvement in relations between Turkey and Israel as well as explore new ways to relaunch Mideast peace efforts.

President Barack Obama has made both issues foreign policy priorities for his second term and Kerry was pushing them in meetings with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

On a trip to Israel last month, Obama secured a pledge from Turkish and Israeli leaders to normalize ties that broke down after a 2010 Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that killed eight Turks and a Turkish-American. However, the rapprochement has been slow, sparking concerns that Turkey may be backsliding on its commitment.

U.S. officials say they are hopeful that a meeting this week of Israeli and Turkish diplomats to discuss Israeli compensation for victims of the flotilla raid will jumpstart the process of restoring full diplomatic relations and exchanging ambassadors between the two countries that Washington sees as key strategic partners in the volatile Middle East.

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to visit Obama at the White House on May 16 and U.S. officials are keen to see substantive process by then.

However, Erdogan's plans to visit the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip sometime in May after his trip to Washington have raised concerns. The State Department has said such a journey would be unhelpful. Both Israel and Abbas, whose Palestinian Authority is based in the West Bank, are opposed.

With Abbas, Kerry was talking about ways to improve the Palestinians' living conditions as a confidence-building measure to improve the atmosphere for a resumption in stalled peace talks with Israel.

Kerry has said he fears there is only a two- or three-year window of opportunity to reach a deal on a two-state solution that would end the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict and wants to move as quickly as possible. He has met with Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu several times already to that end since becoming secretary of state.

Kerry was in Istanbul primarily to attend an international conference on Syria that began on Saturday afternoon and stretched into early Sunday morning as participants debated how best to boost aid to rebels trying to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.

At the conference, he announced that the Obama administration would double its non-lethal assistance to the Syrian opposition with an additional $123 million in supplies that could include for the first time armored vehicles, body armor, night vision goggles and other defensive military supplies.

The additional aid, which brings total non-lethal U.S. assistance to the opposition to $250 million since the fighting began more than two years ago, "underscores the United States' firm support for a political solution to the crisis in Syria and for the opposition's advancement of an inclusive, tolerant vision for a post-Assad Syria," Kerry said.

The U.S. pledge was the only tangible, public offer of new international support at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the 11 main countries supporting the opposition and fell well short of what the opposition has been appealing for: weapons and direct military intervention to stop the violence that has killed more than 70,000 people.

The Syrian National Coalition is seeking drone strikes on sites from which the regime has fired missiles, the imposition of no-fly zones and protected humanitarian corridors to ensure the safety of civilians.

While pleased with the U.S. moves, the opposition appeared deeply disappointed, especially as it lost some ground in the latest clashes with Syrian troops backed by pro-government gunmen capturing at least one village in a strategic area near the Lebanese border.

"We appreciate the limited support given by the international community, but it is not sufficient," it said in a statement released at the end of the conference. "We call on the international community to be more forthcoming and unreserved to fulfill its responsibilities in extending support that is needed by the Syrian people."

With the exception of the United States, none of the participants offered new assistance, although European nations are considering changes to an arms embargo that would allow weapons transfers to the Syrian opposition. But European Union action is unlikely before the current embargo is set to expire in late May.

Obama has said he has no plans to send weapons or give lethal aid to the rebels, despite pressure from Congress, some administration advisers and the appeals from opposition.

There are no plans to change that policy, although U.S. officials say they are not opposed to other countries sending arms, as long as the recipients have been properly vetted.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-pushes-turkey-israel-rapprochement-061951724--politics.html

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In cyber war game, Air Force cadets fend off NSA hackers

Andrea Shalal-Esa , Reuters ? ? ? 12 hrs.

HANOVER, Maryland (Reuters) - A U.S. Air Force Academy team on Friday beat out rivals from other elite military colleges after a three-day simulated cyber "war" against hackers from the National Security Agency that is meant to teach future officers the importance of cybersecurity.

Nearly 60 government experts ? sitting under a black skull and crossbones flag ? worked around the clock this week to break into computer networks built by students at the Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine academies. Two military graduate schools also participated.

The annual Cyber Defense Exercise (CDX), now in its 13th year, gives students real world practice in fighting off a increasing barrage of cyber attacks aimed at U.S. computer networks by China, Russia and Iran, among others.

It also allows the NSA's top cyber experts and others from military reserves, National Guard units and other agencies hone their offensive skills at a time when the Pentagon is trying to pump up its arsenal of cyber weapons.

While the students sleep or catch up on other work, some of the NSA's "red cell" attackers use viruses, so-called "Trojan horses" and other malicious software to corrupt student-built networks or steal data ? in this case, long sets of numbers dreamt up by the officials coordinating the exercise.

But the job gets tougher every year, says Raphael Mudge, an Air Force reservist who develops software and training to protect private computer networks.

"It's challenging. The students are hungry to win," said Mudge. "It forces all of us to get better."

Army General Keith Alexander, who heads both the Pentagon's Cyber Command and the NSA, stopped by to see the "red cell" hackers in action at a Lockheed Martin Corp facility near NSA headquarters on Thursday, said spokeswoman Vanee Vines.

Alexander often speaks about the need to get more young people engaged in cybersecurity given the exponential growth in the number and intensity of attacks on U.S. networks.

The Pentagon's budget for cyber operations rose sharply in the fiscal 2014 request sent to Congress, reflecting heightened concerns about an estimated $400 billion in intellectual property stolen from U.S. computer networks in recent years.

Martin Carlisle said his 28-member team fought hard for first place after a hardware failure the first day. It was their fourth win in 13 years.

"Our nation is under attack. We need to train up a new generation of leaders," he said.

Shawn Turskey, a senior NSA official, said the goal was to raise awareness among future military commanders.

"The real payoff of this program is going to be seen 10, 15 years down the road when these individuals are admirals and generals," he said.

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653377/s/2af55f23/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Ctechnology0Ctechnolog0Ccyber0Ewar0Egame0Eair0Eforce0Ecadets0Efend0Ensa0Ehackers0E6C9530A498/story01.htm

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Hyatt Announces Plans for a Grand Hyatt Hotel in ... - Franchising.com

CHICAGO - April 19, 2013 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with an affiliate of Huayuan Property Co., Ltd for a Grand Hyatt hotel in Changsha, Hunan Province in central China.

?Changsha has established itself as a major hub for global business and entertainment, and we are honored to have the opportunity to bring the Grand Hyatt brand to such a great city,? said Mark Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer of Hyatt Hotels Corporation at the agreement signing in Changsha earlier today. ?Throughout our 40 years in China, we have showed thousands of guests how our associates can meet and exceed their needs, and we look forward to bringing Hyatt?s signature authentic hospitality to such a dynamic and historic city.?

Grand Hyatt Changsha will be centrally located in the most prestigious commercial and business areas along the Xiangjiang River in downtown Changsha. The hotel will be part of ?The Central,? a mega mixed use complex that will incorporate high-end residential buildings, office spaces, and luxury shopping facilities. Situated on the upper floors of an iconic 268-meter-high skyscraper, Grand Hyatt Changsha will enjoy unobstructed views over the city and the river, and is expected to become the new landmark of Changsha. The 324-room hotel will feature an array of restaurants and bars, multi-purpose meeting and banquet facilities, a fitness center, a pool and a spa, and is expected to create over 500 new jobs.

?We are very pleased to work with Hyatt on such an exciting and significant project. We look forward to our collaboration with Hyatt in further developing the high-end hotel market in Changsha,? said Ren Zhiqiang, Chairman of Huayuan Property Co., Ltd.

For more information, please visit www.hyattdevelopment.com.

About Grand Hyatt

Grand Hyatt features large-scale, distinctive hotels in major gateway cities and resort destinations. With presence around the world and critical mass in Asia, Grand Hyatt hotels provide sophisticated global business and leisure travelers with upscale accommodations. Signature elements of the Grand Hyatt include dramatic architecture, innovative dining options, state of the art technology, spa and fitness centers and comprehensive business and meeting facilities appropriate for corporate meetings and social gatherings of all sizes.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality. The Company's subsidiaries manage, franchise, own and develop hotels and resorts under the Hyatt?, Park Hyatt?, Andaz?, Grand Hyatt?, Hyatt Regency?, Hyatt Place? and Hyatt HouseTM brand names and has locations on six continents. Hyatt House is changing its brand identity from Hyatt Summerfield Suites?. Hyatt Residential Group, Inc., a Hyatt Hotels Corporation subsidiary, develops, operates, markets or licenses Hyatt ResidencesTM and Hyatt Residence ClubTM. As of December 31, 2012, the Company's worldwide portfolio consisted of 500 properties in 46 countries. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as ?may,? ?could,? ?expect,? ?intend,? ?plan,? ?seek,? ?anticipate,? ?believe,? ?estimate,? ?predict,? ?potential,? ?continue,? ?likely,? ?will,? ?would? and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us and our management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the rate and pace of economic recovery following economic downturns; levels of spending in business and leisure segments as well as consumer confidence; declines in occupancy and average daily rate; if our third-party owners, franchisees or development partners are unable to access the capital necessary to fund current operations or implement our plans for growth; changes in the competitive environment in our industry and the markets where we operate; our ability to access the capital markets; and other risks discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which filings are available from the SEC. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

Contacts:

Hyatt Hotels and Resorts
Lillian Zhang
+86 10 5928 1234
lillian.zhang@hyatt.com

Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Si?n Martin
+1 312 780 5797
sian.martin@hyatt.com

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GOP address: "We pray for the victims and their families" (Washington Bureau)

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The Cree Warm White Is a Great LED Bulb, Feels Like an Incandescent

With many countries and states phasing out incandescent light bulbs, you're probably on the lookout for replacements. Our friends at the Wirecutter think the Cree Warm White bulb is the best one around. Here's why.

LED bulbs weren't that great a few years ago, but they've gotten a lot better. The Cree Warm White is inexpensive at $13, emits a light quite similar to an incandescent bulb, throws light in every direction (unlike older LED lights), and even stays cool enough to touch. Plus, it's very efficient and doesn't have a lot of the problems that CFL bulbs do. The Wirecutter has an incredibly detailed, informative writeup, so we highly recommend you take a gander at the link below to read more.

The Best LED Lightbulb Is the Cree Warm White | The Wirecutter

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/hCo8kBfGuoc/the-cree-warm-white-is-a-great-led-bulb-feels-like-an-476462606

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Harms of harsh discipline are softened by a loving mother

Apr. 17, 2013 ? The use of harsh discipline of unwanted behaviour in children has long been controversial. Whether verbal (insults, disparaging remarks, threats) or physical (slapping/spanking), harsh discipline at all stages of childhood carries a large risk of manifesting antisocial 'externalising behaviours' in the child, including aggression, delinquency or hyperactivity.

But a new study published in the journal Parenting: Science and Practice suggests that these painful effects of harsh discipline can be moderated by the child's feelings of being loved by their mother.

The study, conducted among a group of Mexican-American adolescents by Dr Miguelina Germ?n of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, found that having a loving mother (or 'perception of maternal warmth') protected the youngster from externalizing problems to the extent that, at high levels of maternal warmth, harsh discipline was found to have no correlation with antisocial behaviour.

Where the child's perception of maternal warmth was lower, it still resulted in a positive relationship between harsh disciplinary practices and later externalising problems.

This would suggest that, as long as the child knows they're loved, and feels that it is coming from a good place, their experiences of being strictly disciplined is unlikely to result in antisocial behaviour further down the line.

Some evidence suggests that Latino cultural norms -- such as respeto (respect) and bien educacion (social responsibility) -- support the use of harsh and restrictive discipline against children. Attachment theory holds that warm, responsive parenting is the critical factor in producing happy, secure children -- the underlying belief that their parents love them protects them from feeling rejected, even when being harshly disciplined.

One important implication of the research is perhaps the following: the use of harsh parental discipline does not automatically result in antisocial behaviour in the child. The relationship between the two is conditional and subject to other factors. Where harsh disciplinary practices are a cultural norm, there are always other influences at play that can lessen their potential harm on the young child.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Taylor & Francis, via AlphaGalileo.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Miguelina Germ?n, Nancy A. Gonzales, Darya Bonds McClain, Larry Dumka, Roger Millsap. Maternal Warmth Moderates the Link between Harsh Discipline and Later Externalizing Behaviors for Mexican American Adolescents. Parenting, 2013; 13 (3): 169 DOI: 10.1080/15295192.2013.756353

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

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/top_news/top_health/~3/sIqgBSqrsg8/130417114007.htm

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Lakers hold off Rockets, take West's 7th seed

Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard, center, is fouled by Houston Rockets' Omer Asik, of Turkey, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, April 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Lakers' Dwight Howard, center, is fouled by Houston Rockets' Omer Asik, of Turkey, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, April 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Houston Rockets' James Harden reacts after making a 3-pointer during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles, Wednesday, April 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Gasol, left, of Spain, tries to block a shot by Houston Rockets' Greg Smith during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, April 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Lakers' Steve Blake, left, drives to the basket past Houston Rockets' Francisco Garcia during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, April 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Gasol, center, of Spain, is defended by Houston Rockets' Greg Smith during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, April 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Dwight Howard had a simple message for the Lakers after Chandler Parsons' 34-foot, line-drive 3-pointer at the regulation buzzer added five more minutes to the final game of Los Angeles' already exhausting regular season.

Nothing has been easy for the Lakers all year long, Howard told his teammates. Why should the finale be any different?

With five more minutes of perseverance, the Lakers ended up with quite a reward. After getting up Wednesday morning with no guarantee their season wouldn't end that night, they surged into the seventh playoff spot in the West with a 99-95 overtime victory over the Houston Rockets.

Steve Blake scored 24 points and Pau Gasol added his seventh career triple-double for the Lakers (45-37), who only clinched a postseason berth about 10 minutes before tipoff. Despite Parsons' improbable tying basket, Los Angeles won again without Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, earning a first-round date with second-seeded San Antonio.

"I'm proud of the whole team and the way they stepped up at the end of the year," said Blake, who added seven assists and seven rebounds to cap his second impressive game in Bryant's absence. "We definitely expected more at the beginning of the year, but we're proud we're here. ... I couldn't believe it when a couple of days ago somebody said we even had a chance to be in the seventh spot, and now we're there."

Gasol had 17 points, 20 rebounds and 11 assists in his second triple-double in three games for the Lakers, who avoided the embarrassment of missing the playoffs for just the second time in Bryant's 17-year career.

Howard had 16 points and 18 rebounds for the Lakers, and the All-Star center blocked James Harden's shot in the final seconds of overtime to finish up the Lakers' fifth straight win, their eighth in nine games.

"From where we were 20 or 30 games ago, a seven (seed) is pretty good," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We shouldn't have been in that spot in the first place, but it's our fault."

Antawn Jamison added 16 points as the Lakers won their second straight without Bryant, who tore his Achilles tendon last Friday and watched another game from his home in Orange County. Nash hasn't played in eight games with a hamstring injury, but the Lakers finished the regular season with a gritty comeback win despite Chandler's heroics.

"We've fought through so much adversity already," Gasol said. "We knew we could handle a little more."

Parsons hit a tying 3-pointer from three steps behind the line at the regulation buzzer for the Rockets (45-37), who will face top-seeded Oklahoma City after losing four of six to end the regular season.

Harden scored 30 points and Parsons had 23 for the Rockets, who already knew they were back in the postseason after a three-year absence, but could have ended up in three seedings depending on Wednesday's results. Houston had a shot at the No. 6 spot before Golden State beat Portland earlier, but Los Angeles holds the tiebreaker on the Rockets.

"If we play their pace, their two big guys just control the game after a while," Houston coach Kevin McHale said. "We went through some stretches where we struggled offensively. We were stopping them, but they were just getting second and third shots. That killed us."

Houston led for most of the night before the Lakers went ahead with 6? minutes to play, but both teams struggled offensively in the final minutes before Parsons ended up alone with the ball near midcourt in the final seconds after a broken-play scramble. His desperate 3-pointer had almost no arch, but dropped in to force overtime.

Neither team made a shot in overtime until Gasol's jumper with 2:26 left, ending a field-goal drought of more than eight minutes for the Lakers. After Jodie Meeks drove the baseline and dunked in the final minute, Howard stepped in front of Harden and blocked the Houston star's drive with 20 seconds left.

Blake and Meeks hit free throws in the final seconds to wrap it up.

"The Lakers did a good job down the stretch, and we didn't do as good of a job," said Jeremy Lin, who had 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting. "We didn't get the looks we wanted to get, and we ended up with a lot of tough shots down the stretch."

The Lakers nursed a small lead over the Jazz (43-39) down the stretch of their tumultuous season, but Utah held the tiebreaker. The Lakers were aware that the Jazz's 86-70 loss in Memphis had clinched Los Angeles' eighth straight postseason berth, but the Lakers still had ample reason to play hard against the Rockets, given their likely preference for facing San Antonio instead of Oklahoma City, which easily ousted the Lakers in last season's second round.

Houston stayed ahead for most of the first 3? quarters with steady offense from Harden and Parsons, particularly in transition. The Lakers' personnel deficiencies showed in their second game without Bryant, with coach Mike D'Antoni even fielding a backcourt in the first quarter featuring seldom-used Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock, signed from the NBA D-League last weekend.

Houston built its lead up to 11 points in the third quarter, but Los Angeles chipped away steadily in the fourth, going ahead 81-79 on Blake's fourth 3-pointer with 6:36 to play.

NOTES: Howard grabbed his 9,000th career rebound in the first quarter, becoming the youngest player to reach the mark, 14 days faster than Wilt Chamberlain. Howard, who went straight from high school to the NBA, is only the 13th-fastest in terms of games (697). ... Houston has won just one playoff round since 1997. The Lakers haven't been knocked out in the first round of the postseason since 2007. ... Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki of "The Big Bang Theory" attended the game, with Houston native Parsons wearing a Rockets hat.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-04-18-BKN-Rockets-Lakers/id-00b551d5e8604e749d9fd70fe5bac526

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How Many Ways Can California Be Stupid? (Powerlineblog)

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Microsoft reportedly looking to revive 'Heroes' TV show on MSN/Xbox

It may not be remembered quite as well as Arrested Development, but it looks like Microsoft is aiming to bring back another big network TV show on a service that's decidedly outside the bounds of traditional TV. According to TV Line, that show is Heroes, which was cancelled by NBC in 2010 after a four-year run, and the video service is MSN (itself part of Microsoft's broader push into original programming for Xbox). While the talks for Heroes are still said to be preliminary, the revived show would apparently focus on new characters and stories, with some of the original cast only making cameos in the new series. Of course, this wouldn't be the first time that Heroes found its way onto an Xbox 360: the show was one of the few series to be released on HD DVD, and briefly found its way into some bundles with Microsoft's HD DVD player add-on for the console.

Filed under: HD, Microsoft

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Purported next-gen iPad case pictured, again pointing to major redesign

By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Andy Cohen has definitely made the best of his programming executive level job at Bravo Media. Aside from becoming the face of the network and hosting its popular late night show, "Watch What Happens Live," he was instrumental in developing and producing the network's flagship "Real Housewives" franchise. The same franchise, by the way, that he famously put a fork in when he announced in 2011 that the network wouldn't be extending the series. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/purported-next-gen-ipad-case-pictured-again-pointing-142553134.html

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Wall Street slides on growth worries, commodities selloff

By Angela Moon

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks fell for a second straight session on Monday with major indexes off more than 1 percent, pressured by weaker-than-expected growth figures in China that sparked a broad selloff across markets, including oil and other commodities.

Among the S&P 500's biggest-declining groups, the energy sector index <.spny> was off 3 percent and the materials sector index <.splrcm> was also down 3 percent.

"Liquidation is under way across equities and commodities, sparked by fears that the global economy is set to slow," said Andrew Wilkinson, chief economic strategist at Miller Tabak & Co in New York.

The Chinese data weighed heavily on oil, with U.S. crude futures down 2.7 percent at $88.83. Chevron lost 2.4 percent to $117.12 and was one of the biggest drags on the Dow.

The SPDR Gold Shares ETF lost almost 8 percent to $133.01 as gold prices slumped to a two-year low below $1,400 per ounce.

Among the most active mining stocks, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc fell nearly 8 percent to $29.48 while Newmont Mining dropped 5.6 percent to $34.33. Freeport's stock was also downgraded to "sell" from "neutral" by Citigroup.

The PHLX Gold/Silver index <.xau> tumbled 7.7 percent and the PHLX oil service sector index <.osx> fell 3.6 percent.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.dji> was down 162.71 points, or 1.09 percent, at 14,702.35. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.spx> was down 21.93 points, or 1.38 percent, at 1,566.92. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.ixic> was down 49.01 points, or 1.49 percent, at 3,245.93.

A softer pace of growth in New York state manufacturing added to recent signs that the global economy may be slowing.

The market had been very resilient in its run-up to record highs last week. But Monday's decline put the broad S&P 500 index on track for its first two-day losing streak in a month.

Data showed China's annual rate of growth eased back to 7.7 percent from the 7.9 percent rate of the previous quarter and below economists' forecast for an 8.0 percent expansion.

Hurting home building stocks, an industry report showed U.S. homebuilder sentiment waned for the third month in a row in April. An index of housing shares slid 4.8 percent.

On a positive note, Citigroup shares shot up 1.8 percent to $45.60 after reporting a higher-than-expected 31 percent gain in first-quarter profit.

Sprint Nextel Corp shares jumped 13.7 percent to $7.07 after Dish Network Corp , the No. 2 U.S. satellite television provider, offered to buy Sprint for $25.5 billion in cash and stock. The offer could thwart the proposed acquisition of Sprint by Japan's SoftBank Corp .

Dish Network shares fell 5.9 percent to $35.41.

Genetic testing equipment maker Life Technologies Corp has agreed to a $13.6 billion cash buyout by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc , in one of the year's biggest corporate takeovers. Life Technologies shares climbed 7.5 percent to $73.12. Thermo Fisher advanced 1 percent to $80.41.

Earnings season heats up this week, with 74 companies in the S&P 500 <.spx> scheduled to report, including American Express Co , Goldman Sachs , Bank of America and Google Inc .

(Editing by Kenneth Barry, Nick Zieminski and Jan Paschal)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/stock-futures-signal-dip-chinese-data-094750685--sector.html

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