Friday, March 29, 2013

North Korea readies rockets after U.S. show of force

By David Chance and Phil Stewart

SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea put its missile units on standby on Friday to attack U.S. military bases in South Korea and the Pacific, after the United States flew two nuclear-capable stealth bombers over the Korean peninsula in a rare show of force.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed off on the order at a midnight meeting of top generals and "judged the time has come to settle accounts with the U.S. imperialists in view of the prevailing situation", the official KCNA news agency said.

The North has an arsenal of Soviet-era short-range Scud missiles that can hit South Korea and have been proven, but its longer-range Nodong and Musudan missiles that could in theory hit U.S. Pacific bases are untested.

On Thursday, the United States flew two radar-evading B-2 Spirit bombers on practice runs over South Korea, responding to a series of North Korean threats. They flew from the United States and back in what appeared to be the first exercise of its kind, designed to show America's ability to conduct long-range, precision strikes "quickly and at will", the U.S. military said.

The news of Kim's response was unusually swift.

"He finally signed the plan on technical preparations of strategic rockets of the KPA (Korean People's Army), ordering them to be on standby for fire so that they may strike any time the U.S. mainland, its military bases in the operational theaters in the Pacific, including Hawaii and Guam, and those in South Korea," KCNA said.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported there had been additional troop and vehicle movements at the North's mid- and long-range missile sites, indicating they may be ready to fire.

"Sharply increased movements of vehicles and soldiers have been detected recently at North Korea's mid and long-range missile sites," Yonhap quoted a South Korean military source as saying.

It was impossible to verify the report which did not specify a time frame, although South Korea's Defense Ministry said on Friday that it was watching shorter-range Scud missile sites closes as well as Nodong and Musudan missile batteries.

The North has launched a daily barrage of threats since early this month when the United States and the South, allies in the 1950-53 Korean War, began routine military drills.

The South and the United States have said the drills are purely defensive in nature and that no incident has taken place in the decades they have been conducted in various forms.

The United States also flew B-52 bombers over South Korea earlier this week.

The North has put its military on highest readiness to fight what it says are hostile forces conducting war drills. Its young leader has previously given "final orders" for its military to wage revolutionary war with the South.

ECONOMIC ZONE

Despite the tide of hostile rhetoric from Pyongyang, it has kept open a joint economic zone with the South which generates $2 billion a year in trade, money the impoverished state can ill-afford to lose.

Pyongyang has also canceled an armistice agreement with the United States that ended the Korean War and cut all communications hotlines with U.S. forces, the United Nations and South Korea.

"The North Koreans have to understand that what they're doing is very dangerous," U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters at the Pentagon on Thursday.

"We must make clear that these provocations by the North are taken by us very seriously and we'll respond to that."

The U.S. military said that its B-2 bombers had flown more than 6,500 miles to stage a trial bombing raid from their bases in Missouri as part of the Foal Eagle war drills being held with South Korea.

The bombers dropped inert munitions on the Jik Do Range, in South Korea, and then returned to the continental United States in a single, continuous mission, the military said.

Thursday's drill was the first time B-2s flew round-trip from the mainland United States over South Korea and dropped inert munitions, a Pentagon spokeswoman said.

Victor Cha, a North Korea expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the drill fitted within the context of ramped-up efforts by the Pentagon to deter the North from acting upon any of its threats.

Asked whether he thought the latest moves could further aggravate tensions on the peninsula, Cha, a former White House official, said: "I don't think the situation can get any more aggravated than it already is."

South Korea denied suggestions on Friday that the bomber drills contained an implicit threat of attack on the North.

"There is no entity on the earth who will strike an attack on North Korea or expressed their wishes to do so," a spokesman for the South's Unification Ministry said.

Despite the shrill rhetoric from Pyongyang, few believe North Korea, formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, will risk starting a full-out war.

Still, Hagel, who on March 15 announced he was bolstering missile defenses over the growing North Korea threat, said all of the provocations by the North had to be taken seriously.

"Their very provocative actions and belligerent tone, it has ratcheted up the danger and we have to understand that reality," Hagel said, renewing a warning that the U.S. military was ready for "any eventuality" on the peninsula.

North Korea conducted a third nuclear weapons test in February in breach of U.N. sanctions and despite warnings from China, its one major diplomatic ally.

(Additional reporting by David Alexander in Washington; Editing by Warren Strobel, Paul Simao and Raju Gopalakrishnan)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/north-korea-readies-rockets-u-flies-stealth-bombers-020309202.html

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Thursday, March 28, 2013

OpenELEC 3.0 Linux distro gets official, supports 'more hardware than ever'

OpenELEC 30 media center software gets official, supports 'more hardware than ever'

The OpenELEC Linux distro came out of beta with its official 3.0.0 version this week, and according to its makers nearly every part has been upgraded since the 2.0 release last year. This release of the media center package is based on XBMC 12.1 and as such includes its assortment of updates, as well as specific improvements for the Raspberry Pi, MC001 devices, Apple TV and AMD hardware. If you're on 2.0 you'll need to manually update to the new version. Hit the source link for a full changelog and instructions on how to get it all working.

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Source: OpenELEC.tv

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/5Hc1wPkW-BY/

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Joujouka Masters Musicians - Morocco World News

By Youssef El Kaidi

Morocco World News

Fez, March 27, 2013

The music festival of Joujouka is to be held from 14th to 16th June, 2013. Since its first edition in 2008, the festival annually takes place in June in the far-flung village of Joujouka (or Jahjouka) in the Ahl Srif tribal area near Laksar Lakbir south of the Rif in northern Morocco. The festival is very unique and not like any other festival in the world in regard to its organization and rites.

It?s all about offering a very small group of tourists the opportunity to experience the Moroccan authenticity in its minute details. In every edition of the festival, a group of people from around the world live in Jahjouka with the Masters as hosts, experience their Sufi trance music on a daily basis and enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Rif and the local food and traditions. This micro-festival was raved about by international press like The Guardian,?Liberation,?the?BBC,?Al?Jazeera?and?The Irish Times.

The remarkable Music played by the Joujouka Masters is said to be 4,000-year old. The America novelist and painter William Seward Burroughs described the Masters? music as the world?s oldest music and was the first person to call the musicians a ?4000-year-old rock and roll band.?

The music of the Joujouka Masters finds its roots in the legend of Beoujeloud who is the symbol of fertility and reproduction and who bestowed this music on the tribe of ?Jahjouka? thousands of years ago. The Master musicians? music is believed to have healing powers. In the 15th century, when the Sufi saint Sidi Ahmed Schiech arrived in the village, he wrote music for the Masters? ancestors which could heal. Today?s Masters are said to be blessed with the Baraka or spirit of their saint and the main purpose of their music is to heal.

The Master Musicians were first presented to the global audience by Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones in his album ?Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka? released in 1971. They have also collaborated with the Jazz experimentalist Ornette Coleman. In fact, many are those who were seduced by the simplicity and the ethnographic value of Jahjouka and its music. Paul Bowls, William Burroughs, Brian Jones, Timothy Leary, and Brion Gysin all wrote about the Master Musicians of Jahjouka after being entranced by their Sufi music.

? Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed

Source: http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/03/84230/joujouka-masters-musicians-the-healing-power-of-a-4000-year-old-music/

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Kate Middleton Baby Shower ? Pregnant Duchess Breaking With ...

Kate Middleton Baby Shower

FameFlynet

The Duchess of Cambridge may be set to welcome the next heir to the throne, but she is embarking on a pregnancy tradition not like any other royal ? a baby shower!

Kate Middleton is breaking with royal tradition yet again and celebrating her pregnancy with an event that?s usually reserved for commoners ? a baby shower! Her sister?Pippa Middleton?? who recently published a book on party planning ? is planning the fun affair, according to a new report!

Although a baby shower is a fun event that almost every mom-to-be looks forward to, it?s typically not a tradition in royal families. Neither Queen Elizabeth nor Queen Victoria had showers for their first-born babies, but the Duchess of Cambridge isn?t like other royals!

Kate Middleton Hoping Queen Elizabeth Attends Shower

?It was her sister Pippa?s idea,? a friend of Kate?s tells?OK! magazine.?And even though it?s not a traditional event for royals, or even in the UK (as the source pointed out), the mom-to-be is hoping her husband Prince William?s grandmother makes an appearance!

?While it?s all going to be very relaxed and fun, Kate is hoping the queen will drop by because the two are remarkably close. They bonded big time and really enjoy each other?s company. Since this is going to be a first for royals, Kate would love the queen to be part of it.?

And since her younger sister is such a party planner, she has it all taken care of!

?Pippa is in charge of decorations,? the insider adds. ?Wine and beer will be available ? not that Kate will be drinking alcohol, of course There will certainly be none of the hard stuff.?

What do YOU think of Kate Middleton?s baby shower plans HollyMoms? Are you shocked she?s having a shower? Let us know in the comments below!

More Kate Middleton Baby News:

  1. Kate Middleton Jokes ?I?ve Got A Bun In The Oven? In Chic White Coat
  2. Kate Middleton Is Ready For Sleepless Nights As A New Mom
  3. Kate Middleton: I Want A Boy, Prince William Wants A Girl

Source: http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/03/27/kate-middleton-baby-shower-plans-pippa-middleton/

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Genetics might determine which smokers get hooked

Mar. 27, 2013 ? Researchers have identified genetic risk factors that may accelerate a teen's progression to becoming a lifelong heavy smoker.

The team of scientists from the U.S., the U.K. and New Zealand examined earlier studies by other research teams to develop a genetic risk profile for heavy smoking. Then they looked at their own long-term study of 1,000 New Zealanders from birth to age 38 to identify whether individuals at high genetic risk got hooked on cigarettes more quickly as teens and whether, as adults, they had a harder time quitting.

Study participants who had the high-risk genetic profile were found to be more likely to convert to daily smoking as teenagers and then progress more rapidly to heavy smoking (a pack a day or more). When assessed at age 38, the higher-risk individuals had smoked heavily for more years, had more often developed nicotine dependence and were more likely to have failed in attempts to quit smoking.

"Genetic risk accelerated the development of smoking behavior," said Daniel Belsky, a post-doctoral research fellow at Duke University's Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development and the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy. "Teens at a high genetic risk transitioned quickly from trying cigarettes to becoming regular, heavy smokers."

A person's genetic risk profile did not predict whether he or she would try cigarettes. But for those who did try cigarettes, having a high-risk genetic profile predicted increased likelihood of heavy smoking and nicotine dependence.

The findings appear March 27 in JAMA Psychiatry. They were supported by multiple grants from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, as well as the U.K. Medical Research Council and the New Zealand Health Research Council.

The Duke researchers developed a new "genetic risk score" for the study by examining prior genome-wide associations (GWAS) of adult smokers. These studies scanned the entire genomes of tens of thousands of smokers to identify variants that were more common in the heaviest smokers. The variants they identified were located in and around genes that affect how the brain responds to nicotine and how nicotine is metabolized, but it is not yet known how the specific variants affect gene function.

It makes sense that the genes on which the group based their risk score are involved in nicotine metabolism and sensitivity, said Jed Rose, a Duke nicotine addiction researcher who was not involved in this study. "Addictions are a learned behavior and it requires reinforcement through neural pathways."

In their first step, the researchers found the genetic risk score they developed was able to predict heavy smoking among individuals in two large databases created by other researchers.

Then they turned to their New Zealand sample of 880 individuals of European descent to see whether the genetic risk score predicted who initiated smoking, who progressed to heavy smoking, and who developed nicotine dependence and experienced relapse after quitting.

Genetic risk was not related to whether a person tried smoking, which 70 percent of the sample had. One reason for this was that so-called "chippers" -- smokers who consume cigarettes only on weekends or smoke only one or two per day -- had even lower genetic risk than nonsmokers.

Genetic risk was related to the development of smoking problems. Among teens who tried cigarettes, those with a high-risk genetic profile were 24 percent more likely to become daily smokers by age 15 and 43 percent more likely to become pack-a-day smokers by age 18.

As adults, those with high-risk genetic profiles were 27 percent more likely to become nicotine dependent and 22 percent more likely to fail in their attempts at quitting. By age 38, a study participant with high-risk genetic profile had smoked about 7,300 more cigarettes (one "pack-year") than the average smoker.

Study participants who did not become regular, heavy smokers during their teens appeared to be "immune" to genetic risk for adult smoking problems. "The effects of genetic risk seem to be limited to people who start smoking as teens," said Belsky. "This suggests there may be something special about nicotine exposure in the adolescent brain, with respect to these genetic variants."

"Adolescence is indeed a period of high risk for nicotine addiction," said Denise Kandel, a professor of sociomedical sciences in psychiatry at Columbia University, who was not involved in this study. "The results illustrate why adolescence is of crucial importance for the development and targeting of prevention and intervention efforts. How this genetic risk affects brain functions, which in turn affect reactions to nicotine, remains to be determined."

The risk factor the team developed "may not be sensitive or specific enough to be a clinical test, but it may have public health uses," said Rose, who is the director of the Duke Center for Smoking Cessation and co-developer of the nicotine patch.

"Public health policies that make it harder for teens to become regular smokers should continue to be a focus in antismoking efforts," Belsky said.

This research received support from US-National Institute on Aging grants AG032282 and AG000029, UK Medical Research Council grant G0601483, US-NIMH grant MH077874, US-NIDA grant P30 DA023026, and US Agency for Health Care Research and Quality grant HS020534.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Duke University.

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


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/health_medicine/genes/~3/AchUv7wPuns/130327163247.htm

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

DICE+ launches $99 developer kit, pre-orders for $40 consumer model start this summer

DNP DICE launches $99 developer kit, hopes to release $40 consumer model this summer

Game Technologies, the Poland-based company behind the little electronic die that is DICE+, has just announced a $99 developer edition that bundles a transparent-cased model along with its software development kit. As a reminder, the DICE+ is an inch-sized rubberized cube packed with Bluetooth, an accelerometer and a rechargeable battery, with the aim of bringing human interaction to electronic board games and beyond.

We had a look at a demo DICE+ here at the 2013 Game Developers Conference and it looks relatively unchanged from the one we saw at E3 last year. However, the microUSB port is now revealed via a sliding mechanism instead of a pull-out flap, which should result in a more balanced roll. Marketing director David Gatti also told us that the cube's internals have been revamped and simplified for more cost-effective production.

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Source: DICE+

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/26/dice-launches-99-dev-kit/

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George Mason University is reportedly leaving the Colonial Athletic Association to join the Atlantic 10 effective July 1 The A...

SbB LIVE FROM LA (Mar 25, 2013 @ 11:18am ET)

11:15 AM: NASCAR driver Tony Stewart said about Joey Logano after they scuffled following Sunday's Auto Club 40 race: "He's nothing but a little rich kid who has never had to work in his life."

11:00 AM: Caroline Wozniacki & Rory McIlroy were sitting courtside at Sunday's night Miami Heat game, where the Heat won their 26th game in a row by beating the Charlotte Bobcats 109-77.

10:45 AM: New York Jets QB Tim Tebow made a surprise visit to the Wichita State basketball team on Sunday a day after the Shockers upset top-seeded Gonzaga: "I just want to say congrats. You're an inspiration to so many people, so always remember that and how you carry yourself and your character."

10:30 AM: For the second time this season, an Oklahoma City Thunder fan won $20,000 by hitting a half-court shot. And Sunday's winner got a congratulatory tackle from Kevin Durant.

10:15 AM: Florida Gulf Coast became the first 15-seed to advance to the Sweet Sixteen after Sunday's 81-71 win over San Diego State.

10:00 AM: UCLA announced Sunday night they have fired men's basketball coach Ben Howland after 10 seasons & a 233-107 record.

8:00 PM: The Lockport (NY) Board of Education is considering renaming its junior high school after Aaron Mossell, an African-American businessman who managed to get Lockport schools desegregated by 1876.

7:45 PM: Video of NBA TV's Chris Webber analyzing an Indiana Pacers fan who wouldn't share his ice cream cone with his girlfriend during Tuesday's game against the Orlando Magic.

7:30 PM: Apparently losing a bet with Portland Trail Blazers player Wesley Matthews, Golden State Warriors player Stephen Curry changed his Twitter avatar to Matthews in his Marquette days.

7:15 PM: Lower Merion (PA) High School, alma mater of Kobe Bryant, defeated Chester 63-47 Saturday night to win the Class AAAA state title. Two days earlier, the wife of Lower Merion coach Gregg Downer gave birth to a daughter.

7:00 PM: NASCAR driver Tony Stewart went after Joey Logano following the end of Sunday's Auto Club 400 race in Fontana, California. Last week Logano tried to confront Denny Hamlin at the end of the Food City 500 race in Bristol.

6:45 PM: The University of Minnesota women's hockey team defeated Boston U. 6-3 Sunday to win the NCAA title and finish their season undefeated with a 41-0 record. The Golden Gophers also won their 49th straight game dating to last season, when they also won the NCAA title.

6:30 PM: Saginaw Spirit goalie Jake Peterson faced 70 shots on goal in Sunday's OHL playoff game against the London Knights. Peterson made 67 saves but the Spirit lost 3-2 in double OT.

6:15 PM: Dallas Stars forward Brenden Morrow has been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Joe Morrow. The Stars & Penguins also swapped 3rd round & 5th round picks for the 2013 NHL Draft.

6:00 PM: Chicago Cubs pitcher Scott Baker is expected to miss the first half of the season after suffering an elbow muscle sprain during a spring training game last week.

Source: http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/sbblive?eid=49714

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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Revel Files Prepackaged Chapter 11 Cases to Implement its ...

Revel Beach, Atlantic City, N.J. ? March 25, 2013 ? Revel AC Inc., (the ?Company? or ?Revel?) announced today that it has filed its voluntary prepackaged Chapter 11 cases in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey (Camden) to facilitate its previously announced financial restructuring.

Under the plan of reorganization, Revel will significantly reduce its debt?by more than 82%?from approximately $1.52 billion to $272 million, through a debt-for-equity conversion. Revel has secured votes from a supermajority of its lenders, which is in excess of the amount required for the court to approve the plan.

The restructuring is not expected to impact Revel?s guests, employees or vendors. Throughout the restructuring, Revel intends to continue normal business operations. All services, guest loyalty plans and promotions, dining, scheduled entertainment, programming and events will continue to move forward without change or interruption, and that employees and vendors will be paid in the normal course of business.

Jeffrey Hartmann, Revel?s Interim Chief Executive Officer, commented on today?s announcement, ?Backed by overwhelming lender support, we remain on track to complete our financial restructuring ahead of the critical summer season. We will emerge from this recapitalization positioned for long-term success, with the financial capacity to pursue our amenity enhancement opportunities, and the ability to continue providing our guests with a signature Revel experience.?

As previously announced, certain of Revel?s lenders will provide approximately $250 million in debtor-in-possession financing (DIP), approximately $42 million of which constitutes new money commitments and approximately $208 million of which constitutes prepetition debt. In addition, Revel will obtain $335 million in exit financing, which consists of a $75 million revolver and $260 million term loan. The proceeds of the exit facility will be used to provide Revel with additional working capital, fund certain capital expenditures, repay the DIP financing, and pay expenses related to the restructuring upon emergence from Chapter 11.

The Company expects to complete its restructuring, which is subject to bankruptcy court approval and the conditions set forth in the restructuring agreement, within 45 to 60 days and anticipates emerging from Chapter 11 by early summer.

Revel?s legal advisor in connection with the restructuring is Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Alvarez & Marsal serves as its restructuring advisor and Moelis & Company serves as its investment banker for the restructuring.

?

Source: http://atlanticcity.americancasinoguide.com/revel-files-prepackaged-chapter-11-cases-to-implement-its-restructuring-and-reduce-its-debt-by-over-1-2-billion/

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Monday, March 25, 2013

Kerry in Iraq to press on Iran flights to Syria

(AP) ? U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in Iraq on an unannounced visit to urge Iraqi leaders to stop Iranian overflights of arms and fighters heading to Syria and to overcome sectarian differences that still threaten Iraqi stability 10 years after the American-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

Kerry flew into Baghdad on Sunday from Amman after accompanying President Barack Obama to Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan.

Officials traveling with him said Kerry would press Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other senior officials on democratic reforms and directly urge them to stop overflights of Iranian aircraft carrying military personnel and equipment to support the Syrian government as it battles rebels. Iran and Iraq both say the flights are laden with humanitarian supplies, but the U.S. and others believe they are filled with weapons and fighters to help the Assad regime.

The overflights have long been a source of contention between the U.S. and Iraq and Kerry will tell the Iraqis that allowing them to continue will make the situation in Syria worse and ultimately threaten Iraq's stability.

A senior U.S. official said the sheer number of overflights, which occur "close to daily," as well as overland shipments to Syria through Iraq from Iran, was inconsistent with claims they are only carrying humanitarian supplies. The official said it was in Iraq's interest to prevent the situation in Syria from deteriorating further, particularly as there are fears that al-Qaida-linked extremists may gain a foothold in the country as the Assad regime falters.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to publicly preview Kerry's meetings, said there are clear links between al-Qaida linked extremists operating in Syria and militants who are carrying out terrorist attacks in Iraqi territory with increasing regularity.

A group of fighters in Syria known as Jabhat al-Nusra, a powerful offshoot of al-Qaida in Iraq, has claimed responsibility for most of the deadliest suicide bombings against regime and military facilities and, as a result, has gained popularity among some rebels.

However, the group has alienated secular-minded fighters, which is one reason the U.S. has not equipped the rebels with weapons. The Obama administration designated al-Nusra as a terrorist organization last December

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton secured a pledge from Iraq to inspect the flights last year, but the official said that since then only two aircraft have been checked by Iraqi authorities.

Kerry will tell al-Maliki, a Shiite with close ties to Iran, that Iraq cannot be part of the political discussion about Syria's future until it clamps down on the Iranian shipments, the official said.

As Iraq approaches provincial elections next month, Kerry will also stress the importance of ensuring that all elements of society feel enfranchised, the official said. A recent decision to delay the polls in Anbar and Nineveh provinces is a "serious setback" to Iraq's democratic institutions and should be revisited, the official said.

In addition to al-Maliki, Kerry was seeing Iraqi parliament speaker parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, a Sunni, whose faction is at odds with Maliki's Shiia. Kerry also plans to speak by phone with Massoud Barzani, the head of the Kurdish Regional Government based in Irbil to encourage the Kurds not go ahead with unilateral actions - especially involving oil, like a pipeline deal with Turkey.

He will stress the "importance of maintaining the unity of Iraq," say that "separate efforts undercut the unity of the country" and that "the Kurdish republic cannot survive financially without the support of Baghdad," the official said.

Kerry's visit to Iraq is the first by a U.S. secretary of state since Clinton went in 2009. During Obama's first term, the Iraq portfolio was largely delegated to Vice President Joe Biden.

Kerry's arrival came just three days after the anniversary of the U.S.-led war that began on March 20, 2003, with an airstrike on Dora Farms in southern Baghdad in a failed attempt to kill Hussein.

The invasion and toppling of Hussein sparked years of bloodshed as Sunni and Shiite militants battled U.S. forces and each other, leaving nearly 4,500 U.S. soldiers and more than 100,000 Iraqis dead.

Violence has ebbed sharply since the peak of Sunni-Shiite fighting that pushed the country to the brink of civil war in 2006 and 2007. But insurgents are still able to stage high-profile attacks, and sectarian and ethnic rivalries remain threats to the country's long-term stability.

Earlier this week, an al-Qaida in Iraq front group claimed responsibility nearly 20 attacks that killed 65 people across the country on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Islamic State of Iraq said it unleashed the car bombs and other explosions to avenge the executions and "massacres" of convicted Sunni inmates held in Iraqi prisons. Its claim came on the 10th anniversary of the start of the war, although it made no reference to the significance of the date.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-03-24-Mideast-Kerry/id-4965828ca3884bd09390aa45d9ee1d28

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Sunday, March 24, 2013

SpaceX dragon spacecraft carrying NASA cargo ready for return to Earth

Mar. 24, 2013 ? More than three weeks after arriving at the International Space Station, the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) Dragon spacecraft is ready for the trip back to Earth, now scheduled for Tuesday, March 26.

Dragon's originally scheduled March 25 return date was postponed due to inclement weather developing near its targeted splashdown site in the Pacific Ocean. The additional day spent attached to the orbiting laboratory will not affect science samples scheduled to return aboard the spacecraft.

NASA Television will provide coverage of Dragon's departure beginning at 4 a.m. EDT.

Dragon is scheduled to be detached from the Earth-facing side of the station's Harmony module and unberthed by Expedition 35 Flight Engineer and NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn. Expedition 35 Commander Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency will back-up Marshburn and monitor Dragon's systems during the activity.

Marshburn, working from the robotic work station in the space station's cupola, will maneuver the station's robotic arm for the release of the spacecraft at 7:06 a.m. Dragon will execute three thruster firings to move away from the station to a safe distance for its deorbit burn at 11:40 a.m. Dragon will splash down around 12:36 p.m. in the Pacific Ocean west of Baja California.

Dragon is the only space station resupply spacecraft able to return to Earth intact. It will return about 2,668 pounds (1,210 kilograms) of science samples from human research, biology and biotechnology studies, physical science investigations and education activities.

Experiment samples coming back to Earth will help researchers continue to assess the impact of long-duration spaceflight on the human body. Returning plant samples will aid in food production during future long-duration space missions and enhance crop production on Earth. Crystals grown aboard and returning from the station could help in the development of more efficient solar cells and semiconductor-based electronics.

For NASA TV schedule and video streaming information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about SpaceX, including ways to connect on social media, visit: http://www.spacex.com

For more information about the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by NASA.

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


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://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130324195409.htm

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Israeli Military Responds After Patrols Come Under Fire From Syria

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Source: www.nytimes.com --- Sunday, March 24, 2013
The Israeli Military said it destroyed a machine-gun post in Syria after two patrols were fired on from across the cease-fire line in the Golan Heights. ...

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/25/world/middleeast/israeli-military-responds-after-patrols-come-under-fire-from-syria.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Wine Thoughts: Family, food and two French wines

?

My 22 year old son was home for a few days during Spring Break and requested grilled marinated pork chops for dinner. Since he?became of legal drinking age, my husband and I have enjoyed sharing different wines with him to see which ones?he really enjoys. I invited my father to join us?for dinner and my son invited a friend as well.

With my manly meal of pork, peppers and potatoes prepped for the grill, I decided to open a Rhone Valley Ros? to start as?I had some cold boiled shrimp and Caprese salad kabobs out to nibble on while everything went on the grill. My son's friend was interested to learn that "all ros? is not bad or,?you know, cheap wine" and that real men do drink pink wine as role modeled by my husband and father. The wine was Paul Jaboulet Parallele 45 Cotes du Rhone Ros? 2011. This ros? is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Cinsault and 10% Syrah. It smelled and tasted of fresh ripe strawberries with a bit of baking spice. Medium- body, alcohol with medium+ acidity?and a fruity medium length finish. Recommended and enjoyed by all. I purchased this bottle at Whole Foods for $17.

We finished the ros? as the main course came off the grill. With the pork chops, I served a Syrah from the Languedoc. This wine was a big hit with all the men at my table, both the young and the older, I just got one small taste of it. I bought this bottle at Max's Wine Dive in a mixed case?so I don't remember the price but you can call Drew over at Max's and he can? help you out. The wine was the Rare Vineyards Pays D'Oc Syrah 2011 and it?was fruit forward with a bit of smoked meat, medium+ body, alcohol, and acidity with smooth, medium tannins and a medium length blackberry and black pepper finish.?Recommended and enjoyed by all.

Source: http://www.wine-thoughts.com/2013/03/family-food-and-two-french-wines.html

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Pain reliever shows anti-viral activity against flu

Friday, March 22, 2013

The over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drug naproxen may also exhibit antiviral activity against influenza A virus, according to a team of French scientists. The finding, the result of a structure-based investigation, is published online ahead of print in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

New influenza vaccines must be developed annually, because the surface proteins they target mutate rapidly, the way cars used to get a whole new look every year. The researchers, led by Anny Slama-Schwok of the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy en Josas, France, found a much more stable, reliable target for anti-influenza activity. The so-called ribonucleoprotein complexes are necessary for replication, and the researchers realized they could target the nucleoprotein, preventing assembly of the complexes. Because of its vital function, the nucleoprotein is highly conserved, making it a good potential target for antiviral drugs.

The nucleoprotein's three dimensional structure, solved in 2006, provided the basis for searching for new drugs that could interfere with its action. The researchers did a virtual screening within the Sigma-Aldrich online catalog of biochemicals. That screening identified Naproxen, better known as the over-the-counter pain reliever Aleve, and as expected, it bound to the nucleoprotein, and impeded RNA binding, says Slama-Schwok. In further testing, it reduced the viral load in cells infected with H1N1 and H3N2 influenza A virus, and in mice it demonstrated a therapeutic index against influenza A that was superior to that of any other anti-inflammatory drug.

Specifically, naproxen blocks the RNA binding groove of the nucleoprotein, preventing formation of the ribonucleoprotein complex, thus taking the vital nucleoproteins out of circulation. The researchers write that naproxen is a lead compound for drug development that could be improved by tweaking the molecule to boost its ability to bind to nucleoprotein.

As an already approved drug, naproxen could become a treatment against influenza relatively quickly, the researchers write. Its status as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which inhibits the COX-2 pathway, as well as an antiviral would boost its efficacy.

###

N. Lejal, B. Tarus, E. Bouguyon, S. Chenavas, N. Bertho, B. Delmas, R.W.H. Ruigrok, C. Di Primo, A. Slama-Schwok, 2013. Structure-based discovery of the novel antibviral properties of Naproxen against the nucleoprotein of influenza A virus. Antim. Agents Chemother. Online ahead of print 4 March 2013 ,doi:10.1128/AAC.02335-12

American Society for Microbiology: http://www.asm.org

Thanks to American Society for Microbiology for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127405/Pain_reliever_shows_anti_viral_activity_against_flu

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Saturday, March 23, 2013

Snowstorm takes aim at Plains, Midwest

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) ? An early spring snowstorm forced the cancellation of more than 100 flights at Denver International Airport and closed several roads Saturday as it moved eastward, dumping more than a foot of snow in some places.

The snow started falling around midnight in northeast Colorado and then moved into northwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska.

Ten to 15 inches of snow had fallen by Saturday afternoon north of Interstate 70 in northwest Kansas and northeast Colorado, with another 1 to 2 inches expected in the area, said Ryan Husted, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Goodland, Kan., where 15 inches of snow had fallen.

The storm also dropped up to 7 inches of snow in southwestern Nebraska before tapering off Saturday afternoon, said David Pearson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service near Omaha, Neb.

"But the wind is really blowing, so visibility in those areas is still going to be pretty low," Pearson said.

Husted said winds gusting at speeds of up to 45 mph were creating snow drifts of 2 to 3 feet in parts of Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska.

I-70 had been shut down Saturday from Denver to Colby, Kan., because of poor visibility. The northbound lanes of Interstate 25 also were closed south of Fort Collins, Colo., because of multiple accidents.

"It's a mess here," said Jerry Killingsworth, a National Weather Service meteorologist also based in Goodland, Kan. "Heavy, wet snow, tree limbs down."

At the Goodland 24/7 truck stop, truckers milled around. With roads in the area closed, they are "just waiting," said Samantha Lamb, the truck stop's assistant manager.

"Our hotel across the street from us is pretty full," Lamb said. "Our parking lot has a good 35, 40 trucks in it."

As the system moved eastward, it threatened to inconvenience fans attending the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Kansas City.

Scott Blair, a meteorologist in Pleasant Hill, Mo., said light showers and drizzle began switching over to snow Saturday afternoon in Kansas City and western Missouri. The heaviest snowfall was expected overnight, with up to 6 inches forecast for the Kansas City metropolitan area.

"If people don't need to be out driving tomorrow that would certainly be recommended," he said.

Dan Gavitt, vice president of the NCAA men's basketball championships, said teams and officials already are onsite and that no game delays are anticipated.

"This region routinely has winter snow and has the appropriate equipment and procedures to manage these winter conditions," Gavitt said in a written statement. "We encourage fans planning to attend games to pay attention to the weather, use good judgment and follow any directions from local authorities regarding travel and weather."

North Carolina coach Roy Williams was nonplussed.

"It's no distraction, unless the roof goes off, we'll still be able to play and the whole bit like that," Williams said.

Elsewhere, some churches and other organizations were calling off events. Among them, the final game of the Emporia State baseball series with Southwest Baptist was canceled.

Denver International Airport spokesman Heath Montgomery said about 106 flights have been canceled, many of which involved commuter jets headed to nearby destinations or to mountain towns.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center said up to a foot of new snow in the mountains could create dangerous avalanche conditions.

Colorado State Patrol troopers also spent part of Saturday working a crash near Johnstown involving a tractor-trailer that burst into flames. An estimated 20 to 50 vehicles, including four tractor-trailers, crashed or slid off the roadway in the area. The patrol said several people were hospitalized, but no fatalities have been reported.

The system will move into Illinois and Indiana overnight and into Sunday.

Meteorologist Dan Smith with the National Weather Service in Lincoln, Ill., said snowstorms aren't uncommon in early spring. The latest the area has seen snow, he said, was April 23, in 1910.

"One good thing about (the snowstorms) is it doesn't matter how much you get, it usually doesn't stick around too long because temperatures start to warm up pretty good," he said.

Farther south, tornadoes were possible in Louisiana and Mississippi, while strong winds and low humidity could lead to forest fires and wildfires in parts of New Mexico and West Texas.

___

Associated Press writers Jason Keyser in Chicago, Thomas Peipert in Denver, David Skretta in Kansas City, Mo., and Margery A. Beck in Omaha, Neb., contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/snowstorm-takes-aim-plains-midwest-171700123.html

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Indoor Air Quality Effects Health, Safety

Aire Serv LLC President Offers Expert Tips on How to Create a Clean Air Space

Waco, TX (PRWEB) March 22, 2013 - According to the American Lung Association, common indoor air pollutants such as radon, molds, pet dander, pollen, lead dust and asbestos are just a small fraction of the agents that can cause health risks. The Environmental Protection Agency lists poor indoor air quality as the fourth largest environmental threat to the United States.

The air consumed in homes and workplaces is generally worse than most people believe, leading to health risks ranging from mild to severe. The effects of poor indoor air quality, often caused by moisture, pets, poor ventilation, and unmaintained air conditioners and humidifiers, can range from headaches and congestion to respiratory issues and asthma.

?The key to reducing the effects of poor air quality is controlling the factors polluting the air we breathe,? states Doyle James, president of Aire Serv LLC. ?Limiting the causes and maintaining proper ventilation in enclosed areas will help increase the cleanliness of your air quality.?

James suggests eliminating smoking in the home, having your home tested for radon levels, immediately repairing water leaks and removing the resulting moisture. Airing your house out periodically and maintaining proper ventilation will help maximize the quality of breathable air.

In addition to the health threats, poor indoor air quality leads to structural degradation and instability. Common issues include structural rot, mold growth, ice dams, and musty odors.

?It?s important, especially after a winter of closed doors and windows, to remove any lingering pollutants and find ways to keep them from returning,? says James. ?For people with allergies, I recommend they consider a heat recovery ventilator (HRV), which allows them to get fresh air through the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system while avoiding losing or gaining heat from your space.?

For more information or to contact your local Aire Serv shop, visit http://www.aireserv.com.

About Aire Serv?

Established in 1992, Aire Serv is a global franchise organization providing installation, maintenance and repair of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and indoor air quality systems. Recognized by Entrepreneur magazine among its ?Franchise 500,? Aire Serv franchisees provide these services to both residential and commercial customers at more than 175 locations in the United States and Canada. Aire Serv is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc. For further information or to find the location nearest you, visit AireServ.com.

Contact:

Becca Broaddus
The Dwyer Group
http://www.dwyergroup.com
254-759-5832

###

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Source: http://www.franchising.com/news/20130322_indoor_air_quality_effects_health_safety.html

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Friday, March 22, 2013

'Olympus Has Fallen': The Reviews Are In!

Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman take the action genre back to its 1980s roots.
By Brett White


Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart in "Olympus Has Fallen"
Photo: FilmDistrict

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1704174/olympus-has-fallen-reviews.jhtml

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Drake Gets A Very Strange Tweet From Amanda Bynes | Music ...

Walking train wreck, former child star and current?Kiely Williams?impersonator?Amanda Bynes?has been on a pretty major self-destructive spiral into madness, hasn?t she? It?s the kind that?s absolutely riveting to watch, even as it fills the observer with the idle discomfort that arises when we don?t know whether it?s going to turn out like Britney Spears?(redemption!) or?Amy Winehouse?(tragedy!) or?Lindsay Lohan?(neither!), where we think, ?Oh, here?s a talented person who?s clearly suffering from a serious mental illness, but the spectacle is so funny that it?s hard not to laugh at, even though a time will probably come when we?ll feel terrible for having been so cruel to her.? Ah, well.?

Anyway, celebrity news isn?t really our beat here, but?music?news is (which means now we get to talk about Amanda Bynes, hey!) and last night, Bynes amped up the insanity with a disturbing and provocative tweet to?Drake, in which she asked him to murder her vagina. Yep! That?s what she said. Behold:

And then the seas dried up and the stars dropped out of the sky and the Internet melted into a hot tsunami of semiconductors and telephone wire and it was the end of the world, the end of everything. The End. Bye forever.

But no, okay, really. Of course this is hysterical, and also horrifying, and the sort of thing that we can?t?not?talk about, but also, maybe, let?s try and be compassionate to poor Amanda Bynes, the oddest celebrity curiosity who ever lived. She?s going through a rough patch! And if she wants Drake to murder her vagina, well ? sure, it?s a little explicit, and also gruesome, but who are we to judge? After all, it?s what a girl wants.

[via Popdust]

Source: http://idolator.com/7448074/amanda-bynes-drake-tweets-vagina-murder

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The Interviews: Being So Rad! | Be Positive Mom

Today?s interview is truly? So Rad! Meet Jasmine. She is an entrepreneur who started her baby clothing company, So Rad, in 2009. She offers tips and advice that not only budding entrepreneurs should hear, but also anyone who wants to start something new. The first step you take can lead you into a life changing journey. Enjoy the interview!

Thanks for joining us Jasmine! Tell us about yourself, your career and business.
I?m Jasmine Bashaj, the owner of So Rad. I design baby clothing styles and the prints that go on them to create seasonal collections that are functional, fun and stylish. I have 3 jobs and 2 kids with another baby on the way. I?m a digital illustrator by trade and I continue to do freelance for a stock company in the US. I?m a professor at a local college in Toronto and I?ve got So Rad to keep me busy ? since I?m not busy enough;) I teach Photoshop, Illustrator and a studio simulation class.

Describe your most recent business success and tell us about your next big goal!
Picking up a store in Japan and one is Scotland is pretty cool. I?m also always amazed that I do continuous business with a store in the Yukon. I have a few next big goals. Most of them are creative ventures. I?d like to try towels and bedding. I?m really excited about my fall and winter 2013/14 collection. It?s got a lot of new designs and I?m happy to be taking a slight step back from the staples I usually create.

What does a day in your business life look like?
This depends on the day, depends on if I?m teaching on what is in the schedule. Everyday is different which I love. I did the whole office work gig before and I got bored fast. Some days I head to the sewers to go over what?s being made and check up on production ? I love that I can just drive there to see how my creations are turning out. I am generally doing something with inventory or shipping as well and I have recently decided that I want to learn how to sew! That?s right ? I am not a sewer, funny isn?t it? I?ve learned so much from the sewers I have worked with and I?ve been very fortunate to have some friends that know sewing well and have helped me along the way.

Is owning your own business as glamorous as it sounds?
I guess it depends on how you look at it. Probably not as glamorous as most might think, but it still makes me happier then any other job I?ve had. I love finding little places to buy things and try things. I also love seeing my creations come to life. I think lot of business owners have a couple skills, and are great in business. For me, I am the artist who makes everything tactile to see how it goes.

What is your favorite travel hot spot?
Anywhere! I love to travel. My husband is from Albania, so that?s the last place we went ? for a month! It?s very different from Canada. Nice beaches there as well. Before that was the Mayan Riviera in Mexico ? really, really amazing! We?d go back there for our next sunny holiday.

Can you offer any advice for new entrepreneurs?
If something doesn?t work, be open to suggestions and tweaks.

  • Research
  • Ask around
  • Research!
  • They say it takes about 5 years, so patience also.

About So Rad:

So Rad (shopsorad.com) offers stylin?, creative, simple product designs on adorable dresses, jumpers, play suits, bath accessories, blankets and kimono onesies to name a few. The ?ninja-in-training?outfits are just one of the best sellers, ready for take-out in a reusable cotton ninja bag! Products are designed to be functional and help in everyday parental madness.

Each item created was carefully thought out and designed to match features Jasmine Bashaj liked as a parent and found useful in parts of existing clothes, putting it all together in the So Rad collection.

Public Relations for So Rad:?Talia Pickett, Pink Pearl PR.

?

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Source: http://bepositivemom.com/2013/03/the-interviews-being-so-rad.html

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Thursday, March 21, 2013

Miss America to air from Atlantic City on Sept. 15

(AP) ? The Miss America pageant will be broadcast from Atlantic City on Sept. 15.

Gov. Chris Christie announced the broadcast date Wednesday and said the pageant will be held at the place where it began in 1921. The pageant had been held in Las Vegas the past six years.

The entire pageant will span 13 days from the end of Labor Day weekend through the broadcast finale.

Three nights of preliminary competition will be held Sept. 10-12 at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall. The traditional "Show Us Your Shoes Parade" will be held on the boardwalk Sept. 14.

The Miss America pageant left Atlantic City in 2006 after deciding it was just too expensive to stage its production there. It went to Las Vegas, where the current Miss America, Mallory Hagan, was crowned in January at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Hagan will have her reign cut short when the pageant is broadcast in September, but will be paid for the full year, pageant officials said.

The move to Las Vegas came amid sliding TV ratings for the pageant, as it tried to interest a younger demographic and incorporated elements of reality television programming.

Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in scholarship assistance.

"This September, we will be proud to showcase Atlantic City and Miss America together on network television," said Art McMaster, president and CEO of the Miss America Organization. "Miss America has evolved into a national pastime and our organization enables over 12,000 young women to participate in our scholarship program each and every year. We know that the country will embrace our return to our birthplace and experience a new and very relevant Miss America."

___

Wayne Parry can be reached at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-03-20-Miss%20America/id-7a8b95e2452d48e68e3a9a5dc7f5dfae

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'Buffy''s Oz And Dawn Lock Lips In Exclusive 'Sexy Evil Genius' Clip

If you've ever wanted to see Oz (the werewolf) and Dawn (the Key) from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" making out, then we've got something extra special for you! If you're like us, you find the whole idea kind of distasteful. Even though Seth Green and Michelle Trachtenberg's stints on "Buffy" did not overlap, Oz and [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2013/03/20/sexy-evil-genius-clip/

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How do you type on the iPhone: Portrait or landscape? [Poll]

How do you type on the iPhone: Portrait or landscape? [Poll]

Last night we asked you how you grip the iPhone while typing, and tonight we're continuing our typing series by asking you about your orientation -- portrait or landscape?

Apple says they designed the iPhone with one-handed ease of use in mind, and maybe that's why it took them until iOS 3 to make landscape mode persistent across most of the built-in apps. But for a lot of people, the extra-wide, Cadillac-style typing experience of landscape is exactly what they want, number of hands it takes to hold and use it be damned.

For others, it might depend on the app. Portrait for on the go or quick stuff, landscape for speed-texting or longer-form writing.

When you want to get your type on, which orientation do you hold your iPhone? Portrait or landscape? Vote in the poll up top and give us the details and why you do what you do below!



Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/eKMJbNayFhg/story01.htm

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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Fed stands by stimulus, sees stronger US economy

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Federal Reserve isn't yet convinced that the U.S. economy's growth can accelerate without the Fed's drive to keep borrowing costs at record lows. It wants to see sustained improvement.

That was the message Fed officials sent Wednesday, when they reinforced their plan to keep short-term interest rates at record lows at least until unemployment falls to 6.5 percent.

An unemployment rate of 6.5 percent is a threshold, not a "trigger," for a possible rate increase, Chairman Ben Bernanke said at a news conference.

"We are seeing improvement," he said. "One thing we would need is to see this is not temporary improvement."

The Fed will continue buying $85 billion a month in bonds indefinitely to keep long-term borrowing costs down. Bernanke said the Fed might vary the size of its monthly purchases depending on whether or how much the job market improves. The unemployment rate has fallen to a four-year low of 7.7 percent, among many signs of a healthier economy.

Investors seemed pleased with the Fed's decision to maintain its low-interest rate policies indefinitely for now. The Dow Jones industrial average close up about 56 points, having risen slightly after the Fed's statement was released at 2 p.m. EDT.

The Fed's statement took note of the global stresses that have been intensified by the turmoil in Cyprus, which is trying to stave off financial ruin. No longer does the Fed statement say, as it did in January, that "strains in global financial markets have eased somewhat."

Bernanke was asked at his news conference whether the flare-up in Cyprus signals that the U.S. financial system might be more vulnerable than bank "stress tests" have shown. He sought to downplay the dangers posed by the tiny Mediterranean nation. Bernanke said that "at this point," he sees no major risks to the U.S. financial system or economy.

The Fed noted in its statement that the U.S. job market has improved, consumer spending and business investment have increased and the housing market has strengthened. But its latest economic forecasts, also released Wednesday, show that the Fed still doesn't expect unemployment to reach 6.5 percent until 2015.

The Fed also cautioned that government spending cuts and tax increases could slow the economy. It predicts that growth won't exceed 2.8 percent this year, slightly lower than its December forecast of 3 percent.

A total of 13 Fed officials still think the first rate increase won't occur until 2015, the same number that thought so in December. One Fed official thinks the first boost in the short-term lending rate won't occur until 2016.

The statement was approved on an 11-1 vote. Esther George, president of the Kansas City regional Fed bank, dissented for a second straight meeting. She reiterated her concerns that the Fed's aggressive stimulus could heighten the risk of inflation and financial instability ? a concern shared by other critics.

Some economists say they fear the Fed has pumped so much money into the financial system that it could eventually ignite inflation, fuel speculative asset bubbles or destabilize markets once the Fed has to start raising rates or unloading its record $3 trillion investment portfolio.

And while the Fed's low interest-rate policies are intended to boost borrowing, spending and stock prices, they also hurt millions of retirees and others who depend on income from savings.

"Things are not going to get better for savers," said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com. "Rates are going to stay low for borrowers, and the Fed's accommodation will continue to be a positive for the stock market. Right now, the market is addicted to Fed stimulus."

Jim O'Sullivan, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, said the Fed appears focused on "whether recent improvement continues, and no changes to the (bond) purchase program appear imminent."

But O'Sullivan said he thinks the Fed might scale back its bond purchases in the second half of this year if job growth continues to accelerate.

Brian Bethune, an economics professor at Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., said the Fed's first move might be to reduce its monthly bond purchases in the October-December quarter of this year and again in the first quarter of 2014. Reducing the Fed's bond purchases would likely cause interest rates to rise, making loans more expensive, and possibly cause stock prices to fall.

The economy slowed to an annual growth rate of just 0.1 percent in the October-December quarter, a near-stall that was due mainly to temporary factors that have largely faded. Economists think growth has rebounded in the January-March quarter to an annual rate around 2 percent or more. The most recent data support that view.

Americans spent more at retailers in February despite higher Social Security taxes that shrank most workers' paychecks. Manufacturing gained solidly in February. And employers have gone on a four-month hiring spree, adding an average of 205,000 jobs a month. In February, the unemployment rate, though still high, reached its lowest point since December 2008.

One reason for the Fed's reluctance to reduce its stimulus is the history of the past three years. In each of the three, economic prospects looked promising as the year began. Yet in each case, the economy stumbled.

Though the economy has brightened this year, it still faces threats, including across-the-board government spending cuts that took effect March 1 and are expected to trigger furloughs and layoffs.

The Fed's forecasts for the economy are rosier than those issued by the Congressional Budget Office. The CBO has warned that the government spending cuts, along with the Social Security tax increase and higher taxes on top earners, could slow growth by 1.5 percentage points this year, to 1.5 percent.

Bernanke, whose second four-term term as chairman ends in January 2014, was asked whether he might stay on for another term. Doing so could allow him to manage the Fed's delicate transition from stimulating the economy to selling its vast investment portfolio and gradually raising interest rates to prevent inflation.

"I don't think I am the only person in the world who can manage the exit," Bernanke said. "With respect to my personal plans, I will certainly let you know when I have something more concrete."

___

AP Economics Writer Christopher S. Rugaber contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fed-stands-stimulus-sees-stronger-us-economy-180103623--finance.html

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Tiny RNA molecule may have role in polycystic ovary syndrome, insulin resistance

Mar. 19, 2013 ? A group of tiny RNA molecules with a big role in regulating gene expression also appear to have a role in causing insulin resistance in woman with polycystic ovary syndrome and, perhaps, in all women, researchers report.

Research in the journal Diabetes, indicates that high activity levels of a microRNA called miR-93 in fat cells impedes insulin's use of glucose, contributing to PCOS as well as insulin resistance, said Dr. Ricardo Azziz, reproductive endocrinologist and PCOS expert at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University.

"This is one of the first reports of a defect that may occur both in women who are insulin resistant and, in particular, in women with PCOS," said Azziz, the study's corresponding author. "Identifying this molecular mechanism helps us understand these common conditions better and points us toward targeted therapies to correct these problems in women."

PCOS affects about 10 percent of women and is characterized by excess male hormone, irregular ovulation and menstruation and is associated with an increased risk for insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes and heart disease.

Researchers looked at fat cells from the lower abdomen of 21 women with PCOS and 20 controls. In all the women with PCOS, they found over expression of miR-93 and decreased expression of GLUT4, a key protein that regulates fat's use of glucose for energy. Fat, a large organ in even a thin individual, is where a lot of glucose usage via insulin occurs.

GLUT4 expression was lowest in the women with PCOS who also were insulin resistant. They also found the expression was low in members of the control group who were insulin resistant.

"Low levels of GLUT4 in fat appear to be affecting insulin resistance in general and to have a more dramatic impact in PCOS," Azziz said. MiR-93 was known to impact GLUT4 in other cell types and to have a role in reproduction, infertility and lipid metabolism. "There has been no clear mechanism to describe insulin resistance in PCOS and we believe this is one of the pathways," said Dr. Yen-Hao Chen, cell biologist at MCG and the study's first author.

Interestingly, the investigators found that two other microRNAS -- miR-133 and miR-223, which are known to regulate GLUT4 expression in heart muscle cells -- also were over expressed but only in the fat cells of PCOS patients, Chen said. This exclusivity implicates the tiny molecules in the underlying condition of PCOS, Chen said. The researchers don't know yet if the two are related to miR-93. "We are just beginning to understand the role of these small molecules in PCOS and insulin resistance and much work remains to be done," Azziz said.

Follow up studies include better understanding just how microRNAs impact GLUT4, identifying other microRNAS that do -- including looking further at miR-133 and 223 -- and identifying what factors impact the tiny RNA molecules.

Humans use both insulin and non-insulin related mechanisms to use blood sugar, or glucose, as an energy source.

Azziz and his colleagues recently showed in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism that women with PCOS have defects in both mechanisms. In fact, PCOS women who had the most difficulty controlling glucose via insulin were also the ones with the greatest declines in their ability to use non-insulin approaches. More typically, when insulin resistance increases, the body's non-insulin dependent usage increases, apparently to help compensate.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/5XJb5dK3hWE/130319091725.htm

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