Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Video: Brazil mourns nightclub deaths



>>> saddest news this weekend. over 230 people killed in a single, horrifying incident. and beyond the tragedy itself, it made so many people think of their own lives and situations they've been in, and incidents like it in the past. a nightclub in brazil, packed with happy people on a saturday night, listening to a band at 2:30 in the morning. suddenly, a fire. started small and then engulfed the club, filling it with smoke and hundreds of people in a panic. it got more urgent and complicated when some of the victims weren't allowed out. and today we learned of arrests and an investigation that is just getting under way. nbc's keir simmons is with us tonight to start us off from santa maria , brazil. keir, good evening.

>> reporter: good evening, brian . the death toll here is almost unimaginable. the gymnasium behind me became a makeshift morgue. more than 230 lives were lost, and scores more are still hospitalized. survivors said it was like a horror movie. a nightclub turned death trap .

>> i have been in the nightclub before.

>> reporter: audrey narrowly escaped. what did you see?

>> people crying. people dying in my sight.

>> reporter: hundreds of others, including two of her friends, did not.

>> i lost very special people to me.

>> reporter: today, the funerals began. so many dead, the coffins laid out in rows. found here by grieving loved ones . on saturday night, they had packed the kiss nightclub. survivors say the band set off pyrotechnics, igniting a fire in the ceiling. it spread in seconds, filling the club with smoke. the crowd panicked. confused security guards at first blocked the exits. in the stampede, audrey was nearly trampled. but she could breathe. but someone pulled her to safety. this is the club before the disaster. no windows. the front door, the only exit. early sunday morning, it was chaos. a struggle to revive victims. some survivors searched for loved ones . others smashed holes to let people escape. but for most, it was too late. bodies were piled up inside. most overcome by smoke. the bodies have been removed, but you can still smell the smoke and on the sidewalk flowers. the victims' names and faces are now filling brazilian tv and social media . many were students, teenagers. santa maria is a university town .

>> i'm very happy that i'm here. but i cannot explain how i feel about my friends. about the city.

>> reporter: four arrests have been made so far. reportedly, a club co-owner and two band members. brazil is in mourning, as everyone tries to make sense of it all. brian , this is the deadliest fire this country has seen in more than half a century. they blocked doors because they thought that young people hadn't paid for their drinks, and many back in the u.s. will be reminded of a terrible tragedy ten years ago in rhode island . again, a packed nightclub, a fire, and panic that ended in tragedy. back then, 100 lives were lost. here in brazil, that death toll has more than doubled. and brian , tonight, a fourth arrest here.

>> what a terrible story. keir simmons starting us off in brazil tonight. thanks.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/50620817/

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Obama campaign shares supporter database

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Obama supporters like this woman who showed up to cheer at a campaign event in Melbourne, Fla., on Sept. 9, may not realize how much personal data the organization collected, or what it's doing with it now.

By Michael Isikoff, National Investigative Correspondent, NBC News

President Barack Obama?s presidential campaign has turned over its most valuable asset ? a massive computer database containing personal data on millions of American voters ? to a new advocacy group created to advance the White House agenda on issues ranging from gun control to immigration reform.?

Organizing For Action (OFA), the advocacy group set up in recent weeks by the president?s top political aides, has already acquired access to the database under a leasing agreement with the Obama campaign, Katie Hogan, a former Obama campaign aide who is now serving as spokeswoman for the lobbying group, told NBC News. The information will be used to unleash an ?army of the door knockers? to back the president?s legislative agenda as well as raise money for ?issue ads? ? particularly in crucial congressional districts, she said.??

As an opening salvo, the group on Friday urged the president?s supporters to call members of Congress in support of Obama?s gun control proposals, even offering a sample script of what they should say.


The creation of OFA, which is being chaired by former Obama campaign manager Jim Messina, is stirring controversy ? both among public interest groups over the group?s plans to except unlimited corporate donations, and among privacy advocates over the transfer of the database.

?It?s extremely worrisome,? said Lillie Coney, associate director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, noting that Obama campaign supporters likely have no idea that personal data they voluntarily shared with the campaign has now been transferred and is being used for purposes beyond the election.

Dubbed the ?nuclear codes? by campaign aides, the Obama campaign database is widely described as one of the most powerful tools ever developed in American politics. According to published reports, it contains the names of at least 4 million Obama donors ? as well as millions of others (the campaign has consistently refused to say how many) compiled from voter registration rolls and other public databases. In addition, the campaign used sophisticated computer programs ? with code names like ?Narwhal? ??to collect information through social media: Anybody who contacted the campaign through Facebook had their friends and ?likes? downloaded. If they contacted? the campaign website through mobile apps, cellphone numbers and address books were downloaded. Computer ?cookies??captured Web browsing and online spending habits.

?I can?t think of anything that rivals this data,? said Coney, noting that much of the data was voluntarily supplied by voters, something that consumers are often reluctant to do when dealing with commercial companies. ?The private sector would love to be able to do what the (Obama) campaign was able to do.? ?

OFA spokeswoman Hogan said that Obama supporters have the option in emails they receive of opting out ??or unsubscribing ? from the list, as required by federal law. But critics say that is not necessarily an option for information collected about voters through other means (such as public databases) and note that many on the list likely don?t notice the ?unsubscribe? fine print on the emails.

At the same time, OFA?s plans for corporate-backed lobbying of Congress have spurred sharp criticism from campaign reformers ? a cause the president once championed. Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21, a leading reform group, called OFA ?dangerous and unprecedented,? noting that it has been set up under the same section of the tax code used by controversial GOP advocacy groups, such as Karl Rove?s Crossroads GPS (as a 501(c)(4) ?social welfare? nonprofit organization). This will allow the group to accept unlimited donations from wealthy individuals and corporations.

?With his decision to allow corporations to fund the new organizations that will operate as an arm of his presidency, President Obama has ?given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money,?? said Wertheimer in a statement that quoted Obama?s own words two years ago to denounce the Citizens United Supreme Court decision striking down? many campaign finance limits. ?This would take President Obama about as far away as he could possibly get from the goal he set in 2008 to change the way business is done in Washington.??

Related:?Nonprofit spends big on politics despite IRS limitation

In response to a request for comment, a White House spokesman emailed recent comments by top Obama political adviser David Plouffe to ABC?s George Stephanopoulos: ?Yes, we will voluntarily disclose all of our donors,? Plouffe said. ?And we're very excited. The people who actually made the president's campaign in both '08 and '12, our great grassroots volunteers, were pretty clear after the election they wanted to stay with it and they want to be out there organizing, driving message, holding people accountable on issues like immigration, you know, the deficit and jobs, gun safety.?

But how much the group will disclose about the source of its money is still unclear. There is no legal requirement for a 501(c)(4) group like OFA to do so. Hogan, the OFA spokeswoman, declined to say how often the group will make disclosures or whether it will report amounts that donors give or simply provide a list of contributors. (Such a list -- without amounts detailed -- was recently released by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.) ?That?s still being worked out,? she said.

As if to underscore the role of major corporations in helping to underwrite OFA, the unveiling of the group came at a special invitation-only event on inaugural weekend at the Newseum, sponsored by Business Forward, a corporate-backed trade group close to the White House, according to a Politico account. Business Forward -- whose charter members include Citi, Dow Chemical, Duke Energy, Ford, Google and Comcast, majority-owner of NBCUniversal, parent company of NBC News -- had lobbied for the White House-backed fiscal cliff deal, specifically touting its tax breaks for businesses, such as write-offs for new capital investment and research and development credits, according to a statement on the group?s website.

?We need you. This president needs you,? Messina said at the launch event, according to the Politico account, adding that the national advisory board of OFA will be ?filled with people in this room.???

One corporate executive who attended the event told NBC News the roll out -- which featured a spirited talk by former President Bill Clinton on gun control -- drew numerous major Obama campaign bundlers and fundraisers, such as Obama campaign finance chairman Mathew Barzun (now reportedly a front-runner to be tapped for ambassador to the Court of St. James) and finance director Rufus Gifford.

?My takeaway from this was that they set this up to take advantage of the Citizens United decision and operate this outside the Democratic National Committee so they won?t have to file (election) reports,? said the executive, who asked not to be identified.

Hogan, the OFA spokeswoman, said that OFA will not run campaign ads ? only ?issue? ads that do not fall under the election laws.

But the underlying political purpose of the group is not disputed. ?The way it?s organized, we legally can?t participate in elections,? Stephanie Cutter, a top Obama campaign official who now serves on the board of OFA, said at a recent Politico-sponsored inaugural event. ?But that doesn?t mean the issues we?re organizing around won?t mobilize the American people to vote for things ? to vote for that economy we?ve been working for, to vote for immigration reform, to vote for common sense gun reforms. I think we can affect elections, we just can?t legally be involved in them ? for this particular organization.?

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Source: http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/28/16726913-obama-campaign-gives-database-of-millions-of-supporters-to-new-advocacy-group?lite

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Monday, January 28, 2013

Smart organizations should also be stupid, according to new theory

Jan. 28, 2013 ? Critical reflection and shrewdness can help companies to avoid crises, but sometimes good old-fashioned stupidity can serve an important function in raising the efficiency of an organisation, claims Mats Alvesson, Professor of Organisation Studies at the School of Economics and Management, Lund University, Sweden, in a new theory of 'functional stupidity' that has been published in the Journal of Management Studies.

"We see functional stupidity as the absence of critical reflection. It is a state of unity and consensus that makes employees in an organisation avoid questioning decisions, structures and visions," says Mats Alvesson. "Paradoxically, this sometimes helps to raise productivity in an organisation."

Together with colleague Andr? Spicer, Mats Alvesson has written an article entitled 'A Stupidity-Based Theory of Organisations', which was recently published in the Journal of Management Studies and has been featured in the Financial Times. In the article, he expounds the logic behind 'functional stupidity'.

"It is a double-edged sword. It is functional because it has some advantages and makes people concentrate enthusiastically on the task in hand. It is stupid because risks and problems may arise when people do not pose critical questions about what they and the organisation are doing."

The state is partly a consequence of a kind of 'stupidity management', which suppresses and marginalises doubt and blocks open communication within the organisation. The parallels with some companies' sudden financial crashes in recent years are clear.

"Short-term use of intellectual resources, consensus and an absence of disquieting questions about decisions and structures may oil the organisational machinery and contribute to harmony and increased productivity in a company. However, it may also be its downfall."

According to the researchers, some industries are more stupid than others. Organisations that make a virtue of their staff's wisdom and sell intangible services or branded products, such as parts of the mass media, the fashion industry and consultancy firms, are highlighted as being particularly disposed to develop functional stupidity.

"Functional stupidity is prominent in economies that are dominated by persuasion using images and symbolic manipulation. It is preferable that people have an enthusiastic belief in an activity which may not necessarily fulfil a need. New management may be required to manage the fine balance and possible pitfalls of functional stupidity," says Mats Alvesson.

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

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Mats Alvesson, Andr? Spicer. A Stupidity-Based Theory of Organizations. Journal of Management Studies, 2012; 49 (7): 1194 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.2012.01072.x

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/living_well/~3/z4tnvP3h6JU/130128081520.htm

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94% Barbara

All Critics (47) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (3)

[Leaves] you drained and horrified.

Sometimes, the sun shines and the wind blows fresh and the very elements that make for intense hardship also open a window on intense joy.

Hoss is mesmerizing as a woman who holds it all together to the point of losing herself.

It's one terrific film, as smart, thoughtful and emotionally involving as just about anything that's out there.

It's a quiet film built of careful details.

"Barbara" re-visits the quiet, everyday tragedies of the Iron Curtain era, when paranoia ran deep and for very good reasons.

Feels like total immersion into the sights, stresses, and the subtle solidarity among middle-class professionals living in the workers' paradise that Petzold's parents fled.

[R]esides somewhere in an unsatisfying borderland between drama and thriller, never quite catching fire as either...

A superbly crafted low-boil drama that gets its hooks into you the old-fashioned way, through character, and highlights the difficulties and cost of living by principles.

Subtly intriguing and ambiguous, it's filled with suspicion and subterfuge.

Despite the limited scope of its predictable narrative, "Barbara" remains a compelling character study thanks to Nina Hoss's enigmatic performance in the title role.

Christian Petzold's latest thriller threatens to cross over the line from minimalism to nihilism.

Both insightful and poignant, but not mawkish...an intriguing character study set against the backdrop of a dark time in history.

The plotting, the planning and the deepening relationships don't make for kinetic action, but they are the foundation for a smart, engrossing film.

Hoss' acting is a marvel of subtlety; her body language is precisely calibrated to reveal a great deal about the character's inner feelings by the slightest changes of posture and facial expression.

...a slow building character study where looks and actions speak louder than words because of an oppressive political climate.

No quotes approved yet for Barbara. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/barbara_2012/

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Taye Diggs Stops Home Invasion, Chases Down Intruder

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/01/taye-diggs-stops-home-invasion-chases-down-intruder/

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Look Inside Jason And Molly Mesnick's Baby Shower (PHOTOS)

People :

With pops of yellow and mint green, the former "Bachelor" star and his wife throw a stylish affair for family and friends.

Since parents-to-be Jason and Molly Mesnick are waiting till the big day to find out their baby's sex, they chose Minted's neutral party set, Animals Born Free, which included this cute welcome sign and their invitation.

Read the whole story at People

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/27/look-inside-jason-and-molly-mesnick-baby-shower_n_2561805.html

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Ryan says GOP need to pick its fights with Obama

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Rep. Paul Ryan said Saturday that Republicans need to stick together and pick their fights during President Barack Obama's second term, rejecting some White House proposals outright and trying to infuse others with conservative principles.

In a speech to conservatives, the GOP's 2012 vice presidential nominee said Obama would attempt to divide Republicans but that the party must avoid internal squabbles as it seeks to rebound from a second straight presidential loss.

"We can't get rattled. We won't play the villain in his morality plays. We have to stay united," Ryan said at the National Review Institute event. "We have to show that if given the chance, we can govern. We have better ideas."

The Wisconsin congressman outlined a pragmatic approach for a party dealing with last November's election defeats and trying to determine whether to oppose Obama's agenda at every turn or shape his proposals with conservative principles.

With a surging minority population altering the electorate, Republican leaders have discussed the need to attract more women and Hispanics while at the same time standing firm to the values that unite conservatives.

The party's future was a major theme during the three-day meeting of conservatives activists, who expected to hear from Govs. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Bob McDonnell of Virginia, and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

Ryan rejected the notion that Republicans were "in the wilderness," noting that the party controls the House and most statehouses. But he said Obama's victory over Mitt Romney meant that Republicans would need to recalibrate their approach to deal with the new political realities.

"If we want to promote conservatism, we'll need to use every tool at our disposal," Ryan said. "Sometimes, we will have to reject the president's proposals ? that time may come more than once. And sometimes we'll have to make them better." He said Republicans should have two main goals for the next four years, namely "to mitigate bad policies" and "to advance good policy wherever we can."

Ryan acknowledged that "we all didn't see eye to eye" on the recent "fiscal cliff" vote to deal with a combination of spending cuts and higher taxes that were set to take effect at the start of the year. He defended his support for the bill, saying it was the only way to avoid sweeping tax increases and prevent the economy from going into a free-fall.

As chairman of the House Budget Committee, Ryan said Republicans needed to guard against a debt crisis for the country that would undermine the economy. He said he would promote changes to Medicare and Medicaid and would propose a budget "that will balance and pay down the debt."

But November's election results still linger. Ryan said he was "disappointed" by the outcome, saying he was "looking forward to taking on the big challenges" while living at the vice president's residence. "My kids were looking forward to having a pool," he joked.

___

Follow Ken Thomas at: http://twitter.com/AP_Ken_Thomas

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ryan-says-gop-pick-fights-obama-143418679--politics.html

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Sunday, January 27, 2013

UFC On FOX 6 Results: Rampage Jackson Falls To Glover Teixeira (VIDEO/PHOTOS)

CHICAGO -- In possibly Rampage Jackson's last UFC fight, the former champion was visibly exhausted.

It also was easy to see that Glover Teixeira was well on his way to a unanimous decision Saturday night in front of a capacity crowd at the United Center.

Jackson, the 34-year-old former light heavyweight champion was taken down in all three rounds, but Teixeira (20-2) couldn't finish him. Jackson (32-11) got back to his feet every time. Late in the second round, Jackson tried to shrug off Teixeira's punches, but fatigue appeared to be setting in.

"I really wanted to win that fight," Jackson said. "I kind of wish I fought smart and didn't get hit so much, but I always said I would rather lose a good fight than win a boring one and the fans are telling me that was an exciting fight. So I guess I'm sad but not so sad. I fought like Rampage tonight."

The fight was scored 30-27, 30-27, 29-28.

Jackson, who fought his last fight under his current UFC contract, has been critical of the UFC and how he perceives the organization treats its fighters. He insists the fight was his last in the UFC, but plans on continuing his MMA career.

"He just walked out right now and screamed, `You are going to miss me,'" White said. "I said, `I miss you already buddy.' ... Rampage's biggest problem is that he doesn't always train. He doesn't always stay in shape. If he took this sport 100 percent, hardcore, serious, God knows what that guy would be able to accomplish, but he doesn't."

Demetrious Johnson successfully defended his flyweight title in the main event, unanimously outpointing John Dodson.

Dodson, fighting at 125 pounds, landed left hands twice in the second round, sending Johnson to the ground. In the third round, Johnson had a takedown and landed a knee to get back in the fight. Johnson was warned after two illegal knees, a low blow in the first round and an illegal knee in the fourth round.

Johnson (17-2-1) started taking control late in fourth land, landing a series of knees to Dodson's head and a series of punches as Dodson (15-6) tired. It continued in the fifth and final round, as Dodson couldn't defend repeated knees to his head.

Johnson struggled in the first two rounds.

"I got dazed a little bit, but I am in good shape," Johnson said. "It is going to happen. You are going to get hit."

In a lightweight bout, Anthony Pettis (14-2) landed a left kick to Donald Cerrone's body and followed with a left jab in the second round, knocking Cerrone (19-5) to the ground and winning his third straight fight.

"Shutting that guy up was the biggest thing for me," Pettis said. "Now I never need to hear about that guy again. He's done. He got beat in one round. Goodbye."

Pettis put himself in a position for the lightweight UFC title and asked the question to UFC President Dana White.

"I am not scared to fight anybody. I want the champ ASAP," Pettis said. "Dana White what do I have to do for this title fight?"

Pettis came off an 11-month layoff after shoulder surgery.

In another main card fight, 30-year-old Chicago native Ricardo Lamas (13-2) dropped a series of elbows and punches on 24-year-old Erik Koch (13-2) before the featherweight bout was stopped by referee John McCarthy. Lamas had Koch pinned to the ground and went to work on Koch's bloodied face.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/27/ufc-fox-6-results-rampage-jackson_n_2560473.html

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Egypt army to deploy after soccer verdict riot

Egyptian protesters take cover as they clash with riot police, not seen, near Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. Two years after Egypt's revolution began, the country's schism was on display Friday as the mainly liberal and secular opposition held rallies saying the goals of the pro-democracy uprising have not been met and denouncing Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. With the anniversary, Egypt is definitively in the new phase of its upheaval. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Egyptian protesters take cover as they clash with riot police, not seen, near Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. Two years after Egypt's revolution began, the country's schism was on display Friday as the mainly liberal and secular opposition held rallies saying the goals of the pro-democracy uprising have not been met and denouncing Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. With the anniversary, Egypt is definitively in the new phase of its upheaval. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

CAIRO (AP) ? Egyptian security officials say the military is being deployed to the Mediterranean city of Port Said after eight people were killed in riots outside the main prison following a controversial verdict related to one of the world's deadliest incidents of soccer violence.

A Cairo judge sentenced 21 people to death in connection with the Feb. 1, 2012, soccer melee in Port Said that killed 74 fans of the Cairo-based Al-Ahly team.

Two police were shot dead outside Port Said's main prison when angry relatives tried to storm the facility to free the defendants on trial.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the crowd, killing six in Saturday's violence outside the prison.

Security officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-01-26-ML-Egypt/id-bca9089d0c8a457eba465ca980476f9f

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Azarenka wins back-to-back Australian titles

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus is reflected in the trophy after winning the women's final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013.(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus is reflected in the trophy after winning the women's final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013.(AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

China's Li Na holds up her trophy after losing to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the women's final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus hits a forehand return to China's Li Na during the women's final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

China's Li Na reaches for a return to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during the women's final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill)

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus kisses her trophy after winning the women's final against China's Li Na at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) ? Victoria Azarenka won her second consecutive Australian Open title, beating Li Na 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a final that included a break for fireworks, two medical timeouts and a nasty fall to the court by Li.

The Chinese star first tumbled to the court after twisting her left ankle in the fifth game of the second set and had it taped.

On the first point after a 10-minute pause in the third set while fireworks boomed overhead from nearby Australia Day celebrations, Li fell over again and slammed the back of her head on the court. The 2011 French Open champion was treated and had another timeout before being allowed to resume the match.

Azarenka, who broke down in tears and sobbed into her towel when the match ended, won five of the next six games to claim her second major title and retain the No. 1 ranking.

"Unfortunately, you have to go through some rough patches to achieve great things. That's what makes it so special for me," she said. "I went through that, and I'm still able to kiss that beautiful trophy."

Serena Williams, who lost in the quarterfinals, will become the new No. 2 in the rankings.

Americans Mike and Bob Bryan won their record 13th Grand Slam doubles title, defeating the Dutch team of Robin Haase and Igor Sijsling 6-3, 6-4. They had been tied with the Australian greats John Newcombe and Tony Roche with 12 major titles.

The women's 2-hour, 40-minute match featured 16 service breaks, with Li losing her service nine times.

On a crisp Saturday night, Azarenka won the coin toss and elected to receive, a ploy that seemed to work when a nervous Li was broken to start the match. After a double fault on the first point, Li's forehand long gave Azarenka the early lead.

When she first injured her ankle, Li was trailing 3-1 in the second set. When she came back, she won three of the next four games to tie it 4-4, but Azarenka broke back and then held her serve.

Azarenka broke in the opening game of the final set, just two games before the match was suspended for the fireworks, a planned stoppage of play that both players were notified about before the match.

While Azarenka jogged around and practiced her serving motion during the 10-minute fireworks break, Li sat on her courtside chair for most of the stoppage.

It was on the first point that she again fell to the court.

Li said she went "totally black" for two seconds after her head hit the court, and when a medical official asked her to follow her finger, "I started laughing, thinking 'This is a tennis court, not like a hospital.'"

Li said the tournament doctor saw her after the match and checked out her head and neck.

"I should be OK,' Li said.

From the outset, the capacity crowd at Rod Laver Arena was firmly behind Li, cheering loudly when she was introduced. Meanwhile, Azarenka's errors were applauded, and one spectator even mocked the loud hooting sound she makes when she hits a shot.

The chill from the crowd was a remnant of Azarenka's semifinal win over American teenager Sloane Stephens, when Azarenka was criticized for taking a questionable 10-minute medical timeout near the end of the match. She was accused of taking the time out to compose herself after she'd wasted five match points while serving for the match against Stephens. Azarenka said she needed the time out because a rib injury was making it difficult for her to breathe and she had a knee injury.

In the second set Saturday, a few fans heckled Azarenka. One man yelled, "Take a deep breath, Vicky."

By the end of the match, she appeared to have won some of the fans back. Azarenka's friend, rapper Redfoo, yelled down to her from the player box "You deserve it," and she later blew kisses to the crowd. Someone else in the crowd shouted "Victoria, we love you."

Azarekna appeared to quickly forgive the crowd, saying during the trophy presentations that she wanted to thank the fans for their support.

"I will always keep very special memories of this court and it will be in my heart forever," she said, pausing several times to find the right words. "Of course, I (almost) forgot to say congratulations to Li Na, she's had a terrific start to the year ... hope to see you in many, many more finals."

Later, Azarenka said she expected a "way worse" reception from the crowd.

"You just have to go out there and try to play tennis in the end of the day," she said. "The things what happened in the past, I did the best thing I could to explain, to do everything I could, and it was left behind me already."

Azarenka and Li had met twice before in Grand Slam tournaments, with Li winning both times ? in the fourth round of the 2011 Australian Open and quarterfinals at the French Open. Li lost the 2011 Australian Open final to Kim Clijsters but won her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros a few months later, beating Francesca Schiavone.

But after failing to advance past the fourth round at any major in 2012, Li hired Carlos Rodriguez, Justine Henin's former coach. The hard training he's put her through in the past four months appears to be paying dividends.

Li won a WTA tournament in China before travelling to Australia, where she advanced to the semifinals at the Sydney International.

In the men's final on Sunday, Novak Djokovic will attempt to win his third consecutive Australian Open against U.S. Open champion Andy Murray. Djokovic has had the benefit of an extra day off after an easy three-set win over David Ferrer on Thursday night, while Murray needed a tough five-setter to defeat Roger Federer.

Murray has predicted a tough match with long rallies against Djokovic, the player he beat in the final at Flushing Meadows in September.

"I'm ready for the pain," he said. "I hope it's a painful match, that will mean it will be a good one."

The Bryan brothers have six Australian Open doubles titles to go along with four at the U.S. Open, two at Wimbledon and one at the French Open.

In the other final Sunday to end the year's first Grand Slam, the unseeded pairs of Jarmila Gajdosova and Matthew Ebden of Australia and the Czech Republic's Lucie Hradecka and Frantisek Cermak play for the mixed doubles championship.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-01-26-Australian%20Open/id-28ffbebf1bb04c6b91262bc376632b2b

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Saturday, January 26, 2013

2013 Upward Flag Football and Cheerleading ... - NRBC Blog

Nansemond River Baptist Church

2013 Upward Flag Football and Cheerleading Evaluations

Hey Upward Families,

Well, it is what the kids and (if we are being honest) some of the adults have been waiting for, SNOW. ?It is very beautiful and fun to play in, however, it makes it difficult to do other things.

The purpose of evaluations is to determine the ability each child has so that teams can be evenly built. ?Though I believe the roads will be drivable, the snow will make it difficult to?execute?the cone weave. ?After much thought and discussion the evaluations scheduled for tomorrow will not take place. ?HOWEVER, there will be a team at the church manned with hot coffee and donuts ready to receive registration forms for those of you that need to still turn those in. ?We will also have a team ready to assist you in getting your child fitted for their new Upward jersey. ?The church will be open from 9:30 am until 11:30 am Saturday morning.

And with us having to cancel evaluations tomorrow this will make it?impossible?to help everyone through evaluations Monday due to?insufficient?daylight. ?So, we will not have evaluations on Monday night either. ?The plan will be to make ourselves available to you to turn in registration forms and get fitted for jerseys from 5:30-7:30 Monday evening.

With evaluations not working out, we will be working extra hard to ensure a level playing field for all of the children participating. ?We plan to use a combination of last year?s evaluation data for returning players, age, grade, and Upward experience to build our teams this year.? We would have loved to have held evaluations at another date, but we need at least two weeks between evaluations and the meet and greet so that kids will have their uniforms and playbooks before the first week of practice.? We thank you for your understanding and are truly looking forward to an awesome football and cheerleading season!

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to stop by tomorrow or Monday and see me or one of the other commissioners. ?You can also email me, jwalton@nansemondriver.com.

Because of Christ,

Jeff Walton

Source: http://nrbcsportsandrec.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-upward-flag-football-and.html

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CRUCIAL SECRET TO WEALTH BUILDING | Barbara Friedberg ...

Get ready for Barbara Friedberg?s upcoming book, ?How to Get Rich; Wealth Building Guide for the Financially Illiterate.? (sign up above for first look)

As a girl, at homework time, I procrastinated and avoided. My homework was too overwhelming, so I put it off. Locked in my room, I read, snacked, and talked on the phone. By nighttime, I was tired so I went to bed only to arise at 5:00 am and slap together some semblance of homework. Needless to say, this approach failed. I was stressed and miserable. There had to be a better way. Clearly, avoiding unpleasant tasks does not work out.

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In the same way, running from debt or looking at your credit card statements, makes you feel awful. There is a better way.

Over time, I learned to break down my homework into small tasks and focus on one segment at a time.

This strategy calmed my anxiety and to this day, this singular habit allows me to be quite productive. I subsequently went on to finish college and obtain two masters degrees.

Go From Money Procrastinator to Achiever

Poor money habits are similar to my excessive procrastination. The more you practice them, the worse your money management becomes and the worse you feel. The shift from procrastinator to achiever didn?t happen overnight, but over time. This Guide steps you through small money solutions bit by bit.

Take one small step at a time towards smart money behavior. In the end, you?ll form the habits for sound money management and eradicate financial stress.

How to Get Rich breaks down the wealth building strategies and instructs how to:

? Get rid of debt systematically and quickly.

? Have cash for emergencies, vacations, down payment for a home, and retirement.

? Spend smart on stuff you really want and squeeze the most out of every dollar.

? Buy the smallest amount of insurance at the cheapest price, to keep you covered.

? Make more money from the cash you invest.

? Live how the rich live.

Read about other folks like you who are living great and how they do it. Don?t worry, even if you lack good money models or dislike numbers, How to Get Rich will be your guide to smart money management.

You do not need to know the ins and out of credit card interest rates. Who cares if the Dow went up or down? Just be aware that when you don?t pay your credit card balance off every month in full, you are throwing away lots of money. Not just a few dollars but thousands. That?s the difference between being rich or poor!

Read the book fast, in a few short sittings. You?ll be finished in no time. Skip over the sections that do not apply to you. There is no way out, to achieve financial success, you must learn personal finance. How to Get Rich teaches you how to set up the systems to build lifelong wealth. There is no jargon or complicated investing scenarios; take in only essential financial rudiments.

Start today, implement the simple and quick money strategies and get on with your life!

Get money smart now, so that you do not spend your life worrying about whether you have enough money to pay the bills, have fun, save, and live a life free of money stress.

Do You Need Money Help?

I want to help you learn the money tricks and strategies that work. That?s why I started this website and why I wrote the book. I used to wonder why successful folks didn?t just sit back and enjoy their success. And trust me, some days I do wonder, why am I working so hard. I really do not need to! But, I deeply want to give back.?I?can instruct you in wealth building by translating my?experience, education, and practice into step by step strategies.

The Best Money Tip to long term wealth is not rocket science.

Free Money Tip

Practice this one habit and you are on your way towards a wealthy life.

Transfer a small amount of money every pay period into a retirement or investment account.?Visit your work?personnel office to have the funds transferrred. Invest as much as you can to start. You?re going to be surprised because after a few weeks you won?t miss the money. In a few months, boost the savings by $30 per period. Guess what? You?re not going to miss the extra $30 either.?Every three months, increase?the amount by a few bucks and before you know it, your savings will multiply.

Once you have the savings deducted, you are on your way towards building wealth.

Sign up above, or right here to be on the list for first offer to get How to Get Rich; Wealth Building Guide for the Financially Illiterate.

What is your wealth building strategy? What money topic are you most interested in?

image credit; em fast income dot com_google images

Source: http://barbarafriedbergpersonalfinance.com/crucial-secret-wealth-building/

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Syrian Islamist rebels detonate car bomb near Israel border

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Eight members of Syria's military intelligence were killed by an Islamist militant car bomb on Thursday night near the southern frontier with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, opposition activists and a violence monitoring group said on Friday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bomb was planted by Al-Nusra Front, a rebel unit fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad that the United States has labeled a terrorist group.

"We think the blast might have killed a colonel who has been leading the fight against rebels in the area," Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Britain-based Observatory said. The building targeted is in the town of Saasa, 14 miles from the frontier with the Golan Heights, he said.

He added that death toll was likely to rise as several security personnel were in a critical condition.

Syrian rebels have been battling Assad's army for months in towns inside and adjacent to the Area of Separation between Israel and Syria, along the disengagement line from the 1973 war.

State-run Israel Radio aired what it said was an interview with an unnamed man from Saasa saying the explosion was close to Israel. "I heard an explosion. I did not see it, I heard it. It was a very large explosion," he said.

(Reporting by Oliver Holmes and Reuters TV in Beirut and Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Editing by Alison Williams)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-islamist-rebels-detonate-car-bomb-near-israel-110755169.html

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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

S. Africa: Nigerian suspect in 2010 bombing guilty

JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? A prosecutor in South Africa says a Nigerian terror suspect accused of bombings in Nigeria has been found guilty on all 13 counts that he faced.

Shaun Abrahams said the South African court on Monday ruled that Henry Okah was guilty on terror charges related to bombings in October 2010 that killed at least 12 people in Nigeria's capital during a celebration to mark 50 years of independence.

Okah will be sentenced later this month but is likely to be sentenced to life in prison.

Abrahams said the verdict shows that South Africa will not become a safe haven for international terrorists.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/africa-nigerian-suspect-2010-bombing-guilty-090853044.html

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Monday, January 21, 2013

Obama Inaugural Address: What Did You Think?

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/01/obama-inaugural-address-what-did-you-think/

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AngelList Lets You Browse Seed-Stage Startup Valuations By Incubators, Location And More

valuationsAngelList, a service that matches early-stage startups with investors, now includes a nifty tool that shows anonymous valuations of startups on the site. The feature was actually rolled out weeks ago, but hasn’t gotten much attention. For background, AngelList is a hybrid social network, communication and crowdsourcing platform that allows startups to access investors, and has also become a resource for investors looking to boost deal flow and connect with other investors. The site currently has around 100,000 startup profiles, and has raised as much as $12 million in funding for startups through its network over a 30-day period. AngelList also recently launched a new feature called AngelList Invest, which allows smaller, accredited investors the ability to put in $1,000 or more in a startup on the same terms as the company?s larger investors (via a partnership with SecondMarket). All of these interactions mean that the network can do some interesting things when it comes to parsing through data. Valuations are particularly interesting because of the current reports?that valuations of startups, especially at the early stage, are sky-high. In its most simple form, the valuations tool allows you to see the average valuation of startups on the site. For example, currently, the average valuation is $3.8 million. AngelList CEO and co-founder Naval Ravikant explains that the data is exclusively for seed-stage companies, is anonymized and is sourced from the site’s done deals list, as well as featured startups with confirmed high quality investors. All valuations are post?2010. What’s really compelling about the valuations feature is that you can actually start to filter by college, incubator, employer (i.e. Google vs. Microsoft), time, location and market (i.e. SaaS, games, health care). So, Y Combinator startups (according to AngelList data) have an average $6.1 valuation, and 500 Startups’ startups have an average $4.1 million valuation. Startups founded by Googlers have a $5.1 million average valuations, whereas startups founded by Microsoft employees have an average $4 million valuations. Ravikant says that AngelList filters out unconfirmed valuations (no investors committed and verified at that price), Series A or later as well as locations, markets and incubators where the startups have less than 4 data points. He cautions that the data is by no means complete, and the site is missing some key data. But considering the whole Series A crunch, seed-investment explosion and valuations frenzy, AngelList’s tool provides a number of interesting insights.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/AJd6leiXwkE/

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Sunday, January 20, 2013

Removing doubt over croc snout clout

Jan. 18, 2013 ? Researchers have shown how the shape of a crocodile's snout could determine its ability to feast on certain types of prey, from large mammals to small fish.

Led by Dr Colin McHenry and PhD student Chris Walmsley, from Monash University's School of Biomedical Sciences, a team of researchers compared the jaw strength of different types of crocodiles when feeding on large prey. Using computer technology they subjected the jaws to the sorts of biting, shaking, and twisting loads that crocodiles use to feed on large prey. The team generated 3D images showing the strain measured on the jaws of seven diverse species of crocodile.

They found the lower jaws of short-snouted crocodiles performed well under the loads applied to mimic the feeding behaviour on large prey, but those with elongated jaws were more likely to break under the same loads, showing their limited ability to feed on large prey.

Detailed January 17 in PLoS One, the findings contribute to the understanding of how the shape of the crocodile's skull correlates with strength. It is the first study of its kind to investigate the mechanics that underlie the link between the shape of the lower jaw and diet.

"The notion that long, narrow snouted crocodiles feed primarily on fish or small prey is well established, but the biomechanics of the crocodiles' lower jaw, the mandible, have not been previously explored," Mr Walmsley said.

"To test the jaw biomechanics of large crocodiles we used a computational engineering approach, called Finite Element Analysis, that is widely used to design planes, cars, boats, buildings, bridges and many other structures.

"We found that mandible shape correlated consistently with jaw biomechanics. This means that the lower jaws of long-snouted species were not as strong and more likely to break during feeding on large prey. It's therefore no surprise that they tend to concentrate on small, agile, aquatic prey whilst shorter and more robust-snouted animals are capable of taking much larger prey."

Dr McHenry said the findings were relevant to a broad range of aquatic predators including dolphins and fossil marine reptiles.

"Interestingly the amount of strain a jaw was under was directly proportional to the length of the symphysis, which is the joint between two halves of the lower jaw. This means the animal's biomechanical response to force could be accurately predicted by knowing the length of its chin.

"Killer whales, alligators and salt-water crocodiles can all feed on large prey. In all of these species the symphysis is a small proportion of the length of the jaw. Whereas, fish-eating crocodiles and dolphins have long, narrow chins."

Dr McHenry said further research was needed to explain why crocodiles that feed on small prey had elongated snouts.

"We suspect the answer lies in the hydrodynamic efficiency of the elongate jaws, and we plan to explore this further using other computational engineering techniques," Dr McHenry said.

The study was led by Monash University in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, the University of New South Wales and the University of Chicago, US.

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Story Source:

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

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Christopher W. Walmsley, Peter D. Smits, Michelle R. Quayle, Matthew R. McCurry, Heather S. Richards, Christopher C. Oldfield, Stephen Wroe, Phillip D. Clausen, Colin R. McHenry. Why the Long Face? The Mechanics of Mandibular Symphysis Proportions in Crocodiles. PLoS ONE, 2013; 8 (1): e53873 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053873

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/wgrkHspJQrY/130118235050.htm

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Junk Boat Travels: River Cruising


I've had a few people ask me about European river cruises so I thought I would capture some of my thoughts on them. First of all, I love them. I never thought I would get DH on one, however, as he did not like the idea of being on the water.
We went to Egypt in 2007 and it included a three day Nile cruise and he was hooked. In 2009 we took a trip to China which had a three day Yangtze cruise which went through the 12 Gorge Dam. He realized then that the ships do not rock and it was a great way to get around.

We have done the?Gate 1 Moscow to St.Petersburg?in May 2011. We added several days in Moscow and St. Petersburg.


Then we took the Gate 1?Danube river cruise from Budapest to Prague?in May 2012 where we added Copenhagen as our first stop and then arranged our own flight to Budapest.
August 2012 saw us on?on the Seine from Paris to Normandy and back.
October 2012 we took Gate 1?along the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel.?We added some days in Amsterdam and Basel.

The cruise companies can arrange your optional hotel extensions if you wish. We have used them and also booked them on our own. It's your choice.


Another idea is to book back to back river cruises since you are already in Europe. We saw a lot of people do this when in Paris, they took the cruise to Normandy and back and then transferred to another cruise to the south of France. An excellent idea if you have the time.

You can also book your optional tours along the cruise route ahead of time, and we did do that the first time. However, I suggest you wait until you're on board as you will get a better idea of the tour and its duration. We booked ahead of time in Prague for a trip on our last day and then decided not to take it when we learned it involved a three bus trip there and back. We were enjoying Prague so much that we didn't want to waste six hours on a bus when we could be wandering on our own. So we chose to forfeit the cost.




River ships are typically about 300' - 400' in length and 35' - 40' in width. They have three or four decks for accommodation, lounges, bars, restaurants, and other public areas. The ships are well appointed and comfortable with the exception of the Russian ships which are older and of a lower quality than the European ships.


Don't select cabins on the bottom deck.? Unlike a regular full sized ocean liner, where even the lowest cabins are still quite a way up from the waterline, your eye level view will be close to the waterline of the ship, limiting your views. ?
?I?definitely?recommend upgrading your cabin to ensure you have a French balcony that you will be able to open and watch the towns go by.?

Always check on the deck plan??to see what is above, below, and alongside your cabin.? Avoid cabins below lounges, dance floors, etc, and avoid cabins next to bulkhead doors and with public spaces on the other side. We learned this the hard way when our cabin was located on the same floor as the dining room and the hordes would line up down the hall waiting for the dining room to open. However this was on the MS Sound of Music which had a large group of passengers who were like the hungry masses who had never eaten. I have not seen this on any other cruise ship.


Also the other ships have had their dining rooms and bars located at one end of the ship on top of each other.



MS Avalon Creativity Paris to Normandy August 2012



Our cabin aboard the MS Amadeus Princess October 2012

The ships usually have between 60 and 85 cabins, making total passenger capacity somewhere between 120 and 175.


This is an ideal size as the ship itself is large enough to be interesting and not to feel confining. Forgot something? It's not a big deal to go back to your cabin to get it.
River cruising is the best way to travel. Your ship is small enough (usually about 140 passengers) to dock right in town so you can either walk and visit on your own or else take an optional tour. The food is great with breakfast and lunch typically buffets and then sit down dinners.

Depending on the cruise itinerary you can often board your ship as scheduled and then use it as a hotel ?as the ship stays moored for two or three days in places like Amsterdam, Paris, Budapest, Moscow or St. Petersburg. This means you can go off on your own to sightsee or eat in those cities or else do the optional tours offered and eat your meals on board.


You move at slow speeds and typically sail at night while you are dining or sleeping. It is fun to awake in the morning and be in a new town or city.

Cruises will include some cruising during the day, both to meet the need to be certain places at certain times, and also to allow you to enjoy some daytime sightseeing. They are also dependent on the timing for locks. One of the best daytime sails we did was along the Rhine even if it was raining!

You sail at typically 12 - 15 mph cruising speed which provides a feeling of relaxed travel.

Europe is very compact - you only have short distances to travel between towns (and even between countries).?

Passengers are older usually 50+ who love to travel. There is a large mixture of couples, singles, women travelling together. Due to the small number of passengers it is easy
?easy to get to know other passengers if you wish. We still stay in contact with people we have met.

A good way to determine if a river cruise is too expensive is to consider what you would pay traveling around Europe on your own or on a bus tour (which as I mentioned I would never do).
Hotels are very expensive in Europe, even using $125 (sharing) for a night, meals at $50 assuming breakfast is included in the hotel rate, tours are at least $75 and then transportation on top of that makes river cruising a great choice.
On top of that you only have to unpack once and check in once!!! We all know what it is like packing and unpacking while touring around.
And then there's the quality of the food. If you are paying for each meal on your own you don't get the opportunity to try different things or you end up skimping to save some money. You are not likely to eat five or seven course meals on your own and stay within a reasonable budget. Most river cruises even include your beer and wine with meals.

On top of that you get your free entertainment in the evening. Now this is not top class entertainment but it can keep you busy as you sail at night. There is usually a crew talent show which can be amusing.?

You see much more from a river cruise boat than you do from a bus, train, or car, and you can be either enjoying the sights more comfortably, either in your cabin, in a lounge, in a dining room, or up on one of the open decks.

I certainly have no intentions of ever taking a bus tour where you have to be up at 7AM with your luggage to board yet another bus to another town.

Aboard the MS Avalon Creativity August 2012 along the Seine


While you sail during the day time the crew always provides some type of activities, generally involving food for your entertainment.

Afternoon tea aboard the MS Russ on the Volga May 2011

Plus, when you arrive at the various places you stop and visit, when you get off the boat, you're able to sightsee exactly the same as any other way of traveling. Well - not quite so exactly - you don't have to bother about packing your bags, checking out of the hotel, carrying your bags to your form of transport, traveling to the next place, getting to your hotel, checking in, carrying your own bags upstairs, and unpacking them again in your room!

As cruise passengers you get early quick entrance into attractions. This was a great bonus in France in August 2012 when everything was crowded?such as Versailles in Paris?or?Giverny to visit Monet's Gardens.

You can do as much or as little as you feel like. Some people enjoy just staying on board.



Source: http://junkboattravels.blogspot.com/2013/01/river-cruising.html

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NMA green signal to Metro heritage line - Real Estate India

??|?? January 19, 2013 ?? 09:17am ??|Contributed by manoja

NEW DELHI: Its good news for Delhi Metro. After a nearly two year long wait, the controversial heritage corridor has finally been cleared by the apex heritage body, National Monuments Authority (NMA). While the clearance has not yet been officially conveyed to DMRC, top officials in NMA confirmed that the project has been cleared and Delhi Metro is free to start the delayed construction work on the line. The green signal however comes with riders like monitoring of the construction and its impact on neighbouring heritage structures by the ASI.

The heritage line is the extension of the Central Secretariat line to Kashmere Gate and will touch some of the most popular heritage structures in Delhi including Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Kashmere Gate. For the clearance from NMA, the Delhi Metro had gotten the line surveyed for heritage impact by the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA). ?Apart from the SPA report, a number of other reports like an earlier structural impact report, a GPRS survey and the recommendation of the competent authority Delhi were all taken into consideration before taking a final decision. Based on these, the heritage line has been cleared,? said member secretary Praveen Srivastava.

While approving the project, NMA has made it clear that the monuments that fall in the line should not be affected in any way. DMRC has been asked to assess the conservation condition of all the monuments in the line in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to be able to identify what kind of problems the monuments presently have.

DMRC will also be required to address these problems under the ASI?s supervision. ?We have also asked DMRC to make an assessment of potential archaeology in the zone. ASI is to be included in all such tasks and a committee is to be set up to monitor the work at every level,? said an NMA official.DMRC has also been directed to keep tabs on any kind of structural impact on monuments including acquiring specialized equipment to measure vibrations and other such affects during the construction stageA separate fund also has to be established by the Delhi Metro for promoting heritage awareness, development around protected monuments and undertake conservation projects.

?We have also told DMRC that an interpretation centre be built at some of the stations in this line so passengers are aware of the heritage line and its significance,? added an official.Former competent authority of Delhi Vijay Singh had recommended clearing the project over a year and a half back but the project still underwent numerous delays. As per the amended ASI Act of 2010, any project falling within 300m of centrally protected monuments has to be greenlighted by the NMA which was set up in December, 2010. But because it took nearly two years of its establishment for the culture minister to appoint a chairperson for the Authority, large public projects like the heritage corridor could not be cleared. Sources reported that a final verdict on NDMC?s multi level KG Marg parking project is also expected shortly.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/NMA-green-signal-to-Metro-heritage-line/articleshow/18067875.cms

News Published Under:?? Delhi | Comments Off

Comments are closed.

Source: http://www.indianrealtynews.com/real-estate-india/delhi/nma-green-signal-to-metro-heritage-line.html

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Saturday, January 19, 2013

3 people are injured in an avalanche on Mt. Washington including an Iraq war vet...

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

Source: http://www.facebook.com/wmtwtv/posts/115218778654389

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Student & Community Relations : Sports Around the U

Student & Community Relations : Sports Around the U

Sports Around the U

By Drew Van Dyke?

During the spring of 2012 like many other high school seniors I was extremely excited to be graduating, but at the same time the feeling was bitter sweet. ?After graduation I would not be able to play competitive sports anymore. ?No more organized football or basketball games, just pickup games with way too many fouls. ?For a second I thought, maybe I will go pro! ?But then I took a step back and realized I was a 5?7? guy with limited ball-handling skills. ?Let?s just say that?s not the kind of athlete the NBA is looking for. ?But then I realized all was not lost, there was hope! ?My feelings improved when learned about all of the community and rec league sports at the University of Minnesota.

I was informed all about the great opportunities to play organized sports below the collegiate level at and around the University of Minnesota. ?This was very influential in my decision in choosing the U. ?Now, halfway through my freshman year, I am participating in many rec sports leagues and getting involved in community sports as well. ?And may I just say, it is fantastic; it doesn?t matter if I?m only a 5?7? athlete! ?All you need for most leagues is a group of friends and an entry fee.

One of the main areas for recreational sports and fitness is the University of Minnesota Recreational Center. ?This facility offers two floors of weight lifting and aerobic equipment, as well as many racquetball courts, basketball courts, and a full aquatic center. ?I am also extremely excited for the new addition to the center; which should be completed in the next two years, and will have an indoor track. ?The Rec center offers many types of intramural and community sports leagues including: basketball, flag football, dodgeball, and racquetball. ?For more information you can visit http://www.recsports.umn.edu/.

If hitting the University Rec center really isn?t your style, or isn?t readily at your disposal, there are many other options to choose from around the U. ?Van Cleve Park is another great local spot for recreation and athletics. ??Located east of Dinkytown in the Como Neighborhood, park activities include a playground, ice rink, wading pool, and many athletic fields. Information on the park can be found here. ??Van Cleve park would be perfect for people who live near Dinkytown or Como. ?

Another great location for recreation is Como Lake. ?This area is a little farther away from the U, but is one of the most scenic areas. ?There are numerous walking, running, and biking trails available. ?The trails are mentioned as some of the most beautiful trails in the Minneapolis area. ?People are also allowed to bring their dogs to play! ?And of course the lake is there for recreational use.

So no matter what your preference or style, whether 5?5? or 6?10? you can find a recreational area to exercise, play sports, or get active in or around the University of Minnesota. ?There is the beautiful Como Lake, the new University of Minnesota Recreational Center, or the exciting Van Cleve Park. ?I was so happy to learn of all these areas available for an athlete to continue playing the sports he or she loves even after high school.

Source: http://studentneighborhoodliaisons.blogspot.com/2013/01/sports-around-u.html

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Google patent shows laser keyboard for Glass

3 hrs.

A new patent application from Google augments the company's Glass head-mounted computer with a laser projector, which can be used to project an interface on any nearby surface, including the user's own hand.

The application, which can be read in its entirety at the Patent Office's website, describes a fairly simple addition to the Glass system. A small, monochrome laser projector could be mounted on one side of the glasses, and a camera on the other side ? which wouldn't be difficult considering Glass already has a camera and laser projectors are quite small and light.

An interface could be projected directly in front of the user ? something simple like a numerical keypad or "OK/Cancel" dialog box or something more complex, a full keyboard or game. The user sees it in front of them and can interact with it just like any other button or menu.

If this sounds familiar, it should: Microsoft showed off something similar using a Kinect over a year ago, and the Internet was all abuzz over the SixthSense device shown off as far back as 2009, with which Google's idea shares some similarities.

So what does it add? Well, mounting the system on a pair of glasses is new, and Google also proposes that the projector and camera work together to track your hand and head movements and keep the interface centered. That would make it more usable while walking or otherwise being active.

Google Glass itself is set to ship to developers this month ? that is, developers who shelled out the $1,500 price to be among the first to try it. Originally a closely?guarded secret, Glass is now being seen more often in the wild, and will almost certainly become a more common sight over the next year.

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBCNews Digital. His personal website is?coldewey.cc.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/google-patent-shows-laser-keyboard-glass-1B8024451

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