Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/278579762?client_source=feed&format=rss
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Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Dissident Eritrean troops seize ministry
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Dissident Eritrean soldiers with tanks took over the information ministry on Monday and forced state media to call for political prisoners to be freed, a senior intelligence official said.
The renegade soldiers have not gone as far as to demand the overthrow of the government of one of Africa's most secretive states, long at odds with the United States and accused of human rights abuses.
Eritrea has been led by Isaias Afewerki, 66, for some two decades since it broke from bigger neighbor Ethiopia. The fledging gold producer on the Red Sea coast has become increasingly isolated, resisting foreign pressure to open up.
Soldiers forced the director general of state television "to say the Eritrean government should release all political prisoners," the Eritrean intelligence source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
There was no immediate statement from the Asmara government.
Between 5,000 and 10,000 political prisoners are being held in the country of about 6 million people, the United Nations human rights chief said last year, accusing Eritrea of torture and summary executions.
State media went off air after the call for prisoners to be freed. The government-controlled television station started broadcasting again at around 1845 GMT with a short news bulletin that appeared not to mention the incident.
The mutineers were low- to mid-ranking soldiers who sought a change in the constitution rather than a coup, said one regional expert with close connections in Asmara.
About 200 soldiers with two tanks were involved and they had also surrounded the ministry, diplomats in the region said. It was unclear whether loyalist troops were moving against them.
On a strategic strip of mountainous land, Eritrea is a tightly controlled one-party state. It has more soldiers per person than any country except North Korea.
ISOLATION
Eritrean opposition activists exiled in neighboring Ethiopia said there was growing dissent within the army, Africa's second biggest, especially over economic hardship.
"Economic issues have worsened and have worsened relations between the government and soldiers in the past few weeks and months," one activist told Reuters.
A senior European diplomat said there were clear differences between elements of the military and Isaias' administration.
"It is a question of time before the full price of isolation is paid by the government in Asmara. Incidents such as this are mounting," the diplomat said, referring also to economic hardship for most Eritreans.
Despite expectations for a gold mining boom that helped fuel economic growth of nearly 8 percent last year, per capita gross domestic product is less than $550 a year.
Shares in gold companies with mines or projects in the country fell sharply on Monday. Toronto-listed Nevsun Resources Ltd was down 9 percent. Those in smaller explorer Sunridge Gold Corp were down over 26 percent.
Chalice Gold also has a presence.
Eritrea split from Ethiopia in 1991 and relations between them are perennially strained.
Asmara has also accused the United States, a staunch ally of Ethiopia, of trying to topple Isaias. A U.S. diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks described him in 2009 as an "unhinged dictator". He survived an assassination attempt by a disgruntled soldier the same year, diplomatic sources said.
Isaias has also accused the United States of spreading lies that he is sick. He has no obvious successor.
"Isaias, sick or not, is a wily survivor and it would be a mistake to prematurely write him off," said J. Peter Pham, director of the Michael S. Ansari Africa Centre at the Atlantic Council.
"On the other hand, there are few prospects of any amelioration of the economic crisis which, as it worsens, cannot but affect the relationship between the dictatorship and the forces that keep it in power."
The United Nations' Security Council imposed an embargo on Eritrea in 2009 over concerns its government was funding and arming al Shabaab rebels in neighboring Somalia - charges Asmara denied.
(Additional reporting by Tesfa Alem Tekle in Mekele and Richard Lough in Nairobi and Julie Gordon in Toronto; Editing by Richard Lough and Andrew Heavens)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/eritrean-troops-surround-ministry-information-asmara-135741681.html
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Thursday, January 17, 2013
Cabrini Students Use Technology to Build Cross-Cultural ...
Can students learn about other cultures without the benefit of traveling to another country? Cabrini College professor Cathy Yungmann writes an interesting article about how she used technology to help her Communications students study the Arab Spring events. By partnering with Catholic Relief Services, Yungmann enabled her students to interact first-hand with students and others in Egypt to aid in their Arab Spring research. ?Following are excerpts, posted on PBS? MediaShift:
The project?s biggest challenge was finding a partner in the midst of Middle East revolutions who could provide the link to people willing to talk with college students in Pennsylvania.
Our contacts at Catholic Relief Services agreed to find an English-speaking class in Egypt that could partner with Cabrini students to create content about the historic events happening in Tahrir Square.?
While there was a lot of background research for my students to do before beginning to understand the enormity of the Arab Spring, the true learning excitement took place during Skype interviews with students and professionals in Cairo and Lebanon. My American students were quite moved by the personal life stories that their Egyptian peers shared during individual video Skype sessions. Due to the time difference with the Middle East, the interviews were often recorded during the middle of our night.
Cabrini students also contacted Egyptian student journalists who were very open to sharing information and viewpoints. In addition, Cabrini students became Twitter followers of professional journalists who were covering the Tahrir Square events. Several journalists agreed to record Skype interviews and gave us permission to use their photos. At the same time, Cabrini students were interviewing American professors and refugees from the Middle East to gain other perspectives.
In the end, our students compiled about 20 videos, many text articles, infographics and photo galleries into a website called?Arab Awakening: A View From The Inside.?The site received the 2012 Pinnacle Award for Best Multimedia Feature Presentation from the College Media Association, a group affiliated with and supporting more than 800 colleges and universities with student media. Last summer, I converted the website into a?free e-book?which is available for the iPad.
Read the full article?on PBS? MediaShift.
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Video: Eye Opener: Hostage crisis in North Africa
Eye Opener: Deadly helicopter crash in London
A helicopter crashed on a busy London street, killing two. Also, two airlines ground their Boeing 787 fleets after a plane is forced to emergency land. Finally, President Obama is expected to release his plan to fight gun violence. All that, and all that matters, in today's "Eye Opener."
Source: http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~r/cbsnews/feed/~3/1d2iQvtVfbk/
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Tuesday, January 15, 2013
MIT.edu Currently Down Following Investigation Into Swartz Tragedy
Following calls for an investigation into the prosecution and recent suicide of internet activist, Aaron Swartz, MIT's website is currently down. MIT's President L. Rafael Reif today called for an investigation into the handling of the case brought against Swartz for his release of pay-walled academic papers from popular database, JSTOR.Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/92LACI3lPWY/
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Iran: Khamenei's ban on nuclear weapons binding
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran sought Tuesday to spell out in its clearest terms yet that it is not seeking nuclear weapons, highlighting a religious decree issued by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that bans nuclear weapons.
The latest reference to Khamenei's declaration is seen as a bid to close the door on debates that Iran may have carried out atomic bomb trigger tests as inspectors from the U.N. atomic watchdog were on their way to Tehran for a new round of discussions.
Iran authorities have often cited Khamenei's religious edict, made more than seven years ago, in attempts to counter Western suspicion that Iran could be moving toward nuclear arms. But Iranian leaders now appear increasingly desperate to reopen talks with world powers as a possible way to ease sanctions.
Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast touched on a cultural rift between the Islamic Republic and the West, saying the United States and its allies don't understand the significance of the edict.
"There is nothing higher than the exalted supreme leader's fatwa to define the framework for our activities in the nuclear field," he told a press conference.
Mehmanparast could not be more definitive in dispelling suspicions that Iran may ultimately develop a nuclear weapon.
"We are the first country to call for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons," he said. When the highest jurist and authority in the country's leadership issues a fatwa, this will be binding for all of us to follow. So, this fatwa will be our top agenda."
Mehmanparast said Westerners "don't have an accurate understanding of Islamic beliefs and fatwas issued by great scholars," suggesting that the U.S. and its allies must take Khamenei's edit seriously.
To highlight its seriousness, he said Iran is willing to "register the fatwa as an international document."
Although Iran views Khamenei's 2005 fatwa as a binding declaration, the West and its allies have repeatedly accused Iran of using any tactic to prolong the standoff and possibly advance its nuclear capabilities.
The perception gap also strikes at the role of the supreme leader himself. The most ardent followers consider the post as divinely imbued and answerable only to God. For Iran's opponents, Khamenei is often seen as guiding a ruling system seeking to outwit the West and threaten Israel.
They want Iran to stop enriching uranium to a level that could be turned relatively quickly into the fissile core of nuclear arms. Iran denies such aspirations, insisting it is enriching only to make reactor fuel and to make isotopes for medical purposes.
Senior U.N. investigators trying for more than a year to restart a probe into Iran's alleged work on nuclear arms chose their words carefully Tuesday about hopes for success as they left for Tehran on a trip that sets the stage for separate talks between six world powers and the Islamic Republic.
Team leader Herman Nackaerts said the International Atomic Energy Agency hopes to "finalize the structured approach" that would outline what the agency can and cannot do in its investigation.
Yukiya Amano, the IAEA chief, has expressed doubt that Tuesday's trip would result in a deal, but Iran said it's optimistic.
"If there are any ambiguities or concerns, we are ready to clear these ambiguities. This can be done under a structured approach," he said.
Iranians say they have a bitter memory of allowing IAEA inspections and providing replies on a long list of queries over its nuclear program in the past decade. Now, Tehran says such queries should not be revived or remain open-ended once the IAEA has verified them.
Mehmanparast said Iran provided detailed explanations to IAEA questions on six outstanding issues in the past but instead of giving Iran a clean bill of health, the agency leveled new allegations on the basis of "alleged studies" provided by Iran's enemies.
Iran uses that term to refer to a list of questions including a dispute at Parchin, a military site southeast of Tehran, where the agency suspects Iran ran explosive tests needed to set off a nuclear charge.
Tehran has in the past allowed IAEA inspectors twice into Parchin but now it says any new agency investigation must be governed by an agreement that lays out the scope of such a probe.
"Obligations of the other party must be clearly specified. If a claim is to be raised on a spot in Iran every day and (the U.N. agency) seeks to visit our military facilities under such a pretext ... this issue will be unending," Mehmanparast said.
Iran says the agency's suspicions are based on forged intelligence from the United States, Israel and others, materials it has not been allowed to see.
Iranian leaders appear to be frustrated over the long investigations. Prominent lawmakers say Iran wants an end to the probe once and for all.
"We are interested to put an end to these ambiguities. We don't want a prolongation of this process," Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the parliament's security committee, said recently.
Iran is also linking its cooperation with the IAEA on Parchin to a commitment from the agency that Iran's nuclear dossier is referred back to Vienna from the U.N. Security Council.
Iran is under four sets of Security Council sanctions and stepped-up Western oil and banking sanctions over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, a technology that can be used to produce nuclear fuel or materials that can be used for a warhead.
Tuesday's trip by the IAEA team comes as Iran and six world powers ?the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany ? prepare to meet, tentatively later this month.
The trip and the planned Iran talks are formally separate but both IAEA officials and diplomats involved in the talks privately acknowledge an informal link.
By compromising on the IAEA probe, Iran could argue that the onus was now on the six powers to show some flexibility, temper their demands, and roll back U.S. and European sanctions that have hit Iran's critical oil exports and blacklisted the country from international banking networks.
Mehmanparast made it clear Tuesday what Iran wants in return for cooperation with the IAEA: "In exchange for the easing of those ambiguities, our nuclear case should go back to its normal procedure and all the discussions raised about our nuclear case should be stopped."
____
George Jahn in Vienna contributed to this report.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iran-khameneis-ban-nuclear-weapons-binding-190849850.html
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Asus Taichi Video Review - Windows 8 Ultrabook with 2 Displays
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Source: http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Board=news&Number=44064
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Monday, January 14, 2013
CES '13: Portable Gaming Roundup | Video Game Blog, Video ...
The portable gaming world is now more crowded thanks to the introduction of new products at CES 2013. Graphics hardware giant NVIDIA is jumping on board with ?Project Shield? and mobile device manufacturer Archos is introducing ?Gamepad.?
Before, Nintendo and Sony dominated the scene with their line of on-the-go products, namely the DS/3DS and the Vita. Thanks to the introduction of tablets, any Android or iOS phone can do more than just a simple round of Angry Birds. These days, the pie chart mapping who the big winners and niche players are is getting rather full.
The question many people will ask is will these new devices simply be a new flavour of the month, or be the creamy toppings one could put on the plate?
With Archos offering Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) on their gaming unit, the question of which mobile player is tantalizing will depend on the gamer?s personal taste. The reports about NVIDIA?s handheld reveal this company likes Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). If these food metaphors are not bad enough, the choices gamers now have to make will depend on what they each like to eat.
No official specs have been released at the time of this writing, but based on reports from Gizmag and Laptop Magazine the following was extracted.
Gamepad
CPU: dual-core 1.5 GHz processor
GPU: Mali 400mp quad-core
7? Display (1024 x 600)
?
?
?
Project Shield
CPU: an ARM-based quad-core Cortex-A15
GPU: Tegra 4 processor
5? OLED Display (1280 x 720; 720p)
?
?
?
Razer Edge
CPU: Intel 3rd Gen Core i5 (quad-core)
GPU: NVIDIA? GeForce? GTX 660M
10? Display ?(1366 x 768)
?
?
?
With the Razer Edge as the third contender in this lineup, the battle for which product will be the better value for the buck will happen when all the items are out. The release dates for each of these devices are spread throughout the year. If these companies are going to slug it out between one another, they should have these products outs within a few months of each other instead of the other way around. No date has been set for Project Shield, Razer?s Edge has an unofficial mid-year date, and Gamepad is confirmed for Q4 release.
So far, none of these mobiles handhelds look like a clear winner. Niche products are a tough sell. In order for a product to succeed, it has to have a broad spectrum appeal. That?s why the Consumer Electronics Show exists, despite concerns that this trade show may be past its prime.
Article from Gamersyndrome.com
Related posts:
- Archos? New Gaming Tablet Revealed
- Is the Razer?s Edge a Killer Gaming Tablet? An Editorial
- Razer?s New Gaming Laptop: The Blade
- Crysis 3 Pc Version Hardware Requirements Detailed
- Monolith Software Talks About Their First Wii U Game, Inspiration And Japanese Gaming Industries
Source: http://gamersyndrome.com/2013/video-games/ces-13-portable-gaming-roundup/
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Almost 150 workers lose jobs as Scottish print firm Montgomery Litho goes into liquidation
IT is still hoped that a buyer will be found for the printing firm who employed 233 staff in Glasgow and Haddington, East Lothian.
SNS Group
ALMOST 150 workers have lost their jobs at a ?printing firm who went into ?liquidation ?yesterday.
Montgomery Litho employed 233 staff in Glasgow and ?Haddington, East Lothian.
The liquidators blamed ?trading losses and increasing cash flow ?pressures? ? but still hope to find a buyer for the company.
Montgomery Litho, who were founded in 1983, print and bind books, brochures and maps. Blair Nimmo and Tony Friar, of ?liquidators KPMG, said 148 ?workers ? 79 in ?Haddington and 69 in Glasgow ? have been made redundant with ?immediate effect.
The company?s base in ?Haddington will close ?completely.
Montgomery Litho have a turnover of around ?19million and intend to continue ?operating while a buyer is sought. Nimmo said: ?Montgomery Litho Ltd had been facing ?difficulties following trading losses and increasing cash flow pressures.
?The loss of a major customer together with a continuing reduction in order levels at a time of declining demand within the UK printing ?industry have adversely affected the company. It is regrettable but ?necessary to close operations in ?Haddington and implement ?redundancies there and in ?Glasgow.
?However, there remains an ?excellent opportunity to acquire a well-known business with a strong customer base and we are hopeful that a buyer can be found.?
Source: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scottish-print-firm-montgomery-litho-1531962
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Observers think UFOs hovered above the Eagle Ford Shale
ARTESIA WELLS ? Strange things are afoot in the South Texas oil patch and in the sky above. In a region that's seen its tax rolls and traffic problems swell from the scores of new residents, could extraterrestrials be the next wave?
Roughnecks working at a fracturing well in the Eagle Ford Shale drilling region say they saw unidentified lights in the night sky on consecutive days in October and captured blurry video of at least one of them.
Three months earlier, a security camera captured a blurry, black-and-white image of what appears to be a flying saucer hovering ominously at another well site.
So far, no little green men have applied for a truck-driving job, but in a region desperate for more workers, they may not get turned down if they did.
Space alien visitation, or at least claims of it, adds a new dimension to the social upheaval that's engulfed La Salle County.
Here and throughout South Texas, drilling for energy in the lucrative Eagle Ford Shale has created an economic tsunami in traditionally cash-dry towns.
In years past, pitch-black nights swaddled the unforgiving mesquite forests that cover the region. Now, large tracts are lit up by floodlights that allow around-the-clock work at drilling rigs.
In other places, the fire of flare pits burning off unwanted byproducts casts an orange glow in the sky.
Armies of oil field workers have descended on the area, but if you believe the eyewitnesses, this is a different type of invasion.
The cellphone video, taken by worker Xavier Garza, shows a reddish-orange orb in the northern sky. Roughnecks can be heard off-camera cursing ? as they are wont to do ? in amazement.
Witnesses say the camera didn't pick up a dozen more lights that appeared and reappeared several times, typically hovering in formation. It happened two nights in a row.
And last week, a photo surfaced on the website of the Mutual UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) Network, a volunteer group that investigates UFO claims, purportedly taken at a well site in the same stretch of the Eagle Ford.
Allegedly taken from a security camera, it appears to show a large saucer-like object, with an array of four lights, hovering over the caliche pad of a La Salle County well site. Other odd orbs can be seen in the background.
That photo, with a July 5 time stamp, already has passed two authenticity tests, says Charles Stansburge, a veteran MUFON investigator.
?If it's a prank,? Stansburge said, ?someone spent a lot of money to stage it. It's not a doctored photo. It's a 60-foot-diameter saucer that's hovering.?
Putting on a show
But if there are UFOs, no one's bothered to call authorities.
Sheriff's Department officials say they haven't received any reports about UFOs. And the La Salle County airport manager, who goes by the name E.T. Page, says he's never heard of UFO sightings in the area. And with a name like that, you'd think he'd be the first to know.
In most cases, UFO reports are dismissed as military, scientific or civilian aircraft gone astray. Other times, they're blamed on strange but unexplained atmospheric conditions.
The witnesses here aren't buying any of that.
?We all know what the lights from a plane or a helicopter look like,? said Rene Cantu, the oilfield worker who first sighted the orange lights. ?This wasn't a plane or a helicopter.?
?We sit on our back porch and watch planes go by every night,? said Jerry Farrell, a nearby rancher who saw the same lights as Cantu and his co-workers. ?This was 12, 13, 14 lights, that were all spread out, flying all over the sky. And when they moved, it was at unbelievable speed, from horizon to horizon and back.?
Cantu was on a work break when he saw the lights. He yelled out to co-workers, who joined him watching the lights, which put on a 3-minute show, bouncing around the heavens like a celestial pinball machine.
The lights vanished for 25 minutes, then returned for another 3-minute show.
The stunned roughnecks wondered if they had been hallucinating. Then delivery trucks, which had been waiting down the road for their turn to approach the site, pulled up.
?The truck drivers were all, 'Did you guys see those lights up there?'? Cantu said. ?So it wasn't just us.?
Did they gas up?
The next night, Garza had his phone camera ready to go. But because of the blinding glare from the floodlights, he only caught a few seconds of a single orange sphere. This time, however, there were nearly 20 witnesses.
The web is littered with unsubstantiated first-person accounts of UFOs being seen in nearby Encinal and Cotulla. And Texas is no stranger to unexplained sightings. Another case in point: the mysterious Marfa lights of West Texas.
Farrell and his wife, who live close enough to Interstate 35 to see traffic moving, didn't video what they saw as the UFOs used the South Texas sky as their canvas.
?We sat back there watching them for 30 or 40 minutes,? he said. ?It was unbelievable. I've never heard (of) or seen things that move that fast.?
Stansburge, of MUFON, isn't sure what his investigation will uncover. He's only charged with investigating the black-and-white image of the saucer.
That photo showed up on MUFON's servers with a name and phone number attached. He wouldn't divulge the name of the witness, other than to say the person filing the report appeared to be from Laredo.
The witness wrote to MUFON that the company that owns the site began noticing crude oil was being siphoned from onsite tanks nightly. A security camera system was installed to catch the thieves in the act and gather information that could be forwarded to the Sheriff's Department.
The company didn't catch thieves, but it may have caught a UFO instead, at least on film ? maybe.
Most UFO landings, Stansburge said, happen for a reason. Ninety percent are near bodies of water, which leads UFO observers to believe aliens need water. The sudden appearance over one of the hottest oil plays in the nation, he suspects, may mean the aliens stopped in to gas up.
His investigation is in its earliest phases.
He doesn't expect to find much. It's likely that any evidence of a July landing will be long gone, Stansburge said, tainted by truck tires, washed away by rains or blown into the brush by hot summer winds.
?All we can do,? he says, ?is document what we find.?
rbragg@express-news.net
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Sunday, January 13, 2013
College football bowl schedule
Published: Jan. 12, 2013 at 7:33 AM
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Results for college football bowls for 2012-13:
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Dec. 15
Gildan New Mexico Bowl, at Albuquerque
Arizona (8-5) defeated Nevada (7-6) 49-48
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Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, at Boise, Idaho
Utah State (11-2) defeated Toledo (9-4) 41-15
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Dec. 20
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, at San Diego
Brigham Young (8-5) defeated San Diego State (9-4) 23-6
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Dec. 21
Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl, at St. Petersburg, Fla.
Central Florida (10-4) defeated Ball State (9-4) 38-17
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Dec. 22
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, at New Orleans
Louisiana-Lafayette (9-4) defeated East Carolina (8-5) 43-34
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MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, at Las Vegas
Boise State (11-2) defeated Washington (7-6) 28-26
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Dec. 24
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, at Honolulu
Southern Methodist (7-6) defeated Fresno State (9-4) 43-10
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Dec. 26
Little Caesars Bowl, at Detroit
Central Michigan (7-6) defeated Western Kentucky (7-6) 24-21
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Dec. 27
Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman, at Washington
San Jose State (11-2) defeated Bowling Green (8-5) 29-20
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Belk Bowl, at Charlotte, N.C.
Cincinnati (10-3) defeated Duke (6-7) 48-34
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Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl, at San Diego
Baylor (8-5) defeated UCLA (9-5) 49-26
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Dec. 28
AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl, at Shreveport, La.
Ohio (9-4) defeated Louisiana-Monroe (8-5) 45-14
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Russell Athletic Bowl, at Orlando, Fla.
Virginia Tech (7-6) defeated Rutgers (9-4) 13-10 (OT)
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Meineke Car Care Bowl, at Houston
Texas Tech (8-5) defeated Minnesota (6-7) 34-31
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Dec. 29
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, at Dallas
Rice (7-6) defeated Air Force (6-7) 33-14
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New Era Pinstripe Bowl, at New York
Syracuse (8-5) defeated West Virginia (7-6) 38-14
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Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, at San Francisco
Arizona State (8-5) defeated Navy (8-5) 62-28
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Valero Alamo Bowl, at San Antonio
Texas (9-4) defeated Oregon State (9-4) 31-27
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Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, at Tempe, Ariz.
Michigan State (7-6) defeated Texas Christian (7-6) 17-16
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Dec. 31
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, at Nashville
Vanderbilt (9-4) defeated North Carolina State (7-6) 38-24
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Hyundai Sun Bowl, at El Paso, Texas
Georgia Tech (7-7) defeated Southern California (7-6) 21-7
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AutoZone Liberty Bowl, at Memphis
Tulsa (11-3) defeated Iowa State (6-7) 31-17
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Chick-fil-A Bowl, at Atlanta
Clemson (11-2) defeated Louisiana State (10-3) 25-24
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Jan. 1
Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, Fla.
Northwestern (10-3) defeated Mississippi State (8-5) 34-20
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Heart of Dallas Bowl, at Dallas
Oklahoma State (8-5) defeated Purdue (6-7) 58-14
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Outback Bowl, at Tampa, Fla.
South Carolina (11-2) vs. Michigan (8-5) 33-28
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Capital One Bowl, at Orlando, Fla.
Georgia (12-2) defeated Nebraska (10-4) 45-31
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Rose Bowl presented by VIZIO, at Pasadena, Calif.
Stanford (12-2) defeated Wisconsin (8-6) 20-14
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Discover Orange Bowl, at Miami
Florida State (12-2) defeated Northern Illinois (12-2) 31-10
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Jan. 2
Allstate Sugar Bowl, at New Orleans
Louisville (11-2) defeated Florida (11-2) 33-23
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Jan. 3
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, at Glendale, Ariz.
Oregon (12-1) defeated Kansas State (11-2) 35-17
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Jan. 4
AT&T Cotton Bowl, at Arlington, Texas
Texas A&M (11-2) defeated Oklahoma (10-3) 41-13
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Jan. 5
BBVA Compass Bowl, at Birmingham, Ala.
Mississippi (7-6) defeated Pittsburgh (6-7) 38-17
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Jan. 6
GoDaddy.com Bowl, at Mobile, Ala.
Arkansas State (10-3) defeated Kent State (11-3) 17-13
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Jan. 7
Tostitos BCS National Championship Game, at Miami
Alabama (13-1) defeated Notre Dame (12-1) 42-14
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Gun-rights groups: Our 'backs are against the wall'
Marc Piscotty / Getty Images
Joseph Gabriele of Littleton, Colo., protests with fellow activists in support of gun rights Jan. 9 at the state Capitol in Denver. Lawmakers are calling for tougher gun legislation after recent mass shootings at an Aurora, Colo., movie theater and elementary school in Newtown, Conn.
By Matthew DeLuca, Staff Writer, NBC News
As lawmakers from Connecticut to California rush to propose new restrictions on firearms and ammunition, state-level gun-rights activists are playing defense for the first time in years, with some saying they face fights they may not win.
?Our backs are against the wall,? said Scott Wilson, president of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, a pro-gun rights group. ?We are in for the fight of our lives. I have never seen anything like it.?
In a blog post after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., the CCDL admitted to its members that efforts to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines could succeed, despite their strident opposition.
The CCDL message said that "we simply do not know" whether they would be "successful in our efforts to protect us from bans on certain firearms or magazines."
As the White House formulates a list of federal proposals to combat gun violence, with recommendations from Vice President Joe Biden?s task force expected by Tuesday, lawmakers at the state level are forging ahead to restrict the sale or possession of certain types of firearms and ammunition.
- In New Jersey, 18 new bills have been submitted to the state legislature, including one that would require gun buyers to submit to a psychological evaluation, according to the Star-Ledger.
- ?In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo called on legislators to pass the nation?s toughest ban on assault weapons and restrictions on high-capacity magazines.
- In California, which already has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation, Sen. Leland Yee, a Democrat, said he intends to introduce a bill requiring gun owners to register annually, and another requiring all guns to be kept in lock boxes when not in use.
- In Connecticut, Democratic Sen. Beth Bye wants to limit access to assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and require that firearms be registered by model and serial number, Reuters reported. Bye also wants to impose a 50 percent sales tax on ammunition and magazines.
- In Colorado, Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, received a standing ovation from some state legislators Thursday when he suggested requiring universal background checks on all gun sales.
With so many lawmakers vowing action, gun rights groups say they face a stronger tide of public opinion and political pressure than ever before.
?I think they?re going to pass a ban on semi-automatic rifles unless we stop them,? said Dudley Brown, executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, a Colorado-based organization. ?There is a zenith of activism that we are clearly reaching right now.?
RMGO is currently running a drawing on its website to win an AR-15 ? the same model of rifle police have said was used by alleged Aurora shooter James Holmes and Newtown gunman Adam Lanza.
?RMGO is facing dozens of battles in the Colorado legislature this year, so we need to increase the size of our pro-gun army,? the group says on its site. ?To do that, we?re giving away a free Colt AR-15 Model 6920 donated by our good friends at Jensen Arms in Loveland, CO.?
In New York, the Shooters Committee on Political Education, a gun advocacy group, struck a similar tone in a message to its membership.
?Your participation is no guarantee that we will win this important fight to protect your Constitutional rights, but we can say with certainty that anything short of overwhelming our legislators with calls, emails and letters we have virtually no chance,? SCOPE told members on its website.
Recommended: NRA 'disappointed' with gun task force; recs coming by Tuesday
?We will do everything we can to preserve our constitutional right to keep and bear arms, and how that turns out is anybody?s guess,? SCOPE head Budd Schroeder said.
Saying that the National Rifle Association is too willing to compromise with gun-control advocates, 22 state and 5 national pro-gun groups have coalesced in recent weeks to form the National Coalition to Stop the Gun Ban. Among the national groups involved is Gun Owners of America, which claims a membership of 300,000.
The coalition formed out of a desire to stand against new regulations on guns, according to Charles Heller, spokesman for the Arizona Citizens Defense League.
Arizona became an epicenter of the gun control debate in 2011 after Representative Gabrielle Giffords sustained a point-blank shot to the head as a gunman turned a Tucson supermarket parking lot into a shooting gallery, killing 6. Giffords and her husband announced a new national campaign on Tuesday to ?prevent gun violence? and ?protect responsible gun ownership.?
Heller characterized renewed calls for gun control as an overly emotional response to the shootings in Arizona, Connecticut, Wisconsin, and elsewhere.
?It?s going to be a very pivotal moment if we can?t get people to stop emoting and start reasoning,? Heller said. ?They?ve been waiting for a long time for the perfect crisis. They tried to light the fire with the Batman shooting, and they?re looking for the perfect victims to dance in the blood of so they can get something done.?
Heller?s AZCDL was among the 27 signatories of an open letter the coalition addressed to members of Congress asking them to not pass new legislation banning certain firearms and magazines, or requiring background checks on private gun sales.
?Members of Congress who support gun control by any means, procedural or substantive, will be targeted for defeat by coalition members,? the letter reads.
'No compromise'
Tensions among pro-gun activists are running just as high in states where legislators have remained quiet on new measures, said Paul Valone, president of Grass Roots North Carolina.
?The coalition members have all agreed on a ?no compromise? approach on this issue,? Valone said. ?It needs to die. Period.?
In an open letter to President Barack Obama, Valone speculated that some gun owners may use violent force to resist government attempts to confiscate assault weapons.
?The real question, Mr. President, is whether you so hunger for power that you are willing to foment what might be the next American Revolution,? Valone wrote.
In the meantime, anxiety among hardline pro-gun rights advocates may be swelling the ranks of activist groups. The NRA told Politico that its membership grew by 100,000 in the 18 days after the shooting in Newtown.
?We can?t take applications for membership as fast as people are sending them to us,? said Heller. His group currently has about 7,500 members. He expects that number to grow to 10,000 over the next year. ?People in Arizona are, they are just absolutely not going to give up a gun.?
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Israel premier vows to proceed with E-1 settlement
Israeli border police evict a Palestinian activist from an area known as E-1 near Jerusalem, Sunday, Jan 13, 2013. Palestinian activists erected tents in the area on Friday saying they wanted to "establish facts on the ground" to stop Israeli construction in the West Bank. The Palestinian activists were borrowing a phrase and a tactic, usually associated with Jewish settlers, who believe establishing communities means the territory will remain theirs once structures are built. (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)
Israeli border police evict a Palestinian activist from an area known as E-1 near Jerusalem, Sunday, Jan 13, 2013. Palestinian activists erected tents in the area on Friday saying they wanted to "establish facts on the ground" to stop Israeli construction in the West Bank. The Palestinian activists were borrowing a phrase and a tactic, usually associated with Jewish settlers, who believe establishing communities means the territory will remain theirs once structures are built. (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)
Israeli border police evict a Palestinian activist from an area known as E-1 near Jerusalem, Sunday, Jan 13, 2013. Palestinian activists erected tents in the area on Friday saying they wanted to "establish facts on the ground" to stop Israeli construction in the West Bank. The Palestinian activists were borrowing a phrase and a tactic, usually associated with Jewish settlers, who believe establishing communities means the territory will remain theirs once structures are built. (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) ? Israel's prime minister pledged Sunday to move ahead with construction of a new Jewish settlement in a strategic part of the West Bank, speaking just hours after Israeli forces dragged dozens of Palestinian activists from the area.
The activists pitched more than two dozen tents at the site on Friday, laying claim to the land and drawing attention to Israel's internationally condemned settlement policy.
Before dawn Sunday, hundreds of Israeli police and paramilitary border troops evicted the protesters. Despite the eviction, Mustafa Barghouti, one of the protest leaders, claimed success, saying the overall strategy is to "make (Israel's) occupation costly."
The planned settlement, known as E-1, would deepen east Jerusalem's separation from the West Bank, war-won areas the Palestinians want for their state. The project had been on hold for years, in part because of U.S. objections.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revived the E-1 plans late last year in response to the Palestinians' successful bid for U.N. recognition of a state of Palestine in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem.
Jewish settlements are at the heart of the current four-year impasse in Mideast peace efforts. The Palestinians have refused to negotiate while Israel continues to build settlements on the lands they seek for their state. Netanyahu says peace talks should start without any preconditions. Netanyahu also rejects any division of Jerusalem.
Israel expanded the boundaries of east Jerusalem after the 1967 war and then annexed the area ? a move not recognized by the international community. Since then, it has built a ring of Jewish settlements in the enlarged eastern sector to cement its control over the city.
E-1 would be built in the West Bank just east of Jerusalem, and would close one of the last options for Palestinians to create territorial continuity between Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem, their hoped-for capital, and the West Bank. According to building plans, E-1 would have more than 3,000 apartments.
The Palestinians say they turned to the U.N. last November out of frustration with the deadlock in peace talks. They believe the international endorsement of the 1967 lines will bolster their position in negotiations. Israel has accused the Palestinians of trying to bypass the negotiating process and impose a solution.
Netanyahu told Israel Army Radio on Sunday that it would take time to build E-1, citing planning procedures. Still, he said, "we will complete the planning, and there will be construction."
Asked why the protesters were removed, Netanyahu said, "They have no reason to be there. I asked immediately to close the area so people would not gather there needlessly and generate friction and disrupt public order."
Palestinian protest leaders hoped the tent camp would be the first of a new type of well planned, nonviolent protests against Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories.
In recent years, Palestinians have staged weekly rallies in some areas of the West Bank, demanding to get back land they lost to Israel's separation barrier. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has held up such tactics as worthy of emulation. The protests have remained relatively small, and media coverage has dropped off over the years.
The tent camp was set up after a month of planning by grass-roots groups using Facebook, Google Earth and other tools to find the right spot and stay in touch, said organizer Abdullah Abu Rahma.
The Palestinian Authority, the self-rule government in parts of the West Bank, provided legal assistance.
The activists said they pitched the tents on private Palestinian land and immediately obtained an Israeli court injunction preventing the removal of the tents for several days.
At the next court hearing, Israel will have to explain why it wants to take down the tents, said Mohammed Nazzal, a Palestinian Authority official whose department is involved in the legal proceedings. Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said he believes one of the issues in the hearing will be the status of the land where the tents were pitched.
Barghouti, meanwhile, said troops beat some of the protesters, a claim Rosenfeld denied. Rosenfeld said the protesters were carried away without injuries, put onto buses and dropped off at a West Bank checkpoint.
About half a million Israelis live in the dozens of settlements that dot the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Over the past 15 years, Jewish settlers have also set up dozens of rogue settlement outposts without formal approval, and critics say the government has done little to remove them.
____
Associated Press writers Karin Laub in Ramallah and Amy Teibel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
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Saturday, January 12, 2013
French troops sent to repel Islamist militants in Mali
FRANCE has sent armed forces into Mali, answering an urgent plea from the government of its former colony to help blunt a sudden and aggressive advance into the centre of the country by Islamist extremist militants who have been in control of the north for much of the past year.
French officials confirmed that the forces, including paratroopers and helicopter gunships, had engaged in combat with the Islamists after landing at a major airfield in the central Mali town of Sevare on Friday. It was unclear how many French troops had been sent, but a Western diplomat in neighbouring Niger said the Islamist forces numbered between 800 and 900 fighters, with about 200 vehicles.
''French forces brought their support this afternoon to Malian army units to fight against terrorist elements,'' French President Francois Hollande said in a statement.
''This operation will last as long as is necessary.''
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Mr Hollande was responding to an urgent request received the day before from Mali's interim President, Dioncounda Traore, who said Malian government forces were in dire need of help to stop the Islamists, who have turned the northern half of the country into a militant haven since seizing the territory, about twice of the size of Germany, in April.
The United Nations Security Council, which has repeatedly condemned the Islamist takeover of northern Mali and last month authorised an African-led force to enter the country to help drive the Islamists out, said on Thursday that it was closely monitoring events there and may take additional steps.
Mr Hollande is also to meet the Malian President next week.
The swift French response came after two days of clashes between the Malian army and militants around Konna, a sleepy mud-brick village that for months had marked the outer limit of the Malian army's control after it lost half of the country to the Islamists and their allies eight months ago.
General Carter Ham, the commander of the Pentagon's Africa Command, who was travelling in Niger, said he understood that French paratroopers and helicopter gunships had landed in Sevare and had engaged the Islamists in combat. He also said the US, which shares France's deep concern about the Islamist seizure of northern Mali, was considering what it could do to help, perhaps by repositioning satellites or sending in surveillance drones. NEW YORK TIMES
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Inkwell Arts New Veggie Cafe Open
Jayne Rodgers (@janeydodge) visits the new vegetarian cafe at Inkwell Arts over in Chapeltown, North Leeds. Sounds like a bit of a hit ?
For a city of its size, Leeds has pretty pathetic provision for vegetarians who like to eat out. There are two vegetarian caf?s in the city centre. I was served a mouldy pie in one of them and the other doesn?t have wi-fi. It?s like Leeds hasn?t caught on to the fact that vegetarians expect decent food and do live in the 21st century.
Given the shortage of top-notch vegetarian action in the city, our expectations weren?t particularly high when Inkwell Arts invited us to review their new caf?. We?ll be honest; we didn?t hold out much hope for great things. We are thrilled to report that we were completely wrong to be pessimistic! Inkwell Arts vegetarian caf? sets a standard that other caterers in the city would be wise to follow.
From the outside, the building is unprepossessing ? Inkwell is based in an old pub on Potternewton Lane between Chapeltown and Chapel Allerton. The interior, though, is a revelation. Lots of the walls have been knocked out to create a light, bright, inviting space. It?s painted white, and has works by local artists decorating the walls (all for sale at surprisingly reasonably prices). There?s the caf?, a hang-out space with comfy sofas and a craft area, all in one big, open plan room.
The craft area, as well as offering a buzz of activity, creates a lively, creative and nurturing space. Inkwell Arts is run by Leeds Mind, an independent charity which aims, as they put it, ?is to enable individuals with mental health problems to flourish?. The building, the caf? and the arts and crafts are not just for service users though. That?s the whole point; this is an open venue, accessible ? literally and figuratively ? to everyone.
There are loads of fantastic things going on there. For starters, there are classes in art and ceramics, life drawing, digital photography, song writing and salsa, among other things (there are too many to list here!) There?s also a gardening group to help transform the huge former beer garden into a usable community space. On top of that (yes, really, there is more), there?s an acoustic night once a month, artist talks and a totally cool, absolutely top secret thing that you can only find out about by going to their website.
You probably want to know about the food too. It was fantastic. The best vegetarian food I?ve had in a long time (apart from what we cook for Veggie Runners, of course). Wholesome, delicious and at knock down prices too. We had the Mezze Platter (?4.50), the Filo Tart (?4.00), the Egyptian Spiced Lentil Soup (?3.00) and some Carrot Cake (?2.00) In case you think we?re greedy oiks, I should point out that there were three of us. All of the food was tasty, the portions were substantial and the atmosphere was friendly, arty and fun.
At the moment, the caf? is open on Saturdays 10am-4pm. If it generates enough interest it will open more often and for longer though. On the strength of our visit, both of these things are distinct possibilities. Thoroughly recommended. Oh, and it has wi-fi. Inkwell wins a gold star for being the first, and only, 21st century vegetarian caf? in Leeds.
Jayne Rodgers is one half of veggie runners, a mother-daughter duo who provide gourmet vegetarian recipes, running tips, playlists and training chat.
The photos were taken by Simon Allen, photographer and drummer with indie funk band, The New Mastersounds.
Inkwell Arts is on Potternewton Lane, a short bus ride, car journey or jog from the city centre.
Tags: food, Inkwell, leeds, Veggie RunnersSource: http://theculturevulture.co.uk/blog/reviews/food-and-drink-reviews/inkwellcafe/
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Obama, Karzai announce accelerated military transition
President Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Friday announced a quicker transition of control of Afghanistan to the nation's own security forces, saying U.S. troops would move to a support role this spring.
In a joint press conference at the White House, Obama said the transition would lay the foundation for a drawdown of U.S. troops but did not say how quickly that would occur ? or if any American forces would remain in Afghanistan after 2014.
?Starting this spring our troops will have a different mission: training, advising and assisting Afghan forces,? Obama said. ?It will be a historic moment.?
Obama?s comments came after the two leaders discussed troop levels, security and the 2014 Afghan election, among other issues.
The war in Afghanistan has come at great cost in both treasure and casualties for the United States. As such, the president was hesitant to label the war a complete success.
?We have achieved our central goal or have come close to achieving our central goal,? he said.
But then he added, ?Have we achieved everything that some might have imagined us achieving under the best of scenarios ? probably not.?
Karzai welcomed the accelerated transition, saying that by the spring, no foreign troops would occupy Afghan villages.
For Obama, the main question remains how many troops will stay in Afghanistan after December 2014. The White House earlier this week conceded that it was weighing whether to remove all U.S. troops.
On Friday, the president said he would wait for recommendations from his military leaders before making a decision.
U.S. commanders have recommended keeping as many as 15,000 troops in Afghanistan in a support role, but the administration has shown little appetite for that type of presence after 2014.
Obama had previously said the U.S. cannot leave troops in Afghanistan unless they receive immunity from prosecution.
Karzai announced on Friday that he could now ?go to the Afghan people? and press for immunity for American troops in the country.
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Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Luxury Home Sales Soared in Final Months of 2012 | AOL Real Estate
By Les Christie
Sales of luxury homes spiked in the final months of 2012 as high-end homeowners rushed to take advantage of lower tax rates before Jan. 1.
Many sellers wanted to cash in on their homes before a widely expected capital gains hike -- to 20% from 15% -- that was part of the fiscal cliff budget deal. High-income earners (singles with income of $200,000 or more and couples making more than $250,000) also wanted to close sales ahead of a 3.8% Medicare surtax on investment income that was already slated to go into effect this year as part of the Affordable Care Act.
All told, a high-earner would pay $88,000 less in taxes if they made a $1 million profit on their home in 2012 rather than in 2013.
Related: Search Luxury Homes for Sale
That considerable tax savings motivated many wealthy homeowners to move fast. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sales of homes valued at $1 million or more spiked 51% in November compared with a year earlier.
In Manhattan, one of the most expensive markets in the nation, the number of sales of homes valued at more than $10 million jumped 44% year-over-year during the last three months of 2012, according to broker Brown Harris Stevens.
"Ever since last summer, when people realized that the fiscal cliff was approaching, there was an incentive to get deals done," said Meredyth Smith, an agent for Sotheby's International Real Estate.
Several of her clients hurried to close by the end of December. When one prospective buyer couldn't move that quickly, the seller called off the deal entirely, she said. He may reprice it entirely before putting it back on the market this year, she said.
Related: Compare Mortgage Rates
Some sellers lowered prices for buyers who promised to close before Jan. 1. John Parsegian, an agent with Halstead Property, helped broker a $14 million condo sale in midtown Manhattan that closed in late December. The seller had structured the deal so that the home would cost $175,000 less if it finalized before January. He also threw in some furniture.
Other sellers prevailed on co-op boards to speed up their approval processes, according to Sotheby's CEO Philip White. Managing agents representing co-ops and condos had trouble handling all of the paperwork for all the sellers who were anxious to close.
For the first time in 26 years, Jonathan Miller, president of New York appraisal firm Miller Samuel, had to turn away business. "I call it 'bedlam in appraiserville,'" he said. "It was clearly skewed toward high-end properties."
Looking ahead, all those rushed deals could mean a slight slump in high-end sales early in 2013, said White. Not only will buyers be in shorter supply but the inventory of luxury homes has dropped precipitously.
But White thinks the drop-off will be short-lived. Historically low interest rates should continue making the long-term cost of buying these homes attractive to buyers. In addition, foreign buyers continue to invest in U.S. properties and many domestic buyers are starting to come off the sidelines now that home prices are starting to recover.
See more on CNNMoney:
Reagan's Former Home for Sale for $5 Million
How Can I Cut My Property Taxes?
America's Best Places to Live
Source: http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/01/08/luxury-home-sales-soared-in-final-months-of-2012/
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Saturday, January 5, 2013
Consumers judge their risk of catching an illness by the cost of the cure
Jan. 4, 2013 ? When it comes to calculating their odds of getting the flu, consumers look to an unlikely gauge -- the price of the flu shot -- to measure their risk, according to a new study co-authored by a Tulane University researcher.
The study found that consumers make judgments about their risk of catching an illness based on the cost of its medication. The higher the price, the less they think they're at risk, says co-author Janet Schwartz, assistant professor of marketing at Tulane's A.B. Freeman School of Business.
"Your chance of winning at blackjack has nothing to do with how big the payout is and most people know that," Schwartz says. "But when it comes to understanding what prices reflect for medicine, people look at the price and they do think that it somehow tells them something about their own risk of getting a disease. In reality, those two factors are completely independent."
Researchers conducted several surveys to gauge consumers' reactions to different medications based on cost and perceived risk. For example, they presented different health messages about getting a flu shot, emphasizing individual risk in one scenario and the larger public health risks in another. They told some that the vaccine cost $25 and others $125. Even though all were told the cost would be covered by insurance, those in the high-price group felt that they were at a lower risk of getting the flu.
Researchers found that consumers instinctively believed that important medication like flu vaccine should be affordably priced to be widely accessible. When priced high and perceivably out of reach for some, consumers inferred that the medicine must not be all that necessary and the risk of getting the illness must be lower. The results of the study, which is co-authored by Adriana Samper of the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, will be published in the April issue of the Journal of Consumer Research.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Tulane University.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Adriana Samper, Janet A. Schwartz. Price Inferences for Sacred versus Secular Goods: Changing the Price of Medicine Influences Perceived Health Risk. Journal of Consumer Research, 2012; : 000 DOI: 10.1086/668639
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/LOaav_nsV4I/130104143451.htm
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Investing Like A 2-Year-Old Girl - Seeking Alpha
Disclosure: I am long AAPL, PG, DIS. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Warren Buffett recommended investing only in what you know. I have a two-year-old niece. I decided to look at investing based on my niece's view of her world. What would her portfolio contain if she invested in what she knows?
In the technology category, it would definitely include Apple (AAPL). She asks to use the iPad. She knows how to recognize icons, scroll with finger movements, and look for the "X" to close apps. Apple products are already a mainstay in her life.
Talking staples, whether she realizes it or not, Pampers has been a significant contributor to her well-being. Procter & Gamble (PG) makes the list for that reason alone, though it provides a long product list of other reasons.
For discretionary purchases, it could contain Disney (DIS). She's recognized Mickey Mouse and Little Einsteins for over a year. Just recently, classic Disney movies are sparking wonder in her mind. After watching Cinderella recently, she would only eat "Relly" soup (Campbell's (CPB) features the Disney princesses on a soup can - maybe Campbell's should also be added to the portfolio?) Or, with a roomful (okay two roomfuls) of Fisher Price, Little People, Barbie and American Girl products, perhaps Mattel (MAT) is a better candidate.
Next, being a girlie girl, she already loves clothes. The Kohl's (KSS) Jumping Beans children's line has provided a substantial amount of her wardrobe her first two years. Yet, Wal-Mart (WMT) is the convenient, cost-effective choice for all sorts of purchases - food, house wares, personal care products and on and on. It just simply is where her family "runs to" or "runs into".
The fate of Apple has been debated ad nauseum. For the believer, Apple's recent share price presents a reasonable entry point. The cash-adjusted forward P/E is just over 9. Analysts are still projecting 20% five-year (per annum) EPS growth. Apple now pays a 2% dividend. To the naysayer, it may no longer qualify as an "aggressive" grower. So what?
Procter & Gamble has prominent brands that are global leaders in its differing categories. P&G is a dividend-paying workhorse at 3.4%. More importantly, P&G has increased its dividend for 56 consecutive years. Though her Pampers usage will definitely be eliminated, odds are, with over 250 brands, it'll retain her family as consumers.
Disney has been flirting with its all-time high for months now. It just raised its dividend by 25% in November and is now paying 1.5%. Five-year (per annum) EPS growth is projected at over 11%. Star Wars and Lucasfilms, ESPN, theme parks and cruises, an increasing global footprint - the mouse isn't retiring any time soon. Even though J.C. Penney (JCP) is in its own whirlwind, the branded shop concept JCP is testing in stores could further imprint the Disney brand into the minds of consumers.
On the other hand, Mattel pays a much better dividend at 3.4%. But, Mattel trails Disney on other fundamentals. EPS growth for Mattel over the next five years is projected at 9%, 2% less than Disney. The long-term debt to equity ratio is 56 compared to Disney's 34. And, the insider ownership at Mattel is barely detectable at 1/3 of 1%.
Disney gets the nod over Mattel for fundamental reasons and in honor of its much broader diversification.
Kohl's has traveled its own rickety bridge to retail stewardship in a stagnant, mature market. It has differentiated itself by focusing on exclusive brands. The sales of these brands has grown from 25% of total revenue five years ago to 50%+ of total revenue now. It trades at a forward P/E below its historical average. It pays a 3% dividend and has not hesitated to reward shareholders with increases. Kohl's has figured out its inventory strategy and a reasonably-paced growth strategy.
Then there is Wal-Mart with its reams of negative press surrounding fair wages and fair working conditions. The shelf-stocking missteps where Wal-Mart curtailed inventory choices hurt its sales for quarter after quarter. Still, it is Wal-Mart whose very name is synonymous with low prices. And, because of sheer purchasing volume as well as product and geographic diversification, that definition is not likely to change. Plenty of opportunity still exists for international expansion. Wal-Mart's dividend at 2.3% does trail Kohl's. Wal-Mart has outperformed the S&P the past five years while Kohl's has not.
History would be on Wal-Mart's side regarding where to invest. However, I allowed two factors to push the decision to invest in Kohl's. With the ever-increasing negative press, the assumption is Wal-Mart will adjust something to address the issues which may naturally and negatively impact share price. Second, comparing each company's recent stock price to its YPEG formulas and comparing current P/E ratios to industry averages, Kohl's is more attractive than Wal-Mart. Therefore Kohl's share price may have more room to run.
So, the portfolio shall consist of Apple, Procter & Gamble, Disney and Kohl's. While such a portfolio may not be adequately diversified across sectors, it is diversified by other standards. There's a fast-growth stock in Apple, a dividend payer in P&G, well-diversified exposure in Disney and a semblance of a long shot in Kohl's. Three of the four have international exposure. All four pay dividends with three of the four offering a DRIP (dividend reinvestment plan). Considering it was determined by a two-year-old girl, it is a wily mix of industry stalwarts. Buffett doesn't even endorse diversification anyway.
Investing like a two year old may just make sense. And, it should prove profitable.
Additional disclosure: The investment club to which I belong is long Apple, Disney and P&G.
Source: http://seekingalpha.com/article/1094401-investing-like-a-2-year-old-girl
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The Right Web Host Will Help Your Business Grow - Internet ...
TIPS! Try calling the customer service center of any hosting provider you are considering using. Evaluate whether their response was courteous, helpful and professional.
Once you buy your domain name, you need to find a web host. With so many options, it may seem impossible to figure out where to begin. What are the best things to look for when selecting a company to be your website host? How do you determine if a web host is reliable? This article will give you the necessary information you need to understand web page hosting and find a host that will serve your needs.
TIPS! Pay attention to the reputation of the companies you consider. Look over reviews and other articles on different hosts.
Don?t be led astray by the dizzying number of options to choose from. Companies pop up constantly offering lower prices or bigger plans. Do not let yourself be easily swayed, and maintain your ability to make a calculated decision. Instead, focus on identifying a handful of the best options, then choosing from within that group.
TIPS! If you need more than one email address, ask for it from your web host. Ask your web host if they have email available that uses POP 3 format.
Some web hosts use Windows, while others choose Linux. Each platform comes with it?s own features and requirements. In general, a host using a Linux server will be less expensive than one that uses Windows.
TIPS! Seek independent reviews of a hosting service that looks good to you before making a decision. Customers like to post comments about online services that are either really good or really bad.
You should carefully look over the downtime of a web host. A web page hosting company will post their maintenance down times. Look at these postings and analyze them. If they fall during times you will need to use the service, or if there is too much down time, take note of this. If maintenance causes downtime during peak traffic hours or on multiple days of every month, this may not be your best bet.
TIPS! Free web hosting services are usually not as good as they look. For a modest website, free may be okay, but if you have a business or attract a lot of traffic, you may want to go with a more professional host.
If you are certain you will be using the same host for several years, try finding one that may give you a discount for years of continuous business. You could save a good deal of money this way.
TIPS! You should look for a web host that will back up your web content. Some hosting services may offer to backup your information for you, but you still want to make sure to back it up yourself as you can lose all your SEO work if you don?t.
Be certain you use a well-established payment process when you pay for your hosting services. When you use Paypal or major credit card companies, you are afforded better protection. Additionally, Paypal stops any host company from charging you automatically until you first give your consent.
TIPS! If you think you want to choose a free web host, reconsider. Sure, you can?t beat free, but that price means you suffer some pretty serious limitations.
Most hosts already require you to back up your own site. You should definitely back up your data, for the safety of your marketing materials and unique media if nothing else. This way, if anything ever happens, you have your site still in your hands.
TIPS! Ask web hosting providers about the level of security they have in place. In today?s society, websites come under attack quite often, and there are always a great number of potential threats.
If you want to get more visitors, sign up for a host that incorporates SEO functions. A SEO feature will allow your site to be registered with multiple search engines. However, you may prefer to list your website with a search engine directly, as you will have more control over the description which appears under your website?s title on search engine results pages.
TIPS! Make a list of the things you are looking for before you begin shopping around for your web host. Figure out what it is you need and want and from there shop around to see what web hosts matches these expectations.
Examine all the fine print in your hosting contract before agreeing to it. At times, fees are added that aren?t obvious during the sales pitch. You need to know this. Look out for set up fees, penalties for terminating the contract early and other hidden charges. It can all add up quickly.
TIPS! Look into the host?s track record before signing a contract. Some web hosting companies make claims that are completely unsupportable or untrue in their quest to win your business.
Follow the message boards dedicated to your hosting company to stay abreast of the latest news. If multiple web hosts are down, you will know it?s not your particular host?s problem, and that the issue is being worked on. If the host is down over 24 hours, stay active on that forum to see why and to draw attention to the issue.
TIPS! Take a look at some of the popular hosting directories. You?ll find all the hosts available which meet your particular needs when it comes to pricing, features and size.
You should choose a service that has been around for a long time. A long-standing company will, generally, provide better support. These companies are more likely to have experience with various issues you may encounter, so they can solve problems for you sooner. A good website hosting service should follow standard procedures when a problem appears. This prevents you from having to go through customer support hassles with the staff of new companies, who tend to have less experience.
TIPS! Make sure that the web host company that you are going to use is reliable. You could read on customer reviews and find out if they have any kind of guarantee in terms of returning your money if you are not satisfied.
This article has hopefully shown you that there?s more to setting up your website than choosing the domain name. You have to find a service to host it. The more you know about the features and benefits of different hosting options, the easier it will be to operate your website efficiently. Use the advice from this article to quickly get your site running.
Make sure to check us out often learn more about web hosting Lake Worth, South Florida area.
Here is some more explanations of aspects of internet marketing, seo aka search engine optimization, website design, etc that may help you! Thanks for visiting Targeted Internet Marketing! If it gets too technical just come on back.
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