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Tuesday, February 26, 2013
A Facebook Privacy Flaw Gave a Hacker Access to Every Single Account
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Q&A: Why investors are wary of Italy's elections
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) ? Investors are keeping a wary eye on Italy as the country heads to the polls Sunday and Monday to elect a new parliament. They fear that a new government and prime minister could weaken or scrap the economic reforms and budget cuts begun by outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti during his 15 months in office and hurt Italy's chances of recovering from a decade of low growth.
While the markets are unlikely to punish Italy as they did in 2011-12, they will want to make sure a new government doesn't mean a return to Italy's bad old days.
Here are some questions and answers about this weekend's elections matter for Italy and the rest of Europe.
Q: Why all the worry?
A: Italy's economy ? the third-largest among the 17 European Union countries that use the euro ? has only grown less than a half percent a year on average for a decade. That is compared to 1.25 percent in other rich industrialized countries. Faster growth is needed to shrink Italy's mounting debt burden, which already equals 127 percent of its annual gross domestic product.
Because of its size, Italy's problems can dent market confidence in the whole eurozone. Doubts about Italy's ability to manage its debt caused markets to question whether the euro could survive in 2011-12.
Q: What's wrong with its economy?
Before it joined the euro in 1999, the country used to give its economy a boost by to devaluing its old currency, the lire ? a trick that used to make its exports cheaper.
Devaluation helped mask underlying problems such as labor rules that favor vested interests such as unions and established workers, which kill off job prospects for younger people; a high business tax burden and heavy cost to businesses from expensive public utilities and red tape.
Italy "remains in dire need of structural reforms to boost competitiveness and improve trend growth," wrote economists Norbert Aul and James Ashley at RBC Capital Markets. They noted that the only economies that have grown more slowly in the past 12 years are Zimbabwe, San Marino, and Portugal.
A growing economy would increase government revenue from business and income taxes and the country's debt.
Q: Where does Monti come into all this?
A: Italy's political parties installed Monti, a former EU commissioner and academic, as prime minister to lead a temporary crisis government of financial experts in November, 2011. His predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi, resigned after high borrowing costs, fed by fears Italy would not pay its debts, threatened the country with financial ruin and rattled confidence in the eurozone.
Monti set about easing some of Italy's anti-business practices, such as labor laws that made it extremely difficult to fire longtime workers. He reduced the budget deficit with the help of an unpopular tax on homes.
Italy's deficit is down to around 3 percent of gross domestic output for last year ? not great, but it complies with the official limit for eurozone members.
However, in January, Monti resigned as Prime Minister after Berlusconi's party withdrew its support and criticized his cutbacks - hence the new elections.
Q: So now the elections are under way, what are investors afraid of?
A: Italy's Byzantine election laws could mean many different outcomes. The worst result would be no party or coalition being able to form a government, leading to new elections.
Researcher Vincenzo Scarpetta at the Open Europe think tank says the probability of this is "very low" but that re-run elections could mean "potentially, huge market pressure, which Italy can hardly afford." This pressure would come in the form of rising interest rates on government debt.
Another possibility could be a parliament so divided that it can't govern effectively, or a shaky coalition of parties with clashing agendas ? meaning that any policies would be the result of endless compromise and back-room deals. A badly split parliament "would surely affect investors' confidence as Italy's political future would remain unclear," said Aul and Ashley.
The return of a government led by Berlusconi's center-right coalition ? regarded as unlikely ? could also dismay markets given his call to repeal Monti's home tax and the lack of confidence markets showed in him in 2011.
Q: What do markets want to see?
A: Analysts say investors seem to be anticipating that the center-left Democratic Party, led by Pier Luigi Bersani will win. Bersani opposes budget austerity but is regarded as not totally against all efforts to improve conditions for business. Markets would like it best if he wins but still needs the seats won by small parties led by Monti to govern. That would mean the government might continue with some of the reforms.
Q: So should we expect market chaos and the eurozone crisis to erupt again?
A: Not right away, no. Italian law requires extensive consultation, so it could take weeks to tell who is in charge. In 2008, it took 24 days for Berlusconi to be sworn in despite a landslide win.
However, an anti-reform result could mean Italy's borrowing costs could rise in the days and weeks following the election.
That would be a sure sign that bond investors are more skeptical of the country's long-term ability to pay.
But it's considered unlikely that the yields would immediately rise to the record levels of last year that threatened to push Italy to default. That is thanks to the European Central Bank, which has done much to calm fears that a country will be unable to pay its debts. In September, the ECB offered to buy unlimited amounts of bonds issued by indebted countries, if they agree to reforms and to cut their deficits. No one has used the program yet but its mere existence has lowered Italy's borrowing costs.
Nonetheless, a new Italian government that rejects reform "will lead to more uncertainty, higher yields and a gradual process toward the situation we had last year," says Carsten Brzeski, an analyst at ING in Brussels.
The big problem is the long-term absence of growth rather than what the markets do next week.
Economists Aul and Ashley warn: "Whichever party ends up in power... needs to focus upon Italy's economic frailties as a matter of priority."
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Q&A: Why investors are wary of Italy's elections
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) ? Investors are keeping a wary eye on Italy as the country heads to the polls Sunday and Monday to elect a new parliament. They fear that a new government and prime minister could weaken or scrap the economic reforms and budget cuts begun by outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti during his 15 months in office and hurt Italy's chances of recovering from a decade of low growth.
While the markets are unlikely to punish Italy as they did in 2011-12, they will want to make sure a new government doesn't mean a return to Italy's bad old days.
Here are some questions and answers about this weekend's elections matter for Italy and the rest of Europe.
Q: Why all the worry?
A: Italy's economy ? the third-largest among the 17 European Union countries that use the euro ? has only grown less than a half percent a year on average for a decade. That is compared to 1.25 percent in other rich industrialized countries. Faster growth is needed to shrink Italy's mounting debt burden, which already equals 127 percent of its annual gross domestic product.
Because of its size, Italy's problems can dent market confidence in the whole eurozone. Doubts about Italy's ability to manage its debt caused markets to question whether the euro could survive in 2011-12.
Q: What's wrong with its economy?
Before it joined the euro in 1999, the country used to give its economy a boost by to devaluing its old currency, the lire ? a trick that used to make its exports cheaper.
Devaluation helped mask underlying problems such as labor rules that favor vested interests such as unions and established workers, which kill off job prospects for younger people; a high business tax burden and heavy cost to businesses from expensive public utilities and red tape.
Italy "remains in dire need of structural reforms to boost competitiveness and improve trend growth," wrote economists Norbert Aul and James Ashley at RBC Capital Markets. They noted that the only economies that have grown more slowly in the past 12 years are Zimbabwe, San Marino, and Portugal.
A growing economy would increase government revenue from business and income taxes and the country's debt.
Q: Where does Monti come into all this?
A: Italy's political parties installed Monti, a former EU commissioner and academic, as prime minister to lead a temporary crisis government of financial experts in November, 2011. His predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi, resigned after high borrowing costs, fed by fears Italy would not pay its debts, threatened the country with financial ruin and rattled confidence in the eurozone.
Monti set about easing some of Italy's anti-business practices, such as labor laws that made it extremely difficult to fire longtime workers. He reduced the budget deficit with the help of an unpopular tax on homes.
Italy's deficit is down to around 3 percent of gross domestic output for last year ? not great, but it complies with the official limit for eurozone members.
However, in January, Monti resigned as Prime Minister after Berlusconi's party withdrew its support and criticized his cutbacks - hence the new elections.
Q: So now the elections are under way, what are investors afraid of?
A: Italy's Byzantine election laws could mean many different outcomes. The worst result would be no party or coalition being able to form a government, leading to new elections.
Researcher Vincenzo Scarpetta at the Open Europe think tank says the probability of this is "very low" but that re-run elections could mean "potentially, huge market pressure, which Italy can hardly afford." This pressure would come in the form of rising interest rates on government debt.
Another possibility could be a parliament so divided that it can't govern effectively, or a shaky coalition of parties with clashing agendas ? meaning that any policies would be the result of endless compromise and back-room deals. A badly split parliament "would surely affect investors' confidence as Italy's political future would remain unclear," said Aul and Ashley.
The return of a government led by Berlusconi's center-right coalition ? regarded as unlikely ? could also dismay markets given his call to repeal Monti's home tax and the lack of confidence markets showed in him in 2011.
Q: What do markets want to see?
A: Analysts say investors seem to be anticipating that the center-left Democratic Party, led by Pier Luigi Bersani will win. Bersani opposes budget austerity but is regarded as not totally against all efforts to improve conditions for business. Markets would like it best if he wins but still needs the seats won by small parties led by Monti to govern. That would mean the government might continue with some of the reforms.
Q: So should we expect market chaos and the eurozone crisis to erupt again?
A: Not right away, no. Italian law requires extensive consultation, so it could take weeks to tell who is in charge. In 2008, it took 24 days for Berlusconi to be sworn in despite a landslide win.
However, an anti-reform result could mean Italy's borrowing costs could rise in the days and weeks following the election.
That would be a sure sign that bond investors are more skeptical of the country's long-term ability to pay.
But it's considered unlikely that the yields would immediately rise to the record levels of last year that threatened to push Italy to default. That is thanks to the European Central Bank, which has done much to calm fears that a country will be unable to pay its debts. In September, the ECB offered to buy unlimited amounts of bonds issued by indebted countries, if they agree to reforms and to cut their deficits. No one has used the program yet but its mere existence has lowered Italy's borrowing costs.
Nonetheless, a new Italian government that rejects reform "will lead to more uncertainty, higher yields and a gradual process toward the situation we had last year," says Carsten Brzeski, an analyst at ING in Brussels.
The big problem is the long-term absence of growth rather than what the markets do next week.
Economists Aul and Ashley warn: "Whichever party ends up in power... needs to focus upon Italy's economic frailties as a matter of priority."
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Saturday, February 23, 2013
Samsung galaxy S3 screenshot doesn't work
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Source: question.16mb.info --- Saturday, February 23, 2013
Samsung Galaxy S3 screenshot doesn't work Moree Yesterday I bought a brand new samsung Galaxy s3. WHen I hold home button and lock button, it doesnt shot the screen. how to fix it? Related Posts: how to screenshot the FULL ACTIVITY on Samsung Galaxy Y? Samsung Galaxy S3 not booting up, keeps restarting showing ?Samsung Galaxy S3 GT-19300? black screen Samsung Galaxy S2 doesn't play music Samsung Galaxy S No Unlock Screen How to take screenshot on GT-19100 with ICS 4.0.4? ...
Source: http://question.16mb.info/android/samsung-galaxy-s3-screenshot-doesnt-work/
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French actor Depardieu gets Russian home address
MOSCOW (AP) ? French actor Gerard Depardieu has a new permanent address in Russia.
Depardieu had sought Russian citizenship as part of his battle against a proposed super tax on millionaires in France. President Vladimir Putin granted him a Russian passport last month, and on Saturday he got it stamped with his address in the provincial city of Saransk.
Saransk is a city of 300,000 about 640 kilometers (400 miles) east of Moscow, known for its 18th-century churches. Depardieu was registered in an apartment belonging to his friend's relatives.
Showing his knowledge of Russian history, Depardieu likened himself to Yemelyan Pugachev, the chief of a peasant rebellion of the 18th century, saying: "I am like Pugachev: I am a peasant, and I want to be tsar of Saransk," according to Russia Today television.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/french-actor-depardieu-gets-russian-home-address-161033705.html
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Kristen Stewart & Robert Pattinson To Split After DVD Release
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are rumored to be dunzo. Honestly I was surprised they ever got back together. But now, shady business is happening. PR Photos Apparently the two have been over for? awhile, but are going to announce the split after the DVD release of Breaking Dawn? Part 2. As if anyone cares?? I don’t see how it would affect DVD sales, if anything it may increase them when the fans realize RPatz is single and ready to mingle!People may even be excited that he decided to move on and take a stand against his cheating ex. But the fact that I read that they would call it quits after the DVD release, way back before it was even released in theaters. [Blind Gossip] Everyone is so excited that these two lovebirds are back together! Sorry, but that kind of naivete is going to come back to bite you on the butt. Why? Because their reunion is both fake and temporary. We told you before that they their original coupling took place in a publicist?s office. They became good friends, but nothing more. If they look like they are in love, it is only because they [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/uTUcRuWs0NE/
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Friday, February 22, 2013
Chinese military denies hacking allegations
THE GLORIOUS Chinese army has reacted to allegations that it has been attacking many western companies as well as high profile news organisations and social networking services.
This month we have been awash with lurid tales of Chinese hacks and Chinese hackers, so it was only a matter of time before the country reacted to a recent report from security firm Mandiant.
At a press conference yesterday at China's Department of Defense, Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng told attendees that hacking was frowned upon in China and that the Chinese army has never supported any hacking.
The Mandiant report, however, traces a number of hacking attacks back to a group in China, and descibes the group as government sponsored and "one of the most persistent of China's cyber threat actors".
China said that this might be the case, but it is neither its fault nor its problem. "As we all know, hacker attacks almost every day in the event of theft of IP addresses, it is common practice online, this is a common sense problems. Secondly, the international network attacks has not been clear and consistent definition, the report alone daily collection of online behavior on subjective inference network spy action, the lack of legal basis," it said in a statement.
"Third, cyber attacks have transnational anonymity and deceptive attack the source of great uncertainty, irresponsible to publish information, and is not conducive to problem solve."
China said that it too is attacked, often by the USA, but keeps those problems to itself and never accuses the country of under-handedness. "Every country should be dealt with in a professional and responsible attitude towards the issue of network security," it added.
Mandiant's report accused China of a series of prolonged attacks, or, as Dan McWhorter, MD of Mandiant Threat Intelligence put it, "economic espionage conducted since 2006 against 141 victims across multiple industries".
It said that the hacking group APT1 has been responsible for the theft of hundreds of? terabytes of data from western companies and organisations over a number of years. ?
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AP Source: 3 former Miami coaches want case tossed
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) ? Three former Miami assistant coaches filed a motion on Thursday with the NCAA asking that their infractions cases be dismissed because of the mistakes that governing body for college athletics made in their long investigation of the Hurricanes.
Former football assistant Aubrey Hill and former basketball assistants Jake Morton and Jorge Fernandez had their motion delivered to the NCAA's Committee on Infractions, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither side authorized the release of any information.
The motion, according to the person, says the three coaches believe the NCAA's alliance with the attorney for the former booster at the center of the Miami scandal has created a scenario where they cannot "get a fair and reasonable proceeding."
A conference call on the matter is scheduled for Friday with the NCAA.
"It's unprecedented that all this is happening, and happening this way," the person said.
The NCAA believes Hill and Fernandez provided them with misleading information during the probe into Miami athletics, and cited them as believed to be in violation with what's known as Rule 10.1 ? the broad one governing ethical conduct. Morton was also cited in the case against the Hurricanes, after the NCAA said he, among other things, accepted "supplemental income" of at least $6,000 from the former booster, Nevin Shapiro.
Miami received its notice of allegations from the NCAA on Tuesday. In that letter, the NCAA said the Hurricanes had a "lack of institutional control" for the way they failed to monitor Shapiro, a convicted felon who provided cash, gifts and other items to players on the football and men's basketball teams over a span of about eight years.
Shapiro is currently serving a 20-year prison term for masterminding a $930 million Ponzi scheme.
It's unknown when the committee will decide anything related to the motion. The NCAA has told other coaches named in the notice of allegations, including Missouri basketball coach Frank Haith, that responses to the letter are due by May 20 ? and that the case may not be heard by the infractions committee until July unless all parties involve agree to an expedited schedule.
The case that will be presented on behalf of Hill, Morton and Fernandez is also expected to include the assertion that since the NCAA cooperated with Shapiro attorney Maria Elena Perez ? who deposed two witnesses that the NCAA wanted to hear from as part of her client's bankruptcy case and used subpoena power to do so, a tool the association does not have in its arsenal ? that fraud was also perpetrated on the bankruptcy court.
The news of the motion was just one part of yet another busy day as it relates to the Miami-NCAA saga, which almost seemed to be dragging along for the better part of two years before this wild week filled with acknowledgements of wrongdoing by investigators, the delivery of the actual charges, two extremely sharp-tongued statements issued by University President Donna Shalala about the process and now what essentially amounts to legal wrangling.
And one Florida state lawmaker has now called the NCAA's probe of the Hurricanes "a witch hunt."
At Louisville, the Cardinals have made the decision to keep assistant coach Clint Hurtt on staff while he answers NCAA allegations of ethical misconduct while he was an assistant with the Hurricanes. Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich said he doesn't see a need to change Hurtt's role or status with the program right now, but that he couldn't say whether Hurtt will be with Louisville next season.
"Clint is due his due process," Jurich said. "I think that's the only fair thing that we can do as a university. Clint's side of the story is much different than the allegations are so I think we wait the 90 days and see how it unfolds then."
Like Hill and Fernandez, Hurtt faces a charge that he breached the ethical-conduct provision from the NCAA.
A person familiar with the matter told The AP that the Rule 10.1 charge against Hurtt largely stems from the NCAA's belief that he was not truthful in a November 2011 interview with investigators, one that included questions about whether he provided improper meals, transportation and some lodging for a small number of recruits and players.
Also Thursday, a member of the Florida Senate wrote the state's Attorney General, asking that the NCAA be investigated for what he called "lack of institutional control" on the association's part.
Sen. Joseph Abruzzo wrote Attorney General Pam Bondi, saying that NCAA investigators "engaged in corrupt behavior in an attempt to manufacture misdeeds against the University of Miami" and in doing so, may have actually violated Florida law.
"I am requesting that the NCAA's admitted wrongdoing be investigated immediately before the NCAA's witch hunt against the University of Miami causes further damage," Abruzzo wrote.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ap-source-3-former-miami-coaches-want-case-015051829--spt.html
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Harvard Nap Room Under Consideration After Student's Petition Finds Support
The Harvard administration is considering creating a nap room on campus after sophomore Yuqi Hou started a petition that received 191 yes votes, The Boston Globe reports. It's one of three petitions that gained formal consideration last month by Dean of Harvard College Evelynn M. Hammonds.
Hou found in an online survey, which 432 undergraduates responded to, that just 21 percent of Harvard undergrads felt like they got enough sleep, and that nearly 60 percent were in favor of establishing a nap room, The Harvard Crimson reports.
"Most students operate daily on a sleep deficit, to the detriment of their health and productivity," Hou, 19, told The Globe. "For those getting insufficient sleep at night, naps can provide alertness and help students take a break from their hectic schedules."
Harvard's own research shows the benefits of power naps. Robert Stickgold, associate professor of psychiatry, said in the Harvard Health Letter that napping can improve people's problem-solving skills. A November 2009 issue of the Harvard Health Letter recommended 20- to 30-minute naps and endorsed the idea of having an ideal spot to rest: "You don't want to waste a lot of time getting to sleep. Reducing light and noise helps most people nod off faster. Cool temperatures are helpful, too."
The University of Colorado-Boulder started its own nap center in 2009 called "Siesta," the Daily Camera reported.
Some students say they notice that libraries are doubling as mega nap rooms.
"I see, every so often, people fall asleep in the library, and it's sort of inconvenient," Harvard senior Sam Singer told NBC Boston affiliate WHDH on Thursday. "And if you live far away from the yard you live far away from places where your classes might be to go back in the middle of the day. I know people often talk about taking a nap."
The University of Texas and the University of California-Davis both created their own nap maps to plot the best spots to snooze on campus. Hou told the Globe she plans to create her own nap map until a siesta center is set up on campus.
We can't say we disagree with Hou's idea. We have nap rooms here at The Huffington Post, and they're often overbooked.
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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/22/harvard-nap-room_n_2741391.html
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Saturday, February 16, 2013
Qualify for a VA Loan
VA Loans are one of the best ways for military members and veterans to buy a home. The benefits are many, and the downsides are few. For example, VA Loans allow veterans to buy a home with no money down. This is almost unheard of in the current real estate market place due to recent changes in lending laws. Interest rates on VA Loans are often slightly lower than conventional mortgage rates because the loans are backed by the U.S. government. If the borrower defaults on the loan, the government makes it up to the lender.
VA Loan Eligibility
To be eligible for a VA Loan, servicemembers and veterans must first obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COA). The VA Loan COA is required by the VA and the lender. Servicemembers and veterans qualify for a Certificate of Eligibility based on their military service. These are free to obtain, and must be obtained through the VA. Please don?t let a company charge you to obtain your VA Loan COA! In fact, if a company wants to charge you for this, my recommendation is to look for another lender. Here are the requirements according to the VA:
In general, you must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable and meet the service requirements below:
- Active Servicemembers: Serve at least 90 continuous days on active duty
- Veterans: Served 181 consecutive days on active duty or 90 days during war time
- Guard and Reserves: Served at least six years in the National Guard or Reserves, or 90 days on active duty during a period of war
- Spouses: Be the unremarried spouse of a servicemember who was killed in the line of duty.
There are several other caveats, exclusions, and special circumstances, so be sure to check with the VA if you are unsure about your eligibility.
How to Qualify for a VA Loan
Once you establish your VA Loan eligibility, you need to qualify for the actual loan. This includes your credit score, income, debt to income ratio, fixed expenses, and other factors. These criteria are very similar for a conventional home loan.
Credit score: Your credit score is a record of how well you have used your credit in the past. In general, the higher your credit score, the lower your interest payments. It?s a good idea to know what your credit score is before buying a home so you know what kind of interest rate you will be approved for ? or if you will even be approved for a loan based on your credit history. Here are some tips for getting a copy of your credit score for free.
If your credit score needs improvement, it?s a good idea to work on raising your credit score before applying for a loan. This will increase your odds of approval and help you get a better loan.
Income: Your income also affects your ability to get a VA Loan approval. The higher your income, the better your chances of having your home loan approved. Don?t let a low income prevent you from trying to buy a home though. Your loan application may be approved if you have a good credit score, don?t have any debt, and you are trying to buy an inexpensive home with affordable payments. Lenders may wish to see proof of income, including a copy of your pay stub or Leave and Earnings Statement if you are in the military. Lenders may also wish to see a copy of your tax returns if you are self-employed or if they need more information about your income. Don?t forget to include any additional income you may receive such as VA Disability Compensation, a military pension, income from a side job, etc.
Debt to Income Ratio and Fixed Expenses: Even if you have a great credit score, you may not be approved for a loan unless you can prove you can pay for it. Lenders will want to know more about your fixed expenses such as auto loans, student loans, child support or alimony, or other fixed payments. Lenders add up all your fixed monthly expenses into what they call your Debt to Income ratio, which shows them how much of your income each month goes to paying of debt and other fixed expenses. They want to look at the percentage of income your house payment will be, in addition to how much your total debt each month will be. This article explains debt to income ratio in more detail. In general, it?s best to reduce your bills as much as possible before applying for a loan.
Other factors: Each loan application is unique, so there may be other factors that affect your ability to get a VA loan approval. Some of these items include previous loan defaults, the value of the home you wish to buy, and other factors. It?s impossible to know or list every factor that could apply.
If you are planning on buying a home with a VA Loan, then check out our VA Loan interest rate page which lists current interest rates from a variety of lenders. This will give you an idea of what current interest rates are in your area.
Source: http://themilitarywallet.com/qualify-for-a-va-loan/
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Friday, February 15, 2013
India says seeking to cancel Finmeccanica chopper deal
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is seeking to cancel a $750 million order for a dozen helicopters from Italian defense group Finmeccanica, the defense ministry said on Friday, escalating its response to kickback allegations.
India has frozen payments for the AgustaWestland helicopters pending an inquiry, after Italian police arrested the head of Finmeccanica, Giuseppe Orsi, in connection with the case earlier this week.
Orsi, who has denied any wrongdoing, formally resigned on Friday.
"(The Ministry of Defense) today issued a formal show cause notice to AgustaWestland of UK seeking cancellation of contract," ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar said.
"The operation of the contract has been put on hold. The company has been asked to reply to the notice in seven days," Kar said in a statement.
Political opponents and the media have lambasted the Indian government saying it should have acted sooner on signs that something was amiss in the helicopter deal, after an internal defense ministry investigation concluded nothing was wrong.
On Wednesday Finmeccanica appointed company insider Alessandro Pansa as Chief Executive, a position formerly held by Orsi.
AgustaWestland is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Finmeccanica.
(Reporting By Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/india-says-seeking-cancel-finmeccanica-chopper-deal-140254793.html
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Edith Houghton, baseball pioneer
PHILADELPHIA ? Edith Houghton, one of the first female scouts in Major League Baseball, died Feb. 2 at age 100 in Sarasota, Fla.
After a playing career that included a stint with the Philadelphia Bobbies, Ms. Houghton worked for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1946 to 1952 and also had a decorated career in the military. She retired and moved to Sarasota in 1964.
Source: http://feeds.boston.com/click.phdo?i=0dad019a78c345316801e9db5242f675
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Thursday, February 14, 2013
Apple Lowers The Price Of The Retina MacBook Pro - Business ...
Here's an unexpected press release from Apple.
It announced this morning that it's lowering the price of its 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. It's also bumping the speed of the computer.?
The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina will now cost $1,499 at entry-level, a 12 percent price cut just four months after it was introduced, notes BTIG's Walter Piecyk. It was originally $1,699.
We're not sure why Apple is suddenly lowering the price, but on Twitter Sammy The Walrus IV, speculates that it's a combination of weak demand (which makes sense since these were pricey computers) and lower component costs.
In addition to price drops on the 13-inch MacBook Pro, the 13-inch MacBook Air is getting a price cut. It will now cost $1,399 for the 256 GB model, a $100 price drop.
Here's the release:
Apple? is making the MacBook Pro? with Retina? display faster and more affordable with updated processors and lower starting prices. The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display now starts at $1,499 for 128GB of flash, and $1,699 for a new 2.6 GHz processor and 256GB of flash. The 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display now features a faster 2.4 GHz quad-core processor, and the top-of-the-line 15-inch notebook comes with a new 2.7 GHz quad-core processor and 16GB of memory. Apple today also announced that the 13-inch MacBook Air? with 256GB of flash has a new lower price of $1,399.
The MacBook Pro with Retina display features the world?s highest resolution notebook display. Whether you?re reading emails, writing text, editing home movies in HD or retouching professional photography, everything appears vibrant, detailed and sharp, delivering an unrivaled viewing experience. The MacBook Pro with Retina display features flash storage that is up to four times faster than traditional notebook hard drives, and delivers improved reliability, instant-on responsiveness and up to 30 days of standby time.
Pricing & Availability
The updated MacBook Pro with Retina display and MacBook Air models are available today through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple?s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Pricing details, technical specifications, configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at www.apple.com/macbook-pro and www.apple.com/macbookair.
Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.
Watch Below: How To Save Your iPhone Battery
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Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-lowers-the-price-of-the-retina-macbook-pro-2013-2
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25 Heart Shaped Foods for Valentine's Day | Once Upon a Cutting ...
Happy Valentine's Day!
While some people will likely be going all out today with a romantic dinner, chocolate, and flowers, some will be protesting with an anti-Valentine's Day party, and probably many will just be treating it like any other day, I think we can all agree on the spirit of Valentine's Day - to remind ourselves to show our love and appreciation to all of the important people in our lives, whether it's a significant other, children, parents, siblings, friends, or coworkers.? And of course, to drink wine and eat adorable heart-shaped food, right?
In this spirit, here are 25 heart-shaped foods, both sweet and savoury, to enjoy today or any day you feel like treating a loved one (or yourself) to something special.? Hope you all have a great day!
Savoury Ideas:
Heart shaped personal pizzas with heart shaped toppings
Heart shaped beet & goat cheese ravioli
Sweet Ideas:
Raspberry shortbread heart cookies
Heart shaped cranberry bars
Mini heart shaped raspberry white chocolate cheesecake
Source: http://www.onceuponacuttingboard.com/2013/02/25-heart-shaped-foods-for-valentines-day.html
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Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Jawbone Accounts Compromised
Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/0byFGLA5IRg/jawbone-accounts-compromised
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Iran converting some higher-grade enriched uranium to fuel: official
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran is converting some of its higher-grade enriched uranium into reactor fuel, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
"This work is being done and all its reports have been sent to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a complete manner," Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as saying on Tuesday by state news agency IRNA.
He was responding to a question on news reports that Iran has converted some of its 20-percent-enriched uranium into fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor, IRNA said.
Diplomats accredited to the IAEA in Vienna told Reuters that Iran had apparently resumed converting into fuel small amounts of higher-grade enriched uranium - a process which if expanded could buy time for negotiations between Washington and Tehran on its disputed nuclear program.
The possibility of Iran converting enriched uranium into fuel - slowing a growth in stockpiles of material that could be used to make weapons - is one possible way in which the nuclear dispute between Iran and the West could avoid hitting a crisis by the summer.
Tehran could otherwise have amassed sufficient stock by June to hit a "red line" set by Israel after which it has indicated it could attack to prevent Iran acquiring enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon.
(Reporting By Yeganeh Torbati; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iran-converting-higher-grade-enriched-uranium-fuel-official-090031067.html
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Study in mice yields Angelman advance
Feb. 13, 2013 ? In the journal PLoS Biology, a team of scientists reports experiments showing how the gene defect of Angelman syndrome disrupts neurological processes that may be needed for memory and learning. In tests in mice, the team showed that a novel compound could restore the healthy processes.
In a new study in mice, a scientific collaboration centered at Brown University lays out in unprecedented detail a neurological signaling breakdown in Angelman syndrome, a disorder that affects thousands of children each year, characterized by developmental delay, seizures, and other problems. With the new understanding, the team demonstrated how a synthesized, peptide-like compound called CN2097 works to restore neural functions impaired by the disease.
"I think we are really beginning to understand what's going wrong. That's what's very exciting," said John Marshall, professor of medical science in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology and the senior author of the study in the journal PLoS Biology. However Marshall did caution that it is too early to predict how soon a clinical therapy might arise from the results.
In mice and people, Angelman syndrome arises from flaws in a gene called Ube3A. When it functions properly, the gene limits the amount of a protein called Arc in the brain. Left unchecked by the disease, Arc impairs the development of synapses in the hippocampus. Those neural connections may be essential for proper learning and memory function.
In the new study, Marshall and his colleagues report a series of experiments that show how the abundance of Arc creates such negative effects and how Arc might possibly be defeated and its ill-effects repaired in the lab.
Essentially, Arc interferes with the operation of a synaptic protein called PSD-95, that is required for the actions of a growth factor, known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This growth factor is released at synaptic contacts and initiates a sequence of molecular interactions necessary for the strengthening of neuronal connections or synapses. In mice with the flawed Ube3A gene, the signals sent by BDNF for memory formation are disrupted.
A team with a history
Although the researchers were surprised by the details they discovered about how Arc hinders the signaling process, they didn't come to the insight with complete naivete.
In other work, Marshall had been studying CN2097, designed by co-author Mark Spaller of Dartmouth College (Spaller synthesized it during earlier tenures at Wayne State University and Brown). The compound, which binds to PSD-95 was predicted to protect neurons under conditions of stroke and in disease states such as multiple sclerosis. With co-senior author Dennis Goebel of Wayne State, Marshall and Spaller found this to be the case. During the course of those studies the Marshall group learned that CN2097 enhanced the action of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which is known to be critically involved in long-term potentiation (LTP), a phenomenon believed by many neuroscientists to underlie learning.
Then, when University of North Carolina professor and former Brown postdoc Ben Philpot, now a leading expert on Angelman syndrome, returned to campus in 2008 to speak about Angelman syndrome, he showed how LTP is notably lacking in mice with the condition. After discussions with Philpot, Marshall and his group decided to test whether CN2097 might restore LTP in Angelman mice.
Early on, Marshall said, the team figured the defect in LTP in Angelman mice effect had to do with BDNF signaling.
"We started studying BDNF signaling in the Angelman syndrome mouse and discovered the signaling was defective, so that really was the breakthrough," he said. "It was completely unexpected. It's a new way of thinking about this disease."
That led to the set of experiments now reported in PLoS Biology, in which the group found that CN2097 essentially protects PSD-95 from interference by Arc, helping to restore BDNF signaling and the formation of stronger synapses. In electrophysiological tests on hippocampal tissue of healthy and Angelman mice, the compound made obtaining LTP significantly easier, although observing LTP in Angelman mice is still more difficult than in normal mice, Marshall said.
Paths to a therapy
Although the bottom line of the study is that the scientists now have taken a step toward understanding what seems to be going wrong in Angelman syndrome, the path toward a therapy for people is not so simple, Marshall said. For one thing, the team hasn't yet shown that mice benefit cognitively or behaviorally from CN2097's ability to protect PSD-95 from Arc and therefore to restore BDNF signaling and synapse formation.
"Can we actually rescue learning deficits?" Marshall said. "That would be the next stage to test. We haven't gotten that far yet."
Also, CN2097 breaks down in a matter of hours, so it may have to be administered quite frequently to sustain its beneficial effects.
But the research is extremely encouraging, Marshall said, because it pinpoints a potentially successful therapeutic strategy. Now scientists have two promising options. One is simply to keep testing CN2097 to determine whether it benefits live, behaving mice and what the best dosing regimen would be. The other is for scientists to take all that they have learned over the course of their experiments and use that knowledge to identify other compounds that might work like CN2097, but do so for longer periods of time.
"We think we are on the right track," Marshall said. "The goal is to try to help these kids. We want to do that as rapidly as possible."
Marshall has launched a new start-up company, Angelus Therapeutics, in hopes of raising the money required to perform more preclinical studies in animals. Further tests of the compound are necessary to lay the groundwork for possible future clinical trials.
Farther into the future, he added, the team can also look at other brain disorders that might also have to do with BDNF, synapse formation, learning, and memory, perhaps including Alzheimer's disease.
In addition to Marshall, Spaller, and Goebel, other authors are Cong Cao, Mengia Rioult-Pedotti and Crystal Yu at Brown; Paolo Migani at the University Pollitechnica delle Marche in Ancona, Italy; and Rakesh Tiwari and Keykavous Parang at the University of Rhode Island.
The Angelman Syndrome Foundation, the Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council, and the National Institutes of Health (Grant R21-NS061176) supported the research.
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Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Brown University.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Cong Cao, Mengia S. Rioult-Pedotti, Paolo Migani, Crystal J. Yu, Rakesh Tiwari, Keykavous Parang, Mark R. Spaller, Dennis J. Goebel, John Marshall. Impairment of TrkB-PSD-95 Signaling in Angelman Syndrome. PLoS Biology, 2013; 11 (2): e1001478 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001478
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/vrtyKN97p3w/130213092307.htm
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Serena's coach: Tennis doesn't have a drugs problem
Patrick Mouratoglou, who coaches Serena Williams, tells The Tennis Space: ?Tennis doesn?t have a drugs problem.?
How big a problem is drugs in tennis?
I don?t believe there are drugs in tennis. I mean, there are cheats everywhere in the world but for me it?s very rare in tennis and I can explain it for one reason. Cycling and running are performance sports. The only thing that counts is the physical performance, so the added value of drugs is unbelievable. In tennis, the physical performance is one of about 20 parameters that make a player good. You can have a player that?s ranked 200 in the world and (even) if he took drugs and he improved 100 percent physically, he could have the same results. This could happen. It?s not that drugs would not help, probably they would, but not enough to take the risk, from my point of view, for most players. It?s a sport of ability, of technical, of tactical, of mental, skills.
But surely drugs help you to recover quicker and train harder?
Yes but if you look at the physical (nature) of the players. (Roger) Federer ? he?s an exception of course ? but there are many others (with the same physique) as him. Most of the players are not at all impressive, physically.
Wouldn?t drugs also help with endurance?
It counts. But again, there are many other ways to recover better. First of all, how you play, if you use a lot of energy or not playing, if you are fluid. Rafa (Nadal) uses unbelievable energy, but Federer does not use half of what Rafa uses. Even (Novak) Djokovic, I?m not surprised he recovers so well. First of all he has the perfect body for tennis, not one kilogramme of fat. Not too heavy muscles, which is very important and the body is unbelievably flexible and his body is very well balanced and if you look at the way he plays, he doesn?t use too much energy. He?s close to the baseline, so he runs much less. You look how much he runs compared to the others. All those things have to be taken into account in terms of recovery.
What about the efficiency of the testing process?
I cannot say because I am not a specialist. I can?t say how important a blood test is compared to a urine one. They have so many ? but it?s true that there are not so many blood tests. So if you can cheat because the urine test does not give enough information then obviously we should have many more blood tests. It?s important to have very many controls.
In grand slams are players generally tested only when they lose?
Yes, only when they lose. If you took something, you can still see it at the end (of the tournament). They choose the players randomly. For example, in Mauritius (where a group of players including Serena Williams trained before Christmas) the players were tested. And at the (Mouratoglou) Academy (near Paris) there are often people coming asking for this player or that one. But I don?t know again if the tests give you enough information.
Source: http://www.thetennisspace.com/serenas-coach-tennis-doesnt-have-a-drugs-problem/
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Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The Stars Parade Themselves At Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is officially here, which means the New Orleans bacchanalia has been rolling all weekend and comes to a close today. The final beads will be thrown, the glittery purple and gold will illuminate the French Quarter and beer cans will adorn the sidewalks as revelers depart from the festivities in their expected drunken stupors.
That means the many celebrities who frequent New Orleans Mardi Gras will also begin their mass exodus out of the city. Some of the larger parades, particularly Saturday night's Endymion Parade and Sunday night's Bacchus Parade, are defined by their famous grand marshals who serve as the festivities' figureheads, tossing goods from atop their floats to rambunctious crowds yearning to nab some shiny plastic beads and doubloons straight from the hands of the stars themselves. This year Kelly Clarkson had the honor of serving in the parade, and recent years have seen the likes of Maroon 5, Kelly Ripa, Anderson Cooper, Will Ferrell, Britney Spears and more.
As Mardi Gras winds down and the noise level on the streets of New Orleans tapers off, let's take a look at some of the many celebrities who have graced the annual holiday with their presence.
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Epic Glacier Collapse Caught on Camera
Amateur photographer Christian Grosso got a surprise recently when he visited a glacier in Argentina's Patagonia region: an enormous ice bridge connected to the glacier ruptured and fell, causing a huge wave in the lake below.
Luckily he had his camera to capture the event. And another visitor caught a video of the ice falling.
The glacier, known as Perito Moreno, is one of the largest in Patagonia, a region at the southern tip of South America, according to the NASA Earth Observatory. Perito Moreno differs from other glaciers in that it periodically cuts off the major southern arm of Lake Argentino, known as Brazo Rico, by forming a natural dam and preventing water from transferring between the two bodies of water.
"This glacier is somewhat unique in that its path takes it across an arm of a large lake," NASA scientist Jim Foster told OurAmazingPlanet. Foster also curates the Earth Science Picture of the Day, which featured Grosso's photo. "Most glaciers don't have such trajectories, so bridging and tunneling, at least at this scale, is rather rare."
Grosso got to witness the rare event on Saturday, Jan. 19, at about 7:15 p.m. local time; there were only 20 to 30 visitors present at the time, he said. Luckily, Grosso was far enough away that the rush of water didn't affect him, he told OurAmazingPlanet.
This was but a relatively minor rupture of the glacier, however. Every four to five years Brazo Rico's water levels swell as much as 98 feet (30 meters) higher than those in Lake Argentino. When the stress is too much, the glacier catastrophically ruptures, according to the Earth Observatory.
That last happened in March 2012; this latest burst, witnessed by Grosso, resulted from the melting of the ice bridge that was left over from that 2012 collapse, which had hollowed out an enormous hole through the glacier.
Reach Douglas Main at dmain@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @Douglas_Main. Follow OurAmazingPlanet on Twitter?@OAPlanet. We're also on?Facebook?and Google+.
Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Source: http://news.yahoo.com/epic-glacier-collapse-caught-camera-231823835.html
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Sunday, February 10, 2013
North Hills vs. Montour Varsity Hockey | North Hills Sports ...
Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.
Source: http://northhills.patch.com/events/north-hills-vs-montour-varsity-hockey
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New genes for short-sightedness: 24 new genes that cause refractive errors and myopia identified
Feb. 10, 2013 ? An international team of scientists led by King's College London has discovered 24 new genes that cause refractive errors and myopia (short-sightedness).
Myopia is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment worldwide, and currently there is no cure. These findings, published February 10 in the journal Nature Genetics, reveal genetic causes of the trait, which could lead to finding better treatments or ways of preventing the condition in the future.
Thirty per cent of Western populations and up to 80 per cent of Asian people suffer from myopia. During visual development in childhood and adolescence the eye grows in length, but in myopes it grows too long, and light entering the eye is then focused in front of the retina rather than on it. This results in a blurred image. This refractive error can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or surgery. However, the eye remains longer, the retina is thinner, and this may lead to retinal detachment, glaucoma or macular degeneration, especially with higher degrees of myopia. Myopia is highly heritable, although up to now, little was known about the genetic background.
To find the genes responsible, researchers from Europe, Asia, Australia and the United States collaborated as the Consortium for Refraction and Myopia (CREAM). They analysed genetic and refractive error data of over 45,000 people from 32 different studies, and found 24 new genes for this trait, and confirmed two previously reported genes. Interestingly, the genes did not show significant differences between the European and Asian groups, despite the higher prevelance among Asian people. The new genes include those which function in brain and eye tissue signalling, the structure of the eye, and eye development. The genes lead to a high risk of myopia and carriers of the high-risk genes had a tenfold increased risk.
It was already known that environmental factors, such as reading, lack of outdoor exposure, and a higher level of education can increase the risk of myopia. The condition is more common in people living in urban areas. An unfavourable combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors appears to be particularly risky for development of myopia. How these environmental factors affect the newly identified genes and cause myopia remains intriguing, and will be further investigated by the consortium.
Professor Chris Hammond from the Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology at King's College London, and lead author of the paper, said: 'We already knew that myopia -- or short-sightedness -- tends to run in families, but until now we knew little about the genetic causes. This study reveals for the first time a group of new genes that are associated with myopia and that carriers of some of these genes have a 10-fold increased risk of developing the condition.
'Currently myopia is corrected with glasses or contact lenses, but now we understand more about the genetic triggers for the condition we can begin to explore other ways to correct it or prevent progression. It is an extremely exciting step forward which could potentially lead to better treatments or prevention in the future for millions around the world.'
Currently, possibilities to reduce progression of myopia are very limited. While one drug, called atropine, may reduce progression, it dilates the pupil and causes problems with light sensitivity and difficulty with reading. New options are necessary. Chances are good that the insights gained from this study will provide openings for development of new strategies.
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Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by King's College London, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/A79LABKE1F0/130210143252.htm
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6 dead in rocket attack on Iraqi refugee camp
BAGHDAD (AP) ? Rockets and mortar rounds struck a refugee camp for Iranian exiles next to Baghdad's international airport before dawn Saturday, killing six people and wounding about 40, police and U.N. officials said.
The U.N. urged the Iraqi government to ensure the safety of the about 3,100 camp residents and move quickly to find the still-unidentified attackers.
The government said it launched an investigation, but that there is little it can do to shield the camp from rocket attacks. It asked the international community to speed up the resettlement of the refugees.
The camp is home to members of Mujahedeen-e-Khalq or MEK, the militant wing of a Paris-based Iranian opposition group, the National Council of Resistance of Iran.
Iraq's Shiite-led pro-Iranian government considers the MEK a terrorist group and is eager to have it out of the country.
The refugee camp, located in a former American military base known as Camp Liberty, is meant to be a temporary way station while the United Nations works to find host countries for the refugees. They are unlikely to return to Iran because of their opposition to the regime.
In Saturday's attack, 35 rockets and mortar rounds struck the camp, said camp spokesman Shahriar Kia.
He said more than 100 people were hurt, while the U.N. and police put the number of injured at about 40.
The Iranian opposition group provided amateur video and photos it said showed the aftermath of the attack. One photo showed five bodies swaddled in blankets lying on the ground in a hallway.
A video clip showed wounded, some with blood-covered faces, being treated at a small clinic. Other footage said to be from the camp showed several small craters in the ground, presumably from rockets, as well as shattered windows and shredded walls of trailer homes.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Ant?nio Guterres, called on the Iraqi government to ensure the safety of the refugees and find the perpetrators. "This is a despicable act of violence," he said, noting that camp residents are asylum seekers requesting refugee status and are entitled to international protection.
Two police officials confirmed that six people were killed in Saturday's attack and said more than 40 were hurt, including three Iraqi policemen. They spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to share information with the media.
Kia, the camp spokesman, alleged that Iraqi authorities refused to let the wounded be taken to area hospitals for treatment.
Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Moussawi denied the claim.
The U.N. envoy to Iraq, Martin Kobler, said about 40 wounded were taken to hospitals shortly after the attack.
Kobler said five people died at the camp and that a sixth apparently died later in a hospital.
The camp was set up last year.
Before being moved to the Baghdad area, members of the MEK had lived in another camp, called Ashraf, in northeastern Iraq. Camp Ashraf was twice raided by Iraqi security forces trying to impose control, leaving more than three dozen people dead.
Iraq's government says MEK members are living in Iraq illegally.
"We call on the international community to expedite the procedures ... to find countries for them as quickly as possible," al-Moussawi, the government spokesman, said Saturday.
Kobler told The Associated Press that about half the camp residents have so far been cleared for resettlement, and that he believes the first group can leave soon.
The MEK, which is also called the People's Mujahedeen of Iran, opposes Iran's clerical regime and has carried out assassinations and bombings in Iran. It fought in the 1980s alongside Saddam Hussein's forces in the Iran-Iraq war, and several thousand of its members were given sanctuary in Iraq by Saddam.
The group renounced violence in 2001 and the Obama administration took the MEK off the U.S. terrorism list in late September.
___
Associated Press writer Karin Laub in Baghdad contributed reporting.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/6-dead-rocket-attack-iraqi-refugee-camp-065825045.html
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