Sponsored By:

We were unable to forward you to the advertisement you clicked on.

The likely cause for this is that your browser, feed reader, or email application is configured to not accept cookies, or your reader may launch an external browser to view links without sharing cookies.

• If you're using Internet Explorer, make sure your privacy setting is at medium or below.
  • Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
  • Click the Privacy tab
  • Adjust your privacy setting if necessary
    ?
• If you're using a reader that embeds Internet Explorer (examples: Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Feed Demon), you'll also need to select Internet Explorer as your default web browser.
  • Open Internet Explorer
  • Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
  • Click the 'Programs' tab and check the box for Internet Explorer to check if it is the default browser and save your change
  • Close your browser, re-open it, and when prompted, select Internet Explorer as your default
  • You can then click on an ad in your newsletter and visit the site you wish to view

Source: http://ads.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=92f5d7784f31375e720ddf9fffd5e6cc&p=4

words with friends words with friends phlebotomy dog show best in show bret michaels bret michaels

Samsung's Galaxy S3 extended battery to become available Jan. 5, in Germany at least

Before the holidays, an OEM extended battery kit surfaced for the Samsung Galaxy S3, initially going on pre-order at a British retailer. While that same retailer is still taking pre-orders for the item without an expected shipping date, Amazon Germany has gone one better. 

According to the item's listing on Amazon.de, the Samsung Extended Battery Kit will become available on January 5. Pricing is relatively consistent with earlier reports, coming in at €39.90, slightly cheaper even than the expected RRP of £40 (€48) in the UK. There is no word yet on if/when we can expect to see wider availability of this. 

Additionally, click on past the break for a quick video -- in Slovenian, and you'll want to spin on to about 1:05 -- which demonstrates the extended battery and replacement battery door. The best news? It doesn't seem to add much additional thickness to the phone. 

Source: Amazon via All About Samsung

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/gdoaawxEQZc/story01.htm

beloved ufc results water for elephants old school nick swisher jaco san jose sharks

Book Review : The Scientists: An Epic of Discovery by Andrew Robinson, ed.

By Andrew Robinson, ed.

By Andrew Robinson, ed.

Web edition: December 27, 2012
Print edition: January 12, 2013; Vol.183 #1 (p. 30)

Short biographies of scientists through the ages, from Copernicus to Watson and Crick, illustrate where new ideas and discoveries come from.

Thames & Hudson, 2012, 304 p., $45

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/347271/title/Book_Review__The_Scientists_An_Epic_of_Discovery_by_Andrew_Robinson_ed

the Pirate Bay Hotel Transylvania looper eagles nfl schedule 2012 Fox News Suicide Google

Smith's baseline jumper at buzzer beats Suns 99-97

PHOENIX (AP) ? Without Carmelo Anthony and Raymond Felton, the New York Knicks still had enough to eke out a 99-97 victory in Phoenix, thanks to a pair of very late, very tough jumpers by J.R. Smith.

The first was a 15-foot, fadeaway shot from just inside the key to tie it with 10.6 seconds left, the second a 21-footer from the baseline at the buzzer.

"I don't know whatever words you want to use but he loves that moment," Knicks guard Jason Kidd said. "I'm trying to figure out if that last shot was tougher than the one before that he took."

The game-winner came on an inbound pass from Kidd after the Suns turned it over with a second to play.

"It was premeditated," Smith said. "I was walking around the court going, 'You are going to make it, you are going to make it.' I was trying to get my form ready before I even thought about taking it. I was trying to go through my mechanics in my head, get my shoulders square to the basket and just let it fly."

Jared Dudley had a career-high 36 for Phoenix, including two free throws that put the Suns ahead 97-95 with 34.5 seconds to go.

New York was without the NBA's No. 2 scorer in Anthony (hyperextended knee) and Felton (finger), both hurt in the Christmas day loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles.

The Knicks said X-rays on Felton's right fifth finger revealed a fracture and the next course of action will be determined after his return to New York.

"We just have to go back and assess it and see where we are and go from there, but again, like I said, injuries occur," New York coach Mike Woodson said. "Key guys get banged up here and there and we have enough guys on our team that guys just got to step up and play until guys get back. That's how it's got to be."

The Suns lost Goran Dragic in the final seconds of the first half when he was undercut by Smith on a layup attempt and fell hard to the floor. Dragic had bruises to his hip, back and wrist. Smith was called for a flagrant foul on the play.

Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry knew there was no intent to injure on Smith's part.

"J.R., he's not that kind of player," Gentry said. "He plays hard and he competes like crazy. It was an accident. It was one of those things that happens."

Chris Copeland and Tyson Chandler added 14 points apiece for the Knicks.

Dudley, whose previous high was 33, was 11 of 17 shooting, 5 of 8 on 3s, and 9 of 9 at the foul line. Marcin Gortat added 13 points for the Suns, who lost their third in a row.

New York led 54-44 at the half and stretched it to 68-54 when Smith made a fadeaway, falling-down 19-footer with 7:13 left in the third. Dudley responded with a 3-pointer and the Suns were off on a 20-4 outburst.

Another 3 by Dudley tied it at 72 with 2:10 to go, and Shannon Brown, who made just one of his first seven shots, scored on a fast-break layup to put Phoenix ahead 74-72 with 1:23 left in the quarter.

It was knotted at 76 entering the fourth.

Dudley was fouled by Copeland on a 3-point try and made all three free throws to put Phoenix up 90-86 with 5:19 left, but Smith scored the next four, Kidd sank a 3 and Copeland made a 21-footer in a 9-0 spurt that had the Knicks up 95-90 with 3:34 left.

After a scoreless 1:28, Sebastian Telfair made a 3, then Brown sank a 20-footer to tie it at 95 with 1:15 remaining.

Smith missed a jumper from the top of the key 52 seconds from the finish and the Suns got the ball. Dudley was fouled on a drive to the hoop and made both free throws to make it 97-95.

But Smith, with P.J. Tucker all over him, sank a fadeaway from just outside the free throw line to tie.

Gentry called a 20-second timeout but the play broke down and, when Telfair tried to hit Gortat for a back-door layup, the ball was knocked back into the backcourt by Kidd. Telfair chased it down but wound up stepping out of bounds with a second on the clock.

After a timeout, Kidd tossed the pass to Smith, who got the shot off, again over Tucker, from just inside the 3-point line. It went in and he was mobbed by his teammates.

"It happened so fast and obviously you want to keep it for the last shot and live with that," Dudley said, "but you give them one second and J.R. with the big shot."

NOTES: The Knicks complete their three-game trip west at Sacramento on Friday. ... New York has lost two in a row only once this season. ... Michael Beasley, a big part of the second-half surge, missed Sunday's home loss to the Clippers due to illness. ... The 36 points were the most by a Suns player in two seasons. ... Kidd also had eight assists and six rebounds. ... New York also was without Rasheed Wallace with a sore left foot. .... It was the first time the team had been without Anthony and Felton in the same game. .... The Knicks are 3-2 without Anthony.

___

Follow Bob Baum at www.twitter.com/Thebaumerphx

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/smiths-baseline-jumper-buzzer-beats-suns-99-97-100051454--spt.html

abc glock earthquake abc news msnbc meteor shower 121212 Concert

So Did Dick Armey Break the Law? (talking-points-memo)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/273251984?client_source=feed&format=rss

Ashton Eaton London 2012 basketball London 2012 Slalom Canoe Alex Morgan Misty May Treanor Lolo Jones Aly Raisman

2013 Smart Guide: Hot computing for a cool billion

Read more: "2013 Smart Guide: 10 ideas that will shape the year"

It has been called science's X Factor: six mega-projects vying for two prizes, each worth a cool ?1 billion.

In 2010, the European Commission put out a call for visionary computing initiatives comparable to the moon landing or the mapping of the human genome. Such ultra-ambitious projects would change the way we think about the world and ideally solve some of its problems, too.

Of 21 ideas submitted, six were shortlisted for further development. These include the Human Brain Project - an attempt to simulate the brain using a supercomputer - and a scheme to create a new generation of electronic devices based not on silicon but graphene.

The winners will be announced at the end of January. The prize money, from European countries and private firms as well as the European Union, will be spread over 10 years.

Our money is on FuturICT, a real-life SimCity on a global scale. It will give individuals, companies and governments real-time information about the planet, and run simulations to find the best strategies for dealing with issues such as climate change.

FuturICT was conceived after the 2008 financial crash drove home our lack of understanding about today's hyperconnected world. The civilisation simulator will be an open platform, accepting data on anything from social media and the stock exchange to climate models and political preferences. Stay tuned for the start of something big.

If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.

Have your say

Only subscribers may leave comments on this article. Please log in.

Only personal subscribers may leave comments on this article

Subscribe now to comment.

All comments should respect the New Scientist House Rules. If you think a particular comment breaks these rules then please use the "Report" link in that comment to report it to us.

If you are having a technical problem posting a comment, please contact technical support.

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/26f07616/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg216289650B60A0A0E20A130Esmart0Eguide0Ehot0Ecomputing0Efor0Ea0Ecool0Ebillion0Bhtml0Dcmpid0FRSS0QNSNS0Q20A120EGLOBAL0Qonline0Enews/story01.htm

sasha baron cohen stacy keibler stacy keibler all star game oscar red carpet daytona 500 start time ryan zimmerman

New Modular Clinic Rising in VA - MH Marketing Sales Management

TheFranklinNewsPost reports from Franklin County in southwestern Virginia Guy and Betty Beatty are donating $1 million to erect a new modular facility to house the Free Clinic of Franklin County, giving it a permanent home. Established in 1992, the clinic offers free and reduced cost medical services to people who otherwise would likely go without treatment. The 7,100 square-foot building will now be able to accommodate 5,000 patients annually, more than double the 2,200 treated in 2012. Guy Beatty, founder and chairman of The Beatty Companies in northern VA, and his wife are friends of Dr. Jennifer Braaten, president of Ferrum College in Rocky Mount, Va. As MHProNews reported April 29, 2011, Mod-U-Kraf built two dormitories for Ferrum College, and will construct the new home for the Free Clinic. Dr. Braaten says, ?Our community will benefit for years to come through Guy?s desire to share his blessings with us. It is a great privilege for me to have worked with him to secure this tremendous gift for those in need of quality health care in Franklin County.?

(Photo credit: Mod U Kraf?Ferrum College dormitory)

Categories: Awards, Business, Company News, Factory-Built Homes, Modular, News Item Tags: 1 million, april 29, beatty, blessings, braaten, desire, dormitories, Franklin County, kraf, medical services, MHProNews, Mod-U-Kraf, privilege, quality health care, rocky mount va, southwestern virginia

Source: http://www.mhmarketingsalesmanagement.com/blogs/daily-business-news/new-modular-clinic-rising-in-va/

Jessica Ghawi People Water Fred Willard Emmy nominations 2012 Ramadan 2012 Michelle Jenneke batman

Calvin: Search Engine Marketing Internet Hosting And Class C Ips ...

Web hosting companies give their clientele a large collection of alternatives, although the good suppliers stay ahead of your pack by featuring the most up-to-date technological enhancements directly. Cyberspace is instantly being a true multimedia practical experience, and that means that a bit more than easy to understand text incorporation. For numerous web site homeowners and internet businesses, the benefits of the internet host that gives service for audio and video streaming are worth it around the considerably less enhanced competitors. Does your webhosting supplier assist video and audio streaming? Otherwise, you may hope to modification for your next reasons:

Buyers have much less time to pay investigating whether or not or not your service or product is correct for them. A well-placed video clip or educational audio streaming can added speedily get readers the knowledge they should know inside of a fashion that expediates their final decision. And if that decision is definitely a subject of regardless if or to not invest revenue with your material, merchandise, or products, the quicker the better!

Audio and online video streaming is an ideal enhance to informational text in your web page. After you are trying to instruct your readers on complex principles or products and solutions, it in no way hurts to possess a whole lot more than 1 type of figuring out reinforcement attainable. Research have proven that people today should always practice related information an array of instances earlier than they?ve a grasp of the things they are trying to discover. It is not a make a difference of getting ignorant or ?slow.? Lots of people understand this manner. That is why instructors will lecture, prepare their notes for the board, and supply visual aids to bolster the ideas. Your internet site or web business enterprise can do the very same detail by movie and audio streaming. And relating to the World Huge World-wide-web, specifics sells.

Audio and movie streaming can help you and also other customers discuss information which might be beneficial in some way. As you discuss it might imply the primary difference among a sale together with a no-sale. Or perhaps you only want to be practical to people that are near to you. Also, you will reward personally and professionally due to the kindness of other individuals. By accessing audio and online video streaming articles and other content on your internet hosting platform from other people, you are able to master a good deal more and integrate people specifics in the foreseeable future development of your respective information site.

Audio and video streaming allows for a more visually energetic working experience. Tons of people develop tired of limitless partitions of texts and also the irregular photograph. Mix it up some by bringing audio and video subject matter towards your websites, therefore you may be doing all of your end users a favor, not to mention yourself, considering a 5-minute video clip or audio file routinely usually takes a lot less time and energy to produce than an in-depth brief article. It really is all about rendering it more convenient on by yourself and your people.

Questions To Ask Your Internet Hosting Service Provider can present you with highest possible facts for Utilizing Web Hosting Services Benefits And Perks.Please visit the post for more data!

Source: http://www.welcometocoastcity.org/search-engine-marketing-internet-hosting-and-class-c-ips.php

pennsylvania primary jerome simpson hand sanitizer obama on jimmy fallon google drive apple stock pilar sanders

Source: http://calvinchristen.blogspot.com/2012/12/search-engine-marketing-internet.html

Natina Reed Sandy Hurricane flight tracker Marina Krim Justin Bieber cancer lil wayne Mockingbird Lane

Home Improvement Produced Basic - Suggestions! powah KITY!!! I ...

Warning: Missing argument 2 for wpdb::prepare(), called in /home/kityorg/kity.org/wp-content/plugins/ninja-forms/includes/display_functions.php on line 11 and defined in /home/kityorg/kity.org/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 990

Almost any one can enjoy and benefit from doing a little redecorating assignments. While you are a newbie, a great deal of areas can be extremely perplexing, like which device is the best one to do the job or do you want an allow to the task you will be intending to carry out? So, so what can a newbie do to discover more about this data? Ideas are the best solution, like the types discovered beneath.

It can be time for you to fresh paint the outside of the property if you are looking for a way to boost home improvements. Handful of everything has the effect and attraction of your shiny cover of external surfaces color. Pick a new and different color, and it will surely appear to be an entirely new home!

There are some telltale signs to look for that sign maintenance are important on the outdoor patio. A few things to confirm for are cracks, dry decay, protruding fingernails or anchoring screws and unevenness for the boards.

Crown molding is an easy inclusion that makes a massive difference in the appearance of your property. Crown molding introduces a bit visual attention to a normally basic wall structure and might substantially improve the look of a whole room. It is not very costly to place in crown molding and it is possible to install.

Try out composting to minimize how much rubbish you put out. This can be an easy task to do by environment besides space and using fresh fruit peels, vegetables, eggshells and gourmet coffee grounds. This garden compost stack reduces the amount of your trash can, which will help keep your cash should you pay with the case to your waste removing support.

Even small home remodeling projects can increase the resale importance of your house. When you are thinking about offering your own home, look at task several modest assignments. For instance, paint the walls inside and outside your home. Accomplishing this straightforward career, which only costs a couple of 100 $ $ $ $, can also add almost $1,000 to the value of your home!

Position your tv set on the wall structure. It could free up a substantial amount of area. You can find kits readily available that can make wall surface installation a Tv set a straightforward and fast career.

Check out your kitchen when you wish to obtain a concept of how to begin renovations and upgrades. Look initially towards the walls, washing them up from your grease or some other unpleasant stains with appropriate soaps. This will likely eliminate the oil and many the existing color. Painting your kitchen area in the suntan color you will make the false impression of obtaining more space.

To create extra space in your nightstand, pick ground lamps instead of dinner table lights. The ground lights could be relocated to various areas of the space since they are free standing. Select a light which has a stylish style which fits your look.

In order to save yourself some aggravation, poke slots in your paint can?s edge. This will likely stop fresh paint from stuffing the stations of your steel painting cans, and for that reason they are going to not spill when you change the include. Work with a nail to make a handful of pockets throughout the channel?s underside to ensure that this doesn?t occur.

Make sure to appreciate your own home advancement undertaking. It is essential that you are really careful if you are working, but you need to be having fun. Should you be not enjoying the venture, you make end up rushing to finish it and hurrying can result in faults becoming created. If this identifies you, consider hiring an expert.

When hiring companies to execute any function in your house, always maintain precise and comprehensive information. Never ever rely on your contractor to do so. Keep a folder with commitments and invoices highly relevant to the venture you are carrying out. This allows the contractor to concentrate on finishing the work.

As you can tell presently, several men and women have trouble concluding home improvement tasks. It might be an easy task to do home improvement projects when designed with the right details. Start by following via together with the ideas out of this article.

There is more information available about http://www.nicarfinder.co.uk/used-cars-for-sale/vauxhall-astra/ look at Angelique S. Lambey?s site there?s plenty of information not detailed in this post, find those details on Author?s web blog to discover more information.

Source: http://kity.org/home-improvement-produced-basic-suggestions/

deadliest catch dwts sean hannity bobby petrino fired buffett rule lollapalooza lineup joss whedon

What Women Should Know About Estate Planning

Caring for yourself is a top priority. ?A durable power of attorney allows you to appoint someone you trust to make legal and financial decisions for you when you cannot.

Everyone has an estate and needs a plan.? An estate is simply what you own when you die ? a home, bank accounts, investments, personal property.? A will or living trust enables you to determine who will receive those assets.

There?s a different between a will and a living trust.? A will does not take effect until you die; a living trust can hold assets for your benefit while you are alive.

Trusts are not just for the wealthy.? A trust can be a good way to achieve your goals, even if you?re not rich ? including protecting assets from creditors and ex-spouses.

Spouses get additional tax breaks. ?Assets that are received as gifts or inherited are not taxed, and a surviving spouse can add a deceased spouse?s unused estate tax exclusion to her own.

Once widowed, tax planning is more important.? When one spouse dies, the unlimited marital deduction no longer applies, but there are still a number of tax-saving strategies surviving spouses can use to preserve assets.

You shouldn?t own your own life insurance policy.? To avoid taxes, your life insurance policy should be owned by the beneficiary or by a trust.

Fill out beneficiary forms and keep them updated.? Retirement accounts are distributed to whomever is listed on a beneficiary form, and that form trumps a will bequest.

Keep cash on hand.? Cash is crucial to cover expenses should a spouse suddenly die; keep a joint account for this purpose.

An experienced Annapolis estate planning attorney can help you understand all your options for estate planning.? Experienced Estate Planning Attorney Seth B. Zirkle can discuss all your options and create a plan with you.? Call Mr. Zirkle at Hyatt & Weber, P.A. today at 410-505-4553.

Source: http://hyattweberestateplanning.com/estate-planning/what-women-should-know-about-estate-planning/

forrest gump bernard hopkins nfl draft grades devils dodgers rachel maddow gia

Valter Paiva Academy Holiday Tennis Camp - in Belmont Shore ...

Tomorrow, December 26, 2012, 10:00 am

Billie Jean King Tennis Center, 1040 Park Ave, Long Beach, CA | Get?Directions??
$200.00

WHEN:?
Session 1: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday -
December 26, 27, 28

Session? 2: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday ? January 2, 3, 4

TIME:??? 10:00 AM ? 1:00 PM??????

WHERE:??
BJK Tennis Center

1040 Park Ave Long Beach
AGES:??? ?5 to 18?????????????????????????

LEVELS:? Beginner-Intermediate-Advanced

COST:??? $200.00 for both sessions (6 days)?
or $40.00 a day? (select your
days)

MORE INFORMATION AND
REGISTRATION CALL:

Valter? 714-318-0178?? or?
BJK Tennis Courts? 562 438-8509?
or valtertennis1@gmail.com

?

33.77983

-118.140096

primary

Valter Paiva Academy Holiday Tennis Camp

December 26, 2012 / December 27, 2012 / December 28, 2012 / January 2, 2013 / January 3, 2013 / January 4, 2013, 10:00 am?1:00 pm

Billie Jean King Tennis Center

1040 Park Ave, Long Beach, CA

/listings/billie-jean-king-tennis-center

1990093

/locations/8449877

Source: http://belmontshore.patch.com/events/valter-paiva-academy-holiday-tennis-camp

MC Chris Colorado shooting suspect accuweather Finding Nemo 2 Provigil denver post dez bryant

Kanye West to Krash Kardashian Khristmas

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/12/kanye-west-to-krash-kardashian-khristmas/

joseph kony ipad 3 release date apple store down apple live blog ohio primary cell phone jammer g8 summit

Michelin Sums Up New Pilot Sport AS/3 by Spider Chart

?

While the breadth of a vehicle's functionality can be difficult to summarize in a single graphical representation, tires are an entirely different story.

?

Spider charts are seemingly tailor made for illustrating performance parameters like dry handling and rolling resistance, and the representation of Michelin's new Pilot Sport All Season 3 tires suggests a marked improvement over its predecessors in all but one category. But how do hard numbers like roadholding g-forces and stopping distances translate to seemingly arbitrary spider charts like the one seen here?

?

According to Michelin, one segment equals a difference perceptible to a professional test driver. Two segments can be noticed by the average consumer, while-- get this-- a difference of three segments can be noticed by "your grandmother." Regardless of the (relative) charms of illustrating a tire's capabilities via infographic, there's no substitute for firsthand experience-- and indeed, our?recent test at NOLA Motorsports Park revealed favorable seat of the pants impressions against its competitors, with exceptional performance on wet autocross courses. The moral of the story? Perhaps we have more in common with our grandmothers than we care to admit.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/auto-blog/michelin-pilot-sport-as3-spider-chart?src=rss

shades of grey pittsburgh penguins record store day jennie garth space needle nashville predators king arthur

SpaceX rocket goes for 12-story-high hop

A SpaceX video shows the Grasshopper prototype rocket taking a 12-story leap toward full rocket reusability in a Dec. 17 test flight.

By Alan Boyle

SpaceX's prototype Grasshopper rocket took one giant leap last week, rising to a 12-story height and settling back down safely on its landing legs at the company's Texas rocket test facility. Just for fun, the engineers let a dummy cowboy go along for the ride.

The Dec. 17 test flight at the pad in McGregor, Texas, was documented in a YouTube video released today ? and discussed in a?series of lighthearted tweets from SpaceX's billionaire founder, Elon Musk.

"To provide a little perspective on the size of Grasshopper, we added a 6-ft cowboy to the rocket. ... Then we took him for a ride," Musk wrote. So how did the cowboy fare? "No problemo," said Musk.

---

The 10-story-tall Grasshopper rocket is designed to take off and land vertically, as part of Musk's plan to develop a rocket capable of returning itself to a launch pad for rapid reusability. Today's vertical-takeoff launch systems generally rely upon expendable lower stages ? although the space shuttle's solid rocket boosters could be recovered from the Atlantic Ocean and refurbished for reuse. If a rocket stage can return to its launch facility intact and ready to go again, that could significantly lower the cost of spaceflight. That's what Musk is shooting for.

SpaceX says the Grasshopper consists of a Falcon 9 rocket first stage, a Merlin 1D engine, four steel landing legs with hydraulic dampers, and a steel support structure. During the prototype's first flight test on Sept. 21, the Grasshopper rose 6 feet into the air. The second test, on Nov. 1, lasted 8 seconds and lifted the Grasshopper 17.7 feet (5.4 meters) off the pad.?The company said last week's third test went for 29 seconds, during which the Grasshopper rose 131 feet (40 meters) into the air, hovered and landed safely back on the pad, using closed-loop thrust vector and throttle control.

SpaceX

A dummy cowboy is perched on SpaceX's Grasshopper rocket for a Dec. 17 test.

In addition to the Grasshopper, SpaceX is sending its Dragon capsules to resupply the International Space Station, working on a version of the Dragon that could carry astronauts into orbit sometime soon, and developing a Falcon Heavy rocket that could conceivably power flights to the moon. But Musk's long-range goal is even more ambitious: getting settlers to Mars. He has said Grasshopper-style rocket reusability is a key part of that long-term strategy.

"If it does works, it'll be pretty huge," he said last year during a speech at the National Press Club in Washington. ?

More on the commercial space race:

---

Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the?Cosmic Log?community by "liking" the log's?Facebook page, following?@b0yle on Twitter?and adding the?Cosmic Log page?to your Google+ presence. To keep up with Cosmic Log as well as NBCNews.com's other stories about science and space,?sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered to your email in-box every weekday. You can also check out?"The Case for Pluto,"?my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.

Source: http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/23/16114180-spacex-launches-its-grasshopper-rocket-on-12-story-high-hop-in-texas?lite

biggie smalls lyrics azores emmylou harris disco inferno b.i.g 1000 words ron white

How fiscal cliff talks fell apart behind closed doors

The first family arrived in the president's idyllic home state of Hawaii early today to celebrate the holidays, but President Obama, who along with Michelle will pay tribute Sunday to the late Sen. Daniel Inouye at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, could be returning home to Washington sooner than he expected.

That's because the President didn't get his Christmas wish: a deal with Congress on the looming fiscal cliff.

Members of Congress streamed out of the Capitol Friday night with no agreement to avert the fiscal cliff -- a massive package of mandatory tax increases and federal spending cuts triggered if no deal is worked out to cut the deficit. Congress is expected to be back in session by Thursday.

It's unclear when President Obama may return from Hawaii. His limited vacation time will not be without updates on continuing talks. Staff members for both sides are expected to exchange emails and phone calls over the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House John Boehner is home in Ohio. He recorded the weekly GOP address before leaving Washington, stressing the president's role in the failure to reach an agreement on the cliff.

"What the president has offered so far simply won't do anything to solve our spending problem and begin to address our nation's crippling debt," he said in the recorded address, "The House has done its part to avert this entire fiscal cliff. ... The events of the past week make it clearer than ever that these measures reflect the will of the House."

Fiscal Cliff Negotiations Halted for Christmas Watch Video Cliffhanger: Congress Heads Home after 'Plan B' Vote Pulled from House Floor Watch Video Fiscal Cliff: Boehner Doesn't Have Votes for Plan B Watch Video

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell echoed the sentiment while lamenting the failure to reach a compromise.

"I'm stuck here in Washington trying to prevent my fellow Kentuckians having to shell out more money to Uncle Sam next year," he said.

McConnell is also traveling to Hawaii to attend the Inouye service Sunday.

If the White House and Congress cannot reach a deficit-cutting budget agreement by year's end, by law the across-the-board tax hikes and spending cuts -- the so called fiscal cliff -- will go into effect. Many economists say that will likely send the economy into a new recession.

Reports today shed light on how negotiations fell apart behind closed doors. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, reported that when Boehner expressed his opposition to tax rate increases, the president allegedly responded, "You are asking me to accept Mitt Romney's tax plan. Why would I do that?"

The icy exchange continued when, in reference to Boehner's offer to secure $800 billion in revenue by limiting deductions, the speaker reportedly implored the president, "What do I get?"

The president's alleged response: "You get nothing. I get that for free."

The account is perhaps the most thorough and hostile released about the series of unsuccessful talks Obama and Boehner have had in an effort to reach an agreement about the cliff.

Unable to agree to a "big deal" on taxes and entitlements, the president is now reportedly hoping to reach a "small deal" with Republicans to avoid the fiscal cliff.

Such a deal would extend unemployment benefits and set the tone for a bigger deal with Republicans down the line.

In his own weekly address, Obama called this smaller deal "an achievable goal ... that can get done in 10 days."

But though there is no definitive way to say one way or the other whether it really is an achievable goal, one thing is for certain: Republican leadership does not agree with the president on this question.

Of reaching an agreement on the fiscal cliff by the deadline, Boehner said, "How we get there, God only knows."

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fiscal-cliff-talks-gridlocked-president-congress-walk/story?id=18047137

dystonia tourettes gonzaga rosie o donnell soda bread recipe vanderbilt evan mathis

LV Air to Launch in 2013 | Frequent Business Traveler

LV Air announced plans to launch as a new airline in 2013.? The carrier plans to fly Boeing 767 aircraft on non-stop flights to Las Vegas although no specific route information has been announced.

Part of its mission will be to bring a taste of Las Vegas to flying.? ?Every flight will feature an online and private network gaming experience, said Eneliko Sean Smith, the airline?s CEO.

According to a published statement, LV Air is in the process of negotiating the acquisition of another airline, although no details were disclosed.? Its aircraft will feature a first class cabin with reclining beds and a shower/changing room.? Business class, which LV Air calls Club Class, will feature a Circle Bar and translucent bulkheads.

Other innovations planned by the airline include hologram safety videos by celebrities and iPads as the interface for in-flight entertainment.

The airline plans to partner with casinos and other gaming establishments in the coming months.

Source: http://www.frequentbusinesstraveler.com/2012/12/lv-air-to-launch-in-2013/

Hector Camacho Jill Kelly McKayla Maroney gronkowski jeremy renner best buy black friday deals breaking dawn part 2

Understanding cell organization to tackle cancer

Dec. 23, 2012 ? Scientists at The University of Manchester have identified how cells know which way up they need to be. The discovery could help in the fight against cancer because in the early stages of the disease the cells become disorganised.

Professor Charles Streuli and Dr Nasreen Akhtar of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research have conducted new research that leads to a better understanding of cell polarity. Properly organised tissues are vital to maintaining functional organs and a healthy body. Part of being organised includes cells being in the correct position within the tissue and the right way up, because the top and bottom of cells have different functions.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a layer of protein rich material that surrounds tissues and helps to design and shape all of our organs. Previous studies have demonstrated that the ECM sticks to the cells and guides them into the right position. What hadn't been identified is how the ECM communicates that message.

To understand this better Professor Streuli and Dr Akhtar looked at epithelial cells, which make up the majority of tissues within the body. They studied epithelial cells of the breast, which make milk. These cells also form the linings of mammary ducts to carry milk towards the nipple. It's vital that these cells are organised correctly in order to make milk accessible for the baby. One of the first signs of cancer is that the epithelial cells become disorganised.

Breast epithelial cells connect to the ECM through receptors called integrins. In experiments using mice Professor Streuli and Dr Akhtar removed one of the genes responsible for integrins. They found that without that gene, the cells were both the wrong way round and in the wrong place so the breast tissue became disorganised. They then tried removing integrins in cultured cells from the breast, which produced the same effect of disorder.

Further study revealed that within the cell the integrin receptors connect to the protein ILK. This protein then links to microtubules, a network that forms the transport machinery of the cell. Integrins and microtubules ensure that inside the cell the correct proteins are transported to the top and the bottom of the cell.

The findings have been published in the journal Nature Cell Biology. Commenting on the research Professor Streuli says: "What we identified is a vital interplay between the transport machinery and the integrin receptors which makes sure that proteins are transported to the correct area of the cell. Without this interplay the proteins end up in the wrong place, and this can lead to cells becoming disorganised."

He continues: "What's really interesting is that when we compared breast tissue from our experiments with tissues of patients with early forms of breast cancer, they looked very similar. The cells were upside down and disorganised so they couldn't carry out their functions. We hope that our work to better understand cell polarity could ultimately lead to better diagnosis for cancer patients."

Whilst Professor Streuli and Dr Akhtar only looked at epithelial cells within the breast, they are confident their findings will translate to other organs. The accuracy of their experiments was greatly increased through the use of special 3D cultures to grow the cells, where they form tiny organs that look remarkably similar to real breast tissue.

Dr Akhtar explains: "Growing the breast cells so that they can form 3D structures rather than on hard petri dishes means they develop in a way that is much more akin to how they grow in the body. We were one of the first groups in the UK to be using this technology and we've been really pleased with the results."

Dr Akhtar has been working on this research for five years. She says: "I've been touched by cancer in my own family so I'm really passionate about understanding this devastating disease better. Over 90% of cancers come from epithelial cells, which is why we chose to study them. It's fundamental to understand how healthy cells work properly in order to fully appreciate why they go wrong when cancer develops, and how best to combat the disease."

The next stage of the research will be to investigate the link between altered levels of integrin and cancer, to determine whether this causes the disorganised nature of cells seen in the early stages of the disease.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

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

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Nasreen Akhtar, Charles H. Streuli. An integrin?ILK?microtubule network orients cell polarity and lumen formation in glandular epithelium. Nature Cell Biology, 2012; DOI: 10.1038/ncb2646

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/bGVz8MTIJx0/121223152622.htm

Clinton speech Michael Strahan Griselda Blanco Michelle Obama Speech eva longoria Rihanna wiz khalifa

Sunday weather forecast: Overcast, chance of rain | NOLA.com

Today: Overcast with a chance of rain in the afternoon. Fog early. High of 66. Winds from the south at 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20%.

Tonight: Overcast. Fog overnight. Low of 59. Winds from the south-southwest at 5 to 10 mph.

REMINDER ... Only two more shopping days left before Christmas!

Source: http://www.nola.com/weather/index.ssf/2012/12/sunday_weather_forecast_overca_2.html

Stevie J mothers day 2012 cinco de mayo osama bin laden death spinal muscular atrophy brooklyn nets may day protests

FCC tasks Dish with building 70 percent of its AWS-4 LTE network in 7 years

The fellas at the FCC may have given Dish Network the green light to pilfer the AWS-4 spectrum for its upcoming LTE plans, but it didn't do so without leaving a few lingering strings. Dish is expected to build out the proposed network at a rate of ten percent per year, and faces serious consequences if it misses the proposed goals. If the company fails to make a 40 percent rollout in four years, for instance, Dish will be expected to polish off the remaining 30 percent in just two years instead of three. The company has seven trips around the sun to claim the entirety of its proposed market, too -- the FCC says Dish's license to uncovered areas will automatically expire if it doesn't have 70 percent of the network ready within the alloted timeframe.

Competing networks are concerned that Dish may intentionally fall short of this goal, covering the most profitable markets at the expense of losing coverage in less lucrative, rural areas. The feds put out some guidelines on power limitations too, and the fate of the contested H band is still up in the air. Eager to sift though the federal declarations? Skip on over to the source links below and jump in -- it's only a cumulative 216 pages of legalese.

Filed under: Cellphones, Misc, Mobile

Comments

Via: Electronista

Source: FCC (Scribd) [1], [2]

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/h3b0lTKs1k8/

eagle cam trayvon martin case affordable care act the line us soccer bobby brown arrested the happening

Afghan president welcomes British pullout timeline

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? The Afghan president on Thursday welcomed the withdrawal of nearly half of the British troops stationed in Afghanistan next year, saying his forces were ready to take up the country's defense.

A statement from Hamid Karzai's office said the partial pull-out was an "appropriate" move as NATO forces transfer responsibility for the war against the Taliban to the Afghan military.

British Prime Minister David Cameron announced Wednesday that about 3,800 British troops would be withdrawn by the end of 2013, with some 5,000 staying into 2014. The majority of NATO forces, including those of the United States, are set to leave by the end of 2014.

"The Afghan security forces are ready to implement the defense and security of the country. It is an appropriate act in the transition of security to Afghan forces," Karzai's statement said.

Cameron told lawmakers in London that the decision reflects confidence in the Afghan military. It also reflects mounting political pressure and periodic public protests in Britain for the end of its military role in Afghanistan, where it sent the second largest NATO force after the United States and sustained the second highest number of casualties.

Afghanistan's army and police have grown substantially with the help of international allies and now number 350,000. But desertion rates, illiteracy and tensions among ethnic groups within the ranks remain high and analysts say the Afghan military still lacks the know-how to mount major, multi-unit operations. Attacks by insurgents still occur daily.

In the latest incidence of violence, a powerful roadside bomb killed five civilians and two police officers Thursday in the western province of Nimroz, governor Mohammad Sarwar Subat told The Associated Press. The blast, he said, occurred near a police checkpoint as a vehicle carrying the civilians headed for a session in the provincial capital, Zaranuj. The governor said the bomb was set by "enemies of the state," used by officials to describe the Taliban or groups allied to it.

NATO officials regularly praise operations as "Afghan-led," even when Afghan forces play a minimal role, making it difficult to determine their full capability to take over. Also, a surge in insider attacks by Afghan soldiers and police against their own colleagues and international allies has raised further questions about their readiness.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who visited the country last week, said U.S. commanders in Afghanistan believe NATO has "turned the tide" after 11 years of war. But skepticism remains over whether the Afghan military can hold back a still powerful and resilient insurgency after 2014.

The U.S. has some 66,000 troops in the country with the number to be pulled out next year and the size of a residual force past 2014 currently under review in Washington.

Cameron said some British troops would stay on after 2014 to return equipment and deal with logistics.

"We've said very clearly: no one in a combat role, nothing like the number of troops there are now," Cameron said. "We've promised the Afghans that we will provide this officer training academy that they've specifically asked for. We are prepared to look at other issues above and beyond that, but that is the starting baseline."

The withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan will start next April, according to Defense Secretary Philip Hammond.

Cameron said Britain would continue to support Afghanistan by contributing about 70 million pounds (US $114,000) a year to help pay for Afghan security forces. Another 70 million pounds a year are spread through other aid programs.

Since 2001, 438 British personnel have died in Afghanistan.

Last month, France ended its combat operations in the country, pulling hundreds of troops from a base in a volatile region northeast of Kabul and fulfilling promises to end its combat role ahead of other NATO allies. France has lost 88 troops in Afghanistan since late 2001.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/afghan-president-welcomes-british-pullout-timeline-082008847.html

nashville predators king arthur king arthur there will be blood there will be blood nigel barker 420

Libya court probing military chief's killing quits

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) ? A Libyan military tribunal investigating the death of a former military chief has quit.

This came after the tribunal's decision to summon the former head of the transitional government prompted a Tripoli militia to block roads in protest, the latest sign of instability in Libya.

Abdel-Fattah Younis served as ousted leader Moammar Gadhafi's interior minister until last year's revolution. He was killed in July 2011 in custody after he was arrested on suspicion of treason.

Tripoli militia forces blocked roads for a third day to protest the court's summoning of Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, former head of National Transitional Council.

In a statement Wednesday, the tribunal declared, "No one is above law," and hoped for "retribution for killers of the martyr" Younis.

The tribunal sent the case back to the military prosecution.

Source: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/Libya-court-probing-military-chief-s-killing-quits-4132309.php

david wright cory booker cubs cj wilson ellsbury brad pitt and angelina jolie brad and angelina

Demon bat among 126 new Mekong species

Beelzebub's bat, a walking catfish and a frog that sounds like a bird are among 126 species introduced to science in just a year in the incredibly diverse Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia, according to a report released this week by the conservation group World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The walking catfish ?? one of the 10 discoveries from 2011 highlighted in the report ? doesn't exactly walk. But the fish (Clarias gracilentus) can impressively wiggle across dry land like a snake while using its pectoral fins to push itself upright. The fish, discovered in streams on the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc, often lives in stagnant waters. When these pools dry up, it can walk away to a wetter home.

Among other fish found in 2011 were a rose-tinted, blind carp (Bangana musaei) that lives in subterranean caves and a miniature fish (Boraras naevus) that's just 0.75 inches (2 centimeters) in length and marked by a large dark spot on its vibrant body, the report says.

Researchers also discovered last year a tiny demonic-looking creature appropriately named Beelzebub's tube-nosed bat (Murina beelzebub). [ The 10 Weirdest Animal Discoveries of 2012 ]

"We chose the name Beelzebub to reflect the dark 'diabolic' coloration of the new species and its fierce protective behavior in the field," Gabor Csorba of the Hungarian Natural History Museum said in a statement. The bat is found only in the tropical forests of Vietnam and is among two other tube-nosed bats identified in 2011.

And then there's Quang's tree frog (Gracixalus quangi), whose calls rival those of birds in their complexity, and the rare ruby-eyed green pit viper (Trimeresurus rubeus), which has striking red eyes and a very limited range that includes Vietnam's Cat Tien National Park.

"Very few people in the world have seen this snake," Anita Malhotra, a molecular ecologist at Bangor University, said of the species. "We know very little about what it does."

Conservationists warn that the astonishing biodiversity of the region is under threat because of shrinking habitats. According to the WWF report, 30 percent of the Greater Mekong's forests have disappeared in just four decades. Fish could be especially vulnerable, and the report points to planned construction of the Xayaburi dam in Laos as a major risk.

1. Science news from NBCNews.com

   1. Big Day dawns: Apocalypse? Not!

      Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: After years of claptrap about the Maya apocalypse on 12/21/12, the Big Day has dawned in some parts of the world. So far, no doomsday.

   2. Year in Science: Higgs boson takes the prize
   3. Save the environment: Eat mealworms
   4. Santa digs magic mushrooms, theory says

"The Mekong River supports levels of aquatic biodiversity second only to the Amazon River," Nick Cox, manager of the WWF species program in the region, said in a statement. "The Xayaburi dam would prove an impassable barrier for many fish species, signaling the demise for wildlife already known and as yet undiscovered."

More than 1,700 new species have been described by science in the Greater Mekong since 1997. In 2011, 82 plants, 13 fish, 21 reptiles, five amphibians and five mammals were discovered.

Follow LiveScience on Twitter @livescience. We're also on Facebook? and Google+.

? 2012 LiveScience.com. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50258942/ns/technology_and_science-science/

kyle williams florida debate rand paul mark kirk florida gop debate freddie mac kristin cavallari

#26acts: Neb. woman gives a dollar at a time

Shauna Groenewold

By Courtney Hazlett, NBC News

After covering the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., NBC News? Ann Curry wondered what could be done to ease the national suffering over the loss of 26 children and teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary. Why not, she tweeted, commit to doing one act of kindness for every child killed there? People responded ? and wanted to up that to 26 acts of kindness for every child and adult lost at the school. Now people around the country are committing random acts of kindness ? connected?through the hashtag #26Acts?(#20Acts and others are also trending). Get inspired: You can start your own acts of kindness right now.

Shauna Groenewold, the Web administrator for the state Department of Education in Lincoln, Neb., found out about #20 acts on Twitter, where she says she gets most of her news. Not knowing what she could do to help victims of Sandy Hook, it seemed like a great way to spread some good.

?I noticed that Ann Curry offered a challenge for these acts of kindness, and I think everybody feels helpless, and it feels like something you can actually do to make you feel not so helpless,? Groenewold said of wanting to participate in #20acts.

---

And the gesture Groenewold settled upon was a simple one: Attach a Post-it note with a victim?s name and #20acts to a one-dollar bill and distribute them to various charities.

?I could go around to my local community to the different buckets we have and give a dollar and it would make me think about that one person, even if just for a little bit. My goal is every place I see one, stop and put the dollar in, and focus on something good and not bad,? Groenewold explained.

And like so many people hoping to help any way they can, Groenewold didn?t set out to do her random acts of kindness in the hopes of getting any recognition. ?I don?t know if the people who count the money will notice it (the Post-It) but it was kind of more for me. The money will help them some, but it was more for me to take a moment and think about every individual person that was a victim.?

Already, Groenewold?s kindness is paying off, and spreading smiles at a time when it?s been tough to find things to smile about.

?I put a dollar in a bucket last night, and I thought I?d be really sad, but I was happy,? she said. ?The guy who was the ringer at the bucket said to me, ?You have the most beautiful Christmas smile!? I thought I could tell him what I was doing ?I didn?t. But I?ve never had anyone react to me putting a dollar in a bucket before like that. So it?s already been a cool experience.??

Related stories:
#26Acts of kindness you can do right now
Inspired to act: #26Acts of kindness to honor those lost in Newtown, Conn.

There are many questions about Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, but one being asked by just about everyone is how to best honor the victims. In Newtown and across the country, random acts of kindness are being performed in the memory of each person lost. NBC's Andrea Canning reports.

More content from NBCNews.com:

Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

?

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/19/16024526-26acts-of-kindness-nebraska-woman-spreads-good-will-one-dollar-at-a-time?lite

jk rowling qnexa kingdom of heaven national enquirer whitney houston arizona republican debate arizona debate enquirer

Video: Brokaw on how Newtown changes nation

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

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50245541/

day light savings time peter paul and mary edgar rice burroughs dallas clark litter marinol flight attendant

Getco to buy Knight Capital for $1.4 billion

(Reuters) - Knight Capital Group Inc , which suffered a near-fatal trading error in August, said it will be acquired by electronic trading firm Getco Holdings Co in a deal valued at $1.4 billion in cash and stock.

The deal seals a whirlwind five months for Knight, which executes about 10 percent of U.S. equity trading volume.

The company was rescued by a group of investors led by Jefferies Group Inc and including Chicago-based Getco who injected $400 million after errant software sent millions of unintentional orders in the opening 45 minutes of the U.S. trading day on August 1.

Knight and Getco will combine to form a new publicly traded company. Knight shareholders other than Getco will have the right to elect either $3.75 per share in cash or one share of common stock in the new business.

The offer represents a 13 percent premium to Knight's closing stock price of $3.33 on Tuesday. It is also a 51 percent premium to Knight's closing price on November 23 when reports surfaced that the company was looking for buyers.

"The transaction provides near-term certainty in the form of cash," Knight Chief Executive Thomas Joyce said in a statement.

Sources told Reuters on Tuesday that Getco was poised to buy Knight after sweetening its offer to beat out rival Virtu Financial LLC.

(Reporting by Tanya Agrawal in Bangalore; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/getco-buy-knight-capital-1-4-billion-124106018--sector.html

Dave Brubeck Duck Dynasty New Orleans Pelicans frankie muniz today show powerball katt williams

Wal-Mart : Probe continues in Mexico bribery case

By E. EDUARDO CASTILLO The Associated Press

MEXICO CITY -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Tuesday that it is continuing an internal probe into allegations its Mexico subsidiary paid bribes to get stores built and will cooperate with any investigations by authorities.

The company's statement came in response to a new report by The New York Times saying 19 store sites across Mexico were the target of Wal-Mart bribes.

Among those stores is one near Teotihuacan, the site of the famous pyramids outside Mexico City. The Times said Wal-Mart de Mexico paid more than $200,000 to circumvent zoning and other laws preserving archaeological sites to get the store built in 2004.

A Wal-Mart statement said the Teotihuacan store is part of the company's investigation that began about a year ago. The Times first reported on allegations of Wal-Mart bribery in Mexico last April.

Following the Times story late Monday, Wal-Mart's shares fell 1.5 percent on the Mexican Stock Exchange to 42.49 pesos a share.

The company said that it opened an internal investigation at the end of 2011 and that it has taken some measures to stop corrupt practices.

"The opening of the Bodega Aurrera store in San Juan Teothihuacan, which took place in 2003-2004, and to which the New York Times refers to, is part of the investigation," it said.

Wal-Mart said that because its own investigation continues, it would not comment about specific accusations. But it said "it is willing to completely cooperate with authorities in any investigation about the permits and licenses it has been given."

The Times said it had identified 19 stores in Mexico that were opened through bribes and emphasized the case of the Bodega Aurrera store near the Teotihuacan pyramids and for which, according to the report, the chain paid $200,000 in bribes to local officials.

The Public Administration Department, Mexico's federal anti-corruption agency, said last April that it was investigating the permits issued to Wal-Mart Mexico but has not yet reported any findings. The agency said Tuesday that it wouldn't comment about the case until it finished its investigation.

The Attorney General's Office also opened an investigation and has not released its findings.

Federico Reyes Heroles, president of the board of directors of Mexican Transparency, a nonprofit organization that studies corruption in Mexico, said authorities across the country should commit to stamping out corruption and preventing cases like that of Wal-Mart.

"If there were commitments like there are when it comes to certifying police officers as trustworthy, then they (officials) would have to answer to society. Otherwise, nothing happens," Reyes Heroles said.

Mexican President Enrique Pena has proposed creating an independent national anti-corruption commission to replace the Public Administration Department. The agency's head is currently appointed by the president, which for some critics does not guarantee impartial investigations.

The Times' article brought back memories to local residents who tried to stop construction of the Bodega Aurrera in Teotihuacan. The story said Wal-Mart paid local authorities a bribe of $52,000 to change a zoning map.

"It was all a fraud," said Emma Ortega, who was the leader of the Civic Front in the Defense of the Teotihuacan Valley.

Ortega said local authorities assured her at the time that they wouldn't issue construction permits to Wal-Mart, but months later the company began building the store and officials no longer would meet with the store's opponents.

Elio Castillo, director of urban development in the municipality of Teotihuacan and who was not in office at the time the permits were issued, said the documents contain no irregularities.

"For us they met all the prerequisites set by the law and have all the authorizations," Castillo said. He added that all building records are open to anyone who wants to review them.

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/12/18/3147778/wal-mart-probe-continues-in-mexico.html

cyber monday deals small business saturday small business saturday best cyber monday deals best cyber monday deals macaulay culkin Larry Hagman

Precautionary lockdown at elementary school in Newtown

(Reuters) - An elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, was put on lockdown on Tuesday, the first day back at school for most of the town's children since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults in a shooting rampage at another grade school in town.

As funerals continued for victims of last week's gun massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, local media reported that Head O'Meadow Elementary School was placed on lockdown for reasons that authorities declined to discuss.

"All I can tell you is we've taken precautionary measures for all persons involved," a Newtown Police dispatcher told Reuters.

The lockdown came as educators and officials across the country grappled with how to respond to the shooting and wondered if there was any way to keep a rampaging gunman from breaching school grounds.

Elsewhere, a phoned-in bomb threat forced the evacuation on Tuesday of more than 800 students and staff at a junior high school in the city of Idaho Falls in the eastern part of Idaho.

Idaho Falls police, using a bomb-sniffing dog, uncovered no explosives at Taylorview Middle School during a two-hour search, but school district officials canceled classes for 750 seventh and eighth grade students and 85 faculty and staff members.

"We're taking every incident involving schools very seriously and we plan to make any person who is threatening children accountable," police spokeswoman Joelyn Hansen said.

News of the apparent hoax came one day after police in Boise, Idaho, took a man into custody outside an elementary school after receiving a report that he was suicidal and on his way to his child's school.

And in Palm Springs, California, an 18-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly posting a threat against Palm Springs High School using the Facebook account of a 15-year-old friend who attends the school, authorities said.

David Guadalupe Torres, 18, was charged with making criminal threats, a felony, for posting a message on Monday night that threatened to shoot students at the school, police said in a statement.

The threat was reported to police on Monday by the parents of the friend. When that student learned of the post and confronted Torres, he admitted writing it as a joke, police said.

Torres was being held on a $75,000 bond. A search of his home did not recover any firearms, police said.

Police say 20-year-old Adam Lanza killed his mother, Nancy, at her home on Friday before shooting his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School and opening fire on students and teachers. He shot himself to death following the rampage, authorities say.

(Additional reporting by Barbara Goldberg and Laura Zuckerman; Writing by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Eric Beech)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/precautionary-lockdown-elementary-school-newtown-004058221.html

eric johnson big east tournament ashley olsen new apple tv sun flare love hewitt new ipad