Whale secret may help helicopters fly faster

Helicopters can deliver military troops or rescue the wounded in tight spaces, but their rotating blade design also puts a hard limit on their speed and maneuverability. Now researchers have begun flight-testing an unlikely fix inspired by the underwater ballet of humpback whales.

The potentially cheap solution uses small bumps along the front edge of the helicopter blades similar to bumps found on the large pectoral fins of humpback whales. Such bumps give an aerodynamic edge that delays the moment of "stalling" when there's not enough lift to keep the whale from sinking ? or a helicopter from stalling out at top speeds.

"Stalling is one of the most serious problems in helicopter aerodynamics ? and one of the most complex," said Kai Richter from the DLR Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology in Germany.

Helicopters face a speed limit because their backward-moving rotor blade goes against their forward motion of flight. That problem leads to turbulence and loss of lift, as well as strong forces acting on the rotor, which eventually cause the helicopter to stall out.

German researchers patented the bump idea for helicopters, under the name "Leading-Edge Vortex Generators." Wind tunnel experiments led to a test flight with a helicopter carrying 186 rubber bumps ?each less than a quarter of an inch long ? glued to its four rotor blades.

"The pilots have already noticed a difference in the behavior of the rotor blades," Richter said. "The next step is a flight using special measuring equipment to accurately record the effects."

If testing goes well, existing helicopters could get a speed boost with simple retrofits. New helicopters could have the design built into their titanium blades during manufacturing.

The natural bump design already helps humpback whales swim at speeds of up to 16.5 miles per hour, or about five times faster than the fastest human swimmer.

"Research has shown that these bumps cause stalling to occur significantly later underwater and increase buoyancy," said Holger Mai from the DLR Institute of Aeroelasticity in Germany. "Flow phenomena in water are similar to those in air; they just need to be scaled accordingly."

Follow InnovationNewsDaily on Twitter @News_Innovation, or on Facebook.

? 2012 InnovationNewsDaily.com. All rights reserved. More from InnovationNewsDaily.com.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46195967/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/

kurt busch nfl mock draft 2012 adam lambert incendiary floyd mayweather kate upton winter solstice

Big Pharma donates drugs for neglected diseases (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) ? The world's major pharmaceutical companies joined forces with governments and leading global health organizations Monday to donate drugs and scientific know-how to help control or wipe out 10 neglected tropical diseases by 2020.

Drugmakers have been criticized in the past for not doing enough to fight diseases of the poor as they concentrate instead on conditions more prevalent in rich nations, such as high cholesterol.

But in the largest coordinated effort yet to fight diseases such as Guinea worm disease, leprosy and sleeping sickness, the group promised to give away 14 billion doses of medicines by the end of this decade.

They will also share expertise and drug discovery work to invent new medicines for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that as yet have no treatments.

The AIDS pandemic forced drugmakers in the past decade to pay more attention to the developing world, and a new focus on the economic potential of emerging markets has provided an incentive to promote their brands in poorer countries.

In a project expected to affect the lives of a billion people worldwide, the partnership pledged more than $785 million to support NTD research and development (R&D) and strengthen drug distribution and treatment programs.

World Health Organization (WHO) director general Margaret Chan, who announced the deal in London, said it "changes the face" of NTDs -- illnesses that needlessly disable, blind and kill millions of the world's poorest people.

"These ancient diseases are now being brought to their knees with stunning speed," she told an audience at the Royal College of Physicians in the British capital.

"With the boost to this momentum being made today, I am confident almost all of these diseases can be eliminated or controlled by the end of this decade."

NTDs disproportionally affect people in the poorest countries of the world. Experts estimate more than a billion people are affected by them, including more than 500 million children.

"Maybe as the decade goes on people will be wondering whether we should still call these diseases 'neglected'," said Microsoft chairman and philanthropist Bill Gates.

The WHO's first global report on neglected tropical diseases in 2010 said that while they cost billions of dollars in lost productivity, they are often ignored because they affect mainly poor people and do not offer a profitable market for drugmakers.

NTDs include illnesses such as sleeping sickness, which is transmitted through tsetse fly bites and threatens millions of people in Africa, and Chagas disease, a debilitating condition caused by a parasite transmitted in infected feces of blood-sucking bugs. An estimated 10 million people are infected with Chagas, mostly in Latin America where the disease is endemic.

"HORRIFIC"

Speaking for chief executives of the drug firms involved in the partnership, Andrew Witty, GlaxoSmithKline's CEO described the impact of the diseases as "horrific" and said he hoped the scale of this new cooperation would beat them.

"No one company or organization can do it alone," he said. "It's great to have this commitment, and it's even better to have a deadline."

Adding the new pledges to existing individual commitments, 13 drug companies including Pfizer, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis and others will donate an average of 1.4 billion treatments a year to people suffering from NTDs.

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) said new R&D collaborations and deals with drugmakers and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) would also give "unprecedented" access to libraries of chemical compounds that may lead to new treatments.

Extra funding for the project came from Britain, the United States and United Arab Emirates, the Gates Foundation and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation. The World Bank agreed to extend financing to help African countries build health systems better able to integrate NTD elimination and control.

Gates, whose foundation announced a five-year, $363 million commitment to support NTD product and operational research, said the collaboration would help millions of people build self-sufficiency and overcome the need for aid and serve as a model for tackling future global development challenges.

(Reporting by Kate Kelland, editing by Ben Hirschler and Philippa Fletcher)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/meds/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120130/hl_nm/us_diseases_neglected_pharma

the hub pat robertson evan rachel wood i don t know how she does it katamari roatan bobby fischer

Moms: Learn to Have an Affair? with Food!

Author Beth Aldrich says subtle, simple lifestyle changes are the key to weight loss

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/GhK77F1sLlI/

drew peterson florida gop debate solar flare freddie mac kristin cavallari jay cutler oscar nominations

Santorum cancels morning events to be with child (The Arizona Republic)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/192801142?client_source=feed&format=rss

lesnar vs overeem insight bowl deep impact julia child bowl game schedule russell brand files for divorce katy perry and russell brand

UK's tallest building adds drama to London's sky (AP)

LONDON ? Passengers stepping out of London Bridge tube station cannot help but crane their necks to gaze at the jagged tower under construction: The Shard is the tallest building in the European Union and looks like a slice of glass balanced on the edge of the financial district.

When the tower opens next year, visitors to the observation deck will see helicopters fly by at eye level and take in the metropolis all the way to the distant north Downs Hills. The structure designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano dwarfs nearby landmarks like Tower Bridge and St. Paul's Cathedral across the Thames.

The ambitious project speaks of now faded boom times: 1.5 billion pound ($2.34 billion) price tag, fancy restaurants, corporate office space, posh hotel. But it is being completed as Britain and Europe totter on the brink of recession ? and the Shard will loom over a city in decline.

Neighbors are hoping the dramatic tower, visible from most parts of London, will bring big spenders to its south-of-the-river location, for centuries the less prosperous side of the Thames.

"I like the design, I like the promise. I think it's going to blast this neighborhood out of the water," said Cherille McNeil-Halward, 71, who runs a picture framing shop a few minutes away from the Shard. "This tower will bring people with money to spend here, and that's got to be a good thing."

There is no question that the Shard is a riveting addition to the traditionally low-rise London skyline. But some complain it dominates the view, obscuring sights such as St. Paul's impressive dome.

The developer Irvine Sellar sees the project as a symbol of London's status as a world city. The 72-floor, 310 meter- (1,016 foot-) tall building is designed by an Italian, financed by the Qatar government, and the Chinese hotel group Shangri-La were the first tenants to sign up.

"We want this building to be a building Londoners will feel ownership of," said Sellar. "You can eat there, you can work there, you can sleep there. And you can see the view from there."

The building's exterior will be finished in June but it is unlikely to open until early next year. It will open in a truly historic neighborhood, close to the Tower of London, Shakespeare's Globe, and Borough Market.

In fact, the ultra-modern Shard sits at the edge of ancient London. The first Roman settlement Londinium was nearby on the banks of the Thames. Charles Dickens' "Little Dorrit" was set in the streets behind the Shard.

The developers conceived the project more than 11 years ago when there was a financial appetite for building tall. But it generated almost immediate opposition from conservation groups who didn't want the fabric of the city changed.

English Heritage and other groups complained that the design did not fit in with the surrounding architecture, but were overruled.

Prince Charles, who has waged a passionate campaign against modern architecture, wryly referred to the Shard as "an enormous salt cellar" shortly after it won planning permission but has not formally tried to block the project.

Last year UNESCO said it is reviewing the status of the Tower of London as a World Heritage Site, partly because of the way the Shard and other buildings loom over its courtyard.

The future of the building is still not secure. Along with Shangri-La, some restaurants have signed leases, Sellar said, but most of the office space has not yet been rented at a time when many London-based businesses are striving to reduce costs.

A report by Barclays Capital published this month finds a correlation between the construction of skyscrapers and financial crises, concluding that ambitious building projects often open just as the economy declines.

It cites the economic and oil crises of the early 1970s, which coincided with the completion of the World Trade Center towers in New York and the Sears Tower in Chicago. In Malaysia the building of the Petronas Towers coincided with the Asian economic crisis on 1997. And in Dubai the Burj Khalifa ? the world's tallest building ? went up as the emirate almost went bust.

The Shard itself was hit by the credit crunch. Sellar secured funding from investment bank Credit Suisse in 2008, but the bank pulled out after Lehman Brothers crashed in September of that year. Eventually the central bank of Qatar stepped in to finance the project.

Other tall buildings have been built in recent years as London has become a more vertical city ? including Norman Foster's famous "Gherkin." But the Shard dominates them all, and is likely to become a prominent symbol of London.

"You are going to see this building from everywhere in the city," said Jonathan Glancey, architecture critic at The Guardian newspaper. "It is going be the building that says `this is London,' and the message it is going to send is that London is brash, shiny and pretty bling."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/eurobiz/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_britain_the_shard

imessage imessage sukkot sukkot aziz ansari aziz ansari corn maze

Photo of the Day (Theagitator)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/191313651?client_source=feed&format=rss

wes welker fred davis fred davis fracking fracking drosselmeyer drosselmeyer

Korean research, a first step toward Dr. Smartphone? (Reuters)

SEOUL (Reuters) ? Tired of long waits at the hospital for medical tests? If Korean researchers have their way, your smartphone could one day eliminate that -- and perhaps even tell you that you have cancer.

A team of scientists at Korea Advanced Institute of Science of Technology (KAIST) said in a paper published in Angewandte Chemie, a German science journal, that touch screen technology can be used to detect biomolecular matter, much as is done in medical tests.

"It began from the idea that touch screens work by recognizing the electronic signs from the touch of the finger, and so the presence of specific proteins and DNA should be recognizable as well," said Hyun-gyu Park, who with Byong-yeon Won led the study.

The touch screens on smartphones, PDAs or other electronic devices work by sensing the electronic charges from the user's body on the screen. Biochemicals such as proteins and DNA molecules also carry specific electronic charges.

According to KAIST, the team's experiments showed that touch screens can recognize the existence and the concentration of DNA molecules placed on them, a first step toward one day being able to use the screens to carry out medical tests.

"We have confirmed that (touch screens) are able to recognize DNA molecules with nearly 100 percent accuracy just as large, conventional medical equipment can and we believe equal results are possible for proteins," Park told Reuters TV.

"There are proteins known in the medical world like the ones used to diagnose liver cancer, and we would be able to see the liver condition of the patient."

The research team added that it is currently developing a type of film with reactive materials that can identify specific biochemicals, hoping this will allow the touch screens to also recognize different biomolecular materials.

But confirming that the touch screen can recognize the biomolecular materials, though key, is only the first step.

Since nobody would put blood or urine on a touch screen, the sample would be placed on a strip, which would then be fed into the phone or a module attached to the phone through what Park called an "entrance point."

"The location and concentration of the sample would be recognized the same way the touch of the finger is recognized," he added.

There are no details yet on a prospective timetable for making the phone a diagnostic tool, however.

(Reporting by Hyunyoung Yi, writing by Iktae Park, editing by Elaine Lies and Bob Tourtellotte)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120123/wr_nm/us_korea_doctor_smartphone

oomph oomph cmj olin kreutz olin kreutz au pair au pair

STATE OF THE STATE: ?Investing Now for Hawai'i's Future? | Hawaii ...

Gov. Neil Abercrombie with State Budget & Finance Director Kalbert Young (photo by Mel Ah Ching Productions)

BY GOV. NEIL ABERCROMBIE - Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, former Governors, distinguished justices of the courts, mayors, representatives of our Congressional Delegation, members of the Hawai'i State Legislature, other elected officials, honored guests, family and friends. ?Aloha.

One year ago, I stood before you to present the sobering fiscal reality facing Hawai'i. ?At that time, we faced an enormous deficit and the effects of fractured government services. ?The discussion was not about ?whether? we needed to find additional revenues, but about ?where? we needed to find them.

But by working together and through shared sacrifice, we have started to turn the corner. ?This past year has not been easy but we have accomplished our purpose.

I want to thank the Legislature for your collaboration.

Thank you to the public for weathering through those difficult choices.

Thank you, especially to our state employees, who agreed to labor savings and additional payments for health benefits.

There was no way for us to have balanced our budget and achieved today?s fiscally favorable outlook without the commitment of everyone. ?To all of you who came to work each day bearing the burden of cuts and slashes to your programs for the past three years; and to those of you who gave up furloughs because of your commitment to serving Hawai'i?s people, I thank you. ?Mahalo plenty to each and every one of you.

Together, we are moving forward. ?And moving forward means leaving behind the drama of the recent past.

It is for that reason that I have again, requested that the Hawai'i State Teachers Association provide us with a proposal as soon as possible. ?After good faith negotiations achieving two agreements, the teachers still have not ratified a contract. ?I will continue to press for a resolution.

Nonetheless, we must continue our focus on our children and students? performance. ?We cannot wait any longer. ?We wanted to cross the Race to the Top finish line side-by-side with the HSTA. ?Make no mistake we will cross that finish line. ?Our students deserve no less. ?We will be using all management, administrative, legislative and legal tools we have at our disposal to implement an evaluation system that not only measures, but achieves student growth; turns around low-performing schools; and supports teachers in increasing their effectiveness.

Just as we must concentrate on providing for our children?s future, it is critical that we continue the economic momentum we have achieved. ?Since last year, Hawai'i?s recovery has been steady.

• ? ? ?The visitor industry ? a key element ? saw 3.4 percent growth in the number of visitor arrivals, and total visitor expenditures have grown by 15.1 percent, resulting in an additional $5 billion dollars flowing into Hawai'i?s economy.
• ? ? ?A solid indicator of our growth is the average 8 percent increase in our general excise tax revenue compared to last year.
• ? ? ?Despite the unfortunate closing of Hawai'i Medical Center, our unemployment remains one of the lowest in the nation.
• ? ? ?Payroll employment increased 1.3 percent after three years of decline.
• ? ? ?Initial unemployment claims declined 8 percent in 2011.
• ? ? ?Bankruptcies dropped 15.9 percent.

?

Nonetheless, my budget team and House and Senate fiscal committees have warned, we must remain wary of the current national and European economic uncertainties, which continue to loom ahead. ?Earlier this month, the Council of Revenues projected a 3 percent decline in our revenue forecast, which amounts to $130 million.

?

The question then, is how do we address what could be a daunting fiscal picture.

Last year, when the revenue projections plummeted, we met the enormous challenge of our shortfall through shared sacrifice and collaboration. ?We instituted fiscal prudence and discipline, through tools provided by the Legislature. ?The result was a general fund balance of $126 million. ?This was the first positive balance achieved in three years.

Despite this budget success then, current fiscal uncertainties swirling around us mean that our supplemental budget proposal must reflect continued discipline. ?Through our strong management of resources in 2011, we were able to achieve nearly $86 million in general fund savings. ?It is these savings that we will use to propose initiatives that will support and strengthen our economic recovery.

The first is construction. ?All the signs show that private investment and construction appears hesitant and tentative. ?Therefore, it is the public sector that must step up to invest in repairs and maintenance, construction projects and infrastructure improvements. ?By aggressively putting these projects into action, we will ensure that job creation continues.

Our recent bond and refinancing sale of nearly $1.3 billion, along with $1 billion of projects that are already on the budget books and another $300 million proposed in this supplemental budget will spur an immediate rise in job growth.

These New Day Work Projects were chosen because they not only address critical infrastructure needs, but more importantly, they are primed and ready to go. ?We looked for projects that were not mired in permitting delays, or only in design and planning stages, but those that are ready to provide impact now.

After my initial discussions with the House and Senate, I know that we are all committed to looking at an aggressive budget schedule for these repair and maintenance construction projects. ?I am committed as well to working with you to make sure that we have a healthy and strong construction budget and a solid plan to continue our investment in our economy.

But, investment is not only about immediate impacts to the economy. ?It is about our long term vision towards the future. ?A prime example is the proposed Pohukaina project that is designed around the consolidation of mixed-use and mixed-income. ?To curtail sprawl and protect our precious available lands, we must focus on urban density and provide working families affordable housing opportunities. ?This is a central project, and the first step in future plans for further smart development along the 'Iwilei to Waikiki corridor.

Not only is it important to emphasize brick and mortar, we must also build an infrastructure for technology to meet the demands of the 21st century. ?This is the intellectual and social infrastructure that we must have to provide opportunities and experience for our people to become an advanced workforce that can compete in the global marketplace.

We will move forward on our Hawai'i Broadband Initiative by requesting $2.9 million to enhance online services for eHawaii.gov, advance research for transpacific fiber landing stations statewide, and initiate a ?one-to-one? laptop program for Hawai'i?s public schools, to provide laptops for every student. ?Not only are these advances needed, but they are crucial in ensuring Hawai'i?s global connectivity and technological advancement.

We will also be seeking to move oversight of telecommunications to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. ?Telecom will now be regulated by one agency, rather than having multiple functions spread out over multiple departments.

Similarly, we are moving forward on our comprehensive plan to consolidate all of our state technology under the Office of Information Management and Technology, led by Hawai'i?s first Chief Information Officer. ?For this important mission, we are requesting $10 million.

Finally, in this area of our economic future, we must never forget that we need to invest in being proper stewards of our Hawai'i nei. ?We must nurture our environment, not only because it is pono, but because it is an essential investment for kama'aina and visitors alike.

It is for that reason that I am proposing that we invest $5 million in protecting our watersheds. ?If we are going to nurture the ahupua'a of every island, if we are to keep our oceans blue, then we must save Hawai'i?s forests and preserve our water resources.

Paradise is our home, it needs our devotion and care.

Our islands attract travelers from around the world. ?So too, the film industry also depends on showcasing the beauty and variety of our aloha state. We?ve seen what these islands can look like on big screen and television. Having top-rated television shows and award-winning films like ?The Descendants,? speaks volumes about Hawai'i as a television/cinema venue.

It is for that reason that we will be requesting the legislature look at the TV and Film Tax Credit with the intention of drafting necessary changes in making it permanent.

All of our work comes down to one underlying purpose ? to serve Hawai'i and its people. ?I mean it broadly and inclusively. ?It is part of our culture and our history. ?We are one 'ohana, one family, one state. ?So, we create programs, establish services and pass laws to meet that obligation. ?In short, we best care for our people by investing in them.

That investment begins with our youngest children. ?Early childhood education lays the foundation for a lifetime of learning and results in productive citizens who will someday manage our businesses, build our homes and offices, welcome our visitors, care for the sick, make new discoveries in science, and lead us into the future.

We are at a crossroads when it comes to early childhood education. ?For too long, we have continued old patterns that treated early education as something that is optional, a luxury for only those few who have the means.

?Research shows that 85 percent of a child?s brain development takes place before the age of five and that children who have quality early experiences are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college, and contribute positively to the economy. ?Yet, many of Hawai'i?s children are entering school unprepared. ?It?s time to invest in our children, and invest in our future, so that our state can thrive.?

This observation from Be My Voice Hawai'i, illustrates without equivocation that early education is not just an option, it is a fundamental necessity if we are to set the broader educational stage for our children. ?It is not just about learning to read and write, it establishes healthy attitudes towards learning that will stay with them throughout their lives. ?We also know that early education greatly enhances a young person?s sense of self-worth and confidence that, in turn, positively affects learning.

Early childhood education must be the initial step on the education ladder. ?Failure to act now virtually ensures that our children will fall behind. ?If they are not our priority, then we no longer know the meaning of the word.

The state?s Early Childhood Coordinator Terry Lock has put together a team to create a unified framework. ?This early education plan for the state will be the guide for building a stronger quality early care and education system for our youngest children and their families.

Investing in the next generation is the wisest decision that we can make as a people. ?And make no mistake ? it is an investment with long-term returns that will far outweigh initial costs.

Last session, I forwarded difficult proposals to address difficult times. ?In stark contrast to one year ago, as a result of tough-minded administrative and legislative action, the state finds itself in an all-too-rare financial situation of not having to pay for debt or to balance the budget by raising taxes.

We will continue on this path of strong fiscal management and strategic financial investments, as indicated in Opening Day remarks by President Tsutsui and Speaker Say.

We now have the luxury of weighing solutions to behavioral and societal issues on their own merit. ?We can ask ourselves what will be most effective and do the most good for our children without the distraction of having to balance the budget on a new tax program.

The fact remains that the link between sugar-sweetened beverages and health is undeniable. ?I have proposed the establishment of a task force, with members from the public and private sectors, to identify and then implement a solution to this very real health issue in our state. ?The group?s objective will be navigating us away from the path that has led obesity rates in Hawai'i to have doubled in the last 15 years. ?Sadly, more deaths and illnesses have occurred from chronic diseases than from contagious diseases in Hawai'i.

As our Director of the state Department of Health recently noted, obesity is not just about losing weight for our children? ??It is a deadly accurate predictor of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other mental and physical ailments? that can follow our children throughout their lives.

For these early childhood education and health initiatives, we are requesting $1 million.

As important as these issues are for our children, the issues affecting our kupuna are growing in importance in conjunction with their numbers. ?Last year, the first of the Baby Boomers reached retirement age. ?Hawai'i acutely felt this demographic shift not only because of their sheer numbers, but also because Hawai'i enjoys one of the highest life expectancies in the nation.

That is why I am proposing $1.4 million to begin to create one-stop shops across the state for information on aging, to assist all of our kupuna who face the challenges of aging and restricted mobility. ?We are working with federal, county and community partners to establish Aging and Disabilities Resource Centers, which will serve as a single point of entry for all long-term care support and services in the state. ?The centers will streamline eligibility determination, minimize the need to navigate multiple bureaucracies, and facilitate informed choices about long-term care.

But this initiative to ease access to services is only the start. ?We need to have a further and deeper conversation about long-term care. ?Seniors want to age in their communities, they want to age in their homes. ?But more importantly, they deserve to do so. ?And they deserve to do so with dignity. ?That is why I am committed to strengthening our system of home- and community-based services. ?Their needs can no longer, and should no longer, be ignored.

The sudden shut down of two Hawai'i Medical Center hospitals on 'Oahu at the start of this year emphasizes this issue and had widespread ramifications through the medical community and the state, including those who suffer from kidney-related illnesses.

An emergency appropriation for a grant of $1.8 million to the National Kidney Foundation of Hawai'i will support this important health service. ?We pledge to help those who have stepped forward in the private sector to ensure that the people of Hawai'i have crucial medical care and expertise.

Our state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations immediately provided rapid response services to employees at both Hawai'i Medical Center worksites, giving them information on applying for unemployment benefits, health insurance options, potential workforce training programs and other services.

We appreciate all the assistance the department has received in putting together these opportunities, which will help workers transition. ?In Hawai'i, we must think of ourselves as 'ohana first.

This spirit of aloha is deeply rooted in the diverse cultures of these islands. ?We must never forget that it is the culture of our Native Hawaiians that we so proudly share with ourselves and the world. ?The recent settlement in principle with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs directly addresses ongoing issues that have remained unresolved for decades. ?The proposed settlement transfers about 25 acres in Kaka'ako to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. ?OHA can use that resource to immediately benefit Native Hawaiians. ?In turn, the proposal provides approximately $200 million in value to settle claims against the state. ?More importantly, it brings closure to this longstanding rift allowing both the Native Hawaiian community and the state to move forward. ?It is my hope that this heals old wounds.

We have also begun to make progress in one of the biggest challenges faced by our community ? homelessness. A coordinated approach and strong desire to help people has been the basis of a multi-pronged effort to assist the homeless in Hawai'i ? to provide not only temporary shelter for those who need it but to help them to become productive citizens.

We have and we will continue to invest in the potential of those who are currently homeless. ?In July 2011, I signed an executive order that established the Hawai'i Interagency Council on Homelessness, a 24-member council comprised of community leaders, state department directors, and federal agency representatives to develop a unified plan on addressing homelessness. ?The Council aligns its efforts with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homeless, established by President Obama in 2009.

Led by the state?s first Coordinator on Homelessness, Marc Alexander, the council worked to bring together a patchwork of organizations that are now seamed together as a single quilt to meet their goals of 1) increasing transitional and permanent housing options, and 2) acquiring increased federal funding.

All these initiatives are not only about saving or spending money or programs and projects. ?It is about "how" to spend precious taxpayer dollars. ?A key example of this is the Justice Reinvestment Initiative. ?The data is clear that from 1997 to 2010, violent and property crime has steadily decreased by nearly half. ?Despite these improvements in public safety, the incarceration population has remained the same. ?We must change the way in which our laws work, change the way in which the system works, so that we can make a clear distinction between those who need to stay in prison to keep the public safe versus those who present little risk. ?But, we must also provide proper and consistent supervision to those who are released so that we act with dispatch when any offender fails to take advantage of the opportunity offered for a productive life.

After an unprecedented collaboration between the Governor?s Office, Justice Department, Public Safety Department, key lawmakers, the Judiciary and The Council of State Governments Justice Center, we will be proposing legislation that improves the criminal justice system utilizing the most up-to-date strategies. ?And we will do this with existing resources.

And when we talk about ?how? we spend our money, we must ask ourselves about why we continue to send billions of dollars a year outside of our islands to meet our energy needs.

Two weeks ago, Tesoro Corporation announced it would be selling its refinery here in Hawai'i. ?This news was not a surprise. ?Over the years, I have indicated we are at risk given the rising cost of crude oil and the severity of speculation in the global oil market. ?I know that there is uncertainty for current employees at Tesoro as it starts the process of seeking an appropriate buyer. ?Our Department of Labor and Industrial Relations stands ready to provide job assistance for those who need it.

I also know there is uncertainty for those who are wondering what the sale of the state?s largest refinery means for the cost of fuel in the state. ?Well, Hawai'i has never had control over the high cost of energy. ?So, one thing is certain ? and you have heard this before ? we must lessen our dependence on imported oil.

This is not just an issue about sustainability. ?This is about the survival of our state. ?In moving forward on our path to advance a clean energy future, failure is not an option. ?Reducing our dependence on imported oil will take an equal commitment by government, business, community, family and individuals. ?We can no longer view energy production or distribution in an island-by-island context. ?We must be united on a statewide basis. ?My administration is committed to clean alternative and renewable energies for the benefit of all of our islands.

In November, I signed two international agreements that demonstrate that commitment.

The first was signed during the APEC Summit with the Vice Chairman of the China Council for Promotion of International Trade to pursue mutual interests in clean energy development. ?This year, we will continue to build upon that relationship and, by April, I hope to have a more defined memorandum of understanding to advance projects that will result in business opportunities.

I signed a second agreement with Japan-based New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to collaborate on building a first-of-its-kind smart grid demonstration project on the island of Maui.

For this project, Hitachi, NEDO and Mizuho are investing $37 million in advanced smart grid technology to improve integration of variable renewable resources into the electrical grid.

These agreements mark Hawai'i?s emergence as the test bed of the Pacific for clean energy demonstrations and clearly indicate the promise that energy projects offer for economic growth.

Currently there are about 80 renewable energy projects that are demonstrating progress in becoming commercial enterprises that have the potential to help the State of Hawai'i achieve its collective energy goals. ?This Administration will continue to look at every option ? wind, solar, natural gas, photovoltaic, geothermal, biofuels, ocean energy and other technologies. ?We will be aggressive but respectful in our approach to our island environment.

These projects are just the first step, and in the next few months we will be unveiling a comprehensive roadmap for the state, beginning on Hawai'i Island, for building a world leading, sustainable economy standing on our people?s history of self-sufficiency in both food and energy. ?It is time for us to work together to put willpower to our resources and make this a reality for the state.

That is why I have assigned Lt. Governor Brian Schatz to coordinate and support our energy priorities. ?We must stay the course when it comes to advancing our clean energy future and ensure that collaborative decisions are being made. ?Swift and appropriate regulation must take place, as well as healthy competition and local entrepreneurship, community involvement and integration.

The time of sustainability rhetoric is over. ?Bold action is needed now. ?We must address two critical issues to position ourselves for increasing use of alternative energy ? reliability and infrastructure.

While Hawai'i has an abundance of natural resources to tap into, the system cannot maintain itself solely with sources that shift with changing winds or the sun hiding behind the clouds. ?The system demands a clear measure of reliability of energy to feed into the grid. ?Therefore, one of my primary energy initiatives will be to provide the Public Utilities Commission with the explicit authority to develop, adopt and monitor electricity reliability standards. ?This will include jurisdiction over how independent power producers connect to the grid. ?Currently, while the PUC can take on issues through its formal docket process, there is no comprehensive authority to oversee reliability standards. ?To ensure that we have control over the reliability of the energy feeding into the system, we need to give the PUC this authority.

But more importantly, we need to create the infrastructure for stability. ?This means making the long-term infrastructure investments that ensure our electric grids are stable, reliable and modern enough to integrate alternative and renewable energy technologies. ?Our investment now will benefit future generations. ?Had we made this commitment in years past we would be benefitting from it today.

One of those investments is an undersea cable that can connect our island grids to provide stable, reliable electricity between islands. ?This integrated grid will provide stable energy prices and equalize rates between the islands, which will benefit all of us. ?To pay for this critical piece of infrastructure, we are proposing legislation that will attract private capital resources and expertise. ?In today?s uncertain world, we cannot postpone Hawai'i?s clean energy future any longer. ?We can only get there if we move now. ?There is no legislation more critical to our future.

I assure you, the energy debates that will take place this session will echo the debates that took place here when I was a legislator in these chambers in the 1970s. ?Let us not repeat a history of failure to act in 2012.

Whether these initiatives are aimed at reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, or to assist and uplift the homeless, or to help our kupuna or our children, all represent wise and prudent investments in our people. ?The cost of not taking action now will most certainly result in higher costs not only in dollars, but in social dysfunction as well.

I am deeply grateful to Speaker Say and President Tsutsui for clearly recognizing and delineating the opportunity to work together on these issues in their respective Opening Day remarks.

With the theme of ?Pupukahi I Holomua ? Unite to Move Forward,? they specifically referenced the main objectives ? growing a sustainable economy, investing in people and transforming government. ?I want to extend my pledge to members of both the House and Senate here assembled, to work collaboratively with you as we serve all our constituents.

I know for many it is hard to see beyond today?s needs when today?s needs loom so large and immediate. ?But unless dealt with now, today?s challenges can only multiply in difficulty. ?This is not acceptable. ?We have the obligation to make a better future for our children. ?We live in paradise and taking care of each other is a value that is fundamental to the aloha spirit. ?This is about having aloha for one another and doing what is pono.

I want to close then with something that exemplifies what aloha for each other is all about. ?At one point when the way forward was not always clear, Representative Karen Awana gave me a note, the essence of which was ?A'ohe Hana Nui Ke Alu 'Ia? ? no task is too big when done together by all. ?I keep it in my desk for those times when I can use a little reminder of the meaning of aloha for each other. ?Her kindness and goodness is truly aloha in every way.

I pledge my aloha to you all in that spirit. ?Mahalo nui.

Short URL: http://www.hawaiireporter.com/?p=45054

Author: Guest Contributor

To be a guest contributor, submit your story to Malia@hawaiireporter.com. Check out past stories by guest contributors!

Guest Contributor has written 1094 articles for us.

Source: http://www.hawaiireporter.com/state-of-the-state-investing-now-for-hawaiis-future%E2%80%A8/123

dina manzo once upon a time once upon a time demarco murray teresa giudice red ribbon week much ado about nothing

Advantages of living in the dark: Multiple evolution events of 'blind' cavefish

ScienceDaily (Jan. 22, 2012) ? The blind Mexican cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus) have not only lost their sight but have adapted to perpetual darkness by also losing their pigment (albinism) and having altered sleep patterns. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology shows that the cavefish are an example of convergent evolution, with several populations repeatedly, and independently, losing their sight and pigmentation.

The blind cavefish and the surface dwelling Mexican tetra, despite appearances, are the same species and can interbreed. The cavefish are simply a variant of the Mexican tetra, albeit one adapted to living in complete darkness. A team of researchers from Portugal, America, and Mexico studied the DNA from 11 populations of cavefish (from three geographic regions) and 10 populations of their surface dwelling cousins to help understand the evolutionary origin of the physical differences between them.

While results from the genotyping showed that the surface populations were genetically very similar, the story for the cave populations was very different. The cave forms had a much lower genetic diversity, probably as a result of limited space and food. Not surprisingly the cave populations with the most influx from the surface had the highest diversity. In fact there seemed to be a great deal of migration in both directions.

It has been thought that historically at least two groups of fish lived in the rivers of Sierra de El Abra, Mexico. One group originally colonized the caves, but became extinct on the surface. A different population then restocked the rivers and also invaded the caves.

Prof Richard Borowsky, from the Cave Biology Group at New York University explained, "We were fortunate in being able to use A. mexicanus as a kind of 'natural' experiment where nature has already provided the crosses and isolation events between populations for us. Our genotyping results have provided evidence that the cave variant had at least five separate evolutionary origins from these two ancestral stocks."

Dr Martina Bradic who lead the research continued, "Despite interbreeding and gene flow from the surface populations the eyeless 'cave phenotype' has been maintained in the caves. This indicates that there must be strong selection pressure against eyes in the cave environment. Whatever the advantage of the eyeless condition, it may explain why different populations of A. mexicanus cave fish have independently evolved the same eyeless condition, a striking example of convergent evolution."

Recommend this story on Facebook, Twitter,
and Google +1:

Other bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by BioMed Central Limited, via AlphaGalileo.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Martina Bradic, Peter Beerli, Francisco Garc?a-de Le?n, Sarai Esquivel-Bobadilla and Richard Borowsky. Gene flow and population structure in the Mexican blind cavefish complex (Astyanax mexicanus). BMC Evolutionary Biology, January 2012 [link]

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/AaMz7lg4rZk/120122201209.htm

mine malta malta lulu tanzania setup dart

Ask Engadget: Are there UK-based Voicemail to SMS / email alternatives?

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Nish, who needs to replace his voicemail to SMS/email system due to Ribbit Mobile's forthcoming closure. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"Hi there, I've been using Ribbit Mobile for the past few years for voicemail -- the voicemail to SMS/email function is brilliant. However, the beta trial is ending on the 31st January with no immediate plans to go live. Do you know of any UK-based alternatives for voicemail to SMS/email systems I can switch to? Thanks!"

So guys, come help out a brother from the motherland with your suggestions for digital telephony transcription, any Brits out there find Google Voice to be the answer? Is there something only a few of you know about that'll change the world? If you're in an animal home, sat down on your own, why not share your knowledge in the comments below.

Ask Engadget: Are there UK-based Voicemail to SMS / email alternatives? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/7nE7zBQkYzY/

jose aldo vs chad mendes lana del rey shipwreck john 3 16 alex smith 49ers broncos broncos

Jobs, re-election frame Obama's State of the Union, makes contrast with opponents' approach (Star Tribune)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/189177576?client_source=feed&format=rss

north korea dexter dexter facebook timeline kim jong il kim jong il vaclav havel

Juvenile's Ohio Craigslist case transferred (AP)

AKRON, Ohio ? The case of a juvenile suspect in a deadly Ohio Craigslist robbery scheme will be moved out of the county where two slaying victims were found and another was shot but survived.

A court official in Noble County in southern Ohio also says the gag order in the case has been lifted.

Tonda Brown, Noble County Court Assignment Commissioner, says the decision to transfer the case of Brogan Rafferty to Summit County came after a hearing Friday afternoon.

Brown also says Noble County Judge John Nau lifted the two-month-old gag order in the case.

The transfer of 16-year-old Rafferty came the same day that the chief suspect in the case was charged with aggravated murder, robbery, kidnapping and other charges in the deaths of three men and the wounding of a fourth.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

A self-styled chaplain suspected in a deadly scheme to rob people who replied to a Craigslist job ad has been charged with multiple counts of aggravated murder, kidnapping and robbery and could face the death penalty if convicted, according to an indictment announced Friday.

The charges against Richard Beasley accuse him of killing three men and wounding a fourth in August, October and November.

Beasley, 52, of Akron, who has been jailed in Akron on unrelated prostitution and drug charges, has denied involvement in the Craigslist slayings. He was arrested in November after authorities linked him to the alleged plot.

Prosecutors would not speculate on a motive but Attorney General Mike DeWine, who joined in announcing the charges, said investigators are looking at "serial killings."

"Are there more bodies? We frankly do not know," DeWine said, appealing to people with any information about missing persons to come forward.

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said the case, with the nature of the crimes and the multitude of charges, was made for the death penalty.

"This case we view as to be one of the worst of the worst when it comes to horrible murder cases," Walsh said.

The 28-count indictment against Beasley also included theft, weapons and identity theft charges. A message was left with the attorney who has been representing Beasley on the non-Craigslist charges.

An acquaintance of Beasley, 16-year-old Brogan Rafferty, of nearby of Stow, could face similar charges after being transferred to adult court late last year. His case is pending in Noble County where two of the slayings happened.

Authorities say the scheme targeted older and single out-of-work men with backgrounds that made it unlikely their disappearances would be noted right away.

The first victim, Ralph Geiger, 55, of Akron, was killed Aug. 9, the day after he left a homeless shelter saying he was taking a farm job. His body wasn't found until Nov. 25.

Geiger's brother, Mark Geiger, said Friday he's happy with the way prosecutors are handling the case. He said he's long wondered about other victims. He said he's not a death penalty advocate but wouldn't oppose it, although life in prison for Beasley would also satisfy him.

"As long as Beasley never has the opportunity to interact with the outside world again, that's what I feel would be appropriate," said Geiger, a telecommunications executive in Atlanta.

The plot's second victim, David Pauley, 51, of Norfolk, Va., came to Ohio in mid-October after answering the Craigslist ad. A friend has said Pauley was desperate for work and eager to return to Ohio.

Police say he was killed Oct. 23, and his body was found Nov. 15. Family members had contacted police concerned they hadn't heard from him.

The third victim, Timothy Kern, 47, of Massillon, whose body was buried near an Akron shopping mall, answered the ad and was last seen Nov. 13, authorities said. His body was also found Nov. 25. Kern told his family he was taking the job to help support his three sons.

A surviving victim, Scott Davis, 48, of South Carolina, also answered the ad and was shot Nov. 6 before escaping, police say.

Beasley was a Texas parolee when he returned to Ohio in 2004 after serving several years in prison on a burglary conviction. He was released from an Akron jail July 12 after a judge mistakenly allowed him to post bond on a drug-trafficking charge.

He was arrested two days later following a traffic stop but again mistakenly released. An investigation by Ohio's prisons system found that Beasley should not have been released on bond but said confusion over interstate prisoner-transfer rules and "ambiguity" in messages from Texas to Akron jail officials contributed to the error.

In a four-page handwritten letter to the Akron Beacon Journal, Beasley has said he has been miscast as a con man when he really helped feed, house and counsel scores of needy families, alcoholics, drug addicts, the mentally ill and crime suspects for years.

"To call me a con man when I sacrificed for others is wrong," wrote Beasley, who didn't mention the Craigslist investigation or Rafferty. "To turn their back on me is not following Christ's example. I gave three full years of my life to that ministry and what I got out of it was the satisfaction of doing the right thing. There was no `con' to it."

__

Andrew Welsh-Huggins, who contributed to this report from Columbus, can be reached at http://twitter.com/awhcolumbus.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120120/ap_on_re_us/us_craigslist_jobseekers_killed_charges

pumpkin cheesecake deviled eggs pie crust pie crust stuffing recipe happy thanksgiving dwts

U.S. to try again to hammer out space code

By Irene Klotz

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida | Wed Jan 18, 2012 6:56am EST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The United States will join with Europe and other nations to hammer out a code of conduct for space activities, including how to deal with the growing problem of debris circling Earth, the Obama administration said on Tuesday.

"Unless the international community addresses these challenges, the environment around our planet will become increasingly hazardous to human spaceflight and satellite systems, which would create damaging consequences for all of us," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement.

The announcement follows reports last week the United States would not sign a European Union draft of an "International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities" because it impinged on the military's use of space.

"It's been clear from the very beginning that we're not going along with the code of conduct," Ellen Tauscher, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, told reporters at a breakfast meeting on Thursday in Washington, D.C., the industry trade journal Space News reported.

Asked why the U.S. government would not sign the document, Tauscher said, "It's too restrictive," the paper reported.

Clinton said the United States would not enter into an agreement that "in any way constrains our national security-related activities in space or our ability to protect the United States and our allies."

"We are, however, committed to working together to reverse the troubling trends that are damaging our space environment and to preserve the limitless benefits and promise of space for future generations," Clinton added.

Among the most pressing and universal problems in space is orbital debris, an issue that gained considerable attention after China launched a missile to intentionally destroy one of its defunct weather satellites in 2007 as a test.

The breakup added hundreds of pieces of potentially hazardous debris around Earth. Currently there are more than 10,000 pieces of junk orbiting Earth, including spent rocket bodies, discarded satellites and thousands of spacecraft fragments.

Whizzing around the planet at thousands of miles per hour, even small pieces of debris pose a threat to working spacecraft, as well as the International Space Station, a $100 billion research laboratory that flies about 240 miles above Earth.

(Editing by Kevin Gray)

Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/scienceNews/~3/3wvPR8Pe7Eg/us-space-debris-idUSTRE80H02E20120118

cyndi lauper

IDG: 91 percent of business pros use iPad to get things done as ...

January 16, 2012 at 8:09 am

Source: IDG

Research firm IDG on Monday published a new survey called ?iPad for Business 2012,? showing that the iPad is anything but a fad as far as big business is concerned. The global survey, available as a downloadable PDF document, noted that 91 percent of businesses that deployed iPads are using the device primarily for work, even if only approximately a quarter of issued devices were supplied as a corporate tool.?Consumers and pros alike both use the device for media consumption, which in the case of the latter is?predominantly text-based and work-related.

IT and business professionals certainly use their iPads at home. But unlike most consumers, they also use their devices in a similarly intensive way at work. In a further, decisive, break with consumer usage patterns, IT and business professionals use their devices on the road far more frequently than anywhere else.

Some 79 percent of IT professionals ?always? use the iPads on the move and 59 percent ?always? or ?sometimes? use the device in offline mode.?Road use usually entails planes, trains, automobiles, hotel lobbies, coffee shops, conference halls and meeting rooms, IDG noted, even though?only 40 percent of iPads sold incorporate 3G connectivity.

More than three-quarters of polled workers use the iPads to browse the web, and 76 percent of pros said they ?always? use iPads to read content. Meanwhile, 73 percent opted for news consumption and more than half? or 54 percent? use it for work communication. Some 79 percent tap into the iPad on the move and 54 percent use it at home. Social media, personal communication and entertainment follow with 44 percent, 42 percent and 31 percent, respectively.

Corporate iPads rarely supplant notebooks, though:

According to IDC:

The iPad hasn?t prompted the majority of IT and business profes- sionals to abandon any other device. Only 12% say that their iPad has ?completely? replaced their laptop. Just 6% say it has supplanted their PC.

However, the iPad is taking over many tasks traditionally assigned to notebooks. For example, nearly three-quarters of businesses?or 72 percent? said they were using their notebooks less often because of Apple?s tablet. For approximately one in six businesses worldwide replaced their notebooks entirely for the iPad (23 percent in Europe). The Apple brand, which climbed nine spots to become No. 8?most valuable brand in the world, enjoys strong support by iPad-using corporations: A whopping 83 percent describe themselves as being loyal to Apple?s device. This does not bode well for Android tablets that are gaining some traction on the release of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich software, but not much in the corporate world. Research In Motion?s BlackBerry PlayBook tablet also fell on def ear with businesses and tablets powered by Microsoft?s new Windows 8 software are not expected to make any meaningful affect this year.

Also playing to Apple?s favor, the iPad offered over a hundred thousand native apps as of last June. That number has risen to nearly 170,000 at the time of this writing. Yes, the vast majority of iPad apps are indeed consumer oriented and most businesses deploy their own custom-tailored apps. Nevertheless, this just outlines Apple?s huge lead in the tablet market. Gartner?highlighted the lack of software on Android tablets in September. Although Microsoft does not supply?its Office suite on iPads, the company hinted it could be working on the project. Several virtualization apps exist that tackle this problem, including the recently released OnLive Desktop app?that?streams Office apps running in the cloud onto your iPad using the same video streaming technology used by OnLive?s cloud-gaming platform.

With tablets thrown in the mix, Apple is poised to blow past Hewlett-Packard and become the world?s top computer maker. The company will reveal holiday-quarter iPad sales in?a conference call with analysts scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 24. Apple is expected to report shipments of approximately 14-million iPad units. In the September 2010 quarter, Apple sold?11.12 million iPads?and 9.25 million iPads in the June 2010 quarter.

Related articles

Source: http://9to5mac.com/2012/01/16/idg-91-percent-of-business-pros-use-ipad-to-get-things-done/

blazing saddles lsu alabama national championship cordova beezow doo doo zopittybop bop bop lsu game lsu game

Romanian health official returns to job (AP)

BUCHAREST, Romania ? Romania's prime minister said Tuesday that a popular health official whose resignation sparked days of sometimes violent protests across the country will return to his job, in what was seen as a step to defuse widespread public anger at the government.

Premier Emil Boc said Raed Arafat ? who has publicly clashed with the government over a controversial law allowing for some privatization of emergency services ? will return to his Heath Ministry post later Tuesday and will be part of a team drafting a new health care law.

But as night fell Tuesday, about 200 anti-government protesters gathered in downtown Bucharest and yelled slogans such as "Resignation!" and "Down with Basescu!" referring to Romanian President Traian Basescu.

Protesters have raged for five days over austerity cuts and falling living standards. Protesters have gathered in freezing temperatures, chanting "Freedom!" and holding banners saying "Hunger and poverty have gripped Romania!" Authorities said that more than 10,500 people took part Monday.

Boc called Arafat "an expert and professional," saying both sides wanted to resume working together. Arafat earlier met with Basescu.

Police said they fined 247 people, and 36 were charged with illegally carrying knives, vandalism or disturbing public order during Monday's protests in Bucharest and other Romanian cities.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120117/ap_on_re_eu/eu_romania_protests

marine corps marine corps veterans day 2011 veterans day 2011 cnbc debate family circus spanier

Golden Globes viewership off slightly from 2011 (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) ? All the hype surrounding British comedian Ricky Gervais's return to host Sunday night's Golden Globe awards and how he might tweak the sensibilities of the stars in attendance failed to boost the TV audience.

The star-studded Hollywood awards ceremony lured 16.8 million total viewers to the telecast, the NBC television network said on Monday. That was a slight dip from the 17 million who tuned in last year when Gervais ruffled feathers in the audience and drew poor reviews for caustic jokes about stars including Robert Downey, Jr. and Charlie Sheen.

Among the key viewer group of 18-to 49-years-old adults, the awards telecast drew a 5.0 rating, which again was slightly below last year's 5.2, according to NBC.

Gervais promised more of the same type of humor this year, and aimed his acid wit at Johnny Depp, Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Kim Kardashian and others. But his edge was decidedly less sharp this year, and for the most part, critics noticed.

"Despite all the tough talk leading to Sunday night's broadcast, it was a markedly respectful and restrained Ricky Gervais who showed up," TV critic Mary McNamara began her review in the Los Angeles Times

Writing for show business website TheWrap.com, Tim Molloy said "Gervais told solid jokes. But despite promises he wouldn't hold back, none were as harsh as the ones last year."

(Reporting by Bob Tourtellotte; Editing by Christopher Michaud)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/enindustry/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120116/media_nm/us_goldenglobes_ratings

football schedule paula deen mena suvari pretty in pink allen west joyful noise coachella

TiVo users watch less Live TV than everyone else

If you're a TiVo user it might shock you to learn that the vast majority of TV today is still consumed live in the US. TiVo's latest study shows that its users who have broadband connected DVRs only watch live TV 27% of the time. This just reaffirms what is obvious to some, that if people have an enjoyable way to access on-demand (streaming and recorded) content, they'll prefer it to live TV. These types of numbers do make one wonder whether the cable and satellite DVRs on the market are bad intentionally, or if its just because those companies are incapable. Either way, the mix of streaming options with recorded TV is a powerful one and the perfect stop gap while we all wait for the future to get here.

Continue reading TiVo users watch less Live TV than everyone else

TiVo users watch less Live TV than everyone else originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Hollywood Reporter  |   | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/tivo-users-watch-less-live-tv-than-everyone-else/

norad how to carve a turkey how to cook a turkey yorkshire pudding whitney cummings larry the cable guy miracle on 34th street

Taylor Swift Premieres Hunger Games Single Live in Concert

Elizabeth Banks posing in her full Effie Trinket attire? Very cool.

Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars debuting "Safe and Sound," the track on which thy collaborated for The Hunger Games soundtrack? Very, very cool! And posted below.

The young superstar joined the band on stage in Nashville last night, shocking concert goers by popping up near the end of the show and performing this track live for the first time. Give it a listen now:

Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars - Safe and Sound

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/01/taylor-swift-premieres-hunger-games-single-live-in-concert/

bill o brien will kopelman portland trailblazers joseph kennedy iii dakota fanning leann rimes casey anthony video diary

TiVo users watch less Live TV than everyone else

If you're a TiVo user it might shock you to learn that the vast majority of TV today is still consumed live in the US. TiVo's latest study shows that its users who have broadband connected DVRs only watch live TV 27% of the time. This just reaffirms what is obvious to some, that if people have an enjoyable way to access on-demand (streaming and recorded) content, they'll prefer it to live TV. These types of numbers do make one wonder whether the cable and satellite DVRs on the market are bad intentionally, or if its just because those companies are incapable. Either way, the mix of streaming options with recorded TV is a powerful one and the perfect stop gap while we all wait for the future to get here.

Continue reading TiVo users watch less Live TV than everyone else

TiVo users watch less Live TV than everyone else originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Hollywood Reporter  |   | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/tivo-users-watch-less-live-tv-than-everyone-else/

2013 dodge dart super bowl 2012 shameless kwame brown martin luther king day blue ivy devil inside