Saturday, December 31, 2011

Uninsured turn to daily deal sites for health care

This screen shot shows eyewear coupons for the New York City area offered by Groupon.com. Daily deal sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial, best known for discounts at local restaurants and spas, are helping some people fill holes in health insurance coverage. (AP Photo/Groupon.com)

This screen shot shows eyewear coupons for the New York City area offered by Groupon.com. Daily deal sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial, best known for discounts at local restaurants and spas, are helping some people fill holes in health insurance coverage. (AP Photo/Groupon.com)

(AP) ? The last time Mark Stella went to the dentist he didn't need an insurance card. Instead, he pulled out a Groupon.

Stella, a small business owner, canceled his health insurance plan more than three years ago when his premium rose to more than $400 a month. He considered himself healthy and decided that he was wasting money on something that he rarely used.

So when a deal popped up on daily deals site Groupon for a teeth cleaning, exam and an X-ray at a nearby dentist, Stella, 55, bought the deal ? which the company calls a "Groupon" ? for himself and another for his daughter. He paid $39 for each, $151 below what the dentist normally charges.

Daily deal sites like Groupon and LivingSocial are best known for offering limited-time discounts on a variety of discretionary goods and services including restaurant meals, wine tastings, spa visits and hotel stays. The discounts are paid for upfront and then it's up to the customer to book an appointment and redeem a coupon before it expires. Merchants like the deals because it gives them exposure and a pop in business. Customers use them to try something new, to save money on something they already use, or both.

The sites are increasingly moving beyond little luxuries like facials and vacations and offering deals that are helping some people fill holes in their health insurance coverage. Visitors to these sites are finding a growing number of markdowns on health care services such as teeth cleanings, eye exams, chiropractic care and even medical checkups. They're also offering deals on elective procedures not commonly covered by health insurers, such as wrinkle-reducing Botox injections and vision-correcting Lasik eye surgery. About one out of every 11 deals offered online is for a health care service, according to data compiled by DealRadar.com, a site that gathers and lists 20,000 deals a day from different websites.

"I was accustomed to going to the dentist every six months," said Stella who owns SmartPhones, a store and wholesale business in Miami that sells mobile phone covers and accessories. "This filled the gap."

The deals are popping up across the nation. In New York, a full medical checkup with blood, stool and urinalysis testing sold for $69 in December on Groupon ? below the regular price of $200. In Seattle, a flu shot was offered on AmazonLocal for $17, down from $35. In Chicago, LivingSocial sold a dental exam, cleaning, X-rays and teeth whitening trays for $99, a savings of $142.

About 9 percent of all offers on daily deal websites in November were for dental work or some kind of medical treatment, up from 4.5 percent in the beginning of 2011, said Dan Hess, CEO and founder of Local Offer Network, which runs DealRadar.com. The growth in health-related deals is good news for millions of Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 46.3 million Americans under 65 have no health coverage.

The number of health care deals began rising as copycat websites attempted to get a piece of the market. Search leader Google and shopping site Amazon.com have recently gotten into the game.

Not all have been successful. In August, social networking site Facebook dropped its plan to start a daily deal business, and Yelp, a site that allows customers to write reviews of restaurants and other businesses, scaled back its daily deal efforts. Many smaller sites have closed. But the shakeout in the industry hasn't hurt the number of health deals being offered since the industry leaders, like Groupon, are offering more deals and are moving into more markets, Hess said.

The health care deals may be attractive for people with gaps in their coverage or no insurance, but jumping from one health care provider to the next isn't ideal. Visiting the same doctor or dentist makes it easier to monitor how a patient's health is progressing, said David Williams, co-founder of medical consultancy group MedPharma Partners and author of HealthBusinessBlog.com.

Also, it's important for patients to do their own research before buying a medical or dental deal, Williams said. "A referral from someone you trust is the best path," said Williams.

Dental deals are the most popular among users of local deal websites ? likely because even more people lack dental insurance than health insurance. Among the 172 million people under 65 who have private health insurance in the U.S., about 45 million don't have dental coverage, according to the CDC.

Dentists have traditionally offered deals by mailing out coupons, but paper coupons have a low redemption rate, Williams said. Local deal sites are more attractive to doctors and dentists because they get paid up front and they reach new clients.

"We reached a whole new demographic who otherwise wouldn't find us," said Dr. Gregg Feinerman, an ophthalmologist who runs Feinerman Vision Center in Newport Beach, Calif. He offered a 58 percent discount on Lasik eye surgery through Groupon. "It's a better way to market," he said.

He used Groupon as a way to bring in patients under 30-years old with the hope that they would recommend his services to friends and rate him on review website Yelp. A good review might persuade someone else to visit his office, Feinerman said. He charges $5,000 for the surgery on both eyes; a price that he said can be "overwhelming for 20-to 30-year-olds."

Feinerman approached Groupon about listing the eye surgery for $3,000. Groupon, which is based in Chicago, pushed him to lower the price to $2,100.

Feinerman got exactly the type of patient he was looking for in Thomas Cho. Cho, 29, bought the offer and after the surgery wrote a review on Yelp. He gave the vision center five stars ? the highest rating on the website.

Cho said in an interview that his health insurance plan only covers 20 percent of the regular price of Lasik since it is considered a cosmetic procedure. He would have paid about $4,000 if he had used his insurance discount.

Cho decided to buy the Groupon, paying $2,100 initially. After consulting with the doctor, he upgraded his surgery to an all-laser procedure for $1,000 more. At the time, Cho's credit card issuer was offering a 20 percent cash back promotion on Groupon purchases. In all, he saved more than $1,300.

"I had my post-op checkup and I am seeing 20/20," Cho wrote on Yelp. "I couldn't be happier."

___

Joseph Pisani can be reached at http://twitter.com/josephpisani

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2011-12-30-Daily%20Deals-Health%20Care/id-c97a3081829a464098cb9b8c152e3c11

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Stock index futures seen inching lower (Reuters)

(Reuters) Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500, Dow Jones futures and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.04 to 0.2 percent at 0901 GMT.

* On the macro economic front, investors will watch U.S. Redbook weekly U.S. Retail Sales at 1355 GMT.

* Iran has threatened to halt the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz if foreign sanctions were imposed on its crude exports over its nuclear ambitions, in a move which some analysts say could kindle military conflict with economies dependent on Gulf Oil.

* A third infant in the United States has tested positive for Cronobacter, a bacteria that has sometimes been linked to rare illnesses in newborns and has been found in milk-based powdered baby formula.

This has spurred a probe into baby formula, including Enfamil by Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. (MJN.N), although the baby had not consumed this.

* A delay has been won by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in its securities fraud lawsuit against Citigroup Inc (C.N), as the regulator tries to appeal a judge's decision to reject its $285 million settlement with the bank.

* A filing has been made by Morgan Stanley (MS.N) to the New York State's Department of Labor to cut 580 jobs at four Manhattan offices, the company said.

* European shares slipped in early trading on Wednesday on concerns about Iran's threat to stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz and worries ahead of an Italian short-term debt sale.

* Wall Street ended flat on Tuesday after a 5 percent rally last week in a light-volume session, with the Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) dipping 0.02 percent, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX) inching up 0.01 percent and the Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) adding 0.25 percent. (Reporting by Joanne Frearson; editing by Sophie Walker)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/stocks/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111228/bs_nm/us_markets_stocks

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Arab League observers head to Syria's war-ravaged Homs

A day after reports of heavy fighting and dozens killed in Homs, Arab League observers are heading to the city as a part of an effort to end the fighting in Syria.

? A daily summary of global reports on security issues.

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A day after reports of dozens killed in the restive Syrian city of Homs, Arab League monitors are now headed there for the first time.

The monitors arrived in Syria on Monday as part of an Arab League deal to see if Syrian government forces are relenting in their crackdown on protesters, as promised. Since the uprising began in mid-March, the nation has remained virtually shut off from outsiders, with foreign press and international observers?obtaining only the most limited access to the country.

The Arab League monitors are a step towards shining more light on the uprising, but it remains unclear if they will have any practical impact. The observers say the Syrian government has so far proved "very cooperative," but it is uncertain if they will get a complete picture of the violence.

?I am going to Homs. (Until) now, they have been very cooperative,? Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi, the head of the Arab League monitoring mission, was quoted by Iran's Press TV as saying.

The mission, which will eventually number 200 observers, will be divided into groups of ten and sent around the country to verify that Syrian forces are complying with the agreement they made to stop violence, release detainees, and remove armed forces from urban areas, reports Xinhua. Gen. Dabi told reporters that his team has not faced any restrictions so far. In addition to Homs, the monitors are expected to visit Damascus, Hama, Idlib, and other cities.

Still, the BBC reports that while Syrian officials have appeared compliant, there are already allegations of a cover-up.

?In advance of the observers' arrival, activists accused the authorities of moving detainees onto military bases - where the observers are not allowed to go - and also of removing hundreds of bodies of killed protesters from the morgue at Homs,? said the BBC?s Jim Muir.

In the Homs neighborhood of Baba Amr, activists told reporters and human rights organizations that Syrian forces pulled 11 tanks from the area and hid others ahead of the Arab monitors? arrival, reports Reuters. Yesterday at least 34 people were reported killed there. The neighborhood reportedly took fire from tanks, mortars, and heavy machine guns.

Opposition leader Burhan Ghalioun, head of the Syrian National Council, said that while the Arab League monitors are allowed in Homs, authorities have placed limitations on where they are able to go, Al Jazeera reports. To truly enforce the Arab peace plan, he said the Arab League must receive the support and cooperation of the United Nations.

?The plan to defuse the crisis is a good plan, but I do not believe the Arab League really has the means [to enforce it],? he said. ?It is better if the UN Security Council takes this plan, adopts it and provides the means for its application.?

Since the uprising began in mid-March, the UN estimates that more than 5,000 people have died in the violence, Bloomberg reports. Violence intensified when soldiers began defecting from the Syrian army to side with protesters. The Syrian government has blamed the violence on foreign agents who?ve entered the country and are carrying out terrorist operations, reports Bloomberg.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/T9X_K6pzisI/Arab-League-observers-head-to-Syria-s-war-ravaged-Homs

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Russian court rejects proposed ban of Hindu text (AP)

MOSCOW ? A Russian court decided Wednesday not to ban a religious text central to the global Hare Krishna movement, rejecting claims that the text is "extremist" and ending a case that has angered Hindus around the world.

The Indian Foreign Ministry said it appreciated "this sensible resolution of a sensitive issue."

Prosecutors in the Siberian city of Tomsk had argued that the Russian translation of "Bhagavad Gita As It Is" promotes "social discord" and hatred toward nonbelievers, causing an outcry in India, where many considered the proposed ban a violation of the rights of Hindus in Russia.

The text is a combination of the Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism's holiest scriptures, and commentary by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which is often called the Hare Krishna movement.

The prosecutors had asked the court to include the book on the Federal List of Extremist Materials, which bans more than 1,000 texts, including Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" and books distributed by the Jehovah's Witness and Scientology movements.

Alexander Shakhov, a lawyer for Hare Krishna devotees in Tomsk, said the group is satisfied with the court's decision.

"This judge's decision shows that Russia is becoming a truly democratic society," Shakhov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. "We are very excited about this victory."

Yury Pleshakov, a spokesman for the group in Moscow, said the book in question has existed in Russia for 25 years and has never inspired violence or extremist activity.

"On the contrary, this book teaches humane attitude towards all living beings," Pleshakov said.

The trial, which began in June, followed this year's ban on the construction of a Hare Krishna village in Tomsk and was based on an assessment by professors at Tomsk University, who concluded that "Bhagavad Gita As It Is" includes strong language against nonbelievers and promotes religious hatred and discrimination on the basis of gender, race, nationality and language.

The ruling came a day after Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna met with Alexander Kadakin, Russia's ambassador to India, and urged the Russian government to resolve the issue. Indian officials had last week appealed to high-level Russian authorities to intervene.

The Tomsk court had postponed the decision from Dec. 19, when protesters gathered outside the Russian consulate in Kolkata, and the speaker of India's lower house of parliament adjourned the body for several hours after members began shouting in anger over the proposed ban.

After hearing further testimony from academic experts on Wednesday, the judge ruled that the prosecutors' claims were unfounded.

The Bhagavad Gita "is not merely a religious text, but one of the defining treatises of Indian thought," said Indian Ambassador to Russia Ajai Malhotra in a statement. "The Bhagavad Gita has circulated freely across the world for centuries and there is not a single instance of it having encouraged extremism."

The Indian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday sought to soothe over any tensions.

"We appreciate this sensible resolution of a sensitive issue and are glad to put this episode behind us," ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said in a statement. "This demonstrates yet again that the people of India and Russia have a deep understanding of each other's cultures and will always reject any attempt to belittle our common civilizational values."

The Russian Foreign Ministry had insisted the Tomsk court was not taking issue with core Hindu scripture itself, but rather with the author's commentary and poor translation in "Bhagavad Gita As It Is."

"I would like to emphasize that this is not about 'Bhagavad Gita,' a religious philosophical poem, which forms part of the great Indian epic Mahabharata and is one of the most famous pieces of the ancient Hindu literature," ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said at a briefing in Moscow last week, adding that the book was first published in Russian in 1788.

Still, followers of the Hare Krishna movement in Russia saw the proposed ban as a result of continued intolerance of minority religions by the Russian Orthodox Church. Pleshakov estimates there are at least 150,000 Hare Krishna devotees in Russia.

"The current problem is, above all, the misuse of the law on combating extremism," Pleshakov said. "It is used to search for enemies where they can not even be defined."

In 2005, a Russian Orthodox archbishop asked the mayor of Moscow to ban the construction of a proposed Hare Krishna temple, calling the Hindu deity Krishna "an evil demon, the personified power of hell opposing God," according to Interfax. The temple was later allowed in a Moscow suburb.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/religion/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111228/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_bhagavad_gita

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CTC to conduct road show 'Focus Canada ? India' from March 13?15, 2012 in Jaipur

Canada?s tourism marketing and promotion agency, the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), will conduct a mega B2B road show, ?Focus Canada ? India?, from March 13-15, 2012 at Fairmont Jaipur. 50 Canadian sellers including Provincial Tourism Boards, tour operators, hotels, lodges, attractions, besides 60 hosted Indian buyers will be attending the road show, which is planned to be set up as a platform to facilitate networking and interactions between the buyers and sellers. This information was revealed by Derek Galpin, MD, CTC China and India. Galpin also informed that the Commission has earmarked a sum of USD 3 million for promotions of destination Canada in India for the year 2012.

In addition to Mumbai and Delhi, CTC is also looking to expand their focus to cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Amritsar. Speaking about the Commission?s decision to hold the road show in Jaipur, Galpin said, ?As most travel agents and tour operators in India are based in metro cities, we thought to organise our event at a city where the Indian buyers can stay away from their hometowns, and network. Last year, we had organised the road show in Goa.? CTC is aiming to set up the road show as an educative B2B platform. Besides Niagara Falls and Toronto, CTC is looking at promoting destinations like British Columbia, Monte Rio and Ontario.

Speaking about the increase in the promotion budget for the Indian market, Galpin informed that the CTC is concentrating on developing countries for promotions and marketing campaigns in addition to their traditional markets. ?Currently, we are focusing on India, China and Brazil and are diverting investment from core and traditional markets to these three potential markets where we see a continuous growth opportunity. In 2011, CTC had allocated USD 2.2 million for destination promotion in India and the budgets for India have been increased to USD 3 million for 2012,? he stated. He went on to mention that the CTC expects a 10 per cent year-on-year growth in tourist arrivals from India ? 135,000 tourist arrivals in 2012. In 2010, Canada witnessed 129,000 Indian tourist arrivals and 122,000 from January to October, 2011.

In keeping with its intent to increase promotional activities in India, CTC recently launched a consumer website for the Indian market - jannat.canada.travel. The website, besides offering information about the country, details packages by various tour operators offering tours to Canada. Speaking about the website, Gaplin said, ?CTC has been working in tandem with the Indian travel trade since we set up operations in India. However, we now believe that it?s time to interact with customers directly, and that's where the website comes in. The website mainly talks about different and unique experiences in Canada. Currently, the campaign on the website focuses on summer destinations.?

Source: http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/ctc-to-conduct-road-show-focus-canada--india-from-march-1315-2012-in-jaipur-15242

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NextEra Gets JPMorgan Financing for California Wind Farms

NextEra Energy Inc. (NEE) unit raised $131 million in tax-equity financing from JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) for three California wind farms.

In addition to the financing announced today, Nextera?s Golden Winds LLC expects to receive an additional $78 million from JPMorgan in early 2012, the Juno Beach, Florida-based power producer said in a statement. The projects have a total capacity of 205.9 megawatts.

Taking a stake in the wind farms entitles JPMorgan to apply a share of the projects? tax credits to its own tax bill. They will enter operation this month or next, Steve Stengel, a NextEra spokesman, said today in an e-mail.

Golden Winds owns the 78.2-megawatt Montezuma II project in Solano County, the 78.2-megawatt Vasco wind farm in Contra Costa County and the 49.5-megawatt San Georgia project in Riverside County, according to a NextEra Dec. 6 filing with the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

PG&E Corp.?s Pacific Gas & Electric Co. utility will buy the output from Montezuma and Vasco. San Georgia has ?several long-term power purchase agreements,? NextEra said in the filing, without naming the buyers.

Source: http://www.energytrend.com/NextEra_Wind_20111228

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Is This a Wind Turbine or a Gigantic Bath Toy? [Video]

How do you set up a 120-meter-tall, 2.3 MW floating wind turbine 12 miles offshore? And once there how do you stand it up? One Norwegian company has devised a simple and elegant solution. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/PoYyo1N4kcc/is-this-a-wind-turbine-or-a-gigantic-bath-toy

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Forecast: Oil flow will be down but revenues up

The volume of North Slope crude oil production may be going down but prices are going up and that means higher state oil revenues.

That was the conclusion of the Alaska Department of Revenue's fall forecast. While it was gloomy in its projections of oil production -- with volumes down from the spring forecast -- the department is predicting increasing prices for Alaska North Slope crude oil and, as a result, rising revenues.

Unrestricted petroleum revenue was about $7 billion in the last fiscal year, 2011. It is forecast to be a little more than $8 billion in 2012, the current fiscal year, and then drop to about $7.5 billion in 2013, $7 billion in 2014 and $6.3 billion in 2015.

North Slope crude production, which averaged 603,000 barrels a day in FY 2011, is forecast to drop to 574,000 barrels a day in 2012, 555,000 barrels per day in 2013, rebounding slightly in 2014 to 561,000 barrels a day and then dropping again in 2015 to 538,000 barrels per day.

The growth in unrestricted petroleum revenue, while production is dropping, is entirely the result of stronger prices.

The North Slope wellhead value -- West Coast price less transportation costs and other deductions and adjustments -- is growing: from $87.32 a barrel in FY 2011 to a projected $100.61 a barrel this fiscal year, to $100.91 in 2013, dropping to $100.25 in 2014 and to $99.61 in 2015.

Compare that to FY 2002, when the North Slope wellhead value was $17.04 a barrel.

The department said its forecast is compiled from several sources, including a state price forecasting session, the New York Mercantile Exchange futures market (as of late October), oil market analysts' forecasts and the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

"In the long run," the report said, "fundamental economic factors of supply and demand ultimately drive oil prices," and predicting future prices requires an understanding of long-term economic growth, the demand for refined products, global crude reserves and "the economics and politics of recovering those reserves."

The department said its price forecast for West Texas Intermediate and North Slope crude "reflects a consensus view of stable oil demand growth and modest supply increases in the short and medium term. In the long term, the forecast reflects stabilizing oil demand growth that puts pressure on world oil production and tightens oil markets. ...

"For FY 2012 and 2013, we are forecasting higher capital expenditures (by oil companies in Alaska), with the majority of the increase occurring in currently undeveloped areas of the state," the department said. Revenue said it included exploration and development plans by several newcomers to the state, "despite the speculative nature of those plans."

The department said it anticipates possible new developments on both state and federal lands in the next 10 years, with most of the opportunities to add production on state lands from "expanded heavy/viscous oil development (Orion), continued satellite development at Alpine (Nanuq and Alpine West fields), and continued developments at Oooguruk and Nikaitchuq."

Source: http://www.adn.com/2011/12/24/2233192/forecast-oil-flow-will-be-down.html

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

India resume first innings after lunch

Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir resumed the Indian first innings after lunch against Australia on Day 2 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag resumed the Indian first innings after lunch on the second day of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

Scorecard

Gambhir and Sehwag took the Indian first innings to 6/0 at lunch.

Earlier, Zaheer Khan took four wickets and Umesh Yadav and R Ashwin scalped three each as India bowled out Australia for 333 runs in their first innings.

The last Australian wicket fell when Nathan Lyon was bowled round his legs by Ashwin.

Australia lost their ninth wicket when R Ashwin had Ben Hilfenhaus caught by Virat Kohli at long-on.

Zaheer Khan took his fourth wicket when he had Peter Siddle caught behind by MS Dhoni.

Siddle played well to score 41 runs but fell to Zaheer who was reversing the ball both ways.

Zaheer had Brad Haddin caught by Virender Sehwag at gully in the second over of the day.

Zaheer broke the stubborn 72-run stand between Haddin and Peter Siddle as Sehwag took a good low catch.

The day's play started with Haddin and Siddle resuming the Australian first innings.

Australia ended Day 1 at 277/6 after being 205/5 at one stage.

Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, both playing under the shadow of recent injuries and lay-offs, struggled with their line and length under an overcast sky on a moisture-laden pitch that aided lateral movement when the ball was pitched up.

The hosts opened with debutant Ed Cowan and the belligerent David Warner who were off to a steady start after skipper Michael Clarke won the toss and surprised many by choosing to bat first.

Cowan betrayed no nerves and displayed a fine defensive technique and the right temperament to succeed in Test cricket.

Warner made a sketchy 37 that included a breath-taking pull for six off Umesh Yadav and several airy-fairy shots. He was out off the first ball after a brief rain-induced stoppage at the stroke of the first hour of play when he top-edged a Yadav bouncer that ballooned up to Dhoni behind the stumps.

Shaun Marsh, who has usurped Ricky Ponting's No. 3 position, hardly did justice to the promotion when his intended off-drive off Yadav flew to point, where Virat Kohli held a low catch.

Ponting received a warm welcome from the fans and a hot one from Yadav. The Indian pacer tested the Aussie great with a well-directed bouncer. Ponting, who was late in reacting, was struck just above his elbow and on the grille of his helmet before he regained his bearings and managed to kick the ball away from close to his stumps.

The former Australian captain struggled right through his innings of 62 in the course of which he got beaten several times, overbalanced on a couple of occasions but hung in there to raise 113 runs for the third wicket with the dormant Cowan.

The duo made the Indian pacers pay for their lack of length in the post-lunch session that was delayed by around 40 minutes because of yet another spell of light rain. Just when frustration was creeping into the Indian ranks, Ponting departed much like he had started: a touch shakily. Yadav, having softened him up with a snorter that Ponting somehow managed to evade, got his next delivery to move away late and the batsman edged it to Laxman at second slip.

Clarke, who looked fluent in making a sparkling 31 with five crisply struck boundaries, added a further 46 runs in association with Cowan, but gifted Zaheer his wicket dragging a short ball on to his stumps.

Source: http://timesofindia.feedsportal.com/fy/8at2Etd0Uyq4E1Uw/story01.htm

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Monday, December 26, 2011

Al Eisele: Bill Colby: An Honorable Man

I watched the recent documentary film about William Colby, who headed the Central Intelligence Agency during the Vietnam War, with more than casual interest, even before it stirred up a hornet's nest of controversy because of its suggestion that he killed himself in 1996 because of guilt over his failure to comfort his oldest daughter before she died in 1973 from epilepsy and anorexia.

The film, The Man Nobody Knew: In Search of My Father, CIA Spymaster William Colby, was made by his son Carl, who narrated it. The film touched off a huge family fight, not only because Colby's second wife criticized it but because three of Carl's siblings were equally critical.

Sally Shelton-Colby told the Washington Post last month that her stepson portrayed his father "in the way he did to sell his film," while Paul Colby said the pain and sadness of losing his father "has now been intensified by my brother Carl's inexplicable and unfounded attempt to debase the reputation and memory of a modest and decent man, a dedicated father, and an exemplary public servant."

Their criticism was sparked by the film's portrayal of Colby's role in running the CIA's notorious Phoenix Program, in which thousands of suspected Viet Cong agents in South Vietnam were killed in what some members of Congress denounced as an assassination program. Colby revealed the details of the Phoenix Program and other CIA misdeeds, including eavesdropping on war protestors, in testimony before Congress, which made him a pariah to CIA officers.

The film includes extensive interviews with Colby's first wife, Barbara (but not his second) and graphic archival footage of bloody violence in Vietnam. I found it engrossing, partly because of the sheer drama of Colby's life, but also because I had a passing acquaintance with him.

I first met him in 1974, shortly after President Ford named him CIA director, when I interviewed him at CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., for his -- and my -- hometown newspaper in St. Paul.

At the time, Colby and the CIA were the focus of an investigation into illegal clandestine activities by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which was chaired by the late Frank Church (D-Idaho) and included then-Sen. Walter Mondale (D-Minn.) as a member. I described Colby as "a private man in a very private business, and reported that he "has apparently decided to lift some of the secrecy that has shrouded both him and his business for so many years."

I was referring to Colby's decision to cooperate with the Church committee and tell Congress about some of the CIA's darkest secrets, including the Phoenix Program, which earned his many enemies in the intelligence community and eventually led to his firing by President Ford.

As I wrote in a retrospective column in The Hill two days after Colby's body was recovered when he vanished on a solo canoe trip in the Chesapeake Bay in May, 1996, his death "was one of those events that seems destined to provoke endless controversy, just as his life did."

I noted that we had kept in occasional touch, and several years earlier, "he asked my help in getting a friend's novel published, but I didn't think it was up to par and I told him so. Then, in 1995, when I was writing about congressional oversight of the intelligence community in The Hill, I called him to ask for an interview.

We met for lunch, and he spoke a length about his experience in intelligence, some of which he had written about in his 1978 memoir, Honorable Men: My Life in the CIA. He was dismissive of the plans for a fundamental restructuring of the intelligence community, as many in Congress were calling for.

"I'm not a great believer in the importance of wiring diagrams," he told me. "That's led to a lot of bureaucratic posturing. The main thing is having some leadership, telling people what you want them to do and following up. That's the key to any organization, and intelligence is no different."

Colby expressed no regrets about his controversial tenure at the CIA. "My major contribution was to bring intelligence into the public policy process, to make it part of the separation of powers," he declared.

I asked him if that was right decision. "We had to do it," he replied. "And when you do, you end up stronger, not weaker. If you get [Congress] to understand what you're doing and why they should vote for it, when something goes wrong, it's not just some dumb thing the CIA did, but what we did as Americans."

Colby clearly believed that congressional oversight of the intelligence community was essential in a democratic society. "The lack of oversight and accountability was the basic weakness then," he said. "Now, Congress is energized, and there is congressional oversight."

After our lunch, I called a retired top CIA official who knew Colby and was privy to the agency's secrets, and asked him if Colby was an honorable man in an often dishonorable business.

"I think Bill was an extremely honorable man," he replied. "In fact, in my view, he was one of the most decent, intelligent and honorable officers, with one or two exceptions, that I ever knew at the agency."

I didn't identify my source at the time because I promised him anonymity. But I can do it now because he is no longer living. He was Cleveland Cram, a fellow alum of my alma mater, St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn., and a veteran CIA officer who later wrote a history of the agency, which is still highly classified.

I don't know who's right or wrong in the contretemps over Carl Colby's documentary film about his father, or what really caused his death, but I'm convinced that William Colby was an honorable man.

?

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/al-eisele/bill-colby-an-honorable-man_b_1168503.html

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NKorea pointing to heir's uncle playing key role

In this Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011 photo released by the Korean Central News Agency and distributed in Tokyo, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, by the Korea News Service, Kim Jong Un, center, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's youngest known son and successor, visits at Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea, to pay respect to his father. At far left front is Jong Un's uncle Jang Song Thaek. (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service) JAPAN OUT UNTIL 14 DAYS AFTER THE DAY OF TRANSMISSION

In this Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011 photo released by the Korean Central News Agency and distributed in Tokyo, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, by the Korea News Service, Kim Jong Un, center, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's youngest known son and successor, visits at Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea, to pay respect to his father. At far left front is Jong Un's uncle Jang Song Thaek. (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service) JAPAN OUT UNTIL 14 DAYS AFTER THE DAY OF TRANSMISSION

In this Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011 image made from KRT television, Kim Jong Un, center, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's youngest known son and successor, with military officials, stand in front of his father's body displayed in a glass coffin, not in photo, at Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea. At far left is Jong Un's uncle Jang Song Thaek . (AP Photo/KRT via APTN) TV OUT, NORTH KOREA OUT

In this Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011 photo released by the Korean Central News Agency and distributed in Tokyo Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011 by the Korea News Service, Moon Hyung-jin, president of the Unification Church, second from right, carries a wreath with unidentified men to lay in front of a portrait of the late Kim Jong Il at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service) JAPAN OUT UNTIL 14 DAYS AFTER THE DAY OF TRANSMISSION

In this Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011 photo released by the Korean Central News Agency and distributed in Tokyo Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011 by the Korea News Service, North Koreans react as they pay their respect to late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Nampo, North Korea. (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service) JAPAN OUT UNTIL 14 DAYS AFTER THE DAY OF TRANSMISSION

In this Dec. 23, 2011 photo released by the Korean Central News Agency and distributed in Tokyo Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011 by the Korea News Service, North Koreans pay respects to their late leader Kim Jong Il in front of his portrait in South Hwanghae province, North Korea. (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service) JAPAN OUT UNTIL 14 DAYS AFTER THE DAY OF TRANSMISSION

(AP) ? North Korea is showing the uncle and key patron of anointed heir Kim Jong Un wearing a military uniform with a general's insignia ? a strong sign he'll play a crucial role in helping the young man take over power and uphold the "military-first" policy initiated by his late father, Kim Jong Il.

As North Korea prepares for Kim Jong Il's funeral Wednesday, it is also warning South Korea against barring visits to Pyongyang by civilian groups hoping to pay respects, saying the obstruction will lead to "catastrophic consequences" for relations between the rivals.

While millions continue to mourn Kim Jong Il, North Korea is offering hints about Kim Jong Un's rise and the future composition of his inner circle. North Korea began hailing Kim Jong Un as "supreme leader" of the 1.2-million strong military over the weekend as it ramps up its campaign to install him as ruler.

Kim Jong Un, who is in his late 20s and was unveiled in September 2010 as his father's choice as successor, will be the third-generation Kim to rule the nation of 24 million.

Koreans should become "eternal revolutionary comrades" with Kim Jong Un, "the sun of the 21st century," the North's main Rodong Sinmun newspaper said Sunday in a commentary carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

State television showed footage Sunday of a uniformed Jang Song Thaek and his nephew Kim Jong Un paying their respects before Kim Jong Il's body, which is lying in state at Kumsusan Memorial Palace. Seoul's Unification Ministry said it was the first time Jang, usually seen in business suits, had been shown wearing a military uniform on state TV.

Jang, a vice chairman of the powerful National Defense Commission, is the husband of Kim Kyong Hui, younger sister of Kim Jong Il and a key Workers' Party official. South Korean lawmakers say intelligence officials have predicted that Jang and his wife will play larger roles supporting Kim Jong Un.

The new titles, a public show of support from top military leadership and the symbolic appearance of Jang in uniform send strong signals that North Korea will maintain Kim Jong Il's "military first" policy for the time being.

North Korea is in official mourning until Kim Jong Il's funeral Wednesday and a memorial Thursday.

South Korea has permitted only two groups with ties to North Korea to visit and pay condolences ahead of the funeral and has rejected demands by several others.

The South Korean groups, led by the widow of former President Kim Dae-jung, who held a landmark summit with Kim Jong Il in 2000, and a business leader whose late husband had ties to the North, plan to cross the heavily fortified border Monday for a two-day trip, according to Seoul's Unification Ministry.

On Saturday, Kim Jong Un again visited the palace where his father's body is lying in state ? this time as "supreme leader of the revolutionary armed forces" and accompanied by North Korea's top military brass, according to KCNA.

Earlier, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper urged Kim Jong Un to accept the top military post: "Comrade Kim Jong Un, please assume the supreme commandership, as wished by the people."

Kim Jong Un's father and grandfather led the country under different titles, and it remains unclear which other titles will be bestowed on him.

Kim Jong Un was promoted last year to four-star general and appointed a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party. He had been expected to assume a number of other key posts while being groomed to succeed his father.

His father's death comes at a sensitive time for North Korea, which was in the middle of discussions with the U.S. on food aid and restarting talks to dismantle the North's nuclear weapons program. Chronically short of food and suffering from a shortfall in basic staples after several harsh seasons, officials had been asking for help feeding its people even as North Koreans prepared for 2012 celebrations marking the 100th birthday of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder and the late father of Kim Jong Il.

Also, animosity with South Korea still lingers after two incidents blamed on North Korea killed 50 South Koreans last year.

Calls to rally behind Kim Jong Un, dubbed the "Great Successor" in the wake of his father's death on Dec. 17 from a heart attack, come amid displays of grief across North Korea.

On Sunday, the North's state TV repeatedly showed footage of wailing uniformed soldiers, many with shaved heads, and other citizens professing their tear-choked longing for Kim Jong Il as they visited mourning sites.

In Pyongyang, workers at drink kiosks handed steaming cups of water to shivering mourners, including children bundled up in colorful, thick parkas. State media said the drinks were arranged at the instruction of Kim Jong Un, who ordered officials to take special measures to protect the health of mourners.

"Deeply moved by the measures, all of the Korean people feel that Kim Jong Un is the leader of the people, as great as Kim Jong Il," KCNA said.

___

Associated Press writers Foster Klug and Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, and AP Korea bureau chief Jean H. Lee contributed to this report. Follow on Twitter at twitter.com/newsjean and twitter.com/APKlug.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-12-25-AS-Kim-Jong-Il/id-1ec23fd2324d41cf86840ee304ef7209

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Military Wives take out Xmas No.1

Last updated 14:04 26/12/2011

A choir of wives of soldiers serving in Afghanistan topped the British singles charts this week, beating X Factor winners Little Mix to the Christmas No. 1 spot and outselling the rest of the top 12 put together.

Wherever You Are by Military Wives, a song written using excerpts from letters sent between military couples, sold 556,000 copies, the Official Charts Company said.

All proceeds from the single go to The Royal British Legion and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen Families Association.

"It's a testament to the Military Wives' hard work and the nation's support of them as well as the power of choral singing," said Gareth Malone, the choirmaster who put the group together for a BBC television series, The Choir.

"I'm delighted they have found their voice."

The 100-strong Military Wives choir dislodged from the top spot a cover of Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice's Cannonball by Little Mix, a group of four girls that won this year's X Factor television singing contest.

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- Reuters

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/6190497/Military-Wives-take-out-Xmas-No-1

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Australia recall Hilfenhaus for first India test

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Australia recall Hilfenhaus for first India test

CRICKET-AUSTRALIA:Australia recall Hilfenhaus for first India test

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia have brought back workhorse paceman Ben Hilfenhaus into the test fold in place of youngster Mitchell Starc for the first test against India, which starts on Monday.

Hilfenhaus, a natural swing bowler, was dropped after a poor series against England earlier this year, but has worked his way back into the side with strong form in domestic cricket.

He will join a pace attack that features Peter Siddle and James Pattinson, with Nathan Lyon the lone specialist spinner.

Top order batsman Shaun Marsh has been recalled after recovering from a back strain suffered in South Africa, while former captain Ricky Ponting and middle order batsman Mike Hussey have retained their places.

All rounder Shane Watson has yet to shake off an injury while Starc has been named as the 12th man.

Skipper Michael Clarke will lead Australia into the first match of a four-test series, with his counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni hoping to guide India to their first test series win on Australian soil. (Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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Source: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/wire-news/australia-recall-hilfenhaus-for-first-india-test_639017.html

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Saturday, December 24, 2011

youpix: AGORA ---> Todo mundo ligando na Mix TV pra ver a retrospectiva hil?ria dos maiores virais de 2011. @Nairbello apresentando t? #LOL.

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Cain Velasquez knows he "blew it" against Junior dos Santos

"Cain knows he blew it, that he stopped before (dos Santos), but he's confident that he?ll have the chance to fight for the championship again. Possibly in two or three fights from now. He first has to prove he deserves that chance, so he'll have to defeat his two next opponents, or at least one in a convincing way so that Zuffa says, 'Ok, you deserve another shot.' When Zuffa offer us that fight, we'll work on it." - For more from Javier Mendez, visit Tatame.com

Cain Velasquez blew it - and he knows it.

That's according to the famed American Kickboxing Academy trainer, Javier Mendez, who says that the recently dethroned champ acknowledges the miscalculation that led to his 64-second knockout loss to Junior dos Santos.

Despite returning from an extended, injury-induced layoff, Velasquez's background as a two-time All-American wrestler made him a favorite amongst many to defeat the Brazilian battering machine. Instead, however, the AKA fighter found himself on the business end of a heavy right-hand after electing to exchange punches with dos Santos in the opening round. Though Velasquez makes no excuses for the loss, Mendez says the former title holder is confident that, with a couple of wins, he'll get another crack at reclaiming the gold. But, what do you think LowKick'ers? With the influx of Heavyweight talent coming over from Strikeforce, is Velasquez still the second best in the division? And if so, with the over-under set at two, how many wins will it take for him to get another title shot?

Further Reading: UFC on FOX: Junior dos Santos dethrones Cain Velasquez in Round 1

Photo: Francis Specker

Source: http://lowkick.blitzcorner.com/UFC/Cain-Velasquez-knows-he-blew-it-against-Junior-dos-Santos-14703

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Friday, December 23, 2011

Exploiting Trichoderma: From food security to biotechnology

Exploiting Trichoderma: From food security to biotechnology [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 21-Dec-2011
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Laura Udakis
l.udakis@sgm.ac.uk
44-011-898-81843
Society for General Microbiology

From improving food security to their use as biotechnology power horses, Trichoderma fungi are increasingly being exploited by industry. Current advances in the field are brought together and highlighted in a special issue of Microbiology published online on 27 December.

Trichoderma are free-living fungi widely used in agricultural biotechnology. Some species of Trichoderma are specifically used as biocontrol agents to control plant pathogens including Fusarium species. Their success is partly due to mycoparasitism a lifestyle where one fungus is parasitic on another fungus. Regular use of Trichoderma species on plants can reduce the need to use chemical pesticides. This provides an economic advantage to farmers and helps improve food security.

Trichoderma are naturally found in the soil where they form symbiotic associations with plants. The microbeplant relationship can alter plant gene expression to confer a range of benefits to the plant, including increased resistance to pathogens and abiotic stresses, such as drought and heat. The efficiency of photosynthesis and nitrogen fertilizer uptake can also be improved through altered gene expression. Typically, these genetic changes lead to a net increase in plant growth and productivity.

One member of the genus, Trichoderma reesei, is used as a biotechnological cell factory for the large-scale production of cellulase enzymes (needed for biofuel production) and recombinant proteins. T. reesei is also a widely-used model for studying protein secretion.

Benjamin A. Horwitz (Technion, Israel) and Alfredo Herrera-Estrella (National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity, Mexico), who compiled the issue, hope the collection of papers will be a useful tool for researchers. "This special issue brings together recent work from the Trichoderma research community and a collection of reviews that will hopefully stimulate new work on this fascinating group of fungi," they said. "We hope that this will allow the identification of new opportunities for the exploitation of this microbe's impressive genetic potential."

###

Papers in this special issue focus on:

  • The nature of the Trichodermaplant interactions
  • Toxic and useful compounds produced by Trichoderma species
  • Components of the signalling networks that control gene expression
  • Molecular cross-talk between mechanisms of plant disease resistance induced by Trichoderma
  • How Trichoderma can control phytopathogenic fungi
  • Newly-sequenced genomes of Trichoderma species


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Exploiting Trichoderma: From food security to biotechnology [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 21-Dec-2011
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Laura Udakis
l.udakis@sgm.ac.uk
44-011-898-81843
Society for General Microbiology

From improving food security to their use as biotechnology power horses, Trichoderma fungi are increasingly being exploited by industry. Current advances in the field are brought together and highlighted in a special issue of Microbiology published online on 27 December.

Trichoderma are free-living fungi widely used in agricultural biotechnology. Some species of Trichoderma are specifically used as biocontrol agents to control plant pathogens including Fusarium species. Their success is partly due to mycoparasitism a lifestyle where one fungus is parasitic on another fungus. Regular use of Trichoderma species on plants can reduce the need to use chemical pesticides. This provides an economic advantage to farmers and helps improve food security.

Trichoderma are naturally found in the soil where they form symbiotic associations with plants. The microbeplant relationship can alter plant gene expression to confer a range of benefits to the plant, including increased resistance to pathogens and abiotic stresses, such as drought and heat. The efficiency of photosynthesis and nitrogen fertilizer uptake can also be improved through altered gene expression. Typically, these genetic changes lead to a net increase in plant growth and productivity.

One member of the genus, Trichoderma reesei, is used as a biotechnological cell factory for the large-scale production of cellulase enzymes (needed for biofuel production) and recombinant proteins. T. reesei is also a widely-used model for studying protein secretion.

Benjamin A. Horwitz (Technion, Israel) and Alfredo Herrera-Estrella (National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity, Mexico), who compiled the issue, hope the collection of papers will be a useful tool for researchers. "This special issue brings together recent work from the Trichoderma research community and a collection of reviews that will hopefully stimulate new work on this fascinating group of fungi," they said. "We hope that this will allow the identification of new opportunities for the exploitation of this microbe's impressive genetic potential."

###

Papers in this special issue focus on:

  • The nature of the Trichodermaplant interactions
  • Toxic and useful compounds produced by Trichoderma species
  • Components of the signalling networks that control gene expression
  • Molecular cross-talk between mechanisms of plant disease resistance induced by Trichoderma
  • How Trichoderma can control phytopathogenic fungi
  • Newly-sequenced genomes of Trichoderma species


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-12/sfgm-et122111.php

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Panel endorses active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer

An independent panel convened earlier this month by the National Institutes of Health concluded that many men with localized, low-risk prostate cancer should be closely monitored, permitting treatment to be delayed until warranted by disease progression.

Because of the very favorable prognosis of PSA-detected, low-risk prostate cancer, the panel recommended that strong consideration be given to removing the term "cancer" for this condition.

However, monitoring strategies have not been uniformly studied and available data do not yet point to clear follow-up protocols. The panel recommended standardizing definitions and conducting additional studies to clarify which monitoring strategies are most likely to optimize patient outcomes.

"It?s clear that many men would benefit from delaying treatment, but there is no consensus on what constitutes observational strategies and what criteria should be used to determine when treatment might ultimately be needed among closely monitored men," said conference panel chairperson Patricia A. Ganz, MD, of UCLA?s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Defining low-risk prostate cancer as PSA

"We need to standardize definitions, group patients by their risks, and conduct additional research to determine the best protocols for managing low-risk disease," Dr. Ganz said.

The panel further recommended that disease terminology should be refined as a result of changes in the patient population with prostate cancer due to PSA testing.

Go back to this issue of Urology Times eNews.

Source: http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/Enews/Panel-endorses-active-surveillance-for-low-risk-pr/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/753390?ref=25

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Amazon, Microsoft, Nokia Circling RIM (NewsFactor)

Not surprisingly, reports are emerging of big companies circling the wounded Research In Motion, maker of the BlackBerry. The companies include Amazon, Microsoft and Nokia, all of which have been rebuffed so far.

On Tuesday, Reuters reported that RIM has turned down overtures from Amazon and unnamed "other potential buyers" because it wants to fix its problems itself. Reportedly, a RIM acquisition has also been proposed by investment bankers to rival handset makers, including Samsung and HTC.

Turning Itself Around

The news service cited anonymous "people with knowledge of the situation," and noted that RIM and Amazon have declined to comment. Both companies are continuing discussions of other deals, such as a service that will make Amazon's music library available to BlackBerry users.

The story said the giant retailer hired an investment bank this summer to look into the possibility of a merger, but no formal offer was made. It's not yet clear if informal discussions included specifics such as price.

Reuters also reported that RIM's board of directors wants the company's co-chief executives, Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, to attempt to revive RIM's fortunes through better use of its current product lines and worldwide infrastructure, and through the launch of new phones.

Other possible revenue sources include licensing of its new BlackBerry 10 operating system, built on the RIM-acquired QNX OS, after the expected release late next year of the BlackBerry 10 smartphone lineup.

A story in Wednesday's Wall Street Journal, citing "people familiar with the matter," said Microsoft and Nokia had also recently held informal talks with RIM about the possibility of making a joint offer. But, as with Amazon, the company's executive leadership has decided to explore ways to turn RIM around. Microsoft and Nokia have formed a close alliance, where Nokia's phone lineup will use Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 operating system.

'When, Not If'

Laura DiDio, an analyst with Information Technology Intelligence Corp., said it's "a question of when, not if, somebody buys RIM." She added that "Microsoft and Nokia are desperate to get some traction" for their new joint endeavor, and adding RIM to the mix might help them do that.

As for Amazon, which has made a big bet in tablets but not in smartphones, DiDio said that it's important to "look five years down the road, to see what market they might want to play in." Amazon might also be interested in RIM, she said, to keep it from other competitors.

On Tuesday, RIM's stock, which has dropped 77 percent in the last 12 months, reached an eight-year low. In addition to intense competition from mobile devices from Apple and Android, the company has endured in recent months a litany of troubles that would make the biblical Job wince.

For example, the company announced last week that the launch of its much-awaited BlackBerry 10 line would be delayed from the first half to the second half of 2012, in part because the dual-core LTE chipset in the new phones will not be ready until the summer.

Earlier this month, a federal judge ordered the company to change the name of its new BBX operating system because of a trademark dispute with a New Mexico-based company. BBX, which had been unveiled in October, was renamed the BlackBerry 10 OS.

RIM's PlayBook tablet, now heavily discounted, has had disappointing sales. For enterprise customers, RIM is even offering a free PlayBook for every two purchased. An updated version of PlayBook has been delayed to next year. RIM is also trying to restore trust following days of service interruptions last fall.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20111221/bs_nf/81483

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Monday, December 19, 2011

J.R. Martinez and His Girlfriend Are Expecting (omg!)

Dancing with the Stars winner J.R. Martinez and his girlfriend Diana Gonzalez-Jones are expecting a baby next spring, People reports.

"We found out just last week it's a girl and we are over the moon," Martinez told the magazine. "Diana has a little baby bump now and it's the cutest thing ever. With the holidays coming up, this is the biggest and best gift we could get."

See other celebs who are expecting

Martinez, 28, met Gonzalez-Jones in 2008 on the set of his soap All My Children. The two began dating last year.?

"2011 has been full of a lot of surprises and opportunities and ultimately, a lot of blessings," Martinez added. "Diana and I were just asking ourselves, 'How is 2012 going to top 2011?' Well, we have our answer!"

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_j_r_martinez_girlfriend_expecting224900004/43939747/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/j-r-martinez-girlfriend-expecting-224900004.html

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Sunday, December 18, 2011

9-year-old NYC boy chokes in school cafeteria

Family members and a witness say a New York City fourth grader choked on meatballs during lunch earlier this month while school cafeteria workers stood by. The boy later died.

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The New York Post reported Saturday that 9-year-old Jonathan Jewth fell to the ground during lunch Dec. 5 at Public School 47 in the Bronx. He was unconscious before help arrived.

A parent at the school, Andrea Perez, told the newspaper she saw the boy choking but cafeteria workers did nothing. She said at one point they yelled at him to put his fingers down his throat.

"He was on the ground and not moving after a while," Perez said through a Spanish-speaking translator. "Nobody was paying attention and they didn't know how to give aid, nobody knew what to do."

She said she did not know how to resuscitate the boy so she called 911 and started screaming for help. Another parent tried to help the boy, the newspaper reported.

Jewth was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center. Jonathan's family told the newspaper he suffered brain damage and died Monday.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said his death was a tragedy. Education officials haven't responded to requests for comment about the family's and Perez's account.

___

Information from: New York Post, http://www.nypost.com

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45715048/ns/us_news-life/

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Shock jock Howard Stern gets "America's Got Talent" gig (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) ? Controversial radio shock jock Howard Stern will be the new judge on TV show "America's Got Talent", NBC said on Thursday, and will also continue to host his daily radio program for SiriusXM.

Stern, 57, will replace departing talk show host Piers Morgan on the panel when the talent show returns for a 7th season in the summer of 2012.

Production of the show will move to New York to accommodate Stern's schedule.

"Howard Stern's larger-than-life personality will bring a thrilling new dynamic to 'America's Got Talent' starting this summer," said NBC alternative programming chief Paul Telegdy.

"He's a proven innovator and his track record in broadcasting is truly remarkable. Howard is very passionate about this show and is fully committed to its future," Telegdy said in a statement.

Stern is known for conducting sexually explicit interviews, his raunchy sense of humor and for his satirical comments on religion, race and other hot button topics.

"America's Got Talent" created by British entrepreneur Simon Cowell, is one of the most successful shows for NBC and the outspoken Stern had been Cowell's top choice to join the judging panel.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; editing by Patricia Reaney)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tv/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111215/tv_nm/us_howardstern_gottalent

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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Video: CDC: 1 in 4 women violently attacked

One in four women say they were violently attacked by their intimate partners, according to a government survey released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One in five women said they had been sexually assaulted. NBC?s Brian Williams reports.

>>> we got startling new numbers from the cdc today based on a new survey of domestic violence. one in four women in this country reported being violently attacked by a husband or boyfriend. a number researchers even called astounding. one in five women said they have been sexually assaulted. some experts were skeptical of the 1.3 million sexual assaults reported in this study saying the number is far higher than the department of justice 's own estimate just under 190,000 rapes last year.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/45676080/

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World's shortest woman wants to be Bollywood star (AP)

AGPUR, India ? A high school student in central India was recognized as the world's shortest woman by Guinness World Records on Friday as she turned 18, saying she hopes to earn a degree and make it in Bollywood.

Jyoti Amge stood just 62.8 centimeters (24.7 inches) tall ? shorter than the average 2-year-old ? when Guinness representatives visiting from London measured her at a ceremony attended by about 30 family and friends in the town of Nagpur, in Maharashtra state.

A teary-eyed Amge, dressed in one of her finest saris, called the honor an "extra birthday present" and said she felt grateful for being small, as it had brought her recognition. After receiving a plaque, she and her guests cut a birthday cake.

"I have put Nagpur on the world map. Now everyone will know where it is," said Amge, who says she dreams of one day becoming a Bollywood film star as well as pursuing a university degree after she finishes high school this year.

"I want to be an actor," she said.

She measured 7 centimeters (2.76 inches) shorter than the 22-year-old American Bridgette Jordan, who had held the title since September.

"Jyoti encourages us all to look beyond mere size and to just celebrate our differences," Guinness adjudicator Rob Molloy said.

This was not Amge's first Guinness record. Until Friday she was considered the world's shortest teenager, but in turning 18 qualified for the new title. She has grown less than 1 centimeter (0.4 inch) in the last two years, Guinness said in a statement, and will grow no more due to a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia.

Her teenage title brought the chance for multiple Guinness-sponsored trips to Japan and Italy for tours and meetings with other record holders, she said.

The title of shortest woman in history continues to be held by Pauline Musters, who lived in the Netherlands from 1876 to 1895 and stood 61 centimeters (24 inches) tall.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111216/ap_en_mo/as_india_shortest_woman

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