Saturday, December 31, 2011

Spring sports tribute: Lightning baseball

BROOMFIELD, Colo. -

How does a team recover from losing a hurler with a 90-mph fastball and a future spot at the University of Nebraska?

What about when the No. 2 starter and closer go down, too?

Ask the members of the Legacy baseball team, who scrapped their way to an 11-7 regular season record and a spot in the 5A district tournament.

The Lightning managed that despite injuries that depleted a pitching staff that was supposed to be the team's strength this season.

"We've had guys fill in who aren't used to filling in and we've held our own," said Luke Bublitz, the team's injured would-be ace. "We've won games with duct tape."

Bublitz's lower back injury cost Legacy a pitcher who had 70 strikeouts and a 2.35 ERA as a junior. No. 2 starter Taylor Huyett was lost to a broken ankle suffered early in the season, and lower back problems cost closer Shorne Stevens most of the season.

The loss of the team's stars challenged its juniors and underclassmen.

"When you've faced adversity, it shows what kind of character a team has," first-year coach Ty Giordano said

Into the void stepped players like junior Kevin Walter, whose low ERA and work at the plate helped Legacy grind its way into the postseason.

The team lost 2-0 to Regis in the first round of the district tournament.

If the season was bittersweet, it was still an improvement over last year, when Legacy was forced to forfeit its district title. That cost the school its first-ever spot in the 5A state championship tournament.

Source: http://www.broomfieldenterprise.com/ci_12797369?source=rss_viewed

sandusky interview with bob costas sandusky interview with bob costas live oak mark kelly mark kelly jeff goldblum uc berkeley

The Year in Five Favorite Films: 2011

If you've been following us for some time, then you know all about Five Favorite Films. We here at Rotten Tomatoes are sometimes afforded the rare privilege of speaking with some of Hollywood's biggest stars, rising talents, indie darlings, and most fascinating personalities, and when we do, we almost always begin by asking our subjects to talk about their favorite movies. It's a great opportunity, both for them to break the monotony of endless questions about films they're contractually obligated to promote, and for the rest of us to learn what inspires our favorite actors and auteurs. Last year, we decided to take a peek back at all of our Five Favorite Films interviews (full archive here) and see if we could spot some interesting trends, and we had such a good time doing it that we've decided to do it again this year. Without further ado, here is The Year in Five Favorite Films:


How many people did we interview for Five Favorite Films this year?
56

Which movie was most often cited as a Favorite?
Like last year, The Godfather led the pack, having been selected 5 times, but this time around, it had to share the honors with its own sequel, The Godfather Part II, which was also chosen 5 times. What's more, runner-up honors this year went to yet another Francis Ford Coppola film, Apocalypse Now, which was mentioned 4 times.

What else was up there?
The following movies were chosen three times: The Wizard of Oz, The Exorcist, The Breakfast Club, Raging Bull, Dr. Strangelove, and The Shining, the latter two of which were the only ones that also achieved this milestone last year.

Which director was most often cited?
Being that Francis Ford Coppola was at the helm of the three most cited films (The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, and Apocalypse Now), which were cited a total of 14 times (not to mention The Conversation, which was chosen twice itself), the answer is pretty clear. Interestingly enough, however, the director whose largest number of films were mentioned would be Woody Allen (Annie Hall, Stardust Memories, A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Midnight in Paris) with 5. Incidentally, the next runner up would have been Martin Scorsese, who just barely edges out Coppola's (and Elia Kazan's, and Stanley Kubrick's) 4 movies with Bradley Cooper's specific mention of Scorsese's segment in the anthology film New York Stories, to which both Allen and Coppola also contributed.

What was the oldest movie chosen?
Charlie Chaplin's The Kid (1921), as cited by Zoe Saldana, who expressed a great love for silent films.

And the most recent movie chosen?
Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive, which opened just a few months ago in mid-September. Freida Pinto picked it for her list, thereby making her that much cooler than most of the young men who loved her even more for it.

Did anyone pick their own movies?
There were a couple who did, actually. Legendary stuntman Vic Armstrong went with the Five Favorite Films he had worked on, and unsurprisingly, when pressed for her Five Favorite Films, Miss Piggy simply named every Muppet movie made (plus Casablanca). She's such a ham.

Who had the most liberal interpretation of the number Five?
That would be Joshua Leonard, who gave us a whopping nine films.

Who were the two most disparate celebrities who were both the only ones to cite a particular movie as one of their Favorites?
There are probably a decent number of bizarre connections to be found, but we'd say the winners of this category would be Morgan Freeman and Hayden Panettiere, who both chose Moulin Rouge. Incidentally, the two have something else in common, having both starred in movies about saving dolphins (Freeman in Dolphin Tale and Panettiere in The Cove).

What was the lowest Tomatometer-rated film to be cited?
That would be Booty Call at 25%, as chosen by Puss in Boots. Because of its "Great boots!"

Okay, but what was the lowest Tomatometer-rated film to be cited genuinely?
Well, far be it from us to determine the sincerity of Puss in Boots' choices, but we get what you're saying. The answer you're looking for is Man on Fire at 39% with 97 reviews, as chosen by Taylor Lautner.

How many Rotten films were chosen as Favorites, anyway?
15

And how many films chosen have 100% Tomatometers?
31

Which list had the highest Tomatometer average?
That honor goes to director James Cameron, whose Five Favorites brought an average Tomatometer score of 99%.

How many times were the Star Wars movies mentioned?
Believe it or not, after both Episode IV: A New Hope and Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back were each mentioned three times last year, absolutely no Star Wars movie was cited as a Favorite by anyone in 2011. Not so pleased, would George Lucas be...

Who provoked the biggest double-take?
That would have to be veteran B-movie legend Roger Corman, who ended an impressive Favorites list that included Battleship Potemkin, Lawrence of Arabia, Citizen Kane, and On the Waterfront with... Avatar?

I'm your average awesome Rotten Tomatoes news reader and commenter. Who had the best list?
We'd venture to say you'd probably be happiest with Freida Pinto's.

Which list was the most fun to read?
Well, that depends entirely on your definition of "fun." If you take particular pleasure in reading someone geek out about their favorite movies, you might go with Alan Tudyk, Michelle Monaghan, or Richard Ayoade. For something a little off the wall, you can go with either Puss in Boots or the dual Five Faves of Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. Or, if you want, you can just read Morgan Freeman's Five Favorite Films and imagine his voice narrating it to you.


So there you have it, folks. Check out all of our Five Favorite Films interviews here and chime in below to tell us which were your favorites, and while you're at it, feel free to tell us what your own Five Faves are! Here's to another year of great interviews!

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1924205/news/1924205/

walmart black friday ad walmart black friday ad rick perry gaffe rick perry gaffe graham spanier graham spanier penn state board of trustees

Friday, December 30, 2011

Phillies Shuffle Aging Baseball Cards: Fan Opinion (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

The Philadelphia Phillies were ousted by the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Division series. Since then, they have added a top-rated closer and have modestly tweaked their roster.

Will the fans see World Series games this season at Citizens Bank Park?
Wikimedia Commons

Will a basic shuffling of their aging baseball cards help the Phillies to make progress in 2012?

Being realistic

The Phillies were widely picked as World Series favorites after signing Texas Rangers free agent pitcher, Cliff Lee to a long-term deal last December. On paper they looked invincible. Reality proved that they were beatable.

The game of baseball involves pitching, defense and hitting. Last season, the Phillies only offered two thirds of that pie on their table. Yes, their offense was good at times. But, it wasn't in the playoffs and that was the main reason why they went home early.

So, general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. looked at his aging baseball cards and knew that he had to do something before next spring arrived. He picked the option of reshuffling the deck.

Contractual limitations

As of late December, the Phillies had 16 players with guaranteed contracts that totaled $138.5 million. While Citizens Bank Park is a cash cow, it can only offer so much money milk each season.

With that in mind, there are only so many moves that Amaro could make without tearing apart the team. As a result, he completed one necessary acquisition, when he filled the closer's role, added some complimentary guys and re-signed Jimmy Rollins.

New expectations

Inking former Boston Red Sox reliever Jonathan Papelbon isn't a significant risk from a sabermetric standpoint, as he should continue to generate 30 to 40 saves per season. As far as his $50 million+ salary goes, $11 million of it is included in the $138.5 million tally noted above.

This time around, the Phillies didn't need to offer Jim Thome a monster deal to refit his old red pinstriped suit. His $1.25 million deal reincorporates a great baseball guy into a group that will benefit from his positive nature and will also hopefully yield some left-handed lightning in a pinch.

Ty Wigginton ($4 million), Laynce Nix ($1.15 million) and Dontrelle Willis ($850,000) all offer cost-effective roster support. Wigginton may play the role of a utility man around the field, particularly spelling Placido Polanco at third base.

John Mayberry, Jr. has shown promise, but isn't a proven commodity. His 2011 statistical spike may lead to continued growth in 2012, but the production sample size is small and thus Nix was signed as a left-handed compliment for their left-field slot.

In keeping with the theme of versatility, the Phillies now have retooled their bench so that a variety of players can perform at various locations around the field. The undated return of Ryan Howard to the first base area and to the cleanup slot will also allow some of the other names mentioned above to fill-in for him during his absence.

The bottom line

In the end, these moves represent a belief that the core of this team can produce stronger playoff results if it can avoid the injury problems that affected the roster last season.

The amount of currently guaranteed money doesn't include pending 2012 contracts for Cole Hamels and Hunter Pence. These previously created financial obligations have limited what Amaro could have done without moving someone like Victorino who is entering the final year of his contract.

Sean was born in the Philadelphia region and has written professionally for over two decades. Read his Sports Blog: Insight and follow him on Twitter @ SeanyOB

More from Sean O'Brien and the Yahoo Contributor Network:

When Baseball Cards were King

Rounding out the Phillies 2012 lineup

The story behind Mike Schmidt's 1980 baseball card

Jim Thome's impact on the Phillies now and then

When Phillies' legend Richie Ashburn played the game

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Source: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r5668565204

broncos broncos giants vs jets ny giants tony romo 49ers chargers

Obama's recess dilemma (The Week)

New York ? The president may be tempted to make several appointments while Congress is on holiday, but doing so poses major political risks

Normally, a recess means that work gets put on hold. A holiday means a break from normal activity, even in Washington D.C. But as with most other quaint notions of normality, recesses and holidays in the beltway take on a partisan significance, especially when Republicans and Democrats believe they have an opportunity to score political points.

At the heart of this particular holiday rancor is Article II, Section II of the U.S. Constitution, which reads, "The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session." The original intent of this clause was to provide the president a way to fill sudden openings in the executive and judicial branch at a time in history when calling Congress into session immediately was impossible, given the transportation and communication limitations of the era. This rule prevented government from becoming paralyzed in the absence of the Senate, and was expected to be used only in pressing circumstances.

SEE MORE: The brainless use of pop psychology to diss Obama

?

Barack Obama has not exactly been a shrinking violet when it comes to recess appointments.

Of course, any power granted to an office without restriction will eventually get used and even abused. That's true no matter which party holds the presidency. Recess appointments have always been controversial, and that has become especially true in the last few decades. Thurgood Marshall was put on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals through a recess appointment by John F. Kennedy, after southern Democrats threatened to block Marshall's confirmation. Bill Clinton's recess appointment of Bill Lan Lee for assistant Attorney General for civil rights avoided a Senate rejection over Lee's support of affirmative action. George W. Bush had to use a recess appointment to get John Bolton installed as ambassador to the U.N. when Democrats opposed to Bush's foreign policy in general, and Bolton's hostility towards the U.N. specifically, threatened to reject him. Bush also used his recess appointment power to install two appellate judges, Charles Pickering at the 5th Circuit and William Pryor at the 11th Circuit, when Democrats blocked votes on nearly all of his appellate appointments.

SEE MORE: President Obama's rising approval rating: 4 theories

?

Barack Obama has not exactly been a shrinking violet when it comes to recess appointments. Last year, Obama installed James Cole as deputy Attorney General, despite concerns in the Senate over his performance as independent monitor of AIG from 2005 through 2009, a period in which taxpayers had to bail out the insurance giant to keep it from destroying the American financial sector. Obama also gave a recess appointment to Donald Berwick to run Medicare and Medicaid, even though Democrats had 59 seats in the Senate and Berwick hadn't bothered to complete his initial questionnaire for his Senate confirmation process. That was controversial enough to provoke fellow Democrat Max Baucus into publicly criticizing Obama.

Another recess has now arrived, and with it, the opportunity to bypass a more closely-held Democratic Senate. It may not be a question of if Obama will use his recess power, but when ? and how often. Obama has a fight brewing over the National Labor Relations Board and its attempt to impose new union-friendly policies. The term of NLRB member Craig Becker, one of Obama's previous recess appointments to the NLRB, and one that caused a great deal of anger in the business community, has expired. Republicans in the Senate have held up two other appointments over the new regulations, which means that the NLRB board might not have a quorum. Unless Obama can get the Senate to act quickly to approve one or more of his nominees, the NLRB will not be able to do anything at all.

SEE MORE: Did Obama really call Americans 'lazy'?

?

There would be considerable political risk in the decision to use a recess appointment in this case. Obama's union allies want recess appointments that will allow the NLRB to promulgate those new, union-friendly regulations, and Obama needs unions to help organize the ground game for his re-election effort. However, the business community that Obama has tried to court all year wants the NLRB's regulatory adventurism curtailed, and will see a recess appointment as a signal that Obama wants to push the board further along its current anti-business trajectory. Obama risks losing important contributors, and worse, pushing them into the arms of the GOP.

SEE MORE: The many failures of Obama's Teddy Roosevelt speech

?

Obama has other opportunities for recess appointments as well. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has put holds on two FCC nominations in an attempt to force FCC chair Julius Genachowski to disclose communications between the agency, the White House, and LightSquared, a politically-connected firm that got a controversial waiver from Team Obama. Bypassing the Senate would cut Grassley out of the equation, but it would also contribute to the perception that Obama has something to hide on LightSquared.

Richard Cordray might be a candidate for a recess appointment. Republicans in the Senate blocked his confirmation a couple of weeks ago in a dispute over the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Earlier this year, Obama had to withdraw the name of his first nominee to run the CFPB, Elizabeth Warren, and the rejection of Cordray undoubtedly rankled the White House, which sees the fight over the CFPB as old news and the block on Cordray as illegitimate. ?

SEE MORE: The 'creepy' Barack Obama mannequin

?

With the unlimited power to make recess appointments, why would Obama hesitate? For one, Obama needs to move legislation next year. Bypassing the Senate creates more hostility on Capitol Hill, even with members of one's own party, as the Berwick appointment proved. Voters might see it as a demonstration of leadership in response to an obstructionist Senate ? perhaps more so with Cordray than with others ? but they could also see it as executive arrogance, or even corruption.

Anticipating the temptation that all of these cases pose, as well as a few open judicial slots, Republicans forced Harry Reid to allow pro forma Senate sessions every three or four days for the five weeks of this current recess. The strategy is designed to argue that the Senate hasn't gone into recess at all, or at least not significantly enough to justify a recess appointment. A president hasn't made a recess appointment in the last 20 years during a period in which less than 10 days have passed between Senate sessions, say Republicans, and they believe this will keep Obama on the sidelines over the holidays. However, that relies heavily on tradition, not the law; the Constitution doesn't define the requisite length of a recess for the purpose of presidential appointments. Teddy Roosevelt made several recess appointments when the Senate went dark for just a day ? and Obama has evoked TR more than once over the last few weeks. Perhaps the president really will start swinging that big stick soon.

View this article on TheWeek.com
Get Obama and the 'road to serfdom'

  • Opinion Brief: 5 theories why Obama is going on 'The View'
  • Opinion Brief: Obama on 'The View': Unpresidential?
  • Like on Facebook?-?Follow on Twitter?-?Sign-up for Daily Newsletter

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politicsopinion/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/theweek/20111228/cm_theweek/222887

    made in america icam patrice o neal. joran van der sloot osteopathy osteopathy diphtheria

    Thursday, December 29, 2011

    Kobe Steel teams up with JV to kick off aluminum plant in China

    PKBR Staff Writer Published 28 December 2011

    Japan-based Kobe Steel has teamed up with Jiangsu ALCHA Aluminium in China to kick off an aluminum production plant in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China, to produce and market aluminum coil and sheet for automobiles and beverage cans.

    Under the deal, the major chunk of joint venture will be owned by Kobe Steel with 80% ownership, while rest of 20% will be vested with Alcha.

    Both firms have agreed to invest nearly RMB2bn ($315.2m), which is expected to start the production in 2015.

    The firms said that activities of the proposed joint venture will inlcude melting, casting, hot rolling and cold rolling, and the unit will produce nearly 200,000mt of aluminum coil and sheet, annually.

    Both firms have plans to install equipment to produce aluminum coils.

    Kobe Steel said that formation of the new joint venture with ALCHA will help meet China's rapidly rising demand for aluminum sheet.

    Source: http://www.packaging-business-review.com/news/kobe-steel-teams-up-with-jv-to-kick-off-aluminum-plant-in-china-281211

    nor easter nor easter st.louis cardinals st.louis cardinals drag me to hell alot alot

    Wednesday, December 28, 2011

    Multifamily Real Estate Investing | Inform Everyone

    First things first, vertical rising real estate development can be categorized into single family, multifamily and commercial, either for sale or for lease. Among the three, the multifamily real estate investing and commercial development are closely related except that the former is primarily residential and the latter is institutional. Although this may be arbitrary, real estate investors, developers and brokers generally refer to the multifamily real estate investing in terms of units. Residential apartments with a minimum of 10 units and more are already categorized as multifamily; and so with units of duplexes and high rise condominiums taken as a whole project and not on per unit or single duplex bases. This includes the horizontal land these structures are built. Commercial real estate investing, on the other hand, generally, is malls, shopping centers, office buildings, hotels, hospitals and educational buildings. The structures could readily be converted to residential units but as they are, they serve other purposes primarily not for human abode.

    Real estate marketing technically is highly capital intensive because of the lead time between the selling start up and the final negotiation for contract signing, which means, the property is certified sold. Real estate marketing, however, is a one and done transaction. Negotiate and consummate one transaction and large cash flow is created deducted with minimal expenses, net of profit is already realizable. In particular, between commercial and multifamily real estate investing, the latter is considered more alluring to invest because of its marketing differentiation and segmentation. Demand for structures of abode covers a wide market differentiation and segmentation because the entire population strata are the target. Commercial properties are limited to the niches of the business investor community when compared to residential structures. Taking everything else constant, it is easier to sell or lease apartments than a hospital or a school. Between the high rise condominiums, taken as a whole, and a mall, turnover rate is faster for the former than the latter. Then, taking into consideration the economy of scale when multifamily properties are grouped as a whole, profit in the final analysis is greater as unit cost decreases for every multifamily unit built which commercial properties do not have such advantage.

    Multifamily real estate investing stakeholders are lured by this business because of the economy of scale and one and done principle. The fact that the per unit costing decreases, the spread of risks is wider as well. Leeway of defaults in multifamily property transactions is created which is unlikely in commercial or single-family properties. Multifamily marketing strategy can be subdivided into a gradated retail sales or wholesale. This is almost impossible in selling commercial properties, too, since hospitals and schools as an example cannot be sold piece by piece.

    The fact that retail sales is a strategy, anecdotal reports of success stories are plenty in multifamily real estate investing. Retail selling can be done on a part time basis. Undergoing the one and done principle, cash flows are accumulated more than enough to launch the follow up deal.

    Claud Pearce is an active real estate investor based in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a member of the Greater Cincinnati Real Estate Investors Association and works exclusively with investors who want to grow, learn and succeed at real estate investing. Get more information now at http://www.cincinnatireia.com.

    Source: http://www.informeveryone.com/multifamily-real-estate-investing/i-n-f-o-r-m-e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e/

    nfl mock draft 2012 adam lambert incendiary floyd mayweather kate upton winter solstice r. kelly

    Banks to force sale of Belfry golf resort bought by Quinns

    The Irish Times - Wednesday, December 28, 2011

    CIAR?N HANCOCK, Business Affairs Correspondent

    THE PRESTIGIOUS Belfry hotel and golf course near Birmingham, where Dublin golfer Paul McGinley sank the winning putt for Europe in the 2002 Ryder Cup, is set to become the latest part of the business empire controlled by Se?n Quinn?s family to be sold from under them.

    It is understood that the consortium of banks ? Bank of Ireland, Barclays and Bank of Scotland (Ireland) ? that funded the purchase of the facility in 2005 for ?186 million have decided to sell the resort, which is heavily indebted.

    Real estate group Jones Lang LaSalle is believed to have been appointed to handle the sale although the resort has not yet been listed on its website.

    Reports have suggested that one Malaysian investor has already put an offer of ?90 million on the table.

    The Belfry in valued at just ?88 million in the latest accounts filed for Quinn Property Investments Ltd, which controlled The Belfry.

    While The Belfry has been servicing its debts, the sharp decline in its value in the recession prompted the banks to appoint Ernst Young to conduct a review of the business to help them to consider their options.

    The Belfry is controlled by Mr Quinn?s son Se?n jnr. It was purchased six years ago and the Quinns planned a large ?150 million development that would have seen the hotel demolished and a new five-star facility built in its place.

    The project was bunkered by the property crash.

    Se?n Quinn snr declared himself bankrupt in Belfast last month, a move that Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, formerly Anglo Irish Bank, is seeking to have annulled, while his family is in dispute with IBRC about certain overseas assets that they still control.

    Quinn Group, the main holding company for the family?s business assets, is now in effect controlled by IBRC, while Quinn Insurance was sold to US group Liberty Mutual.

    Situated about 11 miles from Birmingham, The Belfry comprises three golf courses and a 324-room hotel on 550 acres. It has hosted four Ryder Cups since 1985.

    No comment was available from The Belfry yesterday. A recorded message stated that the hotel was closed for the Christmas break and would not reopen until today.

    A spokesman for the Quinn family declined to comment.

    Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/1228/1224309553696.html

    justin bieber paternity justin bieber paternity denver news kym johnson how old is justin bieber how old is justin bieber north dakota jobs

    Tuesday, December 27, 2011

    China to try another dissident for "subversive" online essays (Reuters)

    BEIJING (Reuters) ? China will try a veteran dissident, Chen Xi, on charges of "inciting subversion" for pro-democracy essays he published online, his wife said on Sunday, days after another dissident was jailed for nine years on similar charges.

    Chen, a human rights campaigner in Guiyang city in Guizhou, southwest China, was arrested last month and will be tried for "inciting subversion of state power," a charge often used against critics of the ruling Communist Party, said his wife Zhang Qunxuan.

    "They accused him because of 36 essays he published at home and overseas," Zhang told Reuters in a telephone interview.

    "I don't know exactly what the charges are, because the court and prosecutors wouldn't show me the indictment. They said there are rules against showing that to family members," she said, adding that one of Chen's lawyers told her about the subversion accusations.

    Chen, 57, is sure to maintain that he is innocent, but is certain to be found guilty and jailed by China's party-controlled judiciary, Zhang said.

    "He's definitely going to fight the charges," she said, citing her discussions with his defense lawyers. She was told of the trial date on Friday, she added.

    "But it looks certain that he'll be convicted. That's what courts always decide."

    Chen was arrested last month after being released from a week-long detention triggered by his campaigning for independent candidates seeking to win places on China's party-controlled People's Congress assemblies, said Zhang.

    Police confiscated his computer, she added.

    "Then on November 29, the police called him and said he could come and get his computer," she said. "Instead, they lured him to the public security bureau and arrested him."

    Calls to the Guiyang People's Intermediate Court were not answered on Sunday, a rest day in China,. Another human rights activist, Lu Yongxiang, told Reuters he also knew of the trial on Monday through Chen Xi's friends and supporters.

    The trial will come after a court in Sichuan province, also in southwest China, convicted rights advocate Chen Wei and sentenced him to nine years in jail after a brief trial on Friday -- the stiffest punishment in a crackdown on dissent this year.

    Chen in a common family name in China, and the two men are not related.

    Chen Wei's wife, Wang Xiaoyan, and lawyers said he was jailed as punishment for essays that he had published on overseas Chinese websites.

    China uses a "firewall" of Internet filters and blocks to prevent citizens from reading websites abroad that are deemed to be politically unacceptable or socially unsound.

    Chen Wei's sentence was the third-longest term ever handed down for inciting subversion after Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo, who has been serving an 11-year sentence since 2009, and Liu Xianbin, who was jailed for 10 years in March this year.

    Earlier this year, Chinese police held hundreds of dissidents, rights activists and protest organizers in a crackdown on dissent this year, when the ruling Communist Party sought to prevent potential protests inspired by anti-authoritarian uprisings across the Arab world.

    Many of those detained have been released but remain under police watch. But officials appeared determined to "make an example" of Chen, said Huang Qi, a human rights advocate in Chen's home Sichuan province and a long-time friend of his.

    Chen Xi, who faces trial on Monday, is a former soldier and factory worker who was jailed for three years for his support for the 1989 pro-democracy protests across China that ended after troops crushed demonstrations, said his wife.

    He was again jailed in 1996, but since his release in 2005 has been an organizer of a citizens' human rights forum in Guiyang.

    (Editing by Yoko Nishikawa)

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111225/wr_nm/us_china_dissident_trial

    oakland raiders carson palmer al davis edmund fitzgerald vincent brown vincent brown willow smith

    Bolivia-Peru Railway: Evo Morales Hopes To Build New Link

    LIMA, Peru -- Bolivia's president said Monday that he hopes to build a new railway linking his country to Peru that would facilitate exports to Asia.

    Bolivian President Evo Morales said he has discussed the plan with Peruvian President Ollanta Humala. Morales told the Peruvian radio station RPP that the railway would run from Puerto Suarez, on Bolivia's border with Brazil, to the Pacific port of Ilo in Peru.

    "It's my great dream," Morales said, adding that Brazil and Peru would also gain from having a railway link. He said it would carry agricultural products as well as other commodities to Asian countries.

    Morales said in August after a visit to China that Chinese officials expressed interest in making the railway project a priority. It's not immediately clear how much the railway would cost, or how much financial support China might provide.

    Bolivia and Peru currently export minerals to China including zinc and lead. Bolivia currently uses roads to truck shipments to Pacific ports in Chile.

    Morales made the remarks Monday in the Peruvian city of Cusco, where he spent Christmas after meeting with Peru's president.

    Humala also reiterated his support last week for Bolivia in its long-standing request that Chile provide the landlocked country with a corridor of land to access the Pacific coast.

    '; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

    Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/26/bolivia-peru-railway-evo-_n_1170362.html

    war of the worlds a christmas story prime rib derek fisher ny knicks sound of music ihop

    Monday, December 26, 2011

    Ameeee_1D: Someone pretty please tell me if Im on twitter for android or mobile twitter?

    • Passer la navigation
    • Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
    • Passer cette ?tape
    • Connexion
    Loader Twitter.com
    • Connexion
    Someone pretty please tell me if Im on twitter for android or mobile twitter? Ameeee_1D

    B. Davis

    Pied de page

    Source: http://twitter.com/Ameeee_1D/statuses/151080283142230017

    snow white and the huntsman trailer sexiest man alive kentucky basketball heather locklear bob costas krzyzewski childish gambino

    China, Japan unveil deals to tighten finance ties

    (AP)? BEIJING ? Chinese and Japanese leaders have unveiled initiatives to tighten financial links between East Asia's economic giants and sometime rivals ? measures that could expand use of China's tightly controlled currency abroad.

    During a visit to Beijing by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, the two governments said Sunday they will encourage use of their own currencies for trade, which now is conducted mostly in U.S. dollars.

    They also agreed to have Japanese companies sell bonds denominated in China's yuan, a move that could help promote Beijing's gradual campaign to expand use of its currency abroad.

    Source: http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~r/CBSNewsTheEarlyShowBoxOffice/~3/8ei5D9ARnFw/

    texas high school football fugazi fugazi indiana jones and the last crusade nba lockout dramamine dramamine

    Sunday, December 25, 2011

    Obama rakes in campaign cash (Daily Caller)

    The re-election campaign of President Obama and the Democratic National Committee are on track to net $60 million for the fourth quarter of the year, Reuters reports.

    Obama had already raised roughly $155 million through September in an effort to raise more than $750 million for next November?s election.

    ?Enthusiasm for the White House?s policies has been steadily increasing and it will keep increasing,? major Democratic fundraiser Steven Cohen told the news service.

    According to Cohen, the GOP?s bungled handling of the payroll tax fight is inspiring contributors to give more to Obama?s re-election campaign.

    ?Among the people who I have talked to, they are seeing a real demonstration of the president?s commitment to stand his ground,? he said.

    The campaign had hoped to bring in $55 million last quarter. Instead they raised $70 million, even though last summer?s debt ceiling fight had forced President Obama to stay in Washington and cancel fundraisers in other parts of the country.

    The 2012 election is already on its way to becoming the most expensive in history, with Obama expected to raise more than the record $750 million he had in the bank in 2008. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, among the front-runners for the GOP nomination, is expected to raise at least $20 million this quarter.

    Follow Will on Twitter

    Read more stories from The Daily Caller

    Obama rakes in campaign cash

    Amanpour signs off [VIDEO]

    Tom Brokaw: Don't count out Chris Christie in 2012 [VIDEO]

    Steyn mocks Western world's 'war on Christmas': 'Institutional self-loathing'

    Maher reaction to Broncos' loss: 'Jesus just f--ked #TimTebow bad!'

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/democrats/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/dailycaller/20111225/pl_dailycaller/obamarakesincampaigncash

    black friday online deals black friday news gamestop albert haynesworth banana republic apple store academy

    Israel sees Hezbollah responsible for security incidents in Lebanon

    BEIRUT: Israeli defense officials say Hezbollah is responsible for recent security incidents in south Lebanon, hinting at a possible change in the party?s policy toward the Jewish state since 2006.

    Haaretz newspaper released a report Thursday saying that?Israeli experts believe there is a "connection" between Hezbollah and recent security incidents in south Lebanon, including the attack earlier this month against members belonging to the French convoy of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon that left five French peacekeepers wounded.

    It was the third roadside bomb targeting a UNIFIL convoy this year, with six Italian peacekeepers being wounded in May, while in July five French soldiers were wounded in another blast. Both occurred in the southern city of Sidon and no group has claimed responsibility for either attack.

    According to the paper, ?Israeli defense officials are worried about an increase in violent activity by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon,? particularly ones involving rocket attacks aimed at Israel.

    In late November, one rocket was fired from southern Lebanon and landed into Israel overnight, prompting Israeli troops to retaliate by firing six artillery shells. No group has claimed responsibility. In another incident, one woman was wounded in the south when a Katyusha rocket, apparently aimed at Israel, hit her home.

    France?s Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has accused Syria of ordering the attack against the French soldiers and that Hezbollah was involved in it. However, the French official said he had no proof to back his claims.

    Hezbollah denies any involvement in the attacks against U.N. peacekeepers in the south.

    Lebanon?s Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn has hinted that Israel was behind the mysterious rocket attacks from south Lebanon into the Jewish State in an attempt to undermine security and stability in the area.

    "Israeli defense officials believe that Juppe is right. They say Hezbollah is trying to intimidate UNIFIL, particularly the French troops ? considered especially assertive ? so that they won?t monitor Hezbollah?s activities in southern Lebanon too closely,? the Haaretz report said.

    ?The attacks are apparently carried out by proxies, smaller organizations, so that they cannot be linked directly to Hezbollah,? it added

    The report said that such incidents indicate that Hezbollah has changed its strategy against Israel, since the resistance group had adopted a non-confrontational policy against its enemy on the border since the July-August war of 2006.

    "The recent incidents could be important as a whole, indicating that Hezbollah is shedding its policy since the 2006 war. If this is so, the change stems from the worsening crisis in Syria, motivating Hezbollah?s leaders to take action, however constrained,? the report said.

    Hezbollah?s chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah has warned that any attack against Syria or Iran would engulf the entire region, hinting that his group would interfere if one of its allies was attacked.?

    ?Hezbollah is in a turbulent state,? an Israeli defense official was quoted by Haaretz as saying. ?On the one hand, Assad?s regime faces collapse; on the other, Iran has been forced to cut back its financial aid to the organization due to the international sanctions that Tehran faces.

    ?Under such circumstances, Hezbollah is liable to make a mistake and pursue courses of action that would further complicate its situation," the official added.

    Source: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2011/Dec-22/157672-israel-sees-hezbollah-responsible-for-security-incidents-in-lebanon.ashx

    cj wilson coriolanus coriolanus jon corzine rick perry v tech the three stooges

    Saturday, December 24, 2011

    New Study Confirms Safety of GM Crops

    New submitter ChromeAeonium writes "Much like vaccines and evolution, there exists a great disparity between the scientific consensus and the public perceptions of the safety of genetically engineered crops. A previous study from France, which was later dismissed by the EFSA, FSANZ, and the French High Council of Biotechnologies, claiming to have found abnormalities in the organs of animals fed GM diets by analyzing three previous studies was discussed on Slashdot. However, a new study, also out of France, claims the opposite is true, that GM crops are unlikely to pose health risks (translation of original in French). Looking at 24 long-term and multi-generational studies on insect resistant and herbicide tolerant plants, the study states, 'The studies reviewed present evidence to show that GM plants are nutritionally equivalent to their non-GM counterparts and can be safely used in food and feed.' Although it is impossible to prove a negative, and while every GM crop must be individually evaluated as genetic engineering is a process not a product, perhaps this study will help to ease the fears of genetically engineered food and foster a more scientific discussion on the role of agricultural biotechnology."

    Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/1lVg8nrSYDc/new-study-confirms-safety-of-gm-crops

    yu darvish jon bon jovi dead ndaa new jersey plane crash ohio state kobe bryant wife bonjovi dead

    France to pay for breast implant removal over cancer fear

    From Naima Benallal, CNN

    updated 5:15 PM EST, Wed December 21, 2011

    STORY HIGHLIGHTS

    • The French Health ministry is concerned over a possible cancer link
    • About 30,000 French women have implants made by PIP
    • PIP implants are not approved for use in the United States
    • British officials advise women concerned about implants to talk to their doctor

    Paris (CNN) -- The French government will pay for tens of thousands of women to have silicone breast implants removed over concerns about a possible link to a rare form of cancer, the Ministry of Health said Wednesday.

    French health authorities are due to make a recommendation Friday about whether women with implants by a company called Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP) must have them removed.

    The ministry says about 30,000 French women have PIP implants, which are not currently approved for use in the United States.

    According to a news release from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, PIP is now defunct. It says the company "used non-medical grade silicone believed by the manufacturers to be made for mattresses."

    The French government agency that evaluates the safety of medical products says 523 women have had them removed since a defect was discovered last year.

    More than 1,000 implants have ruptured since then, the agency says.

    British authorities are advising caution over the implants but are not going as far as the French.

    The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said Tuesday it was "aware of the recent report in France of the death of a woman implanted with breast implants from anaplastic large cell lymphoma," which it called "a rare form of cancer which affects cells from the immune system."

    It said it would "monitor for any associations of all types of breast implants, including PIP, with cancers and any other health implications."

    But it did not advise women with PIP implants to have them taken out, saying more generally that "women with any type of breast implant... who have questions about their breasts or think that their implants may have ruptured, should seek clinical advice from their implanting surgeon."

    A committee made up of representatives of several French health agencies was set up December 14 to discuss PIP implants.

    Women will only be reimbursed for new implants if they were originally for reconstructive surgery, the Health Ministry said.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration decided in March 2000 not to approve saline PIP implants in the United States. The company never submitted a marketing application for its silicone implants in the United States, the agency says.

    CNN's Laura Perez Maestro and Miriam Falco contributed to this report.

    Source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/21/health/breast-implants/index.html?eref=rss_mostpopular

    49ers pittsburgh steelers steelers 49ers news johnny knox johnny knox lakers

    Friday, December 23, 2011

    Mediabistro: RT @AllTwtr Why You (And Your Business) Should Play Hashtag Games on Twitter mbist.ro/uHkcaf

    • Passer la navigation
    • Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
    • Passer cette ?tape
    • Connexion
    Loader Twitter.com
    • Connexion
    RT @AllTwtr Why You (And Your Business) Should Play Hashtag Games on Twitter mbist.ro/uHkcaf Mediabistro

    mediabistro.com

    Pied de page

    Source: http://twitter.com/Mediabistro/statuses/149979784389197824

    lana turner donald glover julio cesar chavez jr jason segel turducken power rangers jungle fury power rangers jungle fury

    DennisCode: Visual Studio Achievements for Windows Phone - you want to beta-test it? Let me know!

    Twitter / Den Delimarsky: Visual Studio Achievements ... Loader Visual Studio Achievements for Windows Phone - you want to beta-test it? Let me know!

    Source: http://twitter.com/DennisCode/statuses/149991602159497216

    sign language alphabet texas tech texas tech notre dame football wisconsin badgers football wisconsin badgers football easter island

    Thursday, December 22, 2011

    Jon Bon Jovi Dead?Or Alive?

    Jon Bon Jovi dead? OMG people, Bon Jovi was the latest victim of the wicked internet hoax! He is alive and well, and living in New Jersey! These internet hoaxes are getting ridiculous! Bon Jovi is NOT dead! He took the about Facebook picture to prove he is alive and well. Check out BITTEN & BOUND to get more details. See Fergie and Josh Duhamel?s Christmas Card! – HAVE U HEARD! How flipping cute!!! I NEED MY FIX – New Trailer for 21 Jump Street Made Me Laugh! SWANKY CELEBS – Jennifer Lopez Reveals Daughter?s Health Scare: ?I Thought She Was Going To Die.? CELEB DIRTY LAUNDRY – Hugh Hefner Is Thankful Crystal Harris Dumped Him. CELEB SENIOR LAUNDRY – Gordon Ramsay?s Special Beckhams Christmas Cookbook. CELEB TEEN LAUNDRY – Teen Mom Amber Portwood Looking At A Cold Christmas In Jail. What a hot mess. THE HOLLYWOOD GOSSIP – NeNe Leakes: Cast on Glee! Another hot mess! DIVA ARTIST - Kanye kicks out Fan for throwing business card (video). Seriously? CELEB GURLZ – Kendall Jenner Working The Stripper Pole. OMG, WTF? This is gettin’ nasty! BUMPSHACK – Terrence Howard Nasty Divorce: Wife Michelle Ghent Is a Racist. BACKSEAT CUDDLER – [...]

    Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/i4G1VcWlkI4/

    nl mvp verlander verlander justin verlander pepper spraying cop pepper spraying cop somaya reece

    Sunday, December 18, 2011

    McQueary says he didn't called police on Sandusky

    AAA??Dec. 16, 2011?11:05 AM ET
    McQueary says he didn't called police on Sandusky
    MARK SCOLFOROMARK SCOLFORO, Associated Press
    MARYCLAIRE DALEMARYCLAIRE DALE, Associated Press?THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STATEMENT OF NEWS VALUES AND PRINCIPLES?

    Penn State assistant football coach Mike McQueary, right, arrives at Dauphin County Court surrounded by heavy security Friday, Dec 16, 2011, in Harrisburg, Pa. McQueary declined to speak to reporters Friday as he entered the courthouse in Harrisburg for the hearing for Gary Schultz and Tim Curley, who are set to appear for a preliminary hearing related to the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)

    Penn State assistant football coach Mike McQueary, right, arrives at Dauphin County Court surrounded by heavy security Friday, Dec 16, 2011, in Harrisburg, Pa. McQueary declined to speak to reporters Friday as he entered the courthouse in Harrisburg for the hearing for Gary Schultz and Tim Curley, who are set to appear for a preliminary hearing related to the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)

    Former Penn State Vice President Gary Schultz, right, arrives for a preliminary hearing at Dauphin County Court, Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, in Harrisburg, Pa. A judge is to determine after the hearing if there's enough evidence to send Schultz and former Penn State athletic director Tim Curley to trial on charges of failure to report abuse to authorities and lying to a grand jury related to the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)

    Former Penn State athletic director Tim Curley, right, arrives for a hearing at Dauphin County Court, Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, in Harrisburg, Pa. A judge is to determine after the hearing if there's enough evidence to send Curley and former university Vice President Gary Schultz to trial on charges of failure to report abuse to authorities and lying to a grand jury related to the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)

    FILE -- In a Nov. 7, 2011 file photo former Penn State athletic director Tim Curley, left, and former Penn State Vice President Gary Schultz, right, enter a district judge's office for an arraignment in Harrisburg, Pa. Curley and Schultz have been charged with perjury and failure to report under Pennsylvania?s child protective services law in connection with the investigation into allegations involving former football defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, the state attorney general?s office. (AP Photo/Bradley C. Bower/file)

    (AP) ? Penn State assistant football coach Mike McQueary says he witnessed former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky molesting a boy but that he didn't call police because he was sure "the act was over."

    McQueary took the stand Friday in a Pennsylvania courtroom against two school officials accused of lying to a grand jury about the child sex-abuse allegations against Sandusky.

    Under cross-examination, McQueary answered a question that many observers had asked: Why didn't he call police on Sandusky?

    He says it was because it was "delicate in nature" and that he tried to use his best judgment. He says he was "sure the act was over."

    He says he later informally raised questions to people he worked with about why Sandusky was still allowed around the football program.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2011-12-16-Penn%20State-Abuse/id-c33e6c73191d4eae87651c92d9e44ced

    gilbert arenas das racist das racist ginger white conrad murray sentencing conrad murray sentencing urban meyer

    Rodney Atkins files for divorce following arrest

    Rodney Atkins is looking to end his marriage.

    On the same day we learned about his Nov. 21 arrest on domestic violence charges for allegedly trying to smother his wife with a pillow, E! News has confirmed that the country singer has officially filed for divorce.

    So what do the legal papers reveal?

    MORE: View the divorce petition here

    1. More Entertainment stories
      1. Stern's new gig has some 'AGT' fans fuming

        When NBC announced that the self-proclaimed King of All Media has indeed signed on to join the show, the immediate respons...

      2. Report: 'Teen Mom' Amber violated probation
      3. 'Toddlers' mom says pageants are like drugs
      4. 2011's most searched person? Justin Bieber
      5. Sandra Bullock talks big screen return

    Per his petition filed in Williamson County, Tennessee on Nov. 22, the day after he was taken into custody, Atkins cited irreconcilable differences as the reason as well as "inappropriate marital conduct" on Tammy Jo Atkins' part that "renders further cohabitation unsafe and improper."

    Story: Rodney Atkins talks about reunion with birth mom

    The 42-year-old entertainer was taken into custody after his missus called 911, claiming the two had got into a violent altercation that culminated with him trying to smother her with a pillow. She also alleged he grabbed her face and threw her down a hallway in front of their 10-year-old son, Elijah.

    MORE: Country Star Rodney Atkins Arrested: Wife Claims He Tried to Smother Her With Pillow

    Rodney Atkins has adamantly denied the accusations.

    On the same day he moved to dissolve their marriage, a judge signed a temporary restraining order prohibiting both Rodney and Tammy from "harassing, threatening, assaulting or abusing the other party."

    Additionally, the court barred them from disposing of any marital property or relocating their children outside the state without the court's permission (Rodney also has two step-daughters).

    PICS: Mug-Shot Mania

    The country star seeks joint custody of Elijah.

    In her counter-complaint, Tammy also cites irreconcilable differences and asks that the court grant her sole custody of the boy. In addition, she's seeking alimony, child support and legal fees from her estranged hubby.

    ? 2011 E! Entertainment Television, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45695145/ns/today-entertainment/

    lakers steelers va tech tyson chandler tyson chandler duggar miscarriage dan gilbert

    Rocket Misfires ? Samwers Lose Key People Ahead Of Huge Fund Raising To Clone Globally

    Rocket-to-Nowhere1The three Samwer brothers (Oliver, Marc and Alexander) founders of the Rocket Internet incubator in Berlin, are the most successful Internet entrepreneurs in Germany and possibly Europe. After launching and exiting multiple businesses, many of them clones/copycats of US startups, they are multi-millionaires. Indeed, their Groupon clone CityDeal sold to to Groupon for an estimated ?750m in cash and shares. But much of that success looks threatened by the departure of at least 20 of its key staff in the last two weeks - including CTO- level people - and possibly as much as 40, according to multiple sources spoken to by TechCrunch Europe. While Rocket Internet has around 200 people on staff, losing key heads could be a severe blow to the renowned incubator. The timing could not be worse for the Samwers, who are understood to be in the middle of raising at least a billion dollar financing round designed to clone every successful US startup, to launch them outside the US much faster and become a larger global player than many of the Silicon Valley businesses they plan to copy.

    Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Fa0YERar6yQ/

    rita hayworth lakers rumors kellie pickler alfa romeo giulietta alfa romeo giulietta a christmas story xbox update

    Saturday, December 17, 2011

    Lawsuit: Patient got HIV from Miss. cancer clinic (AP)

    JACKSON, Miss. ? A Mississippi cancer clinic doctor who is charged with using old syringes and watered-down chemotherapy drugs now faces a lawsuit that claims a patient contracted HIV from a dirty needle.

    Dr. Meera Sachdeva, founder of Rose Cancer Center in Summit, has been held without bond since her arrest in August on charges of diluting drugs and billing Medicaid and Medicare for more chemotherapy than patients actually were given.

    The lawsuit claims James Ralph Patterson Sr. went to the now-shuttered clinic for treatment of his brain and lung cancer but ended up getting watered-down drugs and was infected with HIV by an old needle. Patterson died July 3 at the age of 61.

    The lawsuit appears to be the first public allegation filed in court that a Rose patient contracted HIV.

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/cancer/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111216/ap_on_re_us/us_cancer_clinic_hiv

    colts colts turkey the walking dead the walking dead turkey map walter isaacson

    Brock Lesnar charged with hunting violations in Canada

    Brock Lesnar charged with hunting violations in Canada

    Brock Lesnar is a huge fan of hunting, but his favorite pastime got him in a spot of trouble in Canada. Lesnar faces charges in Medicine Hat, Alberta for doing the kind of things that tick off hunting officials. From our friends at CJCY in Alberta:

    The charges came before Medicine Hat Provincial Court Thursday morning and include improper affixation of tags, spoilage of skin and edible flesh and possession of a controlled animal.

    My lack of hunting knowledge makes this sound pretty bad, because spoilage of skin and edible flesh sound like plot devices from "Silence of the Lambs." However, the good people of Canada must not be too angry with Lesnar, because his court date was continued until January, after his fight with Alistair Overeem.

    Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Brock-Lesnar-charged-with-hunting-violations-in-?urn=mma-wp10800

    maggie daley black friday online deals black friday news gamestop albert haynesworth banana republic apple store

    House GOP unveils $1 trillion spending bill (AP)

    WASHINGTON ? House Republicans have unveiled a massive $1 trillion-plus yearend spending package despite a plea from the White House for additional talks over a handful of provisions opposed by President Barack Obama.

    The measure unveiled late Wednesday curbs agency budgets but drops many policy provisions sought by GOP conservatives.

    But it contains language to roll back Obama administration policies that had loosened restrictions on the rights of Cuban immigrants to send money to relatives in Cuba or travel back to the island to visit them. Earlier this year, the White House promised a veto over the restrictions on travel and gifts, which are supported by many in the GOP-leaning Cuban-American community, a powerful political force in the swing state of Florida.

    The spending measure had been held up by Senate Democrats seeking leverage in talks on extending payroll tax cuts and unemployment insurance ? two pillars of Obama's jobs agenda.

    But Democratic leverage to stall the massive spending measure seems limited, since it raises the threat of a government shutdown.

    Release of the legislation ? to meet GOP transparency rules if a vote is to be held Friday ? came just a couple of hours after the White House issued a statement saying that Obama "continues to have significant concerns about a number of provisions" in the legislation.

    White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer called for another stopgap funding bill to buy time for talks on both the spending bill and the payroll tax measure.

    Stopgap funding runs out Friday at midnight.

    The underlying bill has bipartisan backing but could encounter turbulence with tea party lawmakers seeking far more significant cuts to government agencies. The measure funds the day-to-day operating budgets of 10 Cabinet departments and programs ranging from border security to flood control to combating AIDS and famine in Africa.

    Democrats have yet to officially sign onto the measure, though top lawmakers in the party ? including Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii ? are on board.

    Given White House concerns, changes are still possible before a vote.

    On spending, the measure implements this summer's hard-fought budget pact between President Barack Obama and Republican leaders. That deal essentially freezes agency budgets, on average, at levels that were approved back in April for the recently completed budget year.

    The bill chips away at the Pentagon budget, foreign aid and environmental spending but boosts funding for veterans programs. The Securities and Exchange Commission, responsible for enforcing new regulations under last year's financial overhaul, won a 10 percent budget increase, even as the tax-collecting IRS absorbs a more than 3 percent cut to its budget.

    Popular education initiatives for special-needs children and disadvantaged schools were basically frozen and Obama's cherished "Race to the Top" initiative, which provides grants to better-performing schools, would absorb a more than 20 percent cut.

    Environmentalists scored clear wins in stopping virtually every significant GOP initiative to roll back Environmental Protection Agency rules. Most importantly, industry forces seeking to block new greenhouse gas and clean air rules, as well as a new clean water regulation opposed by mountaintop removal mining interests, were denied. But Republicans succeeded in blocking new energy efficiency standards for light bulbs and won delays to a new Labor Department rule requiring a reduction of coal dust responsible for black lung disease.

    Drafted behind closed doors, the proposed bill would provide $115 billion for overseas security operations in Afghanistan and Iraq but give the Pentagon just a 1 percent boost in annual spending not directly related to the wars. The Environmental Protection Agency's budget would be cut by 3.5 percent. Foreign aid spending would drop and House lawmakers would absorb a 6 percent cut to their office budgets.

    On spending, the measure generally consists of relatively small adjustments to thousands of individual programs. Agencies like the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement will get a boost within the Homeland Security Department, while GOP defense hawks won additional funding to modernize the U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal. The troubled, over-budget, next-generation F-35 fighter plane program would be largely protected.

    Social conservatives won a ban on government-funded abortions in Washington, D.C., and restored a longstanding ban on U.S. funding for needle exchange programs used to prevent the spread of HIV. But efforts to take away federal funding for Planned Parenthood failed, as expected.

    To placate conservatives, $8 billion for disaster aid will be addressed in a separate bill, though on a parallel track to the omnibus measure.

    It's a sticky issue for conservatives because approving the disaster aid would bring the total amount of money allotted for agency budgets above last year's budgets. By putting the aid in a separate bill, the GOP can lean heavily on Democrats to pass it.

    Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111215/ap_on_go_co/us_congress_spending

    shame hedy lamarr syracuse basketball denver weather donovan mcnabb donovan mcnabb the waltons

    Friday, December 16, 2011

    Cox Communications sells 20MHz wireless spectrum to Verizon for $315 million

    Hot on the heels of its acquisition of a glut of AWS licenses from cable giants Comcast, Time Warner and Bright House for a few billion, Verizon's at it again. This time, Big Red's grabbing a swath of 20MHz AWS spectrum from Cox Communications for a tidy $315 million. In a separate agreement, Cox and VZW will begin selling each other's services as well. Of course, this is all pending FCC approval, but it looks like this latest purchase will have Verizon only further extending its LTE lead over Ma Bell.

    Continue reading Cox Communications sells 20MHz wireless spectrum to Verizon for $315 million

    Cox Communications sells 20MHz wireless spectrum to Verizon for $315 million originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink Associated Press  |   | Email this | Comments

    Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/16/cox-communications-sells-20mhz-wireless-spectrum-to-verizon-for/

    tj houshmandzadeh san onofre the little couple bubba smith bubba smith oakland strike new gmail