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Source: http://twitter.com/kevintame/statuses/218762277535490048
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Saturday, June 30, 2012
Conservationist: Reasons for chimp attack unclear
JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? In the six years he's managed a sanctuary for abused and orphaned chimpanzees, South African conservationist Eugene Cussons is from time to time called on to comment when an ape somewhere in the world attacks a human. Cussons says he always could pinpoint a moment of taunting or perceived aggression that could have set off the quick and powerful animals.
This time, though, the attack was at his own Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee Eden in South Africa. And Cussons, host of the Animal Planet show "Escape to Chimp Eden," is without an explanation.
In telephone interview Saturday, Cussons said he would have to wait until the severely injured victim, a University of Texas at San Antonio graduate student inspired by famed primatologist Jane Goodall to study chimps, was well enough to provide details about Thursday's attack.
It was the first such attack since Cussons, working with Goodall's renowned international institute, converted part of his family's game farm into the sanctuary in 2006.
"You can train for it, you can do your best to prepare," Cussons said. "But when it actually happens, it's shocking and traumatic for everyone."
Cussons's team quickly evacuated the dozen tourists to whom Andrew F. Oberle had been giving a lecture and tried to separate the chimps from Oberle. In the end, Cussons, who was himself attacked by a chimp as he tried to pull it off Oberle, took the extreme step of firing into the air, scaring the animals away.
Oberle was bitten repeatedly and dragged for nearly a kilometer (half mile). Cussons said one of the chimps was injured in the scuffle, and he was awaiting a veterinarian's report to determine the nature and extent of the injury. No one else was hurt.
Male chimps can stand up to 1.7 meters (5 feet, 7 inches) tall and weigh about 70 kilograms (154 pounds), according to the Jane Goodall institute. The two chimps that attacked Oberle were male, though the sanctuary's website did not say how large the animals were.
Cussons said it was the first time he had asked Oberle to speak to visitors. The student had arrived last month for a follow-up visit after an extended stay to observe the chimps a year or so ago, Cussons said. As a researcher, Cussons said Oberle had been trained to ensure he understood how the animals might behave and knew to keep a safe distance. Cussons said Oberle was given additional training before addressing the tour group.
Cussons said Oberle broke the rules by going through the first of two fences that separate humans from the chimps. The chimps then grabbed him and pulled him under the second fence, which is electrified. Cussons said it was unclear why Oberle had moved so dangerously close.
Mediclinic Nelspruit hospital said Saturday that the 26-year-old Oberle remained in critical condition in intensive care. Oberle underwent surgery at the hospital Thursday.
Oberle's uncle, Carl Oberle, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Oberle's parents were on their way to South Africa.
"It is a hard time right now for our family," said Carl Oberle, who did not want to discuss details of his nephew's condition.
He said his nephew had returned to South Africa to study the animals that were his "passion." He noted the young man previously worked for several years as a camp counselor at the St. Louis Zoo.
"He was a real inspiration to the children he worked with and extremely well-liked and respected," zoo spokeswoman Susan Gallagher said Saturday.
Oberle's mother, Mary Flint, said Friday that her son knew the risks of working with chimps and would not want them blamed for the attack.
"He adored them," she said. "Since he was a little boy he just loved them, and I just have faith that ... when all is said and done, he's going to go right back into it."
The sanctuary has been closed to tourists since the attack, while government and police officials investigate. The Jane Goodall Institute South Africa is conducting its own investigation.
"Everyone at Chimp Eden is hurting," Cussons said, saying the thoughts of staff members were with Oberle and his family.
Cussons said the two chimps that attacked Oberle, Amadeus and Nikki, had been isolated since the attack. He said they were calm and exhibiting remorse, which he said chimps show by behaving submissively.
Human-animal contact is kept to a minimum at the sanctuary, designed as a haven for chimpanzees that have been rescued from elsewhere in Africa. Some lost their parents to poachers in countries where they are hunted for their meat or to be sold as pets, and others were held in captivity in cruel conditions.
According to the sanctuary's website, one of the chimps involved in the attack, Amadeus, was orphaned in Angola and brought to South Africa in 1996, where he was kept at the Johannesburg Zoo until the sanctuary opened. The other, Nikki, came from Liberia in 1996 and also was held at the zoo until becoming one of the first chimps at the sanctuary. Before arriving in South Africa, Nikki, whose parents were killed for their meat, had been treated like a son by his owners, who dressed him in clothes, shaved his body and taught him to eat at a table using cutlery, the website said.
___
Associated Press writer Heather Hollingsworth contributed to this report from Kansas City, Missouri.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/conservationist-reasons-chimp-attack-unclear-223451117.html
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National Guard helps patrol Colorado fire damage
President Barack Obama talks with firefighters as he tours the Mountain Shadow neighborhood devastated by wildfires, Friday, June 29, 2012, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Barack Obama talks with firefighters as he tours the Mountain Shadow neighborhood devastated by wildfires, Friday, June 29, 2012, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
The Mountain Shadows neighborhood is left damaged by the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs, Colo., Friday, June 29, 2012. After declaring a "major disaster" in the state early Friday and promising federal aid, President Barack Obama got a firsthand view of the wildfires and their toll on residential communities. More than 30,000 people have been evacuated in what is now the most destructive wildfire in state history. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, Joe Amon) MAGS OUT; TV OUT; INTERNET OUT
Map shows latest spread of the wildfire in Colorado Springs
Several firefighters from Colorado Springs Fire Dept. get massages after coming off the fire line on the the Waldo Canyon wildfire west of Colorado Springs, Colo., Friday, June 29, 2012. One person has been found dead, another is missing and nearly 350 homes have been destroyed by a raging U.S. wildfire that has forced tens of thousands to flee this week. President Barack Obama on Friday will tour the scene of the most destructive fire in Colorado history. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
President Barack Obama visits with firefighters at the Mountain Shadows neighborhood damaged by the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs, Colo., Friday, June 29, 2012. After declaring a "major disaster" in the state early Friday and promising federal aid, Obama got a firsthand view of the wildfires and their toll on residential communities. More than 30,000 people have been evacuated in what is now the most destructive wildfire in state history. (AP Photo/The Denver Post, Joe Amon) MAGS OUT; TV OUT; INTERNET OUT
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) ? More than 150 National Guard soldiers and airmen are helping Colorado Springs police staff roadblocks and patrol streets after a deadly wildfire killed two people and destroyed nearly 350 homes.
Police Chief Pete Carey said Saturday the presence of military personnel will allow his department to resume normal police work in the rest of the city.
"We're grateful for the help," he said.
The 26-square-mile Waldo Canyon fire, one of many burning across the West, is 30 percent contained. Investigators haven't been able to visit the area where the fire broke out on June 23 to determine the cause.
About 10,000 people remain evacuated, down from more than 30,000 at the fire's peak.
Two bodies were found in the ruins of one house. The victims' names haven't been released.
Police say fewer than 10 people may be unaccounted for.
There were plans to let people whose residences burned take weekend bus trips to the affected neighborhoods to take a look, but they would not be allowed to leave the vehicles.
After growing explosively earlier in the week, the Colorado Springs fire gained no ground overnight, authorities reported Friday. And the weather was clear and mostly calm, a welcome break from the lightning and high wind that drove the flames.
Exhausted firefighters fresh off the front lines described the devastation in some neighborhoods and the challenges of battling such a huge blaze, now the most destructive in Colorado history.
"It looks like hell. I would imagine it felt like a nuclear bomb went off. There was fire everywhere. Everything had a square shape to it because it was foundations," said Rich Rexach, who had been working 12-hour days since Tuesday, when flames swept through neighborhoods in this city of more than 400,000 people 60 miles south of Denver.
President Barack Obama toured the stricken areas Friday after issuing a disaster declaration for Colorado that frees up federal funds. He thanked firefighters and other emergency workers, saying: "The country is grateful for your work. The country's got your back."
As residents waited anxiously to see what was left of their homes, police reported several burglaries in evacuated areas, along with break-ins of cars packed with evacuees' possessions outside hotels. Carey said Friday a person wearing protective fire gear in an evacuated area was arrested on charges of impersonating a firefighter and influencing a public official.
Community leaders began notifying residents Thursday that their homes were destroyed. Many lost almost everything.
"The blanket that was on my bed when I grew up, a bunch of things my mother had made," said Rick Spraycar, listing what he lost when his house in the hard-hit Mountain Shadows subdivision burned down. "It's hard to put it into words. Everything I owned. Memories."
For Ernie Storti the pain of knowing that his was one of a handful of homes spared in his neighborhood was hard.
"Our home was standing, and everything south of us was gone," he said as tears streamed down his face outside a Red Cross Shelter where he had met with insurance agents.
Authorities were still trying to figure out what caused the fire. They said conditions were improving and they hoped experts would soon be able to work to determine a cause.
More than 1,200 personnel and six helicopters were fighting the fire.
All eight Air Force firefighting planes from four states will be at Colorado Springs' Peterson Air Force Base Saturday and available to fight the fire, marking the first time the entire fleet has been activated since 2008, Col. Jerry Champlin said.
Among the fires elsewhere in the West:
? Idaho: At least 60 homes near Pocatello, Idaho, burned in a fast-moving wildfire that started Thursday evening. The blaze covered more than 1? square miles. Officials said it was human-caused but gave no details.
? Utah: Residents of nearly a thousand homes in Herriman, just southwest of Salt Lake City, were under an evacuation order Saturday after a wildfire burned through the area, destroying at least four houses and several other structures, authorities said. Fire crews appeared to have the 350-acre Rose Crest fire at bay Friday evening.
A 70-square-mile wildfire in Utah's Sanpete County destroyed at least 160 structures, more than 50 of them primary homes. A similar sized blaze in Utah was threatening about 75 structures.
? Wyoming: A day of hot, dry, windy weather kept firefighters from making much headway Friday on two large, out-of-control wildfires. The third large wildfire in Medicine Bow National Forest in the southeast part of the state quickly overwhelmed initial firefighting efforts and forced the evacuation of about 100 homes, officials said Friday.
? Montana: Residents of eastern and central Montana who evacuated due to wildfires are returning to find neighborhoods scorched and many houses reduced to piles of ash. Fire officials said Friday that 70 homes burned in the 20,000-acre Dahl fire south of Roundup. At least two dozen structures were reported burned in a 270-square-mile fire in the Ashland.
Authorities battling six wildfires in Utah said Colorado was taking most of the available fire crews, leaving them short-handed.
Utah fire commander Cheto Olais said leaders at one Utah blaze had requested about 200 additional firefighters but will probably get no more than 20. "A lot of assets are going to Colorado," Olais said.
"We're strapped nationally," he told The Associated Press. "There's only so many firefighters, and they're already out in the field."
___
Associated Press writers Thomas Peipert in Colorado Springs, Dan Elliott and Rema Rahman in Denver, Brian Skoloff in Salt Lake City, Paul Foy in Price, Utah, Matthew Brown in Roundup, Mont., Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho and Matt Volz in Helena, Mont., contributed to this report.
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Friday, June 29, 2012
Daily Deals That Won't Break The Bank - Small Business Trends
Groupon and LivingSocial have motivated many small businesses into offering daily deals, but the 50 percent commission is often a daily deal breaker. Signpost is a new venture-backed daily deal service that that lets small and medium sized businesses set up their own daily deal campaigns and online marketing offers on a DIY (do it yourself) basis. It operates on a lower commission structure with a flat monthly fee, to boot.
How it works:
1. ?Signpost gathers info about your business and creates a campaign. You share details about how your business operates and works, of course.
2. ?They match your campaign with the right online channels. This is one of the cool things about Signpost ? they have loads of content partners that show your ?campaign ad? on their blog or website. From their website:
We use our network of 1200+ national and local partners like Google, AOL, and Yellow Pages to access over 35 million local customers. Our extensive reach allows us to match your campaign to customers that count.
3. ?Customers buy a voucher online to redeem at your store by clicking on that daily deal ad and pre-paying for the offer. You pay a commission to the content partner that is displaying your ad (via the Signpost system, of course) and they promise it is never more than 15 percent.
Within your account, like any web service, you have a real-time dashboard that shows your offers, redemptions, and other campaigns you are running. For example, you can set up a Facebook campaign or run an email newsletter through the service.
What I liked about the service
- Signpost creates the campaign for you. As I pointed out above, they then distribute that offer for you. They have over 60 cities in the system so far, but I presume that if you?re not in one of those you can still create an offer of some type.
- I like that 15 percent commission versus the 50 percent that other daily deal companies require.
What I would like to see improve
As most of my readers know, I don?t like it when you can?t get access to a site without leaving all your contact details. Signpost requires your email and phone and after you click ?sign up? it says they will contact you shortly. So, I tried to sign up and now I?m waiting for a sales rep to call me. Not a big deal, but that wasn?t my expectation. As noted above, they are transparent with their pricing and how it works. Ideally, they would allow you to start filling in some details or checking out the dashboards or more than ?hey, we?ll call you.?
Pricing is a flat $99 per month and a 15 percent (maximum) commission to sites that generate the click-through. If you?ve wanted to provide a daily or weekly coupon to your local customers and prospects, Signpost might be worth a closer look.
Learn more about Signpost.
About the Author
TJ publishes Tech Biz Talk, a site that reviews business apps of all types and provides how-to posts and tutorials. Share your application or service at his Facebook page and share details about your company/app in the comments below. TJ actively studies all searching for new apps to write about. Learn more about TJ. ?
Source: http://smallbiztrends.com/2012/06/signpost-review.html
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Accelerated radiation treatment effective for noninvasive breast cancer
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vI_woxj5uXhDDK-xiUAsOEeDMxLwBJrUod-KHiUwEfERJi8Kp4t5BFUtB6GrV4ZrxpNI1Rnf_jKCeefMRtmjdWi1DmHi2kOqhbycDQI58=s0-d){kind=small}
Public release date: 29-Jun-2012[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Nicole Napoli
nicolen@astro.org
703-839-7336
American Society for Radiation Oncology
Treatment time for this common cancer could be cut in half
Accelerated whole breast irradiation after lumpectomy is an effective treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a very common early stage and noninvasive form of breast cancer, meaning many more breast cancer patients could see their treatment times reduced by half, according to a study in the June issue of the International Journal of Radiation OncologyBiologyPhysics, the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
The widespread use of mammography beginning in the early 1980s has led to a dramatic increase in the number of DCIS instances detected, making this one of the most common forms of breast cancer. Multiple studies have proven that lumpectomy plus radiation significantly reduces the risk of recurrence in both noninvasive and invasive breast cancers and for DCIS, the current standard of treatment is lumpectomy followed by five to six weeks of whole breast radiation.
However, for invasive cancers, the use of an accelerated form of radiation that increases the strength of the dose per treatment and uses fewer treatment sessions overall has been well-established as effective, providing patients with a shorter treatment time with similar positive results. The effectiveness of an accelerated treatment time has not been established for DCIS.
Researchers in the study followed 145 DCIS patients who were treated with lumpectomy and accelerated whole breast irradiation or lumpectomy with accelerated whole breast irradiation plus an additional daily boost. At five years post-treatment, only 4.1 percent of patients experienced a recurrence, which is comparable to the five to 10 percent recurrence rate demonstrated in randomized trials for patients receiving standard radiation.
"The results of our study suggest that DCIS patients can be safely treated with a shorter regimen of radiotherapy," Silvia Formenti, MD, senior author of the study and a radiation oncologist at New York University School of Medicine, said. "This is good news for many breast cancer patients who would prefer to receive their treatments in a shorter period of time, but also want the peace of mind that they are receiving the most effective treatment available."
###
ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 10,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As the leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to improving patient care through education, clinical practice, advancement of science and advocacy. For more information on radiation therapy, visit www.rtanswers.org. To learn more about ASTRO, visit www.astro.org.
[ | E-mail | 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.
Public release date: 29-Jun-2012[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Nicole Napoli
nicolen@astro.org
703-839-7336
American Society for Radiation Oncology
Treatment time for this common cancer could be cut in half
Accelerated whole breast irradiation after lumpectomy is an effective treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a very common early stage and noninvasive form of breast cancer, meaning many more breast cancer patients could see their treatment times reduced by half, according to a study in the June issue of the International Journal of Radiation OncologyBiologyPhysics, the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
The widespread use of mammography beginning in the early 1980s has led to a dramatic increase in the number of DCIS instances detected, making this one of the most common forms of breast cancer. Multiple studies have proven that lumpectomy plus radiation significantly reduces the risk of recurrence in both noninvasive and invasive breast cancers and for DCIS, the current standard of treatment is lumpectomy followed by five to six weeks of whole breast radiation.
However, for invasive cancers, the use of an accelerated form of radiation that increases the strength of the dose per treatment and uses fewer treatment sessions overall has been well-established as effective, providing patients with a shorter treatment time with similar positive results. The effectiveness of an accelerated treatment time has not been established for DCIS.
Researchers in the study followed 145 DCIS patients who were treated with lumpectomy and accelerated whole breast irradiation or lumpectomy with accelerated whole breast irradiation plus an additional daily boost. At five years post-treatment, only 4.1 percent of patients experienced a recurrence, which is comparable to the five to 10 percent recurrence rate demonstrated in randomized trials for patients receiving standard radiation.
"The results of our study suggest that DCIS patients can be safely treated with a shorter regimen of radiotherapy," Silvia Formenti, MD, senior author of the study and a radiation oncologist at New York University School of Medicine, said. "This is good news for many breast cancer patients who would prefer to receive their treatments in a shorter period of time, but also want the peace of mind that they are receiving the most effective treatment available."
###
ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 10,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As the leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to improving patient care through education, clinical practice, advancement of science and advocacy. For more information on radiation therapy, visit www.rtanswers.org. To learn more about ASTRO, visit www.astro.org.
[ | E-mail | 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/2012-06/asfr-art062912.php
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Collins hires new football coach
Ryan Earnest was introduced today as the Collins High School head football coach during a press conference held at the Covington County Vo-Tech Building.
This will be the first head coaching position for Earnest, a Laurel High School graduate who has been an assistant coach at Wayne County since 2007. He he has previously served as an assistant coach at Laurel and Sumrall.
Earnest will replace Fred McNair, who resigned earlier in the month to join Jay Hopson?s Alcorn State staff as the assistant head coach and passing game coordinator.
Source: http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20120628/NEWS01/120628021/-1/rss01
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Thursday, June 28, 2012
Campaign impact: Obama, Romney seize on ruling
President Barack Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, June 28, 2012, after the Supreme Court ruled on his health care legislation. (AP Photo/Luke Sharrett pool)
President Barack Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, June 28, 2012, after the Supreme Court ruled on his health care legislation. (AP Photo/Luke Sharrett pool)
With the Capitol in the background, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney pauses while speaking about the Supreme Court's health care ruling, Thursday, June 28, 2012, in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, June 28, 2012, after the Supreme Court ruled on his health care legislation. (AP Photo/Luke Sharrett/pool)
With the Capitol in the background, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks about the Supreme Court's health care ruling, Thursday, June 28, 2012, in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Battling fiercely for the White House, President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney implored voters to see the Supreme Court's health care ruling in different ways Thursday, with Obama appealing for people to move on with him and his challenger promising to rip up the law.
"Today's decision was a victory for people all over this country whose lives will be more secure," Obama declared after a divided high court upheld the law, including a requirement that people carry health insurance. "It's time for us to move forward."
Romney did just the opposite, pinning the court's decision to the election and asking voters to render their own ruling.
"If we want to get rid of Obamacare," he said, "we're going to have replace President Obama."
Democrats and Republicans immediately launched fundraising appeals off the court's decision, underscoring the campaign ramifications of a judicial decision that is supposed to be devoid of politics. It was conservative Chief Justice John Roberts who cast the defining vote, upending the traditional lines of political attack and surprising many in the White House.
The outcome was a clear personal win for Obama, who has staked much of his presidency and legacy on the law. But Republicans were emboldened that it would cost him, given that the law as a whole remains unpopular and that the insurance mandate was deemed by the court to be a tax ? a term never popular in an election year.
Neither Obama nor Romney knew what the ruling would be.
So what unfolded was a dramatic, unscripted moment in a campaign that has had few of them.
At first, Obama thought the worst.
Watching a bank of television monitors outside the Oval Office, Obama saw urgent but erroneous cable news reports that the individual mandate has been shot down.
But the White House counsel, Kathryn Ruemmler, knew otherwise and flashed the president two thumbs up. After she explained the justices' bottom-line ruling, the president gave her a hug.
Across the White House, where anticipation had been intense, the mood was more relief and satisfaction than roaring celebration.
Obama sought to strike that tone as he spoke from a lectern in the East Room, trying to steer the conversation toward the ways he said the law is helping millions of Americans.
"I know there will be a lot of discussion today about the politics of all this ? about who won and who lost," he said. "That's how these things tend to be viewed here in Washington. But that discussion completely misses the point."
Obama barely alluded to Romney.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, who had watched news of the ruling from his Washington hotel room, reacted first. He set himself up with a TV backdrop of the Capitol to underscore his political message.
"What the court did not do on its last day in session, I will do on my first day if elected president of the United States," Romney said. "And that is I will act to repeal Obamacare."
His campaign said Thursday evening that it had raised $2.5 million from 24,000 donors during the day, crediting a response to the court decision. But based on the sheer average of Romney's fundraising ? a rate of more than $2 million a day last month ? it was unclear how much of Thursday's money was attributable to the health care opinion.
Meanwhile, the Obama campaign emailed a fundraising appeal over the president's name, citing the court's decision and Romney's pledge to repeal it. "While the Supreme Court's decision should put to rest the debate over health care," the email said, "Mitt Romney and the Republicans in Congress just can't take yes for an answer."
For all the political furor over the decision, Romney and Obama ultimately turned their comments to the economy, where they know the election will be decided. Shortly after Romney insisted the president's law was a "job-killer," Obama called for the debate over the health care law to finally end so everyone can "focus on the most urgent challenge of our time: putting people back to work."
___
Associated Press writers Ken Thomas, Julie Pace, Steve Peoples and Jim Kuhnhenn contributed to this report.
___
Follow Ben Feller on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BenFellerDC
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UN urges calm in Khartoum ahead of Friday mass protests
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Auto Repair: Changing Your Tire
If there is a Murphy?s Law that applies to auto repair, it undoubtedly states that the moment you get a flat tire, the surrounding five miles will turn into a virtual ghost town. It doesn?t matter if you?ve passed ten mechanic shops in the last half mile. It doesn?t matter that you?re travelling down a fairly busy road. Everyone disappears. Those that don?t seemingly can?t see you or don?t consider your troubles their business. It?s official. You?re going to have to change your own tire and you?re going to have to do it alone. Hopefully you?re prepared. Here are the steps you?ll need.
Secure the Vehicle
This is the most important and most overlooked step to changing your tire. It?s not okay to change a tire without completing this step (although many have). You?re taking a chance with your safety every time you do it. Buying some metal wheel chocks is inexpensive and is a sound investment. But some bricks of substantial size will do the trick as well. All you want to ensure is that your car isn?t going to go rolling in the middle of your work. Most auto repair experts will also advise putting the car in park, engaging the emergency brake, and ensuring the engine is off.
Jack Up the Vehicle
Hopefully you have a jack in the trunk. Otherwise, this procedure is DOA. Assuming you do, jack up the car in the appropriate spot and hold it secure with the jackstand (not the jack itself, as some make the mistake of doing!) Be very cautious and deliberate when performing this aspect of auto repair. It?s easy enough to have your hand slip and something could go wrong. Don?t take chances. If you don?t feel comfortable with the work, don?t do it. Call out a friend or a professional who can get you back on the road safely.
Change the Tire
You can either keep a spare tire in the trunk for these emergencies (which can save you from needing to stop by a tire store in the next couple of days) or you should have a ?donut? which will serve the same temporary purpose. Remove the hubcap, if applicable, and the lugnuts. The same tool you used to wind up the jack will often serve to do this part. Keep an eye on these lug nuts, as you don?t want to lose them. Remove the old wheel, put it in your trunk, and put the new wheel on. Secure the lug nuts and you?re all finished. Wind the car back down, put away your jack and wheel blocks, and you can be back on the road.
A Vancouver WA auto repair?specialist can help if you are having issues with your vehicle?s performance. Look no further than:?http://www.cottmanofvancouver.com.
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Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Stockton, California to file for bankruptcy
STOCKTON, California (Reuters) - Stockton, California will become the largest U.S. city to seek protection from its creditors after its leaders approved a budget on Tuesday night based on the city filing for bankruptcy.
A Chapter 9 bankruptcy by the city of nearly 300,000 in California's Central Valley, about 85 miles east of San Francisco, could come as early as Wednesday.
Stockton's city council voted six to one in favor of the 2012-2013 budget after a contentious five-hour meeting where angry retired city workers pressed council members to reject the $155 million spending plan. It proposes eliminating retirees' medical benefits to help fill a $26 million budget deficit.
Retired police department employee Geri Ridge said she fears not being able to afford health-care insurance.
"I don't have that kind of income," said Ridge, 56, noting she is concerned a large share of her $1,895 monthly pension payment could be consumed by large insurance costs due to her history of heart attacks.
The council's vote followed three months of confidential talks between Stockton and its creditors aimed at averting bankruptcy. The negotiations ended on Monday with the city failing to win enough concessions to help close its shortfall for the fiscal year starting on July 1.
That left bankruptcy as the only way for Stockton to balance its budget in the near term while maintaining its current level of services and bringing stability to its battered finances, Mayor Ann Johnston said.
"It's heart-wrenching to think about the implications," she said. "I see no other solution."
Stockton officials have said since February their city's finances are suffering the combined effects of fiscal mismanagement over two decades, too much debt taken on in good times and generous pay and unsustainable benefits for city employees and retirees.
Stockton has also suffered a sharp drop in revenue since the collapse of its once red-hot housing market. The housing boom transformed the farming city into a distant bedroom community of the San Francisco Bay area and its bust put Stockton at or near the top of national foreclosure rankings in recent years.
To keep its budget in balance, Stockton has cut more than $90 million in spending in recent years and slashed its work force, including a quarter of its police officers, a pressing concern with a surge in violent crime in the city.
Deeper cuts to police payrolls would be intolerable, making a financial restructuring in bankruptcy a necessary if painful choice, according to council members who voted for the budget.
The $3.7 trillion U.S. municipal bond market has so far taken in stride Stockton's march toward bankruptcy despite the city's more than $700 million in bond debt. Bondholders and bond insurers are among Stockton's 18 creditors.
LANDMARK FOR U.S. MUNICIPAL DEBT MARKET
Because municipal bankruptcies under Chapter 9 of the federal bankruptcy code are rare, especially for larger cities, Stockton could set important precedents for how different types of creditors are treated in such cases.
In the past, large cities such as Bridgeport, Connecticut, have seen filings for bankruptcy protection rejected by the court. In the most recent case in October 2011, a filing by Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a city of nearly 50,000, was rejected because a state law barred municipalities of a certain size from seeking legal protection from creditors.
Lawyers representing Stockton also worked for Vallejo, California when it filed for bankruptcy in 2008. The former Navy town emerged last year from bankruptcy with sharply reduced payments for its retiree medical program.
At $4.23 billion, Alabama's Jefferson County last November set the record for the biggest municipal bankruptcy filing, which is still working its way through the court.
Stockton officials have been considering bankruptcy since February and calling for the kind of drastic action in its budget. It suspends $10.2 million in debt payments, a move likely to trigger further downgrades of Stockton by ratings agencies.
Stockton has already defaulted on about $2 million in debt since February, allowing the trustee for one of its bond insurers to seize a building once slated to be its future city hall and three parking garages.
The intentional default prompted Moody's Investors Service and Standard & Poor's Ratings Services to drop their credit ratings on Stockton. Moody's has cut its issuer rating for Stockton to a junk level Ba2 from Baa1 while S&P has cut its issuer rating on the city from BB to SD, one notch above its D default rating.
Stockton's budget would also cut spending on employee compensation and retiree benefits by $11.2 million. About $7 million in savings would come from cutting retiree medical benefits for one year and then phasing them out, an idea that stuns John Skaff, a retired police officer.
Skaff said knee injuries forced him off Stockton's police department after 19 years there and he expects to need knee-replacement surgery, though he is uncertain how to afford it without his health coverage. "It's a big hit for us," he said.
(Reporting by Jim Christie, Editing by Tiziana Barghini, Lisa Shumaker, Tim Pearce)
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Google unveils Nexus 7 tablet, Android 4.1 and more
5 hrs.
Google I/O, the search engine giant's annual developer conference is taking place in San Francisco, California this week. The show kicked off with a keynote event, and I was there to report live about all the things Google unveiled.
The fun?started around 9:30 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. ET with?Google's vice president of engineering,?Vic Gundotra, stepping on stage to start things off.?He thanked everyone for being here and asked us to shut off our wireless hotspots, in order to keep everything running smoothly.
Hugo Barra, Google's?director of product management, took the stage almost right after that, to talk about some Android milestones. He explained that Android has seen over 400 million device activations. He added that over one million new Android devices are activated every day. (That's about 12 Android devices every second.)
Android Jelly Bean
The Google team didn't wait long to introduce folks to Jelly Bean aka Android 4.1.
Almost right away, the folks in attendance were ooh-ing and aah-ing as we saw how easily widgets can be rearranged in Jelly Bean, with everything resizing itself automatically to fit on the screen more neatly. But things got really loud in the conference center as we were shown that Jelly Bean will offer offline voice typing. (No more worrying about lousy reception affecting your handsfree typing.)
Other neat Jelly Bean features include the ability to quickly?swipe back to photos you've just taken, the option to pair devices with a tap (via NFC) to share photos and video, and?notifications?which can be expanded (so that you can view your inbox without actually leaving the notification screen, for example).
"It's like they're reinventing Siri," a fella near me muttered, to no one in particular, as Jelly Bean's Knowledge Graph integration was shown off. The feature allows your Android device to answer questions ??such as "which movies did Angelina Jolie star in?" ? or take certain commands, which involve searches, such as "show me?photos of tiny monkeys."
A tool called "Google Now" learns from your habits, your location and your calendar to offer you information you might need. For example, if you are in an area you don't usually travel through, Google Now might suggest some restaurants. If you happen to be at home and traffic conditions are bad, you might be offered alternate directions. The more you use Google Now, the smarter and more?useful?it should get.
Google Android 4.1 is expected to roll out to some devices in mid-July. (More on Jelly Bean's features?here.)
Google Play
There are more than 600,000 apps in Google Play and Google has seen over 20 billion Android app installs, we were told.
So what's new?
Well, developers will now be able to offer Smart App Updates, to devices on Gingerbread and above. This means that users will only have to download changed parts of an app, rather than re-downloading the whole thing every time there's an update.
Google Play will now also offer movies and television shows for purchase, along with magazines. Google has partnered with various studios and publishers to offer this content.
Nexus 7
Looks like the rumors were true. Google's got a shiny new tablet, called the Nexus 7.?It has a 1280 x 800 HD display, a Tegra 3 processor, a 12-core GPU,?a front-facing camera, and more. It will run Google Android 4.1.
Google's team emphasized content consumption when it comes to Nexus 7. This tablet is "made for Google Play," we were told.
The Nexus 7 will start at $199 (this price will include a handful of movies and some magazines). The tablet can be ordered now and will start shipping mid-July.
Considering that Google Play will now include?significantly?more media, that the Nexus 7 hardware is pretty darn solid sounding, and that the price is right ... I'd say that Amazon's Kindle Fire has some strong competition to deal with now.
Nexus Q
The Nexus Q is described as?the "first ever?social streaming device."?It streams your media from the cloud and allows multiple people to sync up their playlists and queue up songs by using tablets or smartphones. The device?? which somehow resembles a Death Star ? will be priced at $299 and start shipping mid-July.
If everyone relied on a Nexus Q, parties could become hilarious as folks battle for control of the tunes by tapping their respective?gadgets.
Google+
Google+ is turning one-year-old tomorrow and Google appears to be pretty proud of its social network. Over 250 million people have activated Google+ accounts and there are apparently over 150 million active users on the network. Half of those users sign into Google+ daily, we're told. Curiously enough more people are using Google+ on their mobile devices, rather than on their desktops.
So it's no surprise that Google is releasing a version of Google+ for tablets. An Android version will roll out today, and an iPad version will come soon.
There will also be some updates to Google+ itself, such as the addition of Events, Party Mode, and more. In essence, it will encourage folks to?collaborate?before, during, and after events.
Google Glass
The Google+ presentation was abruptly interrupted by Sergey Brin himself, who promised us a demo which could go wrong in a lot of ways. It turns out that a team of skydivers equipped with Google Glass was above the Moscone Center, where the Google I/O is taking place.?
We watched them, through a Google Hangout, as they jumped onto the building's roof, handed a package ? containing a pair of Google Glass ... err, glasses???off to a team of bikers. Those folks jumped over obstacles and passed the package over to some folks who scaled down the building, to the third floor, where another team of bikers waited to take the cargo over to Brin. (Screenshots from the stunt here.)
Whew! Once all the excitement died down, we were told that the latest prototype of Google Glass weighs less than a pair of sunglasses?? and that there will be a variety of designs, not just the cyborg-like frames we initially saw.
In theory, you should be able to wear these glasees at any time, to capture a first-person view of everything you do.
Want more tech news, silly puns, or amusing links? You'll get plenty of all three if you keep up with Rosa Golijan, the writer of this post, by following her on?Twitter, subscribing to her?Facebook?posts,?or circling her?on?Google+.
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Tests find only marijuana in face-chewer's system
MIAMI (AP) ? Only marijuana was found in the system of a Florida man shot while chewing another man's face, according to a medical examiner's report released Tuesday.
The active components of marijuana were identified in the system of Rudy Eugene, according to toxicology results released by the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner. The laboratory tested for but did not detect any other street drugs, alcohol or prescription drugs, or any adulterants found in street drugs in Eugene, the 31-year-old who friends said was religious and read both the Bible and Quran.
The department ruled out the most common components found in the street drugs known as bath salts. An outside forensic toxicology lab, which took a second look at the results, also confirmed the absence of bath salts, synthetic marijuana and LSD.
The results were released weeks after a Miami police union official had speculated that because Eugene's behavior had been so bizarre he was probably under the influence of bath salts.
Messages left with the medical examiner's office for comment were not immediately returned.
It's not clear what led to the May 26 attack on Ronald Poppo, a 65-year-old homeless man who remains hospitalized. Poppo's family has said it had no contact with him for more than 30 years and thought he was dead.
Police have released few details about what may have led to the attack.
Surveillance video from a nearby building shows Eugene stripping Poppo and pummeling him before appearing to hunch over and lie on top of him. The police officer who shot Eugene to death said he growled at the officer when he told him to stop.
Shortly before the attack, a person driving on the MacArthur Causeway told a 911 dispatcher a "completely naked man" was on top of one of the light poles on the causeway and "acting like Tarzan."
Poppo has undergone several surgeries and remains hospitalized. A message left with the hospital was not immediately returned.
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Tuesday, June 26, 2012
United Franchise Group Hires David M. Baxter as New Chief ...
Prior to joining UFG, Baxter brings with him more than 30 years of experience in operations, sales and acquisitions, from start-up companies to multi-million dollar enterprises. He is also a former business owner with proven successes in creating opportunities for revenue and corporate growth.
?After an extensive national search for a strategic and business-minded candidate that would match our corporate goals and culture, we are thrilled to announce the addition of David M. Baxter to the United Franchise Group team,? said Ray Titus, chief executive officer of United Franchise Group. ?David has extensive management experience, which will be an excellent complement to our strong brand leadership and overall growth of the brand.?
In addition to his role in strategic planning, Baxter will also be instrumental in coaching staff in achieving their goals and will serve as a thought partner with brand presidents and executives regarding business opportunities and acquisitions. UFG is made up of six industry-leading franchise brands including SIGNARAMA, the world?s largest full-service sign business; EmbroidMe, the world?s largest embroidery franchise; Billboard Connection, a home-based advertising agency; Plan Ahead Events, a home-based event planning business; TransWorld Business Advisors, a business brokerage and franchise development services firm; and SuperGreen Solutions, a premium one-stop shop for all energy efficient needs.
About the United Franchise Group (UFG):
United Franchise Group,?the Global Leader for Entrepreneurs, is a $500-million franchising expert with 30 years of experience and 1,400 franchise locations in over 50 countries. Brands include SIGNARAMA, EmbroidMe, Billboard Connection, Plan Ahead Events, Super Green Solutions and Transworld Business Advisors. Information on franchising opportunities is available at 800-286-8671 (U.S.) or 001-561-640-5570 (international).
###
This post was written by...
SIGNARAMA ? who has written 22 posts on SIGNARAMA Blog.
SIGNARAMA, the world?s largest sign franchise, is part of a successful system of business-to-business franchises under United Franchise Group. Our award-winning network of sign centers is approaching 800 locations in 50 countries ? truly making us ?where the world goes for signs.? For more than 25 years we have been serving communities with quality products and customer service. Now that we have grown to become the world leader in signage, we still work hard to maintain the localized support and individual attention that made us who we are today.
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High Quality Large Bird Cages for Your Pet Bird's Convenience | Go ...
Are you currently searching for a cage using the right features for the pet?s comfort? Most likely your very best friend Eclectus continues to be whining of his compact spread place? When getting your personal pets, it is important to choose a appropriate cage on their behalf. Much like other large animals, bird species like the large sized parrots likewise need large cages to outlive.
For around 10 years now, I?ve been coping with large parrots. I am a devoted who owns some macaws, 2 pairs of cockatoos along with a single chatty avian, Eclectus ? my finest companion. For any short introduction, my very own Greenwing macaws are regarded as the soft titans because of their charming tendencies and they are very affectionate. Probably the most active ones are my Major Mitchell?s Cockatoos, that need a ton of attention for they may be nasty and destructive once overlooked. And finally, the oldest among my pets may be the Eclectus Parrot which I have seriously trained consistently to assist enrich his speech skill. That certain is acknowledged for being very friendly, smart however is frequently very fragile hence, can become distressed if likewise roughed up. Many of these wild birds, actually need a ton of attention that?s why I make certain I provide them with medicine, food and shelter.
With their shelter, certainly a large cage is really a requirement. Be familiar with a couple of essential details before buying one. The area between your bars shouldn?t be too large that the bird?s mind can cope with and finish up caught among steel bars. Yet another factor may be the section within the cage you need to consider enough area when it comes to the width and height for finest versatility from the parrots. A small space may cause depression as well as dangerous actions with a. Additionally, thicker bar gauge of 4mm-5mm can also be necessary particularly if you own effective wild birds.
My parrot pets are really delighted using the different bird cages I decided on their behalf. In my two large macaws, I purchased a cage for macaws for under $700, which showcases bird-proof latch on all doorways, a large range of pet toys that may be dangled in the top panel, a slide out seed container, a removable center panel that may be converted to a single massive cage and even more features in a single product. The cage I acquired for under $600 offers wonderful benefits in my Cockatoos, featuring a nesting box door for breeding and top opening to have an accessible play top. And finally, I purchased my Eclectus a completely new cage which was a great deal larger and easier for under $600. The switch-top cage gave him a enjoyable delight. The sunroof style opening and also the unique front veranda porch were amazing, and that he is completely pleased with his new house.
I am totally pleased with the cage choices I made. The discount large bird cages together with the wonderful components did truly impress me. Each product offered like a perfect home in my pets.
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Turkey warns Syria away from its border
BEIRUT (AP) ? Turkey warned Syria on Tuesday to keep its forces away from the countries' troubled border or risk an armed response ? a furious reply to the downing of a Turkish military plane last week by the Damascus regime.
NATO backed up Turkey and condemned Syria for shooting down the plane but stopped short of threatening military action, reflecting its reluctance to get involved in a conflict that could ignite a broader war.
Near the capital of Damascus, meanwhile, Syria's elite Republican Guard forces battled rebels in some of the most intense fighting involving the special forces since the uprising against President Bashar Assad's regime began in March 2011, according to activists.
Assad appeared to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation while addressing his new Cabinet on Tuesday in a statement broadcast on Syrian state TV. He said his country is in a "genuine state of war." Up to now Assad has described the uprising against him as run by terrorists carrying out a foreign agenda.
More than 14,000 people have been killed in the last 15 months. Despite global outrage over the crackdown by the Assad regime, the international response has been focused entirely on diplomacy and sanctions, not intervention, as the violence escalates.
In a speech to parliament, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Syria shot down the unarmed reconnaissance plane in international airspace without warning in a "deliberate" and "hostile" act.
"Any military element that approaches the Turkish border from Syria and poses a security risk and danger will be regarded as a threat and treated as a military target," Erdogan said.
He said border violations in the region were not uncommon and Syrian helicopters had violated Turkish airspace five times recently without a Turkish response. The two countries share a 566-mile (910-kilometer) frontier.
Turkey's limited response to Friday's incident suggested there was no appetite for a violent retaliation. Still, Erdogan cautioned Syria against testing his resolve.
"No one should be deceived by our cool-headed stance," he added. "Our acting with common sense should not be perceived as a weakness."
Syrian officials insist the plane violated its airspace, saying a Syrian officer shot it down with anti-aircraft fire after spotting an unidentified jet flying at high speed and low altitude.
Turkey disputes that. Turkey says although the RF-4E jet had unintentionally strayed into Syrian airspace, it was inside international airspace when it was brought down over the Mediterranean. Its two pilots are still missing.
The RF-4E is the reconnaissance version of the U.S.-built Phantom fighter-bomber which was used heavily in the Vietnam War. Most of the RF-4Es were unarmed, although some have been equipped with cannons and racks for bombs.
Erdogan has said Syrian forces also fired on a search-and-rescue plane Friday following the downing of the jet. It was not clear if the second plane was hit.
The incident renewed fears of an escalation of the violence that could draw in neighboring countries. The Turks have launched pre-emptive attacks in the past, notably in 2007 and 2008 against Kurdish rebels in Iraq who used Iraqi territory to strike targets inside Turkey as part of their war for Kurdish self-rule.
The head of NATO called the downing of the jet unacceptable after Turkey briefed NATO's North Atlantic Council about it. The talks were held under Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty, which allows a member to request consultations if its security has been threatened.
The meeting was the first time a country has invoked Article 4 in nearly a decade. In 2003, Turkey also invoked Article 4 when tensions escalated ahead of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance condemned the Syrian attack "in the strongest terms" and expressed solidarity with Turkey ? but he did not speak of any possible armed action against Syria.
"It's my clear expectation that the situation won't continue to escalate," Fogh Rasmussen told reporters after the meeting. "What we have seen is a completely unacceptable act, and I would expect Syria to take all necessary steps to avoid such events in the future."
The uprising against Assad has obliterated the once-close ties between Syria and Turkey. Turkey has repeatedly called for Assad to step down as 33,000 Syrians have sought refuge in Turkey from the violence.
Turkey also is also hosting civilian opposition groups as well as members of the Free Syrian Army, which is fighting to bring down the Assad regime.
"We will continue to support the struggle of our brothers in Syria at any cost," Erdogan said. Turkey denies harboring armed Syrian rebels.
Fogh Rasmussen has repeatedly said NATO would need a clear international mandate and regional support before it embarked on a mission in Syria. Last year, NATO launched airstrikes on Libyan government targets only after receiving such a mandate from the U.N. Security Council, along with backing from the Arab League.
But Russia and China ? both veto-wielding members of the Security Council ? have stood by Assad and shielded his regime from international sanctions. Both countries are keen to avoid any type of military intervention in Syria, and they vow to veto any attempts.
Military intervention has been all but ruled out in Syria for now, in part because the conflict has so much potential for escalation. Damascus has strong allegiances to powerful forces including Lebanon's Hezbollah and Shiite powerhouse Iran.
Russia's president and foreign minister repeated Tuesday that Iran should take part in a meeting on the Syrian crisis in Geneva, slated for Saturday.
"The more of Syria's neighbors that are brought into this process the better," President Vladimir Putin told Russian journalists traveling with him in Jordan. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he will take part in the Geneva meeting even if Iran is not represented, but without Iran, "we will be talking about how then to gather all of the participants."
A deputy to international envoy Kofi Annan told a closed Security Council meeting that the principles and guidelines for a Syrian-led political transition must be agreed on before the Geneva meeting can happen, a diplomat said on condition of anonymity because the meeting was not public.
The diplomat said that Nasser Al-Kidwa, a deputy joint special envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League on Syria, told the council Tuesday that Annan believes the meeting he is trying to organize will only be worth holding if participants can agree on how a Syrian political transition should work, and can't simply be a "talking shop."
As part of a U.N.-Arab League peace plan that failed to take hold in Syria, U.N. observers were sent to the country, but they suspended their work earlier this month after coming under fire. The U.N.'s peacekeeping chief, Herve Ladsous, told the Security Council on Tuesday that it is too dangerous for the observers to resume their mission, although it could restart at some point, according to a diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity because the session was closed.
Assad blames the violence gripping his country on foreign terrorists and armed gangs. In the early months of the uprising, he acknowledged a need for political reforms, but his opponents have dismissed his gestures as a facade.
Tuesday's fighting near Republican Guard compounds and bases in the suburbs of Damascus killed at least six people, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Republican Guard, which is commanded by Assad's younger brother, Maher, has the task of protecting the capital, the seat of the regime's power. The fighting suggested growing boldness by the rebels.
Clashes erupt regularly in the suburbs between troops and rebels, but Assad's forces have firm control of Damascus and it is very rare for fighting to take place near the Republican Guard bases. It was unclear what prompted the clashes or how close they were to the heavily guarded compounds.
Syria's military remains loyal to Assad despite some recent high-profile defections, and the opposition is fragmented and unable to attack as a unified force, according to U.S. intelligence officials who briefed reporters in Washington on the Syrian conflict.
The regime has maintained troop loyalty by keeping paychecks coming even as food and fuel run out for the rest of the country, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to provide the sensitive information
The officials say the opposition has learned effective guerrilla-like tactics, but is still too disorganized to hold territory, which will likely produce a continuing "seesaw" battle between the two sides.
Also Tuesday, Syria's new Cabinet was sworn in in front of Assad.
Although he vowed after May 7 parliamentary elections to make the government more inclusive to politicians from other parties, the new government is headed by a key loyalist, and the foreign, defense and interior ministers kept their jobs.
The opposition boycotted the elections, saying they were designed to strengthen Assad's power. Parliament is considered little more than a rubber stamp in Syria, where the president and a tight coterie of advisers hold the real power.
During the swearing-in, Assad said Syria must direct all its energy to overcoming the conflict.
"We are living in a genuine state of war," he said.
___
AP writers Slobodan Lekic in Brussels, Selcan Hacaoglu and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, Lynn Berry in Moscow, John Heilprin in Geneva, Kimberly Dozier in Washington, and Ron DePasquale at the United Nations contributed to this report.
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Monday, June 25, 2012
Boston Rock Radio Voices Plan to Move Online - NYTimes.com
Fans of the Boston alternative-rock station WFNX, which is being sold to Clear Channel Communications, will soon be hearing some familiar voices online.
Boston.com, a news and entertainment Web site, announced early Monday that it is starting a streaming-radio station featuring several former WFNX personalities, including Henry Santoro, Julie Kramer and Adam 12, as well as its former program director, Paul Driscoll. The station?s start date and programming schedule are to be revealed this summer.
Boston.com is owned by The New York Times Company.
Although few details were announced about the new station, it will not be called WFNX. That is because its previous owner, the Phoenix Media/Communications Group, kept the rights to the station?s intellectual property, including the name, when it sold WFNX?s frequency, 101.7 FM, to Clear Channel. The $14.5 million sale is subject to approval by the Federal Communications Commission.
Clear Channel has not announced its plans for the station, which it is expected to take over on July 22. Many in the radio industry expect it to go to a talk or news format.
Whatever it is called, the streaming-radio station may face difficulties in attracting a wide audience. Other well-known alternative rock stations that have resurfaced online after going off the air have had mixed success.
WOXY in Cincinnati went on the Web after the station was sold in 2004, but the site struggled with financing and was shut down in 2010. Indie 103.1, which went off the air in Los Angeles in 2009, and Q101 in Chicago, which flipped to a news format last year, are are still playing rock online.
Ben Sisario writes about the music industry. Follow @sisario on Twitter.
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Rain from Tropical Strom Debby drenches Florida
MIAMI (AP) ? Tropical Storm Debby spun drenching rains Monday over northern Florida as it hung nearly stationary over the Gulf of Mexico, threatening to inundate low-lying neighborhoods.
Tropical storm warnings were in effect along the Florida Panhandle as the storm parked offshore. Even with the storm's center far from land, it lashed Florida with heavy rains and spawned isolated tornadoes that killed at least one person.
And in Alabama, crews planned to continue searching for a South Carolina man who disappeared in rough surf Sunday afternoon. The man, whose name and hometown were not immediately released, was vacationing with his family when he went underwater around 1:45 p.m. Sunday, said Melvin Shepherd, director of beach safety for Orange Beach, Ala.
The storm also prompted the closing of the sole bridge to St. George Island, popular vacation island in Florida.
Residents in several counties near the crook of Florida's elbow were urged to leave low-lying neighborhoods because of the threat of flooding. High winds forced the closure of an interstate bridge that spans Tampa Bay and links St. Petersburg with areas to the southeast. In several locations, homes and businesses were damaged by high winds authorities believe were from tornadoes.
Authorities in the Tampa Bay area were asking residents and tourists to stay away from flooded streets. Some streets were still under water early Monday, while others were blocked with debris.
The constant barrage of wind and rain triggered fears of the widespread flooding that occurred across the Florida Panhandle during Hurricane Dennis in 2005. Officials on Monday said the main bridge to St. George Island was closed as the storm loomed. Power was already out on the island and authorities said it could be out for days.
As of 8 a.m. EDT Monday, Debby's center was essentially stationary about 90 miles (145 kilometers) south-southwest of Apalachicola, Fla. Debby's top sustained winds were around 50 mph (85 kph) with little change in strength expected over the next day or so. The forecast map indicated the storm could inch forward through the week, eventually coming ashore over the Panhandle. However, a storm's path is difficult to discern days in advance.
Underscoring the unpredictable nature of tropical storms, forecasters discontinued a tropical storm warning Sunday afternoon for Louisiana after forecast models indicated Debby wasn't likely to turn west. At one point, forecasters expected the storm to come ashore in that state.
"There are always going to be errors in making predictions. There is never going to be a perfect forecast," said Chris Landsea, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center.
A major concern will be flooding from heavy rainfall. The storm is moving slowly, allowing its clouds more time to unload rain. A public advisory said parts of northern Florida could get 10 to 15 inches of rain, with some areas getting as much as 25 inches.
The Highlands County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that several tornadoes moved through the area southeast of Tampa, damaging homes.
Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Nell Hays said a woman was found dead in a house in Venus that was destroyed in the storm. A child found in the same house was taken to the hospital. No further information was available on the child's condition or either person's age.
Authorities urged residents to leave low-lying neighborhoods in Franklin, Taylor and Wakulla counties because of flooding. Shelters were open in the area.
Wind tore the roof off a marina in St. Pete Beach, and a pier was heavily damaged, said Tom Iovino, a Pinellas County government spokesman. He said no injuries were reported.
As of Sunday, 23 percent of oil and gas production in the region had been suspended, according to a government hurricane response team. Employees have been evacuated from 13 drilling rigs and 61 production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.
The storm was not expected to result in higher oil and gas prices.
"It's largely a non-event for oil," said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service.
___
Associated Press writer Freida Frisaro in Miami and AP Auto Writer Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit contributed to this report.
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Sunday, June 24, 2012
American Blog - The Most Popular Acquire Nintendo wii Video game ...
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