Saturday 31 December 2011

In-Game - Disgraced gamer PR guy says 'uncle'

Paul Christoforo

By Suzanne Choney

Paul Christoforo, the gaming hardware marketer who went from anonymity to infamy this week, irking thousands of gamers, appears to have reached the level needed for forgiveness: A huge helping of Humble Pie.

Christoforo, fired as a marketing representative for N-Control's Avenger controller attachment after treating a holiday customer quite poorly, then went onto to play hardball with his successor, who said on Reddit that Christoforo would not relinquish Avenger's "email addresses, website, and other assets" unless he got a new contract guaranteeing him continued pay.

Mois?s Chiullan, the new marketing guy, said that Christoforo told him, "If they don't give me what I want, it's war."

The war was being carried out all over the Web, not only on Reddit, but on Twitter and other public forums. Things seemed to reach a crescendo Friday with a story in the The Escapist. After msnbc.com made inquiries, emails from both Christoforo and Chiullan?arrived at the same moment.

"N-Control and I do not detract or take back the statements made on Reddit, but the situation has changed substantially since the ...? story was written," said Chiullan in the email to msnbc.com. "We have come to an understanding with Mr. Christoforo regarding the assets and records in question, and he is being very forthcoming in restoring our access across the board. He wants all of this to stop, and so do we. We're glad that all concerned are going into the new year on the right footing."

And this was what we heard from Christoforo: "I think it's fair to say I have been through enough and I am trying to put this behind me and move forward and I am quite seriously losing my sanity over all this," he said in an email. "It's very unhealthy from myself and my family to have to go through this."

More on this game industry soap opera from msnbc.com's In-Game:

Source: http://ingame.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/30/9837665-disgraced-gamer-pr-guy-says-uncle

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Friday 30 December 2011

Cheetah the chimp from 1930s Tarzan flicks dies (AP)

PALM HARBOR, Fla. ? A Florida animal sanctuary says Cheetah the chimpanzee from the Tarzan movies of the early 1930s has died at age 80.

The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor announced that Cheetah died Dec. 24 of kidney failure.

Sanctuary outreach director Debbie Cobb on Wednesday told The Tampa Tribune ( http://bit.ly/rRuTeJ) that Cheetah was outgoing, loved finger painting and liked to see people laugh. She says he seemed to be tuned into human feelings.

Cheetah was the comic relief in the Tarzan series starring American Olympic gold medal swimmer Johnny Weissmuller. Cobb says Cheetah came to the sanctuary from Weissmuller's estate sometime around 1960.

Cobb says Cheetah wasn't a troublemaker. Still, sanctuary volunteer Ron Priest says that when the chimp didn't like what was going on, he would throw feces.

___

Online:

http://suncoastprimate.homestead.com/

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obits/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111228/ap_en_ot/us_obit_cheetah

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Thursday 29 December 2011

2007 Ford F-150

Full-size pickups are a little like a solid relationship: comfortable, forgiving, strong, reliable and loyal.

Over the years trucks have become more luxurious, better equipped and cushier. Though they are still built to be mechanical workhorses, they often serve double duty as daily drivers.

And automakers recognize the potential: full-size pickups come in dozens of combinations of cabs, drivetrains, beds and suspensions.

If you're planning to travel the snow-filled trail to the cottage this winter or rutted, mud-slicked roads when the frost thaws, and perhaps take along an all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile, here are the biggest, most capable trucks for the job.


Chevrolet Silverado/

GMC Sierra

Though General Motors admits these two trucks, redesigned for 2007, share most components (sheet metal separates the fraternal twins), the Chevy/GMC faceoff exists because loyal buyers think otherwise.

It's not uncommon to hear the "My Silverado is better than your Sierra" debate, especially in small towns, the heartland for pickups.

Built on an all-new platform, the Silverado/Sierra's ride is smooth, and handling is tight. The cabin is quiet and there's a choice of two interiors: pure pickup (with larger controls and door handles easier to use with gloves) and luxury (with an upscale, SUV-like design, leather, heated seats and Bose speakers).

For 2008, the trucks get upgraded with a power-adjustable driver's portion of the regular cab's front bench and brighter instrument needles in the gauge cluster. Though there's still no driver's side grab handle for easier entry.

Three cab styles are available: regular, extended and crew; three cargo boxes: short (5.8-foot), standard (6.6-foot) and long (8-foot); three trims (Silverado/Sierra): base WT or W/E, LT/SLE and LTZ/SLT; and two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.

Five suspension systems are offered, up to eight different engines (including a 5.3 L V8 with fuel-saving Displacement on Demand) and up to three transmissions (two for the Silverado).

Best for: Those in the fishing industry. The rugged Silverado and Sierra are like magnets in fishing villages from the inner harbours on Vancouver Island to Trinity Bay, Nfld. It likely has a lot to do with low flatbed load-in height, ideal for stacking lobster traps.

Numbers that matter:

Towing capacity: 3,629 to 4,763 kg

Payload: 709 to 980 kg

Starting price: $23,520


Dodge Ram

To say the Ram is big is an understatement. The truck is massive ? so large Dodge claims it's available with the largest cargo bed, interior cargo volume, cargo volume behind the rear seat, flat-floor load area, second-row legroom, rear door opening and open angle.

The irony, however, is that while it's without a doubt big to park, it's easy to manoeuvre into a spot, even if it's a tight fit. And like all of the big pickups, side running boards are a necessity rather an accessory.

Earlier this year, Dodge upgraded the Ram's optional (and pricey, $9,045) Cummins inline-six turbodiesel from 5.9 L to a new, smoother and quieter 6.7 L version with 350 hp and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. The rig also moved up to a more competitive six-speed automatic transmission.

Three Ram models are available: 1500, 2500 and 3500 (the new Cummins is standard). A 5.7 L Hemi V8 with 345 hp and 375 lb.-ft. of torque is standard on the 1500 and 2500 trucks. Four transmissions are on offer, as well as several trims (ST, SLT, TRX4, Sport and Laramie).

Choose between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. Two box sizes are available: 6.4-foot or 8-foot.

Best for: Construction. Whether you're the foreperson of a multi-million-dollar site or a regular at the Home Depot, the Ram is a workhorse that lives up to the task of getting down and dirty (check out the ground clearance) or weighed down with material.

Numbers that matter:

Towing capacity: 1,338 to 7,438 kg

Payload: 567 to 2,327 kg

Starting price: $21,995


Ford F-Series

Big trucks are not typically known for having a plush ride, but that was one of Ford's goals when it redesigned its F-Series lineup for the 2007 model year.

Ride and handling have improved by attaching the suspension's new rear leaf springs more forward on the frame. And, as an added benefit, the rear suspension was specifically designed to keep the rear end lower to give the vehicle more balance and control when towing taller gooseneck and fifth-wheel trailers.

Ford says its huge trucks, like those in the F-450 category (with a 7,257 to 11,113 kg towing capacity), were once only used as hardcore working haulers. The market, however, is crossing over to appeal to customers who pull large recreational equipment such as 12-metre-long boats or Airstreams.

Behind that bold grille is an optional 6.4 L Power Stroke turbodiesel that delivers 350 hp and 650 lb.-ft. of torque starting at 2000 rpm. The engine complies with new North American diesel regulations, and helps to reduce soot by up to 97 per cent while posting emissions numbers on par with those from gasoline engines, its maker says.

There's a choice of two other gas-powered engines, four models (XL, XLT, FX4 and Lariat), three body types (regular, SuperCab, Crew Cab) and two drivelines (4x2 or 4x4).

Ford has also pulled a few convenient gizmos out of the hat: There's an available ($495) rear backup camera that's built into the rear-view mirror.

An optional tailgate step makes it easier to climb into the flatbed. At the touch of a button, new PowerScope trailer-tow side mirrors telescope in or out and fold.

Best for: Farming. Running through the fields loaded down with hay bales, towing equipment and serving double duty as a family hauler, the F-Series is ideal for the simple life.

Numbers that matter:

Towing capacity: 2,313 to 11,113 kg

Payload: 653 to 2,775 kg

Starting price: $22,199


Nissan Titan

The newest truck to join the full-size pickup market (it debuted for 2004), the Titan gets a minor facelift for 2008 with a revised front end, wheel lip mouldings and new 18- and 20-inch wheel designs. Inside, the truck sports new seats and a refined instrument cluster.

For a newcomer to the truck game, the Titan has a good choice of permutations: there are four models (XE, SE, PRO-4X and LE); two cab styles: King and Crew; standard or long wheelbase; four bed lengths (5.6-foot or 7-foot for Crew, 6.6-foot or 8-foot for King), and 4x2 and 4x4 drive configurations.

A 5.6 L V8 with 317 hp and 385 lb.-ft. of torque and a five-speed automatic transmission are standar

For one of the smallest engines in the group, the Titan feels adequately powered, and, when it's not weighed down, acceleration is swift.

But that's where the fun ends. Titan is the bulkiest to drive of all the full-size trucks.

It's harder to see over the hood compared to rivals, it's chunky to park in a Canadian Tire-sized spot and its turning radius feels wider than the rest.

Inside, Titan seems more SUV in its design than work truck, though there are the requisite nooks and crannies, bins and boxes to hold all the stuff that accumulates in an office on wheels. The centre console can even hold a 1 L water bottle, a convenient feature.

Best for: Pilots. Like an airplane, this Nissan is awkward to manoeuvre on the ground. Factor in more space than you need to fit in a parking spot or traffic, and you'll master the physics of driving a Titan. But, like a plane, once it gets moving, it runs pretty quickly.

Numbers that matter:

Towing capacity: 4,218 to 4,309 kg

Payload: 867 to 911 kg

Starting price: $33,498


Toyota Tundra

While Nissan might be happy going after alternative full-size truck buyers, Toyota is aiming for the jugulars of the Detroit Three.

You could say the Tundra is the persistent pickup. When it was launched in 2000, it was criticized for being too small and too car-like in its abilities. And it was built by a Japanese automaker, while the traditional contenders hailed from the U.S.

But the new-generation Tundra, rolled out earlier in 2007, took the crown at this year's Truck King Challenge, a pickup competition organized by freelance auto writer Howard J. Elmer.

And though the new truck is Japanese by brand, it's striving to be American: It's designed in California, gets its technical wherewithal from engineers in Ann Arbor, Mich., and comes to life at a plant in the heart of truck country, San Antonio, Tex.

Like the competition, the Tundra is highly customizable. There are said to be 32 ways to mix engines (4.7 L or 5.7 L V8s), transmissions (five- or all-new six-speed), cab size (regular, double and CrewMax), bed lengths (5.5-foot, 6.5-foot and 8.1-foot), 4x2 or 4x4 drivelines, trim levels and option packages.

Tundra's love-it-or-loathe-it styling features bold and edgy lines and takes some getting used to. The cabin design is clean and modern, with an abundance of storage solutions (some are even hidden in the doors).

Best for: The city-dwelling young professional who regularly escapes to the cottage, with an ATV, boat and/or dirt bike. When it's time to move around those goodies, the Tundra is up to the task.

Numbers that matter:

Towing capacity: 3,535 to 4,895 kg

Payload: 565 to 860 kg

Starting price: $23,475

Source: http://vehicles.wheels.ca/black-2007-ford-f-150-488327-leggatchevrolet/

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Magnetic Sense Shows Many Animals the Way to Go (preview)

Feature Articles | More Science Cover Image: January 2012 Scientific American MagazineSee Inside

Animals' magnetic sense is real. Scientists are zeroing in on how it works


Image: Photograph by Christopher Griffith

In Brief

  • Dozens of animal species, from ants to whales, have well-documented abilities to detect the geomagnetic field and use it for orientation and navigation.
  • After some false starts, researchers may have now located the organs for this magnetic sense, and they are finally understanding the physics that underpins it.
  • Some animals may use microscopic magnetic particles to detect magnetic fields; others might harness quantum effects on certain pigments in the eye.

For what must have felt like an interminable six months back in 2007, Sabine Begall spent her evenings at her computer, staring at photographs of grazing cattle. She would download a satellite image of a cattle range from Google Earth, tag the cows one by one, then pull up the next image. With the help of her collaborators, Begall, a zoologist at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany, ultimately found that the unassuming ruminants were on to something. On average, they appeared to align their bodies with a slight preference toward the north-south axis. But they were not pointing to true north, which they could have located using the sun as reference. Instead they somehow knew how to orient themselves toward the magnetic north pole, which is hundreds of kilometers south of the geographic pole, in northern Canada.


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Wednesday 28 December 2011

wedding catering

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Do you have a special occasion in mind? Have no idea which caterer to chose? Well look no further!

Shirin's Tandoori is an independent family run catering business. We boast about our fine quality and event management since the last 20 years. Shirin's Tandoori is a specialist in Indian Catering. We offer a vast variety of curry's ranging from a simple Chicken Tikka starter to an exquisite mouthwatering King prawn butterfly.

... Shirin's is not just a Catering firm, we also provide an in- house decorating team with an Events Manager directly assigned to your event. We offer over 150 wedding stages for our clients.

Whatever the event - Wedding, Birthdays, Anniversary, Shirin's Tandoori is here to make your day one to be remembered.

For More information call us on 0208 514 7381

Source: http://buy.vivastreet.co.uk/food+london-ec2r/wedding-catering/42124537

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jonrognerud: SEO Considerations For Google Mobile Search In 2012: Mobile search has never been just one result type. It prov... http://t.co/QtCIMsK1

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Tuesday 27 December 2011

MichaelRubin: RT @nerdseyeview: if the Indian place is full of Chinese and the Chinese place is full of Jews, is the Jewish deli full of Indians?

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Former Titans Coordinator Norm Chow Will Coach Hawai?i

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

Source: http://www.nflgridirongab.com/2011/12/26/former-titans-coordinator-norm-chow-will-coach-hawaii/

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Monday 26 December 2011

Former Manchester United striker Dong joins Chinese club

25/12/2011

Beijing: Former Manchester United striker Dong Fangzhuo has joined Chinese first division football league side Hunan Xiangtao.

Former Manchester United striker Dong joins Chinese club

Fangzhou joined the Chinese club from Mika in the Armenian Premier League.

"I am back home," Dong said. "But my return to China doesn't mean that I am incapable of playing abroad."

The 26-year-old Dong, who joined Mika in March, scored six goals for the club, including one each in the semi-final and final when they won the title of the Armenian FA Cup.

"Mika wanted to extend the contract with me, but I refused," he said.

Dong signed for Manchester United from Dalian Shide in January 2004, for an initial fee of 500,000 pounds which could have risen to 3.5 million, depending upon appearances.

But he failed to impress Alex Ferguson in the following four years. For most of the time, he played on loan for Royal Antwerp in Belgium, where he scored 37 goals in three seasons.

He went back to Manchester United in 2007 but played only three times in the Premier League. His contract was terminated in 2008.

Dong then joined home team Dalian Shide in the Chinese Super League but struggled to score goals and was relegated to the reserves as a result.

His poor performances in the league also prevented him from being called up for the national team.

"This time I am sure I will play well in China," Dong said.

Source: IANS

Source: http://sports.in.msn.com/football/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5703094

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Anglican archbishop: Bonds, trust broken in UK (AP)

LONDON ? The summer riots in Britain and the financial crisis have broken bonds and abused trust in British society, the Archbishop of Canterbury said in his Christmas Day sermon.

Archbishop Rowan Williams appealed to those congregated at Canterbury Cathedral on Sunday to learn lessons about "mutual obligation" from the events of the past year.

Citing the four days of U.K. riots and the current European debt crisis, the Archbishop said "the most pressing question" now facing Britain is "who and where we are as a society."

"Bonds have been broken, trust abused and lost," he said. "Whether it is an urban rioter mindlessly burning down a small shop that serves his community, or a speculator turning his back on the question of who bears the ultimate cost for his acquisitive adventures in the virtual reality of today's financial world, the picture is of atoms spinning apart in the dark."

Williams, leader of the world's Anglicans, also quoted from the Book of Common Prayer in his sermon to say that if offenses are against one's neighbors, one should be ready to make restitution.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111225/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_anglicans

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Sunday 25 December 2011

MVALLE888: Shocking Video: Sheep Beaten to death With A Baseball Bat -Warning Graphic Footage!!! http://t.co/BKdDHhjI #Scandals

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Evernote Tips on a Slider iPhone

Ellis Davidson

Ellis Davidson has been a self-employed Internet and technology consultant, entrepreneur and author since 1993. He has written a book about self-employment for recent college graduates and is a regular contributor to "Macworld" and the TidBITS technology newsletter. He is completing a book on self-employment options during a recession. Davidson holds a Bachelor of Arts in American civilization from the University of Pennsylvania.

updated December 23, 2011

Evernote is an Internet service that lets you capture and work with stored snippets of data from a computer or mobile phone interface. The iPhone Evernote app allows you to save audio recordings, pictures and other data directly to your Internet Evernote storage. After using Evernote on your iPhone as a mobile data capture tool, you can organize your stored information from your iPhone or from the Evernote application on your computer.

    • The slider on the iPhone unlocks the phone after it has automatically locked. Apple's iOS 5 provides single-tap access to a camera button for taking pictures without unlocking the phone; if you need to take a picture quickly, you can go directly to the camera app to take your picture, and use the Evernote app later to upload images from photos you have already taken with your iPhone. Otherwise, you can put the Evernote app on your home screen or iPhone Dock for quick access; a swipe-and-tap will then bring you into the Evernote interface as quickly as possible.

    • Evernote on iPhones using iOS 5 have two different methods of capturing dictated notes: You can record audio notes directly from the Evernote interface, which uploads to your Evernote storage, or use Apple's Siri dictation mechanism to dictate an email from within the Siri interface. Every Evernote account has a special email address to which you can email data directly to your Evernote storage; if you add it to your address book, you can tell Siri to send an email to Evernote, and then dictate the contents of the note without ever touching the iPhone's keyboard.

    • Evernote provides an API for other third-party application developers to post information directly to an Evernote account. This integration must be enabled by the app developer; Evernote maintains a list of iPhone apps that have Evernote integration on its website. In most cases, tapping the share button onscreen brings up the share dialog, and tapping the Evernote button posts the displayed information directly to Evernote.

    • Evernote has its own additional applications that work directly with your Evernote storage, such as Evernote Hello, which allows you to track people you meet by capturing a photo of them with your iPhone, then tagging the photo with other information. Evernote will automatically add location and time data to the photo; for example, if you meet a number of people at a working lunch, Evernote will automatically track when and where you met them. You can use audio notes or email dictation to add your own notes to these contacts, and Evernote can track acquaintances you don't know well enough to add to your address book.

    • Evernote automatically provides optical character recognition scanning to any photos you upload, and the iPhone camera is high-enough quality to act as a mobile scanner. If you have papers that you wish to save to your archive but don't want to carry them around, the Evernote app can take pictures of the text of each page. The original picture will be uploaded to your account, but Evernote also provides a searchable index of the text it can recognize on each page.

Read Next:

Source: http://www.ehow.com/info_12212791_evernote-tips-slider-iphone.html

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Saturday 24 December 2011

US rep apologizes to first lady on 'big butt' quip (AP)

MILWAUKEE ? Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner has apologized to first lady Michelle Obama for reportedly saying she has a "big butt."

Sensenbrenner's press secretary says the Republican sent the first lady a personal note and released a statement Thursday saying he regrets his "inappropriate comment."

Sensenbrenner's office would not release the note.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ( http://bit.ly/s1kBwP) reports Sensenbrenner referred to Michelle Obama's "big butt" while talking to church members at a Christmas bazaar at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church in Hartford earlier this month.

Church member Ann Marsh-Meigs told the newspaper that she heard Sensenbrenner's remarks. She said the 16-term congressman was speaking about the first lady's efforts to combat childhood obesity, and added, "And look at her big butt."

Michelle Obama's press office didn't immediately return a request for comment Thursday.

___

Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111222/ap_on_re_us/us_sensenbrenner_first_lady_apology

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Health Tip: Use Medications Safely (HealthDay)

(HealthDay News) -- If your child isn't feeling well and needs an over-the-counter medication recommended by your pediatrician, the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these safety guidelines:

  • Make sure the medicine treats only your child's symptoms, nothing more.
  • Make sure any caregivers know the correct timing, dosage and type of medication your child needs.
  • Always read the medication's label and follow directions carefully.
  • Keep medications stored in their original packaging, so you can easily refer to instructions.
  • Never give cough and cold medication to a child younger than age 4 or aspirin to anyone younger than age 18.
  • Don't combine medications unless your child's pediatrician says it's OK to do so.
  • Don't give any adult medication to a child.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/parenting/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20111223/hl_hsn/healthtipusemedicationssafely

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Friday 23 December 2011

ITC judge issues initial ruling that Motorola infringes Microsoft patent

Well, it's a busy holiday week for the International Trade Commission. The agency just announced an initial ruling that Motorola infringed on four claims of Microsoft patent number 6,370,566, which deals with "generating meeting requests and group scheduling from a mobile device," but not the six other patents that were part of last year's ITC complaint. This is an initial ruling by an administrative judge at this point, unlike yesterday's judgement issued by the ITC, which theoretically banned the sale and import of some HTC phones beginning in April 2012. There's certainly more to come in this particular intellectual property saga, however, so stay tuned.

Update: The spin cycle is on full blast, as Motorola has just issued a downright bizarre press release celebrating the fact that it was cleared on six of the seven patents. Evidently, that's enough for a mega-corp to holler "victory!"

Continue reading ITC judge issues initial ruling that Motorola infringes Microsoft patent

ITC judge issues initial ruling that Motorola infringes Microsoft patent originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Brad Smith (Twitter)  |  sourceAllThingsD, FOSS Patents, Motorola  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/itc-judge-issues-initial-ruling-that-motorola-infringes-microsof/

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Thursday 22 December 2011

Suspect in NYC torching charged with murder (AP)

NEW YORK ? A man accused of spraying gasoline on a 73-year-old woman and setting her ablaze in an elevator was charged Monday with murder and arson, appearing in court with the left side of his face blistered and burned, his upper lip swollen.

Jerome Isaac, 47, said nothing during the brief hearing in Brooklyn criminal court, where he was ordered held without bail in the death of Deloris Gillespie. His lawyer requested solitary confinement and medical attention but did not speak outside court.

Isaac was often seen at her apartment doing odd jobs, and told police he set her on fire because she owed him $2,000, authorities have said.

Isaac has no prior criminal record, but that does not mean he is not highly dangerous, Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Taub said. He told authorities where they could find the gasoline.

"I know this is the defendant's first offense, but the depravity of this particular single act is beyond my description," he said.

Surveillance video from the elevator shows Isaac dressed somewhat like an exterminator, holding a canister sprayer, wearing white gloves and with a dust mask atop his head. The sprayer was full of gasoline, prosecutors said.

According to the criminal complaint, Isaac doused Gillespie with gasoline as she stood in the elevator, which just opened to the fifth floor of her apartment building in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn. She crouched and cowered, grocery bags draped off her arms.

Isaac pulled out a barbecue-style lighter, authorities said, and used it to ignite a rag in a bottle. He waited a few seconds as Gillespie huddled on the floor. Then he backed out of the elevator and tossed the flaming bottle in, authorities said.

Gillespie died of burns and smoke inhalation, according to the criminal complaint.

Isaac fled the building, then went around the corner and set his brother's apartment door on fire, according to the complaint.

Visibly burned, Isaac then hid on a nearby rooftop in the winter cold for hours before he surrendered, reeking of gasoline, police said.

When Jaime Holguin, who lives on the same floor as Gillespie, saw surveillance pictures of the attacker he said, "Oh, my God!"

Holguin, the manager of news development for The Associated Press, said the man looked like someone who had lived with Gillespie for about six months last year and appeared to have been helping her out. After seeing post-arrest pictures of the suspect, Holguin was certain Isaac was the man who worked for Gillespie.

Gillespie's arrangement with Isaac appeared to have ended by early 2011, but months later Holguin started seeing the man nearby on the street, looking "a lot more disheveled" and pushing a cart full of aluminum cans.

Gillespie's funeral is planned for after Christmas, according to City Council member Letitia James, speaking on behalf of the family, which she said has requested privacy.

She had four children ? one daughter and three sons, according to James ? and regularly attended a Baptist church near her home.

Residents were evacuated and kept away from the six-story building for hours Saturday night as police investigated. On Sunday, the fifth floor was a mess, with a melted elevator door and a layer of water on the floor.

Holguin said he and his girlfriend had taken the elevator on their way out of the building shortly before the attack. They didn't see anyone on the floor with them but did notice an odd smell, as if someone was painting, he said.

Holguin said police told them later that the assailant was already in the building and perhaps had hidden on another floor when they left their apartment.

Isaac's next court date is Friday.

___

Associated Press writers Deepti Hajela and Colleen Long contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/crime/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111219/ap_on_re_us/us_woman_torched

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Monday 19 December 2011

Fran?ois Baroin,French Finance Minister and petulant political dwarf ...

December 17th, 2011 8:15

Fran?ois Baroin,French Finance Minister and petulant political dwarf

Under the threat of being downgraded by a rating agency, Fran?ois Baroin who was recently appointed to replace Christine Lagarde as French Finance Minister, came out with a typically arrogant remark , ? I would rather be French than British? , whilst expressing concern for the state of the British economy. It is useful to note that in the pecking order of European finance ministers , F.Baroin occupies the 15th rung of the ladder, which is not particularly flattering . His knowledge of the English language is patchy to say the least and so is his grasp of complex financial mechanisms. To make matters worse for big-mouthed Baroin, the real decisions at the Finance Ministry are taken by a certain Xavier Musca, a top-ranking civil servant and former head of the Treasury.Given his frequent outbursts and lack of depth , Monsieur Baroin fully deserves the ? political dwarf ? tag that many are prepared to place around his neck.

Source: http://my.telegraph.co.uk/gilmas1/gilmas1/16079565/francois-baroinfrench-finance-minister-and-petulant-political-dwarf/

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Sunday 18 December 2011

Fire damages home in SW Rochester (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/175540688?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Bachmann Strikes Back -- Gingrich Should Beware a Woman Scorned (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | It is not difficult to see that presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann does not appreciate fellow Republican candidate Newt Gingrich's pedagogic condescension toward her. And the former Speaker of the House might want to remember the old adage about a woman scorned. At the Fox News Iowa GOP Presidential Debate in Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday evening (Dec. 15), he attempted again to push the position that Bachmann was factually challenged. But, according to CNN, Bachmann refused to back away from the charge that Gingrich and his consulting firm are lobbyists -- no matter what he chooses to call what it is they actually do.

Bachmann, returning to the attack debate style she used that made a poll frontrunner in August, told the Iowa and national television audience, "You don't need to be within the technical definition of being a lobbyist to still be influence-peddling with senior Republicans in Washington, D.C., to get them to do your bidding."

Gingrich adopted his usual posture of pained professorialship and attempted to school Bachmann on the "facts." He said that with regard to his consultancy work, such as the $1.6 million he was paid by federal lender Freddie Mac a year before it became part of the mortgage meltdown, people like the Minnesota congresswoman "ought to have facts before they make wild allegations."

Bachmann -- after a dozen debates and listening to Gingrich's above-it-all comments concerning his GOP rivals, not to mention his condescending remarks where he once compared her to his fact-challenged students -- apparently had had enough of Gingrich's euphemism dancing and dismissive remarks. She retorted: "I think it's outrageous to continue to say over and over through the debate that I don't have my facts right when as a matter of fact I do. I'm a serious candidate for president of the United States. And my facts are accurate."

And her facts are indeed accurate. Gingrich is relying on the idea that Michele Bachmann's reputation for exaggeration, disingenuousness, and outright factually depleted statements and positions will gain him a pass on her continued reiteration that he was a lobbyist, a special interest fixer, an influence peddler. But even Bachmann does not exaggerate or commit falsehoods all the time, as can be attested by her Politifact scorecard, whereon she has scored several true, mostly true, and half true statements amid those where her comments have been found to be wanting in the truth department.

With all the political baggage from the 90s (government shutdown, ethics hearings, Ethics Committee sanctions) and his less-than-perfect personal life (mistresses, marriages to mistresses), Gingrich might want to push his ego aside and allow Bachmann to have her say without adding to the controversy. With each confrontation over his work as a consultant (read: lobbyist by any other name), the resulting stories allow for a re-examination of the millions of dollars Gingrich made since he left Congress. And although nobody begrudges him the right to make money, many do find fault in influence peddling and lobbying and the perception that lobbyists control far too much of the political action in Washington these days.

It is undoubtedly the reasoning behind attempting to squirm out from under the "lobbyist" label. And yet...

Scorning the three-term Minnesota congresswoman might not be the smart route to take in this matter, because call it whatever he likes (just because he nor his consultancy firm were never registered as lobbyists), his work after leaving Congress involved using his political connections to influence positions and votes. No, scorning the likes of someone like Rep. Bachmann will get you someone eager to bring you down -- with facts or without them.

After the debate, Bachmann's camp, according to CNN, continued the attack. Keith Nahigian, her campaign manager, painted Gingrich as a politician for hire. "I think that's what gets [Bachmann] really going - people who morph into different things, on different years, according to who's paying them and who's not paying them."

Currently, Newt Gingrich, according to the latest Gallup Poll, leads the GOP field for the Republican presidential nomination, 31 percent to 22 percent of his closest competitor, Mitt Romney.

Michele Bachmann placed fifth with 6 percent.

Regardless of her chances of winning the nomination, Bachmann just might be the candidate to bring Gingrich down from his lofty perch. And if he returns to the low poll numbers he enjoyed before his recent rise to the top, he might get some of that condescension served back to him. It will no doubt be a dish served cold.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111216/pl_ac/10695939_bachmann_strikes_back__gingrich_should_beware_a_woman_scorned

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Saturday 17 December 2011

PFT: Falcons say Smith 'feels fine'

Chicago Bears v Denver BroncosGetty Images

Well, I?m finally gaining some ground.

Not much, but some.

A stellar 14-2 weekend could have been 15-1, but for that late collapse by the Cowboys.? In that moment, a three-game win over Rosenthal slid to a one-game edge.

I?m nine back with three weeks to go. ?For the season, he?s 142-66.? I?m 133-75.

This week, we disagree on four games.? This is my last chance to make a push.

Hopefully, God likes me better than him.

Jaguars at Falcons

Florio?s take:? If the Falcons can?t beat the Jaguars, the Falcons have no shot at winning at New Orleans on December 26.? And if the Falcons can?t win at New Orleans on December 26, the Falcons won?t have to worry about another one-and-done performance in the playoffs.

Florio?s pick:? Falcons 31, Jaguars 16.

Rosenthal?s take: The Jaguars are back in prime time! Atlanta is a 10-point favorite, which seems crazy until you look at the state of the Jags. An undrafted rookie and journeyman will cover Roddy White and Julio Jones.? At wideout for Jacksonville: Chastin West and Jarrett Dillard. Interim coach Mel Tucker isn?t playing with a stacked deck.

Rosenthal?s pick: Falcons 28, Jaguars 13.

Cowboys at Buccaneers

Florio?s take:? The best way for Dallas to avoid blowing a close game late in the fourth quarter is to never allow it to be close in the fourth quarter.? If this one gets too out of hand, Tampa coach Raheem Morris could be the fourth coach to go before Christmas.

Florio?s pick:? Cowboys 34, Buccaneers 17.

Rosenthal?s take: The Bucs are slump busters. The Panthers defense couldn?t stop anyone, but they could stop the Bucs. Jacksonville?s offense couldn?t score on anyone, but they could score on Tampa. This game is exactly what Jason Garrett and the ?Boys need.

Rosenthal?s pick: Cowboys 40, Buccaneers 27.

Dolphins at Bills

Florio?s take:? Nothing takes the steam out of a team that is playing hard down the stretch to try to save its coach?s job than the coach losing his job.? The Bills end a six-game losing streak with their sixth, and likely last, win of the season.

Florio?s pick:? Bills 28, Dolphins 21.

Rosenthal?s take: It?s weird and a little sad that J.P. Losman?s status decides my pick. If Matt Moore is out, I like Buffalo. Bills fans will happily tell you not to bet on J.P. Losman in Buffalo. (Especially with Jake Long out.) If Matt Moore starts, I like the Dolphins. (Can we make conditional picks, Florio?)

Rosenthal?s pick: Dolphins 20, Bills 17.

Seahawks at Bears

Florio?s take:? If the Bears had Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, they?d be the clear pick to win.? But they don?t, and if they can?t beat the Chiefs at home without these key players, they?ll have a rough time handling an underrated Seahawks team.? The bell continues to toll for the Bears, whose only remaining hope will be to do to the Packers on December 25 what the Dolphins did to the Bears in 1985.

Florio?s pick:? Seahawks 14, Bears 7.

Rosenthal?s take: Bears fans swore Chicago could go 4-2 or 3-3 at worst with Caleb Hanie to close the season. They haven?t won a game yet. Seattle, meanwhile, has won four of five because of a physical defense and running game. After this game, the Seahawks will have a better chance to make the playoffs.

Rosenthal?s pick: Seattle 16, Bears 13.

Panthers at Texans

Florio?s take:? The Texans keep losing key components.? And the Texans just keep winning.? This one won?t be easy without defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, but the Texans simply continue to find a way.

Florio?s pick:? Texans 34, Panthers 24.

Rosenthal?s take: If Cam Newton and T.J. Yates faced off last year, Yates? team would not be favored by a touchdown. Things change quickly. The Texans are a defense tough enough to withstand the loss of their best pass rusher. They can survive losing their playcaller for a week or two.

Rosenthal?s pick: Texans 21, Panthers 17.

Titans at Colts

Florio?s take:? It?s time.? Call it a gut feeling.? Call it a hunch.? Call it clinical insanity.? But it?s time for the Colts to win a game.? Especially since this very well could be their last chance to avoid going 0-16 and getting everyone not named Jim Irsay fired.

Florio?s pick:? Colts 19, Titans 17.

Rosenthal?s take: The Colts look likely to face three straight rookie quarterbacks. Unfortunately, Jake Locker isn?t a huge downgrade from Matt Hasselbeck. The Titans offense is different with Locker, but not necessarily worse. The Titans are just mediocre enough to let the Colts make this interesting.

Rosenthal?s pick: Titans 24, Colts 21.

Packers at Chiefs

Florio?s take:? Interim coach Romeo Crennel could go a long way toward securing the permanent job by winning his first game.? He likely wishes Todd Haley had lasted one more week.

Florio?s pick:? Packers 35, Chiefs 10.

Rosenthal?s take: The Chiefs have enough secondary talent to give the Packers offense some issues. Kansas City certainly upgrades this week at quarterback with Kyle Orton. And that ends the portion of this preview where I try to convince myself this game will stay interesting.

Rosenthal?s pick: Packers 31, Chiefs 14.

Saints at Vikings

Florio?s take:? From epic NFC title game to overhyped season opener to Cornell-Hofstra slaughter.? Les Steckel gets closer and closer to getting off the hook.

Florio?s pick:? Saints 34, Vikings 14.

Rosenthal?s take: Drew Brees is peaking at the right time. The Vikings are peeking at the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.? This is the game where Brees makes sure he wins the yardage crown for the season.

Rosenthal?s pick: Saints 33, Vikings 17.

Redskins at Giants

Florio?s take:? After the Redskins beat the Giants in Week One, safety Antrell Rolle said that Washington would win five out of 100 games between the two teams.? More recently, Rolle dropped that number to one.? Though we?re not ready to agree with a 99-percent success rate, we?re comfortable with 50.

Florio?s pick:? Giants 28, Redskins 14.

Rosenthal?s take: A Giants? loss Sunday could make next week?s Jets-Giants game almost inconsequential. A win against the Redskins would guarantee Big Blue a ?win and in? scenario in Week 17 against Dallas. Washington is feisty, but they are one-win-in-seven-games feisty. Rex Grossman is just good enough to get you beat.

Rosenthal?s pick: Giants 33, Redskins 28.

Bengals at Rams

Florio?s take:? It won?t be easy to keep a young Bengals team focused and motivated after losing a heartbreaker to the Texans.? But the Bengals are playing the Rams.? The Rams.? Yes, the Rams.

Florio?s pick:? Bengals 34, Rams 14.

Rosenthal?s take: Despite winning seven games last year, the Rams are on pace to have the worst five-year run of any team in NFL history. Steve Spagnuolo coached the worst NFL team in 2009 and the second worst team this year. It may not be fair, but it?s hard to imagine any coach surviving that combination.

Rosenthal?s pick: Bengals 23, Rams 13.

Lions at Raiders

Florio?s take:? The Lions have struggled lately, but the Raiders have struggled more.? Neither team may make it to the postseason after promising starts, but the Lions have at least shown a recent ability to find a way to win.? Plus, while he?s not as dominant as he was in 2010, the return of Ndamukong Suh should help.? The ongoing absence of Darren McFadden doesn?t.

Florio?s pick:? Lions 24, Raiders 20.

Rosenthal?s take: These are two desperate teams that peaked too early. At least the Lions are getting players back: Ndamukong Suh, Kevin Smith, and cornerback Chris Houston all look likely to return for Detroit. The Raiders might get Denarius Moore back. The Lions win that trade.

Rosenthal?s pick: Lions 27, Raiders 24.

Browns at Cardinals

Florio?s take:? Though a little too late, the Cardinals have found their groove, regardless of whether Kevin Kolb or John Skelton is playing quarterback.? With a couple more wins, they?ll be one of the teams we?re all picking to make the playoffs in 2012.? The Browns, on the other hand, continue to be the Browns.

Florio?s pick:? Cardinals 30, Browns 17.

Rosenthal?s take: Skeltonmania is sweeping the nation. The Cardinals are 4-1 in the former Fordham quarterback?s games, winning insane, inexplicable games late in the fourth quarter. They are 2-5 without him. Skelton fever could last into the playoffs. I?d bet on a 9-7 team making the playoffs and the Cardinals should be 7-7 after this one.

Rosenthal?s pick: Cardinals 22, Browns 13.

Patriots at Broncos

Florio?s take:? The list of ?thou shalt nots? now includes a line regarding picking against Tim Tebow.? New England?s defense stinks, and Denver?s defense is good enough to keep it close.? If the Broncos keep it close, the guy who says God has spoken to him will overcome the once little-known sixth-round pick who possibly struck a deal with the devil.

Florio?s pick:? Broncos 24, Patriots 23.

Rosenthal?s take: The Patriots defense can barely slow down Grossmania, so Tim Tebow should have a big day. Tom Brady should be even better. There are weak spots in this Broncos? secondary that Brady can exploit, especially at safety. This result will test Florio?s Tebow man-crush.

Rosenthal?s pick: Patriots 31, Broncos 27.

Jets at Eagles

Florio?s take:? The Dream Team is waking up too late, but not late enough to crush the dreams of Team Rex.? And that will make next week?s Giants-Jets game even more intriguing.

Florio?s pick:? Eagles 27, Jets 23.

Rosenthal?s take: The Eagles won last week, but Michael Vick looked very rusty. The offensive line got pushed around. The Jets are not a defense you want to face when your passing game is out of synch and your line is not recognizing blitzes. The Dream should finally die for good, to the delight of many Eagles fans.

Rosenthal?s pick: Jets 22, Eagles 10.

Ravens at Chargers

Florio?s take:? The Ravens finally realize the connection between beating inferior foes and hosting home playoff games.? Chargers fans finally realize that they could have a new coach and G.M. in 2012.? Both could be very happy after Sunday night.

Florio?s pick:? Ravens 24, Chargers 17.

Rosenthal?s take: This is Norv?s last stand, and he has a shot to win. Philip Rivers? pinpoint accuracy returned the last two weeks. So did his pass protection. This is a dangerous game for the Ravens, but it?s hard to imagine Rivers? rag-tag linemen holding up against the Baltimore pass rush.

Rosenthal?s pick: Ravens 27, Chargers 24.

Steelers at 49ers

Florio?s take:? When the Steelers enter the red zone at Heinz Field, giant ketchup bottles unleash their contents onto the scoreboard.? When the 49ers get into the red zone on Monday night, the Steelers will be putting ketchup on Frank Gore?s legs and Alex Smith?s arm.

Florio?s pick:? Steelers 20, 49ers 13.

Rosenthal?s take: The Cowboys? 3-4 defense gave the 49ers problems. Baltimore?s 3-4 defense ate up the 49ers line. Arizona?s defense ? coordinated by former Steelers coach Ray Horton ? allowed two first downs to the 49ers in the second half last week. You see where I?m going with this one.

Rosenthal?s pick: Steelers 13, 49ers 10.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/15/falcons-deny-that-mike-smith-is-still-experiencing-chest-related-discomfort/related/

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Friday 16 December 2011

Engineering experts hit safety culture in BP spill (AP)

WASHINGTON ? BP and the oil industry drilling in the Gulf of Mexico lacked the proper safety attitude to handle the large risks of deep-water drilling, leading to the many bad decisions behind the nation's worst offshore spill, a panel of expert engineers said Wednesday.

Despite better safety practices, the experts worried that the improvements could fade without new steps. They pointed to NASA and how lessons the agency learned after the 1986 Challenger disaster eventually dimmed, leading to the 2003 Columbia disaster.

The report's release coincided with the government's announcement of the results of the first auction of offshore oil leases off the Gulf of Mexico since the April 2010 spill. They drew $337.7 million in winning bids for 191 tracts in the western Gulf off the coast of Texas. BP had the fourth most successful bids, 11 totaling $27.5 million, far behind ConocoPhillips' 75 winning bids.

The National Academy of Engineering, which advises the federal government, cited errors that combined to make the well platform explode and oil spill, but noted a problem with the safety culture underlying last year's 172 million gallon spill at BP's Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico.

"The industrial management involved with drilling the Macondo well had not adequately understood and coped with the system safety challenges presented by offshore drilling operations," the 136-page report said. "This raises questions about the industry's overall safety preparedness, the ability to handle the complexities of the deep-water operations, and industry oversight to approve and monitor well plans and operational practices and personnel competency and training."

That's a problem because the report called drilling in the Gulf's deep waters "some of the most complex and most risky ventures conducted by commercial enterprises."

Experts said a deficient safety culture led BP to rely on blowout preventers ? a 57-foot-tall, 400-ton system of well control devices ? as equipment that just couldn't fail.

The trouble is that even before the well blowout, "there were numerous warnings to both industry and regulators about potential failures of existing" blowout preventers, the report said. The report pointed to studies in 2001, 2002, 2004, and a 1999 well blowout and fire off the Louisiana coast.

"One needs to understand that they do not work all the time," said panel chairman Donald Winter, a former Navy secretary and engineering professor at the University of Michigan. BP and all the industry had "a misplaced confidence that the blowout preventer could provide a guarantee if you will, an insurance policy, against a blowout."

Panel member Roger McCarthy, a private engineering consultant who has investigated past oil spills, said blowout preventers are treated like drilling's circuit-breakers, but there's no safety group certifying them in the same that Underwriters Laboratories approves key electrical safety devices in homes.

Winter said the safety culture issue was apparent in the industry's attitude toward risks involved in drilling: Instead of acknowledging that there are risks and that industry officials need to make intelligent decisions comparing risk and business decisions, they had an unrealistic attitude that their actions never added risks.

Like other studies of the BP spill, the report highlighted several technical failures behind the disaster, with no lone cause. But Winter said the bad decision that was uppermost to him was the decision to abandon the well temporarily, which is normal, even though the cement poured in the well failed important pressure tests.

"Once they made the decision to basically disregard the tests," it set the chain-of-events for all that followed, Winter said.

In a statement, BP said it "has acknowledged its role in the accident and has taken concrete steps to further enhance safety and risk management throughout its global operations."

The experts do say drilling safety has improved in the Gulf of Mexico.

"We think it is indeed in fact a reasonable process to continue drilling at this point in time," Winter said at news conference. "But further improvements in safety can in fact be made and should be made."

The independence of the National Academy of Engineering means the report is likely to carry more weight in Congress than some of other investigations. Republican lawmakers have criticized prior reports by a presidential commission saying that the panel was biased.

A joint federal investigation also has inherent conflicts of interest because the committee was comprised of those who regulate the offshore drilling industry.

Since the disaster, the Obama administration has reorganized the offshore drilling agency and boosted safety regulations. But Congress has yet to pass a single piece of legislation to address safety gaps highlighted by the disaster. House Republicans, meanwhile, have passed bills to jump start offshore drilling.

___

Associated Press writer Dina Cappiello contributed to this report.

___

Online:

The National Academy of Engineering report: http://bit.ly/vQK3ai

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/environment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111214/ap_on_go_ot/us_gulf_oil_spill

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A Miracle Drug Keeps This 70-Year-Old Cancer Patient Running Marathons [Science]

Don Wright was diagnosed with myeloma—cancer in his blood cells and bone marrow—two weeks after running his first marathon. His doctor gave him a five-year survival estimate. Eight years later he has run 59 26.2-mile races in 41 states and takes just one pill per day to keep his cancer at bay. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/n-EnIf7AdO0/a-miracle-drug-keeps-this-70+year+old-cancer-patient-running-marathons

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Wednesday 7 December 2011

Romney opens up a bit more to media scrutiny (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney responded Tuesday to complaints that is shielding himself from media scrutiny, agreeing to more in-depth interviews and holding his third modest press availability in four days.

The former Massachusetts governor continues to favor the conservative-friendly Fox News Channel. But his campaign seemed eager to fend off critics' mockery of his frequent dodges of reporters and tough questioning.

Romney agreed to appear on "Fox News Sunday" on Dec. 18, his first national Sunday talk show in nearly two years. In Arizona, he fielded a few questions from national reporters, as he did on two occasions Saturday in New Hampshire.

"I'll be on Fox a lot, because you guys matter when it comes to Republican primary voters," Romney told Fox News' Neil Cavuto on Tuesday. His campaign let other reporters listen to the exchange without jumping in.

The change in tone comes as Romney allies express fears that he is overdoing his above-the-fray approach, just as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is rising in GOP polls. Republican insiders are divided on whether Romney should hit Gingrich harder. But in the wake of Romney's prickly responses in a Nov. 29 televised interview, there was wider agreement that he needs to show he can handle tough questions from political reporters.

"The lack of engagement strategy has served Romney pretty well," Rich Galen, a GOP strategist and former Gingrich aide who is neutral in the current race, said in an interview Tuesday, before Romney signaled his more open posture. "Now I think they've got to alter course and get him out there more."

Numerous Romney supporters had expressed concern over reports of him dodging reporters.

"It remains a mystery why Mitt Romney has done relatively few interviews," Jennifer Rubin, a conservative blogger for The Washington Post who often praises Romney, wrote on Monday. The much-discussed Nov. 29 Fox interview, she said, might have gone better "had it been one of dozens of TV interviews he'd given during the campaign. ... He's been the least interviewed candidate in the race."

In that 15-minute exchange with Fox News' Brett Baier, Romney bristled at questions about his changed views on abortion, climate change, immigration and gay rights, all of which are widely discussed in political circles.

Romney acknowledged rejecting his pro-abortion-rights stand of the 1990s, although he did not explain why. Otherwise, he told Baier, "Your list is just not accurate." Romney suggested the questions were inspired by "Democratic ads" that label him a serial flip-flopper.

Asked about his Massachusetts health initiative, which required residents to obtain medical insurance, Romney said he had answered the question "many hundred times." He added: "This is an unusual interview."

The questions were typical of those that many mainstream news organizations would ask, with no surprises or oddball queries. Except for Fox, which has several conservative hosts and is a favorite stop for GOP candidates, Romney rarely gives extended interviews to TV networks or national newspapers and news magazines.

Campaigning last Saturday in Manchester, N.H., Romney was surrounded by cheering fans as he took a few questions from reporters in the morning. Shortly after noon, on a quiet residential street, he fielded a few more. However, the day's only one-on-one interviews, which give reporters a chance to ask follow-up questions, were with Fox News and a TV station from Derry, N.H.

On Tuesday, Romney hinted he might slowly ramp up his criticism of Gingrich as he conducts more press availabilities.

"I will not be quiet," he told Cavuto. "Speaker Gingrich is a friend, respected. But we have very different life experiences."

Romney said Gingrich has spent the past 40 years or so in Washington, "working as an insider." Romney, whose only elected experience is four years as Massachusetts governor, says he would bring a more business-oriented, outside perspective.

Some party veterans urge Romney to be cautious. Bitter quarrels between politicians are "what people are sick and tired of," said Rep. Steve LaTourette, R-Ohio. "It would be disappointing if he all the sudden lit in to Gingrich, and if Gingrich lit into Romney."

LaTourette said he is backing Romney, partly because he has a "hangover" from Gingrich's tumultuous days as House speaker in the mid-1990s. "Everything always seemed to be on fire," he said.

Republican consultant Terry Holt also urged Romney to proceed carefully.

"It's important to protect your candidate's reputation and image," he said. Romney has a statesmanlike image, Holt said, and "I'd be very hesitant to sacrifice that with so much time on the clock."

As for in-depth interview programs, even some Democrats sympathize with Romney's reluctance.

"It's a half hour or 15 minutes of gotcha questions," said Chris Lehane, who helped Al Gore deal with the media in the 2000 presidential campaign. But that doesn't mean a serious candidate can skip such shows, or comparable interviews with major newspapers or magazines, Lehane said.

"You have to find a happy balance," he said, between protecting the candidate from gaffes and convincing voters that the contender is smart, prepared and capable.

If a candidate skips tough questions or handles them badly, Lehane said, voters will ask, "How are you going to deal with some significant crisis? These are fairly easy things compared to what you'll face as president."

Democrats happily distribute anecdotes of Romney evading journalists. They include a New York Times account of Romney being the only candidate expressing alarm at a reporter's presence backstage at last Saturday's GOP forum in New York.

Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said her candidate "has done thousands of interviews over the course of his career, and he'll do a lot more." He exposes himself to questions in town hall settings, televised debates and numerous videotaped interviews with newspaper editorial boards, Saul said.

___

Associated Press writers Laurie Kellman in Washington and Beth Fouhy in New York contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111207/ap_on_el_ge/us_romney

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Tuesday 6 December 2011

Just Show Me: How to burn a DVD or CD in Windows 7 (Yahoo! News)

RQ-170 (File Photo, via Aviation Weekly)

A day after the Pentagon acknowledged that an unmanned American reconnaissance drone went missing while on an operation in western Afghanistan late last week, Defense officials still smarting from the incident have come forward to dismiss Iranian claims that the drone was brought down by hostile activity. And American cyber experts similarly expressed skepticism over Iranian contentions that hackers based in Iran brought down the drone by penetrating its software or jamming its signals.

"The one thing I can tell you is we don't have any indications that the UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle], that we know we no longer have, was brought down by hostile activity of any kind," Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby told reporters at a Pentagon press briefing Monday otherwise short of many further details on the embarrassing incident, ABC News's Luis Martinez reported. "As it says in the statement, the controllers lost control and, without getting into specific details, I think we're comfortable stating that there's no indication of hostile activity."

Likewise, the reported contention made by some Iranian military officials that an Iranian cyber-warfare unit commandeered the drone strains credulity, cyber-security expert James Lewis said.

"Iran hacking into the drone is as likely as an Ayatollah standing on a mountain-top and using thought waves to bring it down," Lewis, a former Reagan administration official now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Yahoo News by email Monday. "The most likely explanation is that it crashed on its own."

"If you could hack into a drone, you wouldn't use it for some spontaneous fun, you'd save it for a rainy day," Lewis continued. "You'd need to be able to hack either the control network in the U.S. or a satellite.? Neither is easy, and both are probably not something the Iranians can do."Read More ?

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/techblog/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_technews/20111206/tc_yblog_technews/just-show-me-how-to-burn-a-dvd-or-cd-in-windows-7

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