Illegal drugs found taped to the body of a minor caught at the U.S. border. The teen was being used as a ?mule? by the Mexican drug cartels./NBC San Diego 7
NBC7 in San Diego reported that Mexican drug cartels are aggressively recruiting children and teens to smuggle drugs across the border. Federal authorities are alarmed at what appears to be an increase in children as young as 12 being used as drug mules.
Not only are the drug cartels using these children to traffic marijuana, but now increasingly the drug of choice is methamphetamine. Traditionally, drug cartels recruit the kids with tales of easy money and the taunt that as a minor, even if caught, the penalties would be inconsequential. The average mule makes between $75 and $300 for crossing the border with approximately 6 kilograms taped?to their bodies. And, if caught with heavy narcotics, like meth, these minors will end up with felonies on their criminal record, not just a slap on the wrist.
The drug cartels are recruiting children outside schools and malls and reaching teens by using social media. In 2011, records show 190 children (ages 18 and under) were caught smuggling drugs along the?San Diego County-Mexico border.
This border sector includes over 7,000 square miles including 60 linear miles of international boundary with Mexico and 114 coastal border miles along the Pacific Ocean patrolled by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). Directly south of San Diego lie the Mexican cities of Tijuana and Tecate, Baja California, which have a combined population of more than four and a half million people.
?The drug cartels? shift to using kids and teens as a high reward, low risk method of trafficking drugs across our nation?s border is something hard for most Americans to imagine, unless you know how violent, ruthless, and amoral the cartels are,? said U.S. Border Security Council National Spokesman Steve LeBlanc. ?Our country?s border security is under fire as never?before with some of our nation?s?most precious resources ? our children ? caught in the crosshairs.?
U.S. Border Security Council is a national grassroots advocacy group, which the IRS has determined to be tax-exempt under the provisions of Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. You can reach organization by mail at P.O. Box 96197, Washington, DC 20090 or by email at info@usbordersecurity.info
How stars look young when they're not: The secret of aging wellPublic release date: 21-Dec-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Barbara K. Kennedy science@psu.edu 814-863-4682 Penn State
The aging of star clusters is linked more with their lifestyle than with how old they actually are, according to a new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope study coauthored by Steinn Sigurdsson, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State. "Our observations of star clusters have shown us that, although they all formed over ten billion years ago, some of them are still young at heart," Sigurdsson said. "We now can see how fast the clusters are racing toward their final collapse. It is as if each cluster has its own internal clock, some of which are ticking slower than others." Sigurdsson is a Penn State theorist working in collaboration with the European Research Council's Cosmic-Lab project. The study is published in the current issue of the journal Nature.
Globular clusters are spherical collections of stars, tightly bound to each other by their mutual gravity. The roughly 150 globular clusters in the Milky Way contain many of our galaxy's oldest stars. These 12-to-13 billion-year-old relics of the early universe are nearly as old as the Big Bang. "Although these clusters all formed billions of years ago, we wondered whether some clusters might be aging faster or slower than others," said Francesco Ferraro of the University of Bologna in Italy, the leader of the team that made the discovery. "By studying the distribution of a type of blue star that exists in the clusters, we found that some clusters had indeed evolved much faster over their lifetimes, and we developed a way to measure the rate of their aging."
Star clusters form in a short period of time, so all the stars within them tend to have roughly the same age. Because bright, high-mass stars burn up their fuel quite quickly, and globular clusters are very old, the clusters should contain only low-mass stars within them. But Sigurdsson and his colleagues discovered that, in certain circumstances, stars can be given a new burst of life. "Stars can receive extra fuel that bulks them up and substantially brightens them if one star pulls matter off a neighbor, if two neighboring stars merge together, or if two stars collide," Sigurdsson said.
These reinvigorated stars have a large mass and high brightness. They are called blue stragglers because they are blue in color and their evolution lags behind that of their neighbors. Blue stragglers are the only stars that combine high mass and high brightness within clusters.
Heavier stars sink like sediment toward the center of a cluster as the cluster ages. The high-mass blue stragglers are strongly affected by this process, and their brightness makes them relatively easy for astronomers to observe. To better understand cluster aging, the team mapped the location of blue-straggler stars in 21 globular clusters, as seen in images from the Hubble Space Telescope, the European Southern Observatory's MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope, the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope, and the Subaru Telescope of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. Hubble provided high-resolution imagery of the crowded centers of 20 of the clusters, while images from ground-based telescopes gave a wider view of their less-busy outer regions.
Analyzing the observational data, the team found that a few clusters appeared young, with blue-straggler stars distributed throughout, while a larger group appeared old, with the blue stragglers clumped in the center. A third group was in the process of aging, with the stars closest to the core migrating inwards first, then stars ever further out progressively sinking towards the center.
"Since these clusters all formed at roughly the same time, this study reveals big differences in the speed of evolution from cluster to cluster," said Barbara Lanzoni at the University of Bologna, a co-author of the study. "In the case of fast-aging clusters, we think that the sedimentation process can be complete within a few hundred million years, while for the slowest it would take several times the current age of the universe."
As a cluster's heaviest stars sink into the center, it eventually experiences a phenomenon called core collapse, where the center of the cluster bunches together extremely densely. The processes leading toward core collapse are rather well understood, and revolve around the number, density and speed of movement of the stars. However, the rate at which they happen was not known until now. "This study provides the first evidence, based totally on data from observations, of how quickly different globular clusters age," Sigurdsson said.
###
Funding to Penn State for this research is provided by the Space Science Telescope Institute.
[ Barbara K. Kennedy ]
IMAGES
High-resolution images associated with this research are online at http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2012-news/Sigurdsson-12-2012
CONTACTS
Steinn Sigurdsson at Penn State University: (+1) 814-863-6038, steinn@astro.psu.edu
Barbara Kennedy (Penn State PIO): (+1) 814-863-4682, science@psu.edu
Francesco Ferraro at the University of Bologna: (+39) 051-209-5774, francesco.ferraro3@unibo.it
Barbara Lanzoni at the University of Bologna: (+39) 051-209-5792, barbara.lanzoni3@unibo.it
[ | 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.
How stars look young when they're not: The secret of aging wellPublic release date: 21-Dec-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Barbara K. Kennedy science@psu.edu 814-863-4682 Penn State
The aging of star clusters is linked more with their lifestyle than with how old they actually are, according to a new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope study coauthored by Steinn Sigurdsson, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State. "Our observations of star clusters have shown us that, although they all formed over ten billion years ago, some of them are still young at heart," Sigurdsson said. "We now can see how fast the clusters are racing toward their final collapse. It is as if each cluster has its own internal clock, some of which are ticking slower than others." Sigurdsson is a Penn State theorist working in collaboration with the European Research Council's Cosmic-Lab project. The study is published in the current issue of the journal Nature.
Globular clusters are spherical collections of stars, tightly bound to each other by their mutual gravity. The roughly 150 globular clusters in the Milky Way contain many of our galaxy's oldest stars. These 12-to-13 billion-year-old relics of the early universe are nearly as old as the Big Bang. "Although these clusters all formed billions of years ago, we wondered whether some clusters might be aging faster or slower than others," said Francesco Ferraro of the University of Bologna in Italy, the leader of the team that made the discovery. "By studying the distribution of a type of blue star that exists in the clusters, we found that some clusters had indeed evolved much faster over their lifetimes, and we developed a way to measure the rate of their aging."
Star clusters form in a short period of time, so all the stars within them tend to have roughly the same age. Because bright, high-mass stars burn up their fuel quite quickly, and globular clusters are very old, the clusters should contain only low-mass stars within them. But Sigurdsson and his colleagues discovered that, in certain circumstances, stars can be given a new burst of life. "Stars can receive extra fuel that bulks them up and substantially brightens them if one star pulls matter off a neighbor, if two neighboring stars merge together, or if two stars collide," Sigurdsson said.
These reinvigorated stars have a large mass and high brightness. They are called blue stragglers because they are blue in color and their evolution lags behind that of their neighbors. Blue stragglers are the only stars that combine high mass and high brightness within clusters.
Heavier stars sink like sediment toward the center of a cluster as the cluster ages. The high-mass blue stragglers are strongly affected by this process, and their brightness makes them relatively easy for astronomers to observe. To better understand cluster aging, the team mapped the location of blue-straggler stars in 21 globular clusters, as seen in images from the Hubble Space Telescope, the European Southern Observatory's MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope, the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope, and the Subaru Telescope of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. Hubble provided high-resolution imagery of the crowded centers of 20 of the clusters, while images from ground-based telescopes gave a wider view of their less-busy outer regions.
Analyzing the observational data, the team found that a few clusters appeared young, with blue-straggler stars distributed throughout, while a larger group appeared old, with the blue stragglers clumped in the center. A third group was in the process of aging, with the stars closest to the core migrating inwards first, then stars ever further out progressively sinking towards the center.
"Since these clusters all formed at roughly the same time, this study reveals big differences in the speed of evolution from cluster to cluster," said Barbara Lanzoni at the University of Bologna, a co-author of the study. "In the case of fast-aging clusters, we think that the sedimentation process can be complete within a few hundred million years, while for the slowest it would take several times the current age of the universe."
As a cluster's heaviest stars sink into the center, it eventually experiences a phenomenon called core collapse, where the center of the cluster bunches together extremely densely. The processes leading toward core collapse are rather well understood, and revolve around the number, density and speed of movement of the stars. However, the rate at which they happen was not known until now. "This study provides the first evidence, based totally on data from observations, of how quickly different globular clusters age," Sigurdsson said.
###
Funding to Penn State for this research is provided by the Space Science Telescope Institute.
[ Barbara K. Kennedy ]
IMAGES
High-resolution images associated with this research are online at http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2012-news/Sigurdsson-12-2012
CONTACTS
Steinn Sigurdsson at Penn State University: (+1) 814-863-6038, steinn@astro.psu.edu
Barbara Kennedy (Penn State PIO): (+1) 814-863-4682, science@psu.edu
Francesco Ferraro at the University of Bologna: (+39) 051-209-5774, francesco.ferraro3@unibo.it
Barbara Lanzoni at the University of Bologna: (+39) 051-209-5792, barbara.lanzoni3@unibo.it
[ | 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.
Sending my thanks to Saleema Nawaz at Metaphysical Conceit for tagging me in this very fun meme for writers, ?The Next Big Thing? about a work-in-progress.
Saleema?s post about her forthcoming novel?Bone and Bread?is so enormously intriguing that I very much wish her novel was out already so I could buy it for myself and for all the readers in my life ? and not just the women ? for Christmas. Though I admit to immediately thinking ?My mom, my sister, my sister-in-law, and Myriam all have to read this novel.? I?m sure of it and I haven?t even read it yet. So Saleema clearly gives very good meme.
Bone and Bread, I learned, is?about sisters; that sibling relationship I?m often approaching and then rapidly retreating from in much of my work over the years. For the purpose of this meme I?ll be discussing my first script that features two sisters as a dual protagonist, whereas I usually banish one sister to the margins to inform and inflect the protagonist.
And yes, because I?m a screenwriter and not a novelist, I?m adapting this meme for my medium.
1. What is the working title of your screenplay?
11 Things I Learned About Tokyo by Watching J-Doramas. Which is a nightmare of a working title because it?s too long to sell, as it is too long to even speak casually in conversation, or even to type at the top of my development notes. With my colleagues it?s come to be known as The Tokyo Script or sometimes simply J-Dorama.
2. Where did the idea for the screenplay come from?
My sister and I had been inseparable all my life, and then we drifted apart for much of my early-to-mid twenties. She had nestled comfortably into a long-term relationship in the suburbs while I pursued graduate studies in the city. On the increasingly rare occasions on which we did speak, she would mention these Japanese drama series she was hooked on. Even though they didn?t initially interest me in the least, I began watching them as way of trying to bridge the gap between my sister and I so we could have something to chat about easily and comfortably.
I finally became smitten with (read: addicted to) these shows, and before too long my sister and I were on a JAL flight to Tokyo, even though neither of us knew anything about the city apart from what we?d learned by watching these Japanese primetime soap operas. I had become so accustomed to hearing the language while reading subtitles that on some level my brain was tricked into the thinking I actually understood Japanese.
3. What genre does your screenplay fall under?
Comedy. There are romantic elements at play, too, but only as subplots.
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
In my case it is a movie so this is something I have to think about on a fairly regular basis.
Charlize Theron as the failed actress.
Maggie Gyllenhaal as the separated law professor.
Hiro Mizushima, very appropriately, as a big J-Dorama star. He also happens to speak beautiful English, which helps.
Mark Ruffalo as the bored and grungy American news correspondent.
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your screenplay?
This never gets easier, does it?
Ok here goes (*taking a deep breath*):
Two sisters, a failed actress and a newly separated law professor, flee Montreal to Tokyo where, they?ve learned from TV, their North Americanness, their legginess, and their eccentricity will be praised and embraced; their latent value recognized at last.
*gasping for air*
See what happens when you guys make me write it in one sentence? Geez.
6. Will your script be self-produced or represented by an agency?
All my work is represented by Omada. This is one of my few scripts (at the moment) that I?m trying to bring to a polished draft on spec, and we?ll see where we can find a home for it later. This idea has been brewing for a few years and already there?s been a lot of interest in it. But for now I want to develop it further before anyone else gets involved, apart from my agent and my trusty consultant.
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your screenplay?
I haven?t finished. I have a treatment and some scenes, character outlines, notes, etc. I want to go back to Tokyo and do some more research, actually. The writing of this script came to a halt after the earthquake and tsunami a couple of?years?ago, and I?ve been inundated with commissions in the meantime. In recent months I?m carving out time for my spec-writing and this one is finally progressing again. But the trip with my sister to Tokyo was in 2009, I think. So three years, ongoing. I actually write very quickly but it?s common for me to leave a couple of years between spec idea and spec execution. Gotta let it simmer. And gotta write the six-to-eight features I?m getting paid to write. Momma?s got bills to pay.
8. What other films would you compare this story to within your genre?
I think it?s similar in tone and register to?Silver Linings Playbook, and similar in aesthetic and universe to?Stranger Than Fiction (save for the magic realism). It?s difficult to transplant two crisis-ridden North Americans in Tokyo without?immediately?recalling?Lost in Translation but, as much as I love (love, love) that film, this is written in a very different style.
9. Who or what inspired you to write this screenplay?
I did, I guess. And my sister. And the following Japanese dramas:?Hana Yori Dango, Kimi Wa Petto, Zettai Kareshi. And the Korean drama?The First Shop of Coffee Prince.?
I?m really drawn to narratives about people who struggle to distinguish between fiction and reality. I wrote my Masters thesis about it, and it?s a trope that keeps rearing its head in my work. In this case we have one character more than the other who is actually trying to transplant herself in a world she only knows by its fictional representations (and soap operas, at that).
The other character gets at one of my newer preoccupations, the idea of distance as valuable. The husband from whom she?s separated, during their marriage, lived across the street. It seemed the only distance from which she could be loved and accepted ? never up-close. And in response to her separation she flies across the world, and her marriage, from this even greater distance, looks very different. I?ve always said that my ideal husband would live across the street, and I often joke that, as a woman and a partner, I?m good-looking from far, but far from good-looking. I?m really invested in finding the right distance/closeness with the right people, and these preoccupations play out in an interesting way in this story. The ways in which we can?t move away from something without inevitably moving toward something else, and whether we?re simply moving toward the same patterns and behaviours we?re trying to shed, or whether we?re moving to something altogether different.
10. What else about your screenplay might pique the audience?s interest?
Women behaving badly. I think we need to see more of that.
?
Ok there you have it! Thanks, Saleema!
Now it?s time to tag fellow writers-slash-bloggers who haven?t done this yet. So, I?m gonna tag playwright and former classmate Elise at Around the World in 80 Plays, and fellow screenwriter Alex at Complications Ensue. Join in, if you?re feeling it! ?Here are the questions:
1. What is the working title of your book? 2. Where did the idea for the book come from? 3. What genre does your book fall under? 4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? 5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? 6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? 7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? 8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? 9. Who or what inspired you to write this book? 10. What else about your book might pique the reader?s interest?
XDA Developers was founded by developers, for developers. It is now a valuable resource for people who want to make the most of their mobile devices, from customizing the look and feel to adding new functionality. Are you a developer?
Download the XDA Android App
Get the XDA forums on your Android Device.
More Info
Contact Us
Suggest Content
Privacy Policy
RSS
Be Social
Copyright? xda-developers. ? Powered by Searchlight ? 2012 Axivo Inc.
While it is doubtful that states approve gay marriage in order to collect more taxes, those that do will likely see a significant bump in revenue as a result. The Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy at UCLA notes that of the 646,464 same-sex couples in the United States, ?only about 50,000? have married. It estimates that ?extending marriage to same-sex couples in Maine, Maryland, and Washington State will generate over $166 million in wedding spending in the first three years.?
Gay marriage, civil union, or domestic partnership is now legal or recognized in sixteen states and the District of Columbia. Same-sex marriage was approved by popular vote in Maryland, Washington State and Maine last November. It is legal in Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. Civil unions or domestic partnerships are recognized in California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, and Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
Although same-sex partnerships are not legal in the remaining states, some people think the tide is turning in favor of gay marriage. Even former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who once stridently opposed same-sex marriage, recently acknowledged that homosexuality ?is in every family. It is in every community.? He said that ?the reality is going to be that in a number of American states ? and it will be more after 2014 ? gay relationships will be legal, period.?
Last summer, a headline in CNN Money announced, ?Gay marriage boosts NYC?s economy by $259 million in first year.? The article went on to report that the economic lift was a result of ?marriage license fees, local celebrations and wedding-related purchases? .? That?s easy to see, since more than 8,200 same-sex marriage licenses were issued during the course of one year. CNN referenced a national survey of gay and straight newlyweds in noting that ?[s]ame-sex couples spent an average $9,039 on their weddings, while 31% spent $10,000 or more? .? That money is spent on lodging, wedding announcements, wedding favors, rings, and all the other usual wedding accoutrements and accessories. Those spendings generate sales tax revenues.
That additional spending ?will be good for business, boost state and local tax revenues, and create new jobs?? according to Lee Badget, Williams Institute Research Director. These estimates do not include same-sex couples who are already married or registered as domestic partners, since such ?couples may already have had a wedding or may spend less if they have already registered.?
On December 6, gay couples in Washington lined up to be among the first to legally marry in the state. Gay couples are planning to do the same on December 29 in Maine, if city offices are open for them (December 29 is a Saturday, but some city halls may open to mark the occasion). Gay marriage becomes legal in Maryland on January 1, 2013.
This September, Sony disrupted the point-and-shoot market with the announcement of a full-frame compact model -- the $2,800 Cyber-shot RX1. On the same day, the company shared news of its first full-frame HD video camera, the NEX-VG900, representing Sony's third imaging product line to pack the 35mm chip. Now, it looks like the Japanese electronics giant is fast approaching the industry's final frontier, with rumored plans to launch a full-frame mirrorless model in late 2013 or early 2014. Sony Alpha Rumors has reportedly confirmed the news with multiple sources, adding that the TBD model has reached the "final stage of development," and that a 24-megapixel and 30+ MP prototype are currently undergoing testing.
The camera is expected to be slightly larger than the NEX-7, and should include a native E-mount, with A-mount lens compatibility (for full-frame shooting) to be offered as well. We've reached out to Sony for confirmation, but, considering that the rumored product is a year or so out, we don't expect a reply. Still, based on the company's recent announcements, a full-frame mirrorless ILC doesn't seem so far-fetched, and we can't think of a better manufacturer to take on such a project than Sony.
Next-Gen Communications Satellite Arrives at Kennedy (Video)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. ? For almost 30 years, the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) spacecraft have provided a reliable communications network for NASA, serving numerous national and international space missions. The TDRS fleet is a space-based communication system used to provide tracking, telemetry, command, and high bandwidth data return services. The satellites provide in-flight communications with spacecraft operating in low-Earth orbit. It has been 10 years since NASA?s last TDRS launch.
NASA?s newest Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, known as TDRS-K, arrived Tuesday at the agency?s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in preparation for a Jan. 29 launch. TDRS-K arrived aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 from the Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems assembly facility in El Segundo, Calif.
In this photo technicians and engineers are completing final system checks and spacecraft inspections on the first of NASA?s third-generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellites at Boeing?s satellite assembly facility in El Segundo, Calif., prior to shipment to Cape Canaveral, Fla. ? Boeing
?This launch will provide even greater capabilities to a network that has become key to enabling many of NASA?s scientific discoveries,? says Jeffrey Gramling, project manager for TDRS at NASA?s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
TDRS-K will launch to geostationary orbit aboard an Atlas V rocket. The spacecraft is the first of three next-generation satellites designed to ensure vital operational continuity for NASA by expanding the lifespan of the fleet. The launch of TDRS-L is scheduled for 2014 and TDRS-M in 2015.
A NASA Informational Video About The TDRS Program
Each of the new satellites has a higher performance solar panel design to provide more spacecraft power. This upgrade will return signal processing for the S-Band multiple access service to the ground ? the same as the first-generation TDRS spacecraft. Ground-based processing allows TDRS to service more customers with different and evolving communication requirements.
The TDRS fleet began operating during the space shuttle era and provides critical communication support from several locations in geostationary orbit to NASA?s human spaceflight endeavors, including the International Space Station. The fleet also provides communications support to an array of science missions, as well as various types of launch vehicles. Of the nine TDRS satellites launched, seven are still operational, although four are already beyond their design life. Two have been retired. The second TDRS was lost in 1986 during the space shuttle Challenger accident.
The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite 4 (TDRS-4) recently completed almost 23 years of operations support and successfully completed end-of-mission de-orbit and decommissioning activities. TDRS-4?s operational life span was well beyond its original 10-year design. ? Boeing
NASA?s Space Communications and Navigation Program, part of the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at the agency?s Headquarters in Washington, is responsible for the TDRS network. NASA?s Launch Services Program at Kennedy is responsible for launch management. United Launch Alliance provides the Atlas V rocket launch service.
Tags: communication satellites, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, NASA, outer space, Satellites, Space, Space Communications and Navigation Program, space communications systems, space news, spacecraft, TDRS
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, December 18th, 2012 at 11:52 am and is filed under News.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic Sen. Pat Leahy of Vermont has been sworn in as president pro tempore of the Senate.
?
As the longest-serving Democrat now in the Senate, Leahy moves to third place in the line of presidential succession, behind Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner
?
Biden swore Leahy in Tuesday as the successor to Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye in the Senate post. Inouye, who also chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee, died Monday at age 88. A vase of white roses was on Inouye's desk on the Senate floor.
?
Leahy also is in line to succeed Inouye as chairman of the appropriations panel. The 72-year-old Leahy currently is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
?
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
On his show, Comedian Rodney Perry covers arts and entertainment, everything from comedy and politics to music and acting, with his signature comedic slant.
MashUp Radio is a 30-minute podcast that discusses the fusion of technology, life, culture and science. Host Peter Biddle, engineer and executive for Intel?s Atom Software, dishes up a thought-provoking discussion.
Joy Keys provides her listeners with insight to improve their lives mentally, physically, monetarily and emotionally. Past guests on the show have included Meshell Nedegeocello, Blair Underwood, in addition to an impressive list of CEOs, humanitarians and authors.
Host Barry Moltz gets small businesses unstuck. He has founded and run small businesses with a great deal of success and failure for more than 15 years. This is a business radio show where he shares all the craziness of small business. It?s that craziness that actually makes it exciting, interesting and totally unpredictable.
The Bottom Line Sports Show is hosted by former NBA stars Penny Hardaway, Charles Oakley, Mateen Cleaves. Tune in to get the inside scoop on what's happening in sports today.
Deepak Chopra Radio provides an online forum for compelling and thought provoking conversations on success, love, sexuality and relationships, well-being and spirituality.
Hits Radio covers basketball, sports culture and entertainment with past guests including Jason Kidd, Robin Lundberg and Chris Herren.
Listeners get an earful on The Halli Casser-Jayne Show, Talk Radio for Fine Minds. Whether it?s the current political cocktail or the latest must-read award-winning book, Halli tackles all topics and likes to stir ? and sometimes shakes ? things up.
Official Internet radio show of forthcoming epic paranormal investigation book by Eric Olsen and "Haunted Housewife" Theresa Argie.
Award-winning World Footprints is a leading voice in socially responsible travel and lifestyle. Hosts Ian & Tonya celebrate culture and heritage and bring a unique voice to the world of travel.
Football Reporters Online is a group of veteran football experts in the fields of coaching, scouting, talent evaluation, and writing/broadcasting/media placement. Combined, the group brings well over 100 years of expertise in sports.
Host John Martin interviews the nation's leading entrepreneurs and small biz experts to educate small business owners on how to be successful. Past guests have included Emeril Lagasse and Guy Kawasaki.
The Movie Geeks share their passion for the art through interviews with the stars of and creative minds behind your favorite flicks and pay tribute to big-screen legends. From James Cameron and Francis Ford Coppola to Ellen Burstyn and Robert Duvall, The Geeks have got'em all.
Sylvia Global presents global conversations pertaining to women, wealth, business, faith and philanthropy. Sylvia has interviewed an eclectic mix from CEOs and musicians to fashion designers and philanthropists including Randolph Duke and Ne-Yo.
Seasoned entertainment reporter Robin Milling gets up close and personal with the world's most compelling celebs. From Michael Douglas to Katie Holmes to Kevin Kline to Ashley Judd to America Ferrera, she sits down in person each week with each and every A-lister.
Mr. Media host Bob Andelman goes one-on-one with the hottest, most influential minds from the worlds of film, TV, music, comedy, journalism and literature. That means A-listers like Kirk Douglas, Christian Slater, Kathy Ireland, Rick Fox, Chris Hansen and Jackie Collins.
Paula Begoun, best-selling author of Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, separates fact from fiction on achieving a radiant, youthful complexion at any age. She?s regularly joined by health and beauty experts who offer the latest on keeping your skin in tip-top shape.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Pitcher John Lannan and the Philadelphia Phillies have finalized a $2.5 million, one-year contract.
The 28-year-old lefty was 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA in six starts for the NL East-champion Washington Nationals this year. He also made 24 starts for Triple-A Syracuse, going 9-11 with a 4.30 ERA.
Lannan's deal includes performance incentives. He gets $200,000 each for 150, 160, 170, 180 and 190 innings, $250,000 each for 200 and 210 innings and $250,000 for 31-34 starts.
Lannan is 42-52 with a 4.01 ERA in 134 games - all starts - in six seasons for Washington. He was 3-13 with a 5.53 ERA against Philadelphia, 39-39 with a 3.80 ERA against the rest of the majors.
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
advertisement
Chris Trotman / Getty Images file
HBT: Jays, Mets finalize 7-player?Dickey trade
HBT: R.A. Dickey passed his physical, clearing the final hurdle for his trade to Toronto. Here?s the official transaction: Blue Jays acquire RHP R.A. Dickey, C Josh Thole and C Mike Nickeas from the Mets for C Travis d?Arnaud, C John Buck, RHP Noah Syndergaard and OF Wuilmer Becerra.
What do Jesuit priests, gin and tonics, and ancient Chinese scrolls have in common? They all show up in our animated history of malaria.
It's a story of geopolitical struggles, traditional medicine, and above all, a war of escalation between scientists and a tiny parasite. Malaria has proved to be a wily foe: Every time we think we have it backed into a corner, it somehow escapes.
Over the next several days, NPR's Science Desk will be sharing stories about malaria. We'll hear about drug resistance cropping up on Thailand's border, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention's antimalarial efforts here in the United States, and a woman who raises mosquitoes on her own blood.
But for now, take a look at our video (which is made entirely with historical photos and illustrations). You'll travel from inside the human body to 17th-century Peru to the battlefields of the Vietnam War ? in under three minutes!
Denver Broncos running back Jacob Hester to lifted into the air my teammate tackle Orlando Franklin after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Denver Broncos running back Jacob Hester to lifted into the air my teammate tackle Orlando Franklin after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning reacts to a touchdown by running back Jacob Hester during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker, left, is knocked out of bounds just short of a touchdown by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith during the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno is stopped by Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, top, and defensive back James Ihedigbo, bottom during the first half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker pulls in a touchdown pass as Baltimore Ravens cornerback Cary Williams looks on during the second half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
BALTIMORE (AP) ? The Denver Broncos are gathering momentum and confidence as they head toward another trip to the playoffs.
And the Baltimore Ravens? Well, after three straight defeats, they're running out of time to right themselves as they stagger to the finish of what was once a very promising regular season.
The Broncos (11-3) rolled to their ninth straight victory Sunday, using a 98-yard interception return by Chris Harris to build a 17-point halftime lead en route to a surprisingly easy 34-17 victory.
The win was especially satisfying for the Broncos because it came without Peyton Manning putting up spectacular numbers. Manning went 17 for 28 for 204 yards and a touchdown.
The defense, however, dominated a Baltimore attack run by Jim Caldwell, whose debut as an NFL offensive coordinator was a dud. The Ravens finished with 56 yards rushing, including a meager 38 from Ray Rice on 12 carries.
"We shut the run down," nose tackle Justin Bannan said. "We set the tone in the first half and kind of went from there."
This was supposed to be a test for Denver, which was 0-5 in Baltimore and was eager to defeat a quality opponent on the road. Given the result, the Broncos aced the exam.
"To come in here and get a win like this against the Baltimore Ravens, that doesn't happen," Bannan said. "I'm very proud of our team."
The biggest play of the game was turned in by Harris, whose pivotal interception return occurred in the closing seconds of the first half. At the time, the Ravens (9-5) appeared poised to close to 10-7. Instead, Baltimore left the field at halftime down by 17.
Game over.
"You come to the Ravens' house and beat them handily, it's definitely a statement game," Harris said. "We definitely wanted to show to everybody that we're an elite team."
And what are the Ravens? After a 9-2 start, Baltimore has lost three straight overall for the first time since 2009 and two in a row at home for the first time since December 2007.
The Ravens clinched a playoff berth as a wild-card team when Pittsburgh lost to Dallas on Sunday night. Baltimore hopes to begin its fifth straight postseason run as AFC North champions, a feat that can be accomplished with one win in the last two games.
For that to happen, the Ravens must improve.
"We either put it on our shoulders, get it fixed, or we'll weed ourselves out like the other teams in the league," Rice said.
The Ravens' offense was playing its first game under Caldwell, who replaced the fired Cam Cameron. Baltimore sputtered in the first half, gaining only 119 yards and committing two turnovers that led to 10 Denver points.
It was 31-3 in the fourth quarter before Flacco threw touchdown passes of 31 and 61 yards to tight end Dennis Pitta. Flacco went 20 for 40 for 254 yards, lost a fumble and threw an interception.
"All we can do is put this one behind us and realize what we have ahead of us," Pitta said. "We still have an opportunity to win the division. We've just got to get back to work. We're going to get it done."
Perhaps, but a rash of injuries and defeats isn't doing much for the team's confidence.
"We're a 9-5 football team and we feel like we're 0-14 right now," Flacco said.
Baltimore's previous two defeats were by three points apiece. This one wasn't even close, and the stadium was near empty in the middle of the fourth quarter.
"As a player, I am embarrassed for our city," safety Ed Reed said.
Denver, on the other hand, hasn't lost since Oct. 7, at New England. The AFC West champions, who can still capture the top seed in the conference, finish with home games against Cleveland and Kansas City.
"We just try to get better every week," coach John Fox insisted. "We're not measuring ourselves right now. We need to measure ourselves at the end to be the best."
Baltimore's first offensive series under Caldwell lasted three plays and ended as Flacco fumbled on a third-and-1 plunge and the Broncos recovered at the Denver 47, which led to a 27-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
In the first quarter, Baltimore totaled 21 yards on 12 plays, punted three times and lost a fumble.
Denver went up 10-0 when Jacob Hester ran in from the 1 to cap an 11-play, 78-yard drive. Baltimore answered with three more unproductive plays before punting. On their fifth drive, the Ravens finally got their initial first down ? on a 14-yard run by Bernard Pierce with eight minutes left in the half.
Pierce eventually left the game with a concussion, as did wide receiver Torrey Smith, who hit his head after attempting to make a leaping catch near the sideline in the third quarter.
Denver pulled away with two third-quarter touchdowns. Manning threw a 51-yard scoring pass to Eric Decker, and after the Ravens went three-and-out, Knowshon Moreno ended a 39-yard drive with a 6-yard run to make it 31-3.
Decker caught eight passes for 133 yards and Moreno finished with 118 yards rushing on 22 carries.
NOTES: Rice passed 1,000 yards rushing for a fourth straight season. ... Terrell Suggs returned for Baltimore after missing one game with a torn biceps and made one tackle. ... Hester's score was the second rushing touchdown of his career and the first since his rookie season in 2008. ... Pitta had seven catches for 125 yards.
FILE -In this Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, file photo, Robert Nelson II of Barclays, left, and Fady Tanios of Raven Securities work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)
FILE -In this Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, file photo, Robert Nelson II of Barclays, left, and Fady Tanios of Raven Securities work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)
NEW YORK (AP) ? Stocks turned higher on Wall Street Friday, reversing an early loss. The advance halted two days of declines caused by concern that political wrangling in Washington could push the U.S. economy back into recession.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 25 points to 12,833 as of 11 a.m. It was down as much as 67 points but started rising at about 10 a.m., after news crossed that that University of Michigan's gauge of consumer confidence rose more than analysts had expected in November.
The market is coming off its worst two-day slide in a year. The Dow average plunged 434 since President Barack Obama won re-election as investors turned their focus to a deadline at the end of the year for Congress to act on reducing the budget deficit.
If it doesn't, a series of drastic government spending cuts and tax hikes will kick into effect, potentially derailing the U.S. economy. The Congressional Budget Office said Thursday that the measures, if implemented, would likely push the economy back into recession.
The dimming outlook for Europe also weighed on markets this week. The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, slashed its forecast for economic growth in the region Wednesday.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note edged up to 1.62 percent from 1.61 percent late Thursday.
In other trading, the Standard & Poor's 500 index advanced 6 points to 1,384 and the Nasdaq composite climbed 20 points to 2,916.
Among stocks making big moves:
? Online deals company Groupon slumped $91 cents to $3.01 after it said after hours Thursday that it was hurt by the economic problems in Europe and growth failed to meet its expectations.
? J.C. Penney dropped $1.78 to $ 19.91 after the company reported a loss that was larger than investors were expecting. Shoppers have been abandoning the store after it got rid of blockbuster sales in favor of everyday low prices.
? Kayak Software surged $8.22 to $39.26 after the company said yesterday that it had agreed to be bought by Priceline.com Inc.
It is undeniably true that online or the use of internet has been the first leading activity and medium of most people today. Due to the rising popularity, this has already been considered as the center of different ventures. Various websites have existed as of this time with having the same goal? to gain a lucrative online marketing business. Because of this tight competency, it would be hard for a business person to be known in the world of online market. That is why it is vital not to rely on oneself, instead seek the assistance of professionals in this field.
When talking about professionals, this are experienced and skilled individuals who have been working for how many years helping a lot of websites establish a good rank in search engines. In line to this matter, Irun Intelligence Ltd has already established a good reputation in assisting aspiring online business owners. Whether the web page is just newly created or not, these experts can enhance the traffic leading to the high rate of consumers to visit the site. And with that, this is a great opportunity to market products and services one desire to advertise. If one is still not convince to hire this type of agencies, better read this article to realize their importance in internet marketing.
In this kind of business, the user clicks are a vital basis to make a site be on the top rank of search engines. In order to do so, it requires great analysis on the ins and outs of business online marketing. Irun Limited Leeds plays a crucial role in taking this sites to be on the first page of Google or as much as possible obtain the high rank. This thing can?t be done by an ordinary web developer as it requires thorough study about the design, functionality and feature of the website. With these agencies, they are using special tools to come up with a good study and result aiming to be on the top among other competitors. Home page
It has been known that appropriate selection of keywords is also critical to optimize a certain website. For this reason, it would be tough for an individual to attain the desired traffic if one is not asking the help of an SEO expert. In fact, if one doesn?t choose the right keyword usage, then everything will just be useless. This is because keyword research is the initial phase in search engine optimization. When there is a great selection of keywords, then a high success rate of ranking a site would be possible. Other task of SEO includes blog creation, creating additional pages as subdomains, article submission and posting. There are even some SEOs? who offer to write articles as part of their services that make it a plus to make things easier and a money saver.
Now, since everyone knows what the role of internet marketing is, there is no doubt not to hire one. Of course, why suffer to spend a great effort and time to optimize the page if there are experts who can help one to deal with it. If business owners really want to attain success, then hiring SEO would be the best decision in their life.
Learn more...
Irun Limited Leeds
Related posts:
Budget Friendly Advertising And Marketing Agencies
The Importance Of Consulting An Internet Marketing Agency
Online Advertising Agencies Can Help You Increase The Visibility Of Your Website
Affordable Advertising Agencies
Seek The Services Of An SEO Company In Adelaide To Achieve A Profitable Business
Automak?ers begin adding up the num?ber of vehi?cles destroyed in the after?math of Hur?ri?cane Sandy with 886 auto deal?ers in New York and 463 in New Jersey.
Get the cur?rent esti?mates on num?bers per automaker lost.
Toy?ota Motor Corp., Chrysler Group LLC, Nis?san Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. plan to scrap about 15,000 vehi?cles dam?aged by Hur?ri?cane Sandy as automak?ers and deal?ers con?tinue assess?ing the storm?s impact.
Nis?san alone esti?mates more than 6,000 Nis?san and lux?ury Infiniti brand cars and light trucks are ?un-saleable? because of the?storm?.
Honda and Acura deal?ers expect to have to scrap about 3,440 vehicles?.
Gen?eral Motors Co., [and] Ford Motor Co. couldn?t pro?vide esti?mates for the num?ber of lost vehicles.
In little more than a month, millions of Americans will head to the polls to select the next president of the United States. What would the election of Mitt Romney or the re-election of Barack Obama mean for Peru? This multi-part series will seek to answer that question, issue-by-issue.
Today, we look at the two candidates? positions on immigration.
Peruvians in the United States It?s hard to track down a firm number on how many Peruvians are living in the United States. The U.S. Census finds about 600,000 people claiming Peruvian origins in the country, but that includes native-born and naturalized U.S. citizens. A press release from Peru?s representatives in the Parlamento Andino estimated that there a million Peruvians living in the U.S., with half of them undocumented. Other estimates say that two-thirds of the Peruvians resident in the U.S. are undocumented. Most estimates suggest that between 2% and 4% of Peru?s citizens live in the United States.
Peruvian immigration to the U.S. has a huge economic impact back home. The Inter-American Development Bank calculates that in 2011, Peruvians in the U.S. sent some $902 million back to their families in Peru. While remittances from Europe have fallen, those from the United States have grown in the past year.
Positions on undocumented immigration As estimates suggest that at least half of the Peruvian immigrants living in the U.S. are doing so without a legal visa, the candidates? positions on ?illegal? immigration are important for the Peruvian community.
When Barack Obama ran for the presidency in 2008, one of his campaign promises was to implement comprehensive immigration reform, providing a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. That has not happened.
A more modest bill, the DREAM Act, which would have provided a path to citizenship for undocumented young people who were brought to the United States as children and later completed high school, was voted down by the Republican majority in Congress.
The president later implemented an executive order which, at least temporarily, accomplished much of what was outlined in the DREAM Act. Still, Obama recently said that the failure to implement comprehensive immigration reform was the greatest failure of his first term, and providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria remains part of his platform in the 2012 campaign.
Under Obama?s government, deportations of undocumented immigrants increased, with some 1,100 Peruvians deported from the country in 2010 and 2011, according to El Comercio. On the other hand, the administration?s Justice Department sued to stop an Arizona state law that would have allowed local law enforcement officers to question anyone they believed to be in the United States illegally.
Mitt Romney?s position on undocumented immigration deviates sharply from Obama?s. Rather than advocating a path for citizenship, Romney has called for creating incentives for undocumented immigrants to leave the United States. Among the initiatives would be a ?mandatory employment verification system that will enable employers to be sure that those they hire are eligible to work. This will discourage illegal immigrants from coming to America to seek jobs,? according to his campaign?s website. Romney says that he would reform the temporary worker program to make it a viable alternative to illegal immigration.
Romney also believes that denying undocumented immigrants benefits, such as state drivers licenses and in-state tuition at public university, will help stop the flow of undocumented workers. The Romney campaign has repeatedly refused to state whether Romney supports the Arizona state law, though it has said that Romney believes that states should have more power to draft immigration laws. Romney has said that he would veto the DREAM Act, but does say that young people who come to the U.S. as children and later serve in the military should have a path to citizenship.
Positions on legal immigration The two candidates? positions are significantly closer on legal immigration. Both candidates have called for more visas for high-skilled workers and those with advanced degrees, citing the positive impact that these immigrants have on the economy. Both candidates have stated that there is a need to reform the temporary worker program so that economic sectors like agricultural and tourism can get the workers that they need.
Romney says that he would facilitate and speed up the processing of visas for the relatives of American citizens and permanent residents, and would raise the caps of high-skilled immigrants from many countries.
Barack Obama opposes the designation of English as the official language of the United States, saying that it would keep Spanish speakers from accessing government services. Mitt Romney says that he would support legislation designating English as an official language.
Nick Rosen is the editor of Peru this Week based in Peru.
TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's prime minister-elect said on Thursday he had withdrawn his proposed government list, just a day after presenting it to the national congress for approval, after protesters stormed the assembly and politicians voiced discontent over his nominations.
Speaking on Libyan television, Mustafa Abushagur said he was ready to change some of his nominations in his proposed line-up which excluded the biggest party in congress, the liberal National Forces Alliance (NFA).
"I have asked the congress leader to withdraw my proposed government list and I will submit new nominations on Sunday," he said. "This new government should help build the state. Its members should have the right experience and be courageous."
Congress leader Mohammed Magarief had earlier said that the assembly did not approve of the proposed government line-up.
Abushagur's decision to withdraw his initial nominations is likely to be seen as a strategic retreat and as an attempt to keep Libya's still shaky efforts to put a stable political system in place on track.
"I thought the congress would discuss this list and give me their opinions," Abushagur said. "When I presented my list yesterday some congress members just left the hall ... It is the prime minister's right to pick the government."
Earlier on Thursday, protesters who believed their town was under-represented in the proposed government stormed the national assembly as it prepared to scrutinize the list.
Between 100 and 150 demonstrators from the western town of Zawiyah walked into the hall where congress meets, forcing the cancellation of a session meant to study the nominations. The session was postponed until later in the evening.
"After we heard the list, everyone in Zawiyah was angry. Some even began protesting in Zawiyah's main square last night," said Nuri Shambi, who travelled 50 km (30 miles) to the capital Tripoli to voice his anger.
"Abushagur said he would form a coalition government, that he would look at experience. Zawiyah proposed candidates for oil minister, but he's brought in someone who is not well known."
Abushagur's line-up included many unknown names, including the proposed oil minister, Mabrouk Issa Abu Harroura.
While Abushagur says he is politically "neutral", the line-up is said to have included several members of the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. Ibrahim al-Gharyani, head of the NFA in congress, said there were no candidates from his alliance, the biggest party in the chamber.
Congress spokesman Omar Hmaidan said several congress members had voiced dissatisfaction with the nominations.
"We need a political government. Many of these people are not known," congress member Mohammed Saleem said.
Another congress member echoed that, adding: "Those who are known to us have little experience."
The NFA's leader, wartime rebel Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril, lost out narrowly to Abushagur in the congress vote for the next head of government on September 12.
Although the NFA is the biggest political grouping with 39 out of the 80 party seats in the assembly, another 120 seats are in the hands of independents.
The NFA had asked in vain for nine ministries and the inclusion of its program in the next government. NFA Spokesman Hamuda Siala said it would support Abushagur's cabinet "as long as it aims to serve Libya's national interest, improve security and boost development".
Abushagur's transitional government will take over from an interim administration appointed last November in which he was deputy prime minister.
He had picked three deputy prime ministers from the western mountain town of Zintan, from the south and from the east in an attempt to ensure broad geographical representation.
(Additional reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t5DbXE-f7oNZxiDZzCe-swqhr8dk5Z0ETrzqO6TnmiywuXY-T_ZoA0SnhBYbY4Hr8F-td76IPVRWv7ysGHorv1eFcNkVv6pG39Hg15j5w=s0-d){kind=small}
Public release date: 21-Dec-2012
Share ] 
