Justin Bieber Battery Case: Headed for Prosecution

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Filmmaker who rescued Romanian orphans is killed

ENCINITAS, Calif. (AP) ? A documentary filmmaker known for helping rescue children from squalid Romanian orphanages in the early 1990s was fatally shot following an apparent dispute over the trimming of shrubbery outside his Southern California home, officials said Friday.

John Charles Upton Jr., 56, was found dead Thursday on a dirt path in the yard of his Encinitas home. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department said detectives arrested Michael Vilkin, 61, on suspicion of murder. He was being held without bail, pending arraignment Tuesday.

Upton, after learning of the plight of Romanian orphans, publicized the brutal conditions and was instrumental in bringing an estimated two dozen orphans to America for medical care and adoption.

Vilkin, in an interview conducted in county jail, told KGTV in San Diego he fired gunshots in self-defense after Upton menaced him with a gun during a dispute over foliage.

Vilkin said he owns vacant property next to Upton's home, and the two men had a disagreement over trimming shrubs.

"I did not go to him," Vilkin told the station. "He came to me threatening and pulled a gun (on) me."

A statement from the department said a dispute between the two men led to the shooting, which was under investigation.

Upton's brother, Michael Upton, told U-T San Diego that his brother and Vilkin previously argued about trees.

Upton's work in Romania also gained the attention of influential activists, inspiring billionaire philanthropist Richard Branson and actress Jessica Lange to help rescue youngsters from Romania.

Upton went on to create an online network of films about charitable causes.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/filmmaker-rescued-romanian-orphans-killed-231935649.html

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Florida Gators Reach Elite Eight, Defeat Florida Gulf Coast University 62-50

Mike Rosario

Mike Rosario (3) dunks against Florida Gulf Coast during the second half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Mike Rosario, Michael Frazier II

Florida's Mike Rosario (3) and Michael Frazier II (20) react during the second half of a regional semifinal game against Florida Gulf Coast in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Mike Rosario

Florida's Mike Rosario (3) reacts during the second half of a regional semifinal game against Florida Gulf Coast in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Scottie Wilbekin, Bernard Thompson

Florida's Scottie Wilbekin (5) is defended by Florida Gulf Coast's Bernard Thompson (2) during the second half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Mike Krzyzewski, Tom Izzo

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, right, talks to Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo after their regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Indianapolis. Duke won 71-61. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Tyler Thornton, Adreian Payne

Duke guard Tyler Thornton (3) grabs a rebound as Michigan State forward Adreian Payne (5) misses a dunk during the second half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Indianapolis. Duke won 71-61. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Tyler Thornton, Derrick Nix, Adreian Payne

Duke guard Tyler Thornton (3) and Michigan State forward Derrick Nix (25) reach for a rebound as Michigan State forward Adreian Payne (5) misses a dunk during the second half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Indianapolis. Duke won 71-61. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Branden Dawson, Tom Izzo

Michigan State forward Branden Dawson (22) reacts as he walks past head coach Tom Izzo during the second half of a regional semifinal against Duke in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Indianapolis. Duke won 71-61. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Scottie Wilbekin, Sherwood Brown

Florida's Scottie Wilbekin (5) shoots as Florida Gulf Coast's Sherwood Brown (25) defends during the second half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Tyler Thornton

Duke guard Tyler Thornton (3) reacts after a regional semifinal against Michigan State in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Indianapolis. Duke won 71-61. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Scottie Wilbekin, Chase Fieler

Florida's Scottie Wilbekin (5) and Florida Gulf Coast's Chase Fieler (20) go after a loose ball during the second half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Rasheed Sulaimon, Adreian Payne

Duke guard Rasheed Sulaimon grabs a rebound in front of Michigan State forward Adreian Payne during the second half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Michael Frazier II, Eddie Murray, and Scottie Wilbekin

Eddie Murray (23) is defended by Florida's Michael Frazier II (20) and Scottie Wilbekin (5) during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Casey Prather

Florida's Casey Prather (24) shoots in traffic during the first half of a regional semifinal game against Florida Gulf Coast in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Mike Krzyzewski

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and players on the bench react during the second half of a regional semifinal against Michigan State in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Eddie Murray, Erik Murphy

Florida Gulf Coast's Eddie Murray (23) dunks as Florida's Erik Murphy (33) defends during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Tom Izzo

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reacts during the first half of a regional semifinal against Duke in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Denzel Valentine

Michigan State guard Denzel Valentine (45) reacts during the first half of a regional semifinal against Duke in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Adreian Payne, Mason Plumlee

Michigan State forward Adreian Payne (5) reacts as he dunks during the first half of a regional semifinal against Duke in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. Watching at left is Duke's Mason Plumlee (5). (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Billy Donovan

Florida head coach Billy Donovan during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Adreian Payne, Mason Plumlee, Rasheed Sulaimon

Michigan State forward Adreian Payne (5) reacts as he dunks during the first half of a regional semifinal against Duke in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. Watching are Duke players Mason Plumlee (5) and Rasheed Sulaimon (14). (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Casey Prather, Christophe Varidel

Florida's Casey Prather (24) dunks as Florida Gulf Coast's Christophe Varidel (5) defends during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Casey Prather, Christophe Varidel

Florida's Casey Prather (24) shoots over, Florida Gulf Coast's Christophe Varidel (5) during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Adreian Payne, Mason Plumlee, Ryan Kelly

Michigan State forward Adreian Payne (5) goes up with a shot against Duke forward Mason Plumlee during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. Watching is Duke's Ryan Kelly (34). (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Scottie Wilbekin, Brett Comer

Florida Gulf Coast's Brett Comer (0) is defended by Florida's Scottie Wilbekin (5)during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Adreian Payne, Rasheed Sulaimon

Michigan State forward Adreian Payne, right, grabs a rebound against Duke guard Rasheed Sulaimon during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Keith Appling, Seth Curry

Michigan State guard Keith Appling (11) blocks a shot by Duke guard Seth Curry (30) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Billy Donovan

Florida head coach Billy Donovan during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

A Florida Gulf Coast cheerleader takes the court during the first half of a regional semifinal game against Florida in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Adreian Payne

Michigan State forward Adreian Payne (5) reacts during the first half of a regional semifinal against Duke in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Chase Fieler

Florida Gulf Coast's Chase Fieler (20) reacts against Florida during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Seth Curry

Duke guard Seth Curry (30) reacts during the first half of a regional semifinal against Michigan State in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Will Yeguete, Eddie Murray

Florida's Will Yeguete (15) and Florida Gulf Coast's Eddie Murray (23) go after a loose ball during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Will Yeguete, Eddie Murray

Florida's Will Yeguete (15) and Florida Gulf Coast's Eddie Murray (23) go after a loose ball during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Andy Enfield

Florida Gulf Coast head coach Andy Enfield reacts to action against Florida during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Denzel Valentine, Tyler Thornton

Michigan State guard Denzel Valentine and Duke guard Tyler Thornton (3) scramble for a loose ball during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Adreian Payne, Ryan Kelly

Michigan State forward Adreian Payne (5) drives the ball past Duke forward Ryan Kelly during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Naadir Tharpe, Ben McLemore

Kansas' Naadir Tharpe, left, and Ben McLemore right react in the lockeroom after losing 87-85 to Michigan in overtime of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Tom Izzo

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reacts as he directs his team during the first half of a regional semifinal against Duke in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Elijah Johnson, Kevin Young, Perry Ellis, Jamari Traylor

Kansas' Elijah Johnson, left, Kevin Young (40), Perry Ellis (34) and Jamari Traylor (31) sit in the lockeroom after losing 87-85 to Michigan in overtime of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Patric Young, Chase Fieler, Erik Murphy

Florida's Patric Young (4), Florida Gulf Coast's Chase Fieler (20) and Erik Murphy (33) go after a loose ball during the first half of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Mike Krzyzewski

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski talks to his players during a time out in the first half of a regional semifinal against Michigan State in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Branden Dawson, Rasheed Sulaimon

Michigan State forward Branden Dawson (22) blocks a shot by Duke guard Rasheed Sulaimon (14) during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Keith Appling

Michigan State guard Keith Appling (11) reacts to a call during the first half of a regional semifinal against Duke in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Fred Richardson III (5)

Oregon guard Fred Richardson III (5) scores past the defense of Oregon forwards E.J. Singler (25) and Ben Carter (32) during a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. Louisville won 77-69. (AP Photo/ The Oregonian, Bruce Ely) MAGS OUT; TV OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT; THE MERCURY OUT; WILLAMETTE WEEK OUT; PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP OUT.

Tom Izzo

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo directs his team during the first half of a regional semifinal against Duke in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Derrick Nix, Tyler Thornton

Michigan State forward Derrick Nix (25) and Duke guard Tyler Thornton (3) fight for a rebound during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Keith Appling, Quinn Cook

Michigan State guard Keith Appling, left, and Duke guard Quinn Cook battle for a loose ball during the first half of a regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Mike Krzyzewski

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski directs his team during the first half of a regional semifinal against Michigan State in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Corey Person, Trey Burke

Michigan's Trey Burke, second from left, is lifted by Corey Person after beating Kansas 87-85 in overtime of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas.(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Glenn Robinson III, Caris LeVert, Nik Stauskas

Michigan's Glenn Robinson III (1), Caris LeVert (23) and Nik Stauskas (11), celebrate after beating Kansas 87-85 in overtime of a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/30/florida-gators-elite-eight-florida-gulf-coast_n_2982772.html

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Cell reprogramming during liver regeneration

Friday, March 29, 2013

During embryonic development, animals generate many different types of cells, each with a distinct function and identity.

"Although the identities of these cells remain stable under normal conditions, some cells can be persuaded to take on new identities, through reprogramming," says Ben Stanger, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

Researchers have been able to reprogram cells experimentally, but few have shown that cells can change their identities under normal physiological conditions in the body, particularly in mammals.

In the cover article of this month's issue of Genes and Development, Stanger, PhD candidate Kilangsungla Yanger, Yiwei Zong, PhD, and their colleagues, did just that in the liver of a mouse. Stanger is also an investigator in the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute and the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology.

The adult liver contains two major cell types ? hepatocytes and biliary cells ? that differ dramatically in appearance and function. Hepatocytes are the main cell type in the liver, where they synthesize proteins and other macromolecules, and detoxify toxic substances. Biliary cells, on the other hand, line the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver to the small intestine to help digest fats.

Using a sensitive method to tag and track how cells develop and differentiate, the researchers found that conditional expression of an activated Notch1 gene converted hepatocytes into biliary cells. Notch is an important receptor for relaying signals to tell cells how to develop.

What's more, after the researchers injured liver cells with a variety of toxins to stimulate wound healing, they found that over two to three weeks hepatocytes activated a biliary cell program on their own, acquiring the shape and function of biliary cells. These changes were dependent on the activation of endogenous Notch signaling.

"This is direct evidence that cells can be converted from one mature cell type to another in a live animal, as part of a normal response to injury," says Stanger. "We think that augmenting pre-existing cell reprogramming relationships may be another way to engineer cells for the treatment of diseases in which there are not enough bile ducts, such as cholestasis."

###

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine: http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/

Thanks to University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127525/Cell_reprogramming_during_liver_regeneration

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City of Angels Photography Exhibition | Hollywood Art ...

Saturday, April 6, 2013, 7:00 pm

5448 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA | Get?Directions??
FREE

Witness the shared beauty of the people of Bangkok and Los Angeles and celebrate the diversity of Los Angeles through the?City of Angels?exhibition in Thai Town on Saturday, April 6 from 7pm to midnight. Also view it at the same place the next day on Sunday, April 7, during Thai New Year celebration Song Kran, from 11am to 4pm. Come see a body of photographic art that explores the similarities between the two cities that possess the name,?City of Angels. The images reveal the striking similarities between two vastly different cultures and provide the viewer with the understanding that we are all the same, regardless of where we live.

This exhibition has already toured Thailand through the US State Department's program called Visual Arts Initiative. (All information regarding this exhibition can be found at.. ?http://www.angelsofthecity.com.) ?Through the generous support from the, Royal Thai Consular General, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Community Development Center, Singha Beer and other anonymous donors, all can celebrate an evening of art and entertainment.

On April 6th, Groove to the sounds of KCRW's Raul Campos and Mark Kates, imbibe in the tastes of Singha beer, observe the blending of tradition and contemporary Thai dance and sample the flavors of Thailand by http://www.streetsofthailand.com/. ?

On April 7th is Thai New Years and is packed with another eventful day of fun as Hollywood Blvd is shut down between Western and Normandie. That day will mark the unveiling of the Kinarra Lamp Posts, Muay Thai wrestling, a beauty pageant and more. ?Over 100,000 people are in attendance of this event.

More information can be found at... http://www.angelsofthecity.com

34.10175

-118.30868

primary

/events/city-of-angels-photography-exhibition

/locations/9128479

Source: http://hollywood.patch.com/events/city-of-angels-photography-exhibition

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SnapPea Photos Puts the Photos on Your Android in Chrome?s Toolbar

Android/Chrome: If you take a ton of photos on your Android phone and want to quickly get to them on your PC or Mac, SnapPea Photos puts them all one click away.

The app comes in two parts: the previously mentioned SnapPea Android app on your phone, and a Chrome extension. Once installed, all of the photos on your Android device, whether it's a phone or a tablet, will be available right under the Chrome extension's toolbar button. You'll need a SnapPea account for the tools to work, but once you're signed in, you can browse all of your photos on the web, share them with friends, or download them to your PC from your browser.

The full version of SnapPea still lets you completely manage your phone, including your photos, but the benefit of a Chrome extension is that you can install it somewhere without having to download the whole SnapPea package. Plus, while SnapPea's management tools are Windows only, the Chrome extension works everywhere Chrome does, and the photos uploaded are private unless you download and share them. Alternatively, you could use the Instant Upload features for Dropbox, Google+, or Facebook to get your photos web-accessible?just make sure they're not public if you don't want them to be.

SnapPea Photos | Chrome Web Store

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/q2SgcrPu4Yc/snappea-photos-puts-the-photos-on-your-android-in-chromes-toolbar

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New EPA gas rules to cost one to nine cents a gallon

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Reducing sulfur in gasoline and tightening emissions standards on cars beginning in 2017, as the Obama administration is proposing, would come with costs as well as rewards. The cost at the pump for cleaner air across the country could be less than a penny or as high as 9 cents a gallon, depending on who is providing the estimate.

An oil industry study says the proposed rule being unveiled Friday by the administration could increase gasoline prices by 6 cents to 9 cents a gallon. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates an increase of less than a penny and an additional $130 to the cost of a vehicle in 2025.

The EPA is quick to add that the change aimed at cleaning up gasoline and automobile emissions would yield billions of dollars in health benefits by 2030 by slashing smog- and soot-forming pollution. Still, the oil industry, Republicans and some Democrats have pressed the EPA to delay the rule, citing higher costs.

Environmentalists hailed the proposal as potentially the most significant in President Barack Obama's second term.

The so-called Tier 3 standards would reduce sulfur in gasoline by more than 60 percent and reduce nitrogen oxides by 80 percent, by expanding across the country a standard already in place in California. For states, the regulation would make it easier to comply with health-based standards for the main ingredient in smog and soot. For automakers, the regulation allows them to sell the same autos in all 50 states.

The Obama administration already has moved to clean up motor vehicles by adopting rules that will double fuel efficiency and putting in place the first standards to reduce the pollution from cars and trucks blamed for global warming.

"We know of no other air pollution control strategy that can achieve such substantial, cost-effective and immediate emission reductions," said Bill Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies. Becker said the rule would reduce pollution equal to taking 33 million cars off the road.

But the head of American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, Charles Drevna, said in an interview Thursday that the refiners' group was still unclear on the motives behind the agency's regulation, since refining companies already have spent $10 billion to reduce sulfur by 90 percent. The additional cuts, while smaller, will cost just as much, Drevna said, and the energy needed for the additional refining actually could increase carbon pollution by 1 percent to 2 percent.

"I haven't seen an EPA rule on fuels that has come out since 1995 that hasn't said it would cost only a penny or two more," Drevna said.

A study commissioned by the American Petroleum Institute estimated that lowering the sulfur in gasoline would add 6 cents to 9 cents a gallon to refiners' manufacturing costs, an increase that likely would be passed on to consumers at the pump. The EPA estimate of less than 1 cent is also an additional manufacturing cost and likely to be passed on.

A senior administration official said Thursday that only 16 of 111 refineries would need to invest in major equipment to meet the new standards, which could be final by the end of this year. Of the remaining refineries, 29 already are meeting the standards because they are selling cleaner fuel in California or other countries, and 66 would have to make modifications.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the rule was still undergoing White House budget office review.

___

Follow Dina Cappiello on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dinacappiello

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/epa-taking-aim-auto-emissions-sulfur-gas-071021486--finance.html

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Wellness - Take Control of Your Health through Technology - ...

Take Control of Your Health through Technology 0 5

PS Productions/Photospin

Technology can give us great excuses not to be active and fit. We spend hours in front of the TV or at the computer and then wonder why we gain weight and lose muscle tone. So I was excited to learn about a wealth of new technology that will actually help us improve our health instead of sucking it dry.

The healthcare technology section of this year?s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas was packed with devices that can help you track almost anything about your health. Many of the devices are small, easy to use, and actually fun to play with. Here are some of my favorites:

? BodyMedia? FIT ?This device comes in an armband that you can wear 24/7. It tracks your sleep patterns as well as your activity levels and connects online to help you track calories and stick with your fitness plan. You can see it in action on NBC?s ?The Biggest Loser? this season.

? Polar? Smart Coaching ? This device is described as ?your perfect training partner?. It uses heart rate tracking to help you set goals and improve performance. It also includes a variety of tests including fitness, body age, recovery and relaxation level.

? IbitzTM PowerKey and Unity ? This device made by GeoPalz? is targeted at families and includes products designed specifically for children in addition to the adult models. The goal is to get the whole family to be more physically fit. The kids? model uses an interactive game to help motivate them to get moving. The more active the kids are the more energy their ?pet? has in the game. They can also interact with the device by feeding their pet, giving it water, and putting it to sleep.

? Runtastic? Heart Rate Monitors ? You can get this device on a belt pack or in a watch that combines a heart rate monitor and a GPS.

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

Source: http://www.empowher.com/wellness/content/take-control-your-health-through-technology

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WSJ: Facebook plans to clog up Android home screens with status updates

By Martyn Herman LONDON, March 28 (Reuters) - Whether by design, necessity, self-interest or because of all three, nurturing youngsters has become fashionable for England's elite with no expense spared in the hunt for the new Wayne Rooney or Steven Gerrard. The length and breadth of the country, scouts from top clubs are hoovering up promising footballers barely old enough to tie their bootlaces in a bid to unearth the 30 million pounds ($45.40 million) treasures of the future. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wsj-facebook-plans-clog-android-home-screens-status-154442481.html

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MONEY TALK | Pets aren't abandoning human - Port Orchard ...

House pets aren?t returning to the wild abandoning human ownership.

House pet population is experiencing the same phenomenon that society is experiencing with adolescents. Both categories are changing in supply and in their respective demands.

It is true that demographics are destiny and can forecast major trend changes within democratized economic systems. Our government?s data on consumer spending is very detailed about family creation and its evolutionary demands.

Typically, Americans get married in the mid-20s ? 26 to 28 ? or so. The first child arrives about two years later and many predictable events unfold afterwards. It is obvious. First is the child?s layette and stroller. Then it?s the walker toy and tricycle. Later, here comes a bicycle, then the petitions for their own car.

What accompanies the early years? Three year olds begin the begging cycle for a pet ? a kitty or puppy often available without charge at your local supermarket. Supply is greater than wanted in someone else?s household.

The acquisition price is free. EBay is not necessary.

Fifteen years later, the parents are paying for college expenses and hoping their child is ready to venture forth into independent living. The child?s success at this stage of life leaves mom and dad with a conundrum.

Sally?s childhood puppy has gown older faster than Sally. Dog and cat life expectancies range around 12 to 15 years. Sally is leaving home without the family pet that is literally on its last legs. The whole family grieves the pet?s demise.

Empty nesting parents are not likely to replace ?Rover? any time soon. They have delayed some personal goals to fund college expenses and perhaps help with a child?s first home or a daughter?s wedding. Renewing a commitment to puppy care without children and the related veterinary expenses is a low priority.

The cycle is predictable. Should you care? Only if you care about the economy. As households with adolescents are in decline, so is the pet population. Demand for veterinary services is in a matching decline.

Vets are facing the ?cat problem? as cat visits have declined 13.5 percent since 2006. Dog visits have been declining, too, but the horse market has been crushed.

Casinos have become significant competition for horse racing facilities and the related need for thoroughbred horses. Even pet horses are expensive. The total number of horses and, likewise, vets in large animal practice, has been severely hurt since the recession.

The New York Times recently profiled an Arizona vet, Haley Shafer, who set her career goal at age 5. At age 30 and in practice, she is struggling to manage the massive college debt incurred.

Veterinary colleges have not been the only active recruiters of students facing a dismal employment future. Given virtually free student loans with eternity payback provisions, college may seem to be a better choice than flipping burgers.

The diminishing need for veterinarians was wholly predictable given the tight relationship to children at home. Other career choices may not be as evident as getting a DVM degree, but massive college debt should be very carefully evaluated before subjecting our country?s future families to a lifetime of unaffordable student loans.

Donald Creech, a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Investment Fiduciary, is founder and owner of Investor Resource, Inc.

?

Source: http://www.portorchardindependent.com/opinion/200639931.html

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'Featured Android Apps for Tablets' page now on Google Play website

Developers who spend time to make apps that look great on a tablet get a shout-out from Google on a new page at the Google Play site.

Google has put up a page at Google Play that focuses on apps designed with a tablet in mind. Android doesn't require applications to be specifically written for Android, instead opting to allow developers to use UI elements like fragments to better utilize screen real estate on any device. But the truth of the matter is, most app developers aren't doing it. Hopefully, a chance to get featured by Google will jump start a bit more development in this area.

We're not saying it's easy to make one app work across all devices, because it's not. Google provides a good toolbox for it, and they have outreach programs for developers, but it still takes time and work to make you app look great on both a phone and a tablet. While Android is the market leader for smart phones, their tablet sales fall to a distant third behind Apple and Amazon. It makes sense for developers to focus on an app designed to look great on a smaller screen before he or she starts worrying about tablet-sized screens and the new challenges they bring.

Anyhoo, it's nice to see Google give props to a handful (there's 116 apps featured) of applications that are awesome on your tablet, and we hope this list grows and grows. To check them out for yourself, just follow the link below.

Source: Google Play. Thanks, Tomas!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/idoy-EDYhdk/story01.htm

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Precision Concrete Cutting Named #2 Overall for ... - Franchising.com

LINDON, Utah - March 27, 2013 // PRNewswire // - Based on a survey of franchisees done by the Franchise Business Review, Precision Concrete Cutting was ranked #2 overall for the first time out of more than 350 franchise brands in the 2013 Franchisee Satisfaction Awards.

"We're in the business of improving lives, and that applies to our franchisees as well as our customers and the people they serve," remarked Aaron Ollivier , President of Precision Concrete Cutting. "It's huge for us to know that we really are doing our part to make our franchisees happy and help them succeed, and it's an honor to be ranked #2 overall among so many other strong brands."

The industry leader in innovation, green technology, and affordability, Precision Concrete Cutting has been repairing trip and fall hazards from uneven sidewalks for eighteen years.

The Franchise Business Review said the following regarding the 2013 awards:

"Franchise Business Review annually recognizes franchisors with the highest overall franchisee satisfaction based on its survey of franchisees. The survey includes 33 benchmark questions, relating to the franchisee's experience and satisfaction as well as market area, business lifestyle, and other demographic characteristics."

In addition to securing the #2 spot overall, Precision Concrete Cutting was also ranked the #1 franchisor in the Service category and the #1 franchisor in the "Under 50 Units" category. Precision Concrete Cutting also won the #1 spot in both of these categories last year.

"Being ranked #1 in both of these categories year after year really lets us know that we have our priorities in the right place," Ollivier said. "When our franchisees are happy and successful, so is the company as a whole, and our growth reflects that. It's a win-win for everyone."

About Precision Concrete Cutting

Precision Concrete Cutting began franchising in 2002. Today, they operate through 38 branches across the United States and Canada. For more information visit SafeSidewalks.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities, visit PccFranchise.com.

Media Contact:

Matthew Haney
Precision Concrete Cutting
801-224-0025

SOURCE Precision Concrete Cutting

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Source: http://www.franchising.com/news/20130327_precision_concrete_cutting_named_2_overall_for_the.html

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The Duggars Are Considering Adoption - How Many Kids Is Too ...

Michelle Duggar says she and husband Jim Bob Duggar would consider adopting a child.

Great, you say. Get kids out of orphanages and foster care. Give kids a loving family and home to call their own. No more children lost in the system.

Then you remember: Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are already parents to nineteen children. And you remember all the questions, judgments, and accusations surrounding their?fecundity.

From?Newsday.com

From Hollywoodlife.com

And from Twitter, where complex ethical deliberations, moral judgments, and political debate can be condensed to the handy-dandy 140 character size.

Or maybe not.

In any case, I?m on the side of Michelle Duggar on this one.

No, I don?t agree with all the teachings of her faith. But disagreement is a problem I have with plenty of religious teachings- teachings which are used to justify everything from assault on women to discrimination against gays to out-and-out war.

But are we going to start dealing out Permission To Procreate cards only to the people who we think should have them based upon our agreement with their beliefs ?- whether that?s ?belief? in a particular God or political philosophy or that family?s dedication to successful economic fortitude or environmental righteousness? Personally, I?m not sure how many Uterus Is GO! cards I could hand over based my perfect approval. Maybe I?d give one to Brangelina. I?d still have to think on that one. ?I have questions about their number of plane flights per year.

And speaking of environmental asceticism, I do question the impact of large families on the overall environment. There?s a heck-a-lot of resources needed to keep a family that size up and running each day. Here?s what Michelle Duggar has to say about over population:

Ehhrrrm. Okay, hold up there, Michelle. I?m on your side here with buying used and repairing instead of replacing, but your opening volley of ?the entire population of the world?could fit in the city limits of Jacksonville,? misses the point of sustainability.

Zero Population advocates recommend a replacement rate of population growth, i.e. number of folks dying equals the number of people born. That?s simplifying, but in developed countries, ?zero population growth? means 2 kids per woman (well?2.1 kids per woman. I always wonder how that .1 kid figures in when calculating half-time soccer snacks.)

In other words, I have three kids. One of them needs to get shipped off to Denmark or Japan where low birth rate is too low?say experts, and the diminishing workforce will have scary negative economic consequences. However, the Duggars recently returned from a trip to China and Japan, so who knows. Maybe one or two of the kids accidentally got left behind. Population redistribution solved.

The Duggars back when there were only 17 kids. Or what they?d look like today with two Duggars helping out the needed population boom in Denmark.

But remember, we?re not talking about Michelle and Jim Bob popping out another bio-kid. We?re talking about the Duggars putting their money where someone else?s mouth is and adopting a child who doesn?t currently have a family home. We?re talking about an established family of loving parents and healthy, seemingly happy kids taking a homeless child under their roof.

Yeah, I know?don?t Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have too many kids already? How can they ever give another kid ?the attention he or she needs with so many other kids demanding love and attention?

It?s hard not to think of my own struggle with New Mommy Guilt, even when I went off to work and the ?babysitter? I was leaving my newborn with was my own husband. I later did a lot of needless psychological and emotional gymnastics to convince myself that leaving my firstborn with an experienced and caring professional childcare expert wasn?t neglect.

With my second child, I wondered where I?d find the time to pay attention to all the needs of another little human.

By my third child, the question had been answered: I?m the parent and no one can replace me. Quality time and quantity time were both important. But seeing my son born into a family of two older, loving siblings who were also capable of teaching and being playmates and guardians was only a good thing. The overall love was multiplied, ?not diminished.

Agree or disagree with Michelle Duggar?s religion or politics or philosophies as you will. It?s hard to deny that a child adopted into that home would be brought into a home filled with a lot of love and caring and good things. Whether the good things outweigh someone?s definition of bad? I?m uncomfortable with making that judgment.

Read More Do You Watch Too Much TLC?

source, source

Source: http://www.mamapop.com/2013/03/the-duggars-are-considering-adoption.html

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Cypriots fear run on banks as branches prepare to reopen after almost two weeks

Yiannis Kourtoglou / AFP - Getty Images

Employees of the Bank of Cyprus frown as they demonstrate outside the main office of the bank in Nicosia on Tuesday.

By Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, Correspondent, CNBC

NICOSIA, Cyprus - Anguished Cypriots fear a run on banks when branches on the tiny tax haven reopen for first time in almost two weeks on Thursday.

Since March 16, customers have only been able to withdraw limited amounts of cash from ATMs after banks closed to allow Cypriot officials and European leaders to hammer out a 10-billion euro ($13-billion) rescue meant to avert a chaotic national bankruptcy.

The banks in Cyprus are set to reopen after 11 days of being closed as a measure to prevent a run on deposits during the country's financial crisis. Millions in cash is on the move tonight as people camped out in expectation. ITV's Emma Murphy reports

However, some believe the deal will instead push the country further into economic crisis as thousands of bank employees lose their jobs. The country's unemployment rate is about 14 percent.

Under the terms of the EU bailout, accounts of more than 100,000 euros ($128,460) at the islands' two biggest banks will be frozen. Depositors with accounts at Laiki Bank, which is being liquidated, won't get paid for years and won't get all of their money back. CNBC sources estimate those with bank accounts in Laiki above 100,000 euros could lose 40 to 70 percent of their deposits.

Deposits above 100,000 euros with the Bank of Cyprus will be frozen and 40 percent of each account will be converted into bank stock. Accounts in both banks with balances under 100,000 euros will be fully protected.

---

Many Cypriots say they do not feel reassured by the bailout deal and are expected to besiege banks as soon as they open their doors Thursday.

"We have an uncertain future in in Cyprus," said Chris Sofroniou, as he waited in an ATM line in Nicosia. "There's uncertainty in our future in our children, and we are very, very disappointed with the European Union. We are being treated like third-class citizens and we are very, very angry."

A spokeswoman for the island's central bank said banks would not reopen until 12 p.m. local time (6 a.m. ET) on Thursday, according to Reuters.

The spokeswoman said banks would open their doors between midday and 6 p.m. (1600 GMT). The Cypriot authorities are expected later on Wednesday to detail the capital controls they plan to impose to prevent a flight of funds.?

The last-minute deal was reached Monday, just hours before the EU was due to cut off the country?s financial lifelines.

Katia Christodoulou / EPA

A woman walking past a boarded up branch of the Bank of Cyprus branch in Nicosia on Wednesday.

The agreement ended a week of protests in Cyprus, long lines at cash machines, and a tense geopolitical standoff after European officials made the unprecedented demand that ordinary Cypriot savers share in the cost of any bank bailout.

Cyprus promoted itself as an offshore financial haven by making depositing money there attractive to foreigners. The result? A financial sector that dwarfed the rest of the economy.

Without that deal, Cyprus? banks would have collapsed, dragging down the economy and potentially pushing it out of the euro zone.

'Extremely unfair'
While the country?s president, Nicos Anastasiades, called the deal ?painful? but essential, Nobel laureate economist Christopher Pissarides said the bailout was ?extremely unfair to the little guy.?

?For the first time in the euro zone, depositors are (being) asked to bail out failing banks," he said. "Now that used to be the case in the 1930s, especially United States (and) caused big bank runs. It has been decided since then that we shouldn?t allow that to happen again.?

As Cyprus celebrates its Independence Day, the ?government is defending the last-minute bailout deal it's negotiated with the European Union. This means shutting down the country's second biggest bank, with big savers facing ?losses. ?ITV's Emma Murphy reports.

Finance Minister Michael Sarris said that the government was implementing measures to halt a run on the banks when they opened on Thursday, although he did not go into detail, according to Reuters.

It isn?t only bankers and the wealthy who are angry, however. On Wednesday, around 3,000 high school students protested the plan agreed to with the European Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank.

"They've just got rid of all our dreams, everything we've worked for, everything we've achieved up until now, what our parents have achieved," a student named Thomas told Reuters.?

So as Cyprus waited to see what Thursday would bring, citizens mourned what they saw as the end of an era.?

?It?s the destruction of the country,? Cypriot Aristos Sardi said. ?Who they think they are? For this country the colonial days finished in the 1960s.?

?I am heartbroken,? he added.

NBC News' F. Brinley Bruton, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Related:?

In Cyprus deal, Russia may have the last laugh

Cypriots: Hope, but also fear they 'will be like slaves' to Russia

EU to Cypriots: Let us raid your savings or no bailout

?

This story was originally published on Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:00 AM EDT

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653351/s/2a0e4b1f/l/0Lworldnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A30C270C174843790Ecypriots0Efear0Erun0Eon0Ebanks0Eas0Ebranches0Eprepare0Eto0Ereopen0Eafter0Ealmost0Etwo0Eweeks0Dlite/story01.htm

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It's a girl for Kristen Bell, fiance Dax Shepard

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard are new parents of a baby girl.

The engaged actors took to Twitter Thursday to announce the arrival of their daughter, Lincoln Bell Shepard.

Bell, who stars on Showtime's "House of Lies," tweeted that her "new roommate poops her pants and doesn't pay rent." She closed with, "welcome baby Lincoln."

Shepard is a star of NBC's "Parenthood." He posted that his new daughter "has mom's beauty and dad's obsession with breasts."

Bell is 32 and Shepard is 38. The couple have been engaged since 2009.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/girl-kristen-bell-fiance-dax-shepard-225545453.html

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'Featured Android Apps for Tablets' page now on Google Play website

Developers who spend time to make apps that look great on a tablet get a shout-out from Google on a new page at the Google Play site.

Google has put up a page at Google Play that focuses on apps designed with a tablet in mind. Android doesn't require applications to be specifically written for tablets, instead opting to allow developers to use UI elements like fragments to better utilize screen real estate on any device. But the truth of the matter is, most app developers aren't doing it. Hopefully, a chance to get featured by Google will jump start a bit more development in this area.

We're not saying it's easy to make one app work across all devices, because it's not. Google provides a good toolbox for it, and they have outreach programs for developers, but it still takes time and work to make you app look great on both a phone and a tablet. While Android is the market leader for smart phones, their tablet sales fall to a distant third behind Apple and Amazon. It makes sense for developers to focus on an app designed to look great on a smaller screen before he or she starts worrying about tablet-sized screens and the new challenges they bring.

Anyhoo, it's nice to see Google give props to a handful (there's 116 apps featured) of applications that are awesome on your tablet, and we hope this list grows and grows. To check them out for yourself, just follow the link below.

Source: Google Play. Thanks, Tomas!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/idoy-EDYhdk/story01.htm

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It's a dog's life:travelling abroad with man's best friend - My Telegraph

A British expat was recently recounting an adventurous and tiring three day escapade driving from the UK via France to Barcelona from?where he took the ferry to Palma, Majorca. And all for the sake of his two pooches ?Great Danes as it happened- that he simply?couldn?t?face traumatising with a stint in the hold of a plane.

It?s still possible to teach an old dog new tricks with pet jet travel

He?s not alone. An increasing number of expats are regularly travelling to and from the UK with their canines while scores of British holidaymakers are taking their dogs on holiday, a fact born out in a survey by MedicAnimal.com, an online retailer of animal products. It showed that nearly one in two of the 1000 pet owners polled, intended to take their pets away with them this summer whether in the UK or abroad.

Meanwhile, Clive Jackson, founder of Fly Victor, has attracted countless customers with his ?Furs Class? private jet service which allows dogs to travel with their owners on the plane. The jets used are all DEFRA approved and as long as pets are micro-chipped and have a current pet passport, their air passage promises to be smooth and problem free. Some commercial flights charge as much as ?750.00 to take an animal in the hold from London to Majorca while for the same cost -admittedly it?s the starting price- a pampered pet can travel in luxury on a Fly Victor jet without stress or discomfort and with a speedy 15 minute check-in time. Other operators such as Pet Air UK offer an advisory service for those wishing to take their pets overseas and are registered DEFRA pet transporters.

Since the pet passport scheme was introduced it has become relatively easy to take dogs and cats to European destinations although they must be micro-chipped and have passports that are up to date with vaccinations against rabies.

As part of its drive to make travelling with dogs hassle free, MedicAnimal has created a free online ?Guide to Good Petiquette for the travelling Dog? which apparently offers dos and don?ts for holidaying hounds when staying in hotels, B&Bs, and rental properties. It has created five instructive categories which include Sit, Fetch, Heel, Eat and Down.

I?d like to suggest to sightseeing dogs?my own criteria for those five golden rules starting with Sit: never sit on a stranger?s lap regardless of whether he?s wafting a wurst or chorizo sausage under the nose, Fetch: don?t fetch your owner?s towel. If he or she has forgotten it, pretend to doze by the pool. It?s not your problem. Heel: Try to refrain from nipping the heels of foreign women on the street. Eat: Avoid garlicky sausage but otherwise gorge yourself silly on the scraps left from the hotel breakfast buffet without making a dogs dinner of it. Down: Lie down as much as possible especially in the heat, following the Spanish siesta concept at all times.

And finally for hot dogs who aspire to being ultra cool, there?s an SPF 15 ?Doggy Sunmist? sunscreen and advice on how and what to pack in the doggy bag for the voyage. Come the holiday season with a doting and indulgent owner to hand it?s likely that every lucky dog will have its day.

Find out more about Anna Nicholas?here?or follow her on Twitter?@MajorcanPearls

?

Return to the Expat homepage

Source: http://my.telegraph.co.uk/expat/annanicholas/10150095/its-a-dogs-lifetravelling-abroad-with-mans-best-friend/

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Spam blocking group reports major cyberattack

Mar 26 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Tiger Woods $3,787,600 2. Brandt Snedeker $2,859,920 3. Matt Kuchar $2,154,500 4. Steve Stricker $1,820,000 5. Phil Mickelson $1,650,260 6. Hunter Mahan $1,553,965 7. John Merrick $1,343,514 8. Dustin Johnson $1,330,507 9. Russell Henley $1,313,280 10. Kevin Streelman $1,310,343 11. Keegan Bradley $1,274,593 12. Charles Howell III $1,256,373 13. Michael Thompson $1,254,669 14. Brian Gay $1,171,721 15. Justin Rose $1,155,550 16. Jason Day $1,115,565 17. Chris Kirk $1,097,053 18. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/spam-blocking-group-reports-major-cyberattack-150657992--finance.html

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Swiss Re cites US weather for big insurance losses

GENEVA (AP) ? Insurance claims paid out because of natural catastrophes and man-made disasters in 2012 totaled $77 billion globally, making it the third costliest year on record, a leading Swiss firm said Wednesday.

The tab covered by insurance companies represents only about two-fifths of the $186 billion in economic losses, not to mention the 14,000 lives lost, from the more than 300 catastrophes and disasters around the globe last year, according to Zurich-based Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd., known as Swiss Re.

But the vast majority of that damage, it said, was because of "large-scale weather events" in the U.S. such as Hurricane Sandy that alone accounted for $70 billion in economic losses, of which $35 billion were insured losses ? nearly half the total in last year's paid claims worldwide.

The insured payouts of $77 billion represent a big drop from 2011, which Swiss Re called the costliest year on record because of earthquakes and flooding in Asia Pacific ? and might have been far higher had more people been able to afford insurance.

"However, large parts of the globe that are prone to weather extremes were not able to rely on financial relief due to low insurance penetration," Swiss Re chief economist Kurt Karl said.

By contrast, due to high amount of coverage in North America, about $65 billion of the region's $119 billion in economic losses were covered by insurance.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/swiss-cites-us-weather-big-insurance-losses-151722074--finance.html

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US eyes anti-piracy effort along west Africa coast

FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2010 file photo, a crew of U.S. sailors and Nigerian special forces fighters prepares to board the NNS Burutu for a training exercise off the Nigerian coast. The U.S. Navy offered training to the Nigerian navy as worries mount of increasingly violent pirate attacks along the West African coast. The U.S. and some of its allies are considering plans to increase anti-piracy operations along Africa?s west coast, spurred on by concerns that money from the attacks is funding a Nigerian-based insurgent group that is linked to one of al-Qaida?s most dangerous affiliates. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2010 file photo, a crew of U.S. sailors and Nigerian special forces fighters prepares to board the NNS Burutu for a training exercise off the Nigerian coast. The U.S. Navy offered training to the Nigerian navy as worries mount of increasingly violent pirate attacks along the West African coast. The U.S. and some of its allies are considering plans to increase anti-piracy operations along Africa?s west coast, spurred on by concerns that money from the attacks is funding a Nigerian-based insurgent group that is linked to one of al-Qaida?s most dangerous affiliates. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The U.S. and some of its allies are considering plans to increase anti-piracy operations along Africa's west coast, spurred on by concerns that money from the attacks is funding a Nigerian-based insurgent group that is linked to one of al-Qaida's most dangerous affiliates.

Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has escalated over the past year, and senior U.S. defense and counter-piracy officials say allied leaders are weighing whether beefed up enforcement efforts that worked against pirates off the Somalia coast might also be needed in the waters off Nigeria.

There has been growing coordination between Nigeria-based Boko Haram and al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which was linked to the attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, last September that killed four Americans, including the ambassador. Military leaders say AQIM has become the wealthiest al-Qaida offshoot and an increasing terrorist threat to the region.

It has long been difficult to track whether there are terrorist ties to piracy in the waters off Africa. But officials are worried that even if Boko Haram insurgents aren't directly involved in the attacks off Nigeria and Cameroon, they may be reaping some of the profits and using the money for ongoing terrorist training or weapons.

No final decisions have been made on how counter-piracy operations could be increased in that region, and budget restrictions could hamper that effort, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about emerging discussions between senior U.S. military commanders and other international leaders.

But officials say the solution could include continued work and counter-piracy training with African nations. The U.S. participated last month in a maritime exercise with European and African partners in the Gulf of Guinea.

"Maritime partnerships and maritime security and safety are increasingly important in the Gulf of Guinea region to combat a variety of challenges including maritime crime, illicit trafficking and piracy," said Gen. Carter Ham, head of U.S. Africa Command.

In recent weeks, Ham and other U.S. military commanders have bluntly warned Congress that the terrorist threat from northern Africa has become far more worrisome.

"If the threat that is present in Africa is left unaddressed, it will over time grow to an increasingly dangerous and imminent threat to U.S. interests, and certainly could develop into a threat that threatens us in other places," Ham told Congress earlier this month. "We've already seen from some places in Africa, individuals that ? from Nigeria, for example ? attempt to enter our country with explosives."

Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has escalated from low-level armed robberies to hijackings and cargo thefts and kidnappings. Last year, London-based Lloyd's Market Association ? an umbrella group of insurers ? listed oil-rich Nigeria, neighboring Benin and nearby waters in the same risk category as Somalia.

Pirates have been more willing to use violence in their robberies, at times targeting the crew for ransom. And experts suggest that many of the pirates come from Nigeria, where corrupt law enforcement allows criminality to thrive and there's a bustling black market for stolen crude oil.

Typically, foreign companies operating in Nigeria's Niger Delta pay cash ransoms to free their employees after negotiating down kidnappers' demands. Foreign hostages can fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece.

Lately, however, the attacks, which had traditionally focused on the Nigerian coast, have spread, hitting ships carrying fuel from an Ivory Coast port. In January pirates made off with about $5 million in cargo from a fuel-laden tanker near the port of Abidjan, and two weeks later a French-owned fuel tanker was hijacked in the same area.

Just days after that, three sailors were kidnapped off a U.K.-flagged ship off the coast of Nigeria, and late in February six foreigners were taken off an energy company vessel in that same region.

The International Maritime Bureau has raised alarms about the Ivory Coast attacks, calling the first January incident a "potential game changer" in piracy in the region because was the farthest ever from Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea. And U.S. Navy Capt. Dave Rollo, who directed the recent naval exercise in the Gulf of Guinea that involved as many as 15 nations, said piracy in that area is not just a regional crime issue, it's "a global problem."

Meanwhile, over the past year, piracy off Somalia's coast has plummeted, as the U.S.-led enforcement effort beefed up patrols and encouraged increased security measures on ships transiting the region. After repeated urgings from military commanders and other officials, shipping companies increased the use of armed guards and took steps to better avoid and deter pirates.

According to data from the combined maritime force, nearly 50 ships were taken by pirates in 2010 in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin and there were another close to 200 unsuccessful attempts. Last year, just seven ships were pirated there along with 36 failed attacks.

Even as defense officials warn about the growing threat, they acknowledge that increasing counter-piracy operations around the Gulf of Guinea presents a number of challenges.

In recent weeks, the U.S. Navy has had to postpone or cancel a number of ship deployments because of budget cuts, including a decision not to send the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman to the Persian Gulf. The U.S. has maintained two carrier groups in the Gulf for much of the past two years, as tensions with Iran have escalated.

U.S. Africa Command has no ships of its own, so any U.S. vessels needed for operations would have to come from other places, such as Europe or America.

And defense officials also note that it may be difficult to build as much international interest in the Gulf of Guinea attacks as those in the more heavily traveled shipping lanes on the northeastern side of the continent.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-03-26-US-Africa-Piracy/id-3f06673b6a144057aaa93e6bba0f0ed7

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Tesla Motors to expand Model S electric car 'Supercharger' network

Tesla Motors is planning to open more?quick-charge locations along its 'Supercharger' network in various locations over the next three to four months, Voelcker writes.?The Supercharger network is meant to allow Tesla Motors Model S drivers to obtain rapid recharges every 100 to 200 miles.

By John Voelcker,?Guest blogger / March 25, 2013

A Tesla Model S electric sedan is driven near the company's factory in Fremont, Calif. Since the first 'supercharger' stations went live last September, there have been only eight locations in California and the Northeast Corridor, Voelcker writes.

Noah Berger/Reuters/File

Enlarge

One of the features associated with the 2013 Tesla Model S all-electric luxury sport?sedan?is the dedicated Supercharger network of DC quick-charge locations.

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The website focuses on the auto industry?s future, the evolution of cars beyond fossil fuels, and the green movement's relevance to car shoppers today. For more stories on green cars, click here.

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Since the first stations went live last September, there have been only?eight locations?in California and the Northeast Corridor.

Now Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] is planning to open more locations.

in the company's?latest blog post, George Blankenship, Tesla's vice president of worldwide sales and ownership experience, said that the network will grow--and soon.

"We will be adding Supercharger coverage in many areas over the next three to four months," he writes, "installing our first Superchargers in the Pacific Northwest, Texas, Illinois, and Florida with additional coverage in the Northeast and California.?

UK-Odd Summary

New York cop who toured with band charged with disability fraud

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York police officer was charged on Tuesday with mail fraud for allegedly claiming disability benefits for two years while at the same time performing and touring with his heavy metal band, "Cousin Sleaze," according to court documents. Christopher Inserra, an officer with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, was the lead singer with the Brooklyn band, whose "Sick Maniacs" album features such songs as "Infection" and "Walk of Shame," according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn.

Battle rages over bones of England's Richard III

LONDON (Reuters) - King Richard III is at the centre of a new fight over the location of his final resting place, just weeks after the remains of the last English king to die in battle were found underneath a council car park. Archaeologists announced one of the most remarkable finds in recent English history last month when they confirmed the discovery of the body of Richard, who was slain at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, during excavations in Leicester.

"Shameful" sexist Ford car ads spark outrage in India

MUMBAI (Reuters) - A series of car ads, including one showing women bound and gagged in the trunk of a Ford driven by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, has prompted Internet outrage in India and prompted an apology from Ford India. The ads came just days after India approved a tougher new law to punish sex crimes, following the fatal gang rape of a student in December. That attack sparked unprecedented protests over the treatment of women in the country.

"Panda-monium" as giant pandas arrive in Canada from China

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada got a taste of international panda diplomacy on Monday with the arrival of two "Very Important Pandas" at the start of a 10-year loan to two Canadian zoos. Speaking as the two giant pandas arrived in Toronto from China, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Junsai - who gave the animals the VIP designation - noted that when he started his posting in Canada two years ago, he was greeted only by the Canadian director of protocol.

Punxsutawney Phil charged with fraud for early spring forecast

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - With a snow storm expected to batter the Plains, Midwest and East Coast this weekend, a spring-deprived Ohio prosecutor is taking out his frustration with the long winter on a famous prognosticating groundhog. "I decided it was about time we indicted Punxsutawney Phil afor fraud," said Mike Gmoser, prosecutor in Ohio's Butler County, in an interview Friday.

Harvard stripped of quiz tournament titles

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Harvard University will be stripped of four national quiz championship titles after organizers found a competitor from the Ivy League school inappropriately accessed information about questions used in the tournament. The National Academic Quiz Tournaments said that a security review found that Harvard competitor Andy Watkins accessed pages on its administrative Website just before the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Intercollegiate Championship Tournaments or "Quiz Bowls".

100,000 Portuguese sign petition to keep ex-PM Socrates off TV

LISBON (Reuters) - Portuguese state television channel RTP's plan to give former premier Jose Socrates a weekly commentary spot has sparked outrage, with 100,000 people signing a petition citing his "bad management" that led the country to take a bailout in 2011. "We, citizens and tax-payers, declare that we reject the presence of former Prime Minister Jose Socrates on any programme at RTP, television paid for by public funds of taxpayers suffering from the bad management of this gentleman," the Internet petition said.

Swiss court jails "healer" for infecting 16 with HIV

ZURICH (Reuters) - A self-styled healer was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in jail on Friday after a Swiss court found the acupuncturist guilty of infecting 16 people with HIV. A Berne court found the man guilty of causing bodily harm and spreading the virus which can cause Aids, court secretary Rene Graf told Reuters. He did not give any further details.

Tunisian rapper gets jail term for calling police dogs in song

TUNIS (Reuters) - A Tunisian court has sentenced a rap singer to two years in jail in absentia for insulting the police in a case likely to fuel debate over free speech under the Islamist-led government. The singer, known as Weld el 15, is on the run. Two of his associates, singers Mohamed Hedi Belgueyed and Sabrine Klibi, were in court when they received suspended sentences of six months each, a Justice Ministry source said on Friday.

Russian serial killer sentenced to life for nine murders

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian serial killer who butchered his nine victims with a knife and hammer, and said he ate the hearts of two of them, was sentenced to life in prison on Friday. Prosecutors said Alexander Bychkov targeted alcoholics and the homeless out of disdain for their way of life, lured them into deserted areas, killed them, dismembered them and hid the body parts.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uk-odd-summary-074951526.html

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