aground chide: November 2012

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Jeff Zucker To CNN: Former NBCUniversal Chief Will Reportedly Head Time Warner's Cable News Network

By Peter Lauria and Lisa Richwine

LOS ANGELES, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Jeff Zucker, a former head of NBCUniversal and the producer of Katie Couric's talk show, will be named president of Time Warner Inc's ratings-starved CNN cable news channel, a source close to the situation said on Tuesday.

Zucker will succeed departing CNN Worldwide President Jim Walton, who said in July he was leaving the once-dominant news network after nine years in the job and a recent ratings slump.

The appointment of Zucker as the new president of CNN Worldwide will be announced by the end of next week, the source said.

CNN, founded in 1980 and now owned by Time Warner, has tried to hold the middle ground in its news coverage, a position that some blame for its ratings erosion, while ratings have risen for competitors Fox News and MSNBC, which blend news with opinion and political commentary.

Related on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/jeff-zucker-cnn-nbc_n_2201386.html

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Asian shares fall as focus shifts to U.S. budget talks

TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares ended a seven-day winning streak on Wednesday and commodities eased as investors fretted that a lack of progress in talks on U.S. budget woes risked putting the world's largest economy into recession, dragging down global growth with it.

European shares will likely track Asian peers lower. Financial spreadbetters predicted London's FTSE 100 <.ftse>, Paris's CAC-40 <.fchi> and Frankfurt's DAX <.gdaxi> will open down as much as 0.5 percent. A 0.1 percent drop in U.S. stock futures also hinted at a soft Wall Street open. <.l><.eu><.n/>

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan <.miapj0000pus> fell 0.5 percent, retreating from Tuesday's nearly three-week highs, with materials and energy sectors <.miapjmt00pus><.miapjen00pus> leading the declines.

"The global economy, China, Europe, needs the U.S. economy to grow, and that is why the pressure to get this deal done is greater than before," said Carl Larry, a derivatives broker at the Houston-based Atlas Commodities. "The global economy can't afford for America to slip back into a recession."

Shares in resource-reliant Australian <.axjo> eased 0.2 percent, off Tuesday's two-week highs as top miners fell on weaker gold prices.

Australia's Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics said committed investment in major resources and energy projects, the main driver of Australian growth, still rose to A$268.4 billion ($280.5 billion) at October 31 from A$260.8 billion at end-April, but the rise partly reflected higher project costs and masked a fall in the number of projects. A fall in commodity prices due to a drop-off in Chinese demand also weighed on shares.

"Markets don't really provide any sort of compelling investment value here at present because the grey cloud of uncertainty still overhangs the economic climate, in particular across Europe and the U.S., but also filtering into this part of the world as well," Jamie Spiteri, senior dealer at Shaw Stockbroking, said of Australian shares.

U.S. stocks slid overnight after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expressed disappointment over little progress in dealing with the approaching "fiscal cliff" of deep cuts in government spending and big tax hikes early next year.

The Shanghai Composite Index <.ssec> slid 0.9 percent to its lowest in nearly four years as growth-sensitive sectors sank, extending losses after closing on Tuesday below 2,000 points for the first time since January 2009.

The weak Chinese stock market, along with doubts over the U.S. ability to resolve its fiscal crisis, strengthened demand for sovereign debt, helping to push the 10-year Japanese government bond futures price to a 9-1/2-year high of 144.79, while U.S. Treasuries clung to gains made on Tuesday.

Japan's Nikkei stock average <.n225> slumped 1 percent, after closing on Tuesday at a seven-month high.

The Nikkei had risen 8.8 percent over the past two weeks since the government announced a December 16 election. Japan's main opposition party is forecast to win power, and investors expect it will force the Bank of Japan into aggressive easing. <.t/>

EUROPE LACKS CONFIDENCE

Tuesday's agreement by international lenders to cut Greece's debt offered relief that it has averted an imminent bankruptcy, but uncertainty remained over the lack of details on how Athens will carry out budget reforms to meet its new debt targets as analysts cited the deal as falling short of addressing medium-term financing and debt sustainability issues.

"The uncertainty brought by this approach makes European assets, including the EUR, vulnerable to global growth risks. For that reason, we think the European muddle through amplifies the market's response to the fiscal cliff discussion in the US," Barclays Capital analysts said in a note.

The euro fell 0.2 percent to $1.2924, after peaking at $1.3010 on the Greece news on Tuesday, its highest level since October 31.

Worries over the fiscal crisis overshadowed positive U.S. economic data that showed improvement in durable orders, the real estate sector and consumer confidence, which hit a 4-1/2-year high in November.

The dollar dropped 0.3 percent against the yen to 81.85. U.S. crude futures were steady around $87.16 a barrel while Brent edged up 0.2 percent to $110.13. London copper dropped 0.4 percent to $7,776 a metric ton (1.1023 tons).

Spot gold inched down 0.1 percent to $1,739.40 an ounce after slipping on Tuesday for a second session.

Southeast Asia kept some hopes that the damage to their economies may be contained from global growth deterioration triggered by the prolonged euro zone debt crisis.

Indonesia, Southeast Asia's biggest economy, sees annual economic growth in the fourth quarter at 5.9-6.3 percent, while the Philippine economy picked up more than expected in the third quarter, with the government expecting the economy to surpass its 2012 full-year growth target of 5-6 percent.

Investors were sidelined in Asian credit markets, keeping the spreads on the iTraxx Asia ex-Japan investment-grade index little changed from Tuesday's levels.

(Additional reporting by Miranda Maxwell in Melbourne and Luke Pachymuthu in Singapore; Editing by Jonathan Thatcher)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asian-shares-fall-focus-shifts-u-budget-talks-031354440--finance.html

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Here's the IDF's Social Media Chief Wearing Blackface on Facebook

You'd think someone running one of the most sophisticated social media engagements in history would know better than to be super racist on Facebook. Or, you know, at all. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/dJItHVcJWuQ/heres-the-idfs-social-media-chief-wearing-blackface-on-facebook

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Monday, November 26, 2012

'Twilight,' Bond, 'Lincoln' lead record weekend

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012 file photo, from left, American actor Taylor Lautner, American actress Kristen Stewart and British actor Robert Pattinson pose during a photo call at the Spanish premiere of the film "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2" in Kinepolis Cinema in Madrid, Spain. Stewart, Pattinson and Lautner have walked their last ?Twilight? red carpet with the arrival of the finale ?The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2,? and now must step into careers of their own using the superstardom the multi-billion-dollar franchise has provided them. ( AP Photo/Gabriel Pecot, File)

FILE - This Oct. 22, 2012 file photo shows British actor Robert Pattinson, right, having his photo taken with fans upon arrival for an exclusive fan event for the final chapter of the Twilight Saga "Breaking Dawn Part 2" in Sydney, Australia. Thanksgiving newcomers have been unable to knock off the big three at the box office: Bella, Bond and Abe Lincoln. Kristen Stewart's finale as Bella Swan led the holiday weekend ticket sales. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Bella Swan, James Bond and Abe Lincoln have combined to lift Hollywood to record Thanksgiving revenue at the box office.

Kristen Stewart's finale as Bella in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2" was No. 1 again with $64 million during the five-day holiday stretch that began Wednesday, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Daniel Craig's Bond adventure "Skyfall" came in at No. 2 with $51 million, while Daniel Day-Lewis and Steven Spielberg's Civil War saga "Lincoln" finished third with $34.1 million.

According to box-office tracker Hollywood.com, the three films paced Hollywood to an all-time Thanksgiving week best of about $290 million from Wednesday to Sunday.

That tops the previous record of $273 million over Thanksgiving in 2009, when "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" led the weekend.

This Thanksgiving also was a huge 25 percent jump from a year ago, when domestic revenues were a weak $232 million as some big holiday releases fizzled.

With a strong December lineup ahead, Hollywood has resumed its record revenue pace for the year after a brief box-office lull in late summer and early fall.

Domestic revenues for 2012 are at $9.75 billion, putting Hollywood potentially on track for its first $11 billion year, which would beat the 2009 record of $10.6 billion, said Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian.

"We're barreling toward a record-breaking box-office year," Dergarabedian said. "It's built on the back of just a lot of really strong movies that have come out over the past few weekends. It bodes very well for the rest of the holidays."

The "Twilight" finale, "Skyfall" and "Lincoln" finished in the same top-three rankings for the second-straight weekend as new releases were unable to dislodge the holdovers.

Released by Lionsgate's Summit Entertainment banner, "Breaking Dawn ? Part 2," pulled in $43.1 million from Friday to Sunday, raising its domestic total to $227 million. The movie added $97.4 million overseas to bring its international total to $350.8 million and its worldwide take to $577.7 million.

Sony's "Skyfall" also topped $200 million domestically, ringing up $36 million for the three-day weekend to put its U.S. total at $221.7 million. With $41.3 million more overseas, "Skyfall" raised its international revenues to $568.4 million and its worldwide sales to $790.1 million.

"Lincoln," a DreamWorks film distributed by Disney, took in $25 million over the weekend to lift its domestic revenue to $62.2 million.

Leading the newcomers was Paramount and DreamWorks Animation's tale "Rise of the Guardians" at No. 4 with $24 million for the weekend and $32.6 million since opening Wednesday.

Based on William Joyce's "Guardians of Childhood" books, "Rise of the Guardians" gathers Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and other mythical beings as a team of heroes battling an evil overlord.

Close behind at No. 5 was director Ang Lee's shipwreck saga "Life of Pi" at No. 5 with $22 million over the weekend. The 20th Century Fox release has taken in $30.2 million domestically since its Wednesday debut and added $17.5 million in four Asian markets.

"Life of Pi" was adapted from Yann Martel's best-selling novel about an Indian youth adrift on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. Many fans considered the introspective novel impossible to film, but Lee has charmed audiences and critics with an inspiring survival story told through dazzling 3-D images.

The weekend's other new wide release, a remake of the 1980s U.S.-invasion tale "Red Dawn," opened at No. 7 with $14.6 million, raising its total to $22 million since debuting Wednesday.

"Red Dawn" sat on the shelf for three years while studio backer MGM went through bankruptcy, with distributor FilmDistrict eventually picking it up for domestic release. The movie's cast includes Chris Hemsworth ("Thor") and Josh Hutcherson ("The Hunger Games") in a story of young guerrillas battling North Korean invaders.

In limited release, Fox Searchlight's "Hitchcock" opened solidly with about $300,000 in 17 theaters. The movie stars Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock in a behind-the-scenes story of the making of "Psycho."

The weekend's overall strength came from a broad range of films that clicked with various audiences, from action and family fare to thoughtful drama.

"This is a marketplace that has something for everyone," said Chris Aronson, head of distribution for 20th Century Fox. "You have something deeper like 'Life of Pi,' yet you have a very successful sequel in 'Twilight' at the same time. Adult bio-drama, if you will, in 'Lincoln,' and you have Bond. That's the secret to a very successful and balanced marketplace."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2," $43.1 million ($97.4 million international).

2. "Skyfall," $36 million ($41.3 million international).

3. "Lincoln," $25 million.

4. "Rise of the Guardians," $24 million ($10 million international).

5. "Life of Pi," $22 million ($17.5 million international)

6. "Wreck-It Ralph," $16.8 million ($2.1 million international).

7. "Red Dawn," $14.6 million.

8. "Flight," $8.6 million ($723,000 international).

9. "Silver Linings Playbook," $4.6 million ($1.6 million international).

10. "Argo," $3.9 million ($6 million international).

___

Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:

1. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2," $97.4 million.

2. "Skyfall," $41.3 million.

3. "Life of Pi," $17.5 million.

4. "Rise of the Guardians," $10 million.

5. "Argo," $6 million.

6. "Hotel Transylvania," $5.5 million.

7. "A Werewolf Boy," $4.2 million.

8 (tie). "Don't Cry, Mommy," $3.6 million.

8 (tie). "Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo," $3.6 million.

10. "Wreck-It Ralph," $2.1 million.

___

Online:

http://www.hollywood.com

http://www.rentrak.com

___

Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-11-25-Box%20Office/id-9204dc844caf40c6a0e95edce483b49f

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Saturday, November 24, 2012

Want a sneak peek at the next Xbox? Look at the Xbox 360.

Microsoft keeps adding reasons to turn on the Xbox 360. Do these new features actually lay the groundwork for the next Xbox?

By Chris Gaylord,?Staff writer / November 23, 2012

Microsoft designed the Xbox 360 as a Trojan horse ? a way for the king of personal computers to take over your living room.

Scott Wallace

Enlarge

In 2005, Microsoft released the Xbox 360 to the delight of hard-core gamers. But Microsoft had bigger plans. It designed the video-game console as a Trojan horse ? a way for the king of personal computers to take over your living room.

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Each year, Microsoft has added new reasons to turn on your Xbox, including movie rentals, live sports, all-you-can-eat access to more than 30 million songs, voice commands, TV shows, fitness programs, motion controls, online searches, the ability to use your phone as a remote control ? and, of course, video games.

"There are other guys who have multipurpose devices, but no one has done it successfully in the living room, except for Microsoft," says Michael Pachter, a research analyst with Wedbush Securities in Los Angeles.

Even seven years in, Americans bought 270,000 new Xbox 360s in October, more than the Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation 3 combined, according to the NPD Group, which tracks consumer spending.

When it comes to features, Sony and Nintendo have been playing catch-up, says Mr. Pachter. Microsoft had the first console to partner with Netflix, streaming movies and television shows straight to TVs.

Rather than copy the Wii's motion-sensitive wand, Microsoft introduced the Kinect, which doesn't need a controller at all. It identifies body movement and verbal commands. You can start videos with your voice and fast-forward with a hand swipe.

Last year, Microsoft coupled Kinect with its search engine, Bing. This opened up voice search. You can now say out loud, "Xbox, Bing 'Harry Potter,' " for a listing of movies to watch, songs to play, and games to download.

This year brought SmartGlass, software that turns a smart phone or tablet into a remote control for the Xbox.

Pachter thinks these four features ? video on demand, hand and voice commands, built-in search, and SmartGlass ? have done more than keep the Xbox 360 ahead. They've laid the groundwork for the next Xbox.

He imagines a next-generation machine that could replace standard cable boxes. A television signal would go directly into the Xbox and beam out to any TV in the house.

"If you are a tech-savvy household, you will be able to route any signal you want and watch as many signals as you have TVs with one Xbox," he says. "The cable companies don't make money on hardware. It is not in their best interest to have six cable boxes in your house."

We'll find out soon if Pachter is correct. Many expect Microsoft and Sony to unveil their next video-game consoles this summer.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/VZLZ2XmspQU/Want-a-sneak-peek-at-the-next-Xbox-Look-at-the-Xbox-360

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A Guide For Mobile Game Developers To Survive The Holiday Season Rush

Editor's note: Nate Barker?is publisher relations manager and Jamie Evans is advertising account manager at Chartboost. Here are a few things you need to know to stay calm, cool and collected this holiday season, so you can maximize the effectiveness of your mobile marketing budgets.

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

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Best Custom Gaming Computer Build Under $1000 [December 2012]

High End Gaming Performance Under $1,000

Every month I try to put together a new recommended/best computer build for you guys and generally speaking, the build I see that?s requested most often is the $1,000 gaming PC build that can be expected to last a couple years. Since it?s already Thanksgiving time (for those of you in the USA) and Christmas is around the corner (and I know a lot of you guys are really looking to put something together for the holidays), I felt that a strong $1,000 build would be the most help for you guys for this month and into December.

For those looking for something a bit more budget, be sure to check out our $800 Budget AMD Gaming Build and for those with a bit more, be sure to check out our $2,000 Gaming PC Build as well.

Gaming Computer Build Component Summary ? Budget: $1000

Core Component Details

CPU -?Intel Core i5 3570k

After our move to an AMD chip for last month?s budget build, we?re once again back to our usual Intel Core i5 3570K. For those who regularly follow our monthly builds here at Custom PC Review, you?ll know that it?s just about the best processor you can get for the money today. With plenty of performance, top notch overclocking capability and enough horsepower to run any game you throw at it, the choice is a no brainer.

Those thinking about purchasing a processor with a bit more horsepower for video editing or other multi-threaded applications, be sure to take a look at the Intel Core i7 3770K. With its hyper-threading?technology, it boasts up to a 30% boost in performance against the i5 3570K in multi-threaded applications.

Motherboard -?Gigabyte Z77X-D3H

Ever since Intel?s introduction of the Z77 chipset, motherboard giant Gigabyte has made huge leaps in in improvements on their motherboards all the way from the budget end to the extreme high end and the Z77X-D3H is a perfect example of what kind of top quality products can be achieved.

With support for PCIe 3.0, SATA 3 6Gb/s, 8 channel integrated audio, Gigabyte?s fully digital power delivery system, and ultra durable 4 features, it?s got a lot going for it.

That said, once you realize that Gigabyte only wants a mere $114.99 for it with an additional $15 rebate bringing it down to only $99.99, this makes the Z77X-D3H one of the best priced, fully featured Z77 motherboards on the market today!

Memory ? 8GB Corsair Vengeance 1600MHz DDR3 Low Profile 1.5v

We?re back to our usual memory configuration, and we?re sticking to it! Thanks to another round of recent price reductions, the 8GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz kit is now only a mere $39.99! With excellent reliability, great performance, a low profile and an amazing price, there really isn?t a better option on the market.

Case -?Corsair Carbide Series 200R

You?ll notice throughout the build that we?re using a lot of Corsair components, and it?s for good reason too. It was only a year ago that Corsair cases were among the most high end in terms of both quality, features and price, but lately it seems like Corsair is taking a huge step in providing more affordable solutions without sacrificing a ton of quality and features.

The Corsair Carbide Series 200R is one of those new budget oriented cases that comes in at a mere $69, but includes a ton of features to make it suitable for anyone looking to build a new PC, but is limited to a budget.

With support for up to 8 fans, dust filters for the PSU and intake, tool free design, and a clearance of up to 320mm for those extra long graphics cards, it?s a beast of a case that doesn?t carry a beast of a pricetag.

GPU -?MSI GTX 660 Ti Power Edition

We?re building a gaming PC today, so that means we?re going to splurge a little on graphics and what better graphics card than the MSI GTX 660 Ti Power Edition?

Based off Nvidia?s new Kepler design, the GTX 660 Ti provides top notch performance with extremely high efficiency, so you?re guaranteed to be getting a ton of performance without a lot of energy or creating a lot of heat either. With MSI?s Power Edition GTX 660 Ti, you?re also getting MSI?s legendary Twin Frozr IV cooler, which will provide ?excellent cooling along with MSI?s triple overvoltage design that allows you to do a little overclocking to improve performance if you?re feeling?adventurous.

Oh, and did I mention there?s also a $20 rebate bringing it down to only $269.99? Now I did.

Storage -?Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM

Well, we had a budget of only $1,000 and you know some sacrifices had to be made in order to fit the budget. This is one of those sacrifices. For our build today, we?ll be going with a Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM hard drive, which if you asked me one or two years ago would?ve probably been my ideal choice when building a new gaming computer.

Nowadays, I think every PC should include an SSD period. They?re waaaaaaaaay faster and they draw less energy, but unfortunately they do cost a significant amount more than a traditional hard drive.

Those who have some extra budget laying around, I?d definitely suggest going with a?128GB Samsung 840 Pro?or 256GB Samsung 840 Pro in combination with a 1TB Seagate Barracuda. This will allow for plenty of hard drive space for storage while OS and application files may be placed on the SSD for that extra top notch performance.

Final Pricing

Current pricing on Amazon for the build is $1,015.53 with an additional $35 in rebates bringing the system to about $980.53 after rebates. This is an excellent price for an extremely good gaming build that will play pretty much everything you throw at it at high to ultra settings.

Optional Components

Some people have interest in monitors, speakers, mice and keyboards, so we?re also including some recommendations for these items as well. I won?t be explaining the choices as?peripherals?are quite very much dependent on the person using the PC (For example, someone serious about audio may end up with $400 Audioengine 5+ speakers and an ASUS Xonar Essence STX), but here are some suggestions that are a good fit for this build.

Remember, if you have any questions, need some help, or need to fit the build into your budget feel free to?visit the forums!?Myself, or the community here will be more than happy to help you out with your own custom build or answer any computer questions you may have. If this build doesn?t fit your needs, be sure to drop by our?Computer Builds?section to find more computer builds.

Also, be sure to join us on?Facebook,?Twitter,?Google Plus, or?YouTube. Be updated on the latest news, reviews, tutorials, custom computer builds, and more!

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Help Us, Help You!

Once a month, we spend a ton of our precious and valuable time researching and writing up what we think is the best build you can buy for the money. We are very passionate about what we do and really enjoy spending our time helping you make the best buying decisions possible, but unfortunately passion and enjoyment doesn?t necessarily bring in much return.

If you appreciate what we do and want to help us continue doing what we do, simply hit our special Amazon link below prior to purchasing anything from Amazon. It doesn?t cost you anything to do so, but it does give us a small return on every purchase you make.

If you feel like being extra awesome, be sure to click the banner, bookmark it and help us out a bit every time you make a purchase!

About the Author

Sam Chen

Editor-in-Chief

Madonna Lawsuit In Russia Dismissed: Court Throws Out Case Seeking Damages After Singer's Pro-Gay Rights Speech

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia ? A Russian court on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit that sought millions of dollars in damages from Madonna for allegedly traumatizing minors by speaking up for gay rights during a concert in St. Petersburg.

The ruling came after a one-day hearing that bordered on the farcical. During it, plaintiffs claimed that Madonna's so-called "propaganda of perversion" would negatively affect Russia's birthrate and erode the nation's defense capability by depriving the country of future soldiers. At one point, the judge threatened to expel journalists from the courtroom if they laughed too much.

In the end, the Moskovsky district court in St. Petersburg threw out the Trade Union of Russian Citizens' lawsuit and the 333 million rubles ($10.7 million) it sought from the singer for allegedly exposing youths to "homosexual propaganda."

Madonna did not attend the trial, and her publicist Liz Rosenberg said Thursday the star wouldn't comment about it.

Anti-gay sentiment is strong in Russia, particularly in St. Petersburg, where local legislators passed a law in February that made it illegal to promote homosexuality to minors. Six months later, Madonna criticized the law on Facebook, then stood up for gay rights during a concert in St. Petersburg that drew fans as young as 12.

"Who will children grow up to be if they hear about the equal rights of the lesbian lobby and manly love with traditional sexual relations?" one of the plaintiffs, Darya Dedova, testified Thursday. "The death rate prevails over the birth rate in the West; young guys are becoming gender neutral."

The plaintiffs submitted evidence about gay culture drawn from Wikipedia pages, claiming that a real encyclopedia could not have articles about homosexuality.

"We aren't against homosexual people, but we are against the propaganda of perversion among minors," Dedova told the court. "We want to defend the values of a traditional family, which are currently in crisis in this country. Madonna violated our laws and she should be punished."

Madonna, who performed in Moscow and St. Petersburg in August as part of her world tour, also angered Russian officials by supporting jailed members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot. The American said during her Moscow concert that she would "pray for them," then turned around so the audience could see the words "Pussy Riot" written on her back. The singer also donned a ski mask similar to those worn by Pussy Riot.

Despite international outrage, three of that band's members were sentenced to two years in jail on hooliganism charges for performing a "punk prayer" at Moscow's main cathedral, during which they pleaded with the Virgin Mary to deliver Russia from President Vladimir Putin. One of the Pussy Riot members was later released from jail on appeal, but the other two were sent to prison camps to serve their sentences.

___

Seddon reported from Moscow.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/23/madonna-lawsuit-russia-gay-rights_n_2176566.html

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Friday, November 23, 2012

Celebrity kitchens that make you want to cook

15 hrs.

Erika Riggs , Zillow

They sing, they act and some of them even cook. While many celebrities are usually spotted dining out or confess to having private chefs, a small number of them say they love to play chef.

But who would blame them when their cooking space features high-end appliances, a deep farmhouse sink and extended counter space? We?re taking a tour through some gorgeous kitchens owned by celebs who actually use them.

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
Who?s the cook in Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel?s relationship?

The newlyweds actually share the kitchen duties, Timberlake told Jay Leno recently.

?She likes to cook. I like to bake ? so dinner and dessert,? Timberlake said.

Perhaps the two share duties in his modern Manhattan penthouse. The sleek and minimal space has deep counter space and stainless steel appliances.

Emma Stone
For Emma Stone, cooking is both therapy and passion. She confessed recently that baking was one way she could manage her anxiety growing up. Stone?s boyfriend, actor Andrew Garfield,?told Vanity Fair that the actress is also serious about some day opening a bakery of her own.

Might as well get some practice in! Her galley-style kitchen in her new Beverly Hills home has white tiled countertops, stainless steel appliances and a large sink with built-in drainboard.

Emma Stone bought her home in May 2012.

Gwyneth Paltrow
In between acting and raising a family with Coldplay rocker Chris Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow runs the website goop.com, which is devoted to healthy living. The actress also recently published a cookbook entitled ?My Father?s Daughter.?

The amateur chef likely needs a large space for preparing her meals, which is why her new?home in Los Angeles is perfect. The spacious and modern kitchen has high-end appliances and?a large island perfect for meal prep.

Paltrow?s kitchen would be a great setting for her next cookbook.

Matthew McConaughey
Texas-born actor?Matthew McConaughey?has long professed his love for Texas-style barbecue, stopping by Guy Fieri?s food show as well as sharing recipes with?Rachael Ray.

Even now as he prepares for a role requiring a strict diet, McConaughey told US Weekly he?s been preparing a lot of rib-eye steak for his wife, Camila Alves.

The couple share a home in Austin with their two children. Not only does McConaughey?s home include a large kitchen, but it also has a back patio with great barbecuing space.

McConaughey?s Austin home has great indoor and outdoor cooking spaces.

Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift has confessed that she loves to bake with her friends Selena Gomez and Emma Stone. She has plenty of kitchens spread across her homes in Nashville, and most recently Cape Cod, but we can imagine her spending time playing chef in her Beverly Hills home.

Her new California kitchen is a charming light-filled space with butcher block countertops and plenty of cabinet space.

Swift?s cheery cooking space is perfect for the singer.

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Get Your Dream Unit Easily with NCF's Adjustable Rate Mortgage ...

Many companies that specialize in home loan services offer low mortgage rates, but not any of them could probably equal the rates that Network Capital Funding offers. The adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) of NCF starts with very low rates that are payable within a certain span of years, depending on the financial capacity of the client. Through the adjustable rate mortgage services of the company, clients are free to choose to pay their loans within 3, 5 or 7 years, or even a decade. After the fixed period chosen by the client ends, the company makes the rate adjustable for the remainder of the term. This is one of the things that set the services of NCF apart from any other home loan institutions. The ARM rates that it offers to its clients are primarily hinged on the current published major index determined by the market flow.

The home loan specialists of the company makes their clients understand how the rates of their mortgage loans are determined, unlike other home loan companies that simply lay down everything without having their clients grasp what everything about the deal is all about. One of the most important things that they educate their clients with is the fact that when the index is low, the rates go down, in the same way that when the index is high, the rate is high. This trend becomes possible only when the mortgage is adjustable.

The ARM services of NCF are considered as among the most valuable home loan services of NCF because it has the capacity to outperform a 30-year fixed rate mortgage in just a span of five months. Over the years, the company has established that such scenarios could actually happen, and they can be attested by its past clients who benefitted from ARM as well.

Network Capital Funding makes people understand that adjustable rate mortgage is more advantageous than getting a loan with a fixed rate mortgage, though the latter can be good for a start-up. The specialists of the company convince their clients to avail of the loyalty programs that it makes available to help them get rid of high closing costs. Also, they educate them about the importance of taking advantage of lower rates without having to refinance. Through the help of this company, many people are able to have the financial security as they avail of their chosen home units.

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Source: http://www.silverxcard.com/258-get-your-dream-unit-easily-with-ncfs-adjustable-rate-mortgage-loan.html

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Thursday, November 22, 2012

Business Travel Jobs for Different Levels of Experience ? hot news

Whether looking to work in a business travel company that hires its services to large corporations, or as an implant handling travel requirements within a corporation, you will find that the specifics of the roles on offer (and their salaries) depend on experience. While different companies will probably use different titles, generally speaking there are four types of business travel jobs for different levels of experience: consultant, senior consultant, team leader, and travel manager.ConsultantThe travel consultant?s role is to arrange travel for those in the company: booking transport, be it long-haul plane journeys or a taxi across the city; acquiring visas where necessary; organising accommodation; and typically remaining on-call to aid the client or colleague should their plans change mid-travel or they face disruption. This business travel job?s requirements include problem solving skills, attention to detail, an efficient and pleasant customer-facing personality, and the ability to work well in a team.Although this is a low-level position, previous work experience is always regarded favourably. However, those looking for their first business travel jobs will find it possible to enter a consultancy role, provided they have experience using a computer reservations system like Galileo, Amadeus or Sabre. This can be obtained through a relevant course or university degree.Senior ConsultantIn many cases, the job of a senior travel consultant is very similar to that of a consultant. They also make travel arrangements: transport, hotel bookings, and so on. However, they will have years of experience at this role; you cannot expect to enter a senior consultancy role without having previously been a consultant. Some people are promoted to this role within their company, while others seek out new business travel jobs to reach this level.Team LeaderThis role requires the individual to manage a team of consultants. While it is possible to progress to this position based purely on the skills displayed as a consultant and senior consultant, any prior management experience will be regarded very highly and in some cases is essential. Some specific aspects of this business travel job?s role include meeting and liaising with key clients, helping with team rotas and appraisals, and leading by example on a day-to-day basis; team leaders also handle bookings, and as such absolutely require experience in a travel consultancy role.Business Travel ManagerThe manager is, as the title suggests, a predominantly managerial role. They will manage a team of consultants in a hands-on manner ? responsible for tasks like arranging the rotas and recruiting new employees. They will also be required to manage client accounts. Previous experience in a senior consultancy or team leader position is necessary.

Source: http://hotnews.blogspages.com/2012/11/21/business-travel-jobs-for-different-levels-of-experience/

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Bornean Elephant: Genomics helps with conservation

ScienceDaily (Nov. 21, 2012) ? Studying the genetic variability of endangered species is becoming increasingly necessary for species conservation and monitoring. But, endangered species are difficult to observe and sample, and typically harbour very limited genetic diversity. Until now, the process of finding genetic markers was time consuming and quite expensive. These obstacles make the collection of genetic data from endangered animals a difficult task to fulfill. A research team led by Loun?s Chikhi, group leader at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ci?ncia (IGC) and CNRS researcher (in Toulouse, France), has now contributed to change the odds when looking for diversity.

Taking advantage of cutting edge DNA sequencing methodology and the collaborations with the Sabah Wildlife Department in Malaysia, Rachel O'Neill's laboratory? (University of Connecticut) and a private company (Floragenex), they were able to identify the genetic markers for the Bornean elephant, an endangered species, using blood from very few animals. The results showed that Bornean elephants have very low genetic variability that can impact on their survival to a threatened habitat, but that variable genetic markers can still be identified.

The study now published in the journal PLOS ONE, besides contributing to the conservation of the Bornean elephant, opens new avenues for the conservation of other endangered species.

The Bornean elephant is a unique subspecies of the Asian elephant, with a quite distinct morphology and behavior. They are generally smaller than other elephants, with straight tusks and a long tail. Currently, there are around 2000 individuals, located only in the North of Borneo. It remains unknown how this population of elephants evolved to become so different and why its distribution is so restricted.

Despite being one of the highest priority populations for Asian elephant conservation, until now there were limited genetic tools available to study its genetic variability and none that had been specifically designed for this species. Now, in the work conducted by Reeta Sharma, a Post-Doctoral fellow in Loun?s Chikhi's group, for the first time DNA sequences that characterize the genome of the Bornean elephants, called genetic markers, were identified. The research team used two different DNA sequencing technologies that are fast and increasingly cheaper. This kind of technology has been used for common laboratory species such as mice and fruit-flies, but they are only now starting to be used on endangered and "non-model" species.

Until now, in order to determine whether the species still harboured sufficient genetic diversity it was necessary to look through huge regions of the genome, using classical genetics methodologies, or use markers developed for other species, with varying levels of success. This approach can become unsustainable for the endangered species, whose numbers have gone bellow a certain size for long time. The only study that previously had tried to analyse Bornean elephants, using genetic markers developed for other Asian elephants had found nearly no genetic diversity. The work now developed demonstrates that if the methodology can be applied to the Bornean elephant, it should be possible to find the needles we need, and not get stuck with the hay, i.e., to find variable genetic markers in many other species.

The DNA analysis done resulted from blood samples collected only from seven Bornean elephants from the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park (Sabah, Malaysia) and from Chendra, the star elephant of Oregon zoo (Portland, USA). But, the research team is confident that these DNA sequencing methods can be used to type genetically other biological samples, such as hair or faeces, easier to obtain from wild animals, even though blood or tissue samples are still necessary to identify the markers during the first steps.

Reeta Sharma, first author of this work, says: 'The methodology applied to identify the genetic markers for the Bornean elephant can be used in the future for studies on the genetic variability of other species or populations facing the risk of extinction.'

The Bornean elephants live in an environment where natural habitats disappear quickly, due to oil palm plantations and populations get isolated from each other. Having access to variable genetic markers will be crucial to identify populations that are isolated and genetically depauperate, and monitor them in the future.

The origin of these elephants in Borneo raises controversy that has been long discussed. The only study done on the basis of genetic data concluded that they had been present in Borneo for more than 300,000 years. This theory does not satisfy all researchers as there is lack of elephant fossils in Borneo to support it. Another theory is that the sultan of Java sent Javan elephants as a gift to the sultan of Sulu, who would have introduced them to Borneo.Lounes Chikhi suggests: 'The new genetic markers that we found may also allow us to unravel the mystery of the origin of these elephants in Borneo, and perhaps reconstruct part of their demographic history. This is very exciting '.

This research was carried out at the IGC in collaboration with the Laboratoire Evolution et Diversit? Biologique in Toulouse, and with the School of Biosciences, Cardiff University (UK), the Sabah Wildlife Department (Malaysia), the Danau Girang Field Centre (Malaysia), the Center for Applied Genetics and Technology, University of Connecticut (USA) and Floragenex, Inc. (USA). Research was funded mainly by Funda??o para a Ci?ncia e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, and Laboratoire d'Excellence (LABEX), France.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Instituto Gulbenkian de Ci?ncia (IGC), via AlphaGalileo.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Reeta Sharma, Benoit Goossens, C?lia Kun-Rodrigues, Tatiana Teixeira, Nurzhafarina Othman, Jason Q. Boone, Nathaniel K. Jue, Craig Obergfell, Rachel J. O'Neill, Loun?s Chikhi. Two Different High Throughput Sequencing Approaches Identify Thousands of De Novo Genomic Markers for the Genetically Depleted Bornean Elephant. PLoS ONE, 2012; 7 (11): e49533 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049533

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/r7hK3tBGmgA/121121210107.htm

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