Sunday, March 31, 2013

Pope Again Surprises With Easter Homily (talking-points-memo)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/295667955?client_source=feed&format=rss

Mavericks Surf Stonewall Inaugural Ball julio jones j crew san francisco 49ers san francisco 49ers

Mar 29 - Driving With Your Dog? Bill Would Prohibit Pets Behind the ...

Driving With Your Dog? Bill Would Prohibit Pets Behind the Wheel - DNAinfo.com Chicago
Illinois General[..]embly - Bill Status for HB1581

CHICAGO ? Proposed legislation would make it illegal in Illinois for dogs to get behind the wheel of a car.

Dogs in the driver's seat ? on their owners' laps ? is a dangerous but common habit, said state Rep. Dan Burke (D-Chicago), co-sponsor of the bill.

"Because I travel, I can't help but observe the number of people with dogs on their laps," he said. "It is a public safety concern. If a driver is distracted, certainly it would be a risk to other motorists on the road."

Under the proposed law, getting caught with a pet in the driver's seat would carry a $25 fine, though a motorist couldn't get pulled over unless committing another driving violation.

For now, however, it seems lap dogs will have their day. Though it cleared a transportation committee, the legislation faces overwhelming opposition as it heads to the House floor, said bill co-sponsor, Rep. Dan Beiser (D-Alton).

Burke said the bill is on the back burner most likely because of "more serious issues in peoples' minds," like Illinois' financial crisis.

"This is, unfortunately, the worst time in our state's history," Burke said. "It's a matter of prioritizing. ... Everything is timing."

Burke is hopeful Illinois will bans dogs on drivers' laps. New Jersey and Hawaii have laws against pooches behind the wheel, and distracted driver laws in Arizona, Maine and Connecticut can be used to prosecute the offense.

In a 2010 AAA survey, 65 percent of dog owners admitted to engaging in a potentially distracting activity, such as petting, feeding or snapping a photo, while driving with their dog.

An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a 50-mile-per-hour crash exerts about 500 pounds of force, according to AAA.

That kind of force could cause serious damage to the human and animal passengers.

Max, a 10-year-old, 12-pound miniature pinscher, was injured when he "went flying" in an accident, said owner Melissa Ramirez, a Logan Square resident who testified before the House Transportation Committee.

> Mar 29 - Driving With Your Dog? Bill Would Prohibit Pets Behind the Wheel - Photo posted in BX Daily Bugle - news and headlines | Sign in and leave a comment below!

Melissa Ramirez, of Logan Square, was inspired to start her dog seat belt company after her dog Max was injured in a crash

Joe Ramirez, Melissa's husband, was driving with Max unrestrained in the front seat when his car was "T-boned" by a driver running a red light at Sacramento Avenue and the Eisenhower Expy.

Max was thrown, hitting Joe in the neck and landing near the gas pedal. The dog was paralyzed, and Joe Ramirez needed back surgery several months later.

Cruising with pooches is a growing trend in Chicago, a dog-friendly city with many shops, restaurants and parks that allow canines, Melissa Ramirez said.

"The days of people taking their dogs to the vet once a year are gone," she said. "There's a need for laws to catch up with trends into daily and weekly travel."

Burke travels often with his dog from Chicago to Springfield ? but his 120-pound giant schnauzer is restrained in the back seat.

"He would certainly prefer to be in the front seat, but that?s not happening," Burke said.

Although she'd like to see a bill that requires dogs to be fully restrained like Burke's, not just prohibited from riding in a driver's lap, Ramirez knows changing the trend will take "baby steps."

"It is the most dangerous when a dog is on your lap," she said.

Ramirez said she hears from lobbyists for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that the current bill isn't getting k!lled in the House, but being rewritten to include crate or seat belt requirements for traveling pets.

After what happened to Max, Ramirez set out to make dog car safety as basic as leash-walking and potty-training.

So she started a business that sells dog sea belts at mydoggieseatbelt.com, starting at about $20.

Max can walk again after surgeries and physical therapy. But he can't leave behind his limp from that 2008 accident.

"The emotional piece is awful, but also the financial hit we took. ... It was more than $12,000" for all of Max's medical bills, Ramirez said. "I don?t want anyone else to go through something like that when it's preventable."

Source: http://slumz.boxden.com/f5/mar-29-driving-your-dog-bill-would-prohibit-pets-behind-wheel-1904765/

Melissa King Jodi Arias Heat Harlem Shake mediterranean diet chase kim kardashian pregnant papa johns

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Report: US Patent And Trademark Office Denies Apple's iPad Mini Trademark Application, Deemed ?Merely Descriptive?

ipad-with-ipad-miniRight after it launched the iPad mini, Apple filed a trademark application for the name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). As Patently Apple noticed earlier today, however, the USPTO will likely refuse Apple’s trademark filing because, the reviewer argues, “the applied-for mark merely describes a feature or characteristic of applicant?s goods.” The letter?was mailed to Apple on January 24, but only made public in the last few days. Apple can still respond to this notice and correct its application, though it’s hard to see how Apple could argue against the USPTO’s argument that ‘mini’ is ‘merely descriptive.’ “The applied-for mark merely describes a feature or characteristic of applicant?s goods.” The word ‘mini,’ the reviewer argues, just describes that the iPad mini is indeed “a small sized handheld tablet computer” and just describes the mini’s features. It is not, the reviewing attorney says, “a unitary mark with a unique, incongruous, or otherwise nondescriptive meaning in relation to the goods and/or services.” The USPTO would only grant Apple the trademark to the full iPad mini name if the company could show that the word ‘mini’ has now acquired a “distinctiveness.” In addition, Patently Apple also notes, the reviewer also denied the application for now because Apple should have provided the USPTO with a specimen other than its own product website, even though Apple always uses these for its trademark applications and this was never a reason for a denial before. The reviewer also believes that there is a “likelihood of confusion” between Apple’s existing iPad trademarks and this new iPad? mini application, which, to be honest, doesn’t make a lot of sense. Here is the letter the USPTO sent to Apple in January: USPTO Refuses Apple’s iPad mini Trademark Application

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/xL16BBltNvs/

dodgers triple play baa samoyed kenny powers kenny powers carl hagelin triple play

Friday, March 29, 2013

Easter Holidays in Poynton

Easter might just be our favourite break of the year and we?re hoping to get spring sprung by getting out and about with the kids. You won?t have to go far?.Here are some things to do in/ nearby to Poynton?.

Old Time Fair at Brookside Garden Centre, on 29 March 2013 ? 01 April 2013 An Old Time Fair will be at Brookside Garden Centre this Easter on 29th, 30th March and 1st April (closed Easter Sunday).? For further information, please contact the garden centre.

FREE Easter Egg Hunt at Woodford Garden Centre, on 29 March 2013 ? 07 April 2013 Join in the fun this Springtime?FREE Easter Egg Hunt at Woodford Garden Centre. Every correct entry recieves a chocolate lolly. Fri 29th ? Sun 7th April 11am-4pm.

Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Bramhall Village, on 23 March 2013 ? 06 April 2013
Starting on March 23rd and running until 6th April, children in Bramhall can take part in an Easter Egg Hunt organised by independent retailers in the village. ?The 15 participating stores will all have a poster in the window and a map showing all the local shops in which an egg is hidden. Every egg has a letter on it, which the child will need to write down. They?ll also get a sticker to prove they?ve found it. The letters will spell out a simple phrase, which will win the child his/her Easter Egg prize, collectable at A Sweet Thought.

Easter Egg Hunt at St. Paul?s Community Room, on 29 March 2013 ? 29 March 2013
Come and join us for some Eggcelent Family Fun! From 11am-1pm. ?2 / child (Max ?5/family) Preschool & Primary age egg hunts & quiz. Cryptic Code Cracking Hunt for KS2 children. Refreshments & Hot Cross Buns available. Don?t forget your basket! (Organised by Friends of St. Paul?s).

Lambing Season at Blaze Farm, on 29 March 2013 ? 12 April 2013
Watch lambing at Easter at Blaze Farm, Wildboarclough. Lambing season takes place over Easter every year at Blaze Farm.? Watch our flock of sheep lambing from the viewing gallery. ?1 admission to the shed. Open 10am-5.30pm, Tues-Sun & Bank Holidays. Follow this link? for directions.

Easter Bunny Trail, Hatworks, Stockport 1100-1600hrs, on 29 March 2013 ? 31 March 2013
Visit Hat Works this bank holiday weekend and take part in our Easter bunny trail, you never know, you might just win a prize! Suitable for all ages 11am ? 4pm Free. Just drop in Contact: 0161 474 2399

Paper Hat Making, Hatworks, Stockport 1100-1600hrs, on 29 March 2013 ? 31 March 2013
Visit Hat Works this Bank Holiday and get the chance to decorate your very own hat. Pick up your pack of craft materials from reception, then make and decorate your paper hat on the gallery floor! Suitable for all ages 11am ? 4pm Free. Just drop in Contact: 0161 474 2399

Easter Quiz, Bramall Park. All day, on 29 March 2013 ? 14 April 2013 Head to Bramall Hall for their Easter Quiz this holidays. Search for the chicks, scramble the clues and collect your treat. Suitable for children 4 ? 10 years and available during opening hours. Free with normal admission fee. Contact 0161 474 2020

Easter Mad Hatters Hat Party, Bramhall, on 30 March 2013 ? 30 March 2013 Come and join the FREE craft workshop and make your very own Easter hat to take home! 11am-3pm ? Village Square, Bramhall. Plus you can meet the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and the Easter Bunny himself!

EASTER SUNDAY

Treacle Market ? Macclesfield, on 31 March 2013 ? 31 March 2013
The Easter Treacle Market is a quality Arts, Antiques,Crafts, Food and Drink Market held on the cobbles of the historic old Marketplace in Macclesfield.? With over? 100 stalls it stretches into Chestergate, Mill Street and Castle Street. Held on the last Sunday of every month from 10am-3pm.

Easter Eggstravaganza at Lyme Park, on 31 March 2013 ? 01 April 2013
Fabulous family trails, with a special Easter prize. Outdoor games, face painting and fun.? 11am-4pm House and Garden admission applies. NT members free admission, each trail adittional ?1. Last admission time: 4pm. Adult ?11 (House and garden admission), Child ?7 (House and garden admission), Family ?25 (House and garden admission)

Easter Weekend Special at The Miners Arms, Adlington ? Treasure Hunt & Easter Bonnet Competition, Quiz & Food.

The Grand Easter Festival, Bramall Park, 1100-1600, on 31 March 2013 ? 31 March 2013 Join us for a great family day out and special fundraising day organised by the ?Friends of Bramall Hall & Park?. A variety of side shows, stalls and activities in and around the Hall. A vintage bus, a display of hawks and owls, an Easter treasure hunt and much more. Looks set to be a fab family day out!. Suitable for all ages 11am ? 4pm Adults ?1.50, Children Free Just drop in. Contact: 0161 474 2020

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Easter Animal Craft, Hatworks, Stockport, on 02 April 2013 ? 04 April 2013
Make yourself an Easter chick, Bunny or Lamb at this fun crafts workshop. Suitable for ages 5 ? 11 10.30am ? 12 noon and 1pm ? 2.30pm ?3.50, Leisure Key ?3 Booking Essential Contact: 0161 474 2399

Easter Activity Days at Poynton Leisure Centre, on 02 April 2013 ? 12 April 2013
Poynton Leisure Centre provide Easter Holiday Activity Days for children aged 5-12 years. Mon-Fri 9am ? 5pm.?The morning session is 9am ? 12:30pm and the afternoon session is 1:30pm ? 5pm, with a supervised lunch in between.?There are limited spaces, so?book now to avoid disappointment. Full details here.

Easter Soccer Academy at Poynton Leisure Centre, on 02 April 2013 ? 05 April 2013
Soccer Academy provides fully supervised soccer coaching from qualified F.A. Coaches. Includes a goalkeeping coaching course.?Sessions will run each day from 9:00am ? 5pm For boys and girls aged 5 ? 10 years and 11 -14 years.?Full details and contact info here.

Everybody Learn to Swim Scheme Crash Courses at Poynton Leisure Centre, on 02 April 2013 ? 05 April 2013
Children can?either start swimming as a beginner or continue swimming as an improver on one of our 1 week intensive courses.?Courses include: Beginners; Stages 1, 2 & 3; Stages 4 & 6 and stroke development. This is for children aged?4 and above, each lesson lasts for 30 minutes. Full details and contact info here.?Prices start at ?16!

Little Book of Memories at Lyme Park, on 05 April 2013 ? 05 April 2013
Make an Edwardian scrap book, inspired by those at Lyme. 1-3pm All ages welcome. FREE activity, but garden admission applies, NT members free.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY EVENTS AT POYNTON LIBRARY

FREE Horrid Henry Creative Writing Work shop at Poynton Library, on 09 April 2013 ? 09 April 2013

FREE Horrid Henry story and activity afternoon at Poynton Library from 2-3pm. Join Explore Learning for a creative writing workshop (5-8 years). Book in advance 01625 374818

Easter Active Play at Poynton Library, on 11 April 2013 ? 11 April 2013

Easter Active Play?at Poynton Library from 10.30am (5-8 years). Book in advance 01625 374818, More details to follow.

Story teller Elizabeth Morris at Poynton Library, on 12 April 2013 ? 12 April 2013
Story teller Elizabeth Morris will weave wonderful stories of myths and legends from?10.30-11.15am. Tickets are ?3. Places for this Easter event will probably sell faster than hot cross buns, so book your place now. Contact the library on 01625 374818

Enjoy your Easter break.

Don?t forget we have a special Days Out Offer article, where you can get discounts off Knowsley Safari, Legoland, Stockley Farm and more. Click here

Source: http://www.mumsintheknow.co.uk/poynton/2013/03/28/easter-holidays-in-poynton/

the happening black panthers mauritania obama open mic jefferson county colorado extenze tenacious d

US stealth bomber as messenger: what it says to China, North Korea

The B-2 stealth bomber's history of hitting China's Belgrade embassy in 1999 makes it's training mission over South Korea an even more pointed message to North Korea's Kim Jong-un.

By Anna Mulrine,?Staff writer / March 28, 2013

The Pentagon sent its distinctive bat-wing-shaped B-2 stealth bombers, pictured here in 2003, flying low over the Korean Peninsula this week, making it's training mission over South Korea.

Courtesy of Rebeca M. Luquin/U.S. Department of Defense/Reuters/File

Enlarge

The Pentagon sent its distinctive bat-wing-shaped B-2 stealth bombers flying low over the Korean Peninsula this week ? dropping munitions over a remote South Korean island ? in what US military officials initially described as a routine training exercise.

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

But the B-2 bomber runs ? along with the US military?s unusually frank announcement of this fact ? were designed to send a far more pointed warning to North Korea, and more precisely to the country?s young dictator, Kim Jong-un, who lately has been increasingly bellicose in his words and actions, say senior US officials.

Kim?s ?provocative actions? and ?belligerent tone? have ?ratcheted up the danger, and I think we have to understand that reality,? Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday afternoon in his first joint press conference with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey.

This danger includes the nation?s third nuclear test in February and threats to aim long-range artillery and rockets at US and allied troops.

The B-2 bomber can fly some 6,500 miles, drop smart bombs, and is nuclear-capable.

It is also the same US aircraft that infamously hit the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1999.

While this was described as an accident at the time, conventional wisdom among many defense analysts today is that China?s Peoples Liberation Army forces in the embassy basement were sending out intelligence?information to President Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia, whose military was committing atrocities.

The B-2 bomber does, after all, have the most precisely targeted munitions in any military arsenal, accurate to within two meters, the defense analysts point out.?

Yet regardless of whether this theory about the 1999 B-2 bombing is true, the point is that the Chinese and North Korean government believe it to be true, says Patrick Cronin, senior director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security.

For that reason, the training run involving the B-2 bombers ?is a subtle signal to China and North Korea to say ?Look, war can really happen. We?re not going to be deterred, and we?re going to go after high-value target sites.? ?

But does the US know enough about Kim?s rationality to bring out the B-2 bombers, which could further provoke North Korea?

?There are a lot of unknowns here,? Mr. Hagel conceded Thursday. ?But we have to take seriously every provocative, bellicose word and action that this new young leader has taken so far since he?s come to power.?

Given those unknowns, then, is it wise to eye-poke an unpredictable ? possibly irrational ? new dictator?

?I don?t think we?re poking,? Hagel said. ?I don?t think we?re doing anything extraordinary, or provocative, or out of the orbit of what other nations do to protect their own interests.?

The point, both General Dempsey and Hagel reiterated, is not just to flex US military muscles for North Korea?s benefit, but more importantly to reassure US allies that the Pentagon has their back.

?The reaction to the B-2 that we?re most concerned about it not necessarily the reaction that it might elicit in North Korea,? Dempsey said Thursday. ?Those exercises are mostly to assure our allies that they can count on us to be prepared.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/Kyf1X0Ks0u8/US-stealth-bomber-as-messenger-what-it-says-to-China-North-Korea

johnny damon kirk cameron news 10 hillary rosen j.k. rowling j.k. rowling axl rose

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Google Translate Will Now Work Without the Internet on Your Android Phone

Google Translate for Android will now offer downloadable offline language packs. So now when you're staring at a weird sign in a country where you don't speak the language, your phone will actually be able to help you. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/azTPFbUcoAc/google-translate-will-now-work-without-the-internet-on-your-android-phone

act of valor woody guthrie benson henderson 2012 dunk contest edgar vs henderson berkshire hathaway ufc 144

Flipboard launches user-created magazines, partners with Etsy (video)

Flipboard launches usercreated magazines, partners with Etsy video

Everybody loves Flipboard, right? If you're a fan like us, rejoice -- your favorite social magazine just got a whole lot better. Today Flipboard for iOS is receiving a major update that will let you create and curate your very own magazines. It also brings a boatload of other improvements to the table including a content partnership with Etsy. An update to the Android version will follow shortly. We were able to take the new version of Flipboard for a spin and get a demo from CTO Eric Feng. Hit the break to dive into the details and watch our hands-on video.

Filed under: , , , , ,

Comments

Source: Flipboard (iTunes App Store)

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/R7F264hm8HI/

snow white and the huntsman snow white and the huntsman rupaul drag race walking dead comic kratom broncos broncos

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Timberlake's '20/20' album sells 968K in 1st week

FILE - This Feb. 20, 2013 file photo shows Justin Timberlake during the BRIT Awards 2013 in London. Nielsen SoundScan announced Tuesday, March 26, 2013, that the singer?s third album, ?The 20/20 Experience,? has moved 968,000 units. It?s the 19th album in Nielsen?s 12-year history that has sold more than 900,000 albums in a single week. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, file)

FILE - This Feb. 20, 2013 file photo shows Justin Timberlake during the BRIT Awards 2013 in London. Nielsen SoundScan announced Tuesday, March 26, 2013, that the singer?s third album, ?The 20/20 Experience,? has moved 968,000 units. It?s the 19th album in Nielsen?s 12-year history that has sold more than 900,000 albums in a single week. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, file)

FILE - In this Feb. 20, 2013 file photo, Justin Timberlake performs on stage during the BRIT Awards 2013 at the o2 Arena in London. Nielsen SoundScan announced Tuesday, March 26, 2013, that the singer?s third album, ?The 20/20 Experience,? has moved 968,000 units. It?s the 19th album in Nielsen?s 12-year history that has sold more than 900,000 albums in a single week. (Photo by John Marshall/Invision/AP, File)

(AP) ? Justin Timberlake's comeback album has sold nearly 1 million units its first week out.

Nielsen SoundScan announced Tuesday that the singer's third album, "The 20/20 Experience," has moved 968,000 units. It's the 19th album in Nielsen's 22-year history that has sold more than 900,000 albums in its debut week.

"20/20" is Timberlake's third album and the follow-up to his multiplatinum, Grammy-winning 2006 album, "FutureSex/LoveSounds." The new CD features the pop hit "Suit & Tie."

"The numbers are pleasantly surprising," said Tom Corson, the president and chief operating officer of RCA Records, which released Timberlake's album.

The label had projected that "20/20" would sell 500,000 to 600,000 units, Corson said.

Timberlake, 31, was strategic about promoting his comeback effort: He performed at the Grammy Awards, hosted and hit the stage at "Saturday Night Live" and spent an entire week on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." The singer also partnered with Target for the album's deluxe edition and "20/20" streamed on iTunes a week before it was released.

Timberlake came up with the idea of a weeklong stint himself, Fallon said.

"I think he mentioned it to me like a year ago that he's working on something and wanted to do a week on our show," Fallon said Tuesday.

"20/20" is an unconventional album that features a mesh of R&B, soul, pop and futuristic sounds. The 10 tracks average seven minutes each.

Corson believes Timberlake's key to promoting the album was "less is more."

"While it felt like he was everywhere, he didn't do a lot of things because he didn't have to. But he did big things," he said.

Fallon even joked that other celebrities are trying to follow in Timberlake's footsteps with a weeklong stay on his show.

"We're getting a lot of phone calls now to do themed-weeks for people," said Fallon, who added that the show's writers and producers developed a load of material for "Timberweek."

"We have enough for another month," he said. "We could have 'Timbermonth.' Trust me, NBC is already pitching it to me."

Of the 19 albums to sell more than 900,000 in their debut week, Timberlake holds three slots. His albums with 'N Sync, 2000's "No Strings Attached" and 2001's "Celebrity," sold 2.4 million and 1.9 million in their first week, respectively. Backstreet Boys, Lil Wayne and Taylor Swift have two albums each that have hit that level.

The excitement over the new album has also boosted sales of Timberlake's other solo albums, Nielsen Co. said. Last year, "FutureSex/LoveSounds" and 2002's "Justified" sold 39,000 and 21,000 copies each, but this year they've already sold 29,000 and 17,000, respectively.

"As the marketing sort of picks up for the new record and the single goes to radio ... you definitely start to see interest," said David Bakula, Nielsen's senior vice president of client development and analytics for entertainment.

Bakula said 'N Sync sales are up, too.

"20/20" was streamed 7.73 million times on Spotify in its first week, putting it second behind the 8 million streams set by Mumford & Sons' "Babel" last year. Steve Savoca, Spotify's head of content, said Timberlake's colossal first-week numbers are another example of how streaming music helps artists sell albums.

Fallon said Timberlake worked tirelessly ahead of the five shows and he's proud of his friend's success.

"Justin was here till 11 o'clock most nights choreographing dance moves so he nailed it the next night," he said. "And he was sick at the time."

Corson said this week's success could change the expectation of Timberlake's follow-up to "20/20," which will likely be released later this year.

"It sure should," he said with a laugh. "Part two is now even more anticipated."

Timberlake could even show up for a stint on Fallon again.

"We are already talking about it," Fallon said.

___

Online:

http://twentytwenty.justintimberlake.com/

http://http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/

___

Follow Mesfin Fekadu at http://twitter.com/MusicMesfin

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-26-US-Music-Justin-Timberlake/id-56b5c5825095401282fe59650a165da2

egypt soccer riot facebook ipo facebook ipo mike kelley puxatony phil josh harvey clemons college football recruiting rankings

Justice Roberts' Lesbian Cousin to Attend Gay Marriage Arguments

When the Supreme Court listens to arguments about same sex marriage Tuesday in what is expected to be an historic case, sitting in the audience as a guest of Chief Justice John Roberts will be his lesbian cousin.

In an open letter distributed by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Jean Podrasky writes, "Tomorrow, my cousin, the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, will begin considering the fate of two of the most important cases impacting the rights of the LGBT community ever to go before the Court-the challenges to California's Proposition 8 and the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). "

"I want nothing more than to marry my wonderful girlfriend," states Podrasky, who lives in the San Francisco area.

"I know that my cousin is a good man. I feel confident that John is wise enough to see that society is becoming more accepting of the humanity of same-sex couples and the simple truth that we deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality under the law.

"I believe he understands that ruling in favor of equality will not be out of step with where the majority of Americans now sit. I am hoping that the other justices (at least most of them) will share this view, because I am certain that I am not the only relative that will be directly affected by their rulings," Podrasky wrote.

Podrasky is the latest gay or lesbian person revealed to be related to or friends with a powerful politician, and the sense that everybody knows someone who is gay is affecting the political debate over gay rights and gay marriage.

When President Obama endorsed same-sex marriage on May 9, 2012, he said, "You know, Malia and Sasha, they've got friends whose parents are same-sex couples. And I -you know, there have been times when Michelle and I have been sitting around the dinner table. And we've been talking about their friends and their parents. And Malia and Sasha would-it wouldn't dawn on them that somehow their friends' parents would be treated differently."

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, announced earlier this month that he had changed his position on gay marriage in light of his relationship with his gay son.

"Then something happened that led me to think through my position in a much deeper way. Two years ago my son, Will, then a college freshman, told my wife, Jane and me that he is gay," he said.

Before the Portmans, there was Dick and Mary Cheney, though that did not change much policy-wise in the Bush White House.

Cheney and his wife on the day of their daughter's wedding in June 2012 issued a statement that read, "Our daughter Mary and her long time partner, Heather Poe, were married today in Washington, DC. Mary and Heather have been in a committed relationship for many years, and we are delighted that they were able to take advantage of the opportunity to have that relationship recognized?Mary and Heather and their children are very important and much loved members of our family and we wish them every happiness."

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has advocated for rights for same-sex couples, knowing his daughter, Katherine, was a lesbian.

"First of all, we've had so many people in our lives whom we love who are gay or lesbian, so that's not that unfamiliar to us?You know, I can still - because we live in Massachusetts - I can still imagine what Katherine's wedding is going to be like," Patrick said in June 2008.

The effect of the modern family stretches beyond blood relatives to the politicians friends.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., explained Sunday why she has switched her stand.

"My views on this subject have changed over time, but as many of my gay and lesbian friends, colleagues and staff embrace long term committed relationships, I find myself unable to look them in the eye without honestly confronting this uncomfortable inequality," McCaskill said.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/justice-roberts-lesbian-cousin-attend-gay-marriage-arguments-170404840--abc-news-politics.html

Rivals Kaepernick Eddie Vanderdoes puppy bowl national pancake day bar refaeli Paul Harvey

Texas Cities Versus California Cities (GDP Growth Edition). (Willisms)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/294480908?client_source=feed&format=rss

pro bowl 2012 rick santorum daughter gainesville 2012 royal rumble the grey machine gun kelly saul alinsky

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

World Routes heads to Africa for first time in 2015

World Routes heads to Africa for first time in 2015(Forimmediaterelease.net) It was announced today at the BRICS Summit, which is currently taking place in Durban, South Africa, that KwaZulu-Natal Province (KZN) will play host to the 21st World Route Development Forum (World Routes) at ICC Durban from September 20-22, 2015. This marks the first time in its history that the event has been held in Africa.

World Routes is the global meeting place for every airline, airport, tourism board, and government stakeholder and attracts attendees from over 110 countries. The event is focused around the development of the world?s air services, and hosting World Routes provides a unique opportunity for a destination to showcase its airport, its city, and its country to the air service decision-makers of the world.

The announcement of Durban, KZN, as the host for World Routes 2015 represents the culmination of a successful bid to host the event driven by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism in which all of the region?s key stakeholders were involved in supporting the proposal. These stakeholders included: Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, Trade&Investment KwaZulu-Natal, Airports Company South Africa, King Shaka International Airport, Dube TradePort Corporation, South Africa National Convention Bureau, Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau, and South African Airways.

?I?m delighted that World Routes will be taking place in Africa in 2015, and it is fitting, with such a focus on the development of international trade, that we are bringing it to Durban and the region of KwaZulu-Natal,? said David Stroud, Executive Vice President, Routes UBM Live, continuing: ?I?d like to thank all the team in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, for all the hard work that?s been done throughout the host bidding process - you?ve done a fantastic job, and I know it?s going to be a great success. Congratulations; we look forward to working with you.?

Commenting on the successful bid, the Provincial Minister for Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Michael Mabuyakhulu, said: ?The announcement by UBM Live to award KwaZulu-Natal the rights to host World Routes 2015 in Durban is a significant achievement for our country in particular and Africa in general, given the fact that this event will be hosted on the continent for the very first time.?

?World Routes 2015 will position our flagship development, southern Africa?s premier air logistics platform, and the home of the continent's first purpose-built aerotropolis, the Dube Trade Port, which incorporates the King Shaka International Airport for a major growth in air services. At the official opening of Dube Trade Port last year, our President, His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, challenged us to grow King Shaka International Airport into becoming an alternative aviation hub. Bringing World Routes 2015 to KwaZulu-Natal is our response to this challenge, amongst our other strategic initiatives. The KwaZulu-Natal province has participated in past World Routes events, and based on our analysis we have seen how air services have improved in airports that have hosted these events. It is, therefore, our plan to leverage on the hosting of World Routes 2015 to help grow air lift out of King Shaka International Airport, the host airport for this event,? he said.

?I would like to thank the Bid Committee led by our Head of Department, Mr. Desmond Golding, our partners in this bid: ACSA, SAA, Ministry for Public Enterprises, and City of Durban for the support they gave us in bidding for this event. Above all we thank UBM Live for showing confidence not only in KwaZulu-Natal, but also in our beautiful country. We will work hard to help UBM Live deliver the best event in 2015,? he added.

KwaZulu-Natal Province is the country?s most popular domestic leisure tourism destination and is home to Africa?s busiest sea-ports: Durban ? the busiest in Africa, and Richards Bay ? the deepest in Africa. The city of Durban is a vibrant city overflowing with cultural diversity and is the second largest in South Africa with a population of around 4 million.

King Shaka International Airport is a multi-billion Rand international airport which opened in May 2010 ahead of the FIFA World Cup Championships. The Airport, along with its adjacent trade port ?Dube TradePort? provides world-class facilities for intercontinental passenger travel and freight transfer.

The city of Durban and KwaZulu-Natal Province have embarked upon a development strategy to grow the regional tourism economy and to increase the number of international tourists to KZN by 2030. The plan is to grow passenger and cargo airlift out of King Shaka International Airport and hosting World Routes 2015 will assist in improving the air services potential of the airport, coupled with the trade gateway operations of the two sea ports. In addition, bringing the event to the growing aviation market of Africa, which also has significant potential, will be of huge benefit to the region.

MEDIA CONTACT: Victoria Jones, PR Executive, UBM Aviation Routes Limited, T: +44 (0) 161 234 2730, E: pr@routesonline.com

Source: http://www.forimmediaterelease.net/pm/8544.html

Calendar 2013 john boehner HGTV Dream Home 2013 eric cantor eric cantor HGTV Sugar Bowl 2013

Planning to Change from Apple iPhone 5 to Samsung Galaxy S4

Planning to Change from Apple iPhone 5 to Samsung ?Galaxy S4

Samsung and Apple are vivaciously working difficult to carry more up to date innovation to the individuals. Be that as it may, quite a long time ago Apple was the advancing cell phone producer as contrasted with Apple iPhone. Any time Samsung presented Android on their cell phones, their business sector expanded to the crest radically. The later discharge of new Samsung Galaxy S4 has pulled in numerous individuals. The Samsung Galaxy S4 is better when contrasted with past renditions of cell phones. The equipment exhibition is stated to be much a cut above the Samsung Galaxy S3. In the event that you are an Apple Fan kid, you might propose individuals to purchase an iPhone 5 yet Samsung Galaxy S4 embodies preferred characteristics over Apple iPhone .

The Apple iPhone 5 has additionally swayed well on individuals? brain. In spite of the fact that some individuals thinks about that having an iPhone 5 is an image of status, they do like characteristics on iPhone 5. Fruit furnishes heaps of unbelievable stuffs inherent on Apple items. An individual begins cherishing his or her iPhone once when he or she utilizes it. They adhere to it and they feel uneasy while utilizing an Android telephone. Utilizing an iPhone is 5 is straightforward according to the Apple fan young men.

The expense of Apple iPhone 5 and Samsung universe S4 are besides equivalent yet individuals dependably wants a high caliber versatile with most fittingly cost. At the time we begin contrasting the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Apple iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S4 has great and heightened designs than Apple iPhone 5.

We should contrast and know the explanation for why with change from iPhone 5 to Samsung Galaxy S4.

Processor:

Samsung gives a processor performing quicker than the one in iPhone 5. The Apple iPhone 5 contains an A6 double center processor that runs at a pace of 1.6 GHz. Samsung Galaxy S4 embodies an Octa Core CPU that can run at a rate of 1.6 GHz. Samsung cosmic system S4 is likewise ready with a Quad Core CPU which runs at a pace of 1.9 GHz. Samsung Galaxy S4 might be the most effective cell phone ever.

Polaroid:

The front Polaroid of Apple iPhone 5 is just 1.2 Mega Pixel and can record a motion picture at 720p though a Samsung Galaxy S4?s front Polaroid is of 2 Mega Pixel and can record movies at 1080p. Both Apple iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 can record movie at 1080p with the back Polaroid however Apple iPhone 5 has a back Polaroid of 8 Mega Pixel though the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a 13 Mega Pixel Camera. May be, Apple may have a 13 Mega Pixel Camera in the following form of iPhone.

Outer Plug and Play Services:

Fruit iPhone 5 doesn?t have a choice for motion picture out. They don?t have an USB port too to interface outside gadgets. Samsung Galaxy S4 has a HDMI port through which it could be associated with a TV for better motion picture experience. A microUSB v2.0 is available in Samsung Galaxy S4.

Sensors:

Samsung Galaxy S4 has a Barometer that can measure environmental force. The information from storm gauge could be utilized with part of Android requisitions. They likewise have compass, Accelerometer, and Gyroscope like iPhone 5. Fruit iPhone 5 don?t have a storm indicator to measure the environmental force. An Apple iPhone 5 can sense just vicinity and surrounding light. Samsung system S4 can sense vicinity, signals, temperature, dampness and encompassing light. Samsung Galaxy S4 has a characteristic to modify the brilliance mechanically. At the time you are viewing the cell phone, the screen seems brighter though when you stay far from it, the screen come to be lower. This recoveries electric storage device force a ton.

Close Field Communication (NFC):

You can revel in the characteristic of Near Field Communication with Samsung Galaxy S4. They could be utilized to exchange records and information effortlessly. Google Wallet is the particular case that uses this engineering can change over your cell phone into a wallet. Have just your Samsung system S4 in your pockets and you don?t need to convey cash to a store. Show your versatile and tap the telephone to make a pay. Fruit iPhone 5 needs the aforementioned characteristics.

Heightened Battery Power:

Fruit iPhone 5 has an electric cell of 1440 mAh though a Samsung world S4 has an electric cell of 2600 mAh which is more influential. Yet, you can?t want increasingly in a cell phone.

Managing System:

Samsung Galaxy S4 has a pleased managing framework, Android. As it hold fast processor, it will uphold future managing framework upgrades on the telephone. Right now, Samsung furnishes Android 4.2.2 JellyBean on Galaxy S4. Fruit?s iOS 6 on iPhone 5 is mind blowing for numerous however still Android merits its particular characteristics.

Google Technology:

Google, the web mammoth is working tricky to carry the most cutting edge engineering to the individuals. Not long ago, Google has divulged about the Google Glass and Google Talking Shoe which has truly made a standard glass and a shoe much more quick witted. Google Glass and Google Talking Shoe needs Android telephone. Assuming that you are wanting to purchase a Google Glass or Google Talking Shoe, you might try for Samsung Galaxy S4.

Show:

Samsung Galaxy S4 has an improved determination of 1920 x 1080 pixels while Apple iPhone 5 has a determination of 1136 x 640 pixels.

Samsung and Apple are vivaciously working difficult to carry more up to date innovation to the individuals. Be that as it may, quite a long time ago Apple was the advancing cell phone producer as contrasted with Apple iPhone. Any time Samsung presented Android on their cell phones, their business sector expanded to the crest radically. The later discharge of new Samsung Galaxy S4 has pulled in numerous individuals. The Samsung Galaxy S4 is better when contrasted with past renditions of cell phones. The equipment exhibition is stated to be much a cut above the Samsung Galaxy S3. In the event that you are an Apple Fan kid, you might propose individuals to purchase an iPhone 5 yet Samsung Galaxy S4 embodies preferred characteristics over Apple iPhone .
The Apple iPhone 5 has additionally swayed well on individuals? brain. In spite of the fact that some individuals thinks about that having an iPhone 5 is an image of status, they do like characteristics on iPhone 5. Fruit furnishes heaps of unbelievable stuffs inherent on Apple items. An individual begins cherishing his or her iPhone once when he or she utilizes it. They adhere to it and they feel uneasy while utilizing an Android telephone. Utilizing an iPhone is 5 is straightforward according to the Apple fan young men.
The expense of Apple iPhone 5 and Samsung universe S4 are besides equivalent yet individuals dependably wants a high caliber versatile with most fittingly cost. At the time we begin contrasting the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Apple iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S4 has great and heightened designs than Apple iPhone 5.
We should contrast and know the explanation for why with change from iPhone 5 to Samsung Galaxy S4.?Processor:Samsung gives a processor performing quicker than the one in iPhone 5. The Apple iPhone 5 contains an A6 double center processor that runs at a pace of 1.6 GHz. Samsung Galaxy S4 embodies an Octa Core CPU that can run at a rate of 1.6 GHz. Samsung cosmic system S4 is likewise ready with a Quad Core CPU which runs at a pace of 1.9 GHz. Samsung Galaxy S4 might be the most effective cell phone ever.
Polaroid:
The front Polaroid of Apple iPhone 5 is just 1.2 Mega Pixel and can record a motion picture at 720p though a Samsung Galaxy S4?s front Polaroid is of 2 Mega Pixel and can record movies at 1080p. Both Apple iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S4 can record movie at 1080p with the back Polaroid however Apple iPhone 5 has a back Polaroid of 8 Mega Pixel though the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a 13 Mega Pixel Camera. May be, Apple may have a 13 Mega Pixel Camera in the following form of iPhone.
Outer Plug and Play Services:
Fruit iPhone 5 doesn?t have a choice for motion picture out. They don?t have an USB port too to interface outside gadgets. Samsung Galaxy S4 has a HDMI port through which it could be associated with a TV for better motion picture experience. A microUSB v2.0 is available in Samsung Galaxy S4.
Sensors:
Samsung Galaxy S4 has a Barometer that can measure environmental force. The information from storm gauge could be utilized with part of Android requisitions. They likewise have compass, Accelerometer, and Gyroscope like iPhone 5. Fruit iPhone 5 don?t have a storm indicator to measure the environmental force. An Apple iPhone 5 can sense just vicinity and surrounding light. Samsung system S4 can sense vicinity, signals, temperature, dampness and encompassing light. Samsung Galaxy S4 has a characteristic to modify the brilliance mechanically. At the time you are viewing the cell phone, the screen seems brighter though when you stay far from it, the screen come to be lower. This recoveries electric storage device force a ton.
Close Field Communication (NFC):
You can revel in the characteristic of Near Field Communication with Samsung Galaxy S4. They could be utilized to exchange records and information effortlessly. Google Wallet is the particular case that uses this engineering can change over your cell phone into a wallet. Have just your Samsung system S4 in your pockets and you don?t need to convey cash to a store. Show your versatile and tap the telephone to make a pay. Fruit iPhone 5 needs the aforementioned characteristics.
Heightened Battery Power:
Fruit iPhone 5 has an electric cell of 1440 mAh though a Samsung world S4 has an electric cell of 2600 mAh which is more influential. Yet, you can?t want increasingly in a cell phone.
Managing System:
Samsung Galaxy S4 has a pleased managing framework, Android. As it hold fast processor, it will uphold future managing framework upgrades on the telephone. Right now, Samsung furnishes Android 4.2.2 JellyBean on Galaxy S4. Fruit?s iOS 6 on iPhone 5 is mind blowing for numerous however still Android merits its particular characteristics.
Google Technology:
Google, the web mammoth is working tricky to carry the most cutting edge engineering to the individuals. Not long ago, Google has divulged about the Google Glass and Google Talking Shoe which has truly made a standard glass and a shoe much more quick witted. Google Glass and Google Talking Shoe needs Android telephone. Assuming that you are wanting to purchase a Google Glass or Google Talking Shoe, you might try for Samsung Galaxy S4.
Show:
Samsung Galaxy S4 has an improved determination of 1920 x 1080 pixels while Apple iPhone 5 has a determination of 1136 x 640 pixels.

Source: http://snipsly.com/2013/03/24/planning-to-change-from-apple-iphone-5-to-samsung-galaxy-s4/

national archives brock lesnar kentucky jayhawks wwe wrestlemania oakland shooting mega millions winning numbers

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Video: JPMorgan Stands by its Man

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

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/cnbc/51297575/

powerball cbs sports ncaa tournament ashley greene gonzaga marquette university

Hurting at home, China's Li Ning courts U.S. glitz

By Donny Kwok and Adam Jourdan

HONG KONG/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's biggest sportswear brand, Li Ning Co Ltd , launched its newest brand at a gala event in Texas last month with U.S. basketball star Dwayne Wade, resplendent in gold bow tie and plaid suit, showing off sports shoes he helped design.

But his fans can't buy them yet.

Li Ning, founded by the Chinese Olympic gymnast of the same name, has no stores in the United States and recently shut the e-commerce section of its U.S. website.

While luring Wade from rival Nike Inc last year in a sponsorship deal worth an estimated $100 million over 10 years is a major coup for the Chinese firm, it has left analysts puzzling the logic of splashing out on an expensive NBA superstar with no apparent U.S. retail strategy in place.

Sports industry analysts said the Wade signing was more about marketing to Chinese consumers than trying to build brand recognition in the United States, where Nike and its Jordan brand control 90 percent of the basketball shoe market.

"The primary idea here is to say to the Chinese consumer, 'One of the best players in the NBA is wearing our shoes and you should too,'" said Matt Powell, an analyst with Boulder, Colorado-based sporting goods research group SportsOneSource.

The Chinese firm is paying top dollar for an elite athlete just as Nike and other established sportswear brands are scaling back on big-name endorsements because of disappointing returns.

A decade ago, Nike reportedly paid Wade's superstar teammate Lebron James more than $90 million for a 7-year contract, but high-potential rookie players now command shoe contracts worth just $1-$2 million a year, Powell said. James is the world's fourth highest-paid athlete with endorsements bringing in $40 million a year, according to a Forbes ranking as of June 2012. Wade ranked 35th, with $12 million a year in endorsements.

"It (the Wade deal) has a positive effect in boosting Li Ning's image ... but it doesn't necessarily generate more sales," said Elyse Wang, an analyst at Haitong International Research in Shenzhen. "The deal is not justified as for sure it's offering a very high price."

Li Ning declined to comment on details of the Wade deal. Nike declined to comment on Li Ning's strategy.

OLD STOCK

Li Ning, valued at around $600 million, is expected to report a net loss of close to 1.1 billion yuan ($177 million) on Monday, according to Thomson Reuters SmartEstimate, after spending as much as $288 million to buy back unwanted inventory from its distributors. Turnover is forecast to have dropped 16 percent last year to around 7.5 billion yuan.

A recent visit to one of Shenzhen's busy shopping areas, where Li Ning and local rivals had stores last year, showed the company had shut up shop and moved to an upper floor of a nearby department store. Rivals ANTA Sports Products Ltd and 361 Degrees International Ltd were still at street level, though their stores were full of old stock.

Like industry peers, Li Ning raced to open hundreds of stores in the afterglow of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, but has been forced to retreat as sales have slumped. Li Ning shares have tumbled 86 percent from an April 2010 peak - the Hang Seng Index <.hsi> is up 2.3 percent over the same period - and 15 of 22 analysts who track the stock rate it a "sell" or "strong sell", Thomson Reuters data show.

A burst of excitement over new Wade gear would give a much-needed boost, but none was sighted in Shenzhen stores last week.

"They're out to prove that they, and by extension Chinese brands, can compete head-to-head with the global giants. The issue is that they're having trouble being successful at it," said James Roy, senior analyst at China Market Research Group.

Li Ning has also kept its U.S. plans tightly under wraps. Its shop.li-ning.com website, which offered online shopping as recently as February, is now just a single page linking to another bare-bones site promoting Wade. Calls to a U.S. customer service number during business hours were answered by a recorded message directing customers to send an email. A Reuters reporter seeking comment from the firm's U.S. headquarters in Chicago was advised that all queries must go through the China office.

Will DeGirolamo, an executive at PR firm DiGennaro Communications that represents Li Ning's brand initiative director Brian Cupps, said there would be more news soon on the Wade deal, including the U.S. launch of a new line of sneakers. "The sneakers will be available for the first time in the U.S. in early April," DeGirolamo said.

In an emailed response to Reuters questions for this article, the company's founder said: "The recent successful launch of the Wade brand is a great example of the high performance, high quality product lines that we are developing for our customers. The response so far has been very positive and we look forward to sharing 'The Way of Wade' with fans across the U.S. and China."

FADING STARS

Not having shoes on the market now means Li Ning may be missing out on a golden opportunity as Wade's team, the Miami Heat, is on a run of 25 straight wins, the second-longest streak in NBA history after the Los Angeles Lakers' 33-game run in 1971-72. Li Ning sponsors the Miami Heat and has previously signed one of Wade's former teammates, Shaquille O'Neal, who retired in 2011.

SportsOneSource's Powell said sales of Lebron James' shoes were at an all-time high thanks to the Heat's success. Nike reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings on Thursday, and future orders for delivery in March-July rose 11 percent in its North American market.

Other Chinese sportswear brands have struggled to turn NBA endorsements into sales success. ANTA, which signed Boston Celtics player Kevin Garnett to an endorsement deal in 2010 and featured him on the cover of its annual report, saw its 2012 profits fall by more than a fifth.

"NBA stars have a very big influence in (the sportswear market in) China," ANTA's chief operating officer Lai Shixian told Reuters in February, adding the company would consider more endorsements for suitable athletes.

Powell said even Nike was finding it tough to turn big-name endorsements into profits, noting it was only now making money off Lebron James gear, a decade after signing him. "Athletes just don't sell product like they used to," he said.

(Additional reporting by Emily Kaiser in SINGAPORE and Nivedita Bhattacharjee in CHICAGO; Writing by Emily Kaiser; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hurting-home-chinas-li-ning-courts-u-glitz-010836232--nba.html

troy miracle andy whitfield kennedy demi moore roy oswalt kevin martin

Hello, tower? Will the sequester make flying less safe at 149 US airports?

Automatic 'sequester'?spending cuts will force the FAA to shutter 149 airport towers. So far, the American public hasn't made up its mind about whether spending cuts are good or bad.

By Patrik Jonsson,?Staff writer / March 23, 2013

A plane heads to the runway at the Cuyahoga County Airport Friday in Highland Heights, Ohio. The Federal Aviation Administration target list of towers to close includes the Ohio State University and Bolton airports in Columbus and the Cuyahoga County Airport in suburban Cleveland.

Tony Dejak/AP

Enlarge

Flying will become a bit more seat-of-the pants for pilots who use some 149 US airports that are scheduled to have their air traffic towers closed next month, thanks to automatic spending cuts imposed by Congress.

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

The Federal Aviation Administration sparked a debate about flying safety when it announced Friday that contracted flight controllers at 149 airstrips would not report to work starting in April as the agency adjusts to mandated across the board spending cuts demanded by Congress in the Budget Control Act of 2011. The sequester went into effect March 1st when Congress and the White House failed to come to an agreement about deficit spending.

The $85 billion in sequester cuts forces agencies to curtail their spending by up to 8 percent, which many critics say amounts to a vexing scenario that will mean longer airport lines, fewer White House tours, and cuts in military benefits. The US Department of Transportation specifically has to absorb $1 billion in cuts, with $637 million coming out of the FAA's budget.

That's enough to cause uproar among Americans, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told Congress last month.

"Your phones are going to start ringing off the hook when these people are delayed at airports, and their flights are delayed 90 minutes, or their flights are cancelled, or their air tower is closed," Mr. LaHood said.

So far, most Americans, have been largely unfazed by the forced cuts, though the White House has said many of the impacts will be cumulative over time. The general consensus in Washington is that Republicans, especially, are content to let the sequester cuts remain in place, in part as proof that the sky won't fall as a result of modest agency spending cuts necessary to bring spending into line and reduce the rapidly expanding national debt.

"The American public has not yet come to a strongly shared judgment on the effects of the sequestration cuts," writes the Gallup organization, based on a mid-March poll. "More than half of Americans say they simply don't know enough to tell whether the cuts are a good thing or a bad thing for the country or for themselves ?. Apparently, nothing in the information flow ? has been enough ? to date ? to move the public's opinions about the cuts in either direction."

To be sure, the airport tower closings could help to shape public opinion, though it's far from clear in what way. While some Republican lawmakers whose rural district airports will be affected have criticized the FAA for compromising safety, some airport operators suggest that pilots are still going to be landing and taking off without too much problem.

Steve Landry, the interim director of the Gary/Chicago Airport, told the Chicago Tribune that landings and takeoffs will lose "efficiency" if the tower is closed. But pilots will still be able to use the airport by radioing other pilots and relying on towers at nearby airports for traffic information. That appears to be the consensus at the majority of the affected airports.

?Safety is our top priority, and in the course of implementing the operational changes, we may reduce the efficiency of the national airspace in order to maintain the highest safety standards," LaHood and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said in a letter announcing the plans. "We are aware that these service reductions will adversely affect commercial, corporate and general aviation operators. We also expect that as airlines estimate the potential impacts of these furloughs, they will change their schedules and cancel flights."

Justin Johnson, the director of aviation safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, told the Daytona Beach News-Journal that the 2004 addition of FAA-run towers at New Smyrna Beach and Ormond Beach airports ? both of which are slated to have their towers closed in April ? meant that "safe operations went to safer operations. Having a tower organizes what could be chaos into safer operations."

As with other potential sequester impacts, the closing of airport towers at smaller US airports will give Americans a glimpse into how budgetary doomsaying jibes with actual real world impacts of federal dollars and policies.

"Despite the bipartisan yelping, the sequester has turned out to be mild, at least in this early stage," writes Los Angeles Times columnist Doyle McManus. "As a result, the once-feared sequester is starting to seem like nothing more than a slightly messy $85-billion spending cut that Congress can continue to tinker with for the rest of the year."

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/eQrHtlUvyYw/Hello-tower-Will-the-sequester-make-flying-less-safe-at-149-US-airports

stan van gundy navy jet crash virginia beach crash stephen hawking marion barry virginia beach jet crash ridiculously photogenic guy

Meteor sightings flood in from East Coast, setting off a media scramble

An East Coast meteor put on a spectacular show on Friday. NBC's Michelle Franzen reports.

By Alan Boyle, Science Editor, NBC News

A Friday night flash of light in the skies over the East Coast sparked a rash of meteor sighting reports, followed by a mad dash to track down photos and videos of the event.

The American Meteor Society logged more than 800 reports from a region ranging from ?North Carolina to Washington to New York to New England to Canada. Hundreds more registered their observations on Twitter. ?One Twitter user, known as @Married2TheNite, reported from New Jersey that he saw ? and heard?? the object pass by. "It was making almost a hissing noise as it flew brightly overhead," he wrote. "I saw it around 7:55 p.m. EDT."

That time frame meshed with the many other reports. Some witnesses said they saw flashes of green, red and blue as the object streaked past.

The reports were consistent with a fireball?? similar to the one that flashed over Russia on Feb. 15, but much, much smaller.


"It's not an incredibly rare event, but it is very unusual to have that many people observe it, and also it was unusually bright," Ron Dantowitz, director of the Clay Center Observatory, told NBC station WHDH-TV?in Boston. "These types of meteors happen once or twice a year. The unusual thing is that it was so well observed not so long after sunset."

Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environmental Office told The Associated Press that the flash appeared to be "a fireball that moved roughly toward the southeast, going on visual reports."

"Judging from the brightness, we're dealing with something as bright as the full moon," Cooke said. "The thing is probably a yard across. We basically have (had) a boulder enter the atmosphere over the Northeast."

For a while, Twitter buzzed with tweets and retweets highlighting pictures that falsely purported to show the Friday night light ? but eventually, bona fide views surfaced. The paucity of honest-to-goodness meteor shots contrasted with the wealth of dashboard videos that came to light after last month's Russian meteor blast.

"The meteor has taught us one thing tonight," Cara Lynch tweeted, "the East Coast needs more dash cameras."?

One of the most widely distributed videos of Friday night's flash came from someone who didn't actually see it when it happened. "I wish I would have seen it for real," said Kim Fox, a first-grade teacher from Thurmont, Md.

This security camera footage, from Kim Fox of Thurmont, Md., shows the Friday night flash in the sky.

Fox told NBC News that she checked her security-camera system after hearing about the meteor. At around the time that news reports said the meteor was widely sighted, she saw a bright flash on one of the camera views. She took out her mobile phone, recorded a video of the video, and posted it to her Facebook page. From there, the video went viral on the Web and on TV newscasts.

"The phones have been ringing all night," Fox said.

Did you see the flash? Add your sighting report to the American Meteor Society's log, and tell me about it in the comment space below. Got pictures? Feel free to post them to the Cosmic Log Facebook page.

Update for 3:44 p.m. ET March 23: In one reference, I mistakenly placed Thurmont in New Jersey rather than Maryland. And it's WHDH, not WDHD. Sorry about that! Also, more video views of the flash have come in. Hopkins Automotive Group posted this flashy security camera video on its Facebook page. There's also this dashcam view from WUSA9 photojournalist Kurt Brooks.

More about meteors:


Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's?Facebook page, following?@b0yle on Twitter?and adding the?Cosmic Log page?to your Google+ presence. To keep up with Cosmic Log as well as NBCNews.com's other stories about science and space, sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered to your email in-box every weekday. You can also check out?"The Case for Pluto,"?my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.

This story was originally published on

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653377/s/29e4a330/l/0Lcosmiclog0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A30C230C1742180A40Emeteor0Esightings0Eflood0Ein0Efrom0Eeast0Ecoast0Esetting0Eoff0Ea0Emedia0Escramble0Dlite/story01.htm

the lion king suzanne collins cherry blossom festival nc state erika van pelt pat robertson hunger games trailer

Saturday, March 23, 2013

'Game of Thrones' prequel series possible

Jason Redmond / Jason Redmond / REUTERS

By Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone

A "Game of Thrones"?prequel could be in the works, according to series creator George R. R. Martin, who told IGN?there are talks of turning his "Tales of Dunk and Egg" novellas ? which also take place in Westeros, but 100 years before the events of? Game of Thrones ?? into a TV show.

"We have been playing with the idea of doing those as prequels," Martin said. "They're somewhat lighter in tone than the main series, a little more adventurous. But my fans love them and I love the two characters too, and it all ties into Westeros history."

"Game of Thrones" creator will make cameo in season three

Martin, who also has a development deal with HBO, revealed some ideas he's been working on for the network, including a science fiction show and a historical drama (though, as he noted, development is always a bit of a crapshoot).

HBO

Q&A: "Game of Thrones" insider Bryan Cogman on the biggest season yet

"The trick is, I have to find another David Benioff and Dan Weiss," Martin added, referring to the two "Game of Thrones" showrunners. "Because while I can come up with the ideas and the concepts for the show, I'm not in a position to write them because I have 3,000 more pages of the books to write, and that has to remain my top priority."

You can check out the trailer for the third season of "Game of Thrones" here; the show returns?March 31 on HBO.?

Related content:

More in The Clicker:

Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2013/03/23/17428478-game-of-thrones-prequel-series-possible-says-author-george-r-r-martin?lite

weather radio indiana autoimmune disease news channel 9 insanity workout mass effect 3 launch trailer yelp