Aperture 3.2

Since our review of Aperture 3.0 at its launch, Apple has been busy not only tightening the app by making it more stable and correcting minor glitches in specific cases, but also adding new capabilities like support for iCloud, iOS 5, and Lion multi-touch. Among an extremely capable field of pro photo-workflow software?especially Adobe Lightroom ($299, 4.5 stars), ACDSee Pro ($99.99, 4 stars), and the impressive newer arrival, CyberLink PhotoDirector ($99.99, 3.5 stars)?Aperture's smooth user interface, Faces and Places features, plentiful output options, and good camera raw support stand out. For Mac users who want a big step up in power from iPhoto, Aperture is a natural. But Lightroom goes further for the pro or very serious amateur, with not only the enforced workflow, but with specific lens-based corrections for geometry, vignetting, and chromatic aberration.

Aperture is available either from the Mac App Store for $79.99, or as a free trial downloadable from www.apple.com/aperture. It's a Mac-only application, so Windows and Linux users are out of luck, but are well served by Adobe's competing Lightroom, PCMag.com Editors' Choice photo workflow app, which is also available for the Mac. Another new Mac and Windows offering, Corel AfterShot ($99.99, 2.5 stars) has a ways to go before catching up with the two major players from Adobe and Apple.

Interface
Programs in Aperture's class are all about workflow. The progression is generally from importing and organizing to adjusting and editing to outputting your photos to print and web. Lightroom, ACDSee, AfterShot, and PhotoDirector take the approach of segmenting each of these phases of the workflow with different "modes" in tabs or buttons, usually along the lines of Organize, Edit, and Output. The progression often makes sense, but there are times when you may just want to jump around and perform an organizing action in the midst of photo editing.

Aperture is non-modal, meaning you can do just this, performing any action at any point in your process from its single Inspector panel. The tabs on this panel for Library, Metadata, and Adjustments, along with the interface's buttons and the app menu, give you access to everything in the program at any stage of the process. Your process will determine which is best for you: the more methodical types will prefer Lightroom's approach, while Aperture will better suit the more ADD types, who want to jump around between functions.

The modal approach will be comfortable for many photo pros, and it epitomizes an actual "workflow." But navigating Aperture's easy full-screen view, with optional "heads-up" display for the Inspector, becomes second nature pretty quickly. This new full-screen capability makes it easier to show nothing but your big glorious photo. Lightroom still has three levels of "full screen" and requires extra steps to hide all the panels and toolbars. However, neither Aperture nor Lightroom let me undock the panels the way ACDSee did.

Aperture lets you view your library as large thumbnails in full screen mode, and its thumbnail-size slider makes adjusting them easier than in Lightroom. Aperture also has a nice zoom with the mouse-wheel option. New support for OS X Lion gestures means you can pinch and unpinch on a trackpad to zoom in and out as well. Rotating and cropping also benefits from multitouch gestures. Another feature lacking in Lightroom but available in Aperture is the virtual Light Table; this lets you arrange photos in different sizes in a single view and save them as one PDF or JPG. I'm not sure how useful this is for most photographers, but it's been brought up on Adobe Lightroom forums by those who miss it.

Import and Organize
When you import photos from a memory card, Aperture saves files in its own area as "managed" photos, only accessible by Aperture, but you can save the images to a regular disk folder and have Aperture treat them as "referenced" files for editing. Any edits will be saved in Aperture's database, but the master images remain where you placed them on the drive. You can also export a managed file to a disk file visible in Finder. The raw import settings for my Canon EOS Rebel T1i turned out beautiful images. And the software can perform some image processing as it imports, such as applying adjustment presets, and even Apple ActionScripts that you can download from enthusiast sites.

Like most current photo-editing software, Aperture is "non-destructive," meaning it keeps a master of the original image you imported and saves your edits in a database. Any of your edited images is called a "version" (as opposed to the master?the original). I think Lightroom makes it a little easier to take snapshots and view before/after comparisons, though you can do this in Aperture through menus. Lightroom also makes it easier to see a split view of one side showing your original and the other your edited version. And while tethering my T1i worked flawlessly in Lightroom 3 beta, Aperture wouldn't play. I contacted Apple about this and assume it will support this most popular of DSLRs soon.

Aperture lets you organize your images in several hierarchies?at the top level, your Library contains Projects, which can be subdivided into folders, albums, and Smart albums. Stacks is a feature in both Aperture and Lightroom that lets you group related photos, and both can auto-group photos into stacks based on the shots' timestamps. Aperture makes a bigger deal out of stacks, giving the feature its own menu (Lightroom offers a choice under its Photo menu). And Aperture has a nice expanding animation when you reveal a stack's photos.

Aperture offers all the extensive metadata support you could want?camera and EXIF, ratings, captions, keywords, and much more?including support for the standard IPTC Core spec. One thing I'm used to is right-clicking to get properties, but that's not an option in Aperture. For my Canon T1i, Aperture could show me the focus points, but Lightroom couldn't. A very complete filter dialog lets you view just photos that meet the criteria you want, though in a minor quibble, Lightroom makes it easier to filter by EXIF info such as which lens you used.

Aperture also now displays video and lets you do basic trimming, something Ligthroom users will have to wait for in version 4. I do wish it were easier to filter the library view by just video, though. The video editing like what you get on the iPhone?very basic. But it can be useful for slideshow presentations, and it's more than you get it Lightroom 3, which only displays videos in the betas I've seen so far.

iCloud Photo Stream
New for version 3.2 in Aperture, a Photo Stream entry appears by default in your Library tab in the side panel. The first time you click on this, you'll see a message asking whether you want to turn the feature on or not. After responded in the affirmative, a confirmation dialog appeared, telling me I had to enable iCloud in System Preferences. The relevant control panel opened, where I could sign into my Apple ID. After returning to Aperture and hitting the Turn on Photo Stream button, two project thumbnail trays appeared at the bottom of the window. My guess is that this was because I had iCloud Photo Stream syncing set up on a Windows PC, too, but shooting a couple more photos with my iPhone quickly populated both sets with the new photos.

By default, any photos I added to my Aperture Library were automatically added to Photo Stream, which wasn't a good thing for my storage limit. A complicated series of rules apply if you upload from multiple computers. One smart feature of Photo Stream is that it can make raw camera files viewable on your iPhone or iPad.

A striking point about Photo Stream (and in some ways iCloud as a whole) is that it's almost more generous with Windows PC users than with Mac users. The service works with all recent versions, including XP, Vista, and Windows 7, whereas only the latest version of Mac OS X is compatible: Leopard and even Snow Leopard users are less favored than Windows users.

Also, on Windows, you get a standard folder under My Photos for your Photo Stream, where on the Mac the folder is hidden, with the photos only accessible through iPhoto or Aperture. This means Lightroom users on Windows can point to this as an auto-import folder, so Lightroom has no Photo Stream disadvantage compared with Aperture.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/LwwfKisvQFg/0,2817,2362337,00.asp

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BSkyB to launch online TV service to spur growth (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) ? BSkyB, Britain's dominant pay-TV group, is to launch an online offering to enable it to better take on the likes of Lovefilm and Netflix, following some signs of slowing growth at its main satellite business.

BSkyB said on Tuesday it would launch the new service to tap in to the 13 million homes which do not pay for its television service, offering movies and sports without the need for a contract or satellite dish.

BSkyB made the announcement as it revealed it had added 40,000 net new customers to its main TV service in the second quarter, slightly below expectations despite being helped by strong customer loyalty.

With a strong focus on cost control and a new strategy of selling more products to existing customers, the group however posted strong first-half results and increased its dividend.

"Sky shares should bounce on strong financial and operating trends but medium-term worries will persist, potentially exacerbated rather than assuaged by Sky proposing to retail BT's Infinity and to introduce a broadband-delivered low-cost Sky Movies product," analysts at investment bank Morgan Stanley said in a note.

Shares in BSkyB were up 3 percent at 685.5 pence by 4:37 a.m. ET, having fallen 11 percent year to date over fears the group would have to invest in faster broadband services, spend heavily to acquire soccer rights and compete with the likes of Lovefilm.

On Tuesday BSkyB said instead of investing in its own fiber network it would use BT Group Plc's superfast infrastructure known as BT Infinity on a wholesale basis to offer its customers speeds of 40 megabits per second.

SUPERFAST SPEEDS

The faster broadband speeds, which have proved popular with customers of rival Virgin Media inc, could help compliment BSkyB's push in watching more content online.

BSkyB has offered its own customers the opportunity to watch programming online before, but the push to offer its content to non-Sky customers is a new tactic for the group.

It follows the recent launch of the U.S. online DVD rental company Netflix Inc in Britain and Ireland, which prompted Amazon-owned rival Lovefilm to offer a new cut-price service. BSkyB has not yet set out its pricing plans.

The new offering will launch in the first half of 2012 and will enable customers to watch Sky content including movies and eventually sports on a range of flexible tariffs and without signing a contract.

BSkyB -- which also said it would create 1,300 new jobs in Britain and Ireland in a drive to improve customer service -- has grown through the economic downturn by attracting consumers to its range of sports, movies and broadband, but it has started to show signs of slowing in recent quarters.

The 40,000 net new customers added in the second quarter was above the 26,000 it added in the first quarter but below the 140,000 added in the second quarter a year ago. Analysts had expected net new TV customers of 58,000.

To balance out the slowing growth it sold an increasing number of different services to existing customers, such as high-definition TV or broadband, enabling it to post strong first-half results.

Revenue was up 6 percent to 3.4 billion pounds ($5.3 billion) and adjusted operating profit grew 16 percent to 601 million.

"Amidst all the Netflix noise comes a reminder that Sky is not about to give up its crown lightly," said Richard Hunter, head of equities at brokerage Hargreaves Lansdown. "The launch of its online offering further complements its existing technical reach alongside the potential for new customers.

"The positive reaction to today's news should at least consolidate the market consensus of the shares as a cautious buy."

The company did not make any new comment on the position of its chairman James Murdoch, who has come under pressure for his handling of a phone hacking scandal at News Corp's UK newspaper arm. News Corp owns almost 40 percent of BSkyB.

($1 = 0.6377 British pounds)

(Editing by Matt Scuffham and David Holmes)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120131/wr_nm/us_bskyb

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Britney Spears Has 'Crazy' Cameo On will.i.am's Album?

Black Eyed Peas mastermind teases a collabo with the pop princess on #willpower, set for 2012 release.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears
Photo: Max Morse/Getty Images

In a sea of A-list contributions for will.i.am's forthcoming solo album, the Black Eyed Peas mastermind recently dropped one name that will really get pop fans excited. Speaking with Capital FM, will teased that his Femme Fatale collaborator Britney Spears will make an appearance on the album, dubbed #willpower.

"I have a song with Alicia Keys — me, Alicia and Swedish House Mafia. I have a song with the Beats, which is pretty grand. Me and Shakira have been trying to finish the stuff we started, and me and Britney is really crazy," he said. "So we got a song with me, LMFAO and Eva Simons, a song with me and Busta Rhymes and Swizz Beatz — I got a whole other bunch of collaborations."

Spears and will.i.am last worked together on "Big Fat Bass," a spacey, grinding party tune complete with clapping noises and some rapping from will himself. Their recording session was featured on the MTV special "I Am the Femme Fatale." There's been no word yet from will's camp about the song and whether this is a new track or if he will be including "Big Fat Bass" on the album.

The rapper/producer's love for Brit is hardly anything new: He gushed to MTV News about the pop princess months after they recorded together. "[I discovered] her love for music. I never seen anyone, like, come alive, full of excitement and giggling and laughing behind the mic," will recalled to MTV News. "She was like a little kid when she was recording the song, and it just brought the whole atmosphere, it changed the whole atmosphere when someone really loves music. So it was great working with her."

His latest single, "T.H.E (The Hardest Ever)," featuring Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger, dropped late last year. #willpower, which also features "X Factor" judge Nicole Scherzinger, will be released later this year.

What are you expecting from will and Brit's collabo? Let us know in the comments!

Related Artists

• Britney Spears
• Will.I.Am

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1678147/britney-spears-will-i-am-collaboration.jhtml

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Sudan-held Vitol oil tankers freed: industry source (Reuters)

DUBAI (Reuters) ? Two oil tankers carrying South Sudanese crude that were held by Sudan earlier this month chartered by oil trading giant Vitol were freed late on Sunday, an industry source told Reuters.

"The two tankers were freed last on Sunday and they are carrying a total of 1.6 million barrels," said the industry source familiar with the matter.

South Sudan shut down oil production over the weekend in protest over north Sudan seizing shipments in a dispute over how much landlocked South Sudan should pay to pump oil to Port Sudan in the north.

Vitol, one of the world's largest oil trading houses with average sales of over 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2010, is expanding its exploration and production interests in West Africa and Asia.

Oil is the lifeline of both countries' economies but the south's secession left Khartoum controlling just 125,000 bpd of production compared to South Sudan's 350,000 bpd.

Oil provides about 98 percent of South Sudan's income and is vital for developing an already poor country devastated by years of civil war.

(Reporting by Amena Bakr)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/energy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120130/wl_nm/us_sudan_oil

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Kuyt to the rescue

Andrew Yates / AFP - Getty Images

Liverpool midfielder Stewart Downing (left) vies with Manchester United defender Patrice Evra on Saturday.

By STUART CONDIE

updated 12:56 p.m. ET Jan. 28, 2012

Dirk Kuyt struck a dramatic 88th minute winner to give Liverpool a 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup on Saturday and a place in the last 16.

The match between the two bitter rivals looked set for a replay after Park Ji-sung leveled for United in the 39th minute at Anfield after a rare goal by Daniel Agger had given Liverpool a 21st minute lead.

It was the first meeting between Liverpool and United since Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was handed an eight-game ban for racially abusing United defender Patrice Evra in a league game on October 15.

United's Antonio Valencia was denied by the woodwork in the first half, while Liverpool's Andy Carroll hit the bar in the closing moments of a thrilling encounter which passed off without major incident.

Victory over United came just days after Liverpool booked a place in the League Cup final at Manchester City's expense, and a week after the side lost 3-1 at Bolton.

"The week started badly for us at Bolton, but it's a fantastic credit to the players and how much pride they take in the club that they've got themselves back on track," said Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish.

"They've come out on the right side of two huge cup games."

United manager Alex Ferguson meanwhile struggled to come to terms with his side's cup exit.

"We dominated the game it terms of possession," added Ferguson. "We did very well in that respect. But to lose the game is hard to believe.

"The players showed great respect to each other, there wasn't a bad tackle in the game."

Such was the level of concern after what happened when the teams last met that both managers appealed for calm from supporters before the match. The fierce rivalry between Liverpool and United has existed for many years but the incident between Suarez and Evra only served to heighten tensions.

Evra, who captained United, was booed by the home fans every time he touched the ball as the match started amid an unpleasant atmosphere. But to the relief of both clubs, the real drama was on the pitch as Liverpool took the lead against the run of play before United hit back before the interval.

"There was a wee bit of banter between both fans which is brilliant because we wouldn't want to take that away, but at the end of the day I thought they were fantastic," Dalglish said. "The players were a great credit for that as well - none of them tried to do anything other than play football."

Asked what he thought about Evra being booed, Dalglish said: "Are you winding me up? Why would I be disappointed for Patrice Evra? I used to be booed when I played."

Evra did himself few favors when the France international fullback lunged on Maxi Rodriguez in the early stages. But referee Mark Halsey kept his cards in his pocket and instead dealt with the matter by dishing out a stern lecture to the United player.

In a frantic opening, Rodriguez forced goalkeeper David de Gea, recalled to United's side after being dropped for the last three matches, into a fourth minute save before United settled into their stride.

The visitors were missing some key players - Wayne Rooney, Nani and Phil Jones - due to ankle injuries but after veteran Ryan Giggs had forced Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina into his first save, Valencia was denied by the woodwork after a terrific 18th minute attempt.

United were beginning to take control but three minutes later Liverpool broke the deadlock through an unlikely source.

Agger has not scored in a Liverpool shirt since April 2010 but the former Brondby player leapt high above the United defense to nod Steven Gerrard's corner past De Gea.

Instead of building on their lead, Liverpool was content to sit back and was punished when Jose Enrique was hustled off the ball by Rafael da Silva, who set up Park to fire past Reina.

The game continued to swing from end-to-end.

Liverpool appealed for a penalty after Chris Smalling's failed attempt to clear inside his own area before Gerrard forced De Gea into a full-stretch save from a 65th minute free kick.

At the other end, Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel made a goal-saving clearance after Danny Welbeck looked certain to score after darting past Reina.

With a replay looming, Dalglish sent on Craig Bellamy, who scored the decisive goal against Manchester City in midweek to book Liverpool a place in the League Cup final.

But it was Kuyt - not Bellamy - who was Liverpool's hero this time as the Dutch striker beat De Gea at his near post following Andy Carroll's flick.

Carroll went close to a third when he headed against the top of the post in the closing seconds.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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US women qualify for Olympics

The U.S. women's soccer team booked their way to London on Friday night with a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in the semifinals of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament.

Kuyt to the rescue

??Liverpool reached the 5th round of the FA Cup, beating rival Manchester United 2-1.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/46174603/ns/sports-soccer/

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Glitzy new AU headquarters a symbol of China-Africa ties (Reuters)

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) ? Standing on what was once Ethiopia's oldest maximum security prison, the new African Union headquarters funded by China is a symbol of the Asian giant's push to stay ahead in Africa and gain greater access to the continent's resources.

Critics point to an imbalance in what they see as the new "Scramble for Africa." But the prospect of growing Chinese economic influence is welcomed by African leaders, who see Beijing as a partner to help build their economies at a time when Europe and the United States are mired in economic turmoil.

And Africans are hoping for more Chinese largesse.

"The future prospects of our partnership are even brighter," Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Saturday at the new headquarters' multi-storey amphitheatre, where an African heads of states' summit will take place Sunday and Monday.

"China - its amazing re-emergence and its commitments for a win-win partnership with Africa - is one of the reasons for the beginning of the African renaissance," he said.

The brown marble and glass monolith was fully paid for by China, right down to the office furniture, and cost $200 million. The office complex and almost 100 metre (330 foot) tower is Addis Ababa's tallest building by far.

For the past decade, Africa has recorded economic growth of an average of 5 percent but its under-developed infrastructure has in part hindered its capacity to develop further.

Chinese companies are changing that. They are building roads and investing in the energy sector, and are active in areas such as telecoms technology.

China's most senior political adviser, Jia Qinglin, said trade between the two partners had grown to $150 billion, and the unveiling of the headquarters was a "milestone" in the ties between China and Africa.

As the biggest consumer of iron-ore, China has a relentless hunger for African minerals and energy.

Beijing now appears keener to flex its diplomatic muscle in the continent. It has also contributed $4.5 million for the African Union peacekeeping force battling Islamist militants in Somalia.

Outside the complex, hundreds of Chinese support staff, delegates and officials snapped pictures of their country's most ostentatious presence yet in Africa.

Critics point to land grabs and mistreatment of African workers on Chinese-funded projects. Even when it comes to job opportunities, in some instances China brings in teams of workers and technical experts.

Yet African officials insist they aren't being manipulated by China, and say the relationship is not based on aid but on trade and development.

"There are people who still consider Africans like children who can be easily manipulated. The good thing about this partnership is that it's give and take," the Democratic Republic of Congo's ambassador to Washington, Faida Mitifu, told Reuters.

(Editing by James Macharia and Alessandra Rizzo)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/africa/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120128/wl_nm/us_africa_china

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Video: The Holocaust remembered

The world is marking International Holocaust remembrance day. In Great Britain there was a promise never to forget the genocide. ITN's Sue Saville reports.

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/46164530/

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Knewton Prepares To Take Education by Storm [TCTV]

Here at the World Economic Forum in Davos, among the banking, shipping, steel and transport magnates of the global economy, there are a number of technology entrepreneurs floating around. As they rub shoulders with the likes of Eric Schmidt, Sean Parker, Loic Le Meur and Robert Scoble, it's possible to peel them off from the crowd. I managed to catch Jose Ferreira, CEO and Founder of Knewton a startup which is aiming a silver bullet at the education problem with something that one might even call an audacious platform.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/rfZ0mHoA_9A/

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Analysis: Republican Romney back on track in White House race (reuters)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

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"Artist" canine?headed for retirement (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) ? Say it isn't so, Uggie! The trainer of "The Artist" pooch says Uggie is retiring after the biggest year in his big-screen career.

"I'm retiring him," Omar von Muller, Uggie's trainer, tells Life & Style magazine. "He may do a couple of little things here and there because he enjoys them, but I don't want to put him through long hours anymore. He's getting tired."

Uggie, who is nominated for two Golden Collar Awards, did not immediately respond to TheWrap's request for a woof. His trainers also did not immediately respond to TheWrap's request for comment.

Uggie is a scene stealer in the Oscar-nominated "The Artist," and also starred in the 2011 Reese Witherspoon/Robert Pattinson drama "Water for Elephants." He earned Best Dog in a Theatrical Film nominations for both movies for the Golden Collar Awards.

Meanwhile, though Uggie is about to start living the life of doggie leisure, his trainer is keeping the family business going with Uggie's little brother, Dash. Dash has already worked as Uggie's stand-in.

"I think he will be fine with Dash stepping in," von Muller says. "Uggie is 10 years old and has done a lot of work; he wants to relax at home. If somebody wants to do a movie with Uggie, they'll just have to deal with Dash!"

Von Muller also says Uggie is hoping to close out his Hollywood days with an appearance at the Oscars.

"I hope he gets to go. They should give him an envelope to bring to Billy Crystal."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120126/film_nm/us_uggie

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Several dead after landslide hits Papua New Guinea (AP)

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea ? Rescuers were pulling bodies from the debris of a landslide that struck mountainous central Papua New Guinea, a disaster official said Wednesday, with reports saying as many as 60 people were dead or missing.

The full extent of the damage to villages hit by Tuesday's landslide was not immediately known, said Martin Mose, the director of the South Pacific island nation's National Disaster Center.

"I just received reports that several bodies have been recovered," Mose told The Associated Press. He said he was waiting for officials at the scene ? near the town of Mendi ? to provide him with the exact number.

Local media reported that 40 bodies had been recovered and 20 people were still missing.

Local lawmaker Francis Potape told Radio Australia's indigenous language service that the landslide completely covered two villages while people slept.

"There are people buried underneath and a number of them are, from what I have heard, children," The National newspaper quoted Potape as saying.

Reports said the destruction extended more than one mile (two kilometers), leaving roads to villages cut off.

Three National Disaster Center officials were being flown by helicopter to Mendi on Wednesday to join police at the disaster site.

The Post Courier newspaper reported that Prime Minister Peter O'Neill would fly to the state later Wednesday.

(This version CORRECTS spelling of Mose's last name.)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/africa/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120125/ap_on_re_as/as_papua_new_guinea_landslide

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Oscar 2012 Predictions: Best Picture

'The Artist' and 'The Descendants' lead MTV News' nominee picks for the Academy Awards' top prize.
By Kevin P. Sullivan

Bérénice Bejo and Malcolm McDowell in The Artist
Photo: The Weinstein Company

In a few short hours, the conversation that has captivated film writers for months — "Who will be nominated for Best Picture?" — will become "Who will win the Academy Award for Best Picture?"

A new Academy rule once again changed the possible number of nominations for the top prize. What used to be a set number of 10 nominees now depends on the specifics of the Oscar ballots, and now the number of nominees can range from five to 10.

If it wasn't for that new stipulation, the announcement of Best Picture nominees might not have provided any surprises or drama, since five films are essentially guaranteed locks. Thankfully, the new rule adds an extra element of intrigue to an otherwise boring race.

MTV News' predictions for the Academy Awards' Best Picture nominees are:

"The Artist"
This is the name that should be read first, not just because it starts with "A," but because it will be the least surprising of the nominees. The silent throwback charmer "The Artist" has led the pack throughout awards season, and with its recent big wins at the Globes and the Producers Guild, things will only start to get interesting after this nominee is read.

"The Descendants"
Alexander Payne's drama about a family coping with the impending death of a mother and wife currently stands as the only real competition for "The Artist." A Best Picture (Drama) win at the Globes coupled with George Clooney's Best Actor win guarantee "The Descendants" will be in the running come Oscar night.

"The Help"
Though the film as a whole has not fared well with the guilds and critic circles, "The Help" is bolstered by its crowd-pleasing nature and two nomination-worthy performances by Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. Despite an underwhelming win record, it's presence on shortlists should continue with the Oscars.

"Hugo"
Martin Scorsese's 3-D family-friendly ode to filmmaking, "Hugo" swept up a surprising number of critics and guild awards and is the only movie that realistically could steal Best Picture glory away from "The Artist" or "The Descendants." Scorsese's win for Best Director at the Golden Globes could mean a big last-minute push for the legend's latest film.

"Midnight in Paris"
This past summer's surprise indie hit went on to become Woody Allen's most financially successful movie of all time. "Midnight in Paris" stayed in the minds of many voters despite its release date outside the awards-heavy fall movie season, and it falls nicely in line with the most feel-good set of nominees in recent memory.

"Moneyball"
Call it the "Social Network" effect. This Aaron Sorkin co-scripted drama about an ostensibly boring subject matter went on to become a critical and box-office success story. Strong performances from Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill certainly helped the baseball drama, but its excellent script and assured direction by Bennett Miller earned "Moneyball" a spot on the nominees list.

"Tinker Tailor Solider Spy"
This seventh spot is the most fluid of all, with "War Horse" or "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" as potential substitutes. Many Oscar experts, however, have felt that the surprise resurgence of the British spy drama "Tinker Tailor Solider Spy" will be the story of tomorrow's nominations. (Here's to hoping for Gary Oldman's first nod.) Strong critical reception, combined with modest financial success and the Academy's British vote could make for the category's only surprise.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1677773/oscar-predictions-best-picture-2012.jhtml

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Mixed record for Obama's State of the Union goals

WASHINGTON (AP) ? As President Barack Obama prepares to deliver his annual address to Congress, many goals he outlined in previous State of the Union speeches remain unfulfilled. From reforming immigration laws to meeting monthly with congressional leaders of both parties, the promises fell victim to congressional opposition or faded in face of other priorities as the unruly realities of governing set in.

For Obama, like presidents before him, the State of the Union is an opportunity like no other to state his case on a grand stage, before both houses of Congress and a prime-time television audience. But as with other presidents, the aspirations he's laid out have often turned out to be ephemeral, unable to secure the needed congressional consent or requiring follow-through that's not been forthcoming.

As Obama's first term marches to an end amid bitterly divided government and an intense campaign by Republicans to take his job, it's going to be even harder for him to get things done this year. So Tuesday night's speech may focus as much on making an overarching case for his presidency ? and for a second term ? as on the kind of laundry list of initiatives that sometimes characterize State of the Union appeals.

"State of the Union addresses are kind of like the foam rubber rocks they used on Star Trek ? they look solid but aren't," said Jack Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College. "Presidents will talk about solving some policy problem, and then the bold language of the State of the Union address disappears into the messy reality of governing."

For Obama, last year's State of the Union offers a case study in that dynamic. Speaking to a newly divided government not long after the assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Ariz., Obama pleaded for national unity, a grand goal that never came to pass as Washington quickly dissolved into one partisan dispute after another.

Many of the particulars Obama rolled out that night proved just as hard to pull off.

Among the initiatives Obama promoted then that have yet to come to fruition a year later: eliminating subsidies to oil companies; replacing No Child Left Behind with a better education law; making a tuition tax credit permanent; rewriting immigration laws; and reforming the tax system.

The list of what he succeeded in accomplishing is considerably shorter, including: securing congressional approval of a South Korea free trade deal; signing legislation to undo a burdensome tax reporting requirement in his health care law; and establishing a website to show taxpayers where their tax dollars go.

One of Obama's pledges from last January's speech ? to undertake a reorganization of the federal government ? he got around to rolling out only this month. And other promises are vaguer or more long term, such as declaring a "Sputnik moment" for today's generation and calling for renewed commitments to research and development and clean energy technology; pushing to prepare more educators to teach science, technology and math; promoting high-speed rail and accessible broadband; and seeking greater investments in infrastructure.

"Clearly as time goes on and a presidency matures you get less and less of it and the State of the Union becomes an aspiration for what you want to do as opposed to a road map for what you can accomplish," said Princeton University historian Julian Zelizer. As voters' enthusiasm fades and opposition deepens, Zelizer said, "You lose some of your power and you get closer to the next election and no one wants to work with you."

Last year's address already contained more modest goals than the speech Obama gave to a joint session of Congress a month after his inauguration, which although not technically a State of the Union report had the feel of one. At the time Obama called for overhauling health care and ending the war in Iraq ? promises he kept ? but also for closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and imposing caps on carbon pollution ? promises unmet.

Some of his goals, such as immigration and education reform, have resurfaced in multiple addresses, but still without being accomplished.

And rarely has Obama's rhetoric as president reached as high as the lofty promises of his campaign, when he pledged to change the very way Washington does business and remake politics itself. It's a far cry from those promises of change to the ambition of meeting monthly with Democratic and Republican congressional leaders ? but even that relatively modest goal, from Obama's 2010 State of the Union, went unfulfilled.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-01-23-State%20of%20the%20Union-Promises/id-c6a8360a48a34d239d746bd1a8ad92a7

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Video: Vice President Christie?

A Second Take on Meeting the Press: From an up-close look at Rachel Maddow's sneakers to an in-depth look at Jon Krakauer's latest book ? it's all fair game in our "Meet the Press: Take Two" web extra. Log on Sundays to see David Gregory's post-show conversations with leading newsmakers, authors and roundtable guests. Videos are available on-demand by 12 p.m. ET on Sundays.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/vp/46090664#46090664

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Mexico authorities unravel child trafficking ring (AP)

ZAPOPAN, Mexico ? Life seemed to give Karla Zepeda a break when a woman came to her dusty neighborhood of cinderblock homes and dirt roads looking for babies to photograph in an anti-abortion ad campaign.

The woman asked to use the 15-year-old's baby girl in a two-week photo shoot for $755 ($10,000 pesos), a small fortune for a teen mother who earns $180 a month at a sandwich stand and shares a cramped, one-story house with her disabled mother, stepfather, and three brothers.

But 9-month-old Camila wasn't just posing for photographs when she was taken away.

Jalisco state investigators say the child was left for weeks at a time in the care of an Irish couple who had come to Ajijic, a town of cobblestone streets and gated communities 37 miles (60 kilometers) away, thinking they were adopting her.

Prosecutors say the baby was apparently part of an illegal adoption ring that ensnared destitute young Mexican women trying to earn more for their children and childless Irish couples desperate to become parents.

Camila and nine other children have been turned over to state officials who suspect they were being groomed for illegal adoptions. And authorities hint that far more children could be involved: Lead investigator Blanca Barron told reporters the ring may have been operating for 20 years, though she gave no details. Prosecutors also say four of the children show signs of sexual abuse, though they gave no details on how or by whom.

Nine people have been detained, including two suspected leaders of the ring, but no one has yet been charged.

At least 15 Irish citizens have been questioned, the Jalisco state attorney general's office said, but officials have not released their names. Neighbors say most or all have returned to Ireland after spending weeks or months in Ajijic trying to meet requirements for adopting a child. None was detained.

For Karla Zepeda, the story began in August, when she was approached by Guadalupe Bosquez and agreed to lend her daughter for an anti-abortion advertising campaign, she told The Associated Press. Bosquez later returned with another woman, Silvia Soto, and gave her half the money as they picked the child up. She got the rest two weeks later when they brought Camila home.

"They showed me a poster that showed my girl with other babies and said 'No To Abortion, Yes To Life,'" said Karla, a petite girl cleaning her house to loud norteno music. "I thought it was legal because everything seemed very normal."

Before long, the message spread to her neighbors. Seven other women, most between the ages of 15 and 22, agreed to let their babies be part of the ad campaign. Some already had several children. Some are single mothers. One of them doesn't know how to read or write. Five of them told they AP that they did not even have birth certificates for their babies when they came across Bosquez and Soto.

One said she needed money to pay for her child's medical care, another to finish building an extra room on her house.

All deny agreeing to give their children up for adoption.

"We're going through a nightmare," said Fernanda Montes, an 18-year-old housewife who said she took part to pay a $670 hospital bill from the birth of her 3-month-old. "How could we have trusted someone so evil?"

The women say that Bosquez and Soto persuaded three of them to register their children as single mothers so they could participate in the anti-abortion campaign, even though they live with the children's fathers.

Children's rights activists say that also could have made it easier to release the child for adoption: only the mother's signature would be needed.

The mothers were assured that the babies were being taken care of by several nannies and checked by doctors. The babies often returned home wearing new clothes.

Some of the mothers said they began having second thoughts. But when they declined to send their children back, they say, Bosquez and Soto insisted they would have to pay for the strollers, car seats, diaper bags and everything else they had bought for the babies.

Investigators say that Bosquez and Soto were taking the children to a hotel in Guadalajara, where they met with Irish couples who believed they were going to adopt them.

The plan began to unravel on Jan. 9, when local police detained 21-year-old Laura Carranza and accused her of trying to sell her 2-year-old daughter.

Investigators said Carranza denied that allegation, but acknowledged she was "renting" her 8-month-old son. She then led authorities to Bosquez and Soto.

Both are now being held on suspicion they ran the alleged anti-abortion ad campaign as a front for an illegal adoption ring. It was not clear if they have attorneys and they have not yet been brought before a judge to say if they accept or reject the allegations.

Carranza is also being held, as is Karla's mother, Cecilia Velazquez, who hasn't worked since she lost both legs in a traffic accident in 2010. Karla says her mother's only fault was agreeing to the ad campaign.

Seven of the mothers interviewed told the AP that the children had most recently been picked up by Bosquez and Soto between Dec. 27 and Dec. 30 for an alleged photo shoot. They returned the babies on Jan. 9 and 10, saying "there had been problems." The mothers said they didn't notice anything wrong with the babies or any signs of abuse.

Then state police investigators showed up at their homes and drove them and their children to the police department for questioning. The babies were taken from them and put into state protective custody. The women complained that only four of them have been allowed to see their babies since, and only once.

A statement from Jalisco state prosecutors' said authorities seized Carranza's two children from her and the other seven while they were with Irish couples. Prosecutors didn't respond to requests by the AP to clarify the discrepancy.

Residents of Ajijic, a town on the shore of Lake Chapala favored by American and Canadian retirees, say Irish citizens looking to adopt Mexican children began appearing there at least four years ago.

Jalisco state prosecutors' spokesman Lino Gonzalez wouldn't confirm the Irish had left, but said none had been charged with a crime.

Even if they had adopted the children, Ireland might not have accepted them because the adoptions were handled privately, said Frances FitzGerald, Ireland's minister for children.

"Obviously, for any couple caught up in this, it's a nightmare scenario," she said.

"What you can't have in Mexico is people going to local agencies or individuals doing private adoptions because when they come back, there is going to be a difficulty."

Prosecutors say they have been trying without success to reach the attorneys who were handling the adoption paperwork in the neighboring state of Colima.

Custody release statements signed by all of the mothers carry the logo of Lopez y Lopez Asociados, a firm owned by Carlos Lopez Valenzuela and his son, Carlos Lopez Castellanos. Authorities raided their home last week.

The release statements were shown to the AP by a local advocate for missing and stolen children, Juan Manuel Estrada of Fundacion FIND, who said they had been leaked to him by a state official. He said Lopez Valenzuela had separately sent him a lengthy statement by email declaring that he too may have been duped in the case and denying wrongdoing.

Prosecutors wouldn't confirm the authenticity of that statement, but it mirrors the stories of seven mothers who were interviewed by the AP.

According to the statement Lopez said he had handled adoptions in Colima state for 63 Irish couples since 2004. He said he first met Bosquez when she approached him in 2009 about giving her own unborn child up for adoption to an Irish couple, a process, he wrote, that was completed legally.

The statement said that Bosquez also introduced Lopez to a social worker and together they brought him the current case involving Zepeda and the other women from Zapopan, apparently hoping he could match the children to adopting couples.

It says Lopez was told the mothers wanted only to deal with the two women, and he agreed. The young mothers confirmed they never met Lopez.

Lopez didn't respond to emailed interview requests from the AP.

According to the statement, Lopez said he follows the stringent adoption laws set by the Hague Adoption Convention, which Mexico has signed.

Unlike Guatemala or China, Mexico has not been a popular destination for foreigners looking to adopt, perhaps because the process, done by law, is complicated.

"The legal adoption process in Mexico is difficult, but cheating in Mexico is very easy," Estrada said.

___

Associated Press writer Shawn Pogatchnik in Dublin contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120123/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_mexico_child_trafficking

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Heidi Klum and Seal Are Separating (omg!)

Heidi Klum and Seal are splitting after seven years together.

PHOTOS: Heidi and Seal in happier times

In a joint statement to Us Weekly they confirm: "While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate. We have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship and continue to love each other very much, but we have grown apart. This is an amicable process and protecting the well-being of our children remains our top priority, especially during this time of transition. We thank our family, friends, and fans for their kind words of support. And for our children's sake, we appreciate you respecting our privacy."

PHOTOS: Biggest celebrity breakups of 2011

The couple have three biological children, Henry, 6, Johan, 5, and Lou, 2, plus Klum's 7-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, Leni, whom Seal adopted in 2009.

PHOTOS: Heidi and other upermodel moms

On Saturday, TMZ reported that Klum and Seal were heading for a divorce, and that Klum would be filing the papers citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their split.

PHOTOS: Heidi's craziest Halloween costumes

A friend of the couple told Us, "They've had a very rough road lately. They're either madly in love or having crazy fights."

Get more Us! Follow us on Twitter, Friend us on Facebook, Subscribe to Us Weekly

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_heidi_klum_seal_separating055653915/44269449/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/heidi-klum-seal-separating-055653915.html

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Cheerleader Fails (VIDEO)

Don't let the short skirts and the wide smiles fool you, cheerleading is serious business. Between the more acrobatic elements of the sport and the proximity to high-speed action on the playing field, there are plenty of ways that even the best laid routines can go awry.

From innocent foul ups to potentially dangerous drops, here are some remarkable cheerleader fails.

WATCH ABOVE

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/21/cheerleader-fails-video-falls-drops-sideline-collisions_n_1220834.html

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GM reclaims global sales crown

Gm / Wieck

Strong global demand for the Chevrolet Cruze helped propel GM to the top of the automotive heap.

By Paul A. Eisenstein, The Detroit Bureau

Less than three years after emerging from bankruptcy General Motors is positioned to once again be the world?s number one automaker, with sales for 2011 totaling 9.03 million. Its largest brand Chevrolet, meanwhile, reported an all-time record of 4.76 million sales to close out its 100th anniversary.

GM?s victory celebration will have to wait for Toyota to confirm its 2011 numbers.? The Japanese giant had toppled its U.S. rival as global king-of-the-hill three years ago but it lost 100s of thousands of units of production in 2011 due to the impact of the March 11 Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

For the first three quarters of last year, Toyota deliveries were off 8.8%, to 5.77 million, and though it had hoped to pick up lost momentum in the fourth quarter its plans were again set back by subsequent flooding in Thailand.? Preliminary figures suggest it will end 2011 with 7.9 million sales, down about 6% for the full year.

That is likely to mean that Volkswagen AG will squeak into second place, with total sales of 8.39 million for the year.? The German maker has set a goal of global sales leadership, however, by 2018.

Why VW wants to get there is a question analyst Aaron Bragman, of IHS Automotive, says he doesn?t fully understand.? It gets you bragging rights, the analyst says, ?But that?s about it. Being biggest in the world is not necessarily an advantage to anyone.? GM was number one for something like 75 years and then went into bankruptcy.?

What is ?far more important,? Bragman cautions, ?is sustainable profitability.?

That?s not to say size doesn?t matter.? Bigger volume translates into greater economies of scale, which is why the top three makers ? as well as rivals like Fiat/Chrysler and Nissan ? push for volume.? In some cases, a manufacturer can sidestep the need to drive up its own sales by entering into alliances or joint ventures.? Nissan, for example, has a close partnership with France?s Renault, while it has also been expanding a series of joint ventures with Germany?s Daimler ? the two announcing this month plans to jointly produce engines at a plant in Decherd, Tennessee.

Nonetheless, the latest industry sales numbers can?t simply be dismissed.? For GM, they symbolize a significant recovery since the maker lost the sales crown shortly before having to enter Chapter 11 protection.

In particular, the tally underscores the U.S. maker?s increasing focus on markets outside of its traditional hub in North America.? Nearly three out of four GM vehicles were sold, last year, in markets ranging from China to the Czech Republic.

And a growing number of them wore the Chevrolet badge.? Chevy has traditionally been the largest of the GM brands but, until recently, it focused on the Americas, leaving the rest of the world to German-based Opel (and, in China, to Buick).? In recent years, GM has been downplaying the troubled Opel and turning to Chevrolet to do the global heavy lifting.? Much of its growth has been organic, but in 2011 GM abandoned the Daewoo nameplate and rebadged the Korean brand?s products as Chevys.

While foreign sales typically don?t generate the revenues and margins of products sold in the U.S., GM saw its earnings during just the first nine months of 2011 surge to $8.47 billion, up from $6.17 billion in 2010.? The maker had lost tens of billions in the years leading up to its bankruptcy.

As for Toyota, the Japanese automaker has laid out its own aggressive goals, but the push to reach 10 million sales annually will likely be delayed by several years, at the least, analysts caution.

In fact, Bragman believes Toyota could find it much more difficult to regain the industry lead than it has indicated.

?I don?t buy into the idea they?ll come roaring back,? he said. ?They?re going to have a fight on their hands? as GM pushes to maintain its momentum while VW marches forward in its own bid for world domination.

More from The Detroit Bureau:

New Product Should Help Fiat Overcome Initial Setbacks

Toyota Ready to Fight Back With Downsized Turbo Engines

China Auto Exports Top 1 Million

Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/19/10192000-gm-reclaims-global-sales-crown

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Police: Nigeria bomb suspect arrested, escapes (AP)

ABUJA, Nigeria ? Nigeria's police are under scrutiny after the suspected mastermind of the Christmas Day bombing that killed dozens escaped from custody during a police-escorted transfer ? an embarrassment for a nation struggling to contain increasingly bloody sectarian attacks by a radical Islamist sect.

Authorities said Kabiru Sokoto planned the bombing that killed 38 people at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, just outside Nigeria's capital Abuja. But his arrest at the mansion of a state governor in Abuja, and subsequent escape, raised more questions about the government's ability to stop the radical sect, known as Boko Haram, which claimed responsibility for the church attack.

Police Affairs Minister Caleb Olubolade told journalists Wednesday that Sokoto's escape is under investigation and anyone, including himself, could be fired over the incident.

Police had said in a statement that a local commissioner ordered Sokoto transferred to another police station in Abaji, just outside of Abuja and that the policemen escorting him were attacked by suspected sect gang members who freed him.

National police spokesman Olusola Amore said Sokoto was arrested over the weekend at the official compound of the Borno state governor in Abuja. Borno state, in Nigeria's arid and dusty northeast, is Boko Haram's spiritual home.

However, Borno State spokesman Inuwa Bwala denied Tuesday evening that Sokoto was arrested in the governor's home, and said that Borno State governor Kashim Shettima and his opposition-led government were the victims of political persecution.

"There may be a grand conspiracy intended to either embarrass the governor and government of Borno state, or to eliminate (him)," Bwala said.

Commanders have already suspended the local police commissioner and are investigating his actions, as well as those of the officers guarding Sokoto, said Amore. He declined to comment further on the incident.

The Christmas Day bombing targeted worshippers at a Catholic church as they were leaving Mass, witnesses said. It was one of several attacks that day that killed at least 42 people, drawing worldwide criticism and new attention to Boko Haram.

The sect has carried out increasingly sophisticated and bloody attacks in its campaign to implement strict Shariah law across Nigeria, a multiethnic nation of more than 160 million people. Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is sacrilege" in the local Hausa language, is responsible for at least 510 killings last year alone, according to an Associated Press count.

So far this year, the group, that has warned it will kill Christians living in Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north, has been blamed for at least 74 killings. That has further inflamed religious and ethnic tensions in Nigeria, which has seen ethnic violence kill thousands in recent years.

Boko Haram also claimed responsibility an August suicide car bombing that targeted the U.N. headquarters in the capital, killing 25 people and wounding more than 100.

In a video released last week, Imam Abubakar Shekau a Boko Haram leader, said the government could not handle attacks by the group.

Though President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from southern Nigeria, has declared emergency rule in some regions, the sect is blamed for almost daily attacks.

Jonathan has said he believes the sect has infiltrated security agencies and government offices in the country, though he has offered no evidence to back up the claim. The police affairs minister declined to comment Wednesday on possible links between government officials and the feared sect.

Meanwhile, gunmen who are suspected Boko Haram members attacked an army outpost near Maiduguri on Wednesday, killing two people. A witness said a soldier and a hospital worker died in the attack. Col. Victor Ebhaleme confirmed the attack, but declined to give further details.

On Tuesday, authorities blamed Boko Haram gunmen for killing seven people in three separate attacks. Gunmen shot dead two soldiers distributing food to other service members, Borno state police commissioner Simeone Midenda said.

Two others were killed Monday when gunmen invaded their homes, military field operation officer Col. Victor Ebhaleme said. In Damaturu in nearby Yobe state, gunmen from the sect shot and killed three more people from Chad on Monday, Yobe state police chief Tanko Lawan said.

___

Associated Press writers Yinka Ibukun in Lagos, Nigeria and Njadvara Musa in Maiduguri, Nigeria contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/africa/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120118/ap_on_re_af/af_nigeria_violence

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Girl Scouts Have Transgender Boys in Troops in US Now ? Not Just Denver: Cookie Boycott

Remember when Bobby Montoya, a 7-year-old ?trans-gender? boy in Denver was admitted to a Girl Scout troop there in October 2011? First the troop denied him entrance, then admitted him, and I thought then once again denied him, but apparently not. There was a huge outcry over Bobby (actually against Bobby?s nutty mother) but now a Girl Scout spokeswoman, Rachelle Trujillo, says transgender boys are already scouting with girls in other troops in America. A 14-year-old Girl Scout identified as Taylor, is calling for a boycott of Girl Scout cookies and exposing the details few of us knew about. See that video and the Trujillo statement in the video below.

Transgendered children are currently serving in Girl Scout troops in the the US, Trujillo said, although she declined to give details. There are other councils that have transgendered girls and it?s working out fine, she said.

?Transgendered boys? is the proper identification, but nevermind, the onslaught to sell this is well underway, but Bobby isn?t a girl.

In the wake of the ?Bobby? incident, several Girl Scout troops in Louisiana disbanded as horrified leaders and parents said ?no.? As of December 2011, Bobby, while admitted to the Denver Scout group, had not yet shown up for a meeting. Don?t know what is currently happening with Bobby Montoya, but Taylor?s video is bringing out ?the activist claws to shame anyone not fine with Shemale Scouts.

If parent?s cannot stop this at the highest level of Girl Scouts ? who are not exactly the typical corporate executives, and if they think they are, their shareholders are clearly the parents, then what is parenting about? Parents have the power here, and it might be too late to wait until the first boy shows up in your daughter?s troop. Where are the big donors, of which there are many, in this war?

This is the time to fight the battle. ?The cookie boycott is an honorable boycott. The upside? Think of the pounds you?ll not have to fight if you skip those cookies.?Think of the contributions rolling in when the GSA changes this absurd policy.

Girl Scouts Admit Boys in Troops in Places Other than Denver (video)

Posted by Maggie @ Maggie?s Notebook

Tags: Bobby Montoya, Boycott, Boycotts, Cookie Boycott, Girl Scout Cookies, Girl Scouts of America, GSA, Rachelle Trujillo, Transgender, Transgender Girl Scouts, Videos

Source: http://www.maggiesnotebook.com/2012/01/girl-scouts-have-transgender-boys-in-troops-in-us-now-not-just-denver-cookie-boycott/

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Wikipedia goes dark to protest legislation, Twitter refrains

Welcome to your Personalized User Bar. Here, you can manage your account, sign up for newsletters, navigate to site sections, and share interesting content on social networks. You also can receive alerts on upcoming events, new products, or subscription/account activities.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vertical_44/~3/ngqAM-BuNVU/wikipedia-goes-dark-to-protest.html

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Winners, losers in Dayton's $775 million ... - Finance & Commerce

Posted: 4:10 pm Tue, January 17, 2012
By ?BRIAN JOHNSON
Tags: 2012 legislative session, bonding bill, Julian Loscalzo, Mark Dayton, Mayo Civic Center, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, Minnesota Transportation Alliance, Minnesota Zoo, Nicollet Mall, Southwest Corridor, University of Minnesota

Gov. Mark Dayton (File photo)

After state lawmakers approved $531 million bonding bill last summer, construction and labor leaders wasted no time in calling for another large public works construction package in 2012.

If Gov. Mark Dayton has his way they?ll get their wish.

On Tuesday, Dayton unveiled recommendations for a $775 million bonding package that would help pay for everything from Nicollet Mall improvements to a new St. Paul Saints ballpark.

Some projects, however, were conspicuously absent.

Among those that didn?t make the governor?s list: the $67.7 million Interchange transit hub at Target Field, and a major renovation of the oldest building on the University of Minnesota?s Twin Cities campus.

The governor?s package does include $13.5 million for ?critical repairs? to the Capitol building, but it?s far short of the Capitol?s $241 million worth of maintenance and restoration needs.

Phil Raines, vice president of public affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Minnesota, said the needs at the Capitol are real, but it may be a tough sell politically.

?It benefits the people of St. Paul and it benefits people that visit the Capitol, but in an election year it doesn?t give you a lot of bang for the buck,? Raines said. ?And it could be seen by some people as legislators improving their own space, or gold-plating their own space, at the expense of other projects.?

Dayton spokesperson Katharine Tinucci wrote in an email to Finance & Commerce that the State Capitol Preservation recommendations didn?t come in time to be considered for the bonding governor?s bonding proposal.

?I expect they will be considered separately from the bonding proposal? released Tuesday, she wrote.

Tinucci added that there are ?certainly many worthy projects the governor would have liked to include,? but ?we received requests for projects that far exceeds the $775 million proposed [Tuesday]. ? We are limited as to how much we can bond for this year.?

Overall, the bill is heavy on new projects, but asset preservation ?doesn?t seem to have gotten a whole lot of support,? Raines said.

Contractors like asset preservation because it provides immediate jobs that are labor intensive, he said.

?Those jobs tend to move forward really fast,? Raines said. ?You tend to have a better labor-material mix in terms of putting people to work.?

The University of Minnesota requested $90 million for asset preservation, but the Dayton plan includes only $20 million.

Overall, the governor?s bonding recommendations would jump-start $107 million worth of U of M projects (to be paid for with $78 million in state general obligation bonds, plus $29 million in university bonds).

The university is requesting $209 million.

Kathleen O?Brien, vice president of University Services, said in a statement that Dayton has been a ?tireless advocate? for the university, but that she?s ?deeply concerned? about the ?diminished level of funding? for asset preservation.

The university manages 29 million square feet of property statewide and upwards of 70 percent of the university?s facilities are more than 30 years old, she said.

?We not only have emergencies that we need to deal with, like a wind storm or an ice storm or a leaking pipe that causes problems with a building, but we also are trying to make upgrades in buildings that allow us to improve our teaching facilities and research facilities,? O?Brien told Finance & Commerce.

The University of Minnesota wants the state to contribute $14 million toward a $21 million renovation of historic Eddy Hall. But the project didn?t make the governor?s bonding wish list. (File photo: Bill Klotz)

Other university projects that aren?t on the governor?s list include a proposed $11 million American Indian Learning Resource Center at the Duluth campus, and a $21 million renovation of Eddy Hall, the oldest building on campus.

The university wants $14 million in state bonding money for the Eddy Hall renovation, which would allow the university to decommission Williamson Hall and Fraser Hall and reorganize student services space, O?Brien said.

?We are trying to not only take care of our historic buildings ? but we are also trying to decrease the amount of building space we have and only keep what we need,? she said.

Dayton, speaking at a Capitol press conference, said the public works projects under his plan would create up to 21,700 jobs. He urged the Legislature to act on it by the end of next month.

Republicans are likely to be more open to a smaller bonding package ? about half as big as Dayton?s.

?My sense is there will be a bonding bill between $300 [million] and $500 million,? House Republican Capital Investment Chairman Larry Howes said in December.

Glen Johnson, business manager for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 in Minneapolis, echoed the governor?s call for quick action.

?If they drag it out like they?ve done in the past, we lose the construction season,? Johnson said. ?You have to have the money there in the wintertime so people can plan accordingly.?

Campus and transportation projects are well-represented in Dayton?s plan.

In addition to the university projects, the plan includes $63.5 million for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, $30 million for bridge repair and construction, and $25 million for the Southwest Corridor light rail project, among other projects.

Margaret Donahoe, executive director of the Minnesota Transportation Alliance, said she?s pleased to see money for local bridges because the state has a backlog of bridges that need repair and safety improvements.

?Local governments are also struggling to keep up with needed repair and safety improvements on local roads, so we would like to also see funding for the Local Road Improvement Program in the final bill,? she wrote in an email to Finance & Commerce. ?We also believe that the state should continue moving forward with multiple transit lines and should be supporting the construction of the Interchange transit hub at Target Field.?

Civic center projects are prominent on the governor?s list. Dayton recommends $35 million the Rochester Mayo Civic Center expansion, $14.5 million for the Mankato Civic Center, and $10 million for the St. Cloud Civic Center.

Minneapolis would get $25 million toward a Nicollet Mall renovation.

Other projects on the list include an expansion of the Hormel Institute in Austin ($13.5 million), an improved home for dolphins at the Minnesota Zoo ($7 million) and the Harriet Tubman Center in Maplewood ($3.4 million).

The $29.4 million Hormel project, a partnership between the University of Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic and the Hormel Foundation, would provide a building addition for the Hormel Institute in Austin. The addition would house 15 research labs, research technology space, and support space for cancer research.

Every project on the list would ?put workers back to work, no doubt,? Johnson said.

Several projects have been up for bonding money in previous legislative sessions, including the Saints stadium. Dayton?s plan includes $27 million to help design and build the proposed $50 million ballpark in downtown St. Paul. The Saints stadium didn?t make the final cut in last summer?s bonding bill.

Julian Loscalzo, a lobbyist for the Saints, told Finance & Commerce last week that ?we are going to go after it? again in 2012. ?That is basically our approach. I think we continue to build support? for the ballpark, he said.

SOURCE: The governor?s 28-page bonding request is available here.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 at 4:10 pm and is filed under Business & Economy, Construction & Development, Top Story. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Source: http://finance-commerce.com/2012/01/gov-dayton-releases-bonding-bill-proposal/

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