MAN OF STEEL Movie Companion Book Announced for June ...

Next summer, Warner Bros Pictures releases their reboot of the Superman film franchise Man of Steel from director Zack Snyder and producers Charles Roven, Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas and Deborah Snyder.

Director Zack Snyder's Man of Steel features Henry Cavill in the role of DC Comics' popular hero Superman. The film also stars three-time Oscar? nominee Amy Adams (The Fighter) as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane, and Oscar? nominee Laurence Fishburne (What's Love Got to Do with It) as her editor-in-chief, Perry White. Starring as Clark Kent's adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, are Oscar? nominee Diane Lane (Unfaithful) and Academy Award? winner Kevin Costner (Dances with Wolves). Squaring off against the superhero are two other surviving Kryptonians, the villainous General Zod, played by Oscar? nominee Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road), and Faora, Zod's evil partner, played by Antje Traue. Superman's father, Jor-El, will be portrayed by Academy Award? winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator) alongside Ayelet Zurer as Lara Lor-Van, Superman's mother. Rounding out the cast are Harry Lennix as U.S. military man General Swanwick, as well as Christopher Meloni as Colonel Hardy.

Man of Steel: Inside the Legendary World of Superman offers an intimate look at the reinvention of the world?s most iconic superhero through the eyes of acclaimed director Zack Snyder (300, Watchmen) and producer Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Trilogy). This unique companion book offers a rich selection of materials, from concept art and behind-the-scenes set photography to director commentary and interviews with key creatives, unlocking the secrets behind giving new life to an immortal hero.

Man of Steel: Inside the Legendary World of Superman

Author: Daniel Wallace
Edition: Hardcover
Release Date: June 14, 2013

Man of Steel is being produced by Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder. The screenplay was written by David S. Goyer, from a story by Goyer and Nolan, based upon Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics. Thomas Tull and Lloyd Phillips are serving as executive producers. The film is scheduled for theatrical release on June 14th, 2013.

Source:?

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Source: http://www.dailyblam.com/news/2013/02/27/man-of-steel-inside-the-world-of-superman-companion-book-announced

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Executing Your North Sydney Functions In Style

Organizing a function can be a very stressful experience. If you are planning a function in your own house or office, there is so much that you have to keep in mind. You will be responsible for everything from organizing parking, making sure that the bathrooms stay clean and making sure that there is enough food for everyone. If you are organizing a function like a seminar or a workshop for corporate clients, you will need to ensure that all the technological equipment is in place and working and that there is always a fresh pot of coffee brewing to keep your clients focused and happy. With so many small details to manage on top of executing the function on the day of, it makes much more sense to approach a company that rents out function rooms and let the staff there take care of the details while you focus on the people who will be going to the function.

When choosing one of the Function Rooms North Sydney, there are many things to keep into consideration. First and foremost, the type of function room that you require will depend on the type of function that you will be having. If it is a corporate event, you will need to make sure that your staff or clients can access the venue easily, as they will most likely be coming from other part of the city or from other cities. If guests are travelling far, you could hire a function room that is attached to a hotel so that attendees have a place to stay over, and that they do not need to rush to the venue early in the morning form the airport. For any type of function, business or family, easy access and ample parking is a necessity. For a more celebratory event like a wedding or a Christmas party, it might be nice to have function room that has an inside as well as outside area so that guests can move freely and mingle, and that it also provides an area for smokers as almost all function rooms are non-smoking venues.

The size of your group will be the next important thing to look at. Function rooms North Sydney varies from small, intimate venues to large halls. If you will be having a function that has different parts to it, for example a wedding where you will have drinks and a dinner with dancing later, you will need a completely different function room than one for a corporate workshop. Consult the Internet, shop around and ask the function room staff to assist you in choosing the perfect venue so that your function can be a success.

About the Author:
Jasper Mason is a travel author. He pen articles related to party and conference venues and share his experience about function rooms North Sydney. He appreciate hotels in Sydney for stay when you visit Australia.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Executing-Your-North-Sydney-Functions-In-Style/4459325

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The Hard Stuff (TIME)

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Hagel takes helm at Pentagon after bitter fight

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., salutes Marine Corp. Lt. Gen. Tom Waldheuser as he arrives at the Pentagon to be sworn-in as Secretary of Defense, in Arlington, Va., Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Waldheuser will be Hagel's Senior Military Assistant. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., salutes Marine Corp. Lt. Gen. Tom Waldheuser as he arrives at the Pentagon to be sworn-in as Secretary of Defense, in Arlington, Va., Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. Waldheuser will be Hagel's Senior Military Assistant. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., right, and his wife Lilibet, arrive at the Pentagon where Hagel will be sworn-in as Secretary of Defense, in Arlington, Va., Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2013, file photo, Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Hagel is expected to be sworn in as Secretary of Defense Wednesday Feb. 27, 2013 and is likely to address the staff in his first day as defense secretary. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Chuck Hagel took charge Wednesday of the Defense Department with deep budget cuts looming and Republican opponents still doubtful that he's up to the job.

He took the oath of office as Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon and was expected to address civilian and uniformed employees of the department later Wednesday morning.

The bitter, seven-week fight over his nomination ended Tuesday as a deeply divided Senate voted 58-41 to confirm him. Just four Republicans joined Democrats in backing the former two-term Republican senator from Nebraska and twice-wounded Vietnam combat veteran.

"I am honored that President Obama and the Senate have entrusted me to serve our nation once again," Hagel said in a statement Tuesday. "I can think of no greater privilege than leading the brave, dedicated men and women of the Department of Defense as they perform vital missions around the globe."

Hagel promised to work closely with Congress, but he faces lingering reservations about his ability to handle the responsibilities. Shortly after the vote, Sen. Lindsey Graham said he still has serious questions about Hagel and his qualifications.

"I hope, for the sake of our own national security, he exceeds expectations," said the South Carolina Republican.

The top Republican on the Armed Services Committee, Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, said Hagel's record on Israel, Iran, defense spending and nuclear weapons "demonstrate, in my view, a profound and troubling lack of judgment on many of the critical issues he will now be confronted with as secretary of defense."

But Inhofe promised to work with Hagel to avoid the $46 billion in automatic, across-the-board budget cuts that hit the Pentagon on Friday.

Obama alluded to the need for cooperation in his statement welcoming the vote.

The president said he was grateful to Hagel "for reminding us that when it comes to our national defense, we are not Democrats or Republicans, we are Americans, and our greatest responsibility is the security of the American people."

Hagel joins Obama's retooled national security team, including Secretary of State John Kerry and CIA Director-designate John Brennan, at a time of uncertainty for a military emerging from two wars and fighting worldwide terrorism with smaller, deficit-driven budgets.

Among his daunting challenges are dealing with the budget cuts and deciding on troop levels in Afghanistan as the United States winds down its combat presence. He also will have to work with lawmakers who spent weeks vilifying him.

Republicans insisted that Hagel was battered and bloodied after their repeated attacks during the protracted political fight.

"He will take office with the weakest support of any defense secretary in modern history, which will make him less effective on his job," said Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the Senate GOP's No. 2 Republican.

Not so, said Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, who pointed out that Hagel now has the title and the fight is history.

"All have to work together for the interest of the country," said Reed, D-R.I.

The vote ended one of the bitterest fights over a Cabinet choice and former senator since 1989, when the Democratic-led Senate defeated newly elected President George H.W. Bush's nomination of Republican John Tower to be defense secretary. This time, Republicans waged an unprecedented filibuster of a president's Pentagon pick and Hagel only secured the job after Republicans dropped their delay.

A 71-27 vote to end the filibuster cleared the way for Hagel's confirmation.

In the course of the rancorous nomination fight, Republicans, led by Inhofe and freshman Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, insinuated that Hagel has a cozy relationship with Iran and received payments for speeches from extreme or radical groups. Those comments drew rebukes from Democrats and some Republicans.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, dismissed the "unfair innuendoes" against Hagel and called him an "outstanding American patriot" whose background as an enlisted soldier would send a positive message to the nation's servicemen and women.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., questioned how the confirmation process devolved into a character assassination in which Hagel was accused of "having secret ties with our enemies."

"I sincerely hope that the practice of challenging nominations with innuendo and inference, rather than facts and figures, was an aberration and not a roadmap," she said in a statement after the vote.

___

Follow Donna Cassata on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DonnaCassataAP

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-02-27-Hagel/id-3e83cb0502cf4cadb81899bdfed951f8

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Financial Media Wakeup Call: The Big Disconnect | The Reformed ...

• Joshua M Brown
• February 26th, 2013

I was having a discussion with the CEO of one of the largest financial media companies in the country yesterday.

A few points I made:

1. The population of DIY investors who want to actively trade their own stocks each day and need news that caters to them is small and shrinking (their estimates are that the number is 3 million people in the US). To focus primarily on this segment misses the bigger picture - the 8.6 million millionaire households that truly need help with longer-term planning, not stock ideas. See the below slide from Chip Roame's Tiburon CEO Summit last year:

2. But this is how most financial media properties are geared - everyone's doing sites and apps and content about which stocks to buy and sell and how to react to economic / earnings news. It's pretty crowded and when people try to stand out in crowds they tend to shout, post things in ALL-CAPS and engage in hyperbole.

3. The real wealth in this country (US investors have $59.4 trillion of net worth excluding their houses) doesn't give a shit about whether or not they should buy Netflix - they want content, insight and information that helps them with planning, portfolio construction, asset allocation and true investing - not just trading, trading, trading.

4. The financial media is irrationally addicted to trading stories because they have urgency and they're entertaining, even if ultimately unsatisfying to the 90 million Americans who are trying to figure out what to do with their wealth. There is a relentless focus on analyst research calls, upgrades and downgrades, economic data releases, merger and acquisition buzz, hedge fund activity etc. This is all highly interesting and I personally enjoy both consuming and creating this type of content as well. But it should not be the only thing on the web / airwaves. It is disproportionately dominant when compared to its actual utility for the majority of the audience. There is a huge content arbitrage opportunity here.

5. This is very much a junk food versus eating your veggies conundrum and we know who usually wins these tug-o-wars in real life. It's not that people don't need to know the macro news or the state of the markets each day - it's that this stuff is really only relevant to them as it affects their portfolios and, by extension, their lives. Financial content and journalists can and should do more to connect the two in their reporting.

6. Some media outlet, print or television or radio, is going to figure this out and exploit it. Many media companies do not make the distinction between investing and daytrading, but they should. Making the investing process fun and exciting is not hard to do with the right talent, writers and format. Focusing on process versus outcomes will also engage professionals to share this content and participate in its manufacture as well.

7. The advertisers - from luxury auto companies to ETF arms dealers - will beat a path to your door once you establish dominance in this market. Here's what is at stake in dollar terms (also from Roame's presentation):

8. There are thousands of potential content creators from the asset management and wealth management verticals who are essentially untapped and more than eager to participate in this sort of thing.

9. The news of the day is only part of the key to appealing to this audience - portfolio analytics and measurement tools to help them track where they are in their retirement goals - along with risk management gauges - will give people a reason to check back in and engage if you can't get them in via trading ideas or "breaking news".

10. Most market commentary - by definition - is stale within hours of being produced or published. I have personally created over 8000 pieces of it and believe me, nobody will ever read 99% of what I've done prior to last week unless I'm accused of a triple homicide and claim to have buried clues to the crime within my old posts.? But content that deals with real investing as opposed to "trade the news" is a lot more evergreen. Given this reality, you would assume the media would find it more profitable to emphasize this kind of stuff...

I think the existence of this disconnect is fascinating, so many people's mindsets are locked in this late-90's paradigm of stockpicking as a hobby. And yet even a casual glance at the fund flows over the last few years would tell you that the Boomers have moved away from this kind of activity while the newer generations of investors (X, Y, Millennials) have never been interested in it.

Anyway, someone's going to figure this out and do it right. Maybe.

Below, a quick and very incomplete list of financial media outlets, people and sites that emphasize investing:

Tadas Viskanta (Abnormal Returns)

Barron's

Bob Seawright (Above the Market)

Jason Zweig (WSJ's Intelligent Investor)

Morningstar

iShares ETF Blog

Tom Brakke (Research Puzzle)

Context (AllianceBernstein)

There are more out there, what are your favorite investing resources?

?

?

?

Full Disclosure: Nothing on this site should ever be considered to be advice, research or an invitation to buy or sell any securities, please see my Terms & Conditions page for a full disclaimer.

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Source: http://www.thereformedbroker.com/2013/02/26/financial-media-wakeup-call-the-big-disconnect-2/

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Suspect in Vegas murder brags about fast life

LAS VEGAS (AP) ? Las Vegas triple murder suspect Ammar Harris has a smirk on his face in a 90-second YouTube video that shows him flashing a thick stack of $100 bills.

The video is just one of many online displays of bravado being examined by police in which Harris boasts of a high-rolling lifestyle of luxury cars, prostitutes and boat trips with scantily clad women. The 26-year-old is the subject of a multi-state manhunt after a Maserati driver was shot dead on the Las Vegas Strip last Thursday and a taxi driver and passenger died in the fiery chain reaction crash that followed.

Wearing a red baseball cap and crisp white shirt with flashy sunglasses tucked in the collar, Harris asks nonchalantly whether viewers will "help me count something," and then fans out a stack of bills.

The video he took of himself in a bathroom cuts away to a pile of cash on the counter; Harris drops a bill and says "50."

"I could keep going, I could keep going ... but like, I don't feel like countin' anymore," he says. "I got another bag. But I think I proved my (expletive) point."

Las Vegas Police Officer Bill Cassell declined to comment on the video, saying it was open to the interpretation of individual viewers. But he said detectives are getting plenty of leads on Harris, whose face is splashed across billboards along Las Vegas freeways.

"I'm sure the widespread publicity, as well as the blatant, heinous nature of the crime, is motivating people to contact us," Cassell said.

LAS VEGAS, NV - FEBRUARY 21: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers investigate the site of what is being described as a gun battle between shooters in vehicles along the Las Vegas Strip ... more? LAS VEGAS, NV - FEBRUARY 21: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers investigate the site of what is being described as a gun battle between shooters in vehicles along the Las Vegas Strip on February 21, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to reports gunshots were fired between a black SUV and a Maserati, causing the Maserati to crash into a taxi that burst into flames. Five vehicles were involved in the subsequent crash with the Maserati driver and two people in the taxi being killed. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) less? Authorities believe Harris shot from a Range Rover he was riding in along with Tineesha Lashun Howard, a 22-year-old from Miami who has been arrested multiple times on charges including prostitution, trespassing, possession of a stolen vehicle and grand larceny. Police have named Howard, who also goes by the name Yenesis "Yeni" Alfonzo, a person of interest in the case.

Harris was arrested last year in Las Vegas in a 2010 prostitution case using the name Ammar Asim Faruq Harris. He was charged with robbery, sexual assault, kidnapping and coercion with a weapon, and police sought charges of pandering by force and felon in possession of concealed weapon. Court records show that case was dismissed last June.

But while the courts haven't convicted him of pimping, his bold social media persona suggests otherwise.

In Twitter postings attributed to Harris and reviewed by the Las Vegas Review-Journal (http://bit.ly/ZzEO2i ) before the feed was apparently disabled Tuesday, Harris brags that his house is full of women, and they're all paying him. In one August post quoted by the newspaper, he writes, "there's nothing wrong with paying for (sex)...as long as you paying one of my (women)."

Harris posts pictures of a Bentley and an Aston Martin, and mug shots from his own arrests. Harris was convicted in South Carolina in 2004 of felony possession with intent to sell a stolen pistol and convicted in Atlanta of a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge.

Harris also discusses plans for his own birthday party aboard a boat on the Atlantic Ocean, complete with a $1,000 bikini contest.

The fast life Harris boasts of is not unlike the online persona projected by 27-year-old shooting victim Kenneth Wayne Cherry Jr.

Cherry, who went by the stage name "Kenny Clutch," is seen in a YouTube video driving his luxury car down the Strip and rapping about a "Maserati, paid 120 for it."

Police say the two argued in the valet area of the Aria casino before dawn Thursday. The dispute took a deadly turn in the tourist corridor when shots were fired from a Range Rover and into Cherry's Maserati, which sped forward through a red light and slammed into a taxi.

The taxi exploded, killing 62-year-old driver Michael Boldon and 48-year-old passenger Sandra Sutton-Wasmund, a businesswoman visiting from Maple Valley, Wash. Four other cars crashed, injuring several other people and closing the intersection in the heart of Las Vegas for an entire day.

Police found the Range Rover two days later parked at the gated Las Vegas apartment complex where Harris lived, but there was no sign of Harris.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/vegas-murder-suspect-brags-online-fast-life-204307885.html

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What's Next For Oscar Host Seth MacFarlane?

'Ted' sequel, Western comedy are next on the docket for the 2013 Oscars host.
By Josh Wigler

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth MacFarlane and Daniel Radcliffe at the 2013 Oscars
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1702582/seth-macfarlane-oscars-whats-next.jhtml

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Blackhawks' streak at 19 after OT win over Oilers

CHICAGO (AP) ? Marian Hossa skated along the boards, pumping his right arm as the United Center roared its approval.

Go ahead and give two more points to the streaking Chicago Blackhawks.

Hossa scored 1:44 into overtime and the Blackhawks beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on Monday night to stretch their NHL-record opening points streak to 19 games.

Patrick Sharp set up the winning goal with a quick turn along the boards and a drive to the goal that led to two stops by Nikolai Khabibulin. Hossa picked up the second rebound and was again stuffed by Khabibulin before he poked it in for his ninth goal of the season.

"It is a great feeling, obviously," Hossa said. "It doesn't matter who's scoring and lately we have a lot of different guys scoring. We try to enjoy the streak, keep playing a simple game and try to find a way to win."

Patrick Kane and Viktor Stalberg also scored for Chicago (16-0-3), which has won six straight and nine of 10. Ray Emery made 17 saves to remain unbeaten in eight starts this season.

The Blackhawks have earned 35 of 38 possible points so far this season.

"It was a great third period," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "We had the puck in overtime, too. Great pay by Sharpie going to the net, great patience and presence with Hossa to finish."

Nail Yakupov and Jeff Petry had the goals for Edmonton, which carried a 2-1 lead into the third period but couldn't hold on for its fourth consecutive victory over the Blackhawks. Khabibulin had 31 stops in the opener of the Oilers' franchise-record, nine-game road trip.

"Of course you feel pain, having the lead going into the third period," Edmonton coach Ralph Krueger said. "It's definitely something you dream and believe you can close it. But they are an amazingly powerful team. They are very strong on the puck and they never, never let up, at all."

Edmonton grabbed the lead for the last time in the second, taking advantage when Brandon Saad was sent off for high sticking. Yakupov, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft, one-timed a pass from Sam Gagner into the right side of the net at 14:17 for his fourth power-play goal and sixth overall.

Chicago looked listless for much of the second, but rebounded quickly in the third. Michal Rozsival was behind the net when he sent a pass in front to Stalberg, who poked the puck into the mouth of goal as Khabibulin went to his knees to try for the stop.

The call on the ice was no goal, but replays showed the puck crossed the line before Khabibulin could make the play and Stalberg was awarded his fifth goal of the season after a short review.

The pace picked up after the tying goal, and each team had a couple of solid chances to move in front. Yakupov shot off the post on one power-play opportunity, and Khabibulin stopped Hossa on a short-handed chance.

"I think for us it would have been a big statement game if we were able to break the streak," Gagner said. "But at the same time, once we didn't do that, we wanted to find a way to get it in overtime and were unable to do that as well. So it was unfortunate we kind of squandered the lead there."

Edmonton moved in front in the first period after Duncan Keith lost his footing and coughed up the puck deep in Chicago's end. Lennart Petrell picked it up and skated in all alone on Emery, who stopped his backhand attempt. The rebound went out to Petry, who sent it over the prone goalie at 4:28.

Just over a minute later, Kane skated to the middle of the ice and beat Khabibulin with a slick backhander for his 10th goal of the season. It was his first goal since Feb. 10 at Nashville, ending a six-game drought.

"We keep finding ways to win," said Sharp, who picked up his 400th career point on the assist in overtime. "That's important at any time of the year. Those one-goal games, we're on the right side of them. We were thankful to pull it out today."

NOTES: Chicago closed out a 6-0-1 homestand. ... Edmonton F Taylor Hall served the second of a two-game suspension for his hit on Minnesota's Cal Clutterbuck on Thursday. ... Blackhawks C Dave Bolland missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. Chicago also scratched D Sheldon Brookbank and LW Brandon Bollig for the second straight night. ... Ds Ryan Whitney and Theo Peckham were the other scratches for the Oilers. ... The Blackhawks improved to 10-0-3 in one-goal games.

___

Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blackhawks-streak-19-ot-win-over-oilers-041550376--spt.html

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PFT: Raiders want to chop down Palmer's pay

Getty Images

When I first heard about Peter King?s report that the Patriots had signed quarterback Tom Brady to a three-year, $27 million extension, I assumed the deal was worth $27 million per year.

It?s not.? For committing to the Patriots in the 2015, 2016, and 2017 seasons, Brady gets a total of $27 million.

It appears, as explained last night, to be nothing more than an effort to reduce Brady?s cap number in 2013 and 2014, the final two years of his existing deal.? It?s hard to spread money over the years of a contract if the contract covers only two more seasons.? Come 2015, the likely reality is that a new deal will be done ? after the appearance that Brady has taken less is used to squeeze other players into doing the same thing, which the Pats did masterfully last decade.

Still, teams and agents are looking at the numbers and wonder what else could be going on.? Whispers of a side deals already have begun in league circles, even though there is (and likely will be) no proof of a wink-nod arrangement that will see Brady get compensated in other ways.

Sides deals aren?t unprecedented in pro football.? The Broncos lost a second-round pick, a third-round pick, and paid a $950,000 for violations relating to $29 million in deferred payments to John Elway and Terrell Davis during the team?s Super Bowl window of the late 1990s.? Again, there is (and likely will be) no proof of a side deal in this case.

Now that more and more teams are pressed against the salary cap and trying to finagle spending space, suspicions of side arrangements and briefcases full of cash will return to the NFL ? even if no team is ever caught or is ever guilty.

In Brady?s case, the facts as presently known raise natural red flags.? At a time when the high-water mater for quarterbacks is $20 million, the notion that Brady would commit to playing for less than half that average over a three-year window starting three seasons from now makes no sense.

At a minimum, agent Don Yee has provided his competitors with more than enough ammunition for the inherently cutthroat game of chasing new clients.? At a maximum, teams and agents will probe for something/anything to explain why Tom Brady was willing to sign a contract that pays him so much less than he?ll be worth starting two years from now.

Maybe, in the end, the explanation is that, given his wife?s obscene earnings, he?s willing to take a lot less money in order to help that Pats stack the deck for another Super Bowl run or two.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/25/raiders-to-try-to-chop-down-carson-palmers-salary/related/

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Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric resigns

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's most senior Roman Catholic cleric resigned on Monday the day after he rejected allegations that he had behaved in an "inappropriate" way with other priests.

"The Holy Father has now decided that my resignation will take effect today, 25 February 2013," Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who had been expected to take part in the conclave to choose the next pope, said in a statement.

O'Brien, who is known for outspoken views on homosexuality, had been reported to the Vatican over allegations of inappropriate behavior stretching back 30 years, according to the Observer newspaper.

O'Brien, the archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, had rejected the claims.

(Writing by Guy Faulconbridge)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/britains-most-senior-roman-catholic-cleric-resigns-112040627.html

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Higgins and Drew weather the elements to win Rally in the 100 Acre Wood

Published on February 24, 2013

RALLY AMERICA - Not even icy weather could stop David Higgins and Craig Drew from winning the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood .

The sudden arrival of winter ice and snow conditions could not prevent Subaru Rally Team USA's David Higgins and Craig Drew from winning the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood held on February 22-23rd in Salem, Missouri. The hard fought victory gave Higgins his first 100 Acre Wood Rally victory in three attempts at one of the more slippery events in recent memory.

On the first day Higgins and Drew fell behind early to Hoonigan Racing's Ken Block and Alex Gelsomino and to Rockstar Energy Drink Rally Team's Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard until a fateful stage 6, the first nighttime stage. Block suffered frontend damage and L'Estage retired from the event with overheating issues that left Higgins with the overall lead.

It was a disappointing withdrawal for L'Estage who hoped to build on his Championship points lead after winning the Michigan based Sno*Drift Rally in late January.

Block rejoined the event at the beginning of the second day using SuperRally rules, which allows a team to reenter with time penalties, only to retire again from the event with an electrical throttle problem on stage 10. Block held a psychological advantage having previously won six 100 Acre Wood Rallys - the most by any Rally America driver.

Higgins then commanded a six minute lead over Joseph Burk and Alex Kihurani in second place and Lauchlin O'Sullivan and Scott Putnam in third place. Higgins won 9 of the last 10 stages of the day towards his overall victory.

"This is one rally we haven't won before and to win it now is a great feeling especially the way things happened," said Higgins, "Our victory appeared not to be close, but giving the difficulty of the rally and the conditions that margin could have disappeared in an instance."

Higgins is the reigning 2012 Rally America National Championship. With this win Higgins assumes the Championship lead on route to defending his title.

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Source: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130224/MOTORSPORTS/130229892

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Looming federal budget cuts could hurt in Utah | The Salt Lake Tribune

Washington ? Once again, the federal government is approaching a fiscal disaster, and this time it could cost Utah millions in revenue, force thousands to take furloughs and possibly reverse or slow any economic recovery the state has seen in recent months.

D?j? vu, indeed.

?

Top use of federal funds in Utah

$1.357 billion ? Medicaid

$470 million ? Unemployment insurance

$441 million ? Highway planning, construction

$432 million ? Supplemental nutrition assistance (formerly food stamps)

$369 million ? Research and development

$250 million ? Student financial assistance

$157 million ? Special ed

$125 million ? Child nutrition

$4.768 billion ? Total federal funding to state, including universities and colleges

Source: Utah State Auditor?s Office, 2012

The pending crisis is reminiscent of the fiscal cliff fiasco America faced only three months ago but this time it could stick, and it could hurt.

"It?s obviously cause for serious concern," says Natalie Gochnour, chief economist of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. "We are a very federally dependent state and that stems from our long established defense industry in our state, [that] we?re a public-lands state and we have the IRS facility in Ogden and other centers of federal workers."

Come Friday, the federal government will be forced to pare down spending until Congress acts otherwise. The automatic, across-the-board cuts include: $42.7 billion for defense, $28.7 billion in domestic programs, $9.9 billion in Medicare cuts and $4 billion in other mandatory cuts, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Close to home, Utah is looking at potentially millions in cuts, especially at Hill Air Force Base where civilian workers would be forced to take furloughs one day a week for 22 weeks. And that?s in addition to other potential cuts to contracting and purchasing.

The IRS employs 4,100 workers in Utah, many at its Ogden office, and most could face potential furloughs as well. An IRS spokesman declined to comment on the impact.

The Federal Aviation Administration says it may have to close the air traffic control facilities at the Ogden-Hinckley and Provo Municipal airports.

Lines at the Salt Lake International Airport could get stretch out longer as the Transportation Security Administration reduces staffing because of the cuts. Reductions at NASA could hit Utah?s gross state output by $100,000 or more.

Visitors to Utah?s five national parks, as well as monuments, could see fewer rangers, shuttered campsites and hiking areas as well as shorter hours for visitor centers. The Interior Department estimates some 300 onshore oil and gas leases wouldn?t be issued in the West, including Utah. Counties with large public land areas ? many in Utah ? could see a $1.9 million slash in the federal payment-in-lieu-of-taxes check.

story continues below

The Environmental Protection Agency warns it may have to reduce funding to air quality monitoring operations, likely leading to the shutdown of some sites.

Utah?s universities could see some $26 million in cuts for federal research and development. Head Start in Utah could take a $3.5 million hit.

The state?s public schools could see $6.8 million less in Title I grants and another $6.1 million bite out of special education programs, according to Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee.

"Clearly, if sequestration is allowed to be put into place with whatever percentage, there would be a reduction in federal dollars available, which could impact programs and may affect staffing to some degree," says Bruce Williams, assistant superintendent for business and operations at the Utah State Office of Education.

Williams says the budget impacts may be delayed for Utah schools until after June 30, the end of the state budget year, but there?s "no doubt about it" that if the budget cuts continue, the effect would be felt, especially with low-income schools.

State officials expect to have updated numbers Monday on how much their budgets will be impacted by the automatic cuts, known as sequestration.

Senate Rules Committee Chairman John Valentine estimated last week a cut of $40 million in direct federal funds, though he said the state could fill that hole.

"If you live by federal funds, you die by federal funds," Valentine said. "We would have to make adjustments. And it would have some hurt, but we could make those adjustments."

Added Sen. Jerry Stevenson, "It?s like having a bad tooth pulled."

Not for some of the nearly 30,000 federal workers in the state, some of whom could see smaller paychecks.

Next Page >

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/55882150-90/automatic-billion-budget-congress.html.csp

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Move over iPad mini, Samsung unveils Galaxy Note 8.0

BetaNews writes, Late February means another Mobile World Congress, and the rush to make big, splashy product announcements before the show starts. Samsung jumped in early today, by announcing an 8-inch tablet with stylus -- Galaxy Note 8.0. The slate is about the same size as Apple's iPad, with comparable screen resolution, but features the S Pen and supporting software. Why just touch and type when you can draw, too? Samsung's slate joins the Galaxy Note II smartphone and 10-inch tablet, with stylus being the compelling feature that market leader Apple doesn't offer on any iOS device. Like the recent update?

Continue reading Move over iPad mini, Samsung unveils Galaxy Note 8.0 at BetaNews

Source: http://technewstube.com/betanews/175375/move-over-ipad-mini-samsung-unveils-galaxy-note-80/

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lemunicipal.org | Will Your own Online Business Give you a Program ...

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

Source: http://lemunicipal.org/will-your-own-online-business-give-you-a-program-make-money-using-affiliate-following-software-program.html

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Apple thefts inspire NYPD smartphone squad

(CNN) -

As New York City thieves steal smartphones and tablets in ever greater numbers, the NYPD has assigned a group of officers to hunt down the devices.

The NYPD launched the team about a year ago "when we saw a spike in (thefts of) Apple products specifically," Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said.

An Apple-picking problem on New York City's streets and subways has worsened in recent years. The overall crime rate in the city increased 3% last year -- but "if you subtracted just the increase in Apple product thefts, we would have had an overall decrease in crime in New York," Browne said.

Generally, the NYPD team's first step in tracing pilfered gadgets is obtaining the stolen device's serial number. Then "we supply it to Apple, and we say, when that product is activated, we want to know who it is," according to Browne.

The tech giant has largely cooperated with the NYPD's subpoenas. "I would say we're working with them. They're not fighting this," Browne said.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

The NYPD's detectives have found that stolen smartphones and tablets don't tend to travel far.

About 75% of them stay in the city of New York, Browne said. And those that cross city limits are still likely to be in the state.

Browne did not quantify how successful the department has been at tracing stolen smartphones and tablets, but he did cite a few cases that had happy endings.

In one, an employee stole three iPads from his workplace, then gave them to two relatives in New York and one in the Dominican Republic. The NYPD was able to return all three to their rightful owners.

Sometimes the trail leads back to the person who swiped the iPhone; other times it leads to an unwitting owner of stolen property.

While the officers on the NYPD's smartphone squad don't focus exclusively on Apple products, they do spend most of their time chasing stolen iPhones or iPads, "simply because the number of Apple thefts is a reflection of their general popularity," Browne said.

Law-enforcement agencies like the NYPD aren't alone in targeting smartphone and tablet theft. The industry is taking steps to address it, too.

In a letter to the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, the wireless industry's trade association last year released details of a voluntary effort to "help law enforcement deter smartphone theft."

A major plank of that effort is the creation of a database for smartphones that are reported stolen. Phones on the database, which is scheduled to be up and running at the end of November, would be barred being activated or provided service on an LTE network in the United States.

Source: http://www.wcti12.com/news/technology/Apple-thefts-inspire-NYPD-smartphone-squad/-/13530422/19045930/-/2c0fwjz/-/index.html

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XBMC Is Now Available for Apple TV 2 Running iOS 6.1

If you've been waiting for XBMC media center to finally be available for the latest jailbroken Apple TV 2 running version 5.2 (iOS 6.1), you no longer have to wait. You can now install XBMC with the latest stable update.

XBMC offers instructions on how to do the install on its wiki. You just need to enter a few commands in the command line, reboot, and you'll have that kickass, open-source media center running on your Apple TV 2. Unfortunately, ATV3 owners, your Apple TV still isn't supported.

In case you missed it, you can see what's new in the Frodo 12 release, which this update was built upon, here.

HOW-TO: Install XBMC on Apple TV 2 | XBMC Wiki via XBMC blog

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/Bwx4VUB1prY/xbmc-is-now-available-for-apple-tv-2-running-ios-61

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Ford to launch Tourneo minivan at Geneva show

Berlin ? Ford Motor Company says it will launch its new Tourneo Courier minivan at this year's Geneva Motor Show.

The company said Friday in a statement that the vehicle's global debut would be March 5 at the show in Switzerland. It's also planning to display the all-new EcoSport compact SUV, being built for European markets.

The auto show opens to the public March 7 and runs through March 17.

Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130222/AUTO0102/302220396/1148/rss25

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Race linked to childhood food allergies, not environmental allergies

Public release date: 23-Feb-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: David Olejarz
David.Olejarz@hfhs.org
313-874-4094
Henry Ford Health System

DETROIT Research conducted at Henry Ford Hospital shows that race and possibly genetics play a role in children's sensitivity to developing allergies. Researchers found:

• African-American children were sensitized to at least one food allergen three times more often than Caucasian children.
• African-American children with one allergic parent were sensitized to an environmental allergen twice as often as African-American children without an allergic parent.

The study will be presented Saturday at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology annual meeting,

"Our findings suggest that African Americans may have a gene making them more susceptible to food allergen sensitization or the sensitization is just more prevalent in African American children than white children at age 2," says Haejim Kim, M.D., a Henry Ford allergist and the study's lead author. "More research is needed to further look at the development of allergy."

Sensitization means a person's immune system produces a specific antibody to an allergen. It does not mean the person will experience allergy symptoms.

According to an AAAI study from 2009-2010, an estimated 8 percent of children have a food allergy, and 30 percent of children have multiple food allergies. Peanut is the most prevalent allergen, followed by milk and shellfish. 1The Henry Ford study consisted of a longitudinal birth cohort of 543 children who were interviewed with their parents and examined at a clinical visit at age 2. Data included parental self-report of allergies and self-reported race (African American or white/non-Hispanic). The children were skin-tested for three food allergens egg whites, peanuts and milk and seven environmental allergens.

Key findings:

• 20.1 percent of African-American children were sensitized to an food allergen compared to 6.4 percent in Caucasian children.
• 13.9 percent of African-American children were sensitized to an environmental allergen compared to 11 percent of Caucasian children.
• African-American children with an allergic parent were sensitized to an environmental allergen 2.45 times more often than African-American children without an allergic parent.

###

The study was funded by Henry Ford Hospital and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 23-Feb-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: David Olejarz
David.Olejarz@hfhs.org
313-874-4094
Henry Ford Health System

DETROIT Research conducted at Henry Ford Hospital shows that race and possibly genetics play a role in children's sensitivity to developing allergies. Researchers found:

• African-American children were sensitized to at least one food allergen three times more often than Caucasian children.
• African-American children with one allergic parent were sensitized to an environmental allergen twice as often as African-American children without an allergic parent.

The study will be presented Saturday at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology annual meeting,

"Our findings suggest that African Americans may have a gene making them more susceptible to food allergen sensitization or the sensitization is just more prevalent in African American children than white children at age 2," says Haejim Kim, M.D., a Henry Ford allergist and the study's lead author. "More research is needed to further look at the development of allergy."

Sensitization means a person's immune system produces a specific antibody to an allergen. It does not mean the person will experience allergy symptoms.

According to an AAAI study from 2009-2010, an estimated 8 percent of children have a food allergy, and 30 percent of children have multiple food allergies. Peanut is the most prevalent allergen, followed by milk and shellfish. 1The Henry Ford study consisted of a longitudinal birth cohort of 543 children who were interviewed with their parents and examined at a clinical visit at age 2. Data included parental self-report of allergies and self-reported race (African American or white/non-Hispanic). The children were skin-tested for three food allergens egg whites, peanuts and milk and seven environmental allergens.

Key findings:

• 20.1 percent of African-American children were sensitized to an food allergen compared to 6.4 percent in Caucasian children.
• 13.9 percent of African-American children were sensitized to an environmental allergen compared to 11 percent of Caucasian children.
• African-American children with an allergic parent were sensitized to an environmental allergen 2.45 times more often than African-American children without an allergic parent.

###

The study was funded by Henry Ford Hospital and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-02/hfhs-rlt022013.php

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WA Court Affirms Anti-Retaliation Laws Protect HR Employees ...

From Stoel Rives LLP ? World of Work
by Nate Bailey

The Washington Court of Appeals recently determined that state anti-discrimination laws prohibit retaliation against human resources and legal professionals who oppose discrimination as part of their normal job duties.?The court also declined to extend the same actor inference, a defense against discrimination claims, to retaliation claims.

Lodis worked at Corbis Holdings as a vice president of human resources.?As part of his normal job duties, he warned Corbis?s CEO, Shenk, that Shenk?s age-related comments could give rise to liability for age discrimination.?Around the same time, Shenk promoted Lodis but almost immediately gave him a negative performance review, placed him on probation, and then ultimately fired him.?

Lodis sued under the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), claiming that Corbis retaliated against him for opposing Shenk?s comments.?The trial court concluded that Lodis was not engaged in protected activity ?because he was simply performing his job duties by warning Shenk? about potential discrimination.?The court of appeals disagreed.

Step Outside Rule

Corbis urged the court to adopt the ?step outside??rule, which governs federal cases under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).?The rule requires an employee to step outside her normal job duties before receiving the FLSA?s protection against retaliation.

The court declined to adopt the rule for two reasons.?First, the court?believed that the language of the WLAD could not support a step outside rule.?Second, the court concluded that policy considerations favored rejecting the rule.??[A]dopting the step outside rule,? the court said, ?would strip human resources, management, and legal employees of WLAD protection.??The court noted the importance of protecting these employees because they are often the most able to oppose workplace discrimination.

Same Actor Inference

Corbis also argued that the court should apply the same actor inference to dismiss Lodis?s retaliation claim.? The same actor inference arises when an employee is both hired and fired by the same decision-makers in a short period of time. ?Courts may then infer that the employee was not fired for any attribute that the decision-makers were aware of when they hired her. ?Corbis contended that Shenk promoting Lodis despite the warning about potential discrimination proved that he did not retaliate when he later fired Lodis.

The court, however, refused to extend the same actor inference to retaliation claims.? The court was concerned that extending the defense would allow employers to simply promote employees before terminating them to avoid valid retaliation claims.

Thus, Lodis v. Corbis Holdings, Inc. limits the same actor defense to traditional discrimination cases.?And perhaps more importantly, the case reaffirms that the WLAD protects all employees from retaliation.

??

Source: http://oregonbusinessreport.com/2013/02/wa-court-affirms-anti-retaliation-laws-protect-hr-employees/

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One Direction?s Liam Payne in twitter spat over James Corden

One Direction?s Liam Payne has spoken out to slam a journalist who wrote a scathing criticism of James Corden?s performance at the BRIT Awards earlier this week.

The singer leapt to the defence of the comedian, who hosted the lavish music award ceremony.

Paul Connolly told readers of his Daily Mail column that Corden had been unfunny and embarrassing.

The journalist wrote: "Tumbleweed merchants in the vicinity of the O2 Arena reported a sudden rush on stock."

He also slammed One Direction?s performance of their Comic Relief single One Way Or Another (Teenage Kicks), saying that the single was a "blandifying torture of Blondie and The Undertones.

Payne told 1D fans that Connolly should not have attacked Corden in the newspaper article.

He tweeted: "Just read an article about James Corden by Paul Connolly who clearly thinks he's the most witty man to walk this earth...

"Only thing I found funny was this posed picture [of the columnist]...?

Liam added: "Tad embarrassing Paul don't try and compete with the Corden mate."

This article is powered by Well Contented Ltd

Source: http://entertainment.stv.tv/showbiz/215102-one-directions-liam-payne-in-twitter-spat-over-james-corden/

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Scroogled: Microsoft escalates Google battle

Escalating one of tech's biggest rivalries, Microsoft is accusing Google (GOOG) of compromising the privacy of Gmail users -- leveling the charge in an unusual, in-your-face ad campaign that it hopes will resonate with consumers even if some analysts call it alarmist and irresponsible.

The public attacks -- in print, television and billboard messages that warn consumers about the supposed dangers of being "Scroogled," or mistreated by Google -- marks a strategic shift in a clash of Internet titans, under the guidance of a bare-knuckle political campaign

An image from Microsoft's "Scroogled" ad campaign against Google.

strategist.

Despite spending billions of dollars to build its own Bing search engine and online advertising service, Microsoft has failed to put much of a dent in Google's dominance of the Internet ad business. It has also gained little traction with a behind-the-scenes effort to convince government officials that Google's business is anti-competitive.

Now the Redmond, Wash., software giant is waging a high-profile, election-style blitz against its Mountain View rival -- using public opinion polls, for example, to shape rapid-fire attacks -- with the help of Mark Penn, a veteran public relations executive and former campaign adviser to former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Penn, who previously consulted for Microsoft, was hired full time last year.

Penn has been advising Microsoft on how to "take a fairly esoteric and complex issue and make it accessible to people who don't live in technology all day," according to Stefan Weitz, who oversees Microsoft's online businesses.

Public attacks on competitors aren't the norm for most tech companies, but there is precedent. Oracle (ORCL) has blasted Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and others. Two years ago, Google accused Bing of copying its search results.

But some industry experts are critical of Microsoft's latest volley, which suggests Google is invading users' privacy by delivering ads tailored to keywords in consumers' email messages. Analysts say the practice, which relies on automated software, has been accepted for nearly a decade.

"The idea that one company is better than the other is disingenuous and deceptive," said

consumer advocate Jeff Chester of the Center for Digital Democracy, adding that all major Internet companies collect user data. "If Microsoft was as successful as Google in the search business, you would not hear a peep out of them on privacy."

Another privacy advocate, however, said he's happy to see a big Internet company treat privacy as a competitive feature. "I think it's very healthy," said John Simpson of the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog, "even if they're using it to make a buck."

Microsoft first showed its new strategy in the fall with a campaign urging consumers to compare Bing and Google search results. It followed up with ads that criticized a recent change in Google's shopping search service, which had begun showing

An image from Microsoft's "Scroogled" ad campaign against Google.

only results from merchants who pay to be included.

Google says its new shopping search policy means consumers get the most accurate listings, but Microsoft and other critics accused Google of quietly abandoning objective results. The attack drew a backlash, however, after the influential blog Search Engine Land reported Bing's shopping service was also requiring merchants to pay for listings.

While Microsoft says it now accepts free listings, blogger Danny Sullivan, the founding editor of Search Engine Land who sharply criticized Google's shopping listings, concluded that "Bing itself does the same things it accuses Google of."

Microsoft launched another round of ads this month that attack Google's widely used email program, the free, Web-based service Gmail.

"Google looks for keywords in your personal email and uses them to target you with paid ads," Microsoft charged. In an interview, Weitz cited a Microsoft poll that found people overwhelmingly disapprove of that practice, which he said consumers view as "creepy."

The poll itself, and the Microsoft ads, don't specify how emails are scanned. In a statement, Google said "no humans read your email" and said Gmail ads are chosen by "an automated algorithm" similar to programs that screen out spam.

Google has operated Gmail on the same model since 2004, using software that automatically looks for keywords, such as names of consumer products or travel destinations, which trigger the display of relevant ads.

"Nobody from Google or its advertisers has the ability to come to your house or call you on the phone as a result" of the Gmail program, said Rebecca Lieb, digital ad analyst for the Altimeter Group. "I think it's irresponsible to raise alarms about things that aren't adequately explained."

Microsoft's own Web-mail service, Outlook.com, doesn't tailor ads to the content of emails, but it does shows ads based on age, gender and other details that users provide when they open an account.

Weitz conceded Microsoft's campaign may not resonate with tech-savvy industry insiders. But citing comments posted on a Microsoft website, he added, "A number of folks in the mainstream are saying there's a point here. Their response is uniformly outraged."

Contact Brandon Bailey at 408-920-5022. Follow him at Twitter.com/BrandonBailey.

Internet clash

Google handled 67 percent of Internet search requests last month; Microsoft had 16.5 percent and Yahoo had 12.1 percent, according to comScore.
Google had 74.5 percent of U.S. search advertising revenue last year; Microsoft had 8 percent and Yahoo had 6.2 percent, according to eMarketer.
Google says its Gmail service has 425 million active users; Microsoft says its Web-based Outlook.com has 25 million users.

Sources: comScore, eMarketer, Google, Microsoft.

Source: http://www.siliconvalley.com/ci_22602877/scroogled-microsoft-escalates-google-battle?source=rss_viewed

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Stress and anxiety linked to sperm quality

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A man's ability to produce sperm may depend on his ability to handle stress, according to a new study from Italy.

Researchers found that men with higher levels of both short- and long-term stress and anxiety ejaculated less semen and had lower sperm concentration and counts. Men with the highest anxiety levels were also more likely to have sperm that were deformed or less mobile.

But one fertility researcher not involved in the new work said it's hard to know how the results apply to the general population because the research included men who were already seeking treatment at a fertility clinic.

"Do you become stressed from becoming infertile or is stress causing infertility?" asked Tina Jensen from Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, who has studied the effects of environmental factors on sperm quality.

Previous research has found that men going through fertility treatment or evaluation have higher stress levels than the average person, and some studies have also shown links between stress and sperm quality, according to the Italian researchers, led by Elisa Vellani of the European Hospital in Rome.

But no one had looked at whether short increases in a man's stress and long-term anxiety had differing effects, Vellani and her colleagues write in the journal Fertility and Sterility.

For the new study, the team recruited 94 men who were visiting the hospital's fertility clinic for the first time, and 85 other men who were not seeking fertility treatments as a comparison group.

Each man provided a semen sample for analysis. The men then answered two surveys that measured their current stress and long-term anxiety on scales ranging from 20 to 80 points, with higher scores indicating greater stress or anxiety.

On average, men in both groups scored between 37 and 40 on the tests, which is not considered "pathological," the researchers note.

When Vellani's group compared the 28 men with the lowest stress and anxiety levels to the 40 men with the highest levels, however, they found the stressed men were more likely to have lower sperm concentration and counts. The most stressed men's sperm we also more likely to be immobile and slightly more prone to DNA breaks.

"Taken together, our observations strongly suggest that (stress and anxiety) may represent a significant factor involved in male fertility," wrote the researchers, who did not respond to requests for comment.

They note in their report, however, that the association between stress and sperm quality was weaker in men who were not seeking fertility treatment, and who also seemed to have better sperm quality anyway.

For example, men seeking fertility treatment produced about 29 million sperm per milliliter of semen, compared to approximately 52 million sperm per milliliter produced by the men in the comparison group.

By the World Health Organization's standards, anything above 15 million sperm per milliliter is considered normal.

Vellani and colleagues conclude that "social and psychological factors" should be considered when assessing possible causes of infertility and addressed as part of infertility treatment.

Jensen said that it's hard to tell how different the most and least stressed men were based on the study report, but agreed that the results are probably most relevant to men who are going through fertility treatment, which she said is itself very stressful.

"Generally, for normal men it's not important," Jensen said.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/VvUAeL Fertility and Sterility, online February 14, 2013.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/stress-anxiety-linked-sperm-quality-203920499.html

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