Saturday, December 31, 2011

GotSagaLatino: The incredible #Roman Forum in #Rome http://t.co/rpse8Qc2 #travel #tips #Italy

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The incredible #Roman Forum in #Rome su.pr/1AgYp8 #travel #tips #Italy GotSagaLatino

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[OOC] Band 1

Forum rules
This forum is for OOC discussion about existing roleplays.

Please post all "Players Wanted" threads in the Roleplayers Wanted forum!

This topic is an Out Of Character part of the roleplay, ?Metal Gods?. Anything posted here will also show up there.

Topic Tags:

Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.
This is the place for Band 1's RPers to discuss things like the name of the group, style, and pre-set relationships between the characters.

I'll have suggestions for band names up soon.

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The Painkiller
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Friday, December 30, 2011

ScottMoffatt21: At the Carrier Dome @SyracuseU with Lane watching the number 1 team in #NCAA Basketball! #GoOrange http://t.co/k8KY5oqH

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Illini Arrive In California 12/27/11

Oakland, California-The Fighting Illini have arrived in California to begin preparations for the Fight Hunter Bowl in San Francisco.? The game will be played Saturday.? The 6-6 Illini will face the 6-7 UCLA Bruins.

Tuesday the Illini held their first workout in California at tiny Laney College.

A victory for the Illini would take some of the sting out of their second half collapse this season.? They've lost six straight games and head coach Ron Zook was fired.

A victory would also make Illinois history because it would be the first time the Illini have won bowl games in back-to-back years.

Illini quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase is looking forward to that opportunity.? To hear his comments click on the media player.

Source: http://mystateline.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=309617

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Prague mayor serves Christmas fish soup in city centre

?TK |

27 December 2011

Prague, Dec 24 (CTK) - Praguers and tourists were waiting in a long queue for hot fish soup, a typical Czech Christmas Eve dish, that Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda (Civic Democrats, ODS) traditionally served on Old-Town Square in the city centre Saturday.

"This custom basically played a certain charity role so that even the poor and beggars could receive a gift at Christmas," Svoboda, in the cook's apron and cap, told reporters Saturday.

"Fish soup belongs to our countries historically," said Svoboda, who was elected Prague Mayor by the city assembly on November 30, 2011, and has served the Christmas soup for the second time.

Cooks prepared some 3000 portions of fish soup according to an old Czech recipe. Svoboda distributed 2000 portions and another 1000 were served on Wenceslas square and Kampa island by Prague 1 Mayor Oldrich Lomecky.

Fish soup is usually a part of the Christmas Eve's dinner in Czech households, along with fried carp and potato salad.

Svoboda guessed that about a half of the people who came for the soup were Praguers, while the other half were foreigners. The homeless still use this possibility, too, he added.

On this occasion, Svoboda also recalled his former coalition partners from the City Hall, the Social Democrats (CSSD). Last year, he was serving fish soup with his then deputyKarel Brezina (CSSD).

The ODS and the CSSD, which came second and third in the 2011 elections to the Prague Assembly, eventually agreed to form a grand coalition at the Prague City Hall, while the winning TOP 09 was not represented in the City Council.

The grand coalition has angered many Praguers who wished a change at the City Hall that has been often connected with suspected corruption cases.

However, the rule of the ODS and the CSSD collapsed in November and the ODS-TOP 09 coalition was agreed three days later, while Svoboda succeeded in keeping the mayor's post.

The Nadeje (Hope) Czech charity organisation prepared a biblical message with Christmas lunch and gifts for the homeless in its centres in Prague Saturday. Moreover, it has been serving hot tea and distributed food packages for people in need since the morning.

The capital of Prague is also preparing the traditional New Year's fireworks, which will not be as loud and glamorous as in the past, Svoboda said, adding it would cost up to 1.5 million crowns.

($1=19.772 crowns)

Copyright 2011 by the Czech News Agency (?TK). All rights reserved.
Copying, dissemination or other publication of this article or parts thereof without the prior written consent of ?TK is expressly forbidden. The Prague Daily Monitor and Monitor CE are not responsible for its content.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PragueDailyMonitor/~3/1BCM_CfyW-g/prague-mayor-serves-christmas-fish-soup-city-centre

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Tuesday Poll: Who is your favorite Android phone manufacturer today?

Back in August we ran a simple poll asking which device manufacturer our readers favored. ?Motorola had a strong following just a few months ago, but now that the Galaxy Nexus is out, we have a feeling everyone?s opinion of Samsung might have possibly turned around. ?So down below, give us your take on which manufacturer is your favorite. ?Motorola for their history of high quality and tough builds, Samsung for their screens and lighter hardware, or even HTC for making music lovers their main priority with the acquisition of Beats Audio.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DroidLife/~3/C28EO90QTdE/

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

White Supremacist Radio Host: Ron Paul Was Scheduled and Confirmed in 2006 (Little green footballs)

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State cuts to Medicaid affect patients, providers (AP)

ATLANTA ? Just as Medicaid prepares for a vast expansion under the federal health care overhaul, the 47-year-old entitlement program for the poor is under increasing pressure as deficit-burdened states chip away at benefits and cut payments to doctors.

Nearly every state has proposed or implemented a plan in its current budget to rein in costs, and many are considering additional cuts in the year ahead.

For the tens of millions of poor and disabled who rely on the program ? approaching nearly one in five Americans ? the cuts translate into longer waits for doctors, restrictions on prescription drugs, a halt to vision and dental care, staff cuts at nursing homes and dwindling access to home health care.

Ruth Wohlforth, 70, is among those feeling the effects.

Her $700 monthly income qualifies her for both Medicare and Medicaid, but she says her benefits have been reduced, she's being forced her to make co-pays for the first time on prescription drugs, and she now has to drive about 30 minutes from her home near the southern tip of New Jersey to see a doctor. Some of her friends have been assigned to doctors in Philadelphia.

She said she feels lawmakers are not aware of the real-world consequences of their spending cuts.

"I've seen so many people in tears, and they don't know what to do," Wohlforth said. "People that are older than I am, and are in worse shape, they get befuddled by the whole thing. They don't know where to go for help; they just feel they're not being listened to."

States are reshaping the Medicaid landscape even as the need has grown along with joblessness during the recession.

The $427 billion-a-year program, a combination of state and federal funding, also had been targeted for additional cuts at the federal level this year as members of Congress sparred over how to reduce the nation's debt. But funding seems safe for now after a special committee failed last month to reach an agreement on how to cut overall spending.

Already, many changes at the state level have been dramatic and are testing the legal bounds of what Medicaid must provide:

? Arizona, for a time, eliminated life-saving transplants for Medicaid patients, and hospital officials in the state blame at least one death on the halt in coverage. Gov. Jan Brewer restored transplants but is prohibiting thousands of low-income, childless adults from entering the program and has added fees on those who smoke and the obese.

? New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is pushing a plan under which only the poorest would qualify. A parent of two making more than $103 per week would no longer be eligible for coverage.

? The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether California has the right to continue cutting payments to physicians and other Medicaid providers to help close the state's ongoing budget deficit.

Cuts to provider fees, as in California, have been the most frequently used tactic by states to save Medicaid costs. A recent survey by the National Association of State Budget Officers found that 33 states wanted to reduce provider rates and another 16 sought to freeze them.

California was granted permission by federal officials to make broad cuts to reimbursement rates to its Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, in October. The cuts include a 10 percent reduction to payments for outpatient services for doctors, clinics, optometrists, dental services, medical equipment and pharmacy. They are intended to save the state an estimated $623 million.

A coalition of trade associations representing doctors, pharmacists and chain drug stores has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the cuts. Doctors who care for Medi-Cal patients say they already have been subjected to multiple pay cuts, and some say they no longer will be able to serve the state's neediest patients.

About 70 percent of Dr. Douglas Tolley's practice in Yuba County is covered by Medi-Cal. The 64-year-old obstetrician, who practices in a largely agricultural region about 40 minutes north of the state capital, said he is the old-school sort of doctor who "was brought up in a time when doctors took care of all comers."

Yet he has seen his income steadily drop over the last 18 years ? down one-third from what it was when he started.

"Everybody understands that doctors are basically small business people, and we have to meet our cost plus make a living." Tolley said. "Just meeting our cost doesn't mean staying in business."

Even more state cuts could be on the horizon. In Maine, Gov. Paul LePage recently proposed removing 65,000 residents from the program, citing a state Medicaid shortfall estimated to reach $221 million through mid-2013. The Republican governor says he will not consider tax increases to make up the difference.

State officials, who are required to balance their budgets, argue they have no choice but to cut into Medicaid after four straight years of budget deficits. With state and federal funds combined, Medicaid makes up 22 percent of total state spending, the largest single portion of most state budgets, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers.

Critics say the moves are shortsighted.

Joan Alker, co-executive director of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, said slashing Medicaid will not stop the sick from seeking care, sending them to emergency rooms and ultimately inflating private medical insurance premiums.

"At the end of the day, for the children, the individuals with disabilities, the seniors in nursing homes, their health care needs are not going to go away just because someone cuts the Medicaid program," Alker said.

Jerry Kemmer, a former Democratic state assemblyman in New York, said Medicaid has long been an issue lawmakers did not want to touch. Now, they simply have no choice.

"It's ballooned to the extent that it's just become a budget-buster," he said.

Six million people have joined the Medicaid rolls since the recession began in late 2007. Enrollment nationally topped 50 million for the first time in June 2010, a number that is projected to keep rising, especially as the nation's unemployment rate remains high.

Billions of dollars from the federal stimulus program helped avoid deep Medicaid cuts through the worst of the recession, but the last of that money dried up this year.

In Florida, Medicaid reimbursement rates were reduced this year by 12 percent for most hospitals, although rural and children's hospitals were cut just 3 percent, and rates for nursing homes were cut 6.5 percent.

But the start of the next legislative session in January already has some people worried about additional cuts.

Debra St. Fleur, 25, of Miami, is covered by Medicaid, along with her 1-year-old son. Many of her neighbors in the city's Little Haiti section are on Medicaid, too, and she worries what would happen if services continue to be eroded.

"It's really scary," she said. "If they can't get their medicine, what's going to happen? They're going to die."

The Obama administration is concerned enough about the widespread Medicaid provider cuts that it has introduced a rule that would make it harder for states to slash the rates. The move is designed to ensure that those eligible for Medicaid are not denied access due to a shortage of health care resources.

Medicaid reimbursement rates already trail those physicians receive for treating Medicare patients and those with private insurance. A study by the nonpartisan Center for Studying Health System Change found that on, average, Medicaid would reimburse a doctor $39 for 45 minutes for a new patient hospital visit, compared to $63 for Medicare.

Physician groups say that has left more and more doctors declining to see Medicaid clients. Some providers are trying to find other ways to make up for the cuts.

In Columbia, S.C., Julie Ann Avin, executive director of the private, nonprofit Mental Illness Recovery Center Inc., has decided not to fill staff vacancies and also cut back on some rehab services because of Medicaid's new authorization process. The center serves about 650 people annually, close to 60 percent of whom are on Medicaid.

"We accept folks regardless," Avin said. "Everything that we do is not based just on a reimbursement."

Molly Collins Offner, director of policy development for the American Hospital Association, said emergency rooms must accept Medicaid clients, as well as those without insurance.

"More and more, you are seeing ER's becoming primary care docs," she said.

She said deep cuts rippling through the Medicaid system will only exacerbate that.

___

Associated Press writers Samantha Henry in Newark, N.J., Meg Kinnard in Columbia, S.C., Shaya Tayefe Mohajer in Los Angeles and Matt Sedensky in Miami contributed to this report.

___

Follow Shannon McCaffrey at http://www.twitter.com(backslash)smccaffrey13

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/meds/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111227/ap_on_he_me/us_broken_budgets_medicaid

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Social media, Google Maps used to report drug dealers in Reynosa

Read?more: Local, Crime, Drug Dealers, Drug Trafficking, Narcomenudeo, Marijuana, Cocaine, Crack, Google Maps, Twitter, Social Media, Attorney General's Office, PGR, Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico

There's a new twist to the cat-and-mouse game between drug traffickers and authorities south of the border in Reynosa.

Residents are now using social media and Google Maps to report drug dealers in their neighborhoods.

An anonymous group of Twitter users launched the?project?a few months ago but it's now surging in popularity.

In an email interviews with Action 4 News, the creators of the map said they are asking people to report drug dealers using the?#reynosafollow?channel of Twitter.

The map allows users to zoom in and get a street level view of where drugs are being sold.

Action 4 News spoke to Mexico's Attorney General's Office (PGR) in Reynosa about the Google Maps project.

While officials applaud residents using technology to report crime,?PGR officials are?asking that residents use their "Denuncia Ciudadana" system to report illegal drug activity.

Source: http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=700697

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Iran rejects NY judge's ruling on Sept. 11 attacks (AP)

TEHRAN, Iran ? Iran has rejected a New York judge's finding that Tehran is liable in the Sept. 11 attacks along with the Taliban and al-Qaida.

According to state TV, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman referred to last week's judgment as "clumsy scenario-making" by the U.S.

The spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, repeated Iran's insistence that al-Qaida has no presence in the country.

On Thursday, Judge George Daniels in Manhattan signed a default judgment finding Iran, the Taliban and al-Qaida liable in the 2001 attacks. The ruling came in a $100 billion lawsuit brought by family members of victims.

The findings also said Iran provides al-Qaida members a safe haven.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly denied any Iranian connection to the Sept. 11 attacks or to al-Qaida.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/terrorism/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111225/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_sept11_lawsuit

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Monday, December 26, 2011

Gianluigi Trovesi ? Live At Casa Del Jazz, Rome (2007)

mp3@320kbps

TRACKLIST:
1) Canzoncina 5:42
2) Rina e Virgilio 5:35
3) Campanello Cammellato 4:35
4) Django 6:37
5) Disparietto / Siparietto 4:21
6) Ricercar Vaghezza 3:25
7) Gargantella 4:34
8) Espressamente 4:41
9) G form 4:42
10) Noparietto 8:53
11) Rina e Virgilio duo 1:38

LINEUP:
Gianluigi Trovesi (clarinets, alto sax),
Enrico Rava (tp),
Roberto Cecchetto (g),
Marco Micheli bass),
Vittorio Marinoni (drums),
Fulvio Maras (perc, elect)

Recorded Live at Casa del Jazz,
Rome 2007, January 31

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?avwqp66goww894o

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Source: http://jazzismylife.wordpress.com/2011/12/24/gianluigi-trovesi-live-at-casa-del-jazz-rome-2007/

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Ryan Gosling & Eva Mendes Drunk Christmas Video

The Notebook’s Ryan Gosling, actress Eva Mendes, funnyman Jim Carrey, and comedian Allan McLeod all appear in a new R-rated special Drunk Christmas video spoof from Funny or Die that will make you laugh! Get the details and watch the video below. In celebration of the Christmas holiday just two days away, Funny or Die has released a hilarious 5 minute video spoof with love birds Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes. The video is their own special and dysfunctional version of the famous 1823 poem Twas the Night Before Christmas, with a horribly funny and drunk McLeod trying to make his way through all of the lines. The only problem is that McLeod, playing the narrator, can’t seem to recite the poem after drinking too much whiskey since two o’clock that day, as he explains near the close of the video. While he painfully tries to remember the words, Gosling and Mendes play out the story with their pajamas and kerchiefs on their head nestled in their bed. Gosling and Mendes’ fictitious children are also seen in the story as McLeod stumbles through with a few brief pauses and some colorful apologies that include the F-bomb several times. Eventually making [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/YHRECUjM_uM/

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

The Engadget Podcast is live tonight at 5PM!

Vacation? Ha! Vacation is for suckers. Tim and Brian are back, podcasting from their respective undisclosed locations, bringing you all kinds of holiday cheer in the form of the latest tech news with help from Darren. So nestle up with some nog and join us in the chat, after the break.

Update: We're through, folks. We'll have the recorded version up tomorrow!

The Engadget Podcast is live tonight at 5PM! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

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Flinders University ? Health Sciences Teaching Facility / Grieve Gillett

? Grant Hancock

Architect: Grieve Gillett
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Client: Flinders University
Year: 2010
Photographs: Grant Hancock

? Grant Hancock

The School of Medicine building is located at the intersection of University Drive and Ring Road. Sited on a steep, highly exposed hillside the building forms an entry statement for the Flinders University campus, whilst acting as a lantern at night. The design accommodates and reinforces the existing circulation of the University campus; linking the University to Flinders Medical Centre.

? Grant Hancock

The architectural language of the building references the recently completed Health Science building, to which there is a physical bridge link. The restrained palette responds to its neighbor and meets Local Council requirements for a subdued palette on this prominent hills-face site.

? Grant Hancock

The building?s form responds directly to the site?s natural topography; a large format auditorium is provided over two levels, following the natural gradient. The prevalence of shallow rock predicated the arrangement of the facilities over three suspended, staggered floor slabs. Housing tutorial spaces, meeting rooms and a state-of-the-art auditorium, the design also provides the flexibility to host conferences by utilizing operable walls, tearoom and an external deck.

? Grant Hancock

A veil of louvres shade the glazing whilst maintaining 270? views across Adelaide. Internal and external circulation spaces activate the northern fa?ade; whilst louvres filter the light source from within. Passive surveillance of these circulation routes is provided from within the building and from the adjacent roadway, providing a safe thoroughfare.

? Grant Hancock

Integral to the design were construction techniques simplifying the erection of the structure on a site, challenging in terms of gradient, prevalent rock and proximity to the busy University arterial roads. Consideration of the footings from design through to construction reduced excavation, managing the risk posed by the rocky terrain. Delivery and emergency access was achieved through the re-design of an existing master plan that failed to realize compliant access.

Plan 1

The amenity of adjacent buildings is maintained and the roof structure reduced by housing the plant beneath the second level slab, where the a/c equipment and two rainwater tanks for toilet flushing are located. Services are housed remote from the auditorium to avoid acoustic interference. Acoustic ceiling and floor treatments are integrated within the architecture.

Plan 2

Careful management of the budget returned $300,000.00 of the contingency, without compromising the quality of the building. The architectural and structural design allowed for remote fabrication with rapid delivery and erection on site. The robust and mostly self-finished building materials result in minimal maintenance requirements and a long service life.

Plan 3

Shading to the glass reduces the mechanical plant size and extends equipment life. External blinds provide flexibility and reduce energy consumption. Operable windows provide fresh air. Glazing maximizes access to natural light, including to corridor spaces, reducing reliance on artificial lighting. Low energy, long life LED light fittings are used in the auditorium.

The School of Medicine has exceeded the client?s brief, within budget and program. The design maximizes the potential of this challenging site; providing an entry statement to the campus that is functional, flexible and environmentally responsible, a building that maximizes views and compliments the surrounding natural and built environment.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ArchDaily/~3/kaicagqkID4/

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Saturday, December 24, 2011

Friday, December 23, 2011

France leads world as gloomiest over economy: poll (Reuters)

PARIS (Reuters) ? France leads the world as the "most pessimistic" country in terms of the economic outlook, with the lowest recorded score in more than 30 years, according to a global poll published on Friday.

The "End of Year" survey by Gallup International of 51 countries found that France beat second placed Ireland and third placed Austria for the dubious recognition as most pessimistic, economically-speaking.

Its score of negative 79, a drop of 20 points from last year, was the lowest the poll has recorded since 1978.

"Even in 1978, after the second oil crisis that called into question an entire economic system, the French have never shown themselves as pessimistic as today," said the poll.

"Europe leads in despair, followed by North America," it said. "The rest of the world, lead by Africa, remains mostly optimistic."

With an April presidential election on the horizon and a euro zone crisis threatening havoc at home and on the continent, French voters are increasingly gloomy.

Concerns are pervasive over high unemployment, dwindling purchasing power and the fear that France's traditionally strong social support system is unraveling, even though France has mostly been spared the austerity measures taken in countries such as Greece and Spain.

"After the Second World War, there was reconstruction and our country was one of the pioneers of Europe. Today the French 'Savior State' model, praised by both Left and Right for decades, is basically considered obsolete," said the poll. "What can the French be proud of tomorrow?"

Among a list of 51 countries, Nigeria was found to be the most optimistic country, when considering economic prosperity, followed by Vietnam and Ghana.

Between 500 and 2,700 people were interviewed in each country either by phone, via the Internet or in person between October 26 and December 13.

The survey in France, conducted by BVA, took place between December 2 and 4.

(Reporting by Alexandria Sage; Editing by Matthew Jones)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111223/ts_nm/us_france_poll

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Brook Lopez to have surgery for broken right foot (AP)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ? The New Jersey Nets will be without center and leading scorer Brook Lopez for a couple of months because of a broken right foot.

Lopez, who did not miss a game in his first three seasons, was injured during an exhibition game against the Knicks on Wednesday and he will have surgery Friday.

The injury is a stress fracture to the slow-healing fifth metatarsal, the same kind of injury that New York Giants first-round draft pick Prince Amukamara suffered on Aug. 6 in training camp. He did not play in a game until Nov. 20.

"I had a long talk with Brook last night," coach Avery Johnson said. "He is not in great spirits but we tried to lift his spirits to let him know that, hey, this is a little bit of a setback but he could definitely have a big-time comeback. Hopefully, once we get through with the surgery and get back to rehabbing and he can heal up and we can get him back at some point this season."

Lopez, who averaged 20.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists last season as the Nets posted a 24-58 record, played in the second half with the injury.

Johan Petro is his backup, although the injury might force general manager Billy King to explore some trade options.

The Nets would not say how long Lopez will be sidelined but a medical expert said it would be from six to 12 weeks, but it has the potential of being longer, depending on the degree of the stress fracture.

Dr. Victor Khabie, the chief of the department of surgery and sports medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y., told The Associated Press the problem with injuries to the fifth metatarsal is that the blood supply to that area is poor, which prevents doctors from simply putting the foot in a cast.

"For that reason and especially with an athlete you want to get back as soon as possible, we end up doing surgery, which is inserting a metal screw intro the bone to compress the bone together," Khabie said. "The act of inserting the screw also stimulates blood flow to the area."

Khabie said that Lopez's size may increase his recovery time.

"Biomechanics are such that with a bigger guy, the more pressure you put on it, the bone has to be more solid," Khabie said. "It may not make a difference in the healing, but it needs to be more fully healed before you let a 7-footer start jumping up and down on it."

While he has not seen Lopez's X-rays, Khabie felt 12 weeks would be his best guess at a recovery.

"I think that would be early," he added. "If I saw him as a patient, I would say: `Listen, hopefully, we'll get you back in three months.' I would say that would be a very optimistic type of call. This could be season-ending, potentially, seeing how short the (NBA) season is."

The lockout-shortened season opens this weekend and the regular season concludes at the end of April. The trade deadline is mid-March, which is important to note.

The injury could hurt the Nets' chances of making a deal for Orlando All-Star center Dwight Howard. The Nets and Magic had some talks about a deal after the lockout ended and 23-year-old Lopez was said to be part of the package the Nets offered.

If he can't play, there probably is no deal.

.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111222/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkn_nets_lopez

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Romney and Gingrich Trade Barbs on Who ?Can Take the Heat? (ABC News)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/177772282?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Monday, December 19, 2011

Lowe's pulling ads from Muslim show sparks protest

(AP) ? Protesters descended on a Lowe's store in one of the country's largest Arab-American communities on Saturday, calling for a boycott after the home improvement chain pulled its ads from a reality television show about five Muslim families living in Michigan.

About 100 people gathered outside the store in Allen Park, a Detroit suburb adjacent to the city where "All-American Muslim" is filmed. Lowe's said this week that the TLC show had become a "lightning rod" for complaints, following an email campaign by a conservative Christian group.

Protesters including Christian clergy and lawmakers called for unity and held signs that read "Boycott Bigotry" and chanted "God Bless America, shame on Lowe's" during the rally, which was organized by a coalition of Christian, Muslim and civil rights groups.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Detroit Democrat and the first Muslim woman elected to the Michigan Legislature, said it was "disgusting" for Lowe's to stop supporting a show that reflects America ? the conservatives, liberals and even "the Kim Kardashians" in the Muslim community, she said.

"We're asking the company to change their mind," said protester Ray Holman, a legislative liaison for a United Auto Workers local. He said he was dismayed that the retailer "pulled sponsorship of a positive program."

A local rabbi extended his support to clergy at the protest and local Arab Americans, saying he and other Jews would have been at the protest had it not fallen during the Jewish Sabbath.

"I hope that they would likewise stand up and demonstrate should something outrageous like this take place against another religion," Rabbi Jason Miller said in a statement.

Lowe's spokeswoman Karen Cobb said Saturday that the company respected the protestors' opinion.

"We appreciate and respect everyone's right to express their opinion peacefully," she said.

The show premiered last month and chronicles the lives of families living in and around Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit at the heart of one of the largest Arab-American populations outside the Middle East.

Dearborn is home to the Islamic Center of America, one of the largest mosques in North America. Overall, the Detroit area has about 150,000 Muslims of many different ethnicities and is served by about 40 mosques.

It airs Sundays and ends its first season Jan. 8.

The Florida Family Association has said more than 60 companies it emailed, from Amazon to McDonalds, pulled their ads from the show, but Lowe's is the only major company so far to confirm that it had done so. The group accused the show of being "propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda's clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values."

The travel planning site Kayak.com also pulled its ads, though its marketing chief said the decision was made because the company was dissatisfied by the show's quality and TLC wasn't upfront with advertisers about how the show would be presented.

Saturday's rally was met by about 20 counter-protesters including John White, who lives in nearby Livonia and called those protesting against Lowe's "terribly misdirected." He acknowledged that he hadn't watched the show, saying he'd seen previews and read about it, but believed the company made a decision based on business, not bigotry.

"Americans are not suspicious ... of baseball-playing, apple-pie eating Muslims," he said. "It's the ones you see on the news."

The manager of the Lowe's store, Doug Casey, said the company wasn't influenced by any outside group or ideology. He said those who criticized Lowe's have a right to their opinion, but that "it's not the opinion of most of the customers I spoke to in the store today."

"I'm deeply sorry if it's caused any divide in our community," he said. "It was never our intention to offend or alienate anyone."

The hubbub didn't keep people from shopping at the store. Keith Rissman, who was buying finishing boards for windows he's installing in his mother's garage, said he supported the company.

"It's a decision they're allowed to make," the 57-year-old said. "If (people) don't want to shop here, they don't have to."

Karen Lundquist, 65, came to the store with her son even though she didn't support Lowe's decision. "It just seems like they yielded to a Christian hate group," she said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-12-17-Muslim%20TV%20Show-Protest/id-6c33386cee104eaa8f92a3ac77bc1e38

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Sunday, December 18, 2011

HBT: Cubs said to be favorites to get Fielder

Yesterday there were conflicting reports about the Cubs? interest in Prince Fielder, with Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com saying they were ?stepping up their pursuit? and Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe saying they?re ?not major players? for the free agent first baseman.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com chimed in on the situation today, writing that ?the Cubs are the front-runners to sign Fielder? while also cautioning that ?these negotiations might only be in their early stages.?

According to Rosenthal the Mariners appear to be the Cubs? primary competition and he reports that neither the Marlins nor the Rangers will make a play for Fielder. Another option is the Orioles, but Rosenthal views that as unlikely unless Fielder?s other suitors dry up.

For now at least Rosenthal views Fielder as ?the Cubs? player to lose.?

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/16/report-prince-fielder-is-the-cubs-player-to-lose/related/

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Italy's Monti faces confidence vote on austerity (Reuters)

ROME (Reuters) ? Italy's government faces a confidence vote in parliament on Friday, a move to speed up approval of a 33-billion euro ($43 billion) austerity package intended to restore market confidence in the euro zone's third largest economy.

Mario Monti's government of unelected technocrats has an overwhelming majority in both houses of parliament and the vote, to be held in the Chamber of Deputies in the afternoon, should pass easily.

The austerity plan will then move to the Senate, where a similar vote is expected to be held before Christmas, marking the final passage of a decree law that went into effect on December 4 but needed parliamentary approval within 60 days.

Monti's government was appointed last month to face a collapse in market confidence that put Italy at the heart of the euro zone debt crisis. He has raced to push through the package of tax hikes, spending cuts and pension reform aimed at meeting Italy's goal of balancing its budget in 2013.

However, analysts say rising borrowing costs and the prospect of a fast-deepening recession still threaten to undermine Italy's fiscal consolidation efforts.

The government resorted to confidence votes to curtail debate on dozens of amendments to the law, many of them tabled by the opposition Northern League party.

Monti's predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi, had urged a confidence vote, saying his PDL party -- the biggest in parliament -- would support the government out of a sense of responsibility, not because it agrees with all the sacrifices being asked of Italians.

RECESSION

Both Berlusconi's PDL and the centre-left Democratic Party have misgivings about parts of the bill but cannot sabotage the government for fear of unleashing an economic catastrophe that probably would lead to Italy defaulting on its debt.

Underlining the depth of the crisis, the main employers' lobby Confindustria on Thursday slashed its growth forecast for Italy next year to minus 1.6 percent from a previous estimate of plus 0.2 percent and said the country was already in recession.

It said even this forecast was based on Italian bond yields dropping to below 5 percent by April compared to around 7 percent now -- the level at which Ireland, Greece and Portugal were forced to take bailouts.

Such a rescue for the much bigger Italian economy would probably overwhelm Europe's defenses, which is why the country is in the frontline of the euro zone crisis.

The Northern League heckled Monti in parliament this week and held up placards saying, "This is not a budget, but a hold-up." They also tried to obstruct the calling of the confidence vote by filibustering in the chamber before Speaker Gianfranco Fini cut them short.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111215/bs_nm/us_italy_vote

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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Ron Paul on Michele Bachmann: 'She Hates Muslims' (The Atlantic Wire)

Appearing on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Friday night, Ron Paul was asked to run down the list of his fellow Republican presidential candidates to give his impressions. It was pretty tame until he got to Michele Bachmann. "She hates Muslims," Paul said, giving Leno the sort of look one uses when describing a bigoted great uncle who's set in his ways. "She wants to go get 'em."?

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Paul also tagged former senator Rick Santorum with the same label. When Leno suggested all Santorum wants to do is "talk about gay people," Paul added, "and Muslims."

Related: Republican Candidates Finish Flirting with Isolationism

Paul's comments have attracted notice, from Politico, ABC News and other outlets. So far, no response from Bachmann's campaign. According to the campaign's website, Bachmann was busy launching her 99-county bus tour across Iowa on Friday, and local reporters say the crowds are coming out.

Related: Which Candidates Talked Too Much (Or Too Little)

From the Des Moines Register:

In Le Mars, Bachmann met an excited crowd of about 30 that cheered her every word and at times yelled out her points of emphasis before she could get them out herself. There and elsewhere, Bachmann likened herself to former British Prime Minister and archetypal conservative Margaret Thatcher and made plenty of references to President Ronald Reagan.

Meanwhile, the guy who is accusing Bachmann of hating Muslims has had his own run-ins with hateful speech. Recall the 2008 furor over James Kirchik's article for The New Republic?about the newsletters published under Ron Paul's name over twenty years. They, among other delights, compared black people to "animals," called Martin Luther King Jr. a pedophile, and warned of imminent race war.?

Paul's campaign rebutted the criticism in 2008 by saying that the offensive material in those newsletters, which dated to the 1980s, were not written by Paul, and that he didn't see them before they were published; Kirchik, who quickly became a target of scorn for Paul's supporters, said the campaign had changed its story about Paul's authorship of some of those memos.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/atlantic/20111217/pl_atlantic/ronpaulmichelebachmannshehatesmuslims46340

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Better manufacturing, jobs news send stocks higher

Trader Michael Zicchinolfi, right, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011. Strong earnings from FedEx and a sharp drop in claims for unemployment benefits sent stocks higher in early trading Thursday. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Trader Michael Zicchinolfi, right, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011. Strong earnings from FedEx and a sharp drop in claims for unemployment benefits sent stocks higher in early trading Thursday. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011. Strong earnings from FedEx and a sharp drop in claims for unemployment benefits sent stocks higher in early trading Thursday. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Trader Gregory Rowe works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011. Strong earnings from FedEx and a sharp drop in claims for unemployment benefits sent stocks higher in early trading Thursday. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

(AP) ? Investors shifted their attention from Europe to the U.S. on Thursday, pushing stocks slightly higher on good jobs and manufacturing reports.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 45.33 points, or 0.4 percent, to 11,868.81. The Dow had lost 360 points over the past three days on worries that Europe's latest plan to keep its currency union intact would fail.

Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Harris Bank, said the break from selling meant that investors are starting to focus on signs of strength in the U.S. economy.

"We're not completely insulated (from Europe), but trouble there doesn't necessary spell problems for us," he said.

Before the market opened, the government reported that the number of people applying for unemployment benefits dropped sharply last week to 366,000, the fewest level since May 2008. That's a sign that layoffs are easing, a first step toward bringing down the unemployment rate, which currently stands at 8.6 percent.

Investors were also encouraged by a report from the Federal Reserve of New York that its index measuring regional manufacturing jumped to the highest level since May. That was far more than economists were expecting. A similar report from the Philadelphia branch of the Fed also increased more than analysts anticipated.

"The base of the economy is getting stronger," said Steven Malin, an associate at money manager Aronson Johnson Ortiz.

FedEx Corp. reported that its quarterly income nearly doubled on strong growth in online shopping during the holiday season. FedEx is seen as a bellwether for the economy. Its stock jumped 8 percent.

The Standard & Poor's 500 rose 3.94 points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,215.76. The gains were broad. All but two of the 10 industry groups in the index rose. The two groups ? technology and energy ? edged down less than 0.3 percent each.

The biggest gains were in utilities and health care stocks. The profits of those companies are less likely to crumble in an economic slowdown. That suggests that investors, though encouraged by the good news Thursday, were still playing it safe.

"There's a defensive tone to the market," said Jeff Schwarte, a portfolio manager at Principal Global Investors. "Investors still aren't sure about the economy."

The Nasdaq rose 1.70 points, less than 0.1 percent, to 2,541.01.

In other corporate news:

? Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. jumped 21 percent to $24.20 on its first day of trading. The initial public offering valued the fashion design company at $3.8 billion.

? Novellus Systems Inc. jumped 16 percent. The semiconductor equipment maker said late Wednesday that it was being acquired by rival Lam Research Corp. Lam fell 8 percent.

? Rite Aid Corp. rose 3.5 percent. The drugstore chain announced that losses had narrowed in its third quarter.

European markets rose slightly, a day after big declines, as an auction of Spanish government bonds drew strong demand from investors. Germany's DAX rose 1 percent; France's main stock index rose 0.6 percent.

The euro rose against the dollar, moving back above $1.30, a day after hitting an 11-month low. The yields on Spanish and Italian government fell, a sign that investors were less worried about the ability of those countries to pay back their debts.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2011-12-15-Wall%20Street/id-e7600eedf36c46ea828a2faf99abd07b

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France's Jacques Chirac convicted of corruption (AP)

PARIS ? As French president, Jacques Chirac was called all sorts of names, not the least for his vociferous opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Now, he has a moniker that will stick: Convicted criminal.

The avuncular 79-year-old on Thursday became France's first former leader to be convicted since Marshal Philippe Petain, who headed the Nazi collaborationist regime during World War II, in 1945. Chirac will not go to prison, but received a two-year suspended sentence for corruption linked to his 18-year term as the mayor of Paris.

In a statement hours after the decision, Chirac said though he "categorically contest(ed)" the verdict, he would not appeal.

Despite the "pain and the profound sadness this verdict has inflicted," the statement said, "I sadly no longer have the necessary strength to lead before new judges the combat for the truth."

He said that as mayor, "it is up to me and me alone to take responsibility," but stressed that "above all, I affirm with honor: I cannot be blamed for anything."

"I leave (judgment) to my compatriots, who know who I am: an honest man who never had any other desire or motivation than the unity of the French people, the greatness of France, and action in favor of peace."

The verdict was an uncomfortable coda to Chirac's four-decade career as a fixture of French politics, and could aid efforts by critics to rid the political system of its cushy cronyism. It also tarnishes the lofty image that French presidents often enjoy at home just as the country gears up for another presidential race.

Chirac was found guilty in two related cases involving 19 totally or partially fake jobs created for his benefit at the RPR party, which he led as Paris mayor from 1977 to 1995. He was convicted of embezzling public funds, abuse of trust, and illegal conflict of interest.

Critics of the conservative Chirac ? many on the political left ? hailed the decision as measured and courageous, saying the court showed how political elites and average citizens were equal under the law. Anti-corruption crusaders, long frustrated by dirty dealings in the French political machine, rejoiced.

"I see it as a historic and very important decision for the future of French democracy," said Jerome Karsenti, a lawyer for the anti-corruption group Anticor, which had argued against Chirac as a civil party to the case.

"This is a strong message from the court ? a message to all politicians of responsibility. It's also proof of a mature and transparent democracy that is today able to make a distinction and try a former president," Karsenti added.

Allies, however, expressed personal sadness for Chirac, praising him as a defender of French values on the world stage who was now embarrassed by what some characterized as a scandal of little consequence.

"This is a decision that I don't believe will alter the personal relationship between the French people and Jacques Chirac," said Prime Minister Francois Fillon, a fellow conservative.

"This conviction is severe ? it's both criminal and moral," said Francois Hollande, the Socialist Party presidential candidate, who recently appeared in public with Chirac. "It strikes at the man, so I have a thought for him."

Because Chirac has suffered from ill health and memory lapses recently, he was spared from appearing in court for a trial sought for years by investigating judges. The trial, which started in March, only became possible after he left office and lost his presidential immunity in 2007.

The three-judge panel juggled an array of considerations as they handed down their 120-page ruling: Chirac's age and fading memory; the state prosecutor's call for the case to be thrown out for a lack of evidence; a recent reimbursement deal between Chirac, his allies and Paris City Hall.

In the end, the court faulted Chirac for criminal exploitation of political tools ? even if he never benefited financially ? that cemented his march to higher office.

"His guilt results from perennial and repeated practices attributed to him, and whose development was greatly favored by a perfect understanding of the wheels of the city machinery," the court said in its ruling.

The court said it took into account his age, health and status as a former head of state when determining the light sentence ? Chirac could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined euro150,000 ($210,000).

The other nine defendants on trial included members of France's political elite. Two were acquitted and seven convicted, including former French leader Charles de Gaulle's grandson, the brother of the Constitutional Court president, and former Chirac aides.

Chirac has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

In a brief statement, President Nicolas Sarkozy said "it is not his place to comment" on the verdict but commented anyway.

"These circumstances mustn't make us forget Jacques Chirac's constant commitment to serving France, which won and continues to win him the affection of the French," said Sarkozy, whose conservative UMP party is the successor to Chirac's RPR party.

In another recent scandal, two longtime Sarkozy allies have been targeted in a case of suspected kickbacks in a 1990s French defense deal with Pakistan. Sarkozy served as budget minister at the time, but his office and allies insist he was not involved.

Chirac's adopted daughter fought back tears after the ruling.

"The justice system has been very severe, but this is a fair and independent justice system. For the family, it's a great pain we have to accept," said Anh Dao Traxel, her voice cracking with emotion outside the courtroom.

A career politician, Chirac was a debonair master of the workings of public office. He modeled himself after de Gaulle, and was nicknamed "Le Bulldozer" early in his career for his determination and ambition.

France's last leader with memories of World War II, Chirac was the first to acknowledge the nation's responsibility for the deportation of Jews during the Holocaust. But he struggled to achieve reforms to the regulated economy and failed to defuse tensions between police and minority youth that exploded into riots in 2005.

Now focusing on charitable work now, he is one of France's most popular public figures.

Chirac made his reputation internationally for refusing to join U.S. President George W. Bush's drive to the war that toppled Saddam Hussein as leader of Iraq in 2003 ? fomenting some anti-French feeling in the United States.

A Las Vegas radio station once used an armored vehicle to crush photographs of Chirac, photocopies of the French flag, a Paris travel guide, bottles of wine and French bread. French fries in Congress were renamed "freedom fries," and some critics called the French "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" ? a barb pulled from "The Simpsons" TV cartoon show.

___

Jamey Keaten contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111215/ap_on_re_eu/eu_france_chirac_trial

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