More women getting behind the wheel of a Porsche

porsche

Philip LeBeau CNBC

2 hours ago

Daniel Maurer / AP

Tennis star Maria Sharapova and Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller drive in a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet during the victory ceremony after the final of the WTA Porsche GP in Stuttgart, Germany, April 28, 2013. More women are buying Porsches, especially SUVs.

Jody Verson never thought of herself as a Porsche woman.

So when the long-time Lexus owner from Deerfield, Illinois found herself behind the wheel of a Porsche Cayenne, she was blown away by the ultra luxury sports utility vehicle.

"I don't know how it happened, but I ended up driving a Porsche Cayenne one day as a loaner and absolutely loved it," said Verson. "It was a lot of fun and I couldn't believe it. Never would have believed it and said, okay, gotta have one."

Verson is not the only woman to discover a new-found appreciation for Porsche. In the last two years the luxury brand has doubled its sales to woman in the United States, with the percentage of Porsche sales to females rising from 7 percent to 15 percent.

"It is really hard to explain. I have girlfriends who want to know, 'why do you love this car so much?' It is just fun to drive, you really have to drive it," added Verson.

(Read more: The Most Desirable Porsches)

One of the primary reasons Porsche is attracting more female buyers is the popularity of the Cayenne. Just as BMW, Lexus and Mercedes have been able to expand their customer base and win over mothers who want a luxury SUV, Porsche now finds itself in the same position.

Faris Nijim, the sales manager at the Porsche Exchange in Highland Park, Illinois, said one out of every four Cayennes sold at his dealership is to a woman.

(Read more: China's gift crackdown not hitting luxury cars: Porche)

"We see more women coming in not only with their husbands, buton their own as the primary decision maker," said Nijim.

Given Porsche's reputation as a performance car driven by wealthy men who often want to convey a certain image, he understands why some women might feel intimidated when they think of buying a Porsche.

"We see a lot of times, when a woman walks into the showroom, there may be inherently a little bit of apprehension on her part right because she's not really sure what to expect or what the experience is going to be. So we have to provide an accommodating atmosphere that is non-threatening," explained Nijim.

Make no mistake. There are still plenty of men at the Porsche Exchange looking to buy the latest 911 or Boxster, but Nijim is increasingly seeing women coming in to browse and take a test drive.

As Porsche has increased sales to women, executives with the ultra-luxury brand have been careful not to radically change the company's marketing so it comes across as pandering to ladies.

Still the German brand has slowly but steadily expanded its advertising in a wider variety of magazines that reach upscale readers.

The idea? Spread the Porsche brand to a broader audience.

(Read more: Demand for 'street legal' ultra-luxury cars soars)

Nijim has seen the influx of new buyers, including women, with the Panamera sedan. "In late 2009, we brought the Panamera to market and in a period of just over a year and a half, 70 percent of those Panamera buyers were first-time Porsche buyers [and] had never walked into a Porsche showroom before."

As for Jody Verson, she said her friends have a new opinion of Porsche and her Cayenne. "My girlfriends can't believe how pretty the inside is. It is really a pretty car."

More business news:

Follow NBCNews.com business onTwitter and Facebook

? 2013 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/663286/s/2f35044a/sc/18/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Cbusiness0Cmore0Ewomen0Egetting0Ebehind0Ewheel0Eporsche0E6C10A760A880A/story01.htm

ryan leaf ryan leaf luke kuechly brad miller chandler jones peyton hillis fletcher cox

Kettlebell Workouts for Beginners and Professionals | Content for ...

Author: Joe Zavarix | Total views: 57 Comments: 0
Word Count: 740 Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 12:28 PM

Kettlebells are great for flexibility training, cardio and strength training and they resemble mini bowling balls with a handles. They provide users with a wider range of motion compared to dumbbells. Below are 10 kettlebell workouts that can be incorporated into a regular exercise regimen:

One-handed Swing

These exercises target the legs, glutes, hips, backs and shoulders. To execute this exercise, place the feet in a position a little wider than hip-width apart and use one hand, with the palm facing down, to hold the kettlebell in front of the body. Slightly bend the knees and push the hips back to lower the body a bit. Then drive the hips forward explosively as you are swinging the kettlebell, ensure that the core and glutes are engaged. Bear in mind that as you return to a standing position, the hips should drive the motion and the unengaged arm should also swing as this helps to drive momentum. When behind the leg with the kettlebell, alternate hands. Do 10 to 12 reps on each arm.

Two-handed Swing

This exercise targets the same areas as the one-handed version and it is the same as the one-handed swing, except both hands are used at the same time. Keep swinging for 12 to 15 reps.

Figure-8

The figure-8 targets the abs, back and arms. With the legs a little wider than hip-distance apart (the chest should be up and the back straight) assume the a quarter-squat position. With the kettlebell in the left hand, swing it on the outside of the corresponding leg and then in between both legs. Switch to the right side and repeat the movement. Do for an entire minute, switching the directions half way through.

Front Squat

This targets the back, glutes and legs. Use both hands to hold the kettlebell out in front of the chest, ensuring that the elbows are close to the body. Drive the heels into the ground and start squatting, push back with the hips to get the thighs parallel to the ground. Return to the standing position and do 15 to 20 reps.

One-arm Floor Press

This workout targets the core, arms and chest. Lie on the floor with legs straight out. With the palm facing inward, hold a kettlebell to your side, pressing the weight all the way up. Go back to the starting position, do 6 to 8 reps.

One-arm Snatch

These sets of kettlebell workouts target the back, chest and shoulders. Begin with bent knees, placing the workout equipment in between the feet. Next, in an explosive movement lift yourself onto your toes and pull the equipment until it gets to the chest; the elbow should be tucked in. After which, hold the weight tightly and bring it overhead. Bring it down close to the floor. Do 6 to 8 repetitions.

Sots Press

Clean off one of your kettlebells and get into a full squat. Remain in the low position of the squat and press the weight overhead till it is completely locked out. Lower the weight to the starting position and do it again. Remain in a low position for the duration of the set. Ensure that your glutes are pushed into your calves and your midsection is contracted to increase power and stability. If you are unable to complete a full squat, you will not be able to perform the Sots Press.

Pistol A.K.A One-legged Squat

Grip one of your kettlebells close to the chest similarly to a steering wheel. With the non-working leg held up, squat straight down with the engaged leg. Pause for a second when you get to the bottom and then stand back up. Slowly pull yourself down using your hamstrings, while contracting your abs, quads and glutes for maximum Does mom know you're home and tension.

Side Press

Use one arm to clean one of your kettlebells. In the direction of your cleaned weight, push out your hip, turning the feet outward at a 45 degree angle from the arm holding the weight. As you are sitting back and going lower, actively press the weight at the same time. Keep bending sideways until the weight is locked out.

These are just some of the kettlebells exercises that can be incorporated into your fitness routine.

For a simple to read, organized site with more information and videos involving kettlebells, go to http://www.kettlebellweights.org

Related to: kettlebells - kettlebell weights - kettlebell workout - kettlebell - kettlebells set - kettlebell exercise - kettlebell weight loss

-- HTML code --

1: How Seiko Kinetic Watches Compare With Citizen Eco-Drive For Divers

Both these companies make great products, but they do so utilizing completely different technologies So which is best, and further more which is the better choice when considering purchasing a dive watch

by: J Allen on: Tue, 5 Feb 2008

2: What 2008 Snowboard Binding is Right for You?

It is recommended that you buy boots before purchasing a pair of snowboard bindings. Finding the best-fitted boots makes it easier for you, since you can fit your snowboard bindings snugly without worrying about the shoes being too big or too small.

by: Valheru75 on: Sat, 10 Nov 2007

3: The Role of Agility Training for Tennis Players

Agility is such an important component when it comes to an athlete being fast. Tennis requires the athlete to be fast over short distances, in multiple directions and have the ability to develop explo

by: articles44 on: Fri, 24 Aug 2007

4: Decathlon Secrets: World's Greatest Athlete

The Decathlon crowns the World's Greatest Athlete. Why? Because the Decathlon is a true test of every attribute of an athlete.The Decathlon tests strength, mental toughness, consistency, commitment,

by: ke2global on: Mon, 3 Sep 2007

5: Motorcycle History - The Honda CBR600 Series

The Honda CBR600 series has been touted as one of the best sport motorcycles in the industry. In fact, the Honda CBR600RR (the race replica version of Honda's CBRFx series motorcycles) has won every Supersport World Championship title from 2002 to 2008. But how did it all start? Here is a brief history of the Honda CBR600 series and how it has evolved throughout the years.

by: Sarah Simmons on: Wed, 10 Oct 2012

Source: http://www.content4reprint.com/recreation-and-leisure/sports/kettlebell-workouts-for-beginners-and-professionals.htm

Veronica Mars Pope John Paul II Galaxy S4 google reader carnival cruise nfl nfl

'Dexter' exclusive photo: Deb's down and out

TV

Anna Chan TODAY

2 hours ago

Two episodes into the final season of "Dexter," and former Miami Metro lieutenant Debra Morgan is on an epic downward spiral. She's already killed a man, had brother Dexter mess with the evidence to cover up her crime, is turning into a raging alcoholic and is using hardcore drugs.

Based on a new photo that Showtime is sharing exclusively with TODAY.com, things look to get even worse for her on Sunday's new episode when she crumples to the floor.

Randy Tepper / SHOWTIME

In this exclusive photo Showtime is sharing with TODAY.com, it looks like Deb's going to run into more trouble in Sunday's new episode of "Dexter."

Once again, it looks like Dex comes to the rescue, and maybe with a little bit of help from her ex-boyfriend Quinn. But what's the cause for this collapse? Did she snort something bad? Pass out with a sky-high blood-alcohol level?

And if the room they're in looks familiar, it should: It's the interrogation room at Miami Metro. With her life falling apart so quickly, it wouldn't be hard to imagine her getting busted for drugs, theft or a DUI -- or some combination of those. But the teaser for the third episode offers quite the clue as to her presence there: "I'm confessing everything! I'm telling the whole truth!" she declares. "There's nothing you can do to stop me!"

Deb may be down for the count in the picture, but it sounds like she may be taking Dexter with her.

"Dexter" airs Sunday at 9 p.m. on Showtime.

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/dexter-exclusive-photo-debs-down-out-6C10597411

When Is Veterans Day 2012 brooke burke Alexa Vega Bram Stoker books Paula Broadwell Photos Veterans Day 2012 Nate Silver

Dos and don?ts for rewarding employees

Editor's note: This story and video clip are taken from Ragan's new distance-learning portal RaganTraining.com. The site contains more than 200 hours of case studies, video presentations, and interactive courses. For membership information, please click here.

Several years ago, Google, flush with cash and no doubt anticipating great PR, gave every staffer a $1,000 bonus and a 10 percent raise.

You might think that would impress Leila Bulling Towne, an executive coach who has made employee rewards and recognition her specialty. If so, you?d be wrong.

?To the top performer, what did that say?? Bulling Towne says. ?I mean, think about it. You?re working really hard. The person next to you is just meeting expectations. You both get the 10 percent raise.?

(Some media reported that Google also offered additional merit raises, but you get her point.)

[RELATED: Ragan's new distance-learning site houses the most comprehensive video training library for corporate commuicators.]

Whether you?re just offering a strategic attaboy or attagirl, or you?re working out a reward system to boost the bottom line, communications matter. Recognition and rewards are crucial for retention of staff, she says. Sadly, however, many recognition programs are opaque, inconsistent, and badly communicated.

Bulling Towne offers advice drawn from clients ranging from Silicon Valley startups to Fortune 500 companies.

Here are some dos and don?ts for communicating in ways that make rewards and recognition work for you:

Do: Figure out your purpose in recognition

Organizations often give vague reasons for rewarding staff. People will say that everybody?s doing it, a boss told them to hand out rewards, or they think it?s the right thing to do.

A common executive complaint about rewards is, ?You?re not strategic enough.? What is your purpose, the result you hope to achieve by handing out certificates?

Here?s a goal you should embrace: ?Create an environment where every employee can make the choice to do his or her part in meeting the organization?s goals,? Bulling Towne says.

Don?t: Ignore your top performers.

You?d be surprised: Many organizations believe rewarding the best employees is somehow undemocratic. Often, says Bulling Towne, organizations spend most of their time worrying about the problem children. They ignore the ones who excel.

?They?re superheroes,? the bosses tend to think, according to Bulling Towne. ?You don?t have to worry about them. Gosh, they do everything well. I can rely on them. I?ll leave them alone.?

This breeds resentment among the very employees you wish to retain.

Do: Reward the right things

What merits recognition? An unexpectedly high level of performance, Bulling Towne says. Actions that save time and money. Increasing customer numbers and satisfaction. Innovation. Consistency and dedication. Learning new skills and applying them thoughtfully toward business results.

What doesn?t merit recognition? Showing up on time. Daily tasks accomplished according to set expectations. A slight boost in performance. Poor performance.

Don?t: Mess up the basics.

Rewards not tied to business results, or which are infrequent or badly timed, do nothing to create incentives. Also, avoid overblown adjectives such as ?brilliant? and ?amazing.?

Do: Connect the dots.

When you hand out those bonuses, tickets for the ballgame, or coupons for ice cream sundaes, be specific: Let employees know not only that they did a good job, but how they did a good job.

Bulling Towne offers this template for praise: ?When you did X, we built/gained/executed Y.?

Do: Make expectations clear with all employees

Managers must be coached to give concise, meaningful feedback to their associates. Employee rewards programs work?but only if managers are having robust, accurate conversations, Bulling Towne says.

If you say, ?We should turn out the light when we leave the room,? the employee may hear that it?s everyone?s responsibility. Instead, say, ?I want you to do this...?

Remember, rewards and recognition only work if they are part of an overall strategy of good communication.

@r_working?

Popularity: This record has been viewed 1103 times.
Ragan.com moderates comments and reserves the right to remove posts that are abusive or otherwise inappropriate.

Source: http://www.ragan.com/Main/Articles/c8495638-e528-407a-b24d-a8824602a2d7.aspx

AJ McCarron Johnny Manziel ups Aj Mccarron Girlfriend CES 2013 joe budden notre dame

How to Fit Exercise Into Your Busy Schedule | Body Health ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]If you care about your body health, read all about health, bodybuilding, nutrition, diet, weight loss, fitness and watch a lot of workout videos. ... Body Health ? Bodybuilding, Workouts, Fitness, Diet, Nutrition and Weight loss ...

Source: http://mybodyhealth.net/how-to-fit-exercise-into-your-busy-schedule/

weather forecast Rivals weather channel Kaepernick Eddie Vanderdoes puppy bowl national pancake day

Blogging dads? that's new! - Quiet Country Life

The fast rise of blogging dads is really making me step up my game a little bit. My kids are now using the internet to do searches for fun things to do, and they keep finding these blogging dad sites that have reviews on the latest gadgets and computer games, that of course, my kids just NEED to try. My son found a dad blog all about the great outdoors and now shockingly, he wants to put down his games controller and go camping..Outdoors..In the wet..And the cold? argh! Ok, that might be a little over dramatic, and it would be good to get out and get fresh air, maybe I need to ease into it slowly?Perhaps a nature walk or two before a night under the stars?

Some great sites I found while browsing were

Cabbagedan.com

Cabbagedan is a site my daughter found, she particularly loved the post that talked about the games that could be played as a family. I once told her stories abouthow we would sit around the table as children and play a variety of card games with our parents, they wanted to try and we had tons of fun. I read the post because she wanted me to go out and buy these games so we could all play. I found it interesting because the post actually starts about learning to be a good loser, and winner. Something we can all take a lesson from.

Urbanvox.net

Urbanvox.net is slightly different to the other daddy blogs, it is more of a lifestyle type of blog rather than family centric. However, the busy stay at home dad might enjoy spending a few minutes browsing the many posts on offer onthis site, from film reviews to men?s fashion and for all those single dads out there, tips on dating. The online magazine style is pleasing and easy to read.

Thedaddyadventure.blogspot.co.uk

A blog focused on being a dad, thedaddyadventure intersperses posts about how his child is growing and the fun things he does, with practical posts regarding the latest mobile phones and other gadgets that are all important in a man?s world.Many parents, both male and female, might just appreciate the helpful, ?how to get your child to eat? post.

Theoutdoorsdad.com

The site that strikes me with fear, the one my son found. Theoutdoorsdad.com is actually a great looking site; the pictures of the family camping that I can enjoy from the comfort of my own, warm, cosy home are really lovely. But he has taken it to heart and now he wants to go camping (thanks a lot outdoorsdad..LOL) and not only that he wants to go fishing and swimming in the sea?*shudder* The site has been fantastic to get my son wanting to move away from his electronic games so maybe I should buy some outdoor gear, and a pair of wellies, and get out with him, after all, it is behaviour I should be encouraging

?

?

?

?

Source: http://www.quietcountrylife.com/blogging-dads-thats-new/

Mookie Blaylock Alexis Wright knaidel amelia earhart heat Julius Richard Petri Prancercise

Moving to Feedly? Here are a few more app options to access your feeds

We're in a transitional phase, but there are a few great choices for Feedly RSS clients out there

While we've already voiced our position on which RSS reader is still at the top of the heap after the move over to Feedly, we know that not every app works for every person. In the move over to new back-end syncing solutions from Google Reader we've lost (or are in the process of losing) a whole lot of well-made clients. Luckily a few have stayed quick on their feet and have made the transition away from Google Reader so that users still have a few choices in the RSS client space.

Let's also hope that more readers can come out of the woodwork and offer even more options going forward, but for now there are still a handful of great options in the Play Store. Hang with us after the break and try a few more RSS readers on for size, and see if you can find one that fits your needs. 

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/9bIUYIRdL04/story01.htm

stevie wonder 2013 NFL Mock Draft paleo diet paleo diet earth day Luis Suarez Earth Day 2013

Call It The 25% Rule, ShareMyPlaylists Renamed Playlists.net To Reflect That Most Users Consume Content Only

The well-worn theory known as the 1% rule dictates that the number of people creating content within an Internet community represents only about 1% of the people consuming it. In other words -- shock! horror! -- most people consume a lot more content than they ever contribute. Reflecting a similar pattern, whereby only 25% of its users are uploading playlists versus the 75% who use the service purely for music discovery, is Spotify community ShareMyPlaylists, which today is being renamed Playlists.net to better represent that proposition.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/rRX6d480qxM/

Susannah Collins George Jones funeral Jeff Hanneman twerking Camarillo fire Amanda Bynes Topless reese witherspoon

Microsoft Builds a Friendlier Windows 8.1 at Developer Conference

Microsoft's Build Developer Conference is taking place this morning in San Francisco. It's mostly a showcase for Windows 8.1, but it's also an opportunity for Redmond to turn the page on a new era.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/06/microsoft-shows-off-a-friendlier-windows-8-1-at-build/

bcs rankings jay cutler applebees jeff gordon veterans day When Is Veterans Day 2012 brooke burke

Spiral galaxies like Milky Way bigger than thought

June 27, 2013 ? Let's all fist bump: Spiral galaxies like our own Milky Way appear to be much larger and more massive than previously believed, according to a new University of Colorado Boulder study by researchers using the Hubble Space Telescope.

CU-Boulder Professor John Stocke, study leader, said new observations with Hubble's $70 million Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, or COS, designed by CU-Boulder show that normal spiral galaxies are surrounded by halos of gas that can extend to over 1 million light-years in diameter. The current estimated diameter of the Milky Way, for example, is about 100,000 light-years. One light-year is roughly 6 trillion miles.

The material for galaxy halos detected by the CU-Boulder team originally was ejected from galaxies by exploding stars known as supernovae, a product of the star formation process, said Stocke of CU-Boulder's astrophysical and planetary sciences department. "This gas is stored and then recycled through an extended galaxy halo, falling back onto the galaxies to reinvigorate a new generation of star formation," he said. "In many ways this is the 'missing link' in galaxy evolution that we need to understand in detail in order to have a complete picture of the process."

Stocke gave a presentation on the research June 27 at the University of Edinburgh's Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics in Scotland at a conference titled "Intergalactic Interactions." The CU-Boulder research team also included professors Michael Shull and James Green and research associates Brian Keeney, Charles Danforth, David Syphers and Cynthia Froning, as well as University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Blair Savage.

Building on earlier studies identifying oxygen-rich gas clouds around spiral galaxies by scientists at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College and the University of California, Santa Cruz, Stocke and his colleagues determined that such clouds contain almost as much mass as all the stars in their respective galaxies. "This was a big surprise," said Stocke. "The new findings have significant consequences for how spiral galaxies change over time."

In addition, the CU-Boulder team discovered giant reservoirs of gas estimated to be millions of degrees Fahrenheit that were enshrouding the spiral galaxies and halos under study. The halos of the spiral galaxies were relatively cool by comparison -- just tens of thousands of degrees -- said Stocke, also a member of CU-Boulder's Center for Astrophysics and Space Astronomy, or CASA.

Shull, a professor in CU-Boulder's astrophysical and planetary sciences department and a member of CASA, emphasized that the study of such "circumgalactic" gas is in its infancy. "But given the expected lifetime of COS on Hubble, perhaps another five years, it should be possible to confirm these early detections, elaborate on the results and scan other spiral galaxies in the universe," he said.

Prior to the installation of COS on Hubble during NASA's final servicing mission in May 2009, theoretical studies showed that spiral galaxies should possess about five times more gas than was being detected by astronomers. The new observations with the extremely sensitive COS are now much more in line with the theories, said Stocke.

The CU-Boulder team used distant quasars -- the swirling centers of supermassive black holes -- as "flashlights" to track ultraviolet light as it passed through the extended gas haloes of foreground galaxies, said Stocke. The light absorbed by the gas was broken down by the spectrograph, much like a prism does, into characteristic color "fingerprints" that revealed temperatures, densities, velocities, distances and chemical compositions of the gas clouds.

"This gas is way too diffuse to allow its detection by direct imaging, so spectroscopy is the way to go," said Stocke. CU-Boulder's Green led the design team for COS, which was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. of Boulder for NASA.

While astronomers hope the Hubble Space Telescope keeps on chugging for years to come, there will be no more servicing missions. And the James Webb Space Telescope, touted to be Hubble's successor beginning in late 2018, has no UV light-gathering capabilities, which will prevent astronomers from undertaking studies like those done with COS, said Green.

"Once Hubble ceases to function, we will lose the capability to study galaxy halos for perhaps a full generation of astronomers," said Stocke. "But for now, we are fortunate to have both Hubble and its Cosmic Origins Spectrograph to help us answer some of the most pressing issues in cosmology."

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/JOkGclMu0Qg/130627102625.htm

Nathan Adrian London 2012 Synchronized Swimming London 2012 hurdles Taylor Kinney Beach Volleyball Olympics 2012 Jessica Ennis Aliya Mustafina

CA-NEWS Summary

Canada thwarts "al Qaeda-supported" passenger train plot

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian police said on Monday they had arrested and charged two men with plotting to derail a Toronto-area passenger train in an operation they say was backed by al Qaeda elements in Iran. "Had this plot been carried out, it would have resulted in innocent people being killed or seriously injured," Royal Canadian Mounted Police official James Malizia told reporters.

French embassy in Tripoli hit by car bomb: embassy source

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - France's embassy in Libya has been hit by what appeared to be a car bomb, injuring two guards, an embassy official said on Tuesday. "There was an attack on the embassy. We think it was a booby trapped car," the official told Reuters.

North Korea demands recognition as nuclear arms state

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea demanded on Tuesday that it be recognized as a nuclear weapons state, rejecting a U.S. condition that it agree to give up its nuclear arms program before talks can begin. After weeks of tension on the Korean peninsula, including North Korean threats of nuclear war, the North has in recent days begun to at least talk about dialogue in response to calls for talks from both the United States and South Korea.

Security officials face questions over Boston Marathon bombings

BOSTON (Reuters) - Top security officials face a grilling from lawmakers on Tuesday over whether authorities who have charged one man with the Boston Marathon bombings may have overlooked warning signs two years ago flagging the other suspect. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, was formally charged with using a weapon of mass destruction and malicious destruction of property resulting in death at a bedside hearing on Monday in his hospital room, where he was recovering from gunshot wounds suffered in shootouts with police.

What next for Boston bombing suspect?

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A decision to charge the Boston Marathon bombing suspect in a civilian rather than a military court means he will face the same legal process as other federal criminal defendants in U.S. courts. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, was charged on Monday with using a weapon of mass destruction and malicious destruction of property resulting in death.

Japan nationalists near disputed isles, MPs visit shrine

EAST CHINA SEA (Reuters) - Japanese nationalists sailed a flotilla of boats on Tuesday in waters near islands at the centre of a row between China and Japan, putting further strain on Tokyo's tense ties with Beijing as a group of more than 160 Japanese lawmakers visited a shrine seen by critics a symbol of Japan's past militarism. Last year members of the same right-wing group landed on one of the disputed islets and triggered anti-Japanese protests in China, where lingering bitterness over Japan's wartime aggression has been rekindled in recent days.

Assad urges Lebanon to help fight his foes: Lebanese delegates

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad believes neighboring Lebanon cannot shield itself from the civil war in his country and that both states should fight his opponents, three members of a Lebanese delegation who visited Assad said on Monday. Lebanon, which suffered its own civil war from 1975 to 1990 and endured a military presence by its historically dominant neighbor for 29 years until 2005, has maintained a policy of "dissociation" from Syria's two-year-old conflict.

Insight: China consolidates sea claims as Asian diplomacy struggles

MASINLOC, Philippines (Reuters) - For decades, fishermen along the northwestern Philippine coast treated the teeming fishing grounds of the Scarborough Shoal as their backyard, less than a day's boat ride away. Now, they see it as a foreign country.

Palestinian prisoner in deal with Israel to end fast

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - A Palestinian prisoner held by Israel has agreed to end an on-off hunger strike on Monday which lasted for more than eight months in exchange for an early release, Palestinian officials told Reuters. The fast by Samer al-Issawi, 32, from a suburb of Jerusalem, had stoked weeks of street protests and concerns by Israel that his death might lead to mass unrest.

Irate Italian president to begin talks on new coalition

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's president launches urgent talks on Tuesday that could see a prime minister designated after two months of post-electoral stalemate that has weighed on a stagnant economy and alarmed Rome's partners in the euro. After directing an emotional blast of impatience on Monday at the very parliament which handed him an unprecedented - and heartily unwanted - second term as head of state at the weekend, 87-year-old Giorgio Napolitano has announced a "rapid round of consultations" with political leaders, starting early Tuesday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ca-news-summary-003014290.html

kentucky derby beltane ryan o neal dark knight rises trailer dark knight rises trailer vince young vince young

First 2,000-year-long temperature reconstructions for individual continents

Apr. 19, 2013 ? Past climate change varied remarkably between regions. This is demonstrated in a new study coordinated by the international Past Global Changes (PAGES) project, which reconstructed temperature over the past 1,000 to 2,000 years.

It is the first comprehensive temperature reconstruction on a continental scale. One of its main findings is that a general cooling trend, caused by different factors (e.g. orbital-driven insolation and changes in solar and volcanic activity), was ubiquitous across all continental-scale regions and was reversed by a distinct warm trend beginning at the end of the 19th century.

The scale of this project is impressive. Some 80 researchers from all over the world collaborated on the study, which has just been published in the scientific journal Nature Geoscience. In one of the widest-ranging efforts yet undertaken to reconstruct climate across the globe, the international author team evaluated data from all continents to track the evolution of temperatures over the past one to two millennia.

This major project was initiated and coordinated by the Past Global Changes (PAGES) organization. PAGES was established in 1991 to facilitate international research into understanding climatic and environmental dynamics by studying the past. The program receives funding mainly from the Swiss and US national science foundations. In 2006, ambitious scientists in the PAGES network decided to organize an initiative to reconstruct the climate of the last 2000 years in unprecedented quality.

The first results of the collective effort have now been published. "A key aspect of the consortium effort was to engage regional experts who are intimately familiar with the evidence for past climate changes within their regions," says Heinz Wanner, emeritus professor at the University of Bern and one of the original architects of the PAGES 2k Network.

"Several mathematical procedures were applied to reconstruct the continental temperature time series and they were compared to assess the extent to which the main conclusions of the study stood up to the different analytical approaches." Previous attempts to reconstruct temperature changes focused on hemispheric or global-scale averages, which are important, but overlook the pronounced regional-scale differences that occur along with global changes, he points out.

Natural climate archives and documentary sources

For the present study, "Continental-scale temperature variability during the last two millennia," the researchers drew up temperature curves for large regions at seven continents, using 511 local temperature records. These were based on the analysis of tree rings, pollen, corals, lake and marine sediments, ice cores and stalagmites as well as historical documents.

In most cases the data used were highly resolved, attesting to short-term variations over decades or less, rather than smoothing over centuries. In Africa, there were too few records to accurately determine long-term temperature changes for that continent. Nevertheless, the expansive new dataset will undoubtedly be used in future studies, including for comparisons with the output of climate models used to help project future climate change.

The evolution of temperature across all the continents was noticeably more similar within the hemispheres than between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. "Distinctive periods, such as the Medieval Warm Period or the Little Ice Age stand out, but do not show a globally uniform pattern," says professor Heinz Wanner.

By around 1500 AD temperatures did indeed fall below the long-term mean everywhere. However, in the Arctic, Europe and Asia this temperature drop occurred several decades earlier than in North America and the Southern Hemisphere. These new findings will certainly stimulate vibrant discussions within the research community, Wanner believes.

Long-term cooling trend reversed

The most consistent feature across the regions over the last 2,000 years was a long-term cooling trend, which was likely caused by a combination of factors such as an overall increase in volcanic activity, a decrease in solar irradiance, changes in land cover, and slow changes in earth's orbit. This cooling only came to an end toward the end of the 19^th century.

The warming during the last century has reversed this long-term cooling, the study found. It remained cold only in Antarctica. An analysis of the average temperatures over 30-year periods indicates that interval from 1971-2000 was probably warmer than any other 30-year period in the last 1,400 years.

Cooler 30-year periods between the years 830 and 1910 AD were particularly pronounced during weak solar activity and strong tropical volcanic eruptions. Both phenomena often occurred simultaneously and led to a drop in the average temperature during five distinct 30- to 90-year intervals between 1251 and 1820.

Warming in the 20^th century was on average twice as large in the northern continents as it was in the Southern Hemisphere. During the past 2,000 years, some regions experienced warmer 30-year intervals than during the late 20^th century. For example, in Europe the years between 21 and 80 AD were possibly warmer than the period 1971-2000.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Bern.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Moinuddin Ahmed, Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Asfawossen Asrat, Hemant P. Borgaonkar, Martina Braida, Brendan M. Buckley, Ulf B?ntgen, Brian M. Chase, Duncan A. Christie, Edward R. Cook, Mark A. J. Curran, Henry F. Diaz, Jan Esper, Ze-Xin Fan, Narayan P. Gaire, Quansheng Ge, Jo?lle Gergis, J Fidel Gonz?lez-Rouco, Hugues Goosse, Stefan W. Grab, Nicholas Graham, Rochelle Graham, Martin Grosjean, Sami T. Hanhij?rvi, Darrell S. Kaufman, Thorsten Kiefer, Katsuhiko Kimura, Atte A. Korhola, Paul J. Krusic, Antonio Lara, Anne-Marie L?zine, Fredrik C. Ljungqvist, Andrew M. Lorrey, J?rg Luterbacher, Val?rie Masson-Delmotte, Danny McCarroll, Joseph R. McConnell, Nicholas P. McKay, Mariano S. Morales, Andrew D. Moy, Robert Mulvaney, Ignacio A. Mundo, Takeshi Nakatsuka, David J. Nash, Raphael Neukom, Sharon E. Nicholson, Hans Oerter, Jonathan G. Palmer, Steven J. Phipps, Maria R. Prieto, Andres Rivera, Masaki Sano, Mirko Severi, Timothy M. Shanahan, Xuemei Shao, Feng Shi, Michael Sigl, Jason E. Smerdon, Olga N. Solomina, Eric J. Steig, Barbara Stenni, Meloth Thamban, Valerie Trouet, Chris S.M. Turney, Mohammed Umer, Tas van Ommen, Dirk Verschuren, Andre E. Viau, Ricardo Villalba, Bo M. Vinther, Lucien von Gunten, Sebastian Wagner, Eugene R. Wahl, Heinz Wanner, Johannes P. Werner, James W.C. White, Koh Yasue, Eduardo Zorita. Continental-scale temperature variability during the past two millennia. Nature Geoscience, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/NGEO1797

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/fzlybpPOjQw/130421152401.htm

pregnant jessica simpson international womens day joe the plumber lra lra eric johnson eric johnson

Video: Haslam remains involved in draft preparations

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

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/21134540/vp/51597993#51597993

carol burnett neil degrasse tyson neil degrasse tyson davy jones death born this way foundation lytro camera lytro camera

Formation 8 Raises Its First Fund Of $448M To Plug Silicon Valley Startups Into Asian Conglomerates

Formation 8 wants to bring venture capital back to its roots: investing in solutions to hard technology problems that could change the world. It just raised its first fund of $448 million -- but with a twist. Formation 8 plans to draw on its extensive network in Asia to win its portfolio of smart enterprise and energy technology companies' huge deals with conglomerates in the region.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/3OgzweBMM3I/

tyler clementi kevin kolb sarah shahi rutgers dharun ravi george clooney arrested ravi

Boeing's grounded Dreamliner could fly next month

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Published reports say Boeing's grounded 787 jetliners could soon be flying again.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Federal Aviation Administration is set to approve Boeing's fix for the ion-lithium batteries. The 787 Dreamliner has been grounded since mid-January because of smoldering batteries that in one case caused a serious fire.

The Journal says the FAA is expected to announce Friday that Boeing's redesigned batteries are safe. The fix includes more heat insulation and a battery box designed to vent any hot gases from the batteries outside the planes.

There was no immediate comment from the FAA and a Boeing spokesman declined to comment on the report.

The New York Times, which also reported the development, says the aircraft could be back in service next month.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/reports-boeing-dreamliner-could-fly-100013991.html

joba chamberlain new york mega millions jetblue jetblue michelle malkin october baby sugarland

Canon PowerShot Elph 330 HS

The Canon PowerShot Elph 330 HS ($229.99 direct) is one of the best compact cameras that you can buy for under $250. It's easy for anyone to use, has a generous 10x zoom range, and allows you to share photos via built-in Wi-Fi. Most importantly, the images it captures are sharp and the 12-megapixel CMOS sensor lets you shoot at ISO 1600 without introducing too much noise into photos. It's not perfect?the 1080p video frame rate is locked at 24fps, you'll need to record in 720p to capture footage at the more common 30fps. But aside from that, there's not much bad to say. It earns our Editors' Choice award for mid-price compact cameras, ousting the aging Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX150 from its perch.

Design and Features
The Elph 330 HS is part of Canon's midrange line of compact cameras. It's got a sleeker look than the budget A series, with an all-metal exterior and curved lines that make it comfortable to hold. Available in black, pink, or silver, the Elph 330 HS measures just 2.2 by 3.8 by 0.9 inches and weighs a mere 5.1 ounces, so it's easy to slide into a shirt pocket. It's a bit smaller than the 4.8-ounce 10x-zoom Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7.

The lens is a 10x zoom design, covering a 24-240mm field of view with a variable aperture that starts at f/3 and closes down to f/6.9 when zoomed all the way in. The Samsung DV150F has a lens that opens up to f/2.5 at its widest angle, but doesn't do as well at higher ISO settings and its lens dwindles to f/6.3 when zoomed all the way in. These conspire to negate the roughly 50 percent advantage that f/2.5 enjoys over f/3.0 in terms of light-gathering capability.

loading...

?

The 3-inch rear LCD is reasonably sharp thanks to a 461k-dot resolution, but it isn't the best we've seen on a compact camera. The Nikon Coolpix P310 packs roughly twice as many pixels. That camera is a bit more expensive, and has a wider aperture lens, but a shorter zoom range. The Elph's display is plenty bright, so you should feel confident using it outdoors. It's viewable from almost any angle, which will help when shooting photos from an off-kilter point of view.

There aren't a ton of control buttons squeezed into the Elph's small frame, but you get what you need to make quick adjustments; more knowledgeable shutterbugs will find themselves turned off by the lack of full manual, Shutter Priority, and Aperture Priority modes. You can shoot in Canon's Hybrid Automatic mode, which takes most of the control out of your hands. You'll be able to set the self-timer and decide whether the flash is on or set to automatic mode, but that's it.

Switching to program shooting via a toggle switch gives you a bit more control. When in this mode the rear control button that adjusts EV Compensation, which lets you easily make your photos appear brighter or darker, works. Also coming alive is the flash control?you can now force it to fire, or set it to fire properly when using slower shutter speeds?and manual control over macro focusing. Other shooting controls are accessible via an overlay menu, activated by the Function/Set button. These include the metering pattern, ISO setting, white balance, continuous drive mode, and image aspect ratio. In addition to Program, there are a number of scene modes?ranging from old standards like Snow and Fireworks to more artistic filters like Toy Camera, Miniature Effect, and Smooth Skin. There's no dedicated mode for sports; to get the fastest shutter speed possible to capture action you'll want to boost the ISO as high as you feel comfortable and shoot in Program mode.

Canon's Wi-Fi implementation here isn't as simple to configure or as full-featured as you see on Samsung cameras like the WB250F or the Android-powered Galaxy Camera. Those models let you to post photos to social networks right out of the box, and even control the zoom and shutter via your smartphone. Canon doesn't go that far. First, you'll have to configure Web services like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook through Canon's Image Gateway software. This requires you to plug the Elph into your PC or Mac via the included USB cable. It's a pretty painless process, thankfully. You can pair the camera with your smartphone or tablet via a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection to transfer photos. If you leave the Camera Window app running while you shoot you can enable location logging, which will add GPS data to photos upon transfer. The app is free for Android and iOS devices.

You can also transfer photos directly to your computer. Some shooters may use this to download images, but we still recommend using an SD card reader. It's quicker and won't drain your camera's battery. You can send photos directly to or from another Canon camera with Wi-Fi, and you can send a photo directly to a compatible wireless printer. The former doesn't seem like a use case that would be all that common; the latter, well, you're printing without cropping or performing any retouching?it seems like you'd want to take more care before using the paper and ink.

Performance and Conclusions
The Elph 330 HS starts and grabs a photo in just about 1.8 seconds. Shutter lag is an impressive 0.15-second, and it fires off shots at 2 frames per second. It's not the absolute fastest compact that we've tested, but it's no slouch. The Sony WX150 is a bit speedier?it starts and shoots in 1.4 seconds, has an almost nonexistent shutter lag, and and can fire off a 10-shot burst at about 6.7 frames per second, but will make you wait about 8 seconds before you can shoot another photo after the burst is captured.

I used Imatest to check the sharpness of the Elph's lens. A score of 1,800 lines per picture height, calculated using a center-weighted average, is required for a photo to be considered sharp. The 330 HS scores 2,069 lines, an impressive result for a compact. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 only scored 1,563 lines on the same test.

Imatest also checks for noise, which can really hurt image quality when the camera's sensitivity to light, measured in ISO, is increased. The Elph keeps noise under 1.5 percent through ISO 1600, a good result for a camera with a small image sensor. Close examination of photos shot at ISO 1600 show that there's a very good amount of detail, although some very fine textures are not captured. Images show 1.9 percent noise at ISO 3200, and some details start to disappear, but the camera is still very useable at that setting?especially if photos are destined for web sharing. Compare this to the Samsung DV150F; it keeps noise below 1.5 percent through ISO 800, but excessive noise reduction kills image quality at ISO 400 and above. You'll always want to shoot the Elph 330 HS at the lowest ISO you can manage and still get a sharp, in-focus shot, but don't hesitate to push it to ISO 1600 when the lighting calls for it. You can go as high as ISO 3200 in a pinch, but you'll likely want to avoid ISO 6400 as images are noisy and detail is lacking.

Video is recorded in QuickTime format in 1080p24 or 720p30 quality. The footage looks very good, but the 24fps frame rate is a little slow for capturing fast action. It's often used in Hollywood films, and using it in your home movies can give them a cinematic look, but you'll want a faster frame rate if smoother motion capture is what you crave. You can reduce the resolution to 720p to hit 30 frames per second, but some cameras, like the rugged Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS can shoot at 1080p60.

You can zoom in or out when recording, but the sound of the lens moving is quite audible on the soundtrack. Autofocus during video is quick, quiet, and accurate. There's a mini HDMI, so you can connect the camera directly to an HDTV, as well as a mini USB port to plug it into a computer. Standard SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards are supported, and a rechargeable battery is included. Canon still includes a plug-in wall charger, while many other recent compact models require you to charge the battery in the camera itself. A second battery is always a good idea, especially during vacations, and having an external charger on hand makes it possible to recharge a spent battery while shooting with your spare.

The Canon PowerShot Elph 330 HS is a compact camera with a standard 1/2.3-inch image sensor, so don't expect it to compete with a D-SLR in terms of image quality. But when you compare it with its peers, it's an excellent performer. The lens packs a 10x zoom range, and it's sharp. The image quality holds up through ISO 1600, the camera is a speedy performer, and Wi-Fi makes it easy to share photos online. The video mode is a bit disappointing, and a wider aperture lens would go a long way to letting you use lower ISO settings in dim light. But despite these flaws, the Elph 330 HS is worthy of our Editors' Choice award for midrange compact cameras. It's an excellent value at its asking price, and to get a significantly better camera you'll need to spend quite a bit more.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/vRf_wxHyn6U/0,2817,2417693,00.asp

chris anderson rondo suspended bay bridge band of brothers presidents george washington russell westbrook

In Shell win, ruling limits jurisdiction in foreign rights cases

By Lawrence Hurley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a closely watched ruling that left questions unanswered, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday that federal courts do not have jurisdiction to hear lawsuits against foreign corporations accused of aiding in human rights abuses abroad.

In one of the court's biggest human rights cases in years, the justices ruled unanimously that a federal court in New York could not hear claims made by 12 Nigerians who accused Anglo-Dutch oil company Royal Dutch Shell Plc of complicity in a violent crackdown on protesters in Nigeria from 1992 to 1995.

The ruling immediately sparked another debate, not least in concurring opinions written by justices in response to Chief Justice John Roberts' majority opinion, about exactly what claims can still be made under the Alien Tort Statute. The 1789 law had been dormant for nearly two centuries before lawyers began using it in the 1980s to bring international human rights cases in courts.

What is clear is that the ruling is a major win for such non-U.S.-based multinational companies as Royal Dutch that do business in the developing world and become embroiled in local political controversies. Those companies, which are still subject to suit in foreign courts, fear U.S. courts because of the possibility of large damage awards.

The decision also means that U.S. corporations could find it easier to defend themselves against similar types of claims, although it could depend on the extent to which the alleged conduct was directed from the United States.

The ruling is likely to affect other cases, including those involving similar claims against Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto Plc over its conduct in Papua New Guinea and against Exxon Mobil Corp over its activity in Indonesia.

Esther Kiobel, the named plaintiff in the Royal Dutch case and now a U.S. citizen, brought her lawsuit in 2002 on behalf of victims of the crackdown in Nigeria, including her husband, Barinem, who was executed in 1995.

Chief Justice Roberts in the majority opinion wrote that a presumption against extraterritorial application of federal laws applies to the Alien Tort Statute.

The court did not decide the question originally before it in the case: whether corporations can ever be liable under the statute.

DIFFERENCES OF OPINION

Although all nine justices concurred with the outcome, only four agreed with the chief justice's reasoning. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote a separate opinion in which he was joined by three other justices.

"Nothing in the text of the statute suggests that Congress intended causes of action recognized under it to have extraterritorial reach," Roberts wrote.

He also said the ruling leaves open some lawsuits under the Alien Tort Statute, including against corporations, as long as there is a sufficient connection with the United States. The claims must have "sufficient force to displace the presumption" against extraterritorial application, he added.

Addressing liability of companies that are either based in the United States or have considerable interests there, Roberts said, "It would reach too far to say that mere corporate presence suffices."

Justice Anthony Kennedy and Justice Samuel Alito wrote separately in agreement with Roberts, with both making clear that the court had not resolved for good the question of under what circumstances individuals and corporations can be liable.

In his concurring opinion, Justice Breyer said he would not have applied the presumption against extraterritoriality. Regardless, he said, in the Shell case, "The parties and relevant conduct lack sufficient ties to the United States."

Sandy Weisburst, one of Royal Dutch's lawyers at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, said the ruling was a "vindication of Shell's primary position in this case." Future cases against other defendants would, he said, determine "when is there sufficient U.S. conduct" to give U.S. court's jurisdiction.

Paul Hoffman, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said it "seems pretty clear" that corporations are covered by the statute and "there will be corporate cases in the future" in some circumstances.

Marco Simons, a lawyer with Earthrights International who represents plaintiffs in human rights cases, said that although it was clear a presumption against extraterritorial application would now apply, the court is not "suggesting that no cases can be brought where abuses happened abroad."

He noted one of his group's own cases, against Chiquita Brand International, in which plaintiffs claim that the company made decisions in the United States about funding paramilitaries in Colombia, as a possible example of a claim that could go forward because there was a sufficient U.S. nexus.

That case is currently before the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. John Hall, a lawyer for Chiquita, declined to comment, saying he had not had a chance to review Wednesday's ruling.

Rio Tinto's appeal of a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs in the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is pending before the Supreme Court, as is a separate appeal from the same court brought by Daimler AG concerning alleged abuses in Argentina. In the Exxon case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held off on deciding whether to rehear it while the Shell case was pending.

The case is Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co, U.S. Supreme Court, No. 10-1491.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley and Jonathan Stempel; Editing by Howard Goller, John Wallace, Steve Orlofsky and Cynthia Osterman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/shell-win-ruling-limits-jurisdiction-foreign-rights-cases-192745715--finance.html

ash wednesday kate middleton marco rubio marco rubio Zero Hour Funny Valentines Chris Kyle

NKorea lashes out anew over protest in Seoul

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) ? North Korea said it was open to talks, but not as long as the United States is "brandishing a nuclear stick," while Washington insisted that the burden for renewed negotiations now rests with Pyongyang.

North Korea also warned that it will intensify unspecified "military countermeasures" unless the U.S. stops conducting military drills on the peninsula and withdraws the military assets that Pyongyang says threaten the North with a nuclear attack.

The statements Tuesday came amid international fears that the North is preparing to conduct a medium-range missile test and also as North Korea marked the second day of festivities in honor of the April 15 birthday of its first leader, Kim Il Sung.

The renewed vitriol began after a Monday protest by about 250 people in downtown Seoul, where effigies of Kim Il Sung and his late son and successor, Kim Jong Il, were burned. Such protests are fairly common in South Korea, and though Monday's was held on the holiday that North Korea calls "The Day of the Sun," some analysts suggested North Korea was using it as a pretext to reject calls for a dialogue with the South, at least for the time being.

North Korea often denounces protests like the one held Monday, but this time responded with a statement from the Supreme Command of the Korean People's Army, which is headed by Kim Il Sung's grandson and North Korea's overall leader, Kim Jong Un.

The North's statement said it would refuse any offers of talks with the South until it apologized for the "monstrous criminal act."

"If the puppet authorities truly want dialogue and negotiations, they should apologize for all anti-DPRK hostile acts, big and small, and show the compatriots their will to stop all these acts in practice," the statement said. North Korea's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK.

Later in the day, its state media quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman saying North Korea has no intention of holding talks with the U.S. unless it also abandons its hostility against the North.

North Korea is not opposed to dialogue but has no intention of "sitting at the humiliating negotiating table with the party brandishing a nuclear stick," the statement said.

But in Washington, State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell later told reporters that North Korea needs to make the first move.

"They know what they need to do in terms of stopping their provocations and showing a seriousness of purpose, and so they know what's required of them," he said.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said during a recent trip through Asian capitals that a North Korean missile test would be a provocation that would further isolate the country and its impoverished people. He said Sunday that the U.S. was "prepared to reach out," but that Pyongyang must first bring down tensions and honor previous agreements.

This year's festivities in honor of Kim Il Sung's birth were mostly low key, with Pyongyang residents gathering in performance halls and plazas and taking advantage of subsidized treats, like shaved ice and peanuts. Last year's anniversary ? the birth centennial ? was marked with days of immense festivities and a massive military parade.

Instead of such grandiose events, the front page of the Rodong Sinmun, the Workers' Party newspaper, on Tuesday featured photos of Kim Jong Un at an orchestral performance with his aunt, Kim Kyong Hui, and other top officials. North Korean media also reported that he watched volleyball and basketball games between Kim Il Sung University of Politics and Kim Il Sung Military University.

After Pyongyang's latest volley of rhetoric, South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said South Korea was closely monitoring its moves and would "thoroughly and resolutely punish North Korea if it launches any provocation for whatever reason."

The calm over the past two days in Pyongyang has been a striking contrast to the steady flow of retaliatory threats North Korea has issued over ongoing military exercises between South Korea and the United States. Though the maneuvers, called Foal Eagle, are held regularly, North Korea was particularly angry that this year they included nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bombers and F-22 fighters.

"The ultimatum is just North Korea's way of saying that it's not willing or ready to talk with the South," said Chang Yong-seok at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University. "North Korea apparently wants to keep the cross-border relations tense for some time to come."

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin told a parliamentary committee Monday that North Korea still appeared poised to launch a missile from its east coast. North Korea, which conducted a nuclear test in February, has already been slapped with strengthened U.N. sanctions for violating Security Council resolutions barring the regime from nuclear and missile activity.

To further coordinate their response, South Korea's new president, Park Geun-hye, will meet with President Barack Obama on May 7 at the White House.

The U.S.-South Korean military drills are scheduled to end April 30. On Tuesday, a Marine CH-53E helicopter made a "hard landing" during the exercises, according to a statement from United States Forces Korea. Twenty-one personnel were on board the helicopter, including five crew members, the statement said. All were taken to the hospital, but 15 were quickly released. The remaining six were in stable condition.

North Korea has also pulled its workers from a joint factory complex on its side of the heavily armed border ? the last remaining symbol of inter-Korean complex. Pyongyang has also barred South Korean managers from traveling to the complex, though it hasn't forced South Koreans to leave.

About 200 South Koreans remain inside Kaesong. Some recently told The Associated Press they were subsisting on instant noodles.

Ten South Koreans from the South Korean companies working in Kaesong hoped to visit the park Wednesday to relay their worries to the North and pass along food and other necessities to their colleagues still living inside. But the North again refused to allow them to cross the border, citing the current tension, according to South Korea's Unification Ministry.

The North's entry ban is "very regrettable," ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-suk told reporters, saying North Korea should quickly resume operations at the park.

___

Associated Press writers Sam Kim and Hyung-jin Kim contributed to this report from Seoul, South Korea.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nkorea-lashes-anew-over-protest-seoul-125311002.html

jet crash virginia beach petrino clayton kershaw tyler perry face transplant fab melo google glasses

Asia stocks sink on global growth worries

BANGKOK (AP) ? Asian stock markets were mostly lower Tuesday as weak economic data, falling commodity prices and big losses on Wall Street shook investors. A deadly bombing in the U.S. also rattled confidence.

The sell-off in markets was triggered by the Chinese government's report Monday that growth in the world's second-largest economy slowed to 7.7 percent in the first quarter from 7.9 percent in the final quarter of last year. Growth was expected to accelerate slightly to 8 percent.

The report stoked worries about the strength of China's economy at a time when U.S. economic data has disappointed and Europe remains embroiled in its government debt crisis. It also pummeled oil and commodity prices.

A bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon that appeared timed for maximum casualties further fanned anxiety. Three people were killed and more than 140 injured. No one has claimed responsibility.

"China GDP data spooked investors into thinking that the world's second largest economy is slowing at a faster rate than anticipated," said Evan Lucas of IG Markets in Melbourne. "All these gyrations on commodity and currency markets were compounded further by the dreadful events in Boston."

Lucas said the markets were probably overreacting to the China growth news, but it creates a disquieting picture when coupled with last week's trade data showing some weakness in the country's exports.

Japan's Nikkei was down 0.1 percent at 13,265.01, recovering from sharp losses in the morning when the yen rose against the dollar.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.6 percent to 21,648.15. South Korea's Kospi opened lower but flattened out by midday at 1,920.55. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.3 percent to 4,953.30. Benchmarks in mainland China, New Zealand and the Philippines also fell. Indonesia, India, Singapore and Taiwan rose.

On top of the disappointing data from China were figures on Monday showing a drop in U.S. homebuilder confidence. A separate report showed weak manufacturing in the Northeast. On Friday, the Commerce Department said retail sales fell 0.4 percent in March from the previous month, reinforcing views that the U.S. recovery is losing some steam.

The negative news pummeled Wall Street on Monday, its worst day of the year. The Dow Jones industrial average down 1.8 percent to close at 14,599.20. The S&P 500 index fell 2.3 percent to 1,552.36. The Nasdaq composite dropped 2.4 percent to 3,216.49.

Concerns that Cyprus and other troubled European countries may sell gold to raise cash have also weighed on prices for precious metals. On Tuesday, gold continued its descent, dropping more than $21 early in Asia to $1,339.50 an ounce. Gold has fallen sharply over recent trading sessions. It stood at $1,689 at the beginning of the year.

Gold-linked shares across the region fell. Hong Kong-listed Zijin Mining Group, China's biggest gold miner, fell 3 percent. In Australia, Kingsgate Consolidated tumbled 5.1 percent and Newcrest Mining fell 5.4 percent. Mining and resource shares were also hard hit. Hong Kong-listed Jiangxi Copper Co. slid 4.6 percent. PetroChina, China's largest oil and gas producer, shed 1.8 percent.

Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's flagship carrier, sank 6.1 percent. Enthusiasm for airline shares has been damped by threatening rhetoric from North Korea in recent days.

The sharp decline in gold and fears about global growth reverberated throughout commodity markets. Benchmark oil for May delivery dived $1.39 to $87.32 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract dropped $2.58, or 2.8 percent, to finish at $88.71 a barrel on Monday.

In currencies, the euro rose slightly to $1.3038 from $1.3036 late Monday in New York. The dollar rose to 97.55 yen from 97.18 yen.

___

Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asia-stocks-sink-global-growth-worries-035929098--finance.html

dark knight rises trailer vince young vince young evan longoria john edwards conocophillips capitals

Medical researchers implant telescope for macular degeneration

Apr. 15, 2013 ? Physicians at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center have become the first in Virginia to successfully implant a telescope in a patient's eye to treat macular degeneration.

The telescope implant is designed to correct end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most advanced form of AMD and the leading cause of blindness in older Americans. Patients with end-stage AMD have a central blind spot. This vision loss makes it difficult or impossible to see faces, to read and to perform everyday activities such as watching television, preparing meals and self-care.

William H. Benson, M.D., a cornea specialist and chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the VCU School of Medicine, performed the procedure.

"We are excited to provide this new surgical option to our advanced macular degeneration patients, who up until now have had limited options for improving vision," Benson said. "Advanced macular degeneration is a devastating disease, which cannot be treated by any available drugs or surgical procedures. The telescope implant offers a new hope for patients with limited vision."

Smaller than a pea, the telescope implant uses micro-optical technology to magnify images that would normally be seen in one's "straight ahead" or central vision. The images are projected onto the healthy portion of the retina not affected by the disease, making it possible for patients to see or discern the central vision object of interest.

The Implantable Miniature Telescope (By Dr. Isaac Lipshitz) is a product of VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies, Inc.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Virginia Commonwealth University.

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

---

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/cLuXWEbYCow/130415151446.htm

helicon zac efron and taylor swift real housewives of orange county bloom energy franklin graham jambalaya taylor swift and zac efron

SKorea plans $15 bln extra budget to boost economy

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) ? The South Korean government proposed a $15.3 billion stimulus Tuesday to boost slowing growth in Asia's fourth-largest economy.

The stimulus would be South Korea's third-largest supplemental budget ever, exceeded only by those approved after the 1998 Asian financial crisis and the 2008 global financial turmoil.

The Ministry of Strategy and Finance said the budget will be used to cover a tax revenue shortfall, aid small and medium firms, create jobs and boost the stagnant real estate market. The statement said the ministry will submit the 17.3 trillion won ($15.3 billion) plan to parliament on Thursday.

It estimated a tax revenue shortfall of 6 trillion won due to the slower-than-expected economic recovery and another 6 trillion won shortfall from the delay in selling stakes in state-owned banks. The remaining 5.3 trillion won will be a net increase in the government's budget.

In addition to the extra budget requiring a parliamentary approval, the ministry will also use 2 trillion won in state funds that do not need to go through the assembly to stimulate the economy.

The stimulus plan comes after the ministry sharply revised down its growth forecast of South Korea's economy last month.

It said South Korea's economy will expand 2.3 percent this year, instead of 3 percent it had predicted three months earlier, citing the yen's slide that is hurting South Korean exporters, weak consumer sentiment and sluggish capital investment.

The stimulus move underlines how the government is seeking a quick fix to the slowdown. South Korea's economy expanded 2 percent in 2012, the slowest rate in three years, as weak global recovery and trade.

The extra budget will stimulate growth by 0.3 percentage point this year and add 40,000 new jobs, it said.

Despite the government's calls for all-out efforts to boost the economy, South Korea's central bank resisted calls to lower borrowing costs.

Last week, Bank of Korea kept its key interest rate unchanged at 2.75 percent for a sixth month. Gov. Kim Choong-soo said the economy is on track to a slow recovery and the monetary policy is "accommodative" to encourage borrowing and spending.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-04-15-AP-AS-SKorea-Stimulus/id-d54245728f5445aa8da24b263ea0cb80

sarah palin cbi the shins atomic clock john mccain game changer corned beef recipe