New Greek observatory sheds light on old star

Feb. 27, 2013 ? Continuing a tradition stretching back more than 25 centuries, astronomers have used the new 2.3-m 'Aristarchos' telescope, sited at Helmos Observatory (2340m high) in the Pel?ponnese Mountains in Greece, to determine the distance to and history of an enigmatic stellar system, discovering it to likely be a binary star cocooned within an exotic nebula.

The researchers, Panos Boumis of the National Observatory of Athens and John Meaburn of the University of Manchester, publish the first scientific result from the telescope in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Stars of a similar mass to the Sun end their lives by ejecting much of their outer atmosphere into space, leaving behind a remnant core that eventually becomes a so called white dwarf. The shells of ejected material sometimes have the superficial appearance of planets so were named planetary nebulae. Astronomers can study the motion and appearance of the material in planetary nebulae to deduce how the remnant stars have changed over time.

In the 1950s the planetary nebula KjPn8 was discovered on Palomar Observatory Sky Survey plates. Follow up work in the 1990s by Mexican astronomers at the San Pedro Martir Observatory led to the discovery of giant lobes around the system, one quarter of a degree across, while in 2000 the central star was finally revealed by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Dr Boumis and Prof. Meaburn set out to study this system, installing a narrowband imaging camera on the Aristarchos telescope, the largest aperture instrument in south-eastern Europe, to measure the expansion more accurately.

By measuring the velocity and increasing size of the expanding material, the two scientists were able to deduce the distance to the system and date the history of the three ejected lobes. They found that KjPn8 is around 6000 light years away and that the material was thrown out in three phases 3200, 7200 and 50000 years ago.

The inner lobe of material is expanding at 334 km per second, suggesting it originates in an Intermediate Luminosity Optical Transient (ILOT) event. ILOTs are caused by the transfer of material from a massive star to its less massive companion, in turn creating jets that flow in different directions. Boumis and Meaburn believe that the core of KjPn8 is therefore a binary system, where every so often ILOT events lead to the ejection of material at high speed.

Dr Boumis is delighted to see the first results from the new telescope giving clues to the history of such an intriguing system. He comments: "Greece is one of the global birthplaces of astronomy, so it is fitting that research into the wider universe continues in the 21st century. With the new telescope we expect to contribute to that global effort for many years to come."

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 Royal Astronomical Society (RAS).

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. P. Boumis, S. Akras, E. M. Xilouris, F. Mavromatakis, E. Kapakos, J. Papamastorakis, C. D. Goudis. New planetary nebulae in the Galactic bulge region with l > 0o- II. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2006; 367 (4): 1551 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.10048.x

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/space_time/astronomy/~3/eg9GNNpVhU8/130227085842.htm

andrew luck pro day josh johnson kim kardashian flour matt forte jeremy shockey new orleans saints ireland

The Captain's Log ? Intramurals: Changing the face of competitive ...

Marie Albiges/The Captain?s Log

Make way, varsity sports?intramurals are quickly becoming the go-to physical activity for students with any ounce of athleticism and competition.
Intramurals, run by the Recreation Services Department, are friendly athletic competitions between the students of Christopher Newport University in the sports of basketball, dodgeball, softball, kickball, volleyball, flag football and soccer. Popular among sororities and fraternities, former athletes and club sports members, former high school athletes and fans of sports, you can be sure the sports fields and Freeman Center are highly populated during any weeknight.
Students form teams or sign up as ?free agents? to be randomly placed on a team, for the cost of $20 per team. A team can have up to 15 players, and there are five weeks of competition, with one by-week so the students can rest. The games are played weeknights from 7-11 p.m. on the athletic fields and in the Freeman Center. During playoffs, a numbered system is used so that the top seeded teams play against the lowest seeded teams. Seeds are determined by the winning record of each team and the strength of the schedule in a division. Each sport is split into divisions and time slots.
Joy Kearney, director of recreational activities since 2008, says that intramurals and the Recreation Services Department have grown tremendously, with an average of 1500 students participating and forming teams each year.
?Every sport is extremely popular,? Kearney says.
Students arrive for registration at the beginning of each semester up to an hour early to ensure their team gets a time slot. Kearney tries to offer as many spots as possible, even adding in a 7 p.m. time slot for soccer and dodgeball.
Many teams make multiple appearances in different sports, racking up points for the Captain?s Cup, a competition to see which team can win the most intramurals in a season. Teams that Kearney has seen repetitively in the past few years include SigEp Raiders, the Rainmakers, the English Muffins and the Jumping Jackalopes.
Kearney, the supervisors and the program assistants stress the importance of sportsmanship in every game. Although competition can get pretty intense, Kearney wants to maintain a friendly, manageable atmosphere. Teams get rated on their level of sportsmanship during every game and cannot advance to the finals if they do not have a score above four.
Tyren Johns, who has worked with and played intramurals for two-and-a-half years, is currently the supervisor for basketball and flag football. He has also played on teams for flag football, basketball and dodgeball and is a two-time basketball intramural champion.
?It?s a good way to get away from schoolwork, have fun and be competitive with other students,? Johns says. ?I love the atmosphere that intramural recreation brings to the students.? He says that students take a lot of pride in their team and thrive from the competition. ?It really is all about the shirt,? Johns says, referring to the coveted intramural champion shirts that each member of the winning team receives. Rec Services? new slogan, which is the design of the shirts this year, is ?I got 99 problems but my game ain?t one.?
Prospective plans for the future of intramurals include adding the sports of floor hockey and ultimate Frisbee in tournaments along with the current tournaments of badminton and table tennis.
The playoffs for this season?s intramural games begin the week after Spring Break.

Source: http://www.thecaptainslog.org/2013/sports/intramurals-changing-the-face-of-competitive-sports/

Chris Brown Tattoo Innocence of Muslims Clara Schumann Jael Strauss Alison Pill Sam Bacile sprint

Obama nears deadline on gay marriage decision

President Barack Obama speaks at the Business Council dinner in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

President Barack Obama speaks at the Business Council dinner in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The next phase of President Barack Obama's evolving position on gay marriage may come Thursday, the deadline for his administration to weigh in on a landmark Supreme Court case that could determine whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to wed.

Gay rights supporters are pressing the administration to file a friend-of-the-court brief urging the justices to overturn California's gay marriage ban. Obama is not required to file a brief, though he raised expectations in his second inaugural address when he declared that gays and lesbians must be "treated like anyone else under the law."

An administration brief would not be legally binding. But it could offer the clearest insight into Obama's views on gay marriage, which he supports but has said should be governed by the states.

Ahead of Thursday's deadline, dozens of prominent Republicans signed a friend of the court brief asking the justices to declare California's Proposition 8 ballot measure unconstitutional. Among them are former GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman and Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

The Proposition 8 ballot initiative was approved by California voters in 2008 in response to a state Supreme Court decision that had allowed gay marriage. Twenty-nine other states have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage, while nine states and the District of Columbia recognize same-sex marriage.

Gay rights advocates are anticipating the administration filing a broad brief, one that would ask the justices to not only strike down the California measure, but also rule that the Constitution forbids any state from banning same-sex unions. But the administration could also file a narrower brief applying only to California.

Even the latter brief would appear to mark a shift away from the president's contention that states have the right to determine whether to allow same-sex marriages.

While an administration brief alone is unlikely to sway the high court, the government's opinion does carry weight with the justices.

Solicitor General Donald Verrilli would formally file a brief, though he has been consulting with White House officials. And it's almost certain that Obama, a former constitutional law professor, made the administration's final decision.

In his inaugural address, the president said the nation's journey "is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law."

"For if we are truly created equal, than surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well," he said.

Obama has a complicated history on gay marriage. As a presidential candidate in 2008, he opposed the California ban but didn't endorse gay marriage. As he ran for re-election last year, he announced his personal support for same-sex marriage but said marriage was an issue that should be decided by the states, not the federal government.

Public opinion has shifted in support of gay marriage in recent years. In May 2008, Gallup found that 56 percent of Americans felt same-sex marriages should not be recognized by the law as valid. By November 2012, 53 percent felt they should be legally recognized.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Proposition 8 case on March 26. One day later, the justices will hear arguments on another gay marriage case, this one involving provisions of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The act defines marriage as between a man and a woman for the purpose of deciding who can receive a range of federal benefits.

The Obama administration abandoned its defense of the law in 2011 but continues to enforce it. In a brief filed last week, the government said Section 3 of DOMA "violates the fundamental constitutional guarantee of equal protection" because it denies legally married same-sex couples many federal benefits that are available only to legally married heterosexual couples.

___

Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-02-28-US-Obama-Gay-Marriage/id-6678c2081c864f2ab4bb158523d4f55e

giants super bowl 2012 half time show halftime show 2012 kelly clarkson super bowl 2012 ok go peyton manning super bowl nsx

Former SNC-Lavalin CEO faces new corruption charges

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The former chief executive of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc , a Canadian construction and engineering company caught in a far-reaching misconduct scandal, faces six new fraud-related charges, police said on Wednesday after issuing a warrant for his arrest.

The province of Quebec's anti-corruption police unit alleges that ex-CEO Pierre Duhaime, who resigned from the Montreal-based company last year, committed fraud and other criminal offenses.

In a statement, the unit provided no details about the charges, but the Globe and Mail newspaper reported they were connected to a contract awarded to SNC in 2010 for the construction of a Montreal hospital.

An arrest warrant was also issued on Wednesday for Riadh Ben Aissa, SNC's former head of construction, for similar corruption charges, as well as for three other men.

The allegations are the latest development in a widening scandal at SNC that stretches from Montreal to Tripoli and led to prior arrests of both Duhaime and Ben Aissa.

"In the cases of Pierre Duhaime and Riadh Ben Aissa, these are new criminal accusations which have been authorized by the bureau for the fight against corruption and embezzlement," said the anti-corruption unit in a statement.

In early 2012, an internal investigation by SNC found that $56 million in funds had gone missing, paid to unknown agents on projects that did not exist. Duhaime quit in March after it came to light that he signed off on the mystery payments.

He was then arrested in November on three fraud charges and later released.

Ben Aissa was arrested in Switzerland last April on charges of money laundering and corruption and in an affidavit released last month, Canadian police alleged that he had paid bribes to a son of deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in exchange for help in obtaining major contracts for the company's international arm. He remains in custody in Switzerland.

SNC AWARE OF WARRANTS

Duhaime's lawyer Michel Massicotte told Reuters on Wednesday that his client had not yet been arrested and that he would plead "not guilty" to the new set of charges, which he said would replace previous ones.

"He's in the province of Quebec and obviously he will face the charges there. There's no problem about that," Massicotte said.

Lawyers representing Ben Aissa were not immediately available for comment.

SNC said it was aware of the warrants for its former executives and that it would continue to cooperate fully with authorities.

"We have voluntarily turned over information that we have to local and other authorities for them to take any actions that they may consider appropriate," spokeswoman Lilly Nguyen said in an email.

"We are unequivocal that no unethical behavior or illegal acts must ever be tolerated. We believe that anyone found to have committed any wrongdoing in connection should be brought to justice."

The 102-year-old company has installed a new CEO and several new executives while tightening its ethics policies.

Last week, it hired a former Siemens AG compliance officer to help guide it through the scandal. Siemens paid $1.6 billion to U.S. and European authorities in 2008 to resolve allegations it paid bribes around the world.

Investors appeared to shrug off the news, though modest gains were erased by session-end on Wednesday, as the stock closed down 4 Canadian cents at C$47.13 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

"Right now there is, incrementally speaking, nothing new at all, so that's why the market just doesn't care," said Maxim Sytchev, analyst at AltaCorp Capital.

Also named in Wednesday's arrest warrant was Arthur Porter, the former head of the McGill University Health Centre, which runs a network of health facilities. The Globe and Mail newspaper reported Porter was the chief negotiator on the C$1.3 billion ($1.3 billion) contract awarded to SNC in 2010.

Porter's alleged involvement in corruption has ruffled feathers in political circles because Prime Minister Stephen Harper had appointed Porter in 2008 to a committee which oversees the government's spy agency, where he served until 2011.

($1=$1.02 Canadian)

(Reporting by Louise Egan; Editing by James Dalgleish)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/former-snc-lavalin-ceo-faces-corruption-charges-215118788--sector.html

sean payton saints bounty program toulouse france ny jets ny jets the situation tim tebow jets

Apple to hand out iTunes credits in settlement

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) ? Apple has agreed to give more than $100 million in iTunes store credits to settle a lawsuit alleging that the iPhone and iPad maker improperly charged kids for playing games on their mobile devices.

The 2-year-old case centers on allegations that Apple didn't create adequate parental controls to prevent children from buying extra features while playing free games on iPhones and iPads in 2010 and 2011. Parents who filed the lawsuit in 2011 said they didn't realize their children were racking up the charges until they received bills or other notifications after the purchases were made. The games that had been downloaded were designed for kids as young as 4 years old, according to the lawsuit.

Apple introduced more stringent controls governing in-game purchases as part of a March 2011 update to the software that runs its mobile devices.

Under an agreement filed in federal court last week, Apple has agreed to award an iTunes credit of $5 to each of the estimated 23 million accountholders who may have been affected. Parents could receive more if they can show their bills exceeded $5. If the charges exceeded $30, cash refunds will be offered.

The lawyers who sued Apple said it's still too early to determine how many people ultimately will qualify for the iTunes credits and cash refunds. As part of the settlement, the attorneys are seeking $1.3 million in fees, which would be paid by Apple.

Apple, which is based in Cupertino, Calif., declined to comment Tuesday.

A hearing on the proposed settlement is scheduled Friday in San Jose, Calf.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/apple-hand-itunes-credits-settlement-182002285--finance.html

breeders cup Mitch Lucker Red Cross CMA Awards 2012 election day Electoral College map nyc marathon

Moroccan Cheaters' Got Talent | Morocco World News

By Youssef Sourgo

Morocco World News

Casablanca, February 26, 2013

Subsequent to the bitter reality that has recently been unveiled by the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, in which the latter disclosed the number of Moroccan baccalaureate students who were spotted cheating during the national exam taken in 2012, Moroccans are now questioning the effectuality of the Moroccan educational system more than ever before.

According to the list that has recently been made public by the Ministry of National Education, 3112 is the number of students found cheating during the national exam of last year. The list also exposes the methods whereby each student attempted to cheat, and even featured the disciplinary board?s decisions towards each student found cheating.

The ministry has made its motif behind the exposure of such deplorable truth crystal-clear, which is to bring what is going on in the soberest corners of Moroccan schools to the forefront of the public opinion, including parents, educators, researchers in the arena of education and pedagogy, politicians, and Moroccan at large.

Furthermore, the list unveiled by the ministry featured a colon entitled ?cheating methods,? thus rationalizing the sort of decision taken towards the student in concern. Having a glance at the myriad of methods that the students recurred to in their attempts to cheat, I feel more like reading the list of contestants participating in a talent show, wherein each of them strives to do it ?the most creative way possible.?

Some of the cheating students found it more practical to stick to traditional methods of cheating, or traditional ?talents,? as might be perceived from their angle. Those in this category resorted to mainstream methods ranging from asking the help of the student sitting the closest to them, to taking out a couple ?7jabat? (minimized versions of texts or summaries of lessons) prepared prior to the day of the exam?perhaps weeks earlier, to exchanging exam papers with other students in the room.

Those who wanted to ?step their game up? resorted to new technologies and other unusual methods of cheating, for they thought teachers might not anticipate having students recur to such methods to cheat during the national exam. Though becoming stepwise a tool that will soon join the list of traditional methods of cheating, the phone figures as one of the methods to which Moroccan cheating students resort the most. Be it via Bluetooth earplugs, or ordinary earplugs (with wires), those students did not mind adding their flavor of creativity to those technologies. The most peculiar, yet creative, of them is putting a skin-color make-up (by both boys and girls) on the top of the earplug wires that find their way along their necks all the way to their ears.

Multitudinous are other alternatives that students recur to in their cheating process that the list unveiled by the ministry did not feature, a thing that can be interpreted as a ?success story? for those students who ?could get away with it?. Now ?where do you think you?re going, dear cheater?? is the question I?d ask anyone of them if I happen to come across him/her. All right, hats off! You managed to successfully pass the baccalaureate exam ?like-a-boss?, but what now! Are you going to cheat in university, if you ever get the chance to enroll in it? Are you going to cheat to make your boss happy with your work, if you ever consider working after you obtain your unmerited certificate? Where do you think you?re going?

Those who resort to cheating under the pretext that the test they are exposed to signals a turning point in their lives, and thus legitimizes their use of unethical methods to pass it, might be partially right in this regard. However, what seems the hardest test today, will look like ?a piece of cake? when one comes across a more challenging one in the future. You all have tremendous talents, dear cheaters, talents that you sadly deploy there where you render them anything but something you can be proud of! What would you tell your kids years later to encourage them to work harder for their exams?something like, ?Work hard dear son/daughter! Do like me when I was your age!? How would you feel when cheating clings to you longer than you ever think?

Dear talented cheaters, if you want a standing ovation at the end of a performance, make sure you sweat enough and put your heart in it. If it had worked on a stage (baccalaureate) once, it doesn?t forcibly mean that it is going to work all across the board. One day, this is in case you maintain cheating your main performance, you will either realize that the theatre is empty at the end of your show, or wind up being the target of trash thrown at you by an audience that has for so long believed in the genuineness of your talent. Think about it!

The views expressed in this article are the author?s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News? editorial policy

? Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed

Source: http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/02/80112/moroccan-cheaters-got-talent/

la times nerlens noel Mark Balelo Real Madrid Vs Manchester United Anne Stringfield KTLA heart attack grill

Dennis Rodman gets his "Gangnam Style" mixed up in Pyongyang

SEOUL (Reuters) - Former NBA star Dennis Rodman appears to have mixed up his Koreas on a visit to Pyongyang, tweeting that he expected to run into South Korean rapper Psy on his trip to the North.

Rodman, famed for his tattoos, piercings and radical hair colours from his time on court, arrived in North Korea on Tuesday to shoot some hoops and a documentary to be aired on HBO in April.

"Maybe I'll run into the Gangnam Style dude while I'm here," the 51-year old tweeted (@dennisrodman) after his arrival.

Psy, a 35-year old roly-poly rapper, shot to global fame with his Gangnam Style song last year, garnering more than a billion YouTube hits for his portrayal of the ritzy and shallow Gangnam enclave in the southern part of the South Korean capital of Seoul.

While Pyongyang is by far the richest part of North Korea, Rodman is unlikely to see the kind of wealth and designer chic on display in Gangnam.

The North's economy is 1/40th the size of South Korea's, according to most independent estimates, and is smaller than it was 20 years ago according to the United Nations.

The only bling that Rodman may encounter in North Korea appears to come from third generation of the country's ruling family.

Jowly 30-year old dictator Kim Jong-un has a penchant for Disney shows and fun-fairs, while his young wife - rumoured to have given birth recently - has been seen sporting a Dior bag.

Many North Koreans struggle to put adequate amounts of food on the table each day and recent reports suggested there had been a famine in the country's food-basket area in 2012.

(Reporting by David Chance, editing by Elaine Lies)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dennis-rodman-gets-gangnam-style-mixed-pyongyang-001310176--nba.html

Chi Magazine Kate Middleton Nude Photos glee glee boxing news Coptic Christian saturday night live

Benedict to be called 'emeritus pope,' wear white

Two nuns walk past a photo of Pope Benedict XVI as they leave a souvenir shop just outside the Vatican, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI will be known as "emeritus pope" in his retirement and will continue to wear a white cassock, the Vatican announced Tuesday, again fueling concerns about potential conflicts arising from having both a reigning and a retired pope. The pope's title and what he would wear have been a major source of speculation ever since Benedict stunned the world and announced he would resign on Thursday, the first pontiff to do so in 600 years. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Two nuns walk past a photo of Pope Benedict XVI as they leave a souvenir shop just outside the Vatican, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI will be known as "emeritus pope" in his retirement and will continue to wear a white cassock, the Vatican announced Tuesday, again fueling concerns about potential conflicts arising from having both a reigning and a retired pope. The pope's title and what he would wear have been a major source of speculation ever since Benedict stunned the world and announced he would resign on Thursday, the first pontiff to do so in 600 years. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Workers climb down scaffolding set up for video screens in front of St. Peter's Basilica, ahead of Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience, scheduled for Wednesday, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI will be known as "emeritus pope" in his retirement and will continue to wear a white cassock, the Vatican announced Tuesday, again fueling concerns about potential conflicts arising from having both a reigning and a retired pope.The pope's title and what he would wear have been a major source of speculation ever since Benedict stunned the world and announced he would resign on Thursday, the first pontiff to do so in 600 years. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Nuns walk in St Peter's Square, a day before Pope Benedict XVI's last general audience, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI will be known as "emeritus pope" in his retirement and will continue to wear a white cassock, the Vatican announced Tuesday, again fueling concerns about potential conflicts arising from having both a reigning and a retired pope.The pope's title and what he would wear have been a major source of speculation ever since Benedict stunned the world and announced he would resign on Thursday, the first pontiff to do so in 600 years. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Tourists are reflected in a portrait of Pope Benedict XVI's in St. Peter's Square, a day before the Pope last general audience, scheduled for Wednesday, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI will be known as "emeritus pope" in his retirement and will continue to wear a white cassock, the Vatican announced Tuesday, again fueling concerns about potential conflicts arising from having both a reigning and a retired pope.The pope's title and what he would wear have been a major source of speculation ever since Benedict stunned the world and announced he would resign on Thursday, the first pontiff to do so in 600 years. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

A man looks at postcards of Pope Benedict XVI, just outside St. Peter's Square, a day before the Pope last general audience, scheduled for Wednesday, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI will be known as "emeritus pope" in his retirement and will continue to wear a white cassock, the Vatican announced Tuesday, again fueling concerns about potential conflicts arising from having both a reigning and a retired pope.The pope's title and what he would wear have been a major source of speculation ever since Benedict stunned the world and announced he would resign on Thursday, the first pontiff to do so in 600 years. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Two pontiffs, both wearing white, both called "pope" and living a few yards from one another, with the same key aide serving them.

The Vatican's announcement Tuesday that Pope Benedict XVI will be known as "emeritus pope" in his retirement, be called "Your Holiness" and continue to wear the white cassock associated with the papacy has fueled concerns about potential conflicts arising from the peculiar reality now facing the Catholic Church: having one reigning and one retired pope.

Benedict's title and what he will wear have been a major source of speculation since the 85-year-old pontiff stunned the world and announced he would resign Thursday, the first pope to do so in 600 years.

There has been good reason why popes haven't stepped down in past centuries, given the possibility for divided allegiances and even schism. But the Vatican insists that while the situation created by Benedict's retirement is certainly unique, no major conflicts will arise.

"According to the evolution of Catholic doctrine and mentality, there is only one pope. Clearly it's a new situation, but I don't think there will be problems," Giovanni Maria Vian, the editor of the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, said in an interview.

Critics aren't so sure. Some Vatican-based cardinals have privately grumbled that it will make it more difficult for the next pope with Benedict still around.

Swiss theologian Hans Kueng, Benedict's one-time colleague-turned-critic, went further: "With Benedict XVI, there is a risk of a shadow pope who has abdicated but can still indirectly exert influence," he told Germany's Der Spiegel magazine last week.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Tuesday that Benedict himself decided on his name and wardrobe in consultation with others, settling on "Your Holiness Benedict XVI" and either "emeritus pope" or "emeritus Roman pontiff."

Lombardi said he didn't know why Benedict had decided to drop his other main title: bishop of Rome.

In the two weeks since Benedict's resignation announcement, Vatican officials had suggested that Benedict would likely resume wearing the traditional black garb of a cleric and would use the title "emeritus bishop of Rome" to avoid creating confusion with the future pope.

Adding to the concern is that Benedict's trusted secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, will be serving both pontiffs ? living with Benedict at the monastery being converted for him inside Vatican grounds while keeping his day job as prefect of the new pope's household.

Asked about the potential for conflict, Lombardi was defensive, saying the decisions had been clearly reasoned and were likely chosen for the sake of simplicity.

"I believe it was well thought out," he said.

Benedict himself has made clear he is retiring to a lifetime of prayer and meditation "hidden from the world." However, he still will be very present in the tiny Vatican city-state, where his new home is right next door to the Vatican Radio transmission tower and has a lovely view of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

Kueng said it was a mistake for Gaenswein to serve both men and for Benedict to remain so close to the center of action.

"No priest likes it if his predecessor sits next to the rectory and watches everything he does," Kueng was quoted as saying in Der Spiegel. "And even for the bishop of Rome, it is not pleasant if his predecessor constantly has an eye on him."

However, others reasoned that Benedict's retirement plans and title were in keeping with those of other retired heads of state.

"I was somewhat surprised that Benedict would still be called 'His Holiness' and would wear white, but it's akin to the former U.S. presidents being addressed as 'Mr. President,'" said the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit writer and editor. "It's a mark of respect for the former office he once held."

"Overall, I don't think that after the conclave there will be any doubt about who the pope is, or who is in charge," he said.

While Benedict will no longer wear his trademark red shoes, he has taken a liking to a pair of hand-crafted brown loafers made for him by artisans in Leon, Mexico, and given to him during his 2012 visit. He will wear those in retirement, Lombardi said.

Lombardi also elaborated on the College of Cardinals meetings that will take place after the papacy becomes vacant ? crucial gatherings in which cardinals will discuss the problems facing the church and set a date for the start of the conclave to elect Benedict's successor.

The first meeting isn't expected until Monday, Lombardi said, since the official convocation to cardinals to come to Rome will only go out on Friday ? the first day of what's known as the "sede vacante," or the vacancy between papacies.

In all, 115 cardinals under the age of 80 are expected in Rome for the conclave to vote on who should become the next pope. Two other eligible cardinals have already said they are not coming, one from Britain and another from Indonesia. Cardinals who are 80 and older can join the College meetings but won't participate in the conclave or vote.

Benedict has already given the cardinals the go-ahead to move up the start date of the conclave ? tossing out the traditional 15-day waiting period. But the cardinals won't be able to set a date until their official meetings begin Monday.

Lombardi also described Benedict's final 48 hours as pope: On Tuesday, he was packing, arranging for documents to be sent to the various Vatican archives and separating out the personal papers he will take with him into retirement.

On Wednesday, Benedict holds his final public general audience in St. Peter's Square ? an event that has already brought in 50,000 ticket requests. He won't greet visiting prelates or VIPs as he normally does, but will meet some visiting leaders ? from Slovakia, San Marino, Andorra and his native Bavaria ? privately afterward.

On Thursday, the pope meets with his cardinals in the morning and then flies by helicopter at 5 p.m. to Castel Gandolfo, the papal residence south of Rome. Benedict will greet parishioners there from the palazzo's balcony ? his final public act as pope.

Then, at 8 p.m., the exact time at which his retirement becomes official, the Swiss Guards standing outside the doors of the palazzo at Castel Gandolfo will go off duty, their service protecting the head of the Catholic Church finished.

Benedict's personal security will be assured by Vatican police, Lombardi said.

___

Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-02-26-EU-Vatican-Pope/id-c47a9c96bb404942b02f6257eb060796

ufc jones vs evans watergate mlb pregnant man outside lands 2012 lineup beloved ufc results

Windows 7 (finally) gets Internet Explorer 10

Microsoft has (after a few months) offered access to Internet Explorer 10 for users that haven't made the switch to Windows 8 just yet. The auto-upgrade process will roll out over the next few weeks and includes better JavaScript performance and, apparently, better battery life for mobile users. Spotted by Neowin user Mephistopheles, you can sample those fresh IE10 delights at the source link below.

Filed under: Software, Microsoft

Comments

Via: Neowin forums

Source: Internet Explorer 10, Exploring IE

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/26/windows-7-finally-gets-internet-explorer-10/

flying car masters golf tournament the replacements how to hard boil eggs new nfl uniforms easter derbyshire

'Vulcan' and 'Cerberus' Win Pluto Moon Naming Poll

The votes are in, and it looks like 'Vulcan' could be the new name for one of Pluto's smallest moons.

After weeks of online ballot casting by people around the world, the poll asking the public to name two of Pluto's moons ? currently called P4 and P5 ? ended today (Feb. 25).

As of 12 p.m. (1700 GMT), the polls closed with a total of 450,324 total votes cast since Feb. 11 with 'Vulcan,' a Pluto moon name proposed by Star Trek's William Shatner,?is the clear winner.?Vulcan nabbed roughly 160,000 votes, with Cerberus in clear second place with nearly 100,000 votes.

Vulcan was a late addition to the Pluto moon name contenders, and pulled into the lead after Shatner, building on his Capt. James T. Kirk persona, plugged the name on Twitter. Vulcan, the home planet of Kirk's alien-human hybrid first officer Spock, is not just a fictional world in the Star Trek universe. It is also the name of the god of fire in Roman mythology, and officials at SETI added the sci-fi favorite to the ballot for that reason.

"Vulcan is the Roman god of lava and smoke, and the nephew of Pluto. (Any connection to the Star Trek TV series is purely coincidental, although we can be sure that Gene Roddenberry read the classics.)," wrote SETI scientist Mark Showalter in a blog officially adding the name to the list on Feb. 12. "Thanks to William Shatner for the suggestion!"

These votes don't necessarily mean that P4 and P5 will end up being called Vulcan and Cerberus, however. SETI is going to recommend the winning names to the International Astronomical Union ? the organization responsible for naming the moons. The IAU will take the results into consideration, but ultimately they have final say over what the tiny moons are called.

Pluto has five moons ?that astronomers currently know of. Scientists first caught sight of Pluto's largest moon Charon in 1978, but it was not until 2005 that astronomers discovered two other moons (Nix and Hydra) using the Hubble Space Telescope.

The moon P5 was discovered in 2012, also using the?Hubble telescope ?. The moon P4 was discovered in 2011. Both P4 and P5 are only 15 to 20 miles (20 to 30 km) in diameter.

Follow Miriam Kramer on Twitter?@mirikramer?or SPACE.com?@Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook?&?Google+.?

Copyright 2013 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/vulcan-cerberus-win-pluto-moon-naming-poll-173418595.html

yolo liquidmetal gsa scandal kelis dick clark dies ibogaine jamie moyer

Intel lands Altera as its biggest chip manufacturing customer to date

Many of us see Intel as self-serving with its chip manufacturing, but that's not entirely true: it just hasn't had very large customers. A just-unveiled deal with Altera might help shatter those preconceptions. Intel has agreed to make some of the embedded technology giant's future field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) using a 14-nanometer process, giving Intel a top-flight customer while gets Altera a leg up over any rivals stuck on less efficient technologies. The pact may be just the start -- Intel VP Sunit Rikhi portrays the deal for Reuters as a stepping stone toward a greater role in contract chip assembly. We're not expecting Intel to snatch some business directly from the likes of GlobalFoundries and TSMC when many of their clients are ARM supporters, or otherwise direct competitors. However, we'll have to reject notions that Intel can't share its wisdom (and factories) with others.

Filed under: Misc, Intel

Comments

Via: Reuters

Source: Altera

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/26/intel-lands-altera-as-its-biggest-chip-manufacturing-customer-yet/

the masters live mega millions winner holy thursday chris stewart evo 4g lte marlins new stadium arnold palmer

Photographs: Inside North Korea

It began as a seemingly awkward Jack Nicholson introduction of the very long list on nominees, but the Best Picture denouement?at a very long Oscars ceremony on Sunday turned into a surprise appearance by Michelle Obama, via satellite from the Governors' Ball in Washington, D.C.?where earlier she had sat next to Chris Christie?to introduce and announce the winner,?Argo.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/inside-north-korea-1361889468-slideshow/

Side Effects bob marley weather lindsey vonn lindsey vonn weather nyc the walking dead

Qualcomm shows off Snapdragon 800 voice activation and photo editing abilities (video)

Qualcomm unveiled its new Snapdragon SoC flag bearer at CES, and here at MWC 2013 we got to see some of what the 800 series can do. Last week, the company revealed the chip's voice activation feature that allows users to wake the chip up using a voice command. We got to see one application of this technology used to launch Google Now using the keywords "hey Snapdragon," though when it makes its way into consumer devices, that keyword will be customizable. It was a limited demo, but the ability to wake your phone and launch apps without having to press a button (see: Siri and Google Now) is certainly an attractive proposition.

We also got to witness the 800's image processing capabilities when paired with one of Pelican Imaging's array cameras. Using images taken with that plenoptic shooter, changing the focal plane of an image or cropping out individuals from a group photo was easily handled by a Qualcomm prototype tablet packing a Snapdragon 800. Enough chatter on the matter, however, you can see for yourself in the video after the break.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile

Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/8UyzLnQQxf4/

born free walking dead finale nascar bristol narwhal st louis university mario manningham mario manningham

Italian election inconclusive; global markets drop

Italian Premier Mario Monti talks to the media during a press conference in his party headquarters, in Rome, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. The prospect of political paralysis hung over Italy on Monday as partial official results in crucial elections showed an upstart protest campaign led by a comedian making stunning inroads, and mainstream forces of center-left and center-right wrestling for control of Parliament's two houses. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Italian Premier Mario Monti talks to the media during a press conference in his party headquarters, in Rome, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. The prospect of political paralysis hung over Italy on Monday as partial official results in crucial elections showed an upstart protest campaign led by a comedian making stunning inroads, and mainstream forces of center-left and center-right wrestling for control of Parliament's two houses. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

A TV broadcasts an image of leader of the 5 Star Movement Beppe Grillo, at the Democratic Party press center in Rome, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. The prospect of political paralysis hung over Italy on Monday as partial official results in crucial elections showed an upstart protest campaign led by a comedian making stunning inroads, and mainstream forces of center-left and center-right wrestling for control of Parliament's two houses. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Currency traders monitor the yen-dollar situation at a foreign exchange company in Tokyo,Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. In currency markets, the dollar was down 0.7 percent to 91.92 yen. But the yen, which has fallen by about 20 percent in recent weeks, is still much weaker than it was for most of last year. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Currency traders work at a foreign exchange company in Tokyo,Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. In currency markets, the dollar was down 0.7 percent to 91.92 yen. But the yen, which has fallen by about 20 percent in recent weeks, is still much weaker than it was for most of last year. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

A currency trader works at a foreign exchange company in Tokyo,Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. In currency markets, the dollar was down 0.7 percent to 91.92 yen. But the yen, which has fallen by about 20 percent in recent weeks, is still much weaker than it was for most of last year. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

ROME (AP) ? Italy emerged from elections Tuesday with no clear winner, driving markets around the world markedly lower as investors worried that one of Europe's biggest economies would be unable to build a governing coalition that can stay the course on unpopular austerity measures.

A day after polling ended, a few seats in Parliament based on Italians' voting abroad still remained to be decided, but their numbers won't ease the gridlock. European leaders pleaded with politicians in Italy to quickly form a government to continue to enact reforms to lower Italy's critically high debt and spare Europe another spike in its four-year financial crisis.

If Italian parties fail to form a governing coalition, new elections would be required, causing more uncertainty and a leadership vacuum.

"What is now decisive for Italy ? but, because Italy is such an important country for Europe, also for the whole of Europe ? is that a stable government that is capable of acting can be formed as quickly as possible," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told reporters in Berlin.

The results of the election are a rejection of the tough austerity approach of the previous technocratic government led by Mario Monti. A center-left coalition led by Pier Luigi Bersani appears to have won a narrow victory in the lower house of parliament, while the Senate looks split with no party in control.

Italy's FTSE MIB index was trading 3.8 percent lower at 15,731, having earlier been nearly 5 percent down at one point Tuesday. Some of its banking stocks were briefly suspended after precipitous falls at the bell.

The interest rate on the country's benchmark 10-year bond ? an important gauge of investor sentiment ? rose by 0.33 percentage points to 4.77 percent. Investors sought protection in the bonds of more stable and prosperous economies, such as German government bonds.

Whether Tuesday's negative market reaction extends further into the week may hinge on how quickly a solution is reached in Italy. Despite the uncertainty, Italy's Treasury managed to sell ?8.75 billion ($11.75 billion) of short-term debt though at a higher cost.

Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian premier whose center-right coalition did better than expected, insisted that a government can be formed and called on Italians to ignore the "crazy markets." Berlusconi is a key player as his coalition is now the second-biggest bloc in the upper chamber.

"Markets go their own way. They are independent and also a little crazy," he said, adding that a government can be cobbled together if rival politicians are willing to "make some sacrifices."

Stinging from a loss of some 4 million votes compared to the last election in 2008, Bersani hasn't yet identified potential coalition partners. But top officials in his Democratic Left (PD) party were quick to rule out any deal with Berlusconi.

"As far as I go, absolutely not," Stefano Fassina, a PD official said of a possible Bersani-Berlusconi alliance.

A big surprise in the election was the strong showing by comic-turned-political leader Beppe Grillo, whose 5 Star Movement capitalized on a wave of voter disgust with the ruling political class. Grillo's bloc of seats in Parliament could prove crucial in making any coalition government viable.

But Grillo, swarmed by reporters outside his villa in Genoa, said his forces would seek to thwart any Bersani-Berlusconi deal. Raising the specter of early elections, he predicted any such coalition will "last seven, eight months. The economy won't let them escape."

Investors around the world appeared skeptical over the prospects of a deal.

"Clearly markets are taking fright from the messy and chaotic Italian election result," said Louise Cooper, financial analyst at CooperCity.

In Europe, Germany's DAX was down 1.9 percent at 7,630 while the CAC-40 in France fell 2.1 percent to 3,646. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was 1.3 percent lower at 6,276.

Italy is hugely important for the future of the euro, and its apparent stability over the past six months has been one of the reasons that concerns over the currency have eased. Of the 17 European Union countries that use the euro, Italy has the second-highest debt burden as a proportion of its gross domestic product, at 127 percent. Only Greece's is higher. Italy has to spend around ?80 billion a year just to service its debt.

The worry across in financial markets is that Italy's appetite for reform may wane and its debt situation may deteriorate. Though Italy's annual borrowing ? its budget deficit ? is relatively small compared with other euro countries at 3 percent of its annual gross domestic product, its overall debt stands at a colossal ?2 trillion.

The Monti government enacted wide-ranging reforms to the budget and the economy. Though its borrowing rates have fallen in financial markets, the cost to Italians has been high, with the country mired in recession and unemployment on the rise.

Monti was a big loser in the election and Berlusconi ruled out an alliance with his predecessor, whom he blamed for driving Italy deeper into recession.

On Tuesday, Monti huddled with his ministers for the economy and European affairs, as well as Italy's central bank governor over the market developments, his office said.

Last July, concerns over the country's ability to pay down its debt ? despite the Monti reforms ? and the stability of the wider eurozone sent the interest rate on its 10-year bonds back up to a near-unsustainable 6.36 percent. This prompted European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi to offer to buy up unlimited quantities of short-term debt in countries struggling with high borrowing costs.

In Spain, another country struggling with austerity, ministers expressed concern over the Italian election results but were confident they won't upset plans to lift Europe out of the crisis.

Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said the result was "a jump to nowhere with positive consequences for nobody."

The EU's economic and monetary affairs commissioner, Olli Rehn, told reporters in Copenhagen Tuesday that it was important "Italy pursues reform for the sake of sustainable growth and job creation."

The euro was hit hard late Monday on the initial fallout of the election results, nearly dropping below $1.30 for the first time since early 2013. However, it recovered Tuesday before some positive U.S. economic data gave the dollar a fillip. It was trading 0.1 percent lower at $1.3062.

U.S. stocks rebounded too, a day after the main U.S. indexes had their worst session since last November amid the positive consumer confidence and housing data as well as an indication from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke that the central bank was not going to abandon its super-easy monetary policy just yet ? the Dow Jones industrial average was 0.5 percent higher at 13,854 while the broader S&P 500 index rose 0.2 percent to 1,490.

Earlier in Asia, Japan's Nikkei slid 2.3 percent to 11,398.81 as the yen appreciated to the potential detriment of the country's exporters. The dollar was 0.4 percent lower at $92.23 yen. Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 1.3 percent to 22,519.69 while South Korea's Kospi fell 0.5 percent to 2,000.01.

____

Pylas reported from London.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-02-26-World%20Markets/id-e02205a2572741338d9b554768dd6126

recruiting rankings san onofre paula deen birth control recall nick carter leslie carter aaron carter sister

Biden: Washington frozen by partisanship

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Vice President Joe Biden says Washington is frozen by intense partisanship ? but he's hoping it's just temporary.

Biden told governors gathered at the White House for an annual meeting Monday that they're more disciplined than Congress. He chided Washington lawmakers, asserting that they are preventing a solution to the automatic spending cuts set to kick in on March 1.

Biden says Democratic and Republican governors alike ask him how he can deal with gridlock in Congress. He says people may disagree on solutions, but everyone agrees the so-called sequester should be addressed.

The White House has warned the $85 billion budget mechanism could affect everything from commercial flights to classrooms to meat inspections. They would slash domestic and defense spending, leading to furloughs for hundreds of thousands of workers.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-02-25-US-Budget-Battle-Biden/id-39f199e57b704491987e4aebcddb881b

new madrid fault rihanna and chris brown affirmative action helicon zac efron and taylor swift real housewives of orange county bloom energy

Buyer's Agent in La Jolla | Joan Schultz on San Diego Real Estate ...

By Joan Schultz, SellingLaJollaRealEstate.com

Buyer's Agent in La Jolla

There?s no doubt that the San Diego real estate market is making a strong comeback. With ideal interest rates and discounted home prices, it?s no wonder so many homebuyers are on the pursuit of the perfect home. Not only that, but cash purchases are the strongest in California?s history, reaching an all-time high last year with twice the normal cash-offer rates according to research group DataQuick. The market is strong, and buyers are ready.

When it comes to buying real estate in San Diego, buyers are jumping on hot prices and ideal market conditions ? a combination that many experts are calling a deal of a lifetime.

But as inventory rates become increasingly challenging in today?s market, it takes a savvy buyer and a knowledgeable real estate agent to find the perfect home and get an accepted offer even if it isn?t all-cash. It?s possible ? and here?s how.

The San Diego real estate market is quickly gaining momentum. To secure the home of your dreams at the best possible price and with ideal terms, consider the following buyer?s tips.

1. Get your paperwork ready. When it comes to jumping on the perfect home opportunity, you need to get your ducks in a row prior to pulling the trigger. That means getting your pre-approval letter printed and ready to go in addition to signing a buyer?s agreement with a qualified real estate agent.
2. Sign up for an MLS alert. Just like you, many buyers are waiting for the perfect listing. Using sites like RedFin or Realtor.com puts you at a disadvantage because listings may be out-of-date. You need to work with a buyer?s agent in San Diego to zero in on the neighborhood you want at the price that works for you, then set up an MLS alert that notifies you the moment a match is listed on MLS.
3. Understand the short sale market. Just about 26 percent of all listings in California are short sale listings ? transactions where the sale price falls short of what was owed on the property as defined by DataQuick. If you find a short sale property, understand that it may take months until the transaction may go through. Also, you will face a possible risk of losing your offer on the home due to multiple bids with better terms. Until you get a signed sales contract from the bank, there are no guarantees on a short sale. These barriers, however, can be overcome with the right agent on your side.
4. Understand the art of negotiation. Just because today?s market is competitive doesn?t mean you have to settle. You can get a great price with excellent terms by using a real estate agent in San Diego that understands the buyer?s market and hyperlocal conditions. Solid negotiation can lead to a sales price you can live with, ideal closing terms and even extras like included window coverings or professionally cleaned carpets.
5. If you find the perfect home, buy it. In today?s market, it?s never been more important to jump on an opportunity if it presents itself. If you find the ideal home, it?s a good idea to place your offer right away and move quickly as others can swoop in should there be any kind of delay. If you know what kind of home you want and understand comparables in the area, the process can be easy, and you can have the necessary confidence when placing your offer.

For more information on buying in San Diego, or to get going on the hunt for your dream home, call me at 619-261-3804 or log onto http://SellingLaJollaHomes.com.

Related posts:

1. Skin disorders, #1 reason for doctor?s visits in America
2. San Diego home prices on the rebound
3. La Jolla luxury home values and buyer confidence in full upswing
4. Children and Psoriasis: What Every Parent Needs to Know
5. Winterize Your Skin: 5 Essential Skin Care Tips for Eczema Sufferers

Short URL: http://www.lajollalight.com/?p=101877

Source: http://www.lajollalight.com/2013/02/24/buyers-agent-in-la-jolla-san-diego-buyer%E2%80%99s-market-the-deal-of-a-lifetime/

ups Aj Mccarron Girlfriend linkedin linkedin CES 2013 joe budden notre dame

Qualcomm shows off Snapdragon 800 voice activation and photo editing abilities (video)

Qualcomm unveiled its new Snapdragon SoC flag bearer at CES, and here at MWC 2013 we got to see some of what the 800 series can do. Last week, the company revealed the chip's voice activation feature that allows users to wake the chip up using a voice command. We got to see one application of this technology used to launch Google Now using the keywords "hey Snapdragon," though when it makes its way into consumer devices, that keyword will be customizable. It was a limited demo, but the ability to wake your phone and launch apps without having to press a button (see: Siri and Google Now) is certainly an attractive proposition.

We also got to witness the 800's image processing capabilities when paired with one of Pelican Imaging's array cameras. Using images taken with that plenoptic shooter, changing the focal plane of an image or cropping out individuals from a group photo was easily handled by a Qualcomm prototype tablet packing a Snapdragon 800. Enough chatter on the matter, however, you can see for yourself in the video after the break.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile

Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/25/qualcomm-snapdragon-800-voice-activation-plenoptic-photo-editing/

chardon high school shooting mark martin cleveland news daytona race the cutting edge fox 8 news indy 500

How Do I Resize Rdp Window, Windows 7

hoping since rdp gets used by many here someone can help.? the whs2011 rdp window on my win7 client pc is always smaller than it needs to be, but i can't change it.? checking the screen resolution on the whs rdp screen it shows 1024*768 and a message that it can't be changed during an rdp session.

?

i've opened an rdp session a few times and was able to full screen it on my client, but i can't get it to work again and i don't know what was different.

?

thanks.

Source: http://forum.wegotserved.com/index.php/topic/27561-how-do-i-resize-rdp-window-windows-7/

Google News Newton virginia tech shooting Bbc News China glock earthquake

Beyond Structured Settlements: An ELNY Nightmare

While almost 1500 Executive Life of New York (ELNY) structured settlement shortfall payees await the outcome of continuing ELNY litigation, it is worth remembering how seriously Judge John Galasso's ELNY liquidation order and related restructuring agreement will impact some of these unfortunate individuals assuming his order and the restructuring agreement are ultimately upheld and implemented.

Glenn Arensdorf?

One such individual is Glenn Arensdorf. Glenn is a 49 year old Florida resident who is permanently and totally disabled. He cannot work in any capacity. Glenn's ELNY structured settlement payments are scheduled to be reduced by 58 percent which places him among the most drastically reduced of all the ELNY shortfall payees.?

Significantly, Glenn's structured settlement was funded in 1984 with two "buy and hold" annuities issued by ELNY and owned by Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company, then known as Kemper Insurance Company, ("Lumbermens") one of the liability insurers in Glenn's personal injury case.

"Buy and hold" annuities, whereby an underlying insurer (in Glenn's case, Lumbermens) retained the liability for future periodic payments, and funded that liability through its ownership of qualified funding assets (in Glenn's case, two ELNY annuities), might appear advantageous compared with ELNY qualified assignments.

With qualified assignments, defendants and their liability insurers often seek to transfer their future liability for periodic payments to a qualified assignee which for ELNY annuities is First Executive Corporation. Unfortunately for ELNY qualified assignee payees, First Executive Corporation ceased to exist in 1991.?

Lumbermens, however, was ordered into rehabilitation July 2, 2012 so its financial and legal ability to fulfill its structured settlement obligations to Glenn are uncertain.

To add insult to injury: although Glenn has an application pending with the ELNY Hardship Fund, the fund specifically excludes applications for which the underlying insurer may still be responsible. To date, Glenn has not received any notification of an award or a rejection by the ELNY Hardship Fund.

Glenn, therefore, appears to face a "Catch 22" which he refers to as "my ELNY nightmare".

Fortunately, Glenn's attorneys believe he should qualify under the Illinois Life and Health Guarantee Fund (Lumbermens' home state) where the maximum combined coverage for both of Glenn's ELNY annuities appears to be $250,000. The Florida guaranty fund appears inapplicable because ELNY was never licensed to write business there.

Glenn's Personal Injuries

Three days after he began college in 1981, Glenn was a rear seat passenger in a one car accident in which a friend and driver lost control, hit a tree and died. Glenn was admitted to the hospital in an unconscious condition and was not expected to live. Although he survived, Glenn sustained traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, and broken teeth among other injuries. He remained in a coma for five weeks. Glenn has no memory of either the accident or his first days in college.

Due to his brain injury, Glenn has subsequently developed permanent double vision and partial paralysis of facial muscles resulting in disfigurement. His left arm and hand are virtually useless. Glenn walks with a limp following 11 surgeries to his left leg. Both his left arm and left leg are noticeably smaller than his right as a result of muscle atrophy. Glenn also suffers psychological issues, neurological limitations, motor function impairment, cognitive limitations, impaired problem-solving skills, poor short-term memory, a short attention span and slow information processing speed - all as a result of his personal injuries.

Before his accident, Glenn played guitar and was a member of a rock 'n roll band - or, at least, that is what Glenn has been told. He cannot remember playing his guitar. After his accident, when Glenn finally returned home, he found a huge guitar amplifier and a Fender Stratocaster guitar. Having lost both his sense of rhythm and use of his left hand, Glenn became so depressed, he sold his amplifier and guitar "for pennies".

"Glenn's World"

With support and encouragement from his family, Glenn has learned to adapt to his handicapped status and has made progress toward living independently. Glenn lives in a gated community attached to a plaza with a grocery store, several restaurants, and various professional offices. He refers to his community as "Glenn's World" where he serves as an inspiration to other disabled persons who endeavor to live an independent life style.

Every morning, Glenn rides his three-wheel bike to his favorite restaurant, Pete's Place, where he eats breakfast and socializes with the staff and regular customers "by telling them bad jokes". He visits a chiropractor three times each week for treatment of the scoliosis he developed from accident-related injuries. Everyday, Glenn also visits his other favorite restaurant in the plaza, Duffy's, where he helps the staff set up for a busy lunch hour by folding napkins and telling more bad jokes. Although he cannot cook, Glenn generally returns home in time to prepare a sandwich for lunch.?

During the afternoon, Glenn watches TV or reads his emails. Then he rides his bike back to the plaza for dinner at one of several restaurants. The staff of these restaurants have known Glenn for 20 years. When Glenn orders his dinners "chop chop", they help cut up his meals because he is unable to do so himself. Like other brain injured individuals, Glenn's life requires and benefits from similar daily and weekly routines. This includes Glenn's nighttime routine when, due to back pain, he always sleeps on his left side on the right side of his bed.

The ELNY Liquidation

Glenn's ability to sustain his life in "Glenn's World" depends upon his monthly ELNY annuity payments. His financial needs are extraordinary and his limitations profound. Glenn is completely reliant and dependent on others to do what he cannot do for himself. Besides his ELNY annuity payments, the only income Glenn receives is a monthly Social Security Disability payment in the amount of $720.

Glenn is presently being treated by a psychologist for the emotional stress and anxiety created by the ELNY liquidation. He suffers from depression and has difficulty sleeping at night. Glenn does not understand why the State of New York or other insurance companies did not bail out ELNY or why ELNY shortfall payees with catastrophic injuries will be forced to exist on budgets that do not meet their needs. Although Glenn would like to be part of an ELNY support group with other shortfall payees, Judge Galasso has ruled that Glenn and other shortfall payees cannot have access to each others names and contact information.

Some proponents claim that structured settlements are "the ultimate safeguards to guarantee the long term financial health of people harmed in accidents". For Glenn Arensdorf and similarly situated ELNY shortfall payees, however, the structured settlement system has failed them. To protect their rights, they have been forced to challenge the legality and unfairness of Judge Galasso's liquidation order and restructuring agreement against long odds and powerful opponents.

Additional Information

For profiles of five additional ELNY structured settlement shortfall payees, see "The Complete ELNY Saga - 21 Years of Mismanagement, Corruption, Broken Promises and Shattered Lives", the lead article in a comprehensive ELNY analysis published in 2012 by LifeHealthPro.

For S2KM's complete reporting about the ELNY liquidation, including related litigation and an Executive Life timeline, see the structured settlement wiki.

Source: http://s2kmblog.typepad.com/rethinking_structured_set/2013/02/an-elny-nightmare.html

c mitt romney mark zuckerberg mark zuckerberg maurice jones drew Yash Chopra George McGovern

NFL - Free Agent RBs - On the Move

2013 NFL Free Agency - Running Backs on the move - Ahmad Bradshaw, Reggie Bush and Rashard Mendenhall

The talent pool of running backs in the 2013 NFL Draft leaves a little to be desired; at least that is how it appears with two months to go until the big day. That does not, however, necessarily mean an empty offseason in the backfield. Quite the contrary. A trio of backs?featuring Ahmad Bradshaw, Reggie Bush, and Rashard Mendenhall?is available via agency. Let's take a look at what each player brings (or doesn't bring) to the table and analyze possible destinations for each member of the triumvirate.

Ahmad Bradshaw

Let's start with the positives. Bradshaw is seemingly in his prime at 26 years old and although that is already on the high end of a running back amidst current NFL standards, he is not a particularly "old" 26. The former Giants' standout has carried the ball more than 200 times in a season just twice and only four times has he been given more than 70 carries. Bradshaw has exceeded the 1,000-yard mark twice, including last season despite dealing with a right-foot injury. He has scored at least six rushing touchdowns each of the past four years and he has also contributes as a pass-catcher out of the backfield (47 catches in 2010 and more than 20 in each of the last four seasons). Let's also not forget that the guy is a proven winner. He was a member of both of the Giants' recent Super Bowl victories and he played an integral role in each run to the championship.

As such, Bradshaw is one of the most coveted free-agents in football after being waived by New York earlier this month. That being said, the aforementioned right foot is cause for concern. He has had multiple surgeries on it, including one that will keep him out of action until at least April. Because of durability concerns and fumbling issues (he lost seven fumbles in 2010, more than anyone else at his position), Bradshaw has never been a feature, every-down back. There is no reason to think he will suddenly become one during what will effectively be the latter half of his career. The Marshall University alum may not be a perennial Pro Bowler, but he is certainly a hot commodity.

Where might Bradshaw land? Arizona, which was the worst team in the NFL last season after starting 4-0, could use an established veteran from a winning culture. Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams are serviceable running backs for the Cardinals, but they have been unable to stay on the field. Also look for Green Bay and San Diego to make a push. Both are contending franchises that need some depth in the backfield. Bradshaw was a big reason why Aaron Rodgers did not win back-to-back Super Bowls; how nice would it for Rogers to have Bradshaw on his side now? The Chargers may not be ready to try their luck with another injury-prone running back, but they are in desperation mode after a disastrous 2012 campaign.

Reggie Bush

Bradshaw was a seventh-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft who has entirely overachieved throughout six seasons in the league. Bush, of course, is of somewhat opposite ilk. Just about everyone thought the Houston Texans had lost their minds when they used the No. 1 overall selection in 2006 on defensive end Mario Williams instead of Bush. Williams has never exactly set the world on fire, but nobody is laughing now. Bush never even reached the 600-yard mark on the ground in five seasons with New Orleans, in part due to how he was used and also because of injury. The former Southern California superstar appeared in all 16 games of a successful rookie campaign but he did not accomplish the same feat again until last year with the Dolphins. Twice with the Saints he played in no more than 10 contests.

Still, there is a lot to like about Bush. The guy isn't merely a running back; he is a receiver who lines up in the backfield. In fact, he was much more of the latter in New Orleans. He hauled in a whopping 88 passes in his rookie season and had 73 more one year later despite playing just 12 games. Bush made at least 34 receptions in all five campaigns with the Saints, even when he was limited to a mere eight contests in 2010. Miami used him in a more traditional fashion the last two seasons and Bush responded with 1,096 rushing yards in 2011 and 986 in 2012. Avoiding the injury bug that had plagued him in the Big Easy, he played in 31 of 32 games with the Dolphins. This may be hard to believe because it feels like Bush has been around forever, but he is still only 27 years old. His physical prime is not yet over.

Potential destinations for Bush include Atlanta and Detroit, and a return to Miami is not entirely out of the question. The Falcons are set to release Michael Turner, but they still have power backs Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling at their disposal. Bush would provide a change of pace and would also be a receiving force in what has become a pass-happy offense in Atlanta. Detroit would be a similarly solid fit. The Lions have always been thin at running back and if Matthew Stafford gets another weapon to complement Calvin Johnson, watch out. Too many bridges have been burned between Bush and the Dolphins, so a resigning is not a probability. If the market is not to Bush's desire, however, it's a possibility. POST EDIT: Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland confirms the two sides have spoken.

Rashard Mendenhall

Mendenhall's case is similar to those of Bradshaw and Bush. At 25 years old, he presumably has a number of productive seasons left even in a banged-up body. Mendenhall has interspersed outstanding seasons (back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing efforts in 2009 and 2010, plus a combined 29 rushing touchdowns in 2009, 2010, and 2011) with years that were wrecked by injuries. He played in just four games as a Pittsburgh rookie after being drafted 23rd overall and he suited up for only six contests last season. A case of the fumbles has also been a minor problem throughout Mendenhall's NFL career. Like with Bradshaw and Bush, all of the contributing factors suggest that the former Illinois standout can have a serious impact in just about any team's backfield but is not an every-down
performer.

Among Mendenhall's plausible landing spots is a trio of AFC West teams?Denver, Kansas City, and Oakland. The Broncos can never have too many running backs and they certainly do not have an every- down back on their roster at the moment. There is undoubtedly room for Mendenhall. Kansas City is in complete rebuilding mode and would do well to get snag a young running back, especially if they take offensive lineman Luke Joeckel No. 1 overall in the upcoming draft. The Raiders have Darren McFadden, but Mendenhall is different kind of runner who could at least be a third-down back if he does split carries with McFadden right down the middle. Those two would complement each other nicely while brining some much-needed excitement to Oakland. Don't be surprised if he finds himself on the western
side of the other conference, either. Arizona is possibility. New head coach Bruce Arians was the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh when the Steelers drafted Mendenhall.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FFToolboxFantasyFootballUpdates/~3/2N3gu_UBUnc/article.cfm

Colorado Shooting News joe paterno British Open MC Chris Colorado shooting suspect accuweather Finding Nemo 2