Saturday, December 31, 2011

Chavez questions if US gave leaders cancer

 Hugo Chavez
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrives to commemorate the death anniversary of national hero Simon Bolivar at the national cemetery in Caracas December 17, 2011. (REUTERS/Jorge Silva)

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CARACAS?-?

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speculated on Wednesday that the United States might have developed a way to give Latin American leaders cancer, after Argentina?s Cristina Fernandez joined the list of presidents diagnosed with the disease.

It was a typically controversial statement by Venezuela?s socialist leader, who underwent surgery in June to remove a tumor from his pelvis. But he stressed that he was not making any accusations, just thinking aloud.

?It would not be strange if they had developed the technology to induce cancer and nobody knew about it until now ... I don?t know. I?m just reflecting,? he said in a televised speech to troops at a military base.

?But this is very, very, very strange ... it?s a bit difficult to explain this, to reason it, including using the law of probabilities.?

Chavez, Fernandez, Paraguay?s Fernando Lugo, Brazil?s Dilma Rousseff and former Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have all been diagnosed recently with cancer. All of them are leftists.

Doctors say Fernandez has a very good chance of recovery and will not need chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Her diagnosis was made public on Tuesday.

Chavez said other regional leaders should beware, including his close ally, Bolivian President Evo Morales.

?We?ll have to take good care of Evo. Take care Evo!? he said.

The 57-year-old is Latin America?s loudest critic of U.S. foreign policy along with Cuba?s former leader Fidel Castro, and he frequently lashes out at what he calls the ?Yankee Empire?.

CASTRO?S WARNING

?Fidel always told me, ?Chavez take care. These people have developed technology. You are very careless. Take care what you eat, what they give you to eat ... a little needle and they inject you with I don?t know what,?? he said.

In his comments on Wednesday, Chavez also slammed Washington and its European allies for criticizing Russia?s recent parliamentary elections - and said they were planning the same thing for Venezuela?s presidential election in October, when he will seek re-election.

?They are crying fraud and saying the elections need to be re-run ... They?re trying to destabilize no less than Russia, a nuclear power. That?s the madness of the Empire,? Chavez said.

?I say this because here in Venezuela, the Imperial Yankee, the local bourgeoisie, and a good part of what they call the opposition parties here, are preparing a similar plan,? he said.

?I call on the armed forces to be alert, on the Venezuelan people to be alert. Because we are not going to let the Imperial Yankee destabilize Venezuela again like they did in the past.?

Details about Chavez?s health remain a closely guarded secret, although he now appears to be recovering and is making longer and longer televised appearances.

Earlier this month he made his first official foreign trip after his surgery, to a regional summit in Uruguay.

Since his return he has often appeared sporting something of a younger, new look: a dark sports coat over an open-necked maroon shirt, and is hair is growing back after chemotherapy.

It is far cry from the green fatigues and red beret that he became famous for wearing for much of his 13 years in power.

Source: http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/12/29/chavez-questions-if-us-gave-leaders-cancer

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Odd notes, mad-dash trips mark Iowa closing sprint

Republican presidential candidate, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, speaks during a campaign stop at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Republican presidential candidate, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, speaks during a campaign stop at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Republican presidential candidate former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum speaks to local residents during a campaign stop at USA Furniture and Bedding, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, in Dubuque, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Republican Presidential candidate, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn. meets with patrons at the Nodaway Diner during a campaign stop, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, in Greenfield, Iowa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) ? Iowa's GOP presidential contest remains deeply unsettled, if not downright strange, five days before the Jan. 3 caucus.

Rep. Ron Paul, drawing big crowds, got a surprise endorsement Wednesday night from Rep. Michele Bachmann's now-former state chairman.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum, who has languished for months, suddenly seems to have momentum, just as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich may be losing his.

And Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who began the campaign by de-emphasizing Iowa, might be poised to finish on top, according to some new polls.

Romney now is making an unabashed push in Iowa. His rivals are scrambling to deny him huge momentum heading into the Jan. 10 primary in New Hampshire, his second home.

Paul, the 76-year-old libertarian-leaning Texan, drew about 500 people at the Iowa State fairgrounds in Ames late Wednesday. A group of Occupy activists tried to interrupt the rally, but that wasn't the main surprise.

State Sen. Kent Sorenson, who had campaigned a few hours earlier with Bachmann as a state chairman of her bid, announced he would support Paul instead.

Paul's anti-government appeal appears to tap into the desire of a frustrated electorate for profound change in an era of high unemployment and an economy that has only slowly recovered from the recession.

"In the last couple of weeks I fell into Ron Paul's camp," said Bob Colby of Newton, who spent 21 years in the military and is a former employee of a now-shuttered Maytag plant in town.

Paul, who is airing TV ads hitting Romney and Gingrich, planned a town hall meeting Thursday in Perry, Iowa, plus stops in Atlantic and Council Bluffs.

There were other odd campaign notes Wednesday.

Two politically active pastors in Iowa's robust evangelical conservative movement disclosed an effort to persuade either Santorum or Bachmann to quit the race and endorse the other. "Otherwise, like-minded people will be divided and water down their impact," said Rev. Cary Gordon, a Sioux City minister and a leader among Iowa's social conservatives.

Neither candidate appeared interested.

Meanwhile, an ever more confident Romney scheduled stops Thursday in Cedar Falls, Mason City and Ames. He has air support: TV ads say he has the best chance to beat President Barack Obama in November.

Asked Wednesday about the prospects for back-to-back victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, Romney demurred. "I can't possibly allow myself to think in such optimistic terms," he said. "I just have to put my head down and battle as best I can."

Santorum seems to be gaining steam, according to a Time-CNN survey and some private polls. "We're very, very happy with the new numbers," he told reporters in Dubuque.

Acknowledging widespread voter anger in an age of high unemployment, Santorum told an audience Wednesday: "If you want to stick it to the man, don't vote for Ron Paul. That's not sticking it to anybody but the Republican Party."

He planned Thursday events in the eastern Iowa towns of Coralville, Wilton, Muscatine and Davenport.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry adjusted his position on abortion for a second straight day, telling reporters he would allow abortion if a woman's life were at risk. On Tuesday, he had told a pastor that he had undergone a "transformation" on abortion rights and now opposed the procedure in cases of rape or incest after having recently met a woman who said she was conceived by a rape.

Asked if a mother's life was the only instance when he would allow abortion, he was concise as he boarded his bus Wednesday: "That's correct."

Perry planned Thursday events in Washington, Cedar Rapids and Marshalltown.

Gingrich, who has suffered a barrage of TV attack ads lately, also took aim at Paul. "I'm very uncomfortable with the idea that the commander in chief would think it was irrelevant to have an Iranian nuclear weapon," he said Wednesday.

Gingrich planned events Thursday in Sioux City, Storm Lake, Denison and Carroll.

Bachmann took aim Wednesday at her two rivals from Texas. She said Perry has spent "27 years as a political insider," and Paul would be "dangerous as president" because of his hands-off views on national security.

Bachmann scheduled events Thursday in Des Moines, Marshalltown and Nevada, Iowa.

___

Associated Press writers Thomas Beaumont, Brian Bakst, David Espo, Philip Elliott, Beth Fouhy, Mike Glover, Kasie Hunt and Shannon McCaffrey contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-12-29-GOP%20Campaign/id-140fc0d9280f478a9edef33813f735b7

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Pets of the week

Mandy

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Mandy is a 2-year-old Rottweiler. She is a stray that no one claimed. She is house-broken, and would be great with older kids. She does not like other dogs, so she'll need to be in a single dog home. Mandy is playful and loves to chew squeaky tennis balls and rope toys. She knows how to sit, stay, lie down, come, and of course fetch. She needs to be an inside dog because she gets stressed and anxious when she's out by herself. Mandy is in kennel new adopt 19.

Pepper

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Pepper is a 3-year-old Labrador retriever. She was signed over by her previous owner because they were moving and couldn't take her. She likes other dogs, likes cats, loves playing with kids of all ages, and is house-broken. Pepper is a fun and active girl. She loves to play fetch and chase after tennis balls. She knows how to sit, lie down, stay, come, and of course fetch. She would be happy in an active home with a family to run and play with. Pepper is in kennel new adopt 20.

Charlie Brown

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Charlie Brown is a 2-year-old Labrador retriever mix. He is a stray that no one claimed. Charlie Brown is an energetic dog. He loves to play, run, chew on rope toys, and chase after balls. He's the type of dog that as long as he can play outside, no matter what he's doing, he'll have a good time. He would be great for and active family or a family that can spend the necessary time to exercise him. Charlie Brown is in kennel old adopt 13.

Max

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Max is a 4- to 5-month-old Pit Bull. He is a stray that no one claimed. When he came to our shelter his hair was falling out and we determined that he had mange. He did wonderfully with his treatments, his hair is growing back and he's doing great. Max loves playing with other dogs and is great with kids of all ages. He has a lot of fun puppy energy and loves to play. Max is excited about life and meeting new friends.

Davis County Animal Care & Control is located at 1422 E. 600 North, in Fruit Heights. For more information, call 801-444-2200.

Source: http://www.standard.net/stories/2011/12/29/pets-week

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Source: http://golfonlineupdate.com/tourangle144-golf-club-lessons/

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Turkish rights groups want U.N. probe into deadly raid (Reuters)

ANKARA (Reuters) ? Turkish rights groups called on Friday for a U.N.-sponsored investigation after Turkish warplanes killed 35 villagers in an airstrike targeting Kurdish rebels on the Iraqi border that the government has called an operational mistake.

The incident, which is under government investigation, has raised tensions with minority Kurds in Turkey, sparking clashes between stone-throwing protesters and police in cities in the restive mainly pro-Kurdish southeast and areas in Istanbul.

The attack, one of the largest single-day civilian death tolls since the militants launched their armed insurgency in 1984, came at a time when Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has been trying to engage Kurds in talks to write a new constitution expected to address long-held Kurdish grievances.

"The incident requires a more detailed investigation, but it is an execution without due process, and carries the characteristics of a mass murder in terms of the number of victims," human rights groups IHD and Mazlumder said in a preliminary report into Wednesday's airstrike.

"Turkish and international non-governmental organizations should investigate the incident and the U.N. Human Rights Committee should send a committee right away."

Erdogan's government, which has admitted that those killed were civilian smugglers whom the military mistook for Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants, has promised not to allow a cover-up of the incident.

"We are waiting for the investigation results. We will share its results with the public," Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc told reporters on Friday.

"These incidents can take place in the process of the fight against terror."

IHD and Mazlumder said most of those killed near the border village of Uludere were between the ages of 12 and 18. Turkish media has reported that 28 out of the 35 dead belonged to the same extended family and carried the same surname.

In their report, IHD and Mazlumder quoted 19-year-old Haci Encu, who survived the attack and was in hospital, as saying the smugglers were a group of about 40-50 people with mules and were attacked by drones when they were crossing the border to Iraq.

"We were going for sugar and diesel. We even heard the drone, but we kept on walking because it's our ordinary route," Encu is quoted as saying.

"The first drone killed 20 people, who were right on the border. We started running towards Iraq, and bombs started to fall on those who were left behind on the rocky area. We were six people in my group, and three of us survived. We had civilian clothes and nobody was armed," Encu said.

"The attack lasted around an hour. Me and a couple of other people with three mules, we went into a river, waited there for an hour and went out to hide beneath rocks," he said.

"We have been doing this for a long time. Two people from the group were married, the rest were high school and secondary school students. Nobody has contacted me for testimony yet, and I haven't seen a single soldier since the incident."

"CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY"

The funerals were expected to be held on Friday.

Turkey's largest pro-Kurdish party, the Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP, labeled the strike a crime against humanity, and has accused the armed forces of a cover-up.

The Turkish military had said its warplanes launched air strikes after drones spotted suspected PKK militants in the area. The military said there were was no civilian settlement in the area.

Turkish newspapers on Friday carried front-page pictures showing lines of corpses covered by blankets on a barren hillside, with weeping relatives around the bodies.

"Deadly intelligence," read pro-government Zaman.

The incident threatens to ignite more violence from the PKK, which is regarded as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The group has been fighting for an ethnic Kurdish homeland in a conflict that has claimed the lives of 40,000 people.

A PKK commander called on Kurds to rise up to what he called an organized and planned massacre.

"We call on all the people of Kurdistan and especially those of Hakkari and Sirnak to show their reaction against this massacre and to hold the perpetrators of this massacre accountable through their uprising," Bahoz Erdal said in a statement.

With most Turks favoring a hardline military response against the PKK, the incident is unlikely to hurt the popularity of Erdogan, who won a third term in office in a June vote.

Smuggling is an important source of income for locals in provinces along the Iraqi border, with many villagers involved in bringing fuel, cigarettes and other goods from Iraqi villages. PKK militants also cross the border in these areas.

(Additional reporting by Ece Toksabay and Daren Butler in Istanbul; Writing by Ibon Villelabeitia)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/iraq/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111230/wl_nm/us_turkey_iraq_airstrike

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Oscar voters: Your ballots are in the mail (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? Academy Awards season is officially on. Nominations ballots for the 84th Oscar show have just gone in the mail.

Oscar organizers mailed ballots Tuesday to 5,783 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Ballots are due back Jan. 13, and Oscar nominations will be announced Jan. 24.

The Oscar ceremony is set for Feb. 26, with Billy Crystal returning as host for the first time in eight years.

Among this season's best-picture prospects are the black-and-white silent film "The Artist," the Deep South drama "The Help," George Clooney's family tale "The Descendants" and Steven Spielberg's World War I epic "War Horse."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111227/ap_en_ot/us_oscar_ballots

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Khalid Amayereh: All we want from Egypt is to tell Israel, straight in the eyes, our commitment to the Camp David Peace Treaty depends on your behavior toward the Palestinians (Uprooted Palestinians)

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Source: http://wik.io/info/US/306751978

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Stock futures rise on optimism after Italy auction (AP)

NEW YORK ? Wall Street is set to open higher Wednesday after two successful Italian bond auctions raised hopes that Italy will be able to roll over billions of euros of its debt this year.

Dow futures rose 0.2 percent at 12,244, while S&P 500 futures moved up 0.3 percent to 1,263.40. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.2 percent to 2,290.75.

The Bank of Italy said the average yield on its euro9 billion ($11.8 billion) six-month offering was 3.251 percent, half the 6.504 percent rate it had to pay at the equivalent auction last month. In an auction of two-year bills, the yield fell to 4.853 percent from 7.814 percent last month.

The news pushed up stock prices across Europe. The euro was flat at $1.3069.

In France, the CAC-40 rose 0.5 percent to 3,119, while Germany's DAX was up 0.1 percent at 5,893. The FTSE index of leading British shares gained 0.6 percent at 5,546.

Despite those gains, significant uncertainty remains for the countries that use the euro. The European Central Bank reported that the continent's banks parked a record euro452.00 ($590.72) billion overnight at the bank Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of euro411.80 billion set Monday.

Those figures reflect the distrust that still reigns among banks and indicates that instead of lending to one another, banks would prefer to hold money at low interest rates at the ECB. However, levels also rise and fall for technical reasons as banks adjust their liquidity requirements.

It also reflects a huge infusion of cheap three-year loans to banks from the ECB, carried out last week in an attempt to inoculate the system against the debt crisis.

In Asia, stocks fell overnight, mostly because of concerns about the broader economy.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell 0.2 percent to close at 8,423.62 after news that its industrial output dropped a seasonally adjusted 2.6 percent last month ? the first decline in two months.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.6 percent to 18,518.67, while South Korea's Kospi lost 0.9 percent at1,825.12.

There are also concerns about a slowdown in China's economy.

The Shanghai Composite Index reversed course after early losses, rising 0.2 percent to 2,170.01. But the smaller Shenzhen Composite Index sank 0.5 percent to 849.76.

Benchmark crude oil fell 40 cents to $100.94 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/stocks/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111228/ap_on_bi_st_ma_re/us_wall_street

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Hungarian state TV staffers on hunger strike fired (AP)

BUDAPEST, Hungary ? Hungarian media officials say two employees who have been on hunger strike for over two weeks in protest at alleged political meddling with journalists' work in state-funded media have been fired.

MTVA, the state Media Service Support and Asset Management Fund, said Tuesday that Balazs Nagy Navarro and Aranka Szavuly were dismissed because their fast ? in which they have only been ingesting liquids since Dec. 10 ? is illegal and a "provocation" of their employer.

Nagy Navarro told the AP that the dismissals were "shameful and trample on legal security." He said six people were currently taking part in the hunger strike, including another state media employee and three activists.

Several media trade unions and opposition parties repudiated the dismissals.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111227/ap_on_re_eu/eu_hungary_media_hunger_strike

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

FanIQ: #AirForce coach Troy Calhoun has some stones going with the fake PAT down 1 with 52 seconds... Didn't help my pick: http://t.co/5A8Gg1fl

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#AirForce coach Troy Calhoun has some stones going with the fake PAT down 1 with 52 seconds... Didn't help my pick: bit.ly/vS4U2K FanIQ

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Source: http://twitter.com/FanIQ/statuses/152189934625755136

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Schools object to NCAA scholarship plan

Updated?Dec 27, 2011 1:56 PM ET

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP)

Schools are objecting to an NCAA reform measure on multiyear scholarships sought by university presidents.

More than 75 schools want to override a proposal allowing multiyear athletic scholarships rather than one-year renewable awards. That's the number of dissenters needed for reconsideration by the Division I Board of Directors when it meets next month in Indianapolis.

More schools have objected to NCAA plans to give athletes a $2,000 stipend for living costs not covered by scholarships. That proposal also returns to the Board of Directors.

Both measures were pushed by NCAA President Mark Emmert and adopted as emergency legislation after a presidential summit in August.

A permanent reversal could force schools to have two sets of standards, with an obligation to honor multiyear scholarship offers for some students but not others.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/foxsports/rss/cbk/~3/2TtVmYND50c/Schools-object-to-NCAA-multi-year-scholarship-plan-122711

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Leeches, Maggots And Masturbation And Other Weird Medical Treatments

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Sure, that fancy doctor can be helpful when you break a leg, but don't discount cheaper, low-tech remedies like leeches, maggots or masturbation.

In their own way, each is good for what ails you.

Read the whole story: Oddee.com

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/28/weird-medical-treatments_n_1172328.html

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Reversal of fortune (Reuters)

SINGAPORE (Reuters) ? While the threat of credit rating downgrades hangs over Europe, a few big emerging market economies are on the upswing.

Indonesia provides arguably the starkest contrast. Fitch's upgrade of Indonesia's sovereign rating on December 15 restored it to investment grade status for the first time in 14 years. Back in 1997, when the Asian financial crisis exploded, the International Monetary Fund had to step in with a three-year loan worth $10.1 billion at the time.

"Indonesia's banking sector was not prepared to withstand the financial turmoil that swept Southeast Asia," the IMF said then.

Fast-forward to 2011, and it is European banks that are the focus of concern as the euro zone struggles to come up with a politically palatable way to solve its own debt crisis.

All three of the world's major ratings agencies have warned that European countries face downgrades if they cannot stem the crisis. Fitch said on December 16 that a comprehensive solution was "technically and politically beyond reach."

Sentiment toward Europe has turned so dark that the most positive thing Northern Trust economists could say about the outlook there was, "Our base case is that the euro zone does not completely collapse within the next two years."

Why the role reversal?

Indonesia's 2012 growth is expected to reach 6.4 percent, according to a Reuters poll of economists, down only slightly from 2011's estimated 6.5 percent. The euro zone is widely expected to be stuck in recession next year, while U.S. growth will probably trudge along at one-third of Indonesia's pace.

The lesson that Asia learned from its financial crisis in the late 1990s was, "make sure you've got good insurance."

Asia now holds most of the world's foreign exchange reserves, with about $4.5 trillion concentrated in China and Japan combined. But there are also large stockpiles in India, Indonesia and South Korea.

That cushion can provide protection from financial market turbulence. Indonesia, South Korea, India and others have tapped reserves this year to defend their currencies from extreme volatility.

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IMF on "schizophrenic" investors:

imfdirect.imf.org/2011/12/21/2011-in-review-four-hard-truths/

For IFR's forecasts for the week ahead in U.S. economic data, click on: http://graphics.thomsonreuters.com/11/12/IFRPV122611.pdf

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"SCHIZOPHRENIC" INVESTORS

The IMF itself seems to have learned a few lessons from its experience in Asia, especially on how deep budget cuts can hurt a country's economic growth and its citizens.

Its November 1997 statement announcing Indonesia's bailout arrangement spelled out the IMF's policy prescription: tight fiscal and monetary policies and "substantial" fiscal measures to keep the budget in surplus.

The IMF at the time expected Indonesia's growth, which had been around 8 percent before the crisis, to slow to 5 percent in the first year of the program and 3 percent in the second. In fact, Indonesia's economy contracted by 13.1 percent in 1998 and grew by only 0.8 percent in 1999.

Former IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn acknowledged in February 2011 that the IMF's reform program had been "harmful and painful" for the Indonesian people.

Many economists worry that Europe's austerity measures, much like those in Indonesia in the late 1990s, will end up doing even more damage to the economy, worsening the debt picture.

IMF Chief Economist Olivier Blanchard said investors were "schizophrenic" about austerity and growth.

"They react positively to news of fiscal consolidation, but then react negatively later, when consolidation leads to lower growth -- which it often does," Blanchard said.

WHO IS NEXT?

European countries are the obvious candidates for imminent downgrade. S&P's move could come any day. Moody's said on December 12 it will revisit its European ratings in the first quarter of 2012.

While downgrades and the threat of more have received the most media attention this year, Fitch said its sovereign rating actions year-to-date were almost evenly split between upgrades and downgrades.

Since August 5, when Standard & Poor's stripped the United States of its AAA-rating, countries including Indonesia, Brazil, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Paraguay, Peru, Kazakhstan and Israel have received upgrades from at least one of the world's big three ratings agencies.

Next on the upgrade list may be the Philippines. Its leaders

expressed some disappointment that Indonesia got the nod from Fitch first, although S&P revised its outlook to "positive" on December 16.

But it is the negative actions that pose the global economic threat. The advanced economies in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have 2012 borrowing needs estimated at $10.5 trillion. A number this large means even a small increase in borrowing costs is meaningful.

"OECD debt managers are facing unprecedented funding challenges in meeting higher-than-anticipated, strong borrowing needs," the OECD said in a report on sovereign debt.

(Reporting by Emily Kaiser; Editing by Dan Grebler)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111225/bs_nm/us_economy_weekahead_outlook

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Eurohopes: RT @SportandoBasket: NBA SHOWTIME: Top 10 Dunks of the Pre-Season http://t.co/x3RfVklj

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Web gambling gets boost from Obama administration (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) ? The Obama administration cleared the way for states to legalize Internet poker and certain other online betting in a switch that may help them reap billions in tax revenue and spur web-based gambling.

A Justice Department opinion dated September and made public on Friday reversed decades of previous policy that included civil and criminal charges against operators of some of the most popular online poker sites.

Until now, the department held that online gambling in all forms was illegal under the Wire Act of 1961, which bars wagers via telecommunications that cross state lines or international borders.

The new interpretation, by the department's Office of Legal Counsel, said the Wire Act applies only to bets on a "sporting event or contest," not to a state's use of the Internet to sell lottery tickets to adults within its borders or abroad.

"The United States Department of Justice has given the online gaming community a big, big present," said I. Nelson Rose, a gaming law expert at Whittier Law School who consults for governments and the industry.

The question at issue was whether proposals by Illinois and New York to use the Internet and out-of-state transaction processors to sell lottery tickets to in-state adults violated the Wire Act.

But the department's conclusion would eliminate "almost every federal anti-gambling law that could apply to gaming that is legal under state laws," Rose wrote on his blog at www.gamblingandthelaw.com.

If a state legalized intra-state games such as poker, as Nevada and the District of Columbia have done, "there is simply no federal law that could apply" against their operators, he said.

The department's opinion, written by Assistant Attorney General Virginia Seitz, said the law's legislative history showed that Congress's overriding goal had been to halt wire communications for sports gambling, notably off-track betting on horse races.

Congress also had been concerned about rapid transmission of betting information on baseball, basketball, football and boxing among other sports-related events or contests, she summarized the legislative history as showing.

"The ordinary meaning of the phrase 'sporting event or contest' does not encompass lotteries," Seitz wrote. "Accordingly, we conclude that the proposed lotteries are not within the prohibitions of the Wire Act."

The department expressed no opinion about a provision in the law that lets prosecutors shut down phone lines where interstate or foreign gambling is taking place.

Many of the 50 U.S. states may be interested in creating online lotteries to boost tax revenues and help offset the ripple effect of a federal deficit-reduction push.

The global online gambling industry grew 12 percent last year to as much as $30 billion, according to a survey in March by Global Betting and Gaming Consultancy, based on the Isle of Man, where online gambling is legal.

Federal prosecutors in April charged three of the biggest Internet poker companies with fraud and money-laundering along with violations of another federal law, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Act of 1986.

The government outlined an alleged scheme by owners of the three largest online poker companies - Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker and PokerStars - to funnel gambling profits to online shell companies that would appear legitimate to banks processing payments.

(Editing by Derek Caney)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/internet/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111225/wr_nm/us_internet_gambling

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Man killed amid Britain's post-Christmas sales (AP)

LONDON ? A teenager was fatally stabbed and a second man wounded in attacks on London's most famous retail street as thousands of shoppers flocked to Britain's capital seeking post-Christmas bargains.

The killing of the 18-year-old man on Oxford Street on Monday ? and a second wounding in the same road ? did little to deter shoppers crowding into neighboring stores in the landmark shopping district. Bargain hunters were also largely untroubled by a subway strike which badly disrupted the city's public transport services.

Selfridges ? close to the scene of Monday's stabbing and one of Britain's most popular department stores ? reported its biggest ever first hour of trading Monday morning, while the New West End Company, which represents traders on central London's shopping streets, reported 15 million pounds (US$23.5 million) in sales in the first three hours of trading.

Jace Tyrrell, of the New West End Company, said hundreds of thousands of people had visited central London retailers, despite action by police to cordon off parts of Oxford Street and temporarily close some stores after the attacks.

"These incidents are extremely rare on Oxford Street and we understand arrests have been made," she said. "The emergency services were quick to respond and have cordoned off the street as they continue with their investigations. We are working to ensure the street is open to businesses and shoppers tomorrow."

Tyrrell said shopkeepers had requested a meeting with police to discuss the incidents. "We understand both incidents involved gangs of youth who were known to each other (and) the police, and did not involve individual shoppers," she said.

London's air ambulance helicopter had earlier rushed to the street following the fatal stabbing.

Authorities said the teenage victim died before medics could administer help, while amateur video footage showed police struggling to part large crowds of shopper to allow emergency vehicles to reach the man.

Police erected a tent outside a Foot Locker sports store as they carried out investigations and confirmed that about ten people had been arrested in connection with the death.

Officers said a second stabbing took place close by ? on the corner of Oxford Street and Regent Street ? but insisted it wasn't immediately known if the two incidents were linked.

Det. Chief Insp. Mark Dunne, of London's Metropolitan police, said two groups of young people appeared to have become involved in a large-scale altercation before the teenager's death.

Dunne said that little more was known about the circumstances, but there were likely to be large numbers of witnesses. "This is probably the busiest place in the United Kingdom right now, on the busiest shopping day," he told reporters at the scene.

"A number of weapons have been recovered from that scene ? whether I have got the murder weapon I don't know. There's an assortment of items, but no guns," he said.

In the second attack, a 21-year-old man was stabbed in the leg and is being treated at a hospital for his wound.

Police said in a statement that three men had been arrested, but it was "too early to say whether this incident is linked to a fatal stabbing on Oxford Street."

On London's subway network, the ASLEF train drivers' labor union staged a one-day strike to demand extra pay and additional time off for members working on the public holiday.

Despite the disruptions, huge crowds ? some lining up outside stores from midnight ? rushed into department stores in London and other British cities as soon as doors opened early Monday.

The London Underground, the organization that manages the subway system, condemned the move, saying it was pointless and demonstrated "a complete disregard for our customers." Authorities said extra buses were running in main shopping areas to cater to the increased flow of travelers on one of the year's busiest shopping days.

The ASLEF union has warned it plans to stage three more strikes in January and February if the dispute is not resolved.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111227/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_britain_subway_strike

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When you wish upon a star: Child cancer survivor and family going to Disney World

When you wish upon a star: Child cancer survivor and family going to Disney World

After a long treatment this summer to treat a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma, 4-year-old Claire Kitchen will get her Make-A-Wish wish with a trip to Disney World in April. Claire sits with her mother, Nadija, and her two brothers, Finn, 11, on the left and Jude, 6, on the right, as they read a book together while waiting for father, Seth, to get home from work on Thursday evening.<br>Cherokee Tribune/Todd Hull

After a long treatment this summer to treat a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma, 4-year-old Claire Kitchen will get her Make-A-Wish wish with a trip to Disney World in April. Claire sits with her mother, Nadija, and her two brothers, Finn, 11, on the left and Jude, 6, on the right, as they read a book together while waiting for father, Seth, to get home from work on Thursday evening.
Cherokee Tribune/Todd Hull

slideshow WOODSTOCK ? Just in time for Christmas, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has gifted 4-year-old Claire Kitchen with a future trip to Disney World.

The foundation aims to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich their lives with hope, strength and joy.

Claire?s mother, Nadija Kitchen, said her family has been working with the foundation since Claire was diagnosed in May 2010 with neuroblastoma, a form of cancer that develops from branches of nerves from the spinal cord.

Right after Christmas last year, Claire underwent a stem cell transplant ? a three-week process that was not only physically difficult for Claire, but also took an emotional toll on the Kitchen family.

?The recovery was the most difficult part of her treatment,? Nadija said, noting that Claire was very ill for two weeks after the surgery.

In March, Claire became sick again with an intestinal infection from having to take numerous antibiotics, Nadija said.

?She stopped eating and walking for 10 days and dropped four pounds,? Nadija said.

Originally, Make-A-Wish had planned for the Woodstock family to go to Disney World in September, but Claire had to go through physical therapy to learn how to walk again and it pushed her treatment back until October.

?We wanted her to be strong and healthy to enjoy the trip,? Nadija said, noting that the foundation?s organizers were very understanding and helped to re-plan the trip for April.

Claire will have her fifth birthday in April, too.

?She knows about the trip,? Nadija said. ?It will be a great birthday present. Just knowing we have that to look forward to as a family is really exciting.?

Claire?s father, Seth, is anticipating reliving childhood memories on the trip.

?Last time we were there, I was a little kid,? he said. ?From what I hear, it will be like rock-star status.?

Seth said his daughter will be able to dress up like a princess and meet characters such as Snow White and Tinkerbell.

?She?s all-girl,? he said. ?She?s always in pink and talking about her hair or her fingernails. She dresses in a different princess dress every day.?

For now, the Kitchen family, including their sons, Finn, 11, and Jude, 6, will stay in Woodstock for the holidays.

Nadija said it will be a low-key celebration, something she appreciates after the challenges of her daughter?s procedure last year.

?Last year, we were preparing her to go in for her stem cell transplant,? Nadija said. ?We were happy last Christmas, but it was still a tense time. This year, we don?t have to think about that anymore.?

?There will be no hospitals, no impending treatments,? Seth said. ?It?s going to be a really nice Christmas all together with the family.?

Claire?s spirit and strength have helped her get through the challenges of her illness, her mother said.

?What?s so amazing is that after being in the hospital and meeting other children, you realize most kids are strong like this,? Nadija said. ?They don?t spend a lot of time sitting around thinking about being sick.?

Claire is currently able to walk and healthy again, but is still undergoing physical therapy. The family takes Claire in for routine scans and tests to monitor the site where the tumor was.

Nadija said the most exciting thing about the trip will be getting to spend family time together.

?It?s been very difficult for them,? Nadija said of her two sons. ?They spent a lot of time away from me.?

Nadija added that during her treatment, Claire received a lot of toys and gifts.

?The boys were always gracious, but they get pushed off to the side a lot,? she said. ?Knowing my boys are going to get loved on is just really exciting.?

Finn and Jude look forward to staying at Give Kids the World Village, a resort nearby Disney World where children with life-threatening illnesses and their families are treated to a weeklong, cost-free vacation.

?They have heard that they can get ice cream 24 hours a day,? Nadija said with a laugh. ?They think they?ll be eating ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner.?

Nadija and Seth said they are overwhelmed by the organization?s efforts to help their family.

?Make-A-Wish is an incredible organization,? Nadija said. ?They are really just trying to give our kids, not just Claire, a great time and we?re so overwhelmed by it.?

Seth said, ?It?s something we?d never be able to afford with a family of five. It?s been a real blessing. We?re just humbled and excited we got picked.?

The Make-A-Wish Foundation needs more than 2.5 billion miles, or 50,000 round-trip tickets, to grant wishes each year. Every mile donated helps wish kids and their families travel to destinations around the world. Once donated, your miles will never expire and are used to support wishes across the country. This is just one simple way you can help grant a life-changing wish experience. To donate, visit www.wish.org/help/donate_airline_miles.

Source: http://cherokeetribune.com/bookmark/16894616

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Monday, December 26, 2011

Knicks edge Celtics 106-104 on Anthony foul shots

New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire, left, gets tangled up with Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett (5) in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire, left, gets tangled up with Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett (5) in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony, left, fouls Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Boston Celtics' Rajon Rondo, right, loses the ball as he is fouled by New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, on floor, holds onto the ball as he slips in front of New York Knicks guard Toney Douglas (23) and Knicks center Tyson Chandler in the second quarter of their NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

(AP) ? Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks know it will never be easy against the Celtics.

Not beating them in one game, and certainly not beating them for a division title.

But pulling out the kind of nail biter that's long gone Boston's way in this rivalry only reinforced the Knicks' belief that they can do it ? and even the Celtics see a difference.

Anthony scored 37 points, including a pair of free throws with the game tied and 16 seconds left, and New York survived a seesaw season opener Sunday to edge the Celtics 106-104.

"Most importantly for us, as a new team, we showed something," Anthony said. "We came together as a team. Even when we got down, there wasn't no frowns. Nobody was down. Mentally everybody was still up about it, and we willed our way to this win."

Amare Stoudemire added 21 points and Toney Douglas had 19 for the Knicks, who led by 17 in the first half, trailed by 10 in the fourth quarter, then pulled out a thrilling Christmas victory in the delayed opener to the 2011-12 season. Tyson Chandler blocked six shots in his Knicks debut.

Rajon Rondo had 31 points and 13 assists, nearly leading the Celtics back without an injured Paul Pierce. But Kevin Garnett missed a jumper just before the buzzer, the kind of shot Boston always seems to make against the Knicks.

"They seem to have a little swag and confidence behind them," Garnett said. "It's good for the city. It's good for the Knicks. I'm going to see how consistent they are with that, but for the most part Carmelo played really well."

Brandon Bass had 20 points and 11 rebounds in his Celtics debut, and Ray Allen added 20 points.

Garnett finished with 15 points. He and Allen had a sleepy Christmas start, with Rondo keeping the Celtics in the game until they got going in the second half.

"I thought we were as soft as you could be in the first quarter and then I thought we joined in to the 2011-12 season, and from that point on I was pretty happy with the way we played," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "I thought we competed well."

But it wasn't enough against the Knicks, who withstood a costly knee injury to first-round pick Iman Shumpert to beat the team that swept them out of the first round of last season's playoffs. Shumpert will miss two to four weeks with a sprained right knee ligament.

Pierce has a bruised right heel but hopes he can return Tuesday when the Celtics visit the Miami Heat.

Even without him, the Celtics fought back to tie it at 69 on Rondo's layup midway through the third quarter. They surged ahead by eight going into the final period after Bass scored the final six points, then extended it to 89-79 on Bass' jumper to open the fourth.

Anthony, who scored 20 in the second half, tied the game at 100 on a 3-pointer with 3:25 to play. It stayed tight until he was fouled on a drive with 16.3 seconds left, making both for a 106-104 lead. Rondo grabbed the rebound of Marquis Daniels' potential go-ahead 3-pointer to give the Celtics a final chance, but Garnett was off on his jumper, then appeared to shove the Knicks' Bill Walker away.

Coming off their first winning season in a decade, the Knicks added a defensive presence by signing Chandler away from the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks and have loftier expectations than they've seen in years. The original NBA schedule had them opening against Miami, but instead they got a chance to see if they've closed the gap against Boston.

"I think we wanted to come out and set the tone early," Stoudemire said. "It's a long year but this game was very important for us to get off to a great start."

Though the Celtics won all eight meetings last season, the Knicks have been listed some places as the favorites in the Atlantic Division, which the Celtics have ruled since their Big Three came together in 2007.

"Everybody knows how optimism kicks in before the season starts, but then once reality sets in after the first month of the season, we'll see," Pierce said before the game. "But it's definitely a possibility. I mean, they have the talent, but we have the talent, too."

But the Knicks will be without newcomer Baron Davis for a few weeks because of a herniated disc in his back, and now Shumpert is out, leaving little depth in the backcourt.

The Knicks led 49-32 with 7? minutes left in the first half before the Celtics cut it to 62-52 at halftime.

The first game since renovations began at Madison Square Garden included the usual cast of celebrities such as Alicia Keys, Chris Rock and John McEnroe, and some new confusion, as at least one Celtics player had to ask how to get to the court from the new visitors' locker room.

Notes: Rivers said Pierce may come off the bench when he does return, since he's had only one practice so far. ... The Knicks were without Mike Bibby, who dressed but didn't play because of a sore back. Reserve Jared Jeffries was lost during the game to a sore right calf and will miss a week or two. ... Stoudemire provided pregame breakfast to MSG staff in appreciation of the support in his first season with the team.

___

Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-12-25-BKN-Celtics-Knicks/id-0aadae14fbda4105ac6a81cece8bdc10

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romereports: Rome opens free exhibit of Pintoricchio's Baby Jesus for Christmas http://t.co/YEChBSxA

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NBA Forever Video: TNT Opens Basketball Season With Amazing Intro

Just before the 2011-12 NBA season tipped off at Madison Square Garden, TNT revealed one hell of a video introduction to opening day called "NBA Forever." With "Live Forever" by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors playinh in the background, the mashup of modern and old-school players features Derrick Rose playing with Michael Jordan's Bulls, Dirk Nowitzki guarding Larry Bird and even LeBron James dunking on Julius Erving.

Personally, my favorite part is when the low-key Tim Duncan is chatting it up with Bill Walton, but there are plenty to choose from. Derrick Rose's fist bump with MJ. Magic Johnson dishing to Kobe. Wilt Chamberlin blocking Dwight Howard. Watch the video above and tell us what your favorite part was in the comment section!

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Kim son called 'supreme leader' of NKorea military

-- North Korea hailed Kim Jong Il's son as "supreme leader" of the 1.2-million strong military, ramping up its campaign to install the young man as the nation's next leader even as the mourning for his father continued a week after his death.

Kim Jong Un made a third visit Saturday to the palace where his father's body is lying in state - this time as "supreme leader of the revolutionary armed forces" and accompanied by North Korea's top military brass, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

The new title and public show of support from the military leadership sent a strong signal that the nation will maintain Kim Jong Il's "military first" policy for the time being.

Earlier Saturday, the newspaper Rodong Sinmun, mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party, urged Kim Jong Un to accept the top military post: "Comrade Kim Jong Un, please assume the supreme commandership, as wished by the people."

Kim Jong Un, who is in his late 20s and was unveiled in September 2010 as his father's choice as successor, will be the third-generation Kim to rule the nation of 24 million. His father and grandfather led the country under different titles, and it remains unclear which other titles will be bestowed on the grandson.

Kim Il Sung, who founded North Korea in 1948, retains the title of "eternal president" even after his death in 1994.

Son Kim Jong Il ruled as chairman of the National Defense Commission, supreme commander of the Korean People's Army and general secretary of the Workers' Party.

Kim Jong Un was promoted to four-star general and appointed a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party. He had been expected to assume a number of other key posts while being groomed to succeed his father.

His father's death comes at a sensitive time for North Korea, which was in the middle of discussions with the U.S. on food aid and restarting talks to dismantle the North's nuclear weapons program. Chronically short of food and suffering from a shortfall in basic staples after several harsh seasons, officials had been asking for help feeding its people even as North Koreans prepared for 2012 celebrations marking Kim Il Sung's 100th birthday.

North Korea has emphasized the Kim family legacy during the sped-up succession movement for Kim Jong Un. State media invoked Kim Il Sung in declaring the people's support for the next leader, comparing the occasion to Kim Jong Il's ascension to "supreme commander" exactly 20 years ago Saturday.

At the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, Kim Jong Un and senior commanders paid silent tribute to Kim Jong Il, "praying for his immortality," KCNA said. The military also pledged its loyalty to Kim Jong Un, the report said.

"Let the whole army remain true to the leadership of Kim Jong Un over the army," KCNA reported - a pledge reminiscent of those made when Kim Jong Il was named supreme commander.

The call to rally behind Kim Jong Un, dubbed the "Great Successor" in the wake of his father's death on Dec. 17 from a heart attack, comes amid displays of grief across North Korea. The official mourning period lasts until after Kim's funeral Wednesday and a memorial Thursday.

In Pyongyang, mourners waited in line Saturday to bow and lay flowers at Kim's portrait at plazas and government buildings, including the Pyongyang Circus Theater and the April 25 People's Army House of Culture, even as temperatures dropped to 14 degrees below Celsius (7 degrees Fahrenheit).

Workers at beverage kiosks handed steaming cups of water to shivering mourners, including children bundled up in colorful thick parkas. A sign urged mourners to thaw out inside a heated bus. The order to provide food and warming huts for mourners came from Kim Jong Un, officials said.

Source: http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/24/1999782/north-korean-heir-lauded-as-supreme.html

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

eco_terror_feed: Brazil hits Chevron with new oil spill fine | Global Village: Global Village News: Brazil hits Chevron with new ... http://t.co/5cvYlesc

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Nevada adopts rules for Internet poker licenses (AP)

LAS VEGAS ? Nevada gambling regulators on Thursday unanimously approved rules that allow companies in the state apply for licenses to operate poker websites, a move that puts Nevada in a position to capitalize if Congress reverses its ban on Internet gambling.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/vAZsSb) that the regulations would let casino companies operate Internet poker sites in the state, and some sites could begin operating by the end of 2012.

"We estimate the U.S. online poker market at $5 billion in revenue, relative to the current $24 billion global Internet gaming market and (the) $33 billion commercial casino market in the U.S.," Union Gaming Group analyst Bill Lerner wrote in a research report. "In our opinion, the commercialization of online poker is a 2013 event."

Online poker in Nevada could be commercially marginal, but would provide a model for other states, Lerner said.

The guidelines were mandated by the state Legislature's approval of Assembly Bill 258 earlier this year, which dictated that Internet poker regulations be established by Jan. 31.

Licensed gaming companies seeking online poker licenses will have to prove that their technology will be able to limit play to state residents of a legal age. Online poker sites are also required to establish procedures to detect money laundering, fraud or other criminal activities, and to establish a cash reserve to complement money deposited by customers in their accounts.

Caesars Entertainment Corp. and Boyd Gaming Corp. have already submitted proposals to be licensed once regulations are ready, along with casino equipment manufacturers such as International Game Technology, Bally Technologies Inc. and Cantor Gaming.

According to the regulations, companies new to Nevada would be vetted with full licensing investigations, which usually take several months.

Casino industry representatives applauded the vote despite online poker being illegal in the United States.

The federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 prohibits companies from accepting payments related to online wagering, but allows several exceptions, including intrastate wagering and fantasy sports.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111223/ap_on_sp_ot/us_online_poker_nevada

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Apple's late boss Steve Jobs to receive Grammy

Story Published: Dec 22, 2011 at 3:16 PM PST

Apple's late boss Steve Jobs to receive Grammy

In this June 7, 2010, file photo, Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds a new iPhone at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is receiving a posthumous Grammy for his technological innovations in the arts.

Jobs is among a dozen people, music groups or companies receiving honorary awards Feb. 11, the day before the Grammys. He died of cancer in October.

The Grammys are honoring Jobs with one of the group's Trustees Awards, citing the late Apple boss' advancements that "transformed the way we consume music, TV, movies, and books."

Grammy organizers called him a "creative visionary" for Apple Inc. innovations that include the iPod, iPhone and iPad.

Others receiving honorary awards the day before the Grammys include Diana Ross, the Allman Brothers, Glen Campbell, Antonio Carlos Jobim, George Jones, the Memphis Horns and recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder.

Source: http://www.keprtv.com/news/entertainment/Apples-late-boss-Steve-Jobs-to-receive-Grammy-136108658.html

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Saturday, December 24, 2011

Study: Indoor Tanning Linked With Early Onset of Skin Cancer (Time.com)

Given that indoor tanning beds were officially classified as a human carcinogen in 2009 -- up there with cigarettes and asbestos -- it should be fairly obvious that frequent tanning-booth exposure would increase your risk of skin cancer.

Indeed, the evidence linking indoor tanning with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, and squamous cell carcinoma, one of the more common forms of the disease, is "convincing," according to the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. But the research concerning tanning beds and basal cell carcinoma, the third and most frequent major type of skin cancer -- which accounts for some 80% of all skin cancer cases in the U.S. -- has thus far been inconsistent. (See pictures of a photographer's intimate account of her mother's cancer ordeal.)

Basal cell carcinoma, a slow-growing cancer, has traditionally been a disease of middle age. But it's been appearing with increasing frequency in people under 40, especially in women -- a demographic that also happens to like indoor tanning -- suggesting a link. So researchers at the Yale School of Public Health sought to study the association.

The study included 376 people under 40, who had been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma between 2006 and 2010. They were matched with a control group of 390 dermatology patients who were diagnosed with minor skin conditions like cysts and warts. All participants had skin biopsies, and all were drawn from a Yale University database.

The researchers interviewed each participant about their UV exposure -- both in tanning beds and outdoors. They also asked about their history of sunburns, sunscreen use, family history of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, and their self-reported eye, skin and hair color.

The conclusion: people who had ever used a tanning booth were 69% more likely to develop early-onset basal cell carcinoma than never tanners. Those who used tanning booths more regularly -- for at least six years -- were more than twice a likely to develop basal cell carcinoma, compared with never tanners.

The study found that women were far more devoted than men to indoor tanning, which might help explain why 70% of all early onset basal cell carcinomas occur in females. The authors concluded that about 27% of cases of early onset disease -- including 43% of cases in women -- could be prevented if people simply stopped using tanning booths.

That's a tall order, considering that some 30 million Americans use indoor tanning beds each year. Policy changes, such as the recent California ban on teen tanning, may help, the authors suggest. So would behavioral interventions aimed at women -- at least one study in 2010 found that the best way to get young women to tan less was to warn them about the skin-wrinkling effects of tanning-bed exposure, not the risk of skin cancer.

"Importantly, indoor tanning is a behavior that individuals can change. In conjunction with the findings on melanoma, our results for [basal cell carcinoma] indicate that reducing indoor tanning could translate to a meaningful reduction in the incidence of these two types of skin cancer," said Leah M. Ferrucci, first author of the paper and a postdoctoral fellow at the Yale School of Public Health, in a statement.

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