Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Fla. highway patrol defends reopening I-75 (AP)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. ? A split decision between two pastors regarding when to return to the Atlanta area from Florida was the difference between life and death.

They'd just finished a religious conference in Florida on Saturday night and debated when they and their accompanying parishoners would return home.

Senior pastor Arao Amazonas said he wanted to wait until the next morning to leave. But pastor Jose Carmo Jr. wanted to be back in time for the suburban Atlanta church's Sunday morning service and led two vans up Interstate 75 toward Georgia.

A few hours later, Amazonas received an early-morning call: Both vans had crashed in the highway's fog- and smoke-shrouded darkness near Gainesville, Fla. Carmo, his wife and their daughter were among five church members killed in two deadly pileups along the always busy six-lane interstate.

"We couldn't have imagined such tragedy would come to us," said Amazonas, senior pastor at the Igreja Internacional de Restaurcao, or International Church of the Restoration.

In all, a total of 10 people were killed in the crash. The accident happened after the Florida Highway Patrol had reopened the interstate after an earlier serious accident. A sergeant and lieutenant determined after about three hours that conditions had cleared enough for drivers, but visibility quickly became murky again, officials said Monday. Florida Gov. Rick Scott has ordered an investigation into that decision.

"We went through the area. We made an assessment. We came to the conclusion that the road was safe to travel and that is when we opened the road up," Highway patrol spokesman Lt. Patrick Riordan said in a news conference. "Drivers have to recognize that the environment changes. They have to be prepared to make good judgments."

At least a dozen cars, six tractor-trailers and a motorhome collided about 3:45 a.m. Sunday. Some cars were crushed under the bellies of big rigs. Others burst into flames and sent metal shrapnel flying through the air, horrifying witnesses watching the violence along Interstate 75 in calls to 911. Eighteen survivors were hospitalized.

In a 911 recording released Monday, a driver and her passengers told a dispatcher the fog and smoke from the 62-acre brush fire was so thick they couldn't see.

"I think there was another accident behind us because I heard it," a woman said. "Oh my gosh, it's so dark here."

In the same 911 call, another woman took the phone and screamed an expletive as she hears another crash.

"That was a truck. We cannot see. It's like impossible to see," the caller said. "The smoke is very thick you can see obviously only your hand in front. I do hear an ambulance or police officer coming down the road."

Late Monday, the highway patrol said seven people died and at least 16 people were injured after 10 vehicles crashed in the northbound lanes of the highway, the first of two multiple-vehicle pileups along I-75.

Jason Lee Raikes, 26, of Richmond, Va., died in the crash, authorities said. They also said five out of six people riding in a 2012 Dodge Caravan died in the crash: Driver Edson Carmo, 38; Roselia DeSilva, 41; Jose Carmo Jr., 43; Adrianna Carmo, 39; and Leticia Carmo, 17; all of Kennesaw, Ga. The highway patrol did not immediately provide the identity of the seventh crash fatality.

Jose and Adriana Carmo were married and Leticia was their daughter, said Arao Amazonas, senior pastor at their church, the Igreja Internacional de Restauracao, or International Church of the Restoration.

The van's sixth occupant, the couple's younger daughter, Lidiane, 15, survived the crash, Amazonas said. A hospital spokeswoman said Monday afternoon she was listed in critical condition.

The Carmos were in one van and other church members were in a second van. The passengers of that van called Amazonas after the accident to tell him what happened, he said.

About 100 people gathered Monday evening at the suburban Atlanta church, which caters to the local Brazilian community, to mourn the deaths of their fellow church members. People at the gathering wailed and wept as Amazonas addressed them in Portuguese.

Riordan declined to release the names of the two troopers who made the decision to reopen the highway or provide details on how long they had been with the patrol. He said no troopers have been disciplined but the investigation into the crash continues. National Transportation Safety Board officials said Monday they are sending investigators to the scene.

The Florida Forest Service said Monday it still had not determined if the brush fire was intentionally set or accidental, although lightning has been ruled out. Spokeswoman Ludie Bond said the fire is contained but was still burning. Firefighters are spraying water around its perimeter attempting to reduce the smoke.

Criminal defense attorneys said that if the fire was caused by arson, authorities likely will file charges of manslaughter and possibly felony murder, which is defined as a death that happens as result of participating in a felony.

"You can bet they will be," said Brian Tannebaum, a former president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

___

Associated Press writers Mike Stewart in Marietta, Ga., Kate Brumback in Atlanta and David Fischer in Miami contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120131/ap_on_re_us/us_deadly_interstate_crash

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Monday, January 30, 2012

AP Source: Rutgers closing in on FIU's Cristobal

A person familiar with the negotiations says Rutgers is in contract discussions with Florida International's Mario Cristobal to become the Scarlet Knights' football coach.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Monday on condition of anonymity because the deal, first reported by The Star-Ledger, is not complete.

Rutgers is replacing Greg Schiano, who left the school last week to become coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Cristobal, a former Rutgers assistant under Schiano, just completed his fifth season at FIU. He is 24-38 with the Panthers but has led them to bowl games the past two seasons.

Before taking over at the Miami-based school in 2007, Cristobal was an assistant at the University of Miami.

____

AP Sports Writer Tom Canavan in Indianapolis contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-01-30-FBC-Rutgers-Coach/id-6817cf5d1c3346a19e8b1d3cecd18244

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Officers checking robbery find 5 dead in Ala. home

(AP) ? Police officers called early Sunday morning to investigate a possible robbery at a home in Birmingham found five people dead inside, authorities said.

Birmingham Police Sgt. Johnny Williams said the officers arrived at the house around 3:30 a.m. Sunday after getting a call that a robbery was in progress and soon discovered the five victims.

The victims were not immediately identified, and the cause of death was not yet released. No arrests or charges were filed on Sunday morning, but Williams said police launched a homicide investigation.

Brenda Houston, who lives across the street from the west Birmingham house where the bodies were found, said the house had been rented for about a year and a half by a woman in her late 40s and her son and brothers.

"They would speak to us, and that's all we knew," she said. "We didn't know their names but they were always friendly."

Houston, 64, said her street was a quiet one filled with older residents who were friendly with each other. She said there was a constant stream of visitors coming in and out of the home, but that the residents never seemed to cause any disturbances.

"Most people are in a state of shock. They never had any trouble over there," Houston said. "I never seen the police over there. This was really strange that this happened. It wasn't like they were real rowdy."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-29-US-Five-Dead-Alabama/id-5daaf516278a41f9b3b943734b065e4d

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Sunday, January 29, 2012

Santorum: Daughter with pneumonia recovering

FILE - In this June 6, 2011 file photo, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum holds his daughter Isabella before announcing he is entering the Republican presidential race, on the steps of the Somerset County Courthouse in Somerset, Pa. Santorum canceled his morning campaign events, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, and planned to spend time with his hospitalized daughter, Bella. Isabella Santorum has Trisomy 18, a genetic condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 18th chromosome. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

FILE - In this June 6, 2011 file photo, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum holds his daughter Isabella before announcing he is entering the Republican presidential race, on the steps of the Somerset County Courthouse in Somerset, Pa. Santorum canceled his morning campaign events, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, and planned to spend time with his hospitalized daughter, Bella. Isabella Santorum has Trisomy 18, a genetic condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 18th chromosome. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Sharon Irwin, holds a sign during a prayer for Bella, daughter of Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum during a campaign rally in a hanger at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport in Sarasota, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, where Santorum was scheduled to appear. Santorum is staying home in Philadelphia to be with 3-year-old Isabella, who is hospitalized. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Elizabeth Santorum, eldest daughter of Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, campaigns for her father in a hanger at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport in Sarasota, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012. Santorum is staying home in Philadelphia to be with his 3-year-old hospitalized daughter Isabella. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

(AP) ? Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum said Sunday his daughter Bella remains in the hospital with pneumonia but is recovering after a rough 36 hours.

Santorum spoke with Florida supporters by telephone from 3-year-old Bella's hospital room and said doctors hope she can go home in the next few days.

The former Pennsylvania senator also said, "We're going to get out on the campaign trail later tomorrow ... heading out to the Midwest, and start campaigning in the next states as we move this campaign forward."

Santorum scheduled a speech Monday in Missouri and another event in southwest Minnesota ? two states with early February contests. He then planned to head to Colorado and Nevada for events Tuesday.

"I feel very, very good about where we are and where the campaign is going," the candidate said.

But during the call with Florida voters, Santorum opened his remarks with his daughter, who has a genetic condition known as Trisomy 18. The condition typically proves fatal and Santorum often says his daughter wasn't expected to live past 12 months.

"She without a doubt has turned the corner," he said. But he cautioned she "isn't out of the woods yet."

Santorum called his daughter's improvement a "miraculous turnaround" after an unexpected detour from the campaign just days before Tuesday's Florida primary.

Santorum got to his home in Virginia around midnight Friday for a quick break to do his taxes, but found his daughter "was not doing well."

"I was up with her a lot of the night," he said. "By the end of the day, it was really, really clear she was struggling."

Saturday evening, Santorum aides announced Bella had been admitted to the hospital and they canceled his morning interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" and church services in Miami. His aides later canceled his trip to Florida and instead sent his 20-year-old daughter to campaign for him.

Santorum described the situation as a "very, very tough night last night" but said by late Sunday Bella was "alert and back to her own beautiful, happy girl."

"It's been a very hectic 36 hours," Santorum said. "Life in the Santorum family has dramatically improved since the late afternoon."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-01-29-Santorum-Daughter/id-8d95340927854d9f92df6d95e7a7135c

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Police search News International offices, arrest four (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) ? Police said on Saturday they were searching the London offices of Rupert Murdoch's News International and had arrested four people, including a policeman, in an investigation into suspected payments to police officers for information.

The probe is linked to a continuing investigation into phone hacking at the now-closed News of the World tabloid, published by News International, the British arm of Murdoch's News Corp media empire.

Saturday's operation was the result of information passed to police by News Corp's Management and Standards Committee, set up in the wake of the phone hacking scandal, London's Metropolitan Police said.

One of those being questioned on suspicion of corruption was a 29-year-old police officer serving with the Met Police's Territorial Policing Command, who was arrested at the central London police station where he worked.

The others, all arrested at their homes, were a 48-year-old man from north London and two men from Essex, east of the capital, aged 48 and 56.

Searches at News International's offices in Wapping, east London, and at the arrested men's homes, were expected to continue until the afternoon, police said.

The operation takes to 12 the number of arrests in a probe into allegations journalists paid police in return for information, known as Operation Elveden, one of three criminal investigations into the news-gathering practices of the News of the World.

Last week, News International settled a string of legal claims after it admitted that people working for the tabloid had hacked in to the private phones of celebrities and others to generate stories.

The phone hacking scandal drew attention to the level of political influence held by editors and executives at News International, and other newspapers in Britain.

It embarrassed British politicians for their close ties with newspaper executives and also the police, who repeatedly failed to investigate allegations of illegal phone hacking.

News International had no immediate comment on Saturday's police operation, a spokeswoman for the media group said.

(Additional reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Rosalind Russell)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120128/wl_nm/us_newscorp_arrests

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Saturday, January 28, 2012

Not A Bad Bundle Idea: ?The Sound Supply? Offers 10 Digital Music Albums For $15

soundsupplyForgive me if you've seen this on Boing Boing yesterday already, but I'm always looking for interesting startups in the digital music space, and I think The Sound Supply's idea is, well, sound. Basically, The Sound Supply bundles 10 DRM-free digital music albums and lets you buy the lot online for a mere $15. According to the website, all participating bands and artists - including the wonderful Sophie Madeleine and Colour Revolt - agreed to collectively share their music this way.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/ByUIRZ5nhPA/

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EurekAlert! - Education

EurekAlert! - EducationThe premier online source for science news since 1996. A service of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.http://www.eurekalert.org en-usCopyright 2012 by the American Association for the Advancement of ScienceThu, 26 Jan 2012 13:25:47 ESTEurekAlert!EurekAlert! - Educationhttp://www.eurekalert.org/images/logo.gifhttp://www.eurekalert.org The premier online source for science news since 1996. A service of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.60webmaster@eurekalert.org (EurekAlert!)Exploring how a parent's education can affect the mental health of their offspring(<i>McGill University</i>) Could depression in adulthood be tied to a parent's level of education? A new study led by Am?lie Quesnel-Vall?e, a medical sociologist from McGill University, suggests this is the case.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/mu-eha012612.php Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/mu-eha012612.phpIowa State engineer wants to 'sculpt' more powerful electric motors and generators(<i>Iowa State University</i>) Iowa State University's Dionysios Aliprantis is developing several technologies that could improve the performance of electric motors and generators. And that could make a real difference in building sustainable energy systems.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/isu-ise012612.php Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/isu-ise012612.phpHigh school whiz kids may face reading comprehension issues in university(<i>University of Alberta</i>) Everyone knows a high-school high achiever who has floundered in university. Now U of A researcher and Reading Research Lab director George Georgiou may have an explanation for the problem.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/uoa-hsw012512.php Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/uoa-hsw012512.phpLove design? NJIT's free architecture lectures featuring top pro's are the ticket(<i>New Jersey Institute of Technology</i>) Check your calendars so as not to miss one of NJIT?s famous free architecture lectures scheduled from February through April.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/njio-ld012512.php Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/njio-ld012512.phpState of the Union speech: Promising outlook for research and innovation(<i>Research!America</i>) Research!America's Board chair, former Congressman John Edward Porter (R-Ill.), applauds President Obama's commitment to protect our nation's investment in basic research.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/r-sot012512.php Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/r-sot012512.phpStudy: Adolescents from unstable families lose ground in rigorous high schools(<i>American Sociological Association</i>) Research continues to support a connection between instability in the home and school performance in adolescents, but a new study in the January issue of Sociology of Education takes the research a step further by exploring how the relationship between family structure change and adolescent academic careers is also affected by the kinds of schools they attend.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/asa-saf012512.php Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/asa-saf012512.phpNational Science Foundation supports research aimed at reducing the use of fertilizer(<i>Donald Danforth Plant Science Center</i>) "The USDA-ARS lab at the Danforth Center can rapidly analyze large genetic populations of the diverse staple crop with the statistically powerful resource of Nested Association Mapping," said Baxter. "The grant addresses issues critical for agriculture, the environment and human health and will further our understanding of how soil conditions affect the elemental composition of maize."http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/ddps-nsf012512.php Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/ddps-nsf012512.phpGeoscience Online Learning Initiative webinar on critical and strategic minerals(<i>American Geological Institute</i>) The American Geosciences Institute in coordination with the American Institute of Professional Geologists presents the second webinar as a part of the Geoscience Online Learning Initiative. The webinar, titled Critical and Strategic Minerals: Concepts and Status, will air on Feb. 1, 2012 at 2 p.m. EST.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/agi-gol012512.php Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/agi-gol012512.phpYoung Americans recognize the impact of innovation on US economy according to survey(<i>Lemelson-MIT Program</i>) The 2012 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index indicates that young Americans are acutely aware of the importance of invention and innovation in their personal lives, and within the context of the nation's economy.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/lp-yar012412.php Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/lp-yar012412.phpFighting poverty together: Open Repository partners with Oxfam(<i>BioMed Central</i>) Today, Oxfam GB adopts "Open Repository" -- the service from open-access specialist BioMed Central, which allows organizations to build, launch, host and maintain their own repositories.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/bc-fpt012512.php Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/bc-fpt012512.phpPrenatal testosterone linked to increased risk of language delay for male infants, study shows(<i>Wiley-Blackwell</i>) New research by Australian scientists reveals that males who are exposed to high levels of testosterone before birth are twice as likely to experience delays in language development compared to females. The research, published in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, focused on umbilical cord blood to explore the presence of testosterone when the language-related regions of a fetus' brain are undergoing a critical period of growth.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/w-ptl012312.php Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/w-ptl012312.phpStudy: Off-campus college party hosts drink more than attendees(<i>Ohio State University</i>) On any given weekend, at least 10 percent of students at a single college could be hosting a party, and on average, party hosts who live off campus are drinking more and engaging in more alcohol-related problem behaviors than are the students attending their bashes, research suggests. In contrast, hosts of parties held on campus tend to drink less than do the students attending their gatherings, according to the study.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/osu-so012412.php Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/osu-so012412.phpBabies are born with 'intuitive physics' knowledge, says MU researcher(<i>University of Missouri-Columbia</i>) While it may appear that infants are helpless creatures that only blink, eat, cry and sleep, one University of Missouri researcher says that studies indicate infant brains come equipped with knowledge of "intuitive physics."http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/uom-bab012412.php Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/uom-bab012412.phpSupporting primary children's understanding of physics(<i>Economic & Social Research Council</i>) New software has significant benefits for primary school children and their understanding of elementary physics, research shows. Studies funded by the Economic and Social Research Council focused on what primary school children know when they begin studying physics, and how much they still have to learn. The studies looked at how much children understand about the movement of objects such as direction and speed.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/esr-spc012412.php Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/esr-spc012412.phpEarth Science Week 2012 theme announced: 'Discovering Careers in the Earth Sciences'(<i>American Geological Institute</i>) The American Geosciences Institute is pleased to announce that the theme of Earth Science Week 2012 will be ?Discovering Careers in the Earth Sciences.? This year?s event will boost awareness about the geosciences and the many exciting career and job opportunities in the field.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/agi-esw012312.php Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/agi-esw012312.phpTeam finds new way to image brain tumors and predict recurrence(<i>University of California - San Francisco</i>) After people with low-grade glioma, a type of brain cancer, undergo neurosurgery to remove the tumors, they face variable odds of survival -- depending largely on how rapidly the cancer recurs. Even though their doctors monitor the tumor closely with sophisticated imaging, it is difficult to determine with certainty whether cancer has returned in a more malignant state that requires aggressive treatment.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/uoc--tfn012312.php Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/uoc--tfn012312.phpWater sees right through graphene(<i>Rice University</i>) A new study by scientists at Rice University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has determined that gold, copper and silicon get just as wet when clad by a single continuous layer of graphene as they would without.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/ru-wsr012312.php Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/ru-wsr012312.phpNurturing mothers rear physically healthier adults(<i>Brandeis University</i>) Nurturing mothers have garnered accolades for rescuing skinned knees on the playground and coaxing their children to sleep with lullabies. Now they're gaining merit for their offspring's physical health in middle age. In a recent study published in the journal Psychological Science, Brandeis psychologist Margie Lachman and colleagues reveal that while children raised in families with low socioeconomic status frequently go on to have high rates of chronic illness in adulthood, a sizable minority remain healthy across the life course.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/bu-nmr012312.php Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/bu-nmr012312.phpAncient dinosaur nursery -- the oldest nesting site ever found(<i>University of the Witwatersrand</i>) An excavation at a site in South Africa has unearthed the 190-million-year-old dinosaur nesting site of the prosauropod dinosaur Massospondylus -- revealing significant clues about the evolution of complex reproductive behavior in early dinosaurs.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/uotw-adn012312.php Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/uotw-adn012312.phpMass. Eye and Ear granted $30,000 medical eye research fellowship(<i>Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary</i>) Research to Prevent Blindness has awarded Massachusetts Eye and Ear, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, a $30,000 Medical Student Eye Research Fellowship. The award will support the work of Mamta Shah.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/meae-mea012012.php Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/meae-mea012012.phpCarnegie's BioEYES honored twofold(<i>Carnegie Institution</i>) Carnegie's educational outreach program, BioEYES, will be the recipient of the 2012 Viktor Hamburger Outstanding Educator Prize from the Society for Developmental Biology. BioEYES founders Steve Farber and Jamie Shuda (University of Pennsylvania), will accept the award at the upcoming annual meeting of the society in Montreal in July. BioEYES, with program manager Valerie Butler, is also currently featured in a video on the front page of the Baltimore City Schools' website.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/ci-cb011912.php Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/ci-cb011912.phpONR sets date for 2012 Naval S&T Partnership Conference(<i>Office of Naval Research</i>) The Office of Naval Research's biennial 2012 Naval Science and Technology Partnership Conference will take place Oct. 22-24, officials announced Jan. 18. This year?s event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Va. Registration will open in the spring. The conference offers a chance for members of industry, academia and other government agencies to meet with ONR leaders and program managers, and investigate possibilities for collaboration.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/oonr-osd011912.php Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/oonr-osd011912.php15 minutes of fame lasts a bit longer for artists who hit pop charts(<i>University of Colorado Denver</i>) A detailed analysis of American pop music data shows musicians that hit the album charts spend, on average, a little more than five years there. More than one third will be 'one-hit wonders.'http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/uocd-fmo011912.php Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/uocd-fmo011912.phpWhen it comes to accepting evolution, gut feelings trump facts(<i>Ohio State University</i>) For students to accept the theory of evolution, an intuitive "gut feeling" may be just as important as understanding the facts, according to a new study. In an analysis of the beliefs of biology teachers, researchers found that a quick intuitive notion of how right an idea feels was a powerful driver of whether or not students accepted evolution -- often trumping factors such as knowledge level or religion.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/osu-wic011912.php Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/osu-wic011912.phpEARTH: Setting off a supervolcano(<i>American Geological Institute</i>) Supervolcanoes are one of nature's most destructive forces. In a matter of hours, an eruption from a supervolcano can force thousands of cubic meters of molten rock above ground, and scar landscapes with massive calderas and craters. These catastrophic eruptions have a global impact, and yet scientists still do not fully understand them. Today, a team of scientists studying Bolivia's Uturuncu volcano is trying to shed some light on how supervolcanoes can become so powerful.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/agi-eso011912.php Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/agi-eso011912.php

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/rss/education.xml

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Second Florida GOP Debate Covers Immigration, Health Care, and Lunar Colonies (ContributorNetwork)

The four Republican candidates for president met tonight in the second of two debates before Florida's primary on Tuesday. The debate was moderated by Wolf Blitzer, and topics ranged from immigration, to health care, to the idea of a colony on the moon.

What did the candidates have to say about their positions on immigration?

This topic was largely debated between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. Romney demanded an apology from Gingrich for saying that he was the most "anti-immigrant" of the four GOP candidates.

Romney was asked to discuss claims from his campaign ads that Gingrich had insinuated in a speech from 2007 that Spanish was "the language of living in a ghetto." Romney claimed not to have seen the ads in question. The debate between the two then moved to encompass the topic of self-deportation and amnesty for illegal immigrants who had lived in the United States for 25 years or more.

How did the health care portion of the debate break down?

Rick Santorum challenged Romney on Massachusetts' health care program, drawing parallels between it and President Barack Obama's current health care program. Politico quoted Santorum's claim that Romney favored "government-run, top-down medicine," such as Obama's national health care plan. Romney denied Santorum's assertions, stating that repealing "Obamacare" would be one of his first priorities in office.

Why was the idea of building a colony on the moon part of the debate?

NASA and its future are big issues in Florida. As such, Blitzer asked Gingrich to explain his proposal to build a colony on the moon at the same time that he intended to balance the federal budget.

According to the Washington Post, both Romney and Ron Paul responded negatively to the concept, with Paul stating that he didn't think people should go to the moon, but that "we should send some politicians up there." Romney asserted that as a businessman he would have fired a person that presented the idea of spending billions of dollars to build a moon colony. Gingrich defended himself by saying that candidates should be "responsive to the needs of the states that they campaigned in."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120127/pl_ac/10891375_second_florida_gop_debate_covers_immigration_health_care_and_lunar_colonies

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Friday, January 27, 2012

Apple CEO faces first test with cash mountain (Reuters)

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) ? Apple CEO Tim Cook has a problem, a $98 billion problem.

Just 18 months ago, Apple's $46 billion mountain of cash - while huge by most standards - attracted only muted complaints from investors, who did call for a dividend or share buyback, but were mostly happy with the meteoric rise in the stock price.

But with the growing cash balance now a much bigger overhang on the stock, widely considered to be undervalued, investors are clamoring more vocally for Cook to put the money to work.

No one could have foreseen just how quickly that warchest would grow. Indeed, some analysts estimated Apple's cash holdings would increase to $65 billion at the end of 201l. That it has swelled nearly 50 percent above even those lofty projections is nothing short of awesome.

Apple now has about $104 in cash per share.

But to paraphrase rapper P. Diddy, with more money comes more problems. Apple's runaway success presents Cook with his first real public test as chief executive officer - figuring out what to do with the money.

Apple's cash balance is now a quarter of its $415 billion market capitalization and roughly equals California's 2012-2013 state budget. And even though $64 billion of Apple's cash is overseas - meaning it will have to pay a hefty tax to bring it into the United States - calls for a dividend on Wall Street grew louder after the company said on Tuesday it was in "active discussions" internally on what to do with the money.

Wall Street is strongly in favor of Apple returning the money to shareholders through buybacks or dividends, even if it is only a one-time deal. But the ultra-conservative company, which typically ignores Wall Street, gave no clues about that during its earnings call on Tuesday.

"They are clearly trying to signal that they are not ignoring the issue," said Michael Holt, an analyst with Morningstar. "It doesn't mean that a decision is imminent."

Others, however, are convinced a dividend will be paid this year.

"With Apple stating that it is 'actively' pursuing its options with regards to its cash balance, we believe the commentary may be setting itself up for a cash dividend in FY12," Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White said, raising his target on the stock to $666.

Katy Huberty, an analyst with Morgan Stanley, echoed White's view, saying: "Apple appears committed to making a decision on cash return in the near-term and we continue to believe a dividend makes the most sense."

Some big technology companies have started paying a dividend to help allay investor concerns about slowing growth by returning part of their ample cash holdings. Cisco Systems Inc began paying a dividend last year, while Microsoft Corp started in 2003.

FAR TOO MUCH MONEY

Apple stock gained 25 percent in 2011, adding about $77 billion to its market cap and it touched an all-time high of $454.45 on Wednesday. Some continue to bank on a share-price rise to as high as $700.

The company's core business is throwing off massive amounts of cash every quarter - Apple recorded a $16 billion increase in cash sequentially - in part because of its reluctance to pay a dividend or buy back stock and its limited acquisition history.

The company earned a mere 0.77 percent on its cash and investments in fiscal 2011, mostly due to its preference for safe, but low-yielding U.S. Treasury and agency debt.

This is a tad higher than the 0.75 percent it earned in fiscal 2010, but down from 1.43 percent in fiscal 2009, 3.44 percent in 2008 and 5.27 percent in 2007.

Fiscal prudence has long been part of Apple's mantra and the Cupertino, California-based company runs a tight ship with total revenue rising 66 percent in fiscal 2011, but operating expenses rising only 37 percent.

For now, Apple's Chief Financial Officer, Peter Oppenheimer, has veered away from his usual script, which was to tell Wall Street that Apple has always had internal discussions on the best use of its cash, with capital preservation being key.

He characterized these discussion as "active" on Tuesday.

"We recognize that the cash is growing for all the right reasons," Oppenheimer said, but added he had nothing to announce. "In the meantime, we're not letting it burn a hole in our pockets."

Oppenheimer also suggested that Apple might invest in its supply chain or make acquisitions. But Apple has typically preferred to acquire small companies, which has had little or no material impact on its results so far.

Apple's major expense last year was paying the lion's share to acquire - along with Microsoft and a few other companies - the patent portfolio of bankrupt telecommunications company Nortel for $4.5 billion.

Apple said it spent $4.3 billion in fiscal 2011 to acquire "property, plant and equipment," $3.2 billion in "acquisition of intangible assets" and $244 million in "payments made in connection with business acquisitions," according to its annual regulatory filing.

That is in sharp contrast to rivals such as Google Inc, which is acquiring Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion in cash, and which completed 54 acquisitions during the first nine months of last year alone. The company's $44.6 billion warchest of cash and investments at the end of December was far lower than Apple's.

Google has also resisted pressure to announce a dividend or buy back stock.

Apple may do the same in the next few months, said Michael Walkley, an analyst with Canaccord Genuity.

"We believe Apple is likely to announce a dividend during 2012, potentially next quarter when crossing $100 billion in cash and cash equivalents," Walkley said. "We view this as very bullish for investors, as we believe a new group of investors seeking dividends would invest in Apple and drive shares higher."

(Reporting By Poornima Gupta; editing by Andre Grenon)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120126/bs_nm/us_apple_cash

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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Barcelona's Iniesta out for 2-3 weeks with injury

Associated Press Sports

updated 9:39 a.m. ET Jan. 26, 2012

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -Barcelona says midfielder Andres Iniesta will be sidelined for three weeks with a muscle tear in his left thigh.

Iniesta was injured in the first half of Barcelona's 2-2 draw with Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals on Wednesday. Barcelona advanced 4-3 on aggregate score.

Barcelona also lost forward Alexis Sanchez during the game with a shoulder injury that will keep him out for one-to-two weeks.

Both players will miss Saturday's Spanish league match at Villarreal and the first leg of the Cope del Rey semifinals next week against either Valencia or Levante.

Barcelona is already without striker David Villa, midfielder Ibrahim Afellay and defender Andreu Fontas because of long-term injuries.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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More newsAFP - Getty Images
Barca holds off Madrid rally

Pedro Rodriguez and Daniel Alves scored first-half goals, and Barcelona held off a spirited Real Madrid comeback attempt to eliminate the defending Copa del Rey champion with a 2-2 tie Wednesday night.

Do-or-die

The U.S. women's soccer team was still on the field, having dispatched rival Mexico, when Abby Wambach gathered her teammates for a little speech.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/44488723/ns/sports-soccer/

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GOPers on Obama speech: Fail (Politico)

Republican presidential candidates trotted out their favorite lines of attack against President Barack Obama in response to his State of the Union address Tuesday night.

Though the GOP rivals don?t agree on much of anything these days, the chorus from the campaign trail could be heard loud and clear following Obama?s address: the president?s agenda won?t work.

Continue Reading

Though he wasn?t specifically named in the speech, Mitt Romney provided the perfect real-life example for the president as he proposed raising taxes on millionaires. Whether or not the timing was accidental, Romney released his tax record on Tuesday morning showing an annual income of $20 million and a tax rate of 15 percent.

But instead of hitting back, Romney outlined his own economic plan in post-speech interview with NBC.

Romney evoked Florida, the next state to vote in the primary season, and citied its 9.9 percent unemployment figure, which is higher than the national average.

?The idea that we?re on the right track is something which is very foreign to the people here,? he said.

Romney suggested that Obama had co-opted some of his own ideas. Earlier in the day, Romney delivered a more extensive ?prebuttal? of the Obama speech.

?A whole series of ideas that I?ve been speaking about, if you want the economy going. Lower corporate tax rates, of course he?s raised them,? Romney said. ?Lower the level of regulation, of course he?s added regulation at three times of his predecessor. Take advantage of all of our energy resources. He?s really held off on coal, on oil, on gas, on nuclear. Crackdown on China, those are things I?ve been saying.

?What he?s been doing is the exact opposite of that and that?s why it?s been so hard on this economy to recover,? Romney said.

Newt Gingrich dinged the president for proposing a tax increase on the wealthy. Gingrich, who frequently refers to Obama as the ?food stamp president,? continued that line of attack.

?Bigger government and higher taxes will instead lead to more people on food stamps, a situation which the President and his party defend as a fair outcome,? Gingrich said in a statement. ?Here we have to confront the truth about President Obama. Economic growth and prosperity is not really at the top of his agenda.?

Gingrich pointed to the Keystone Pipeline as an example of a failed Obama policy.

?Only recently, the president canceled the Keystone XL Pipeline that would have created countless new jobs and helped America on the way to energy independence because he wanted to appease the far left of his party,? he said. ?And yet not a single word on the Keystone XL pipeline tonight.?

Rick Santorum pushed the argument that Obama is engaging in class warfare, calling him the ?Divider-in-Chief? in a statement.

?Tonight Barack Obama transformed the President?s annual State of the Union address into the kick-off of his re-election campaign,? he said in a statement. ?From beginning to end, the American people heard more of the same ? empty promises and grand platitudes that will do nothing to help the millions of Americans who are unemployed or under-employed find a good paying job.?

And Ron Paul decried the fact that Obama didn?t mention the Federal Reserve and its role in denying Americans a ?fair shot,? as well as Paul?s efforts to bring transparency to the financial entity.

And Paul chastised Obama for failing to support his son, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul?s, recent run-in with the Transportation Security Administration.

?In the area of foreign policy and civil liberties, President Obama?s rhetoric may be different, but the substance of his polices - as shown by his administration?s defense of the TSA?s treatment of my son, Senator Rand Paul, is hardly ?change we can believe in,?? Paul said.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/politico_rss/rss_politico_mostpop/http___www_politico_com_news_stories0112_71932_html/44295990/SIG=11mdsoe7m/*http%3A//www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71932.html

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Star to Make Amends With Barbara on 'The View'? (omg!)

Star to Make Amends With Barbara on 'The View'?

It's been nearly six years since Star Jones left The View on less than friendly terms with Barbara Walters, and it seems the long-standing feud between the former co-hosts will finally come to an end.

Video: Star Jones Has A Heart On 'Celebrity Apprentice'

Slated for a February 22 appearance, Star will join the ladies of The View to promote the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign which aims to raise awareness about heart disease in women, an issue Jones and Walters hold dear as both underwent open heart surgery in 2010.

[Photos] Friend and Foe: Reality Show Frenemies

Jones was one of the talk show's five original co-hosts, but left abruptly in 2006 after announcing live on air that the show had decided to shift in a new direction without her, a move that surprised and angered creator Barbara Walters.

Video: Star Jones' Feud with Lisa Rinna?

The View airs weekdays on ABC.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_star_amends_barbara_view102400698/44298463/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/star-amends-barbara-view-102400698.html

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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

France tempers talk of quick Afghanistan pullout (AP)

PARIS ? France's troops won't be pulled hastily from Afghanistan, says foreign minister Alain Juppe, adding that talk of a retreat by the end of 2012 isn't "well thought out and examined."

Speaking Tuesday during a question and answer session in parliament, Juppe said "when I hear talk of an immediate pullout, or even by the end of 2012, I'm not sure that's well thought out and examined."

Last week Francois Hollande ? the Socialist front-runner in next spring's presidential election ? pledged to bring France's roughly 4,000 troops home from Afghanistan by the end of the year.

That followed President Nicolas Sarkozy's comment that if security for troops is not restored, "then the question of an early withdrawal of the French army would arise."

Current plans are for French troops to return home by 2014, when NATO is due to wind up its combat mission in Afghanistan.

In Afghanistan Tuesday, President Hamid Karzai declared an emergency in the mountainous Badakhshan province in the northeast.

He promised a relief fund of $160,000 after heavy snow and avalanches killed at least 46 people in the last week. Avalanches are an annual problem in the mountainous country.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120124/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan

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Video: Inside Apple's 'Monster' Quarter

Apple posted blowout earnings numbers despite continued economic uncertainty around the globe. What's driving iPad and iPhone sales now? Gene Munster, Piper Jaffray, and CNBC's Jon Fortt, discuss. "Retail [is] up 59%," says Fortt.

Related Links:

Business & financial news headlines from msnbc.com

Top of page

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/46121559/

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Today on New Scientist: 24 January 2012

The Pirate Bay filesharing site offers 3D objects

The Pirate Bay, one of the internet's best-known sites for downloading copyrighted material, now offers 3D files to print physical objects at home

Erectile function restored with stem cells

Pig intestine coated with stem cells has been used to treat erectile dysfunction in rats with the hope that a similar therapy can be used in humans

Education campaigner wants to expel climate denial

Eugenie Scott has struggled to keep creationism out of the classroom - now her organisation is taking on climate change deniers too

Physics in a Minute: How wings really create lift

Watch smoke flow over an aerofoil as we debunk a common misconception about wing aerodynamics

Virtual projection lets you share your phone's screen

The software lets you borrow any nearby computer screen to display images from your mobile phone

Chemists should effervesce about their science

Much technology relies on it, but chemistry is all but invisible to the general population - chemists should spread their excitement, says David Phillips

The solar system on paper

Astronomical showcases the scale of our solar system in book form, with tiny planets surrounded by pages and pages of deep black nothingness

One-way evolution: The ladder of life makes a comeback

The concept of progress has been purged from evolutionary theory. Is it time to let it back in?

Immune system may help to trigger the menopause

A review of genetic data from 50,000 women suggests genes involved in the immune system may play a part in stopping women's biological clock

'Lab lit' is a chance to show what we're really like

Science is Vital founder Jenny Rohn explains why she seeks to immortalise laboratory life in literature

Scotland's social mind will settle independence vote

Will Scotland vote to leave the United Kingdom? A social psychological analysis may provide clues, say Dominic Abrams and Peter Grant

How a boa strangles its prey

Watch a boa constrictor wrap itself around a dead rat, showing how it suffocates its prey

Magnetic soap could clean up oil spills

The particles in a new form of soap contain a metallic centre that responds to a magnetic field

'Newt Skywalker' wins South Carolina primary

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich supports conservation and space exploration, but has back-pedalled on climate change

US Supreme Court rules GPS tracking requires a warrant

Police departments will need to acquire search warrants if they want to use GPS trackers on suspects' vehicles, the Supreme Court ruled

Pupils constrict at the thought of brightness

Optical illusions designed to seem brighter than they are make your pupils constrict, suggesting we have evolved systems for anticipating dazzling light

YouTube sucks up one hour of video every second

Our appetite for crazy kittens, bad karaoke and video game conquests is apparently insatiable

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/492992/s/1c199134/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cshortsharpscience0C20A120C0A10Ctoday0Eon0Enew0Escientist0E240Ejanu0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

How to Make Cheap Whiskey Taste Like Fancy Whiskey [Video]

You like whiskey. You looooove good whiskey. You can't afford to drop hundreds of dollars on high-end bottle. You stick with rotgut, right? Nope. There's a new process of hyper-aging booze that apparently turns run-of-the-mill whiskey into dark and delicious firewater of the gods. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/9MTn2sTIIzU/how-to-make-cheap-whiskey-taste-like-fancy-whiskey

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Tracy Morgan of '30 Rock' collapses at Sundance

FILE - In this June 21, 2011 file photo, comedian and actor Tracy Morgan arrives at a news conference with Kevin Rogers, right, in Nashville, Tenn. The publicist for comedian and "30 Rock" cast member Tracy Morgan says the actor wasn't drinking when he collapsed Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012, at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, file)

FILE - In this June 21, 2011 file photo, comedian and actor Tracy Morgan arrives at a news conference with Kevin Rogers, right, in Nashville, Tenn. The publicist for comedian and "30 Rock" cast member Tracy Morgan says the actor wasn't drinking when he collapsed Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012, at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, file)

(AP) ? The publicist for comedian and "30 Rock" cast member Tracy Morgan says the actor suffered from a combination of exhaustion and altitude when he collapsed at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

Publicist Lewis Kay says Morgan is grateful to the medical center staff for their care Sunday in Park City, where the elevation is 7,000 feet.

Morgan was escorted from the Creative Coalition Spotlight Awards ceremony Sunday night at the festival.

Kay says Morgan is seeking medical attention and is with his fiancee. He says hospital officials report no drugs or alcohol were found in Morgan's system.

Morgan is attending Sundance in connection with the comedy film "Predisposed," one of the 100 films at the festival, in which he plays a drug dealer named Sprinkles.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-01-23-Film-Sundance-Tracy%20Morgan/id-d0c8b11871214dbda87ab8a27670d06b

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Monday, January 23, 2012

Report: Russia to deliver combat jets to Syria (AP)

MOSCOW ? Russia has signed a contract to sell combat jets to Syria, a newspaper reported Monday, in apparent support for President Bashar Assad and open defiance of international condemnation of his regime's bloody crackdown.

The respected business daily Kommersant, citing an unidentified source close to Russia's Rosoboronexport state arms trader, said the $550-million deal envisions the delivery of 36 Yak-130 aircraft. A spokesman for Rosoboronexport refused to comment on the report.

If confirmed, the deal would cement Russian opposition to international efforts to put pressure on Assad's regime over its attempts to snuff out the country's uprising. The U.N. says more than 5,400 people have died over 10 months. The report of the sale comes the same day that Human Rights Watch called Russia's backing of the Syrian regime "immoral."

The Yak-130 is a twin-engined combat trainer jet that can also be used to attack ground targets. The Russian air force has recently placed an order for 55 such jets.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said last week that Moscow doesn't consider it necessary to offer an explanation or excuses over suspicions that a Russian ship had delivered munitions to Syria despite an EU arms embargo.

Russia was acting in full respect of international law and wouldn't be guided by unilateral sanctions imposed by other nations, he said.

Lavrov also accused the West of turning a blind eye to attacks by opposition militants and supplies of weapons to the Syrian opposition from abroad and warned that Russia will block any attempt by the West to secure United Nations support for the use of force against Syria.

Russia has been a strong ally of Syria since Soviet times when the country was led by the president's father Hafez Assad. It has supplied Syria with aircraft, missiles, tanks and other modern weapons.

Igor Korotchenko, head of the Center of Analysis of the Global Arms trade, an independent think-tank, said the jet deal apparently reflected Moscow's belief that Assad would stay at the helm.

"With this contract, Russia is expressing confidence that President Assad would manage to retain control of the situation, because such deals aren't signed with a government whose hold on power raises doubts," Korotchenko was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying. "It's another gesture by Moscow underlining its confidence that Damascus will remain its strategic partner and ally in the Middle East."

Another Moscow-based military analyst, Ruslan Pukhov, said, however, that Russia might be too optimistic about Assad's prospects.

"This contract carries a very high degree of risk," Pukhov told Kommersant. "Assad's regime may fall and that would lead to financial losses for Russia and also hurt its image."

Human Rights Watch warned Russia that by supporting Assad it is repeating the mistakes of some Western governments during the Arab Spring, saying they were too slow to recognize the popular desire for democratic change in places like Egypt and Bahrain.

"Armed elements shooting at government soldiers is materially different from government representatives shooting deliberately at unarmend civilians," Carroll Bogert, the group's deputy executive director, said at a news conference in Moscow that followed the release of HRW's annual report.

She added that the overwhelming number of victims in Syria is on the side of the demonstrators.

"The continued support of this regime is immoral and not permissible," Bogert said. "The West has already made serious mistakes with the support of Arab regimes. Russia's repetition of those mistakes will lead to tragic consequences."

____

Sofia Javed in Moscow contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/russia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120123/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_syria

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How to fix California's college tuition problem

California residents are frustrated over the UC university system's uniform pricing. Would it be better if each campus set its own tuition rates?

Students want an excellent education and low tuition but a "free lunch" is hard to find during these tough times. ?The LA Times has some choice quotes over the pain and frustration playing out in California. ?As I understand it, all nine UC Campuses charge the same tuition prices. ?This is the problem. ?

Skip to next paragraph Matthew Kahn

Mathew is an economics professor at UCLA and has written three books: Green Cities (Brookings Institution Press); Heroes and Cowards (Princeton University Press, jointly with Dora L. Costa); and in fall 2010, Climatopolis: How Our Cities Will Thrive in the Hotter World (Basic Books).

Recent posts

I suggest that each UC campus be allowed to set its own tuition and that the rules are such that 10% of the collected revenue is redistributed from the top 4 schools in terms of tuition is sent to the 5 campuses that charge less. ??If the UC feels innovative, it could charge different tuition prices by campus and by major. ?Such customization of tuition would generate more revenue, offer students more financing options. ? ?One definition of discrimination is to treat different UC campuses the same.

While people moan about rising UC tuition, they forget that the UC is much cheaper than Ivy League schools (our peers!) and that?many students transfer into the UC from a community college. ?This means that their effective tuition is roughly 30% lower because the formula (assuming an interest rate of 0%) becomes ?.5*community college tuition + .5*UC in-state tuition. ?

Switching subjects: ? I would like to show my appreciation to my uncountable number of blog readers by revealing my blog royalties for the last 3 months.

Publication:
Environmental and Urban Economics
Earnings This Reporting Period:
$28.30
So, over the course of 3 months I post around 100 entries. If it takes me 10 minutes to write each of these then that's 1000 minutes or roughly 16 hours so $28/16 = $1.6 an hour ?---- not bad for a big bad full prof at UCLA?

The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of the best economy-related bloggers out there. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. To contact us about a blogger, click here. To add or view a comment on a guest blog, please go to the blogger's own site by clicking on greeneconomics.blogspot.com.

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Sunday, January 22, 2012

Wildfire near Reno destroys more than 20 homes

A house burns just south of the Old 395 Gas Station Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 in Washoe Valley, Nev. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire south of Reno out of control on Thursday as it burned several homes, threatened dozens more and forced more than 4,000 people to evacuate their neighborhoods. (AP Photo/The Reno Gazette-Journal, Liz Margerum) NEVADA APPEAL OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES

A house burns just south of the Old 395 Gas Station Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 in Washoe Valley, Nev. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire south of Reno out of control on Thursday as it burned several homes, threatened dozens more and forced more than 4,000 people to evacuate their neighborhoods. (AP Photo/The Reno Gazette-Journal, Liz Margerum) NEVADA APPEAL OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES

Firefighters battle a fast-moving brush fire burns in Pleasant Valley, south of Reno, Nev., on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire through a valley south of Reno on Thursday, burning several homes, threatening dozens more and forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate their neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Cathleen Allison)

The ruins of a home in Pleasant Valley, south of Reno, Nev. smolders as firefighters battle a wind-driven brush fire on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire south of Reno out of control on Thursday as it burned several homes, threatened dozens more and forced more than 4,000 people to evacuate their neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Cathleen Allison)

The ruins of a home in Pleasant Valley, south of Reno, Nev. smolders as firefighters battle a wind-driven brush fire on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire south of Reno out of control on Thursday as it burned several homes, threatened dozens more and forced more than 4,000 people to evacuate their neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Cathleen Allison)

Firefighters wait for water before attacking an outbuilding adjacent to a home Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 in Pleasant Valley, Nev. Winds gusting up to 82 mph pushed a fast-moving brush fire south of Reno out of control on Thursday as it burned several homes, threatened dozens more and forced more than 4,000 people to evacuate their neighborhoods. (AP Photo/The Reno Gazette-Journal, Tim Dunn) NEVADA APPEAL OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES

RENO, Nev. (AP) ? Fire officials say more than 20 homes have been destroyed by a fast-moving brush fire near Reno, Nev., that has forced about 10,000 people to evacuate their neighborhoods.

Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez says there also has been one fatality, but it's not clear how the death is related to the fire.

Firefighters were able to stop the fire's progress Thursday, but not before wind gusts of up to 82 mph sent it rushing through a valley south of Reno.

Flames could be seen from the downtown casino district about 10 miles away.

The winds died down after nightfall and rain started falling. More wet weather is expected as firefighters work through the weekend to fully contain the blaze.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-01-20-Reno%20Brush%20Fire/id-afc41f052a254cfab31b7ee66c1bf4d0

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Friday, January 20, 2012

Where You Vote May Affect How

60-Second Science60-Second Science | Mind & Brain

Subjects randomly surveyed within view of a church gave more conservative responses than those surveyed within view of a secular school. Katherine Harmon reports.

More 60-Second Science

On election day, where do you vote? If it's in a church, you might be inclined to vote more conservatively than if you cast your ballot at a school or government building. That?s according to research published in the International Journal for the Psychology of Religion. [Jordan P. LaBouff et al, Differences in Attitudes Toward Outgroups in Religious and Nonreligious Contexts in a Multinational Sample: A Situational Context Priming Study]

And the effect seems to hold, whether you?re Christian, Muslim or agnostic, progressive, independent or conservative.

The study found that when random people were surveyed in front of a church, they gave more socially and politically conservative responses than people surveyed while standing in front of a government building.

The shift in people's attitudes, the researchers suggest, was likely a result of visual priming?meaning that people who could see the religious building were, consciously or not, getting cues that influenced their response.

The surveys were conducted in Europe, so it's possible American voters might react differently. But the survey included subjects from more than 30 countries to try to minimize a particular national bias. So before you cast your vote this election year, think about whether your view is influencing your views.

?Katherine Harmon

[The above text is a transcript of this podcast]??
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