For the not-so-serious drinker: Marshmallow vodka (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) ? Vodkas flavored with citrus and berry have been around for years and recently some newer brands have been trying to create buzz with unusual flavors.

But this holiday season, for the first time, the world's largest vodka brand is trying to appeal to Americans' sweet tooth with zany flavors like "fluffed marshmallow" and "whipped cream."

Faced with relentless competition from established and upstart brands, Smirnoff's owner -- the London-based beverage group Diageo Plc -- took inspiration from things like cookie-scented candles and vanilla-scented laundry soap. It then relied on focus groups, mixologists and food scientists to come up with the new drinks, which went through some 15 iterations, according to the company's chief marketing and innovation officer for North America, Peter McDonough.

Tasters preferred a "toasted" marshmallow flavor, but the marketing team decided that "fluffed" marshmallow would be a better name, McDonough said, since it would help avoid perceptions that the drink tasted "chalky or burnt."

Diageo paired the drinks with an advertising campaign around the title "Fluffed and Whipped" that features a circus of dancers, dogs, aerialists, women spraying whipped cream into their mouths and model Amber Rose purring that "vodka never felt this good."

YOUNG VS MATURE DRINKERS

The mixing of sugar and spice has struck a chord, particularly with younger, female drinkers, say some New York bartenders.

"In five years of bartending, I have never seen a bottle sell out that fast," said Dena Kravitz of Rosie O'Grady's Irish Pub in Manhattan's Times Square. "It's the martini of the younger generation."

Smirnoff, born in Russia about 150 years ago, says it is trying to make itself relevant and cool to younger adults, drinkers in their 20s and 30s. But some industry opponents see sweet drinks as moves to lure under-age drinkers who can use them to transition from soft drinks to hard liquor.

"I see this move into these sweet drinks as catering to a youthful taste," said James Mosher, president of Alcohol Policy Consultations, a private consultancy group. "This is not a drink that a mature adult is going to prefer."

Mosher wrote an article slated for publication in the January 2012 issue of The American Journal of Public Health in which he argues that youth-oriented marketing campaigns by Smirnoff and other distilled spirits, which appeal to underage drinkers, were a key factor in the rise of spirits consumption over the past decade in the United States.

Furthermore, the sexy images and allusions in the "Fluffed and Whipped" ad put Diageo in the dog house at industry watchdog group Alcohol Justice, which did a "Doghouse Blog" entry on it in November, saying the campaign "may have set the bar at a new low" for what it calls "pornahol" ads, or those that "use sexual innuendo and objectification to sell alcoholic beverages."

Diageo, which says the target market for the new varieties is 25-to-35-year-old men and women, rejects any suggestion that it is marketing to kids and cited four investigations into alcohol marketing by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that concluded that industry ads were directed at adults.

Diageo called Mosher's article "seriously flawed and unsupported by government data and marketplace realities."

As for the sexy ad, McDonough defended it and called it "a little bit tongue-in-cheek."

Diageo, the world's biggest spirits maker, has a portfolio that includes Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, Captain Morgan rum and Jose Cuervo tequila.

GOING STRAIGHT TO DESSERT

The notion of confectionary flavors in alcoholic drinks is not new. In recent years, smaller producers have come out with Cupcake Vodka, Burnett's Whipped Cream Flavored Vodka, Pinnacle Cotton Candy Vodka, Three Olives Bubble Gum Vodka and Georgi Candy Cane Vodka. Diageo already sells Godiva Chocolate vodka, Ciroc Coconut vodka and Qream, an ice-cream inspired liqueur.

But Smirnoff is the first very large brand to go straight to dessert.

Smirnoff, the top-selling vodka in the United States, has faced competition from small, fast-growing brands that have more cachet, such as Bacardi's Grey Goose and Diageo's Ciroc.

Its sales in the United States are still more than double those of the No. 2 vodka, Pernod Ricard's Absolut, but its market share slipped and it reported net sales fell 2 percent in North America in the fiscal year that ended June 30.

In the months that followed, Smirnoff has seen sales increase, with U.S. sales up 3.6 percent in November, Diageo said, citing data from industry sales tracker IRI.

The beverage behemoth has been pulling out all the stops, including sponsoring a reality television show and various nightlife events. Diageo said Smirnoff controls about 30 percent of the flavored vodka market, a fast-growing segment. According to Nielsen data, in the 12 months that ended November 12, flavored vodka sales rose 20 percent to account for 19 percent of all U.S. vodka sales. Unflavored vodka sales rose only 2 percent over the same period.

But the more unusual the flavor, the more limited its appeal, some say.

"As they become more esoteric, you've got to wonder what the return on these is, since you're speaking to a smaller and smaller consumer base," said Alexander Smith, editor-in-chief of the IWSR Magazine.

And while sweet cocktails in the United States date back to a rum punch by the original first lady Martha Washington, certainly not everyone wants sugar in their alcoholic drinks.

"It's too much," said one man in his 40s who was drinking recently at a bar in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood, when asked about the new Smirnoff flavors. "It's too, too much."

For now, at least, Smirnoff does not have to share the pie with its larger rivals.

For Absolut, confectionary-inspired flavors would "not be consistent with" the brand's flavor strategy, a spokesman said. Its newest creations include Absolut Grapevine, a blend of white grape, dragon fruit and papaya.

Skyy Vodka, owned by Italy's Campari, also has a slightly different strategy. It says its flavors -- such as ginger, pineapple and coconut -- are based on real fruit infusions rather than using artificial sweeteners.

"We don't think that consumer is interested in flavors derived from the candy aisle at their local convenience store," said Skyy spokesman Dave Karraker.

(Reporting By Martinne Geller in New York, editing by Matthew Lewis)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/oddlyenough/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111228/od_nm/us_diageo_smirnoff

wake forest blake griffin old dominion insync ufc results the duchess the duchess

johnsateno will do 25 comment or leave testimonial through facebook account for $5

x

Fiverr's User Protection Policy

At Fiverr, user information is always kept private and secure, our users can choose to remain anonymous even when paying or getting paid.

Buyers and sellers are entitled to cancel orders that have not been delivered successfully, on time, or at all.

Fiverr will do its best to protect sellers against user misbehavior, including removal of false feedback or ratings left by other sellers. We invest a lot of effort in making sure that untrusted people stay away from Fiverr.

Fiverr provides 24x7 customer support services to assist you with account issues, orders and any type of problem with the site. Our team of moderators constantly monitor and clean Fiverr, removing poor quality and improper content, spammers and other wrong doers.

Poor quality sellers hurt the community and first and foremost other great sellers. That said, if you are a seller and your account has been restricted, you will be able to withdraw your cleared earnings.

All subject to our Terms of Service.

Source: http://fiverr.com/johnsateno/do-25-comment-or-leave-testimonial-through-facebook-account

grace potter ryan mathews the band perry faith hill cma awards 2011 cma awards 2011 western black rhino

When Viruses Invade the Brain

Head Lines | Mind & Brain See Inside

Neurodegenerative diseases may result from a nasal infection

By Stephani Sutherland ?| December 28, 2011?|

Image: Patrick McDonogh/Getty Images

Neurodegenerative diseases were once considered disorders of the mind, rooted in psychology. Now viruses rank among the environmental factors thought to trigger brain-ravaging diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer?s disease. Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), in particular, has been linked to MS in past studies. Neuroscientist Steven Jacobson and his colleagues at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke have determined that the virus makes its entry to the human brain through the olfactory pathway, right along with the odors wafting into our nose.

The researchers tested samples of brain cells from people with MS and healthy control subjects and found evidence of the virus in the olfactory bulb in both groups. Infection via the nasal passage is probably quite common, as is harboring a dormant reservoir of HHV-6, but in people with MS, the virus is active. Genetics and other unknown environmental factors probably determine the likelihood of the virus reactivating once inside the brain, which can cause the disease to progress.

The virus appears to invade the brain by infecting a type of glial cell called olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), which nourish smell-sensing neurons and guide them from the olfactory bulb to their targets in the nervous system. These targets include the limbic system, a group of evolutionarily old structures deep in the brain, ?which is where viruses like to reactivate,? Jacobson explains. He points out that olfactory neurons and their OECs are among the few brain cells known to regenerate throughout our life. This neurogenesis may keep our sense of smell sharp, but at the cost of providing the virus the opportunity to spread.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=ac5de3711f7dff810a7fc7152da3620c

once upon a time once upon a time sharia law sharia law demarco murray ed reed teresa giudice

2001 Ford Fiesta Flight from UK and Ireland

Fun to drive, cheap to run and repair, simple and basic interior but engine is reliable and responsive and in 1.st, 2.nd, 3.rd gears the car is nippy but lack of torque means poor acceleration in 4.th and 5.th gear.

I could write better review if car was higher up model with more features; but for this, the flight, I was very disappointed with lack of trip computer, rev counter, temperature gauge and anti-lock brakes.

Doors ice up easily denying access in sub zero temperatures.

This car also steams up quickly in wet and I've bought dehumidifier to try alleviate the problem to increase visibility.

Cabin noise on motorway is rather intrusive, I had ringing ears after some journeys.

Radio is unsatisfactory with 2.1 sound system, speakers are installed in the rear however there is no wire loom to connect them.

Generous boot space for hatchback.

Standard cassette player is outdated; cassette adapters are available for iPods.

Fuel efficiency is good but could be better (38 mpg combined).

Wing mirrors are small and limits perspective. This especially bothersome when parking. Central mirror suffers same problem and its difficult to set it in a optimum viewing position for driving.

Cleanage of air filter and crankshaft pressure release to prevent failures and reduced fuel economy.

Braking power is very poor even when firm, it is ideal to brake well in advance.

Grips well in ice and snow due to front wheel drive and light weight of car (900kg).

3 star Euro NCAP better than most small hatchbacks from its era but by no means safest car to be in during an accident.

Drive sensibly and the car shouldn't give you too much trouble. I'm nit-picking with many issues herein other than exhaust; it's a good little runaround and many failures/problems stated are typical of any vehicle.

Source: http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/ford/fiesta/2001/

san diego chargers san diego chargers j.r. martinez snl lance ball lance ball kansas city chiefs

Over 65 million years North American mammal evolution has tracked with climate change

Over 65 million years North American mammal evolution has tracked with climate change

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

History often seems to happen in waves ? fashion and musical tastes turn over every decade and empires give way to new ones over centuries. A similar pattern characterizes the last 65 million years of natural history in North America, where a novel quantitative analysis has identified six distinct, consecutive waves of mammal species diversity, or "evolutionary faunas." What force of history determined the destiny of these groupings? The numbers say it was typically climate change.

"Although we've always known in a general way that mammals respond to climatic change over time, there has been controversy as to whether this can be demonstrated in a quantitative fashion," said Brown University evolutionary biology Professor Christine Janis. "We show that the rise and fall of these faunas is indeed correlated with climatic change ? the rise or fall of global paleotemperatures ? and also influenced by other more local perturbations such as immigration events."

Specifically, of the six waves of species diversity that Janis and her Spanish collaborators describe online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, four show statistically significant correlations with major changes in temperature. The two transitions that show a weaker but still apparent correlation with the pattern correspond to periods when mammals from other continents happened to invade in large numbers, said Janis, who is the paper's senior and second author.

Previous studies of the potential connection between climate change and mammal species evolution have counted total species diversity in the fossil record over similar time periods. But in this analysis, led by postdoctoral scholar Borja Figueirido, the scientists asked whether there were any patterns within the species diversity that might be significant. They were guided by a similar methodology pioneered in a study of "evolutionary faunas" in marine invertebrates by Janis' late husband Jack Sepkoski, who was a paleontologist at the University of Chicago.

What the authors found is six distinct and consecutive groupings of mammal species that shared a common rise, peak and decline in their numbers. For example, the "Paleocene fauna" had largely given way to the "early-middle Eocene fauna" by about 50 million years ago. Moreover, the authors found that these transfers of dominance correlated with temperature shifts, as reflected in data on past levels of atmospheric oxygen (determined from the isotopes in the fossilized remains of deep sea microorganisms).

By the numbers, the research showed correlations between species diversity and temperature change, but qualitatively, it also provided a narrative of how the traits of typical species within each wave made sense given the changes in vegetation that followed changes in climate. For example, after a warming episode about 20 million years in the early Miocene epoch, the dominant vegetation transitioned from woodland to a savannah-like grassland. It is no surprise, therefore, that many of the herbivores that comprised the accompanying "Miocene fauna" had high-crowned teeth that allowed them to eat the foods from those savannah sources.

To the extent that the study helps clarify scientists' understanding of evolution amid climate changes, it does not do so to the extent that they can make specific predictions about the future, Janis said. But it seems all the clearer that climate change has repeatedly had meaningful effect over millions of years.

"Such perturbations, related to anthropogenic climatic change, are currently challenging the fauna of the world today, emphasizing the importance of the fossil record for our understanding of how past events affected the history of faunal diversification and extinction, and hence how future climactic changes may continue to influence life on earth," the authors wrote in the paper.

###

Brown University: http://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau

Thanks to Brown University for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 108 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/116324/Over____million_years_North_American_mammal_evolution_has_tracked_with_climate_change

diaspora social network diaspora breaking dawn premiere rock center nbpa itunes match itunes match

British Prime Minister to get his own iPad app to keep on top of Government business

British Prime Minister David Cameron has commissioned an iPad app that he hopes will enable him to become more efficient whilst dealing with day to day government business. App...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/4JkJi4HIRHk/story01.htm

ali fedotowsky ali fedotowsky krill oil krill oil black friday 2011 rhodium uppity

Weather deserves medal for clean air during 2008 Olympics

Public release date: 27-Dec-2011
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mary Beckman
mary.beckman@pnnl.gov
509-375-3688
DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Emission reductions during Beijing Olympics got help from weather

RICHLAND, Wash. -- New research suggests that China's impressive feat of cutting Beijing's pollution up to 50 percent for the 2008 Summer Olympics had some help from Mother Nature. Rain just at the beginning and wind during the Olympics likely contributed about half of the effort needed to clean up the skies, scientists found. The results also suggest emission controls need to be more widely implemented than in 2008 if pollution levels are to be reduced permanently.

Reporting their findings December 12 in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, co-author atmospheric chemist Xiaohong Liu at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National laboratory said, "In addition to the emission controls, the weather was very important in reducing pollution. You can see the rain washing pollution out of the sky and wind transporting it away from the area."

Liu and colleague Chun Zhao at PNNL and at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing took advantage of the emission controls China put into play before and during the August Olympics to study the relative contributions of both planning and nature. Chinese officials restricted driving, temporarily halted pollution-producing manufacturing and power plants, and even relocated heavy polluting industries in preparation for the games.

To find out if the controls worked as well as people hoped, the researchers modeled the pollution and weather conditions in the area before, during and after the Olympics. They compared the model's results with measured amounts of pollution, which matched well.

Adding up the sources of pollution and the sinks that cleared it out, the team found that emission sources dropped up to a half in the week just before and during the Olympics. And while some pollution got washed out by rain or fell out of the sky, most of it got blown away by wind.

"They got very lucky. There were strong storms right before the Olympics," said Liu.

In addition to rain, wind also helped. Beijing is bordered on the south by urban areas and on the north by mountains, so wind blowing north would carry more pollution into the city. Examining the direction of the wind, the researchers saw that it generally blew south in the time period covering the Olympic period.

"The area we looked at is about 50 miles south. This suggests that emission controls need to be on a regional scale rather than just a local scale," said Liu.

The importance of regional controls meshes well with previous research on 2008 Olympics air quality that focused on nitrogen-based pollutants.

Next, the researchers will be examining the effect of pollution on other weather events and climate change in China. Pollutants are very small particles, and some suspect they might be causing fog to form rather than rain due to numerous pollution particles in China, Liu said.

###

This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China.

Reference: Yi Gao, Xiaohong Liu, Chun Zhao, and Meigen Zhang. Emission controls versus meteorological conditions in determining aerosol concentrations in Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games, 2011 Atmos. Chem. Phys. 11, 12437-12451, DOI 0.5194/acp-11-12437-2011 (http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/12437/2011/acp-11-12437-2011.html).

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is a Department of Energy Office of Science national laboratory where interdisciplinary teams advance science and technology and deliver solutions to America's most intractable problems in energy, national security and the environment. PNNL employs 4,250 staff, has a $918 million annual budget, and has been managed by Ohio-based Battelle since the lab's inception in 1965. Follow PNNL on Facebook, Linked In and Twitter.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 27-Dec-2011
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mary Beckman
mary.beckman@pnnl.gov
509-375-3688
DOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Emission reductions during Beijing Olympics got help from weather

RICHLAND, Wash. -- New research suggests that China's impressive feat of cutting Beijing's pollution up to 50 percent for the 2008 Summer Olympics had some help from Mother Nature. Rain just at the beginning and wind during the Olympics likely contributed about half of the effort needed to clean up the skies, scientists found. The results also suggest emission controls need to be more widely implemented than in 2008 if pollution levels are to be reduced permanently.

Reporting their findings December 12 in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, co-author atmospheric chemist Xiaohong Liu at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National laboratory said, "In addition to the emission controls, the weather was very important in reducing pollution. You can see the rain washing pollution out of the sky and wind transporting it away from the area."

Liu and colleague Chun Zhao at PNNL and at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing took advantage of the emission controls China put into play before and during the August Olympics to study the relative contributions of both planning and nature. Chinese officials restricted driving, temporarily halted pollution-producing manufacturing and power plants, and even relocated heavy polluting industries in preparation for the games.

To find out if the controls worked as well as people hoped, the researchers modeled the pollution and weather conditions in the area before, during and after the Olympics. They compared the model's results with measured amounts of pollution, which matched well.

Adding up the sources of pollution and the sinks that cleared it out, the team found that emission sources dropped up to a half in the week just before and during the Olympics. And while some pollution got washed out by rain or fell out of the sky, most of it got blown away by wind.

"They got very lucky. There were strong storms right before the Olympics," said Liu.

In addition to rain, wind also helped. Beijing is bordered on the south by urban areas and on the north by mountains, so wind blowing north would carry more pollution into the city. Examining the direction of the wind, the researchers saw that it generally blew south in the time period covering the Olympic period.

"The area we looked at is about 50 miles south. This suggests that emission controls need to be on a regional scale rather than just a local scale," said Liu.

The importance of regional controls meshes well with previous research on 2008 Olympics air quality that focused on nitrogen-based pollutants.

Next, the researchers will be examining the effect of pollution on other weather events and climate change in China. Pollutants are very small particles, and some suspect they might be causing fog to form rather than rain due to numerous pollution particles in China, Liu said.

###

This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China.

Reference: Yi Gao, Xiaohong Liu, Chun Zhao, and Meigen Zhang. Emission controls versus meteorological conditions in determining aerosol concentrations in Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games, 2011 Atmos. Chem. Phys. 11, 12437-12451, DOI 0.5194/acp-11-12437-2011 (http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/11/12437/2011/acp-11-12437-2011.html).

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is a Department of Energy Office of Science national laboratory where interdisciplinary teams advance science and technology and deliver solutions to America's most intractable problems in energy, national security and the environment. PNNL employs 4,250 staff, has a $918 million annual budget, and has been managed by Ohio-based Battelle since the lab's inception in 1965. Follow PNNL on Facebook, Linked In and Twitter.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-12/dnnl-wdm122711.php

sugar cookie recipe sugar cookie recipe robert deniro how the grinch stole christmas macaroni and cheese festivus festivus

Drew Brees record: Saints quarterback breaks NFL record for yards passing in a season

Brees threw for 307 yards and four touchdowns, the last a 9-yard strike to Darren Sproles that set the record with 2:51 to go.

?So many people contributed to this, and I?m happy for them,? Brees said.

It was Brees? final pass of the game and it gave him 5,087 yards passing ? with one game still to play. Marino finished with 5,084 yards for the Miami Dolphins in 1984.

As Sproles spiked the ball, Brees put his arm over his head and started walking toward midfield while the Superdome crowd went wild and his teammates chased him down.

?Obviously it?s a special moment for the players, especially Drew,? Saints coach Sean Payton said. ?I couldn?t be more proud of him.?

Brees? four touchdowns gave him 276 for his career, moving him ahead of Joe Montana (273) and Vinny Testeverde (275) for ninth all-time. He is the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for more than 5,000 yards twice ? he had 5,069 in 2008.

Brees? first scoring pass went for 8 yards to Marques Colston and the second for 9 yards to Jimmy Graham. Graham?s TD catch was his 10th of the season, a new franchise high for a tight end. In the third quarter, Brees hit Robert Meachem for a score from 24 yards, which made it 28-10.

The Saints also had 463 total yards, giving them more than 6,857 offensive yards for the season, breaking the 2008 club record of 6,571 yards. New Orleans continues to close in on the NFL-record of 7,075 offensive yards in a season set by the 2000 St. Louis Rams.

Brees might have broken the record in the third quarter if not for Sproles? 92-yard kickoff return, which set up John Kasay?s 29-yard field goal. Brees also was intercepted twice in the game, once in the Falcons end zone, but New Orleans was still dominant enough to take a three-score lead.

The game became a romp when Julio Jones was stripped by Scott Shanle and Malcolm Jenkins returned it 30 yards for a score to make it 38-16 in the fourth quarter. The Superdome crowd was in full celebration by then, but the play also meant fans would have to wait until later in the fourth quarter before Brees finally got his chance to break the passing record.

Uncharacteristically, Brees had only a yard passing during a span of a little more than 18 minutes. Knowing he was closing in the record, the crowd howled, ?Drewwww? each time he took the field. He finally gave the fans what they wanted after Atlanta failed on a fourth-down try at its own 33. That gave Brees, who needed only 30 yards for the record at that point, just enough space to work with.

Matt Ryan had 258 yards passing and one TD, including a 21-yard scoring strike to Jones that gave the Falcons a 10-7 lead late in the first quarter.

New Orleans responded with a 10-play, 81-yard scoring drive on which Brees completed four of six passes for 48 yards, the last three to Colston, who had six catches for 69 yards in the first half.

Source: http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/click.phdo?i=81bea2662cbd6b25f4a62c2ae6bf31c7

widespread panic widespread panic richard stallman richard stallman williston north dakota williston north dakota kody brown

China, Japan unveil deals to tighten finance ties

(AP)? BEIJING ? Chinese and Japanese leaders have unveiled initiatives to tighten financial links between East Asia's economic giants and sometime rivals ? measures that could expand use of China's tightly controlled currency abroad.

During a visit to Beijing by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, the two governments said Sunday they will encourage use of their own currencies for trade, which now is conducted mostly in U.S. dollars.

They also agreed to have Japanese companies sell bonds denominated in China's yuan, a move that could help promote Beijing's gradual campaign to expand use of its currency abroad.

Source: http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~r/CBSNewsTheEarlyShowBoxOffice/~3/8ei5D9ARnFw/

al mvp ama awards 2011 ama awards 2011 uekman uekman music awards music awards

Jeffrey Sachs: Gorbachev and the Struggle for Democracy

Last week the world mourned and celebrated the life of Vaclav Havel, whose philosophy of living in truth brought freedom to his people and brought hope everywhere. This week we should celebrate another great revolutionary and Democrat, perhaps the world's greatest but least celebrated statesman. In recent days, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, now 80 years old, has bravely called upon the Russian Government to step down in the wake of rigged Parliamentary elections. In doing so, Gorbachev continues his remarkable and history-shaping campaign for democracy in Russia and around the world.

While democracy has taken firm hold in the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe following the collapse of communism in 1989, the same has not occurred in Russia and many of the other successor states of the former Soviet Union. Gorbachev has consistently denounced Russia's slide back to one-party, even one-man rule, as Russian strong man Vladimir Putin has increasingly clamped down on Russia's nascent democratic institutions in politics, the media, academia, and the regions.

Gorbachev is Russia's leading Democrat, yet he is widely reviled inside Russia, neglected in the United States, and unknown to youth around the world. The unheralded fact is that Gorbachev's commitment to democracy can be felt in all parts of today's world. He was vital not only to the peaceful re-democratization of Havel's Central Europe after 1989, but also to the spread of democracy within Africa and Asia during the past two decades. This month Gorbachev joins his countrymen in fighting for Russian democracy.

Gorbachev's personal fate was to become democratic leader of the world's least democratic institution, the Soviet Communist Party. He was elevated to power by the Party leadership in 1985 to breath new dynamism into the rapidly collapsing Soviet economy. Yet the rigidities and lies of the Soviet economic and political system proved to be largely impervious to change, culminating in the complete collapse of the Soviet state and economy in 1991.

During his six years of rule, Gorbachev was intent on renovating Soviet socialism through peaceful and democratic means. The problem, of course, was that the Soviet economy was a deranged system that directed people and resources through state commands, threats, and the force of the Gulag. Yet Gorbachev relentlessly tried to reform the system not through commands but through persuasion and appeals to truth and cooperation.

Without the terror and threats, Soviet central planning collapsed and the economy descended into massive shortages, collapsed production, and by 1991 an extreme financial crisis. The dire outcomes proved De Tocqueville's famous maxim that "the most dangerous moment for a bad government is when it begins to reform itself." Gorbachev was increasingly despised inside Russia because of the deteriorating economic conditions even as he was lifting the long-standing yoke of political oppression from his countrymen. Eventually he stepped down from power in December 1991 as the Soviet Union itself was dissolved, giving way to 15 successor countries.

I watched Gorbachev's actions up close during this historic period. During 1989-91, I was a senior economic advisor to several post-communist governments in Central and Eastern Europe. In country after country, it was Gorbachev himself who told his communist counterparts that their era of political monopoly was over, and that it was time for them to make room for the democratic forces of Europe. In Poland, for example, Gorbachev directly intervened in the summer of 1989 on behalf of the Solidarity opposition movement, telling Poland's communist leader Wojciech Jaruzelski that it was time to for the communist regime to share power with the Solidarity opposition. One month later, Poland's first post-communist Premier since World War II came to power.

Similar events transpired throughout the Soviet empire and beyond. Gorbachev repeatedly coaxed democratic change throughout Soviet-dominated Central and Eastern Europe and throughout the Soviet spheres of influence in Africa and Asia. Gorbachev's openness and reforms also had a ricochet effect of undermining extreme right-wing regimes around the world, whose raison d'etre had been their opposition to Soviet communism. In this way, Gorbachev's democratic reforms weakened the anti-communist racist regime in South Africa, and bolstered Nelson Mandela's democratic revolution in South Africa.

In the U.S., Ronald Reagan is generally given credit for victory in the Cold War. Gorbachev is mentioned, if at all, for succumbing to the arms-race pressures created by Reagan. Yet the key to the peaceful end of the Cold War was not the 1980s arms race or even America's widening technological superiority. In "normal" circumstances, the Soviet decline might have given rise to violence and the adventurism of war. The Soviet Union disbanded voluntarily despite tens of thousands of nuclear warheads. While countless heroic individuals in the Soviet Union valiantly gave their lives for this outcome, Gorbachev's personal commitment to peace and democracy was decisive. Moral leadership caused the peaceful end of an immoral system.

The West could have done much more to help Gorbachev's democratic reforms. In 1990-91, Gorbachev closely watched Poland's successful economic reforms and urged the West to support similar measures in the Soviet Union. Yet when Gorbachev appealed for Western assistance of the kind being offered to Poland, President Bush Sr. and his disastrous Secretary of Defense Richard Cheney completely rebuffed Gorbachev. A year later, Bill Clinton similarly turned his back on Boris Yeltsin, by then President of an independent Russia. Without Western financial assistance, and with Russia's own deeply divided politics and disastrous economic conditions, Russia's nascent democratic reforms were set back by chaos and corruption.

Russia has suffered from authoritarian rule for centuries, so Russia's transition to democracy was bound to be an epic challenge, and so it has proved to be. Today's brave young people protesting on the streets of Moscow and other Russian cities are making the strongest claim in Russia's modern history for true democratic rule. Russia's current regime is dug in, but the power of youth, massed in protest, will eventually prevail. Whether the protesters recognize it or not, their coming achievements will build on the decisive contributions of Russia's greatest living statesmen, Mikhail Gorbachev.

?

Follow Jeffrey Sachs on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JeffDSachs

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-sachs/gorbachev-and-the-struggl_b_1170233.html

black friday walmart 2011 sams club dancing with the stars winner too short thanksgiving thanksgiving brining a turkey

Siri, What Were Your Top 5 Hacks And Mods Of 2011?

2011 saw the rise and fall of Siri. What was initially hailed as something just short of the savior of mankind turned out to be a limited voice control system. Apple insists Siri is still a beta product. They say it will get better. But some out there couldn't wait for Apple. And so, with a little imagineering, people made Siri do all sorts of unconventional tasks in 2011. These hacks led to her opening beer, playing the piano, and even warning owners about what's on a specific TV station. Yeah, the official feature set of Siri is a bit underwhelming, but hackers and modders managed to roll out an impressive set of avant-garde use cases to keep owners occupied until Apple rolls out the next Siri revision. Read on for the top 5 Siri hacks and mods of 2011.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/TJ5XbA42DGg/

tuscaloosa tuscaloosa earthquake california earthquake california crimson tide crimson tide wake forest

Device warns of catastrophic failure in lithium-ion batteries, robots celebrate

"Catastrophic lithium-ion battery failure" are five words Malfunctioning Eddie never wants to hear, and may not have to, thanks to a new sensor developed by the folks at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Despite the popularity of lithium-ion batteries in everything from consumer electronics to hybrid and electric vehicles, they have been associated with a phenomenon called "thermal runaway" -- known to cause overheating and potentially, fire. The newly developed device measures the electrical parameter of the cell, which is an indicator of whether the internal layer temperatures are getting too toasty. The best part? The warning comes before the heat can reach the surface and cause catastrophic failure, perhaps saving our electronics from a fate like the one in the video after the break.

Continue reading Device warns of catastrophic failure in lithium-ion batteries, robots celebrate

Device warns of catastrophic failure in lithium-ion batteries, robots celebrate originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 23:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/24/device-warns-of-catastrophic-failure-in-lithium-ion-batteries-r/

occupy portland occupy portland the hunger games neil degrasse tyson neil degrasse tyson bears lions bears lions

Seniors golf: Andrew Oldcorn enjoying new lease of life

Published on Saturday 24 December 2011 04:30

SCOTTISH golfers gave good accounts of themselves on the circuits on both sides of the Atlantic this season. Catriona Matthew, for instance, finished 16th on the LPGA money list while Martin Laird was 31st on the PGA Tour.

Over on this side of the pond, Paul Lawrie finished 18th in the Race to Dubai, while Craig Lee claimed 14th spot on the Challenge Tour rankings.

In terms of the highest finish, though, pride of place goes to Andrew Oldcorn, who marked his first full season on the European Senior Tour by claiming third spot behind Australian Peter Fowler and England?s double Scottish Senior Open winner, Barry Lane.

In 17 events, the 51-year-old from Edinburgh chalked up eight top-ten finishes, the highlight being a win in the PGA Seniors? Championship at Slaley Hall, where he completed a notable double after also claiming the PGA Championship at Wentworth a decade earlier on the European Tour.

?I wanted to win as early as I could to get that monkey off my back, so to speak,? admitted Oldcorn, who joined the circuit in the middle of 2010. ?I was expected to win by family, friends and colleagues and sometimes that extra pressure you feel is difficult to overcome.?

He made the breakthrough in style, winning by nine shots in Northumberland, but don?t dare suggest to Oldcorn it was a triumph that he was able to achieve due to Seniors? golf lacking a competitive edge. ?Our Tour is not given enough credit,? he declared. ?I think we get a bad rap sometimes. I think there?s a perception that we?ve had our careers and are out there having a laugh, but nothing could be further from the truth. Look at guys like Barry Lane, Peter Fowler, Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance. Sam is 58 now but is still competitive.?

Before getting out there, Oldcorn reckoned ?three or four years? would probably be enough for him on the Seniors? circuit. ?But when I started I totally changed my mind,? he said. ?One because I was enjoying it so much and two I watched John Bland win the Wales Senior Open at 64. So, if I can I?ll try and play until I?m 60.

?Even at 51, I shouldn?t have the opportunity to play golf for a living. But I do and I?ll never take it for granted. Sure, we all bitch and moan about things that aren?t really important but, ultimately, we are lucky to have the Senior Tour.?

In fairness to Oldcorn ? who played for England as an amateur but was delighted when the powers that be afforded him Scottish status after he?d moved to live in the capital with his parents at the age of seven ? he ensured he was well prepared for the latest chapter in his career, having played here, there and everywhere for a spell as he tried to stay competitive in the countdown to his 50th birthday.

?I was prepared to swallow my pride and play EuroPro Tour, Tartan Tour, anywhere to get a game really,? recalled the three-time European Tour winner. ?I was doing it for a purpose. I wanted to hit the ground running and in part of a first season I finished seventh and now in my first full season I?ve finished third.?

In true Oldcorn fashion, it wasn?t without a touch of drama either. He started to have problems with his vision during the Senior British Open at Walton Heath and, after being diagnosed as a cataract in his right eye, he underwent successful surgery in October for its removal. Having battled ME for two years at the peak of his career, it was something he took in his stride, even though he understandably takes immense satisfaction from finishing the sesason strongly ? he shot a second-round 67 on his way to claiming ninth spot in the Tour Championship in Mauritius ? to hang on to third spot in the rankings.

?It?s nothing I had a problem dealing with because there?s always been drama around my career to contend with,? he mused. ?Thankfully, the operation has gone well and next year my vision will be fine.?

His sights are set on a two-month spell in the middle of 2012, when his schedule will include three majors ? the US Senior PGA Championship (at Harbour Shoes in Michigan on 24-27 May), the US Senior Open (at Indianwood in Michigan on 12-15 July) and the Senior British Open (at Turnberry on 26-29 July).

?I had to remain in the top four on the Order of Merit to gain an exemption for the US Open next year. That was on my mind the whole time my eyesight was degenerating,? he revealed.

?It gives me both US majors next year, when the US Seniors Open is before the British Senior Open this time. It?s same week as the Scottish Open. That?s good and those three tournaments will become the main focus of my season.?

Source: http://www.scotsman.com/seniors_golf_andrew_oldcorn_enjoying_new_lease_of_life_1_2023879

lionfish conjoined twins justin bieber paternity justin bieber paternity denver news kym johnson how old is justin bieber

APNewsBreak: 10,000 US troops leave Afghanistan (AP)

WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama's order to withdraw 10,000 American troops from Afghanistan this year has been accomplished, a little more than a week before the year-end deadline, military officials said Thursday.

The drawdown is the first step in the plan to wind down the war, transition security to Afghan forces and end the combat role for international troops by the end of 2014.

It also gives the Obama administration a second war-related accomplishment to tout this month ? coming just a week after U.S. officials marked the end of the war in Iraq and the last convoy of American soldiers rumbled out of that country into Kuwait.

Officials say there are now 91,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan ? down from the peak of 101,000 in June.

In December 2009 Obama announced he was sending an additional 33,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan in a bid to beat back the escalating Taliban insurgency and change the course of the war. Six months ago, declaring that the "tide of war is receding," Obama said he would withdraw 10,000 troops by the end of this year, and another 23,000 by the end of next summer.

The decision was met with initial opposition from military leaders who thought the withdrawal was too much, too soon, particularly since it would pull troops out before the end of next year's fighting season, which can last well into October and even November.

Last week, however, during a trip to Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta repeatedly told troops that the U.S. had reached a turning point in the war. And at one point he went so far as to say, "I really think that for all the sacrifices that you're doing, the reality is that it is paying off and that we're moving in the right direction. ... We're winning this very tough conflict here in Afghanistan."

Contrasting that assessment is the ongoing violence in Afghanistan's east, along the Pakistan border, and the high-profile attacks and assassinations that continue to wreak havoc in and around Kabul. The violence is compounded by worries about government corruption, the fragile economy, and fears that Afghan forces won't be ready to take over security of the country as American and NATO troops leave.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111222/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_us_afghanistan

anya ayoung chee peru earthquake peru earthquake big 12 last minute halloween costumes rum diary klipsch image s4

Apple's late boss Steve Jobs to receive Grammy (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? 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.

___

Online:

http://www.grammy.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111222/ap_en_ot/us_grammys_steve_jobs

joran van der sloot osteopathy osteopathy diphtheria diphtheria smokey robinson smokey robinson

Miley Cyrus Curses Off Alleged Fan, Explains Actions

Miley Cyrus was involved in yet another videotaped scandal this week, but this time it's hard not to side with the superstar. Here's what went down:

While on vacation in Costa Rica with boyfriend Liam Hemsworth, Miley stopped to pose with a few fans. But she then had to go and turned to walk away... only for one onlooker to refer to her as an "asshole." Cyrus whipped around and replied (20-second mark, below):

"What the f-ck? Are you for real? We're on vacation!"

Miley Cyrus Curses at Fan

Miley later took to Twitter and explain ed her reaction:

"Just to clear something up I would NEVER swear to a fan. When someone yells something SO rude making ME look like an 'a**hole' in front of fans who I am more than happy 2 take a picture w/ i cant tolerate that kind of rudeness. Every1 who was there apologized 4 the womans brusque behavior. She obviously wasnt a fan. Hope every1 has a Merry Christmas! LOVE 2 ALL!"

In far more positive video news, Cyrus has joined other celebrities in this campaign to promote charitable help in Haiti.

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/12/miley-cyrus-curses-off-alleged-fan-explains-actions/

canon powershot elph 300 hs christmas lights canon eos rebel t3 christmas photo cards ar 15 costco kmart

Engadget's Holiday Blues-buster 2011: win an iPad 2 16GB WiFi, courtesy of Broadcom!

This is it, folks: the last day of a memorable week. We laughed, we cried, four fantastic gizmos have been given out as holiday momentos. Now it's time for the final round, so get your commenting faces on. Today Broadcom is once again "connecting everything" by offering up the iPad 2 16GB WiFi version! As usual, you have until 11:59PM ET to leave your comment and get entered to win. If you haven't had any luck winning a free iPad 2 from Twitter spambots yet, maybe your fortune will improve with us. Good luck!

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Blues-buster 2011: win an iPad 2 16GB WiFi, courtesy of Broadcom!

Engadget's Holiday Blues-buster 2011: win an iPad 2 16GB WiFi, courtesy of Broadcom! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/23/engadgets-holiday-blues-buster-2011-win-an-ipad-2-16gb-wifi-c/

project runway winner hunter s thompson hunter s thompson berkman berkman new beavis and butthead game 7

NBCMiami: Don King delivered thousands of turkeys to the needy in South Florida http://t.co/eA87ZzHw

• Passer la navigation
• Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
• Passer cette ?tape
• Connexion

• Connexion
• Rejoignez Twitter !

Don King delivered thousands of turkeys to the needy in South Florida bit.ly/u74tuj Il y a environ 2 heures via bitly

NBCMiami

NBC Miami

Pied de page

• ? 2011 Twitter
• ? propos de nous
• Contact
• Blog
• Statut
• Ressources
• API
• Entreprises
• Aide
• Offres d'emploi
• Conditions
• Confidentialit?

Source: http://twitter.com/NBCMiami/statuses/149957097688285184

lawrence lessig time magazine person of the year 2011 time magazine person of the year 2011 good morning america new orleans jazz fest new orleans jazz fest dwight howard

Scientists recreate the hellish conditions of the Earth's core in a California lab

• Iron squeezed to 17m times surface presure in 'diamond anvil'
• First simulation of how metal behaves at core of earth
• Could help understand why planet formed - and how 'geodynamo' that powers earth's magnetic field works

By Rob Waugh

Last updated at 8:57 PM on 21st December 2011

Understanding what happens at the core of our planet would help scientists understand how our planet formed - and why its magnetic fields behave as they do.

Scientists have known for many years that iron is the main element in the core - but have known nothing about how the element might behave at the horrifically high pressure inside our planet.

A team led by researchers at the California Institute of Technology compressed iron between two diamonds - crushing it to pressures 17 million times the level we feel on the surface.

Scientists have known for many years that iron is the main element in the core - but have known nothing about how the element might behave at the horrifically high pressure inside our planet

'Pinpointing the properties of iron is crucial to understanding how the core behaves,' says Jennifer Jackson, assistant professor of mineral physics at Caltech.

'That is where most discussions about the deep interior of the earth begin. The temperature distribution, the formation of the planet?it all goes back to the core.'

The team used 'Diamond Anvil Cells' to crush tiny samples of the metal between two diamonds - then used X-rays to measure how they vibrated, comparing the results to seismic measurements of the core.

The results found that iron melts at 5,500 degrees centigrade in the core - and this could help understand what impurities are present at the heart of our planet, and how the 'geodynamo' that powers the magnetic field works.

The results found that iron melts at 5,500 degrees centigrade in the core - and this could help understand what impurities are present at the heart of our planet, and how the 'geodynamo' that powers the magnetic field works

The team was also able to get a closer estimate of the melting point of iron from their experiments?which they report to be around 5800 Kelvin at the boundary between the earth's solid inner core and liquid outer core.

This information, combined with the other vibrational properties they found, gives the group important clues for estimating the amount of impurities, in the core.

By comparing the density of the iron in the lab - at the same pressure and temperature conditions with seismic observations of the core's density, they found that iron is 5.5 percent more dense than the solid inner core at this boundary.

'With our new data on iron, we can discuss several aspects of the earth's core with more certainty and narrow down the amount of impurities that may be needed to help power the geodynamo?the process responsible for maintaining the earth's magnetic field, which originates in the core,' says Jackson.

'There are a few candidate light elements for the core that everyone is always talking about?sulfur, silicon, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen, for instance,' says Murphy. 'Silicon and oxygen are a few of the more popular, but they have not been studied in this great of detail yet. So that's where we will begin to expand our study.'

?

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2077013/Scientists-recreate-hellish-conditions-Earths-core-California-lab.html?ITO=1490

light year light year michelle rounds michelle rounds cabin in the woods dan quayle brett favre

Manning's sexual orientation raised in hearing

Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, right, is escorted into a courthouse in Fort Meade, Md., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, for a military hearing that will determine if he should face court-martial for his alleged role in the WikiLeaks classified leaks case. Manning is suspected of being the source in one of the largest unauthorized disclosures of classified information in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, right, is escorted into a courthouse in Fort Meade, Md., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, for a military hearing that will determine if he should face court-martial for his alleged role in the WikiLeaks classified leaks case. Manning is suspected of being the source in one of the largest unauthorized disclosures of classified information in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, right, is escorted into a courthouse in Fort Meade, Md., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, for a military hearing that will determine if he should face court-martial for his alleged role in the WikiLeaks classified leaks case. Manning is suspected of being the source in one of the largest unauthorized disclosures of classified information in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, at center wearing glasses, is escorted into a courthouse in Fort Meade, Md., Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, for a military hearing that will determine if he should face court-martial for his alleged role in the WikiLeaks classified leaks case. Manning is suspected of being the source in one of the largest unauthorized disclosures of classified information in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

FILE - This is a Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011 file photo of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as he talks during a news conference in central London. As the suspected source for the biggest leak of intelligence material in American history faces his first hearing Friday Dec. 15 ,2011, U.S. prosecutors have their eye on another prize: The man who disclosed the documents to the world. When WikiLeaks' spectacular disclosures of U.S. secrets exploded onto the scene last year, much of Washington's anger coalesced around Julian Assange, the silver-haired globe-trotting figure whose outspoken defiance of the Pentagon and the State Department riled politicians on both sides of the aisle. Pfc. Bradley Manning, long under lock and key, hasn't attracted the same level of ire. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

Supporters of US soldier Private Bradley Manning protest outside the US Embassy in London calling for his release, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011. Private Manning is facing charges of obtaining and distributing government secrets which he allegedly leaked to anti-secrecy web site WikiLeaks in a pre-trial hearing in a military court at US army base Fort Meade, Maryland. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) ? The young Army intelligence specialist accused of passing government secrets spent his 24th birthday in court Saturday as his lawyers argued his status as a gay soldier before the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" played an important role in his actions.

Lawyers for Pfc. Bradley Manning began laying out a defense to show that his struggles as a gay soldier in an environment hostile to homosexuality contributed to mental and emotional problems that should have barred him from having access to sensitive material.

Manning is accused of leaking hundreds of thousands of sensitive items to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, including Iraq and Afghanistan war logs, State Department cables and a classified military video of a 2007 American helicopter attack in Iraq that killed 11 men, including a Reuters news photographer and his driver.

The Obama administration says the released information has threatened valuable military and diplomatic sources and strained America's relations with other governments. Manning's lawyers counter that much of the information that was classified by the Pentagon posed no risk.

The military is conducting a hearing in a small courtroom on an Army post outside Washington to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence to bring Manning to trial, where he could face a term of life in prison as a traitor.

Prosecutors began presenting evidence to substantiate the charges against Manning.

Army criminal investigators described evidence they collected that links Manning to the WikiLeaks website's collection of U.S. military and diplomatic secrets.

But among the first issues to arise Saturday was whether Manning's sexual orientation is relevant to the case against him.

The basis for the charges Manning faces are transcripts of online chats with a confidant-turned-government-informant in which Manning allegedly confesses his ties to WikiLeaks and also reveals he is gay.

Maj. Matthew Kemkes, a defense lawyer, asked Special Agent Toni Graham, an Army criminal investigator, whether she had talked to people who believed Manning was gay or found evidence among his belongings relating to gender-identity disorder.

Graham said such questions were irrelevant to the investigation. "We already knew before we arrived that Pfc. Manning was a homosexual," Graham said.

Prosecutors objected several times to the questions. Kemkes responded that if the government can argue that Manning intended to leak secrets, "what is going on in my client's mind is very important."

Manning's defense also sought to show that at least one item he is suspected of leaking is not classified, part of its argument that much of the information classified by the Pentagon should not have been.

Graham said she collected from Manning's belongings a DVD marked "secret" that included a video clip of the deadly helicopter attack.

But Kemkes said the video was, in fact, unclassified.

Manning's appearances Friday and Saturday in the Fort Meade courtroom mark the first time he has been seen in public after 19 months in detention. The Oklahoma native comes to court in Army camouflage fatigues and wearing dark-rimmed glasses. Slight and serious, he takes notes during the proceedings.

An Army appeals court on Friday rejected a defense effort to have the presiding officer, Lt. Col. Paul Almanza, because of alleged bias. Separately, lawyers for WikiLeaks and founder Julian Assange are asking the military's highest appeals court to guarantee two seats in the Fort Meade courtroom.

Manning's hearing is open to the public, with limited seating. Inside the courtroom, no civilian recording equipment is allowed. Instead of a judge, a presiding officer delivers a recommendation as to whether prosecutors have enough evidence to bring a suspect to trial. A military commander then makes the final decision.

The case has spawned an international support network of people who believe the U.S. government has gone too far in seeking to punish Manning.

More than 100 people gathered outside Fort Meade for a march in support of Manning, some holding signs declaring "Americans have the right to know. Free Bradley Manning" and "Blowing the whistle on war crimes is not a crime."

Todd Anderson, 64, said he drove from New York City to take part. "I think this man showed a great deal of courage, the kind of thing I wouldn't have the courage to do, and I really consider him to be a hero," Anderson said.

Juline Jordan, 46, said she flew in from Detroit just for the day. "I support what he did because he exposed some horrific war crimes and horrific things done at the hands of the United States government and the Department of Defense, and he's a hero for that," Jordan said.

In London, several dozen protesters from gay organizations, the Occupy London protest camp and other groups rallied outside the U.S. Embassy Saturday calling for Manning's release and offering birthday wishes.

___

Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London, Mark Sherman in Washington and Brian Witte at Fort Meade contributed to this report.

Friday was Manning's first appearance in public after 19 months in detention. He appeared slight but serious in his Army camouflage fatigues and dark-rimmed glasses, taking notes during the proceedings and answering straightforwardly when called upon by Almanza.

Manning, a native of Crescent, Okla., is relying on a defense that will argue much of the classified information posed no risk.

In addition to claims of partiality, his lawyer, David Coombs, argued that Almanza wrongly denied the defense's request to call as witnesses the officials who marked as secret the material WikiLeaks later published. Instead, the officer accepted unsworn statements from those people, Coombs said.

Friday's tangling, however, centered primarily on Almanza's Justice Department job. "I don't believe I'm biased," Almanza said, explaining that his government work concerns child exploitation and obscenity. He said he hasn't talked about WikiLeaks or Manning with anyone in the department or FBI.

The Justice Department has a separate criminal investigation into Assange. A U.S. grand jury is weighing whether to indict Assange on espionage charges, even as he is in Britain fighting a Swedish request that he be extradited because of rape allegations.

Manning's hearing at this Army post outside Washington is open to the public, with limited seating. WikiLeaks' lawyers on Saturday asked the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Services to set aside two seats in the Fort Meade courtroom, one for the attorney representing the Wikileaks organization and the other for Assange's Australian attorney.

Inside the courtroom, no civilian recording equipment is allowed. Instead of a judge, a presiding officer delivers a recommendation as to whether prosecutors have enough evidence to bring a suspect to trial. A military commander then makes the final decision.

The case has spawned an international support network of people who believe the U.S. government has gone too far in seeking to punish Manning.

More than 100 people gathered outside Fort Meade for a march in support of Manning, some holding signs declaring "Americans have the right to know. Free Bradley Manning" and "Blowing the whistle on war crimes is not a crime."

Todd Anderson, 64, said drove from New York City to take part. "I think this man showed a great deal of courage, the kind of thing I wouldn't have the courage to do, and I really consider him to be a hero," Anderson said.

Juline Jordan, 46, said she flew in from Detroit just for the day. "I support what he did because he exposed some horrific war crimes and horrific things done at the hands of the United States government and the Department of Defense, and he's a hero for that," Jordan said.

In London, several dozen protesters from gay organizations, the Occupy London protest camp and other groups rallied outside the U.S. Embassy Saturday calling for Manning's release.

___

Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London, Mark Sherman in Washington and Brian Witte at Fort Meade contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-12-17-Manning-WikiLeaks/id-fcf9c68d81dc47bbbf70e4ecea4ec0d0

howard hughes barry bonds hazing colton harris moore vanessa bryant vanessa bryant hurd

And Lunch Turned Into Dinner ?

I instantly bonded with Hitch in 1998 when I tagged along to an interview he did with a friend of mine over lunch. The friend left after an hour, but we stayed at the restaurant talking about politics, literature, and history. Lunch turned into dinner, and finally his wife, Carol, summoned him home on the grounds that 10 hours straight of talking to anyone was more than enough for one sitting. This set the stage for an abiding friendship based on such marathon conversations.

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=6e8359b64b2ff8805dc0e543e4c7505d

lipitor lipitor kourtney kardashian pregnant again kourtney kardashian pregnant again apple juice apple juice jay cutler

Pakistan PM seeks to dispel rumors of army rift

ISLAMABAD (AP) ? Pakistan's prime minister dismissed speculation of a rift between the government and the military over a secret memo sent to Washington seeking its help in averting a supposed military coup, saying the country was committed to democracy.

Political tensions have soared in recent days as the Supreme Court begins a hearing into the circumstance surrounding the memo. The absence of President Asif Ali Zardari, recovering from a likely "mini stroke" in his Dubai home with no word on his return, has only added to rumors that the current civilian administration is in possible fatal trouble.

Zardari's plentiful critics are hoping the scandal will lead to his ouster, and delighted in portraying his trip to Dubai on Dec. 6 as a flight from the fallout from the memo. The president's aides have denied that, and most independent analysts believe the veteran politician, who has outlasted numerous predictions of his demise since taking office in 2008, will ride it out.

Late Friday, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met with army chief Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani to discuss the memo.

Gilani said in a statement he rejected the nation of a "standoff" between the army and the government.

"The government of Pakistan and its institutions remain committed to their constitutional roles and obligations to a democratic and prosperous future for Pakistan," he said.

Tensions between the army and the government could complicate American attempts to rebuild ties with a country seen by many U.S. officials as key to shepherding peace in Afghanistan. A raid by the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan in late November killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, hammering relations already strained by American suspicions that Islamabad is playing both sides in the Afghan war and virulent anti-U.S. sentiments inside Pakistan.

Pakistan has a long history of army coups or behind the scenes meddling by the generals to engineer pliant regimes, often with the support of the judiciary. That has left the country's 180 million people specially receptive to the idea that the collapse of the government is just around the corner.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-12-17-AS-Pakistan/id-0d11e58a6c234d4cb8b3384c953c1a7f

howard stern free shipping day free shipping day golden globe nominations 2012 war in iraq war in iraq barbara walters