Thursday, February 9, 2012

U.S. banks agree to $25 billion in homeowner help (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) ? Five big U.S. banks accused of abusive mortgage practices have agreed to a $25 billion government settlement that may help roughly one million borrowers but is no magic bullet for the ailing housing market.

The record state-federal settlement will spread relief widely in the form of mortgage relief and $2,000 payments to borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure.

It will also release the banks - Bank of America Corp, Wells Fargo & Co, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Citigroup Inc and Ally Financial Inc - from civil government claims over faulty foreclosures and mishandling of requests for loan modifications.

But the banks still face a host of other potential government enforcement actions and investor lawsuits related to their packaging of home loans into securities, and other mortgage-related activities.

"The bottom line about this settlement, is it's okay, it's a step forward, it's a step in the right direction. But let's not kid ourselves, there's a hell of a lot more that needs to be done," said Ira Rheingold, executive director of the National Association of Consumer Advocates.

The housing settlement gives President Barack Obama, as he seeks re-election in November, a chance to show his administration is willing to get tough with big banks to help ordinary Americans survive the pain of the nation's foreclosure crisis.

"We have reached a landmark settlement with the nation's largest banks that will speed relief to the hardest hit homeowners in some of the most abusive practices of the mortgage industry and begin to turn the page on an era of recklessness that has left so much damage in its wake," Obama said in a press conference on Thursday.

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

Graphic on foreclosed properties: http://r.reuters.com/vet42s

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

RELIEF BREAKDOWN

The deal with 49 states and federal agencies, including the U.S. Justice Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is being billed as the largest federal-state settlement ever obtained.

It follows more than one year of negotiations after evidence emerged late in 2010 that banks robo-signed thousands of foreclosure documents without properly reviewing paperwork as the financial crisis produced a flood of foreclosures.

Home values have dropped 33 percent from their 2006 peak and nearly 11 million Americans now owe more than their homes are worth.

Under the deal, roughly 750,000 borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosure between 2008 and 2011 can expect to receive a $2,000 cash payment.

The banks would also provide $17 billion in principal reduction and loan modifications for delinquent borrowers who are facing foreclosure.

The deal would also include $3 billion to help borrowers who are current on their mortgage payments but unable to refinance because they owe more than their homes are worth.

Further, banks agreed to new servicing standards, including stricter oversight of foreclosure processing and a single-point-of-contact for borrowers.

The program is designed to last for three years, but includes incentives for banks to provide relief in the first year.

"The principal reduction helps stabilize the market a little bit, but not significantly," said Brian Gardner, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc. "The monthly savings for those involved will be modest."

BANK IMPACT

The deal does little to ease investor fears over banks' mortgage liabilities, industry analysts said.

"We believe any initial euphoria over the deal will quickly fade as investors realize the flood of additional mortgage-related litigation that the major banks face," said Guggenheim Partners analyst Jaret Seiberg in a note on Thursday.

The settlement resolves allegations of state and federal law including the use of robo-signed affidavits in foreclosure proceedings and deceptive practices in offering loan modifications.

It also covers claims the banks failed to offer alternatives before foreclosing on borrowers with federally insured mortgages, and filed improper documentation in federal bankruptcy court.

In another component of the settlement, Bank of America will pay $1 billion to resolve a separate investigation into "fraudulent and wrongful conduct" by the bank and the Countrywide Financial unit it acquired in 2008.

In addition, the Federal Reserve is imposing $766.5 million in penalties on the five banks as part of the settlement.

The agreement does not prevent the government from pursuing banks for wrongdoing related to the packaging of loans into securities, the target of a task force the Obama administration launched last month, and the subject of many investor lawsuits.

DISSIDENT STATES

The deal came together after negotiators were able to win support from a handful of states, including California and New York, that had criticized earlier terms of the proposed deal as too lenient toward the banks.

The lone holdout, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, declined to sign the settlement and said he was concerned the settlement "greatly overreached" the authority of the states and could be unfair to homeowners who continued to pay their mortgage.

He entered a separate $18.6 million deal with the five banks to receive his portion of funds from the settlement that go directly to the states.

California, one of the hardest-hit states in the foreclosure crisis, signed on after winning assurances of how much relief would go specifically to its homeowners.

(Reporting By Aruna Viswanatha and Rick Rothacker, with additional reporting by David Henry, Jim Vicini, Margaret Chadbourn, Matt Spetalnick, Tim Reid and Dave Clarke; writing by Karey Wutkowski; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick and Tim Dobbyn)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personalfinance/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120209/bs_nm/us_mortgage_settlement

david archuleta david archuleta hobbit trailer greenhill nj plane crash plane crash new jersey beef o bradys bowl

Obama campaign urges fundraisers to back super PAC

FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2012 file photo, President Barack Obama speaks in Washington. Politicians of all stripes in this election year are clamoring for simplifying the tax code and closing loopholes. But that would mean Americans could lose some of their prized deductions. Tax reform does sound like a good idea to lots of people, but where to start? Eliminate the deduction for home mortgages? End the write-off for charitable contributions? How about expanding the Social Security payroll tax? Not likely. In fact, none of the major tax overhaul proposals now on the table seems likely to be enacted given the current political situation in Washington and the country. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2012 file photo, President Barack Obama speaks in Washington. Politicians of all stripes in this election year are clamoring for simplifying the tax code and closing loopholes. But that would mean Americans could lose some of their prized deductions. Tax reform does sound like a good idea to lots of people, but where to start? Eliminate the deduction for home mortgages? End the write-off for charitable contributions? How about expanding the Social Security payroll tax? Not likely. In fact, none of the major tax overhaul proposals now on the table seems likely to be enacted given the current political situation in Washington and the country. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

(AP) ? President Barack Obama's re-election campaign is asking top fundraisers to support a Democratic-leaning outside group that is backing his bid for a second term, reversing Obama's opposition to "super" political action committees that can spend unlimited amounts of cash to influence elections.

Obama's campaign urged wealthy fundraisers in a Monday night conference call to support Priorities USA, a super PAC led by two former Obama aides that has struggled to compete with the tens of millions of dollars collected by Republican-backed outside groups.

Obama has opposed the Supreme Court's 2010 decision in the Citizens United case that stripped away some limits on campaign contributions. The new super PACs can't coordinate directly with campaigns, but many have played a major role in the Republican primary contests by raising millions of dollars to use in negative advertising in early contests in Iowa, South Carolina and Florida.

Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said in an email to supporters Monday that the president's campaign "can't allow for two sets of rules" in which the Republican presidential nominee benefits from "unlimited spending and Democrats unilaterally disarm."

"We decided to do this because we can't afford for the work you're doing in your communities, and the grassroots donations you give to support it, to be destroyed by hundreds of millions of dollars in negative ads," Messina said.

Messina said senior campaign officials, along with some White House officials and Cabinet members, would attend and speak at fundraising events for Priorities USA but would not directly ask for money. He said Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and first lady Michelle Obama would not be part of the effort and would remain focused on Obama's campaign.

The decision to promote the outside Democratic group came after new fundraising reports revealed a large disparity against Republican super PACs. American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS, two groups tied to Republican strategist Karl Rove, raised $51 million last year while major Democratic groups, including Priorities USA Action, collected $19 million last year.

Democrats have raised concerns about the potential of the super PACs to dominant the airwaves with negative advertising in the general election. Obama campaign senior strategist David Axelrod told reporters last month that the "prospect of hundreds of millions of dollars of negative ads raining down on us is not a prospect that I relish." But he said then that Obama was "thoroughly known to the American people" and would be less susceptible to an onslaught of tough ads.

Underscoring the concerns, the first ad aired by the Obama campaign defended the president's record on energy and ethics. It came in response to a hard-hitting ad aired by Americans for Prosperity, a group connected to billionaires Charles and David Koch, that accused the president of using taxpayer money to benefit political donors at bankrupt energy company Solyndra.

Republicans criticized the Obama campaign's embrace of the outside groups, calling it a hypocritical shift by Obama after he chided the influence of secret, special-interest money. Obama has previously referred to the money as a "threat to our democracy."

"This is a brazenly cynical move by Barack Obama and his political handlers, who just a year ago had the chutzpah to call outside groups a threat to democracy," said Jonathan Collegio, a spokesman for American Crossroads.

In a weekend interview, Obama bemoaned the influence of big money in presidential campaigns and said he expected many of the 2012 campaign ads funded by super PACs to be negative. But he also said the Supreme Court's decision had made outside money an unavoidable part of the political process.

"It is very hard to be able to get your message out without having some resources," Obama told NBC News.

The super PACs have played a major role in the primary contests. In GOP primaries so far, groups working for or against presidential candidates have spent roughly $25 million on TV ads ? about half the nearly $53 million spent on advertising so far to influence voters in the early weeks of the race.

The group supporting Mitt Romney, Restore Our Future, collected $17.9 million in contributions since July and most was spent on advertisements supporting Romney or attacking Republican rival Newt Gingrich. A pro-Gingrich group, Winning Our Future, received $11 million from the family of casino mogul Sheldon Adelson.

The new super PACs can't coordinate directly with campaigns, but many that are active in this election are staffed by longtime supporters or former aides of the candidates.

Obama's campaign also said Monday it is returning about $200,000 in contributions collected by family members of a Mexican casino owner who fled the U.S. after facing drug and fraud charges.

The campaign said it had decided to return the donations arranged by Chicago brothers Carlos Cardona and Alberto Rojas Cardona, who had begun raising money for the campaign and the Democratic National Committee last year.

The New York Times reported late Monday that the fundraisers are the brothers of casino owner Juan Jose Rojas Cardona, who skipped bail in Iowa in 1994 and has since been linked to violence and corruption in Mexico.

The campaign said it refunded the money raised by family members after the newspaper asked about the brothers' fundraising role. Obama campaign officials said they were identifying donations bundled by other people connected to Cardona, expected to be about $100,000, and would return those funds as well.

"On the basis of the questions that have been raised, we will return the contributions from these individuals and from any other donors they brought to the campaign," said Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt.

The newspaper reported that Gordon Fischer, a lawyer and the former chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, had sought a pardon for Juan Jose Rojas Cardona from Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, but none was granted.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-02-07-Obama-Fundraising/id-ddf7729fba884a9aae71ee4f437e1d74

miles austin ellen degeneres eddie cibrian washington redskins doritos confederate flag confederate flag

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Helpful Advice For Making Home Improvements Easier ? All About ...

A home improvement project can feel like a dream come true, or your own worst nightmare. After reading these tips, you?ll have some fresh ideas to draw upon when you begin a new project. You can be successful on your next project.

If your gutters are clogged, there can be several drainage issues during heavy precipitation. One of the top causes of basement leaks are gutters clogged that cause run-off on the side of your home. Regularly clean your gutters to avoid this problem.

Try a straight wall-mounted coat rack for a bracelet and necklace display. But do not hang real jewelry on the rack, just costume jewelry. Hanging your jewelry on a wall can make a pretty decorative statement, as well as keeping the jewelry tangle-free. To make jewelry selection easy in the morning it?s best to put your favorite items in an easily accessible spot.

On big home improvement projects, homeowners must take information from contractors wisely. Even contractors that have a good reputation may try to take advantage of an unsuspecting homeowner. If the contractor mentions any problems or issues, homeowners should have the information validated before investing any more money in the project or modifying the construction schedule.

One important home improvement project is to create a pathway that takes water away from the walls of your foundation. One way to do this is by sloping the angle of your yard towards the street. Another option is to lengthen your drainage gutters so they empty away from your house.

If you plan to paint your home consider doing that before anything else. It is a good idea to paint rooms before you install any flooring in those rooms. Even with tarps and drop cloths, you are sure to find a way to get some paint on your beautiful new flooring.

One way to increase your home?s value is to upgrade your kitchen appliances. Upgrading to an energy efficient unit can save you money on your electric bill and may even add some value to the home.

Look at what you want to accomplish, this is a great tip to assist you on your journey towards home improvement. While this is a good idea, you should also make sure that each improvement is practical.

Motion detecting lights add exterior visibility without inflating your electric bill. Motion-sensitive lighting makes your home more secure during the night by deterring trespassers or thieves. Motion sensitive lights are extremely effective when it comes down to lowering your electric bill. This is because the lights, and therefore electricity, are only being used when needed.

Home improvement is such a diverse field that you can spend a lifetime learning about it. There?s always more to learn and skills to hone. If you have gotten this far, you are already on track for gaining the necessary information to hone your skills.

In addition to these home improvement hints provided in this blog post, you can find details about the benefits of having Maryland replacement windows put in or even more info about the best replacement windows Maryland options, now.

Source: http://allbout.info/helpful-advice-for-making-home-improvements-easier/

much ado about nothing sean hayes caroline manzo caroline manzo the haunting in connecticut ashram ashram

CoquiOX: Now that we got that pesky football out of the way, Phillies play their first spring training / exhibition game in 23 days!

Twitter / RJ: Now that we got that pesky ... Loader Now that we got that pesky football out of the way, Phillies play their first spring training / exhibition game in 23 days!

Source: http://twitter.com/CoquiOX/statuses/166520647470682112

mlk memorial brown recluse brown recluse heather locklear hospitalized joplin tornado there will be blood there will be blood

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

i love the flip ? Introducing Oxnard Criminal Law Attorneys Products

This write-up deals with the simple information regarding criminal law as well as Oxnard criminal lawyers. As you read ahead, you will need to keep in mind that all content written in this write-up is actually inexact, imprecise and might be verified wrong under the court. It is prudent for you to talk personally together with your Oxnard criminal attorney to repair your own legal difficulties if you want genuine help and advice.

Oxnard Criminal Law Suggestions

Criminal law is a kind of regulation that is responsible for the connection of the nation and the people inside it. A crime therefore is a breach of the rules developed by the sovereign government. The group of guidelines produced by the house of congress possesses the purpose of directing the events of the individuals within its terrain. Criminal law rules or penal rules are laws being totally enforced all around the globe.

The superior expertise of the Oxnard criminal lawyer surrounds the innocence of the defendant. Criminal Defense law firms always have the intention to demonstrate their valued clientele are innocent. The verdict of a criminal legal proceeding is significantly dependent upon the capability of your criminal Defense law firm. The occupation of shielding felons possibly innocent or not is among the most most difficult divisions of being a legal professional as you have got to defend an individual who may perhaps be liable for a crime.

Oxnard Criminal Attorney Suggestions

When the law is violated, it is strongly recommended for you to seek advice from a Oxnard criminal attorney for your issue, especially for your Protection. It is easy to select one employing an California attorney search. Never tell all the details to the police directly. The criminal Defense lawyers and the prosecutor lawyers are the two opposing attorneys that we all see in the court of law. Make sure you pick the lawyer who is experienced in your current difficulty because they definitely will work as being a large factor in determining if justice that?s being done or not.

Dont be ignorant about your rights. Being the suspect does not mean being manipulated by others. Innocence of every suspect is always presumed not unless hearing under the court of law has occurred. Always call Defense lawyers immediately if such needs arise.

Trimming down so as removing completely criminal charges against a person is the specialization of criminal law attorney. Cross examining is the main specialization of these lawyers which may be anyone that includes everyone. Eliciting the positive response of witnesses to testify for the suspect is also a work related duty of a criminal Defense lawyer. Justice and equality of rights such as the right to fair trial are the principles that these lawyers are fighting for. Preparing the suspect in the court of law is one of the numerous objectives of a Defense lawyer.

Criminal Law Attorneys present in Oxnard, CA

An instance of a violation of international code is when a person does tremendous harm to other countries just like what Adolf Hitler, Osama bin Laden and other international criminals. All forms of terrorism that may enlarge to a war is the main objective to be prevented by international law codes. The various valuable agreements being done in intercontinental law are the security of overseas personnel coming from one country to some other and the prevention of other offenses associated with intercontinental law.

Source: http://ilovetheflip.com/introducing-oxnard-criminal-law-attorneys-products/

flip saunders apple earnings solar flares academy award nominations cynthia nixon joe biden cspan

'Halftime in America' ad creates political debate (AP)

DETROIT ? People rarely pick a fight with Dirty Harry. But Chrysler's "Halftime in America" ad featuring quintessential tough guy Clint Eastwood has generated fierce debate about whether it accurately portrays the country's most economically distressed city or amounts to a campaign ad for President Barack Obama and the auto bailouts.

The 2-minute ad holds up Detroit as a model for American recovery while idealistic images of families, middle class workers and factories scroll across the screen.

"People are out of work and they're hurting," the 81-year-old Eastwood says in his trademark gravelly voice. "And they're all wondering what they're gonna do to make a comeback. And we're all scared because this isn't a game. The people of Detroit know a little something about this. They almost lost everything. But we all pulled together. Now, Motor City is fighting again."

Conservatives, including GOP strategist Karl Rove, criticized the ad as a not-so-thinly veiled endorsement of the federal government's auto industry bailouts. Others questioned basing a story of economic resurgence in a city that remains in fiscal disarray, with a $200 million budget deficit and cash flow concerns that have it fending off a state takeover.

But is it political? That depends on who you ask.

"I can't stop anybody from associating themselves with a message, but it was not intended to be any type of political overture on our part," Chrysler Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne told WJR-AM in Detroit. "You know, we're just an ingredient of a big machine here in this country that makes us go on."

Last year was a pivotal turnaround year for Chrysler, which nearly collapsed in 2009. The company and its financial arm needed a $12.5 billion government bailout and a trip through bankruptcy protection to survive. Chrysler has since repaid its U.S. and Canadian government loans by refinancing them, but the U.S. government says it lost about $1.3 billion on the deal.

The ad with Eastwood, who previously publicly slammed the auto bailout, follows a highly popular one that aired last Super Bowl featuring hip-hop star and Detroit-native Eminem driving a Chrysler 200 through stark city streets ? and introduced the tagline "Imported From Detroit."

This time around, the focus was on faces and factories ? far less on cars. Monday editions of USA Today came wrapped in a four-page ad that features Eastwood and images from the commercial. It also touts investments outside Detroit, specifically in Belvidere, Ill., where it's making the new Dodge Dart.

That ad notes the company is "doing our part to move America forward. To help win this country's second half for all of us."

But despite "Halftime in America's" celebration of Detroit, none of the new footage was filmed in that city, said Wieden + Kennedy, the Portland, Ore., agency that produced the ad. The portions of the commercial featuring Eastwood were filmed in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the rest of the production was shot in New Orleans and Northern California. The ad does feature previously filmed footage of Detroit, said Dianna Gutierrez, a Chrysler spokeswoman.

"It was very powerful, not only for Detroit but for the country and also for Chrysler," said Allen Adamson, a managing director at brand consulting firm Landor Associates Adamson. "Of all the three, Chrysler was the least likely to succeed, the least likely to survive the storm. And they have come out with potentially the strongest story."

Adamson also compared the spot to Ronald Reagan's "Morning in America" ad in 1984, which tried to capture a feeling of American optimism during his re-election campaign. Reagan's ad showed images of people going to work, buying homes, and getting married in greater numbers.

Rove told Fox News on Monday that he was "offended" by Chrysler's ad, saying it amounted to "using our tax dollars to buy corporate advertising and the best-wishes of the management which is benefited by getting a bunch of our money that they'll never pay back."

Obama spokesman Jay Carney told the AP that the White House had no role in in the ad's production, but said it pointed out "a simple fact, which is that the auto industry in this country was on its back and potentially poised to liquidate three years ago."

"This president made decisions that were not very popular at the time that were guided by two important principles," Carney said. "One, that he should do what he could to ensure that one million jobs would not be lost and, two, that the American automobile industry should be able to thrive globally if the right conditions were created, and that included the kinds of reforms and restructuring that Chrysler and GM undertook in exchange for the assistance from the American taxpayer."

Eastwood, a fiscal conservative who is more liberal on social issues including gay marriage and environmental protections, has mixed with politics before. The former nonpartisan mayor of Carmel, Calif., who supported GOP presidential contender John McCain in 2008, told the Los Angeles Times last November that he can't ever recall voting for a Democrat for president but expressed admiration for California's Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown.

On Monday, he told Fox News he is "certainly not politically affiliated with Mr. Obama."

"It was meant to be a message about just about job growth and the spirit of America," Eastwood said of the Chrysler ad. "I think all politicians will agree with it. I thought the spirit was OK."

Eastwood's longtime manager Leonard Hirshan told the AP that any stance Eastwood took on the auto bailout "has nothing to do with the commercial." He said the actor donated his fee from the commercial to a charity in Monterey, Calif., near where he lives.

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing called Chrysler's ad a bit of positive public relations for a city that rarely pats itself on the back.

"I think the history in Detroit is one that is gritty. People have been down, but they get back up and they don't quit," Bing said. "Chrysler, they've been down more than once and they have not quit and they've come back."

Analyst Bill Carroll of New York-based Katz Media called the ad effective American and industry boosterism.

"I don't know that I would consider it political, other than if being pro-American is political, then it's political," Carroll said. "If underscoring the fact that the auto industry has made a significant comeback and is bringing back manufacturing jobs to the U.S. is political, then so be it."

___

Associated Press writers Mae Anderson in New York, Jim Kuhnhenn in Washington, Lynn Elber in Los Angeles and Tom Krisher, David Runk and Mike Householder in Detroit contributed to this report.

Online:

http://youtu.be/caswcc0raw4

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120207/ap_on_en_tv/us_detroit_halftime_in_america

wolf creek arizona diamondbacks arizona diamondbacks alex rodriguez alicia witt alicia witt nobel peace prize

Monday, February 6, 2012

Shop More And More Mobile Phones At A Single Click! - ArticlesXpert

Posted: February 6, 2012 in Communications | Views: 10 | Rating:

Through time technology has evolved a lot. This ever evolving technology has given a lot of innovations and inventions for the mankind to endure. Mobile Phones have been one such technological invention through time by the mobile phone industry. This cell phone changed the entire face of communication and redefined the methodologies to communicate. Today mobile phones have become a necessity. Most of the day to day activities are dependent on cell phones. Apart from communicating fun, communicating businesses and meetings also takes place. Today mobile phones are greatly accepted as one of the top notch products to be gifted to your loved ones! This multipurpose device cannot be resisted long enough from using!

The best part is that, now it is possible for you to purchase Mobile Phones right through a click online. Sitting home you can choose amongst the different brands of phones and select your favorite one. All this is now possible online. The best part is that there is no need for you to hunt for an offline store. All you have to do is to just log on and click to order your favorite phone at the best of their prices. All the online transactions of these phones are simple and easy. With a variety of phones available at a single site, choosing becomes an easy option at one sitting only.

These phones are available in different colors and styles. Changing trends make you avail with the changing styles of the mobile phone. From touch to type, you can find the entire range of cell phones at a single place. Definitely this counts up to a time and money savvy method. Also, the various kinds of cell phone accessories can also be availed. These accessories come in different sizes and shapes with different styles for you to choose the one that you like the most. All these are easily available and accessible. Also case covers are available in different styles to help you protect your cell phones to the core but in style.

So if you want to avail all these products and services, then all you have to do is to just click and order!? ?

PrePayMania.co.uk is one of the foremost and leading online retailers in UK that gratify your all mobile needs with extensive collection of cheap mobile phones and mobile accessories in UK. PrePayMania boasts a huge collection of cheap mobile phones in UK integrating PAYG mobile phones and mobile accessories for all the handsets. Buy mobile phones in UK, SIM free phones, PAYG mobile phones and contract phones directly from PrePayMania.co.uk and experience the quickest and best service. Our unique and dedicated customer service line provides all information for your queries on cheap mobile phones and mobile accessories, so feel free to buy mobile phones in UK at PrePayMania. We provide fast and safe, same-day dispatch on your orders so you can expect your favourite gadget to be right on your doorstep the next day you order!

If you're looking for the best offers on cheap mobile phones and mobile accessories, you are at the right place. Buy mobile phones in UK such as unlocked mobiles or contract phones through our site - compare prices on your desired model and deals, check out the various features on pay monthly mobiles and find out every detail about mobile phones and mobile accessories on our site! With exceptional collection of cheap mobile phones, you can easily buy mobile phones in UK with peace of mind. With inclusion of all leading brands, you can discover you desired handset and buy mobile phones in UK at its best value.

Source: http://www.articlesxpert.com/communications/shop-more-more-mobile-phones-at-single-click.htm

bhutan zip code finder zip code finder blackhawks tigers tigers rangers

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Asbestos And Cancer Of The Lung | Niche Articles

Asbestos fibers and carcinoma of the lung, indeed the simple truth is that mesothelioma is really a key grounds for the reason behind this perilous disease. Before we assess the interrelationship in between mesothelioma and carcinoma of the lung you?ll want to know precisely what is mesothelioma and exactly what are its Asbestosis Compensation well being effects.

What exactly is Asbestos fibers?

Asbestos Poisoning
is really a natural organic mineral as bundled up products. Asbestos fibers products are comfort and Effects of Lung Cancer chemical type resilient and they are Asbestos Poisoning bad conductor of electric power. These traits allow it to be suit for commercial use. Industrial sectors use four types of Asbestos fibers: Chrysolite or white colored mesothelioma, Crocidolite or violet mesothelioma, Anthophyllite or greyish tinted products and Amosite or brown tinted products. These mesothelioma products type in smaller dirt impurities and as a consequence quickly breathed in or absorbed which could cause severe well being disorders. United states induced from mesothelioma is a this kind of case in point.

Health Problems of Asbestos fibers

Regular experience of Asbestos Poisoning can cause numerous severe conditions for instance?Asbestos Injury carcinoma of the lung, mesothelioma cancer melanoma melanoma and asbestosis. Asbestosis is just as lung disorder who makes breathlessness, breathing problems and long term injury to voice and Asbestos melanoma-an uncommon melanoma of membrane layer ever since the chest muscles and tummy, and melanoma of larynx, oropharynx, large intestine and kidney.

Regular subjection of mesothelioma brings about function Symptoms of lung cancer conditions for instance carcinoma of the lung and mesothelioma cancer melanoma. Due to the fact 1940, countless American workers, used in shipbuilding organizations, exploration and running of mesothelioma, production of mesothelioma textiles as well as other mesothelioma items, heat retaining material in structure and developing deals, and braking system mend ended up Mesothelioma life expectancy discovered to mesothelioma. Demolition workers, sheetrock eradication and firefighters is likewise at risk of getting discovered to mesothelioma that can cause carcinoma of the lung within them.

As a result of strict norms that has been enhanced function methods, the current workers experience nominal possible risks with carcinoma of the lung from mesothelioma. Despite the fact that more substantial and lengthier subjection time is attributed with the chance but analysts found that quick exposures can even lead to illness. Besides employees but their own families are susceptible to mesothelioma conditions and carcinoma of the lung. Para function subjection is simply because mesothelioma Mesothelioma Lawsuit Compensation products are introduced in the house through footwear, Asbestos Injury apparel, skin and hair of workers. You need to subjection workers are necessary to look at bathe and adjust their apparel just before departing their place of work.

The difficult section of mesothelioma linked conditions and mesothelioma linked carcinoma of the lung is because can lay inactive within your body for 10-four decades just before manifesting. This helps it be challenging to discover the illness continuing. In the event the conditions are described and identified, it can be far too late and odds of your survival of patients are incredibly dismal.

Source: http://www.gethsemane-lutheran.com/asbestos-and-cancer-of-the-lung

les miles les miles beyonce dance for you video beyonce dance for you video asu football asu football arkansas lsu

screamgame1 - Keychain ?Game console, Vintage video game ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Keychain ?Game console, Vintage video game? ? Hand Made, Key chain ring: #> For Sale Keychain ?Game console, http://shakingboots.com/foRFc.

Source: http://screamgame1.livejournal.com/353811.html

golden state warriors amanda bynes molly sims hostess brands david crowder band nh primary amber rose

Saturday, February 4, 2012

'Twilight' star Kellan Lutz defends Gisele

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2011 photo, Kellan Lutz arrives at the 45th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011. ?Twlight? star Kellan Lutz sympathizes with Gisele Bundchen. Earlier in the week, some criticized the supermodel and wife of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after a rumored email she sent to friends and family encouraging them to pray for her husband's success in the Super Bowl game against the New York Giants was leaked. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2011 photo, Kellan Lutz arrives at the 45th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011. ?Twlight? star Kellan Lutz sympathizes with Gisele Bundchen. Earlier in the week, some criticized the supermodel and wife of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after a rumored email she sent to friends and family encouraging them to pray for her husband's success in the Super Bowl game against the New York Giants was leaked. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

Twilight star Kellan Luttz attends Audi party for Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis on Friday, Feb. 3, 2012. Lutz sympathizes with Gisele Bundchen. Earlier in the week, some criticized the supermodel and wife of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after a rumored email she sent to friends and family encouraging them to pray for her husband's success in the Super Bowl game against the New York Giants was leaked. The die-hard football fan said he wants the Patriots to win in Sunday's game. (AP Photo/John Carucci)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? "Twlight" star Kellan Lutz sympathizes with Gisele Bundchen.

Earlier in the week, some criticized the supermodel and wife of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after an email she reportedly sent to friends and family encouraging them to pray for her husband's success in the Super Bowl game against the New York Giants was leaked.

"I found that very endearing," Lutz said about the email. "Very sweet to have a wife do that for her husband and give that positive energy. I think we all need that in the world. To listen to the news broadcasters ... be negative towards that, I think it is really (bad)."

The die-hard football fan, who just attended the Pro Bowl, kicked off Super Bowl weekend by attending a Friday night party hosted by Audi. Lutz, who has been to Super Bowl weekend before, said he wants the Patriots to win Sunday.

"They have a great team. Solid team," he said. "I fell in love with Tom Brady. Met him once. Really great guy and they have a really solid team. Even if Tom isn't playing, their team is solid."

The actor may be known for his rock solid body, but says it dwarfs in comparison to the NFL players.

"All of these guys are definitely big guys," Lutz said with a smile. "I feel small. It is a weird feeling because in Hollywood you work with actors who are small. I love sports. I love football."

Other attendees at the Audi party included director Spike Lee, football great Jim Brown, Sherri Shepherd of ABC's "The View," and "Glee" star Matthew Morrison.

Morrison said he's rooting for a Giants win: "I lived in New York for 13 years." He also said he was enjoying the energy in the city: "They're real die-hard football fans here."

Audi wasn't the only party in Indianapolis on Friday night. There were several celebrity soirees, including one thrown by Playboy, where Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hung out in the VIP area as lingerie-clad acrobats dangled from ropes from the ceiling.

___

Online:

Kellan Lutz: www.kellanlutz.com/index.html

___

AP Music Editor Nekesa Mumbi Moody contributed to this report.

__

Alicia Quarles is the AP's Global Entertainment and Lifestyles editor. Follow her on Twitter (at)aliciaquarles

?

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-02-04-Super%20Bowl-Kellan%20Lutz/id-c2d1751763a041858fd5a66344ee1eb4

philadelphia eagles vince young vince young john carter trans siberian orchestra trans siberian orchestra little big town

Key Internet operator VeriSign hit by hackers

VeriSign Inc, the company in charge of delivering people safely to more than half the world's websites, has been hacked repeatedly by outsiders who stole undisclosed information from the leading Internet infrastructure company.

The previously unreported breaches occurred in 2010 at the Reston, Virginia-based company, which is ultimately responsible for the integrity of Web addresses ending in .com, .net and .gov.

VeriSign said its executives "do not believe these attacks breached the servers that support our Domain Name System network," which ensures people land at the right numeric Internet Protocol address when they type in a name such as Google.com, but it did not rule anything out.

VeriSign's domain-name system processes as many as 50 billion queries daily. Pilfered information from it could let hackers direct people to faked sites and intercept email from federal employees or corporate executives, though classified government data moves through more secure channels.

"Oh my God," said Stewart Baker, former assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and before that the top lawyer at the National Security Agency. "That could allow people to imitate almost any company on the Net."

The VeriSign attacks were revealed in a quarterly U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing in October that followed new guidelines on reporting security breaches to investors. It was the most striking disclosure to emerge in a review by Reuters of more than 2,000 documents mentioning breach risks since the SEC guidance was published.

Even if the name system is safe, VeriSign offers a number of other services where security is paramount. The company defends customers' websites from attacks and manages their traffic, and it researches international cybercrime groups.

VeriSign would possess sensitive information on customers, and its registry services that dispense website addresses would also be a natural target.

Ken Silva, who was VeriSign's chief technology officer for three years until November 2010, said he had not learned of the intrusion until contacted by Reuters. Given the time elapsed since the attack and the vague language in the SEC filing, he said VeriSign "probably can't draw an accurate assessment" of the damage.

Baker said VeriSign's description will lead people to "assume that it was a nation-state attack that is persistent, very difficult to eradicate and very difficult to put your hands around, so you can't tell where they went undetected."

VeriSign declined multiple interview requests, and senior employees said privately that they had not been given any more details than were in the filing. One said it was impossible to tell if the breach was the result of a concerted effort by a national power, though that was a possibility. "It's an ugly, slim sliver of facts. It's not enough," he said.

The 10-Q said that security staff responded to the attack soon afterward but failed to alert top management until September 2011. It says nothing about a continuing investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to questions about an inquiry or recommendations for VeriSign customers.

Until August 2010, VeriSign was one of the largest providers of Secure Sockets Layer certificates, which Web browsers look for when connecting users to sites that begin "https," including most financial sites and some email and other communications portals.

If the SSL process were corrupted, "you could create a Bank of America certificate or Google certificate that is trusted by every browser in the world," said prominent security consultant Dmitri Alperovich, president of Asymmetric Cyber Operations.

VeriSign sold its certificate business in the summer of 2010 to Symantec Corp, which has kept the VeriSign brand name on those products.

Symantec spokeswoman Nicole Kenyon said "there is no indication that the 2010 corporate network security breach mentioned by VeriSign Inc was related to the acquired SSL product production systems."

Some smaller issuers of such validation certificates have been compromised in the past, and false certificates have been used to spread the most sophisticated malicious software yet detected, including Stuxnet, which attacked the Iranian nuclear program.

In written Senate testimony on Tuesday, U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper called the known certificate breaches of 2011 "a threat to one of the most fundamental technologies used to secure online communications and sensitive transactions, such as online banking." Others have said SSL as a whole is no longer trustworthy and effective.

In a section of its filing devoted to risk factors, VeriSign said it was a frequent subject of "the most sophisticated form of attacks," including some that are "virtually impossible to anticipate and defend against."

Security experts said the breach reminded them of last year's attack on RSA, an authentication company owned by storage maker EMC Corp. RSA's SecurID tokens authorize remote access and have been in wide use by government agencies and military contractors including Lockheed Martin Corp, which said it was probed on the heels of the RSA breach.

"This breach, along with the RSA breach, puts the authentication mechanisms that are currently being used by businesses at risk," said Melissa Hathaway, a former intelligence official who led U.S. President Barack Obama's cybersecurity policy review and later pushed for the SEC guidance. "There appears to be a structured process of hunting those who provide authentication services."

Even if VeriSign's certificates were not compromised, a significant breach "means that prevention is futile," Alperovich said. He said he hoped new legislation on cybersecurity, expected to reach the Senate floor this month, would call for more disclosures and bring more aid to companies under attack.

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46238729/ns/technology_and_science-security/

rockefeller center art basel 2011 art basel 2011 straight no chaser straight no chaser bcs standings bcs standings

Friday, February 3, 2012

#SB46 fans take to social media to navigate Indy (AP)

INDIANAPOLIS ? Attention, (hash)SB46 fans: Looking for a celebrity? Need a parking spot or a bathroom? How about a place to eat without waiting for hours? The answers could be just a tweet away.

A year after Super Bowl 45 set a record 4,064 tweets per second during the fourth quarter of the game, organizers are aiming to make this year's game in Indianapolis the most connected Super Bowl ever.

Dozens of volunteers are stationed along downtown streets, armed with tablets and walkie-talkies that connect them to the game's first-ever social media command center. There, volunteers mine Twitter, Facebook and other social networks for real-time news that can help fans avoid hassles that could ruin their Super Bowl experience.

More than 37,000 fans are following the host committee on Facebook and through the game's official Twitter account, (at)SuperBowl2012, where pleas for trash removal mingle with requests for tickets to a Lucas Oil Stadium tour. Thousands more have texted SB2012 for weather, traffic and other information.

And yes, in case you're wondering, there's an app for that: The NFL also has created an official "SB XLVI Guide" app for iPhone, iPad and Android phones. with a spinnable, 3D map of Indianapolis with road closures and a parking guide, as well as lists of daily events and selected restaurants around town. Ticket holders can also type in their seat section and see where they'll be sitting on game day.

Curious? Here's a user guide to digitally exploring the Super Bowl:

WHERE'S JIMMY?

Celebrity-spotting has become a social media sport, and it's in high gear this week in Indy. Want to know where to spot Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow or halftime performer Madonna? Search the game's official hashtag, (hash)SB46.

Host Jimmy Fallon, taping his "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" at the Hilbert Circle Theatre this week, has used his Twitter account, (at)jimmyfallon, to post photos of him enjoying the city, from a ride on the 800-foot-long zip line that soars above Super Bowl Village to a walk around Monument Circle, the war memorial-and-fountain adorned center of downtown, in drag. He's given a boost to local restaurants, tweeting about the food and staff. And fans hoping to catch the show live have been checking Twitter to see how long the line is and whether standby tickets are available.

But star watchers, beware. Twitter never promised accuracy.

At one point this week, actor Ryan Gosling was seen at a downtown restaurant, somewhere in nearby suburb Zionsville or an hour away in Columbus, Ind., with Brad Pitt, all around the same time.

GET ME OUT OF THIS CAR:

Last week, a spike in complaints about not being able to find parking led to the creation of an interactive downtown parking map (http://4rd.ca/aaaDPJ), which pinpoints every garage in the area for desperate drivers. But those stuck in traffic might be served just as well to pick up their smartphones.

While driving from Bloomington with her friends Wednesday to see a taping of Fallon's show in Indianapolis, Laura Hunsucker checked the (at)SuperBowl2012 Twitter account for advice on the best routes.

The directions she found there took her group straight to a parking garage with plenty of spaces just a few blocks from Super Bowl Village.

"I never would have thought to take that route if I hadn't seen it on Twitter," Hunsucker said.

EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY:

Local restaurants are participating in the host committee's "Text Times" program. When restaurants have wait times of less than 45 minutes, they text the command center, where volunteers relay the actual wait time to street teams armed with tablets and wearing large orange Super Bowl flags to make them easy to find in crowds.

Volunteer Scott Blake sports a walkie-talkie with an earpiece that gives him a direct connection to the command center. When a visitor has a question he can't readily answer, like where the nearest karaoke bar is, Blake can call and get an answer in minutes.

It's also his connection to the "Text Times" program. Earlier this week, a couple stopped to ask where they could eat nearby. A quick check with the command center and they were on their way to the nearby Colts Grille, where there was no wait.

"My job is to help people with whatever they need and welcome them to downtown," Blake said.

TALK TO THE PLAYERS:

Even the teams are getting in on the act. On Thursday, four Giants players took part in the team's Social Media Night. Fans had a 15-minute window with each player, posting questions to Twitter with appropriate hashtags. Safety Tyler Sash fielded questions to (hash)askSash about what it was like to make the Super Bowl in his first NFL season, while tight end Jake Ballard ((hash)askBallard) was questioned about his pre-game rituals.

The Giants also chose 20 fans for a live video chat with players through Google+.

While the Patriots haven't planned any social-media gatherings, they're not being neglected online. Chevrolet has been tracking Twitter mentions for the two teams on its "Road to the (hash)SuperBowl" site, and the Patriots have dominated. Receiver Chad Ochocinco has been mentioned more than 100,000 times, nearly four times the mentions received by the Giants' Victor Cruz.

____

AP journalists are tweeting from the Super Bowl, too! Follow (at)AP_NFL, or find our individual journalists at http://apne.ws/z7jYCe -BW.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120203/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_super_bowl_super_tweets

marines urinating cadillac ats bain capital manny ramirez haley barbour olivier martinez peoples choice awards 2012

Moonlighting enzyme works double shift 24/7

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

A team of researchers led by Michigan State University has discovered an overachieving plant enzyme that works both the day and night shifts.

The discovery, featured in the current issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that plants evolved a new function for this enzyme by changing merely one of its protein building blocks.

The enzyme, ATP synthase, usually works the day shift, serving as a key player in storing energy created through photosynthesis in the chloroplast. When the sun goes down most of these enzymes switch off to prevent energy from leaking out.

The newly changed protein building block, or subunit, allows this enzyme to do another job once the sun goes down and photosynthesis stops, said David Kramer, Hannah Distinguished Professor of Photosynthesis and Bioenergetics.

"By exchanging this one building block, the enzyme gains a new function in the dark, in the roots." he said. "It's like a food processor. With one attachment it chops food. Swap it for another, and it kneads bread dough."

The building block on which the researchers focused is called gamma, a component of ATP synthase. There are two forms of gamma, gamma-1 and gamma-2. When researchers removed gamma-1, photosynthesis was completely stopped. When gamma-2 was removed, the plant could not make normal root hairs (the part of the root that takes up nutrients.) On the other end of the spectrum, plants engineered to produce lots of gamma-2 made very long root hairs.

So, the seemingly small change not only allows the enzyme to pick up an additional shift, but to also work a completely different job ? from storing energy during the day to transporting energy in the roots at night.

This particular enzyme also functions as a regulator of photosynthesis, controlling how much energy plants consume. Too much light causes damage while too little results in low energy, which keeps the plants from growing to their full potential.

Kramer's next phase of research in this realm will investigate regulating the enzyme's effect on increasing photosynthesis, which could potentially lead to more efficient plants and algae.

Kramer works in the MSU-Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory. The research team included scientists from Washington State University, Ludwig Maximilians University (Germany), Albert Ludwigs University (Germany) and the Centre de la Recherche Scientifique (France).

###

Michigan State University: http://www.newsroom.msu.edu

Thanks to Michigan State 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 22 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/117224/Moonlighting_enzyme_works_double_shift_____

ohio news caracal beef wellington beef wellington ronnie brown man up man up

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Take Skin Cancer Seriously | Tim Marketing

Skin cancer is really a very common variety associated with cancer. Far a lot more than one million persons all about the planet fall victim to be able to this ailment annually with Australia to become the actual nation taking the actual lead. This disease is actually probably the most preventable form associated with cancer within the United States with A single situated in 5 Americans to become likely to be able to receive the actual diagnosis situated in their particular lifetime.

Skin cancer is actually defined as a problem which the actual epidermis seems to be able to lose its natural power to be able to divide and also reproduce cells ordinarily. Typically, new tissue is actually formed to be able to replace deceased cells; irregular cells can increase and also form a collection associated with cells situated in what is actually called a tumor. Some varieties associated with this disease have been known to be able to metastasize or perhaps spread to be able to other parts with the body to be able to cause a lot more cancers. Skin cancer is actually not restricted to be able to any particular region within the human body; it can arise just on anywhere. The prevalent sites associated with cancerous growth are those spots uncovered to be able to the actual sun?s rays like the actual forearms, facial area, hands, back and also neck.

Nearly all skin cancers are curable if detected and also dealt with early upon, previous with their having propagated to be able to other body cells. It is actually practically 100% treatable and also curable when it is actually discovered early and also dealt with appropriately.  That is actually the actual reason in which you need to never fail to be able to examine your skin every calendar month for new growths or perhaps suspicious changes.

There are on three significant causes associated with most skin cancers; family history, the actual environment, and also sun damage to be able to your epidermis. Smoking has also been demonstrated to be able to double a person?s risk. There have been scientific studies performed in which have revealed in which grownups obtain practically fifty percent of these UV exposure to their lifetime from the time these people reach twenty years. This disease also can be genetic and also takes place a lot more frequently situated in selected racial groups, particularly people with fair coloration for example Northern Italians, Scandinavians and also Brits. Everybody, regardless associated with skin darkness, need to watch for changes with their skin. It is actually not unheard associated with for individuals associated with African descent to obtain skin cancer.

Skin cancer is actually firmly appropriate to be able to to become exposed to be able to ultraviolet light, in which aspect with the power in which derives through the sun and all those man-made sources like sun lamps and also tanning beds. UV light is actually composed associated with two types: UVA and also UVB rays. Sunburn has been attributed to be able to UVB, but UVA rays are believed being the actual cause associated with melanoma, probably the most dangerous kind associated with skin cancer. Originally researchers were led to be able to believe in which only UVB radiation causes the actual variety associated with harm in which can cause skin cancer and also premature aging. UVA radiation is actually now believed to obtain those same consequences, too. It does not matter if the actual UV rays originate through the sun or perhaps the actual tanning booth; the actual consequences are the actual same.

The most efficient way to be able to protect against skin cancer is always to minimize your direct exposure to be able to the actual sun?s rays. Ultraviolet light is actually most powerful during the actual middle with the day, so the actual recommendation is always to avoid the actual sun from ten within the morning until 3 within the afternoon, depending upon your country. If you must go out consider protecting the actual skin by donning hats, loose long-sleeved tops, long skirts, or perhaps slacks. Having said in which, kids and also small babies are especially at extreme danger associated with acquiring sunburn. There has been a solid link established between skin cancer situated in later life and also sunburn situated in children or perhaps babies, so be excessively cautious where children are concerned. If you must go out within the sun prefer to be able to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen or perhaps sun block. That is actually the actual type in which blocks both UVA and also UVB rays. Reapply frequently, especially In case your application?s effectiveness is actually getting diminished by sweat or perhaps water. Be especially mindful associated with those areas in which can get a great deal associated with sun like the actual hands, feet situated in sandals, the actual tops associated with heads which are not well-covered by hair, and also a lot more.

Source: http://www.timarketing.info/uncategorized/take-skin-cancer-seriously/

time magazine person of the year la clippers verizon galaxy nexus verizon galaxy nexus lawrence lessig lawrence lessig time magazine person of the year 2011

Scientist at Work Blog: A Wolf-Moose Standoff at Isle Royale

John Vucetich, a wildlife ecologist from Michigan Technological University, leads the wolf-moose Winter Study at Isle Royale National Park.

Thursday, Jan. 26

No flying today. Moisture drips from low and lingering clouds. But our ground-based crew is productive. Our field technicians, Dieter Weise and Beth Kolb, snowshoe all day through spruce, over creeks, beneath cedars. They are searching for moose tracks. They find five sets of tracks and follow them to the treasure they seek: pellet piles and yellow snow. The samples will tell us, with help of some chemical analyses, about the pregnancy and nutritional status of those moose.

Rob Bell, a National Park Service employee, snowshoes the Hugginin Loop, recording which balsam firs have survived from last year. The balsam firs are an important source of food for moose.

Each bit of information we collect is like a fragment of papyrus from an ancient text ? not very informative by itself, but loaded with insight when the fragments are pieced together in just the right way.

Meanwhile, we take a sauna, not because we need it, but because we have time on our hands.

This week: The sound of the 1880s; wolves versus moose in northern Michigan; and watch where you get that nose job.

Friday, Jan. 27

The Flagship is in the air again. We fly for six hours, as the overcast overtakes the sun. We spot the Chippewa Harbor Pack bedded beneath a small clump of spruce on the north side of Mount Ojibway. Thirty meters away stand a cow moose and her calf. The calf?s only defense is staying close to its mother. The cow is apparently too much for the wolves to mount any kind of straight-on attack. But any advantage will be lost if she walks or runs away. So the moose stay. So do the wolves. But for how long? Although they cannot just take what they want, the wolves apparently see merit in waiting. If the mother moose is inexperienced at defending a calf, she might make a mistake in her anxiety-ridden state of mind. Everyone waits. These confrontations occur regularly. A typical moose might stand wolves down several times a year. Sometimes the wolves move on after just a few minutes. Sometimes they remain for days.

We see some wolf tracks near Grace Creek, more on the beach of Siskiwit Bay, and more again near Little Todd Harbor (see map). We?re not sure whether the tracks belong to one or two groups of wolves.

Still no signal from the radio-collared wolf Romeo. We?ve resigned ourselves to the possibility that his collar has malfunctioned. If he is alive, he has most likely left his pack. Perhaps he?s among the wolves making tracks at the west end of Isle Royale. When we find wolves, we?ll be looking to see if any wear a collar that doesn?t emit a signal.

Today marks a first for me: I saw more foxes than wolves on a flight. We see four of the small fluffy-tailed creatures. Throughout upper central North America, snowshoe hares are at the peak of their 10-year cycle. While the hares will be starving this winter as their populations begin to drop, it?s a good year to be a fox.

The wind quickly rises to 25 knots. Don wrestles the wind for control of the Flagship. It?s time to go home. The overcast skies bring light snow that soon turns to squalls.

Saturday, Jan. 28

Wind and snow keep us grounded. But it?s Saturday night and we have R.F.D.-TV. The evening begins with ?The Marty Stuart Show? and ends with ?The Mollie B Polka Party.? The booming oompa-pa of a big old tuba reverberates through the bunkhouse.

Sunday, Jan. 29

By noon, 30-knot winds are dropping off. Don flies Beth and Dieter to the Daisy Farm cabin at the other end of the island. They will spend the next couple of weeks working there, searching for moose pellet and urine samples. Each year we collect samples from about 50 moose at both ends of the island.

On the flight back from Daisy Farm, Don spots six wolves from Chippewa Harbor Pack. That?s one more than the five we?d seen previously. The wolves are sleeping on McDonald Lake. And from over Sargent Lake, he hears a few beeps from Romeo?s collar. But then the collar goes silent. We had a similar experience during a flight last week. Now we think Romeo is alive but wearing a collar that works only intermittently.

Source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=301a7bb9bb078c7aab698bfb7f3de0b2

matt ryan real housewives of new york mildred pierce cam newton emmy awards nick collins cape coral fl

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

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

GAINESVILLE, Fla. ? Minutes before two pileups killed 10 people on a highway shrouded in fog and thick smoke from a brush fire, the Florida Highway Patrol had reopened the always busy six-lane 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.

"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 at 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 that 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."

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.

The vehicles crashed about 4 a.m. after driving in heavy smoke that made it hard to see. 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 that she was listed in critical condition.

Amazonas had been at a religious conference in Florida with the family and many others since Thursday. He said he spoke with the pastor before the family left Florida on Saturday night and urged him to wait until morning, he said. But Carmo told him he wanted to be back in time for the Sunday morning service.

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.

"We couldn't have imagined such tragedy would come to us," Amazonas said.

Riordan declined to release the names of the two troopers who made the decision 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. Gov. Rick Scott also called for an investigation.

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."

Hours later, twisted, burned-out vehicles were scattered across the pavement, with smoke still rising from the wreckage. Cars appeared to have smashed into the big rigs and, in one case, a motor home. Some cars were crushed beneath the heavier trucks.

Reporters who were allowed to view the site saw bodies still inside a burned-out Grand Prix. One tractor-trailer was burned down to its skeleton, charred pages of books and magazines in its cargo area. And the tires of every vehicle had burned away, leaving only steel belts.

The Florida Forest Service said Monday it still had not determined if the 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/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120131/ap_on_re_us/us_deadly_interstate_crash

loft old navy cyber monday best deals cyber monday best deals brownback brownback salvia

Officials: Romney to get Secret Service protection (AP)

TAMPA, Fla. ? Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is getting Secret Service protection.

That's according to two sources with knowledge of the plans.

A Romney campaign adviser says the Secret Service will provide security for the former Massachusetts governor starting Wednesday.

An administration official says Romney's campaign requested the protection. The official says the administration determined that Romney met all the conditions for protection. Those include being a major presidential candidate who has raised a certain amount of money.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security means.

___

Sullivan reported from Washington.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120201/ap_on_el_pr/us_romney_secret_service

adriana lima victoria secret angels fox 4 fox 4 adam levine vs fashion show 2011 victoria secret fashion show