Once an afterthought, Romney eyes Iowa with hope

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns during a stop on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns during a stop on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011 in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential candidate, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, campaigns at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic, Iowa, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Republican presidential candidate former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum arrives at a campaign stop at the Coralville City Hall, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, in Coralville, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) ? Mitt Romney, watching as Republicans flail for a not-Romney alternative, is looking with optimism at Iowa, the state that rejected him four years earlier but now appears at least open to the possibility that he could be the GOP presidential nominee.

With Iowa barreling toward its lead-off caucuses Tuesday, Romney is suddenly making a public play to win the contest he largely kept at arm's length since his stinging second-place finish in 2008. Romney planned to begin his Friday in West Des Moines with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a larger-than-life figure whom conservatives courted to join the race before he endorsed Romney's presidential quest.

Romney's declared rivals, however, were working in overdrive to emerge as his chief rival. None went directly after the former Massachusetts governor though. Instead, they kept their focus on each other as all hoped a strong showing here could yield momentum heading into the next contests in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

"Don't settle for what's not good enough to save the country," the newly ascendant Rick Santorum implored Iowans on Thursday at city hall in Coralville. He urged voters to put conservative principles above everything else and suggested that his rivals, and specifically Ron Paul, lacked them.

For the first time, Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator who lost a bruising 2006 re-election bid, became a target.

"When he talks about fiscal conservatism, every now and then it leaves me scratching my head because he was a prolific earmarker," Texas Gov. Rick Perry said of Santorum, referring to special spending projects members of Congress seek. "He loaded up his bill with Pennsylvania pork.'"

Rep. Michele Bachmann also criticized Santorum on the spending set-asides in a conference call late Thursday with supporters.

"He has a real problem with earmarks," she said.

Santorum defended the practice as part of lawmakers' constitutional role as appropriators, telling CNBC that he owed it to Pennsylvanians to bring money to the state. He said earmarking became abused and that he would support a ban on them if he were president.

Both of Santorum's critics planned to continue to hammer that point ? Perry in central Iowa and Bachmann in the western part of the state. Santorum, meanwhile, planned to campaign in north-central Iowa, including a watch party for Iowa and Oklahoma's faceoff in the Insight Bowl football game.

The maneuvering underscored the fluid ? if not convoluted ? state of the GOP presidential race as Tuesday's caucuses loom while cultural conservatives and evangelical Republicans, who make up the base of the electorate here, continue to be divided. That lack of unity could pave the way for someone who is seen as less consistently conservative.

Five days out, public and private polling show Romney and Paul in strong contention to win the caucuses, with coalitions of support cobbled together from across the Republican political spectrum and their get-out-the-vote operations ? beefed up from their failed 2008 bids ? at the ready. They're the only two with the money and the organizations necessary to ensure big turnouts on Tuesday.

The three others ? Santorum, Perry and Gingrich ? will have to rely largely on momentum to carry supporters to precinct caucuses. Each was working to convince fickle conservatives that he alone would satisfy those who yearn for a nominee who would adhere strictly to GOP orthodoxy.

Looking to capitalize on his burst of support in new polls, Santorum made a play for tea party backers lining up behind Paul by arguing that the Texas congressman is longer on promising sweeping change than enacting it:

"The guy has passed one bill in 20 years," Santorum said. "What makes you think he can do any of these things?"

___

Associated Press writers Thomas Beaumont, Mike Glover, Kasie Hunt, Brian Bakst and Shannon McCaffrey contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-12-30-GOP%20Campaign/id-581df50bc5a142698ff1721cdb564faa

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Romney says Paul doesn't represent mainstream (AP)

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa ? An Iowa victory within reach, an increasingly confident Mitt Romney on Friday cast chief GOP presidential rival Ron Paul as a fringe candidate and said: "I'm working harder than anyone to make sure he's not the nominee."

"I don't think Ron Paul represents the mainstream," Romney added, criticism that illustrates an attempt to bloody the Texas congressman who, like Romney, is in strong contention to win Tuesday's lead-off caucuses.

The libertarian-leaning Paul, campaigning on the western side of the state, didn't respond.

Romney commented on Paul's candidacy during morning television interviews after appearing with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie before several hundred people outside a grocery store near Des Moines.

Mindful not to ignore another key state, Romney was dashing to New Hampshire later in the day for more appearances and also rolled out a fresh TV ad there. He returns to Iowa on Saturday afternoon and plans to remain in the state through caucus night. It's an indication of just how confident his team has become about possible victory in a state that derailed his candidacy four years ago.

There's reason for that optimism.

A new NBC-Marist poll shows Romney and Paul virtually tied for the lead among likely caucus-goers, with Rick Santorum surging into third, Rick Perry inching up to fourth and Newt Gingrich sliding to fifth. Michele Bachmann was at the back of the pack. Perhaps more striking, tea party supporters are essentially divided evenly across the Republican field.

The race, to be sure, remains fluid and many Iowans still are undecided.

But Romney was expressing increasing optimism as his rivals scrambled to win over cultural conservatives and religious voters who haven't rallied behind one candidate, possibly paving the way for a victory by the former Massachusetts governor seen by some as less consistent on issues this bloc holds dear.

"I'm not planning on being disappointed," Romney said, speaking about Tuesday's caucuses. "No thing is a sure thing at this stage, but it feels terrific."

He also defended negative ads by his allies that have pounded Gingrich and argued that the former House speaker has done more damage to himself than any ads have.

"Speaker Gingrich's numbers have gone down more in New Hampshire than they have here," Romney said.

Gingrich, meanwhile, showed a little emotion at an event in Des Moines with mothers. Recalling his late mother's struggle with depression and mental illness, Gingrich choked and wiped away tears. He allowed the he does "policy much easier than I do personal."

The moment was reminiscent of Hillary Rodham Clinton's teary-eyed response to a question just before the 2008 Democratic primary in New Hampshire. The episode was credited with humanizing her in the eyes of voters. She won the primary.

Romney also refused anew to commit to releasing his income tax returns, saying: "If I become president, why, then I can decide that."

Illustrating an all-out effort to win the caucuses, Romney implored Iowans in a video to show up at precinct caucuses Tuesday and vote for him.

At the early morning event, he appeared energized by the crowd as he delivered his standard campaign speech focused on President Barack Obama. "He just played his 90th round of golf," Romney said, knocking the president for vacationing in Hawaii as the crowd stood on cold, light rain.

Christie, a Republican backed by the conservative and tea party wings of the GOP, playfully told the crowd to vote for Romney or "I will be back, Jersey style."

With four days to go, public and private polling show Romney and Paul in strong contention to win the caucuses, with coalitions of support cobbled together from across the Republican political spectrum and their get-out-the-vote operations ? beefed up from their failed 2008 bids ? at the ready. They're the only two with the money and the organizations necessary to ensure big turnouts on Tuesday.

Three others ? Santorum, Perry and Gingrich ? will have to rely largely on momentum to carry supporters to the caucuses. Each was working to convince fickle conservatives that he alone would satisfy those who yearn for a nominee who would adhere strictly to GOP orthodoxy.

Bachmann was working to convince backers that her cash-strapped campaign was not in disarray after a top Iowa supporter abandoned her to back Paul.

She appeared Friday with Iowa Rep. Steve King, her closest congressional ally, at a cafe in his district. But he offered only kind words for the congressman and not the endorsement that she and some of her rivals have so eagerly sought.

___

Associated Press writers Thomas Beaumont, Mike Glover, Kasie Hunt, Brian Bakst and Shannon McCaffrey contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111230/ap_on_el_pr/us_gop_campaign

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India, UK: Killing of an Indian Student in the UK Stirs Up Racism Debate

On Monday (26/12/2011) Anuj Bidve, a 23yr old Indian student from Pune, was shot dead at point blank range, as he walked with friends near their hotel in Salford, Greater Manchester, UK. Witnesses reported that the killing was without provocation; apparently, the killer had stopped Anuj and had asked him the time and despite a polite response shot him in the head and ran away. Anuj's father said that the family first got to know of the terrible tragedy, via Facebook.

The incident, which is now being seen as a hate crime by the local authorities, has fired the racism debate once again. Netizens across India and the UK reacted strongly to the murder.

Screenshot from the Facebook Page - Justice for Anuj

A section of the Tweeple, both from the UK as well as India, expressed sorrow and sympathy at the incident.

@ciarandearden: The more I hear about the tragic murder of Anuj Bidve, the more disgusted I am by this heinous crime.

@MissLButtercup: To the family of Anuj Bidve I am ashamed this has happened in my country.

@LolaMariachi: Just back to Salford Quays after Christmas. Sad to see flowers up for Anuj and TV Vans parked up. Sad times.

@MichaelPayneUK Michael Payne My thoughts are with family & friends of Anuj Bidve, 23yr old Lancaster Uni PG student who was killed in an attack in Salford yesterday

@super_bhav: My thoughts go out to the family of #anuj #bidve so sorry for your loss #salford #shooting #mindless #violence

Others however, also expressed outrage at what they felt was the tragic outcome of? a racist attack. There was a strong call for bringing the culprits to book as soon as possible and mete out strong punishment that would act as a deterrent in the future.

@shekharkapur:? #Anuj Bidve's random killing in UK is a disgusting racist attack tht needs 2 b condemned. Whts happenin 2 British Society?

@tomilis: Sad to see death of Anuj Bidve in Manchester. World isn't safe for those with our skin colour anymore it seems?

@loserSamay:The killing of #Anuj in Manchester must be condemn and the culprits must be sentenced.i thought racist attack in Britain was thing of past.

@AmitabhTiwari:#Anuj Bidve's killing proves that only Indians follow the philosophy of atithi devo bhavah! (a guest is like God)

@scutts:What a cowardly act to shoot Indian student #Anuj #Bidve. Hope the scum are caught quick. #bringbackhanging

@davidmonkton: David Monkton Remember the family and friends of Anuj Bidve. His death in Salford makes us ALL sad that ?crimes of hatred' take place in our country

@OwenJones84: The horrendous murder of Anuj Bidve is being treated as a hate crime. No rest until all forms of racism are driven from our society

@chet_a_chet: The killing an Indian student Anuj Bidve in UK is being called a ?hate Crime? here by the media. It was clearly a racial murder.

@dhulston:After riots we pulled together we need the same approach to clear the city of this scum. Action against #racism

The police have already made a couple of arrests and have appealed to the community for their support in solving the case. They have also announced a reward against information on the killers. That there is support for the police investigation from the local community that feels shamed at this turn of events is evident from this tweet:

@Bethel76: I am proud to live in Salford. The shooting of Anuj Bidve is a terrible crime. The police have support of the communities. #prayforhisfamily

The topic of racism is being discussed and debated in forums and on Facebook as well. For example, in the forum YouBihar, Chalu Chamar writes:

It seems racism is still rampant in?Modern?British Society otherwise we would not be reading such news.

While some have been quick to generalize and paint the entire British society with? the same brush, there are also other voices which offer a more moderate and balanced point of view on the issue of racism. For example, Sumit Ranjan comments in the above-mentioned forum discussion:

My tributes to the innocent Indian killed. May God give strength and courage to his family, friends and loved ones to bear this great loss. On the topic, sadly, racism does exist in England. I have personally faced it on few occasions and I will not deny it. But, at the same time, I would also like to?? say that the majority of the people are not racists. I have got many British friends who stood up for me and even fought some weirdo who had passed some racist comments at me recently in a pub and was trying to act smart. And btw, are we saying racism doesn't exist in India? That would be dishonest too? In my view, it?s a common problem.. but the extent of it may be different in different countries..

The debate as well as the investigation into the killing continues. In the meantime, Anuj's family is leaving no stone unturned to try and get his body back to India for performing his last rites.

Source: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/12/30/india-uk-killing-of-an-indian-student-in-the-uk-stirs-up-racism-debate/

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NFL Pro Bowl: Bucs' Joseph, Two Polk Players Selected

Published: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 9:01 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 9:01 p.m.

It hasn't been the best season for the Tampa Bay Bucs. But one guy, right guard Davin Joseph, has stood tall and steady all season.

On Tuesday, Joseph was named to his second NFC Pro Bowl team.

Joseph will be a backup to New Orleans' guards Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks.

"I'll trade it in for 10 wins," Joseph said on the Bucs' Twitter account. "If I could hand this back for 10 wins, I'd give it right back."

Polk County will also be represented in the Pro Bowl.

Second-year Pittsburgh center Maurkice Pouncey and veteran linebacker Ray Lewis also were named to the AFC Pro Bowl squad.

Pouncey, who is from Lakeland High School and an ex-Florida Gator, made the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row. He missed last year's Super Bowl and Pro Bowl because of an injury to his ankle.

Lewis, a product of Kathleen High and the University of Miami, has been invited to 13 Pro Bowls in his 16 seasons.

He leads the Ravens in tackles despite missing four games with a toe injury. He was one of seven Baltimore players selected.

Joseph made his first Pro Bowl in 2008. He becomes the fifth Bucs' offensive player and second offensive lineman to earn multiple Pro Bowl selections, joining Mike Alstott (6), Jimmie Giles (4), Tony Mayberry (3) and Warrick Dunn (2).

He has started all 15 games for the Bucs this season after signing a seven-year contract in the offseason.

It is the second year in a row Tampa Bay sent an offensive lineman to the Pro Bowl. Last year, left tackle Donald Penn was an alternate to the Pro Bowl before getting the call.

Source: http://www.theledger.com/article/20111227/news/111229422

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Why the Pro Bowl is the Golden Globes of Sports

The Golden Globes nominations for Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp last year for The Tourist were pretty much the Hollywood Foreign Press Association?s way of saying it, ?F*ck it. We?re not faking it anymore. We just want stars to show up.? This year, the names changed but the trend remained the same. I mean c?mon, Glee and New Girl get nods but no love for shows like Parks and Recreation, Community, or Louie? The Globes? process consistently reeks of a popularity contest and some NFL fans might agree that some of the more recent Pro Bowl picks in high profile categories have the same stomach-turning stench.

Take for example this year?s QB picks. The top quarterbacks in the NFC and AFC were predictable: Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. Okay, I get that. Then there are the more questionable selections, like San Diego?s Phillip Rivers and New York?s Eli Manning. Phillip Rivers may have put up big yardage but his total TDS nearly equaled his total INTs. That?s a piss poor season, not a Pro Bowl season by my estimates. I mean were Rex Grossman and Blaine Gabbert already booked for that weekend?

Okay, so of course Rivers is not Gabbert bad but there are QBs like Andy Dalton, who actually has a shot to lead his team to the playoffs, that got snubbed. Dalton may not have the name recognition but he certainly pulled off a lot with a little as a rookie. And what about Matt Stafford? Sure he may not have the same globally recognized facial grimace as an Eli Manning, but as a healthy starter for his team, he?s leading the Lions to their first playoff game in more than a decade after putting up some jaw dropping numbers. Hell, even Cam Newton deserved some serious consideration given what he?s been able to pull off in his rookie season. It?s not his fault his defense sucks balls.

Let?s take a looksy at the tight end position. Antonio Gates over Aaron Hernandez? Clearly, these voters never had to play against Aaron Hernandez in fantasy football. And what about Giants? wide receiver Victor Cruz? He was on my fantasy team and his awesomeness in large part carried me to the playoffs. He made Eli shine on plenty of plays. If not for his skills, at least reward the man for his awesome touchdown dance.

Beyond that, I wouldn?t say the Panthers? Steve Smith had such an impressive season that he deserves a Pro Bowl selection. In fact, Steve Smith from a few years ago would punch current Steve Smith in the face over his fumbles and crucial drops. (?Current Steve Smith? would then likely shank ?Past Steve Smith?, because current Steve Smith is still pretty scary.)

Much like a Hollywood awards show, the Pro Bowl picks seems so very subjective. But unlike with acting, there are subjective considerations AND hardcore numbers available to voters to help them make their decisions. In the same way that nominating the dude from Dexter every year has just gotten tired, so has what seems like automatic pilot voting for certain Pro Bowl categories.

Perhaps this is why, much like the Golden Globes, the Pro Bowl has lost some of its luster. I don?t know anyone who sits through either broadcast anymore, very few people seem to take either seriously, and even fewer remember who won the honors the year before. Maybe the NFL and the HFPAA can join forces for a new NBC Prime Time Special, ?The Golden Bowl?, where NFL players and actors team up in a battle on the gridiron?wearing tuxes and couture gowns. At least then everyone would be in on the joke.

If you still care who made the Pro Bowl, you can check out a complete Pro Bowl List here.

Source: http://chicksinthehuddle.com/2011/12/28/why-the-pro-bowl-is-the-golden-globes-of-sports/

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Can Struggling Hollywood Ride Broadway's Coattails? | Reuters

www.reuters.com:

With the motion picture box office in a slump, and Broadway on an upswing, an increasing number of film franchises are being transformed for the stage.

In fact, theatrical productions of feature films including "The Notebook," "Rocky," "Austin Powers," "Ghost," "Finding Neverland," "Once," "Diner" and "The Goonies" are all in the works. It's easy to see why.

Domestic box office attendance is at its lowest level in 16 years, and studios have struggled to fill seats throughout a sluggish 2011, during which ticket sales are down around 5 percent.

Read the whole story: www.reuters.com

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/26/can-struggling-hollywood-_n_1170388.html

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Case Closed? Columbus Introduced Syphilis to Europe

News | Health

Syphilis was one of the first global diseases, and understanding where it came from and how it spread may help us combat diseases today

By Charles Q. Choi and LiveScience ?| December 27, 2011

Image: Library of Congress

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, but when he returned from 'cross the seas, did he bring with him a new disease?

New skeletal evidence suggests Columbus and his crew not only introduced the Old World to the New World, but brought back syphilis as well, researchers say.

Syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum bacteria, and is usually curable nowadays with antibiotics. Untreated, it can damage the heart, brain, eyes and bones; it can also be fatal.

The first known epidemic of syphilis occurred during the Renaissance in 1495. Initially its plague broke out among the army of Charles the VIII after the French king invaded Naples. It then proceeded to devastate Europe, said researcher George Armelagos, a skeletal biologist at Emory University in Atlanta.

"Syphilis has been around for 500 years," said researcher Molly Zuckerman at Mississippi State University. "People started debating where it came from shortly afterward, and they haven't stopped since. It was one of the first global diseases, and understanding where it came from and how it spread may help us combat diseases today."

Stigmatized disease

The fact that syphilis is a stigmatized sexually transmitted disease has added to the controversy over its origins. People often seem to want to blame some other country for it, said researcher Kristin Harper, an evolutionary biologist at Emory. [Top 10 Stigmatized Health Disorders]

Armelagos originally doubted the so-called Columbian theory for syphilis when he first heard about it decades ago. "I laughed at the idea that a small group of sailors brought back this disease that caused this major European epidemic," he recalled. Critics of the Columbian theory have proposed that syphilis had always bedeviled the Old World but simply had not been set apart from other rotting diseases such as leprosy until 1500 or so.

However, upon further investigation, Armelagos and his colleagues got a shock ? all of the available evidence they found supported the Columbian theory, findings they published in 1988. "It was a paradigm shift," Armelagos says. Then in 2008, genetic analysis by Armelagos and his collaborators of syphilis's family of bacteria lent further support to the theory.

Still, there have been reports of 50 skeletons from Europe dating back from before Columbus set sail that apparently showed the lesions of chronic syphilis. These seemed to be evidence that syphilis originated in the Old World and that Columbus was not to blame.

Armelagos and his colleagues took a closer look at all the data from these prior reports. They found most of the skeletal material didn't actually meet at least one of the standard diagnostic criteria for chronic syphilis, such as pitting on the skull, known as caries sicca, and pitting and swelling of the long bones.

"There's no really good evidence of a syphilis case before 1492 in Europe," Armelagos told LiveScience.

In the seafood?

The 16 reports that did meet the criteria for syphilis came from coastal regions where seafood was a large part of the diet. This seafood contains "old carbon" from deep, upwelling ocean waters. As such, they might fall prey to the so-called "marine reservoir effect" that can throw off radiocarbon dating of a skeleton by hundreds or even thousands of years. To adjust for this effect, the researchers figured out the amount of seafood these individuals ate when alive. Since our bodies constantly break down and rebuild our bones, measurements of bone-collagen protein can provide a record of diet.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=9ed583ad69692340970d22dfe65c3545

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Iran threatens to stop Gulf oil if sanctions widened

TEHRAN: Iran threatened on Tuesday to stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz if foreign sanctions were imposed on its crude exports over its nuclear ambitions, a move that could trigger military conflict with economies dependent on Gulf oil.

Western tensions with Iran have increased since a November 8 report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog saying Tehran appears to have worked on designing an atomic bomb and may still be pursuing research to that end. Iran strongly denies this and says it is developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Iran has defiantly expanded nuclear activity despite four rounds of U.N. sanctions meted out since 2006 over its refusal to suspend sensitive uranium enrichment and open up to U.N. nuclear inspectors and investigators.

Many diplomats and analysts believe only sanctions targeting Iran's lifeblood oil sector might be painful enough to make it change course, but Russia and China - big trade partners of Tehran - have blocked such a move at the United Nations.

Iran's warning on Tuesday came three weeks after EU foreign ministers decided to tighten sanctions over the U.N. watchdog report and laid out plans for a possible embargo of oil from the world's No. 5 crude exporter.

"If they (the West) impose sanctions on Iran's oil exports, then even one drop of oil cannot flow from the Strait of Hormuz," the official Iranian news agency IRNA quoted Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi as saying.

The U.S. State Department said it saw "an element of bluster" in the threat but underscored that the United States would support the free flow of oil.

"It's another attempt to distract attention away from the real issue, which is their continued non-compliance with their international nuclear obligations," spokesman Mark Toner said.

Rahimi's remarks coincided with a 10-day Iranian naval exercise in the Strait and nearby waters, a show of military force that began on Saturday.

"Our enemies will give up on their plots against Iran only if we give them a firm and strong lesson," Rahimi said.

JANUARY MEETING

EU ministers said on December 1 that a decision on further sanctions would be taken no later than their January meeting but left open the idea of an embargo on Iranian oil.

Countries in the 27-member European Union take 450,000 barrels per day of Iranian oil, about 18 percent of the Islamic Republic's exports, much of which go to China and India. EU officials declined to comment on Tuesday.

About a third of all sea-borne oil was shipped through the Strait of Hormuz in 2009, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and U.S. warships patrol the area to ensure safe passage.

Most of the crude exported from Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq - together with nearly all the liquefied natural gas from lead exporter Qatar - must slip through the Strait of Hormuz, a 4-mile (6.4 km) wide shipping channel between Oman and Iran.

Iran has also hinted it could hit Israel and U.S. interests in the Gulf in response to any military strike on its nuclear installations - a last resort option hinted at by Washington and the Jewish state.

However, some analysts say Iran would think hard about sealing off the Strait since it could suffer just as much economically as Western crude importers, and could kindle war with militarily superior big powers.

"To me, if Iran did that it would be a suicidal act by the regime. Even its friends would be its enemies," said Phil Flynn, analyst at PFG Best Research in Chicago.

Source: http://www.timesofoman.com/innercat.asp?detail=53190

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TheWilsonTimes: Wilson, Edgecombe, Wayne and Sampson counties are under a tornado watch until 7 p.m.

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Engadget HD Podcast 280 - 12.27.2011

This is the last EHD podcast of the year and the last until we're on the ground at CES, so next week will be one of our rare misses -- we'll make it up to you, we promise. Until then, there's plenty of news to tide us over as LG, Sony and Samsung have all been busy with pre-CES teases of their latest technology. Also seeing a lot of action is the mobile remote apps segment, while newcomer RUWT?! has our attention, Roku, DirecTV, Western Digital, Logitech and Control4 all also had something to contribute. Verizon also has a new media server DVR replacement to talk about, while HBO Go has extended its reach to all major cable providers and the Super Bowl will be streaming online for the first time. We'll check in again from Vegas in a few days, until then press play and have a happy New Year!

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[MP3] Download the show (MP3).

Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh (@bjdraw), Richard Lawler (@rjcc)

Producer: Trent Wolbe

00:16:57 - So, what'd you get?
00:20:17 - DirecTV HDUI is rolling out across the land, iPad app adds 12 more live streaming channels
00:22:28 - Verizon FiOS TV's new media server scheduled for late 2012
00:27:06 - It's not TV, it's HBO Go, and it's finally coming to Cablevision
00:29:15 - Super Bowl to be streamed online and to Verizon phones for the first time
00:35:00 - Boxee 1.5 nears release, will be final desktop version
00:36:45 - Roku brings v3.1 software update to first-gen boxes, Amazon Instant Video channel gets refaced
00:38:00 - WD TV Live, Live Hub get an official iOS remote app, Vudu streaming and more
00:40:45 - Logitech Harmony Link app gets customization-focused iPhone, Android update
00:41:30 - Control4 MyHome app takes up residence on Android while Android@Home is out of town
00:42:33 - Are You Watching This?! sports tracker for Android adds remote control for DirecTV, TiVo, Google TV
00:47:25 - Sony divisions to elope in Vegas, celebrate the marriage of Television and Internet at CES 2012
00:48:57 - LG's Magic Remote enables voice control for its smart TVs
00:52:30 - LG's 55-inch 'world's largest' OLED HDTV panel is official, coming to CES 2012
00:54:13 - Sony sells its stake in Samsung LCD team-up for $939 million
00:55:15 - Samsung releases CES 2012 teaser, hints at upcoming Smart TV products (video)
00:57:42 - Engadget Primed: ports, connectors and the future of your TV's backside
00:59:50 - Must See HDTV (December 26th - January 1st)

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Engadget HD Podcast 280 - 12.27.2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TalentOysterJob: University Student - Nuclear #Engineering Int - OPG - Ontario Power Gener - #Bowmanvil - http://t.co/DmnxDhgx #findajob

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University Student - Nuclear #Engineering Int - OPG - Ontario Power Gener - #Bowmanvil - talentoyster.com/Job/A5T13503013 #findajob Il y a environ 12 heures via MaxITApp

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Nothing changes in college football, but it needs to

This is my annual ?We need a playoff in college football? column. I know what you?re saying, ?Same song 15th verse.? Some things never change.

But I have never been more convinced that a playoff is needed.

Let?s take a look at the inept BCS system. It was designed to create a matchup of the two best teams in college football for the national championship game.

In most seasons, that is very difficult to determine. Just look at this year. I really don?t have a big problem with the LSU-Alabama rematch. The smash mouth contest between the two teams in the regular season brought back pleasant memories. I love physical football, and you don?t see a lot of that in today?s more finesse- type of a game.

Certainly LSU belongs. They are the best team in the country. Alabama has a good resume. However, I can make a strong case that OSU has every right to be in New Orleans on Jan. 9.

I heard the argument that the Cowboys loss at Iowa State is a worse loss than Alabama?s setback to LSU. Granted, but it the comparison shouldn?t end there. If you look at losses, don?t you have to look at the wins?

OSU defeated four teams that finished in the top 25 in the BCS including Oklahoma, Texas, Baylor and Kansas State. Alabama beat Arkansas and Auburn. That comparison favors OSU.

I do subscribe to the theory that LSU and Alabama are the best teams in the country. But I also believe that OSU should have the opportunity to prove me and many others around the country wrong.

The biggest losers are the fans. Despite the complaints about the BCS, most of them justified, the system has turned college football from a regional game to a national game. More people are talking about college football -- even if it's trashing the BCS -- than ever before.

The biggest question about the BCS is, ?Is two enough??

Well, it's not enough. The fans want more and they deserve more. The folks in SEC country are pretty happy about this outcome. They are convinced Alabama and LSU are the two best teams in college football. But it's time for the product of postseason college football to evolve. In the next BCS contract, which starts with the 2014 regular season, it's time to say goodbye to the two-team playoff and adopt a four-team playoff.

Just think about this: No. 1 LSU vs. No. 4 Stanford, No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State.

Now, just about everybody would like that, except No. 5 Oregon (10-2), which beat Stanford quite handily (53-30) and won the Pac-12 conference. No system will eliminate all of the disagreements.

The semifinals could be played around Jan. 1 with the national title game to follow.

That would not interfere with final examinations for the student/athletes.

There are those who are asking for an eight-team or a 16-team playoff, and they need to face the facts that it is simply not happening.

But I?m not convinced even a four playoffs is going to happen in my lifetime.

It?s all about money. College presidents and conference commissioners are in control of that money. They are afraid that any change would take that away from them.

I understand it takes a lot of money to operate an athletic program, and football is the biggest revenue producing sport.

I just don?t think that money should be the primary factor in running college sports. I know that?s not going to change, but that doesn?t change the fact that a change is needed.

The idea of 35 bowl games is crazy. Seventy teams, nearly 60 percent of Division I football teams play in the post season.

A bowl game should be a reward for a football team who had a successful season. A 6-7 UCLA team should not be in a bowl game.

The system also does not create the best matchups. I would like somebody to explain to me why 11th ranked Virginia Tech was chosen to play in the Sugar Bowl over a seventh ranked Boise State team or eighth ranked Kansas State.

Certainly the Sugar Bowl committee looked at the almighty dollar in picking the Hokies.

I find it comical that Virginia Tech is having problems selling all of their tickets to the game.

But I don?t want to pick on Virginia Tech who recently had another shooting tragedy. I know the of people of that school have been through a lot. I just don?t believe the Hokies belong in a BCS bowl.

There are some games that I am looking forward to seeing. The national title game, OSU-Stanford Kansas State and Arkansas just to name a few.

But there are several bowl games I have no interest in at all.

The New Orleans Bowl Louisianna Lafyette-San Diego State or the Marshall-Florida Internation matchup in the Beef ?O? Brady Bowl I have zero interest in. And there are many others.

There are just too many bowl games.

In the big picture, me being a small town sportswriter won?t carry any weight across the country.

But it was fun writing about it.

I do want to take the time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Here?s hoping each and everyone of you have the best one ever.

Source: http://altustimes.com/bookmark/16891588

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Jenn and Travis Photography | Los Angels Wedding Photographers

Jenn and Travis Photography are a husband and wife duo based in Los Angeles, California and they are ready to capture and share your wedding with you. Read on to learn a few things about Jenn and Travis in the hopes you can get to know them a little better. Be sure to see way more of their work on their website and their blog and of course go say hi over on their facebook page.

We?re Jenn and Travis. Photographers. Artists. Thrill seekers. We?re parents to one (but definitely more to come). Christians. Lovers. Believers in all things good. We?re fun, light hearted and bask in the beauty we call life. We still cry at weddings?and we?ll cry at yours. We see the world through our lenses?and it?s beautiful, with endless possibilities. We?re story tellers and who we are is reflected in how we?ll tell yours. Couples invite us into their lives because they connect with our interpretation of life. Get to know us?we?d love to return the favor.

A few things we believe:

?A day without laughter is wasted.? ? Charlie Chaplin ? Love is a verb. Happiness is a decision?and we make it everyday. Our marriage has made us better photographers. The best is yet to come.

Categories: Features & Sponsored Posts

Source: http://www.weddingchicks.com/2011/12/22/jenn-and-travis-photography/

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creativeLIVE: Celebrate good times! @jasminestar shoots Laura & Billy's first look & wedding ceremony! @creativeLIVE rewatch NOW! http://t.co/HdlXo9h8

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Celebrate good times! @jasminestar shoots Laura & Billy's first look & wedding ceremony! @creativeLIVE rewatch NOW! bit.ly/asuW8K Il y a environ 11 heures via TweetDeck Retweeted by 1 person

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Military families share holiday greetings

Military families separated during the holidays once again turn to the web to make sure their loved ones know they remain in each others' thoughts. Here is a collection of video messages being exchanged between families and crew of the USS Carl Vinson over the video service YouTube.

Holiday greetings

Holiday Greetings from Captain Whalen, Commanding Officer, USS Carl Vinson and the Vinson and Air Wing 17 crew.
For Jonathan on the Carl Vinson. We Love You CS3 Ramos Sanchez Jr.
Merry Christmas Carl Vinson.
Merry Christmas to Josh Plummer.
Merry Christmas MM2 Christopher Whitley. For Mike on the Carl Vinson. Happy Holidays MM2 Bartelt For Cody Erickson from mom and Bandit Holiday greeting to Dan Laird

Source: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/24/milltary-families-send-holiday-greetings/

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Bahrain police attack Shiite opposition offices (AP)

MANAMA, Bahrain ? Security forces firing rubber bullets and tear gas attacked the headquarters of Bahrain's main Shiite opposition party in the capital on Friday after the group challenged a new government ban on its weekly protests. Police also used tear gas to disperse hundreds of opposition supporters attempting to protest elsewhere in the capital.

"I was really shocked to see tear gas and rubber bullets hit our offices," said vice president of the Al Wefaq party, Sheik Hussain Al Daihi. He said he was inside the building with foreign journalists when the security forces attacked and that a 13-year-old girl among those hurt had a serious injury to her thigh.

Friday's clampdown was the latest episode in 10 months of unrest between Bahrain's Sunni monarchy and an opposition movement led by the country's majority Shiites, who have long complained of discrimination.

"We are a people that won't be broken. All this repression and brutality is the source of our strength and determination to continue the struggle and defend our national rights," Al Daihi said later in a statement.

Authorities banned the weekly Friday protests for the first time since emergency laws were lifted in June. The Interior Ministry "gave silly excuses" to ban the event, including that it would block traffic and endanger others in the area, Al Daihi said.

Defying government orders, Shiite clerics on Friday also held prayer services on the rubble of mosques that had been bulldozed by authorities earlier this year. It was the first time that Shiite clerics have actively taken part in the protest movement, openly defying the government.

The Shiite clerics say at least 38 mosques used by their congregations were destroyed since the protests began in February.

"We will start a campaign to defend our religious sites and the first such activity starts with a protest at the end of the prayer at Diraz grand mosque," senior Shiite cleric Sheik Isa Qassim said during his Friday sermon. Diraz is an opposition stronghold northwest of the capital.

"We demand democracy for one people, Sunni and Shiite, and we understand the approach of the government that aims to divide our people. We are the ones who insist on unity, and because of this we are targeted by the government," he said.

Qassim called on international allies of Bahrain to exert pressure on the government because of what he said was it lack of will to reform.

Bahrain is a key U.S. ally in the Gulf and is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

Since February, at least 40 people have been killed.

Hundreds of activists have been detained and brought to trial on anti-state charges in a special security court set up after authorities imposed marital law and invited a Saudi-led Gulf military force into the country to help deal with dissent in the tiny island kingdom.

Bahrain lifted emergency rule in June. Since then, government opponents have clashed with police almost every night.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mideast/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111223/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_bahrain

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December 20, 2011 - Southern California Edison Employees Return to Irwindale Facility, Crisis Counseling Offered to Employees

Media Contact: (626) 302-2255

ROSEMEAD, Calif., Dec. 20, 2011 ?? Southern California Edison (SCE) employees returned to Rivergrade facilities in Irwindale today.? The SCE offices have been closed since fatal shootings last Friday.

The company determined late Monday that the offices could be reopened once all appropriate preparations were made. Crisis counselors are available for employees at Rivergrade and other SCE offices. The company continues to provide support and counseling to families of the shooting victims.

Three employees, including the gunman, died and two others were injured in last Fridays shooting.

Employee Angela Alvarez, who was injured, remains hospitalized. Her condition has been upgraded from critical to serious condition. Her family has requested privacy as she recuperates. The other injured employee, Abhay Pimpale, was treated and released.?

The company is working with the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department investigating the shootings. Questions about updates on the investigation are being referred to the sheriffs department.

Personnel matters related to any SCE employees have been and will continue to remain confidential. The company does not discuss individual personnel issues.?
?
About Southern California Edison
An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nations largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

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Southern California Edison Employees Return to Irwindale Facility, Crisis Counseling Offered to Employees

Source: http://www.edison.com/pressroom/pr.asp?id=7789

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EpicureanDeal: Going back to email and RSS feeds over the holiday. Twitter is a waste of time. Have a happy break.

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Going back to email and RSS feeds over the holiday. Twitter is a waste of time. Have a happy break. Il y a environ 2 heures via Twitter for iPhone

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GTA III goes on sale for the holidays, brings violence and cheer to Galaxy Nexus owners

A classic title like Grand Theft Auto III isn't exactly at hard sell at $5 on your smartphone or tablet -- at $3 you're almost a fool not to snatch it up. Perhaps more importantly though, Rockstar has expanded support for the crime adventure to a trio of Android handsets -- the Droid Bionic, Galaxy S II and, the phone of the moment, the Galaxy Nexus. While the white list only gains three new devices right now, there's potential to add more handsets down the line. The game is finally optimized for use with PowerVR GPUs, which are found in any phone running an OMAP or Exynos processor. So, what are you waiting for? Hit up the market now to get your dose of violence, mayhem and hall of fame gaming.

GTA III goes on sale for the holidays, brings violence and cheer to Galaxy Nexus owners originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best/Worst Gaffes of Campaign 2012 (Rolling Stone)

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Movie review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo shines, thanks to unrelenting darkness (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

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