Probe finds 'alien' matter outside solar system

For the very first time, a NASA spacecraft has detected matter from outside our solar system ? material that came from elsewhere in the galaxy, researchers announced Tuesday.

This so-called interstellar material was spotted by NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX), a spacecraft that is studying the edge of the solar system from its orbit about 200,000 miles above Earth.

"This alien interstellar material is really the stuff that stars and planets and people are made of ? it's really important to be measuring it," David McComas, IBEX principal investigator and assistant vice president of the Space Science and Engineering Division at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, said in a news briefing today from NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

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An international team of scientists presented new findings from IBEX, which included the first detection of alien particles of hydrogen, oxygen and neon, in addition to the confirmation of previously detected helium. [ Images from NASA's IBEX Mission ]

These atoms are remnants of older stars that have ended their lives in violent explosions, called supernovas, which dispersed the elements throughout the galaxy. As interstellar wind blows these charged and neutral particles through the Milky Way, the IBEX probe is able to create a census of the elements that are present.

Heavy elements in space
According to the new study, the researchers found 74 oxygen atoms for every 20 neon atoms in the interstellar wind. For comparison, there are 111 oxygen atoms for every 20 neon atoms in our solar system, meaning there are more oxygen atoms in any part of the solar system than in nearby interstellar space, the scientists said in a statement.

"These are important elements to know quantitatively because they are the building blocks of stars, planets, people," McComas said. "We discovered this puzzle: matter outside our solar system doesn't look like material inside our solar system. It seems to be deficient in oxygen compared to neon."

The presence of less oxygen within interstellar material could indicate that the sun formed in a region with less oxygen compared to its current location, the researchers said.

Or, it could be a sign that oxygen is "locked up" in other galactic materials, such as cosmic grains of dust or ice. [ Top 10 Strangest Things in Space ]

"That leaves us with a puzzle for now: could it be that some of that oxygen, which is so crucial for life on Earth, is locked up in the cosmic dust?" asked Eberhard M?bius, a professor at the University of New Hampshire and a visiting professor at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. "Or, does it tell us how different our neighborhood is compared to the sun's birthplace?"

IBEX also measured the interstellar wind traveling at a slower speed and from a different direction than was previously thought. The research now shows that the interstellar wind exerts 20 percent less pressure on our heliosphere, which is a protective bubble that shields our solar system from powerful, damaging cosmic rays.

"Measuring the pressure on our heliosphere from the material in the galaxy and from the magnetic fields out there will help determine the size and shape of our solar system as it travels through the galaxy," Eric Christian, IBEX mission scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., said in a statement.

A history of the universe
The results of the new study will also help scientists shed light on the history of the material in the universe.

"It tells us things about the part of space that we live in, and the interaction with that part of space with the rest of the galaxy," McComas said.

The observations from IBEX and the ability to determine the ratio of elements in space could help scientists understand how the galaxy has evolved and changed over time.

"I find it really exciting that right on our front doorstep, we can take a sample of this interstellar matter around us," M?bius said. "If you think back all the way to the Big Bang, there was only hydrogen and helium. Then stars and supernovas sprinkled it with heavy elements ? if you imagine that we are made out of the material that has been belched out of the supernovas, and it is continuing. So, 4.5 billion years ago, the sun formed out of the solar nebula, and now we are sampling part of the Milky Way as it is today. It gives us nice data points ? Big Bang and the sun's formation to what is our environment. Then modelers can go and trace how that material has evolved over time in the cosmos." ??

The findings are detailed in a series of papers that were published today in the Astrophysical Journal.

NASA launched the IBEX mission in October 2008 to map the boundary between the solar system and interstellar space. The $169 million spacecraft was originally built for a two-year mission.

IBEX measures and counts particles called energetic neutral atoms, which are created in an area of our solar system known as the interstellar boundary region. Since its launch, the spacecraft has already made groundbreaking discoveries about the heliosphere and the boundary between our solar system and interstellar space.

In 2009, IBEX detected a mysterious ribbon on the edge of the solar system made up of a stream of charged particles that travels a million miles per hour from the sun. In 2010, researchers announced that IBEX had witnessed the first-ever look at solar wind crashing into Earth's magnetosphere.

You can follow SPACE.com staff writer Denise Chow on Twitter @denisechow. Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcomand on Facebook.

? 2012 Space.com. All rights reserved. More from Space.com.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46209853/ns/technology_and_science-space/

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Vsnap Building Business on Vision of ?Ubiquitous? Video Messaging ...

Erin Kutz1/31/12

The blow from getting a?higher-than-expected bill from someone like your lawyer could be softened it if came attached to a?60-second video message explaining the special things he or she actually did in?detail.

At least, that?s what Dave McLaughlin thinks?and he?s building his new startup Vsnap around the?idea.

McLaughlin has been around the block before as an entrepreneur. He co-founded the mobile payments startup Fig Card, which was acquired by eBay last spring. Coincidentally, the 2011 application deadline for MassChallenge fell on the day that acquisition closed, so McLaughlin hurriedly finished the paperwork for the startup accelerator?and nabbed a?spot. He?s also joined at Vsnap by chief technical officer Claudia Santoro, former vice president of engineering for the restaurant-focused software startup?Exit41.

Vsnap didn?t take home one of the MassChallenge checks in October, but it?s now pulling in early customers?like Suffolk University and Schering Plough?s alumni association?to test out its alpha product and is readying itself to introduce its beta product sometime in?February.

Here?s how it?s supposed to work: Users log into the Vsnap interface, record a?60-second video using their phone or computer camera, add descriptions, and can add attachments such as PDF files or Web URLs. Vsnap sends the package out through e-mail. Users can also record a?video ?signature? about themselves that will accompany all the messages they send. Currently the technology can be accessed via a?Web browser, but Vsnap is developing iPhone and Android apps as part of the beta?release.

The customer target for Vsnap is ?any industry that has a?low conversion rate but a?higher price point,? says Joe Nigro, business development manager at the startup. That?s because lower priced products and services typically e-mail and communicate thousands of customers at once, and video messaging that many recipients could land you in a?spam folder pretty?quickly.

Vsnap was first thought up to fulfill a?personal need, says McLaughlin. His cousin, Jim Joyce, lives in Ireland and is from the U.S., while his wife?s family lives in Italy. He started shooting video snapshots of his kids to send to his family in different time zones. When Fig Card sold, McLaughlin decided to join his cousin on this new idea rather than move on to PayPal, he says. Vsnap still offers a?free consumer service, but business messaging has become its?focus.

Vsnap is currently developing its pricing model, which will vary depending on the number of Vsnaps a?user sends and their access to Vsnap analytics. The analytics can measure things like if and when the recipients viewed the video and how they interacted with the attachments. Currently, recipients of the video message have to view the video message in a?separate link, but Vsnap is working with PowerInbox, another local startup, to build out the capabilities for video viewing right in the e-mail?inbox.

Vsnap recently nabbed a $40,000 investment from the Massachusetts Technology Development Corp. MTDC had previously said it ? Next?Page ?

Erin Kutz is an Associate Editor for Xconomy. You can reach her by e-mail at ekutz@xconomy.com or by phone at (617) 252-0700, or follow her on Twitter at @erkutz.

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Source: http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2012/01/31/vsnap-building-business-on-vision-of-ubiquitous-video-messaging/

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Catch the afterglow of the solar storm

By Alan Boyle

Did you feel that magnetic breeze? Solar weather trackers say a "pulse" in the solar wind of electrically charged particles swept past monitoring satellites today, in the wake of last Friday's X-class solar flare and coronal mass ejection. But the main force of the blast was not pointing toward Earth, and thus no big impact on our planet's magnetic field is expected.

"Another effect of Friday's eruption, a solar radiation storm, continues its leisurely decay and is nearing the end of the event," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Solar Weather Prediction Center reported on its website.

The most significant effect of the past week's solar storming has been an upswing in spectacular pictures of the northern lights, as seen from Scandinavia and other high-latitude locales. Swedish photographer Peter Rosen got some great pictures over the weekend.

"I live in Abisko, next to the Aurora Sky Station ? a great place to see northern lights," Rosen told me in an email. "The Aurora Sky Station has become a very nice tourist attraction. ... I was there last Saturday and almost 100 people from all over the world were on the mountain. We had a great aurora from 9 p.m. to 12:30 due to another geomagnetic storm."

For more of the latest and greatest pictures of the northern lights, check out the selection on Rosen's website, Rosenmedia.se, as well as on SpaceWeather.com. Stay tuned for further auroral updates as the sun's 11-year activity cycle heads toward an expected peak in 2013.

More auroral glories:

---

Alan Boyle is msnbc.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter or adding Cosmic Log's Google+ page to your circle. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for other worlds.

Source: http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/30/10271435-afterglow-from-the-solar-storm

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US government rules three Barth patents invalid, sends Rambus scrambling

Suing's easy. It's the "winning" that trips folks up. Such is the case with Rambus, who has been relying oh-so-heavily on the so-called trio of Barth patents to actively pursue just about every technology company on the planet. For those unaware, Rambus has christened itself as a "technology licensing company," but with the last of three patents used to win infringement suits against NVIDIA and HP being declared invalid, it's probably scrambling for new tactics. According to a Reuters report, an appeals board at the US Patent and Trademark Office declared the patent invalid a few days back, with the previous two being knocked back in September. A couple of months back, Rambus' stock lost 60 percent of its value after a court decision led to the loss of a $4 billion antitrust lawsuit against Micron and Hynix, and we're guessing things won't be any happier when the markets open back up on Monday. The company's next move? "We're evaluating our options," said spokeswoman Linda Ashmore.

US government rules three Barth patents invalid, sends Rambus scrambling originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clashes erupt in Cairo during anti-army protest (Reuters)

CAIRO (Reuters) ? Hundreds of Egyptian protesters demanding an immediate end to military rule clashed on Sunday with rivals in civilian clothes outside central Cairo's state media building, the same place where 25 people were killed in a demonstration in October.

"Down with military rule," protesters chanted. The sound of gunshots rang through the air but it was unclear who was firing.

"Tell me council, who chose you? It's Mubarak's gang that appointed you," the crowd chanted, referring to the army council which has ruled Egypt since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted on February 11.

Dozens of protesters clashed with a group of people protesters described as "thugs" brought out to attack them, hurling stones at each other. There was no sign of police or troops intervening or securing the media building.

"We were protesting here peacefully, and all of a sudden a group of around 50 thugs came from side streets surrounding the building and attacked us with stones and glass bottles, and we responded by throwing stones back at them. They tore down our tents," said Mohamed Abdo, 45, an elevator worker.

State radio said residents in a poor area next to Maspero, the site of the demonstration, had challenged the protesters because they were disrupting shops and businesses in the area.

Protesters often say such "thugs," usually youths in plain clothes and sometimes members of the police force, have been hired by the authorities to disrupt demonstrations.

The October violence at Maspero in which 25 people died erupted when troops tried to break up a protest sparked by what Christians said was an attack on a church in southern Egypt.

Egyptians have become increasingly frustrated by military rule, though many still see the army as a vital force for stability after months of political turmoil.

"The country cannot continue like this. Things are getting worse. They have to transfer power now. The country cannot stay like this any longer," said Waleed Kamal, 25.

He was not among the protesters, but lives nearby. "If we get civilian rule, the country will get back on its feet, the economic wheel will turn," he added.

Egyptians on January 25 marked the first anniversary of mass demonstrations against Mubarak in Tahrir Square, near the Maspero site of Sunday's protest.

(Writing by Edmund Blair; editing by Tim Pearce)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120129/wl_nm/us_egypt_protest

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Stars cover Dylan songs for Amnesty International (AP)

NASHVILLE, Tennessee ? Anyone who ever doubted the transformative power of Bob Dylan's music need only look to Ke$ha.

Yes, Ke$ha.

The irreverent pop star known for singing about brushing her teeth with "a bottle of Jack" turns poignant while covering a song from one of music's great lyricists on the new four-disc "Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International." The project features 75 newly recorded Dylan songs by 80 artists, including Adele, Sting, Sugarland, Elvis Costello, hip-hop artist K'naan and others to support the human rights organization. The album will be available internationally on Jan. 30.

Ke$ha is one of the more unlikely stars to contribute to the compilation, released Tuesday. The pop star defined by party anthems like "Tik Tok" and "Your Love Is My Drug" took on Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright." As she found herself alone in her bedroom for the first time in months, the words of the song ? about a person bidding goodbye to a lover ? took on a new, deeply personal meaning. She realized she was saying goodbye to her carefree, former life ? before big hits and world tours brought on pressure and priorities. She broke down as she began singing, and the emotion is captured on the record.

"Everything has changed. It's amazing, but there are moments that are incredibly lonely. This caught me at one of those incredibly lonely moments, and it really struck home. There's a line, `It's a long and lonesome road, babe, where I'm bound I can't tell.' It's tragically relevant," said Ke$ha in a phone interview. "I think these are all positive things for young people to see that you can be strong and you can be irreverent and you can say what you want and you have the freedom of speech, but I've learned that vulnerability is actually an asset. It can be just as much of an asset as strength."

Ke$ha isn't the only eye-popping name on the compilation: Nineteen-year-old Miley Cyrus does a rendition of "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go." The project has a wide range of acts, from Maroon 5 to 92-year-old folk legend Pete Seeger, who sings "Forever Young" with a children's chorus. Dylan waived the publishing rights to his entire catalog, and all of the artists, musicians, engineers and others involved in the recording process did everything pro bono.

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, who recorded "Man of Peace," describes it as "thin ice" to cover an artist as iconic as Dylan, because not only are his songs brilliant, but his performances of those songs have become so revered themselves.

"(Artists like Dylan) know where (the songs) live and breathe and where the heartbeat is. So covering them can be a touchy thing," said Perry, who recorded the Dylan song "Man of Peace." `'Hopefully you don't make it different just for the sake of making it different. I just wanted to kind of reinterpret my take on the song and just have fun singing it."

Legendary country artist and actor Kris Kristofferson considers Dylan a personal friend but says he's been an inspiration and a hero a lot longer than that. Johnny Cash introduced them while Kristofferson was working as a janitor at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville in the 1960s. At 75, Kristofferson says he has been around long enough to understand and appreciate Dylan's impact on music.

"If you look at pop songs before Dylan, none of them were poetry like his are. He opened up the doors for creative writers and made songwriting to me what it is today," said Kristofferson, who covers "Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)." `'Music was a whole lot different when I was a little kid. Pop music was lifted up as an art form by Bob Dylan."

British pop singer Natasha Bedingfield recorded "Ring Them Bells" in Nashville during her U.S. tour last year. She said she used to listen to it as a kid with her brother and sister.

"To me the song is about freedom, `Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf, for the innocent,'" she said. "For me it felt quite poignant, particularly for this album, where Amnesty is all about people who are being unjustly treated."

"Chimes of Freedom" is a follow-up to Amnesty International's 2007 collection of John Lennon songs performed by major artists, called "Instant Karma," which raised over $4 million for their efforts in Darfur.

"Music has been at the heart of so many movements for change," said Julie Yannatta, who served as the album's executive producer with Jeff Ayeroff. "Music has a way of reminding us who we are at our essence and what we need to do to live together in a better world, and Amnesty is very much a part of that."

__

Online: http://www.amnestyusa.org/chimes

__

AP Writer Natalie Rotman contributed to this report from Los Angeles.

__

Caitlin R. King covers entertainment for The Associated Press. Follow her at: http://www.twitter.com/CaitlinRKing

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/music/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120127/ap_en_mu/us_music_bob_dylan_covers

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This Centimeter of Dried Glue Is Apparently Worth Thousands of Dollars [Video]

This glob of dried glue kind of looks like Homer Simpson. Kind of. The thing is that this insignificant blip in the scheme of humanity is about to sell on eBay UK for a metric crap ton. It's at ?151,000 with two days to go. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/n4GkCDlOV_M/this-centimeter-of-dried-glue-is-apparently-worth-thousands

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Bayern Munich apologizes for hoax player signing

Associated Press Sports

updated 3:01 p.m. ET Jan. 27, 2012

MUNICH (AP) -Bayern Munich apologized Friday for tricking fans over a "spectacular new signing" after supporters reacted angrily to a publicity stunt in which the Bundesliga leaders sought to increase their fanbase on Facebook.

Bayern said on its website that it had taken fans' numerous comments into account to determine that many were "very angry" with the club.

"We're sorry. But it wasn't our intention to disappoint you with the new FC Bayern app," Bayern said. "Rather, we wanted to put the focus on you with this action, to show how important each fan is for Bayern Munich."

Fans had been directed to Facebook to watch the announcement of a new striker Thursday, and were made to "like" Bayern's page in order to view the proceedings.

Instead of learning the identity of striker Mario Gomez's backup, fans were then presented with an app called "The New FCB Star."

"Dear fans, you probably already noticed that we did not sign a new player. This app is for our fans to show the importance of you for our club," the club had said. "Each Bayern fan is the 'spectacular new signing,' our 12th man!"

Thousands of fans reacted negatively, leaving uncomplimentary comments on the club's Facebook page - even though Bayern described the whole thing as "a bit of fun for our fans."

Bayern's own goal was compounded when Munich's TZ newspaper reported that the club had warned its players about publishing photos or sharing information on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, with an outright ban coming into effect within 90 minutes of a game.

The warning came after Bayern defender Breno complained on Twitter of being forced to play in the reserve team, and midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk posted footage of Uli Hoeness' 60th birthday party on YouTube and a picture of the Bayern dressing room before a game.

"The players know that they need to cut it down," Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes told Bild on Thursday - the day of Bayern's "spectacular new signing."

"It's not on that you take photos or allow photos be taken before a game - like Tymoshchuk - and put them on the internet. It's tomfoolery, it's unprofessional."

Heynckes said Friday that the timing and manner of Bayern's publicity stunt "weren't quite so fortunate," especially after the 3-1 loss at Borussia Moenchengladbach last weekend.

"If we had won 4-0 in Moenchengladbach and it had been presented in a different manner, then it would have been somewhat more successful," Heynckes said.

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

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More newsJavier Soriano / AFP - Getty Images

'Bad losers' and?'animals'

Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez has labeled Real Madrid's players bad losers and animals after his club won their latest ill-tempered matchup.

Hope for Solo

Ailing U.S. goalie Hope Solo practices ahead of Friday's do-or-die game vs. Costa Rica.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/46148288/ns/sports-soccer/

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Lisa Vanderpump: I Didn't Upstage My Daughter's Wedding

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VIDEO: Ferris Lives! Matthew Broderick Reprises Iconic Role for Super Bowl Ad (omg!)

Bueller ... bueller ... BUELLER!

Twenty-five years after the release of the now '80s pop-culture classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Matthew Broderick will reprise his role as the fun-loving "totally righteous dude" for a commercial airing on the day of the Super Bowl.

What product or company the commercial is for remains unknown ? the 10-second YouTube teaser was posted under an account named "chuckachucka 2012" seemingly in reference to the noise heard in the famous Yello song "Oh Yeah" that played over the end credits of the John Hughes film.

Check out photos of Matthew Broderick

But there's no question who Broderick is playing in the teaser when he opens the curtains, just like Bueller does at the start of his fun-filled ditch day, and asks the camera, "How can I handle work on a day like today?"

Watch the teaser below and begin speculating about what exactly Ferris will be shilling come game day:

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_video_ferris_lives_matthew_broderick_reprises_iconic_role022000673/44321980/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/video-ferris-lives-matthew-broderick-reprises-iconic-role-022000673.html

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Shawn Michaels? ?Awesome? advice for The Miz

The Miz spends an inordinate amount of time telling the WWE Universe just how awesome he is. Fans might debate that point, but right now Miz can honestly claim that he?s No. 1 ? though we have a feeling the Superstar isn?t too thrilled by this newfound ?glory.? After his Monday night loss to former tag team partner R-Truth, The Awesome One was forced to come to terms with the fact that he?ll be the No. 1 entrant in this Sunday?s Royal Rumble Match. (PHOTOS | WATCH)

But cheer up, Miz. WWE.com is here to help you out. And, really, who better to give advice on the subject than The Heartbreak Kid, WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels ? the first-ever No. 1 entrant to outlast everyone else and win the 30-Superstar over-the-top rope contest?

?It never really looked like being No. 1 was not something you wanted to be,? Michaels said. ?I recognize that you?ve got longer to go, and you?ve got to face everybody and endure to the end, but I saw that as a badge of honor.?

Royal Rumble 1995 marked the first time ever the match?s first two competitors ? HBK and The British Bulldog ? were also the final two competitors in the ring, giving hope to every Superstar unlucky enough to draw a low number. As with most things in life, Shawn saw his early entry not as a detriment, but as ?a privilege to go in No. 1 and to see if you could endure to the end."

Michaels wore that badge of honor proudly in January 1995, not only overcoming his early entrance, but also coming back from certain defeat to win the match. That match?s finish ? in which Bulldog clotheslined HBK over the top rope ? has become the stuff of legend. After the clothesline, the beloved Superstar started celebrating in the ring.

Imagine his surprise when, moments later, HBK delivered a double ax-handle, sending Bulldog sailing over the ropes. Confusion set in as the referee raised Michaels? hand in victory, but as the replay would show, The Showstopper was able to grab onto the ropes and keep his left foot from touching the floor. It?s a moment that will live forever in WWE lore. (WATCH)

Getting to the end of the Royal Rumble Match takes a lot of work beforehand ? a notion Michaels fully understood going in.

?At that point in my career,? he explained, ?I was so into wanting to be a ?WWE Iron Man?? the match a couple years later notwithstanding. I can remember at that time very vividly being a fan of Ric Flair. The prot?g? of going long distances and working hard for a long period of time ... it?s what I wanted to be.?

The WWE Hall of Famer knew that a positive outlook, although important, wasn?t everything, especially in the grueling environment of the Royal Rumble Match. ?I was never going to match guys from a standpoint of size or strength,? Michaels told WWE.com. ?But I always felt that the longer I could go, I was going to neutralize whatever strengths they had.?

Displaying a flair for both philosophy and common sense, Michaels opined, ?There?s an old saying that ?fatigue makes cowards of us all.? And, it may not make a coward of you, but it certainly makes a 300-pound guy a lot easier to maneuver and manipulate when he?s tired and just doing everything he can to keep up.

?I pride myself on the fact that there wasn?t anybody in the locker room that could last longer in the ring than me,? he added.

That was then; but what about this year?s Royal Rumble Match? What advice does The Heartbreak Kid have for its combatants ? most specifically, for The Miz?

?In the Rumble, everybody is your potential friend and your potential enemy,? the WWE Hall of Famer said. ?You make alliances that you wouldn?t normally make, and you stab anybody in the back that you want to stab in the back.?

Tough words, but also true. According to HBK, ?[The Royal Rumble Match is] the epitome of every man for himself and being thrown in the shark tank ? which is the thing that?s so phenomenal about it. You see alliances that you never thought you would, and at the same time you see some pretty serious betrayals that you didn?t see coming.?

Michaels acknowledged that, at the end of the night, ?only one guy can be standing there .... Pride and all of those things get thrown out the window, and you do whatever you?ve got to do to win. Miz is a sleazy enough dude ? that fits him ? so I think that?s gonna be his strength.?

Miz?s ?sliminess? aside, Michaels also recognizes something inherent in The Awesome One?s makeup that just might give him a built-in advantage over much of the WWE roster this Sunday. ?You have to appreciate a guy that causes you to look at yourself and call into question those attributes that you want to pretend you don?t have. In desperate situations, we all have them to some degree.?

Want more HBK? Check out Shawn?s show on Outdoor Channel, Shawn Michaels' MacMillan River Adventures, winner of the 2011 Golden Moose Award for Best Conservation. And be sure to follow The Showstopper on Twitter (@ShawnMichaels), where you can find out how to win two tickets to WrestleManiaXXVIII and a meet-and-greet with The Heartbreak Kid himself!

Source: http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/2012/hbk-advice-miz-royal-rumble

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Nokia Series 40: over 1.5 billion served

Nokia has announced a major mobile milestone: over 1.5 billion (with a b) Series 40 handsets sold since the first device -- the 7110 -- was introduced in 1999. "We are incredibly proud to reach this milestone," wrote Nokia's Executive VP of Mobile Phones, Mary McDowell. "It is gratifying to consider how Series 40 devices have made mobile technology accessible." Breeze on past the break for the official PR with more information about the Asha 303 handset knighted number 1,500,000,000, then feel free to weigh in on how long will take the Lumia line to reach the same milestone.

Continue reading Nokia Series 40: over 1.5 billion served

Nokia Series 40: over 1.5 billion served originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/nokia-s40-sales-reach-1-5-billion/

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Italian officials: 2 more bodies found

AAA??Jan. 23, 2012?10:04 AM ET
Italian officials: 2 more bodies found
AP

Italian Navy scuba divers work next to the cruise ship Costa Concordia off the Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. Unregistered passengers might have been aboard the stricken cruise liner that capsized off this Tuscan island, a top rescue official said Sunday, raising the possibility that the number of missing might be higher than previously announced. Divers, meanwhile, pulled out a woman's body from the capsized Costa Concordia on Sunday, raising to 13 the number of people dead in the Jan. 13 accident. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Italian Navy scuba divers work next to the cruise ship Costa Concordia off the Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. Unregistered passengers might have been aboard the stricken cruise liner that capsized off this Tuscan island, a top rescue official said Sunday, raising the possibility that the number of missing might be higher than previously announced. Divers, meanwhile, pulled out a woman's body from the capsized Costa Concordia on Sunday, raising to 13 the number of people dead in the Jan. 13 accident. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

The cruise ship Costa Concordia lies on its side off the Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. Rescuers on Sunday resumed searching the above-water section of the capsized Costa Concordia cruise liner, but choppy seas kept divers from exploring the submerged part, where officials have said there could be bodies. Civil protection officials said that until the waves slack off, divers would not swim into the submerged part of the vessel just off the port of Giglio, a tiny Island off the Tuscan coast. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

The cruise ship Costa Concordia lies on its side off the Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. Rescuers on Sunday resumed searching the above-water section of the capsized Costa Concordia cruise liner, but choppy seas kept divers from exploring the submerged part, where officials have said there could be bodies. Civil protection officials said that until the waves slack off, divers would not swim into the submerged part of the vessel just off the port of Giglio, a tiny Island off the Tuscan coast. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Workers of the Costa Crociere company place messages outside the company headquarters, during a march in downtown Genoa, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. Rescuers on Sunday resumed searching the above-water section of the capsized Costa Concordia cruise liner, but choppy seas kept divers from exploring the submerged part, where officials have said there could be bodies. Civil protection officials said that until the waves slacken off, divers will not swim into the submerged part of the vessel near the port of Giglio, a tiny island off the Tuscan coast. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Two Italian firefighters work on the deck of the cruise ship Costa Concordia off the Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012. Unregistered passengers might have been aboard the stricken cruise liner that capsized off this Tuscan island, a top rescue official said Sunday, raising the possibility that the number of missing might be higher than previously announced. Divers, meanwhile, pulled out a woman's body from the capsized Costa Concordia on Sunday, raising to 13 the number of people dead in the Jan. 13 accident. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

GIGLIO, Italy (AP) ? Italian officials say two more bodies have been pulled from the wreckage of a cruise liner capsized off the Tuscan coast, bringing the number of confirmed dead to 15.

The national civil protection agency official in charge of the search said Monday that divers recovered the bodies of two women from the ship's internet cafe.

The recovery of the two brings to 17 the number of known missing. However, officials over the weekend said it appeared unregistered guests were on board at the time of the accident, meaning the number of officially missing could increase.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-01-23-EU-Italy-Cruise-Aground/id-7a6b44eacc1242d396185fab56ee3650

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Travel photo of the day: Mist on the Delaware River

Submitted by Nicki McManus / UGC

Delaware River near Milford, Pa.

Nicki McManus hadn't planned on capturing this early morning image of geese on the Delaware River when she took it in the fall of 2010.?

McManus and her husband, who live in Wantage, N.J., were driving to photograph Hidden Lake, which is located toward the southern end of the Delaware Water Gap National Park. The couple had pulled over to make a phone call and McManus wandered around the river's edge, at the Dingmans Ferry boat launch.

"That morning was very cool, as most fall days in the middle of October, causing the mist to rise off the river," McManus told TODAY.com. "I was walking around with my camera, and as always, looking for a shot. When I turned to my right, I saw the geese gathered there on the shore just asking to be photographed."

McManus is a professional freelance photography who mostly shoots landscapes. But she also has a "passion for old barns, and anything else from days gone by." To see more of her work, visit her website.

McManus holds a special place in her camera for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area: "It has so much to offer. There are countless hiking trails, beautiful views, and many, many photo [opportunities]."

Do you have some photos you want to share? Submit them for a chance to be featured in the weekly gallery by clicking here.

You can also join our It's a Snap Facebook community and share your photos with others by clicking here.

More photos:

Source: http://todaytravel.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/24/10225151-travel-photo-of-the-day-mist-on-the-delaware-river

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Do we see an upturn in automotive advertising, perhaps ...

There?s no question that automotive advertising spending stalled with the recession, but recently there have been signs that this category is picking up speed. We?re not talking a full recovery, but progress is being made.

?Ad spending for cars and credit cards has come roaring back, helping drive 8.8% growth in 2010 U.S. spending for the 100 Leading National Advertisers?the highest growth rate since 2004,? Ad Age reported last June. ?Financial advertising surged 29% in 2010, and automotive accelerated 28%, based on Ad Age Data Center?s estimates of U.S. spending for the 12 financial firms and 10 automakers that made the 100 LNA ranking.?

.

Part of a 2011 Audi campaign shot by Jan Steinhilber.

From a 2011 campaign for Honda shot by Fulvio Bonavia.

From a 2011 campaign for Porsche shot by John Offenbach.

.

We?re noticing the uptick right here at Stockland Martel, both among the agency?s longtime car shooters and photographers who are more in the generalist vein. ?Last year, we had both Jan Steinhilber and John Offenbach shooting campaigns for Porsche,? says Maureen Martel. ?Jan also shot for Cadillac and Audi. Uwe Duettmann shot for Mercedes, Volkswagen, Audi, and BMW. Fulvio Bonavia shot for Honda. Hyundai and Renault commissioned Nadav Kander, which is interesting because he?s primarily known as a portrait photographer. And Art Streiber shot an advertorial for Nissan.

?It?s exciting to see this upswing,? she adds, ?because automotive advertising offers photographers the chance to be so creative.?

.

From a 2011 campaign for Hyundai shot by Nadav Kander.

Nissan commissioned Art Streiber to shoot this advertorial featuring the actor Ryan Reynolds.

A 2011 ad for Volkswagen shot by Uwe Duettmann.

.

Reporting on the 2012 North American International Auto Show earlier this month, Ad Age indicated that ?confidence brims,? explaining that ?the industry?s upbeat mood was fueled by 2011 sales of nearly 13 million cars and light trucks in the U.S., according to data from Automotive News.?

And last month, Adweek took note of WPP?s plans to establish a new agency whose mission is to boost Ford?s Lincoln brand. ?The agency, which will have a staff of some 45 employees?some plucked from WPP?s Team Detroit unit?will focus on account management, creative, and planning. Team Detroit, which handles parent company Ford, WPP?s largest global client, will also provide support on nuts-and-bolts services like creative production, media buying, and accounting from its headquarters in Dearborn, Mich. McNauhgton will report to Team Detroit CEO Satish Korde.?

We?re not saying pre-2008 ad spending is back. But happier days are perhaps here again?

.

Uwe Duettmann for BMW.

Jan Steinhilber for Porsche.

Nadav Kander for Renault.

.

See more: Stockland Martel automotive photography by Jorg Badura, Fulvio Bonavia, David Drebin, Uwe Duettmann, Jason ?Giblin? Hindley, John Offenbach, Martin Sigal, and Jan Steinhilber

.

.

Source: http://stocklandmartelblog.com/2012/01/24/do-we-see-an-upturn-in-automotive-advertising-perhaps/

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Teen ends globe-circling voyage in St. Maarten (AP)

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten ? Laura Dekker set a steady foot aboard a dock in St. Maarten on Saturday, ending a yearlong voyage aboard a sailboat named "Guppy" that apparently made her the youngest person ever to sail alone around the globe, though her trip was interrupted at several points.

Dozens of people jumped and cheered as Decker waved, wept and then walked across the dock accompanied by her mother, father, sister and grandparents, who had greeted her at sea earlier.

Dekker arrived in St. Maarten after struggling against high seas and heavy winds on a final leg from Cape Town, South Africa,

Dekker claims she is the youngest sailor to complete a round-the-world voyage, but Guinness World Records and the World Sailing Speed Record Council did not verify the claim, saying they no longer recognize records for youngest sailors to discourage dangerous attempts.

Dutch authorities tried to block Dekker's trip, arguing she was too young to risk her life, while school officials complained she should be in a classroom.

Dekker said she was born aboard a yacht off the coast of New Zealand and said she first sailed solo at 6 years old. At 10, she said, she began dreaming about crossing the globe. She celebrated her 16th birthday during the trip, eating doughnuts for breakfast after spending time at port with her father and friends the night before.

The teenager covered more than 27,000 nautical miles on a trip with stops that sound like a skim through a travel magazine: the Canary Islands, Panama, the Galapagos Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Bora Bora, Australia, South Africa and now, St. Maarten, from which she set out on Jan. 20, 2011.

"Her story is just amazing," said one of Dekker's fans, 10-year-old Jody Bell of Connecticut. "I can't imagine someone her age going out on sea all by herself."

Bell was in St. Maarten on a work trip with her mother, Deena Merlen, an attorney in Manhattan, who wanted to see Dekker complete her journey. The two wore T-shirts that read: "Guppy rocks my world."

"My daughter and I have been following Laura's story, and we think it's amazing and inspiring," Merlen said.

Unlike other young sailors who recently crossed the globe, Dekker repeatedly anchored at ports along the way to sleep, study and repair her 38-foot (11.5-meter) sailboat.

During her trip, she went surfing, scuba diving, cliff diving and discovered a new hobby: playing the flute, which she said in her weblog was easier to play than a guitar in bad weather.

Dekker also complained about custom clearings, boat inspections, ripped sails, heavy squalls, a wet and salty bed, a near-collision with two cargo ships and the presence of some persistent stowaways: cockroaches.

Highlights of her trip include 47 days of sailing the Indian Ocean, which left her with unsteady legs when she docked in Durban, South Africa, where she walked up and down the pier several times for practice.

Dekker launched her trip two months after Abby Sunderland, a 16-year-old U.S. sailor, was rescued in the middle of the Indian Ocean during a similar attempt. Jessica Watson of Australia completed a 210-day solo voyage at age 16, a few months older than Dekker.

Dekker has said she plans to move there after her voyage, but it is unclear is she still plans to do so.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120121/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_st_maarten_young_sailor

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Lessons in coral reef survival from deep time

Public release date: 22-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: David Bellwood
David.Bellwood@jcu.edu.au
61-074-781-4447
ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies

Lessons from tens of millions of years ago are pointing to new ways to save and protect today's coral reefs and their myriad of beautiful and many-hued fishes at a time of huge change in the Earth's systems.

The complex relationship we see today between fishes and corals developed relatively recently in geological terms and is a major factor in shielding reef species from extinction, says Professor David Bellwood of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University.

"Our latest research provides strong evidence for a view that today's coral hotspots are both a refuge for old species and a cradle for new ones," said Peter Cowman, lead author of a recent report. "This is the first real inkling we've had that just protecting a large area of reef may not be enough you have to protect the right sorts of reef."

Early coral reefs, 300-400 million years ago were much simpler affairs than today's colourful and complex systems, Prof. Bellwood says. The fish were not specialised to live on or among corals either lacking jaws altogether, or else feeding on detritus on the seabed or preying on one another.

"By 200 million years ago we are starting to see fish with jaws capable of feeding on corals, but the real explosion in reef diversity doesn't occur till about 50 million years ago when we see fishes very like today's specialist coral feeders emerging."

It is the ever-increasing complexity of this relationship between corals and fishes over the last 20 or 30 million years that produces the wondrous diversity of today's reefs, he says. Each has become more critical to the survival of the other as their lives have become more interwoven.

"When people think of coral reefs, they usually think of the beautiful branching corals like staghorn (Acropora) well the evidence is now fairly clear that Acropora needs certain fish for it to flourish. But, it now appears that this may be a reciprocal relationship with Acropora being important for the evolution and survival of fishes on coral reefs. "

Unfortunately Acropora corals are highly vulnerable to external impacts like Crown-of-Thorns starfish, coral bleaching, climate change and ocean acidification. Their demise will have far reaching effects on the fishes which interact with them, such as damsels, butterfly fish, cardinals and wrasses.

"The study of the past tells us that reefs are all about relationships and, like a family, for them to survive those relationships need to remain strong," Peter Cowman said.

"In coming years it is probable reefs will be subject to relentless presses that may cause them to change fundamentally. Those with the best long-term prospects of survival will be the ones where the relationships between fish and corals are healthiest.

Both fish and corals managed somehow to survive the five great mass extinction events of the past, though they sustained massive loss of species. Over time these have left us with a world focus of reef biodiversity centered on the Coral Triangle region to Australia's north, which in turn helps recharge Australian coral reefs, especially in the west.

"The Coral Triangle is currently subject to intensifying human and ecosystem pressure. The latest work by Peter Cowman and Prof Bellwood suggests it is both a cradle for new species and a refuge in troubled times so it is vital that it remain intact.

"This isn't about saving individual species or particular reefs, it's about maintaining the basic relationships which ensure the survival of the whole," says Prof Bellwood.

"We've had a 'heads up' from the past that is giving us fresh insights into what is most important on reefs and why we must protect our precious reefs and fishes into the future."

###

Their paper "Coral reefs as drivers of cladogenesis: expanding coral reefs, cryptic extinction events, and the development of biodiversity hotspots" by Peter F. Cowman and David R. Bellwood was published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology 24: 2543-2562. DOI 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02391.x

More information:
Professor David Bellwood, CoECRS and JCU, +61 (0)7 4781 4447
Peter Cowman, CoECRS, ph +61 (0)437 820 206
Jenny Lappin, CoECRS, 07 4781 4222 OR
Jim O'Brien, James Cook University Media Office, +61 (0)7 4781 4822 or 0418 892449

http://www.coralcoe.org.au/

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies are proud sponsors of the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium, Cairns: 9-13 July 2012.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Public release date: 22-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: David Bellwood
David.Bellwood@jcu.edu.au
61-074-781-4447
ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies

Lessons from tens of millions of years ago are pointing to new ways to save and protect today's coral reefs and their myriad of beautiful and many-hued fishes at a time of huge change in the Earth's systems.

The complex relationship we see today between fishes and corals developed relatively recently in geological terms and is a major factor in shielding reef species from extinction, says Professor David Bellwood of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and James Cook University.

"Our latest research provides strong evidence for a view that today's coral hotspots are both a refuge for old species and a cradle for new ones," said Peter Cowman, lead author of a recent report. "This is the first real inkling we've had that just protecting a large area of reef may not be enough you have to protect the right sorts of reef."

Early coral reefs, 300-400 million years ago were much simpler affairs than today's colourful and complex systems, Prof. Bellwood says. The fish were not specialised to live on or among corals either lacking jaws altogether, or else feeding on detritus on the seabed or preying on one another.

"By 200 million years ago we are starting to see fish with jaws capable of feeding on corals, but the real explosion in reef diversity doesn't occur till about 50 million years ago when we see fishes very like today's specialist coral feeders emerging."

It is the ever-increasing complexity of this relationship between corals and fishes over the last 20 or 30 million years that produces the wondrous diversity of today's reefs, he says. Each has become more critical to the survival of the other as their lives have become more interwoven.

"When people think of coral reefs, they usually think of the beautiful branching corals like staghorn (Acropora) well the evidence is now fairly clear that Acropora needs certain fish for it to flourish. But, it now appears that this may be a reciprocal relationship with Acropora being important for the evolution and survival of fishes on coral reefs. "

Unfortunately Acropora corals are highly vulnerable to external impacts like Crown-of-Thorns starfish, coral bleaching, climate change and ocean acidification. Their demise will have far reaching effects on the fishes which interact with them, such as damsels, butterfly fish, cardinals and wrasses.

"The study of the past tells us that reefs are all about relationships and, like a family, for them to survive those relationships need to remain strong," Peter Cowman said.

"In coming years it is probable reefs will be subject to relentless presses that may cause them to change fundamentally. Those with the best long-term prospects of survival will be the ones where the relationships between fish and corals are healthiest.

Both fish and corals managed somehow to survive the five great mass extinction events of the past, though they sustained massive loss of species. Over time these have left us with a world focus of reef biodiversity centered on the Coral Triangle region to Australia's north, which in turn helps recharge Australian coral reefs, especially in the west.

"The Coral Triangle is currently subject to intensifying human and ecosystem pressure. The latest work by Peter Cowman and Prof Bellwood suggests it is both a cradle for new species and a refuge in troubled times so it is vital that it remain intact.

"This isn't about saving individual species or particular reefs, it's about maintaining the basic relationships which ensure the survival of the whole," says Prof Bellwood.

"We've had a 'heads up' from the past that is giving us fresh insights into what is most important on reefs and why we must protect our precious reefs and fishes into the future."

###

Their paper "Coral reefs as drivers of cladogenesis: expanding coral reefs, cryptic extinction events, and the development of biodiversity hotspots" by Peter F. Cowman and David R. Bellwood was published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology 24: 2543-2562. DOI 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02391.x

More information:
Professor David Bellwood, CoECRS and JCU, +61 (0)7 4781 4447
Peter Cowman, CoECRS, ph +61 (0)437 820 206
Jenny Lappin, CoECRS, 07 4781 4222 OR
Jim O'Brien, James Cook University Media Office, +61 (0)7 4781 4822 or 0418 892449

http://www.coralcoe.org.au/

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies are proud sponsors of the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium, Cairns: 9-13 July 2012.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/acoe-lic012212.php

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Beijing caves to public, releases pollution data

BEIJING?? Caving to public pressure, Beijing environmental authorities started releasing more detailed air quality data Saturday that may better reflect how bad the Chinese capital's air pollution is.

The initial measurements were low on a day where you could see blue sky. After a week of smothering smog, the skies over the city were being cleared by a north wind.

The readings of PM2.5 ? particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in size or about 1/30th the average width of a human hair ? were being posted on Beijing's environmental monitoring center's website. Such small particulates can penetrate deep into the lungs, so measuring them is considered a more accurate reflection of air quality than other methods.

It is the first time Beijing has publicly revealed PM2.5 data and follows a clamor of calls by citizens on social networking sites tired of breathing in gray and yellow air. The U.S. Embassy measures PM2.5 from a device on its rooftop and releases the results, and some residents have even tested the air around their neighborhoods and posted the results online.

Beijing is releasing hourly readings of PM2.5 that are taken from one monitoring site about 4 miles west of Tiananmen Square, the monitoring center's website said Saturday. It said the data was for research purposes and the public should only use it as a reference.

The reading at noon Saturday was 0.015 mg/m3, which would be classed as "good" for a 24-hour exposure at that level, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. The U.S. Embassy reading taken from its site on the eastern edge of downtown Beijing said its noon reading was "moderate."

The U.S. Embassy began publishing its hourly readings on Twitter in 2008.

'Already a bit suspicious'
Steven Andrews, an environmental consultant who has studied Beijing's pollution data since 2006, said he was "already a bit suspicious" of Beijing's PM2.5 data. Within the 24-hour period to noon Saturday, Beijing reported seven hourly figures "at the very low level" of 0.003 milligrams per cubic meter.

"In all of 2010 and 2011, the U.S. Embassy reported values at or below that level only 18 times out of over 15,000 hourly values or about 0.1 percent of the time," said Andrews. "PM2.5 concentrations vary by area so a direct comparison between sites isn't possible, but the numbers being reported during some hours seem surpisingly low."

The Beijing center had promised to release PM2.5 data by the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year on Monday. It has six sites that can test for PM2.5 and 27 that can test for the larger, coarser PM10 particles that are considered less hazardous. The center is expected to buy equipment and build more monitoring sites to enable PM2.5 testing.

Beijing wasn't expected to include PM2.5 in its daily roundups of the air quality anytime soon. Those disclosures, for example "light" or "serious," are based on the amount of PM10, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in the air.

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Video: Persistent smog blankets China (on this page)

Beijing interprets air quality using less stringent standards than the U.S. Embassy, so often when the government says pollution is "light," the embassy terms it "hazardous."

"There has been tremendous amounts of attention in the Chinese media ? whichever newspaper you pick up, whichever radio station you listen to, channel you watch ? they are all talking about PM2.5 and how levels are so high," said Andrews.

"What has been so powerful is that people are skeptical, and I think rightly skeptical," about the government's descriptions of data, he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46080896/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/

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GOP Debate Highlights: Newt Gingrich Denies Open Marriage Request, Slams CNN and Mitt Romney

Another Republican debate has come and gone, and as usual there was no shortage of fireworks as Newt Gingrich clashed with his rivals ... and CNN's John King.

Amid reports that Newt asked Marianne Gingrich for an open marriage while cheating on her with Callista Bisek in 1999, King led off the GOP debate with that topic.

Newt was not happy, and he let King know it ...

Newt Gingrich Reams Out John King

Reaming out the “destructive, vicious, negative” media rather than his ex-wife, who raised these accusations yesterday, Gingrich said he was appalled by CNN.

Newt, who went on to divorce Marianne and marry Callista in 2000 (they are still married), punctuated his lengthy answer by saying, “The story is false.”

Some other highlights of the second South Carolina debate this week, and the last before Saturday's critical primary in the Palmetto State included:

• Rick Santorum saying Barack Obama stands for “economic squalor”
• Mitt Romney saying "maybe" he'll release his tax returns sometime
• Santorum repeatedly criticizing Newt's grandiosity and stability
• Gingrich and Santorum claiming Romney is not really pro-life
• Ron Paul fans yelling for their man to get more screen time

With time running out for all candidates not named Mitt Romney to post a win and halt his march toward the Republican nomination, the tension was high.

Can any of them do it? We'll find out by tomorrow night.

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/01/gop-debate-highlights-newt-gingrich-denies-open-marriage-request/

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Williams-Sonoma must jump hurdles to return home

FILE - In this March 20, 2007 file photo, Chuck Williams stands in front of his original store location in Sonoma, Calif, during a reception celebrating the company's 50th anniversary. High-end cookware retailer Williams-Sonoma could be blocked from returning to its hometown, as the Sonoma City Council considers enacting a moratorium on chain stores. The company has been in discussions to buy the downtown building where it opened its first store in 1956. (AP Photo/Press Democrat, Mark Aronoff, File)

FILE - In this March 20, 2007 file photo, Chuck Williams stands in front of his original store location in Sonoma, Calif, during a reception celebrating the company's 50th anniversary. High-end cookware retailer Williams-Sonoma could be blocked from returning to its hometown, as the Sonoma City Council considers enacting a moratorium on chain stores. The company has been in discussions to buy the downtown building where it opened its first store in 1956. (AP Photo/Press Democrat, Mark Aronoff, File)

FILE - In this March 20, 2007 file photo Chuck Williams, center, founder of Williams-Sonoma Inc., stands outside his very first storefront as a plaque, lower left, is unveiled to mark his company's 50th anniversary in Sonoma, Calif. High-end cookware retailer Williams-Sonoma could be blocked from returning to its hometown, as the Sonoma City Council considers enacting a moratorium on chain stores. The company has been in discussions to buy the downtown building where it opened its first store in 1956. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

SONOMA, Calif. (AP) ? It's not easy going home. Particularly if you're a behemoth commercial enterprise and home is a quaint, historic town.

The first store of the upscale cookware giant Williams-Sonoma was here in the heart of wine country. But only for two years, as founder Chuck Williams quickly realized what a money-maker he had and moved the store to the bigger market of San Francisco.

Today, the $3 billion chain with some 250 stores nationwide wants to come home. It hopes to open a smaller, boutique version of the typical Williams-Sonoma outlet at the original site that first opened at 601 Broadway in 1956.

"Sonoma was Chuck's beloved home for many years, and the location of the first Williams-Sonoma store," said Rebecca Weill, a spokeswoman for Williams-Sonoma. "When we learned of this real estate opportunity, we thought what better way to honor Chuck than to bring his journey full circle."

But those plans are in flux as the city grapples with maintaining its local charm while growing its economy.

The City Council was prepared to vote on a temporary moratorium Wednesday that would have banned all chain stores from its historic downtown plaza. Though three of the five councilmembers were in favor of the temporary ban, they needed at least four to pass the interim edict, so they shelved it without a vote.

"There will be no moratorium of any kind on formula businesses in Sonoma," declared Mayor Joanna Sanders.

The City Council will now turn its focus to drafting a zoning ordinance that will establish a use-permit and possible ban on large-scale "formula" stores from what remains today the largest public square in California.

The city councilmembers insisted they had no intention of snubbing Williams-Sonoma. They simply want to maintain the city's historic charm and avoid the Starbucks, Applebee's and McDonalds from taking over their historic plaza, since there currently is no legislation in place to prevent just that.

"Williams-Sonoma is a special case and they deserve special treatment," Councilmember Ken Brown said in an interview before the City Council meeting. "It doesn't mean that every other formula store and chain gets the same pass. So in my opinion, the dialogue is far from over. If I were Williams-Sonoma, I would encourage them to pursue their dreams of coming home."

Not everyone is as welcoming.

Stuart Teitelbaum, owner of the Homegrown Baking Co., had urged the City Council to pass the temporary moratorium.

"I too would be proud to say that I'm from a town that refused the onslaught of large business and maintained its character, steadfast in the face of possible economic consequences," he said.

Sanders hopes the zoning kerfuffle won't scare off the kitchenware giant that has become a household name.

She is opposed to any chain-store regulations in the city that was once the capital of the California Republic in the 1800s, and believes there is room for growth while conserving the charm of the rural community nestled in the Sonoma Valley.

"It's a business that has become somewhat of a household name," she said of Williams-Sonoma. "And with that, it has tugged us along behind in the little red wagon. Sonoma is on the map as a tourist destination, a premier wine-country venue, a historic town ? partly because of that name recognition."

Sonoma City Manager Linda Kelly said that Williams-Sonoma planners met with city officials last week. She said they want to open a smaller version of its typical mall outlet, one that would honor its origins.

The store would not be on the main historic plaza, but would still have to meet new criteria if the draft ordinance is passed, namely that it promotes diversity, is compatible with the town's historic character and adds to the economic vitality of Sonoma.

City planners said Williams-Sonoma currently is negotiating the contract on the property where Chuck Williams, 97, first started selling his high-end cookware imported from France.

"They want to make it more of a destination store," Kelly said. "They want to go back to their roots and showcase their history."

Kelly said they intend to use old photos and some of the original appliances that Williams himself first sold; there would be guest chefs and cooking demonstrations. And a small retail outlet.

The owners of the most popular kitchenware store in town are torn about the possible return of the retail giant responsible for revolutionizing the way many Americans cook by bringing a European sensibility into their kitchens.

"It's a tremendous question mark," said Laura Havlek, when asked whether Williams-Sonoma would hurt her business. She has owned the Sign of the Bear Kitchenware store with her husband, Stephen, since 1991. It overlooks the landmark stone City Hall and meandering duck pond in the heart of the plaza where the grizzly bear once graced the California Republic flag.

"It's an issue where you really can see both sides," she said. "Williams-Sonoma has done so much to advance the industry; I think about how much innovation that store created."

On the other hand, said the Sonoma native, "This is a town I've loved my whole life. I'm struck by how beautiful it is and how fortunate we are and when you look around the square, what makes it so special are all of the local merchants."

Several doors down from Sign of the Bear is the Charles Creek Vineyard wine store. Manager Alan Wastell, another Sonoma native, said rumors are rampant about the possible return of Williams-Sonoma.

"The fact that there is no Williams-Sonoma in the county of Sonoma ? that's a kind of interesting irony," he said. "Change is not all good or bad. Change is change. But I would not like to see change become fast-food and strip malls."

While there is a Chico's clothing store and a Ben & Jerry's on the plaza, there are no Starbucks and most of the stores, boutiques and restaurants, pottery, artisan cheese and wine stores are locally owned. Some have been there for decades.

The debate was sparked when a Staples store was allowed to open last year on the outskirts of town. Some locals worried it was the slippery slope toward looking like every other bland California town peppered with Targets and Trader Joe's.

Sanders notes that while there was a hue and cry over Whole Foods coming to town several years ago and putting the local Sonoma Market out of business, the two have gone on to thrive.

"Sonoma Market is still wildly successful and the city is better off for it; there's competition and we get better service," she said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-19-Williams-Sonoma-Homecoming/id-c2797184289a4896ac932ff86ca2bb05

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