Tuesday, April 30, 2013

LinkedIn Reaches 1M Users In Singapore, Or 20% Of The Country's Population

LinkedIn-LogoLinkedIn has acquired one million users in Singapore, or 20 percent of its 5 million population, since the service's launch there in 2011, the professional networking site announced today. This milestone means that about 70 percent of Singapore's labor force and students now have accounts on the Web site, according to the company.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/5-fWVticEX0/

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Mike McCue Wants Flipboard To Be The Home Of Brand Advertising For Mobile Publishers

mccue_2090390bToday at Disrupt NY 2013, Flipboard CEO Mike McCue said that publishers are facing a huge reduction in ad revenues. Publishers have seen revenues go from dollars in print, to dimes on the web, to pennies on mobile. According to McCue, a lot of the reason for that is the way that content is packaged and ads are displayed.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/wCEHXl4zSOo/

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Grocery delivery service is greener than driving to the store

Grocery delivery service is greener than driving to the store [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 29-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Michelle Ma
mcma@uw.edu
206-543-2580
University of Washington

At the end of a long day, it can be more convenient to order your groceries online while sitting on the living room couch instead of making a late-night run to the store. New research shows it's also much more environmentally friendly to leave the car parked and opt for groceries delivered to your doorstep.

University of Washington engineers have found that using a grocery delivery service can cut carbon dioxide emissions by at least half when compared with individual household trips to the store. Trucks filled to capacity that deliver to customers clustered in neighborhoods produced the most savings in carbon dioxide emissions.

"A lot of times people think they have to inconvenience themselves to be greener, and that actually isn't the case here," said Anne Goodchild, UW associate professor of civil and environmental engineering. "From an environmental perspective, grocery delivery services overwhelmingly can provide emissions reductions."

Consumers have increasingly more grocery delivery services to choose from. AmazonFresh operates in the Seattle area, while Safeway's service is offered in many U.S. cities. FreshDirect delivers to residences and offices in the New York City area. Last month, Google unveiled a shopping delivery service experiment in the San Francisco Bay Area, and UW alumni recently launched the grocery service Geniusdelivery in Seattle.

As companies continue to weigh the costs and benefits of offering a delivery service, Goodchild and Erica Wygonik, a UW doctoral candidate in civil and environmental engineering, looked at whether using a grocery delivery service was better for the environment, with Seattle as a test case. In their analysis, they found delivery service trucks produced 20 to 75 percent less carbon dioxide than the corresponding personal vehicles driven to and from a grocery store.

They also discovered significant savings for companies 80 to 90 percent less carbon dioxide emitted if they delivered based on routes that clustered customers together, instead of catering to individual household requests for specific delivery times.

"What's good for the bottom line of the delivery service provider is generally going to be good for the environment, because fuel is such a big contributor to operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions," Wygonik said. "Saving fuel saves money, which also saves on emissions."

The research was funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation and published in the Journal of the Transportation Research Forum.

The UW researchers compiled Seattle and King County data, assuming that every household was a possible delivery-service customer. Then, they randomly drew a portion of those households from that data to identify customers and assign them to their closest grocery store. This allowed them to reach across the entire city, without bias toward factors such as demographics and income level.

They used an Environmental Protection Agency modeling tool to calculate emissions at a much more detailed level than previous studies have done. Using factors such as vehicle type, speed and roadway type, they calculated the carbon dioxide produced for every mile for every vehicle.

Emissions reductions were seen across both the densest parts and more suburban areas of Seattle. This suggests that grocery delivery in rural areas could lower carbon dioxide production quite dramatically.

"We tend to think of grocery delivery services as benefiting urban areas, but they have really significant potential to offset the environmental impacts of personal shopping in rural areas as well," Wygonik said.

Work commuters are offered a number of incentives to reduce traffic on the roads through discounted transit fares, vanpools and carpooling options. Given the emissions reductions possible through grocery delivery services, the research raises the question of whether government or industry leaders should consider incentives for consumers to order their groceries online and save on trips to the store, Goodchild said.

In the future, Goodchild and Wygonik plan to look at the influence of customers combining their grocery shopping with a work commute trip and the impact of the delivery service's home-base location on emissions.

###

For more information, contact Goodchild at annegood@uw.edu or 206-543-3747.


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?


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.


Grocery delivery service is greener than driving to the store [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 29-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Michelle Ma
mcma@uw.edu
206-543-2580
University of Washington

At the end of a long day, it can be more convenient to order your groceries online while sitting on the living room couch instead of making a late-night run to the store. New research shows it's also much more environmentally friendly to leave the car parked and opt for groceries delivered to your doorstep.

University of Washington engineers have found that using a grocery delivery service can cut carbon dioxide emissions by at least half when compared with individual household trips to the store. Trucks filled to capacity that deliver to customers clustered in neighborhoods produced the most savings in carbon dioxide emissions.

"A lot of times people think they have to inconvenience themselves to be greener, and that actually isn't the case here," said Anne Goodchild, UW associate professor of civil and environmental engineering. "From an environmental perspective, grocery delivery services overwhelmingly can provide emissions reductions."

Consumers have increasingly more grocery delivery services to choose from. AmazonFresh operates in the Seattle area, while Safeway's service is offered in many U.S. cities. FreshDirect delivers to residences and offices in the New York City area. Last month, Google unveiled a shopping delivery service experiment in the San Francisco Bay Area, and UW alumni recently launched the grocery service Geniusdelivery in Seattle.

As companies continue to weigh the costs and benefits of offering a delivery service, Goodchild and Erica Wygonik, a UW doctoral candidate in civil and environmental engineering, looked at whether using a grocery delivery service was better for the environment, with Seattle as a test case. In their analysis, they found delivery service trucks produced 20 to 75 percent less carbon dioxide than the corresponding personal vehicles driven to and from a grocery store.

They also discovered significant savings for companies 80 to 90 percent less carbon dioxide emitted if they delivered based on routes that clustered customers together, instead of catering to individual household requests for specific delivery times.

"What's good for the bottom line of the delivery service provider is generally going to be good for the environment, because fuel is such a big contributor to operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions," Wygonik said. "Saving fuel saves money, which also saves on emissions."

The research was funded by the Oregon Department of Transportation and published in the Journal of the Transportation Research Forum.

The UW researchers compiled Seattle and King County data, assuming that every household was a possible delivery-service customer. Then, they randomly drew a portion of those households from that data to identify customers and assign them to their closest grocery store. This allowed them to reach across the entire city, without bias toward factors such as demographics and income level.

They used an Environmental Protection Agency modeling tool to calculate emissions at a much more detailed level than previous studies have done. Using factors such as vehicle type, speed and roadway type, they calculated the carbon dioxide produced for every mile for every vehicle.

Emissions reductions were seen across both the densest parts and more suburban areas of Seattle. This suggests that grocery delivery in rural areas could lower carbon dioxide production quite dramatically.

"We tend to think of grocery delivery services as benefiting urban areas, but they have really significant potential to offset the environmental impacts of personal shopping in rural areas as well," Wygonik said.

Work commuters are offered a number of incentives to reduce traffic on the roads through discounted transit fares, vanpools and carpooling options. Given the emissions reductions possible through grocery delivery services, the research raises the question of whether government or industry leaders should consider incentives for consumers to order their groceries online and save on trips to the store, Goodchild said.

In the future, Goodchild and Wygonik plan to look at the influence of customers combining their grocery shopping with a work commute trip and the impact of the delivery service's home-base location on emissions.

###

For more information, contact Goodchild at annegood@uw.edu or 206-543-3747.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share 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/2013-04/uow-gd042613.php

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Monday, April 29, 2013

Weekly paycheck but monthly bills? Here's how to budget.

Many employees receive their pay on a weekly or biweekly schedule, Hamm writes. Meanwhile, most bills come on a monthly basis, some even less frequently. There are some tips for reconciling the two.

By Trent Hamm,?Guest blogger / April 28, 2013

Some workers struggle to create a monthly budget when they are paid on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

Ann Hermes/Staff

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Every so often, I?ll get a question like this one, from Gina:

Skip to next paragraph Trent Hamm

The Simple Dollar is a blog for those of us who need both cents and sense: people fighting debt and bad spending habits while building a financially secure future and still affording a latte or two. Our busy lives are crazy enough without having to compare five hundred mutual funds ? we just want simple ways to manage our finances and save a little money.

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I am a federal employee and I get my paycheck every two weeks but all of my bills are monthly. What?s an easy budgeting system?

This is a pretty consistent problem, actually.?Many?employees receive their pay on a weekly or biweekly schedule. Meanwhile,?most?bills come on a monthly basis, some even less frequently.

How do you easily reconcile the two and take on a budgeting plan?

This is a problem I had to deal with in the past. Prior to 2008, I was employed in a situation that paid me every two weeks. It was a bit of a struggle to find a good balance between the paycheck and the monthly bills. My wife was also on a biweekly system, but her paydays were on different days than mine.?

Mississippi man makes court appearance in ricin letters case

By Robbie Ward

TUPELO, Mississippi (Reuters) - A Mississippi martial arts instructor appeared in federal court on Monday to face charges in connection with mailing letters containing the deadly poison ricin to President Barack Obama and other U.S. officials.

Everett Dutschke, 41, was arrested on Saturday in Tupelo, Mississippi, after authorities searched his former business and home. He is charged with developing and possessing ricin and attempting to use it as a weapon.

Wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, Dutschke responded briefly to a judge's questions at the hearing in Oxford, Mississippi, on whether he understood the charges against him. The judge ordered a preliminary hearing be held on Thursday when prosecutors will present more detailed evidence in the case.

An indictment detailing the charges is under seal but could be made public later on Monday, said George Lucas, Dutschke's court appointed attorney.

Dutschke has denied having any involvement with the ricin letters and said he cooperated with federal officials during their searches.

He faces a possible life sentence if convicted.

Dutschke's arrest came nearly two weeks after suspicious letters intended for Obama and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi were intercepted in Washington. Tests showed they were tainted with ricin, a highly lethal poison made from castor beans. A separate ricin-lased letter was also sent to a Mississippi judge.

Authorities initially arrested another Mississippi man, Kevin Curtis, in the case but dropped the charges last week after a search of his house failed to turn up any evidence of his involvement.

Dutschke's name surfaced at a court hearing when Curtis' attorney suggested someone framed her client and mentioned a running feud between the two men.

He also faces charges in a separate case related to an April 1 indictment for fondling three children between ages 7 and 16, from 2007 to 2013, according to court records.

The ricin-tainted letters were discovered just days after the bombings of the Boston Marathon and during the massive police manhunt for those responsible, helping to fuel anxiety in the United States, especially in the capital.

The case rekindled memories of the 2001 U.S. anthrax attacks that killed five people and puzzled investigators for years. The Justice Department later said that a U.S. scientist who committed suicide was responsible.

(Additional reporting by Kevin Gray in Miami.; Editing by David Adams and Andrew Hay)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mississippi-man-appear-federal-court-ricin-letters-case-100352159.html

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Jason Collins Gets MAJOR Twitter Love From NBA, Clintons, Athletes, Celebs

Source:

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Owner of collapsed building captured in Bangladesh

SAVAR, Bangladesh (AP) -- The fugitive owner of an illegally constructed building that collapsed and killed at least 377 people was captured by commandos as he tried to flee into India. At the disaster site, meanwhile, fire broke out in the rubble and forced authorities to suspend the search for survivors temporarily.

Mohammed Sohel Rana was arrested Sunday in the western border town of Benapole, said Jahangir Kabir Nanak, junior minister for local government. Rana was brought back by helicopter to the capital of Dhaka where he faced charges of negligence.

Rana's capture was announced by loudspeaker at the disaster site, drawing cheers and applause from those awaiting the outcome of a continuing search-and-rescue operation for survivors of Wednesday's collapse.

Many of those killed worked at clothing factories in the building, known as the Rana Plaza, and the collapse was the deadliest disaster to hit the garment industry in Bangladesh that is worth $20 billion annually, supplies global retailers and is a mainstay of the economy.

The fire that broke out late Sunday night sent smoke pouring from the piles of shattered concrete and halted some of the rescue efforts ? including a bid to free a woman who was found trapped in the rubble.

The blaze was caused by sparks as rescuers tried to cut through a steel rod to reach the woman, said a volunteer, Syed Al-Amin Roman. At least three rescuers were injured in the fire, he said. It forced them to retreat while firefighters frantically hosed down the flames.

Officials believe the fire is likely to have killed the trapped woman, said army spokesman Shahinul Islam. Rescue workers had delayed the use of heavy equipment for several hours in the hope that she could be extricated from the rubble first. But with the woman presumed dead, they began using heavy equipment around midnight.

An exhausted and disheveled Rana was brought before reporters briefly at the Dhaka headquarters of the commando team, the Rapid Action Battalion.

Wearing a printed shirt, Rana was sweating as two security officers held him by his arms. A security official helped him to drink water after he gestured he was thirsty. He did not speak during the 10-minute appearance, and he is likely to be handed over to police, who will have to charge him and produce him in court within 24 hours.

A small-time political operative from the ruling Awami League party, Rana had been on the run since the building collapsed Wednesday. He last appeared in public Tuesday in front of the Rana Plaza after huge cracks appeared in the building.

Witnesses said Rana assured tenants, including five garment factories, that the building was safe. Police, however, ordered an evacuation. A bank and some first-floor shops closed, but managers of the garment factories on the upper floors told workers to continue their shifts.

Hours later, the Rana Plaza was reduced to rubble, crushing most victims under massive blocks of concrete. Local authorities said the construction permit was issued for a five-story building, not the eight floors that were built.

Rana's arrest was ordered by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the Awami League leader.

On Saturday, police arrested three owners of two factories. Also detained were Rana's wife and two government engineers who were involved in giving approval for the building design. Local TV stations reported that the Bangladesh High Court has frozen the bank accounts of the owners of all five garment factories in the Rana Plaza.

A garment manufacturers' group said the factories in the building employed 3,122 workers, but it was not clear how many were inside when it fell. About 2,500 survivors have been accounted for.

Army Maj. Gen. Chowdhury Hasan Suhrawardy, the coordinator of the rescue operations, said the next phase of the search involved the heavy equipment such as hydraulic cranes that were brought to the disaster site Sunday. Searchers had been manually shifting concrete blocks with the help of light equipment such as pickaxes and shovels, he said.

The work will be carried out carefully so as not to mutilate bodies, he said. "We have engaged many private sector companies which supplied us equipment, even some heavy ones," Suhrawardy said.

In a rare bit of good news, a female worker was pulled out alive Sunday. Rescuer Hasan Akbari said when he tried to extricate a man next to the woman, "he said his body was being torn apart. So I had to let go. But God willing, we will be able to rescue him with more help very soon."

The collapse and previous disasters in garment factories have focused attention on the poor working conditions of workers who toil for as little as $38 a month to produce clothing for top international brands.

The death toll surpassed a fire five months ago that killed 112 people and brought widespread pledges to improve worker-safety standards. But since then, very little has changed in Bangladesh.

Its garment industry was the third-largest in the world in 2011, after China and Italy, having grown rapidly in the past decade.

Among the garment makers in the building were Phantom Apparels, Phantom Tac, Ether Tex, New Wave Style and New Wave Bottoms. Altogether, they produced several million shirts, pants and other garments a year.

The New Wave companies, according to their website, make clothing for several major North American and European retailers.

Britain's Primark acknowledged it was using a factory in Rana Plaza, but many other retailers distanced themselves from the disaster, saying they were not involved with the factories at the time of the collapse or had not recently ordered garments from them.

Wal-Mart said none of its clothing had been authorized to be made in the facility, but it is investigating whether there was any unauthorized production.

__

AP writers Farid Hossain and Gillian Wong in Dhaka contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/owner-collapsed-building-captured-bangladesh-184621056.html

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Sunday, April 28, 2013

PFT: SEC accounts for 63 picks ? a quarter of the draft

dj-haydenGetty Images

After analyzing?the draft needs of all 32 teams, PFT will review how well each team addressed those needs. Up next: The Oakland Raiders.?

What?they?needed: Defensive line, quarterback, offensive line, cornerback, tight end, wide receiver.

Who they got:
Round 1: D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston.
Round 2: Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State.
Round 3: Sio Moore, LB, Connecticut.
Round 4: Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas.
Round 6: Nick Kasa, TE, Colorado.
Round 6: Latavius Murray, RB, UCF.
Round 6: Mychal Rivera, TE, Tennessee.
Round 6: Stacy McGee, DT, Oklahoma.
Round 7: Brice Butler, WR, San Diego State.
Round 7: David Bass, DE, Missouri Western.

Where they hit: Hayden, who survived a freakish life-threatening internal injury suffered in November, could be the Raiders? top cornerback in short order. With the second-rounder acquired from Miami, the Raiders added Watson, a tackle prospect with upside. Moore is a good scheme fit, and Wilson could prove a very good value if he plays to his best collegiate form.

Where they missed: The Raiders didn?t draft a defensive lineman until Round Six. There?s playing time to be had for ends Bass and Jack Crawford (2012 fifth-rounder) and tackles McGee and Christo Bilukidi (2012 sixth-rounder) behind the Raiders? veteran starters, but Oakland could use a little more help at both line positions. In McKenzie?s defense, the Raiders have numerous needs, and on first analysis, he did quite well to add talent and depth in this draft.

Impact rookies: Given the state of the Raiders? roster, all 10 drafted rookies have a chance to make the team, and several could earn game-day snaps of consequence in Year One. Hayden has the best shot to start. He should compete with Tracy Porter and Mike Jenkins right off the bat. Moore is also a player to watch; the Raiders have revamped their LB corps this offseason but don?t have any standouts. A talented fresh face has a chance to make an impact early at this position. Watson?s best opportunity to start in 2013 is at right tackle, but that?s no sure thing, given his lack of experience. Rivera is a potential sleeper, given the Raiders? lack of a clear-cut top target at tight end after the departure of Brandon Myers. Murray also is an interesting addition; can he challenge backup Rashad Jennings for snaps? And then we come to Wilson. Matt Flynn will get first run at the starting job, and Wilson will have to be a quick study to beat out him and Terrelle Pryor for playing time. However, it?s not out of the realm of possibility.

Long-term prospects: Watson is talented enough to play in Year One if he quickly develops, but his best football could be down the road.?If Wilson doesn?t win the starting job in 2013, the question becomes whether he shows enough to be one of the primary contenders or the heir apparent in 2014. The Raiders used a mere fourth-round pick on him, so he?s going to have to show at least a little promise in Year One. Kasa is a converted defensive end who could need some time to continue learning the TE position.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/28/with-63-draft-picks-sec-produces-a-quarter-of-the-nfls-talent/related/

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Synergist Founder Hopes To Raise $25K Using The Company's Own Crowdfunding Platform

synergist logoSites like Kickstarter have been used to crowdfund a wide range of projects, but I don't think they've ever done what Synergist is attempting today ? they've never crowdfunded themselves. The site was founded by 17-year-old Jared Kleinert, who described Synergist as a mix of crowdsourcing and crowdfunding for social enterprises (i.e., organizations that aim to do good, rather than make money, but apply commercial strategies to achieve those aims). The funding mechanism is pretty similar to Kickstarter ? projects need to reach their funding target in order to receive any money, and the money is given for rewards, not equity. But Kleinert emphasized that the fundraising is really only a small part of the process.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/qZLIR-aB_w8/

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New conservative lobbying push for gay marriage

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) ? A national group of prominent GOP donors that supports gay marriage is pouring new money into lobbying efforts to get Republican lawmakers to vote to make it legal.

A spokesman for American Unity PAC tells The Associated Press the group has established a lobbying operation called American Unity Fund. It already has spent $500,000 on lobbying since last month.

Half that came in Minnesota, which could hold votes on gay marriage as early as next week. Money has also been spent in Rhode Island, Delaware, Indiana, West Virginia and Utah.

In Minnesota, the money has gone to state efforts to lobby Republican lawmakers and for polling on gay marriage in a handful of suburban districts represented by the GOP.

Billionaire Republican donor Paul Singer started American Unity PAC last year.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/conservative-lobbying-push-gay-marriage-050802280.html

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George Jones: Why he was the greatest ever

By Matthew Diebel, NBC News

Opinion:?Johnny Cash had a stock answer to that oft-asked question, "Who is your favorite singer?" "You mean," he teased, "apart from George Jones?"

Yes, there's pretty much universal agreement among country singers that Jones, who died Friday at age 81, was the greatest of all time. From the oldies -- Cash, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard -- to the relative newbies -- Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis -- all were of one mind.

And even non-country singers appreciated him -- none other than Frank Sinatra called him "the second best white singer in America." (No prizes for guessing first place)

What they loved was that rarest of combinations: a seamless voice -- no change of tone and timbre between low and high registers -- exquisite phrasing, and enough soul to rival Ray Charles and Otis Redding.

I believe, though, that there is also a case to be made that Jones was?the greatest American popular singer ever recorded. The ones usually named are Charles, Billie Holliday, Sinatra, Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin. I would argue that he has them beaten on all counts. Sinatra's phrasing, without Sinatra's forcedness. Charles's soul, without Charles's hamminess. Franklin's power, but without Franklin's screeches. Holliday's ability to laugh at his troubles, but without her self-pity. (Redding, though brilliant, was not tested by a long career.)

So, why isn't he usually mentioned among this pantheon? Why, when I bring up my Jones obsession, do people say, "Isn't that the guy who was married to Tammy Wynette?"

Partly because, somehow, he didn't manage to die young.

Also because country music has hardly ever been cool. Mostly, it has operated in its own universe, rarely crossing over into the pop world. And the artists who have had mainstream hits, such as the brilliant Patsy Cline, are about as far removed on the country spectrum from Jones as you can get.

And partly because he was drunk and/or high most of the time, a fact that made his career trajectory one of a few highs and many lows. Jones loved the music fiercely, but the limelight frightened him, a fear that led him to inoculate himself with the bottle and harder drugs, which in turn resulted, famously, in missed concerts, exasperated record companies and fuming fans. And his lack of self-control led him to sign contracts he was too bombed to understand, leaving him to be dragged into session after session to mouth lyrics that he should have known were rubbish. He put out (literally) hundreds of albums, mostly filled with trash.

Among the dreck, though, were diamonds. Quite a few, in fact, including 15 No. 1 hits (and dozens of Top 10 ones), starting with "White Lightning" in 1959. If Jones honed in on a song he liked, he put his heart and soul into it.

His biggest success came in the '70s and early '80s with such hits as "The Door" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today," the latter often cited as the greatest recorded country performance of all time. I think, though, that his best recording came in the early '60s before his long association with producer Billy Sherrill, the Nashville schlockmeister he signed with in 1972, after he met Wynette and with whom he made "He Stopped Loving Her Today.? It's not that I don't like the later material; it's just that the earlier tracks, free of the dubious delights of massed violins and warbling choruses, highlight his incredible voice. At the same time, enhanced studio technology -- including the newly created stereo -- had improved on the sound quality that marked his rudimentary early discs.

Jones was best known for his ballads, especially in the later part of his career; however, he was actually a greater master of fast-paced material. His rhythmic genius was particularly effective when matched with a tight session band, such as with "Mr. Fool," a driving honky-tonker about lost love that is perhaps the supreme recorded example of Jones's exquisite phrasing. "No one can ever call me Mr. Fool no more," runs the last line of the chorus. Each of four renditions of the phrase takes you on a spellbinding journey of his vocal arsenal -- swooping, clipping, playing with the beat, riding herd on the back-up band. In those lines, as with the rest of the song, you never know where Jones is going to lead you; at the same time, none of it sounds forced or contrived. The whole happy confection is aided by the spare production of his first producer (and discoverer), Pappy Daily.

I also think that the early '60s, when "Mr. Fool" was recorded, was when he was at his vocal peak. Writers often rave about how Sherrill persuaded Jones to explore a greater range, but the high-lonesome sound on this cut has a rawness and emotion that travels even further into the heart than his later efforts. (If you agree, "Cup of Loneliness," a 1994 double-CD, is worth the investment. It has 51 songs -- with hardly a dud -- excellent liner notes, and has been carefully re-mastered from the original recordings.)

Mark Humphrey / AP

What these songs do is breathe emotion. In his never-equaled way, Jones drifts across the beat, never failing to surprise with a speeded-up phrase or a well-placed drawn-out note. At the same time, he never made a mush of the lyrics; one of his great assets was that the listener understands every word.

Jones just sounds so sad, it's painful. He's as sad-sounding as Hank Williams at his most abject. Of course, the difference is that Jones could sing, whereas Williams only wailed. Some words are clipped, some are stretched and played with, as only Jones did. Some lines are almost whispered; others cried out -- all beautifully set up by man who really understood -- whether by design or instinct -- what to do with a lyric.

High and lonesome, but not always alone. A measure of Jones' greatness was his generosity and skill as a duetist. Most often, he took the harmony part -- the most difficult -- and never sought to dominate. His most famous duets, of course, were with third wife Wynette ("Golden Ring," "We?re Going to Hold On"), but probably his best are with Melba Montgomery in the mid-'60s. In these collaborations, he was the much bigger star and could easily have hogged the sessions. But no -- these are real duets, not a lead singer with a backup.

As a live performer, Jones was even more mixed than his records. He could be very lazy and unfocused, leading to lackluster concerts that were intensely disappointing. But when he was on, it was electrifying. I feel bad saying this, but the drunker and higher he was, the better was his performance. It seemed that the more reason was stripped from his mind, the better he sang, as if his emotions were uncontrolled and he was operating on instinct alone.

I will never forget one concert I witnessed, in the early '80s, when he was at the depth of his drinking and drugging. As was his usual pattern, he had his band, the Jones Boys, warm up the audience with several songs. But the tunes just kept on coming, and there was no George. After about six songs, there he was, literally being dragged onto the stage. "Oh, no," I thought, "he?s going to be terrible." It was the best concert I ever saw. In contrast, the ones I witnessed when he was stone-cold sober (or a near facsimile) tended to be rote and unrewarding, with Jones making light of his material -- "slobbing tear-jerkers" was how he disparaged some of his greatest songs.

Quite simply, no one else -- before, then or now -- was capable of his vocal fireworks, or at least carrying it off without making it sound like he or she is showing off. That was one of the joys of Jones: Though he had every tool at his disposal, he never used them other than to enhance the song.

That?s why he was often called "the singers? singer." Powerful, yet somehow understated. Apparently revealing raw personal emotion, but at the same time a mystery. If one were to compare him to a painter, I pick Velazquez.

Unlike Velazquez, though, who was loved and lauded by his patrons, Jones was too wild and uncompromising for the tastes of the Nashville establishment, a factor that kept him from its greatest prizes until relatively late in his career.

For instance, on the cover of one of Jones' early 1960s albums is a photo of him next to an incongruously inset picture of the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Somehow, though, Jones didn't make it in until 1992 after many inferior singers had been chosen for admission.

That's like making Babe Ruth wait until the '70s to get into Cooperstown.

Was Jones the greatest ever? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

Matt Diebel is a senior producer for NBCNews.com. He has been listening to George Jones since he was a teen in England. His son is named George.

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Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2013/04/26/11292071-george-jones-the-greatest-american-pop-singer-ever-recorded?lite

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Marathon deaths prompt review of security policy

Left unattended, no accessory looks as menacing these days as a backpack.

At the airport. On the subway. At a sports event.

And, as a result of the two backpack-encased bombs that exploded near the finish line at the Boston Marathon, sports teams and leagues around the world are rethinking what kind of bags, satchels, purses and, yes, black nylon backpacks should be allowed inside stadiums and arenas.

The packs will even be the focal point of a conference this summer of stadium-security personnel in Orlando .

"After what happened ... I wouldn't be surprised if the number of people eliminating backpacks would increase," said Lou Marciani, director of the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security, founded in 2006 and based at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

Next Saturday, more than 165,000 people are expected at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby. Backpacks, duffel bags and large purses have been banned from the track since 2002 ? part of the clamp-down that followed the Sept. 11 attacks. Still, Derby officials have told fans their bags will undergo increased security checks for this year's race.

No matter where the world ends up on the bag-check spectrum, some fans may never again regard the pack slung across their body quite the same way.

"I never really thought about backpacks until last week, and now you notice backpacks all over the place," said Ryan Hershberger of Hartwell, Ga., as he headed into a Colorado Rockies game carrying a black backpack. "It makes you think."

Down the street, at the Denver Nuggets game, a handful of fans shared the same sentiment.

"I've been thinking about it all day," Joel Cross said on the concourse at the Pepsi Center in Denver. He and his wife traveled from Harrisburg, Neb., to attend Tuesday night's Nuggets playoff game. "We're from a community where our whole county only has 600 people in it. Nobody is going to bomb us because there's no one there. But we're coming to a populated area."

The NFL beefed up security for thousands of fans attending its annual draft, which runs through Saturday, with metal detectors, pat-downs and about 20 percent more personnel in place than previous years. Backpacks are banned. The league said it would consider what, if any, changes might be made for the 2013 season, which ends with the Super Bowl in New York next February.

Major League Baseball's security officials met Thursday but Commissioner Bud Selig said no changes are expected in the rules on bags fans can bring to ballparks, generally limited to 16x16x8 inches. The meeting was scheduled before the Boston explosions that killed three and injured more than 260/

"I wouldn't say that Boston has changed anything," Selig said. "Each club makes its own decision."

At Yankee Stadium, for example, briefcases, coolers and other hard-sided bags or containers are not permitted. At Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium, wrapped presents are banned along with cameras with lenses of 12 or more inches. The Baltimore Orioles ban bags with wheels at Camden Yards.

Boston and San Francisco were among the teams opting to use metal-detecting wands on fans and their possessions this week.

"We've added people, and people are getting in faster now, so we're going to stick with the plan," Giants president and CEO Larry Baer said.

Though the marathon bombings caught the attention of the world, not every event or championship, especially overseas, is beefing up or changing security measures.

For instance, officials at Manchester United, the FA Cup final and the European Champions League say their policies, which either ban large bags or strongly discourage them, are under constant review but not set to change.

"We did, of course, contact the police in the aftermath of the Boston bombings, as part of our commitment to the security of fans and visitors to the stadium," Manchester United said in a statement.

At Wimbledon, where tennis action starts in June, no changes are planned.

"It was a terrible event, but we have no reason to believe it's something that has a direct impact on Wimbledon," All-England Club chief executive Richard Lewis said, referring to the Boston explosions.

At the Summer Olympics in London, soft-sided bags were required to fit under seats and couldn't hold more than 25 liters (6 gallons).

Sebastian Coe, who led London's organizing committee, says a ban on backpacks at sports events would not be justified.

"We have to make some pretty tough decisions in the way we want to live our lives," he said. "It's very easy to draw all sorts of conclusions (from the Boston bombings). Do we want to live in a world where people can't wear backpacks to sporting events? I'm not sure we do."

Organizers in Brazil aren't making any radical changes to their backpack policy for the upcoming Confederations Cup or next year's World Cup. So far, the extensive list of prohibited items includes "unwieldy" bags ? no more than 10x10x10 inches and too big to fit under a seat.

Officials in Russia, which hosts the 2018 World Cup, said that whenever a sports-related tragedy occurs, they review what happened "to ensure that our own regulations and procedures are sufficiently covering such potential tragedies or risks."

In Sochi, Russia, site of February's Winter Olympics, security for test events was so stringent that the president of the international skiing federation, Gian Franco Kasper, cracked, "The only moment they didn't inspect our athletes was during the race."

International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound of Canada said one strategy might be to push back security boundaries.

"I remember in Vancouver and other places, the tension between the organizers and the events and the security folks was over the size of the perimeter," Pound said. "If you can move the perimeter back 50 or 100 meters, a backpack bomb is going to have less lethal effect."

In the U.S., NBA spokesman Tim Frank wouldn't comment on specific security practices, beyond saying: "We regularly practice a wide range of state of the art security measures in all of our arenas." The Nuggets have long used wands and searched bags. But Cross' wife, Shelly, said she noticed a more extensive security presence at Tuesday's game than the last time they made the trip to Denver.

"We were here not too long ago and we don't remember this," she said.

At least one backpack developer said she was unaware of any pending changes to basic designs. She also thought the bombings were unlikely to create a need for see-thru or clear backpacks.

"I don't think people want to share their belongings with everyone. Everyone wants their privacy," said Annelies Mertens, a member of the Samsonite development team in Belgium. "I don't think this will have an influence on the way backpacks are made. I don't see that happening."

While the Boston Marathon presented its own set of difficult challenges ? securing a 26-mile course dotted with trash cans and spectators on almost every block ? one expert says there's no such thing as perfect security guidelines, regardless of venue.

"A no-backpack policy is fine if it applies to everyone," said Derek Catsam, an associate professor at University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa who has studied the safety issue in stadiums. "But then you start making exceptions for people with kids, and for the elderly and for women with purses and people in expensive seats. Where does it end? You can have a policy or not have a policy. But once you start selectively enforcing it, that's going to be problematic."

After the bombings, the NHL's Boston Bruins added metal-detecting wands to their security regimen and checked cars parking in a garage underneath the arena. Security measures vary by arena in the NHL. The New York Islanders, for example, don't allow backpacks; the Detroit Red Wings ban oversized bags and search all bags that are allowed in.

Catsam said security can always be ratcheted up, but then comes the issue of how much convenience people are willing to give up for the sake of safety.

"They could start saying you can bring whatever kind of backpack you want but you have to go through an X-ray system like you do at the airport," he said. "It would take forever and we'd adjust, but I'm not sure what we'll discover or if we'll be making anything really safer."

Marciani, on the other hand, envisions a day when backpacks are as obsolete at a stadium as the bulky transistor radios that fans once brought along so they could listen to play-by-play as they watched the game.

"I think it's just one less aggravation we'd have to put up with," he said. "I'd just say, 'Why backpacks at a stadium?' I don't think we need them."

___

AP Sports Writers Pat Graham in Denver, Howard Fendrich in Washington, Stephen Wilson, Rob Harris, Steve Douglas and Chris Lehourites in London, Tales Azzoni in Sao Paolo, Brazil, Janie McCauley in San Francisco, Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis, Graham Dunbar in Geneva, Jimmy Golen in Boston, Ben Walker and Ron Blum in New York, David Ginsburg in Baltimore and Bernie Wilson in San Diego and Associated Press reporter Peter Banda contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/marathon-deaths-prompt-review-security-policy-192823940.html

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Justin Bieber Dismisses Tour Bus Raid as "Rumor," Heads "Back to Music"

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/justin-bieber-dismisses-tour-bus-raid-as-rumor-heads-back-to-mus/

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Panasonic gussies up Lumix DMC-XS1 with 10 different designs

DNP Panasonic releases its $200 LUMIX DMCXS in 10 different color designs

It's that time of year again -- the gadgets of CES are finally starting to march into stores. Today's newest catalog item comes from Panasonic in the form of the 16.1-megapixel Lumix DMC-XS1 compact. Equipped with a 24mm wide-angle 5x optical zoom lens, this $200 point and shoot targets people looking to move beyond the hazy world of cellphone photography. Unlike some high-end smartphone cameras the DMC-XS1's 1/2.33-inch CCD sensor is limited to 720p video capture at 30 fps. It won't likely win over the hardcore paparazzo, but this compact's 10 flashy designs may manage to score some points with fledging shutterbugs.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/26/panasonic-lumix-dmc-xs1/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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New staycations in town! - Time Out Hong Kong

Need a staycation? There are hot new hotels popping up all over Hong Kong, for every type of getaway you're after. By Ira Otivar and Li Meng de Bakker

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Hotel Indigo
Hotel Indigo New chic in old Wan Chai
246 Queen's Rd East, Wan Chai, 3926 3888; hotelindigo.com/hongkong.

Fancy sipping a cocktail while floating in a gorgeous infinity pool above the most historic part of Wan Chai? Then check out this savvy new boutique hotel on Queen's Road East. Combining both heritage and modernity, Hotel Indigo is the newest resident of the emergingly hip Stone Nullah/Blue House area, and features a stunning 'dragon' design element wrapped around the building's exterior. But it's not just a pretty face: the property incorporates eco-friendly details and elements of old Wan Chai into all of its 138 unique rooms, each with individual artwork and styling.

OPENED: May 2013
INDULGE: Relax at the rooftop infinity pool and revel in its stunning glass bottom, or sip in the sights at the Skybar with any of the eight signature cocktails. The gym at Hotel Indigo is open 24 hours a day too, so if getting in some gym time is important to you, you can do so entirely at your leisure.
WHILE YOU'RE THERE: With its focus on the heritage of the old Wan Chai, Hotel Indigo is practically screaming for you to take in the historic sights of the neighbourhood. Stroll up through Stone Nullah Lane to the striking Blue House, Yellow House and Pak Tai Temple, take in the old school vibe and ponder the fact that there used to be a mountain stream running down the road.
PRICE: Superior room $2,300, Deluxe room $2,600.

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Courtyard by Marriott New luxury in the New Territories
1 On Ping St, Sha Tin, New Territories; 3940 8888; courtyardshatin.com.
If fresh air is something you crave (and we're thinking it is), spending a weekend in the New Territories is a good move. And with a massive 495 rooms and suites, this sharp new hotel can also be your perfect New Territories getaway. It's one of the biggest in the Courtyard stable, and gives you all the leisure options you could want: a spot to relax by the pool or a base from which to take in the Sha Tin sights.

OPENED: March 2013
INDULGE: Spoil yourself at the hotel's signature restaurant, MoMo Caf?, that serves delicious Western cuisine as well as your favourite Asian dishes. There's also a 24-hour gym for the exercise-inclined, or you could laze by the pool and soak up the New Territories air. WHILE YOU'RE THERE: Sha Tin is full of attractions, from the historic to the cultural and quirky. Get full bottle on local culture at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (heritagemuseum.gov.hk), get your Buddha-fill at the famous Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery or check out all the cute fun of Snoopy World at New Town Plaza. PRICE: Deluxe room $1,280, Executive room $1,680, Executive suite $2,380.

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Crowne Plaza Kowloon East Explore the Northeast Tower
5, 3 Tong Tak St, Tseung Kwan O; 3983 0388; crowneplaza.com/kowlooneast
. With 359 guest rooms, this new five-star hotel is at the heart of Tseung Kwan O's modern rejuvenation. Located at the top of TKO's sexiest mall, Popcorn, the Crowne Plaza Kowloon East is the perfect base to explore all the exciting natural wonders of the Northeastern New Territories, with all the modern amenities and luxuries you could want.

OPENED: September 2012
INDULGE: Apart from the city views from the rooms, Crowne Plaza Kowloon East has a range of tasty food with choices from all day dining at The Chef's Table to delicious Cantonese cuisine at Tze Yuet Heen and a cosy Italian dining at Cielo on the hotel's rooftop. There's an outdoor pool and fitness club as well, but if you really want to treat yourself, book into Sense of Touch, which has one of its seven locations citywide within the hotel.
WHILE YOU'RE THERE: You could go shopping in TKO's myriad sameish malls, but we'd recommend going for a stroll to the banks of Junk Bay for a very different view of the harbour.
PRICE: Superior room $1,200, Executive room $1,800, Suite $8,600.

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V Wanchai? Intimate and chic city stay
139 Thomson Rd, Wan Chai, 3602 2388; theV.hk.
You don't need to leave the hustle and bustle of the city to get a relaxing break in ? sometimes, you just need a change of scene. Like, say, into the heart of Wan Chai. The V group's newest addition continues its 'home away from home' ethic, adding a special Asian-European design twist to its renowned modern aesthetic.

OPENED: March 2013
INDULGE: The V seems to be all about complimentary consumption. In the hotel's communal lounge, there's complimentary breakfast in the morning, coffee, tea and juice throughout the day, and, from 5pm-8pm every evening, there are complimentary snacks and cocktails for all guests.
WHILE YOU'RE THERE: For a romantic evening, head down to the Wan Chai Ferry to bob your way across the harbour into Tsim Sha Tsui.
PRICE: Luxe $1,500, Deluxe $1,800, Premium Deluxe $2,000, Grand Suite $2,300.

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Auberge Discovery Bay Fun in the island sun
88 Siena Ave, Discovery Bay, Lantau, 2295 8288; aubergediscoverybay.com.
With beaches, hiking and other activities in abundance, it was just a matter of time before Discovery Bay would get its own worthy resort. The just-opened Auberge Discovery Bay sits on the island's coast, boasting an impressive 325 rooms (including 40 ocean-front suites) and spacious grounds that can accommodate events from corporate gatherings to weddings.

OPENED: March 2013
INDULGE: The Auberge really embraces the total resort approach. You can spoil your stomach at the Caf? bord de Mer's seaside terrace, chill by the resort-style swimming pool (not available yet) or go for total relaxation with the Spa Botanica's seaside-themed treatments, such as a signature Ocean's Gift package ($2,250), consisting of a seaweed wrap, massage and body salt treatment.
WHILE YOU'RE THERE: When on Lantau, head outdoors. Discovery Bay has a lot to offer in that department, including golf, cycling, boat rides and some impressive hikes. We recommend the one-hour trek from the door of the Auberge straight up to Lookout Point.
PRICE: Mountain View Room $990, Ocean Front Room $1,340.

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AND COMING SOON...!

Mira Moon July 2013
388 Jaffe Rd, Wan Chai, 2367 5962; miramoonhotel.com.
The Miramar Group's soon-to-launch boutique reimagines the Chinese fairytale of the Moon Festival into a hotel! It will feature 91 rooms, all bringing a contemporary abstract approach to the legendary Chinese myth, as well as all the modern amenities you can possibly want.

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OZO Wesley July 2013
22 Hennessy Rd, Wan Chai; 2292 3000; ozohotels.com/wesley-hongkong.

Relaxed and quirky, the Ozo Wesley should be a top option for a budget staycation. There are 251 rooms planned for this hotel, as well as an informal restobar, Zaan, while the lobby doubles as a contemporary lounge where guests can mingle and relax with a drink.

Source: http://www.timeout.com.hk/around-town/features/57996/new-staycations-in-town.html

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Friday, April 26, 2013

Top Screenwriters For Buffy, Battlestar & More To Speak At MCM ...

Buffy The Vampire SLayer Featured Top Screenwriters For Buffy, Battlestar & More To Speak At MCM London Comic Con

The MCM London Comic-Con is all set to take place between 24th and 26th of May, and just announced are a number of legendary screenwriters appearing at the event. The writers include?Jane Espenson (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA), Ashley Miller (THOR, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS), Christian Taylor (SIX FEET UNDER, TEEN WOLF) and Remi Aubuchon (CAPRICA, FALLING SKIES), and if that doesn?t get your geek on then I don?t know what will.

MCM Comic-Con will also be home to appearances by celebrities from the world of all things geek, such as the director of COWBOY BEBOP and the stars of FALLING SKIES and TEEN WOLF. They?ll also be plenty of merchandise stalls and comics to peruse over, as well as experiencing some Asian culture and scoping out the latest video games.

Four top screenwriters will be among the guests at MCM London Comic Con, with Jane Espenson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica), Ashley Miller (Thor, X-Men: First Class), Christian Taylor (Six Feet Under, Teen Wolf) and Remi Aubuchon (Caprica, Falling Skies) hosting TV and film writing panels on Saturday and Sunday of the show.

Jane Espenson has written and produced for a host of acclaimed TV shows, with her credits including Joss Whedon?s Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Angel and Dollhouse, as well as Games Of Thrones; Battlestar Galactica; Once Upon a Time; Torchwood; Caprica; The O.C., Gilmore Girls and The Batman. She is also co-creator of Warehouse 13.

As well as working on movies such as Thor, X-Men: First Class and Agent Cody Banks, screenwriter and producer Ashley Miller has written for popular sci-fi shows including Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Andromeda and Fringe. Miller?s upcoming feature film projects include Top Gun 2 and The Fantastic Four.

London-born Christian Taylor?s television credits include Teen Wolf, Lost, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and critically-acclaimed black comedy Six Feet Under. Taylor also wrote and directed Showboy, which won Best Directorial Debut at the British Independent Film Awards and Best Picture at the Milan International Film Festival.

Remi Aubuchon is currently working as writer and executive producer on Steven Spielberg sci-fi series Falling Skies. Aubuchon is also well known as co-creator of the Battlestar Galactica prequel series Caprica, executive producer and writer for the second season of 24 and writer for the second season of Stargate Universe.

Source: MCM London Comic-Con


Source: http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2013/04/25/top-screenwriters-for-buffy-battlestar-more-to-speak-at-mcm-london-comic-con/

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Thursday, April 25, 2013

Obama's immigration plan makes the US safer, says Napolitano

Lawmakers worried about border security loopholes revealed by the Boston bombing, but Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said they were already addressed by Obama's proposed immigration plan.

By Erica Werner,?Associated Press / April 24, 2013

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 23, 2013, before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on immigration reform.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Enlarge

Sweeping immigration legislation would improve U.S. security by helping authorities to know who is in the country, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Tuesday, as supporters of an immigration overhaul marshaled arguments against opponents trying to slow it down in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.

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Testifying at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Napolitano said a wide-ranging bill circulating in Congress devotes more money to securing the border, requires employers to verify their workers' identity, and implements new systems to track people as they leave the country ? something that might have helped flag when one of the suspected Boston bombers traveled to Russia last year. Of great importance, Napolitano said, is the eventual path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants here illegally.

Republicans have criticized such a path as a divisive proposal that rewards law-breakers. But Napolitano said it is a fundamental tool to help law enforcement authorities know who is here.

"One of the real significant improvements made by this bill is to bring people out of the shadows," she said. "We know who they are. We know where they are. And by the way, from a police perspective, once these people know that every time they interact with law enforcement they won't be subject to removal, it will help with the reporting of crimes, the willingness to be a witness and so forth."

Napolitano's support for legislation that's a top second-term priority for President Barack Obama was no surprise. While in the past she has criticized the idea of making a path to citizenship conditional on accomplishing border security goals first ? as the new bill does ? Napolitano didn't repeat that criticism Tuesday. Instead she said that the border security "triggers" in the bill are achievable, suggesting they wouldn't loom as major impediments to citizenship.

Napolitano's testimony came as last week's Boston Marathon bombings have clouded the introduction of the landmark immigration legislation, with Republicans suggesting it should be slowed down or revisited until more is known about any loopholes in the immigration system that the Boston bombers may have exploited, or national security flaws that should be addressed in the bill.

An author of the bill, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) of South Carolina, was considering an amendment to require tougher background checks for certain immigrants deemed to pose a higher risk, such as those seeking asylum, an aide said late Tuesday.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/QNvSZWXpOVY/Obama-s-immigration-plan-makes-the-US-safer-says-Napolitano

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U.S. believes Syrian government used some chemical weapons: Hagel

By Mark Elkington MADRID, April 24 (Reuters) - Even Lionel Messi, so often Barcelona's saviour, was at a loss to explain how the La Liga leaders could come back from their Champions League semi-final mauling in Munich. Barca were thumped 4-0 away by an impressive Bayern Munich in their first leg on Tuesday, putting in one of their most toothless displays in recent memory. On Wednesday, they were greeted with newspaper headlines such as 'Historic beating' in Madrid-based daily Marca, 'Catastrophe' in Barcelona-based Mundo Deportivo, and 'Azulgrana Waterloo' in daily El Mundo. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-believes-syrian-government-used-chemical-weapons-hagel-153259010.html

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Obama: Bush 'Loves His Country'


* Former presidents also due to attend dedication
* Memorial service for Texas explosion victims on the agenda
* Fundraiser will aim to help Democrats in midterm elections (Updates with Obama, Bush comments, previous dateline WASHINGTON)
By Steve Holland
DALLAS, April 24 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama is in Texas to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with former President George W. Bush in what could serve as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle against terrorism, from the Sept. 11 attacks to the Boston Marathon bombings.
Obama is due to attend the dedication on Thursday of Bush's presidential library at Southern Methodist University, along with former presidents Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter and hundreds of Bush administration alumni.
While Democrat Obama and Republican Bush have deep political differences, they share a common belief that the United States must defend itself against violent extremism.
The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks defined Bush's eight years in the White House and last week's Boston Marathon bombing handed Obama another challenge to homeland security.
Obama, at a Democratic fundraiser soon after he arrived in Dallas on Wednesday night, said he was looking forward to attending the Bush library dedication and that he would project a bipartisan spirit.
"One thing I will insist upon is whatever our political differences, President Bush loves his country and loves its people and...was concerned about all people in America, not just those who voted Republican. I think that's true about him and I think that's true about most of us," Obama said.
Bush told ABC News that the Boston attacks reminded him of his time in the presidency.
"I was deeply concerned that there might've been an organized plot," Bush told ABC News. "I don't know all the facts... But I was deeply concerned that this could've been, you know, another highly organized attack on the country. And it still may be. Again, I don't know all the facts."
Certain issues require a common response regardless of political party, said David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Center at the University of Southern Illinois.
"They may get to the office as a conservative or a liberal but there are real forces that move them to the pragmatic center on a variety of issues and national security is one of them," Simon said.
But Obama was also looking to a time when more Democrats could be elected to Congress. His first stop in Dallas was at a fundraiser that brought in $600,000 for the Democratic National Committee at the home of major Democratic donor Naomi Aberly.
It is his third fundraiser this year for his party in the hope that Democrats can wrestle control of the House of Representatives from Republicans and add to the Democrats' Senate majority in 2014 midterm elections.
Without adding Democratic seats, Obama may find it difficult to overcome Republican opposition to many of the priorities of his second term, such as closing tax loopholes enjoyed mostly by the wealthy and stricter gun control.
"Washington is not, how should I put this charitably, it's not as functional as it could be," Obama said.
Still, he told the Democratic donors, he plans to keep talking to Republicans as he has in recent weeks to try to find common ground, even though "some of you may think I'm a sap" for doing so.
Thursday's dedication of Bush's library and museum has put Bush, the 43rd U.S. president, back in the limelight he has largely avoided since leaving office in January 2009.
At the time, the United States was laboring under the burden of two wars and a collapsed economy. Bush's approval rating at the time was 33 percent. A Washington Post-ABC poll this week put his approval rating at 47 percent, basically equal to Obama's.
The museum exhibits cover major points of Bush's presidency and offer visitors an opportunity to decide how they would have responded to those challenges.
A central feature of the museum concerns the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
Obama has found himself pursuing some of the same policies that Bush began, such using drones on military targets and trying to overhaul U.S. immigration laws.
Obama is expected to speak at the dedication along with the former presidents.
"Regardless of the times when they served and their political and policy differences, there is a commonality of experience that the president believes binds them together," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.
After visiting Bush in Dallas on Thursday, Obama is scheduled to attend a memorial service at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, for the 14 people killed when a fertilizer plant exploded last week in West, Texas. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Karey Van Hall, Toni Reinhold and Lisa Shumaker)

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/25/obama-bush_n_3151427.html

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Self-Awareness: Life Is a Hero's Journey - The Self Improvement Blog

By ValHeroencia Ray, MD ?

We human beings love stories. One of the all-time favorite themes is ?The Hero?s Journey?. Adventure stories and lessons from fairy tales were, and still are, at the top of my list of favorite movies, books, and conversations. This is why movies like ?The Hobbit,? ?Lord of the Rings,? and even more contemporary movie settings in the ?adventure? genre are so popular. Too often we only lihttp://theselfimprovementblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Hero.jpgve vicariously through the movies and lives of others.

A facet of self-awareness is recognizing that we are all on this journey. Our lives are an adventure of self-discovery, other-discovery, and life-on-earth discovery. This includes the work we do in the world. Do you perceive your work as a hardship or a place to uncover your true potential? Do you see it as stressful or simply a challenge to expand your vision for your life? How you perceive yourself and your experience will determine how you respond to it-to your life.

We are all a hero on a journey, and our journey defines our message. Take notes along the way so you can then share your lessons.

I see a lot of unhappiness coming across the airways. I hear messages about what?s wrong with us. There are an awful lot of people at the office, as well as generally, scrambling to ?fix? themselves in some way, shape, or form. Here?s a novel thought: do you ever think about the fact that you are simply on a Hero/Shero Journey?

Just pretend for a moment; use your imagination. What would your attitude be if you saw challenge as an opportunity to grow your mind, your heart, and your will? What if you focused on what you have learned and live in a state of gratitude instead of fear? Courage is overcoming this fear in our minds, which is where it begins and can end.

Unless a wild animal is chasing you or you are really in a state of threat from external aggression, stress and misery are generally self-inflicted. We have not realized the power of our own mind. Hence, most people are not very self-aware at all. In fact, research reveals that 95% of what is running the vast majority of people?s lives is out of their conscious awareness. We can now change this. We can learn how to optimally operate our amazing brain. It is much easier now than even a decade ago. And we have incentive to do it.

We need to rise to the occasion at the office and at home. Our creativity and constructive influence depends on this self-awareness. Our leadership skills and relationships depend on it. Even our health depends on it. And so does our future.

Here are 5 tips for facing and embracing your own hero?s journey to reaching more of your own true potential. This is what our journey is really all about: unfolding who you really are at your core, that place of gold and greatness within you waiting to be expressed. Personal growth and expansion happen through experience and in relationship to others, not sitting locked away on a mountaintop.

#1. Muster up your Courage. A hero or ?shero? must have courage to slay the so-called monsters in their path. You will be uncomfortable. Pack up and go home if you think you won?t be challenged.

#2. Get a Clear Vision. Where do you want to go? Your brain and mind need a clear target or else you will wanderer through the forest of life, stumbling and lost. You will be an easy target for distraction for other people?s agendas.

#3. Be Willing to Ask Questions. Ask the Universe questions like, ?Why, How and When?? Timing can be everything, so be patient. Patience is power. And taking action takes courage. You need persistence and passion, patience and perseverance. Stop thinking you already have all the answers. Retrain your brain to act more wisely.

#4. Be Willing to Make Mistakes. Fear of making mistakes is way overrated and is a big example of lack of self-awareness. Mistakes are just about learning. The sooner leaders and society get this, the sooner we can embrace change and growth. Denial (in this case pronounced ?Da Nile?) can then just be a river in Africa instead something that floods and drowns out your gifts and true talents. Lighten up!

#5. Celebrate your Successes. Pause and give yourself a pat on the back instead of berating yourself to go do more ? and more and more. It?s a hollow victory if you can?t slow down to savor and enjoy the fruit of your efforts.

Life truly is a journey. There is no destination. I have consciously lived through several-and am in the midst of yet another-hero journeys. I?ve become comfortable with change. I?m stronger, happier, and wiser. I?m more confident and peaceful because I reached for self-awareness. I accept myself and love and like who I am now, not ?when I get there?.

Self-awareness is true power, not that wimpy bully fake stuff that is pushed off as power over others. It takes courage to own your power ? the power of your own mind. Know who you are. Be YOU, Magnificently! Enjoy your journey.

Valencia Ray, M.D. teaches business owners and corporate leaders how their amazing brain can actually hijack personal power ? not in the abstract, but in the context of integrating business and personal life. Dr. Ray, a board-certified eye surgeon and medical business owner for over 20 years before selling her practice, shares her own life changing process. By sharing her story, she helps others to expand their vision and learn that by living with purpose and confidence, it is possible to have a more integrated, healthier lifestyle ? with less struggle, more inner peace and more abundance.

For more information and to contact her regarding dynamic, inspirational keynotes, trainings in collaborative leadership and team building, entrepreneurship and coaching programs, visit her website at http://www.ValenciaRay.com.

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Source: http://theselfimprovementblog.com/self-improvement/self-improvement-tips/self-awareness-life-is-a-heros-journey/

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