Pope recalls 'joy,' difficulties in final audience

VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Pope Benedict XVI bid an emotional farewell Wednesday to his flock on the eve of his retirement, recalling in his final speech as pontiff moments of "joy and light" during his papacy but also times of difficulty when "it seemed like the Lord was sleeping."

An estimated 150,000 people flooded St. Peter's Square for Benedict's last general audience, eager to show their support and bear witness to the final hours of a papacy that will go down in history as the first one in 600 years to end in resignation rather than death.

Benedict clearly enjoyed the occasion, taking a long victory lap around the square in an open-sided car and stopping to kiss and bless half a dozen babies and infants handed to him by his secretary. Seventy cardinals, some tearful, sat in solemn attendance ? then gave him a standing ovation at the end of his speech.

Benedict then made a quick exit, foregoing the typical meet-and-greet session that follows the audience as if to not prolong the goodbye.

Given the historic moment, Benedict also eschewed his typical professorial Wednesday catechism lesson and instead gave a personal, heartfelt final address, explaining once again why he was retiring but assuring his flock of 1.2 billion that he was not abandoning them.

"To love the church means also to have the courage to take difficult, painful decisions, always keeping the good of the church in mind, not oneself," Benedict said to thundering applause.

He noted that a pontiff has no privacy ? neither as pope, nor in his future role as emeritus pope: "He belongs always and forever to everyone, to the whole church."

During his eight years as pope, Benedict said he had had "moments of joy and light, but also moments that haven't been easy ... moments of turbulent seas and rough winds, as has occurred in the history of the church when it seemed like the Lord was sleeping."

But he said he never felt alone, that God always guided him, and he thanked his cardinals and colleagues for their support and for "understanding and respecting this important decision."

The pope's tenure has been beset by the clerical sex abuse scandal, discord over everything from priestly celibacy to women's ordination, and most recently the betrayal by his own butler who stole his private papers and leaked them to a journalist.

Under a bright sun and blue skies, the square was overflowing with pilgrims and curiosity-seekers. Those who couldn't get in picked spots along the main boulevard leading to the square to watch the event on giant TV screens. About 50,000 tickets were requested for Benedict's final master class. In the end, the Vatican estimated that 150,000 people flocked to the farewell.

"It's difficult ? the emotion is so big," said Jan Marie, a 53-year-old Roman in his first years as a seminarian. "We came to support the pope's decision."

With chants of "Benedetto!" erupting often, the mood was far more buoyant than during the pope's final Sunday blessing. It recalled the jubilant turnouts that often accompanied him at World Youth Days and events involving his predecessor, Pope John Paul II.

Benedict has said he decided to retire after realizing that, at 85, he simply didn't have the "strength of mind or body" to carry on.

"I have taken this step with the full understanding of the seriousness and also novelty of the decision, but with a profound serenity in my soul," Benedict told the crowd.

He will meet Thursday morning with cardinals for a final time, then fly by helicopter to the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo south of Rome.

There, at 8 p.m., the doors of the palazzo will close and the Swiss Guards in attendance will go off duty, their service protecting the head of the Catholic Church over ? for now.

Many of the cardinals who will choose Benedict's successor were in St. Peter's Square for his final audience. Those included retired Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, the object of a grass-roots campaign in the U.S. to persuade him to recuse himself for having covered up for sexually abusive priests. Mahony has said he will be among the 115 cardinals voting for the next pope.

"God bless you," Mahony said when asked by television crews about the campaign.

Also in attendance Wednesday were cardinals over 80, who can't participate in the conclave but will participate in meetings next week to discuss the problems facing the church and the qualities needed in a new pope.

"I am joining the entire church in praying that the cardinal electors will have the help of the Holy Spirit," Spanish Cardinal Julian Herranz, 82, said.

Herranz has been authorized by the pope to brief voting-age cardinals on his investigation into the leaks of papal documents that exposed corruption in the Vatican administration.

Vatican officials say cardinals will begin meeting Monday to decide when to set the date for the conclave.

But the rank-and-file faithful in the crowd weren't so concerned with the future; they wanted to savor the final moments with the pope they have known for years.

"I came to thank him for the testimony that he has given the church," said Maria Cristina Chiarini, a 52-year-old homemaker who traveled by train from Lugo in central Italy with about 60 members of her parish. "There's nostalgia, human nostalgia, but also comfort, because as Christians we have hope. The Lord won't leave us without a guide."

___

Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-recalls-joy-difficulties-final-audience-152420663.html

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Executing Your North Sydney Functions In Style

Organizing a function can be a very stressful experience. If you are planning a function in your own house or office, there is so much that you have to keep in mind. You will be responsible for everything from organizing parking, making sure that the bathrooms stay clean and making sure that there is enough food for everyone. If you are organizing a function like a seminar or a workshop for corporate clients, you will need to ensure that all the technological equipment is in place and working and that there is always a fresh pot of coffee brewing to keep your clients focused and happy. With so many small details to manage on top of executing the function on the day of, it makes much more sense to approach a company that rents out function rooms and let the staff there take care of the details while you focus on the people who will be going to the function.

When choosing one of the Function Rooms North Sydney, there are many things to keep into consideration. First and foremost, the type of function room that you require will depend on the type of function that you will be having. If it is a corporate event, you will need to make sure that your staff or clients can access the venue easily, as they will most likely be coming from other part of the city or from other cities. If guests are travelling far, you could hire a function room that is attached to a hotel so that attendees have a place to stay over, and that they do not need to rush to the venue early in the morning form the airport. For any type of function, business or family, easy access and ample parking is a necessity. For a more celebratory event like a wedding or a Christmas party, it might be nice to have function room that has an inside as well as outside area so that guests can move freely and mingle, and that it also provides an area for smokers as almost all function rooms are non-smoking venues.

The size of your group will be the next important thing to look at. Function rooms North Sydney varies from small, intimate venues to large halls. If you will be having a function that has different parts to it, for example a wedding where you will have drinks and a dinner with dancing later, you will need a completely different function room than one for a corporate workshop. Consult the Internet, shop around and ask the function room staff to assist you in choosing the perfect venue so that your function can be a success.

About the Author:
Jasper Mason is a travel author. He pen articles related to party and conference venues and share his experience about function rooms North Sydney. He appreciate hotels in Sydney for stay when you visit Australia.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Executing-Your-North-Sydney-Functions-In-Style/4459325

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Super Sync Sports makes Chrome sync between devices fun!

The latest Chrome Experiment out of Google shows off the power of sync between devices with a fun little game called "Super Sync Sports". Head to google.com/supersyncsports on your computer and g.co/super on your phone or tablet (Android 4.0 and above), enter the code to get them synced up and you're off to the races. Literally. You use your phone or tablet as a controller, with the computer display as just a portal to view the game. Select a character, and you can run, swim or bike against the computer or friends that you invite.

It's a fun game to play, especially with more than one device, but it what it really shows off is the power of Chrome to provide real-time syncing between devices using just a browser. When on Wifi, there isn't any perceptible lag between actions on the phone and the response on the screen, which is quite impressive considering that you're just using an HTML5 game in two browsers.

Google loves to do fun little experiments like this, and when they show it off to the public it's even better. Hopefully this means that it is planning to leverage these technologies in user-facing Chrome products in the future. Head to the source links to learn a bit more about how it works and to play the game for yourself.

Source: Google; More: Play Super Sync Sports

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/AhT-3CpErKc/story01.htm

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Is Oscar Pistorius really Africa's 'biggest' story?

For much of last week, the most popular news out of Africa was about a white man, former Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, being in court for the killing of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, in South Africa.

Meanwhile, the world media paid much less attention to the United Nations mediating a peace agreement for the Congo conflict, the exodus of 60,000 refugees from a conflict in the Central African Republic, the United States setting up a Predator drone base on the continent, French troops chasing Al Qaeda in Mali, or Egypt?s economy on the verge of collapse as it appeals for foreign loans.

Oh, and then there is the news about the International Criminal Court seeking to put on trial the possible winner of Kenya?s March 4 presidential election, Uhuru Kenyatta. He is wanted for crimes against humanity.

Africa?s worst woes ? conflict, poverty, and poor governance ? are receiving greater and greater attention from foreign governments, especially in aid and intervention. And yet, among voters in those giving countries, Africa receives little attention ? except for sensational news such as the Pistorius murder trial. The severity of Africa?s basic needs are not at all equal to the exposure of those needs to the world.

RELATED OPINION: Mali conflicts shows need for more engagement

The US military, for example, is considering a 15-fold increase in its troop levels in Africa, now about 5,000. But few Americans know about or understand the specific security concerns or other issues on the continent in recent years compared with past crises such as famines or the war in Darfur. And few take meaningful action to address them. The one big exception was the brief popularity last year of a viral video, ?Kony 2012,? about the Lord?s Resistance Army.

The West has intervened again and again in Africa recently ? Somalia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Libya, as well as in the hunt for Joseph Kony?s rebels ? while also trying to build up the military forces of African nations and to coax them to intervene in regional conflicts to establish security. Often these efforts succeed or contain a problem. The West?s assistance, however, depends on the humanitarian mood in Europe, the US, and Canada. At a time of budget austerity in those countries and with fewer foreign news bureaus in Africa, Western governments have a difficult time finding a political constituency at home for their actions. In the US, the most popular item for spending cuts is foreign aid, which takes less than 1 percent of the budget.

As much as the West tries to implement the idea of ?African solutions to African problems,? it still finds itself leading in the solutions, often with the assistance of the UN or private international groups. A good example was the French invasion of northern Mali in January to roll back a threat by Al Qaeda. Now the French want out, but their withdrawal depends on whether troops from nearby African countries can be trained and financed to take over the mission. The French people supported the invasion but don?t seem willing to support an extended stay.

RELATED OPINION: How US can out-invest China in Africa

An uprising last December by rebel groups in the Central African Republic has received very little world attention and yet the spillover of refugees into neighboring countries could lead to regional instability or humanitarian worries about their condition. If the Western leaders are inclined to intervene, will their people even know where the CAR is?

This disconnect between the world?s awareness of Africa and the need to respond to Africa?s problems needs attention itself. Western leaders, such as President Obama, must travel to the continent more often. News coverage must increase. African leaders need to engage the outside world more. Perhaps then news of a sensational killing in Africa won?t receive more attention than it should.

Related stories

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oscar-pistorius-really-africas-biggest-story-220600503--politics.html

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Free Press : Lawrence Center Works On Teen Dating Violence ...

Home > Briefs > Lawrence Center Works On Teen Dating Violence Prevention

becca moran, reporter
February 25, 2013
Filed under Briefs, Health and Lifestyle, News, Top Stories

Almost 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in one year, yet only 33% of teens tell someone about it, according to loveisrespect.org.

Domestic abuse is much more pervasive in teen relationships than most people think. ?This is why people such as Danielle Onions, of the Willow Domestic Violence Center in Lawrence, create programs such as the Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program, a series of live presentations.

The program focuses on ?defining unhealthy behaviors and relationships? but also on modeling and exploring what healthy and positive behaviors and relationships look and feel like.?

?The most effective way of combating dating violence in teens is education. Youth need to hear this message just as much if not more than they need to hear about the dangers of alcohol abuse, smoking, or sexually transmitted diseases.? Onions said.

She believes that the program has thus far been successful by invoking the kind of discussion and thinking about violence that isn?t usually brought up.

Their demonstrations are incredibly flexible; they do faculty training sessions, parent groups and student talks.

?Some staff members have invited the organization in to speak on a curriculum-related topic,? Principal Ed West said. ?However, he does not have plans to have the entire school engaged in an assembly-style presentation.

With up to 50% of female American high school students reporting having already experienced teen dating violence,* this program could be incredibly helpful to friends, parents and victims themselves.

The Willow Domestic Violence Center believes in empowerment philosophy. ?This includes administering information and counseling and believing that the woman is the expert in her own experience.

?That philosophy extends into the Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program in terms of curriculum, approach, and implementation. For example, TDVPP often emphasizes the role of bystanders, like family and friends, who should not demand or pressure a victim into any course of action, but rather offer emotional support, resources, and an open mind.? Onions said.

There are many opportunities to help the Willow Domestic Violence Center beyond simply donating money. ?After attending a 40-hour volunteer training session, one can begin counseling battered women, answering the crisis line, and providing court encouragement. Visit http://www.willowdvcenter.org for more information.

If you are questioning whether or not you or someone you know is in an unhealthy relationship, see if any of these warning signs apply:
- Your partner is jealous or possessive
- Your partner constantly criticizes you, or makes you feel incompetent
- Your partner blames you for most of the problems in your relationship
- Your partner hits, yells, throws things, or calls you names when he/she is angry

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is toll-free. The number is 1-800-799-SAFE(7233).

*Bureau of Justice Special Report: Intimate Partner Violence, May 2000

Source: http://www.fsfreepressonline.com/news/2013/02/25/lawrence-center-works-on-teen-dating-violence-prevention/

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'Fat worms' inch scientists toward better biofuel production

Feb. 26, 2013 ? Fat worms confirm that researchers from Michigan State University have successfully engineered a plant with oily leaves ?- a feat that could enhance biofuel production as well as lead to improved animal feeds.

The results, published in the current issue of The Plant Cell, the journal of the American Society of Plant Biologists, show that researchers could use an algae gene involved in oil production to engineer a plant that stores lipids or vegetable oil in its leaves -- an uncommon occurrence for most plants.

Traditional biofuel research has focused on improving the oil content of seeds. One reason for this focus is because oil production in seeds occurs naturally. Little research, however, has been done to examine the oil production of leaves and stems, as plants don't typically store lipids in these tissues.

Christoph Benning, MSU professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, led a collaborative effort with colleagues from the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. The team's efforts resulted in a significant early step toward producing better plants for biofuels.

"Many researchers are trying to enhance plants' energy density, and this is another way of approaching it," Benning said. "It's a proof-of-concept that could be used to boost plants' oil production for biofuel use as well as improve the nutrition levels of animal feed."

Benning and his colleagues began by identifying five genes from one-celled green algae. From the five, they identified one that, when inserted into Arabidopsis thaliana, successfully boosted oil levels in the plant's leaf tissue.

To confirm that the improved plants were more nutritious and contained more energy, the research team fed them to caterpillar larvae. The larvae that were fed oily leaves from the enhanced plants gained more weight than worms that ate regular leaves.

For the next phase of the research, Benning and his colleagues will work to enhance oil production in grasses and algae that have economic value. The benefits of this research are worth pursuing, Benning said.

"If oil can be extracted from leaves, stems and seeds, the potential energy capacity of plants may double," he said. "Further, if algae can be engineered to continuously produce high levels of oil, rather than only when they are under stress, they can become a viable alternative to traditional agricultural crops."

Moreover, algae can be grown on poor agricultural land -- a big plus in the food vs. fuel debate, he added.

"These basic research findings are significant in advancing the engineering of oil-producing plants," said Kenneth Keegstra, GLBRC scientific director and MSU University Distinguished Professor of biochemistry and molecular biology. "They will help write a new chapter on the development of production schemes that will enhance the quantity, quality and profitability of both traditional and nontraditional crops."

Additional MSU researchers and GLBRC members contributing to the study include Gregg Howe, biochemistry and molecular biology professor; John Olhrogge, University Distinguished Professor of plant biology; and Gavin Reid, biochemistry and molecular biology associate professor.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Michigan State University.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/matter_energy/biochemistry/~3/7qx4zmfYlHI/130226092126.htm

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Metal Gear Rising Revengeance Weapons Guide - Video Games ...

This Metal Gear Rising Revengeance weapons guide will show you how to unlock all secret Metal Gear Rising Revengeance weapons with blade & sword unlocks. And how to best use them to kill all enemies that dare stand in your way!

The Metal Gear Rising Revengeance weapons list and strategy guide follow here-under.

Index of Metal Gear Rising Revengeance Guides:

This guide shows all High-Frequency Blades you can unlock, like the Armor Breaker, Fox Blade, Wooden Sword, Long Sword, etc.

Each sword has its own unique lighting effect when swung, and also its own unique sound. Look and listen for it.

Tip: It?s important to point out that the FOX Blade is super OP (overpowered), when its Effect Enhancement is active. If you perfect parry an enemy, the counter attack will kill them outright (at least normal cyborgs).

Here is a video guide showing you how to do the Metal Gear Rising Revengeance unlockable weapons.

High-Frequency Blade (BP Cost: 0) ? Shown at 00:00 minutes in the above video guide.

Description: Its metallic structure strengthened by an alternating current, this blade resonates such that it weakens the particle bonds of whatever it cuts. Its effectiveness is further boosted in Blade Mode, which consumes energy but enables high-speed attacks. Customized by Doktor to absorb fuel-cell electrolytes from its victims.

Stats: It?s a well balanced blade with the lowest FC Consumption.

How to unlock: Available from the start of the game.

Stun Blade (BP Cost: 20,000) ? Shown at 00:56 minutes in the above video guide.

Description: Infused with a two-million-volt current, this unique sword is capable of temporarily shutting down the interface to a cyborg?s brain, or to a UG?s optical neuro-AI. It?s also highly effective as a conventional cutting weapon. Has Stun Blade enhancement, increasing chance of stun with every hit.

Stats: Together with the Armor Breaker, the Stun Blade has a worse attack power and absorb than other weapons? HOWEVER their traits have a 5% ? up to 20% at maximum upgrade ? trigger rate.

How to unlock: Collect all data storage devices/items.

Armor Breaker (BP Cost: 20,000) ? Shown at 02:00 minutes in the above video guide.

Description: Modeled after the ?Kabutowari? swords fo feudal Japan, this blade offers both lethal cutting power and the chance of destroying armor with every hit, making it a great choice against heavier targets, including large UGs. Has Armor Breaker Enhancement, increasing chance of destroying enemy armor with every hit.

Stats: Together with the Stun Blade, the Armor Breaker has a worse attack power and absorb than other weapons? HOWEVER their traits have a 5% ? up to 20% at maximum upgrade ? trigger rate.

How to unlock: Collect all Left Arms ID chips.

High-Frequency Long Sword (BP Cost: 20,000) ? Shown at 02:43 minutes in the above video guide.

Description: A high-frequency blade modeled after ?Nodachi?, a style of long, curved sword used by the samurai warriors of feudal Japan.

Stats: Its highlights are that it?s a powerful sword with a better range, but it has less speed with a worse absorb/consumption.

How to unlock: Finish all VR Missions with ?1st? ranking.

High-Frequency Wooden Sword (BP Cost: 5,000) ? Shown at 04:07 minutes in the above video guide.

Description: A blunt weapon crafted from Honduran mahogany, the wood best suited to high-frequency enhancement. While incapable of cutting through targets, this unbreakable wooden sword?s high-frequency upgrade makes it the ideal choice to subdue cyborgs without killing them.

Special Effects:
? Wooden Blade Inhibitor (Attack Power downgrade)
? Effect Enhancement ? An upgraded version of Raiden?s cyborg body firmware that retunes and optimizes his use of the High-Frequency Wooden Sword, improving the odds that every hit could knock an enemy unconscious.

How to unlock: Find all Men-In-Boxes, the soldiers hiding in cardboard boxes.

High-Frequency Murasama Blade (BP Cost: 10,000) ? Shown at 04:55 minutes in the above video guide.

Description: A notorious blade passed down through generations of the Rodrigues family. Sam had it modified into a high-frequency blade, enhancing the already astonishing properties of the original metal and giving it an ominous crimson glow. An explosive charge housed in the scabbard enables a lightning-quick draw.

Stats: It?s a superior blade in all regards, except for its FC Consumption, but that?s made up for by it having the HF Machete?s speed bonus.

How to unlock: Beat the game on any difficulty.

High-Frequency Machete (BP Cost: 5000) ? Shown at 05:54 minutes in the above video guide.

Description: A high-frequency knife modeled after the machetes common to Central and South America. Although it has a slightly shorter reach than a typical high-frequency blade, the HF Machete can be swung more quickly. Plus, it goes great with the Mariachi Uniform?

Stats: It?s a great combo weapon because of its higher speed, but it does have a low attack power.

How to unlock: Collect 10 data storage items.

FOX Blade (BP Cost: 200,000) ? Shown at 07:04 minutes in the above video guide.

Description: The high-frequency Blade used by ex-FOXHOUND field agent Frank Jaeger, a.k.a. Gray Fox, after he was outfitted in a cyborg ninja chassis by Dr. Clark. Gray Fox?s soul still echoes through the blade, sometimes enabling it to cut clean through enemies, armor and all.

Upgrade:
? FOX Blade Effect Enhancement (BP Cost: 100,000)
An updated version of Raiden?s cyborg body firmware that retunes his use of the Fox Blade based on battle data taken from Gray Fox himself. It improves the odds that every strike could penetrate enemy armor.

How to unlock: Pre-order only DLC in America. Free with every copy of the game at launch in Europe.

3 Unique Boss Weapons ? Shown in the next trailer.

Description: The three unique boss weapons you can unlock and upgrade in the game are called: Pole-Arm AKA ?L?Etranger?, Tactical Sai AKA ?Dystopia?, and Pincer Blades AKA ?Bloodlust?.

How to unlock: Kill bosses, get their weapons.

Soul Snake Wooden Sword (DLC) ? No footage available yet.

Description: The first DLC is called the ?Soul Snake Wooden Sword?. It?s a special wooden sword infused with the soul of Solid Snake and every time you swing it, you will hear Snake?s voice.

How to unlock: Available as part of the game?s first post-launch paid DLC. Coming soon.

Thanks to XCV for the weapon guides.

What?s your favorite weapon in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance?

About the author

By Ferry Groenendijk: He is the founder and editor of Video Games Blogger. He loved gaming from the moment he got a Nintendo with Super Mario Bros. on his 8th birthday. Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook and at Google+.

Source: http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2013/02/25/metal-gear-rising-revengeance-weapons-guide.htm

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White House: No price tag for Obama access

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The White House is pushing back against suggestions that donors to a new group supporting President Barack Obama's agenda will have special access to the president.

White House spokesman Jay Carney says there's nothing new or unusual about Obama meeting with people and groups who support his agenda. He says administration officials may attend events for Organizing for Action, a nonprofit group being spun off from Obama's re-election campaign, but won't be raising money.

But Carney isn't specifically disputing reports that donors who give or raise $500,000 will be invited to quarterly meetings with Obama.

The group has said its purpose is to rally support for Obama's policy agenda ? not to support or oppose candidates. It's accepting unlimited personal and corporate donations, but plans to disclose its donors.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/white-house-no-price-tag-obama-access-223916069--politics.html

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The Onion apologizes for offensive Quvenzhan? Wallis tweet

Frederic J. Brown / AFP - Getty Images

Best actress nominee 9-year-old Quvenzhan? Wallis is carrying a puppy purse, which she has shown off on a few red carpets.

By Wilson Rothman

Not all humor is for everyone (just read reviews of Seth MacFarlane's Oscar night hosting job), but some jokes cause everyone to agree that a line has been crossed. Such was the case Sunday night when, for nearly an hour, a tweet by the Onion applied the c-word to 9-year-old "Beasts of the Southern Wild" star?Quvenzhan? Wallis. On Monday, The Onion CEO?Steve Hannah apologized and promised disciplinary action for "those individuals responsible."

Here's the bulk of Hannah's message, posted on Facebook and on the satire news site:

On behalf of The Onion, I offer my personal apology to Quvenzhan? Wallis and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the tweet that was circulated last night during the Oscars. It was crude and offensive ? not to mention inconsistent with The Onion?s commitment to parody and satire, however biting.

No person should be subjected to such a senseless, humorless comment masquerading as satire.

The tweet was taken down within an hour of publication. We have instituted new and tighter Twitter procedures to ensure that this kind of mistake does not occur again.

In addition, we are taking immediate steps to discipline those individuals responsible.

Miss Wallis, you are young and talented and deserve better. All of us at The Onion are deeply sorry.

It's key that Hannah says the attempted joke was "inconsistent with The Onion's commitment to parody and satire." This is a group that has deftly responded to the country's worst tragedies with humor that helps us cope, from 9/11 ("Hugging Up 76,000 Percent"; "U.S. Vows to Defeat Whoever It Is We're At War With") to the Sandy Hook massacre ("F*** Everything, Nation Reports ... Just F*** It All To Hell").

While it wasn't the first time that The Onion's Twitter feed landed it in hot water, the crass, throwaway tweet about an amazing little actress didn't just seem in poor taste, but not very Onion-y at all.

Wilson Rothman is the Technology & Science?editor at NBC News Digital. Catch up with him on Twitter at @wjrothman, and join our conversation on Facebook.

?

Source: http://digitallife.today.com/_news/2013/02/25/17088491-the-onion-apologizes-for-offensive-quvenzhan-wallis-tweet?lite

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Craig Stowell, a Republican military veteran, celebrated his wedding to his wife...

Craig Stowell, a Republican military veteran, celebrated his wedding to his wife with his brother Calvin, who is gay, standing beside him as his Best Man. Someday, Craig wants to be able to be the Best Man at Calvin's wedding - click "like" to thank Craig for speaking out, and check out this great new TV ad calling for the freedom to marry: http://bit.ly/Yl1z9q

Source: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152610617125093&set=a.215294370092.270234.40484170092&type=1

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Petition to legalize phone unlocking reaches goal

Devin Coldewey , NBC News ? ? ? 1 day

A Whitehouse.gov petition to rescind the recent decision making personal unlocking of cell phones illegal has reached the 100,000 signatures necessary for an official response from the administration.

Unlocking is the process of removing carrier restrictions on a device; For instance, a phone bought at Verizon might only work on its network, even if its hardware is compatible with AT&T's network. By unlocking it, a user could take their phone to another network and avoid having to buy a new one.

Various carriers took different approaches to unlocking phones, some offering unlocked phones out of the box, some making the process a chore. But if you wanted to do it, you generally could.

That is, until October of 2012 brought a decision from the Librarian of Congress that, under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), unlocking your own phone was technically illegal, and could only be done with carrier permission. A 90-day grace period allowed one last chance to unlock, but ended on Jan. 26, at which point it became forbidden by law.

The decision was criticized widely by groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation for removing consumer options for no good reason. Owners of phones, they argued, should be able to do whatever they like with them ? from installing custom software to unlocking the device for new carriers.

Shortly before unlocking became officially illegal, a petition on the Whitehouse.gov We The People site was started, asking for the decision to be rescinded, or if that wasn't possible, to pass a law allowing phone unlocking. With just two days left before its expiration, it hit the 100,000-signature mark that means the administration will issue an official response.

It's doubtful that unlocking will be made legal again in a hurry (such legislation would certainly take time), but at the very least, it is clear that many are concerned about this perceived misstep in tech governance.

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. His personal website is coldewey.cc.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/petition-legalize-phone-unlocking-reaches-goal-1C8485954

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High energy imports sees Japan trade deficit swell to $17.4 bn

Barcelona News.Net Wednesday 20th February, 2013

Exports climbed 6.4 per cent in January from a year earlier, the first rise in eight months. However, imports increased more dramatically at 7.3 per cent, as resource-starved Japan continued to increase its reliance on oil and gas from other countries.

Japan's fuel imports have risen since its 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster, which forced most of its nuclear power plants offline.

Investors disregarded the bad economic news Wednesday, however, as Tokyo stocks closed 0.84 per cent higher.

Weakness in the yen that aids exporters such as Sharp Corp. and Sony Corp. also means the country pays more to import fossil fuels needed as nuclear reactors stand idle after the Fukushima crisis in 2011.

"The trade deficit means the yen can't just keep weakening," said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute Co. in Tokyo. "Abe will probably restart some nuclear plants after the upper house elections in July as, without them, the costs to the economy are too great," according to Bloomberg.

The yen fell after the data were released, before reversing course to trade 0.1 per cent higher at 93.51 at 12:33 p.m. in Tokyo. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average was 0.8 per cent higher.

Nearly 80 per cent of Japan's imports were denominated in foreign currencies in the second half of last year, compared with about 60 per cent of exports, according to the Finance Ministry.

Exports to China rose 3 per cent from a year earlier, the first increase since May, while those to the U.S. gained 10.9 per cent, today's data showed. Shipments to the European Union fell 4.5 per cent.

A central bank board member said the yen's fall was helping exports -- they posted their first annual rise in January in eight months -- and said the Bank of Japan would push on with its policy, but analysts expect trade deficits to persist for some time yet.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has staked his political career on lifting Japan out of decades of malaise through aggressive fiscal and monetary policy, but the data indicated a rise in exports on its own was not enough to turn things around.

"This shows that on a net basis money is leaving the country. We need to turn this around by increasing our earning power from exports. A weak yen will help, but it won't solve all our problems," said Reuters.

The finance ministry data showed Japan suffered a shortfall of 1.63 trillion yen ($17.4 billion) in January, the worst deficit on record for a single month, exceeding the previous record of 1.48 trillion yen for the same month last year.

Comparable data began in 1979. Japan tends to post bad trade figures in January, with exports stalling because of New Year holidays.

Economists on average had expected a shortfall of 1.3 trillion yen.

A lower yen is good for Japanese exporters but there have been accusations in recent weeks, particularly in Europe, that Tokyo is deliberately trying to manipulate currency rates.

The yen was trading around 93.70 to the dollar early Wednesday.

The yen has fallen more than 13 per cent against the dollar in the past three months as Prime Minister Abe calls for aggressive monetary easing to end deflation.

Source: http://www.barcelonanews.net/index.php/sid/212708898/scat/3a8a80d6f705f8cc

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Video: Obama goes to bat over spending and cutting

>>> debate over spending and cutting is going just the way president obama planned apparently. he's out there every day making the case he's looking out for the middle class while the republicans are just as stubbornly looking out for the wealthy. in his automatic across the board cuts march 1st the president is taking advantage of the power of his office. he's doing interviews with eight local tv anchors. most of these markets include a significant defense presence, they're near bases, an industry that could be hit hard if a sequester goes into effect of here's a click from nbc oklahoma city affiliate kfor. let's listen.

>> we've got some automatic spending cuts coming up in nine days that will lay off hundreds of thousands of folks or furlough hundreds of thousands of folks all across the country. they're not necessary. they'll hurt our economy. they'll raise the unemployment rate. and the reason is because congress has not been able to compromise on a deficit reduction package that's more sensible.

>> yesterday the president insisted sudden across-the-board spending cuts would be unnecessary and damaging and he made sure that first responders were there to punctuate the message. let's watch and listen.

>> border patrol agents will see their hours reduced. fbi agents will be furloughed. federal prosecutors will have to close cases and let criminals go. air traffic controllers and airport security will see cutbacks, which means more delays at airports across the country. thousands of teachers and educators will be laid off.

>> and keeping up the drum beat , house minority leader nancy pelosi will hold hearings on how middle class families could be hurt by the spending cuts that could kick in march 1st . joining me is u.s. congressman adam shiff of california. i was so impressed by the way you explained all of this this morning on msnbc. i'd like you to do it again. your take on what this fight is about coming up march 1st , sir.

>> well, the fight is largely a fight within the gop. you talked earlier about the schizophrenia within some of the gop members. that is most manifest in the house. they really have two minds. you've got the tea party contingent that wants to tear down government that ran on a platform of tearing down and never made the transition of being for anything. right now they're driving the train. they want the sequester to go into effect. they want it to go into effect because they want to show that they're serious about this and they feel that's their mandate. at the same time, it's going to be enormously destructive to the economy. we are poised to make a recovery, and if just the -- if the congress could get out of the way and stop manufacturing these crises month after month, i think we would have a full recovery. but what the president has proposed, which is a reasonable compromise, that's part spending cuts, part revenues is being rejected by the house of representatives ' leadership and we are where we are.

>> two major points i heard there at the beginning by the congressman. john, i want you to respond. first of all, the who. it is the hard right. you talk to people at the white house and they say this president, whatever you think of the politics, doesn't know who to talk to on the hill. there is no boehner, he's just a front man. eric kantor has his finger in the air trying to figure out which way the wind is blowing. how do you know who they are? are they hamas?

>> they are not hamas. there's nobody that speaks with one voice for the house republicans. when there is a deal cut it's always mitch mcconnell and joe biden .

>> who is obama talking to, the president? he has to send joe up to find somebody of like mind to talk to him?

>> yeah, because he doesn't have relationships on the hill. whether that's his fault or their fault --

>> we agree on that, there's no connection. congressman, back to you. the what. what i found profound in what you said this morning is it's not -- sure, we're going to argue whether one party won 60/40 or lost blamed. forget the blame game for a second. what's going on with the economy? i think the american people looking at the polling we got our hands are have become very demoralized ever since the election. they have been seeing shutdown talk, debt ceiling talk, this stupid named sequestration and all they hear is trouble in the nation's capital. the inability of our own government which has been elected to do its job. i think it's hurting the economy. your thoughts.

>> absolutely hurting the economy. what people want in business and family life is some stability. they want the ability to plan. they want to know what are my taxes going to be. they want to know, you know, am i going to have a job. am i going to be laid off. and all they want is some solidity to plan with. when we go through these crises, it's incredibly destructive.

>> do you think the right wing people know when they're sitting in their chairs voting no, no, no, bringing one manufactured crisis to bear after another that they're just happy when they pick up the paper and say public confidence going down. that's good for our party.

>> we know that grover norquist starving the beast of resources. now they're starving the beast of credibility. they're starving the beast of the federal government with any public confidence that it can actually solve problems. this is part of the destruction of our federal government . they would be delighted if people lost confidence in the government and if they could further tear it down. a lot of people run for congress against the government. that's a tried tradition in american history . but usually once they have office and they have responsibility to govern, they find they have to be for something as well. but this crowd has never made the transition to being for something.

>> but they take a salary, don't they?

>> they take a salary --

>> where they work in the united states government , they're working for the government to function, at least, even if they vote against it. they do want a functioning government but now i get the feeling they don't.

>> i think there was a little truth serum from the congressman. you campaign against the government as if it was the worst thing in the world and then you get there and you're supposed to change the stripes you showed to the voters.

>> you're supposed to change policy to the advantage --

>> but all these guys are focused on their very narrow constituencies. even within their districts, it's not --

>> what do you think about this result. in arizona we saw a very right wing crowd on immigration. when they pick up the paper and see the government is shutting down again and there's questions about whether we can move an aircraft carrier into the persian gulf if we need one, all kind of questions like that about security, do you think they're happy?

>> i think for a lot of people it's great, the government is shutting down. when they go to get services from the va or people are crossing the border or --

>> or they get in an airplane.

>> they care about --

>> how about getting in an airplane.

>> it doesn't take very long for the public to really get this.

>> congressman, i'm so impressed. thank you so much. you're a very eloquent spokesman for a very complicating situation, which i think gets worse every day. thank you so much for coming up.

>> thank you.

>>> up next, how a right wing smear, and it was kind of a joke to begin with, against chuck hagel went viral. this is this thing that if you say something even sarcastically some whack job will put it on the radio or on a website. next thing you know people are reacting to that reaction and it's become a frankenstein's monster. we'll show you how it works in a couple minutes. this is stirring and it's scary. it could involve you some day. this

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/hardball/50879232/

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Baseball Announces Atlanta Braves Trip Giveaway

Baseball Announces Atlanta Braves Trip Giveaway

Coca-Cola to give a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to Braves game

BLACKSBURG (hokiesports.com) ? Virginia Tech and Coca-Cola are excited to announce a new attendance promotion at home baseball games for all Virginia Tech students. The promotion, which will run through April 26, will reward one lucky student with an all-expenses paid trip to the Atlanta Braves game of choice and a tour of The World of Coca-Cola.

To be entered to win, students must first purchase a Coca-Cola product at English Field and receive their punch cards by showing their Hokie Passport at the concession stand. They must then attend at least six home games, getting their card punched at the marketing gazebo at each game. Students are allowed multiple entries for every six games they attend, but must purchase another Coca-Cola product to receive another punch card.

Three finalists will be randomly selected at the April 26 game versus Virginia, with a winner selected the following day when the Hokies take on Virginia in game 2 of their weekend series. To be eligible to win, contestants must be in attendance at both games. The promotion will kick off this weekend when Tech serves as the host to an opening weekend at English Field, beginning Friday at 3 p.m. Admission to all home games is free.

Contest Rules

• All contestants must be a current Virginia Tech student
• Must receive punch card by purchasing a Coca-Cola product at English Field concession stand
• Punch card must be taken to marketing gazebo at each game you attend to receive punch
• Limit one card per person, per six games, and one punch per day
• To be selected as one of three finalists, must be in attendance at April 26 game vs. Virginia, and check in at marketing gazebo
• If selected as finalist, must be in attendance at April 27 game vs. Virginia to win Grand Prize of all-expense paid trip to Atlanta Braves game of choice (Consolation prizes: $25 Visa Gift Card)

For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Baseball).

Source: http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/recaps/20130219aaa.html

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US to erect stricter penalties for cyber attacks following painful Chinese hacking scandal

The White House is expected by the Associated Press to announce a slew of response mechanisms tomorrow, following an explosive report released by the New York Times detailing alleged extensive hacking of US companies by a secret Chinese cyberwarrior group.

The?People?s Liberation Army?s Unit 61398, provided that security firm Mandiant has its facts straight ? and few outside the Chinese government think they do not ? has broken into computer systems of larger American corporations, and key?infrastructure elements.

The Chinese government has pushed back against the report, stating that hacking is illegal, it doesn?t take part in it, and that the United States is?aggressively?invading its computing systems. That doesn?t seem unlikely, but no report such as the Times? publishing of Mandiant?s claims has been put forth.

The AP?s report specifically details ?fines, penalties and other trade restrictions as initial, more-aggressive steps? that may be taken, in the wake of the report.

It?s one thing to have sporadic incidents, but that the Chinese military has a unit in place that invades companies such as Coca-Cola when it is in negotiations?with Chinese interests demonstrates?that such incursions are commonplace.?The United States has long butted heads with China over intellectual property and knock-off goods.

Cybersecurity legislation, the sort of thing designed to prevent this sort of issue, has been festering in Congress for some time now. The House, in a fit of backwards-thinking, reintroduced the?Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) without new provisions for consumer privacy. That bill was flat ignored in the Senate, and had a veto-threat hung around its neck. The President has issued a lengthy cybersecurity executive order, but it has limited purview.

In short, from the perspective of staving off more such attacks, the United States is talking some and doing nothing. However, the?government?might increase the size of the stick and the frequency of its swing in formally responding to cyberattacks. China?s response will be a key indicator to watch.

Top Image Credit:?futureatlas.com

Source: http://thenextweb.com/us/2013/02/20/white-house-to-announce-penalties-and-restrictions-tomorrow-in-wake-of-chinese-hacking-scandal/

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Microsoft's Outlook takes aim at Google's Gmail

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Microsoft is so confident it has the Internet's best email service that it is about to spend at least $30 million to send its message across the U.S.

The barrage begins Tuesday when Microsoft's twist on email, Outlook.com, escalates an assault on rival services from Google Inc., Yahoo Inc., AOL Inc. and a long list of Internet service providers.

As part of the process, all users of Microsoft's Hotmail and other email services operating under different domains such as MSN.com will be automatically converted to Outlook.com by the summer, if they don't voluntarily switch before then. All the old messages, contacts and settings in the old inboxes will be exported to Outlook.com. Users will also be able to keep their old addresses.

Email remains a key battleground, even at a time when more people are texting each other on phones.

People still regularly check their inboxes, albeit increasingly on their smartphones. The recurring email habit provides Internet companies a way to keep people coming back to websites. It gives people a reason to log in during their visits so it's easier for email providers to track their activities. Frequent visits and personal identification are two of the keys to selling ads, the main way most websites make money.

That's why Microsoft, Google and Yahoo have been retooling their email services in recent months.

After keeping Outlook.com in a "preview" phase since July 31, Microsoft Corp. is ready to accept all comers.

To welcome new users, Microsoft is financing what it believes to be the biggest marketing blitz in the history of email. Outlook.com will be featured in ads running on primetime TV, radio stations, websites, billboards and buses. Microsoft expects to spend somewhere between $30 million to $90 million on the Outlook campaign, which will run for at least three months.

The Outlook ads will overlap with an anti-Gmail marketing campaign that Microsoft launched earlier this month. The "Scroogled" attacks depict Gmail as a snoopy service that scans the contents of messages to deliver ads related to topics being discussed.

The Gmail ads are meant to be educational while the Outlook campaign is motivational, said Dharmesh Mehta, Outlook.com's senior director.

"We are trying to push people who have gotten lazy and comfortable with an email service that may not be all that great and help show them what email can really do for them," said Mehta.

By Microsoft's own admission, Hotmail had lost the competitive edge that once made it the world's largest email service. The lack of innovation left an opening for Google to exploit when it unveiled Gmail nearly nine years ago.

Gmail is now the industry leader, although estimates on its popularity vary.

Google says Gmail has more than 425 million accountholders, including those that only visit on smartphones and other mobile device. The latest data from research firm comScore, which doesn't include mobile traffic, shows Gmail with 306 million worldwide users through December, up 21 percent from the previous year. Yahoo's email ranked second with 293 million users, a 2 percent decrease from the previous year, followed by Hotmail at 267 million users, a 16 percent decline from the previous year.

Microsoft, which is based in Redmond, Wash., is counting on Outlook.com to catapult the company back to the top of the email heap. During the preview period, Outlook attracted 60 million accountholders, including about 20 million that defected from Gmail, according to Microsoft. Comscore listed Outlook with 38 million users through December.

The new features being introduced in Outlook include: the ability to send massive files, including hundreds of photos at a time, in a single email; address books that automatically update new contact information that connections post on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn; and about 60 percent fewer ads than Hotmail.

None of these features are revolutionary. Google already has been giving its users the option to switch to a new version of Gmail that also allows for larger files to be sent in a single email. And address books in Gmail already fetch new contact information posted on Google Plus, although it doesn't yet mine Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Google declined to comment on Outlook.com. The company, which is based in Mountain View, Calif., plans to convert all of its Gmail users to its redesigned format within the next few months.

Yahoo, which is based in Sunnyvale, Calif. revamped its email service late last year in an effort to provide a more consistent experience on personal computers and mobile devices.

Outlook.com is the latest in a series of major product leases from Microsoft, which has been struggling to regain the cachet that once made it the world's most valuable technology company.

Now, both Apple Inc. and Google are worth more because they have been growing far faster than Microsoft as their products win more fans. Apple's biggest gains have come from the iPhone and IPad, while Google has been benefiting from its dominance in Internet search and its widely used Android software for mobile devices.

Microsoft has been trying to catch up with a major makeover of its Windows operating system, new smartphone software and a tablet computer called Surface. Like Outlook.com, all those products have been backed by expensive marketing campaigns in recent months.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-19-Microsoft-Outlook/id-4a0385a459ae4c60af6031f412d19d9e

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Wedding Dress Domain - 12k Exacts

An amazing opportunity to own a highly searched for wedding dress domain:

CheapWeddingDresses / co / uk

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Digital Live Tile Clock app for Windows 8 Start Screen

Since there is no clock when the Start Menu is on, I have looked for a solution other than using the Charms Bar Clock. I finally found an app which satisfies my taste. It is a live tile clock which is very customizable, including a fairly wide range of colors.

For anyone who might want a clock on the Start Menu like I, try this one......Digital Live Tile Clock. Hope this helps someone looking in this particular area.

Source: http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/?iid4ct=6939056

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Improve Your Credit Score This Weekend

Your credit score isn't everything, but it's a very important factor in determining whether or not you're approved for loans, credit cards, and more. Set aside some time this weekend and take some concrete steps to improve it. You may not need a high score right now, but in the future you'll be glad to have it.

Curb Unnecessary Spending and Pay Off Your Debt

High balances that don't get paid hurt your credit score, so if you're spending too much rather than chipping away at your debt you're going to run into problems. That much is obvious, but putting together a debt plan you can stick to is a lot harder. ReadyForZero is one webapp we like that helps you figure out a debt-elimination plan based on what you can reasonably afford. As far as curbing your spending goes, multiple savings accounts and a mandatory waiting period on purchases can make a big difference, as well as these great suggestions for those of you who abuse your plastic.

Boost Your Credit Score with Some Simple Changes

You can't change your credit for the better if you don't know anything about it, so before you do anything you should make sure you're getting credit reports from all three major agencies (Experian, EquiFax, and Trans Union) at least once per year. Annual Credit Report is a reliable, completely free source to do just that, but webapp Quizzle can help you stay on top of your score and general problems for free as well. Once you've got that information, learn how you can use the information in your credit report to boost your score. The 20-percent rule is a good place to start. For the most part, staying on top of your report and resolving any issues (which we'll discuss next) will keep your score as high as possible.

Dispute Credit Problems

I used to have fairly poor credit but have spent the last five years inching my way back up to a respectable number. Despite turning into a responsible human being, I'm still working hard at improving my score because of a few blemishes that weren't my fault. While the process takes time, I've learned a lot about getting things removed from a credit report. When things get complicated, I've also learned that sometimes you need to hire a lawyer to simply write the credit bureaus and collections agencies a letter to get them to stop coming after you for money you don't actually owe. Additionally, if you have small amounts in collections because of a mistake from a phone or cable company, contacting them via Twitter is almost always more effective than calling customer support?and faster, too. While negative marks on your credit report will eventually go away, it takes many, many years. Don't wait. Dispute problems now so your report will be in good standing when you need it to be in the future.

Although credit scores mean a lot, they aren't everything. Learn what else you need to know to maintain good credit and your financial life will be a lot easier.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/JeCehLtun4o/improve-your-credit-score-this-weekend

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Belkin releases WeMo beta app for Galaxy S III, devices with ICS or higher

Word of an Android app for Belkin's line of WeMo home automation hardware came amid a flurry of CES news, and now the application has rolled onto Google Play in beta form just over a month later. The app is specifically tested for the Galaxy S III, but handsets toting Ice Cream Sandwich or higher will be able to take it for a spin. By wielding the application, users can control WeMo devices over WiFi and cellular networks, configure custom icons, tweak names, take care of local firmware updates and hook things up with IFTTT. Remote firmware updates, support content and WeMo rules have yet to be baked into the software, however. Belkin is hoping guinea pigs will report bugs, but can't guarantee they'll be fixed in the short term. Currently, the outfit says issues regarding poor signal strength and app crashes are on its radar. Looking forward to the polished, growing pain-free product? The final app is expected to arrive around the summertime.

[Thanks, Matt]

Filed under: Cellphones, Household, Tablets, Software, Mobile

Comments

Source: Google Play

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/hXIpAg-_8G8/

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Cellular renewal process may underlie benefits of omega fatty acids

Thursday, February 14, 2013

A search for genes that change their levels of expression in response to nutrient deprivation has uncovered potential clues to the mechanism underlying the health benefits of omega fatty acids. In the Feb. 15 issue of Genes & Development, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers describe finding that feeding omega-6 fatty acids to C. elegans roundworms or adding them to cultured human cells activates a cellular renewal process called autophagy, which may be deficient in several important diseases of aging. A process by which defective or worn-out cellular components and molecules are broken down for removal or recycling, autophagy is also activated in metabolically stressful situations, allowing cells to survive by self-digesting nonessential components.

"Enhanced autophagy implies improved clearance of old or damaged cellular components and a more efficient immune response," says Eyleen O'Rourke, PhD, of MGH Molecular Biology, lead author of the report. "It has been suggested that autophagy can extend lifespan by maintaining cellular function, and in humans a breakdown in autophagic function may involved in diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, Parkinson's disease, and in a more complex way in cancer and metabolic syndrome."

O'Rourke is a research fellow in the laboratory of MGH investigator Gary Ruvkun, PhD, whose team investigates the development, longevity and metabolism of C.elegans. Ruvkun and other researchers have discovered that simple mutations in genetic pathways conserved throughout evolution can double or triple the lifespan of C. elegans and that similar mutations in the corresponding mammalian pathways also regulate lifespan. Many of these mutations also make animals resistant to starvation, suggesting that common molecular mechanisms may underlie both response to nutrient deprivation and the regulation of lifespan.

To find these mechanisms O'Rourke searched genomic databases covering many types of animals for shared genes that respond to fasting by changing their expression. She found that expression of the C. elegans gene lipl-4 increases up to seven times in worms not given access to nutrients. A transgenic strain that constantly expresses elevated levels of lipl-4, even when given full access to food, was found to have increased levels of arachidonic acid (AA), an omega-6, and eicosapentanoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid and to resist the effects of starvation.

Following the implication that omega fatty acids stimulate a process leading to starvation resistance, the researchers found that feeding AA and another omega-6 fatty acid, but not EPA, activated autophagy in non-transgenic C. elegans with full access to nutrients. Since activation of autophagy has been shown to increase lifespan in several genetic models, the authors tested the effect of omega-6 fatty acids on C. elegans lifespan and found that roundworms consuming a full normal diet supplemented with omega-6 fatty acids lived 20 to 25 percent longer than usual.

Since dietary supplementation with both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids has been shown to prevent or improve several human health conditions, the researchers tested the response of cultured human cells to omega fatty acid supplementation. As in C. elegans, the human cells responded to supplementation with the omega-6 acids, but not to EPA, by activation of autophagy, measured by levels of marker proteins. That result suggests that omega-6 acids induce autophagy across the full range of multicellular animal species. The researchers then showed that the lifespan-increasing properties of omega-6 fatty acids in C. elegans depend on the presence of genes required for autophagy.

"Almost all the mechanisms of lifespan extension studied until now ? sterility, insulin insensitivity, and caloric restriction ? have been shown to depend on activation of autophagy," says O'Rourke. "Our finding that omega-6 supplementation activated roundworms' cellular response to fasting ? namely autophagy ? even though the worms were eating normally suggests that consumption of omega-6 fatty acids may provide the benefits of caloric restriction without the need to limit food consumption. It also suggests that the reported benefits of omega-6 acids could depend in part on activation of an evolutionarily ancient program for surviving food deprivation."

O'Rourke and her co-authors note that many investigators and clinicians believe that omega-6 fatty acids ? commonly found in meats, poultry and vegetable oils ? may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, despite epidemiologic evidence that omega-6 consumption actually reduces cardiovascular risks. "We hope that our findings ? made by investigating the cellular responses of a 1-millimeter roundworm ? will lead the scientific and medical community to look back at all the epidemiologic, basic and clinical research data and to study the effects of omega-6 fatty acids on multiple types of human cells and live animals in order to gain better knowledge on how balanced intake of these nutrients benefits human health," she says.

###

Massachusetts General Hospital: http://www.mgh.harvard.edu

Thanks to Massachusetts General Hospital for this article.

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

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126798/Cellular_renewal_process_may_underlie_benefits_of_omega_fatty_acids

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