Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/287880940?client_source=feed&format=rss
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Thursday, February 28, 2013
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Wednesday, February 27, 2013
S_47P::::10 Things to Know for Today
Please check the URL for proper spelling and capitalization. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Yahoo!, try visiting the Yahoo! homepage or look through a list of Yahoo!'s online services.
Please try Yahoo Help Central if you need more assistance.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/10-things-know-today-101340019.html
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Ship noise makes crabs get crabby
Feb. 26, 2013 ? A new study published in Biology Letters found that ship noise affects crab metabolism, with largest crabs faring worst, and found little evidence that crabs acclimatise to noise over time.
The team from the Universities of Bristol and Exeter found that crabs exposed to recordings of ship noise showed an increase in metabolic rate, indicating elevated stress. In the real world this could have implications for growth and, if the metabolic cost of noise causes crabs to spend more time foraging to compensate, could also increase the risk of predation.
Researcher Matt Wale from Bristol's School of Biological Sciences describes the study: "We used controlled experiments to consider how shore crabs of different sizes respond to both single and repeated exposure to playback of ship noise. Ship noise is the most common source of noise in the aquatic environment."
Explains Dr Andy Radford, Reader in Behavioural Ecology at Bristol: "We found that the metabolic rate of crabs exposed to ship noise was higher than those experiencing ambient harbour noise, and that larger individuals were affected most strongly. This is the first indication that there might be different responses to noise depending on the size of an individual."
If commercially important crabs and lobsters are affected by noise, these findings have implications for fisheries in busy shipping areas where large individuals may be losing out. Conversely, if reducing noise reduces metabolic costs, then quietening aquaculture facilities may lead to higher yields.
Dr Steve Simpson from the University of Exeter warned: "Since larger crabs are affected more strongly by noise this could have implications for fisheries in noisy areas. Also, many crustacean species, particularly prawns, are grown in aquaculture, so if acoustic disturbance has a metabolic cost then operational noise in farms may impact on growth, and quieter farms may be more profitable."
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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Z1bcZGgDf8E/130226194012.htm
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Tuesday, February 26, 2013
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Monday, February 25, 2013
Tumblr, Pinterest, And Twitter User Email Addresses Stolen In Zendesk Hack [Updates]
If you?ve never emailed support for any of the three social networks, then your email address is safe. Those who have sent an email to Tumblr in the last 2.5 years, which is when the blogging service started using Zendesk, your email address is likely compromised.
The silver lining to all this is that passwords are safe, so all the attackers have access to is email?addresses? They may be able to send you spam or phishing messages, but that?s about it. For Tumblr, some emails may contain the link to a user?s blog in the subject, so the hackers may be able to associate an email with a blog, but there is still little that can be done with that information.
Zendesk is quick to point out that the breach has been fixed, but obviously, any damage the hackers were looking to do has already taken place.
Twitter uses a technology called Domain-based Message Authentication or DMARC. This makes it difficult for people running phishing scams to fake an email from Twitter. Regardless, if you?ve emailed support for any of these three websites, you should be extra careful about what emails you open, as your email address is likely in the hands of the wrong people. Of course, you should be cautious with emails at all times, but right now it is extra important.
Source: Digital Trends
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Are YOU planning any RODEO activities today? Run, Parade, BBQ, carnival? ENJOY!
Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.
Source: http://www.facebook.com/fox26houston/posts/260916117376547
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A new Jelly Bean release is being tested for the Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX
We've received a few reports that emails are going out to invite Motorola Feedback Network members to try a new release of Jelly Bean for the Droid RAZR and the Droid RAZR MAXX.
Thanks for joining the Motorola Feedback Network. We are inviting owners of the Droid RAZR or Droid RAZR Maxx on Verizon to participate in an early preview of a new Jelly Bean software release, and provide feedback. If you are not currently using a Droid RAZR or Droid RAZR Maxx on Verizon, please excuse and ignore this email.
Plenty of folks using these phones are anxious to get Jelly Bean on their devices. Hopefully this soak test is successful, and we see a software update roll out shortly after. Keep your eyes on Android Central, and jump into the forums to discuss!
More: Droid RAZR MAXX forums
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/9cCZdEhvyHw/story01.htm
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Sunday, February 24, 2013
Q&A: Why investors are wary of Italy's elections
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) ? Investors are keeping a wary eye on Italy as the country heads to the polls Sunday and Monday to elect a new parliament. They fear that a new government and prime minister could weaken or scrap the economic reforms and budget cuts begun by outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti during his 15 months in office and hurt Italy's chances of recovering from a decade of low growth.
While the markets are unlikely to punish Italy as they did in 2011-12, they will want to make sure a new government doesn't mean a return to Italy's bad old days.
Here are some questions and answers about this weekend's elections matter for Italy and the rest of Europe.
Q: Why all the worry?
A: Italy's economy ? the third-largest among the 17 European Union countries that use the euro ? has only grown less than a half percent a year on average for a decade. That is compared to 1.25 percent in other rich industrialized countries. Faster growth is needed to shrink Italy's mounting debt burden, which already equals 127 percent of its annual gross domestic product.
Because of its size, Italy's problems can dent market confidence in the whole eurozone. Doubts about Italy's ability to manage its debt caused markets to question whether the euro could survive in 2011-12.
Q: What's wrong with its economy?
Before it joined the euro in 1999, the country used to give its economy a boost by to devaluing its old currency, the lire ? a trick that used to make its exports cheaper.
Devaluation helped mask underlying problems such as labor rules that favor vested interests such as unions and established workers, which kill off job prospects for younger people; a high business tax burden and heavy cost to businesses from expensive public utilities and red tape.
Italy "remains in dire need of structural reforms to boost competitiveness and improve trend growth," wrote economists Norbert Aul and James Ashley at RBC Capital Markets. They noted that the only economies that have grown more slowly in the past 12 years are Zimbabwe, San Marino, and Portugal.
A growing economy would increase government revenue from business and income taxes and the country's debt.
Q: Where does Monti come into all this?
A: Italy's political parties installed Monti, a former EU commissioner and academic, as prime minister to lead a temporary crisis government of financial experts in November, 2011. His predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi, resigned after high borrowing costs, fed by fears Italy would not pay its debts, threatened the country with financial ruin and rattled confidence in the eurozone.
Monti set about easing some of Italy's anti-business practices, such as labor laws that made it extremely difficult to fire longtime workers. He reduced the budget deficit with the help of an unpopular tax on homes.
Italy's deficit is down to around 3 percent of gross domestic output for last year ? not great, but it complies with the official limit for eurozone members.
However, in January, Monti resigned as Prime Minister after Berlusconi's party withdrew its support and criticized his cutbacks - hence the new elections.
Q: So now the elections are under way, what are investors afraid of?
A: Italy's Byzantine election laws could mean many different outcomes. The worst result would be no party or coalition being able to form a government, leading to new elections.
Researcher Vincenzo Scarpetta at the Open Europe think tank says the probability of this is "very low" but that re-run elections could mean "potentially, huge market pressure, which Italy can hardly afford." This pressure would come in the form of rising interest rates on government debt.
Another possibility could be a parliament so divided that it can't govern effectively, or a shaky coalition of parties with clashing agendas ? meaning that any policies would be the result of endless compromise and back-room deals. A badly split parliament "would surely affect investors' confidence as Italy's political future would remain unclear," said Aul and Ashley.
The return of a government led by Berlusconi's center-right coalition ? regarded as unlikely ? could also dismay markets given his call to repeal Monti's home tax and the lack of confidence markets showed in him in 2011.
Q: What do markets want to see?
A: Analysts say investors seem to be anticipating that the center-left Democratic Party, led by Pier Luigi Bersani will win. Bersani opposes budget austerity but is regarded as not totally against all efforts to improve conditions for business. Markets would like it best if he wins but still needs the seats won by small parties led by Monti to govern. That would mean the government might continue with some of the reforms.
Q: So should we expect market chaos and the eurozone crisis to erupt again?
A: Not right away, no. Italian law requires extensive consultation, so it could take weeks to tell who is in charge. In 2008, it took 24 days for Berlusconi to be sworn in despite a landslide win.
However, an anti-reform result could mean Italy's borrowing costs could rise in the days and weeks following the election.
That would be a sure sign that bond investors are more skeptical of the country's long-term ability to pay.
But it's considered unlikely that the yields would immediately rise to the record levels of last year that threatened to push Italy to default. That is thanks to the European Central Bank, which has done much to calm fears that a country will be unable to pay its debts. In September, the ECB offered to buy unlimited amounts of bonds issued by indebted countries, if they agree to reforms and to cut their deficits. No one has used the program yet but its mere existence has lowered Italy's borrowing costs.
Nonetheless, a new Italian government that rejects reform "will lead to more uncertainty, higher yields and a gradual process toward the situation we had last year," says Carsten Brzeski, an analyst at ING in Brussels.
The big problem is the long-term absence of growth rather than what the markets do next week.
Economists Aul and Ashley warn: "Whichever party ends up in power... needs to focus upon Italy's economic frailties as a matter of priority."
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Video: Are lax gun laws enabling gun trafficking in the US?
>>> gun crimes taken on a higher profile since the shootings in newtown, connecticut, which reignited the heated debate. as michael isikoff reports, law enforcement officials say serious gaps in the country's gun laus make it hard for them to do their jobs.
>> reporter: fbi agents seize add video of the neo-nazi conventi convention.
>> reporter: while investigating the owner of an ohio sports goods show. there was an arsenal and what authorities say was a possible racist threat.
>> the fbi averted a catastrophe in this case.
>> reporter: the store owner, a convicted felon , charged with stockpiling 18 firearms illegally, including assault weapons , shotguns, high capacity magazines and more than 40,000 rounds of ammunition.
>> they were all over the place. one in the coat pocket.
>> reporter: he served 13 years for homicide in an ohio state prison. under federal law , he was barred from owning any firearms. nbc news has learned that the fbi was also concerned that he may have been drawing up a hit list after notebooks showing the names and addresses of jewish and african-american leaders in detroit. agents briefed wendell anthony about the potential threat.
>> appears to me like he is a one-man army. very alarming and disturbing and kind of made me angry.
>> reporter: the fbi also warned scott kaufman, a jewish community leaders.
>> names of tenants in our building, names of some of the people in leadership positions in the organization including mines.
>> reporter: prosecutors are determined to find out where and how he got the guns and proving a difficult task because of what they say are giant loopholes in the nation's gun laws . one big issue, congress's prohibited a national computerized database of gun sales so agents at tracing center in west virginia forced to use technology of 1940s pouring through boxes, waterlogged sales records and even microfiche. they believe he acquired the guns from private sellers or gun shows and background checks are not required.
>> there's no documentation required for private transactions so whatever occurs in that zone is invisible to us.
>> reporter: estimated 80% of those convicted of gun crimes get the weapons through private sales and more evidence of what prosecutors are say are alarming gaps in the nation's gun laws . nbc news, bowling green , ohio.
Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/newsnation/50909789/
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Forget NCAA, bet on College of Cardinals
Tom Rauen treats the papal election no differently than he would a sport.
As a Roman Catholic and the owner of Envision Sports Designs, a sports paraphernalia company in Dubuque, Iowa, he noticed right away that the conclave would coincide with college basketball's NCAA tournament. Instead of cranking out commemorative T-shirts, he and his company's "bracketologist" designed a bracket for office and parish pools.
Based on the bookmakers' favorites ? along with a few famous churchmen from Dubuque, dead and alive, thrown in for good measure ? they charted out the Sweet Sistine (16 contenders), divided them into regions (including the Archdiocese of Dubuque), and invented a mock March Madness showdown on Twitter. The bracket got 15,000 views in its first 24 hours online, Rauen said.
"If he had announced it in July or something like that, it might not have caught on," Rauen said. "But being so close to the NCAA tournaments and all these college tournaments, it's something that people are getting excited about."
Participants can narrow down the Sweet Sistine to the Ecumenical Eight, the Flagellant Four and the Diocese Duo. Those two finalists must duke it out for Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church.
Rauen is hoping for a Cinderella story. At the center of his bracket he put New York's Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
"Having an American in the top seat as pope would really build and strengthen the connections American Catholics have toward the religion as a whole," he said.
? Manya A. Brachear
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Saturday, February 23, 2013
Kylie Bangs set a school record and made an NCAA B cut in the 100-yard backstrok...
Women's Swimming & Diving Closes Gap On Leaders; Divers Dominate
bombers.ithaca.eduITHACA, N.Y. -- The Ithaca College women's swimming & diving team closed the gap on the meet leaders with strong performances on the third of four days of competition at the Upper New York State Collegiate Swimming Association championship meet Friday at the Athletics & Events Center Aquatic...
Source: http://www.facebook.com/ICAthletics/posts/190206844436394
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Relationships - xoJane
It's not like I sit around knitting dog sweaters while watching Westminster or posting those immensely depressing "to be destroyed tomorrow" kill shelter photos on my Facebook page -- I'm not that dog lady.
But I am the first to tell people that life is better with a dog to come home to. Especially on those days when you're pretty sure you're having a midlife crisis at whatever age you happen to be (is 28 too early?). That dog will listen to you. Unless your partner is baking a chicken in the next room.
Anyway, it's Valentine's month, so here are just a few reasons I'm in mad love with my dog (but hopefully not in a creepy way). I'd love to hear your own reasons in the comments.
1. He's my first.
You usually remember your first kiss/car/boyfriend/girlfriend/paycheck with some fondness. As a kid, I was nuts about dogs and my parents dog-blocked me at every turn, producing sibling after sibling until we were 10.
"Dogs are cheaper than kids," I'd yell. "Turn off the sibling faucet!"
They didn't listen, although they did give me a series of guinea pigs. (Ask me about my guinea pig graveyard sometime ... those poor little guys never lasted long.)
Moxie (also known as Mr. Socks, Pooch and The Moxter), now four years old, is my first dog. He won't be my last, but he'll always win the pissing-to-mark-territory contest for my heart. ??
2. He's my clown.
Sometimes I come home and find him waltzing around the apartment with my underwear around his neck. He does the most ridiculous little dance when I tell him it's time for a treat. I once watched him drag a rawhide bone half his size across the apartment. He gets really excited when I flush the toilet. He'll get obsessed with licking the sheets and leave a huge wet spot on my partner's side of the bed.
Life would be so lame without him.
3. He's my muse.?
I lied. I AM that dog lady. In fact, my license plate reads DOGLADY. (With a heart where the "O" should be. Really.) I love where dogs and art intersect -- enough to get four sighthounds tattooed on my skin in three locations. Moxie's doppelganger lives just behind my left shoulder.
4. He only knows one trick, but it's one that counts.
Does your dog use a litter box? MY DOG USES A LITTER BOX! He won't play dead or roll over or fetch anything to save his hide, but as far as I'm concerned, he gets a free pass for life.
Depressed, and dressed as santa.
5. He puts up with me.
When you get your first dog, you sometimes buy outfits for that dog. Many, many outfits, some of them knitted. And your dog will wear them anyway -- that santa suit over the holidays, those bunny ears in April -- mostly because he has no choice, but also because he loves you. Right? Maybe?
6. He reacts this way when I get home from a trip (forgive the shoddy cellphone camera footage):
7. He has taught me more about being human than actual humans.
People tell me he's "just a dog," but I've experienced more empathy, more kindness, more compassion from this four-legger than I have from most two-leggers. His zeal for life is contagious. And for a young dog he seems incredibly wise.
8. He doesn't care what I'm wearing. Or if I smell. (In fact, he prefers if I smell.)
I could be wearing my Hello Kitty sweats, an oversized shirt, and have gone three days without a shower and he'll still think I'm a lovely, delicate specimen. Not that I do any of those things. Ever.
How does your dog show you s/he loves you? Do you have a dog-themed license plate? I want to know!
Reprinted with permission from Dogster.
?
Source: http://www.xojane.com/relationships/8-reasons-im-madly-in-love-with-my-dog-but-not-in-a-creepy-way
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Friday, February 22, 2013
Pistorius granted bail pending murder trial
Photographers take photos of Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius as he stands in the dock during his bail hearing at the magistrates court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. The fourth and likely final day of Oscar Pistorius' bail hearing opened on Friday, with the magistrate then to rule if the double-amputee athlete can be freed before trial or if he has to remain in custody over the shooting death of his girlfriend. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Photographers take photos of Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius as he stands in the dock during his bail hearing at the magistrates court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. The fourth and likely final day of Oscar Pistorius' bail hearing opened on Friday, with the magistrate then to rule if the double-amputee athlete can be freed before trial or if he has to remain in custody over the shooting death of his girlfriend. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius stands in the dock during his bail hearing at the magistrate court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. The fourth and likely final day of Oscar Pistorius' bail hearing opened on Friday, with the magistrate then to rule if the double-amputee athlete can be freed before trial or if he has to remain in custody over the shooting death of his girlfriend. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius' father Henke Pistorius, right, with his children Carl, center,, and Aimee, left, watch as Oscar Pistorius walks in during his bail hearing at the magistrate court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Graphic shows the layout of Oscar Pistorius??? apartment
Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius stands in the dock during his bail hearing at the magistrates court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. The fourth and likely final day of Oscar Pistorius' bail hearing opened on Friday, with the magistrate then to rule if the double-amputee athlete can be freed before trial or if he has to remain in custody over the shooting death of his girlfriend. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) ? A South African magistrate allowed Oscar Pistorius to go free on bail Friday, capping hearings that foreshadow a dramatic trial in the Valentine's Day killing of the star athlete's girlfriend.
Pistorius' family members and supporters shouted "Yes!" when Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair made his decision after a more than 1 hour and 45 minute explanation of his ruling to a packed courtroom.
Radio stations and a TV news network in South Africa broadcast the audio of the decision live, and even international channels like the BBC and CNN went live with it, underscoring the huge global interest in the case.
Nair set the bail at 1 million rand ($113,000), with $11,300 in cash up front and proof that the rest is available. The magistrate said Pistorius must hand over his passports and also turn in any other guns that he owns. Pistorius also cannot leave the district of Pretoria, South Africa's capital, without the permission of his probation officer, Nair said, nor can he take drugs or drink alcohol.
The double-amputee Olympian's next court appearance was set for June 4. He left the courthouse in a silver Land Rover, sitting in the rear, just over an hour after the magistrate imposed the bail conditions. The vehicle, tailed by a motorcycle with a TV cameraman aboard, later pulled into the home of Pistorius' uncle.
The magistrate ruled that Pistorius could not return to his upscale home in a gated community in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria, where the killing of Reeva Steenkamp took place.
Pistorius' uncle, Arnold Pistorius said: "We are relieved at the fact that Oscar got bail today but at the same time we are in mourning for the death of Reeva with her family. As a family, we know Oscar's version of what happened on that tragic night and we know that that is the truth and that will prevail in the coming court case."
Nair made the ruling after four days of arguments from prosecution and defense in Pistorius' bail hearing. During Friday's long session in Pretoria Magistrate's Court, Pistorius alternately wept and appeared solemn and more composed, especially toward the end as Nair criticized police procedures in the case and as a judgment in Pistorius' favor appeared imminent.
Nair had banned cameras from Friday's dramatic bail hearing and complained about cameras constantly "flashing" in Pistorius' face the previous three days of hearings, saying the spectacle made the athlete look like "some kind of species the world has never seen before."
Nair said Pistorius' sworn statement, in which he gave his version of the events of the shooting during the predawn hours of Feb. 14 in a sworn statement, had helped his application for bail.
"I come to the conclusion that the accused has made a case to be released on bail," Nair said.
Pistorius said in the sworn statement that he shot his girlfriend ? a model and budding reality TV contestant ? accidentally, believing she was an intruder in his house.
Prosecutors say he intended to kill Steenkamp and charged him with premeditated murder, saying the shooting followed a loud argument between the two.
Sharon Steenkamp, Reeva's cousin, had said earlier that the family wouldn't be watching the bail decision and hadn't been following the hearing in Pretoria.
"It doesn't make any difference to the fact that we are without Reeva," she told The Associated Press.
Despite the bail decision, prosecution spokesman Medupe Simasiku said: "We're still confident in our case," outside court.
Pistorius faced the sternest bail requirements in South Africa because of the seriousness of the charge, and his defense lawyers had to prove that he would not flee the country, would not interfere with witnesses or the case, and his release would not cause public unrest.
Nair questioned whether Pistorius would be a flight risk and be prepared to go "ducking and diving" around the world when he stood to lose a fortune in cash, cars, property and other assets. Nair also said that while it had been shown that Pistorius had aggressive tendencies, he did not have a prior record of offenses for violent acts.
He criticized Hilton Botha, the previous lead investigator in the case, for not doing more to uncover evidence that the Olympian had violent tendencies.
"There is ample room and ample time to do that by looking at the background of the accused," he said.
But while Nair leveled harsh criticism at former lead investigator Botha for "errors" and "blunders," he said one man does not represent the state's case and that the state could not be expected to put all the pieces of its puzzle together in such a short time.
Anticipating the shape of the state's case at trial, he said he had serious questions about Pistorius' account: Why he didn't try to locate his girlfriend on fearing an intruder was in the house, why he didn't try to determine who was in the toilet and why he would venture into perceived "danger" - the bathroom area - when he could have taken other steps to ensure his safety.
"There are improbabilities which need to be explored," Nair said, adding that Pistorius could clarify these matters by testifying under oath at trial.
___
AP Sports Writer Gerald Imray and AP writer Carley Petesch contributed to this report from Johannesburg.
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Florida to expand Medicaid under health overhaul
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) ? Gov. Rick Scott announced plans Wednesday to expand Medicaid coverage to roughly 900,000 more people under the federal health overhaul, a surprise decision from the vocal critic of President Barack Obama's plan.
Scott said he will ask the Legislature to expand the program under a bill that would expire in three years, after which it would require renewed legislative support. He's the seventh Republican governor so far to propose expanding the taxpayer-funded health insurance program.
Scott said he would support the expansion as long as the federal government pays 100 percent of the increased costs, which is the deal offered to states by the Obama administration for the first three years. After that, the federal government said it would pay 90 percent of the cost for the additional enrollees.
The governor said he gained new perspective after his mother's death last year, calling his decision to support a key provision of the Affordable Care Act a "compassionate, common sense step forward," and not a "white flag of surrender to government-run healthcare."
"Before I ever dreamed of standing here today as governor of this great state, I was a strong advocate for better ways to improve healthcare than the government-run approach taken in the President's healthcare law. I believe in a different approach. But, regardless of what I ? or anyone else ? believes, a Supreme Court decision and a presidential election made the President's healthcare mandates the law of the land," Scott said at a news conference.
The governor said he still worries that the president's plan could "lead to less patient choice, worse care, and higher costs" but he can't "in good conscience deny the uninsured access to care." Scott stressed he won't simply deny new Medicaid recipients health insurance after the three years are up, but said he will spend that time measuring how the expansion impacts healthcare costs, quality and access.
Scott, a former CEO of the HCA hospital chain, entered politics in 2009 running national cable TV commercials criticizing the president's plan. Florida led the way in challenging the ACA in a lawsuit that went all the way to the Supreme Court. Scott also made the rounds on conservative talk shows repeatedly expressing concern that expanding Medicaid would put too much of a strain on Florida taxpayers.
At one point, he said the expansion would cost $26 billion over the next decade, but the state's health care agency slashed its estimate to $3 billion after backlash from lawmakers over how the initial figure was calculated. After Obama was re-elected, Scott toned down his rhetoric, signaling he wanted to work with federal health officials. He even flew to Washington to meet with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius last month to discuss the expansion.
Florida lawmakers must still sign off on Scott's decision, and the Legislature doesn't meet until next month.
"I am personally skeptical that this inflexible law will improve the quality of healthcare in our state and ensure our long-term financial stability," Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford said.
Angry conservatives said Scott owes his support base an explanation.
"I am flabbergasted. This is a guy who, before he was a candidate for governor, started an organization to fight 'Obamacare' in the expansion of medical entitlements. This is a guy who said it will never happen on his watch. Well, here it is," said Slade O'Brien, Florida director of the conservative group Americans for Prosperity.
Scott's announcement came hours after federal health officials said they plan to approve the state's longstanding request to privatize its Medicaid program statewide if they agree to beef up transparency and accountability measures. He said that decision signaled that feds were willing to work with the state to give them the flexibility they need.
The other six GOP governors who plan to expand the program are the leaders of Michigan, Ohio, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and North Dakota. So far 21 states plus Washington, D.C., plan to expand their Medicaid programs under the health care law. Fourteen states have said they'll turn it down, although the debate is still going in several of them. Another 15 are weighing options.
Under the federal law, states were given the choice of whether to expand Medicaid to people whose incomes equal 138 percent of the federal poverty level ? about $15,000 for an individual and $32,000 for a family of four.
Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured residents in the country and some of the most stringent eligibility requirements. A family of three with income of $11,000 a year makes too much and single residents are not covered. The bulk of residents getting coverage under the Medicaid expansion will be childless adults.
The federal government's offer to cover most of the cost of expansion is much more generous than the roughly 50 percent matching rate that federal health officials currently pay for Medicaid. The state spends about $21 billion a year to cover roughly 3 million patients ? about half are children.
Florida hospital officials have said the state would receive about $26 billion from the federal government to pay for Medicaid expansion over the next decade. That would be a huge boon to hospitals that are losing other federal funding sources for uninsured patients under the federal health law.
Advocates said Medicaid expansion will bring about 54,000 new jobs to the state and have a significant impact on Florida's tourism and hospitality industries.
Hospital executives have said the expansion will significantly reduce the amount of money spent covering uninsured patients by hospitals, insurers and taxpayers by allowing patients to get coordinated treatment whenever they need it instead of waiting to go to the emergency room.
The new Medicaid population will get coverage under the privatization proposal that federal and state health officials are still hammering out. The program would allow for-profit providers to determine the health care for Medicaid recipients with the goal of saving money and improving services
Federal officials are insisting on enhanced accountability measures by requiring the state to use real-time data that evaluates whether the program is actually improving patient care along the way as promised, not just at yearly benchmarks. The state must also hold regular meeting with health advocates, patients and insurers and hire an ombudsmen to oversee the portion of the program that involves tens of thousands of elderly, long-term care patients.
___
Follow Kelli Kennedy and Gary Fineout at ?http://twitter.com/kkennedyAP and http://twitter.com/fineout
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/florida-expand-medicaid-under-health-overhaul-222940767.html
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Major snowstorm lashes Great Plains, heads east
Kansas City, Missouri (Reuters) - A major winter storm barreled through the U.S. Great Plains on Thursday, creating hazardous travel that resulted in at least one death, closing schools, scuttling air travel and cutting off power to some communities.
More than a foot of snow fell across parts of Kansas, while blowing winds created massive snowdrifts, exacerbating hazardous driving conditions. Highway I-70 was closed for 90 miles from Hays, Kansas eastward to Salina and hotel rooms were fast filling up along the corridor. Shelters were opened for stranded travelers.
Winter storm warnings and advisories continued for much of the central and southern Plains and into the upper Midwest and Mississippi River Valley as the storm moved east dropping snow, sleet and freezing rain, the National Weather Service said.
The fierce storm was expected to spawn thunderstorms and rain on its southern edge from eastern Texas to Georgia, the forecaster said. Ice storm warnings were in effect for parts of northern Arkansas.
Thunder accompanied snow in Kansas City, hit by 2 to 3 inches of snow per hour on Thursday morning.
"When there is thunder and lightning, it's a pretty screaming clue that you are going to have massive snowfall," said Andy Bailey, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill, Missouri.
Snow tapered off by early afternoon.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Kansas Governor Sam Brownback declared states of emergency because of hazardous travel and possible power outages. Brownback ordered state offices closed because of the storm.
Kansas City International Airport was closed on Thursday while crews cleared runways. It was unclear when the airport would reopen, spokesman Joe McBride said.
At Denver International Airport, some 55 commuter flights were canceled overnight, spokeswoman Laura Coale said. More than 320 flights in and out of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport were scrapped and nearly 50 flights in and out of Omaha's Eppley Airfield were listed as canceled by midday.
In Nebraska, a 19-year-old woman was killed in a two-car accident on Wednesday on Interstate 80 near Giltner. The Nebraska State Patrol said weather was a factor.
ROAD ACCIDENTS
The brunt of the snowstorm churned through Kansas, causing scores of accidents and forcing vehicles off roads, but there were no fatalities, according to the state highway patrol.
Six Kansas Highway patrol cars and some tow trucks were stuck in the Lawrence, Kansas, area Thursday afternoon as they tried to reach stranded motorists, highway patrol spokesman Joshua Kellerman said.
"People are getting stuck in the middle of the roadway, it's just that deep," Kellerman said.
The Missouri Highway Patrol reported a dozen accidents in the district around St. Louis as sleet and snow began to blanket area roads around midmorning, Sergeant Al Nothum said.
Some parts of southeast Kansas reported power outages because warmer temperatures created sleet and ice on power lines, said Sharon Watson, a spokesperson for the Kansas Division of Emergency Management.
Up to 12.5 inches of snow fell in the northern part of Oklahoma, while Nebraska received 5 to 9 inches, the National Weather Service said. Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, were bracing for 8 inches of snow or more.
Schools across parts of Iowa sent students home Thursday morning as snow arrived there, officials said.
Drought-stricken farmers in the Great Plains, one of the world's largest wheat-growing areas, welcomed the moisture brought by the storm, although experts said more rain or snow would be needed to ensure healthy crops.
Snow from the powerful storm fell as far south as Tucson, Arizona, on Wednesday. The rare snowfall halted play at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play tournament near Tucson.
(Additional reporting by Ian Simpson, Ben Berkowitz, Keith Coffman in Denver, Suzi Parker in Little Rock, Kay Henderson in Des Moines, Steve Olafson in Oklahoma City and Tim Bross in St. Louis; Editing by Paul Thomasch and David Gregorio)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/powerful-snowstorm-bears-down-western-united-states-073721046.html
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Qualcomm announces the entry level Snapdragon 200 and 400 series
Qualcomm has announced their new 200 and 400 Snapdragon processors, designed to bring reliable performance to more people. The new chips are designed to power entry-level devices and should come in at a great price point, allowing the people who make our Android phones to deliver affordable phones with decent hardware under the hood.
The 200 series features quad A5 CPUs, running up to 1.4GHz per core. In addition, the SoC offers the Adreno 203 GPU, support for up to 8MP cameras, embedded GPS, and multi-SIM UMTS or CDMA modem options. These chips are designed from the ground up to deliver a good balance of cost versus performance, along with good battery life for low-end smart phones.
The 400 series beefs things up a bit, offering either a dual Krait aSMP version running up to 1.7GHz per core; or a quad A7 version at 1.4GHz. Both versions will be paired with an Adreno 305, native Miracast wireless display technology, and a full suite of modem options to fit just about any cellular network. The Snapdragon 400 will be an excellent choice for vendors who build high-volume phones that offer performance folks demand.
Not every phone will offer top-end specifications. It's great to see options that make budget-friendly phones perform better, and Qualcomm realizes the importance of them. We expect to see devices running these processors in the market soon. For more information, visit the source link below.
Source: Qualcomm
| |
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/p1ePG8hnnkQ/story01.htm
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Reader recommendation: What Work Is
What happens when ordinary people decide to pay it forward? Extraordinary change...
Wyatt Smith, who teaches at George Washington Carver High School in Birmingham, Ala., wants to show his students the world.
Wyatt Smith makes a deal with his students: Learn Chinese. Go to China.
Birmingham to Beijing sends inner-city high school students in Birmingham, Ala., on a study abroad in Beijing ? if they first learn Chinese.
Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/rYYCHfF9C1Q/Reader-recommendation-What-Work-Is
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Thursday, February 21, 2013
Organic tomatoes accumulate more vitamin C, sugars than conventionally grown fruit
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Public release date: 20-Feb-2013[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Souri Somphanith
onepress@plos.org
41-562-412-17199
Public Library of Science
Biochemical properties of organic tomatoes may be different because of stressful growth conditions
Tomatoes grown on organic farms accumulate higher concentrations of sugars, vitamin C and compounds associated with oxidative stress compared to those grown on conventional farms, according to research published February 20 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Maria Raquel Alcantara Miranda and colleagues from the Federal University of Ceara, Brazil.
In their study, the researchers compared the weights and biochemical properties of tomatoes from organic and conventional farms. They found that tomatoes grown on organic farms were approximately 40% smaller than those grown by conventional techniques, and they also accumulated more compounds linked to stress resistance.
According to the authors, organic farming exposes plants to greater stress than conventional farming. They suggest that this increased stress may be the reason organic tomatoes had higher levels sugars, vitamin C and pigment molecules like lycopene, an anti-oxidant compound all of which are associated with the biological response to stress. Based on these observations, the authors suggest that growing strategies for fruits and vegetables should aim to balance plant stress with efforts to maximize yield and fruit size, rather than trying to eliminate stress to increase yields.
###
Citation: Oliveira AB, Moura CFH, Gomes-Filho E, Marco CA, Urban L, et al. (2013) The Impact of Organic Farming on Quality of Tomatoes Is Associated to Increased Oxidative Stress during Fruit Development. PLOS ONE 8(2): e56354. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056354
Financial Disclosure: Funding was provided by BNB-Fundeci, CAPES-REUNI, and CNPq/INCT Frutos Tropicais. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing Interest Statement: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
PLEASE LINK TO THE SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE IN ONLINE VERSIONS OF YOUR REPORT (URL goes live after the embargo ends).
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Public release date: 20-Feb-2013[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Souri Somphanith
onepress@plos.org
41-562-412-17199
Public Library of Science
Biochemical properties of organic tomatoes may be different because of stressful growth conditions
Tomatoes grown on organic farms accumulate higher concentrations of sugars, vitamin C and compounds associated with oxidative stress compared to those grown on conventional farms, according to research published February 20 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Maria Raquel Alcantara Miranda and colleagues from the Federal University of Ceara, Brazil.
In their study, the researchers compared the weights and biochemical properties of tomatoes from organic and conventional farms. They found that tomatoes grown on organic farms were approximately 40% smaller than those grown by conventional techniques, and they also accumulated more compounds linked to stress resistance.
According to the authors, organic farming exposes plants to greater stress than conventional farming. They suggest that this increased stress may be the reason organic tomatoes had higher levels sugars, vitamin C and pigment molecules like lycopene, an anti-oxidant compound all of which are associated with the biological response to stress. Based on these observations, the authors suggest that growing strategies for fruits and vegetables should aim to balance plant stress with efforts to maximize yield and fruit size, rather than trying to eliminate stress to increase yields.
###
Citation: Oliveira AB, Moura CFH, Gomes-Filho E, Marco CA, Urban L, et al. (2013) The Impact of Organic Farming on Quality of Tomatoes Is Associated to Increased Oxidative Stress during Fruit Development. PLOS ONE 8(2): e56354. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056354
Financial Disclosure: Funding was provided by BNB-Fundeci, CAPES-REUNI, and CNPq/INCT Frutos Tropicais. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing Interest Statement: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
PLEASE LINK TO THE SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE IN ONLINE VERSIONS OF YOUR REPORT (URL goes live after the embargo ends).
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-02/plos-ota021513.php
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HTC One early hands-on!
The HTC One launch event has just begun, but we've already got our first hands-on! Not a lot of details at this point, as the phone is still being announced on-stage, but a kindly gentlemen sitting in the audience who had a handset let us try his out for a few moments. Early impressions are that the phone feels great in the hand, very thin and very well made. The UI customizations, meanwhile, are another story entirely. Very Windows Phone-like, we're not sure traditional Android fans are going to love it. Enjoy the pics for now, we'll be back with more details soon!
Update: Here's our full, formal hands-on!
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/S50UI29Jql4/
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Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Japan posts record $17.4B trade deficit in Jan.
FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2012 file photos, cars for export park at a port in Yokohama, south of Tokyo. Japan's Finance Ministry says a rebound in exports in January failed to keep pace with growth in imports, leaving a record 1.63 trillion yen ($17.4B) trade deficit. The provisional data released Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, show exports rose 6.4 percent to 4.8 trillion yen ($51.2 billion) in January from a year earlier while imports jumped 7.3 percent to 6.43 trillion yen ($68.6 billion.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2012 file photos, cars for export park at a port in Yokohama, south of Tokyo. Japan's Finance Ministry says a rebound in exports in January failed to keep pace with growth in imports, leaving a record 1.63 trillion yen ($17.4B) trade deficit. The provisional data released Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, show exports rose 6.4 percent to 4.8 trillion yen ($51.2 billion) in January from a year earlier while imports jumped 7.3 percent to 6.43 trillion yen ($68.6 billion.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)
TOKYO (AP) ? A rebound in Japan's exports in January failed to keep pace with growth in imports, leaving a record 1.63 trillion yen ($17.4B) trade deficit for the month.
The provisional data released Wednesday show exports for the world's third-biggest economy rose 6.4 percent to 4.8 trillion yen ($51.2 billion) in January from a year earlier, the first year-on-year increase in eight months, while imports jumped 7.3 percent to 6.43 trillion yen ($68.6 billion.)
A weakening in Japan's currency over the past few months has helped boost export shipments by making its products more price competitive overseas. But it has also inflated the value of resource-scarce Japan's imports of crude oil and other commodities, which offset a recovery in demand for Japanese-made vehicles and machinery.
This trend is hindering Japan's long-time strategy of relying heavily on exports to drive growth and adding to pressure to find fresh momentum through stronger domestic demand at a time when the workforce is aging and shrinking and corporate investment remains feeble.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office in December, vowing to boost the economy by restoring Japan's export competitiveness, while at the same time stimulating demand at home through higher public works spending. He also has promised to push ahead with politically tough reforms needed to sustain growth in the longer term, though such efforts have not made much headway in the past.
Trade with the United States and major Asian trading partners rose as the global recovery strengthened and the economic impact of friction with China over a territorial dispute appeared to recede. But trade with European countries remained weak, with a 6 percent decline in exports from a year earlier. Imports from Western Europe climbed 6.3 percent.
Exports to the United States jumped 11 percent from the year before to 839.8 billion yen ($8.97 billion), while imports rose 5.8 percent to 521.1 billion yen ($5.6 billion). That boosted Japan's surplus with the U.S. by 20 percent from a year earlier to 318.7 billion yen ($3.4 billion)
Exports to China climbed 3 percent but imports also surged, leaving a deficit of 654.6 billion yen ($7 billion), up 11 percent from the year before. Shipments of Japanese products to other Asian nations rose sharply, however, as manufacturers stepped up efforts to boost production and sales outside of China. Exports to Taiwan jumped 28.8 percent from a year earlier, to Thailand by 23.7 percent, to Vietnam by 21 percent and to Hong Kong by nearly 12 percent.
Japan's imports of crude oil and other fuel rose 8.8 percent to 2.26 trillion yen ($24.1 billion), accounting for over a third of its total import bill, pushed higher by the yen's weaker purchasing power and rising prices.
Exports of transport equipment climbed 25 percent, mainly due to rising exports of auto parts, while exports of machinery increased 18 percent.
Japan's trade deficit rose to a record 6.93 trillion yen ($78.3 billion) in 2012 as fuel imports surged and a bitter territorial dispute with China provoked anti-Japanese riots, hammering its exports.
The trade deficit narrowed to 641.5 billion yen ($7.25 billion) in December from the 954.8 billion yen shortfall in November. That was despite a 5.8 percent drop in exports for the month.
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Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Pistorius' girlfriend's mom: 'Why my little girl?'
Frennie Shivambu / JustusMedia via Reuters
South African "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius, right, smiles with his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, at an awards ceremony in Johannesburg on Nov. 4. Steenkamp is dead, Pistorius is being charged with her murder and the woman's mother wants answers.
By John Newland, Staff Writer, NBC News
The mother of Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot to death Thursday in the home of Olympic and Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius, vented her grief and frustration to a South African newspaper.
The interview, conducted by telephone Sunday and reported Monday by The Times of Johannesburg, appears to June Steenkamp's first since her daughter's death at Pistorius' home in the gated Silver Woods Luxury Estate outside Pretoria.
"Why? Why my little girl?" she asked. "Why did this happen? Why did he do this? What for?"
Pistorius, 26, has been in custody since the shooting and is to be formally charged in a court appearance Tuesday?with the murder of Steenkamp, a 29-year-old law graduate, model and actress who had gained global attention with her blonde good looks and bubbly personality.
He has strongly denied allegations that he murdered his girlfriend.
NBC News' full coverage of the Oscar Pistorius case
June Steenkamp told The Times that she and her family are left searching for logic in a time of grief and shock.
"All we have is this horrendous death to deal with ... to get to grips with," she said. "All we want are answers ... answers as to why this had to happen, why our beautiful daughter had to die like this."
Reeva Steenkamp was recently featured in the new season of a reality show, "Tropika Island of Treasure"; had done promotional work for international brands including Toyota; and was on the December 2011 cover of FHM magazine, which named her one of the "100 Sexiest Women in the World" two years in a row.
"She had so much of herself to give and now all of it is gone," June Steenkamp said. "Just like that, she is gone. ? In the blink of an eye and a single breath, the most beautiful person who ever lived is no longer here."
Mike Steenkamp, whom The Times identified as a family spokesman, said the Steenkamps were trying to simply make it through the funeral, which like Pistorius' court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.
"For now, we are just focusing on ? getting this part of the difficult journey behind us," he told The Times.
"We're trying not to think about Oscar or the court appearance," he added. "We have deliberately not watched TV or listened to the radio. We just don't want to think about it. We want to blank it all out and focus for now on the here and now."
Watch World News videos on NBCNews.com
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