Sandy holds back US consumer spending, pay in Oct.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012 file photo, a sign advertising a sale is seen posted on a storefront in Philadelphia. Americans cut back on spending in October and saw no growth in their income, reflecting disruptions from Superstorm Sandy. On Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, the Commerce Department said consumer spending dropped 0.2 percent in October. That's down from an increase of 0.8 percent in September and the weakest showing since May. Income was flat in the month following a 0.4 percent rise in September. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

FILE - In this Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012 file photo, a sign advertising a sale is seen posted on a storefront in Philadelphia. Americans cut back on spending in October and saw no growth in their income, reflecting disruptions from Superstorm Sandy. On Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, the Commerce Department said consumer spending dropped 0.2 percent in October. That's down from an increase of 0.8 percent in September and the weakest showing since May. Income was flat in the month following a 0.4 percent rise in September. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Americans cut back on spending last month and saw no growth in their income, reflecting disruptions from Superstorm Sandy that could hold back economic growth in the final months of the year.

The Commerce Department said Friday that consumer spending dropped 0.2 percent in October. That's down from an increase of 0.8 percent in September and the weakest showing since May.

Income was flat in the month following a 0.4 percent rise in September.

The government said work interruptions caused by the storm reduced wages and salaries by about $18 billion at an annual rate. The storm affected 24 states, with the most severe damage in New York and New Jersey.

Consumers may also be worried about automatic tax increases and spending cuts that will take effect in January if lawmakers and the Obama administration fail to strike a deal before then.

The depressed spending figures suggest economic growth will likely be weak in the October-December quarter. Consumer spending drives nearly 70 percent of economic activity.

Even discounting the effects of Sandy, income growth would have risen a still-weak 0.1 percent. After-tax income adjusted for inflation fell 0.1 percent, while spending adjusted for inflation dropped 0.3 percent.

The saving rate edged up slightly to 3.4 percent of after-tax income in October, compared with 3.3 percent in September.

The government reported Thursday that the overall economy grew at an annual rate of 2.7 percent in the July-September quarter, an improvement from the 2 percent rate of growth initially estimated. However, economists believe the acceleration in activity will be short-lived.

Many of them predict growth is slowing in the current October-December quarter to less than 2 percent, a rate that is too weak to make a significant dent in unemployment. But they expect growth to rebound in the New Year when the rebuilding phase begins in the Northeast.

In October, spending at retail business fell 0.3 percent, the first drop after three months of gains. Auto sales dropped 1.5 percent, the biggest decline in a year.

And sales weren't much better in November, according to reports from major retailers. The International Council of Shopping Centers said 18 major retailers reported sales rose 1.7 percent in November compared to the same period a year ago. The group had been expecting sales growth between 4.5 percent and 5.5 percent.

Analysts said while holiday sales got off to a strong start on the Friday after Thanksgiving, those gains were blunted by weakness in early November that reflected disruptions caused by Sandy.

Applications for unemployment benefits rose to an 18-month high in the first week of November, driven by a surge in applications in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

Such applications have fallen sharply since. But the increase earlier this month will likely depress job growth for November. Many economists predict that net job growth for November will range between 25,000 and 75,000 ? well below the 171,000 jobs added in October.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-11-30-Consumer%20Spending/id-0fc421ba3c8b4dbe97b71647f752d079

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Visa teams up with RBS for V.me's first UK outing

Soon after getting V.me past the beta stage, Visa has signed up with old partner RBS for the UK launch of the digital wallet service. RBS and NatWest customers have started playing with the PayPal rival, and a full-blown rollout is aimed for spring 2013. While BBVA is slated to be the first financial institution to bring V.me to Spain, a French outing is planned for later this year. With mobile payments looking up, not least when springing for a cup of latte, it's yet another step leading towards a cashless world -- albeit a world where plastic still rules.

Filed under: Misc

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Via: Pocket-lint

Source: Visa Europe

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/28/visa-vme-uk-launch-rbs/

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U.S. Marshals say Linscott and Dow were spotted after a parade at Universal Stud...

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TV & Cinema: Onward California: Anthem

Credits & Description:

The University of California system's fundamental missions are teaching, research and public service. The 10 campuses of the University of California open their doors to all who work hard and dream big.
universityofcalifornia.edu
onwardcalifornia.com
University Of California Engages Audiences With Onward California

Igniting the ambition of California and shining a light on the University of California system?s powerful impact on society was the call to action from which the Onward California public outreach was created. Like the UC System itself, Onward California engages with audiences with a style that is dynamic, playful, inventive and multifaceted.

UC?s Marketing Communications Director Jason Simon and Creative Director Vanessa Correa took an approach unique to higher education campaigns; one that connects to the hearts and minds of audiences by utilizing methods from both consumer advertising and the best of higher education marketing. This point of view informed the breadth and depth of the outreach including a bold brand identity spectrum, a docu-series, television brand spot, digital campaign, print and online media, and an experience design tour.
?We want to ensure that Californians understand the unexpected, daily ways UC plays a role in their daily lives,? says UC Marketing Communications Director Jason Simon. ?The campaign had to reflect this thinking, to reach and inspire audiences through many connection points.?
The driving creative and strategic force behind the campaign, Jason Simon and colleague Vanessa Correa selected expert partners as collaborators to develop and produce the many elements of Onward California including branded content company The D4D, advertising agency 160over90, and experience design company Grow Marketing.
As highlighted on www.onwardcalifornia.com, the UC System connects to every sector of our society. The documentary brand film series, presented on the Onward website and other outlets, features passionate and compelling thought-leaders and innovators whose accomplishments touch our daily lives.

The TV Commercial Ad titled Anthem was done by Onward California advertising agency for product: University (brand: The University of California) in United States. It was released in the Nov 2012.

Source: http://www.advertolog.com/the-university-of-california/adverts/anthem-16240905/

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Cuomo: Sandy cost NY, NYC $32B in damage and loss

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) ? Top political leaders in New York put their heads together Monday on big requests for federal disaster aid as Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Superstorm Sandy ran up a bill of $32 billion in the state and the nation's largest city.

The cost is for repairs and restoration and does not include an additional accounting of over $9 billion to head off damage in the next disastrous storm, including steps to protect the power grid and cellphone network.

"It's common sense; it's intelligent," Cuomo said. "Why don't you spend some money now to save money in the future? And that's what prevention and mitigation is."

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg had announced earlier in the day that Sandy caused $19 billion in losses in New York City ? part of the $32 billion estimate Cuomo used.

New York taxpayers, Cuomo said, can't foot the bill.

"It would incapacitate the state. ... Tax increases are always a last, last, last resort."

Cuomo met with New York's congressional delegation to discuss the new figures and present "less than a wish list." The delegation, Cuomo and Bloomberg will now draw up a request for federal disaster aid.

States typically get 75 percent reimbursement for the cost of governments to restore mass transit and other services after a disaster.

The most basic recovery costs for roads, water systems, schools, parks, individual assistance and more total $15 billion in New York City; $7 billion for state agencies; $6.6 billion in Nassau County and $1.7 billion in Suffolk County, both on suburban Long Island; and $527 million in Westchester County and $143 million in Rockland County, both north of New York City, according to a state document used in the private briefing of the delegation and obtained by The Associated Press.

Hard times were already facing the state and city governments that were staring at deficits of more than $1 billion before Sandy hit in late October. State tax receipts have also missed projections, showing a continued slow recovery from a recession that could hit taxpayers in the governments' budgets this spring. And there's the looming fiscal cliff, the combination of expiring federal tax cuts and major spending cuts that could rattle the economy.

"Make no mistake, this will not be an easy task, particularly given the impending fiscal cliff, and a Congress that has been much less friendly to disaster relief than in the past," Schumer said. "We will work with the (Obama) administration on supplemental legislation, to be introduced in the upcoming December session of Congress, that will set us on the road to meeting New York's needs. This will be an effort that lasts not weeks, but many months, and we will not rest until the federal response meets New York's deep and extensive needs."

Rep. Peter King, a Long Island Republican who, like Schumer, is a powerful member of his chamber, said he is seeking cooperation from House leaders to find enough disaster aid.

"It really is survival," King said. "This is an emergency. This should be separate of all the debate about the fiscal cliff and everything else."

The Cuomo administration has gained the public support of President Barack Obama and FEMA in New York's proposal for full reimbursement for storm damage, but state officials have privately worried about how much the state can get now.

In the city, Bloomberg is asking federal lawmakers to put up nearly $10 billion to reimburse government agencies and private businesses. That would be additional funding on an expedited basis over the $5.4 billion in standard disaster aid that the city projects it will receive from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

That FEMA money and private insurance won't cover all the public and private expenses from the storm, which included damaged streets and restaurants closed because of flooding, Bloomberg said.

"While the impact of the storm will be felt for some time and the challenges are great, I am confident that the city will rebound and emerge stronger than ever," Bloomberg wrote to the congressional delegation.

Reinsurance company Swiss Re showed the extent of private sector pain. It estimates that claims stemming from Sandy will cost the company about $900 million and that total losses from insured damage will be between $20 billion and $25 billion.

Reinsurance firms provide coverage to insurance companies for great losses stemming from events like natural disasters.

Other states are seeking federal assistance, too. FEMA has already paid out nearly $250 million in New Jersey, where Gov. Chris Christie says the preliminary damage estimate is $29.4 billion and could rise.

___

Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz and Meghan Barr in New York City contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cuomo-sandy-cost-ny-nyc-32b-damage-loss-000331009.html

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Researchers synthesize new kind of silk fiber, and use music to fine-tune material's properties

ScienceDaily (Nov. 28, 2012) ? Pound for pound, spider silk is one of the strongest materials known: Research by MIT's Markus Buehler has helped explain that this strength arises from silk's unusual hierarchical arrangement of protein building blocks.

Now Buehler -- together with David Kaplan of Tufts University and Joyce Wong of Boston University -- has synthesized new variants on silk's natural structure, and found a method for making further improvements in the synthetic material.

And an ear for music, it turns out, might be a key to making those structural improvements.

The work stems from a collaboration of civil and environmental engineers, mathematicians, biomedical engineers and musical composers.?

"We're trying to approach making materials in a different way," Buehler explains, "starting from the building blocks" -- in this case, the protein molecules that form the structure of silk. "It's very hard to do this; proteins are very complex."

Other groups have tried to construct such protein-based fibers using a trial-and-error approach, Buehler says. But this team has approached the problem systematically, starting with computer modeling of the underlying structures that give the natural silk its unusual combination of strength, flexibility and stretchiness.

Buehler's previous research has determined that fibers with a particular structure -- highly ordered, layered protein structures alternating with densely packed, tangled clumps of proteins (ABABAB) -- help to give silk its exceptional properties. For this initial attempt at synthesizing a new material, the team chose to look instead at patterns in which one of the structures occurred in triplets (AAAB and BBBA).

Making such structures is no simple task. Kaplan, a chemical and biomedical engineer, modified silk-producing genes to produce these new sequences of proteins. Then Wong, a bioengineer and materials scientist, created a microfluidic device that mimicked the spider's silk-spinning organ, which is called a spinneret.

Even after the detailed computer modeling that went into it, the outcome came as a bit of a surprise, Buehler says. One of the new materials produced very strong protein molecules -- but these did not stick together as a thread. The other produced weaker protein molecules that adhered well and formed a good thread. "This taught us that it's not sufficient to consider the properties of the protein molecules alone," he says. "Rather, [one must] think about how they can combine to form a well-connected network at a larger scale."

The results are reported in a paper published in the journal Nano Today.

The team is now producing several more variants of the material to further improve and test its properties. But one wrinkle in their process may provide a significant advantage in figuring out which materials will be useful and which ones won't -- and perhaps even which might be more advantageous for specific uses. That new and highly unusual wrinkle is music.

The different levels of silk's structure, Buehler says, are analogous to the hierarchical elements that make up a musical composition -- including pitch, range, dynamics and tempo. The team enlisted the help of composer John McDonald, a professor of music at Tufts, and MIT postdoc David Spivak, a mathematician who specializes in a field called category theory. Together, using analytical tools derived from category theory to describe the protein structures, the team figured out how to translate the details of the artificial silk's structure into musical compositions.

The differences were quite distinct: The strong but useless protein molecules translated into music that was aggressive and harsh, Buehler says, while the ones that formed usable fibers sound much softer and more fluid.

Buehler hopes this can be taken a step further, using the musical compositions to predict how well new variations of the material might perform. "We're looking for radically new ways of designing materials," he says.

Combining materials modeling with mathematical and musical tools, Buehler says, could provide a much faster way of designing new biosynthesized materials, replacing the trial-and-error approach that prevails today. Genetically engineering organisms to produce materials is a long, painstaking process, he says, but this work "has taught us a new approach, a fundamental lesson" in combining experiment, theory and simulation to speed up the discovery process.

Materials produced this way -- which can be done under environmentally benign, room-temperature conditions -- could lead to new building blocks for tissue engineering or other uses, Buehler says: scaffolds for replacement organs, skin, blood vessels, or even new materials for use in civil engineering.

Elliott Schwartz, professor emeritus of music at Bowdoin College, says: "For centuries, mathematics, logic and science have provided important models for musical structures, processes, and our understanding of sonic materials. The present research may well lead to one more important chapter in this ongoing story of mutual interaction."

It may be that the complex structures of music can reveal the underlying complex structures of biomaterials found in nature, Buehler says. "There might be an underlying structural expression in music that tells us more about the proteins that make up our bodies. After all, our organs -- including the brain -- are made from these building blocks, and humans' expression of music may inadvertently include more information that we are aware of."

"Nobody has tapped into this," he says, adding that with the breadth of his multidisciplinary team, "We could do this -- making better bio-inspired materials by using music, and using music to better understand biology."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Joyce Y. Wong, John McDonald, Micki Taylor-Pinney, David I. Spivak, David L. Kaplan, Markus J. Buehler. Materials by design: Merging proteins and music. Nano Today, 2012; DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2012.09.001

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/JH39QKo8_v8/121128112157.htm

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Now, police detain Palghar boy over Facebook post against Raj Thackeray

They say once bitten twice shy, but this adage clearly does not hold true for the Palghar police.

After facing much flak over the arrests of two girls, they have now detained a 19-year-old boy for posting an "abusive" Facebook status against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, based on a complaint by workers of MNS. Cops said they are questioning the boy to verify if he had indeed posted the status himself or if someone else hacked into his ID.

Police officers said that they are being cautious about their approach in the fresh complaint for status messages on a social networking site, as they do not want to go to the same extreme like in the case of Shaheen Dhada, the 21-year-old girl who was arrested along with her friend for questioning the shutdown of the city over the death of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

The 19-year-old was detained after a complaint was filed by Kundan Sankhe, president of Thane rural unit of the MNS, alleging that the boy had made "abusive" comments about Raj Thackeray. The boy was brought to the police station by a mob of MNS supporters.

Meanwhile, Palghar remained on tenterhooks throughout Wednesday over the bandh called by the Shiv Sena in support of the policemen suspended for arresting the two girls last week. People chose to stay indoors and schools and colleges remained closed.

The state had deployed 500 police officers and had the Rapid Action Force on standby to avert any crisis situation.

Source: http://indiatoday.feedsportal.com/c/33614/f/589699/s/260f61fc/l/0Lindiatoday0Bintoday0Bin0Cstory0Cnow0Epolice0Edetain0Eboy0Eover0Eobjectionable0Efacebook0Ecomment0Eagainst0Eraj0Ethackeray0C10C2351210Bhtml/story01.htm

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How Pre-Workout Supplements Are Slowing You Down | STACK

If you've ever visited a nutrition or supplement store, you've been bombarded with advertisements for the latest and greatest pre-workout supplements. At one time or another, you might have parted with some hard-earned cash to see what all the fuss was about.

As expected, the first time you tried it, the supplement probably gave you an initial boost, supercharging your central nervous system and leading to a great workout. (Find out which supplements are safe.) But eventually?three, five or 10 workouts down the line?that initial feeling wore off, and you were forced to double or even triple the dose to get close to the same "high" you first experienced.

With continued use, many athletes inevitably get to the point where they feel that they can't work out without their pre-workout supplement. Then, a vicious cycle begins, where they need a stimulant just to feel normal and get through the work day and their daily gym session or practice.

The problem with stimulants, which are found in many pre-workout supplements, is that you're trading off a temporary high for the inevitable low that comes later, overworking your adrenal glands in the process. High doses of caffeine and stimulants such as 1,3 dimethylamylamine prevent your adrenal glands from ever truly getting a break, to the point where your mood, energy levels and sports performance suffer.

At the extreme, numerous reports linking stimulants in energy drinks to deaths have been leading newscasts across North America over the last few weeks. (I'm looking at you Monster and 5-Hour Energy.)

Some days, a caffeine boost may be necessary, but in most cases you can feel just as energized by taking care of your body and letting it perform as intended.

Proper Nutrition.?Give your body the fuel it needs through proper nutrition, with balanced meals preceding and following exercise. A balanced approach includes equal amounts lean protein (fish, chicken breast) and quality carbohydrates (quinoa, oatmeal, rice), with a salad and a small amount of olive oil. It's also best to eat or drink 100 calories of fast-acting carbs, such as a banana or Gatorade Prime, 15 minute before your workout. (Learn more about pre-workout nutrition.)

Sleep.?Stimulant use, especially later in the day, can cut into your sleep duration and quality. Cut all stimulants after 5:00 p.m., and aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night.

Tea.?One or two cups of coffee a day is fine, but a good alternative is tea, especially later in the day. It has a quarter of the caffeine and is loaded with healthy antioxidants. My personal favorite is green tea.

Source: http://www.stack.com/2012/11/26/pre-workout-supplements/

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5 Podcasts Every Entrepreneur Should Be Listening To! - Chris Ducker

Over the last couple of weeks I?ve been recording the first batch of episodes for my new podcast, which will be launched in time for Christmas, entitled ?The New Business Podcast?.

More about this next week? However, in the meantime, I wanted to bring to you a little listening pleasure in the meantime.

Podcasts are a great way to digest information and gain plenty of business tips and tactics. I?ve been a big fan for a long time, and regularly listen to them myself, obviously!

So, today I bring to you five of my personal?favorite?podcasts, and hope that you add a few more to the list, too, in the comment section below.

Let?s face it ? this list could have been a LOT bigger than just five. And I am definitely gonna miss a handful of amazing podcasts that should totally be on EVERY list like this. But, the point here is to focus in on five very different shows, and what they bring to you as a business owner, across the board.

CopyBlogger Radio

Brain Clark and company produce one of the best internet marketing based podcasts around. My only gripe is that there aren?t as many episodes as I?d like! What I love about this one, more than anything else is the fact that the focus is on content. Creation of content and?marketing?of content ? all aimed towards developing a great online brand and business. Subscribe Here.

.

Lifestyle Business Podcast

This weekly?jaunt?from Dan and Ian, two of the smartest lifestyle entrepreneurs I know, has been firmly planted in my ?fave podcasts? list for years. Not only are these guys the real deal when it comes to running and growing business, but they also happen to do it all from their laptops, whilst traveling the world ? constantly. Tim Ferriss would be proud of these guys. Subscribe Here.

.

Smart Passive Income

Pat Flynn has one of the most successful online brands around today. His podcast has just hit the 50th episode mark and is quickly closing in on 2,500,000 downloads. Simply amazing. Couple all this together with a transparent approach, lots of smart guests and Pat?s own solo performances and you?re off to the races! Here?s the episode where he interviewed me. Subscribe Here.

.

Entrepreneur on Fire

John Dumas recently reached out to me, inviting me to come onto his new show, which boasts a new interview with a leading entrepreneur every DAY! Yes, you read right ? daily. My episode with John won?t be out until the New Year, I believe, but there is plenty of great stuff in the archives already. Be sure to check out the chat?s with Chris Brogan and Seth Godin for starters!?Subscribe Here.

.

Social Triggers Insider

Derek Halpern mixes smart business know-how and principles, along with psychology and human behavior to bring to you his own blend of marketing, sales and general entrepreneurial wisdom. Still only in his second year online, there?s a reason why he?s become so popular! He?s blunt, brilliant, ballsy and above all, memorable. Simply put, his stuff works. Subscribe Here.

.

What are some of the podcasts that YOU listen to? I?d love to know. Please post a link to iTunes, and feel free to pimp your own out, too ? if you have one!

Source: http://www.chrisducker.com/5-podcasts/

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Susan Rice: why GOP opposition to her is no longer white-hot

It?s looking more likely that if President Obama wants Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations, as his next secretary of State, he?ll get his wish.

Key Republicans are softening their opposition to any promotion of Ambassador Rice. Notably, Sen. John McCain (R) of Arizona has replaced his outright opposition with a willingness now to hear her case, should she be nominated.

The less strident tone from Senator McCain and other Republicans over the weekend suggests that the hyper-partisan atmosphere that prevailed in the election campaign and in the immediate aftermath of Mr. Obama?s reelection may be ceding to a more bipartisan approach to foreign policy ? and to the general rule that, barring any egregious disqualifiers, the president should get the foreign-policy and national-security team he wants.

RECOMMENDED: Five ways events overseas could shape Obama's second term

Opposition to Rice flared up over her depiction of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that left four Americans dead, including the US ambassador to Libya. Working from a set of talking points provided by the Central Intelligence Agency when she appeared on Sunday news shows Sept. 16, Rice described the attack as a ?spontaneous? act that grew out of a copycat reaction to widespread demonstrations against an anti-Islam video.

Prominent Republican senators including McCain and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina vowed to oppose Rice?s nomination to any higher office, while a group of 97 House Republicans took the unusual step of sending a letter to Obama saying they opposed Rice?s possible nomination for secretary of State ? even though the House has no role in approving presidential nominations.

A heated debate ensued that included charges from Democrats of Republican sexism and racism (Rice being an African-American woman). By the weekend, key Republican voices tempered their rhetoric.

McCain said on ?Fox News Sunday? that he?d ?be glad to have the opportunity to discuss these issues with? Rice, while Senator Graham said on ABC?s ?This Week? that he blames the president more than Rice for the administration?s depiction of the Benghazi attack and its reluctance to call it a terrorist attack.

Still, Graham said that if Obama does nominate Rice, ?there will be a lot of questions asked of her about this event and others.? Also, he vowed to pursue an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Over on NBC?s ?Meet the Press,? House Republican Peter King of New York lauded Rice?s work at the UN, particularly on North Korea. But as for the argument that Rice was speaking from vetted intelligence talking points when she went on national television five days after the attack, Representative King said that as a senior administration official, ?she has an obligation not to just be a puppet and take what?s handed to her.?

Obama has not nominated Rice, nor has he said whom he plans to name to replace Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has said she plans to step down once her successor is in place. But speculation has centered on Rice and Sen. John Kerry (D) of Massachusetts. Recently, some White House officials have hinted that the president might prefer Rice at State and could name Senator Kerry as Defense secretary if, as anticipated, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta steps down next year.

The shift in the GOP stance on Rice appears to reflect a number of developments, including the Democratic charges of racism and sexism ? which come as the Republicans assess their weak showing with women and minorities in general in the November elections. The changed tone also follows recent testimony from former CIA director David Petraeus, who told senators that Rice?s talking points ? and the failure to call Benghazi a terrorist attack ? reflected a desire among intelligence officials not to tip off terrorist groups in eastern Libya that the United States was aware of their involvement.

Perhaps more important are the opinions of respected foreign-policy analysts, a number of whom have said that Rice has served ably at the UN and should not be judged over an event that she did not set policy for.

Robert Kagan, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, wrote in The Washington Post Nov. 18 that Republicans concerned about Benghazi should focus not on Rice?s television performance but on the administration?s preparedness for the safety of diplomats in dangerous places. He also said that, were Obama to nominate either Rice or Kerry, ?the Senate should vote to confirm.?

As for King saying that senior administration officials ?have an obligation not to just be a puppet? for the president: A variety of media outlets, including National Review and USA Today, have made a comparison with the Bush administration sending Colin Powell, then secretary of State, to the UN to justify a US war on Iraq.

Before the world?s television cameras, Mr. Powell presented ?evidence? of Saddam Hussein?s stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction. The evidence, as it turned out, was false.

RECOMMENDED: Five ways events overseas could shape Obama's second term

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/susan-rice-why-gop-opposition-her-no-longer-191959974.html

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Video: Charles -- not yet -- in charge

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NewsDaily: Dubai plans massive tourism and retail project

Dubai plans massive tourism and retail project

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By Andrew TorchiaPosted 2012/11/24 at 2:34 pm EST

DUBAI, Nov. 24, 2012 (Reuters) ? Dubai announced plans for a huge tourism and retail development including the largest shopping mall in the world, a fresh sign that the glitzy emirate has recovered its commercial ambitions after a crippling corporate debt crisis three years ago.

The development, on the outskirts of Dubai's current downtown area, will include a park 30 percent bigger than Hyde Park in London, said Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, also prime minister of the United Arab Emirates.

A retail complex named the "Mall of the World" will be able to host 80 million visitors a year and include over 100 hotel facilities, Sheikh Mohammed said in a statement on Saturday.

A family entertainment centre linked to the mall, developed with Hollywood's Universal Studios, a unit of Comcast Corp , would be designed for 6 million visitors each year.

The development, named "Mohammed Bin Rashid City", would also include a district of art galleries and an area where entrepreneurs could develop businesses.

Sheikh Mohammed did not say how much the development would cost or when it would be finished, but his description indicated investment would total many billions of dollars. It would be built by Dubai Holding , a conglomerate owned by him, and Dubai's leading real estate firm Emaar Properties .

"The current facilities available in Dubai need to be scaled up in line with the future ambitions for the city," Sheikh Mohammed said, adding that Dubai aimed to become a business and cultural capital for 2 billion people in surrounding regions.

Such ambitions would have seemed ludicrous three years ago, when a crash of Dubai's inflated real estate market triggered a corporate debt crisis that forced state-owned conglomerate Dubai World into a $25 billion debt restructuring. Some of Dubai Holding's own units restructured their debt.

Property prices plunged over 50 percent from their peaks and neighbouring Abu Dhabi, which has most of the UAE's oil wealth, came to Dubai's rescue with a bailout worth over $10 billion.

But Dubai, home to the world's tallest building, an archipelago of man-made islands and an indoor ski slope in one of its shopping malls, has staged a dramatic recovery this year, partly because of a tourism boom.

Tourist arrivals grew 10 percent and hotel revenue 19 percent in the first half of 2012. Some state-linked companies have made progress working through their debt loads, while property prices have started to rebound in some areas.

Arab Spring uprisings in the Middle East, including Syria's civil war, appear to have helped Dubai, which has attracted funds seeking a politically and economically stable haven.

Several extravagant real estate projects, shelved during the debt crisis, have been revived in the last few months, including a $1 billion replica of India's Taj Mahal that would include a 300-room hotel, and a canal to the city's business district.

Passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport will exceed 50 million people this year and the airport is being expanded. Sheikh Mohammed said traffic would top 90 million in six years and Dubai's development should revolve around this prospect.

"Our development initiatives concerning infrastructure in all sectors should be aligned with this growth rate and we have the determination to reach our objectives and be the first in the region to achieve them," he said.

Sheikh Mohammed did not say how the latest development plan would be financed. Although yields on bonds issued by Dubai firms have plunged this year, showing a return of investor confidence, some bankers are concerned that Dubai is merely pushing many debt maturities into the future without selling assets and taking other difficult steps to cut the debt load.

Standard Chartered said in a research note this month that while the recovery of key areas of its economy would help Dubai, its entities would face nearly $50 billion of liabilities maturing between 2014 and 2016, and there had been "little progress on the deleveraging front".

(Additional reporting by David French and Dinesh Nair)

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Gift Guide: Sifteo Interactive Gaming Cubes | TechCrunch

Short Version

What do you get the person who already has everything? Sifteo Cubes might be the answer. These innovative little gaming devices work together to create interactive gaming experiences with very tactile, imaginative elements you just can?t get on a standard mobile device.

Long Version

Features:

• Modal design, additional cubes lead to different gaming experiences
• Computer-free design
• Blends traditional tabletop gaming with mobile computing

Info:

• Touch sensitive screen
• 128 x 128 pixel TFT LCD displays (per cube)
• Available: Ships in 7 business days
• MSRP: $129.95 for the starter set with 3 cubes and base, $29.95 for each additional cube
• Product page

Sifteo Cubes Are?

? totally unique mobile gaming gadgets, made up of individual squares each with their own LED display, that communicate with each other and a controller base to build?changing?game boards, world maps and more. This generation of Sifteo Cubes is an upgrade from last year?s model, bringing improved graphics and computer independent play. The cubes now work with a very portable base, meaning you can take these on car trips to keep the kids occupied, or wherever you want to go.

Buy Sifteo Cubes For?

? the playfully experimental people in your lives. Because they offer a wide range of content, Sifteo Cubes are actually suitable for a broad audience. If you want to get your kids playing with something a little more exploratory, challenging and engaging than your average iPad app, Sifteo Cubes fit the bill. And if you?re an adult who grew up loving tabletop gaming and want something that builds on that experience with unique digital elements, these are a good option, too.

Because?

? while mobile gaming continues to be an innovative space on platforms like smartphones and tablets, Sifteo is trying something completely different. The titles that are currently available all offer a slightly different take on the modular mechanics, and there?s bound to be many more on the way from talented developers. Plus, adding relatively inexpensive additional cubes to the three that ship in the starter set also adds more depth to game play.?Basically? Sifteo Cubes are never boring, and in a world of uninspired Call of Duty sequels, that?s reason enough to gift these things.

Sifteo, Inc. is a venture-backed startup based in San Francisco, California. Sifteo makes Sifteo cubes, an interactive game system designed for hands-on fun and Intelligent Play. They also make a growing number of games exclusive to Sifteo cubes. Sifteo cubes is a next generation game system consisting of physical blocks with full-color graphics that sense each other and their motion. The system offers an entirely new kind of interface that allows computer interactions to be more physical in nature: a...

? Learn more

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2012/11/23/gift-guide-sifteo-interactive-gaming-cubes/

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Sudan says arrests ex-spy chief after foiled plot

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan arrested its former spy chief and other senior military and security officers on Thursday after foiling what officials said was a plot to incite chaos and target leaders in this oil-producing African state.

Witnesses told Reuters they saw army tanks and armored vehicles moving down a main street in the centre of Khartoum around midnight, but life in the city was normal during the day with shops in the centre bustling with customers.

Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has kept up a 23-year hold on power, even as a series of uprisings troubled the country's poor border areas, including the conflict-torn region of Darfur.

But Sudan has been stuck in economic crisis since the south - the source of most of its known oil-reserves - declared independence last year under the terms of a peace deal.

High prices for food have added to widespread public anger over losing the south and have emboldened opposition activists to call for protests. Analysts say the crisis has also exacerbated divisions in the government and squeezed the patronage system they say Bashir has relied on.

Unrest over price rises and food and fuel shortages has preceded coups in Sudan in the past.

Salah Gosh, former head of Sudan's powerful intelligence and security agency, was arrested with 12 others on suspicion of "inciting chaos", "targeting" some leaders and spreading rumors about Bashir's health, the information minister told reporters.

Bashir, 68, has undergone throat surgery twice since the summer. Officials insist he is in good health.

"A lot of evidence was gathered showing there is a movement aiming to incite chaos, target some leaders and undermine the country's stability," the minister, Ahmed Belal Osman, said.

"The situation is now totally stable," he added, naming Gosh, and another arrested officer, Wad Ibrahim, a prominent Islamist in the army.

Some Islamists inside the army and the ruling National Congress Party have said that Bashir and other senior leaders have abandoned the religious values of the 1989 coup and have concentrated decision-making in the hands of a few people.

Some also feel Bashir has been too soft on South Sudan, which temporarily wrong-footed the Sudanese army by seizing a major oilfield during border fighting in April - a shock to many officers.

TANKS HEADED DOWNTOWN

Harry Verhoeven, an Oxford University researcher who has studied Sudan extensively, said the arrests' timing suggested the incident was connected to a conference of Sudan's Islamic Movement last weekend that illustrated these tensions.

The Islamic Movement is a part of Sudan's ruling establishment that counts many of the country's most powerful politicians as members.

Analysts say reform-minded members of the group were unhappy with the new secretary-general elected at the conference.

The arrest of Gosh - who is not seen as overly close with the Islamists - may have been a signal to the reformists that authorities would not tolerate serious dissent, Verhoeven said.

"I think the key question is what the reformists do. Do they form a new party? Do they stay quiet?" he added.

Officials have cited a plot but have stopped short of saying this constituted a coup attempt.

Witnesses said they saw military vehicles on a major street that runs alongside the city's airport overnight.

"We saw something unusual in Khartoum ... four armored vehicles and two tanks on Abeid Khatim Street heading in the direction of downtown," one witness said, asking not to be named.

Security at the defense ministry, intelligence headquarters and other buildings associated with military and security authorities appeared normal, a Reuters witness in the city said.

Sudan has been plagued by political conflicts and crises for most of its history since independence from Britain in 1956.

Decades of civil war between the north and south culminated with South Sudan's independence in July last year under a 2005 peace deal.

Tensions in both nations and between the two states have been high since then. The two countries accused one another of incursions in disputed border zones on Wednesday, a setback to recent security and border deals.

Small demonstrations against cuts in fuel subsidies and other austerity measures broke out across Sudan in June but petered out after a security crackdown and the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

"PLOTTING LIKE BREATHING"

Gosh was once among Sudan's most influential officials. As chief of the National Intelligence and Security Service, he headed what is one of the country's most powerful institutions alongside the army.

Bashir removed Gosh as spy chief in 2009, replacing him with the current head Mohammed Atta al-Moula. Officials did not explain the decision to sack Gosh at the time, but Khartoum political circles widely speculated the former chief was suspected of plotting against Bashir.

A leaked U.S. diplomatic cable from 2008 quoted a government official as saying Gosh had mused about the possibility an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Bashir could lead some to try to replace the president.

"Conspiracy and plotting is like breathing in Sudan," the cable noted.

Gosh had been appointed presidential adviser on security affairs, but was also removed from that position last year.

Western rights groups have accused Gosh of complicity in abuses in the country's Darfur region, which has endured a nearly decade-old insurgency.

But while the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Bashir and other officials on charges of war crimes in Darfur, Gosh has never been indicted.

The former spy chief is also described by historians and analysts as a key interlocutor with U.S. officials when Sudan was cooperating with the United States by providing information on al Qaeda in the years after the September 11 attacks.

(Additional reporting by Alexander Dziadosz; Writing by Alexander Dziadosz and Ulf Laessing; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sudan-arrests-ex-spy-chief-12-others-inciting-122032797.html

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iPhone FaceTime over cellular for AT&T now available for some, even without LTE?

AT&T's decision to let only its customers on shared and new data plans pick up FaceTime over cellular may have riled some, but at least it's been able to roll-out the functionality earlier than the two-month window suggested in early November. MacRumors' forums are abuzz with word that their iOS devices (mostly on the East Coast) are now able to make FaceTime calls without WiFi. Perhaps more importantly, according to these early reports, you might not have to wield an LTE iDevice to use it, with several non-4G devices running iOS 6 able to stream faces elsewhere. If you're still getting the pop-up of misery (seen above), forum users suggesting switching your phone off and on again.

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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City hijacking Android and iOS on December 6th for $5

Following the footsteps of its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is making its way to Android and iOS. Rockstar announced today that a special 10th Anniversary Edition of the open world Scarface / Miami Vice inspired sim will be hitting the two popular mobile platforms on December 6th for $5. This spiffed-up mobile port includes updated character models, enhanced lighting effects, improved targeting and fully customizable control options. Technical upgrades aside, we caution not to drive directly against the sun while riding a motorcycle within the game; it nearly blinded us in the original console version, so we can only imagine how harsh it will be on your fancy high-res display. Don't say that we didn't warn you. Move past the break for a complete list of supported devices.

Continue reading Grand Theft Auto: Vice City hijacking Android and iOS on December 6th for $5

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'Rehab With Dr. Drew' hits close to home for family

CLEARWATER, Fla. ? Every Sunday night, when Jeff Arthur turned on the television, the tears would come.

They flowed from watching the earliest episodes of "Rehab With Dr. Drew," the first VH1 series to feature the superstar addiction specialist Drew Pinsky treating unknown, noncelebrity addicts.

And they flowed because Arthur?s 25-year-old son Andrew, an aspiring musician known to friends and fans as "Drewbee," was one of the sickest people on the show, addicted to opiates, marijuana, alcohol and more.

When the show began airing weeks ago, Drewbee and his family were a smaller presence, mostly because other addicts had the kind of outsize personalities that reality TV loves to spotlight.

But in this season?s final episodes, the Arthurs have taken a more prominent role -- a poignant, emotional example of how an intact family with resources, wealth and the driving desire to rescue a child can have the opposite effect.

They had become the symbol of how some parents can become so obsessively focused on keeping their addicted kids alive that they enable their addiction instead, a condition known as codependency.

One of the show?s most powerful moments came a few weeks ago, when on-screen counselor Bob Forrest told Drewbee and another patient that they were at greater risk of death from codependency than addicts who came from poor homes or who had survived parental abandonment, sexual abuse and worse.

"Your parents are smothering you with a pillow; just before you?re about to die, they let it up and go ?I love you so much,? " said Forrest, a former rock singer and fedora-wearing expert who once shared stages and drugs with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Drewbee seemed to be among the patients doing well on the show until his parents, Jeff and Jane, joined by his older sister, Lindsey, visited as part of a family weekend.

As cameras rolled, Drewbee became more withdrawn, telling Pinsky and other staff at Pasadena Recovery Center in California that he wasn?t going to transition into the three months of sober living at a halfway house recommended by the program. His mother nearly collapsed in tears, moaning, "My son?s going to die."

In footage filmed some five months ago but aired Nov. 4, Pinsky noted that the family seemed to be reliving an unhealthy cycle. As Drewbee talked of wanting to leave treatment, it drew tears and anger from his parents, which created more emotional turmoil and pushed the son to seek comfort in drugs.

"Look at my mom ... when I get to a certain point, I don?t give a ...," Drewbee told staffers during that episode.

Pinsky and the producers of "Rehab With Dr. Drew" declined to speak to the Tampa Bay Times or make Drewbee Arthur, who eventually agreed to a sober living arrangement and now lives in Los Angeles, available for comment.

"Dr. Drew isn?t comfortable discussing his case since he is in active treatment," publicist Valerie Allen wrote in an email to the Times, though Pinsky has been shown talking about Drewbee?s case on the VH1 series for weeks.

So the question fell to Jeff Arthur: How did it feel to see his actions to protect his son, inspired by love, depicted as a pillow smothering his life away?

"I was in pretty heavy shock," said the father, 61. "But I thought: Whatever it takes ... I?d much rather have a living, sober son than the memory of a dead one."

On the surface, the Arthurs would seem to have a charmed life.

A Clearwater native, Jeff Arthur is best known as a successful jingle writer with a 43-year career and more than 1,500 spots airing daily nationwide for clients such as Blockbuster Video, Wendy?s and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (he wrote their 1979 fight song, "Hey Hey, Tampa Bay").

Working from a comfortable studio and office space about a mile from his spacious home, Jeff Arthur had industry acclaim and awards, a bustling business, comfortable income and impressive reputation.

But the family also had hidden problems. Jeff Arthur talked frankly about struggling with cocaine addiction for years, stopping for good when Drewbee was 6 months old, getting treatment after Jane threatened to kick him out of the family house.

By third grade, Drewbee was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder and attention-deficit issues, his mother Jane said, noting he could grow fixated on dirty plates in a restaurant or the words she might say before bed.

At age 17, Jane Arthur said, Drewbee told her he had become addicted to the painkiller Percocet after dental work.

He would bring unsavory people around and steal from the family, leaving them feeling as if "we were living with a stranger," his mother said. A talented musician, Drewbee had an up-and-coming area band called Radio Reset that in 2007 was managed by professional boxer Winky Wright.

But Drewbee?s habits accelerated the end of that project, Jeff Arthur said, even after the band played a showcase gig in Las Vegas opening for the rapper Common.

"The kid was phenomenal," said Wright recently, who never knew of Drewbee?s addiction problems until watching the VH1 show. "We had invested in them and thought we had something nice going ... I hope for the best for him."

The incidents piled up. Drewbee landed in a coma in 2009 for four days after taking sleeping pills and choking on food; later, he totaled two cars in a week. The family spent thousands of dollars on rehab programs and treatments, which never worked for long.

In January, Jane Arthur sent two letters to Pinsky, unaware that he was about to announce a version of his rehabilitation show focused on noncelebrities.

"Detaching from your son is much more difficult than your husband," she wrote. "I also have to deal with my husband?s enabling behaviors. I don?t want my husband to love my son to death. He hasn?t learned the tools of a codependent, and our life is a complete mess."

It took months for the show to decide if Drewbee would join the cast; for a while, he was the top alternate until someone else dropped out the night before shooting began. Now, Jeff and Jane Arthur feel Pinsky?s show has become their last hope.

"We had friends and family tell us it was a bad idea (to do the show)," Jeff Arthur said. "But I don?t give a ... if he shaves his head and sells incense at the airport. If it keeps him away from drugs, I don?t care."

When Heidi Jacobsen watched this season of "Rehab With Dr. Drew," she had no idea the kid with musical talent and codependent parents was from the Tampa Bay area.

But as a licensed counselor at WestCare, a substance-abuse treatment center in St. Petersburg, Fla., Jacobsen recognized the family?s signs of classic codependency.

"It is a family disease ... (parents) enable them to continue in both worlds," she said. "Their parents are so afraid to set rules and boundaries, (addicts) end up ruling the house."

Drewbee?s older sister, Lindsey Arthur, 29, was shown trying to talk her brother out of bolting from the facility. She admitted mixed feelings on participating in the show, watching each episode alone.

"What I tell my friends is, if this can inspire another family to seek help, it?s worth it," said the sister, who lives in Jacksonville, Fla. "It?s a nerve-racking kind of thing ... if you?ve never been in this situation, having an addict in your family, you don?t know."

Jeff Arthur said his son will come home for a Thanksgiving visit this weekend. Ultimately, he still struggles to tamp down the desire to save his son.

"When you see your son in that coma, logic (goes) out the window," he said. "But the show gave me a finish line ... I knew he was safe. I knew he wasn?t out scoring (drugs)."

X...X...X

Pinsky announced in the season finale this past Sunday that Drewbee and the show?s other addicts all agreed to enter sober-living programs and are currently sober.

(Email degganstampabay.com)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.shns.com)

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Source: http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/11/21/rehab-dr-drew-hits-close-home-family

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Kate Middleton Pregnant, Jessica Hay Says!

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Treatment for snail-borne schistosomiasis works best over the long ...

Monitoring for infectious snails in bodies of water near villages in coastal Kenya. Credit: J. Clennon, Emory University

Watch where you jump in for a swim or where your bath water comes from, especially if you live in Africa, Asia or South America. Snails that live in tropical freshwater in these locations are intermediaries between disease-causing parasitic worms and humans.

People in developing countries who don't have access to clean water and good sanitation facilities are often exposed to the infected snails. Then they're left open to the parasitic worms.

The worms' infectious larvae emerge from the snails, cruise in shallow water, easily penetrate human skin and mature in internal organs.

The result is schistosomiasis, the second most socioeconomically devastating disease after malaria. As of 2009, 74 developing nations had identified significant rates of schistosomiasis in human populations.

There has been much debate about how best to prevent the disease, says Charles King, a physician and researcher at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. "Beyond that," he asks, "how long should treatment last once someone has schistosomiasis?"

"Current guidelines focus on suppressing the disease's effects by limiting the infection during childhood," says King. "But that may not be enough to cure it or to prevent re-infection, leaving children still at risk for stunted growth and anemia."

King and colleagues recently published results of a study of long-term treatment of schistosomiasis in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

The team's work is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)-National Institutes of Health (NIH) Evolution and Ecology of Infectious Diseases (EEID) program.

Enlarge

Countries worldwide where people are at risk for the snail-borne disease schistosomiasis. Credit: CDC

At NSF, the EEID program is supported by the Directorate for Biological Sciences and Directorate for Geosciences. At NIH, it's supported through the Fogarty International Center.

Schistosomiasis is usually treated with a single dose of the oral drug praziquantel.

World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines set forth in 2006 recommend that when a village reports that more than 50 percent of its children have parasite eggs in their urine or stool?a clear sign of schistosomiasis?everyone in the village should receive treatment.

When 10 to 50 percent of children are affected, say the guidelines, only school-age children should be treated?every two years. With less than 10 percent, mass treatment is not suggested.

But because of the long-term health effects of schistosomiasis, says King, "we now think it's better to provide regular yearly treatment."

Enlarge

People who work in rice fields are exposed for many hours to snail-infested waters. Credit: U. Kitron, Emory University

He and scientists Xiaoxia Wang, David Gurarie and Peter Mungai of Case Western Reserve University; Eric Muchiri of the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation in Nairobi, Kenya; and Uriel Kitron of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, used data collected in 10 villages in southeastern Kenya to run advanced models of village-level schistosomiasis transmission.

They scored the number of years each of the 10 villages would be projected to remain below a 10 percent infection level during a simulated 10-to-20-year treatment program.

Enlarge

GIS map showing four communities in Kenya that are at high risk for schistosomiasis. Credit: Charles King, Case Western Reserve University et al.

All strategies that included an initial four annual treatments reduced community prevalence of the disease to less than 10 percent. Programs with gaps in treatment, however, didn't reach this objective in half the villages.

At typical levels of treatment, the researchers found, current WHO recommendations likely could not achieve full suppression of schistosomiasis.

"With more aggressive annual intervention that lasts at least four years," says King, "some communities might be able to continue without further treatment for 8 to 10 years.

"But in higher-risk villages, repeated annual treatment may be necessary for an indefinite period?until the eco-social factors that foster the disease [such as poor wastewater treatment] are removed."

In high-risk places, ongoing surveillance for the disease and annual drug treatment, the scientists say, need to become the mainstays of control.

In short, these villages require what they call "re-worming after de-worming."

But what happens if townspeople move to a more arid location, one with less freshwater and fewer snails?

In drier landscapes, schistosomiasis is a rare event that happens only during floods. Response to treatment therefore may be much better. Unless or until another flood occurs.

Although drier locales carry less risk for the disease, they're by no means free and clear. Even in arid locations, people would likely need to be treated more than once to get rid of the parasites.

"This research demonstrates the value of understanding where disease-causing organisms are in the environment," says Sam Scheiner, NSF program officer for EEID.

"Such knowledge can reduce human diseases much more effectively and at a lower cost than simply focusing on treatment."

The best goal, says King, is complete eradication of schistosomiasis.

To achieve that, scientists need to determine what makes a "wormy village," how often therapy is needed to prevent disease in such locations?and what can be done to change the environment such that a high-risk village becomes a low-risk one.

More information: www.nsf.gov/news/s? nf/index.jsp
www.nsf.gov/news/n? tn_id=125496

Journal reference: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Provided by National Science Foundation

Source: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-treatment-snail-borne-schistosomiasis-haul.html

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Israel says prefers diplomacy but ready to invade Gaza

GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel bombed dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip on Monday and said that while it was prepared to step up its offensive by sending in troops, it preferred a diplomatic solution that would end Palestinian rocket fire.

Mediator Egypt said a deal for a truce to end the fighting could be close. The leader of Hamas said it was up to Israel to end the new conflict it had started. Israel says its strikes are to halt Palestinian rocket attacks.

Israeli attacks on the sixth day of fighting raised the number of Palestinian dead to 101, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said, listing 24 children among them. Hospital officials in Gaza said more than half of those killed were non-combatants. Three Israeli civilians died on Thursday in a rocket strike.

Militants in the Gaza Strip fired 110 rockets at southern Israel on Monday, causing no casualties, police said.

For the second straight day, Israeli missiles blasted a tower block in the city of Gaza housing international media. Two people were killed there, one of them an Islamic Jihad militant.

Khaled Meshaal, exiled leader of Hamas, said a truce was possible but the Islamist group, in charge of the Gaza Strip since 2007, would not accept Israeli demands and wanted Israel to halt its strikes first and lift its blockade of the enclave.

"Whoever started the war must end it," he told a news conference in Cairo, adding that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an election in January, had asked for a truce, an assertion a senior Israeli official denied.

Meshaal said Netanyahu feared the domestic consequences of a "land war" of the kind Israel launched four years ago: "He can do it, but he knows that it will not be a picnic and that it could be his political death and cost him the elections."

For Israel, Vice Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon has said that "if there is quiet in the south and no rockets and missiles are fired at Israel's citizens, nor terrorist attacks engineered from the Gaza Strip, we will not attack."

Yaalon also said Israel wanted an end to Gaza guerrilla activity in the neighboring Egyptian Sinai peninsula.

Although 84 percent of Israelis supported the current Gaza assault, according to a poll by Israel's Haaretz newspaper, only 30 percent wanted an invasion, while 19 percent wanted their government to work on securing a truce soon.

DIPLOMACY "PREFERRED"

"Israel is prepared and has taken steps, and is ready for a ground incursion which will deal severely with the Hamas military machine," a senior official close to Netanyahu told Reuters.

"We would prefer to see a diplomatic solution that would guarantee the peace for Israel's population in the south. If that is possible, then a ground operation would no longer be required. If diplomacy fails, we may well have no alternative but to send in ground forces," he added.

Egypt, where newly elected President Mohamed Mursi has his roots in the Muslim Brotherhood seen as mentors to Hamas, is acting as a mediator in the biggest test yet of Cairo's 1979 peace treaty with Israel since the fall of Hosni Mubarak.

"I think we are close, but the nature of this kind of negotiation, (means) it is very difficult to predict," Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Kandil, who visited Gaza on Friday in a show of support for its people, said in an interview in Cairo for the Reuters Middle East Investment Summit.

Egypt has been hosting leaders of both Hamas and Islamic Jihad, a smaller armed faction.

Israeli media said a delegation from Israel had also been to Cairo for truce talks. A spokesman for Netanyahu's government declined comment on the matter.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Cairo to weigh in on ceasefire efforts. Egypt's foreign minister is expected to visit Gaza on Tuesday with a delegation of Arab ministers.

THOUSANDS MOURN FAMILY

Thousands turned out on Gaza's streets to mourn four children and five women, among 11 people killed in an Israeli strike that flattened a three-storey home the previous day.

The bodies were wrapped in Palestinian and Hamas flags. Echoes of explosions mixed with cries of grief and defiant chants of "God is greatest".

The deaths of the 11 in an air strike drew more international calls for an end to six days of hostilities and could test Western support for an offensive Israel billed as self-defense after years of cross-border rocket attacks.

Israel said it was investigating its air strike that brought the home crashing down on the al-Dalu family, where the dead spanned four generations. Some Israeli newspapers said the wrong house may have been mistakenly targeted.

In scenes recalling Israel's 2008-2009 winter invasion of the coastal enclave, tanks, artillery and infantry have massed in field encampments along the sandy, fenced-off border and military convoys moved on roads in the area.

Israel has also authorized the call-up of 75,000 military reservists, so far mobilizing around half that number.

The Gaza fighting adds to worries of world powers watching an already combustible region, where several Arab autocrats have been toppled in popular revolts for the past two years and a civil war in Syria threatens to spread beyond its borders.

In the absence of any prospect of permanent peace between Israel and Islamist factions such as Hamas, mediated deals for each to hold fire unilaterally have been the only formula for stemming bloodshed in the past.

Israel's declared goal is to deplete Gaza arsenals and force Hamas to stop rocket fire that has hit Israeli border towns for years.

Hamas and other groups in Gaza are sworn enemies of the Jewish state which they refuse to recognize and seek to eradicate, claiming all Israeli territory as rightfully theirs.

Hamas won legislative elections in the Palestinian Territories in 2006. A year later, after the collapse of a unity government under President Mahmoud Abbas, the Islamist group seized Gaza in a brief civil war with Abbas's forces.

(Writing by Jeffrey Heller, Dan Williams and Peter Graff; Editing by Alastair Macdonald)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/more-diplomacy-try-halt-israel-gaza-fighting-023756686.html

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Should I upgrade to the Nexus 4 now that the Galaxy Nexus has 4.2?

Now that there are no questions about the Galaxy Nexus and it getting Android 4.2 (there never should have been any), it's time to take a look at the big question again -- should I spend money and upgrade? We've taken a look at how the Nexus 4 stacks up against the Galaxy S3 and the HTC One X, and how the 4.1.2 version of the Galaxy Nexus fares against the Nexus 4. Now that both phones are on the same version of the OS, and I've been able to use them for a few days, hopefully I can help you decide if you should push the button and order when the Nexus 4 becomes available again.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/099U5qPClzQ/story01.htm

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