Iraq vet uses rear naked choke to stop robbery

You walk into a store and see someone holding up the cashier. What do you do? If you're Zack Thome, an Iraq vet and someone who has trained in MMA, you slap a rear naked choke on the offender and choke him out.

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Thome held Brandon Slanger, the suspect who is said to be schizophrenic, down as someone else called the police. Thome said he lives near the store and didn't want to see the cashier hurt.

"It's kind of my hometown.? I live right next to the place, you know, I'm in there everyday.? I think if it was the other way around, if I worked there and the guy at the register was there, he would have done the same thing," said Thome.

Kudos to Thome for using his MMA training to good use. But unless you've actually trained, don't try this at home, folks. Watching every UFC pay-per-view doesn't count.

Gracias, Cage Potato.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/iraq-vet-uses-rear-naked-choke-stop-robbery-130652301.html

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Samsung boasts 5 million Galaxy Notes sold worldwide

It's been less than a month since we heard reports of Samsung selling its second million Galaxy Note, but already the manufacturer's official numbers have reached more than double that. Today Samsung Korea has revealed that it's sold 5 million Galaxy Notes worldwide. The new figure means the manufacturer's well on its way to reaching its reported 2012 target of 10 million global Note sales.

The 5.3-inch Galaxy Note, which launched in Europe in late October, will have seen a boost in sales following its launch in North America last month. Despite its enormous size and focus on pen input, it's proved to be a surprising success, shifting over 1 million units in Europe and Asia by the end of 2011, before reaching the 5 million milestone after its fifth month on sale. Even elephants are getting in on the stylus-based action.

Today's number is still dwarfed by sales of the Galaxy S II, which currently stand at over 20 million worldwide, with more than 5 million in Samsung's home territory of South Korea. Samsung recently expanded the Note line with the Galaxy Note 10.1, which we got to play with at last month's Mobile World Congress.

Source: Samsung Korea; via: Slashgear

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/8MXj830WVww/story01.htm

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Report: Sandusky called 'likely pedophile' in '98

FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2011 file photo,?Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach charged with sexually abusing boys, leaves the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa. A psychologist who looked into a 1998 allegation against Sandusky told police at the time that his behavior fit the profile of a likely pedophile, NBC News reported Saturday, March 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2011 file photo,?Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach charged with sexually abusing boys, leaves the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa. A psychologist who looked into a 1998 allegation against Sandusky told police at the time that his behavior fit the profile of a likely pedophile, NBC News reported Saturday, March 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) ? A psychologist who looked into a 1998 allegation against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky told police at the time that his behavior fit the profile of a likely pedophile, NBC News reported Saturday.

Yet Sandusky was not criminally charged, nor placed on a state registry of suspected child abusers, and prosecutors say he continued assaulting boys for more than a decade until his arrest in November.

NBC obtained a copy of the campus police department's investigatory report on an encounter in which Sandusky was accused of having inappropriate contact with an 11-year-old boy with whom he had showered naked on the Penn State campus.

The police file includes the report of State College psychologist Alycia Chambers, who interviewed and provided counseling to the boy.

"My consultants agree that the incidents meet all of our definitions, based on experience and education, of a likely pedophile's pattern of building trust and gradual introduction of physical touch, within a context of a 'loving,' 'special' relationship," Chambers wrote.

However, a second psychologist, John Seasock, concluded that Sandusky had neither assaulted the boy nor fit the profile of a pedophile.

Chambers and Seasock did not immediately return phone messages left at their offices Saturday.

Centre County prosecutors ultimately decided not to charge Sandusky, and the case was closed until a statewide grand jury accused the retired defensive coordinator of abusing the boy and nine others over a 15-year period. Sandusky, who faces more than 50 counts of child sex abuse, has pleaded innocent and awaits trial.

Chambers' warning to authorities raises new questions about the university's failure to stop Sandusky. Eight of the 10 boys were attacked on campus, prosecutors allege.

In 2002, four years after the 1998 investigation, prosecutors say then-graduate assistant Mike McQueary caught Sandusky sexually assaulting a boy in the football showers. McQueary reported what he saw to coach Joe Paterno, who, in turn, reported the allegation to university officials. But no police investigation was ever done.

Penn State said in a statement Saturday that it would not comment, citing ongoing investigations.

Sandusky's attorney, Joseph Amendola, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Seasock's report was "exculpable" and that the 1998 incident was not as clear-cut as Chambers made it out to be.

"We could get five psychologists, child psychologists, who specialize maybe in sexual dysfunctions or pedophilia look at the same case and talk to the same people and come up with five different conclusions," he said in a phone interview.

The 1998 allegation was the first known complaint made to authorities about Sandusky. A woman called the Penn State police department, saying she was troubled after her 11-year-old son told her he had showered naked with Sandusky on campus.

Prosecutors say Sandusky lathered up the boy ? known as Victim 6 in the state's current criminal case ? bear-hugged him naked from behind, and picked him up and put his head under the shower. Detectives say that later, with police secretly listening in, Sandusky told the boy's mother the joint shower had been a mistake, and blurted: "I wish I were dead."

The woman's complaint triggered a separate review by the state Department of Public Welfare, which found no indication of abuse by Sandusky.

But state welfare department investigator Jerry Lauro told AP in December that he didn't have access to the criminal investigative file. On Wednesday, he told The Patriot-News of Harrisburg that he never would have closed the case had he seen the reports from Chambers and the second psychologist, Seasock.

"The course of history could have been changed," Lauro told the newspaper, which first reported the existence of the twin psychological reports.

"The conclusions (Chambers) had drawn in her report were pretty damaging," Lauro told the paper. "I would have made a different decision. ... It's unbelievable, and it gets my blood pressure going when I think about it."

Seasock, who worked with Centre County Office of Children and Youth Services, interviewed the boy for an hour and wrote in his report ? also included in the police file obtained by NBC ? that he did not find any evidence of "grooming" or "inappropriate sexual behavior" by Sandusky.

"All the interactions reported by (the boy) can be typically defined as normal between a healthy adult and a young adolescent male," Seasock wrote.

Seasock, however, did not review Chambers' report or prior interviews with the boy before submitting his own report, the police report indicates, nor did he elicit key details, including the fact that Sandusky had kissed the boy and told him he loved him.

Amendola said that Chambers has refused to talk to the defense, but that he would try anew in light of the NBC report.

"Any argument the commonwealth had about privilege is out the window," said Amendola. He said he found the timing of the NBC report curious because it came several days after a judge ordered the attorney general to turn over the psychological reports to the defense unless prosecutors could persuade the court they are not subject to disclosure.

Chambers told NBC in an interview that she was horrified to learn that Sandusky allegedly continued assaulting boys long after she warned Penn State authorities about him.

"I was horrified to know that there were so many other innocent boys who had been subject to this, who had their hearts and minds confused, their bodies violated. It's unspeakable," she said.

Chambers told NBC her 1998 investigation found "behavior that was consistent with a predator, a male predator, a pedophile."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-03-24-Penn%20State-Abuse/id-9478bc0ec153496d9caa0791d4d5728e

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Vital Information Every Parent Should Know Regarding Natural ...

Some babies seem more prone to rashes than others. These skin disorders can create an uncomfortable situation for a child. However many parents have discovered that there are several natural treatments for baby eczema that can be used to relieve the problem.

Many parents learn very quickly to avoid products that are overly perfumed. The best products are hypoallergenic and unscented. Even products formulated for babies that have the scent often associated with a new born may cause the skin problem to become worse. It is best to avoid these products whenever possible.

Watch for products that sometimes make changes in ingredients. If a parent has located a product that seems to prevent the problem and stocks start to run low, check the manufacturer?s website for a new and improved product. Try to stockpile the old product as much as possible. Not all hypoallergenic detergents are created equal, especially against a young child?s delicate skin.

Avoid bathing the child every day. Switch to an every other day routine for regular baths. In most cases, this provides plenty of cleanliness and prevents the water from robbing the skin from needed moisture.

Replace soap with oatmeal. Try placing a small amount in the end of a cotton sock to wash the body. It provides the soapiness needed for the bath but soothes skin that has become irritated. Be sure to throw the oatmeal out after each bath.

Some parents have found success by bathing the child in bleach water. It only takes one eighth cup for each ten gallons of water, so use the bleach sparingly. In addition, make sure the child does not drink the bath water. After bath time is finished, use a good moisturizer on the skin.

Sometimes home remedies fail and parents will need to resort to Hydrocortisone or other medication to provide relief to the child. If the medications available over the counter do not work, speak with a doctor about a prescription for a better quality medication. The doctor may provide one or more medications to help the child to feel better.

No one wants to see a child suffer. If a skin condition is causing irritation that is itchy and irritated, then these natural treatments for baby eczema may be helpful. Sometimes the most effective therapy is prevention of the problem in the first place.

Natural skin care is important regardless of the age of the individual. Baby eczema should be solved with the right soothing products.

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Report: Sandusky called 'likely pedophile' in '98

FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2011 file photo,?Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach charged with sexually abusing boys, leaves the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa. A psychologist who looked into a 1998 allegation against Sandusky told police at the time that his behavior fit the profile of a likely pedophile, NBC News reported Saturday, March 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2011 file photo,?Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach charged with sexually abusing boys, leaves the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa. A psychologist who looked into a 1998 allegation against Sandusky told police at the time that his behavior fit the profile of a likely pedophile, NBC News reported Saturday, March 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) ? A psychologist who looked into a 1998 allegation against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky told police at the time that his behavior fit the profile of a likely pedophile, NBC News reported Saturday.

Yet Sandusky was not criminally charged, nor placed on a state registry of suspected child abusers, and prosecutors say he continued assaulting boys for more than a decade until his arrest in November.

NBC obtained a copy of the campus police department's investigatory report on an encounter in which Sandusky was accused of having inappropriate contact with an 11-year-old boy with whom he had showered naked on the Penn State campus.

The police file includes the report of State College psychologist Alycia Chambers, who interviewed and provided counseling to the boy.

"My consultants agree that the incidents meet all of our definitions, based on experience and education, of a likely pedophile's pattern of building trust and gradual introduction of physical touch, within a context of a 'loving,' 'special' relationship," Chambers wrote.

However, a second psychologist, John Seasock, concluded that Sandusky had neither assaulted the boy nor fit the profile of a pedophile.

Chambers and Seasock did not immediately return phone messages left at their offices Saturday.

Centre County prosecutors ultimately decided not to charge Sandusky, and the case was closed until a statewide grand jury accused the retired defensive coordinator of abusing the boy and nine others over a 15-year period. Sandusky, who faces more than 50 counts of child sex abuse, has pleaded innocent and awaits trial.

Chambers' warning to authorities raises new questions about the university's failure to stop Sandusky. Eight of the 10 boys were attacked on campus, prosecutors allege.

In 2002, four years after the 1998 investigation, prosecutors say then-graduate assistant Mike McQueary caught Sandusky sexually assaulting a boy in the football showers. McQueary reported what he saw to coach Joe Paterno, who, in turn, reported the allegation to university officials. But no police investigation was ever done.

Penn State said in a statement Saturday that it would not comment, citing ongoing investigations.

Sandusky's attorney, Joseph Amendola, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Seasock's report was "exculpable" and that the 1998 incident was not as clear-cut as Chambers made it out to be.

"We could get five psychologists, child psychologists, who specialize maybe in sexual dysfunctions or pedophilia look at the same case and talk to the same people and come up with five different conclusions," he said in a phone interview.

The 1998 allegation was the first known complaint made to authorities about Sandusky. A woman called the Penn State police department, saying she was troubled after her 11-year-old son told her he had showered naked with Sandusky on campus.

Prosecutors say Sandusky lathered up the boy ? known as Victim 6 in the state's current criminal case ? bear-hugged him naked from behind, and picked him up and put his head under the shower. Detectives say that later, with police secretly listening in, Sandusky told the boy's mother the joint shower had been a mistake, and blurted: "I wish I were dead."

The woman's complaint triggered a separate review by the state Department of Public Welfare, which found no indication of abuse by Sandusky.

But state welfare department investigator Jerry Lauro told AP in December that he didn't have access to the criminal investigative file. On Wednesday, he told The Patriot-News of Harrisburg that he never would have closed the case had he seen the reports from Chambers and the second psychologist, Seasock.

"The course of history could have been changed," Lauro told the newspaper, which first reported the existence of the twin psychological reports.

"The conclusions (Chambers) had drawn in her report were pretty damaging," Lauro told the paper. "I would have made a different decision. ... It's unbelievable, and it gets my blood pressure going when I think about it."

Seasock, who worked with Centre County Office of Children and Youth Services, interviewed the boy for an hour and wrote in his report ? also included in the police file obtained by NBC ? that he did not find any evidence of "grooming" or "inappropriate sexual behavior" by Sandusky.

"All the interactions reported by (the boy) can be typically defined as normal between a healthy adult and a young adolescent male," Seasock wrote.

Seasock, however, did not review Chambers' report or prior interviews with the boy before submitting his own report, the police report indicates, nor did he elicit key details, including the fact that Sandusky had kissed the boy and told him he loved him.

Amendola said that Chambers has refused to talk to the defense, but that he would try anew in light of the NBC report.

"Any argument the commonwealth had about privilege is out the window," said Amendola. He said he found the timing of the NBC report curious because it came several days after a judge ordered the attorney general to turn over the psychological reports to the defense unless prosecutors could persuade the court they are not subject to disclosure.

Chambers told NBC in an interview that she was horrified to learn that Sandusky allegedly continued assaulting boys long after she warned Penn State authorities about him.

"I was horrified to know that there were so many other innocent boys who had been subject to this, who had their hearts and minds confused, their bodies violated. It's unspeakable," she said.

Chambers told NBC her 1998 investigation found "behavior that was consistent with a predator, a male predator, a pedophile."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-03-24-Penn%20State-Abuse/id-9478bc0ec153496d9caa0791d4d5728e

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Payroll software, accounting software - Payroll Software for Non ...

ezPaycheck payroll software, from Halfpricesoft.com, makes it simple and easy to change payroll software or begin using payroll software for the first time - even for companies at the end of their fiscal year.

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More Details about Payroll software, accounting software here.

Payroll software, ezPaycheck, can be used to report employee wages and salaries to federal, state, and local agencies, with a duplicate copy for the employee. Newly released 2012 edition of ezPaycheck payroll software from Halfpricesoft.com (http://www.halfpricesoft.com) gives small and mid-size businesses more options and flexibility in doing payroll and printing checks than ever before. The updates of the new ezPaycheck 2012 edition include:

- the Form 941 for Employer's QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return
- the more flexible tax option set up on employee level

"We intentionally engineered this software for those end-users who are not professional accountants and payroll tax experts," explains Dr. Mark Ge, President and Founder of ezPaycheck. "You don't even need to have much knowledge of computers. We believe small business software should be simple - stupid simple - so that owners can focus their time and energy on running their businesses, not trying to figure out how to run payroll software."

This affordable, super-simple, custom streamlined payroll and tax software - available at http://www.halfpricesoft.com/payroll_software_download.asp - is ideal for non-profits and businesses with unique tax situations. Churches and other religious organizations, who don't deduct FICA taxes for clergy members, will find these new control features particularly appealing.

ezPaycheck payroll software is loaded with intelligent, intuitive features, but not burdened by complicated suites of expensive applications small businesses will never use or need. The main features include:

- Up to date tax tables for all 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C. and federal taxes
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- Automatically calculate tips, commissions, federal withholding tax, Social Security, Medicare tax, employer unemployment taxes, and other pre-tax and post-tax deductions
- Print paychecks using a standard laser printer on blank computer checks or preprinted checks
- Use check-in-middle, check-on-top, or check-at-bottom check stock formats
- Able to print MICR numbers on blank check stock to save on pre-printed checks
- Print signature image on checks for a customized look
- Built-in report functions users can customize
- Calculate and print daily, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly and monthly payroll periods
- Option for masking employees' Social Security Numbers on check stubs
- Compile and print federal tax forms w2, w3, 940 and 941
- Unlimited free technical support

Available for just $89 per year ($59 to renew), ezPaycheck payroll software has remained at that affordable price since its initial release in 2005. EzPaycheck gives small and mid-size businesses more options and flexibility in doing payroll, printing check and filing tax return.

To start the free test drive, please visit http://www.halfpricesoft.com/index.asp for more details.

About the Submitter
Halfpricesoft.com is a provider of easy-to-use 1099, W2 and Payroll Software solutions for accountants and small to medium size businesses. ezPaycheck payroll software makes small business accounting a breeze with free trial, no registration, and no obligation.

Contact:
Casey Yang
ycasey@halfpricesoft.com
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Keywords: Payroll software, accounting software, payroll system, small business payroll software, payroll taxes, payroll, accounting, paychecks

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Mayor, Governor Donate To Hispanic Legislative Conference In Albany

'); if(infobox=='True' && ShowInfoBox_l158130_1==false){ jQuery("#player_infobarl158130_1").trigger('click'); ShowInfoBox_l158130_1==true; } }; $.setup_player(Play_Conf); //info bar setup jQuery('#player_infobarl158130_1').click(function() { var $info =jQuery('#player_info_contentl158130_1'); if($info.text()!=''){ var $content = jQuery('div',$info); //min heigth var min = $content.css('min-height'); var max = $content.css('max-height'); $info.slideToggle(600); ShowInfoBox_l158130_1=!ShowInfoBox_l158130_1; } }); });

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After several of the state?s largest unions withdrew donations to a Hispanic legislative conference in Albany this weekend, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg are making up the difference.

Both the state and city teachers? unions pulled funding for the conference, known as SOMOS, after the legislature approved a new pension tier for new city and state employees.

In a joint statement Thursday, the mayor and the governor criticized the move, saying, ?We think the unions' actions are unfortunate, and don't want the conference to suffer as a result.?

United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew had harsh words for both executives.

"The mayor and the governor can?t get around one fact: a middle of the night, sleazy backroom deal with gerrymandered districts and giving a rough time to all the future workers of the state, they can?t get around the fact that that?s what they did last week,? said Mulgrew.

The mayor and the governor will donate $36,000 each to the organization.

Bloomberg will donate from his personal fortune, and the governor will donate from his campaign account.

Source: http://statenisland.ny1.com/content/news_beats/political_news/158130/mayor--governor-donate-to-hispanic-legislative-conference-in-albany

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Home Improvement Ideas: Recreational Room | Living Green and ...

Doing home improvement on your recreational room is the perfect answer in a slow economy. You can improve your home and have many fun things to do as a family in your home instead of leaving it and spending more money.

Home improvement ideas include having a professional install carpeting, wood floors or laminate wood floors to your recreational room. To choose which type of flooring to put in your recreational room ask yourself these questions:

If I am to put carpeting in my recreational room, will it last? Will there be a lot of children using the recreational room? If there will be a lot of children using the recreational room you may want to opt for wood flooring or laminate flooring. You want everyone to have a relaxed and fun time in the recreational room, not stressed and nervous about spilling on the carpeting.

If I buy wood flooring will my dog?s nails scratch the flooring? Will there be a hot tub in my recreational room that will get water on the floor? If you have a dog or multiple dogs you may want to opt for laminate wood flooring.

These days laminate wood flooring is very strong and you can even purchase laminate wood flooring with grooves between the ?wood? to make it look even more natural.

If you live alone or as a couple you may choose wood flooring or carpeting in your recreational room as most adults are more careful with regards to stains and scratching the floor. Remember the choice is yours with the flooring you choose. We are giving you thought out suggestions when you choose to improve your home.

Before you hire someone to install the flooring, make sure you add a fresh coat of paint to each room you will be improving.

The professional that you hire can also help you choose which type of flooring is best for your home and living situation.

If you have a large rec room with a few rooms off of it, you may choose to make the largest room your main room. Many folks like to have this room as their media center. The media center will have a large screen TV, comfortable chairs and/or couch with cup holders. You may choose to add a bar to your recreational room. You can put in a little freezer to keep the ice cold as well as beverages. If you are going to stock your bar with liquor please remember to lock it up.

You may also add a game system such as the Wii, PlayStation 3, etc. to add to more fun.

A pool table and/or air hockey table, vintage games such as Pac Man and foosball are nice additions to entertain you and your family as well.

In one of the rooms off of the recreational room, you may have the floor installer add carpeting or another type of flooring. Use this room to put all of your workout machines in. This can be your quiet workout room. You may want to add the home improvement of having built in speakers in this room so you can listen to music to get you working out even harder. Another home improvement idea is to add mirrors to this room so you can watch yourself workout and your body improve.

The other room off of the recreational room can be the room you design for relaxation. You may put in wood flooring, safe tile with ridges on it so no one slips or laminate wood flooring. Beforehand, hire a professional painter to paint the room a comfortable cool color that makes you feel relaxed. Now add a hot tub to the room that fits you, your spouse and/or the size of your family. Add candles and make sure you have a built in speaker or two in this room so you can listen to soft music while you de-stress.

Other home improvement ideas include making sure the windows in your recreational room are keeping heat in and the cold air out and vice versa in the summertime. If not, it is time to replace your windows so you can save money on your heating and air conditioning bills. New windows will also improve the look of your home.

There are many home improvement ideas you can hire a professional to accomplish so you can create the recreational room you and your family desire.

Source: http://livinggreenandsmall.com/home-improvement-ideas-recreational-room/

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Sudanese refugees find unlikely home in rural Australia

A rural Australian gold mining and farming town famous as the birthplace of "Waltzing Matilda" poet Banjo Paterson seems an unlikely home for refugees fleeing decades of conflict in Sudan.

But what started with a single pioneering family has become a thriving community of more than 300 people from the strife-torn north African nation who call pastoral Orange home.

"Maybe its best town in the world, especially the weather," explained Sudanese refugee Fathi Shouma in broken English.

"It is like area where we come from in Sudan, it's looking like same area and reminding me I'm living in the same area when I was born. Happy life is going on here."

Shouma's road to peace has been a long one -- he and wife Neimat Darar spent three years in an Egyptian refugee camp after fleeing their native Nuba Mountains, in South Kordofan, amid raging civil war.

It was a time they would sooner forget; women were known to vanish and there were stories of refugees being killed for their organs, with overcrowding, heat and disease a fact of daily life.

"Egypt is very hard," says Darar, sadly. "We can thank the God because he take us from there and we come here safely."

Proudly serving coffee in the kitchen of their modest brick home as the laughter of their children can be heard from the front lawn, Egypt seems a world away from suburban Orange.

But an influx of Sudanese have made it a home away from home. At the time of last census in 2006, some 24 percent of people in Australia on refugee visas at that time were from Sudan, making it the number one country of birth for humanitarian migrants to Australia. Iraq was second, followed by Afghanistan.

It has been seven years since the first family -- Osman Tag, his wife and seven children -- left Sydney where most of the refugees are initially settled, to find a new life in the 37,000-person town famed for its mines, agriculture, rugby team and icy winters.

Paterson, one of Australia's most famous poets and author of the iconic national folk-song "Waltzing Matilda", drew inspiration from the region's rolling hills and rivers, and Tag was reminded of Sudan's mountain country.

"I was born in a small village, small town is better to get good friend," Tag told AFP.

Though they're less than one percent of the town's general population, the Sudanese account for about 11 percent of Orange's multicultural community, which city spokeswoman Anni Gallagher described as a "significant" number.

Two-thirds of them are children and the move to rural Australia has been a sometimes challenging experience.

Local cultural programmes include horse-riding and learning to swim in the bright blue waters of the local swimming pool -- rites of passage for the town's children but very foreign experiences for the young refugees.

"We had kids who are usually quite cocky, and they were quite frightened of the water, couldn't get their feet off the ground," said programme supervisor Karen Boyde.

For the parents, too, it can be overwhelming to navigate the bureaucracy of schools, job-seeking and tenancy with little or no English and very often no reading skills due to the oral nature of South Sudanese languages.

Local retirees Sam and Jenny Grosvenor were assigned to help Fathi and Neimat with simple tasks -- filling out forms and reading the newspaper -- but their relationship has blossomed over the years into a firm friendship.

"It's been deeply rewarding for us, they're amazing, they really are. We've learned from them as they have from us and we continue to learn," says Jenny.

They helped Darar find work as a meat-packer at the local supermarket, an early morning job that allows her to be home in time for her three children to return from school.

Shouma got a petrol station job after appearing in the town's newspaper.

Employment is a major challenge for the town's growing refugee population, along with housing and access to the intensive language and other skills training many dream of in order to get ahead.

Adjusting culturally to a new life can also be testing for those raised in the Sudanese tradition, where offspring remain in the family home until they are married, according to community elder Abdul Jabbard Hessein.

"Here it is different, after 16 they will depend on themselves and go out. It is not good for us," says Hessein.

It's been a culture shock for Orange too -- frictions between the Sudanese and local Aboriginal communities have flared from time to time and there was a degree of suspicion initially from some townsfolk.

"That changed overnight because of their warmth," says Jenny Grosvenor.

Rural Australia has not always responded warmly to Sudanese refugees -- the nation's country music capital Tamworth famously rejected a request to resettle five families back in 2006 for fears it would spark a race riot, saying the refugees already living there had no respect for Australian laws and customs.

The town eventually reversed its decision, but not before a series of ugly public meetings that revealed deep prejudices and divisions over the issue.

Shouma and Darar are the first Sudanese to buy their own house in Orange, but they worry about family and friends still in Egypt and fleeing the bombing of their homelands.

"It's very difficult sometimes, we are thinking much. (But) we are looking (out) for kids, not for us. The kids are very happy," Shouma says.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sudanese-refugees-unlikely-home-rural-australia-062157026.html

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Inhabitat's Week in Green: cloning a woolly mammoth, mesmerizing kinetic facade and LED-suited break dancers

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

This week Inhabitat reported on several breaking technological controversies as South Korean scientists announced plans to clone a woolly mammoth and a group of researchers suggested bioengineering the human body to combat climate change. Printing tech also got a green upgrade as researchers developed a laser "unprinter" capable of erasing pages with a quick zap, and scientists used a 3D printer to create the world's smallest F1 car. Speaking of print, the University of Austin just developed a revolutionary paper sensor that can detect HIV and malaria for less than 10 cents and a group of aerospace engineers created a pacemaker that's powered by the human heart.

In alternative energy news, this week we showcased a solar-powered shipping container office that produces twice as much energy as it consumes, and Arup unveiled its striking net-zero arena for the 2022 world cup. We also highlighted 6 brilliant sun-powered art installations, a pair of massive oil pumps sprang up in Midtown Manhattan, and we brought you a mesmerizing kinetic facade that changes with the wind. President Obama also delivered a speech where he slammed opponents for their single-minded views on energy and a team of researchers developed a ultra thin battery that could power displays on credit cards.

Several groundbreaking green transportation projects launched this week as the first 2012 Coda all-electric sedan hit the streets, and scientists proposed a crazy maglev "Startram" train that could make space travel cheaper and more efficient. We also brought you the latest on the Chevy Volt saga as Bob Lutz went on the defensive for the Volt, Bill O'Reilly got caught red-handed as he flip-flopped his position on eco vehicles, and we got the scoop from Chevy's Rob Peterson about the Volt production shutdown. Last but not least, we published you several dispatches from the field of wearable technology - including a dazzling "Aurora" dress made from 10,000 LEDs, a line of space-age fashions inspired by Hubble photography, and a team of pop-locking LED-suited break dancers.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: cloning a woolly mammoth, mesmerizing kinetic facade and LED-suited break dancers originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Mar 2012 20:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/P79_w1SiDjY/

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Get Probiotics for Dogs,Cats and even Prebiotics | Literally Died

Now, the veterinary well being neighborhood exceptionally praises merchandise which have probiotics for cats. Cat and dog probiotics are actually backed by a wide selection of responsible research that claim that they?re hugely immensely important in retaining optimal digestive wellness. Besides dog probiotics, prebiotics also are sold by some manufacturers. Nevertheless, completely couple pet proprietors understand what the main difference involving both of these are.

Quite a bit of vets generally be required to explain to pet proprietors the main difference relating to prebiotics and probiotics for dogs and cats. For those who are not familiar with these two, do not fret ? you?re not alone! Prebiotics feed intestinal germs, although probiotics certainly are a sort of favorable intestinal bacteria: this is actually the major difference around both of these. It has been established that prebiotics feed not merely the advantageous gut bacteria, but will also the bad bacteria that may hurt your pet.

Prebiotics will never do any hurt towards your puppy or cat if he has an optimally healthy and balanced digestive tract. Regrettably, gastrointestinal (GI) trouble like leaky gut and modest intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can be a common dilemma among pets currently. This can be the purpose why their GI tracts exceptional to undesirable germs ratio is out of get. In these cases, it?s not at all most suitable to present prebiotics for the pet. Prebiotics are intricate sugars. You will find out this complicated considering that these are definitely traditionally identified as fiber given that there?re non-digestible. As yeast along with opportunistic pathogens feed on sugar from the smallish intestine, dogs and cats which have yeasty guts can become sicker from consuming prebiotics.

Heres one additional big difference relating to prebiotics and probiotics for dogs and cats: while prebiotics in many cases are combined with pet foodstuff, probiotics will not be. So, usually do not purchase a pet foodstuff that promises to have the best probiotics for cats and pet dogs. This is due to cat and dog probiotics are warmth and moisture-sensitive, and if you include them to some pet foods formulation these types of as kibble, they are going to die and turned out to be pointless.

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Source: http://literallydied.com/pets/get-probiotics-for-dogscats-and-even-prebiotics/

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PFT: Flynn to visit Dolphins after Seahawks

Within the first year or so after launching this thing in 2001, we embarked on an effort to generate revenue. ?And so we asked around and obtained a referral to an advertising company.

The response to the inquiry was blunt: ??Get back to us when you have 10 million page views per month.?

At the time, it was a number so high in comparison to our traffic that it was inconceivable to ever come close to it.

Fortunately, that word continues to not mean what I think it means.

Fueled by a stubborn desire to show the advertising company whose name I?ve long since forgotten that they had underestimated PFT, we kept plugging away. ?Four years ago, we started to consistently crack the 10 million views-per-month barrier on a consistent basis.

In the past fives days, we caught a pair of the once-white whales.

From Monday through Friday, a total of 22.935 million page views were pushed through the wires and tubes that connect the hamster-powered servers to the rest of the world. ?And for that we thank every one of you.

To those who have been with us since the site looked like this?to those of you who have found us recently to those of you who enjoy the content via the kick-ass NBC SportsTalk app on iPad, iPhone, and Android devices, thanks for spending some time here and we hope you continue to do so. ?Even when it?s 18-plus hours of work per day, as it?s been every day this week, it?s never really work.

We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoy creating it. ?And maybe one of these days I?ll be able to call up that advertising company whose name I still can?t remember and tell them that we got their 10 million page views in one single day.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/16/report-flynn-will-visit-miami-before-signing-anywhere/related/

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Unwrapping the Retail Business Technology Expo ? Wavelink's ...

The UK?s Retail Business Technology Expo came to a close in London yesterday.

Kelly Ungs Presents at Retail Business Technology Expo 2012

In its second year there is no doubt that the event more than doubled in the number of exhibitors, space and sessions over last year. Aimed at UK and European retailers, the event melds all manner of end-to-end solutions for multi-channel, e-commerce, marketing, merchandising, EPoS, supply chain, store systems, loss prevention, finance, payments and CRM. Phew, that?s a lot of ground to cover!

From futuristic 3D virtual technology called Augmented Reality from Intel and Lego that will change the way you look at digital signage, to the continuing conversation on RFID, the show had it all! ?The central theme at RBTE that continues to be on the mind of retailers is that managing the wireless ecosystem, from devices to apps, is still critical. More so, that despite sophisticated technology for ecommerce, the distribution side is still playing catch-up.

With more and more shoppers moving to online purchases, specifically from their smartphones and tablets, it?s not only key to understanding their online shopping behavior, but getting them what they want within the next day or two after hitting ?Process Payment.? Customer satisfaction, well let?s face it, instant gratification, is singularly key no matter where you sell in the world. But with a global economy that, for the most part, is still seeing a downturn, saving money within the distribution cycle still remains a priority.

Visiting with Customers

For the majority of distribution centers, paper picking still rules. With e-commerce moving quicker than you can say ?Beam me up Scotty,? making updates on the backend to keep up become important. As I?ve said, customer satisfaction still rules. With voice picking technology, companies can see a significant return on investment using existing devices, with little to no modifications or a costly investment, and be up and running in less than 30-days. ?With increased efficiency, reduced picking errors, and little to no training, voice adds up to a quick ROI. Plus, the added bonus of customer satisfaction? let?s say, for instance, when a customer opens her next day package to find that the perfect stainless steel Santoku knife has been replaced by 10 steak knives she didn?t order. Not that it?s ever happened to me?

If you attended RBTE, what topics came up that you find interesting? Anything new on the horizon that caught your attention?

-GR

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Tags: e-commerce, Kelly Ungs, Retail Business Technology Expo, voice picking

This entry was posted on March 15, 2012 at 11:37 am and is filed under Mobile Device Management, Voice, Wavelink on the Road. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://wavelink.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/unwrapping-the-retail-business-technology-expo/

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Posted by on March 17th, 2012 :: Filed under sporadic
Tags :: Business, digital signage, technology expo
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Source: http://mifantuan.net/316/unwrapping-the-retail-business-technology-expo-wavelinks-blog/

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Depardieu likes Sarkozy and Castro but not Strauss-Kahn

PARIS (Reuters) - French movie giant Gerard Depardieu likes conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy just as he liked Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Pope John Paul II and left-wing leader Francois Mitterrand in their day, he told Swiss broadcaster RTS.

In an interview posted on RTS' website, the outspoken actor also said that he disliked the man he was set to incarnate in a film, disgraced former IMF head and one-time French presidential hopeful Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and that this was why he would take the role.

Asked about Sarkozy, Depardieu said during an occasionally rambling interview: "People are going to tell you that I like dictators but no. I really liked Fidel Castro, just as I really liked John Paul II, just as I really liked Francois Mitterrand. Because they came at a precise moment ... I really like Sarkozy."

The French president is currently tipped in opinion polls of voter plans to lose to Socialist candidate Francois Hollande in the presidential runoff vote on May 6.

Depardieu turned up to support him at a major campaign rally last Sunday, taking a front-row seat beside Sarkozy's wife, the singer and former model Carla Bruni. In a semi-breathless speech, Depardieu said his "new friend" was a leader who did nothing but good but of whom nothing good was said.

Asked by the Swiss broadcaster if he was preparing for a movie role as Strauss-Kahn, whose globetrotting IMF career and presidential ambitions ended when he was arrested in New York on now-dropped sex assault charges last year, Depardieu said he found Strauss-Kahn "arrogant" and "self-satisfied."

He added, "Yes, because I don't like him I'm going to do it."

When his interviewer asked him if he believed he himself was normal, he said, "No, I'm a bit monstrous".

The acclaimed actor, famous for his roles in films such as "Jean de Florette" and "Green Card," outraged fellow travelers last summer by urinating in the aisle of an Air France flight.

A passenger said Depardieu appeared to be drunk at the time and had insisted he be allowed to use the bathroom during takeoff when passengers are obliged to remain seated.

(Reporting By Brian Love; editing by Patricia Reaney)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/depardieu-likes-sarkozy-castro-not-strauss-kahn-070622805.html

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Rhode Island Urges Homeowners to Purchase Flood Insurance

Rhode Island emergency officials are urging property owners to purchase flood insurance to protect against the kind of flooding that did massive damage in the state two years ago.

Floodplain coordinator Michelle Burnett of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency says a flood policy is critical for homes and businesses in floodplains. March and April are the months during which flooding has traditionally affected Rhode Island most.

In 2010, the Pawtuxet River breached its banks and did millions of dollars? worth of damage.

The state says only 3 percent of the nearly 500,000 homes and businesses in Rhode Island have flood insurance. The average annual policy premium is $1,200. This week is National Flood Awareness Week.

?

Source Article from http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2012/03/14/239383.htm

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Source: http://jallencoblog.com/rhode-island-urges-homeowners-to-purchase-flood-insurance/

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'Insulting' Ahmadinejad angers Iran lawmakers

Abedin Taherkenareh / EPA

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks at the parliament in Tehran on Wednesday.

By msnbc.com staff and news services

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was summoned to parliament Wednesday for an unprecedented grilling by lawmakers who accused him of economic mismanagement and making "illegal" appointments.

Less than two weeks after a drubbing in parliamentary elections, Ahmadinejad became the first president in the Islamic Republic's history to be called before the legislature, which has the power to impeach him if unsatisfied with his answers.

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Traditionalist factions who express complete loyalty to Iran's most powerful figure, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have been trying to summon Ahmadinejad for months over what they say are repeated challenges to the supreme leader's authority.

Emboldened by their success over Ahmadinejad supporters at parliamentary elections this month, they finally had the chance to interrogate the president about the near-stagnant, high-inflation economy and concerns over his allegiance to Khamenei.

Flippant tone
Chairing the meeting, lawmaker Ali Motahari asked why Ahmadinejad had stayed at home for several days last April after Khamenei overturned the president's decision to sack the intelligence minister -- an absence seen by some as a protest against the supreme leader's decision.

Belying his weakened standing, Ahmadinejad responded in a confident and, at times, flippant tone that did little to calm the excitement of the hearing, broadcast live on state radio.

Vahid Salemi / AP

An unidentified Iranian clerical lawmaker walks inside the parliament as legislators listen to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, unseen, answering questions Wednesday.

On his absence from work last April, he said: "This is one of those things -- Ahmadinejad staying home and resting. Some of my friends have repeatedly told me to rest. In this government, work has never been stopped for even a day."

He played down the historic significance of the summons, saying it was parliament's right and not out of the ordinary.

"I was ready to answer questions before the election," he said. "But I thought it might have an impact on election results and then I would be blamed for it. I am the easiest to blame."

BBC News reported that the president's last comments at the hearing resulted in uproar.

"It was not a very difficult quiz," he told lawmakers, the BBC said, citing the Associated Press. "To me, those who designed the questions were from among those who got a master's degree by just pushing a button. If you had consulted us, better questions could have been drawn up."

At schools, in shops, and on the streets of big cities and small towns, daily life plays out in Iran.

Ahmadinejad added that he should get top marks for his performance, saying "Be fair. Any grade of less than 20 [out of 20] will be rude."

'Illogical, illegal'
After an hour-long grilling -- that included questions on the botched financing of the Tehran metro and the veracity of government figures showing the creation of 1.6 million jobs in 2009 and 2010 -- many parliamentarians remained unimpressed.

"Ahmadinejad's answers to lawmakers' questions were illogical, illegal and an attempt to avoid answering them. With an insulting tone, Ahmadinejad made fun of lawmakers' questions and insulted parliament," Mohammad Taqi Rahbar was quoted as saying by parliament's news agency.

Having made several ministerial appointments that were unpopular with parliament -- including a brief stint when he named himself oil minister, in charge of Iran's biggest economic sector -- Ahmadinejad was questioned about how he picked people for key posts.

Former Deputy Secretary of State, P.J. Crowley, joins MSNBC to discuss whether Iran is showing signs that it is willing to engage in nuclear talks with the EU.

Outgoing reformist lawmaker Mostafa Kavakebian said that the president ?did not give any logical answers and took everything as a joke."

Attacks on Ahmadinejad by rival hardliners in parliament increased after last year's spat over the intelligence minister with his critics saying any challenge to Khamenei threatens the foundations of the Islamic Republic.

The theocratic nation's first president, Abolhassan Banisadr, was impeached in 1981 and fled the country after being accused of threatening Iran's new religious foundations.

Reuters contributed to this report.

More from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world

Source: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/14/10682456-insulting-ahmadinejad-angers-iran-lawmakers-during-grilling

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Apple Stores Will Open at 8AM on Friday March 16th for the New iPad [Apple]

According to 9to5Mac, Apple Stores will be opening early at 8AM on Friday March 16th to sell the new iPad. Last year, Apple started selling the iPad 2 at 5PM though it has opened stores early for iPhone releases in years past. [9to5Mac] More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/gWA-Lb3ShwU/apple-stores-will-open-at-8am-on-friday-march-16th-for-the-new-ipad

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Legg Mason's Peters bets on Apple, MetLife to spark resurgence

BOSTON (Reuters) - Sam Peters, the money manager hired to breathe new life into Bill Miller's famed $2.5 billion Legg Mason Inc fund, thinks the time is right for a stock-picking renaissance.

Peters, 42, takes over from Miller, 62, in April, ending an era at the Legg Mason Capital Management Value Trust fund that made Miller one of America's best-known active portfolio managers.

Though Miller will stick around in other roles at Legg Mason, his departure from the fund led to much discussion of the declining importance of active managers in an age of passive investing. Burned by volatile markets, investors have steadily moved money into cheaper products like exchange-traded funds in recent years.

Less noticed was that that Miller will leave Value Trust in the hands of a stock picker with similar ambitions.

Peters has been Miller's co-manager since 2010, and preaches the same approach to investing through a combination of fundamental analysis, big-picture perspective, and a focus on improving the processes that managers and researchers use to pick company shares.

In recent interviews with Reuters, Peters said he plans to keep the funds' philosophy essentially unchanged. He is sticking with picks he worked out with Miller, such as holding Apple Inc and selling some Amazon.com Inc shares.

Peters' challenge will be convincing skeptics that active management can succeed again.

He points to a trend that gives him optimism: an ongoing decline since the fall in the overall correlation of stock prices in major indexes -- a measure of how securities move in relation to each other -- as investors re-embrace risk. Peters and Miller have blamed high correlations for their funds' troubles in beating indexes in recent years. In theory, the decline in correlation should make it easier for stock pickers to distinguish themselves, by picking winning stocks.

"As correlations come down, fundamentals and valuation are mattering more," Peters said.

Technically, correlation has been falling since September, including a record drop in January among stocks in the Russell 1000 index, according to a recent report by Nomura analyst Joseph Mezrich.

Other big-name active fund managers say correlation has made the their job harder -- which in theory should create more opportunity as the correlation among stocks declines.

"Correlations were high, which made stock picking very difficult," wrote William Danoff, manager of Fidelity Investments' $81 billion Contrafund, in a 2011 year-end report.

FALLING BEHIND

Contrafund trailed the S&P 500 by 2.25 percentage points last year. Yet Danoff still beat 70 percent of peers, Morningstar data show, the fourth time in five years he has done better than average.

Value Trust can't make the same boast. Miller famously beat the S&P 500 for 15 years in a row through 2005, but the fund's record fell apart in recent years and it beat just 24 percent of peers in 2011. Investor withdrawals brought the fund far down from its peak assets around $21 billion in 2007.

Though the fund's performance has improved lately, outflows have continued, according to Thomson Reuters' Lipper unit.

The outflows show Peters' challenge will be convincing skeptics that he can succeed as an active manager after Miller's recent woes. "People could be wondering, is this more of the same?" said Bridget Hughes, who follows the fund for Morningstar Inc.

"There's still a little bit of skepticism" of Peters' ability to turn things around, she added. "And rightly so."

TECH, FINANCE STOCKS

Miller and Peters first encountered each other in the early 1990s when Peters watched Miller give a talk at the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico. Peters had grown up in Santa Fe, not far by Western standards from the family ranch in New Mexico's Lea County that Peters' great-great grandfather bought in 1897.

Peters joined Legg Mason in 2005. Since becoming co-manager of Value Trust Peters has pressed for the addition of technology and financial stocks that he thought to be cheap. At Miller's direction, Peters also raised the average market capitalization of companies the fund owns to over $100 billion from $60 billion.

One of the larger companies is Philip Morris International Inc, which Value Trust bought last July around $70 a share. It has since risen above $84. A more recent addition was insurer Metlife Inc, whose shares Peters said are undervalued because many investors lump it in with big banks that face more problems. The fund began buying Metlife shares in August of 2010 when they were around $40 apiece and heading down to bottom out below $30 last fall. The stock has since come back and closed at $38.42 on Friday.

Value Trust's top holding currently is Apple, accounting for roughly five percent of the portfolio. Like other managers, Peters said he is impressed by Apple's tight hold on its customer base through its software and retail stores.

Among stocks Peters pushed to sell were those he called "value traps" that looked cheap but fell further. These included Research In Motion Ltd and Hewlett-Packard Co.

Peters said in the fall he and Miller sold some shares in Amazon as its shares rose. For that stock and others, "If it starts to get a little ahead of itself, I'll trim it," Peters said.

(Reporting By Ross Kerber; Editing by Walden Siew and Bernard Orr)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/legg-masons-peters-bets-apple-metlife-spark-resurgence-194419491.html

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Panetta seeks to boost support for Kyrgyzstan base

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) ? U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta met with Kyrgyzstan's leaders to stress that America needs the continued use of the U.S. air base there beyond the end of its contract in 2014, largely as a transit center to bring troops home from Afghanistan.

A senior U.S. official traveling with Panetta to Kyrgyzstan said the U.S. believes there may be some "wiggle room" for additional negotiations for a longer term contract.

The official said the defense chief on Tuesday will underscore the importance of the transit center for both countries, for regional security as well as the possible transition to a lucrative commercial hub in the future. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions.

On Tuesday evening, Panetta met with Taalaybek Omuraliev, Kyrgyzstan's defense minister, and Busurmankul Tabaldiev, the secretary of the Defense Council. During the early part of the meeting, Tabaldiev, a civilian, told Panetta that while Kyrgyzstan "has shown readiness" to support the U.S. and transit center after 2014, he said that after 2014 "there should be no military mission." He said the airport was a civilian, commercial enterprise. His comments echo those of the new president.

Panetta simply offered his thanks for the continued support of the transit center.

Kyrgyzstan President Almaz Atambayev has insisted that the lease will expire in June 2014, and U.S. officials say negotiations on extending the pact have not begun. Atambayev has said the existence of the base leaves the former Soviet Central Asian nation vulnerable to retaliatory strikes over U.S. military action in the region.

The base has been the subject of much contentious dispute between the two countries. But in 2009 the U.S. was able to reach an agreement with the Kyrgyz government for use of the base in return for $60 million a year.

Right now all the U.S. troops moving in and out of Afghanistan travel through what's called the Manas Transit Center. Large numbers of troops are set to come home in 2014 as the war winds down.

In addition, Manas handles a substantial amount of the air-to-air refueling missions for jet fighters during Afghanistan war operations.

The transit of personnel and supplies in and out of Afghanistan has become problematic for the U.S., leaving Kyrgyzstan as one of the few remaining key routes.

In addition to the vital air transport role, Kyrgyzstan is one of just a few ground routes that the U.S. can use to ferry supplies into Afghanistan.

Pakistan shut down its ground supply routes after U.S. airstrikes in November killed a number of Pakistani troops. Since then the U.S. has had to increase its use of ground routes through the central Asian countries. The high-speed rail route through Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan handles the bulk of the ground supplies, but some trucks go through more mountainous routes in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Prior to the 2009 agreement the U.S. was paying a little more than $17 million a year for the use of Manas.

According to Pentagon statistics, there were about 4,800 refueling flights out of Manas for the Afghanistan war in 2011, with at least 24,000 aircraft receiving fuel totaling roughly 300 million pounds. At least 580,000 passengers came through the base last year, largely going in and out of Afghanistan.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/panetta-seeks-boost-support-kyrgyzstan-100248493.html

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