Saturday, December 31, 2011

Twin NASA Probes Set for New Year's Moon Rendezvous (SPACE.com)

NASA is counting down to a New Year at the moon with two new robot probes arriving in lunar orbit this weekend.?

NASA's twin Grail spacecraft are closing in on the moon to map its gravitational field like no other mission has before. The first probe is slated to fire its rocket engine on Saturday (Dec. 30) at 4:21 p.m. EST (2121 GMT) to enter lunar orbit. The second spacecraft should follow with an engine burn of its own on Sunday (Jan. 1) at 5:05 p.m. EST (2205 GMT), NASA officials said.

The $496 million spacecraft, which are known as Grail-A and Grail-B for now, are expected to perform their lunar orbit entry maneuvers autonomously, without help from their mission control center on Earth. But a team of 40 Grail mission scientists is spending the New Year's weekend hovering over computers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., just to be sure.

"The anxiety level is heightened right now, and it is more so than with other missions, because we do have two spacecraft to go into lunar orbit," Grail project manager David Lehman of JPL told reporters earlier this week. "But we've been studying and working on this for three or four years ? four years ? and we're well-prepared for that."

NASA launched the Grail probes (their name is short for Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory) on Sept. 10. They're designed to map the moon's gravity field in unprecedented detail in order to better understand the composition, interior structure and evolution of Earth's natural satellite. [Photos from NASA's Grail Mission]

"This mission will rewrite the textbooks on the evolution of the moon," said Maria Zuber, GRAIL principal investigator from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, in a statement. "Our two spacecraft are operating so well during their journey that we have performed a full test of our science instrument and confirmed the performance required to meet our science objectives."

The Grail probes are mirror twins of each other, with each carrying a microwave ranging instrument, accelerometer and star camera to perform its mission. Once at the moon, the spacecraft will fly in formation, one after the other, in an orbit about 34 miles (55 kilometers) above the moon.

The spacecraft will stay between 75 to 225 miles (121 to 362 km) apart during their 82-day science mission and measure the changes in their separation distance in extreme detail, which scientists will then use to build an ultra-precise map of the moon's gravity field. The Grail probes will observe the entire moon three times during the mission.

But first, the spacecraft have to actually enter orbit around the moon. To do that, Grail-A and Grail-B will fire their engines about 25 hours apart to put themselves in lunar orbit.

"As they close in on the moon, both orbiters move toward the moon from the south, flying nearly directly over the lunar south pole," NASA officials explained in a statement.

The Grail-A probe's maneuver will last about 40 minutes and slow the spacecraft by about 427 mph (688 kph). Grail-B will fire its engine for about 39 minutes and slow itself by about 430 mph (692 kph).

If all goes well, the two spacecraft should enter an elliptical orbit that carries them over the moon's poles once every 11 1/2 hours. Over time, the orbit will be refined by more maneuvers to lower the Grail probes to their final 34-mile altitude.

This weekend's lunar orbital arrival comes at the end of a long journey for the Grail spacecraft, which will have traveled about 2.5 million miles (4 million km)?to reach the moon ? nearly 30 times the actual distance between the Earth and the moon. The meandering path allowed NASA to spend more time testing the Grail probes' health, mission managers have said.

After months of waiting for this weekend's main event, Grail mission scientists said it was worth working through the New Year's holiday to make sure the spacecraft arrive at the moon as intended.

"Our team may not get to partake in a traditional?New Year's celebration, but I expect seeing our two spacecraft safely in lunar orbit should give us all the excitement and feeling of euphoria anyone in this line of work would ever need," Lehman said.

Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter?@Spacedotcom?and on?Facebook.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/science/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/space/20111230/sc_space/twinnasaprobessetfornewyearsmoonrendezvous

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Video: Perry?s comeback secret

To succeed at your New Year's diet, keep mum

A slew of psychology studies, some dating as far back as the 1920s, suggest that if you want to stick to your New Year?s diet ? or whatever your big 2012 goal may be ? you might want to shut up about it, already.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/vp/45809260#45809260

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Endeavour to acquire producing oil assets in UK North Sea

EBR Staff Writer
Published 28 December 2011

US-based Endeavour International Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire ConocoPhillips' interest in three producing oil fields in the UK North Sea for $330m.

The assets to be acquired have current net production of about 10,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Endeavour estimates the assets' proved and probable reserves as of 30 June 2011 are in excess of 33 million barrels of oil equivalent.

The acquisition increases the company's current ownership interests in the Alba, MacCulloch and Nicol fields.

The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2012, and the purchase price includes about $94m of tax attributes.

Source: http://drillingandproduction.energy-business-review.com/news/endeavour-to-acquire-producing-oil-assets-in-uk-north-sea-281211

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Fresh iPhone Apps for Dec. 28: intoxicheck, Easy Legs, I SPY Arcade: Match Attack, Kaptain Brawe (Appolicious)

Get ready for the busiest party weekend of the year this week with intoxicheck, today?s leading Fresh iPhone App. Since it?s never safe to drink and drive, the app helps you educate yourself to show you when you?ve had too much. It?s followed by quick workout app Easy Legs, which can help you get through a leg workout in as little as five minutes. In games, the well-known children books I Spy have lent their puzzle prowess to I SPY Arcade: Match Attack, a children?s puzzle game. It?s followed by Kaptain Brawe: Brawe New World, a point-and-click adventure title with lots of puzzles.

With New Year?s Eve coming up, partygoers might want to have a way to help determine whether they should get behind the wheel at the end of the night (or morning). Intoxicheck can help out with that by educating you of just how impaired you can get by putting you through a series of tests ? not unlike what you might get from the police.

Intoxicheck is meant to help people realize how easy it is to become impaired. It uses a series of tests to help extrapolate how delayed your reactions might be, for example. It?s not guaranteed to tell you how drunk you are, or to make it okay for you to drive after drinking (because you shouldn?t), but it can teach you a little something about alcohol affects you.

Easy Legs (iPhone, iPad) $0.99

Workout app Easy Legs is all about getting in a quick workout whenever you have time. Filled with leg-toning exercises, Easy Legs lets you capitalize on a free five minutes or a more intensive 15-minute workout, divided into easy, intermediate or advanced workouts.

Easy Legs includes more than 60 leg exercises, 30 of which are bodyweight exercises that allow you to work out just about anywhere. The app also lets you play your music along with your workout, syncing it to the beat of your exercises, and provides an ?interactive personal trainer? to help you along.

Based on the popular books, I Spy Arcade mixes the spirit of the books ? finding objects and figuring out clues ? with arcade action. In each of the game?s levels, you?ll have to match objects together by shooting an object from one side of the screen to the other. You want your object to hit the one it matches to clear both. The faster you clear the screen, the higher your score in each level.

It?s the clues in I Spy Arcade that make it interesting. In early levels, you might be matching oranges to oranges and apples to apples. In another, you?ll match objects whose names rhyme, or put pieces of matching sports equipment together, and more. It?s a great game for players of multiple age groups and features 65 levels of arcade puzzle action.

Embark on an adventure with the space police in Kaptain Brawe: A Brawe New World. The point-and-click adventure titles will have you solving puzzles by finding objects hidden in the game?s environments, mixing them together in creative ways, and attempting to use them to move your way through the game?s story.

Kaptain Brawe includes two difficulty levels, around 40 locations to play through and plenty of story to enjoy. You won?t get the whole game for free, however. After a certain point, you?ll need to pay for a $4.99 in-app purchase in order to keep going. The good news is, Kaptain Brawe allows you to try before you buy.

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Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/applecomputer/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/appolicious_rss/rss_appolicious_tc/http___www_appolicious_com_articles10603_fresh_iphone_apps_for_dec_28_intoxicheck_easy_legs_i_spy_arcade_match_attack_kaptain_brawe/44019345/SIG=14bdvl543/*http%3A//www.appolicious.com/tech/articles/10603-fresh-iphone-apps-for-dec-28-intoxicheck-easy-legs-i-spy-arcade-match-attack-kaptain-brawe

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PFT: Giants' Pierre-Paul makes NFC Pro Bowl team

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees celebrates after his team defeated the Atlanta Falcons in New OrleansReuters

The Saints can still improve their playoff position by one spot, if they beat the Panthers and the 49ers somehow lose to the Rams in St. Louis.? (In the same way that the Saints, you know, somehow lost in St. Louis.)? Both games will be played at the same time, which could prompt Saints coach Sean Payton to do some scoreboard-watching, given that two of his key players ? cornerback Malcolm Jenkins and tight end Jimmy Graham ? suffered injuries in a meaningless regular-season finale in 2010.

The fact that quarterback Drew Brees sits only 190 yards ahead of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady raises the stakes.? Since the Pats need to beat the Bills to claim the No. 1 seed (the other contenders, the Ravens and Steelers, play at 4:15 p.m. ET), Brady will likely play most if not all of the game, and he could easily swipe the record if Brees plays less than 60 minutes.

On Tuesday, Payton addressed the situation, ultimately explaining that he?ll make a decision later in the week.? He dropped no specific hints as to the direction in which he?s leaning, but the bulk of his comments suggests that Brees and the rest of the regulars will play.

?I know I am twice shy when the ball comes near me on the sidelines,? Payton told the local media as to the possibility of getting gets injured in a meaningless game.? ?I have been bitten.? I think we just have to be smart.? We are playing well, with some momentum.? Each year is different.? We will look at that closely.?

Payton said he doesn?t know whether he?ll have someone keep an eye on the 49ers-Rams game.? ?Last year, we tried to go that route of paying attention to the game,? Payton said.? ?One of the challenges always is your roster to begin with.? You guys know that.? We sat players before.? It?s always hard because you don?t really have enough.? It?s not the preseason where you have 80, you only have 53.? We will try to do what is best for the team.?

But is it best for the team to have Brees hold off Brady?? Payton has a strong sense of history, but whether Brees holds the single-season passing yardage record for six days or 60 years has zero relevance to the team?s goals.

?I?m not really aware of the space between the two,? Payton said.? ?I am probably better off not knowing.? That being said, what we have to do is keep playing.? The playoffs are close.? How do we put ourselves in the best position to play well and put ourselves in an opportunity to win a championship?? That?s not always what is popular.? Two years ago in 2009, a lot of people in this room criticized us for resting players at Carolina.? It was what we needed to do as a team.? You make decisions.? They are not always right.? You try to make them with the right things to help your team.? Last night was one of those situations.? This upcoming game will be one of those situations.? It?s part of what we do.? It?s part of coaching.? It?s part of sport.?

Setting ? and holding ? records is part of what they do, too.? If Payton didn?t know the space between the two players, he likely will.? Even if he doesn?t know the number, he surely senses that it?s close enough to compel Brees to play a full game.

And so I?d be shocked if Brees and the rest of the starters don?t play a full game.? With Brees unlikely to wrest the MVP award from Aaron Rodgers, setting ? and keeping ? that record arguably becomes more important to Brees, to Payton, and to the rest of the franchise.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/27/despite-not-being-on-the-ballot-jason-pierre-paul-is-pro-bowl-bound/related/

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

They're still shining bright: Former H-DN stars who jumped to NCAA Division-I sports doing well

On Thursday night, while working on a project, I caught glimpses of the USC vs. Kansas men's basketball game on TV. Suddenly I saw No. 2 on USC -- 6-foot-3 junior guard Greg Allen -- nail a 3-pointer from the corner. I smiled as I thought, ?I've seen that guy make that shot a few times before.?

Allen, who played prep basketball for Eureka High and then went on to Navarro College in Texas for two years, is now at USC. Last year Allen started all 31 games -- and averaged 11 points per game -- for the Bulldogs (20-11). Now in his first season at Southern California, he has started four of 11 games and is averaging 3.2 ppg in 17 minutes. Allen has nailed 8 of 24 attempts from downtown, including a trio of 3-pointers in both his 14 point-performance in the Trojans' 65-62 win over Morgan State, and in his team-high 11-point performance in USC's 56-35 win over UC Riverside.

What about other recent Humboldt-Del Norte prep athletes playing NCAA Division I sports?

Well, here's what my research has uncovered about how 10 other athletes -- in alphabetical order -- have been doing:

Andrew Ayers (St. Bernard's) showed his versatility in his second season on the baseball diamond for Sacramento State last spring. Ayers started 55 games -- 28 in right field, 24 at second base and three in center field -- and won the team's Gold Glove Award after committing just one error all season. At the plate, Ayers stroked 50 hits, batting .249. His best game may have

been in March against Cal State Northridge when he batted 4-for-4 (two singles, a double and a homer) plus a walk. As a member of the Humboldt Crabs, Ayers scored 25 runs and knocked in 23 while hitting .259.

Tara Boynton (Ferndale) played her second year with the Fresno State varsity soccer team. Boynton started 16 games and played 1,191 minutes for the Bulldogs (11-5-5), members of the Western Athletic Conference. As a sophomore forward, Boynton launched 13 of her 21 shots on goal, for a solid .619 percentage, the highest among all Bulldogs who scored goals during the season. Boynton booted in the game-winning goal in the 1-0 win over Idaho. She added three assists for a total of five points during the Bulldogs' season.

David Del Grande (St. Bernard's) joined Ayers on the Sacramento State baseball team and won the Hornet's Most Improved Player award after playing in 56 games. The redshirt freshman started 50 games -- 30 at first base and 14 at second base -- and committed just nine errors out of 364 chances (.975 fielding percentage). At the plate, his .260 average was second-highest on the team. Del Grande was successful in all six of his stolen base attempts. He had a great year with the Crabs, being voted the team's Offensive Player of the year on the merits of his .340 batting average and other team-highs in hits (54) and RBIs (26).

Mallorie Franco (Fortuna) has started all 13 games for the Sacramento State varsity basketball team (5-8), who competes in the Big Sky Conference. The 5-foot-10 junior averages 23.1 minutes, and is sixth on the team in scoring (6.0 ppg). She has the team's second-highest field goal percentage (.434) among all starters. She is fourth in rebounding average (4.0 rpg), and second on the team with 23 offensive boards. Franco also has handed out 32 assists, third most on the team. She has scored 11 points in three different games, including the 89-85 home win over Eastern Illinois.

Kelsy Hintz (Del Norte) who set the all-time H-DN girls pole vault record of 12-06, is still vaulting skywards at San Diego State. After she redshirted in the 2008-09 season, Hintz finished in the top 10 in every meet she participated in during the 2009-10 season. On April 23, 2011, Hintz vaulted 13-7.25 at the UCSD Triton Invitational, tying for third place, establishing a personal best, and providing the fourth best vault in Aztecs' women's history. One week later, Hintz took first at the Steve Scott Invitational at UC Irvine with a 13-2.25. Two weeks after that, Hintz finished first at the Mountain West Conference championships at Colorado State University with a 13-04.50. On May 27, Hintz's 13-3.25 at the NCAA preliminary rounds in Eugene, Oregon qualified her for the NCAA championships in Des Moines on June 8. Although Hintz did not place, she had a fantastic season.

Kelsey Jacobs (Fortuna) has been playing as a redshirt freshman in 11 games for Wichita State (6-5) University in the Missouri Valley Conference. Jacobs recovered from the extensive ACL injury she sustained during her senior season with Fortuna, but missed most of last season with another injury. This year, the 6-foot-2 forward has averaged 3.5 rebounds, and is tied for the Shockers' team lead with 18 offensive boards despite playing just 14 minutes per game. In WSU's 64-56 home loss to the No. 20 ranked LSU Tigers, Jacobs pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds (five offensive) in just 20 minutes on the floor. She has continued to be a shot-blocking threat, with has the second most rejections on the team. Jacobs is averaging 2.9 ppg on 15-of-38 shooting (.395).

Cody Hoffman (Del Norte) has continued to put up big numbers during his sophomore year on the Brigham Young University (9-3) football team. The 6-foot-4 wide receiver has led the Cougars this year in pass receptions (53), receiving yards (821), yards/game (68.4), and hauled in 7 TD passes. On special teams, Hoffman returned 33 kickoffs for 838 yards (an average of 25.4 yards), including a 93-yard runback against Central Florida for BYU's first TD return in 13 years (158 games). As a freshman, Hoffman had 42 receptions, 527 yards and 7 TDs -- including 3 against UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl. Hoffman and the Cougars will face Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 30.

Mike Larson (McKinleyville) is ranked No. 18 among 184-pound wrestlers in D-I. As a junior at the University of Missouri --the No. 10 ranked D-I team -- Larson is 9-1, and leads the Tigers with 22 points in dual meets. On Dec. 4, Larson captured first place at the Kaufman-Brand Open in St. Louis. Last year, Larson won five matches and took the fourth-place medal out of 32 wrestlers in the 184-pound bracket at Northwestern University's prestigious 48th annual Midland Championships. Larson ended up 21-15 for the season, a year after he finished second in the Pac-10 championships while a redshirt freshman at CSU Bakersfield.

Sage Romberg (McKinleyville) is second in rebounding (4.5 rpg) and fourth in scoring (7.8 ppg) for Washington State. The 6-foot-1 sophomore is also second in blocked shots and third in steals for the Cougars (6-6). Romberg has started 8 of 12 games and averages 21.4 minutes. On Nov. 24, she tossed in a game-high 19 points, pulled down a team-high 8 rebounds and blocked two shots in WSU's 65-52 win over Marquette at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. As a freshman, when she led the Cougars in scoring (9.5 ppg), Romberg was selected to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team and an honorable mention pick for the All-Pac-10 team.

Soma Vainuku (Eureka) followed up on his fantastic senior season (38 rushing TDs) for the 2009 North Coast Section Division II champion Loggers by heading south to USC. After sitting out in 2010, the 6-foot-2, 255-pound freshman did not carry the ball this year. But Vainuku, listed as the No. 3 fullback on the Trojan's depth chart (usc.rivals.com), should see plenty of action next year considering the fact that the two fullbacks ahead of Vainuku on the depth chart were both seniors. One of Vainuku's duties this year was playing the role of Notre Dame's junior middle linebacker Manti Te'o -- a finalist for The Butkus Award given to colleges' best linebacker -- for the USC scout team. The Trojans (10-2) subsequently beat the Irish 31-17.

Note: Due to time constraints, I focused this column on recent H-DN prep athletes playing NCAA Division I sports. In researching and writing about these 11 athletes playing in seven different sports, if I have inadvertently omitted any person, I apologize. Please contact me (707-441-0579 or ntarpey@times-standard.com) so I can include their information in a future column.

Source: http://www.times-standard.com/ci_19620607?source=rss_viewed

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Tanier: Commitment to resilience keeps Raiders alive

Oakland didn't fall apart like other teams did after losing their starting QB to injury

Image: PalmerGetty Images

In the short term, Carson Palmer has given the Raiders a second chance, something few teams have gotten from their incumbent backup quarterbacks, NBCSports.com contributor Mike TAnier says.

updated 6:10 p.m. ET Dec. 27, 2011

Mike Tanier

The Raiders used to be the marauding scourge of the NFL. Then they became a punch line, cartoon villains foiled by their own dastardly, silly plans.

This season, the Raiders have become survivors. They are 8-7 despite all odds, and they can reach the playoffs two ways: Capture the AFC West with a win and a Broncos loss, or earn a wild-card berth with a win and an elaborate-but-not-impossible combination of losses around the AFC.

The Raiders are on the brink of their first playoffs since 2002 because of all they've had to overcome: injuries at quarterback and other skill position starters, the death of Al Davis, a midseason swoon that swallowed other hot-starting teams the Bills and Redskins, and Tebowmania ? or at least they've been able to swim in its wake.

The Raiders could easily be the Bears: Their hopes dashed, their coach?s job in jeopardy, their whole roster shrugging its shoulders and saying ?sorry, we had too many injuries.? The Raiders are still around because they play in an easier division, but also because they made the kind of daring moves they were famous for in their heyday, taking chances other teams were not bold enough to take.

Palmer method
Carson Palmer is just 4-4 as a starter this season, 4-5 if you count his early, ineffective relief appearance against the Chiefs. At his worst, he looks rusty and out-of-synch with his receivers. At his best, he bears only a slight resemblance to the Palmer of 2005 and 2006. He cost the Raiders a fortune in draft picks, including a first-rounder next year. It is hard to classify the midseason trade to bring Palmer out of Bengals exile as an unqualified success. It was a high-risk gambit, and we won?t know what the long-term impact of the trade will be for many years.

But in the short term, Palmer gave the Raiders a second chance, something few teams have gotten from their incumbent backup quarterbacks.

Instead of comparing Palmer to his former peers among elite starting quarterbacks, compare him to the some of the backups that have taken snaps this season. He has thrown 11 touchdowns and has a 77.2 efficiency rating.

  • Caleb Hanie threw three touchdowns in four starts and earned a 41.8 rating before the Bears dragged Josh McCown out of the private sector and tossed him in the lineup.
  • Tyler Palko had two touchdown passes, seven interceptions and a 59.8 rating in the month before the Chiefs pulled Kyle Orton out of Tebow Limbo.
  • The Eagles thought they had an ideal backup in Vince Young, but he has a 60.8 rating, mixing a handful of brilliant plays with lots of comic bumbling.
  • Matt Leinart played just long enough to finish a coffee and Danish before getting hurt, and the Texans would be in deep trouble if T.J. Yates did not mature so quickly.
  • Charlie Whitehurst started one game for the Seahawks and went 12 of 30 for 97 yards; when a banged-up Tarvaris Jackson looks like a savior, you know the backup quarterback really screwed things up.
  • And let?s not even mention Curtis Painter of the Colts. For every team that discovers a Yates on their bench, there are two or three others who realize too late that their backup is so terrible that they cannot run anything resembling their regular offense.

The Raiders would be in the same boat as the Bears Chiefs, and others if they had crossed their fingers and left Kyle Boller to his own devices when Jason Campbell got hurt. Their three-game winning streak against the Chargers, Vikings, and Bears never would have happened. They would probably be experimenting with Terrelle Pryor.

Palmer is no Drew Brees, and he isn?t 2005 Palmer, but he is light years above the vat of unqualified Hanie-Boller-Palko types that teams talked themselves into. Coach Hue Jackson knew Boller and wishes were not going to work, and that waiting 'til next year was not an appealing option. He acquired a quarterback he knew and trusted.

As for the heavy price tag in draft picks, Palmer probably will look much better after spending a full training camp in Oakland. Also, he hasn't yet lined up with his full complement of offensive weapons since joining the Raiders. When you look at their injuries on offense, it?s a wonder they've scored any points at all in the last two months.

Something old, something new
Darren McFadden has not played since Oct. 23, the day Palmer entered the lineup. Wide receiver Jacoby Ford has been out of action since mid-November, though he might return Sunday. Rookie sensation Denarius Moore missed three full games and was limited in others before getting his groove back against the Chiefs last week.

Backups such as running back Taiwan Jones and receiver Derek Hagan have also been injured. The Raiders endured a three-game stretch (Bears, Dolphins, Packers) without their No. 1 running back and their Nos. 1 and 2 receivers, and with the still-adjusting Palmer at quarterback. That they beat the Bears under those circumstances might have been their greatest accomplishment this season.

Bruising Michael Bush has been excellent in McFadden?s absence, and Jackson has done a fine job disguising the fact that the Raiders have no real backup or change-of-pace runner. At wide receiver, the Raiders have performed a miracle, cobbling a credible passing game together from has-been T.J. Houshmandzadeh, 100-meter dash specialist Darrius Heyward-Bey and hanger-on Chaz Schilens.

Heyward-Bey was the last of the great scratch-your-head Al Davis draft picks: a speedster with a lackluster college record and everything to learn about running NFL routes. For two years in Oakland, he lived down to his reputation as a guy who does nothing but run fly routes.

But he has 55 receptions this season, and there is nothing wrong with being a one-dimensional deep threat if you are good at it: Palmer and Heyward-Bey have connected on 34-, 35-, and 55-yard passes in the past two weeks, the final pass to set up a game-winning overtime field goal Saturday. Heyward-Bey also has helped in ways that do not show up on the stat sheet: He is a fine blocker on screens and outside runs.

When Jackson acquired Houshmandzadeh, it looked like he was trying to get the old band back together, Blues Brothers-style. Houshmandzadeh was Palmer?s favorite target in the Bengals glory years, catching 294 passes in one three-year period, but he has been bouncing around Seattle and Baltimore for a while, proving that he is little more than a third or fourth receiver.

Lately, Houshmandzadeh has found his niche, and he is 8-for-8 on passes thrown to him in the past two games, most of them short passes into the right flat that help keep the chains moving.


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Patriots are No. 2 but ...

PFT's power rankings: Letting Miami build a 17-0 lead at Gillette isn't a great sign for New England's playoff future.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45798342/ns/sports-nfl/

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Hmong Community Feeling Absence of General Vang Pao

December 27, 2011 Updated Dec 27, 2011 at 6:30 PM PST

Thousands of people have come to Fresno to attend New Years celebrations. On Tuesday, a statue was unveiled in honor of the late General Vang Pao.

Vang Pao, 81. A revered former general in the Royal Army of Laos, who led thousands of Hmong guerrillas in a CIA-backed secret army in the Vietnam war. Jan.

Organizers of the event estimate about 100,000 people will attend this year.

"He was my role model. He was one of a kind," said the General's son, Chineng Vang.

His son misses him in a much different way than anyone else. His father led thousands of Hmong guerrillas in a secret army in the Vietnam War. His comrades were there for the ceremony.

"They'll come from all over and see this," said Charlie Waters.

The statue depicts General Vang Pao overlooking his Laotian military base. Charlie Waters was his longtime political and legislative adviser. He was there for the General's last living moments in early January.

"His legacy is an enormous one," said Chineng.

Source: http://www.ksee24.com/news/local/Hmong---JPA-136285408.html

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Arlington home energy efficiency reports available online

There are 3,000 Arlington homes with thermal images now available online at www.sagewell.com/arlington. Homeowners can enter their address into the website to see if a free energy saving report is available for their home.

Sagewell Inc., of Woburn, donated the additional 1,500 reports to address requests from homeowners whose houses were not previously included in the research study. Homeowners can request a free in-home MassSave energy assessment through the website.

Thermal images, which measure and show heat losses from buildings, identify places where adding insulation and sealing gaps in the home?s walls can dramatically reduce heating/cooling energy use and costs. Sagewell collected and analyzed efficiency data of homes across Arlington as part of a statewide study that reviewed the condition of insulation and windows of buildings constructed in different time periods to identify those homes that would most benefit from energy efficiency updates. About 500 of the 3,000 Arlington homes have already received a postcard in the mail from Sagewell indicating that they may have particularly good energy savings opportunities.

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Source: http://www.wickedlocal.com/arlington/news/x1282420689/Arlington-home-energy-efficiency-reports-available-online

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Steve Jobs [Audiobook] [Unabridged] (Audio CD) - (ASIN 1442346272)

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Product Group: Book
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Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Audio
Author: Walter Isaacson
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Monday, December 26, 2011

Analysis: China investment wave unlikely to swamp EU (Reuters)

VENICE (Reuters) ? The sign in a boutique selling glass hand-crafted on the Venetian island of Murano betrays an uncertain grasp of English. But the owner is very sure who is to blame for the tough times confronting the 700-year-old local glassmaking industry.

"Everything in this shop is not made in China," it proclaims. A few doors away, imported Murano lookalikes sell for much less. To the untrained eye, they appear identical.

With Europe drowning in debt and flirting with recession, China's influence can only rise further. Euro zone governments would love Beijing to plough more of its $3.2 trillion in foreign-exchange reserves into their bonds.

China is also likely to chip in with a loan to the International Monetary Fund to provide a financing backstop in case Italy and Spain are shut out of the bond markets.

Last week's $3.5 billion acquisition by China Three Gorges Corp of the Portuguese government's stake in utility EDP (EDP.LS) is also a sign of things to come.

Financiers turn instinctively to fast-growing China as they try to flush out buyers for assets that are going on the block as European governments, banks and companies pay down debt.

But, despite Chinese leaders' expressing interest in diversifying the country's overseas asset base away from government paper, analysts do not expect a sea change in China's traditionally cautious approach to expanding in Western markets. Africa and Asia are likely to remain China's top targets for now.

"There are going to be opportunities, but we're not going to see China buying up Europe," said Thilo Hanemann, research director at the Rhodium Group, an investment advisory and strategic planning firm in New York.

TREADING SOFTLY

There are many reasons for the wariness.

Lengthy delays in obtaining the approval of regulators in Beijing put Chinese companies at a disadvantage in mergers and acquisitions when the seller wants a quick deal. Companies lack the management skills to integrate overseas acquisitions. And, perhaps most importantly, prospects are much brighter at home than they are in Europe.

"If you compare the rates of growth in China and in Europe, are you sensible buying into a brand that's seen its best years of growth? said Edward Radcliffe, a partner in Shanghai with Vermillion, an M&A advisory boutique that focuses on cross-border China deals.

Still, he said some larger Chinese groups, both state-owned and private, had started to explore opportunities in Europe and the United States.

The 27-member European Union is China's biggest export market. But foreign direct investment (FDI) has badly lagged, totaling $8 billion by the EU's reckoning or $12 billion on China's count - less than 0.2 percent of total FDI in the EU, according to Rhodium.

The firm has kept its own tally since 2003, but its total of $15 billion through mid-2011, though greater than the official data, is still small.

Hanemann said he was sure 2012 would see deals in Europe in technology and consumer products to enable Chinese firms to climb the value ladder and build their domestic market share.

"Ultimately, Chinese companies have to become true multinationals, like Japanese and Korean firms before them," he said. "Over the longer term, there's no reason to believe that China is going to take a different path."

But he was skeptical whether most Chinese companies would be able to seize the opportunities that were likely to crop up in the coming year. To do so, they would have to manage public perceptions in Europe and obtain quick regulatory approval at home.

"There are a lot of deals that the Chinese cannot take on. If the Chinese government sees a company making a bid for troubled assets that risks provoking a political backlash in Europe, I think they'd step in to make sure there's no embarrassment for the Chinese side."

POLITICAL OVERLAY

The failure of Chinese firms to buy Saab, the Swedish car maker that was declared bankrupt last week, was a telling example of the difficulties facing Chinese investors, Hanemann said.

But the picture is not black and white. After all, Volvo, another Swedish car maker, was successfully acquired by a Chinese rival from Ford Motor Co in 2010.

Christine Lambert-Goue, managing director in Beijing at Invest Securities China, said companies were not looking mainly for outright acquisitions but for brands, patents and technology that would bolster their position at home.

"Companies are only ready to pay for assets from Europe that will enable them to gain market share in China," she said.

Investment in Europe will take off eventually, but a deteriorating political climate represents an obstacle in the short term, said Jonathan Holslag of the Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies.

The EU, like the United States, is talking tough about Chinese "state capitalism" and is crafting a more assertive trade policy to counter what it sees as a playing field tilted against foreign companies.

For its part, Beijing smells protectionism in the air in response to its growing economic clout.

"The European Union is disappointed with the reluctance of Beijing to open its economy further, whereas Beijing complains about Europe being too reluctant to share its knowledge or to allow Chinese investors to expand their presence in important sectors like infrastructure," Holslag said.

And if Europe fails to snap out of its economic malaise, the risk is that a super-competitive China will be made a scapegoat.

"The more governments are confronted with high unemployment figures, the more we will start to see China as a challenger rather than as a savior," Holslag said.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111226/bs_nm/us_eurozone_china

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Plex media app: streaming soon to Nook Tablet and Color

Well, well, if it isn't the famed iOS and Android media jock (read: Plex) making its way to the Nook universe. The application's now gone through yet another good-to-go regime, and if all goes according to plan, it should be hitting Barnes & Noble's virtual stores in the coming days. For those of you out of the loop on Plex's offerings; the service acts as a media server ready to stream online and locally stored content, which are great features to have -- especially when someone limits how your internal storage can be used. We've got no info on how much cash you'll have to spend to start using the goods on your Nook slates, but we can imagine it'll be around the same ($4.99) as its other platform variants.

Plex media app: streaming soon to Nook Tablet and Color originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 19:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGigaOM  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/24/plex-media-app-streaming-soon-to-nook-tablet-and-color/

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Florida kitty found 2,000 miles away in Colorado

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) ? An orange striped tabby cat that ran away from its home in Florida has been found ? more than 2,000 miles away in Colorado.

The Naples Daily News reports that Daniel Johns adopted the kitty in Florida in June and named him Waylon. The feline escaped through a hole in a dryer vent and Johns thought he'd lost Waylon forever.

It's unclear how the kitty made its way to Colorado. A good Samaritan found Waylon on a snowy street Wednesday and brought it to the Foothills Animal Shelter in Golden, Colo. Workers at the shelter discovered that Waylon had a microchip ? and that his registered owner was in Florida.

Johns says he's working to bring Waylon back to Florida.

Source: http://www.crestviewbulletin.com/news/florida-16316-kitty-miles.html

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Obama Administration's Juvenile Antics Diminish Credibility (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | Members of the Obama administration's press office need to have their mouths washed out with soap. Numerous journalists covering the White House beat reported "nasty gram" emails as well as multiple yelling and cursing phone calls from the press secretary Jay Carney's office, according to the Washington Post.

Life is not a kindergarten classroom and flared tempers are to be expected on occasion, but a modicum of professionalism is also necessary. Perhaps the Obama administration has finally come to realize that not every journalist will get a tingle up their leg while discussing the president's actions.

The media and politicians should never become best friends. Presidential press staff members engaging in heated banter with journalists is not a new scenario, but the Obama administration is employing an edgier and street wise set of rules when dealing with reporters attempting to get answers for the American public. An intelligent individual does not need to resort to cursing and screaming to get a point across. The playground retaliatory behavior not only condoned but engaged in by Carney is beneath the office of the presidency of the United States.

White House Correspondents' Association President Caren Bohan told the Post that multiple reporters had complained about their dealings with Obama administration media officials. It is doubtful that any reporters from MSNBC have been the recipients of Carney's vulgar wrath. Tossing softball questions at the president will keep the MSNBC reporters on the press secretary's good side.

Journalist Julie Mason received a "nasty gram" email from Carney after reading one of her articles which he felt was partisan and tendentious, according to the Post. After watching a television interview which included Mason, National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor sent her an email with an animated image of a crying mime, implicating she was a whiner, according to the Post. Behaving like petulant children is not appropriate for public employees drawing large salaries funded by the American taxpayer.

Carney should have thought about the legacy the Obama administration will leave before sending the "nasty grams" to journalists. The electronic communications are now a part of the officials Obama White House archives. An adversarial relationship with the press is acceptable, but the juvenile emails and shouted swear words just diminish any credibility the Obama administration has left.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111225/pl_ac/10688923_obama_administrations_juvenile_antics_diminish_credibility

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Saturday, December 24, 2011

HoustonTexans: RT @NickScurfield: How's this for disparity: The #Texans lead the NFL in yard differential at +99.6/game. The Colts rank last at -101.4

Twitter / Nick Scurfield: How's this for disparity: ... Loader How's this for disparity: The lead the NFL in yard differential at +99.6/game. The Colts rank last at -101.4

Source: http://twitter.com/HoustonTexans/statuses/150011198304292865

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Long intervening non-coding RNAs play pivotal roles in brain development

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Whitehead Institute scientists have identified conserved, long intervening non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) that play key roles during embryonic brain development in zebrafish. They also show that the human versions of the lincRNAs can substitute for the zebrafish versions, which implies that the functions of these non-coding RNAs have been retained in humans as well as fish.

Until now, lincRNAs have been studied primarily in cell lines rather than at the organismal level, which has precluded research into how lincRNAs affect growth and development.

"These studies show that zebrafish, an animal that is frequently used to study the genetics of animal development, can also serve as a tool to uncover in systematic fashion the functions of lincRNAs," says Whitehead Member David Bartel, who is also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and a professor of biology at MIT. "This is another case in which a phenomenon in zebrafish provides insight into what's probably happening in humans, as has been established in many studies of protein-coding genes."

Only a minority of RNAs transcribed in a human cell goes on to template protein production, according to a 2007 assessment of the human genome by the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) Project Consortium, which was funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute. The rest of the RNAs are dubbed non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), with those located between protein-coding genes and with lengths of 200 base pairs or longer referred to as lincRNAs.

Despite their prevalence in the cell, lincRNAs have been referred to as the "dark matter" of all the transcribed RNAs because little is known of their functions or mechanisms. One limitation to studying this class of RNAs is their low sequence similarity between species. Unlike protein-coding genes, which are frequently well-conserved between species, lincRNA genes typically have a very small bit of conserved DNA between species, if any. This lack of conservation makes identification of related lincRNAs difficult in closely related species and nearly impossible in distantly related species.

For example, Bartel lab scientists Igor Ulitsky and Alena Shkumatava identified more than 500 lincRNAs in zebrafish but found that only 29 of these have homologs in both humans and mice.

Ulitsky and Shkumatava, who report their findings in this week's issue of the journal Cell, tested the function of two of the 29 lincRNAs by knocking them down in zebrafish embryos. Both knockdowns had striking effects on the zebrafish's brain development. Reduction of one of the lincRNAs, which they called cyrano, caused the zebrafish to have enlarged snouts, small heads and eyes, and short, curly tails, while the zebrafish lacking the lincRNA they called megamind had abnormally shaped heads and enlarged brain ventricles.

To test if the human homologs of the cyrano and megamind lincRNAs are functionally equivalent, Shkumatava injected the human versions into the knocked-down zebrafish. Remarkably, the human lincRNAs rescued the zebrafish and restored brain development and head size for both lincRNAs, indicating that the human lincRNAs may have the same role in embryonic development as their zebrafish analogs.

"This work represents a major advance because it provides a framework for studying lincRNAs, a poorly understood, but abundant class of molecules," says Michael Bender, who oversees RNA processing and function grants at the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of General Medical Sciences, which partially funded the work. "The discovery that human lincRNAs appear to function much like their zebrafish counterparts in embryonic development suggests that the framework will prove valuable in bringing new insights on the roles played by lincRNAs in mammalian organisms."

The zebrafish is already a powerful tool for studying genetics. Whitehead Member Hazel Sive, who collaborated with Bartel and his lab members on the Cell paper, uses zebrafish to study brain development and genetic mutations linked to autism.

Says Sive, "The zebrafish is a fantastic, facile system for discovering the mechanisms by which genes work."

"We humans share with zebrafish this subset of ancient, peculiar genes, and the functionality has been retained in them," says Ulitsky. "We can perturb them in zebrafish and then replace them with the human ones and, at least in the lincRNAs we look at, the human ones function to restore proper development."

"Because of this functional conservation of lincRNAs between zebrafish and humans, we're introducing the zebrafish as a new vertebrate tool that could be used basically to uncover the functions of other lincRNAs," says Shkumatava.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health's (NIH's) National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), Human Frontiers Science Program, and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

###

Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research: http://www.wi.mit.edu/index.html

Thanks to Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research for this article.

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

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/116276/Long_intervening_non_coding_RNAs_play_pivotal_roles_in_brain_development

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Friday, December 23, 2011

German court's preliminary ruling says Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1N isn't aping the iPad

Round a few corners, a bit of nip-tuck and a tossed-on N. Oh, and probably just being sick and tired of the whole ordeal. We're assuming that's the recipe for getting the Cupertino-sourced gorilla off of Samsung's back, as a judge at the district court in Düsseldorf, Germany just issued a preliminary ruling that effectively clears the Galaxy Tab 10.1N from claims that it too mimics the iconic iPad. If you'll recall, the court blocked German sales of the original Tab 10.1 back in September, following Apple's arguments that Sammy's tab just looked too much like the iPad. Not surprisingly, the subtly-redesigned Tab 10.1N still drew fire from Apple's lawyers, but it's looking like they'll be riding home on the losing train this go 'round. A final verdict is expected on February 9th, of which we're sure you'll be resting uneasily on the edge of your seat to hear the result of. Courtroom fever -- catch it!

German court's preliminary ruling says Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1N isn't aping the iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Macworld  |  sourceReuters  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/22/german-courts-preliminary-ruling-says-samsungs-galaxy-tab-10-1/

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Daily Crunch: Motorized

1503Here are some of yesterday’s Gadgets stories: Meet Swivl, The Motion Tracking iPhone Dock That Always Keeps You On Camera Kickstarter: spnKiX Are Motorized Shoes ? Yes, Motorized Shoes Hands-On With The 4Moms Origami Stroller Kindle Fire Display Doesn?t Stand Up To Nook, iPad 2 In Tests In Which We Reveal The Top CES 2012 Trends Without Breaking Embargoes

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

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

NFL notes: Green Bay?s Aaron Rodgers named AP Male Athlete of the Year

Green Bay, Wis. ? When Aaron Rodgers needs to rekindle the feelings that drove his rise from a junior college quarterback to Super Bowl MVP, he doesn?t have to look too far.

Rodgers held on to the many rejection letters he received from marquee college programs as he was coming out of high school. Even today, he leaves a few of them sitting out at his house.

?I chose the couple that I thought were most demeaning to display in a space in my house that really nobody is able to see but myself,? Rodgers said. ?It?s something that I think is important to keep fresh on your mind. Maybe not every day, but once a week your eyes might pan across it and you have a little laugh about the journey you?ve been on ? at the same time, remembering that there still are people out there that you can prove something to.?

Rodgers is the 2011 Male Athlete of the Year, chosen by members of The Associated Press, after he turned in an MVP performance in the Green Bay Packers? Super Bowl victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in February and then went on to lead his team on a long unbeaten run this season.

Rodgers received 112 votes out of the 212 ballots submitted from U.S. news organizations that make up the AP?s membership. Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander finished second with 50 votes, followed by tennis standout Novak Djokovic (21), Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton (6) and NASCAR champion Tony Stewart (5).

Rodgers is one of three quarterbacks to receive the honor in the past five years. The New Orleans Saints? Drew Brees won in 2010 and the New England Patriots? Tom Brady won in 2007.

Around the league

Bears ? Quarterback Josh McCown will start an NFL game for the first time in four years when he lines up behind center for the Bears at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.

Cowboys ? Super Bowl ticket-holders displaced during the February seating fiasco at Cowboys Stadium filed court documents, renewing fraud claims against the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is accused of recklessness in pushing for a new Super Bowl attendance record at the Cowboys? new stadium.

Steelers ? Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison understands his helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy was illegal by the letter of the law. He can also understand, grudgingly, why the NFL suspended him one game as punishment for a series of similar hits over the last 3 seasons.

Source: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/53163986-77/rodgers-bay-nfl-bowl.html.csp

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Monday, December 19, 2011

Quotes on the death of Vaclav Havel (AP)

Reactions to the death of Vaclav Havel, who led Czechoslovakia's 1989 anti-communist "Velvet Revolution":

? "A great fighter for the freedom of nations and for democracy has died . . . His outstanding voice of wisdom will be missed in Europe, which is going through a serious crisis. I am praying for the peace of his soul" ? Solidarity founder and Poland's former president Lech Walesa.

? "His peaceful resistance shook the foundations of an empire, exposed the emptiness of a repressive ideology, and proved that moral leadership is more powerful than any weapon. ... He also embodied the aspirations of half a continent that had been cut off by the Iron Curtain, and helped unleash tides of history that led to a united and democratic Europe." ? President Barack Obama.

? "His dedication to freedom and democracy is as unforgotten as his great humanity . . . We Germans also have much to thank him for." ? German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who grew up in East Germany and went into politics as communism crumbled.

? "No one of my generation will ever forget those powerful scenes from Wenceslas Square two decades ago. Havel led the Czech people out of tyranny. And he helped bring freedom and democracy to our entire continent. Europe owes Vaclav Havel a profound debt. Today his voice has fallen silent. But his example and the cause to which he devoted his life will live on" ? British Prime Minister David Cameron.

? "The most subversive act of the playwright from Prague was telling the truth about tyranny. And when that truth finally triumphed, the people elected this dignified, charming, humble, determined man to lead their country. Unintimidated by threats, unchanged by political power, Vaclav Havel suffered much in the cause of freedom and became one of its greatest heroes." ? President George W. Bush.

_"Amid the turbulence of modern Europe, his voice was the most consistent and compelling ? endlessly searching for the best in himself and in each of us." ? Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright.

"Havel was a brave and powerful voice against totalitarianism and an inspiration for dissidents everywhere struggling for freedom." ? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

? "He was a true European and has been a champion of democracy and liberty throughout his life . .. He was also a source of great inspiration to all those who fight for freedom and democracy around the world. The man has died but the legacy of his poems, plays and above all his ideas and personal example will remain alive for many generations to come." ? Jose Manuel Barroso, European Commission president.

? "With the death of Vaclav Havel, the Czech republic has lost one of its great patriots, France has lost a friend, and Europe has lost one of its wise men." ? French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

? "Vaclav Havel is the figure that represents the Velvet Revolution and the reunification of Europe. He will be sorely missed." ? Jerzy Buzek, president of European parliament and a former Polish prime minister and activist in Solidarity.

"Barbara and I join in mourning the death of Vaclav Havel, a gentle soul whose fierce devotion to the rights of man helped his countrymen cast aside the chains of tyranny and claim their rightful place among the free nations of world," said former U.S. President George H. W. Bush. "His personal courage throughout that twilight struggle inspired millions around the world, including those of us who worked with him during a historic period of transformation for Europe."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111218/ap_on_re_eu/eu_czech_obit_havel_quotes

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Sunday, December 18, 2011

Thai "ladyboy" flight attendants take to the skies

Thai transsexual ladyboys are taking to the air as flight attendants for a new airline, a move that some said could be a key step towards still broader acceptance in a nation where they are already unusually visible.

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Known as "katoeys" or "ladyboys," transgenders and transsexuals hold mainstream jobs in a variety of fields in Thailand. They are especially common in cosmetics shops or health stores, which almost always have a ladyboy shop assistant.

Working for new charter airline PC Air, transsexual flight attendants including 22-year-old Tanyarat Jirapatpakorn made their debut on a flight from Bangkok to the southern city of Surat Thani on Thursday, serving drinks and snacks and carrying out safety demonstrations.

"This is the beginning of the acceptance of transsexuals in Thailand, giving the opportunity for us to work in various fields," said Tanyarat.

"Maybe in the future we can get any job that transsexuals never did before, such as police, soldiers or even pilots."

PC Air, whose name comes from the initials of president Peter Chan, originally planned only to hire male and female flight attendants, but changed its mind after more than 100 transsexuals and transvestites applied as well.

Four were chosen, along with 19 female and 7 male flight attendants. The airline said qualifications for the ladyboy flight attendants were the same as for female flight attendants, with the additional provisos that they be like women in how they walked and talked, and have a feminine voice.

Chan, the airline president, said the ladyboy flight attendants actually might have a special advantage.

"They might provide better services because they understand both males and females. And they're well trained according to the aviation standard," he added.

The new recruits were chosen in February and have been training since in security measures, in-flight services, and make-up application.

PC Air flies domestically as well as to several Asian destinations, including Japan and South Korea.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45693412/ns/travel-news/

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