'Doors' Founder Ray Manzarek Traveled to Germany for Special ...

Ray Manzarek
Traveled to Germany
For Cancer Treatment

Exclusive

"The Doors" co-founder Ray Manzarek traveled across the world to seek out special world class treatment for his rare form of cancer ... which is why he was in Germany when he died, TMZ has learned.

Sources close to Ray's most recent band -- The Manzarek-Rogers Band -- tell us, Ray did tons of research on the best places to get treatment for his bile duct cancer ... and his search led him to the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany.

As we reported, Ray eventually passed away at RoMed yesterday.

According to sources, Ray broke news of his cancer to the band in March ... and traveled to Germany shortly after.

Up until Ray told his band about the cancer, we're told they had no idea he was sick. Ray had repeatedly just told them he was "tired," so the news was a shock.

Manzarek's next appearance was scheduled for August at the Orange County Fair ... but that's obviously been canceled.

Source: http://www.tmz.com/2013/05/21/doors-founder-ray-manzarek-dead-germany-romed-clinic-bile-duct-cancer-treatment/

nick cannon lindsay lohan saturday night live snl lindsay lohan valley fever project x the lorax lorax

Sharp launches two new Aquos 4K LCD TVs into the Japanese market

Sharp has just introduced a couple of high-end TVs if you're rich enough to be seeking an UltraHD set and lucky enough to live in Japan: the 70-inch LC-70UD1 and the 60-inch LC-60UD1, part of the new 4K Aquos UD1 series. Each will feature Sharp's 4K "Moth-eye" panel, Aquos 4K-Master Engine Pro HD upconversion engine, 2.1 channel THX surround and 3D capability. The 70-inch model will run 850,000 yen ($8,290) and launch on June 15th, while the 60-inch set will arrive August 10th for 650,000 yen ($6,335). There's no word yet on a stateside arrival, but based on what Sharp said at CES 2013 in January, it may join a 32-inch 4K Aquos model sometime later this year.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Comments

Via: AV Watch (translated)

Source: Sharp (translated)

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/uSilMFv2KGU/

Turkey Cooking Times Butterball mashed potatoes Apple Black Friday how to cook a turkey emma stone Frys

Largest genetic sequencing study of human disease

May 22, 2013 ? Researchers from Queen Mary, University of London have led the largest sequencing study of human disease to date, investigating the genetic basis of six autoimmune diseases.

The exact cause of these diseases -- autoimmune thyroid disease, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes- is unknown, but is believed to be a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors. In each disease only a proportion of the heritability is explained by the identified genetic variants. The techniques used to date, have generally identified common (in the population) variants of weak effect.

In this study, using high-throughput sequencing techniques,a global team of scientists sought to identify new variants, including rare and potentially high risk ones, in 25 previously identified risk genes in a sample of nearly 42,000 individuals (24,892 with autoimmune disease and 17,019 controls).

It has been suggested -- in the 'rare-variant synthetic genome-wide association hypothesis' -- that a small number of rare variants in risk genes are likely to be a major cause of the heritability of these conditions. However, the study published today in the journal Nature, suggests that the genetic risk of these diseases more likely involves a complex combination of hundreds of weak-effect variants which are each common in the population.

The authors estimate that rare variants in these risk genes account for only around three per cent of the heritability of these conditions that can be explained by common variants.

David van Heel, Professor of Gastrointestinal Genetics at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary and director of the Barts and The London Genome Centre, led the study. He said: "These results suggests that risk for these autoimmune diseases is not due to a few high-risk genetic variations but seems rather due to a random selection from many common genetic variants which each have a weak effect.

"For each disease there are probably hundreds such variants and the genetic risk is likely to come from inheriting a large number of these variants from both parents. If this is the case then it may never be possible to accurately predict an individual's genetic risk of these common autoimmune diseases. However, the results do provide important information about the biological basis of these conditions and the pathways involved, which could lead to the identification new drug targets."

The research utilised high-throughput sequencing techniques performed at the Barts and The London Genome Centre and demonstrated for the first time that the sequencing can call genotypes as accurately as 'gold standard techniques' such as genotyping array platforms. Additional laboratory work was carried out at the Blizard institute at Queen Mary.

Professor Richard Trembath, Vice Principal and Executive Dean for Health at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, and a co-author on the paper said: "The results prompt a re-assessment of the genetic architecture that determines risk for development of common auto-immune disorders and will fuel future careful assessment of regions of the human genome beyond those presently known to confer susceptibility to these important medical conditions."

This study was primarily funded by the Medical Research Council with additional funding from Coeliac UK.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/YB1h5ioWbVo/130522131124.htm

carlos santana dodgers triple play baa samoyed kenny powers kenny powers carl hagelin

Boost Mobile Wallet app and prepaid Visa hands-on

Boost Mobile launched a Mobile Wallet app and service today at CTIA 2013 with an interesting twist in that it is tied to a Visa Prepaid card. Boost Mobile customers simply hit up a store to get signed up, download an app onto their handset and once funds are added to their account can use them in a wide variety of ways. From sending money via the app to people in 135 other countries, the ability to pay more that 3,500 billers nationwide, top up your prepaid account and using the included Visa debit card any money in your account can be accessed via that card as well. The app also makes use of your handset's camera with its Quick Check feature -- which is coming soon -- allowing an account holder to snap a photo of a check and submit it using the app to have the check's value added to your mobile wallet once approved -- which is nifty, if you don't use a bank we suppose. There are no month-to-month fees for the service but each bill you pay will cost some $2 and climbs depending on how quickly you need the payment made against the account. The service launches in Los Angeles, San Diego and parts of New Jersey today with rollout to all markets expected by the end of the year.

Gallery: Boost Mobile Wallet app and prepaid Visa hands-on

Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/OO_7E8-5nx8/

january jones ncaa final game reba mcentire acm awards the killing global payments eli young band

3 Mind-Bending Ways Apple Dodged $13.8B In Taxes | TechCrunch

Kudos to Apple?s finance lawyers, who are the Cirque Du Soleil of legal contortionism. On the eve of live testimony from CEO Tim Cook, a scathing congressional investigation of Apple?s tax dodging strategy reveals how the computer giant avoided $13.8 billion in taxes through a clever labyrinth of offshore tax havens, shell corporations, and paper shuffling.

?The ability to pay taxes of less than 2% on all of Apple?s offshore income gives the company a powerful financial incentive to engage in convoluted tax planning to avoid paying U.S. taxes,? notes the report from Senators Carl Levin and John McCain of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

The 37-page report is jam-packed with all the edge-of-your-seat thrills one would expect from a congressional report on multinational tax policy; we summed up the good parts so you can concentrate your valuable workday procrastination on cat videos.

1. Ireland: Come For The Beer, Stay For The Tax Haven

In addition to the majesty of rolling hills, towering waterfalls, and a rich culture, Ireland also welcomes billion-dollar multinational corporations with an appealing 12% tax rate. Even better, in a sweetheart deal with the makers of the laptop used to type this story, the Irish have offered Apple a tax rate below 2%. At least since 2009, according to the report, it was, on average, 0.06%.

Senate investigators found this curious, since nearly all of Apple research, development, and board meetings are conducted in the United States. So, when they quizzed Apple about where it calls home, ?Apple responded that it had not determined the answer to that question.?

As a result, Apple has had an effective tax rate of just 20.1%, below the 24-32% it tells investors (according to the report), and well below the 35% the U.S. government wants it to pay. In 2011, it paid a mere $2.5 billion.

2. Sell To Yourself and It?s (Technically) Not Income

On paper, Ireland would appear to buy enough Apple products to reconstruct Blarney Castle from discarded iPods, but Apple?s Irish HQ legal entity is merely a passthrough shell corporation to funnel profits to tax havens, says the report.

The investigators determined that Apple cleverly splits itself into entities around the world, charged with selling products and intellectual property at distorted prices. For instance, Apple Sales International, a shell corporation entitled to Apple Inc?s intellectual property, sells products to its worldwide retailers at a ?substantial? markup, technically raking in most of the profits from goods sold in stores.

?For example, in 2011, Apple reported $34 billion in income before taxes; however, just $150 million of those profits, a fraction of one percent, were recorded for Apple?s Japanese subsidiaries, even though Japan is one of Apple?s strongest foreign markets.?ASI, meanwhile, reported $22 billion in 2011 net income,? explains the report.

3. Choose Which Entity Pays Taxes (Hint: The One With The Lowest Income)

Apple avoids taxes on its $102 billion in offshore holdings, thanks to an unintentional loophole that allows the company to decide which subsidiary gets taxed. In an effort to simplify the global tax rules, the IRS permitted multinationals to ?disregard? sub-entities that were normally taxed (the so-called ?check-the-box? rule).

Apple structured the relationship so that its tax-haven entities received billions in otherwise taxable dividend payments from subsidiaries it had elected to be among its disregarded entities.

In other words, according to the IRS, the payment within corporations is treated as a kind of internal transfer, which Apple funneled to its tax-friendliest locations.

?Those figures indicate that Apple?s Japanese profits were being shifted away from the United States to Ireland, where Apple had negotiated a minimal tax rate and maintained two non-tax resident corporations.?

Looking For A ?Reasonable? Tax Code

Apple, of course, is not the only major tech firm accused of dodging taxes through offshore havens. In Apple?s case, Tim Cook has already donned the good cop role ahead of his congressional grilling, alongside Apple also providing written testimony to the subcommittee.

?If you look at it today, to repatriate cash to the U.S., you need to pay 35 percent of that cash. And that is a very high number,? said Cook. ?We are not proposing that it be zero. I know many of our peers believe that. But I don?t view that. But I think it has to be reasonable.?

Cook will reportedly plead with Congress to simplify the tax code. But, if that happens, a lot of very clever tax lawyers will lose their jobs.

[Image Credit: Flickr User jpmpinmontreal]

April 1, 1976

NASDAQ:AAPL

Started by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple has expanded from computers to consumer electronics over the last 30 years, officially changing their name from Apple Computer, Inc. to Apple, Inc. in January 2007. Among the key offerings from Apple?s product line are: Pro line laptops (MacBook Pro) and desktops (Mac Pro), consumer line laptops (MacBook Air) and desktops (iMac), servers (Xserve), Apple TV, the Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server operating systems, the iPod, the...

? Learn more

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2013/05/21/3-mindbending-ways-apple-dodged-13-8b-in-taxes/

Chicago teachers strike september 11 2001 september 11 2001 blake lively serena williams Espn Fantasy Football Grandparents Day 2012

Telefonica, Vodafone hit by defections in tight Spanish market

MADRID (Reuters) - More than half a million Spaniards switched mobile phone operator in March to take advantage of the cheap deals on offer from competitors, with the market's main players Telefonica and Vodafone the biggest losers.

In the first three months of the year more than 1.8 million consumers moved to another mobile company, data from telecoms regulator CMT showed on Tuesday.

Orange, Yoigo and virtual networks, which rent capacity from established players, have stolen a march on the market leaders by appealing to consumers in search of savings as recession in Spain drags on and unemployment reaches 27 percent. The data showed 581,860 customers switched provider in March, the second-highest number of record.

Incumbent Telefonica's market share fell to 35.6 percent in March from 38.6 percent a year before, while Vodafone's shrank to 25.7 percent from 28.6 percent. Virtual operators now account for over 10 percent of the market, compared to 7 percent a year ago.

Vodafone, the world's second biggest operator, has taken total writedowns for Spain and Italy of 7.7 billion pounds ($11.7 billion) this year owing to tough conditions in the recession-hit markets.

Fixed line specialists like Jazztel have also won market share with conversion offers that include virtual mobile services.

CMT said the total net number of mobile lines in the country fell by 312,674 in March, with Vodafone shedding 297,870 connections and Telefonica dropping 247,570 connections.

There was better news for Telefonica in broadband, where it attracted 11,490 new clients. Cable operators lost just over 2,000 customers and other providers gained 33,890 new clients.

(Reporting by Clare Kane; editing by Patrick Graham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/telefonica-vodafone-hit-defections-tight-spanish-market-094805051.html

south dakota state long beach state beasley trailblazers michael beasley jermaine jones hbo luck

Do you need boat insurance? | InsuranceQuotes.com

Chris Kissell

Summer is almost here, and millions of boaters are dreaming of long, lazy days traveling the nation?s waterways.

However, every year serious boating accidents occur. In 2011, there were 4,588 recreational boating accidents that involved 758 deaths, 3,081 injuries and about $52 million of damage to property, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Boat insurance can pay for costs associated with such incidents, says Lynne McChristian, Florida representative of the Insurance Information Institute (III).

?Everyone who owns a boat should consider insuring it,? she says.

Types of boat insurance

There are two types of recreational boat insurance: Actual cash value and agreed amount value.

Actual cash value insurance reimburses you for the value of your boat, minus depreciation. If the boat is a total loss, your insurer will only pay out the amount the boat is currently worth, not the amount it would cost to replace it.

If the boat is still repairable, you receive a check for the total cost of repair, minus a percentage that corresponds to the depreciated value of the boat at the time of the accident.

On the other hand, agreed amount value insurance pays out the cost to replace the boat in the event of a total loss, or pays out the full repair amount.

The price of boat insurance depends on several factors, including:

? Type and size of watercraft.

? How and where it is used.

? Value of the watercraft.

The cost of the policy also depends on who will be driving the boat, says Ron Moore, senior product consultant at MetLife.

?Most companies will rate and underwrite a boat policy on the age of the operators, similar to the way auto insurance is rated,? Moore says.

Some types of damage might not be included in boat insurance, such as damage due to normal wear and tear, or damage caused by insects, animals and other organisms. Mold damage also may be excluded.

As with auto insurance, liability coverage is the most important part of a boat insurance policy. This insurance protects you from damages you inflict on others, whether through physical injuries or damage to their property.

Insurers typically offer boat insurance liability coverage limits of between $15,000 and $300,000, according to III.

Boat policy coverage specifics vary from insurer to insurer, says Elizabeth Stelzer, a spokeswoman for Nationwide.

?It?s important to read a policy fully to understand who is and who isn?t covered,? she says.

For example, she says liability coverage typically extends beyond the policyholder to anyone operating the boat with the policyholder?s permission. But other coverage ? such as medical payments, which covers the medical and funeral costs for the insured after an accident ? may only apply to the policyholder.

As with car insurance, many different types of boat insurance discounts are available. For instance, you may earn a price break for completing boater safety classes, such as those offered through the Coast Guard.

Does homeowner?s insurance cover your boat?

If you have a relatively small boat, your homeowner?s or renter?s insurance policy may offer some protection.

?There?s limited coverage for boats under a standard homeowner policy,? McChristian says.

Most insurers will provide about $1,000 ? or 10 percent of your home?s value ? in coverage for canoes, and small sail boats or power boats, according to III.

This coverage typically protects not only the boat, but also the motor and trailer.

However, some homeowner?s and renter?s policies don?t cover watercrafts at all, McChristian says.

In addition, liability protection for your boat typically isn?t provided as part of homeowner?s or renter?s coverage, or is very limited, she says. To get a sufficient amount of liability coverage, you need to add an endorsement, or to purchase a separate boat insurance policy.

Buying boat insurance especially makes sense if you have a bigger boat such as a yacht, or if your boat has more than 25 miles per hour of horsepower. Jet skis, wave runners and similar watercraft also may require separate coverage.

In some cases, you can pay extra for an endorsement to your home insurance policy that will provide additional coverage for your boat. But there may be limits.

For example, Moore says MetLife?s boat insurance provides uninsured boaters coverage, which helps pay for damages associated with injuries that may occur if another boater runs into and hurts you, but doesn?t have coverage. Homeowner?s insurance doesn?t provide this coverage for boats, Moore says.

How boat accidents affect auto insurance

Some people like to drink on their boats, and the consequences can be deadly. Alcohol was the leading contributor in 16 percent of fatal boating accidents in 2011, according to the Coast Guard.

Could a conviction for drunken boating affect your auto insurance rates?

?Yes, it?s possible,? McChristian says. ?It depends on how individual states handle boating under the influence.?

She notes that it?s illegal to operate a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs, just as it?s illegal to drive a car under the influence.

?The consequences vary by state and depend upon state regulations,? she says.

Whether or not a boating accident affects your auto insurance depends on the insurer. Moore says that boat mishaps will not affect a MetLife policyholder?s auto rates. However, Stelzer says a boating accident could impact a Nationwide policyholder?s auto premiums.

To avoid that fate, customers can consider selecting accident forgiveness or minor violation forgiveness features in their auto policies, if these features are available.

Source: http://www.insurancequotes.com/boat-insurance/

courtney mercury retrograde bath salts heart shaped box lucid 2012 ncaa tournament bracket matterhorn

Report: Iran hangs 2 men convicted of spying

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran's state radio says authorities have executed two men convicted of spying for Israel's Mossad and the American CIA spy agency.

Sunday's report says Mohammad Heidari, who was accused of providing Mossad with classified information in return of money, and Kourosh Ahmadi, who allegedly gave the CIA intelligence on Iran, were hanged.

The report didn't say when the men were arrested or tried.

Iran occasionally says it has dismantled Western spying networks in the country and announces arrests of individuals on espionage charges.

Tehran accuses Israel and the U.S. of spying on its vital interests, particularly its nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at producing an atomic weapon. Tehran denies the charge.

Both Israel and the U.S have not ruled out a military option against Iran's nuclear facilities.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/report-iran-hangs-2-men-convicted-spying-060923892.html

unitarian new black panther party lost in space elizabeth banks battle royale key largo ryan madson

'Star Trek Into Darkness' Spoiler Special: Burning Questions Answered

Co-writer Damon Lindelof exclusively addresses the mysteries surrounding the blockbuster.
By Josh Horowitz

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1707650/star-trek-into-darkness-spoiler-special-burning-questions-answered.jhtml

tiger woods masters jet crash virginia beach petrino clayton kershaw tyler perry face transplant fab melo

Sharks fined $100,000 for GM's comments

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) ? The NHL fined the San Jose Sharks $100,000 on Saturday for general manager Doug Wilson's comments criticizing the league for forward Raffi Torres' suspension for the rest of the second round of the playoffs.

The NHL said the fine was issued for violating a rule put in place earlier this year prohibiting formal team statements to the media during the 48-hour period following a disciplinary decision. The rule calls for an automatic $25,000 fine, and the Sharks were docked an additional $75,000 under an article in the league's constitution because of the "inappropriate nature of the comments."

Torres was suspended for the rest of San Jose's playoff series against Los Angeles on Thursday for an illegal check to the head of Kings forward Jarret Stoll during Game 1. The Kings took a 2-0 lead into Game 3 on Saturday night in San Jose.

Wilson said Friday that the organization strongly disagreed with the NHL's decision to suspend Torres.

"It is abundantly clear that this was a clean hockey hit," Wilson said in a statement. "As noted by the NHL, Raffi's initial point of contact was a shoulder-to-shoulder hit on an opponent who was playing the puck. He did not leave his feet or elevate, he kept his shoulder tucked and elbow down at his side, and he was gliding ? not skating or charging."

The team had no comment Saturday about the fine.

It is the fourth career suspension for Torres, who is considered a repeat offender in dangerous hits under the league's collective bargaining agreement.

Stoll was bent forward while trying to play a bouncing puck when Torres approached him from the side for a violent hit in Game 1 on Tuesday night. Stoll's head snapped back violently before he fell forward onto the ice. Stoll missed Game 2 and did not make the trip to San Jose for Saturday's game. There is no timetable for his return.

In an explanatory video released by Brendan Shanahan, the NHL's senior vice president of player safety, he said Stoll's head was "the principal point of contact" in the hit, creating grounds for suspension. Although Torres initially made contact with Stoll's right shoulder, Shanahan ruled that the shoulder hit was only a glancing blow, as evidenced by the direction both players traveled after the contact.

Wilson said the head must be targeted to violate Rule 48.1 and there is no evidence that Torres targeted Stoll's head. Wilson also said Stoll put himself in a vulnerable position just before the hit to play a bouncing puck.

"It appears that the NHL has not only made an inappropriate application of this rule but is trying to make an example out of a player who is being judged on past events, one who has changed his game dramatically this season and taken only six minor penalties in 39 games," Wilson said.

While playing for Phoenix last season, Torres received a 21-game suspension ? initially 25 games ? for a high hit on Chicago star Marian Hossa in the first round of the playoffs. Torres was suspended for two games in January 2012 for charging Minnesota defenseman Nate Prosser, and he sat out four games in April 2011 for a hit to the head of Edmonton's Jordan Eberle while playing for Vancouver.

The Sharks acquired Torres from Phoenix just before the trading deadline and he provided an immediate spark in helping the team make the playoffs and sweep Vancouver in the first round. Torres scored in overtime in Game 2 against the Canucks.

San Jose was expected to get a boost to the lineup Saturday with the return of injured forward Marty Havlat, who has been sidelined since leaving Game 1 in the first round because of a lower-body injury. Havlat told the coaching staff after the morning skate he was ready to play and coach Todd McLellan said he would get Havlat back in the lineup. Havlat has 21 goals and 31 assists in 73 career playoff games.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sharks-fined-100-000-gms-comments-220000048.html

the matrix oceans 11 ferris state hockey mary poppins john derbyshire kinkade thomas kinkade paintings

Access Hollywood section

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.today.com/id/7358550/ns/today-entertainment/

Outside Lands washington post Family Guy Boston Marathon revolution huffington post What is ricin Boston Marathon Explosion

Start Your Day Right With a Daft Punk Laser Bubble Rave

Lasers, bubbles, edge-tracking, and Daft Punk are all pretty awesome in their own separate ways, but put together, they can put one one hell of a useless, random, but awesome show.

Messing with his Etherdream DAC laser to no end other than real craziness, Memo Akten of the group Marshmallow Laser Feast whipped up this rockin' little laser party. The rig uses edge-finding to spot different bubbles and then blast the hell out of them with laser light, which makes for a surprisingly mesmerizing effect.

Memo has a history of creating cool movement-tracking laser-party projects, but this is definitely a high point. I mean, how can you top this without help from another Daft Punk single? [CreativeApplications]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/start-your-day-right-with-a-daft-punk-laser-bubble-part-508463776

kate gosselin helicopter crash matt jones whitney houston in casket photo resolute national enquirer whitney houston casket photo jk rowling

Debt limit unlikely to be hit till after Labor Day, Treasury Secretary advises (Washington Bureau)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/306567268?client_source=feed&format=rss

san antonio weather mike daisey nicollette sheridan apple dividend snow white and the huntsman snow white and the huntsman rupaul drag race

Canada abuzz over purported crack video of mayor

TORONTO (AP) ? A video purportedly of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack has caused an uproar in Canada. Ford on Friday called the allegations "ridiculous."

The video has not been released publicly, and there is no way to verify whether it is authentic. Reports by gossip website Gawker and the Toronto Star said it was taken by a man who claimed he had sold crack to Ford. The Associated Press hasn't seen the video.

The conservative mayor of Canada's largest city emerged from his house on Friday and called the allegations "ridiculous."

Ford refused to take questions. In brief comments outside his office, he said it was "another story with respect to the Toronto Star going after me. And that's all I've got to say for now."

A lawyer for Ford didn't respond to messages seeking comment. Toronto police spokesman Mark Pugash said investigators were "monitoring the situation closely."

The Star reported that two reporters watched a video that appears to show Ford, sitting in a chair, inhaling from what appears to be a glass crack pipe. The Star said it did not obtain the video or pay to watch it.

The Star also reported that Ford made an anti-gay slur against the leader of the federal Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau.

Ford later appeared Friday at a previously scheduled ceremony marking International Day Against Homophobia.

Ford has been embroiled in controversies about his behavior since being elected in 2010, but these are the most serious allegations he's faced yet. The Toronto Star reported earlier this year that he was asked to leave a gala fundraiser for wounded Canadian soldiers because he appeared intoxicated.

He has also been accused of flouting conflict of interest rules and making obscene gestures at residents from his car, and he has had high-profile shouting altercations with a Toronto Transit worker as well as a Toronto Star reporter.

Ford, a city councilor for years, once said Toronto would be better off if it didn't accept more immigrants. Half of the city's population was born outside Canada.

Toronto deputy mayor Doug Holyday questioned the authenticity of the video, saying "video can be altered" and "drug dealers can't be trusted."

Holyday said he has not spoken to Ford or his staff since the allegations surfaced, but noted he still believes in the mayor "at this point."

"I wouldn't want my career or my credibility resting on the word of drug dealers," Holyday said.

The controversy has drawn comparisons to the 1990 arrest of then-Washington Mayor Marion Barry, who was videotaped smoking crack cocaine in a hotel room during an FBI sting operation.

Barry served six months in federal prison on a misdemeanor drug possession conviction and later won a fourth term as mayor in 1994.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/canada-abuzz-over-purported-crack-video-mayor-160220832.html

paul ryan michele bachmann donald trump Election 2012 map Election Results Map Early voting results Dick Morris

10 things you need to know today: May 18, 2013

An ousted IRS official testifies before Congress, Iraq experiences its deadliest day in eight months, and more

1. CONGRESS GRILLS IRS OFFICIAL
Congress heard testimony from Steven Miller, the acting IRS commissioner who was forced to resign by President Obama after it was revealed that the agency flagged Tea Party groups for extra scrutiny. Miller told the House Ways and Means Committee that while the agency's actions were "obnoxious," they weren't motivated by partisanship. [New York Times]
??????????????????????????????

2. BOMBS KILL 76 IN BAGHDAD
At least 76 people were killed by bombs in Sunni areas of Baghdad on Friday, a result of continuing tensions between the country's majority Shiites and minority Sunnis. It was the deadliest day in Iraq in eight months; the worst attack killed at least 41 and injured 56 outside a Sunni mosque. [Associated Press]
??????????????????????????????

SEE MORE: How Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. can be a success

3. CONSUMER SENTIMENT AT HIGHEST LEVEL IN NEARLY SIX YEARS
A new report showed that more consumers have a favorable view of their personal finances now than at any time since 2007. The index on consumer sentiment rose to 83.7, from 76.4 in April, beating expectations. Households in the upper third of income levels were the most optimistic about their financial situation. [Reuters]
??????????????????????????????

4. ARGENTINE DICTATOR JORGE RAFAEL VIDELA DIES
Jorge Rafael Videla, the military junta leader who presided over Argentina's "Dirty War" in the mid-1970s, died in a Buenos Aires prison on Friday. He was 87. Anywhere from 15,000 to 30,000 people were killed or "disappeared" by his regime. [New York Times]
??????????????????????????????

SEE MORE: Will Russia's advanced missiles prevent U.S. intervention in Syria?

5. TORONTO MAYOR ROB FORD DENIES SMOKING CRACK
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford told reporters that allegations that he was videotaped smoking crack cocaine were "absolutely not true" and "ridiculous." Reporters for The Toronto Star and Gawker both say they viewed the video. Owners of the video are trying to sell it to the media for $200,000. [Reuters]
??????????????????????????????

6. BILL GATES ONCE AGAIN WORLD'S RICHEST MAN
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates reclaimed his position as the world's richest man, with a fortune valued at $72.7 billion. He beat out Mexican investor Carlos Slim, who lost $3 billion after Mexico's government passed a bill that hurt the market share of his telecom company America Movil. [Bloomberg]
??????????????????????????????

SEE MORE: Why the GOP dropped its boycott of Obama's Labor and EPA picks

7. THIEVES PULL OFF $1 MILLION JEWELRY HEIST IN CANNES
Around $1 million worth of jewelry was stolen when thieves ripped a safe from the wall of a Novotel hotel room located near the Cannes Film Festival. The room was being rented by an employee of Swiss watch and jewelry maker Chopard. French investigators say that the crime was probably well-planned and carried out by more than one person. [Associated Press]
??????????????????????????????

8. IDAHO MAN ARRESTED ON TERRORISM-RELATED CHARGES
Fazliddin Kurbanov, 30, pleaded not guilty in Boise, Idaho, to charges that he allegedly taught other Uzbek refugees how to build bombs meant to attack public transportation. It is unknown whether the alleged bombs were for domestic use or intended to aid militants in his native Uzbekistan. [Washington Post]
??????????????????????????????

SEE MORE: Party foul: Is PBR making cheap beers more expensive?

9. NEW YORK JETS RUNNING BACK ARRESTED
New York Jets running back Mike Goodson was arrested on drug possession and weapon charges by New Jersey state police. Goodson, 25, was found in the passenger seat of a GMC Yukon SUV carrying a small amount of marijuana. More marijuana and a loaded handgun were also found in the car. [ESPN]
??????????????????????????????

10. POWERBALL JACKPOT REACHES $600 MILLION
The jackpot for the 43-state Powerball lottery climbed to $600 million on Friday, its highest total ever. If nobody wins after the drawing on Saturday night, it could eclipse the $656 million Mega Millions jackpot from March 2012. [Los Angeles Times]

SEE MORE: WATCH: The grim full-length trailer for Dexter's final season

View this article on TheWeek.com Get 4 Free Issues of The Week

Other stories from this section:

Like on Facebook?-?Follow on Twitter?-?Sign-up for Daily Newsletter

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/10-things-know-today-may-18-2013-081400872.html

Zeek Rewards vanessa bryant vanessa bryant Prince Harry naked Prince Harry Vegas Melky Cabrera Mayim Bialik

Hagel orders review of sex-abuse prevention

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel gestures as he speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon, Friday, May 17, 2013, to discuss sexual assaults in the military and the promotion of Lt. Gen. Curtis "Mike" Scaparrotti to command U.S. troops in South Korea, among other topics. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel gestures as he speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon, Friday, May 17, 2013, to discuss sexual assaults in the military and the promotion of Lt. Gen. Curtis "Mike" Scaparrotti to command U.S. troops in South Korea, among other topics. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel gestures as he speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon, Friday, May 17, 2013, to discuss sexual assaults in the military and the promotion of Lt. Gen. Curtis "Mike" Scaparrotti to command U.S. troops in South Korea, among other topics. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey gestures as he speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon, Friday, May 17, 2013, to discuss sexual assaults in the military and the promotion of Lt. Gen. Curtis "Mike" Scaparrotti to command U.S. troops in South Korea, among other topics. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Friday ordered the military to recertify all 25,000 people involved in programs designed to prevent and respond to sexual assault, an acknowledgement that assaults have escalated beyond the Pentagon's control.

He said this step, which also applies to the military's approximately 19,000 recruiters and must be completed by July 1, is one among many that will be taken to fix the problem of sexual abuse and sexual harassment within every branch of the military.

At a news conference with Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hagel said he believes alcohol use is "a very big factor" in many sexual assault and sexual harassment cases, but there are many pieces to the problem.

He and Dempsey spoke one day after all of the military's leadership were summoned to the White House to discuss the sexual assault problem with President Barack Obama, who has expressed impatience with the Pentagon's failure to solve it.

At his Pentagon news conference, Hagel said it has become clear to him since taking office in February that holding people accountable for their actions is important, but simply firing people is not a solution. He said he gets a lot of advice on that.

He said some ask him, "Well, why don't you just fire some people?" He said his answer is, "Well, yeah, we could do that. And, you know, who are you going to fire?"

Hagel signed a one-page memorandum addressed to the uniformed chiefs and civilian heads of each of the military services requiring that the credentials and qualifications of all recruiters, sexual assault response coordinators and sexual assault victim advocates be reviewed to ensure that they meet current standards. They also will be given refresher training on professional ethics and the impact of violations.

"I am concerned that this department may be nearing a stage where the frequency of this crime ? and the perception that there is tolerance of it ? could very well undermine our ability to effectively carry out the mission, and to recruit and retain good people," Hagel wrote.

A catalyst for congressional outrage has been the disclosure in recent days of at least two cases in which a military member with responsibility for sexual assault prevention programs has himself been accused of sexual misconduct. Cases of sexual assault allegations against military recruiters also have arisen recently.

Dempsey, who has been among the most outspoken Pentagon official on this topic, called sexual assault in the military "a crime that demands accountability and consequences."

"As the president made clear to us yesterday, we can and must do more to change a culture that has become too complacent," Dempsey said. "We have a serious problem that we must solve: aggressive sexual behavior that rips at the bond of trust that binds us together."

Earlier Friday, the Air Force's top general said that sexual assaults in his branch of the military typically involve alcohol use and can be traced to a lack of respect for women.

"We have a problem with respect for women that leads to many of the situations that result in sexual assault in our Air Force," Gen. Mark Welsh told reporters in a lengthy interview in his Pentagon offices.

Welsh said combatting the problem, which he characterized as a crisis, is his No. 1 priority as the Air Force chief of staff. He said he reviews every reported case of sexual assault; last year there were 792 in the Air Force.

Welsh addressed criticism about his comment last week, in response to questions at a congressional hearing, that the problem can be explained in part by a "hook-up mentality" in the wider society. Some said his remark implied that the blame rests mainly with victims.

"If I had this to do over again, I would take more time to answer the question and not try to compress it," he said, adding that his point was that every person who enters the Air Force needs to be instructed in "this idea of respect, inclusion, diversity and value of every individual."

"Now, I didn't say it that way in the hearing, and I wish I had because I think it gave, especially victims, the opportunity for someone to interpret what I said as blaming the victims," he said, adding that as a result, "I am sorry about that because there is nothing that is farther from the truth."

Obama said after Thursday's meeting with the military leaders that he is determined to eliminate the "scourge" of sexual assault in the military, while cautioning that it will take a long and sustained effort by all military members.

"There is no silver bullet to solving this problem," Obama said.

"We will not stop until we've seen this scourge, from what is the greatest military in the world, eliminated," he told reporters.

Senior military officers are speaking about the problem with increasing bluntness and expressions of regret. Dempsey, the Joint Chiefs chairman, on Wednesday called it a "crisis" in the ranks, and on Thursday the Army chief of staff, Gen. Ray Odierno, publicly acknowledged his service's efforts are "failing."

"They care about this and they are angry about it," Obama said.

"Not only is it a crime, not only is it shameful and disgraceful, but it also is going to make and has made the military less effective than it can be," the president said.

Those summoned to the White House by Obama included not just Hagel, Dempsey and the chiefs of each military service but also the civilian heads of each service and senior enlisted advisers.

"I heard directly from all of them that they are ashamed by some of what's happened," Obama said.

The president added that because assault victims may be more likely now to come forward with complaints, the number of reported assaults may increase in the short run.

"I then want those trend lines to start going down because that indicates that we're also starting to fix the problem and we've highlighted it, and people who are engaged in despicable behavior, they get fully punished for it," Obama said.

The problem, which has plagued the military for decades, has been thrust to the fore by recent cases, including that of an Air Force officer who headed a sexual assault prevention office but was himself arrested for sexual battery.

On Thursday, Army officials said the manager of the sexual assault response program at Fort Campbell, Ky., had been relieved of his post after his arrest in a domestic dispute with his ex-wife. The program he managed was meant to prevent sexual harassment and assault and encourage equal opportunity.

"It is time we take on the fight against sexual assault and sexual harassment as our primary mission," Odierno said.

A Pentagon report last week estimated that as many as 26,000 military members may have been sexually assaulted last year, based on survey results, out of 1.4 million in the services.

That report, and a recent series of arrests and other sexual assault problems across the military, have triggered a rush of initiatives from the Pentagon and proposed legislation on Capitol Hill.

___

Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Donna Cassata contributed to this report.

___

Follow Robert Burns on Twitter: https://twitter.com/robertburnsAP

Follow Lolita C. Baldor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lbaldor

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-05-17-US-Military-Sexual-Assault/id-e56855ced9a54db2b2c5881d6eaed714

fox mole manson bubba watson recent earthquakes fbi most wanted list stuttering james van der beek

Amid Recession and Crisis, Greece?s Shipping Industry Steams Ahead

On December 5 last year, the Ob River, an 288-metre LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) tanker with a capacity of 84,682 deadweight tonnes chartered by Russian energy giant Gazprom, arrived at the Japanese port of Tobata. The ship belonged to Dynagas, a privately held company owned by George Prokopiou, one of Greece?s preeminent shipping magnates.

It was a delivery of historic significance. To make it, the Ob River had traveled through more than 3,000 miles of the bleak, icy expanse of the Northern Sea Route, accompanied by two nuclear-powered Russian icebreakers. It was the first ever sea voyage of an LNG cargo through the frozen waters north of Siberia, cutting the distance traveled from Norway to Japan by more than 5,000 miles compared to the Suez Canal route.

Sitting in his office overlooking the Saronic Gulf in the southern suburbs of Athens, a large map of the globe lined with sea routes on the wall beside him, the forbidding Prokopiou remembers how he got into the LNG game. ?The idea of transporting liquefied natural gas was droning around in my brain since 2003. I could see that this would be the century of gas. There are plentiful supplies, it is half the price of oil and it is also a quick fix for pollution and CO2 emissions. This is particularly important for the cities of China and India as they expand, to keep pollution under control,? he tells TIME in a deep, gravelly voice.

Foreseeing the possibilities created by the accelerated melting of Arctic ice, in 2004, Prokopiou ordered two LNG tankers to be built according to ice-class specifications. The vessels had to be fitted with reinforced hulls capable of withstanding the Arctic ice and with equipment able to function in temperatures as low as -35 degrees Celsius. Because of the proximity to the North Pole, conventional navigation systems did not work properly, so they had to be replaced by custom-made, Pole-compatible ones. Crew training took a year-and-a-half, and included a spell at Russia?s Makarov Academy, based in St. Petersburg, where crew-members were taught the secrets of navigating through a frozen desert.

The epic journey of the Ob River is a testament to the farsightedness and the global reach of Greek shipping. Greece, a small country of 11 million, is the world?s foremost shipping superpower, and has been almost without interruption for the last four decades. According to the latest figures from the Union of Greek Shipowners, the Greek-owned ocean-going fleet consists of 3,428 ships, totaling 245 million deadweight tonnes in capacity. This equals 15.6 percent of the carrying capacity of the entire global fleet, including 23.6 percent of the world tanker fleet and 17.2 percent of dry bulk.

Greece?s shipping companies defy almost every stereotype that Greeks have been associated with these past years. They are ultra-competitive in a truly globalized market; their family-based structures are an indispensable source of strength rather than weakness; and they are unabashed proponents of the free market when it comes to the transcontinental sea trade, even while in Greece itself, most industries still struggle under the weight of over-regulation and barriers to competition. In a reversal of the narrative that has dominated headlines, in shipping ? in particular the container sector ? it is well-positioned Greeks who are ?bailing out? mismanaged German shipping funds, which over-extended themselves before the global shipping crisis hit in 2008 and are now selling off their ships for a pittance.

Greek shipping was also a key enabler and a major beneficiary of the rise of China during the previous decade. It is estimated that in 2007, at the peak of the China boom, 60% of the Asian giant?s raw material needs were supplied by Greek-owned ships. As another major shipowner, Thanasis Martinos of Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, explains, Greeks benefited because ?we are the taxi drivers of world shipping. We are mostly free of long-term contracts ? unlike, say, the Japanese ? and we can go wherever the highest profit opportunities take us.? This week, top names in shipping, including Prokopiou, are accompanying Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras to Beijing on a much-publicized trip aimed at strengthening commercial ties between the two countries.

At home, however, there are ominous signs on the horizon for Greece?s shipping elite. The preferential tax treatment they have enjoyed for decades is under threat, questioned ? at times aggressively ? by the country?s left-wing official opposition, SYRIZA, as well as the EU?s Directorate-General for Competition. As Greek politicians seek to divert attention away from their own failings and to quench the thirst of the public for the wealthy to pay their fair share, the Swiss bank accounts of shipowners have been leaked to the media and a number of them have been investigated by the tax authorities. None has been charged with any wrongdoing, and all other major shipping countries offer similarly ?efficient? tax regimes to their shipping companies (though not necessarily to their shareholders). These facts have not dampened the emerging account, both at home and abroad, of Greece?s shipping community as an island of provocative privilege heedless of the sea of debt and deprivation surrounding it.

This new climate has already led to some changes: earlier this year, the shipping-friendly Nea Democratia-led government increased the tax rates paid by shipping companies based in the port of Piraeus, near Athens, on vessels listed on foreign shipping registers. It also imposed extraordinary levies of 6-10 percent, for the period between 2012-5, on the foreign exchange imported by all Piraeus-based shipping-related companies.

The decision of the Union of Greek Shipowners not to oppose this move is perhaps related to their concerns about the likely successors of the current government. The political rise of SYRIZA the previous spring sent an unseasonable chill through the offices of Greek shipping?s elite. In June, when fears of a SYRIZA election victory were at their peak, unnamed shipowners issued dire warnings in the press about preparations to move their offices abroad.

Since then, however, both sides have sought a more conciliatory tone. In a meeting with the Union of Greek Shipowners this past December, SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras voiced his support for the ?continued leading role of Greek shipping? in the international market. George Stathakis, a moderate SYRIZA MP who was present at the meeting, explains to TIME that his party does not plan to repeal the exemptions on non-distributed profits or on the capital gains of Greek-based shipping companies. The only significant change proposed, he says, is that shipping dividends will no longer be exempt from personal income taxation.

Martinos, for his part, is sanguine about the future relations between government and the shipping community. ?The perception in public opinion and in the political class ? including SYRIZA ? is that shipping benefits Greece. In coffee houses even in the smallest villages, people know this, and would not want to risk losing those benefits,? he says. In the trying years to come for Greece, this proposition will be sorely tested.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/amid-recession-crisis-greece-shipping-industry-steams-ahead-182411013.html

lin j.r. smith espn jeremy lin sleigh bells meek sturgis sturgis

Obama appoints Gabby Giffords to Fulbright Scholarship Board (Washington Post)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/306341716?client_source=feed&format=rss

Olympics Live Mens Gymnastics Allison Schmitt Olympic Schedule Kyla Ross Montenegro Olympic Games

Holder to face tough questioning at House hearing (The Arizona Republic)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/305875918?client_source=feed&format=rss

American Airlines Carlos Arredondo Pat Summerall Martin Richard Bbc News friends tracy mcgrady

O.J. Simpson testifies in bid for new trial

LAS VEGAS (AP) ? His leg shackles rattling as he shuffled to and from the witness stand, O.J. Simpson made his own case Wednesday for a new trial on armed robbery charges with testimony that he relied on the advice of his trusted attorney when he tried to reclaim mementos from his football glory days.

"It was my stuff. I followed what I thought was the law," the 65-year-old former NFL star and actor said. "My lawyer told me I couldn't break into a guy's room. I didn't break into anybody's room. I didn't try to muscle the guys. The guys had my stuff, even though they claimed they didn't steal it."

Simpson said he took the advice of his longtime former lawyer, Yale Galanter, and didn't testify in his Las Vegas trial at which he was convicted in 2008 of armed robbery, kidnapping and other charges and sentenced to nine to 33 years in prison.

His fall from long-ago fame and fortune was on display as a grayer, bulkier Simpson made his way through the courtroom. The Heisman Trophy college running back and NFL record-setter once made TV commercials running through airports. As Nevada prison inmate No. 1027820, he's been handcuffed and chained at the ankles during a hearing on his claim that he was poorly represented by his attorney during the trial.

His physician, Henry Johnson, watched and said Simpson appeared to be in good health.

H. Leon Simon, attorney for the state, conducted a brief cross-examination that focused on some of the same details Simpson attorney Patricia Palm raised about advice Simpson received from his trial lawyers, Galanter and co-counsel Gabriel Grasso.

"Mr. Galanter advised me not to testify," Simpson reiterated.

"You made a decision to follow Mr. Galanter's advice, rather than Mr. Grasso's, and not testify?" Simon asked.

"Yes," Simpson said.

Simpson did acknowledge that he didn't have a legal right to take some things from the Palace Station hotel room where he and five men confronted two sports memorabilia dealers ? including baseballs signed by Pete Rose and Duke Snyder and lithographs of football great Joe Montana. Simpson said he thought those items would be returned later. He said he didn't remember taking a hat from one of the dealers.

Earlier, under detailed questioning by Palm, Simpson seemed to describe every minute of a weekend that began with plans for a friend's wedding and ended with him under arrest.

He said he knew the memorabilia dealers, had no fear of them and certainly didn't need guns.

"There was no talk of guns at all," he said. Simpson declared he never even saw guns during the confrontation.

During the trial, two former co-defendants who testified for the prosecution said they had guns.

Simpson's bid for freedom hinges on showing that Galanter had conflicted interests and gave him bad trial and appellate advice.

Galanter, of Miami, is due to testify Friday. He has declined comment ahead of that appearance.

"He was my guy," Simpson said of his long friendship and professional relationship with Galanter.

He said Galanter told him he was within his legal rights to take back possessions as long as there was no violence or trespassing.

Grasso has said it was Galanter who convinced Simpson not to testify.

While the trial prosecutor testified earlier that there were preliminary discussions with Galanter about a plea bargain, Simpson testified he was never told a bargain was under consideration and that he did not remember any offer being given to him at trial.

Asked by Palm if he knew he could have gotten as little as 30 months in prison if he pleaded guilty to robbery, Simpson said no, and that he would have considered it if he had known.

Simpson also said Galanter led him to believe he could not be convicted on the charges.

"If you understood you could be convicted on the state's evidence, would you have testified?" Palm asked.

Simpson said yes.

Dressed in a drab blue prison uniform, Simpson spoke clearly as he recounted events leading to the hotel room where the dealers had the memorabilia. His voice cracked a bit as he told of recognizing items on the bed, including framed photos that used to hang on the wall of his Los Angeles home.

"Look at this stuff. Some of the stuff I didn't really realize was gone. These were things I hadn't seen in 10 years," he said. "You know, you get a little emotional about it."

There is no jury in the hearing and Simpson's fate will be determined by District Judge Linda Marie Bell. It remained unclear Wednesday whether the judge plans to make an immediate ruling or issue a written order later.

While Simpson's previous court cases were media events, including his 1995 acquittal in the Los Angeles killings of his ex-wife and her friend, there were empty seats in the Las Vegas courtroom for the first two days of the hearing.

But on Wednesday, the courtroom was full, with Simpson family members and friends in the second row. A marshal turned people away, sending them to an overflow room where video was streamed live.

Still, the scene was much tamer than in the past.

"This is less hoopla than I expected. It's real toned down," said Wyatt Skaggs, a retired defense attorney visiting from Laramie, Wyo.

___

Find Ken Ritter on Twitter: http://twitter.com/krttr

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 14: O. J. Simpson (R) talks to his defense attorney Patricia Palm during a break in an evidentiary hearing in Clark County District Court on May 14, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. ... more? LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 14: O. J. Simpson (R) talks to his defense attorney Patricia Palm during a break in an evidentiary hearing in Clark County District Court on May 14, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Simpson, who is currently serving a nine-to-33-year sentence in state prison as a result of his October 2008 conviction for armed robbery and kidnapping charges, is using a writ of habeas corpus to seek a new trial, claiming he had such bad representation that his conviction should be reversed. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) less?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oj-simpson-testifies-bid-vegas-trial-170536252.html

alex smith The Bible History Channel Melissa King Heat Harlem Shake mediterranean diet chase kim kardashian pregnant

Indie Music Agency Merlin: iTunes Remains Biggest Digital Destination; Spotify And Amazon 2nd And 3rd; Streaming Still Just An Opening Act

On the heels of Google wading into the music streaming waters with its Google Play Music All Access service, with a $10 fee for all-you-can-eat streamed tracks, the indie music agency Merlin has today published results of a recent survey of its 20,000-label member group, plus an analysis of 6.5 billion music streams over the last year, which spell out where the money is coming from today. Streaming services are making increasing headway as a revenue driver for musicians, but digital downloads -- specifically Apple's iTunes -- are still ruling the roost.

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

Pussy Riot National Hurricane Center Zeek Rewards vanessa bryant vanessa bryant Prince Harry naked Prince Harry Vegas

Unlocking the manipulation of mosquitoes by malaria parasites

Public release date: 15-May-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Katie Steels
press@lshtm.ac.uk
44-020-792-92802
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Scientists will attempt to find out how malaria parasites manipulate their mosquito hosts after discovering that smell could be a major factor.

In a study published in PLOS ONE today, a team of researchers led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine show for the first time that female mosquitoes infected with malaria parasites are significantly more attracted to human odour than uninfected mosquitoes.

This was demonstrated in a laboratory setting in which infected female Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto mosquitoes were attracted to human odours three times more than mosquitoes that were not infected with the malaria-causing Plasmodium falciparum parasite. The rate of landing and biting attempts for infected mosquitoes was around three times greater than uninfected mosquitoes.

The pilot study was conducted in collaboration with Wageningen University and Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in the Netherlands.

Dr James Logan's team has been awarded a three-year grant by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to investigate how being infected with malaria could cause the mosquitoes to behave differently. If the parasites are manipulating the mosquitoes' sense of smell, increasing the chance they will bite when the parasite is transmissible, then the malaria is more likely to spread.

The scientists, who will work collaboratively with Rothamsted Research, Wageningen University and Radboud University, hope their research will enable the identification of the chemical compounds in human odour to which mosquitoes are attracted and to determine whether infected mosquitoes respond differently to those compounds.

This will provide information that could be used to illuminate how malaria a disease which causes more than half a million deaths a year is spread from human to human by parasite-infected female mosquitoes which bite people to feed on blood they need in order to reproduce.

Significantly, the results could help identify new compounds which could be used to develop improved mosquito traps that could specifically target malaria-infected mosquitoes before they have the chance to pass on the parasite to the people they bite.

Building on the newly-published pilot study, the team will conduct experiments using a windtunnel which measures the behaviour of mosquitoes towards odours and electrodes which track the response of individual odour-detecting cells from within the antenna of the mosquito in specially-designed secure laboratories at the School to measure the responses of malaria-infected Anopheles gambiae s.s. females to human odours. The scientists also aim to determine whether the response depends on what stage in the lifecycle the parasites are in within insect hosts.

Dr Logan, Senior Lecturer in Medical Entomology and Chief Scientific Officer for arctec, at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: "It has previously been shown that parasites are able to manipulate the behaviour of insects involved in their transmission and reproductive survival. For example, malaria-infected mosquitoes take larger blood meals than uninfected ones, and will take multiple blood meals.

"We have now shown for the first time that the sense of smell could hold the key to understanding how the parasite successfully manipulates the mosquito to ensure its spread."

"Exploring this further opens up the possibility that we could use this knowledge against the parasite by developing tools with crucial chemicals found in human odour."

Dr Renate Smallegange, a visiting researcher at the School who worked on the pilot study, said: "It is exciting that we are the first ones to prove this phenomenon in a biological relevant system of mosquito, parasite and blood host, and, moreover, in a system affecting millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa."

###

For more information or to arrange interviews with Dr Logan please contact the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine press office on +44 (0)20 7927 2802 or email press@lshtm.ac.uk.

Notes to Editors:

1. R.C. Smallegange et al, Malaria infected mosquitoes express enhanced attraction to human odour, PLOS ONE. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063602

2. Malaria is a preventable disease that affects almost half of the world's population and causes over 655,000 deaths per year, mainly young children in Africa. It is an infection caused by the malaria parasite entering the bloodstream usually through the bite of an infected mosquito.

3. Once published the paper will be available at http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0063602

4. Dr Logan and team have been awarded a grant of 463,905 from the BBSRC to investigate "Olfactory mechanisms underlying behavioural manipulation of mosquitoes by malaria parasites".

About the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is a world-leading centre for research and postgraduate education in public and global health, with 3,500 students and more than 1,000 staff working in over 100 countries. The School is one of the highest-rated research institutions in the UK, and was recently cited as one of the world's top universities for collaborative research. The School's mission is to improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working in partnership to achieve excellence in public and global health research, education and translation of knowledge into policy and practice. http://www.lshtm.ac.uk

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 15-May-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Katie Steels
press@lshtm.ac.uk
44-020-792-92802
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Scientists will attempt to find out how malaria parasites manipulate their mosquito hosts after discovering that smell could be a major factor.

In a study published in PLOS ONE today, a team of researchers led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine show for the first time that female mosquitoes infected with malaria parasites are significantly more attracted to human odour than uninfected mosquitoes.

This was demonstrated in a laboratory setting in which infected female Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto mosquitoes were attracted to human odours three times more than mosquitoes that were not infected with the malaria-causing Plasmodium falciparum parasite. The rate of landing and biting attempts for infected mosquitoes was around three times greater than uninfected mosquitoes.

The pilot study was conducted in collaboration with Wageningen University and Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in the Netherlands.

Dr James Logan's team has been awarded a three-year grant by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to investigate how being infected with malaria could cause the mosquitoes to behave differently. If the parasites are manipulating the mosquitoes' sense of smell, increasing the chance they will bite when the parasite is transmissible, then the malaria is more likely to spread.

The scientists, who will work collaboratively with Rothamsted Research, Wageningen University and Radboud University, hope their research will enable the identification of the chemical compounds in human odour to which mosquitoes are attracted and to determine whether infected mosquitoes respond differently to those compounds.

This will provide information that could be used to illuminate how malaria a disease which causes more than half a million deaths a year is spread from human to human by parasite-infected female mosquitoes which bite people to feed on blood they need in order to reproduce.

Significantly, the results could help identify new compounds which could be used to develop improved mosquito traps that could specifically target malaria-infected mosquitoes before they have the chance to pass on the parasite to the people they bite.

Building on the newly-published pilot study, the team will conduct experiments using a windtunnel which measures the behaviour of mosquitoes towards odours and electrodes which track the response of individual odour-detecting cells from within the antenna of the mosquito in specially-designed secure laboratories at the School to measure the responses of malaria-infected Anopheles gambiae s.s. females to human odours. The scientists also aim to determine whether the response depends on what stage in the lifecycle the parasites are in within insect hosts.

Dr Logan, Senior Lecturer in Medical Entomology and Chief Scientific Officer for arctec, at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: "It has previously been shown that parasites are able to manipulate the behaviour of insects involved in their transmission and reproductive survival. For example, malaria-infected mosquitoes take larger blood meals than uninfected ones, and will take multiple blood meals.

"We have now shown for the first time that the sense of smell could hold the key to understanding how the parasite successfully manipulates the mosquito to ensure its spread."

"Exploring this further opens up the possibility that we could use this knowledge against the parasite by developing tools with crucial chemicals found in human odour."

Dr Renate Smallegange, a visiting researcher at the School who worked on the pilot study, said: "It is exciting that we are the first ones to prove this phenomenon in a biological relevant system of mosquito, parasite and blood host, and, moreover, in a system affecting millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa."

###

For more information or to arrange interviews with Dr Logan please contact the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine press office on +44 (0)20 7927 2802 or email press@lshtm.ac.uk.

Notes to Editors:

1. R.C. Smallegange et al, Malaria infected mosquitoes express enhanced attraction to human odour, PLOS ONE. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063602

2. Malaria is a preventable disease that affects almost half of the world's population and causes over 655,000 deaths per year, mainly young children in Africa. It is an infection caused by the malaria parasite entering the bloodstream usually through the bite of an infected mosquito.

3. Once published the paper will be available at http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0063602

4. Dr Logan and team have been awarded a grant of 463,905 from the BBSRC to investigate "Olfactory mechanisms underlying behavioural manipulation of mosquitoes by malaria parasites".

About the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is a world-leading centre for research and postgraduate education in public and global health, with 3,500 students and more than 1,000 staff working in over 100 countries. The School is one of the highest-rated research institutions in the UK, and was recently cited as one of the world's top universities for collaborative research. The School's mission is to improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working in partnership to achieve excellence in public and global health research, education and translation of knowledge into policy and practice. http://www.lshtm.ac.uk

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-05/lsoh-utm051313.php

patrice oneal shamrock slainte the quiet man yellow cab dropkick murphys guernsey