Trapped in Transit: Orwellian Moscow airport hotel

Ian Phillips, Eastern Europe News Director of the Associated Press, stands in a corridor of the Novotel Hotel in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, Russia, Friday June 28, 2013. The hotel has one wing that lies within the airport's transit zone. President Vladimir Putin has said that national Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden has stayed in the transit zone since his arrival in Moscow. (AP Photo/Ian Phillips)

Ian Phillips, Eastern Europe News Director of the Associated Press, stands in a corridor of the Novotel Hotel in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, Russia, Friday June 28, 2013. The hotel has one wing that lies within the airport's transit zone. President Vladimir Putin has said that national Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden has stayed in the transit zone since his arrival in Moscow. (AP Photo/Ian Phillips)

This photo taken Thursday, June 27, 2013 shows a view of the lobby of the Novotel Hotel in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, Russia. Glass doors in the background separate the lobby from the hotel wing that lies within the airport's transit zone. President Vladimir Putin has said that National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden has stayed in the transit zone since his arrival in Moscow. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

This photo taken on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 shows a view of the Novotel Hotel in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport outside Moscow, Russia. The hotel has a wing that lies within the airport's transit zone. President Vladimir Putin has said that National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden has stayed in the transit zone since his arrival in Moscow. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Passengers walk to board Aeroflot flight SU150 from Moscow to Havana, at Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow Thursday, June 27, 2013. A dozen of Russian and foreign journalists continued to occupy the transit zone of the Sheremetyevo airport as yet another Havana-bound flight left Moscow with no sight of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden who is believed to remain at the transit zone. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

SHEREMETYEVO AIRPORT (AP) ? "An interesting route, Mr. Phillips," says the airport transit desk employee. "This activity makes for suspicion."

It was the start of an Orwellian adventure in which I deliberately got myself sequestered in the hopes of finding Edward Snowden at Moscow's main airport.

The experience leaves me feeling that if the NSA leaker is indeed in the transit zone of the airport, as President Vladimir Putin claims, he may already have a taste of what it's like to be in prison.

Snowden is possibly holed up in the wing of an airport hotel reserved for travelers in transit who don't have visas to enter Russia. The Novotel's main building, located outside the airport, has a plush lobby with a fountain, a trendy bar and luxury shops. One wing, however, lies within the airport's transit zone ? a kind of international limbo that is not officially Russian territory.

And that's where Snowden, whose U.S. passport has been revoked, may be hiding.

___

EDITOR'S NOTE: Eastern Europe News Director Ian Phillips flew from his home base of Prague in the Czech Republic to Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport with the goal of getting to the bottom of the mystery of fugitive NSA leaker Edward Snowden. What followed was a surreal 21 hours.

___

The woman at the transit desk raises an eyebrow and stares at my flight itinerary, which includes a 21-hour layover in Moscow before a connection to Ukraine. "Why would ANYONE stay here in transit for so long? There are so many earlier connections you could have taken. This is strange behavior."

After a nearly two-hour wait inside the terminal, a bus picks me up ? only me ? from the transit area. We drive slowly across the tarmac, through a barrier, past electronic gates covered in barbed wire and security cameras.

The main part of the Novotel is out of bounds. My allotted wing feels like a lockup: You are obliged to stay in your room, except for brief walks along the corridor. Three cameras track your movements along the hallway and beam the images back to a multiscreen monitor. It's comforting to see a sign instructing me that, in case of an emergency, the locks on heavily fortified doors leading to the elevators will open.

When I try to leave my room, the guard outside springs to his feet. I ask him why room service isn't responding and if there's any other way to get food. He growls: "Extension 70!" I rile him by asking about the Wi-Fi, which isn't working: "Extension 75!" he snarls.

"Don't worry, Mr. Phillips," the transit desk employee had said. "We have all your details and information. We will come and get you from your room at 6 p.m. on Friday, one hour before your connecting flight."

Now it's midnight, and I'm getting edgy. I feel trapped inside my airless room, whose double windows are tightly sealed. And the room is extortionate: It costs $300 a night, with a surcharge of 50 percent slapped on because I will be staying past noon.

("Can't I just wait in the lobby after midday?" I asked the receptionist at check-in. "Of course not," she retorted. "You have no visa. You will stay until you are picked up.")

I look out the window. If Snowden is here and has the same view, he can see the approach to the departures terminal at the airport. A large billboard shows a red 4x4 vehicle driving along an ocean road. A parking lot below is filled with vehicles. A man in green overalls is watering a patch of parched grass. Vehicles whizz in and out of the airport.

A maid has just brought a tea bag. She puts a tick against the room number on the three-page document on her trolley. On it, there are no guest names, only numbers ? and departure dates. A quick look suggests there are perhaps a few dozen people staying here. A couple of rooms on my floor have tell-tale signs of occupancy ? food trays lying outside from the night before.

But no sign of Snowden.

The guard allows me to stretch my legs in the corridor. The signs on the wall rub things in. Under a pretty picture of the Moscow skyline and Red Square, a message reads: "Should you wish to see the full range of facilities offered by our hotel during your next stay, we strongly recommend you to get a visa before flying to Moscow."

A fleeting glimpse of a possible change of scene: a set of guidelines posted on the wall say I can go out for a smoke!

Rule No. 6: "It is possible to go and smoke one time per hour for 5 minutes in the beginning of each hour escorted by security service."

I don't smoke, but this would be a way to escape this floor. But when I ask him to take me down, the security guard scoffs. "No!" he says flatly.

I call the front desk. "You need a visa to go outside and smoke, Mr. Phillips" the receptionist says.

If he's here, Snowden has access to a few international TV stations. He also has a fair amount of options with room service ? the only source of food in this wing. But after almost a week, he might be getting bored. And he'd need a credit card or a lot of Russian cash. A selection:

Buffalo mozzarella and pesto dressing starter? 720 rubles (about $20).

Ribeye steak: 1,500 rubles (about $50).

Bottle of Brunello di Montalcino red wine: 5,280 rubles ($165).

A miniature bottle of Hennessy XO cognac: 2,420 rubles ($80).

I've called all the 37 rooms on my floor in hopes of reaching Snowden. No reply except for when I get my security guard.

The floor above? A similarly futile attempt.

I only reach a handful of tired and irritated Russians who growl "Da? Da? Da?" ? "Yes? Yes? Yes?"

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-06-28-Russia-Big%20Brother%20Hotel/id-309696b8d3154108bc57351e82a35e40

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INDIA POST PARIWAR: Top Internet Security Programs

Nowadays, almost everyone has a PC at home and internet connection has become a need of people of all ages. Though reliable anti-virus or anti-spyware software is installed, it is inevitable that we still have threats to the computer. In today?s computer world, internet security does not allow the information to be accessed or compromised by other individuals. The initial way to secure information is encryption and maintaining passwords.
A password should be confidential and not be revealed to other person.?Internet Security?can be achieved through following steps. Internet service provider should be from a genuine source. If there is availability, try to choose an internet service provider that offers online virus, spam and content filters. All these will secure the internet service from not allowing the infection to enter the computers. A variety of software like stop spam, filter content for kids, manage cookies, pop-up and pop-under ads and trip up phishing is available to clean the browser. Routers provide the security from internet by using network address translation technique. Routers are of low cost and complexity and provide the same service as that of a conventional internet service. Protection for computers is necessary because there are more than one million malwares that are estimated to be discovered in 2010 alone. Any one is exposed to malware attacks.?Anti-Viruis programs ase essential?on every computer.

They provide essential safety to people to surf and navigate the web pages. Anti-virus programmes are designed to scan for and remove the harmful components when they are found on computers. They search and trash the viruses, worms, Trojans, bots and many more.?Anti-virus?programs keep a machine free from virus. A level of protection is provided against identity theft when the machine is provided with anti-virus and internet security programs. They ensure to keep the higher speed levels. Even though the machines are provided with anti-virus programmes, they can?t protect it from spyware. Spyware is the software that runs on the computer without the permission of its user. It cannot be healed by anti-virus because, it does not spoil the system, but it tracks the personal information from the user?s machine and sends this data back to the software manufacturer over the internet. Adware is the software for advertising and it runs random or targeted pop-up advertisements. With these pop-ups the machine will be caught with spyware and it also affects the system speed by reducing it. The spyware track the personal information like passwords and may damage the business solutions if the system is using for business. So it is very important to have a good anti-spyware to ensure the privacy. Firewall controls the access between two computers and restricts unfettered access. Firewalls monitor network traffic and also able to block any dangerous traffic. There are two types of firewalls-software firewall and hardware firewall. Firewall functions as the intermediate server between SMTP and HTTP connections. Firewall keeps out malicious hackers and people who aspire to damage and takeover other?s servers. Hence, having a good firewall eliminates the risks with computer and internet and keeps out the malevolent people. When all these programs are used in combination it helps protect the computer and internet connection.

Source: http://bnjho.blogspot.com/2013/06/top-internet-security-programs.html

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Wall Street falls as technology stocks drag

By Chuck Mikolajczak

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened lower on Friday, as weakness in technology shares outweighed gains in other shares spurred by relief a premature pullback of central bank stimulus measures was unlikely.

The S&P 500 had risen 2.6 percent over the prior three sessions as economic data and comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials soothed worries over an earlier-than-expected reining in of stimulative bond purchases by the Fed.

The benchmark S&P index had lost as much as 4.8 percent in the days following a June 19 statement from the U.S. Federal Reserve, when Chairman Ben Bernanke said the Fed could start slowing its bond purchases later this year if growth was strong enough.

Technology shares weighed on the market early on Friday. The S&P technology index fell 1.2 percent as the worst performing S&P sector.

Accenture PLC tumbled 13 percent to $69.76 as the biggest drag on the S&P 500 after the outsourcing and consulting services provider cut its full-year outlook and reported third-quarter revenue below analysts' estimates.

The results also put a dent in shares of competitor IBM , which dropped 3.3 percent to $189.17 as the biggest weight on the Dow.

"Clearly, (Accenture's) outlook is weak and certainly the underperformance of technology as a sector in the stock market shows there are cyclical issues going on in tech as well as secular issues, rapid change occurring and purchasing managers holding back," said Tim Ghriskey chief investment officer of Solaris Group in Bedford Hills, New York.

U.S.-listed shares of Research in Motion plunged 27 percent to $10.57 after the BlackBerry maker offered few signs of a long-promised turnaround on Friday. It reported an unexpected quarterly operating loss, a dearth of details on sales of its make-or-break new line of devices and no return to profit expected in the current quarter.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's final reading on the overall index on consumer sentiment was 84.1 points, slightly below a near six-year high of 84.5 in May. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a final June reading of 82.8.

The S&P 500 index is currently up 2.1 percent for the quarter and 12.4 percent for the year, its best first-half performance since 1998, though it is on track for its first monthly loss since October.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 119.23 points, or 0.79 percent, to 14,905.26. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index lost 10.03 points, or 0.62 percent, to 1,603.17. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 14.54 points, or 0.43 percent, to 3,387.32.

Investors can expect a surge of volume at the close Friday when Russell Investments is due to set the final update for the annual reconstitution of its indexes.

Molycorp Inc jumped 6.8 percent to $5.99 after the rare earths producer said the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission completed an investigation into the company and didn't recommend enforcement action.

Arch Coal Inc gained 2.2 percent to $3.68 after the company agreed to sell its Canyon Fuel subsidiary for $435 million in cash.

(Editing by Bernadette Baum)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wall-street-falls-technology-stocks-drag-143306794.html

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Source: http://vulbonatumay.blogspot.com/2013/06/sunambawcom-internet-marketing-ebooks.html

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NASA's Voyager 1 explores final frontier of our 'solar bubble'

June 27, 2013 ? Data from Voyager 1, now more than 11 billion miles (18 billion kilometers) from the sun, suggest the spacecraft is closer to becoming the first human-made object to reach interstellar space.

Research using Voyager 1 data and published in the journal Science today provides new detail on the last region the spacecraft will cross before it leaves the heliosphere, or the bubble around our sun, and enters interstellar space. Three papers describe how Voyager 1's entry into a region called the magnetic highway resulted in simultaneous observations of the highest rate so far of charged particles from outside heliosphere and the disappearance of charged particles from inside the heliosphere.

Scientists have seen two of the three signs of interstellar arrival they expected to see: charged particles disappearing as they zoom out along the solar magnetic field, and cosmic rays from far outside zooming in. Scientists have not yet seen the third sign, an abrupt change in the direction of the magnetic field, which would indicate the presence of the interstellar magnetic field.

"This strange, last region before interstellar space is coming into focus, thanks to Voyager 1, humankind's most distant scout," said Ed Stone, Voyager project scientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. "If you looked at the cosmic ray and energetic particle data in isolation, you might think Voyager had reached interstellar space, but the team feels Voyager 1 has not yet gotten there because we are still within the domain of the sun's magnetic field."

Scientists do not know exactly how far Voyager 1 has to go to reach interstellar space. They estimate it could take several more months, or even years, to get there. The heliosphere extends at least 8 billion miles (13 billion kilometers) beyond all the planets in our solar system. It is dominated by the sun's magnetic field and an ionized wind expanding outward from the sun. Outside the heliosphere, interstellar space is filled with matter from other stars and the magnetic field present in the nearby region of the Milky Way.

Voyager 1 and its twin spacecraft, Voyager 2, were launched in 1977. They toured Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune before embarking on their interstellar mission in 1990. They now aim to leave the heliosphere. Measuring the size of the heliosphere is part of the Voyagers' mission.

The Science papers focus on observations made from May to September 2012 by Voyager 1's cosmic ray, low-energy charged particle and magnetometer instruments, with some additional charged particle data obtained through April of this year.

Voyager 2 is about 9 billion miles (15 billion kilometers) from the sun and still inside the heliosphere. Voyager 1 was about 11 billion miles (18 billion kilometers) from the sun Aug. 25 when it reached the magnetic highway, also known as the depletion region, and a connection to interstellar space. This region allows charged particles to travel into and out of the heliosphere along a smooth magnetic field line, instead of bouncing around in all directions as if trapped on local roads. For the first time in this region, scientists could detect low-energy cosmic rays that originate from dying stars.

"We saw a dramatic and rapid disappearance of the solar-originating particles. They decreased in intensity by more than 1,000 times, as if there was a huge vacuum pump at the entrance ramp onto the magnetic highway," said Stamatios Krimigis, the low-energy charged particle instrument's principal investigator at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. "We have never witnessed such a decrease before, except when Voyager 1 exited the giant magnetosphere of Jupiter, some 34 years ago."

Other charged particle behavior observed by Voyager 1 also indicates the spacecraft still is in a region of transition to the interstellar medium. While crossing into the new region, the charged particles originating from the heliosphere that decreased most quickly were those shooting straightest along solar magnetic field lines. Particles moving perpendicular to the magnetic field did not decrease as quickly. However, cosmic rays moving along the field lines in the magnetic highway region were somewhat more populous than those moving perpendicular to the field. In interstellar space, the direction of the moving charged particles is not expected to matter.

In the span of about 24 hours, the magnetic field originating from the sun also began piling up, like cars backed up on a freeway exit ramp. But scientists were able to quantify that the magnetic field barely changed direction -- by no more than 2 degrees.

"A day made such a difference in this region with the magnetic field suddenly doubling and becoming extraordinarily smooth," said Leonard Burlaga, the lead author of one of the papers, and based at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "But since there was no significant change in the magnetic field direction, we're still observing the field lines originating at the sun."

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, Calif., built and operates the Voyager spacecraft. California Institute of Technology in Pasadena manages JPL for NASA. The Voyager missions are a part of NASA's Heliophysics System Observatory, sponsored by the Heliophysics Division of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

For more information about the Voyager spacecraft mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/voyager and http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov .

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/RSctGZatbW0/130627140803.htm

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19 bodies found near copter crash in north India

GAUCHAR, India (AP) ? India's air force chief says 19 bodies have been recovered from a steep hillside in northern India where a helicopter crashed while on a mission to rescue people stranded in monsoon floods.

Air force chief N.A.K. Browne said Wednesday that paramilitary soldiers using ropes had reached the crash site in Uttarakhand state and found the bodies of 19 people, including five air force crew members.

The helicopter crashed Tuesday, and authorities initially said eight were killed. The aircraft's rotor blades hit the hillside while returning with survivors of the flooding that has washed away thousands of homes, roads and bridges in the Himalayan state.

Troops are trying to rescue about 5,000 people who remain stranded in Badrinath town 10 days after torrential rains triggered landslides and flooding in Uttarakhand.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/19-bodies-found-near-copter-crash-north-india-064522256.html

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Crabgrass' secret: The despised weed makes herbicide to kill neighboring plants

June 26, 2013 ? Contrary to popular belief, crabgrass does not thrive in lawns, gardens and farm fields by simply crowding out other plants. A new study in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has found that the much-despised weed actually produces its own herbicides that kill nearby plants.

Chui-Hua Kong and colleagues point out that crabgrass is not only a headache for lawns and home gardens, but also a major cause of crop loss on farms. Scientists long suspected, but had a hard time proving, that the weed thrived by allelopathy. From the Greek "allelo-," meaning "other," and "-pathy," meaning "suffering," allelopathy occurs when one plant restricts the growth of another by releasing toxins. They set out to determine if crabgrass has this oppressive ability.

Kong's team isolated three chemicals from crabgrass that affect the microbial communities in nearby soil and did indeed inhibit the growth of staple crops wheat, corn and soybeans. "The chemical-specific changes in [the] soil microbial community generated a negative feedback on crop growth," the scientists said, noting that the chemicals also would have a direct toxic effect on other plants.

The authors acknowledge funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Chemical Society.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Bin Zhou, Chui-Hua Kong, Yong-Hua Li, Peng Wang, Xiao-Hua Xu. Crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) Allelochemicals That Interfere with Crop Growth and the Soil Microbial Community. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2013; 61 (22): 5310 DOI: 10.1021/jf401605g

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/JQctmUWi84A/130626113650.htm

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Hollywood Tweets In Support Of DOMA Defeat

Today marked a historic victory for marriage equality when the Supreme Court struck down DOMA, an event many in Hollywood and around the country have hoped for for years. As soon as the decision was announced, celebrities took to Twitter to express their support. Read our report on the Supreme Court striking down the Defense [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2013/06/26/hollywood-tweets-doma-defeat/

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Embattled Australian PM calls leadership ballot

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) ? Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard threw open her job to a leadership ballot Wednesday in response to reports that supporters of her intra-party rival Kevin Rudd were gearing up to challenge her.

Gillard said there will be a ballot of lawmakers in the ruling Labor Party at 7 p.m. Canberra time (9 a.m. GMT, 5 a.m. EDT).

Rudd has not yet said whether he will challenge Gillard, who ousted him as prime minister in 2010. He previously had ruled out such a challenge unless he was assured of the overwhelming support of his colleagues.

Opinion polls show that the party could face huge losses in elections set for September, but that Rudd would be a more popular leader than Gillard.

"I wouldn't be putting myself forward unless I had a degree of confidence about the support of my parliamentary colleagues," Gillard said.

While not mentioning Rudd by name, she said the loser of the ballot should quit Parliament at the election. She said it was not right to have a "person floating around as the potential alternative prime minister."

Gillard's announcement followed media reports that a petition was circulating among the 102 Labor Party lawmakers. A special party meeting to discuss a leadership ballot would have been called if at least 34 lawmakers ? 30 percent ? signed that petition, but her announcement eliminated that step.

Rudd's supporters are desperate to have a ballot before Parliament rises for the last time Thursday ahead of elections set for Sept. 14. Opinion polls suggest Labor could lose around half its 71 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, where parties form the government.

Rudd had been a popular prime minister who started sliding in the polls when Gillard, his then deputy, challenged him to a leadership ballot three years ago. He did not contest the ballot when he became aware of the level of Gillard's support and she became prime minister unopposed.

Weeks later, Gillard led Labor to a narrow election victory and formed an unpopular minority government with the support of independent lawmakers and a legislator from the minor Greens party.

In a 2012 ballot, Gillard easily defeated Rudd 71 votes to 31. In February, she threw open her job to a leadership ballot to end leadership speculation, but Rudd refused to challenge and she remained prime minister.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott challenged Gillard on Wednesday to bring forward the election to Aug. 3 because of the new wrangling over leadership.

"Given the paralysis now griping her government and irreconcilable differences in her party over its leadership, will she bring forward the election date to Aug. 3 and let the people decide who should run our country?" Abbott asked in Parliament.

Before announcing the leadership ballot, Gillard replied that she continued to govern effectively.

"I can assure him (Abbott) and I can assure the Australian people that as prime minister I am getting on with the job," she said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/embattled-australian-pm-calls-leadership-ballot-063841213.html

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UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz not so sure that Stephan Bonnar should be a fellow Hall of Famer

When Forrest Griffin retired just months after Stephan Bonnar, the UFC said the two fighters would enter the UFC Hall of Fame together. Bonnar's banned substance violation and lackluster career mattered less than his part in the groundbreaking bout on the first "The Ultimate Fighter" finale.

Tito Ortiz, a current member of the UFC Hall of Fame, isn't so sure that Bonnar deserves to have the same honor as him.

"As far as Stephan, I have nothing against the guy, but you've got to be a world champion, I think, to be in the Hall of Fame ... That's a big honor to be in the Hall of Fame," Ortiz said to MMA Junkie. "It means you had a significance in the sport at one time or another. You look at that, and the Forrest and Stephan fight was a big step for the UFC, so do they deserve it? Possibly. But can one fight get you in the Hall of Fame? I don't know. I guess that's Dana's decision."

Griffin won the UFC light heavyweight championship with a win over Quinton Jackson in 2008, but then lost it to Rashad Evans. He finished with a record of 19-7. Bonnar announced his retirement after losing a non-title bout to Anderson Silva at UFC 153. He tested positive for a banned substance for the fight. His final record was 15-8, and he never fought for a UFC title.

Ortiz's comments bring to the forefront to the problems with the UFC Hall of Fame. The UFC's Hall of Fame has no open criteria or voting process, and is limited to just UFC fighters. As Ortiz notes, the decision appears to rest in the hands of UFC president Dana White.

It's totally within the UFC's rights to run their Hall of Fame as they see it, but it shouldn't be compared to say, the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Football's Hall of Fame in Canton has a clear criteria and voting process, and isn't limited to just NFL members.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-hall-famer-tito-ortiz-not-sure-stephan-134400694.html

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Success at the 1st Annual Okanagan Natural Medicine KOS Vernon ...

Home? Announcements ? Success at the 1st Annual Okanagan Natural Medicine KOS Vernon Triathlon!

Source: http://endurancehealthandfitness.com/success-at-the-1st-annual-okanagan-natural-medicine-kos-vernon-triathlon/

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Despite Grumbles, Most Actually Prefer iOS 7 Icon Designs To iOS 6, Study Finds

iOS 7 is getting a lot of mixed reaction from blogs, critics and the Twitterverse, but it's actually winning over a lot of people, according to polls created by Polar, a mobile polling tool built by Input Factor to gauge user and community sentiment. Polar's results find that in general, its users prefer iOS 7 versions of system icons almost two to one vs. the existing versions, with over 46,401 people total chiming in on the subject.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/SMKo5xY_Grg/

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HP seriously just unveiled a 21.5-inch Android tablet

In effort to reverse eroding PC sales, HP on Monday announced a new 21.5-inch Android tablet that will be marketed as an all-in-one desktop.?The Slate 21 AIO is equipped with a full HD IPS display, a quad-core Tegra 4 processor and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. The device is compatible with a mouse and keyboard, and also includes a kickstand that allows it to be propped up at a 30-degree angle. HP did not disclose pricing information or availability details, although the Slate 21 AIO is expected to launch later this year. The company?s press release follows below.

HP released a new PC era new strategy for consumer products

[More from BGR: New iPhone 5S images leak, revealing several new details]

June 24, 2013, Beijing, China ? Today, Hewlett-Packard in Beijing held a two-day world tour events. In which ?I era, a new experience,? HP consumer PC era new product strategy conference, HP printing and Information Products Group (PPS) official in the domestic consumer products released a new strategy, new product forms that were smart ten o?clock touch experience, as well as an optional three aspects of multiple operating systems, to provide consumers with innovative value consumer computer products.

Meanwhile, HP is also officially released in the event including the new detachable type notebook computers, tablet PCs, laptops and one computer and other rich products can provide consumers with a new cool experience.

?New? form of portable performance two have both

present, notebook and tablet consumers increasingly strong demand for the product, both expected to have notebook product highly scalable and high performance, while hoping to get flat products like ultra- Strong portability and touch experience. Therefore, notebook and tablet form can freely switch between products gradually become a trend. In this regard, HP introduced the PC / tablet combo products can provide consumers with this ?100% +100% tablet notebook? feature, and has other distortion products can not match the absolute advantage.

To be able to provide consumers with more exciting product experience, the HP officially launched in the country two new PC / Tablet combo products-SlateBook HPx2andHP Splitx2.Both products not only have a notebook full functionality, while consumers can also, through its unique and innovative magnetic plug design, easy to screen and body products were separated, and thus switch to the tablet form, to become an exquisite tablet products.

Which, HP SlateBook x2 is the first Android system equipped with PC / tablet combo products. It uses a 10.1-inch high definition touch screen with WUXGA (1920 ? 1200) 16:10 Full HD resolution. Using a combination of IPS panel, you can bring consumers more clear, bright screen display(2).The wide viewing angle, but also convenient for consumers to share with friends HP SlateBook x2 brings exciting. With detachable type of body structure, this product can be described as sets Tablet PC notebook high portability and scalability in a, allowing consumers to easily switch between work and play.

Hardware side, HP SlateBook x2 uses NVIDIA Tegra 4 mobile processor, consumers can visit the Tegra Zone Download THD version of the game, enjoy the dripping fun mobile gaming experience(1).In addition, it supports DTS Sound + Solution sound, and unique dual-battery design makes this product can provide sufficient battery life. It uses Android 4.2.2 version of the operating system, built-in such as Google search, Gmail and a series of application services(4),while consumers can get more richer applications software and other digital content(1).Has many features of HP SlateBook x2, price is only 3,299 yuan(5),cost is very prominent.

HP Split x2 performance is currently the most powerful PC / tablet combo products. With powerful Intel third-generation Core processor, this product has a stronger hardware performance. Especially when it is in a state of flat products, the powerful processor is still able to play a full strength, truly portable and strong performance, the perfect fusion. Consumers can also be part of the product?s base optional extra hard disk module to expand the memory capacity(3).The body of the dual battery design, you can bring a longer life time.

Other aspects, this product is also equipped with a 13.3-inch (diagonal) high-definition touch screen, built-in Beats Audio sound system, consumers can enjoy better visual experience and higher quality music playback. So a strong performance PC / tablet combo products, price range is only 4999-6999 yuan(5),great value!

?Wisdom? Touch, a new era of universal touch

using the new form includes two new products, including consumer, HP?s new integrated computer and strong consumer notebook products use an intelligent ten-point touch display technology, can provide more intuitive Windows 8 touch experience. More importantly, the different positioning of the product can support this feature, consumers can more easily choose according to their needs and reasonable.

The new appearance of the HP Pavilion TouchSmart 11 is HP?s first small-size, full-performance notebook touch, two-color design, silver shell built-in midnight black metal style, add a touch of their unique fashion charm. This product comes with Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft Office 2013 document processing software(4),combined with powerful hardware configuration, petite but with the body, including VGA, HDMI, and Ethernet ports, including the rich interfaces, its price only 2,999 yuan(5),known as ?universal touch this? is not an exaggeration. It supports intelligent ten-point touch technology that can bring the best Windows 8 operating experience, and the volume is 11.6 inches have better portability. In addition, it is equipped with AMD Temash A6/A4 processors, providing up to four core processing unit, with excellent computing performance, while also providing excellent video processing, acceleration performance, the audio and video entertainment also has eye-catching performance.

In addition to notebook products other than the new HP ENVY TouchSmart 14 Touch Ultrabook is suitable for those who need ultra-portable touch anywhere to get the fastest response functions and consumer choice(3).It?s very slim, but also has a strong hardware configuration.

The touch super this product is equipped with Intel?s new release of fourth-generation Core Duo processor, and provides Core ? i5-4200U and Core ? i7-4500U two configurations for consumers to choose. Although it uses a 14-inch display panel, but it provides, including 1366 x 768,1600 x 900, and 3200 x 1800 high resolution three different configurations to meet the needs of different consumers. Entertainment, the series is not only equipped with Beats Audio sound system, also has dual speakers and a subwoofer design, providing PC?s most outstanding sound quality. The 2GB memory NVIDIA GT740M discrete graphics super-configuration, but also enable consumers to indulge in an extraordinary picture quality, ultra-realistic games(2).In a strong performance, while multimedia entertainment, this product has reached 9 hours battery life, you can achieve a more lasting companionship, consumers get more exciting.

?Many? system,rich platform Xpress-election

a new generation ofHP consumer PC products using a variety of operating systems to respond to the different needs of consumer preferences, advanced technology and current seamlessly combines fast-paced life. HP offers a variety of face using Windows, Android and other products of different operating platforms, consumers can very easily pick and choose the most familiar and most products that meet the individual needs to enjoy the best product experience. The most worth mentioning that the above these two operating systems is used in HP?s notebook, tablet computers, and one among the different forms of models, consumers have more choices.

Which, for the first time in the domestic debut of HP Slate7equipped with a 7-inch screen, weighs only 370 grams, the ideal is a trusted personal portable devices. Of course, it is also the industry?s first built-in Beats Audio sound system, Tablet PC products can provide consumers with the best music experience. HP Slate7 integration, including Google searches, including a range of Google services(4),consumers can install their own applications and rich digital content(1).

Hardware, it is equipped with dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 1.6 GHz processor, providing a fast system response experience. The integrated wireless card, you can help consumers anytime, anywhere connectivity with the world, you can send and receive email, browse the Internet and the use of critical applications. It is worth mentioning that this product is used in HFFS panel, wide viewing angle, even in strong outdoor lighting conditions, consumers can easily view documents, play games, view pictures and video and other exciting content.

HP Slate7also provides a 3-megapixel rear camera and VGA front camera, can be used to chat, take photos and videos. In addition to excellent hardware configuration, except that it uses a stainless steel frame design, and available in red and silver colors to facilitate the different preferences of consumers.

In the consumer computer products, HP also announced the Android platform an integrated computer-based products ? HP Slate 21.The sleek appearance of snow Baiying one computer products, equipped with NVIDIA Tegra 4 mobile processor, has a strong entertainment functions, a consumer can not be changed after the home through the large size full HD touch screen Android experience the world of regret. It is equipped with 21.5 inches (diagonal) wide viewing angle IPS Full HD display that supports intelligent ten-point touch functionality. Combined with built-in dual speakers DTS Digital Theater Systems, can give consumers the best audio visual experience, but also facilitate the sharing of exciting content with friends and family(2).And it provides HP TrueVision HD Webcam camera and Wireless Direct wireless printing technology, to ensure that consumers do not need internet connection to be shared between devices on different videos, photos and data(4).

Software, it also uses the Android 4.2.2 operating system, with consumers existing mobile phone and tablet ecosystem seamless. Especially in connection with the same based on the Android operating system for mobile phones, flat products connections, including access to the same screen display, convenient connections richer applications. Meanwhile, HP Slate21also has an excellent multi-tasking performance, can enjoy the music while access to exciting online content(1).

In addition to the above products with new features outside, HP is also updated in the event of its high-performance entertainment notebook HP ENVY 14/15 and other merchandise. They not only uses HP?s new design ID, while also providing a fourth generation, including Intel Core Duo processor, including the new hardware configuration and other products together with HP, together with HP?s innovative technology, to create more for consumers value.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hp-seriously-just-unveiled-21-5-inch-android-162021221.html

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Carrey kicks his 'Kick-Ass 2' for being too violent

Movies

Randee Dawn NBC News contributor

2 hours ago

Universal

Jim Carrey in "Kick-Ass 2."

"Kick-Ass 2" won't be in theaters until August, but it already has a major detractor slamming the film on Twitter: Jim Carrey, one of its stars.

Carrey took to Twitter on Sunday to denounce the film, a satirical look at the superhero genre that's a follow up to 2010's "Kick-Ass," saying that he could no longer support the film in the wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. last December.

The 51-year old actor, who plays Col. Stars and Stripes and pairs up with the titular superhero, later added:

The film began shooting in July 2012 and wrapped production around Thanksgiving of last year.

The creator of the comic book series "Kick-Ass" is based on, Mark Millar, shot back at the Twitter comments on his website's comments forum.

After praising Carrey's talents and his performance in the film, Millar says he was "baffled by this sudden announcement" and Carrey's timing of his thoughts. "Nothing seen in this picture wasn't in the screenplay eighteen months ago," he added.

"Like Jim, I'm horrified by real-life violence," wrote Millar, "but 'Kick-Ass 2' isn't a documentary. ... ('K)ick-Ass' avoids the usual bloodless body-count of most big summer pictures and focuses instead on the CONSEQUENCES of violence. ... Ironically, Jim's character in 'Kick-Ass 2' is a Born-Again Christian and the big deal we made of the fact that he refuses to fire a gun is something he told us attracted him to the role in the first place."

Millar also said that "our audience is smart enough to know they're all pretending and we should instead just sit back and enjoy the serotonin release of seeing bad guys meet bad ends as much as we enjoyed seeing the Death Star (in "Star Wars") exploding."

Carrey has been a proponent of gun control for some time, and recently made headlines by mocking gun enthusiasts in a short video reminiscent of "Hee Haw." He also wrote an op-ed for the Huffington Post in April, looking for some form of moderation.

"(Gun control) thugs, though menacing, are a minority but they will have their way if good people don't step forward now and make a difference," he said. "Every American has the right to speak their mind. Every American has the right to bear arms. But it is up to every American to draw the line when it comes to the type of guns that are considered a reasonable means of self-defense."

(Warning: Video has some vulgar language.)

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/entertainment/jim-carrey-slams-his-kick-ass-2-film-being-too-6C10424009

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Edward Snowden heads for asylum: Why Ecuador?

Edward Snowden, who leaked information about top secret NSA surveillance programs, reportedly is headed to asylum in Ecuador. US officials still hope to prosecute Snowden on espionage charges, but that may be difficult given US relations with Ecuador.

By Brad Knickerbocker,?Staff writer / June 23, 2013

Journalists stand next to the Ecuador Ambassador's car while waiting for the arrival of Edward Snowden, the former NSA employee who leaked top-secret documents about sweeping US surveillance programs, at Sheremetyevo airport, just outside Moscow Sunday.

Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/AP

Enlarge

The saga and travels of Edward Snowden took another turn Sunday with reports that he is headed for asylum in Ecuador.

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Why Ecuador?

Most obviously, the South American country is friendly to WikiLeaks. That?s the whistleblower organization whose founder Julian Assange has spent the past year holed up in Ecuador?s embassy in London, trying to avoid questioning about alleged sexual offenses in Sweden.

WikiLeaks has been instrumental in spiriting Mr. Snowden out of Hong Kong ? reportedly en route via Moscow and Havana to a place of more permanent refuge in Ecuador with a WikiLeaks official accompanying him.

Ecuador's ambassador to Russia said he expected to meet Snowden in Moscow on Sunday, Reuters reports. What?s more, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa has good ties with WikiLeaks and is in a politically confident mood after his recent landslide re-election.

Along with Cuba and Venezuela (which had been thought to be Snowden?s ultimate destination) Ecuador is a member of ALBA ? the??Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America? ? an alliance of leftist governments in Latin America that pride themselves on their "anti-imperialist" credentials.

US officials had been scrambling to bring Mr. Snowden back to the United States for prosecution on charges of espionage following his leaking of details about top secret National Security Agency surveillance programs targeting telephone and Internet metadata, including some data on US citizens.

In a criminal complaint unsealed Friday in federal court in Alexandria, Va., Snowden was charged with theft of government property, unauthorized communication of national defense information, and willful communication of classified communications intelligence information to an unauthorized person. The latter two offenses fall under the US Espionage Act and can bring up to 10 years in prison.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/NVxjLJix-Yw/Edward-Snowden-heads-for-asylum-Why-Ecuador

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GOP basic strategy for 2016 looks deeply unsettled

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Republican Party's road map for winning presidential elections looks hazier than ever as GOP lawmakers and others reject what many considered obvious lessons from Mitt Romney's loss last year.

House Republicans are rebelling against the key recommendation of a party-sanctioned post-mortem: embrace "comprehensive immigration reform" or suffer crippling losses among Hispanic voters in 2016 and beyond.

Widespread rejection of warnings from establishment Republicans goes beyond that, however. Many activists say the party simply needs to articulate its conservative principles more skillfully, without modifying any policies, even after losing the popular vote in five of the past six presidential elections.

Despite Romney's poor showing among female voters, House Republicans this past week invited renewed Democratic taunts of a "war against women" by passing the most restrictive abortion measure in years.

Despite corporate fears of the economic damage that would result from a default on U.S. obligations, GOP lawmakers are threatening to block an increase in the government's borrowing limit later this year if President Barack Obama won't accept spending cuts he staunchly opposes.

Republicans have lots of time to sort out their priorities and pick a nominee before 2016. They may need it.

Party activists appear far from agreed on even basic questions, such as whether to show a more conservative face to voters versus a moderate face, and whether to seek a libertarian-leaning, tea party-backed nominee as opposed to a more traditional Republican such as Romney.

"There are pretty vigorous debates going on within the party," said Kevin Madden, a top Romney adviser.

The most immediate one centers on the only major policy recommendation from a party-commissioned report written after Romney's defeat. Citing dismal showings among the fast-growing Hispanic electorate, the report said Republicans "must embrace and champion comprehensive immigration reform. If we do not, our party's appeal will continue to shrink to its core constituencies only."

Many Republicans flatly reject the advice.

"If the goal of it is to try to fix presidential politics, I think it's the wrong thing to do," said Rep. James Lankford, R-Okla. He and many other House Republicans say the best way to attract Hispanics is with the basic conservative pitch used elsewhere: less government, low taxes, personal freedom.

But Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said these Republicans are fooling themselves. If Hispanics "think you really are going to deport their grandmother and you've got a hard heart about this kind of stuff," Graham said, "your economic ideas don't resonate."

"It's impossible winning the presidency getting 27 percent of the Hispanic vote, 30 percent of the Asian vote and 7 percent of the African-American vote," Graham said. "America is changing."

Actually, Romney did slightly worse. He won 26 percent of the Asian-American vote and 6 percent of the black vote. He did best among older white voters, a steadily declining share of the electorate.

Many Republicans say their biggest presidential problems involve tone and perceptions, not their stands on issues. If GOP Senate candidates avoid saying incendiary things, such as pregnancies don't result from "legitimate rape," the party's appealing economic message can break through and thrive, these Republicans say.

Last November, "a huge chunk of our problem was tone and temperament," said Mike McKenna, a Republican consultant and pollster. Obama's team also did a far better job of identifying and contacting potential supporters, he said.

"A much, much smaller part of the problem was policy," McKenna said. "It's not like we're the Whig party on the verge of extinction," he said, so there's no need for panic.

Opinion polls tend to support his view that perceptions are hurting Republican candidates more than policy positions are. A Pew Research Center poll in May found that those surveyed gave neither party an advantage on handling gun control, immigration or the economy.

In general terms, however, people view Republicans less favorably than they do Democrats. A Quinnipiac University poll conducted this spring found that 53 percent of registered voters felt the Democratic Party "cares about the needs and problems of people like you," while just 37 percent said the GOP did.

Republican strategist Steve Lombardo said the party needs to change its tactics and messaging, not its underlying principles. The problem, he said, is not "that the party is conservative, but rather that it spends too much time on issues that are not salient to a wide swath of Americans." That includes, Lombardo said, "dozens of House votes to overturn Obamacare with no hope of Senate passage."

Tea party activists say Republican candidates should push conservative values even more forcefully.

"Stop compromising," said Jessica Johnson, 37, of Charleston, W.Va., who attended a political rally this past week in Washington. "Some conservatives get frustrated and stay home" on Election Day, she said, so an unapologetic defense of low taxes and less regulation could improve GOP presidential chances.

From a presidential campaign standpoint, motivating the party's base is only half the battle, said Dan Schnur, a former top Republican aide who teaches political science at the University of Southern California. The other half, he said, is attracting centrist voters who determine general elections in crucial states.

But a Republican House member who reaches out to moderate voters could invite a challenge from the right in his next GOP primary, Schnur said. "Doubling down on social conservatism is a perfect strategy for maintaining or expanding a House majority," he said, but it won't win the up-for-grabs voters a presidential nominee must have.

Some Republican strategists say it's counterproductive to try to reconcile House members' ambitions with those of presidential contenders. A successful presidential candidate "must differentiate himself from the very toxic GOP congressional brand," said Steve Schmidt, a top aide to the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain.

Schmidt said the most promising GOP contender will probably be a governor or "an iconoclast senator" who is seen as standing apart from Washington's partisan gridlock that so angers voters.

Some Democrats ask why they should save Republicans from questionable decisions such as blocking immigration changes.

"When 500,000 Latino citizens turn 18 every year and become potential voters, Republicans seem hellbent on lining up and jumping off a demographic cliff," Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., said in a recent speech. "As a Democrat, I should probably just stand back and watch."

___

Associated Press Director of Polling Jennifer Agiesta contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gop-basic-strategy-2016-looks-deeply-unsettled-125508316.html

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Syrian regime, rebels step up offensives

In this Thursday, June 20, 2013 photo, special operations forces from Iraq, Jordan and the U.S. conduct an exercise as part of Eager Lion multinational military maneuvers at the King Abdullah Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) in Amman, Jordan. The first Jordanian public official to speak publicly of the numbers of U.S. troops in the kingdom, Abdullah Ensour told reporters Saturday, June 22, 2013 that 200 of the personnel were experts training for how to handle a chemical attack. He said the remaining 700 are manning a Patriot missile defence system and F-16 fighter jets which Washington deployed this month in case the Syrian war worsens.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

In this Thursday, June 20, 2013 photo, special operations forces from Iraq, Jordan and the U.S. conduct an exercise as part of Eager Lion multinational military maneuvers at the King Abdullah Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) in Amman, Jordan. The first Jordanian public official to speak publicly of the numbers of U.S. troops in the kingdom, Abdullah Ensour told reporters Saturday, June 22, 2013 that 200 of the personnel were experts training for how to handle a chemical attack. He said the remaining 700 are manning a Patriot missile defence system and F-16 fighter jets which Washington deployed this month in case the Syrian war worsens.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

BEIRUT (AP) ? Syrian government forces stepped up their attack against rebel strongholds north of the capital, Damascus on Saturday, while opposition fighters declared their own offensive in the country's largest city Aleppo.

The fighting in Damascus came as the Syrian government announced salary increases for state employees and members of the military, days after the Syrian currency dipped to a record low of 210 pounds to the dollar compared with 47 when the crisis began more than two years ago. The raise also covered pensions.

Both sides intensified operations as an 11-nation group that includes the U.S., dubbed the Friends of Syria, began meeting in Qatari capital of Doha to discuss how to coordinate military aid and other forms of assistance to the rebels seeking to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The donors agreed on Saturday to do more to help the embattled rebels trying to overthrow Assad, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said. While he offered no specifics, Kerry said the assistance would help change the balance on the battlefield. Kerry also denounced Assad for inviting Iranian and Hezbollah fighters to fight alongside his troops, saying the Syrian president risked turning the civil war into a regional sectarian conflict.

Activists, meanwhile, reported heavy shelling of many districts north of Damascus, apparently an attempt to cut links between rebel-held districts that have served as launching pads for operations against the capital. Three children, including two from the same family, have been killed in shelling of the outlying district of Qaboun since Friday, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on an extensive network of activists in Syria.

The Lebanese TV station Al-Mayadeen, which had a reporter embedded with Syrian government forces in the offensive, quoted a military official as saying that the operation aims to cut rebel supply lines, separate one group from another and secure the northern entrances to the capital. The regime's forces have struggled for months to regain control of these suburbs.

The Observatory said the neighborhood was being attacked from several different sides, while the shelling has caused structural damage and started fires. Activists from Qaboun posted on Facebook that government forces had deployed new tanks to reinforce its positions outside the neighborhood, and the bombardment had brought buildings down.

The Observatory said rebels targeted a police academy in the nearby Barzeh area Saturday, pushing back against a government attempt to storm the neighborhood. One rebel was killed in overnight fighting, it said.

State news agency SANA said troops "inflicted heavy losses" among rebels in several suburbs of Damascus.

The uprising against Assad began in March 2011 as peaceful protests but morphed into a civil war as rebels took up arms against a government crackdown. The Syrian regime has gained momentum in recent weeks with the help of Iran and its proxy group Hezbollah. The opposition is hoping the Obama administration's decision to begin supplying them with arms will help swing the tide in their favor.

Rebels say they have already received new weapons from allied countries? but not the U.S. ? that they claim will help them to shift the balance of power on the ground. Experts and activists said the new weapons include anti-tank missiles and small quantities of anti-aircraft missiles.

It was not clear if any of the new weapons have made it to the Damascus area. A spokesman for one of the main groups fighting outside of Damascus, the al-Islam brigade, said his group had none of the new weapons. The spokesman, who declined to be named for fear of government reprisals, spoke to The Associated Press on Skype.

He said government forces were shelling Barzeh from Qasioun mountain overlooking Damascus. Syria's main Western-backed opposition group said Thursday that 40,000 civilians in the two northern districts of Damascus are suffering from shortages of food and medical supplies.

Rebels and government also clashed in and around the northern city of Aleppo, where government forces launched an offensive earlier this month. Activists reported clashes in southern and western neighborhoods.

The Observatory also said rebels pounded a military academy in the area, causing a fire in the compound. No casualties were immediately reported. In Rashideen, rebel forces have pushed government forces out from parts of the neighborhood, according to the local Aleppo Media Center network and posts on Facebook.

A statement by a coalition of rebel groups, posted on the Center's page, declared that the fighters are launching a new operation to seize control of the western half of Aleppo.

Also Saturday, Syrian forces fired a dozen shells that landed in a northern Lebanese border town, causing a panic among residents, the Lebanese news agency reported.

SANA said government troops were targeting a group of infiltrators across the border. It gave no further details.

Rockets from Syria fall regularly into towns and villages near the border.

In Damascus, a presidential decree said that the raise for the public sector could reach up to 40 percent depending on the salary of the civil servant. Pensions could rise by up to 25 percent, according to the decree.

It said those who make 10,000 pounds ($54) a month will get a 40 percent raise, while those who make double that amount will get a 20 percent boost. People making 40,000 pounds a month will get a 5 percent raise, it said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-06-22-ML-Syria/id-88b37a01c2a2466aa1e1dc3a4a0a2381

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Bret Michaels survives bus crash

5 hours ago

Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Bret Michaels.

Bret Michaels is one lucky guy.

After a string of health scares and another bus accident back in 2009, the singer has escaped serious injury again, after his tour bus hit several deer on the way to his show in Biloxi, Miss., Friday morning.

NEWS: Bret Michaels talks trashing a hotel room with Charlie Sheen

"Except for some bumps and bruises I am thankful there were no serious injuries," Michaels told Celebuzz. "It is unfortunate for the deer, but thankfully due to modern RV technology and a steel firewall we are all OK. I have every intention to make tonight's show in Biloxi and the tour will continue."

The former Poison frontman only sustained minor cuts and bruises, according to the site.

This is just the latest in a series of scares for Michaels.

PHOTOS: Bret Michaels tweets Eva Longoria birthday greetings with a picture of Kim Kardashian

In 2010, he was hospitalized for appendicitis, a stroke, and a brain hemorrhage, which he suffered after banging his head at the Tony Awards in 2009.

And in 2011, he underwent surgery after doctors found a hole in his heart.

Just call him Mr. Unbreakable.

PHOTOS: Check out Bret Michaels' big moments!

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/bret-michaels-survives-bus-crash-minor-injuries-6C10418979

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Snug as a Bug in a Bug in a Bug

Link Information - Click to View

Snug as a Bug in a Bug in a Bug
The citrus mealybug looks like a walking dandruff flake, or perhaps a woodlouse that?s been rolled in flour. It?s also the insect version of a Russian nesting doll. If you look inside its cells, you?ll find a bacterium called Tremblaya princeps. And if you look inside Tremblaya, you?ll find yet another bacterium called Moranella endobia.

Source: National Geographic
Posted on: Friday, Jun 21, 2013, 8:58am
Views: 13

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/128750/Snug_as_a_Bug_in_a_Bug_in_a_Bug

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Leaked: Fujifilm X-M1, a Cheaper Mirrorless Camera With Wi-Fi

A new batch of leaked photos give us a glimpse of the future: Fuji's next model of interchangeable-lens cameras, the X-M1. The new camera is rumored to be a cheaper, entry-level version of their popular X-series line, with a body-only price of around $600, according to speculation.

The M1 looks very similar to the X-E1. The biggest changes are the articulating display and lack of a viewfinder. The control scheme is pared down, as you would expect on a cheaper model, and it is said to feature WiFi connectivity.

Other than the viewfinder and controls, the guts should sport the same fantastic 16 Megapixel X-Trans sensor found in the X-E1 and X-Pro1, with access to the same set of great Fujinon lenses.

Speaking of lenses, the leak included images of the upcoming 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens, as well as a 27mm f/2.8 pancake lens. The new kit lens is a cheaper alternative to Fuji's existing 18-55 f/2.8-4.0 zoom lens, while the pancake should be a great low-profile carry-around option.

The pictures were originally posted to Digital Camera Info, and they appear to legit, based on the similarity to Fuji's official images of their other cameras.

The X-M1 would be a great addition to the Fujifilm lineup. Their X-series mirrorless cameras offer terrific image quality and controls, though they have always been on the expensive side. If the X-M1 falls under $700, it could become a prime competitor to one of our favorite mirrorless cameras, the Sony NEX-6. [FujiRumors]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/leaked-fujifilm-x-m1-a-cheaper-mirrorless-camera-with-529802966

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