Argentina to court: revert order on debt holdouts

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) ? Argentina is asking a US appeals court to reverse an order for the country to pay $1.33 billion to "holdout" creditors who refused to join two swaps for the country's defaulted debt.

Argentine government lawyers said in papers filed late Friday that the order violates the country's sovereignty. The lawyers said the order also threatens service on at least $24 billion of the county's restructured sovereign debt, impairs the rights of third parties and puts global debt markets at risk.

"The Amended Injunctions have no basis in law, are inequitable, and threaten to wreak havoc on countless innocent third parties, which have already suffered losses due to the plunge in their bonds' value provoked by the insecurity that the Amended Injunctions have created in the market for Argentina's New York law-governed bonds," the briefing said.

"This harm to private and sovereign creditors, as well as to New York law and New York as a place to do business, will only grow if the Amended Injunctions are affirmed. "

The U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ordered the country on Oct. 26 to pay the holdouts an equal amount whenever it makes payments on other debt that has been restructured since the country's economic collapse 11 years ago.

It agreed with U.S. District Judge Thomas Griesa, who ruled that with more than $40 billion in foreign reserves, Argentina can afford to pay. The ruling gave Argentina a difficult choice: pay all bondholders equally, or pay none of them and risk going into default.

The court then returned the case to Griesa who ordered Argentina to pay the $1.33 billion into escrow for holders of its defaulted debt and banned banks and other third parties from intervening. Griesa based his ruling on the principle of "pari passu," or equal footing, which says debtors can't pick and choose between creditors.

President Cristina Fernandez called Griesa's ruling "judicial colonialism," and Argentina sidestepped the impending economic chaos when the order was suspended by the appeals court on Nov. 28.

But just the threat of the payment deadline set by Griesa had harsh outcomes. In the week after he issued his order, the cost of maintaining Argentina's overall debt soared in trading on U.S. and European bond markets and the cost of insuring those debts spiked.

"A court can arguably enjoin a foreign state from engaging in a commercial activity within the United States. But it cannot issue an order to force or preclude a foreign sovereign to act or not act within the limits of that sovereign's own territory," Argentina's brief said.

"By dictating to Argentina that it cannot pay moneys it owes to the exchange bondholders in a funds transfer in its own country, and commanding that it make a payment (including via escrow) to holdout creditors that it is precluded from paying under its own laws, the Amended Injunctions violate this fundamental principle."

Argentina, however, said it's willing to make concessions. To end the lengthy dispute, government lawyers said the country is willing to ask Congress to give holdout creditors the same treatment as those who joined a 2010 debt swap.

"The only definitive and equitable solution to pari passu claims that would bring legal and economic certainty is to treat plaintiffs and all other similarly situated claimants equitably on the same terms as participants in (Argentina's) 2010 Exchange Offer," the brief said.

The new arguments are part of the final stage of Argentina's legal battle with NML Capital Ltd., the investment fund that brought the case and that specializes in suing over unpaid sovereign debts.

The US government filed an "amicus," or friends of the court brief, late Friday backing Argentina's request for a rehearing in the case citing that the appeals court order affects US-Argentina relations, threatens the solution of future debt crises and blocks the legal immunity given to a sovereign country. It also says that it potentially blemishes the role of New York as financial center.

Argentina tarnished its reputation worldwide by engaging in the biggest sovereign debt default in history a decade ago. Since then, the government has restructured about 92 percent of its world record $95 billion debt default.

But Fernandez refuses to pay the holdouts calling NML Capital and others "vulture funds" for buying debt for pennies on the dollar in 2002, when Argentina's economy was in ruins and now wanting to collect in full.

The fiery, center-left leader says it was their loss for refusing two opportunities to swap defaulted bonds for new, less valuable bonds that the state has reliably paid since 2005.

NML Capital fund, run by billionaire Paul Singer and other plaintiffs, slammed Argentina's arguments late on Friday.

"With more than $43 billion in foreign currency reserves and tens of billions of dollars in additional resources, Argentina has the overwhelming capacity to pay the $1.3 billion it owes in this matter," Peter Truell, spokesman for NML's parent company Elliott Management Corp., told the Associated Press in e-mail.

"Today's filing by the Republic once again demonstrates Argentina's irrational persistence in evading its contractual obligations and the orders of US courts."

Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for Feb. 27 before the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.

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Associated Press writer Luis Andres Henao in Santiago, Chile contributed to this report.

__

Luis Andres Henao on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LuisAndresHenao

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-29-Argentina-Debt%20Showdown/id-911ea427307b4db1859545a6c1cb07ea

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If cut, fiscal deal will pale against expectations

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Whether negotiated in a rush before the new year or left for early January, the fiscal deal President Barack Obama and Congress cobble together will be far smaller than what they initially envisioned as an alternative to purposefully distasteful tax increases and spending cuts.

Instead, their deal, if a deal they indeed cut, will put off some big decisions about tax and entitlement changes and leave other deadlines in place that will likely lead to similar moments of brinkmanship, some in just a matter of weeks.

Republican and Democratic negotiators in the Senate were hoping for a deal as early as Sunday on what threshold to set for increased tax rates, whether to keep current inheritance tax rates and exemptions and how to pay for jobless benefits and avoid cuts in Medicare payments to doctors. Senate leaders were hoping to be able to present their members with a plan when the parties meet separately on Capitol Hill Sunday afternoon.

An agreement would halt automatic across-the-board tax increases for virtually every American and perhaps temporarily put off some steep spending cuts in defense and domestic programs.

Obama pressed lawmakers to start where both sides say they agree ? sparing middle-class families from looming tax hikes.

"If we can get that done, that takes a big bite out of the fiscal cliff. It avoids the worst outcomes. And we're then going to have some tough negotiations in terms of how we continue to reduce the deficit, grow the economy, create jobs," Obama said in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" that aired Sunday.

Gone, however, is the talk of a grand deal that would tackle broad spending and revenue demands and set the nation on a course to lower deficits. Obama and Republican House Speaker John Boehner were once a couple hundred billion dollars apart of a deal that would have reduced the deficit by more than $2 trillion over ten years.

Republicans have complained that Obama has demanded too much in tax revenue and hasn't proposed sufficient cuts or savings in the nation's massive health care programs.

Obama upped the pressure on Republicans to negotiate a fiscal deal, arguing that GOP leaders have rejected his past attempts to strike a bigger and more comprehensive bargain.

"The offers that I've made to them have been so fair that a lot of Democrats get mad at me," Obama said.

Boehner disagreed, saying Sunday that the president had been unwilling to agree to anything "that would require him to stand up to his own party."

Don Stewart, a spokesman for Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, said Sunday: "While the president was taping those discordant remarks yesterday, Sen. McConnell was in the office working to bring Republicans and Democrats together on a solution."

Attention Sunday focused on the Senate, where Kentucky's McConnell, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., engaged in negotiations in the Capitol in hopes of having something to present senators.

"I was modestly optimistic yesterday, but we don't yet see an agreement," Obama said, referring to his mood Friday. "And now the pressure's on Congress to produce."

The trimmed ambitions of today are a far cry from the upbeat bipartisan rhetoric of just six weeks ago, when the leadership of Congress went to the White House to set the stage for negotiations to come.

"I outlined a framework that deals with reforming our tax code and reforming our spending," Boehner said as the leaders gathered on the White House driveway on Nov. 16.

"We understand that it has to be about cuts, it has to be about revenue, it has to be about growth, it has to be about the future," House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said at the time. "I feel confident that a solution may be in sight."

And Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., offered a bold prediction: "There is no more let's do it some other time. We are going to do it now."

That big talk is over for now.

Senate negotiators were haggling over what threshold of income to set as the demarcation between current tax rates and higher tax rates. They were negotiating over estate limits and tax levels, how to extend unemployment benefits, how to prevent cuts in Medicare payments to doctors and how to keep a minimum income tax payment designed for the rich from hitting about 28 million middle class taxpayers.

South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is predicting that without at least 28 of the 47 GOP senators on board with any given proposal, House Speaker John Boehner wouldn't be able to get the votes to pass it.

If Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., "can't get 60 percent of us to vote for this deal, it will be hard for Boehner to get it through the House. And I want to vote for it even though I won't like it because the country's got a lot at stake here," Graham said on "Fox News Sunday".

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said the 2.1 million Americans whose extended unemployment benefits ran out on Saturday are already feeling the pain of Congress' inaction.

"From this point on, it's lose-lose. My big worry is a contraction of the economy, the loss of jobs, which could be well over 2 million in addition to the people already on unemployment. I think contraction of the economy would be just terrible for this nation. I think we need a deal, we should do a deal," Feinstein said on "Fox News Sunday."

But the deal was not meant to settle other outstanding issues, including more than $1 trillion in cuts over 10 years, divided equally between the Pentagon and other government spending. The deal also would not address an extension of the nation's borrowing limit, which the government is on track to reach any day but which the Treasury can put off through accounting measures for about two months.

That means Obama and the Congress are already on a new collision path. Republicans say they intend to use the debt ceiling as leverage to extract more spending cuts from the president. Obama has been adamant that unlike 2011, when the country came close to defaulting on its debts, he will not yield to those Republican demands.

As the day ended Saturday, there were few signs of success on a scaled-back deal. But no one was declaring a stalemate either.

Lawmakers have until the new Congress convenes to pass any compromise, and even the calendar mattered. Democrats said they had been told House Republicans might reject a deal until after Jan. 1, to avoid a vote to raise taxes before they had technically gone up, and then vote to cut taxes after they had risen.

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Associated Press writers David Espo, Julie Pace and Michele Salcedo contributed to this report.

___

Follow Jim Kuhnhenn on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jkuhnhenn

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cut-fiscal-deal-pale-against-140752956.html

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Third Eye Blind

Tilde N?rgaard, a Swedish sixth grader, is still trying to figure out how she got a third eye in her class photo.

150-lb Boulder Crashes Through Car Windshield

This 150-lb boulder crashed through the windshield of a rental car in Sedona, Az. The passengers, Bob Jaczko and Peter Wilson suffered minor cuts.

Kid Has LEGO stuck in nose for three years.

Isaak Lasson can finally breathe easy after three years of sinus problem caused by a single wheel-shaped LEGO that he got stuck up his nose back when he was three.

Scrapyard Destroys Wrong Car

Ben Forrer outside Sita UK, a scrap yard in Coventry, today, 25, 2012. Refer to NTI story NTICRUSH. Ben Forrer looked on in horror as a Coventry scrapyard crushed his van by mistake. Ben Forrer had only left his Citroen Relay for a few minutes as he dropped off an old cooker at the Sita yard, in Longford. But workers mistook the van for scrap and began crushing it in the jaws of a mechanical grabber

Middle Finger Bush

A bush carved into the shape of a middle-finger has landed a gardener into trouble after somebody failed to share his humour over the shrub. The council received a complaint about the shaped bush eight years after it was carved by Richard Jackson, 53, in his front garden. Despite only receiving one complaint, the council have since contacted Richard to alter the bush as it is considered a public offence. But Richard, from Tamworth, Staffs, said his neighbours are backing his pledge to keep the bush and they have even began a Save the Bush campaign to support him. Credit: Caters News

Cathedral Licker

A man has made a 5,000 mile pilgrimage to every Anglican cathedral in England so he can give them a good LICKING. Lawrence Edmonds has staked his claim as Britains first every cathedral licker by tongue tickling an incredible 42 in less than two years. Christian approval, Polish condemnation, and looks of confusion from a flock of Dutch tourists have all been experienced by Lawrence on his epic journey Back in January 2011, Lawrences friend Adam challenged him to a bet- that he couldnt lick every Anglican cathedral in the UK within five years. Credit: Caters News

Baobab Tree Sculpture

Mike De Butts adds the finishing touches to a giant Baobab Tree sculpture entitled 'Under the Baobab', outside the Southbank Centre on May 24, 2012 in London, England. The Pirate Technics' installation is made from a selection of brightly coloured fabrics from around the world, and is part of the Southbank Centre's 'Festival of the World' exhibition, which includes a series of large scale pieces of art that will be in place around the Southbank centre over the Summer.

My Little Ponies

Some of Sarah's ponies. Sarah Butler, 28 from Barnsley, Yorkshire has been collecting 1980's My Little Ponies for 24 years and now has over 1,000 of them as well as having a themed room in her house including My Little Pony curtains, bedspread and other collectables.

Rapunzel Hair

Natasha Moraes de Andrade, 12, is nicknamed Rapunzel because her hair is more than 5 feet long -- just one and a half inches shorter than her height. In March, she planned to cut and sell the locks for some $2,600 to help get her family in Rio De Janeiro out of poverty.

Moscow City Lights

Swirling colors of city lights from a 900ft crane fill the Moscow skyline. Photographer D. Chistoprudov boards the crane, which is being used to build a skyscraper called Federation, and takes pictures over a period of two hours. Chistoprudov, 28, starts taking the swirling snaps around 1am and battles freezing weather to remain completely still so not to ruin the careful process. (Caters News / ZUMA Press)

iPoo

The sleek design, the impressive functionality, the distinctive logo - was it only a matter of time before Apple redesigned the humble toilet with the iPoo? The iPoo is literally a case of toilet humour and Belgrade designer Milos Paripovic makes the tongue-in-cheek claim his work isn't intentionally related to the Apple brand.

Tamaseseri Festival

Naked men wearing only loincloths vie for a wooden treasure ball weighing eight kilos to bring good fortune, during the Tamaseseri festival at Hakozaki shrine in Fukuoka, on Japan's southern island of Kyushu on Jan. 3, 2012. Two teams of farmers and fishermen competed for the rich harvest or largest catch at a festival that dates back some 500 years.

Snow Church

Visitors stand around a snow church just after its inauguration on Dec. 28, 2011 in Mitterfirmiansreut, Germany. The circa 25 meters long church was made of 1,400 cubic meters of snow and aims to commemorate the winter of the years 1910/1911, when so much snow fell that believers of Mitterfirmiansreut were no more able to go to church in the neighboring community of Mauth. So they decided to build their own church, made of snow. (Armin Weigel, AFP / Getty Images)

Snow Church

Visitors stand around a snow church just after its inauguration on Dec. 28, 2011 in Mitterfirmiansreut, Germany. The circa 25 meters long church was made of 1,400 cubic meters of snow and aims to commemorate the winter of the years 1910/1911, when so much snow fell that believers of Mitterfirmiansreut were no more able to go to church in the neighboring community of Mauth. So they decided to build their own church, made of snow. (Armin Weigel, AFP / Getty Images)

Heine Braeck, 33, from Sarpsborg, Norway, has been without an right arm since he lost it during a freak accident when he was 13. Now he has decided to make the stump look like a dolpin's head with the help of Bulgarian tattooist Valio Ska.

Giant Slipper

A man who ordered a special slipper to fit his oversized foot was sent a size 1,450 - after manufacturers failed to spot a decimal point in his order. Tom Boddingham, 27, has a size 13 right foot while his left is slightly bigger and measures a size 14-and-a-half. But when he ordered his custom-fit slipper manufacturers in China misread size 14.5 and accidently made a whopping 7ft long size 1,450

Eight-year-old girl is world's youngest drag racer

Eight-year-old girl Belle Wheeler has become the youngest drag racer in the world -- just two days after her eighth birthday. The pint-sized dragster then went onto compete against youngsters more than twice her age and qualified for the UK National Finals.

Lawn Mower Endurance Race

Competitors race in the 12-hour Lawn Mower Endurance Race on September 24, 2011 in Billingshurst, England. First started in 1973 as a motorsport that would be accessible to as many as possible, this year's competition included more than 30 teams including some from South Africa, America and Luxembourg.

Pumpkin Art

An employee arranges pumpkins to form a fish at the pumkin exhibition of the asparagus and experience farm Buschmann and Winkelmann in Klaistow near Beelitz, northeastern Germany on August 31, 2011. The exhibition will start on September 1 , 2011, with over 100,000 pumkins in 400 different varieties.

Cable Car High Wire

High wire artist Freddy Nock balances as he walks up on the rope of a Zugspitze cable car in Grainau near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, southern Germany, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011. Nock walked up the 995 meters long rope with an altitude difference of 348 meters aiming at collecting money for the UNESCO. He is attempting to set a new world record by doing seven summits in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in seven days. It took him about 90 minutes to arrive on top of Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany.

Third Story Exit

A 16-ton salt spreader blasted through the fifth-floor wall of a Queens Sanitation Department garage and came within inches of plummeting 50 feet to the street. The driver survived the spectacular 9:30 am crash, which sent bricks and debris raining down on cars parked outside the Maspeth repair facility, but spent 15 terrified minutes dangling in the cab of the bright orange vehicle. It's unclear how driver Robert Legall, a 10-year Sanitation veteran with a clean record, lost control of the big rig. "There are signs up there warning drivers to slow down," Commissioner John Doherty told the New York Post. "He's familiar with the rules. We think it was just an unfortunate accident."

Speed Record Spins Out

Driver Joe Wales crashes through the surf after veering off course during an attempt on the British land speed record for battery-powered vehicles in the Bluebird Electric on Pendine Sands on August 14, 2011 in Pendine, Wales. Driver Joe Wales and his father, fellow driver Don Wales, come from a famous family who have been setting land and water speed records since 1924. Don holds the current UK record of 137 miles an hour in an electric vehicle.

Giant Cabbage

Harrogate Autumn Flower show Director Martin Fish with a giant cabbage, as he introduced a series of new classes for Giant Vegetables to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Show. Giant onions, tomatoes and many others will all compete for the top prize of the biggest vegetable.

Keep Claer

An incorrectly spelled "Keep Clear" road marking is pictured in Kingswinford, on August 3, 2011 in West Midlands, England.

Etna Volcano lava

Lava spewed from a crater of the giant Etna volcano in the southern Italy island of Sicily on July 30, 2011 in Catania. The lava flown into a valley overnight and did not represent a danger to inhabited areas. Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe at 3,295 metres (10,810 feet) which last eruption was in May.

Killer Plant Eats Bird

An exotic plant expert was stunned when he inspected one of his garden pitcher plants and discovered it had eaten a blue tit. Prize winning Nigel Hewitt Cooper one of Britain's leading carnivorous plant growers, from West Pennard, Somerset, couldn't believe his eyes when he checked the Nepenthes x mixta or Monkey Cup pitcher and found the dead bird inside. Normally the plants which are native to south east Asia consume insects which thy attract by secreting a sticky, sweet fluid at the bottom of the pitcher. Sometimes in the wild they have been known to kill small mammals like mice but Mr Hewitt Cooper who regularly wins prizes at the Chelsea flower show says for a cultivate plant to capture a bird is incredible.

Giant Mermaid

A man adjusts a sculpture "Giant Mermaid" on the Alster lake in the northern German city of Hamburg on August 1, 2011. The sculpture is created by art and advertising agency headed by Oliver Voss.

Huge Pastry

People look at a huge khachapuri (Georgian cheese pastry) in central Batumi on July 28, 2011. The cake was baked using 100 eggs, 90 kilograms of cheese, 150 kilograms of flour, has 8 meters length and was eaten within 1minute 32 seconds by people at a street.

Velomobiles

Velomobiles, recumbent bicycles with sleek, colorful outer shells, head for the open road in Portland, Ore., Thursday, July 28, 2011. Twenty five riders from Europe and twenty five riders from North America are on a cross-country trip which will finish on the U.S. Capitol steps in Washington D.C. on August 26. The bikers are trying to spread the message that sustainable, clean transportation can be fun.

Bobblehead Bishop

Erie Catholic Bishop Donald W. Trautman has been immortalized in miniature with a bobblehead doll made in his likeness. The bobblehead comes as Trautman prepares to end his tenure as bishop of Erie.

Canadian bubble artist

Canadian bubble artist Yang Fan, who has set world record by packing 118 people inside a soap bubble, performs at the Gazillion bubble show in Beijing on July 19, 2011. Yang has earned international acclaim as a result of his complex displays of "bubble theater". In addition to performing he has developed his own bubble solution formulas and equipment to create bubbles.

Giant Marilyn

Newly-wed bride Magda Villasenor looks at "Forever Marilyn", a sculpture by Seward Johnson, on July 15, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The stainless steel and aluminum sculpture, which stands 26 feet tall and weighs 34,000 pounds, will be on display in Chicago through the spring of 2012. The sculpture was inspired by Marilyn Monroe's iconic scene in the 1955 movie "Seven Year Itch".

Hot Dog Hot Rod

The iconic Oscar Mayer Wienermobile vehicle is seen outside of the New York Stock Exchange as part of its day-long 75th birthday celebration, Monday, July 18, 2011. To commemorate the milestone, the Oscar Mayer brand rang the closing bell at NYSE. (Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Oscar Mayer)

Harry Potter Corn Maze

An aerial view of Top Pearsy's Maize Maze in the shape of Harry Potter, on July 11, 2011 in York, England. Farmer Tom Pearcy has cut two portraits of Harry Potter in his crop of maize plants. With some subtle differences the two images create the world's largest spot the difference competition. At over 50m in diameter, and cut out of over 1 million living maize plants, the York Maze is the largest 'Maize Maze' in Europe and one of the largest in the world.

Recycled Sailboat

A sail boat made of recycled material makes its maiden voyage to mark World Oceans Day in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, June 8, 2011.

Pontiac Deluxe Six 'Ghost Car'

An extraordinary transparent car could fetch as much as GBP 295,000 when it goes up for auction.The motor, dubbed the 'Ghost Car', is a Pontiac Deluxe Six which has been covered in Plexiglas. The first transparent full-sized car to be made in America, it was built in 1939 by General Motors and chemical company Rohm and Haas. Billed as a vision of the future, it was a sensation at the 1939-40 New York World's Fair and continues to cause a stir today. Just two were ever made and this model, which has a three-speed manual transmission, is thought to be the last of its kind. It has clocked up just 86 miles in its lifetime; and now its set to go on sale for the first time since the early 1980s. It last sold for an undisclosed amount. American auctioneers RM expect it to sell for between $275,000 and $475,000.

Serbian Brides Race

Serbian women take part in a wedding dress race in downtown Belgrade on June 19, 2011. More than fifty "brides" took part in an annual wedding dress race in the Serbian capital, competing for numerous prizes. (Andrej Isakovic, AFP/Getty Images)

World Naked Bike Ride

People take part in the annual "London World Naked Bike Ride" event in central London on June 11, 2011. Now in it's eighth year, the event has seen participation grow from 58 in 2004 to 1,200 in 2009. Taking a route that passes many of London's most famous landmarks, the ride allows those participating to decorate their body with messages of protest against oil dependancy and motor vehicle usage.

Hanging Around

British artist Alice Newstead hangs by shark hooks during her demonstration to protest against shark slaughter in Hong Kong on June 14. The protest was organized by marine conservation group Shark Savers, and supported by Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics who are launching a global campaign to protect the sharks.

Reptile House

Diska Putra, holds one of his snakes in bed at home on June 10, 2011 in Bintan, Indonesia. Putra, 24, cohabitates in Indonesian with a collection of 30 snakes, some of which are deadly poisonous.

Monkey God

An Indian priest walks outside the temple of Hindu monkey God Hanuman in New Delhi early June 12, 2011. The highly popular monkey-god Hanuman known for his strength is worshipped for his unyielding devotion and selfless dedication to the Lord Rama.

Big Baby

Ron Mueck's 'Big Baby' sculpture is displayed in front of Jenny Saville's painting 'Interfacing' at the Masterpieces Exhibition at Christie's on June 13, 2011 in London, England.

Drunken Knight

A would-be knight who tried to woo a maiden by riding into her home on a horse is facing five years behind bars for aggravated burglary. Lovelorn Jan Rudnicki, 40, hatched the scheme to bowl over divorcee Gosia Domoslawska after a night's drinking down his local bar in Jarnoltowka, Poland. But terrified Gosia, 36, dialed 999 when her drunken suitor - stripped to the waist - galloped up her garden path and smashed his way through the front door like a battering ram.

Sideshow Fat Man Dies

Bruce Snowdon, the last sideshow fat man, was honored in a memorial service on Jan. 30, 2010. Snowdon performed as "Harold Huge," and weighed 607 pounds (though by some billing he tipped the scale at 712 pounds). Here he is with fellow sideshow star Peter Terhurne, a fire-eating dwarf.

So, What Do You Do For a Living?

Mexican tattoo artist and trained lawyer Maria Jose Cristerna, known as "Vampire Woman", attends the Fifth International Tattoo Convention in Bogota, Colombia, on June 4, 2011.

It's All Fun And Games...

A Sufi Kalandar (wandering ascetic) performs an act of self torture during devotion at the annual death anniversary of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, India on June 2.

Indian spiritual guru Swami Baba Ramdev

Indian spiritual guru Swami Baba Ramdev performs yoga during his hunger strike at the Pitanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar, some 240kms from New Delhi, on June 7, 2011. India's embattled prime minister on June 7 defended a police crackdown on a peaceful anti-graft demonstration led by a famous yoga guru, saying authorities had been left with no choice.

Kwok Mang Ho

Chinese artist Kwok Mang Ho performs during the 54th International Art Exhibition in Venice on June 1, 2011. The Biennale entitled Illuminazioni that will open to the public from June 4th to November 27th 2011, in the Giardini and the Arsenale exhibition venues, as well as in various other locations around the city.

Chinese Cabbage Art

These glamour models look good enough to eat but will not turn your girlfriend green with envy - because they are made entirely of cabbage. Artist Ju Duoqi created the bizarre sculptures for her project called "The Fantasies of Chinese Cabbage". Every body part is made from the vegetable. Ju is from Beijing, China. Pictured, some of Ju's work, made from cabbage leaves. This is entitled: 'An' (Ju Duoqi/Solent News & Photo Agency)

Chinese Cabbage Art

These glamour models look good enough to eat but will not turn your girlfriend green with envy - because they are made entirely of cabbage. Artist Ju Duoqi created the bizarre sculptures for her project called "The Fantasies of Chinese Cabbage". Every body part is made from the vegetable. Ju is from Beijing, China. Pictured, some of Ju's work, made from cabbage leaves. This is entitled: 'Susan' (Ju Duoqi/Solent News & Photo Agency)

For Patriotic Babies

An unfinished crib figurine showing President Barack Obama holding the head of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in one hand and making the victory sign with the other hand is displayed on May 2 in a traditional crib shop in Naples, Italy.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/27/maryland-live-to-open-247_n_2371147.html

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Author Provides a Way for Anyone to Use 2D Bar Codes Creatively ...

Huntington, NY, December 27, 2012 ?(PR.com)? In his new book, author R. Henry Thomas outlines a myriad of creative applications using readily available "2D" bar coding systems working in concert with Smart phones or Computer Tablets to construct new ideas for business promotions, product introductions, enhancements and social networking.

Today you can't help notice more and more of these little square codes popping up all over. When you shop, they help you pay for goods and services. In addition, they quickly help you check for prices, review specifications, find service outlets or can take you on a video tour of potentially your next car, boat or home, Thomas notes. You may even dial phone numbers, view websites or go right to Facebook pages by just scanning your easily created and then printed "two dimensional" codes. Most people can do this within minutes of reading my book and even customize their background images with vibrant color or photographs, he added.

These squiggly squares often referred to as "Quick Response Codes" or "Microsoft Tags" are now being used daily in nearly all types of transactions and are inherently adaptable to a wide variety of known and undiscovered applications. This book provides the reader with background on how ?Bar Codes" came into existence and takes the mystery out of them, Thomas says. It also details information on different auto identification approaches, scanning applications and providers. The publication graphically illustrates how many are being used today and how they can be molded to fit social or business applications for use tomorrow, Thomas added.

His book will also provide the reader with some interesting and entertaining personal experiences regarding "high technology?, its history and will attempt to expand their overall knowledge of bar coding and scanning methodologies.

Mr. Thomas, who holds an MBA from Farleigh Dickinson University, has extensive experience in the auto identification, biometric, credentialing and computer systems industries. He believes his book can be the key for professional entrepreneurs and small business people seeking to use this relatively free bar code technology to enhance their company's profitability, expansion and create a differential advantage. It can also permit students to learn how to create many personalized items right at home, such as name tags, item tags with unique message content, T-shirts and even costume jewelry.

The publication titled, ?What Are Those Little Square Things I Now See Everywhere?? is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as, Xlibris.com ISBN: E Books 978-1-4771-4863-1 ISBN: Soft Cover 978-1-4771-4862-4 Additional background information on this book is also available to all interested parties by logging on: http://hstrial-rhtnyc.intuitwebsites.com/

Contact Information:
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Ralph Thomas
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Contact via Email
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Clifford Rockwell
Director PR

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General Dynamics, Huntington Ingalls win huge U.S. submarine orders

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy last week awarded submarine contracts worth up to $4.5 billion to General Dynamics Corp and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. , securing the funds from automatic budget cuts if Congress cannot reach agreement on other ways to reduce U.S. deficits.

The Navy awarded General Dynamics a five-year contract valued at up to $1.99 billion if all options are exercised, for research and development work on a new submarine to replace the current Ohio-class vessels, which carry nuclear weapons.

It awarded a separate contract worth nearly $2.5 billion for construction of two smaller Virginia-class submarines, work that will be split between General Dynamics' Electric Boat division, based in Groton, Connecticut, and Huntington Ingalls' Newport News shipyard.

Connecticut Representative Joe Courtney welcomed the contract news, saying it would help stabilize the local workforce and ensure continued production of submarines, which he described as "a key component of our national security."

He said hundreds of new engineers and designers had already been hired to work on the new submarine program at a New London, Connecticut, facility.

"This contract will leverage the unique skills of Electric Boat's submarine and design workforce in designing a capable and cost effective replacement for our Ohio class submarines," Courtney said, noting that Electric Boat had a record of building submarines ahead of schedule and under budget.

General Dynamics spokesman Kendell Pease said the orders demonstrated the continued and increasing importance of submarines to U.S. national security, particularly given the Obama administration's planned pivot to the Asia-Pacific region.

"As we move to the Asia Pacific region, submarines will become increasingly important," Pease said.

The Pentagon announced the cost-plus, fixed-fee contract for design work on the Ohio-class replacement submarine late last Friday, and said it included special incentives. The contract is worth up to $1.99 billion if all options are exercised.

The Pentagon said the contract included design work on the new submarine and continued work on a new common missile compartment being developed jointly by the U.S. Navy and Britain, as well as cost reduction initiatives and full-scale prototype manufacturing and assembly.

Most of the work will be done at General Dynamics' Connecticut facility, but about 7 percent of the work will be done by Huntington Ingalls. The Navy eventually plans to buy 12 new submarines to replace the current fleet of aging Ohio-class submarines, with construction slated to begin in 2021.

The Navy also awarded a contract to General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls for construction of the last two Virginia-class submarines under a multi-year contract approved by Congress in fiscal 2008 that locked in a two-a-year production rate.

General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls split the work on the Virginia-class submarines.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Dan Grebler)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/general-dynamics-huntington-ingalls-win-huge-u-submarine-212721343--finance.html

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There once was a free Nexus 7 ...

We're now at Day 3 of our weeklong Nexus 7 (and $25 Google Play Gift Card) contest, courtesy of the fine folks at Google. And today we're looking for the best Android-related limerick you can come up with. Why a limerick? We can't stand haiku, that's why. Just one of those things.

So hop on into today's forum thread and get a little silly. And good luck!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/-Z5fDoVKak0/story01.htm

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Israel probes post on embassy Facebook page

JERUSALEM (AP) ? A spokesman says Israel's Foreign Ministry is investigating an anti-Palestinian post on the Facebook page of its embassy in Ireland.

The inflammatory post shows an illustration of Jesus and Mary, next to a message the unidentified writer calls "A thought for Christmas."

The message posted Monday read, "If Jesus and mother Mary were alive today, they would, as Jews without security, probably end up being lynched in Bethlehem by hostile Palestinians."

Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor says the post was removed and the embassy apologized immediately after the mission received complaints.

Palmor said Tuesday that it wasn't clear who posted the message.

He added, "We all agree that it was improper, inappropriate."

Source: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/Israel-probes-post-on-embassy-Facebook-page-4126700.php

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Syria "genuinely worried" extremists could get chemical weapons

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Syria is "genuinely worried" that some countries might equip extremist groups with chemical weapons and then claim they were used by the Syrian government, the country's U.N. envoy said in a letter to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council.

Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari also accused the U.S. government of supporting "terrorists" in Syria and waging a campaign that claims Syria could use chemical weapons in the 20-month-old civil war that has killed at least 40,000 people.

The United States says it is sending only humanitarian aid and nonlethal assistance to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's opponents, but acknowledges some allies are arming the rebels.

Assad's government accuses Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, the United States and other Western governments of supporting and arming the rebels, an allegation the governments deny.

"We have repeatedly stated publicly and through diplomatic channels that Syria will not under any circumstances use any chemical weapons that it may have, because it is defending its people from terrorists backed by well-known states, at the forefront of which is the United States of America," Ja'afari said.

"We are genuinely worried that certain states that support terrorism and terrorists could provide the armed terrorist groups with chemical weapons, and then claim they had been used by the Syrian Government," he wrote in the letter which was dated December 8 but made public on Monday.

Damascus has accused Western powers of backing what it says is a Sunni Islamist "terrorist" campaign to topple Assad, a member of the minority Alawite sect affiliated with Shi'ite Islam.

It has said that U.S. and European concerns about Assad's forces possibly resorting to chemical weapons could serve as a pretext for preparing military intervention. Western military experts say Syria has four suspected chemical weapons sites, and it can produce chemical weapons agents including mustard gas and sarin, and possibly also VX nerve agent.

"States such as the United States of America that have used chemical and similar weapons are in no position to launch such a campaign, particularly because, in 2003, they used the pretext of Iraq having weapons of mass destruction in order to justify their invasion and occupation," Ja'afari wrote.

"Since the issue was raised, Syria has stated countless times that it will not under any circumstances use any chemical weapons that it may have against its own people," he said. "The Government of the Syrian Arab Republic warns that the terrorist groups could use those weapons against the Syrian people."

Ban expressed alarm on Sunday at the worsening violence in Syria, including the reported mass killing of Alawites and alleged firing of long-range missiles on Syrian territory, Ban's spokesman said.

He spoke to Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem on Monday morning to voice his particular concern over reports of Syrian fighter jets bombing the Palestinian Yarmouk camp in Damascus on Sunday, killing at least 25 people.

The foreign minister told Ban that Palestinians should not offer "shelter or assistance to terrorist groups" in the Yarmouk refugee camp, state television said on Monday.

The 15-member U.N. Security Council has been incapable of taking any meaningful action in the conflict. Veto powers Russia and China refuse to condemn Assad or support sanctions.

(Editing by Mohammad Zargham and Eric Walsh)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syria-genuinely-worried-extremists-could-chemical-weapons-182618492.html

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Senators want commission to look at mass shootings

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Two senators called Sunday for a national commission to examine mass shootings in the United States, while a third vowed to ban the sale of military-style assault weapons.

The proposals were among the first to come from Congress in the wake of Friday's school shooting in Newtown, Conn. Gun rights activists remained largely quiet on the issue, all but one declining to appear on the Sunday talk shows. Meanwhile, Democrats vowed action and said it was time to hear from voters ? not gun lobbyists ? on how to prevent the next shooting.

The time for "saying that we can't talk about the policy implications of tragedies like this is over," said Rep. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who won a Senate seat in the November elections.

President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats haven't pushed for new gun controls since rising to power in the 2008 national elections. Outspoken advocates for stricter laws, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, say that's because of the powerful sway of the National Rifle Association.

But advocates also say the latest shooting is a tipping point that could change the dynamic of the debate dramatically. Feinstein, D-Calif., said she plans to create a national committee devoted to rallying support for a ban on the sale of new assault weapons and will propose legislation next year that would ban big clips, drum and strips of more than 10 bullets.

"It can be done," she said Sunday of reviving the 10-year ban that expired in 2004.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut who is retiring, said there should be a national commission to scrutinize gun laws and loopholes, as well as the nation's mental health system and the role that violent video games and movies might play in shootings. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois said he would support such a panel, adding that it was time for a "national discussion" that included school safety.

"This conversation has been dominated in Washington by ? you know and I know ? gun lobbies that have an agenda" Durbin said. "We need people, just ordinary Americans, to come together, and speak out, and to sit down and calmly reflect on how far we go."

Congress has frequently turned to independent bipartisan commissions to try to solve the nation's worst problems, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Iraq war and the failing economy. But ultimately, lawmakers are often reluctant to act on the recommendations of outsiders, especially if they think it will cost them support in their home states.

Still, Lieberman defended the idea of a national commission as the only way to ensure that the "heartbreak and anger" of the Connecticut shooting doesn't dissipate over time and that other factors beyond gun control are considered.

"We've got to continue to hear the screams of these children and see their blood until we do something to try to prevent this from happening again," he said.

Gun rights advocates appeared reluctant to make their case against tougher gun laws while Connecticut families and the nation were still in the earliest stages of grieving. David Gregory, the host of "Meet the Press," said NBC invited all 31 "pro-gun" senators to appear on Sunday's show, and all 31 declined. All eight Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee were unavailable or unwilling to appear on CBS' "Face the Nation," host Bob Schieffer said.

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, was the sole representative of gun rights' activists on the various Sunday talk shows. In an interview on "Fox News Sunday," Gohmert defended the sale of assault weapons and said that the principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School, who authorities say died trying to overtake the shooter, should herself have been armed.

"I wish to God she had had an M-4 in her office, locked up so when she heard gunfire, she pulls it out and she didn't have to lunge heroically with nothing in her hands. But she takes him (the shooter) out, takes his head off before he can kill those precious kids," Gohmert said.

Gohmert also argued that violence is lower in cities with lax gun laws, and higher in cities with stricter laws.

"The facts are that every time guns have been allowed ?conceal-carry (gun laws) have been allowed ? the crime rate has gone down," Gohmert said.

Gun control advocates say that isn't true. A study by the California-based Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence determined that seven of the 10 states with the strongest gun laws ? including Connecticut, Massachusetts and California ? are also among the 10 states with the lowest gun death rates.

"If you look at the states with the strongest gun laws in the country, they have some of the lowest gun death rates, and some of the states with the weakest gun laws have some of the highest gun death rates," said Brian Malte of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Murphy spoke on ABC's "This Week." Lieberman, Durbin and Gohmert spoke on "Fox News Sunday." Feinstein spoke on NBC's "Meet the Press."

___

Associated Press writer Josh Lederman contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/senators-want-commission-look-mass-shootings-151930803--politics.html

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Mobile Miscellany: week of December 10th, 2012

If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This past week, a company that you're no doubt familiar with announced its departure from the smartphone business, a UK-based carrier put the Nexus 4 up for sale and Republic Wireless made good on a promise. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of December 10th, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of December 10th, 2012

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/N0TSi8TRYGo/

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Griffin not playing for Redskins

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III tosses a ball during warmups before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. Kirk Cousins will start in place of Griffin wgho is sitting out with a sprained knee. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III tosses a ball during warmups before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. Kirk Cousins will start in place of Griffin wgho is sitting out with a sprained knee. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)

FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2012, file phot, Washington Redskins quarterbacks Robert Griffin III (10) and Kirk Cousins (12) warm up before the start of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams in St. Louis. A rookie will start at quarterback for the Redskins on Sunday. It will be either Griffin or Cousins facing the Cleveland Browns. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam, File)

CLEVELAND (AP) ? Robert Griffin III won't be running wild or throwing passes for the Redskins. He can only watch them.

Washington's electrifying rookie quarterback is inactive for Sunday's game against the Browns, eliminating any chance of him helping his teammates continue their NFC playoff push.

Griffin sprained his right knee last week against Baltimore, and after days of speculation about his playing status, the Redskins announced late Saturday night that rookie Kirk Cousins will start.

Cousins, who came off the bench last week against Baltimore after Griffin got hurt, will make his first career start and veteran Rex Grossman will be Washington's No. 2 QB. Grossman has been inactive for every other game this season.

Griffin sustained a mild sprain of the lateral collateral ligament when he took a scary hit from Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata following a 13-yard run late in the fourth quarter. He was limited in practice all week, but as of Friday it appeared he might play and coach Mike Shanahan was keeping tight lipped about his young star's status.

The 22-year-old RG3 was one of the first players on the field Sunday morning. He seemed to be moving well with a brace on his knee. At that point, it still wasn't official that he would not be inactive, and the Redskins (7-6) didn't make it known that No. 10 would suit up at all until 90 minutes before kickoff.

The Browns spent all week preparing to face Griffin, who is tied with New England's Tom Brady for the league lead in passer rating and who has dazzled opponents and fans with his speed and arm strength.

His absence could be a break for the Browns (5-8). Cleveland has won three straight games and is still in the playoff chase after starting the season 0-5.

Cousins rallied the Redskins in the fourth quarter last week, throwing a late touchdown pass and ran for a 2-point conversion before the Ravens won in overtime. Washington selected Cousins in the fourth round of April's draft. The former Michigan State star was somewhat of surprise pick because the Redskins had already selected Griffin after trading several picks to St. Louis to move up to get last season's Heisman Trophy winner.

Cousins also played earlier this season after Griffin sustained a concussion against Atlanta. He has completed 7 of 11 passes for 137 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-16-Redskins-Griffin%20Inactive/id-ec338255e48b4715ab1cc681f5e2b995

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Childhood Obesity Statistics: Parental Stress Matters | Your Health ...

As parents, we all try to do our best to raise our children with the best of morals and the most ideal of health. No parent looks at their child and thinks, ?I love little junior, but I?m going to feed him McDonalds three times per week so he can grow obese and develop heart disease and diabetes.?

Rather, the effects on our kids are more subtle. Take cigarette smoking. We?re all aware of secondhand smoke and how much it interferes with our children?s health. But, if you are smoking parent, are you aware of third hand smoke? That residue that?s left behind on the furniture, your clothing and the dashboard that your child is still exposed to long after that cigarette is extinguished.

Other factors like BPA in plastic water bottles, too much TV / video game time, soda and artificial sweeteners are all on this list as well. All have been linked to weight gain in children.

What about stress? Sure?stress is bad for kids. Makes them lose sleep and raises cortisol levels.

What about stress? Sure?stress is bad for kids. Makes them lose sleep and raises cortisol levels. Of course stress could reasonably contribute to weight gain and poor health in our children. The transition from junior high to high school is considered one of the most stressful periods in an adolescent?s life.

Actually, I meant parental stress.

There is no doubt that we live in a society that is more stressed than ever. Work, financial and family stress seems to affect nearly everyone, and few manage it effectively. But you do a good job of hiding it from your child. Right?

I hear this quite frequently. But, as I always say, kids and dogs are far better at picking up on non-verbal cues than you could ever imagine.

Which brings us to a research article in the November 1, 2012 edition of the journal Pediatrics. Parents were asked about the stressors in their lives as well as how stressed out they felt they were. The researchers then looked at the child?s risk of being obese and how frequently they took in fast food.

Here?s what they found:

? Children whose parents with a higher number of stressors were 12% more likely to be obese.

? Children whose parents have higher levels of perceived stress were 7% more likely to partake in fast food consumption.

These numbers are not dramatic, but there is no one cause-one cure when it comes to the childhood obesity epidemic. There is no doubt that we all need to spend a little time in retrospection and ask ourselves some hard questions when it comes to our children?s long term health.

For instance, maybe you can?t manage your stress right now, but you need to understand just how important it is to manage it for the long run, not just for you, but for the health of your child. At the least, if you do feel like you live in a state of life similar to Fairfield, CT residents during the heart of Hurricane Sandy, than do your best to make good decisions.

This means no fast food. Planned family meals around the table. Family exercise. Anything that can help to divert the toxic effects of stress that you may be passing on to your child.

- Since acquiring a passion for how the body works in chiropractic school, I have continued to indulge this desire by reading some 120 peer reviewed medical journals per month. I?m always learning more about how to help people avoid chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, dementia, osteoporosis, obesity and cancer, and pass along this information in my blog. There are currently almost 2,000 posts cataloged on almost every health topic imaginable. Click Here for more bio information.

Source: http://www.lensaunders.com/wp/?p=10509

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Victims of 1983 Beirut bombing drop Standard Chartered lawsuit

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The estates of victims of the 1983 bombing of U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut have dropped a lawsuit against Standard Chartered Plc that accused the bank of concealing Iranian transactions that could have satisfied a $2.67 billion judgment.

The dismissal was disclosed in a court filing in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Wednesday.

The plaintiffs, who include representatives of the estates of 241 U.S. servicemen killed in the attack, had obtained a $2.67 billion default judgment against Iran in 2007 and have sought to enforce it through various lawsuits. In the Standard Chartered case, the plaintiffs contended the British bank had interfered with collecting on the judgment.

The case was filed in August as a scandal brewed over allegations that Standard Chartered was involved in concealing Iran transactions that New York State's financial regulator said totaled $250 billion. The bank settled with that agency for $340 million.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Justice Department and New York District Attorney's office announced that Standard Chartered agreed to pay an additional $327 million to resolve allegations it violated U.S. sanctions against countries including Iran and Sudan.

A pre-trial hearing in the Beirut case had been scheduled for Friday. The lawsuit is being dismissed without prejudice, meaning the plaintiffs can refile it at a later date.

Liviu Vogel, a lawyer for the bombing victims, declined to say why the lawsuit was dropped or if the plaintiffs would file new claims.

Julie Gibson, a spokeswoman for Standard Chartered, said the case had not been settled and had no further comment.

The case is Deborah Peterson et al v Standard Chartered Bank in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York No. 12-6257.

(Reporting By Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Martha Graybow)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/victims-1983-beirut-bombing-drop-standard-chartered-lawsuit-205957334--finance.html

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Expert group assigned to examine patent law in biotechnology

Posted: Dec 12th, 2012 (Nanowerk News) The European Commission will be building a new team with 15 experts, to examine the development and implications of patent law in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering. The group will consist of experts in the areas of intellectual property law (in particular patent law and the law on plant variety rights), public and industrial research and development, life sciences (including plant and animal breeding) and biotechnology. Their role will be to examine the implications of patent law and provide high quality legal and technical expertise, which will help the Commission with its reporting obligations. The team of experts will be crucial in advising the Commission on a number of questions concerning the Directive (98/44) of the EU's Council of Ministers and the European Parliament on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions, the so-called 'Biotech Patent Directive'. One particular area that has raised many questions is on how the Directive affects access to the human genome data and possible restrictions on the research and applications for which this data could be used. The role of the experts will be to assist and advise the European Commission in its reporting requirements and on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions (referred to as 'Directive 98/44/EC'). Patents are necessary in biotechnology as they provide an incentive to innovation. Without the safeguards provided by patents, industry and other inventors would be unwilling to invest their time and money in research and development. However, biotechnology carries a considerable amount of high risk investment, particularly in the field of genetic engineering. So adequate patent protection needs to be in place to encourage the investment required to create jobs and maintain the European Union's competitiveness in this important area of research. This is why Directive 98/44 on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions was proposed and, after lengthy and thorough discussions within the European Parliament and among Member States, it was adopted. But still, the patent laws surrounding biotechnology remain a complex issue, particularly the ethical aspects of inventions. For example, discoveries, which do not extend human ability, but only human knowledge, are by their very nature not patentable. Sequencing of a genome belongs to the area of discovery, which means it cannot be the subject of patent protection. However, it is different if a DNA sequence is released from its natural surroundings by means of a technical procedure and is made available for the first time to a commercial application. This makes such a gene 'new' in the patent sense and therefore patentable, if it was not previously accessible to the public and was previously not available. The position that was agreed by both the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers after much discussion was that patents for inventions comprised of, or based on, gene sequences should be allowed. The Directive therefore provides that inventions based on, or comprised of, gene sequences or partial gene sequences can be patented provided that they satisfy the normal criteria for any invention as well as making clear that patents should not be granted where the application does not include specific reference to the industrial application of the gene sequence. However, advances in technology have made understanding the isolation and manufacture of genes easier to understand, and are taken into account when a patent is examined, in particular whether the invention in the patent application possesses an inventive step. If it is decided by either the patent offices or the national courts that there is no inventive step then the patent will either be refused or revoked. It is expected that the addition of a new team of experts will ensure a greater understanding of patentable biotechnology and help to unravel the complexities that surround this area.

Source: http://www.nanowerk.com/news2/biotech/newsid=28013.php

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REAL ESTATE: Smart Meter Opt-Out proceedings : Real Estate

Posted on | December 11, 2012 | Comments

Are you a homeowner who got a SmartMeter from Southern California Edison, feel as if you were strong armed into it, and now want to a say in the SCE?s proposed ?Opt-Out? program?

If so, you may want to mark Dec. 17 on your holiday calendar.

The California Public Utilities Commission is taking public comments from electric utility customers beginning 6 p.m. Dec. 17 in the Carmel Room Auditorium of the Junipero Serra State Office Building, 320 W. 4th St., Los Angeles.

The comments will address the Phase 2 issues, like whether:

Testimony will also be taken on the proposed fee system. Proposed opt-out fees range from $78 to $98 for the initial fee; and $19 to $24 on a monthly basis.

The SCE, which has estimated that the opt-out program will require $21 million in revenue from 2012 to 2014, has asked the California Public Utilities Commission for the nod to recover 100 percent of those costs from residential customers who opt-out.

A wireless SmartMeter is a digital electric or gas meter that transmits customer usage data through radio transmission. Customers who opt-out revert back to the analog-meter system.

To learn more, you can read the ?SCE Smart Meter Opt-Out Cost Estimates & Cost Recovery Proposal? on the SCE website; search A.11-03-014.

You can also file written comments to the Public Utility Commission at Public.Advisor@cpuc.ca.gov under the file number, A.11-03-014.

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Written by: Debra Gruszecki on December 11, 2012.

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Source: http://blog.pe.com/real-estate/2012/12/11/real-estate-smart-meter-opt-out-proceedings/

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NOAA chief who led regional fishing change resigns

BOSTON (AP) -- The woman who oversaw the struggling New England fishing industry's tumultuous transition to a new fishery management system resigned Wednesday.

Jane Lubchenco announced she was stepping down as administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, effective in February. The former college professor will return to her West Coast home and academia.

In New England, assessments show key stocks in poor health and fishermen facing drastic catch reductions in 2013. In September, the U.S. Commerce Department declared a national fishery disaster in New England, amid fears the historic industry is nearing collapse.

In a letter addressed to her "NOAA Family," Lubchenco ? whose broad duties include charge over fisheries nationwide ? listed 20 agency accomplishments since her 2009 appointment. First was, "ending over-fishing, rebuilding depleted stocks, and returning fishing to profitability."

But U.S. Sen. Scott Brown said Lubchenco's tenure has been disastrous for New England fishermen and called on the acting head of the U.S. Commerce Department to appoint someone to end "this sad chapter of mismanagement."

"Administrator Lubchenco has implemented job-killing policies that have decimated the Massachusetts fishing fleet," Brown said. "Those failed policies should go out the door along with Administrator Lubchenco."

The new management system, enacted in May 2010, gives fishermen individual shares of the catch for each species, which they pool and manage in groups called sectors.

The system aims to give fishermen liberty to fish when the market and conditions are good, and free them from being tied to an ever-dwindling number of allowed fishing days. It had support from industry members sick of the failures of the old system, and eager for the flexibility it promised. And it pleased environmentalists because it established hard, enforceable catch limits to better prevent overfishing.

Priscilla Brooks, of the Conservation Law Foundation, praised Lubchenco, including her focus on overfishing. She said Lubchenco's "attention to the most pressing issues of the 'wet side' of NOAA's sprawling mission should be appreciated by all who use, enjoy and benefit from our oceans and coasts."

But critics said New England's transferrable catch shares would accelerate the consolidation of the historic industry, as well-funded fishing interests buy out fishermen who caught too little to stay in business. A display at a 2009 rally depicted two fishermen being hanged by a figure of Lubchenco.

As the industry continued to struggle, lawmakers soured on Lubchenco. U.S. Rep. Barney Frank said Lubchenco was "hostile" to fishing interests, and Brown called in October 2011 for President Barack Obama to fire her. U.S. Rep. John Tierney called on her to resign.

Under the new system, the industry has reported improved profitability, but also a continuing trend of more catch shifting into fewer hands. Meanwhile, the recovery of key fish stocks, such as Gulf of Maine cod and Georges Bank yellowtail flounder, is so weak that the huge 2013 cuts are legally mandated.

In response to the crisis, Lubchenco's top fishery manager, Sam Rauch, has visited New England numerous times to find ways to help the industry survive. And NOAA has also worked to improve fishery science, which many fishermen mistrust.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/noaa-chief-led-regional-fishing-224542245.html

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HBT: Yankees-Ichiro deal is drawing ever closer

The Zeno?s paradox of free agent deals ? Ichiro?s imminent deal with the Yankees ? continues to draw closer, everyone is saying. The distance to the target has been cut in half again:

At any given time the deal is not yet struck, yet it always grows closer. Like the Antelope Freeway on the Firesign Theater?s second album.

Yet another contract by the Yankees that will not necessarily commit them to anything beyond 2013. ?Which, sure, in this case makes sense as it does in Kevin Youkilis? case and Hiroki Kuroda?s. ?But it is certainly going to make for an interesting season and 2013-14 offseason for Brian Cashman.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/12/an-ichiro-deal-continues-to-draw-closer/related/

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Raven's CEO on Ahrefs and choosing to end use of scraped data

SEO tool providers used to operate in a gray world with both authorized and scraped data. That opportunity no longer exists.

Everybody using and building SEO software will have to choose what?s most important ? because no one provider can have it all.

Following our announcement on Friday, Ahrefs announced that it will also end the use of scraped rankings in January. I commend them for making what I know is a difficult decision.

Raven Tools and Ahrefs will not be the last software providers to make this decision. Other well-known SEO software companies have reached out to me for counsel and to commend Raven for making what they deem a brave choice.

I see three camps forming:

• Those with authorized data, like Raven and Ahrefs.
• Those who provide scraped data.
• And those trying to straddle the line and say they have both authorized data and scraped data.

I can understand why companies choose to offer scraped data. But the undeniable current demand for rankings carries some undeniable future risk for those companies. As Raven?s CEO, I?ve lived through more rankings nightmares than I care to explain.

The companies still trying to operate in the middle are going to get hit on both sides. I don?t understand that business model.

This means customers will have to vet their software providers more carefully; evaluate the accuracy and reliability of data closely; and possibly rethink their investments. Eventually, no provider will have both authorized and scraped data.

If Google would sell this rankings data, I would bring back the SERP Tracker tomorrow. I don?t expect that to happen. So, Raven and our talented team moves on to what?s next.

We?ve been listening as the industry reacts to Raven?s decision, and we?ve posted much of the feedback on our website. Here are a few pieces that I recommend for their overall focus on where the industry is headed.

You can see more headlines at raventools.com/scraped-data.

I appreciate all the feedback we?ve gotten. Knowing what I know today, I would still make the same decision. I believe Raven will be a better company in the long-term ? and a better value for all of our customers.

Still, I wanted to further address two big questions we?ve heard more often than the rest.

Why is Raven abandoning SEO?

We?re not.

We?re exiting the scraped rankings business. It is a calculated risk that we have considered from almost every angle.

Raven will not be of value to anyone whose business depends exclusively on scraped rankings. It?s understandable if those customers need to seek an alternative. We recommend Authority Labs and Advanced Web Rankings.

We also accept the challenge to create new metrics for SEO campaigns. It?s not enough to authorize Google Analytics in Raven. When we exit the scraped rankings business on Jan. 2, we will face a measurement void in our product.

Two immediate projects are already in the works:

• Accessing more Webmaster Tools data through Raven
• A new SEO Report module focused on organic traffic

The rest of Raven?s SEO tools remain and will continue to be an integral part of our value proposition, including:

• The powerful and soon-to-be-improved Research Central
• CRM, for managing link outreach and relationships
• Keyword Manager
• Keyword competition and volume data from AdWords
• Link Manager
• Link Monitor
• Backlink Explorer

We?re also putting final touches on a Website Auditor for on-site SEO. It will be released in January.

Why did Raven choose AdWords data over SERPs?

It was not a choice of AdWords versus SERPs.

Raven had to decide between keeping scraped data or dropping it from our platform. Our decision factored in the short-term risks, the long-term risk and commitment to our vision.

Short-term risks

The short-term risks of keeping scraped data were minimal. We would have to add significant costs to get scraped AdWords keyword data for research, but the SERP Tracker would still function with scraped rankings. And many of our customers would remain happy.

Long-term risks

The long-term risks of keeping scraped data could be devastating. For reasons unknown, Google is strictly enforcing the AdWords API ToS. And we don?t know what might be next.

What if Google sends cease and desist letters to every company selling or reselling scraped rankings? Where would we ? or any SEO, for that matter ? get the data then?

What if Google goes after companies who are scraping AdWords data and selling it as authentic? Google charges customers like Raven for access to its AdWords API. Third-parties scraping AdWords data and reselling it, in effect, cost Google money by taking away potential business. Will they go nuclear when they find out?

What if Google added ?no scraped data? to the Google Analytics API ToS? Given the recent AdWords enforcement, this scenario is plausible. And scraping for analytics data isn?t feasible.

These scenarios were speculative.

But if we chose scraped data in the short-term, we might have to give it all up ? Google rankings, Google AdWords and Google Analytics ? in the long-term, anyway.

Long-term vision

The final consideration was our long-term vision.

From 2008 to 2010, Raven was almost exclusively an SEO tool. So much so that our domain was raven-seo-tools.com.

In 2010, after we changed our name to Raven Internet Marketing Tools and domain to raventools.com, we began to diversify our offerings because we predicted a change in the industry ? a consolidation of Internet marketing practices coming together under one roof.

This meant adding social media tools, PPC tools, better data partners and more. We continued to build SEO tools, like Research Central, a better Link Manager and the new CRM. We switched our social media data provider to uberVU and added content analysis from Scribe by Copyblogger. Here?s a timeline of Raven?s product evolution. And we built a reporting engine on top of all of it.

Continuing with scraped data was not possible and would put much of that in jeopardy.

In the end, I made the difficult decision?with the full support of co-founders Jon Henshaw and Scott Holdren.

Patrick E. Keeble
Co-founder, President and CEO

Source: http://raventools.com/blog/ravens-ceo-on-ahrefs-and-choosing-to-end-use-of-scraped-data/

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