Sunday, December 30, 2012

9 killed in tour bus crash along Oregon highway

Emergency personnel respond to the scene of a multiple-fatality accident where a tour bus careened through a guardrail along an icy highway and several hundred feet down a steep embankment, authorities said, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012 about 15 miles east of Pendleton, Ore. The charter bus carrying about 40 people lost control around 10:30 a.m. on the snow- and ice-covered lanes of Interstate 84, according to the Oregon State Police. (AP Photo/East Oregonian, Tim Trainor)

Emergency personnel respond to the scene of a multiple-fatality accident where a tour bus careened through a guardrail along an icy highway and several hundred feet down a steep embankment, authorities said, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012 about 15 miles east of Pendleton, Ore. The charter bus carrying about 40 people lost control around 10:30 a.m. on the snow- and ice-covered lanes of Interstate 84, according to the Oregon State Police. (AP Photo/East Oregonian, Tim Trainor)

Emergency personnel respond to the scene of a multiple fatality accident where a tour bus careened through a guardrail along an icy Oregon highway and several hundred feet down a steep embankment, authorities said, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012 about 15 miles east of Pendleton, Ore. The charter bus carrying about 40 people lost control around 10:30 a.m. on the snow- and ice-covered lanes of Interstate 84, according to the Oregon State Police. (AP Photo/East Oregonian, Tim Trainor)

Emergency personnel respond to the scene of a multiple fatality accident where a tour bus careened through a guardrail along an icy Oregon highway and several hundred feet down a steep embankment, authorities said, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012 about 15 miles east of Pendleton, Ore. The charter bus carrying about 40 people lost control around 10:30 a.m. on the snow- and ice-covered lanes of Interstate 84, according to the Oregon State Police. (AP Photo/East Oregonian, Tim Trainor)

(AP) ? A tour bus careened through a guardrail along an icy Oregon highway and 100 feet down a steep embankment Sunday, killing nine people and injuring more than 20 others, authorities said.

The charter bus carrying about 40 people lost control around 10:30 a.m. on snow- and ice-covered lanes of Interstate 84 in a rural area of eastern Oregon, according to the Oregon State Police. The bus crashed near the start of a 7-mile section of road that winds down a hill.

The bus came to rest at the bottom of a snowy slope and landed upright, with little or no debris visible around the crash site.

More than a dozen rescue workers descended the hill and used ropes to help retrieve people from the wreckage in freezing weather. The bus driver was among the survivors, but had not yet spoken to police because of the severity of the injuries the driver had suffered.

Lt. Greg Hastings said the bus crashed along the west end of the Blue Mountains, and west of an area called Deadman Pass. The area is so dangerous the state transportation department published specific warnings for truck drivers, advising it had "some of the most changeable and severe weather conditions in the Northwest" and can lead to slick conditions and poor visibility.

St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton treated 26 people from the accident, said hospital spokesman Larry Blanc. Five of those treated at St. Anthony were transported to other facilities.

The East Oregonian said it spoke with two South Korean passengers, ages 16 and 17. Both said through a translator that they were seated near the rear of the bus when it swerved a few times, hit the guardrail and flipped. They described breaking glass and seeing passengers pinned by their seats as the bus slid down the hill. Both said that they feared for their lives.

The paper said that the teens, one of whom injured a knee and the other suffered a broken collarbone, were staying at a hotel arranged by the Red Cross.

I-84 is a major east-west highway through Oregon that follows the Columbia River Gorge.

Umatilla County Emergency Manager Jack Remillard said the bus was owned by Mi Joo travel in Vancouver, B.C., and state police said the bus was en route from Las Vegas to Vancouver.

A woman who answered the phone at a listing for the company confirmed with The Associated Press that it owned the bus and said it was on a tour of the Western U.S. She declined to give her name.

A bus safety website run by the U.S. Department of Transportation said Mi Joo Tour & Travel has six buses, none of which have been involved in any accidents in at least the past two years.

The bus crash was the second fatal accident on the same highway in Oregon on Sunday. A 69-year-old man died in a rollover accident about 30 miles west of the area where the bus crashed.

A spokesman for the American Bus Association said buses carry more than 700 million passengers a year in the United States.

"The industry as a whole is a very safe industry," said Dan Ronan of the Washington, D.C.,-based group. "There are only a handful of accidents every year. Comparatively speaking, we're the safest form of surface transportation."

The bus crash comes more than two months after another chartered tour bus in October veered off a highway in northern Arizona, killing the driver and injuring dozens of passengers who were mostly tourists from Asia and Europe. Authorities say the driver likely had a medical episode.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-12-31-Tour%20Bus%20Crash/id-4d50bef896604c5e81dc9991593c6035

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Megatron has already re-written the NFL record book in 2012. Two more legenda...

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Source: http://www.talktotonia.com/lake-of-the-ozarks-real-estate/commercial-property-on-north-shore/

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Internet Hosting How A Lot Do You Want How Much Do You Pay ...

Posted on December 30, 2012 by dufttuey508 in Internet

In order for you that the server ought to be protected and protected. The foremost components of the web internet hosting technological innovation are the security a lot of the web hosting planes supply a hosting solutions coupled with protection. We have been unsure about that we have now an internet hosting method which is certainly securing us we can only suppose the arrange which we now have is protected. Among the list of latest and favored terms which use now days is considered the collocation.The Colocation suggests you save your individual server in a center of a colocation supplier. A colocation supplier gives you an online link for your server and makes it possible for you actual physical entry to your own private server after you would need it and satisfy your venture necessities. Colocation could be a web hosting option for very small companies who want the attributes of a large IT division devoid of the rates. Colocation server hosting delivers its consumers some great benefits of protection and facility of devoted server. It also enables consumer to own entire control greater than the scalability and greater than their components in their private controls

The world wide web server which is certainly in most cases found in a focused center designed with means which include things like a secured cage or rack, controlled electrical power, dedicated web link, safety and support. As for every colocation facilities give high-security which mainly including cameras, fireplace detection products with extinguishing devices, various link feeds, filtered electric power possible choices, backup electric power generators which is certainly vitally important along with other items to ensure that high-availability that is certainly mandatory for all Web-based and virtual enterprises and also the internet internet hosting expert services Colocation online sites are increasingly being erected at different details throughout the environment to produce products to your fast expanding the scope of Hosting and e-commerce industry in world wide current market. A lot of substantial companies and small business entities possess the Internet infrastructure to host their unique web servers and possess a workforce of IT authorities to manage and design and style the location, people and minimal service providers really do not. There exists a wide range of choices to choose from from

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Would be the Colocation technology is greatest for hosting

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by colocation and so are considerably better off with Webhosting. If but nevertheless, the server is necessary for being more sturdy than what?s provided by customary Hosting, colocation can often be situations the most impressive future option. It is additionally an exceptionally first-rate choice for very small companies that choose to have a very relatively vast World wide web existence but don?t need to obtain to manage a substantial amount of money merchandise including community connections.

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Source: http://www.veritasindia.com/internet-hosting-how-a-lot-do-you-want-how-much-do-you-pay

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Instagram Has A Sharp Drop In Users On Christmas Day - Business ...

Instagram had a sharp drop in users on Christmas day, and it hasn't recovered, according to AppData, a site that tracks application usage.

AppData only tracks users who are logged into Instagram through Facebook.?You don't have to log in through Facebook to use Instagram. As a result, the AppData results are only a portion of Instagram's overall usage. Therefore, the absolute numbers AppData reports are meaningless. However, the trends are interesting.

And as you can see, there was strange drop on Christmas day.

The New York Post is blaming Instagram's change in terms of service for the drop. That doesn't make sense since the terms of service flap started on December 17, and ended three days later. AppData updates its stats on a daily basis.

But, AppData tells the Post, "[We are] pretty sure the decline in Instagram users was due to the terms of service announcement."

We've emailed Facebook, which owns Instagram, and AppData for comment. If we get anything back from them, we'll update this post.

We have no explanation for the drop. (Personally, I was using Instagram more around Christmas, and so were my friends.)

Don't Miss: The Most Popular Place In The World To Use Instagram

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/instagram-users-2012-12

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Friday, December 28, 2012

oxalate baloney: imranijins: Vocational Education

December 26, 2012 Education

Vocational Education

Economies of the world will turn into knowledge economies. With the basics of the world are changing with the evolution of technologies, it is important for a person to specialize in a particular area to find gainful employment.

This type of specialization is taught by vocational schools. In the fields of health, technology, art and business of professional training is offered in general. The classification of these subjects will still be conducted in other courses.

Vocational education has gained increased revival of enthusiasm in the world of today?s demand for skilled workers for the company. Vocational training in the details is extremely diverse theme and title of the analysis of a wide range of references and sources includes several specific questions about education, vocational training and career. You will find many online sources that can help you with detailed information about the training in education. Due to the desperate need that rises on a large scale among corporate houses of skilled workers in the world today believe that the people business schools, rebuild its stable foundation.

Faculty of vocational schools is very experienced. They provide practical knowledge to their students. As a result, students are able to have a real life experience and industry practice. Students are also provided with training.

There are several professional development projects around the world. In fact, every state has vocational schools, where villagers can earn degrees and become part of a dedicated workforce. The majority of these training institutions. Work according to the rules and regulations of the State Department of Education The Ministry of Education of the State or Central Government granted recognition training institute.

AVLC is a center of learning, different types of training, such as vocational training, job training, training, English IELTS and so provides.

Source: http://nationalmilitarychildeducationcenter.net/education/vocational-education.html

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Source: http://imranijins.blogspot.com/2012/12/vocational-education.html

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Source: http://oxalate-baloney.blogspot.com/2012/12/imranijins-vocational-education.html

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CRITIQUE ARTICLE 2: Use of Career Education and ... - Blog Archive

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ARTICLE 2:

Use of Career Education and Occupation Information Services in

Boosting Enrolment into Vocational and Technical Education

Programs in Nigeria

By:

Igbinedion, V. I.1 & I. J. Ojeaga1

Department of Vocational and Technical Education, Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Benin

(International Education Studies; Vol. 5, No. 4; 2012)

ARTICLE REVIEW:

The authors has discussed about to address issues of youth unemployment, poverty and international competitiveness in skills development towards current and projected opportunities and challenges. Numerous reforms in vocational and technical education programs over the years, they still remain greatly detested by students and parents in Nigeria as evidenced in low enrolment when compared with sciences, engineering, banking and finance, and medicine.

The authors was also describe that technical and vocational education in Nigeria is so misconstrued that it has become extremely difficult in management perspective, to administer the program to meet societal ever changing needs. Presently, the program is bedeviled by many challenges that hinder the realization of its objectives as specified by the National Policy on Education of Federal Government of Nigeria (2004). One of these challenges is low enrolment. It is the concern of that enrolment into technical and vocational programs may be low not because Nigerian youths are lazy nor do not want to use their hands to work. But it may be because many Nigerians do not fully understand the benefits, scope and content of the program and lack of vocational or career education and occupation information services to students while in or out of schools.

The authors also mentioned that many of them make choices without proper understanding of their abilities, interests and attitudes. Most of the young people are said to select occupations like medicine, engineering, accounting mainly because of the positions and prestige attached to the job and not necessarily as a result of conscious assessment of the individual?s interests and abilities. Therefore, career education may be a veritable means of providing career awareness and information services to students in order to improve enrolment in vocational and technical education in Nigeria. Students, parents and the society at large look unto the school to help the adolescents and youth make career decision based on realistic abilities, interests and availability. Therefore, it is required to use of career education and occupation information services in boosting enrolment in vocational and technical education programs in Nigeria.

In addition, from the author?s research, they are also identified some of the factors responsible for low enrolment in TVET in Nigeria which are:

1.? Poor Societal Perception: Many people are yet to understand the meaning, scope and content of vocational and technical education. Some view it as education for the handicapped or education for those who cannot cope with the sciences. (Osa-Edoh ,2008)

2.??? Poor Societal Attitude: The attitude of people towards vocational and technical education contributes to the problems in teaching the subject. It notes that in schools, the teacher could be teaching people who are not interested in the subject that is being taught. (Idialu, 2007).

3.???Elitism: Elitism could be described as the belief of a group in society that because of superior privileges, power and talent they tend to hold on to this belief through a system of education that will sustain this group?s interest. (Oviawe and Anavberokhai, 2008).

4.??? Poor Entry Level: Students who enroll in vocational and technical education programs are considered to have low aptitude. The technical schools find it hard to attract good students because there is a strong misconception that they are reserved for the never-to- do-wells and other negative by-products. Those admitted because they cannot find other things to do barely pass through the program because of poor aptitude and attitude. (Oviawe and Anavberokhai, 2008).

5.?? Lack of Recognition: There is a low recognition associated with manual labor in Nigeria. Unlike her counterparts in developed countries, the skilled craftsman does not enjoy the same recognition. (Oviawe and Anavberokhai, 2008).

6.????Discrimination against Graduates of Technical and Vocational Education: There is also the problem of unhealthy perception or discrimination against technical graduates. It was stated that this discrimination is virtually visible amongst graduates of technical schools (technical college, monotechnics, colleges of technology, polytechnics) and university graduates. Up till now, the former is being managed by National Board for Technical Education while the latter is under the supervision of National Universities Commission. countries, the skilled craftsman does not enjoy the same recognition (Ogidefa, 2010).

DISCUSSION

From the above, it shows that the TVET programmes in Nigeria are still not being acceptable by most of the people. Low prestige given to the TVET is the most factors that hinder the participation of the students to the TVET. Other factors like discrimination to the TVET programme, poor entry level to TVET, elitism, etc are also will become crucial if no actions taken to this issue. It is agreed that it was difficult to the government in enhancing or rebranding the educational systems especially TVET as it requires a lot of financial support and resources. However, due to the current globalization of the economy systems, the government of Nigeria needs to do something in promoting TVET as the economy will grow with the support from the TVET. The growth of the country is actually depending on how many unemployed in that country. The less number of unemployed, the more established the country. Few actions can be taken in promoting TVET like career conference, field trip, collaborating industrial training, providing career information center, etc.

REFERENCE

2.? Ogidefa, I. (2010). Enhancing Technical Vocational Education in Nigerian Schools. Socyberty. Retrieved from:

3.??? Osa-Edoh G. I. (2008). The Place of Vocational And Technical Education In Skills Acquisition By Secondary School Students ? Implication For Counseling. Technical and Vocational Education Journal. 1(2). 84-90.

4.? Oviawe, J.I. & Anavberokhai, M.O. (2008). The Role of Entrepreneurship Education In The Realization Of The National Economic Empowerment And Development Strategy (NEEDS). Technical and Vocational Education Journal, 1(1).

Prepared By: Nurihah Mohamad Saleh (MP 111227)

Source: http://citve1213.blogspot.com/2012/12/critique-article-2-use-of-career.html

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Source: http://neeeokiat.posterous.com/critique-article-2-use-of-career-education-an

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New purported BlackBerry Z10 specs emerge: 1.5GHz processor, 2GB RAM, 8MP camera

For a moment there, we almost believed it: Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz's radical solution for the ongoing fiscal cliff nightmare, and maybe politics entirely, was going to work. Scrawling a vaguely political message on paper cups containing overpriced coffee would deliver us from partisan politics, from disagreement itself. We were going to Come Together? while consuming a Trenta vanilla soy half-caf latte?with extra chocolate drizzle.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/purported-blackberry-z10-specs-emerge-1-5ghz-processor-160048161.html

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Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained' is entertaining, but the same old schtick

'Django' shows Tarantino has perfected his game, but will the director ever move beyond his usual fare?

By Peter Rainer,?Film critic / December 25, 2012

'Django Unchained' stars Leonardo DiCaprio (r.) and Jamie Foxx (l.).

Andrew Cooper, SMPSP/The Weinstein Company/AP

Enlarge

Where would Quentin Tarantino be without pulp? All of his movies, not just ?Pulp Fiction? and ?Kill Bill? and the rest, but also the ones he wrote but did not direct, like ?Natural Born Killers? and ?True Romance,? mainline blood and guts and grunge. A better question might be: Where would Tarantino be without violence? But it?s violence of a special sort: shockingly explicit and yet not to be taken altogether seriously (even though some of us do).

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Set in the pre-Civil War South, his new film, ?Django Unchained,? is like a spaghetti-western burlesque of ?Mandingo.? A bounty hunter from Germany named Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), posing as a dentist with a giant bobbing tooth hooked to the top of his carriage, comes upon a pack of rednecks guarding a chain gang and offers to buy one of their slaves, the strapping Django (Jamie Foxx).

Since this is a Tarantino movie, they will violently refuse and violently be put down for their troubles. The tone is set: Absurdity (that giant tooth) plus bloodshed (not ketchup) plus graveyard humor (Waltz has all the best lines, and he knows it). It develops that Django, on a mission to recover Hildi (Kerry Washington), the wife from whom he was torn apart, becomes Schultz?s partner. Among other things, this means he gets to obliterate a lot of white racists as the two of them carve their way to the plantation, Candyland, where Hildi is being held. It?s a love story crossed with a buddy movie.

Instead of trying to buy Hildi outright, which might be too obvious, they pretend to be in the market for a mandingo fighter. Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), the plantation owner, is a sniggling little tyrant, but he?s taken in by the ruse until Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson), who runs the household, sniffs it out. In a crew of mostly bad guys, Stephen is probably the worst of the worst. This is perhaps the most politically incorrect role a black man has ever played since ?The Birth of a Nation? ? and, come to think of it, white actors played black actors in that movie.

Tarantino wants to merge the high-style bloodshed of the spaghetti westerns with the racial payback of the blaxploitation movies. (Django?s name is a homage to a spaghetti western icon and Hildi?s full name is Broomhilda von Shaft.) There?s a strong dose of fantasy wish-fulfillment here, just as there was in ?Inglourious Basterds,? in which Jewish soldiers end up incinerating Hitler and his henchmen. In ?Django Unchained,? Django?s righteousness is a license to kill those who enchained him.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/IPob0o8psKo/Quentin-Tarantino-s-Django-Unchained-is-entertaining-but-the-same-old-schtick

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Police: family dogs alerted owners to home burglary - abc27 WHTM

YORK, Pa. (WHTM) -

Family dogs woke up their owners and led them to the scene of a burglary -- their kitchen -- early Wednesday morning, Northern York County Regional Police said in a press release.

The homeowners entered their kitchen to find the plexiglass had been removed from their back window and a purse had been stolen. The burglary happened around 1:15 a.m. on the 4300 block of Lewisberry Road in Conewago Township.

The owners heard a car leaving the scene just after the dogs began barking.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 717-292-3647.

Source: http://www.abc27.com/story/20433982/police-family-dogs-alerted-owners-to-home-burglary

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Thursday, December 27, 2012

Lisa P. Jackson of E.P.A. to Step Down

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Lisa P. Jackson?s departure comes as many in the environmental movement are doubting President Obama?s commitment to addressing climate change.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/28/science/earth/lisa-p-jackson-of-epa-to-step-down.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Israel revisits ban on female prayer at holy site

JERUSALEM (AP) ? Israel's prime minister has instructed a quasi-governmental Jewish organization to find a solution for non-Orthodox Jewish female groups wishing to pray at one of Judaism's holiest sites.

An official said Tuesday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Natan Sharansky, chairman of the Jewish Agency, to look into the matter. The official spoke anonymously according to government regulations.

Last week Israeli police detained women from a liberal Jewish group who approached the Western Wall in Jerusalem carrying prayer shawls. Orthodox Jews insist those are for men only. The women seek to worship at the site without such restrictions.

Jewish Agency spokesman Benjamin Rutland said Netanyahu told Sharansky that the Western Wall "must remain a source of Jewish unity rather than division." The wall is a remnant of the biblical Jewish Temple compound.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-25-Israel-Western%20Wall/id-b028bba7efa54c7ebec91c38ac4bbc47

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Obama spending Christmas Day with family in Hawaii

KAILUA, Hawaii (AP) ? President Barack Obama is spending Christmas Day with his family at a rented vacation home in his native Hawaii.

White House officials have not released the details of all the first family's Christmas Day activities. On Tuesday morning, Obama traveled from the suburban Honolulu home to a Marine Corps base for a workout.

The Obama family flew to Hawaii from Washington on Friday night. White House officials have not announced when the president is expected to go back to Washington but say he is likely to curtail his holiday vacation, perhaps returning as early as Wednesday.

In the past, Obama has spent 10 to 14 days in Hawaii at Christmastime. Budget negotiations with lawmakers over the so-called fiscal cliff have complicated this year's trip.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-12-25-Obama-Christmas/id-0524a85d054b4b5b9a7d05948298c735

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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

AP: Veteran character actor Charles Durning dies

Mark J. Terrill / AP

By Bob Thomas, The Associated Press

Charles Durning grew up in poverty, lost five of his nine siblings to disease, barely lived through D-Day and was taken prisoner at the Battle of the Bulge.

His hard life and wartime trauma provided the basis for a prolific 50-year career as a consummate Oscar-nominated character actor, playing everyone from a Nazi colonel to the pope to Dustin Hoffman's would-be suitor in "Tootsie."

Durning, who died Monday at age 89 in New York, got his start as an usher at a burlesque theater in Buffalo, N.Y. When one of the comedians showed up too drunk to go on, Durning took his place. He would recall years later that he was hooked as soon as heard the audience laughing.?

He told The Associated Press in 2008 that he had no plans to stop working. "They're going to carry me out, if I go," he said.

Durning's longtime agent and friend, Judith Moss, told The Associated Press that he died of natural causes in his home in the borough of Manhattan.

Although he portrayed everyone from blustery public officials to comic foils to put-upon everymen, Durning may be best remembered by movie audiences for his Oscar-nominated, over-the-top role as a comically corrupt governor in 1982's "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas."?

Many critics marveled that such a heavyset man could be so nimble in the film's show-stopping song-and-dance number, not realizing Durning had been a dance instructor early in his career. Indeed, he had met his first wife, Carol, when both worked at a dance studio.?

The year after "Best Little Whorehouse," Durning received another Oscar nomination, for his portrayal of a bumbling Nazi officer in Mel Brooks' "To Be or Not to Be." He was also nominated for a Golden Globe as the harried police lieutenant in 1975's "Dog Day Afternoon."?

He won a Golden Globe as best supporting TV actor in 1991 for his portrayal of John "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald in the TV film "The Kennedys of Massachusetts" and a Tony in 1990 as Big Daddy in the Broadway revival of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

Durning had begun his career on stage, getting his first big break when theatrical producer Joseph Papp hired him for the New York Shakespeare Festival.?

He went on to work regularly, if fairly anonymously, through the 1960s until his breakout role as a small town mayor in the Pulitzer- and Tony Award-winning play "That Championship Season" in 1972.?

He quickly made an impression on movie audiences the following year as the crooked cop stalking con men Paul Newman and Robert Redford in the Oscar-winning comedy "The Sting."?

Dozens of notable portrayals followed. He was the would-be suitor of Dustin Hoffman, posing as a female soap opera star in "Tootsie;" the infamous seller of frog legs in "The Muppet Movie;" and Chief Brandon in Warren Beatty's "Dick Tracy." He played Santa Claus in four different movies made for television and was the pope in the TV film "I Would be Called John: Pope John XXIII."

"I never turned down anything and never argued with any producer or director," Durning told The Associated Press in 2008, when he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.?

Other films included "The Front Page," "The Hindenburg," "Breakheart Pass," "North Dallas Forty," "Starting Over," "Tough Guys," "Home for the Holidays," "Spy Hard" and 'O Brother Where Art Thou?"?

Durning also did well in television as a featured performer as well as a guest star. He appeared in the short-lived series "The Cop and the Kid" (1975), "Eye to Eye" (1985) and "First Monday" (2002) as well as the four-season "Evening Shade" in the 1990s.

Getty, Reuters, Getty

"If I'm not in a part, I drive my wife crazy," he acknowledged during a 1997 interview. "I'll go downstairs to get the mail, and when I come back I'll say, 'Any calls for me?'"

Durning's rugged early life provided ample material on which to base his later portrayals. He was born into an Irish family of 10 children in 1923, in Highland Falls, N.Y., a town near West Point. His father was unable to work, having lost a leg and been gassed during World War I, so his mother supported the family by washing the uniforms of West Point cadets.?

The younger Durning himself would barely survive World War II.?

He was among the first wave of U.S. soldiers to land at Normandy during the D-Day invasion and the only member of his Army unit to survive. He killed several Germans and was wounded in the leg. Later he was bayoneted by a young German soldier whom he killed with a rock. He was captured in the Battle of the Bulge and survived a massacre of prisoners.?

In later years, he refused to discuss the military service for which he was awarded the Silver Star and three Purple Hearts.

"Too many bad memories," he told an interviewer in 1997. "I don't want you to see me crying."

Tragedy also stalked other members of his family. Durning was 12 when his father died, and five of his sisters lost their lives to smallpox and scarlet fever.?

A high school counselor told him he had no talent for art, languages or math and should learn office skills. But after seeing "King Kong" and some of James Cagney's films, Durning knew what he wanted to do.

Leaving home at 16, he worked in a munitions factory, on a slag heap and in a barbed-wire factory.

Durning and his first wife had three children before divorcing in 1972. In 1974, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Ann Amelio.

He is survived by his children, Michele, Douglas and Jeannine. The family planned to have a private family service and burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Related content:

Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2012/12/25/16143700-ap-charles-durning-veteran-character-actor-dies-in-new-york-at-89?lite

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khukonho: Shopping And Product Reviews: Toys Article Category by ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]These toys can soar as high as 100 feet above the ground. The motor type of this model is N30 and it is available in white color only. Gifting toys is one the most common instances with any one but even there you puzzle with ...

Source: http://www.elleeatist.com/2012/12/22/shopping-and-product-reviews-toys-article-category/

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Source: http://khukonho.blogspot.com/2012/12/shopping-and-product-reviews-toys.html

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Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Teachers with guns is a crazy idea (CNN)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/272904869?client_source=feed&format=rss

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India's Prime Minister Appeals for Calm (Voice Of America)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/272808346?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Ready To Buy Real Estate? Use These Tips! - Maynas Eric

As with any other high-stakes transaction, you need to know what you are doing before you sign on the dotted line. Not only will knowledge make you stronger, it will provide you the ability to make better decisions that will help you and your loved ones for many years to come. For some tips and advice on the art of buying real estate, read on.

Do not rush into purchasing real estate without doing your homework. There are a lot of people who rush into property purchases that end up being poor decisions, and as a result, they lose significant amount of money and time. Check into factors that impact value like its age, crime in the neighborhood, and even the neighbors.

You can get a precise price range for how much you should spend on your investment thanks to an online calculator. Add in all your expenses and income, and let the calculator do the work. This gives you an accurate price range of the home you can afford.

TIP! Always do some research about a property before buying. You will be looking for certain factors when you search for rental property.

The first step to purchasing a piece of real estate is getting organized. Start by dedicating a notebook to real estate information you glean from friends, real estate agents, newspapers and the internet. That way, you know where the information is if you need to find it.

Get a partner that you trust when you want to make the step and buy an expensive commercial lot. This will help you qualify for the commercial mortgage loan easier as you proceed in buying the property. This partner can also help out with the needed down payment and even a higher credit score in order to qualify for the loan.

TIP! The current economic climate makes now an ideal time to consider investing in real estate. Housing prices are extremely low, and it is the right time to invest.

This approval letter can be a very beneficial component in the buying process. You will also end up paying more in the long run if you do not get approval ahead of time, due to extended waits for processing your application.

Do not be afraid to buy your dream house! While a lot of real estate investors might say that the current market is not a great time to sell and purchase a larger home, there are dissenting opinions. Conventional wisdom tends to indicate that housing prices will inevitably rise once again, so it may be wise to grab that dream house now.

If you are going to be starting a new business, before you purchase your building, make sure that the location is in a viable and relatively safe neighborhood. You need to establish your company in a neighborhood that your customer base will be comfortable visiting. Ask your real estate agent where an ideal location to open a business is.

TIP! Be certain that you are realistic and patient about all of your goals when looking to buy a property. Finding the perfect property for your needs can take time.

Keep an eye out for pre-foreclosure properties. If you can allow the time required to find investment properties, properties which are in pre-foreclosure may be an excellent investment choice for you. When a homeowner is unable to meet payment obligations and is in imminent danger of losing the house, the home is called a pre-foreclosure. Any lender can provide you with a list of possible pre-foreclosures, or you can place an advertisement to alert people that you are interested in purchasing homes for cash. No matter how you find the property, speak with the owners to understand the amount they owe, and be prepared to pay them at least a few thousand over that amount. This can provide you with a great bargain, because the amount of money that most people owe is substantially less than the home?s market value.

If you are in the process of a real estate purchase negotiation, it is vital to make a list of your goals and keep them listed in order of priority. Identify all the issues on the table and set your expectations for each of them. Your highest expectations can dictate your priorities. Keep in mind that you cannot get all that you have asked for in the negotiation; some issues should remain flexible.

If you want to purchase a new home, you should first find a good real estate agent. The key is to find one who is completely trustworthy. A local agent with a successful track record can be your best ally. Research as much as possible and locate an agent who will keep you in mind, and lead you to the best home for you.

TIP! All real estate agents need to be in touch with their previous customers on the anniversary of the date they purchased their home, and certainly during the holidays. Reminding them of their great experience with you is a great idea.

The best thing you can do for yourself in purchasing real estate is devoting time to learning all about the process. An agent can be helpful, but you should also rely on your judgment. You will now be able to make these decisions more confidently.

Join me on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/maynaseric

Source: http://www.maynaseric.com/ready-to-buy-real-estate-use-these-tips

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Monday, December 24, 2012

The US Is Helping Iraq Beef Up Its Navy And ... - Business Insider

The United States has delivered two support ships to Iraq, which is seeking to boost its fledgling naval capabilities, the US embassy said on Sunday.

The two 60-metre offshore support vessels were delivered by the US navy on December 20, the embassy said.

The vessels are "large, multi-purpose, multi-functional ships capable of providing a wide range of support to Iraqi naval operations," it said.

They will also offer support to Iraq's patrol and fast attack boats at sea, offshore oil platforms and help move security personnel, the embassy added.

The US military completed its withdrawal from Iraq on December 18 last year.

Less than 200 US military personnel remain in Iraq under US embassy authority, assisting with the delivery of military equipment, and training local personnel.

Washington is Iraq's main arms supplier as Baghdad seeks to boost its overall military capabilities.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-is-helping-iraq-beff-up-its-navy-and-delivered-two-new-ships-today-2012-12

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Dock worker strike looms despite cooling-off period request

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dock workers on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts moved closer to a potential strike next week even though Florida's governor asked President Barack Obama to order a cooling-off period if the nearly 15,000 longshoremen walk off the job.

The International Longshoremen's Association, the union representing the dock workers, and the U.S. Maritime Alliance, the group of shippers and port operators, have been bargaining since March, but reportedly remain far from a deal covering cargo handling at 15 ports on the U.S. Gulf and eastern coasts.

The employment contract between the two groups expired at the end of September, but the sides agreed to a 90-day extension of terms that runs out on December 29. The union has said if the contract expires without a resolution it could call a strike a day later.

In a letter this week, Florida's Republican Governor Rick Scott asked President Obama to invoke federal law and order a cooling-off period if the longshoremen go on strike.

Despite Scott's request, the International Longshoremen's Association was continuing to operate with the December 29 deadline in mind, Jim McNamara, a spokesman for the longshoremen's union, said on Sunday.

"We have the deadline and we are waiting to hear from the federal mediator," McNamara said, adding that the union expects to "continue negotiations until the end of (December) 29, so that is where we are at right now."

Spokesmen for the U.S. Maritime Alliance were not immediately available for comment.

A White House spokesman was also not immediately available to comment on whether President Obama would consider the request for a cooling-off period.

Scott said in a letter to Obama, dated Thursday, that the president had the power under 1947's Taft-Hartley Act to prevent or interrupt a work stoppage at the ports. Presidents Richard Nixon and George W. Bush both used Taft-Hartley, which calls for 80-day cooling-off periods and mediation, Scott said.

Florida ports in Miami and Fort Lauderdale would be directly hit by a strike or lockout, but a stoppage would also rattle overall transport and trade, which accounts for 550,000 jobs in the state and $66 billion in economic activity, Scott told Obama.

The December 29 deadline looms as nearly 3,000 union dock workers at four Pacific Northwest ports voted on Friday and Saturday on a "final" contract offer presented by grain shippers. Union leaders had urged a rejection of the proposal, although results of the vote were not yet available on Sunday.

(Editing by Jan Paschal)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dock-worker-strike-looms-despite-cooling-off-period-211943084.html

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Sunday, December 23, 2012

The Best Successful Internet Marketing Tips Out There - MONEYMLM

With a struggling economy and so many people out of work, there are thousands of people online right now looking up terms like ?work from home? and ?internet marketing.? Internet marketing is a huge business, and one that can bring you a lot of money if done correctly. Check out some solid advice on the genre.

Be sure to fire problematic customers the right way. In the age of the internet, telling a customer that he or she should go somewhere else for his goods or services can blow up in your face if your are not careful. Complaint boards and consumer blogs abound, so if you have to fire a customer, don?t use insults or other negative language.

Do not use all capital letters and double exclamation points in your Internet marketing. These make your brand seem childish and abrasive, yelling at the consumer rather than communicating a message that they will find interesting. You want to offer the consumer something they want in a way that they will want to interact with, not simply making a few words of your marketing message overpower the content they are trying to read on a particular site where your message appears.

Pay attention to your page rankings. Many sites will tell you that they do not matter, but others argue strongly that they do. The higher your page ranking, the more people will see your site. It is a good idea to pay close attention to your ranks, but not to obsess over them.

Obtaining exit information from visitors who did not buy is crucial to making the sale next time. Whenever possible, try and ask someone leaving your site why they are doing so without making a purchase even if you have to offer an incentive in return. When someone tells you why they are not buying, you may be able to make the changes necessary to ensure that the next sale is made.

For small businesses the decision to how much Internet marketing they should do is an important one that could impact their bottom line. While most believe that a website is necessary, today?s Internet marketing includes activities ranging from email to blogs to a company presence on social media. The greatest pitfall a small business risks is that it plunges into many kinds of Internet marketing that take more time and money than they?re worth.

Choose a domain name that actually works for you. Everyone has seen websites where the name of the site has nothing to do with what the site actually sells, and this can lead to confusion for the customer. You want to choose a name that is relevant to your company and easy for your customer to remember.

Make sure you test your website regularly. Open your website with different web browsers and ask your friends or employees to do the same on different devices. Your website might look great under one web browser, but other browsers might not display it in the same way. Your website should be easy to access and navigate.

Testimonials should always be a part of your advertising. A part big of advertising success is having believable and down to earth reviews of your products and services by people just like your customers. You should also make sure it is easy for customers to leave you feedback once they receive their items.

Now that you?ve read some expert advice on marketing, you can put this information to use and hopefully grow an effective business. Things are going to go slowly at first, but soon, with the help of these tips. You will begin to see some real results and begin making some serious money working online.

Max International is a great business where you can work from home.

Source: http://moneymlm.com/mlm/the-best-successful-internet-marketing-tips-out-there.html

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Article Submission And Press Release Enhances Link Popularity ...

Number of View: 19

happy laptopThe success of a website depends on the traffic that the website can attract. There are many ways by which a website can effectively increase the traffic through search engine optimization. There are many effective SEO services that helps in increasing traffic and results in the success of the website.

Mostly important select the exact Category :

Art

Business

Education

Internet

Search Engine Optimization

Web design

Article submission is an effective method one can use to increase the online presence of the website. It is such a method that will guarantee you with increased traffic and will help in making the website visible to more number of people. It is a very simple process that is followed in article submission. First one has to write an article and then upload it to various article directory sites which consist of different consolidated articles. The articles on getting selected are republished by various other directories and if chosen can be published and ranked on top.

Some Top Directory Site List and Article site List and Link Building Popularity for help web traffic with back-link?s support.

Top Article Submission Site Name:-

Go Article,

Article Rich,

Article snatch,

Self Growth.

Top Directories Submission Site Name:-

So Much,

Dmoz,

Arakne.

The article submission service mainly consists of manually submitted works. It is important to submit well written articles and getting it submitted to as much directories as possible. It is a time consuming task so it becomes important to submit articles via good submission services so that less time is consumed. The problems that are faced like acceptance and denials are all handled by the article submission service.

Press Release Submission Services is another effective method on building traffic. These press release sites help in allowing at least one link getting directed back to the website within the press release. This service helps in getting your link on the main site and as well as on other sites that picks and publishes the press release. Thus this service helps in spreading many links around d the internet with just the release of one very high quality press release.

One can also utilize blog review services apart from the two services described above. The blog writers often search for feedback and comments about their written articles on their blogs. A large number of blogs will allow one to comment and also to leave a link connecting your site. But it is also important that the comment makes sense to the blog and one should not merely comment just to leave a link back to the website. It is necessary to read the blog carefully and then only leave a comment. Copying and pasting the same review on many blogs will result in spam.

So using the above mentioned services will guarantee more traffic and also back links. It may be a time consuming process but the results are sure to benefit the company and the website.

Link Building Popularity:

I came across youtube.com for reliable tutorial video search on Article submission and press release enhances recently and was browsing through their portfolio of videos when I decided, i should have one for my business too development on link popularity . I am into organising tours and travels and my business is called hajj umrah travel agent. I now am a proud youtube video owner . Thakns to Corporate Web Studios, I am also, like others, able to drive some traffic from video optimisation sites to my own website.

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Source Code : ?http://www.sooperarticles.com

The estimated reading time for this post is 181 seconds

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from your own site.

Source: http://www.earningmaster.com/2012/12/23/article-submission-and-press-release-enhances-link-popularity/

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Christmas comes slowly to austerity-hit Europe

A Christmas tree is seen in the main hall of the Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

A Christmas tree is seen in the main hall of the Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Shoppers stroll through downtown Duisburg, Germany, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. Analysts and shopkeepers say sales have been slow so far this season. But many are hoping for a late push the final weekend before Christmas. ?Every year it comes later,? said Joachim Stoll, who co-owns Leder-Stoll OHG, a leather and luggage retailer just off the glittering Zeil pedestrian shopping quarter in Frankfurt, Germany. ?People wait longer and longer, even after Christmas.? As in the U.S., Christmas sales are vital to shopkeepers: British non-food retailers can make up to 50 percent of their profits in the end-of-year push. In Germany, Christmas business can mean 30 percent of annual sales for holiday-heavy sectors like toys. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

(AP) ? Across Europe, holiday "shoppers" this season are doing more browsing than buying.

Retailers remain hopeful for a last-minute burst of Christmas consumerism, and some governments are encouraging it by allowing stores to open on Sunday. But with economies across the region slowing and unemployment soaring, analysts say holiday spending in Europe is bound to disappoint for the fourth year in a row.

In Rome, some shopkeepers say holiday sales are down 20 percent from last year. In Paris, refurbished second-hand toys are attracting buyers. And in Spain, which has Europe's highest unemployment rate, some families are contemplating whether to give gifts at all.

As in the U.S., holiday shopping is vital to many businesses: British non-food retailers can make up to 50 percent of their profits in the end-of-year push. In Germany, holiday business accounts for 30 percent of annual toy sales.

But the arc of the holiday shopping seasons is a little different in every country. The Dutch open presents on Dec. 5, the eve of St. Nicholas day and the last night of their "Sinterklaas" celebration. In Spain, many children tear open presents on Jan. 6, when tradition has it the Three Wise Men brought gifts to the baby Jesus. In Britain, France and most of Europe gifts are exchanged on Dec. 25.

As the 17-country eurozone slips back into recession, this festive season may mark a new normal for Europe, analysts say. Gone are the heady days when every holiday season meant a new record breached for sales. Instead, shops will have to fight it out for shoppers, hunting for bargains and quality and willing to wait for both.

"Every year it comes later," said Joachim Stoll, who co-owns Leder-Stoll OHG, a leather and luggage retailer just off the glittering Zeil pedestrian shopping quarter in Frankfurt, Germany. "People wait longer and longer, even after Christmas."

European retailers are crossing their fingers that a boost will still come, as it did this year for the U.S. There, total sales for the four-day weekend that kicks off the holiday shopping season around Thanksgiving in late November rose 2.7 percent to $22 billion, compared with the same period a year ago, according to ShopperTrak. Sales since then have fallen 4.4 percent compared with last year, ShopperTrak reported Wednesday.

Austerity measures implemented to combat the continent's debt crisis have hit Europe's economies hard: Nine countries in the 27-member European Union are in recession and unemployment across the region is 10.7 percent.

Retail sales across Europe have been on a steady decline since August and have yet to match levels last seen since the start of the Great Recession in 2008. In October, the latest month for which official figures are available, retail sales in the European Union fell 1.1 percent from the previous month and 2.4 percent from the previous year, according to Eurostat. In Germany, Europe's biggest economy, retail sales fell 3.8 percent in October from the previous year.

"After a relentlessly tough year for retailers throughout 2012, many are now bracing themselves as spending doesn't seem to be headed for a big step-up at Christmas," said Shweta Chaudhury of MasterCard SpendingPulse, which estimates total U.K. retail sales across all payment forms.

Many customers may only be drawn out by the very best sales. Some shoppers say they may even start shopping for the 2013 holidays in the new year sales.

"There's this sort of conflicting trend, where retailers are pushing Christmas earlier and earlier each year, but at the same time shoppers are actually delaying their purchases to as late as possible," said Natalie Berg, global research director at research firm Planet Retail. "Shoppers are very savvy today, and they know that the deals will come."

In an attempt to bolster sales in the run-up to Christmas, leading British department store John Lewis has already started discounts on some items ahead of its usual New Year's sales. Women's Armani chinos were discounted 70 percent, and 50 pounds ($80) has been taken off the price of a 479-pound ($780) Bosch washing machine.

European officials are also doing their best to encourage shoppers. Italy ended its prohibition on stores opening on Sundays, and stores in Madrid and across France suspended their bans during the holiday season.

In Rome, thousands turned out to see Pope Benedict XVI inaugurate the season on Dec. 8 with a prayer at the statue of Mary at the foot of the Spanish Steps in the heart of the city's posh shopping district. But afterward, there seemed to be more gawking then buying.

"We are down about 20 percent from last Christmas season, and this is a rich area," said Lucia Ruffini, a salesperson in the Pandemonium boutique in Rome's upscale Parioli neighborhood. "Let's hope for the (post-Christmas) sales."

Some shoppers, like Omero Petrocchi, have been doing their homework all year. "There are sales, super sales, discounts, super discounts and nothing more. So where I see I can spend less, I snatch (gifts)," he said while browsing on Rome's chic Via Condotti, where some of Italy's most famous designers have shops. "Then I put everything in the closet, so we already have it all for next year."

But in Paris' upscale Galeries Lafayette department store, discounts were almost nowhere to be found, as shoppers buzzed around a giant Christmas tree in the store's famed central cupola. A handful of clothing racks and Christmas decorations were marked down, but there were no sales to be had in the bustling toy department.

The lack of pre-Christmas sales is pushing some Parisian shoppers across town to the workshop of a non-profit group that fixes up used, donated toys.

"These are toys at less than half the price of new ones that are practically new," said Antoinette Guhl, co-director of ReJoue. But she said that price is just one motivator; many shoppers are also drawn by the fact that association gives jobs and training to the unemployed and is recycling toys that otherwise would have been tossed. "It's a more responsible purchase."

Bryan Roberts, an analyst with Kantar Retail, warns that it's hard to generalize about this Christmas in Europe and turnout has been "incredibly patchy." For instance, in Spain, which has the EU's highest unemployment rate at 26.2 percent, many were preparing for a more sedate holiday.

"We'll have to see what the mood is among the family to see how much money we have to spend," said Elsa Barona, 59, an executive with an international food company.

Barona said her immediate family ? her son, daughter and her daughter's boyfriend ? was still trying to decide what kind of meal to have and whether to give one another gifts; both her son and her daughter's boyfriend are unemployed. "As I'm divorced, it's down to me to pay for myself and my close family group, so things are obviously going to be tighter than in the best years."

___

Victor Simpson and Patricia Thomas in Rome, Harold Heckle in Madrid, David McHugh in Frankfurt, Germany, and Toby Sterling in Amsterdam contributed.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-12-22-Europe-Christmas%20Shopping/id-95e25b111a874b0b8b5672ee802d0d8d

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Saturday, December 22, 2012

Woman decorating church 1 of 3 Pa. slaying victims

GEESEYTOWN, Pa. (AP) ? Authorities say one of a gunman's three victims was a woman fatally shot while decorating for a children's Christmas party at a central Pennsylvania church.

The Rev. James McCaulley says the woman was killed Friday by a man who first fired shots through the windows of the Juniata Valley Gospel Church hall in Frankstown Township. That's about 70 miles west of Harrisburg. Another woman decorating wasn't shot.

Police say the gunman killed two other men at another location before he was fatally shot by state troopers.

Police have yet to release names of the victims or the gunman. They say the gunman fired at troopers before crashing into a police cruiser. Police then shot him.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/woman-decorating-church-1-3-pa-slaying-victims-202952661.html

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Sands keep shifting at Texas cancer agency: grants stalled, new ...

Days after declaring a voluntary moratorium on grants, the $3-billion Texas cancer institute has announced the appointment of? two interim leaders with expertise in state finance. Wayne Roberts is a former associate vice president for public policy at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Former Texas Deputy Comptroller Billy Hamilton will serve as an advisor. Earlier in December, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) announced that it had hired a new chief scientific officer.

On Wednesday, CPRIT leadership agreed to a request from Texas Governor Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus. The politicians said that the confidence of Texas taxpayers should be restored before new funds are dispersed (currently funded grants should not be affected). Shenanigans at CPRIT have given the citizens of Texas much reason to doubt the state-financed funding agency. (See Banish cronyism)

Meanwhile CPRIT is under a criminal investigation because grantees that were funded despite low review scores had ties to a major campaign contributor backing the Texas governor and lieutenant governor.

In October, the chief scientific officer and many peer-reviewers resigned because of concerns about the integrity of peer review, in particular an $18-million grant awarded without scientific review.

In November, the chief commercial officer left amidst revelations that an $11 million grant had been awarded without review. The executive director left in December, two days after a new chief scientific officer, Margaret Kripke, was hired. She will certainly have a lot on her plate for 2013.

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Source: http://blogs.nature.com/news/2012/12/sands-keep-shifting-at-texas-cancer-agency-grants-stalled-new-execs.html

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