Saturday, March 31, 2012

Scientists reveal genetic mutation depicted in van Gogh's sunflower paintings

ScienceDaily (Mar. 29, 2012) ? In addition to being among his most vibrant and celebrated works, Vincent van Gogh's series of sunflower paintings also depict a mutation whose genetic basis has, until now, been a bit of a mystery.

In a study published March 29 in the journal PLoS Genetics, however, a team of University of Georgia scientists reveals the mutation behind the distinctive, thick bands of yellow "double flowers" that the post-Impressionist artist painted more than 100 years ago.

"In addition to being of interest from a historical perspective, this finding gives us insight into the molecular basis of an economically important trait," said senior author John Burke, professor of plant biology in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. "You often see ornamental varieties similar to the ones van Gogh painted growing in people's gardens or used for cut flowers, and there is a major market for them."

The most common sunflower phenotype is a composite flower head that contains a single whorl of large, flattened, yellow ray florets on the outer perimeter and hundreds to over a thousand individual, tubular, disc florets that can produce seeds. The double-flowered mutants that van Gogh depicted in many of his paintings, on the other hand, have multiple bands of yellow florets and a much smaller proportion of internal disc florets.

To understand the genetic basis of this difference, Burke and his colleagues began by using the same plant crossing techniques that Gregor Mendel, a 19th century contemporary of van Gogh, used to lay the foundation of modern genetics. The scientists crossed the common, or wild type, variety of sunflower with the double-flowered variety. Their initial findings suggested that a single, dominant gene was responsible for creating the double-flowered mutation. Subsequent crosses of the offspring revealed that a second mutation, which is recessive to both the double-flowered mutation and the wild-type version of the gene, results in a third flower type that is intermediate in form -- being elongated and yellow -- but tubular and containing the reproductive structures of the interior florets.

The scientists identified the responsible gene and sequenced it to show that in the double-flowered mutation, the portion of the gene that functions as an on/off switch is disrupted so that the instructions for making the outer rays are turned on in the portions of the plant that would normally produce the internal disc florets. In the second mutation, which results in the tubular florets, the insertion of a "jumping gene" disrupts the ability of the plant to produce normal ray florets. As a result, tubular florets are produced in place of the normal ray florets.

Finally, the scientists screened hundreds of sunflower varieties -- wild type, double-flowered and tubular -- and found that wild-type sunflower varieties never have a mutation in the HaCYC2c gene, while the double-flowered varieties always have the same mutation in the on/off switch. In addition, the tubular varieties always have a disrupted copy of the gene.

"All of this evidence tells us that the mutation we've identified is the same one that van Gogh captured in the 1800s," Burke said.

Additional authors include former post-doctoral researchers Mark Chapman, Shunxue Tang and Dorthe Draeger, current post-doctoral researchers Savithri Nambeesan and Jessica Barb, undergraduate Honors student Hunter Shaffer and former UGA professor Steven Knapp.

The research was funded by the Gloeckner Foundation Floriculture Grants Program and the National Science Foundation.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:


Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Georgia. The original article was written by Sam Fahmy.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Mark A. Chapman, Shunxue Tang, D?rthe Draeger, Savithri Nambeesan, Hunter Shaffer, Jessica G. Barb, Steven J. Knapp, John M. Burke. Genetic Analysis of Floral Symmetry in Van Gogh's Sunflowers Reveals Independent Recruitment of CYCLOIDEA Genes in the Asteraceae. PLoS Genetics, 2012; 8 (3): e1002628 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002628

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

josh smith buckyballs buckyballs awake mario batali lone ranger aaron brooks

Video: SportsTalk: Is RG3 right choice for Redskins?

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

world bank kim kardashian flour bomb hunger games box office xavier joan crawford joan crawford john goodman

Friday, March 30, 2012

No Worries With These Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement Tips ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]If youre doing home improvements to help the sale of a home, you must focus on aesthetics, but you should also have a home inspection, just in case something serious needs to be done, as well. If you can install a new roof ...

Source: http://health.sciencetechnologyblog.com/health/no-worries-with-these-do-it-yourself-home-improvement-tips/

zeno melanie amaro new air jordans jeff dunham young guns concord safe and sound

Polish official: No sign plane crash was an attack

[ [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Afghan security forces and police killed three', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/H9BcJE', '[Related: Bales\' wife on his alleged shooting: \'He would not do that\']', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['looking for fireworks between the opposing camps', 16]], 'http://yhoo.it/GSvEsj', '[RELATED:\?It?s going to be a circus\?: Activists begin protests outside Supreme Court]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 8]], 'http://yhoo.it/GE6jSh', '[RELATED: Obama\?s health care law passed 2 years ago, but where are we now\?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Witnesses said the gunman pulled up on a black scooter', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GzwOIW', '[Related: New York police tighten security at Jewish sites]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['test Zimmerman for alcohol or drugs', 11]], 'http://yhoo.it/Gzn6VF', '[Related: White House says Trayvon Martin is local issue]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Trayvon Martin decked the Neighborhood', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GUovUP', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/2/61/261d2c36bccf0971c2734a4d4398aa5a.jpeg', '512', ' ', 'AP/David Goldman', ], [ [['Can you create commerce in order to regulate it', 9]], 'http://yhoo.it/GSgtu8', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/7/78/778e2416573870cd705774e92403447d.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP/Charles Dharapak', ], [ [['associated with such a small earthquake', 4]], 'http://yhoo.it/GTco9z', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/0/b4/0b493c1a47b6e3f97f8f48a2b251d7d4.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger', ], [ [['Fox News host Geraldo Rivera sparked outrage', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GKMVTk', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/2/7c/27c7367bc512d233ae1790b320a5e92c.jpeg', '630', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['The charges signed against Bales include', 1]], 'http://yhoo.it/wZT5zV', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/7/a0/7a07c51b2aa0f39b1a23355046d13870.jpeg', '512', ' ', 'AP Photo/DVIDS\, Spc\. Ryan Hallock\, File', ], [ [['George Zimmerman, if I had a son', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/thousands-protest-fla-teen-death-1332387124-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/22/d761a49f3fcc99080a0f6a70670053cd-jpg_150905.jpg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['Mohamed Merah', 10], ['prosecutor Francois Molins', 5]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/four-dead-in-french-jewish-school-shooting-1332173151-slideshow', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120321/2012_03_21t151508z_425380421_gm1e83l1sqs01_rtrmadp_3_france_shootings_raid.jpg', '630', ' ', 'REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier', ], [ [['Shortly after he wrapped up his victory remarks', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['best understands the problems of average Americans', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GB2RVy', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/20/photo-1332257995646-4-0-jpg_171722.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AFP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

[ [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/polish-official-no-sign-plane-crash-attack-121700361.html

chicago bears marques colston buffalo bills jessica simpson golden state warriors free agents nfl 2012 milwaukee bucks

Thursday, March 29, 2012

sylvania smpk7834 : sylvania smpk7834 check price and review ...

Sylvania SMPK7834 4 GB 2.8

Special Price : Click Button for Check Price

Check Best Price Click Here : A multimedia powerhouse. This MP3 player offers 4 GB of memory to store all of your favorite media files. The 2.8? TFT LCD full-color display offers advanced touchscreen controls for fun and easy navigation of your media. It plays a variety of music, video, photo, and text files, making it the perfect all-in-one companion. It includes an expandable memory slot as well as USB charging cable and earphones so you can get straight to the fun. This pink MP3 player has the style and the substance at an affordable price. Read More?

sylvania smpk7834 Feature

  • 4 GB Memory, 2.8? Full Color LCD Touch Screen Pink MP3 Player, expandable memory slot
  • Video Playback,Voice Recording & Playback
  • Supports MP3, WMA, JPEG and TXT files
  • Built-In Rechargeable Battery and speaker
  • 4 GB capacity for storage of up to 1000 songs or 12 hours of video, 12000 pictures: Includes USB cable and earphones

Shopping on the web occurs when someone buys goods or services within the Net. Its changed the complete shopping trend and from now on people are capable to shop from home just with a click. While searching for great
priced sylvania smpk7834, never ignore online shopping. Just give it a shot and you will probably surely wish to use the internet time and again. Why putting things off searching for sylvania smpk7834 in some places. Order it here and youll
get great discounts. sylvania smpk7834 at best cost is offered no where apart from here. Amazon needs no description. It delivers you should quality product making your online shopping experience memorable.

Check Price Sylvania SMPK7834 4 GB 2.8? Touch Screen Video MP3 Player, Expandable Memory Slot, Built-In Speakerphone ? Pink

sylvania smpk7834

Did you like this? Share it:

Source: http://noonuishopping.com/sylvania-smpk7834-sylvania-smpk7834-check-price-and-review/

colts colts big ten tournament 2012 dennis quaid bruce weber fired notorious big biggie smalls lyrics

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Macworld says your new iPad?s battery is fine, charges full despite study

While a recent study suggests that Apple?s new iPad doesn?t really have a full battery when it says it does, one analysis of the facts suggests that the battery in the latest generation of the juggernaut tablet is nothing to worry about.

That analysis comes from online site Macworld, the Apple-centric counterpart to PC World. Macworld has looked into the battery charging issue and suggests that the new iPad?s battery is full when the battery indicator says so, and that battery health won?t be harmed from alleged ?overcharging.?

Both those allegations against the new device came from a study by Dr. Raymond Soneira of DisplayMate Technologies. Soneira alleges that Apple designed the iPad to read 100 percent battery when the device will actually charge up more. That suggests, Soneira claims, that when the iPad says it?s at 100 percent battery charge, it?s really closer to 90 percent. That can knock about 1.2 hours off the iPad?s advertised 10-hour battery life, he said.

Macworld, on the other hand, says that when the iPad hits 100 percent charge, it means it. Yes, the iPad can charge up more, but the device is actually designed to take in less and less power as it nears the real 100 percent mark, in order to keep the battery from overcharging. Apple?s advertised battery life, according to a researcher from The Yankee Group, is from when the battery hits its 100-percent mark, not from the theoretical additional charge that the battery can continue to take in.

Soneira also alleged that the iPad?s battery can be damaged from overcharging as well, but again, Macworld cites the fact that the battery is designed to avoid overcharging to dismiss the claim. Apparently, it?s the iPad battery?s ?charging circuit,? a safeguard against overfilling the battery, that protects it from damage. The device is designed so that it?s not harmed if a user leaves it plugged in too long.

Now, it?s true that lithium-ion batteries can get less life if they?re allowed to overcharge frequently, but Apple doesn?t warn against that possibility in any of the manuals it packages with its iPad when users get it out of the box, suggesting the company doesn?t consider it a concern. The company does suggest that you charge in full cycles ? filling your iPad all the way up with charge, and then letting it run all the way down ? to maximize battery health. In fact, you should do that with all your electronics, as it keeps the batteries fuller for longer over the life of the device. Apple suggests that, even if you don?t use your iPad all that frequently, you run a charge cycle once a month to keep the device?s battery in good shape.

So it appears that maybe all the ado made about the iPad?s battery and its charging capabilities might have been a little premature. Now we just need to find out if there?s anything that Apple needs to do to take care of that reported overheating issue that renders iPads useless until they chill out a bit.

Source: http://www.appolicious.com/tech/articles/11483-macworld-says-your-new-ipads-battery-is-fine-charges-full-despite-study

nba all star weekend malin akerman jeff carter chomp national enquirer kate gosselin helicopter crash

Tribeca To Feature Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Judd Apatow And ...

Tribeca Film Festival The 2012 Tribeca Film Festival revealed its panel series as well as six new titles that will world premiere at the upcoming event. Narrative films Freaky Deaky and Future Weather as well as documentaries Portrait Of Wally and Once In A Lullaby: The PS22 Chorus Story will screen as part of the ?Tribeca Talks: After the Movie? series, the documentary Wagner?s Dream will premiere as part of the festival?s new ?Beyond the Screens: Globalize Your Thinking? series, and the narrative Knife Fight will have a screening with an extended Q&A.

Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep and Judd Apatow will take part in a tribute panel to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Universal Pictures, moderated by Deadline?s?Mike Fleming. Additional panels include conversations with Susan Sarandon and Michael Moore; director Jim Sheridan and his daughter Naomi Sheridan; as well as Rob Lowe and Christian Slater. The Tribeca Talks panel series is open to the public and will take place throughout the festival, which runs April 18-29 at locations around New York City. Here?s the lineup:

Tribeca Talks

Special ?Tribeca Talks? Events:

100 Years of Universal
Special event exclusively for American Express Cardmembers?In celebration of 100 years of Universal Pictures, join us for a conversation with iconic actors and directors Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep and Judd Apatow as they share their favorite moments and memories from Universal?s extraordinary history. Moderated by Film Editor for Deadline Hollywood Mike Fleming.
DATE:? Thursday, April 19

Knife Fight ? (regular ticket price)
Directed and written by Bill Guttentag. (USA) ? World Premiere
Rob Lowe is Paul Turner, a maverick political strategist struggling to keep his wayward clients?including a philandering Kentucky governor and a California senator being blackmailed?in office and out of the scandal sheets. This tightly wound dramatic satire from two-time Oscar?-winning director and TFF alum Bill Guttentag (Nanking) shows us what our political leaders are really made of. With Julie Bowen, Eric McCormack, Jennifer Morrison, and Carrie-Anne Moss.
Join us for a conversation with writer/director?Bill Guttentag, writer and co-producer?Chris Lehane,?actor?Rob Lowe, and campaign strategist?Steve Schmidt as they discuss presidential campaigns and how politics are spun. Moderated by MSNBC senior political analyst and co-author of Game Change?Mark Halperin.
DATE:? Wednesday, April 25

Illicit Networks: Portrayal through Film ? (free)?Tribeca Enterprises and Google Ideas team up for this unique free panel?addressing Hollywood?s portrayal of illicit networks that traffic everything from narcotics and weapons to body parts and human beings.?Experts, law enforcement participants, and survivors will use what we learn from film to examine the mysterious and misunderstood world of illicit trafficking.?At a moment when illicit networks are increasing physical and systemic violence and 2 percent of the world?s trade is in illicit goods, this?panel of experts will separate fact from fiction to launch a critical dialogue.?Moderated by?Jared Cohen, Director of Google Ideas.
DATE:? Wednesday, April 25

Tribeca Talks: Directors Series:

Michael Moore with Susan Sarandon
Academy Award?-winning filmmaker/activist Michael Moore will be interviewed by Academy Award?-winning actor Susan Sarandon.
DATE:? Sunday, April 22

Jim Sheridan with Naomi Sheridan
Academy Award?-nominated director Jim Sheridan will be interviewed by his daughter, Academy Award?-nominated screenwriter Naomi Sheridan.
DATE:? Saturday, April 28

Tribeca Talks: After the Movie:

Avant-Garde Masters: A Decade of Film Preservation
The Avant-Garde Masters grants were created in 2003 by the National Film Preservation Foundation and The Film Foundation to preserve American Avant-Garde cinema. Funded by The Film Foundation, the program has helped save more than 90 films in its first decade, making many works available to audiences for the first time since their creation. The Tribeca Film Festival presentation celebrates the program?s 10th anniversary with classics by Abigail Child, Larry Gottheim, George Kuchar, Carolee Schneemann, and many more.
After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with filmmakers Carolee Schneemann, Abigail Child, Larry Gottheim and TFF experimental film programmer Jon Gartenberg. Moderated by Assistant Director of the National Film Preservation Foundation Jeff Lambert.?DATE:? Saturday, April 21

Freaky Deaky
Directed by Charles Matthau. (USA) ? World Premiere.
From the limitless imagination of Elmore Leonard comes this thrilling throwback to the decadent Los Angeles of the ?70s. A disgraced cop gets a shot at a comeback when a beautiful young actress needs help taking down a powerful movie producer. Extortion, treachery, and dynamite are just a few of the complications that stand between him and the woman he loves. Billy Burke, Christian Slater, Crispin Glover, and Michael Jai White star.
After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with novelist Elmore Leonard, director/screenwriter Charles Matthau, actors Christian Slater, Crispin Glover, Michael Jai White, and Andy Dick.
DATE:? Sunday, April 22

The Virgin, the Copts and Me
Directed by Namir Abdel Messeeh. (France, Qatar) ? North American Premiere.
Hosted by the Doha Film Institute.
In his feature debut, French-Egyptian filmmaker Namir Abdel Messeeh?sets out to investigate the phenomenon of supposedly miraculous Virgin Mary apparitions in Egypt?s Coptic Christian community. But when the secular director faces opposition from skittish producers and his Coptic family, Namir turns the camera on his wonderfully smart-alecky mother and reimagines his film as a touching, uniquely hilarious portrait of family and heritage.
After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Namir Abdel Messeeh and other notable guests on cultural identity and contemporary international filmmakers who explore diaspora identities and a journey to their roots.
DATE:? Wednesday, April 25

WarGames ?Directed by John Badham (1983).
Sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as part of the TFI Sloan Film Program, now in its 11th year.
At the forefront of popular computer hacking in the 1980s, WarGames takes on advances in national security and the vulnerabilities of new technology as the backdrop for a coming-of-age thriller starring Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy. Almost 30 years after its release, John Badham and Lawrence Lasker?s Oscar?-nominated film speaks to contemporary concerns of modern-day network security, gaming technology, and hacking culture. ?After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director John Badham, actress Ally Sheedy, Bitcoin Technical Lead Gavin Andresen and William D. Casebeer, PhD, Program Manager, Defense Sciences Office at DARPA (USAF, retired), and more about the historical relationship between military strategy and technical innovation, storytelling with gaming and simulation tools, and the challenges of depicting cutting-edge technology on the big screen.
DATE:? Saturday, April 28

Portrait of Wally
Directed by Andrew Shea.? (USA, Austria) ? World Premiere.
In 1939, Nazis seized control of Austrian art collector Lea Bondi?s beloved Egon Schiele painting ?Portrait of Wally.? For 70 years the Bondi family fought to reclaim the painting in a battle that pitted them against the likes of the Austrian government, billionaire art collectors, MoMA, and NPR. Director Andrew Shea?s documentary is a fascinating and intricate detective story that highlights the struggle between doing what is right and doing what is convenient.
After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Andrew Shea, critic and journalist David D?Arcy, Jane Kallir of Galerie St. Etienne, historian and attorney Willi Korte, and Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Unit at the U.S. Attorney?s Office, Southern District of New York Sharon Cohen Levin about the issues of provenance and the global sharing of art in museums.
DATE:? Saturday, April 28

Once in a Lullaby: The PS22 Chorus Story ?Directed by Jonathan Kalafer.? (USA) ? World Premiere.
The PS22 chorus from Staten Island became world famous after their YouTube videos went viral. This feel-good documentary follows them to their big performance as the closing act at the 2011 Academy Awards? ceremony, where creative differences, lost voices, and homesickness threaten their performance. Can these 5th graders entertain the entertainment elite?
After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Jonathan Kalafer, PS22 chorus teacher Gregg Breinberg, Executive Director of the Office of the Arts and Special Projects at the New York City Department of Education Paul King, and more on how new media arts in the classroom can breathe new life into students? curricula, capture their attention, and spark eagerness to learn. Moderated by Tribeca Film Institute Education Program Developer Caitlin Meisner.
At the beginning of the program, President of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Kerry Kennedy will introduce the winner of the Speak Truth to Power student video competition, sponsored by the RFK Foundation and New York United Teachers. The winning short, Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement, will show prior to the screening and showcase student work within the Festival.
DATE:? Sunday, April 29

Future Weather
Directed by Jenny Deller. (USA) ? World Premiere
Abandoned by her dreamer single mom, a teenage loner becomes obsessed with ecological disaster, forcing her and her grandmother, a functioning alcoholic, to rethink their futures. Inspired by a New Yorker article on global warming, Future Weather uses the refuge of science and the environment as a backdrop to examine the intertwining lives of three generations of women. Starring Lili Taylor, Amy Madigan, and Perla Haney-Jardine, this film received support from the Tribeca Film Institute?s TFI Sloan Filmmaker Fund partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with writer/director Jenny Deller, producer Kristin Fairweather, actress Lili Taylor, and more on how an article about a scientific and environmental issue planted the seed for an intimate fiction film, and inspired an environmentally sensitive production.
DATE:? Sunday, April 29

Beyond the Screens: Globalize Your Thinking

Let Fury Have the Hour ?Directed Antonino D?Ambrosio. (USA) ? World Premiere.?A generation of artists used their creativity as a response to the reactionary politics that came to define our culture in the 1980s. This dynamic and exhilarating documentary brings together more than 50 big-name musicians, writers, artists, and thinkers to trace a momentous social history from the cynical heyday of Reagan and Thatcher to today?and impart a message of hope. Featuring Chuck D, John Sayles, Eve Ensler, Tom Morello, Lewis Black, and many others.
After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Antonino D?Ambrosio, film collaborator and artist Shepard Fairey, the MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, playwright and activist Eve Ensler, and more as they discuss the power of artistic expression.
DATE:? Monday, April 23

The List Directed by Beth Murphy. (USA) ? World Premiere.
Supported by the Tribeca Film Institute.
After leading rebuilding teams in war-torn cities in Iraq, Kirk Johnson returned to America to establish and advocate for a growing number of Iraqi citizens now targeted by radical militias because they aided the U.S. in the reconstruction effort. TFF alum Beth Murphy (Beyond Belief) creates an affecting portrait of an unlikely but passionate humanitarian who has championed the cause of Iraqi refugees largely ignored by the U.S. government.
After the Movie: Stay for a conversation with director Beth Murphy, film subject Kirk Johnson, Executive Director and Founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Paul Rieckhoff, and others about the current state of Iraqis seeking asylum and issues surrounding post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers and refugees. Moderated by The New Yorker?s George Packer.
DATE:? Tuesday, April 24

Wagner?s Dream Directed by Susan Froemke. (USA) ? World Premiere.
For perhaps the most ambitious project in its famed history, the Metropolitan Opera commissioned visionary director Robert Lepage to stage a new production of opera?s most formidable masterpiece: Richard Wagner?s four-part Ring Cycle. Shot over five years, Susan Froemke?s documentary captures the unprecedented challenges of bringing Lepage?s electrifying production to life. Featuring such opera luminaries as Deborah Voigt, the film is a rare and engrossing look at the artistic process.
After the Movie: Stay for a conversation about this incredible artistic journey with filmmakers Susan Froemke and Bob Eisenhardt, the Met?s General Manager Peter Gelb, opera soprano Deborah Voigt and tenor Jay Hunter Morris. Moderated by ?the Voice of the Met? Margaret Juntwait.
DATE:? Wednesday, April 25

Tribeca Talks: Industry? (Free)

Film and Brands?Brands and filmmakers are increasingly collaborating on film projects to achieve a range of objectives from marketing and public relations to corporate storytelling and philanthropy. As the number of projects as well as the platforms for distribution increase, the bar has been raised for how to make these projects effective corporate storytelling pieces as well as quality filmmaking. Join producer and director Brett Ratner, American Express? Vice President of Global Media, Sponsorship and Experiential Marketing Rich Lehrfeld, GE?s Global Executive Director of Advertising and Branding Judy Hu, the Norman Lear Center?s Managing Director and Director of Research Johanna Blakley; and Chief Marketing Officer of Chipotle Mexican Grill Mark Crumpacker for a conversation about how they are collaborating and where this increasingly complex and sophisticated world is heading. Moderated by Jon Patricof, President and Chief Operating Officer of Tribeca Enterprises.
DATE:? Friday, April 20

Imagine More
Sponsored by Canon.
Project Imagin8ion was the first photo contest to inspire a Hollywood film, resulting in the Ron Howard production when you find me, shot using Canon cameras. Join us for a screening of this short film, followed by a discussion with Canon representatives and filmmakers about the versatility of shooting with Canon cameras and creating films through collaborative storytelling. Panelists include Canon USA Technical?s Chuck Westfall, The Russian Winter director Petter Ringbom, CatCam director Seth Keal, and others.
DATE:? Sunday, April 22

The Business of Entertainment
Sponsored by Bloomberg.
Now in its second decade as a signature sponsor of TFF, Bloomberg returns with its Business of Entertainment program at the Festival. This year?s discussion, entitled ?Going Global: Will Co-Production Save the Film Industry?? will focus on the recent rise of international co-production, exploring the benefits and obstacles of this often complex but rewarding strategy. Bloomberg convenes major producers, financiers, and other key industry decision-makers who play leading roles in financing today?s film and entertainment industries. Panelists include co-producer of The Girl and CEO of Bonita Films Tania Zarak, Chairman and CEO of Endgame Entertainment James D. Stern, and Director of European Film and TV Group, Exclusive Media, Ben Holden. Moderated by Bloomberg News entertainment reporter Michael White.
DATE:? Monday, April 23

The Future is Short: Storytelling in the Digital Age?Sponsored by GE / FOCUS FORWARD ? Short Films, Big Ideas
As the Internet and other platforms like Hulu, Netflix, Yahoo!, and the New York Times become more commercially viable as distribution outlets for good stories told through film, the opportunities for creating original short-form content have never been bigger, or more lucrative. What do content producers want from original episodic or serial programs, and how do filmmakers who?ve dipped their toes in short-form storytelling, even as brief as three minutes, feel about the work they?ve done? Where might it all be headed? Join CINELAN co-founder Morgan Spurlock (Mansome), filmmaker Annie Sundberg (Knuckleball!), Jason Spingarn-Koff?of the New York Times Op-Docs series,?and others to discuss the power, art, and business of short-form storytelling. Moderated by Jason Wishnow, Director of Film and Video at TED.
DATE:? Tuesday, April 24

Does the Cloud have a Silver (Screen) Lining?
Sponsored by SAP.
We have seen the major studios launch cloud-based solutions to respond to shifting consumer content consumption patterns. The emergence of the tablet as a serious ?screen? and the proliferation of online digital platforms provide filmmakers and distributors unique opportunities to develop a direct audience relationship. In this landscape, what?s the best model for independent films to reach audiences and make money out of new distribution opportunities? Join Jeffrey A. Hirsch, Executive VP and CMO at Time Warner Cable, other industry executives, and filmmakers for a discussion about navigating today?s digital marketplace. Moderated by Richard Whittington, senior VP of media and entertainment at SAP.
DATE:? Thursday, April 26

New Filmmakers on Film
Sponsored by Panavision.?Panavision?s New Filmmaker Program has helped young directors and cinematographers break into the industry for the past 25 years, supporting films such as Requiem for a Dream and Napoleon Dynamite. While a growing number of filmmakers turn to digital technology, Panavision?s grant program still offers artists the chance to shoot on film by providing them with exclusive camera packages with legendary Panavision lenses, as well as a wide range of digital cameras. Join Una Noche director Lucy Mulloy, Kodak?s US Account Manager of Features and Post-Production Bob Mastronardi, cinematographer Guy Godfree, and other film artists as they discuss the program and new opportunities for emerging talent. Moderated by Panavision?s New Filmmaker Program Manager, Mike Dallatorre.
DATE:? Friday April 27

Tribeca Talks: Pen to Paper?(Free)

Biography on Film
In biographical documentaries, the personal moments and drama of an individual?s life are captured in interviews and every day or behind-the-scenes footage. Seems simple, but in reality there is also the equally important influence of writing and storytelling. Join us as TFF filmmakers Ramona S. Diaz (Don?t Stop Believin?: Everyman?s Journey), Petter Ringbom (The Russian Winter), Andreas Koefoed (Ballroom Dancer), and Daniel A. Miller (?vocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie), and more discuss the unique ways in which they explored the life of a real individual and shaped that person?s story into a film.
DATE:? Friday, April 20

The Pen Versus the Sword?Social change can be implemented through a variety of creative methods?from artists who write and create work that makes people look at society from a new perspective, to bloggers spreading information, opinions, and images to those who need it most, to regular individuals speaking out. Hear from TFF filmmakers Antonino D?Ambrosio (Let Fury Have the Hour), Raymond De Felitta (Booker?s Place: A Mississippi Story), and Stephen Maing (High Tech, Low Life) on how writing and action can make an impact in the world. Moderated by film and culture critic Caryn James.
DATE:? Saturday, April 21

Based on the Book?Successfully adapting a book to a film can be a challenging task. What are the elements that can best translate from the page to the screen? How faithful must the adaptation be to the original work? Is it possible to create a version of the story better than the book? TFF filmmakers Pen-ek Ratanaruang (Headshot), Charles Matthau (Freaky Deaky), Donald Rice (Cheerful Weather for the Wedding), and more discuss their experiences adapting fiction to film.
DATE:? Sunday, April 22

Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival

ESPN Films: Beyond the Playing Field
Sponsored by Time Warner Cable.?ESPN Films has become an industry heavyweight in the genre of sports filmmaking. With the success of? 30 for 30, ESPN Films has broken away from what was traditionally thought of as a sports film and redefined the genre. By showcasing stories of passion, triumph, and loss, the resurgence of sports-themed films has never been stronger. Inspired by the 40th anniversary of Title IX, ESPN Films will air a series of nine documentaries in spring/summer of 2013 that will highlight women in sports, all by female storytellers. Join us for a conversation on the evolution of women?s sports with director Amy Berg, ESPN Films? Libby Geist, producer and Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal, and filmmakers from upcoming ESPN Films. Moderated by ESPN?s Chris Connelly.
DATE:? Saturday, April 21

Source: http://www.deadline.com/2012/03/tribeca-to-feature-meryl-streep-robert-de-niro-judd-apatow-and-more-in-panel-series/

star jones evan longoria wheres my refund photo of whitney houston in casket carrot top george huguely whitney houston casket photo

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Loans | Boat Loans And Boat Finance | Student loans forgiveness

March 24, 2012 ? 4:00 am

You can have unsecured or which can affect the cost of your loan.

It can be a requirement of the boat finance company to have fully comprehensive insurance on your boat before purchase and while you pay off your boat loan.

Finance companies can assist to ensure you have a hassle free boat purchase and help with
Encumbrance checks to ensure that there are not any outstanding loans from the prior owner left against the boat.
Title check or confirming the ownership of the boat you are purchasing.
Clear transfer to seller of the amount financed on the boat purchase. .
Boat loans, subject to the finance company?s approval can be financed to the full cost of the purchase including
On-road costs and taxes.
Boat Insurance
Marine breakdown warranties
Loan protection for death, disability and unemployment.
Older boats can be ok. Boat finance can apply for all ages new and used depending on the boat loan lender.
Finance structures can be flexible to suit your circumstance. Options to consider on your boat loan could be
Delayed payment boat loans so you first payment starts at a extended time into your finance contract
Interest only payment options including balloon payments.
Extended finance terms
structured boat finance payments to suit your life style or your work cash flow
Construction boat loans
There are many marine finance options available for imported boats.
Commercial boat finance options are available that could be suitable for business use. Some factors to consider that relate to business car financing are:
Chattel mortgage boat finance

The structure of your business car finance can affect your taxation claim.
Dealing through a reputable boat loan broker can give you a choice of boat finance lenders. It is important to know that you may get boat loan interest rates and loan fees and charges cheaper than banks.

Tags: boat finance, boat finance calculator, boat loans

Source: http://studentloan-forgiveness.net/loans-boat-loans-and-boat-finance/

louis ck michelle duggar heisman cp3 lakers news rachel crow rachel crow

Saturday, March 24, 2012

gstar jeans Finance Philanthropy Charitable Giving - Sandoval Roy ...

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Source: http://sandovalroy.typepad.com/blog/2012/03/gstar-jeans-finance-philanthropy-charitable-giving.html

new hope baptist church associated press foster friess new orleans hornets ghost rider spirit of vengeance hornets prince johan friso

Friday, March 23, 2012

Free Bankruptcy Forms without Bankruptcy Attorney Help ...


Sponsored Links

Since the economy continues in order to struggle, many Americans tend to be feeling the pressures to be buried under mountain tops of debt. Living paycheck to paycheck is really a reality for many because they try to hang on hoping that things will change and get much better. All it takes is perfect for one unexpected situation to happen like a sudden illness or even major car repair and him or her finances will end up being sent spiraling unmanageable. Filing bankruptcy forms will offer a solution to individuals for example these.

Bankruptcy Forms without Attorney Help Image

Making the choice to file personal bankruptcy is certainly a significant step and the person needs to consider into accounting all the possible ramifications that include bankruptcy forms submitting. For example, filing bankruptcy may affect the debtor?s credit score and alter their capability to borrow money or even obtain credit for some time in the long term. Rebuilding one?s credit isn?t impossible but it takes time and diligence for the debtor.

It is vital that you realize that filing bankruptcy forms is really a person?s legal right and they likewise having a right in order to represent themselves inside a bankruptcy case. The place to start is right by your computer. There is an abundance of information on the web about bankruptcy. The debtor may even download the bankruptcy forms free of charge online from the United States bankruptcy court web site. The debtor will have to really do their own homework and investigation the bankruptcy laws for his or her district as they often vary not just from state to convey, but from area to district. Using the changes to the actual bankruptcy code in 2005, filing bankruptcy became more difficult. The bankruptcy request almost doubled in dimensions and became harder to fill away. It has landmines that if it?s not filled out properly the situation can be dismissed with no discharge.

Even though free of charge bankruptcy forms can be found and every person has got the right to file bankruptcy with no bankruptcy attorney, it is usually best to seek the help of an experienced attorney within their area. A bankruptcy attorney will understand what the expectations are from the bankruptcy trustee for the reason that district and will understand what will be acceptable for any smooth bankruptcy procedure. A bankruptcy attorney may also be familiar with the federal in addition to state exemption laws to allow them to protect as a lot personal property and assets from the debtor are as you possibly can.

Source: http://beneficialfinance.net/free-bankruptcy-forms-without-attorney.htm

southern university regenesis fanboys ucla usc ucla usc sean taylor usc football

SPORTS BRIEFS

SOCCER

Mechelen fall to another loss

Taiwan international Xavier Chen?s KV Mechelen were beaten 2-1 at home by Royal Standard de Liege on Wednesday as they lost ground on the teams above them in the Belgian Jupiler League. Julien Gorius opened the scoring for the hosts after 35 minutes, but it all fell apart for the Yellow Reds in the second half when goalkeeper Wouter Biebauw scored an own-goal in the 65th minute. Michy Batshuayi scored the winner for Standard nine minutes from time to move them up to fourth in the standings. Mechelen remain in ninth. Chen played the full 90 minutes.

BASKETBALL

Coke to advertise in Chinese

Knicks fans will soon see Coke ads in Chinese on the rotating courtside signs at Madison Square Garden. Coca-Cola spokeswoman Susan Stribling said Coke has a longstanding partnership with the NBA and already displays ads at The Garden, but wants to take advantage of the enthusiasm surrounding NBA sensation Jeremy Lin and the Knicks. Stribling said the courtside ads are a favorite of advertisers, because they can be seen by fans at the game and on TV, both in the US and abroad. The company is also considering putting up Mandarin ads in The Garden?s concourses, she said.

BASKETBALL

Lin jersey sales still hot

The No. 17 jersey of New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin continues to enjoy hot sales, despite a cooling of the ?Linsanity? on-court phenomenon, which has given a huge boost to the team?s share of the NBA merchandise market, according to a report published on Wednesday by MarketWatch. Lin?s jersey has been the NBA?s top seller so far this year, the report said, citing SportsOneSource. The sales outshine those of Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, who rounded out the top five.

SOCCER

Priest calls for exorcism

Togo?s chief voodoo priest, Togbui Gnagblondjro III, on Wednesday called on the country?s soccer federation to consider using traditional ceremonies to ?chase away evil spirits? that were afflicting the national game. ?There is too much blood. We should go back to ?the thing of our ancestors? and hold traditional ceremonies, for we all know that in Africa, when a person dies in an accident, we hold ceremonies,? he said. Togolese soccer has been afflicted by a series of tragedies in recent years. In 2007, 13 members of a Togolese sports ministry delegation, including the sports minister, were killed in a helicopter accident in Sierra Leone after a qualifying match for the following year?s Africa Cup of Nations. In Angola in January 2010, armed separatists opened fire on the national team bus at it traveled to the Africa Cup of Nations, killing two people, including assistant coach Abalo Amelete. In November last year, six people were killed and 26 injured when a bus carrying members of first-division side Etoile Filante of Lome overturned and caught fire.

SOCCER

Indian player collapses, dies

An Indian player died after collapsing on the pitch during a district-level league match, the All India Football Federation said on Wednesday. Local media reported 27-year-old Bangalore Mars striker D. Venkatesh collapsed following a cardiac arrest at the Bangalore Football Stadium. With no ambulance around, his Bangalore Mars teammates hired an auto-rickshaw to take him to a local hospital where Venkatesh was pronounced dead, one report said.

Source: http://libertytimes.feedsportal.com/c/33098/f/535602/s/1db130eb/l/0L0Staipeitimes0N0CNews0Csport0Carchives0C20A120C0A30C230C20A0A3528491/story01.htm

gisele bundchen turbotax the bourne legacy roland martin suspended lake vostok montgomery county public schools the river

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Install a Fence ? Beautify Your Yard and Be Safe and Safe | Growing ...

convert MKV to AVI

There are many causes for installing a fence. It may be that you simply need to mark your property line, have greater security and security, or just need extra privacy. Whatever your causes, there is a fence that can fit your necessities and at the same time improve your yard?s appearance.

One really good motive to put in a fence is to supply separation from a neighboring yard. It may be merely to maintain your property line and keep away from having shrubs or trees from subsequent door encroach in your facet of the line. But when you have drawback neighbors then a fence could also be an especially good idea.

A fence is a perfect method to ensure that your canine doesn?t wander out of your yard with out being pressured to maintain him tied up or in a canine run. It can also preserve different animals from stepping into your yard and messing up your flower beds or vegetable garden. By putting up a fence you may relaxation assured that your pets and even more importantly, your children, is not going to be faced with uninvited 4 legged visitors.

When you may have children, a fenced yard can present a secure and secure play area. They can play outside with out you worrying that they may wander away when your again is turned.

Perhaps you?re just somebody who likes your own space. If that?s the case, a privacy fence makes excellent sense. You can enjoy your secluded retreat with out anybody even figuring out you?re out there.

Fences are relatively simple to construct and don?t have to be costly, depending on the fencing style and kind of fabric you choose. And there are plenty of completely different materials to choose from, all the way in which from wooden, to wrought iron and virtually all the things in between.

A very powerful part of building any fence is getting the fence posts dug and set properly. If this isn?t performed right, your complete fence will be off. Using a tape measure and stage will be sure that posts are set deeply sufficient into the bottom and centered. After that it?s a piece of cake.

To reduce value, chain link or wooden are your best choices. You can even turn a series link fence into a privacy fence by attaching bamboo panels to the chain linking, very inexpensively.

Wood fences remain among the many most generally used sort of fence, with pine and cedar topping the list. Should you construct a wooden fence be sure to coat it with a water repellent or stain to guard it from the elements. That approach it should final longer. Should you add sections of bamboo panels to parts of your fence, you will improve the overall look of your fence.

If value will not be a problem you may go for costlier, however longer lasting vinyl or composite fencing. These look loads like picket fences. Wrought iron fences are classic however costly. Even doing a small section with wrought iron or using it in your gates can present a really unique appearance.

Whether you?re building a fence for privacy, security, or just to mark your property line, installing a fence can add plenty of value to your home.

About The Author

Nigel has been writing articles on-line for almost 5 years now. Not only does this author concentrate on Landscaping Outdoor Decorating, you can also check out his latest website on learn how to convert MKV to AVI with MKV to AVI converter which also helps people find the best MKV to AVI converter on the market.


Source: http://growingsound.org/home/gardening/landscaping/install-a-fence-beautify-your-yard-and-be-safe-and-safe

slither slither chris christie naacp glen campbell jerusalem artichoke bud shootout

College students crack $70 million cybercrime ring

Rock Center

It was a crime of staggering sophistication by computer hackers who figured out a new way to get rich.?

In a case that became known as Trident Breach, the hackers stole $70 million from the payroll accounts of some 400 American companies and organizations ? all from the safety of their homes in Eastern Europe.

?I think it?s the perfect definition of organized crime,? said FBI Executive Assistant Director Shawn Henry.? ?It?s very well organized.? It?s very well-structured.? It requires many people operating in unison, in a collaborative way.?

At the beginning of 2008, the group of hackers compromised hundreds of thousands of Americans computers using a malicious computer ?Trojan? bug called ZeuS. When computer users clicked on certain attachments and e-mail links, ZeuS infected their computers.

ZeuS is designed to zero in on users? bank information. For example, when a user visits a bank website, ZeuS knows; and since it is a key logger program, it records the user's keystrokes as he or she enters usernames and passwords. It then sends that information by instant text message to waiting hackers, who then have access to the compromised accounts.?

Henry is one of the country?s top cybercrime fighters. He says Americans are increasingly prone to ?virtual gangs? prying on people?s personal data stored on their computers.

?We have organized groups that have developed internationally where groups of people have come together, each with a very specific capability and skill, who have never met each other in the physical world, but they meet online in a collaborative way,? he said.?

Henry says that the security breaches have the potential to be more than just criminal acts. They could pose a national security risk.

?There are foreign intelligence services that are aggressively pursuing American technology.? They?re aggressively pursuing American strategy.? They?re looking at the American military, the American consumer, the American corporations, research and development organizations, laboratories, educational facilities,? Henry said.? ?The amount and value of data that is on the network is at an unprecedented level.? Our adversaries know that that data is there.? It?s information and information is valuable."

Money Mules Help Hackers Get $70 Million

In the Trident Breach case, the hackers were able to get their hands on the cash by turning people into money mules.??

Beginning in late 2008, they created some 3000 money mules, many of them unwitting Americans, by luring them into work-at-home jobs requiring "employees" to open bank accounts.?


?The first money mule activity we started seeing was people who would receive an email saying, ?You can get a work-at-home job? and the work-at-home job would be something like transaction manager for an international company,? said Prof. Gary Warner of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who teaches a program that combines computer forensics and justice studies.?

Warner is also a member of the little-known FBI-affiliated group called InfraGard, comprising some 50,000 members across the United States who keep an eagle eye on U.S . critical infrastructure: power plants, water supply, security and financial services?and the internet. Warner said the hackers transferred cash from business payroll-type "ACH" (Automated Clearing House) accounts to the mule accounts and the mules sent the cash by Western Union or MoneyGram to Eastern Europe, taking eight or 10 percent commission.

Warner said that when the banks started to get wise to the hackers? work-at-home schemes, and set up roadblocks, the hackers then recruited dozens of students, mainly from southern Russia, to be a new breed of money mule.?

?It?s still a little gray whether the students who were recruited knew that they were being recruited for crime,? Warner said.

The hackers obtained fake passports for the students, U.S. J1 work/study visas, and packed their new mules off to the United States. The students opened multiple bank accounts, mainly in the New York area, where they received stolen cash. Then, just as the mules before them had, they wired the cash back to their bosses.?

University Professor Helps FBI Crack Cybercrime Case

So stealthy was their ZeuS operation, neither the hackers nor the mules had counted on getting caught. But, using complex data mining techniques, Prof. Warner established links between ZeuS-infected computers and traced the origins of the mass infection to Ukraine; and many of the hackers and their mules were caught.

But 18 mules remained at large in the United States. And after the FBI published a wanted poster of the students, Warner?s students began using what they?d learned in class to track the criminals.

?So the students used the techniques we had taught them during investigating online crime [class] and began crawling Facebook pages and VKontakte, which is a Russian version similar to Facebook and were able to quickly identify profile pages of almost all of them, at-large mules,? Warner said.

Warner?s students discovered one of the students-turned-mules had brazenly posted pictures of herself with a wad of hundred-dollar bills. Another had posted a picture of himself dressed in an ?I ? New York? top, arms aloft, celebrating in a bar with his friends ? some of whom turned out to be other money mules. And another was pictured standing next to the new car he has presumably just bought. ?

Though all the mules ? except one ? were arrested, that does not necessarily mean the end of the money mules, says Gary Warner.

?ZeuS infections are rampant still today.? There are probably millions of computers in the United States that have active Zeus on their machines right now,? Warner said.

Editor?s Note: Richard Engel?s full report, 'Easy Money,' airs Wednesday, March 21 at 10 pm/9 c on Rock Center with Brian Williams.

Source: http://rockcenter.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/21/10792287-college-students-crack-70-million-cybercrime-ring

michigan state michigan state capital one bowl winter classic 2012 2012 nfl draft order georgia bulldogs football rashard mendenhall

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Physical Fitness Tips You Need To Know ... - New Weight Loss Diets.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]New Weight Loss Diets · Subscribe to RSS ... The more physically fit you are, the better your health will be. Naturally ... Fitness and health guidelines, like people in this article, will help you accomplish your wellbeing as well as fitness goals.

Source: http://new-weightloss-diets.com/blog/physical-fitness-tips-you-need-to-know-never-miss-this-particular/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=physical-fitness-tips-you-need-to-know-never-miss-this-particular

dobie gray bruce springsteen powerball grammy nominations lil boosie bobbi kristina brown new edition

Commercial Property Investment Funds Review

The Great Recession has changed the field of commercial real estate investment funds, although many of the largest funds still remain at the top of the heap. Blackstone Group stands in first place with nearly $20 billion in total investment assets spread across three different funds. Blackstone was formed prior to the peak of the recession, and many funds with pre-recession origins have since closed. The breakdown of investment interests in the biggest funds are largely opportunistic compared to those searching for distressed assets, core investment or value-added properties. For more on this continue reading the following article from National Real Estate Investor.

In early February, private equity giant Blackstone purchased a portfolio of U.K. industrial properties from logistics REIT Prologis Inc. in a $335 million deal. Less than one month earlier, Blackstone, along with DDR Corp., had acquired 46 shopping centers from EPN Group?the third major retail portfolio the firm has acquired in less than 12 months.

Perhaps that shouldn?t be a surprise considering that Blackstone alone has three of the 10 largest private real estate funds that are actively investing, including the single largest, Blackstone Real Estate Partners VI, according to Preqin, an alternative assets research firm. And if all goes to plan, the firm will eclipse its own mark with its Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII fund, which has raised more than $6 billion to date and will continue fundraising until February 2013.

Aside from Blackstone, another three of the 10 largest funds investing today are operated by Lone Star Funds. Collectively, the top 25 funds still investing have a total capacity of more than $100 billion. A good part of that is invested, but many of the funds have plenty of buying capacity remaining. And they play in all aspects of the commercial real estate quality stack.

These existing funds are being joined by new competitors every day. In 2011, 126 new funds were raised with an aggregate commitment of $48.7 billion and average $416 million. That?s a respectable amount, but well below the peak years of 2007 and 2008 when 345 and 295 funds were raised with aggregate commitments of $137.4 billion and $140.8 billion.

The average fund size declined in 2009 and 2010 as a result of investor caution and inactivity following the downturn, according to Andrew Moylan, manager-real estate with Preqin in London. The average fund size did increase in 2011, although not to the levels seen in 2008, according to Moylan.

Overall, of the funds closed in 2011, 41 were the second or third funds for a manager and 49 were the fourth or more. There were also 35 funds raised by first-timers.

The first-time fund managers, however, tended to raise less money than their more experienced counterparts. Managers raising at least their fourth fund had aggregate commitments of $30.1 billion and an average fund size of more than $600 million. Those raising a second or third fund raised an aggregate of $12.1 billion with an average fund size of just less than $300 million. The first-timers, in contrast, raised an aggregate $6.5 billion for an average fund size of less than $200 million.

?The largest funds will almost always be raised by more experienced firms,? Moylan says. ?New firms make up a significant number of the funds raised, but tend to raise less capital than firms with a longer track record.?

Many of the funds going today were raised prior to the credit crisis and recession. Since then the balance of funds has changed.

In 2011, 28 percent of the funds closed are targeting debt, 17 percent are looking for distressed assets, 25 percent are opportunist, 17 percent are value-added. Just 13 percent are core or core-plus funds.
?

?

This article was republished with permission from National Real Estate Investor.

Source: http://www.nuwireinvestor.com/articles/commercial-property-investment-funds-review-58912.aspx

dave matthews band solar flares 2012 whitney houston will toyota recall northern lights sign of the times keystone pipeline

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Halfbrick Acquires Onan Games So It Can Port Fruit Ninja Everywhere

Halfbrick OnanAustralia's?Halfbrick Studios, creators of Fruit Ninja, has just acquired Spain's Onan Games, developers of the Mandreel technology for porting games across platforms from a single C++ code base. The buy will let Halfbrick efficiently deliver its games to iOS, Android, and Facebook while making other studios pay it to do the same. By using Mandreel to quickly launch its chart-topping native mobile games on the web and HTML5 as well as collect licensing fees, Halfbrick could boost revenues while keeping the team agile. Like a clan of ninjas...that dine only on fruit.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/RHU-bnCUU6k/

mountain west rickross rickross black hawk down black hawk down dennis the menace dylan ratigan

Sunday, March 18, 2012

USFastCash.com ? What to consider In A Pay day loan | Finance ...

USFastCash.com ? What to consider In A Pay day loan

These days increasing numbers of people are taking advantage of payday loans from places like USFastCash.com Payday cash advances can be an incredibly useful
financial tool if they are used conscientiously and correctly. As with every financial service a payday loan has the potential to be misused and used irresponsibly. We are going to take a look at some of the key things to keep an eye out for when it comes to acquiring a payday loan. By explaining what you should take into account you should be more knowledgeable and better educated when it comes to choosing the best type of loan for you personally.

It?s possible to be accepted for a payday loan from lenders like USFastCash.com incredibly quickly. As a result of on-line applications it?s never been easier to acquire a cash advance. Listed here are the fundamental things you should take into consideration before getting a cash payday loan:Only access what you requireBe fully aware about all charges and feesHave a definite repayment plan

Because it is very easy to be approved by places like USFastCash.com, you can get your hands on that much needed cash usually within twenty four hours or less. Before you take the plunge it?s definitely worth taking a minute to ask yourself how much money do you really need? If your need to have cash is extremely urgent, for example you need to pay for an auto repair bill then you ought to have a good idea of how much you?ll need. It can be easy to gain access to more than you actually need, so think about it carefully!

Not all payday loan lenders are like USFastCash.com who make it clear about what their charges and fees are. Prior to taking out a loan it?s often a good idea to ensure that you know about all the possible charges and fees. Be sure that you read all the terms and conditions and you understand specifically what you are setting yourself up for. When shopping around a good general guideline is that if a deal seems too good to be true then in all probability it is. If you aren?t sure ask the loan originator, should they avoid your question it might be wise to reconsider them as a lender.

One of the greatest advantages to a payday advance loan from a company such as USFastCash.com is that you?ll be able to work out a payment schedule to coincide with your upcoming pay periods. Most lenders will be able to work an extended repayment plan with you, it is crucial that you have a
definite repayment plan so you know precisely how much it will cost you. The next time you are looking for a payday loan USFastCash.com will have a way to satisfy your financial requirements.

Looking for more information about loans from USFastCash.com.

?Mail this post

Technorati Tags: PayDay Loans, US Fast Cash, US FastCash, USFastCash, usfastcash.com

Tags: PayDay Loans, US Fast Cash, US FastCash, USFastCash, usfastcash.com

Source: http://financehelpnews.com/payday-loans/usfastcash-com-what-to-consider-in-a-pay-day-loan

heavy d funeral christopher walken ok state ok state kurt budke regis philbin regis and kelly

Arby's offers St. Patrick's Day deal, Irish cooking class and more ...

imagesYou can look all day

for a lucky clover leaf

or celebrate St. Patrick?s day

with juicy corned beef

This is the slogan that greets you on the Arby?s website as does its festive (but temporary) name O?RB?s. Today through Sunday, Arby?s is offering a buy-one-get-one coupon for its Reuben sandwich made with corned beef, swiss, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing on marble rye.

Or, instead, you might just learn to make your own corned beef with a St. Patrick?s Day Celebration class at The Cook?s Warehouse in East Cobb. During the class, you?ll prepare:

  • Poached Oysters with Guinness Sauce on Boxty (Irish potato pancakes)
  • Warm Corned Beef and Cabbage Salad on Bitter Greens
  • Irish Whisky Cake with Apple Cream Sauce

6:30 ? 9:30 p.m. Mar. 17, $65.

Here are some additional places to celebrate:

Fado Irish Pub

It starts early at Fado, where the doors will open at 7 a.m. for a traditional Irish breakfast and rugby viewing. The day?s festivities include beer tents, Irish dancers and live music, continuing until 3 a.m. Tickets $10 online/$15 at the door. 273 Buckhead Ave., Atlanta.

P?cheen

P?cheen will be serving pints of Guinness and Harp with classic Irish fare including Guinness lamb stew, fish ?n chips, corned beef and cabbage, leek soup and shepherd?s pie. 4 p.m. ? 3 a.m. 701 Highland Ave. N.E., Atlanta.

Chateau Elan

Paddy?s Irish Pub on property at Chateau Elan will host a celebration in a pavillion-turned-Irish-beer-hall complete with a buffet of Irish favorites. 11 a.m. ? midnight. 100 Tour de France, Braselton.

Town Brookhaven

Tomorrow, find a St. Patrick?s Day themed ?Saturday on the Town? at Town Brookhaven. Merchants are offering a number of samples and discounts for the holiday. Look for beer specials at Olde Blind Irish Pub and 20% off hot corned beef or reuben sandwiches at Which Wich?. 4330 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta.

Other stories of interest:

?by Jenny Turknett, Food and More blog

Source: http://blogs.ajc.com/food-and-more/2012/03/16/arbys-offers-st-patricks-day-deal-irish-cooking-class-and-more-holiday-happenings/?cxntfid=blogs_food_and_more

tebowing washington wizards rudy zynga free shipping free shipping esophageal cancer

Saturday, March 17, 2012

FACT CHECK: Misfires on the campaign trail

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Rick Santorum says oil drillers in the Gulf of Mexico are being slammed by "worse and worse and worse" delays in getting federal approval even as gas prices go through the roof. Actually, the wait for permits is getting better and better. Newt Gingrich boasts that small donors are powering his Republican presidential campaign. In reality, one deep-pocketed financial angel and other big money people have been doing loads of heavy lifting, too.

The claims of the Republican presidential rivals are not getting the exposure they once did, ever since the crackling series of debates drew to a close. But in smaller venues or turns on TV, the assertions still fly, as do exaggerations, oversimplifications and outright mistakes.

So, too, on the Democratic side. A polished new film from President Barack Obama's campaign, out Thursday night, pushes the gauzy hero worship beyond what has really happened in recounting the auto industry bailout and recovery. Called "The Road We've Traveled," the fundraising film takes Republican front-runner Mitt Romney out of context in the process.

A look at recent claims from the campaign trail and how they compare with the facts:

OBAMA CAMPAIGN on the automakers' recovery: "With business booming, they repaid their loans."

THE FACTS: The General Motors and Chrysler aid has not been paid back in full, and it is unlikely to be, contrary to the film's narrator, actor Tom Hanks.

More than $1 billion of the $12.5 billion Chrysler bailout is not expected to come back to the government. The government has recouped more than $22 billion of its nearly $50 billion GM bailout after agreeing to take stock in return for most of its investment. But the government's remaining stock would have to rise massively in value for taxpayers to get all their money back. If the stock were sold at some recent values, taxpayers would still be out more than $10 billion.

___

SANTORUM, speaking this week in Lafayette, La., a city heavily dependent on the oil and gas industry: The Obama administration "almost put this town under with the moratoriums, the delays in permitting that are getting worse and worse and worse ? and as a result, the ability for the men and women who go out and drill these wells and service these wells, to go out and earn an income, and more importantly for them to get that oil and gas into the shore so we can use it here in this country."

THE FACTS: Permit approval rates are actually getting faster for exploration wells, the type that was being drilled at the time of the BP well disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

In 2009, before the Macondo well blowout, it took the government 46 days to approve a drilling permit for a new deep-water well. After the accident, the administration imposed a five-month moratorium on new deep-water drilling while it worked on new safety regulations to minimize the risk of another spill. The BP disaster released an estimated 200 million gallons of oil into the water, killing wildlife, soiling sensitive tidal estuaries and beaches, and closing vast areas of the Gulf to commercial fishing.

Once the moratorium was lifted, processing times for deep-water exploratory drilling permits were longer than before the spill ? an average of 97 days.

But contrary to Santorum's claim, the government's performance is improving. Permit approvals are now happening on average in 62 days, more than a month faster. That's 16 days longer than before the spill, but regulatory protections are tougher now.

Santorum also implies that the entire drilling industry was shut because of the moratorium. Yet, the temporary ban only covered wells drilled to explore or produce oil and gas in deep water. Wells already in production were not covered by the moratorium.

___

GINGRICH, emphasizing the importance of small donors to his campaign, at a rally Wednesday in Rosemont, Ill.: "We have over 175,000 donors now. Most of them are small. Over 95 percent of our donors give $250 or less."

THE FACTS: Gingrich's assertion is probably correct on its face, but not too meaningful. In almost all campaigns, the number of small-dollar donors far exceeds the number of major givers. President Barack Obama's campaign, for example, makes a similar boast ? that 98 percent of its 1 million contributors gave small amounts.

A more significant number is how much of the money Gingrich raised came in small denominations and how much in big checks. Federal Election Commission reports show that through Jan. 31, roughly $11.5 million came from donations under $250. That's about 63 percent of Gingrich's total fundraising. For Obama, the comparable figure is nearly 80 percent.

And the whole calculus leaves out the biggest influence on the Gingrich campaign's financial fortunes ? the group Winning Our Future, an independent super PAC that has been running ads supporting him. Of that group's $13.1 million in total contributions, about 75 percent ? or $10 million ? came from just two people: Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam.

___

CHICAGO MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL, quoted in the Obama campaign film on Romney's opposition to the auto bailout: "A lot of conventional wisdom wanted to do what Mitt Romney did ? let it go, can't be saved, why put good money after bad?"

THE FACTS: Emanuel, Obama's former chief of staff, joins some of Romney's Republican rivals in twisting the meaning of his 2008 New York Times article opposing the bailout. The article's headline, "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt," has caused Romney plenty of grief, and the film displays it. But his prescription was meant to save the automakers by having them go through bankruptcy, with the government guaranteeing financing afterward and backing up new car warranties. There is plenty of skepticism that such an idea would have worked, given the chaos in private lending institutions at the time, but he never argued that the auto industry could not be saved.

___

ROMNEY on whether Obama is responsible for high gasoline prices, speaking Thursday on Fox News: "Absolutely. He has not pursued policies that convince the world that America is going to become energy secure and energy independent. He held off drilling in the Gulf. He's held off drilling out of ANWR. He said no to the Keystone pipeline from Canada."

THE FACTS: Despite the former Gulf moratorium, Obama's opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and his decision to delay ? not kill ? the Keystone XL project, the U.S. produced more oil in 2010 than it has since 2003, and all forms of energy production have increased. Offshore production alone surged in the first two years of the Obama administration after being on a downward trend since 2003.

Rising energy demand in developing countries, a cold winter in Europe and tensions with Iran have put pressures on the world oil market and are among the contributors to higher gasoline prices that presidents have little if any power to control.

___

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, in a speech to autoworkers Thursday in Toledo, Ohio: "One more thing: the president's historic fuel economy efficiency standards that nearly doubled the efficiency of cars, saving the American families $1.7 trillion at the pump, helping free us from foreign oil dependence. "

THE FACTS: Biden is about 13 years ahead of things. The doubling of mileage standards is to be achieved by 2025. Estimated savings at the pump, though considerable, will be partly offset in the showroom, because the standards will add thousands of dollars to the cost of a car.

___

Associated Press writers Dina Cappiello, Jack Gillum, Steve Peoples, Ken Thomas and Jennifer Agiesta contributed to this report.

EDITOR'S NOTE _ An occasional look at statements by political candidates and how well they adhere to the facts.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fact-check-misfires-campaign-trail-073948652.html

love and hip hop 2012 nfl mock draft iowa caucus dick clark lemonade diet steve jobs action figure chris jericho

Obama Wants Lincoln's Vision to 'Rub Off' on GOP in Illinois

CHICAGO - President Obama wasted little time wading into the Illinois GOP primary debate on a visit here today, poking fun at? rival candidates who remain in disarray and insisting they should all try to be more like Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president and Illinois-native.

"You might have noticed that we have some guests in Illinois this week," Obama said of the Republican presidential candidates before a crowd of 600 donors at the Palmer House Hilton. "Apparently, things haven't quite wrapped up on the other side so ? there's actually some interest in the primary that we have here on Tuesday.

"My message to the candidates is:? Welcome to the land of Lincoln, because I'm thinking maybe some Lincoln will rub off on them while they are here," Obama said.

Obama, who has previously upheld Lincoln as an exemplar of compromise, today portrayed him as an early advocate for an activist federal government that envisions grand infrastructure projects and legislative protections for citizens, suggesting that he and Lincoln have a lot in common.

"Lincoln, the first Republican president, knew that if we as a nation through our federal government didn't act to facilitate these things, then they likely wouldn't happen," Obama said, adding that he hoped the candidates visiting his adopted hometown "reflect on this great man." ?(He did not identify Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich or Rick Santorum by name.)

"That vision of Lincoln's, the vision of a big, bold, generous, dynamic, active, inclusive America - that's the vision that has driven this nation for more than 200 years. That's the vision that helped create Chicago," he said. "That's the vision that drove our campaign in 2008."

Obama spoke inside an ornate ballroom at the Palmer House Hilton for a? Lawyers for Obama fundraising luncheon, where tickets started at $2,500 apiece, according to a campaign official.? Proceeds from the event benefit the Obama Victory Fund, a joint fundraising account run by the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

Guests dined on spring salads with lettuce, mandarin oranges and seasonal berries;? Frenched chicken breasts with asparagus and roasted tomatoes and potatoes; and strawberry tartlets for dessert, according to a menu on one of the ballroom's tables.???After his speech, Obama was to spend time behind closed doors with a more exclusive group of 60 campaign financiers, who each paid $10,000 to engage in a "roundtable discussion."

Obama told the crowd he wished he could stay for the weekend, because "we all know there's no better place to be on St. Patrick's Day than in Chicago."? Instead, he will fly south to Atlanta for a trio of evening fundraisers for his re-election campaign.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-wants-lincolns-vision-rub-off-gop-illinois-194614354--abc-news.html

censored darvish jerry yang stop sopa justified southland sopa blackout

Friday, March 16, 2012

Women's issues to haunt GOP candidates in general election ...

(Ariel Rothfield/ Medill)

?

WASHINGTON?While the economy still tops the talking points of Republican presidential candidates, the battle over access to birth control and other women?s health issues has sprung to life on the primary campaign trail as a hot-button issue that some say will drive women away from the GOP.

Until recently, the election had been mostly dominated by the economy and high unemployment rates. But now, social issues like contraception and birth control access are driving the political conversation.

?I think the Republican primaries have put a lot of emphasis on certain women?s issues and unfortunately they are choosing the ones that are politically expedient, not necessarily the ones women want to talk about,? said Lisa Maatz, director of Public Policy and Government Relations at the American Association of University Women.

Social issues first emerged on Feb. 2 when the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation announced it was ending its grants to Planned Parenthood. After three days of criticism from politicians and the public, the foundation reinstated its funding.

This incident was quickly followed by a standoff between the White House and the Catholic Church over an addition to the health care law that required that all employers to provide contraceptive coverage to their employees.

Congressional Republicans joined the fight, unsuccessfully attempting to pass an amendment that would allow employers to opt out of providing birth control. President Barack Obama quickly exempted nonprofit religious organizations from the requirement, moving the onus of coverage to insurance companies.

Within days, birth control and contraception became a heated talking point on the GOP campaign trail.

?These issues are something the Republican [presidential candidates] seem to have really locked onto,? said Maatz. ?But their positions don?t seem to be reflective of where most women are at.?

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum has taken a forceful position on social issues. On the campaign trail, Santorum has argued that the wide availability of birth control has had ?negative moral and social impacts? on the country.

Although Mitt Romney is more socially moderate than his competitor, the former Massachusetts governor also rejected President Barack Obama?s mandated health care plan.? At an event in Fargo, North Dakota, Romney said requiring institutions to provide birth control violated the First Amendment.

According to survey released by the Centers of Disease Control, virtually all women ages 15 to 44 have at one time used some form of contraception.

?The idea that major party candidates would be questioning birth control is really shocking,? said Lois Uttley, co-founder of Raising Women?s Voices. ?Contraception was legalized for married people in 1965 with the Griswold Supreme Court decision. For most Americans, this has been a settled issue ever since.?

The latest comments from the Republican candidates have aimed to energize the party?s conservative base. Yet these comments have enraged many moderate and independent women?one of the most important electoral swing votes.

?The issues have really hit home and the reality is women are not liking what they are hearing,? said Maatz. ?These are the few issues where women will split with their families and church and go to the ballot box to vote for who they want?not for who their husband told them to vote for.?

Charles Cook, editor of The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns, said focusing on social issues will hurt the Republicans in the general election.

?This year, it seems that Republicans have become self-absorbed and obsessed with their conservative base,? said Cook. ?They seem unable to acknowledge or unwilling to care that the rest of the electorate is watching and getting turned off by overheated rhetoric almost guaranteed to alienate all but the most conservative voters.?

(Ariel Rothfield/Medill)

From 1992 to 2008, Democrats won the overall women?s vote in every presidential election. But in the 2010 midterm election, women overwhelmingly supported Republicans.

Now, there are signs of another shift in party allegiance.

According to an Associated Press poll, Obama?s approval rating among women has jumped since December, from 43 percent to 53 percent. The poll suggests this gain was fueled by the current focus on contraception in the political world.

?Right now [the Republican Party] is in the process of losing young women?s votes for an entire generation,? said Terry O?Neill, president of the National Organization of Women. ?It?s troubling.?

According to O?Neill, the Republican Party has created a sudden ?culture war? over the rights of women and their place in society.

While officials of the Republican National Committee did not respond to requests for comment, the president of the National Federation of Republican Women said there is ?absolutely no gender gap? within the Republican Party.

?From RNC staff members to Republican volunteers, there is always an even mix of females and males,? said Rae Chornenky, president of the NFRW.

The 2012 Republicans primaries are a good indication of this, she added.

?Republican women are very involved and connected with the different candidates and their staffs,? said Chornenky. ?When we do get a candidate, I think women?s voices are going to be heard?heard more and heard more strongly.?

War on Women

O?Neill, however, called the GOP primaries ?a referendum on the war against women. Santorum is one of the most enthusiastic warriors against women and that is a huge part of his policy and platform.?

After the Pentagon announced that women would formally be permitted to have jobs closer to the front lines of combat, Santorum expressed skepticism. The Republican presidential candidate said women?s ?emotions? could create a ?compromising situation.?

?Rick Santorum does not know what he is talking about,? said O?Neill. ?Combat today is not arranged in front lines and back lines. Women who serve in Iraq or Afghanistan are every bit in harms way as the men who serve alongside them. But the difference is they are not entitled to combat pay.?

According to Service Women?s Action Network, more than 140 women in the American military have lost their lives during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Pentagon?s new rule opens up specialty jobs previously limited to men. Women can now be tank mechanics, radio operators, medics and fire detection specialists.

Although many women already have these jobs, they now will get corresponding salaries.

?Currently, our military policies are creating what we call ?a brass ceiling?,? said Katy Otto, communications director for SWAN. ?Women are performing a lot of the same jobs as men that carry similar risks, but they are not being allowed to have the appropriate titles and rankings. The Pentagon?s decision is just one small step forward to solving this problem.?

According to Otto, the subject of women in combat will ?definitely? be a topic of discussion in the upcoming general election.

?Santorum has already commented on this subject. And although his comments were kind of ridiculous, he brought attention to it,? Otto said.

In an interview on NBC?s Today show, Santorum clarified his comments about women in the military.

?The issue is?and certainly one that has been talked about for a long, long time?is how men would react to seeing women in harm?s way, or potentially being injured or in a vulnerable position and not being concerned about accomplishing the mission,? Santorum said.

Women advocacy groups argue that Santorum?s backpedaling illustrates the growing problem within the Republican Party?an inability to connect with women voters.

According to O?Neill, this is because the Republican Party is a ?male-dominated? establishment.

?One of the reasons the Republican Party is losing its way is because it has pushed out its women,? she said. ?It would be a better, stronger party if it brings more women into its leadership.?

?

Source: http://medillonthehill.net/2012/03/womens-issues-to-haunt-gop-candidates-in-general-election/

natalee holloway fafsa hines ward branson missouri davy jones dead monkees last train to clarksville