Legal Schnauzer: A Reporter Goes Undercover to Expose the Debt ...

America consists of two kinds of people--those who have heard from debt collectors and those who probably will hear from debt collectors.

In a nation of easy credit, most Americans are just a few late payments away from entering the murky netherworld of collection companies, outfits with names like NCO, Mann Bracken, LVNV, and Asset Acceptance. Never heard of those? If you have a credit card, you probably will someday.

When collection phone calls start coming--often accompanied by unlawful threats, misrepresentations, and other forms of deceit--most Americans have no idea what they are getting into. I know because I used to be one of those clueless Americans.

I had to educate myself about the sharks that swim in the churning, poorly regulated waters of the debt-collection business. But you won't have to do that if you make author Fred Williams your friend.

Williams, probably the foremost debt-collection journalist in the country, has written a book that is indispensable for consumers who want to be prepared when the collection calls start coming. It's called
Fight Back Against Unfair Debt Collection Practices: Know Your Rights and Protect Yourself From Threats, Lies, and Intimidation (FT Press, 2011).

That's an unwieldy title, and it doesn't do Williams' book justice. The FT in FT Press stands for Financial Times, and the publisher is an imprint of Pearson Prentice Hall. The book apparently was marketed as a specialty book, in the personal finance genre.

Fight Back is about as close as you will find to a "one-stop shop" for information about dealing with debt collectors--and as such, it is a personal-finance book. But it's much more than that. Williams, a former reporter for The Buffalo News, went underground to work for three months at a debt-collection agency in 2008. That experience produced an articled titled "Confessions of a Debt Collector," at Kiplinger.

Fight Back is the book-length account of Williams' time as a debt collector. He now lives in Virginia and comes across as a true reporter, a guy who deals in solid information. He has a no-frills, behind-the-scenes style that conjures up a non-fiction version of John Grisham. You get the sense that this is a writer who has been there, who knows his subject intimately. Fight Back, at its best, reads like a Grisham novel--except that the bad guys are managers in a debt-collection agency, not partners in a law firm.

The law, however, plays a leading role in Fight Back. Specifically, it's a single law, called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). It's supposed to govern the actions of debt collectors and keep them from behaving in an abusive fashion. Williams shows, through 194 crisply written pages, that the FDCPA is pathetically weak and does almost nothing to protect consumers.

That's why consumers have to be prepared to protect themselves. And Fight Back is filled with practical suggestions for doing just that.

How badly is the FDCPA failing? Consider this from Williams:

Debt collectors caused more than 300,000 complaints to the Federal Trade Commission in the past five years, more than any other industry that the agency regulates. The rate of complaints is exploding, having more than tripled since 2003. The number-one complaint is that collectors are demanding money that people do not even owe, even grabbing it from their bank accounts. As the industry casts its net wider and wider--making an estimated one billion contacts with consumers per year--a growing number of people say they are being shaken down by telephone bullies.

My wife and I know what that is like. I've written extensively about our battles with debt collectors and their disregard for federal law and the rights of consumers. We even have tape-recorded evidence of collectors from the Birmingham firm Ingram & Associates repeatedly violating the FDCPA?while trying to collect a debt I allegedly owed to American Express. The local firm, headed by a lawyer named Angie Ingram, was hired to collect the debt by a large Pennsylvania outfit called NCO. Multiple parties in our federal lawsuit admitted this, but we have recordings of Ingram representatives repeatedly saying they had been hired by American Express to sue me--that Angie Ingram was American Express' lawyer. This is both a grotesque violation of the FDCPA--which prohibits any false or deceiving statements to alleged debtors--and it also represents fraud under Alabama state law.Has our tape-recorded evidence, which is indisputable, been helpful in our lawsuit against Ingram and NCO? Not exactly. Much more is coming soon on our case and the lengths to which federal judges (and lawyers who defend the industry) will go to keep the high-dollar, debt-collection express rolling. But for now, we will focus on the broad picture--and Fred Williams shows clearly that it isn't pretty. About his three months as a collector, Williams writes:

As it turned out, the job tested more than the ability of a legally compliant collector to remain employed. On a day-to-day level, the job also tested my standards for reasonable and humane conduct. Living by the golden rule is not entirely congruent with the task of browbeating strangers who have fallen on hard times--especially ones whose lives have become a tragedy.

What's the environment like at a typical collection outfit?

Call centers are like factories used to be in this Rust Belt area--places where practically anyone can show up and get a job. But these jobs are easier to get than they are to keep. Of the four female trainees present at the start, one fails to return after the midmorning break, marking the first of what will be many abrupt exits from our group.

Williams isn't writing about a problem that affects only those on the fringes of American society; it affects us all:

The average home has three open credit-card accounts. Nearly half of all Americans carry a balance on their cards, with the average household's balance being over $7,000.

That means millions of Americans are just one job loss, health problem, or lawsuit away from a financial upheaval--and the debt-collection calls that come with it.

One of our goals is to help educate consumers about issues that many are likely to face someday. We will return to Fight Back, and Fred Williams, for assistance.

Here is an interview with Williams on CNBC:

Source: http://legalschnauzer.blogspot.com/2012/01/reporter-goes-undercover-to-expose-debt.html

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Brazil leader arrives in Cuba to talk trade, ties (Reuters)

HAVANA (Reuters) ? Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff arrived in Havana on Monday for a two-day visit focused on trade, but nagged by Cuba's ever-present human rights issues.

She was scheduled to tour the port of Mariel near Havana, where Brazil is helping finance an $800 million renovation by Brazilian engineering giant Odebrecht; witness the signing of new trade agreements with the Communist island; and meet with President Raul Castro and possibly his older brother Fidel Castro.

Rousseff was greeted at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, then driven away without addressing reporters.

Economic and political ties between the two countries were deepened under Rousseff's predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but she has focused more on business issues since taking office last year and was expected to do the same with Cuba.

The Caribbean island has sought, among other things, agricultural aid from Brazil, and Odebrecht said on Monday it would sign an agreement to work with Cuba's troubled sugar industry to increase production at a sugar mill in Cienfuegos province.

A Brazilian sugar industry executive told Reuters the company also would produce ethanol from sugarcane at the plant.

The company is turning Mariel, best known as the site of a 1980 Cuban exodus to the United States, into Cuba's main commercial port and a hub for its nascent offshore oil industry.

In her youth, Rousseff was a leftist guerrilla fighter inspired by Fidel Castro's 1959 communist revolution.

In 1970, she was arrested, tortured and imprisoned for three years.

The recent death of hunger-striking Cuban dissident Wilman Villar has created pressure on Rousseff to raise human rights issues with Cuban leaders, but Brazilian media reports said she was unlikely to do so publicly.

Brazilian sources have said the government favors a democratic opening in Cuba, but that it will not push hard.

The Cuban government has said Villar was a common criminal, not a dissident, and did not conduct a hunger strike as his fellow opponents claimed.

At a Monday news conference on Villar, former political prisoner Jose Daniel Ferrer said Rousseff may sympathize with Cuba's dissidents, but he also did not expect her to discuss it publicly.

"There are other interests, other matters of greater interest for the Brazilian leader," he said.

The Brazilian government roiled the waters ahead of the visit last week when it granted dissident blogger Yoani Sanchez a visa to visit the country in February for the airing of a documentary in which she appears.

The Cuban government views Sanchez as one of its top enemies and, like all dissidents, a mercenary in the pay of its long-time ideological enemy, the United States. It has repeatedly blocked her from traveling abroad, where she has a large international following.

She said on Twitter she has requested permission to go to Brazil.

Sanchez and the dissident group Ladies in White have sought visits with Rousseff, but that also appeared to be unlikely.

Last week, Sanchez wrote on Twitter that she had seen a photograph of "young Dilma, sitting on a bench blindfolded as men accused her. I feel that way now."

Rousseff was to travel to Haiti on Wednesday, where Brazilian troops lead the U.N. peacekeeping force and Brazil has helped finance a Cuban medical mission at work since a powerful earthquake struck that Caribbean country two years ago.

(Additional reporting by Rosa Tania Valdes; editing by Tom Brown)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120130/wl_nm/us_cuba_brazil

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Imperial War Museum Collection ? Inexpensive Car Insurance in ...

Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2012 in iwm

Searching for inexpensive California auto insurance? The important thing to discovering the cheapest California auto insurance prices would be to take advantage of discounts, purchase only the quantity of protection which you require, and also to consistently shop around for California automobile insurance coverage estimates from many various insurance coverage companies a minimum of as soon as every six months. After all, California auto insurance rates change often and its up to you to spend a couple of moments doing some study so you can find a cheap California auto insurance coverage for yourself!

California is one of the biggest states within the entire nation with an approximated 36,457,549 million people and experts only predict that it?ll still develop (it has developed a staggering 7.6% from 2005 to 2006). With so many individuals residing within the state, one are only able to assume that there will be numerous more drivers entering the this Western region from the United states, therefore much more vehicles will probably be around the streets of California in many years to come. Because of this it?s no surprise that rates in California could get to be very expensive when it comes to car insurance coverage, especially in cities like La, San Francisco and San Diego.

It?s important to know however, that potential customers can nonetheless find inexpensive CA car insurance coverage when they shop about and do everything they need to do before choosing a company. One factor relating to this state is the fact that has great variety with regards to inhabitants. People from all over the globe come to California to live and since of this automobile insurance companies need to shape their protection to them.

Before even deciding on the type of protection you would like from the specific automobile insurance business it is essential to understand the state requirements (or state?s minimums) for California. This will allow you to see the minimum protection feasible which you can choose from the particular car insurance coverage business, thus it?ll give you the least expensive price feasible. The state of California dictates that one must be responsible for their very own actions with regards to driving a motorcar and that a person should understand the danger associated with being powering the wheel of a automobile.

The statutory limitations for car Insurance within the state of California are 15/30/5. This means that any individual driving a car in the streets of this state needs to possess a minimum of Bodily Damage of 15,000 for death of injury of anybody person, Bodily Injury or 30,000 for all persons in one accident and Home Harm of $5,000 per accident. This really is distinct as California auto insurance legislation is trying to prevent legal arbitrations towards any driver when is involves automobile accidents.

One factor of be aware is that even though having the minimal coverage will help you with the rates, in case of an accident you will not have complete or collision protection. Also, those individuals that purchased a car and are nonetheless making payments on it, or those of you who leased a car will not be in a position to obtain minimal protection (they are required to have complete and collision protection). Because of this reason, it is important to keep in mind not just how much money you can pay for when purchasing a new automobile, but just how much your insurance will rise if you buy it.

Apart from having the minimum protection that the state of California enforces you will find many other issues a driver must take into account when they desire a cheap California car insurance coverage. One of them would be to try and get a substantial deductible; nevertheless it should be a deductible that they can afford just in case some thing happens.

If you personal a relatively old car and therefore are done generating payments on the car you should be okay having a minimum protection and a substantial deductible (the cheapest car insurance coverage coverage), however if you want to be protected and have a much less out of pocket cost in case something occurs try a reduced deductible. The most typical deductible is the fact that of $500 because it?s not to reduced or as well substantial at the same time, but individuals could even go so far as having a $1000 deductible which might reduce their rates significantly.

Final but not minimum is it important to say the variety of discounts that California automobile insurance companies offer to reduced the prices of potential clients trying to enroll in their plans. These reductions can be the primary thing with regards to inexpensive automobile insurance coverage rates within the state of California.

One factor that may definitely help your price is in the event you have a clean driving file. Since the state of California is a busy one, especially when it comes to visitors, insurance companies will lower your price if you are a great driver and generate defensively. In the event you get a DUI within the state, anticipate to pay much more than ambigu what you would for car insurance.

Another important low cost that just about all insurance businesses give is the fact that of car gear. In the event you have safety functions this kind of as air bags, anti-theft alarms, anti-lock brakes and any other people; then you will probably be good to go when it comes to reductions. Keep in mind that theft is a substantial danger that insurance coverage companies base their rates on, so in the event you try to prevent it with these features, your rate will probably be a lot lower.

Last although not minimum it?s great to discuss other reductions this kind of as good student and certified driver?s certificate. This first 1 if essential simply because while you start your driving profession you will be hit hard with substantial insurance coverage rates merely simply because you wont have expertise and insurance companies are taking a danger by insuring you. If you are a great pupil that makes great grades, you?ll have the ability to get discounts.

Also, if you go and attend a defensive motorists program, most California Auto Insurance Businesses will be able to provide you an enormous discount merely simply because you learned techniques which will help you become a better driver.

It isn?t hard to obtain a inexpensive automobile insurance coverage within the state of California. Although the state has more autos on the roads than ever before before and insurance rates are going up, you are able to steer clear of having to pay lots of money in the event you merely do the issues talked about over.

If you want the most affordable automobile insurance coverage coverage accessible then go ahead and get the minimal specifications, nevertheless you can?t be leasing or generating payments on your car. If you just simply want a price that is not sky rocket substantial, then simply try raising your deductible a little little bit or asking for a few of the many reductions that insurance businesses might give.

Here is some more information:
Buying a new automobile may be an enjoyable and exciting experience. You receive to walk the great deal selecting out the vehicles that match you best. When you find the 1 you want absolutely nothing beats that new car smell. You can?t wait to point out of one?s new car to all your friends and family. Then actuality sets in and also you understand you need to buy automobile insurance coverage for brand new vehicles and you have to spend for tags and revenue tax. This new car will rapidly set you back an additional thousand bucks out of pocket. Luckily, there are ways to avoid wasting on car insurance coverage for new vehicles. Think about the subsequent 4 suggestions to save on your new coverage.

Suggestion One: Select Your car Cautiously

When you are nonetheless around the lot you need to think about buying your insurance. In the event you wish to save cash search for a car which has lots of security functions and it is rated extremely by automobile and driver. Many insurance companies give discounts for security features. Their see is the fact that if you are safe they?re more unlikely to spend out an insurance claim. Make sure you get passenger air bags, anti-lock brakes, and a safety system inside your new automobile.

Tip Two: Evaluate Coverage for a Excellent Deal

The very best method to make sure you?re obtaining the best car insurance for new cars is to complete an online search and comparison. You are able to total a search by your zip code to find local insurance coverage agents. Nevertheless, you?ll discover you will find numerous companies that cover a number of states. Filling out the form is easy. Just make sure you have your driver?s license and VIN quantity for the car. Enter your own information and also you could get immediate quotes from numerous various companies instantly.

Tip Three: Don?t Buy Much more Than You?ll need

Purchasing car insurance coverage is type of like looking for groceries. You can purchase around you want, however you do not always require what you are purchasing. Every state has minimal protection limits. Nevertheless, there are no maximums. When you buy car insurance coverage for new vehicles you need to sit down and choose how much coverage you?ll need.

Do you require $25,000 bucks of medical coverage or $250,000? The difference in between the two amounts is extremely drastic. You policy could even ambigu whenever you add on substantial coverage quantities. It?s your decision to determine if you really need this much protection.

Suggestion Four: Increase Your Deductible Also compare Auto Insurance North Carolina here.

In the event you are purchasing car insurance for new cars you will have to choose how much you want your deductible to be. This is actually the amount you spend from pocket if you get into an accident. Most businesses permit you to choose deductibles from $500 to $1,five hundred.

Elevating your deductible will lower your insurance premium. Nevertheless, you have to make sure you possess the money to spend a $1,five hundred dollar deductible if you get into a wreck. This could be very difficult.

As you can see purchasing automobile insurance for new cars can be a bit tricky. Nevertheless, whenever you know what you?re performing the process is much easier.

Source: http://iwmcollections.org/2012/01/29/inexpensive-car-insurance-in-california-how-you-can-discover-inexpensive-california-auto-insurance-rates/

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U.S. healthcare reform: insurance companies shouldn't manage our ...

Healthcare shouldn?t be managed under a system that attempts to maximize profits for insurance companies and their CEOs and stock holders. The U.S. healthcare system is becoming impossible under the current fee for service system, which is due to insurance companies managing our healthcare decisions with profit as their bottom line.

Dylan Ratigan:

[W]e don?t have a health care system, we have a treatment sales system. The more tests and treatments a doctor can sell, the more money he or she can make in fees ? that means there?s a financial incentive to order an extra MRI or perform a surgery that may or may not be completely necessary.

This system is commonly called the ?fee for service? model for medical practice. That, in turn, is married to an employer-based health insurance monopoly ? the combination drives up costs for all of us. (Perhaps that?s why we spend more money than any other country worldwide on health care, but come in at #37 in quality of care.)

To discuss the issues with our model ?fee for service? healthcare, Dylan was joined by former DNC chair Dr. Howard Dean ? he has called ?fee for service? the single biggest barrier to controlling health care costs in America. Also in this segment is Charlie Kolb, president of the Committee for Economic Development, which represents a wide variety of major corporations in this country.

Watch:

?

via: leftish?(from the video above):

In the United States, an MRI scan is $1009.00

In Britain it?s $187.00.

In the?United States, bypass surgery costs over $59,000, in Britain just shy of $14,000.

Why do we pay so much, more than any other country in the world, and have relatively so little to show for it?

We outspend the rest of the world but in a country like France, which spends half as much as we do, the people live longer, they have lower infant mortality rates and they don?t have the obesity problems that we have.

~ Charlie Kolb, President of the Committee for Economic Development

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Source: http://underthemountainbunker.com/2012/01/28/u-s-healthcare-reform-insurance-companies-shouldnt-manage-our-healthcare/

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Immigration Stances of Four Remaining GOP Candidates (ContributorNetwork)

The Florida presidential primary is Tuesday. The state's most prominent face of immigration is Sen. Marco Rubio, elected in the 2010 midterm elections as a Republican. Rubio stated he would remain neutral in the primary, although immigration reform will be a major issue for the millions of Cuban-Americans in South Florida.

All four mainstream candidates have published immigration policies.

Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich has a plan based upon three principles and 11 solutions. Gingrich believes there is no comprehensive solution to the immigration problem facing the United States. He also believes law-abiding citizens should have a path to citizenship that supersedes those who are in America illegally. To that end, a system must be established to balance the legality and reality of deportation involving family ties in the United States versus those engaged in illegal activities such as drug trafficking.

Gingrich's first solution is to control the border with Mexico. Second is to create a more efficient visa program to allow visitors to the United States legally. Other solutions include more tourist visas, create new paths to legality for some 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States and quick deportation of known criminals.

Rep. Ron Paul

Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, has somewhat more drastic measures for immigration policy. He agrees with Gingrich that border security must be enforced. Paul also wants to end the clause in the Constitution of the United States that gives people born in the United States automatic citizenship rights.

Paul wants to end the massive "welfare state" that he claims encourages illegal immigration. The Representative from Texas also wants a policy of no amnesty for undocumented illegal immigrants. Paul's strategy is much more simplified and less detailed than that of the other candidates.

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney's stances on immigration are straightforward and stark. In his foreign policy paper published in October 2011, Romney calls Mexico "a failed state" that has wrought "death and mayhem" across the country due to drugs. Romney believes the United States should cooperate with allies in Mexico to secure the border.

In speeches and interviews, Romney is against giving benefits to illegal immigrants such as in-state tuition to public universities. The former governor of Massachusetts has fought amnesty for undocumented immigrants and advocates for a tamper-proof employment verification system for workers.

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum is proud to be the son of an Italian immigrant. The former Senator from Pennsylvania calls upon the immigration system in America to be "fair and robust" when dealing with illegal immigrants. Like every other mainstream GOP candidate, Santorum believes the first thing that should be done is securing the border with Mexico.

Streamlining visa programs, outlawing amnesty and deporting criminals are also priorities for Santorum. He also believes English should be made the official language of the U.S. government. He also advocates greater teaching of American history in schools and wants the promotion of legal immigration for entrepreneurs and highly educated citizens of other countries.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120129/pl_ac/10899103_immigration_stances_of_four_remaining_gop_candidates

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The GOP debate: 7 takeaways (Politico)

JACKSONVILLE , Fla ? This was Newt Gingrich?s last chance to shine on the big stage before Tuesday. It did not go as hoped.

Gingrich and Mitt Romney were supposed to be the main attractions, but Rick Santorum and Ron Paul won notice at the 19th GOP debate, hosted by CNN at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Continue Reading

Below are POLITICO?s seven takeaways:

1) This was the ?Trading Places? debate

For a 120 minutes, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich essentially traded roles ? Romney, often meek and shrill-sounding as he defended himself this cycle, became the aggressor, and Gingrich, who?s played the debate hall crowd like a musical instrument in the past, seemed to shrink from the attacks.

Romney came with balled-up fists to the debate stage, and swung hard at Gingrich during the first few questions ? in the exact fashion that the former House Speaker has typically gone at the front-runner.

It worked. Romney had the thing that has eluded him most this cycle ? a ?moment.?

The former Massachusetts governor, apparently having gotten the message that Florida?s outcome could be political life or death for him, slammed Gingrich hard for a now-pulled radio ad in which he described Romney as ?anti-immigrant.? A newly-confident Romney called the charge ?repulsive? and even demanded an apology.

The crowd, in its first roar of the night, loved it ? and Romney was off and running.

Even if there were moments where Romney could have hit Gingrich even harder ? he left the former House Speaker?s support for the individual health care mandate untouched, for instance ? he still gave the most confident answer he?s given to date on being proud of his successes, sounding something close to comfortable, for the first time, discussing his wealth.

Nevertheless, he made mistakes ? saying ?I have a trustee? and declaring he?s never voted for a Democrat if a Republican was also on the ballot were among them, neither of which were necessary to say or helpful to his cause. Two other fumbles: His ?doubting? that a negative ad against Gingrich is being aired by his campaign (it is) and his answer on taxes, which got very in the weeds about his money manager.

But it?s the first half-hour of almost every GOP debate that?s set the tone for the rest ? so the debate counts as a victory for Romney, who needed to keep the momentum from moving away from him again.

2) Whither Gingrich?

It was Gingrich who needed to recapture his momentum and he simply couldn?t do it.

For someone who has made performances in debates central to his candidacy, this was an unusual night.

The former House Speaker, appealingly pugnacious to GOP voters in past debates, simply seemed worn out and off point. Gone was the brawler who could whip up the crowd. And it?s not quite clear where he went.

He never raised any of the well-worn phrases he?s used to define Mitt Romney on the stump ? ?Massachusetts moderate? comes to mind. He also bypassed an opportunity to hit Romney over his Massachusetts health-care plan.

Gingrich?s pushback against Romney over the immigration issue simply failed to connect. He initially tried to avoid repeating his criticisms of Romney?s now-closed Swiss bank account on the debate stage ? something he?s hit him for on the trail in the last few days ? and attempted to retreat toward defending the entire GOP field from the mainstream media?s divisive questions.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/politico_rss/rss_politico_mostpop/http___www_politico_com_news_stories0112_72066_html/44323135/SIG=11m9iqcms/*http%3A//www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/72066.html

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Tagged Begins Transformation Of Social Gaming Network hi5

Tagged first announced its acquisition of struggling social network hi5 in December. Now, the company says it's ready to talk about what's going to happen to the property. Basically, Tagged will continue operating hi5 as a separate site, but one that starts to look more and more like Tagged ? as vice president of sales and marketing Steve Sarner put it, it will become "a Tagged.com experience with a hi5 wrapper." Even though Sarner says hi5 won't actually change for another six to eight weeks, hi5 users should start getting emails later today notifying them about the plans.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/vtl7DwKHvTk/

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Pride, Frustration and Determination as Egyptians Celebrate Their Revolution (Time.com)

Tens of thousands of Egyptians packed shoulder to shoulder into Cairo's Tahrir Square on Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of the uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak. Some, particularly Islamist supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and the ultra-Islamist Salafis' Nour party, came out to celebrate their victories after a year of political discovery.

Between them, the Islamist parties won a combined 72% of available seats in the lower house of parliament in the country's first democratic election in more than a half century. "We are here to celebrate what we've achieved, and reiterate what we haven't achieved," said Mohamed Abdel Ghafar, a 40-year-old teacher sporting a Freedom and Justice Party hat. "We achieved the elections and the ousting of Mubarak, putting the symbols of corruption on trial, setting a date for the transition of authority, and lifting the emergency law," he added. Nearby, a speaker on the Brotherhood's stage trumpeted congratulations to Egypt's heroes -- that would be everyone who came out to help overthrow the president.

But thousands of those on Tahrir Square, Wednesday, also came out to protest. While many express satisfactin with the election result, frustration over economic woes, endemic corruption, and the slow pace of reform has deepened in the year since Mubarak's fall. The focus of much of that anger has been the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), the junta that took over from Mubarak last February and has shown little interest in ceding complete executive authority to a civilian government. (MORE: Egyptians Mark Their Revolution's Anniversary with Mixed Feelings)

Men, women, and families thronged beneath banners demanding an end to military rule and justice for those killed and injured by security forces during the uprising and protests since. Liberal youth activists even chanted for the execution of SCAF chief Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi, hoisting posters depicting faces of Mubarak officials, as well as Tantawi and leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood.

"We believe that SCAF lost its legitimacy in August and now it's ruling the country with force," said Mohamed al-Essawy, 24, who held a large stencil depicting the faces of Tantawi and the Brotherhood's speaker of parliament hovering over bodies of slain activists. "They're playing chess with the revolution," he explained. "Anything supervised by SCAF is illegitimate, ranging from the parliament to the constitution."

Liberals, youth activists, and political analysts have increasingly alleged that a conspiracy exists between the Brotherhood and the junta, pointing to the former's seeming compliance with military-drafted rules and declarations. However, the majority of Egyptians seem to disagree. (PHOTOS: Revolution in Egypt: 18 Days That Shook the World)

On January 24th, Tantawi announced the termination of the country's emergency law on national television, in a move aimed at currying favor with the protesters ahead of the one year anniversary of the uprising. For Brotherhood supporters, and many others in Tahrir on Wednesday, the concession seemed like an additional victory. But an exemption decreed by Tantawi, which allows the emergency law's provisions to be applied in cases of "thuggery", had human rights groups crying foul -- the imprecise term has been widely used by the military to prosecute activists over the past year. Human Rights Watch warned that the exception would "invite abuse."

Demonstrators poured into the downtown square throughout the day, many marching the same routes they had taken a year ago to start the historic rebellion. That day was fraught with tension and violence, as protesters broke through police lines and braved volleys of tear gas, astounded and emboldened by the power of their collective action. There were no police lines to cross to get to Tahrir for the anniversary event, and the crowd was far larger this time than it had been a year ago. But nostalgia ran high. Tahrir pulsed with the national pride that had characterized the 18-days that brought down Mubarak. And the crowd's diversity stirred the familiar debate and exchange of ideas that many Egyptians had reveled in a year ago, as men and women from across the country and its social classes first camped in the square, united by the common goal of ousting Mubarak. (PHOTOS: Police and Protesters Clash in Cairo)

"We were not divided back then," remembered Mohamed Farghaly, a university student. "On January 25th 2011, we were unified. We came down to call for the fall of the regime, and at the time, we thought that Mubarak was the regime," he said. "Then we found out that he wasn't." Farghaly admits that his realization hasn't been shared by everyone. "The majority is staying at home," he added, claiming they had been swayed by the "liars" on state TV. "That's the division, and it's one of the biggest challenges."

Indeed, how the numbers fall on either side of that division will impact Tahrir's dynamic in the days ahead. Already, many say they will camp in the square as long as it takes to force the military from power. Some have predicted a repeat of the violent clashes between protesters and security forces that characterized a series of demonstrations in November and December, particularly if large numbers remain in Tahrir and the military moves to clear it. "Some of the people think that we need to stay until SCAF leaves," said one Brotherhood supporter, Mohamed Said. "As Muslim Brotherhood, we don't believe that. We are here to deliver a message." That doesn't mean the revolution is over, he added, but Egyptians can make their voices heard in other ways.

With reporting by Sharaf al-Hourani / Cairo

MORE: How Democracy Can Work in the Middle East

VIDEO: Why They Protest: Egypt, Libya and Syria

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Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/time/20120126/wl_time/08599210538400

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Rate on 30-year fixed mortgage rises to 3.98 pct. (AP)

WASHINGTON ? The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage rose this week for the first time this month, though it remained below 4 percent for the eighth straight week.

The low rates may be contributing to a slow turnaround in the depressed housing market. Still, many who can afford to buy or refinance a home have already done so.

Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 3.98 percent this week. That's up from 3.88 percent the previous week, which was the lowest level on record.

The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage also rose to 3.24 percent, from 3.17 percent the previous week. The 15-year mortgage hit a record low of 3.16 percent two weeks ago.

Mortgage rates are low because they tend to track the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which fell below 2 percent this week.

For the past three months, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has hovered near 4 percent. Historically low mortgage rates are among the signs that point to a pickup in the housing market this year.

Sales of previously occupied homes rose in December for a third straight month. Homebuilders are slightly more hopeful because more people are saying they might consider buying this year. And home construction picked up in the final quarter of last year.

Still, new homes fell in December, the Commerce Department said Thursday. About 302,000 new homes were sold last year, making 2011 the worst year for new home sales on records dating back to 1963.

High unemployment and scant wage gains have made it harder for many people to qualify for loans. Many don't want to sink money into a home that they fear could lose value over the next few years.

Builders are hopeful that the low rates could boost sales next year. Low mortgage rates were cited as a key reason the National Association of Home Builders survey of builder sentiment rose strongly in December and January.

To calculate the average rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country Monday through Wednesday of each week.

The average rates don't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.

The average fee for the 30-year loan dipped to 0.7 from 0.8; the average on the 15-year fixed mortgage was unchanged at 0.8.

For the five-year adjustable loan, the average rate rose to 2.85 percent from 2.82 percent. The average on the one-year adjustable loan was unchanged at 2.74 percent.

The average fee on the five-year adjustable loan rose was unchanged at 0.7; the average on the one-year adjustable-rate loan was unchanged at 0.6.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personalfinance/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_on_bi_ge/us_mortgage_rates

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Obama Makes 'Spilled Milk' Joke During 2012 State Of The Union (VIDEO)

Few would say that President Obama's State of the Union address was funny. But he did, at one point, try to make a joke:

We've already announced over 500 reforms, and just a fraction of them will save business and citizens more than $10 billion over the next five years. We got rid of one rule from 40 years ago that could have forced some dairy farmers to spend $10,000 a year proving that they could contain a spill -- because milk was somehow classified as an oil. With a rule like that, I guess it was worth crying over spilled milk.

The joke wasn't really a hit. The audience let out a very audible groan, and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) was caught on the C-SPAN camera doing the rimshot gesture.

WATCH:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/24/obama-bad-joke-state-of-the-union-2012_n_1229850.html

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We Should Not Consider Conception to Equal Fully Human (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | The Republican Party presidential hopefuls hold anti-choice positions, according to the Associated Press. The view that human life begins at conception is a common explanation offered. Is it scientifically supportable to say fertilization equals humanity? I say it's not. Here are the facts.

The first five days after fertilization see an egg dividing from the time it is a zygote (1 fertilized cell) until it becomes a blastocyst (about 150 cells), according to the National Institute of Health. Zygotes and blastocysts look kind of blobby to me -- not at all like a people.

It's hard to imagine the scale of things we can't see, so I had to do some research to put it into terms I could visualize better. I started with something small but easy to picture -- an ant.

The brain of a carpenter ant contains about 100,000 cells and is about 1/100th of the half-inch length of the ant, according to a University of Virginia study. Newborn humans average 20 inches in length, according to World Book. With that information and a little math we can develop a more useful comparison.

Assume a blastocyst is the size of a newborn human. A carpenter ant proportioned similarly would be about 5.25 miles long. The same comparison using the zygote would make the ant a horror-movie-worthy monstrosity 790 miles long.

Hopefully, that helps you see that zygotes and blastocysts are really tiny. Believing the cells should be considered human from the instant of fertilization would mean those tiny blobs are people. Having seen what they look like I can't justify calling them that.

On top of that I can't justify anti-choice thinking in this case. That little blob can't even think. How can it be more valuable than the life, or will, of the actual woman in whom it's floating around?

I don't claim to have all the answers. That said, it seems unreasonable to place the survival of a zygote or blastocyst ahead of the well-being of someone we all agree is a person -- the pregnant woman. In light of that I have to disagree with the position of all the candidates who argue that life begins at conception.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120124/pl_ac/10879459_we_should_not_consider_conception_to_equal_fully_human

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New discoveries in cell aging

ScienceDaily (Jan. 23, 2012) ? Researchers have quantified with precision the effect of protein aggregation on the cell aging processes using as models the Escherichia coli bacteria and the molecule which is thought to trigger Alzheimer's disease. Scientists have demonstrated that the effect can be predicted before it occurs. Protein aggregation is related to several diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases.

The research, published recently in the Journal of Molecular Biology, provides an extremely reliable system with which to model and quantify the effect of protein aggregation on the viability, division and aging of cells. It also aids in further understanding the natural evolution of proteins. According to Salvador Ventura, researcher at IBB and director of the research project, "it will serve to develop computer approximations to predict the effects aggregation has on cell aging, as well as to search for molecules that act as natural chaperones, highly conserved proteins which are present also in humans and which have the ability to reduce this effect in the bacteria."

Although it is widely accepted that bad folding and aggregation of proteins reduces the cell's ability to survive and reproduce, the damage caused had not been previously measured experimentally as precisely as it was in this research.

In previous studies scientists had verified that the expression of the Alzheimer's AB42 peptide in bacteria induces the process of protein aggregation. Now they have demonstrated that this effect is coded in the protein aggregation sequence and that it depends on intrinsic properties, not on a direct response from within the cell. This makes it possible to predict the effect. Scientists also demonstrated that damage caused to the bacteria is controlled by molecular chaperones, which reduce the tendency of proteins to aggregate and favour cell survival.

In addition to researchers from IBB and the UAB Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, participating in the project were scientists from the Biophysics Unit at CSIC-UPV, the University of the Basque Country, the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia and the Barcelona Centre for International Health Research.

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Journal Reference:

1. Anna Villar-Pique, Natalia S. de Groot, Raimon Sabat?, Sergio P. Acebr?n, Garbi?e Celaya, Xavier Fern?ndez-Busquets, Arturo Muga, Salvador Ventura. The Effect of Amyloidogenic Peptides on Bacterial Aging Correlates with Their Intrinsic Aggregation Propensity. Journal of Molecular Biology, 2011; DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2011.12.014

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/VTbtVfBvo9s/120123101831.htm

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Photo of the Day (Theagitator)

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

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House approves short-term extension of FAA programs for the 23rd time, long-term plan near (Star Tribune)

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Patriots in Super Bowl, beat Ravens 23-20 (AP)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. ? Tom Brady's 1-yard touchdown dive held up after the Ravens missed a chance to win, then tie the game in the final seconds, and the New England Patriots are on their way to the Super Bowl.

With New England leading by 3 points with 11 seconds left, Billy Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal attempt and the Patriots escaped with a 23-20 win over Baltimore in the AFC championship game on Sunday.

Two plays earlier, Joe Flacco's pass to wide receiver Lee Evans in the end zone was stripped by backup cornerback Sterling Moore.

On his touchdown with 11:29 left in the fourth quarter, Brady took a huge hit from Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis, then emphatically spiked the ball as he walked away. Earlier, Brady showed his fire by barking at Lewis following a hard tackle on a 4-yard run.

Next up as the Patriots chase their fourth Super Bowl trophy in Brady and coach Bill Belichick's tenure in New England is the winner of Sunday's NFC championship game between the Giants and 49ers. The Super Bowl is Feb. 5 in Indianapolis.

In their last trip to the big game, the Patriots had an 18-0 record when they were stunned by the Giants four years ago. They won the NFL championship for the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons. This time, they had to the Sup Bowl with a 10-game winning streak.

Brady's fifth trip to the Super Bowl will equal John Elway's achievement with Denver.

"We're going to try to go out and kick some butt in a couple of weeks," Brady said.

Moore's big play made up for getting victimized for a touchdown that gave Baltimore the lead 17-16. After Cundiff's kick hooked left, the Patriots stormed off their sideline in celebration as the chilled crowd roared. The Ravens looked on in disbelief.

A three-time NFL champion, Brady didn't throw for a touchdown for the first time in 36 games, although he did pass for 239 yards.

"Well, I (stunk) pretty bad today, but our defense saved us," Brady said. "I'm going to try to go out and do a better job in a couple of weeks, but I'm proud of this team, my teammates."

Brady needed help not only from Cundiff's botched kick in guiding the Patriots (15-3) to their fifth AFC title in 11 seasons, but from New England's maligned defense.

"We stepped up," Pro Bowl nose tackle Vince Wilfork said. "We all stepped up big time. Being in this situation is a great moment. You have to cherish this moment."

The Patriots shut down Ray Rice, the league's total yardage leader, who was limited to 78 yards. Brandon Spikes made a fourth-quarter interception of Flacco, who played well before that and threw for two touchdowns. And when the Ravens (13-5) were threatening to score a late touchdown to win their first conference title in 11 years, New England clamped down.

"It's two great football teams, two gladiators, I guess, just kind of going at each other at the end, and I'm proud of our guys," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "You know, we've got 53 guys, mighty men, as we like to call them ? and they fought, and we came up a little bit short, as 53. You know, 53 win and 53 lose."

With Rice a nonfactor, Baltimore had to rely on Flacco, and he delivered one of his best performances. Flacco has led the Ravens into the playoffs in all four of his pro seasons, but not to the Super Bowl. He was 22 for 36 for 306 yards and touchdowns of 6 yards to Dennis Pitta and 29 to rookie Torrey Smith.

The loss hardly could be blamed on Flacco.

Operating against a maligned secondary missing its top cornerback, Kyle Arrington, who left in the second quarter with an eye injury, Flacco gave Baltimore its first lead. His short pass on third down to explosive receiver Smith turned into a 29-yard scamper down the right sideline after Moore completely whiffed on the tackle.

Danny Woodhead's fumble on the ensuing kickoff set up Baltimore at the Patriots 28, but a third-down sack forced Cundiff to kick a 39-yard field goal, making it 20-16.

New England didn't flinch.

Brady took the Patriots 63 yards in 11 plays, and seemed to score on a 1-yard run. The call was overruled by replay, though, and on fourth-down, he dived just high enough over the line for the winning points.

"Those guys fought all year, and just like today, it wasn't always perfect, but they fought to the final gun and we came out on top," Belichick said.

Defense was particularly dominant early on ? New England's 31st-ranked defense. The Patriots held Baltimore to minus-4 yards on its first three first-down runs and forced the Ravens to go three-and-out each time. Meanwhile, the Patriots put together a methodical 13-play, 50-yard drive helped greatly by an illegal contact penalty on Lardarius Webb that negated a tipped interception by Bernard Pollard.

But Brady was sacked for the first time by Paul Kruger and Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 29-yard field goal.

Late in the first quarter, the Ravens changed tactics after Webb did pick off a pass intended for Julian Edelman at the Baltimore 30. Flacco rolled right on first down and threw deep down the sideline to a wide-open Smith. Had the pass not been short, Smith likely would have sprinted into the end zone. Instead, it was a 42-yard gain, not bad at all given Baltimore's previous ineptitude with the ball.

Cundiff's 20-yard field goal momentarily tied it.

Brady, perhaps peeved by his poor throw that Webb picked off, hit two passes for 29 yards on a 75-yard drive to make it 10-3. BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for 36 yards on that series, and also drew a personal foul against Webb, who ripped off the running back's helmet on a short rush. Green-Ellis surged into the end zone from the 7, then pointed to the patch on his jersey honoring Myra Kraft, the late wife of Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Going back to the pass, the Ravens tied it on a 6-yard throw to Pitta ? yes, Baltimore has some dangerous tight ends, too ? that concluded an 80-yard march. Flacco opened the drive with a 20-yard completion to Evans and then Anquan Boldin escaped Arrington's attempted tackle to gain 37 more yards on a reception. Flacco was finding holes in New England's coverage, particularly when he moved out of the pocket.

New England's All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski made an error at the end of a 63-yard drive, failing to keep two feet in bounds on a catch. Gostkowski's 35-yard field goal made it 13-10.

Gronkowski left for a while with a left leg problem, but soon returned.

"It's a real credit to the players," Belichick said. "I am real happy they will get to play in this game."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120123/ap_on_sp_fo_ga_su/fbn_afc_championship

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'Extinct' monkey rediscovered in Borneo by new expedition

Friday, January 20, 2012

An international team of scientists has found one of the rarest and least known primates in Borneo, Miller's Grizzled Langur, a species which was believed to be extinct or on the verge of extinction. The team's findings, published in the American Journal of Primatology, confirms the continued existence of this endangered monkey and reveals that it lives in an area where it was previously not known to exist.

Miller's Grizzled Langur (Presbytis hosei canicrus) is part of the small primate genus Presbytis, found across Borneo, Sumatra, Java and the Thai-Malay Peninsula. In Borneo, P.h. canicrus is only found in a small corner of the county's north east and its habitat has suffered from fires, human encroachment and conversion of land for agriculture and mining.

The team's expedition took to them to Wehea Forest in East Kalimantan, Borneo, a large 38,000 ha area of mostly undisturbed rainforest. Wehea contains at least nine known species of non-human primate, including the Bornean orangutan and gibbon.

"Discovery of P.h canicrus was a surprise since Wehea Forest lies outside of this monkey's known range. Future research will focus on estimating the population density for P.h. canicrus in Wehea and the surrounding forest," said Brent Loken, from Simon Fraser University Canada. "Concern that the species may have gone extinct was first raised in 2004, and a search for the monkey during another expedition in 2008 supported the assertion that the situation was dire."

By conducting observations at mineral licks where animals congregate and setting up camera traps in several locations, the expedition confirmed that P. h canicrus continues to survive in areas west of its previously recorded geographic range. The resulting photos provide the first solid evidence demonstrating that its geographic range extends further than previously thought.

"It was a challenge to confirm our finding as there are so few pictures of this monkey available for study," said Loken. "The only description of Miller's Grizzled Langur came from museum specimens. Our photographs from Wehea are some of the only pictures that we have of this monkey."

"East Kalimantan can be a challenging place to conduct research, given the remoteness of many remaining forested areas, so it isn't surprising that so little is known about this primate," said Dr. Stephanie Spehar, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. "We are very grateful to our local partners. This discovery represents the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of Western and Indonesian scientists, students, NGOs, as well as local communities and government."

"While our finding confirms the monkey still exists in East Kalimantan, there is a good chance that it remains one of the world's most endangered primates," concluded Loken. "I believe it is a race against time to protect many species in Borneo. It is difficult to adopt conservation strategies to protect species when we don't even know the extent of where they live. We need more scientists in the field working on understudied species such as Miller's Grizzled Langur, clouded leopards and sun bears."

###

Wiley-Blackwell: http://www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell

Thanks to Wiley-Blackwell for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/116909/_Extinct__monkey_rediscovered_in_Borneo_by_new_expedition

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WATCH: William Shatner Killed Off as Priceline Negotiator

William Shatner is going out with a bang. After fourteen years as the spokesperson for Priceline.com, Shatner's "Priceline Negotiator" character is being killed off in a surprisingly dramatic new commercial. Watch below!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/william-shatner-killed-priceline-negotiator/1-a-420620?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Awilliam-shatner-killed-priceline-negotiator-420620

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Jim Miller back on track with choke victory over Melvin Guillard at UFC on FX 1

Fundamentals took out flash Friday night.

Melvin Guillard looked spectacular at times, but after three minutes of wowing the crowd he was caught in another choke and had to tap to the very steady and tough Jim Miller.

Guillard, a dynamic striker, was lighting up Miller when he made a big mistake. He left his feet to attempt his fourth flying knee of the fight. Miller was waiting and dumped him to the ground where he eventually locked on a rear-naked choke to finish things at the 2:02 mark of the first round in the main event of the UFC on FX 1 card in Nashville.

"It always something I've been able to do and then from there it was just about securing the position," Miller told UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik. "I'm pretty confident that I am the most dangerous lightweight in the world. I'm willing to make you guys believe that."

The dominant victory puts Miller (21-3, 10-2 UFC) right back in the middle of the UFC lightweight title hunt. A second straight loss Friday and he would've tumbled down the rankings. Miller lost badly his last time out against Ben Henderson. He revealed this week that he was battling some medical issues entering that fight. That's all in the past now.

Guillard's regarded as one of the most explosive fighters in any weight division. He came out on fire.

Just 35 seconds into the fight, Guillard dropped Miller. As Miller scrambled he got drilled by six more hard punches. Miller clutch and grabbed to avoid more damage. He ate another big knee as the fighters separated. With 2:48 left, Miller absorbed another huge Guillard punch right down the pipe, but he never wilted. When Guillard tried a fourth flying knee, Miller was ready.

The 28-year-old from New Jersey dumped Guillard on his back and scored a momentary mount 10 seconds later. Guillard did himself in when he flipped to his back in an attempt to escape. Miller's jiu-jitsu is too nasty to attempt such an elementary escape. Miller jumped on Guillard's back as he tried to stand up and instantly sunk in his hooks. Guillard's suffered seven previous choke losses during his career. He wasn't getting out of this one.

A relieved Miller gave Guillard (29-10-2, 10-6 UFC) much credit following the fight.

"I don't get knocked down often and he knocked me down. He hits hard man. There are a lot of guys, I think in this weight class and the one above, that don't want to fight that kid," said Miller.

Henderson faces Edgar for the UFC lightweight title next month in Japan. Beyond that fight, it's anyone guess who'll get the next shot against the winner. Miller certainly put himself in the conversation.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/jim-miller-back-track-choke-victory-over-melvin-040255362.html

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Sarah Drew Welcomes Son Micah Emmanuel

The Grey's Anatomy star, 31, delivered son Micah Emmanuel Lanfer at 6:21 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18 in Los Angeles, her rep confirms to PEOPLE exclusively.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/9-jmc0odH5E/

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Swizz Beatz Is Not Megaupload's CEO, Actually [Megaupload]

According to Megaupload's attorney Ira Rothken, Professor Swizz "I Sleep With Alicia Keys Every Night" Beatz of New York University isn't CEO of the clobbered site. Rather, VentureBeat reports, he was "negotiating" for the position. Let's assume negotiations are over. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/19PMIoTbdcU/swizz-beatz-is-not-megauploads-ceo-actually

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Novel gene mutations associated with bile duct cancer

ScienceDaily (Jan. 18, 2012) ? Investigators at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center have identified a new genetic signature associated with bile duct cancer, a usually deadly tumor for which effective treatment currently is limited. Their report, which has been published online in The Oncologist, finds that growth-enhancing mutations in two related genes may account for nearly a quarter of bile duct tumors arising within the liver, presenting the possibility that drugs targeting this mutation could represent a new strategy to control tumor growth.

"Patients with bile duct cancer have a generally poor prognosis. Most of them are diagnosed with advanced or metastatic disease, so surgical resection is not feasible," says co-senior author Andrew Zhu, MD, PhD, director of Liver Cancer Research at the MGH Cancer Center. "Identifying this new and relatively common mutation in intrahepatic bile duct cancer may have significant implications for the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of patients whose tumors harbor this mutation."

Cancers of the gallbladder and bile duct are diagnosed in 12,000 patients in the U.S. each year, the authors note; but only 10 percent are discovered early enough to allow successful surgical treatment. Chemotherapy is modestly effective, leading to an average survival time of less than one year.

The MGH Translational Research Laboratory was jointly established by the MGH Department of Pathology and the MGH Cancer Center to screen patient tumor samples for mutations known to drive tumor growth, identifying those that may be treatable with targeted therapies. As part of this project, the MGH team screened samples from 287 patients with gastrointestinal tumors for 130 known cancer-associated mutations and were surprised to find that 3 out of 12 biliary tract cancer tumors had mutations in a gene called IDH1. To confirm this finding, they ran a more detailed screen in additional samples, for a total of 62 bile duct tumors and 25 gallbladder tumors. Mutations in IDH1 were found in 13 percent of all bile duct tumors and in 23 percent of those located within the liver itself. Less commonly, mutations were identified in a similar gene IDH2.

"Mutations in these genes are rare examples of abnormalities that profoundly affect the normal function of a metabolic enzyme," says lead author Darrell Borger, PhD, co-director of the Translational Research Laboratory. "Our co-investigators previously found that, in other types of cancer, mutations in these genes cause overproduction and dramatic accumulation of the metabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate. How this causes tumor development is being actively investigated, and it is now emerging that 2-hydroxyglutarate can disrupt the activity of a family of proteins important in signal transduction and regulation of gene expression."

Although no approved drugs are currently available that target IDH mutations, extensive efforts are underway to develop such drugs, Zhu notes. "Identifying these mutations in bile duct cancer raises many questions, including whether mutational status can distinguish various types of bile duct tumors and help predict prognosis. Also of interest is determining whether high blood levels of 2-hydroxyglutarate could serve as a biomarker for IDH1/2 status, which could provide a minimally invasive way to monitor the effects of new IDH inhibitors that may become available," he says. Zhu is an associate professor, and Borger an instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

John Iafrate, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Integrated Diagnostics in MGH Pathology, is corresponding and co-senior author of the Oncologist paper. Additional co-authors are Kenneth Tanabe, MD, Kenneth Fan, Hector Lopez, Marek Ancukiewicz, PhD, Hannah Liebman, Eunice Kwak, MD, PhD, Jeffrey Clark, MD, David Ryan, MD, Vikram Deshpande, MBBS, Dora Dias-Santagata, PhD, and Leif Ellisen, MD, PhD, all of the MGH Cancer Center; Valeria Fantin, PhD, Kimberly Straley and David Schenkein, MD, Agios Pharmaceuticals; and Aram Hezel, MD, University of Rochester.

Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The MGH conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the United States, with an annual research budget of more than $750 million and major research centers in AIDS, cardiovascular research, cancer, computational and integrative biology, cutaneous biology, human genetics, medical imaging, neurodegenerative disorders, regenerative medicine, reproductive biology, systems biology, transplantation biology and photomedicine.

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Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120118143628.htm

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OS battles troubles Sony Ericsson, Instagram (Appolicious)

The competition is heating up for mobile operating systems and manufacturers alike. Android had the mobile market on lockdown for the better part of 2011, but the iPhone 4S launch helped Apple make a surprise comeback towards the end of the year. According to US market watcher Nielsen, Q4 of 2011 saw Android?s share of the smartphone OS market drop from 61.6 percent to 46.9 percent. That?s still ahead of iOS, but Apple?s market share rose from 25.1 percent to 44.5 percent during this time frame. There?s no telling if Apple will be able to continue encroaching on Android?s share of the market, but the timely launch of the iPhone 4S proved to be a smart move.

Competition amongst Android handset makers

Apple?s intent on ruling the consumer market only fans the flames of competition amongst Android handset makers. Samsung?s been the dominant manufacturer in the Android camp, edging out HTC which saw losses last year. Sony Ericsson is having a tough time as well, reporting a 20 percent decrease year-on-year for handset sales. The company cites growing competition and price erosion as reasons for their slipping profit, with a net loss for Q4 amounting to $267 million. Sony Ericsson?s loss only emphasizes the woes Android handset makers face in relying on the open source operating system as their primary entrant into the mobile market.

Sony Ericsson?s hoping to turn things around with refreshed focus, thanks to Sony?s acquisition of the Ericsson branch. The deal, expected to be finalized in February at the latest, will centralize Sony?s efforts. ?It allows us even deeper integration with Sony offering. Our focus on Android, our focus on smartphones will not be different,? CFO Bill Glaser told Reuters in an interview.

Instagram skipping Android for Windows Phone?

Android?s become a highly relevant OS on a global scale, but it?s not the only platform in town. Rumors of Instagram heading to Android have been on the rise these past few weeks, and Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom has even promised an Android app in the future. But the latest rumblings indicate that Instagram may hit Windows Phone first. The unconfirmed rumor says that the Windows Phone team?s been working with Instagram on creating an app, and should Instagram hit Microsoft?s devices next, plenty of Android fans could feel slightly miffed.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/applecomputer/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/appolicious_rss/rss_appolicious_tc/http___www_androidapps_com_articles10812_os_battles_troubles_sony_ericsson_instagram/44230553/SIG=12sjnka0b/*http%3A//www.androidapps.com/tech/articles/10812-os-battles-troubles-sony-ericsson-instagram

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