Early rally evaporates as Italian gridlock looms

NEW YORK (AP) ? Early signs that Italy could be headed for political gridlock following closely followed elections popped an early stock market rally in the U.S. and Europe.

Markets had started the day higher Monday on hopes that center-left group was gaining in the polls.

Later news that the camp of former premier Silvio Berlusconi could clinch control of Italy's upper house of Parliament got investors worried that the country could backtrack on its economic reform program.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 65 points at 13,934 at midday, giving up an early gain of 81 points.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index was down seven at 1,508 and the Nasdaq was off six at 3,155.

Much of an early rally in European indexes also evaporated.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/early-rally-evaporates-italian-gridlock-looms-170258381--finance.html

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Watching molecules grow into microtubes

Feb. 22, 2013 ? Sometimes the best discoveries come by accident.

A team of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, headed by Srikanth Singamaneni, PhD, assistant professor of mechanical engineering & materials science, unexpectedly found the mechanism by which tiny single molecules spontaneously grow into centimeter-long microtubes by leaving a dish for a different experiment in the refrigerator.

Once Singamaneni and his research team, including Abdennour Abbas, PhD, a former postdoctoral researcher at Washington University, Andrew Brimer, a senior undergraduate majoring in mechanical engineering, and Limei Tian, a fourth-year graduate student, saw that these molecules had become microtubes, they set out to find out how.

To do so, they spent about six months investigating the process at various length scales (nano to micro) using various microscopy and spectroscopy techniques.

The results were published in the journal Small.

"What we showed was that we can actually watch the self-assembly of small molecules across multiple length scales, and for the first time, stitched these length scales to show the complete picture," Singamaneni says. "This hierarchical self-organization of molecular building blocks is unprecedented since it is initiated from a single molecular crystal and is driven by vesiclular dynamics in water."

Self-assembly, a process in which a disordered collection of components arrange themselves into an ordered structure, is of growing interest as a new paradigm in creating micro- and nanoscale structures and functional systems and subsystems. This novel approach of making nano- and microstructures and devices is expected to have numerous applications in electronics, optics and biomedical applications.

The team used small molecules p-aminothiophenol (p-ATP) or p-aminophenyl disulfide added to water with a small amount of ethanol. The molecules first assembled into nanovesicles then into microvesicles and eventually into centimeter-long microtubules. The vesicles stick onto the surface of the tube, walk along the surface and attach themselves, causing the tube to grow longer and wider. The entire process takes mere seconds, with the growth rate of 20 microns per second.

"While it was exciting to watch the self-assembly of these molecules, we are even more excited about the implications of the self-assembly of such small molecules," Singamaneni says. "This mechanism can be used to load the vesicles with the desired macromolecules, such as proteins, antibodies or antibiotics, for example, and build microtubes with a biological function."

Singamaneni says his research team collaborated with researchers in Singapore who are experts in molecular crystals, as well as with colleagues in the Department of Chemistry.

"We hope that once we can co-assemble some functional nanostructures along with these small molecules, then these molecular assemblies can have applications in biological sensors and chemical sensors," Singamaneni says.

Funding for this research was provided by the U.S. Army Research Office and Army Research Laboratory.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Washington University in St. Louis. The original article was written by Beth Miller.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Abdennour Abbas, Andrew Brimer, Limei Tian, D. Andr? d'Avignon, Abdulrahman Shahul Hameed, Jagadese J. Vittal, Srikanth Singamaneni. Vesicle-Mediated Growth of Tubular Branches and Centimeter-Long Microtubes from a Single Molecule. Small, 2012; DOI: 10.1002/smll.201202509

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.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_technology/~3/39eI02lWOtQ/130222120707.htm

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Matt Birk leaving the NFL on his own terms

Fifteen years later, Matt Birk still can remember what it felt like to walk into an NFL locker room for the first time.

Birk, a Minnesota-area kid, was a sixth-round pick by the Vikings out of Harvard. He was a longshot, and he knew it, about to rub shoulders with guys such as Cris Carter, Randall McDaniel and John Randle.

"I remember thinking, 'Maybe I should go in with a book and get their autographs before they cut me,'" Birk said Friday.

Turns out he had plenty of time.

On Friday, weeks after earning a Super Bowl championship ring with the Baltimore Ravens, Birk, 36, announced his retirement during an appearance at a Baltimore-area elementary school after 15 years, 210 games and 187 starts as an NFL center.

"You list the pros and cons," Birk said in a phone interview. "What is best for my family? Can I do it again? Do I want to do it again? I felt, in my heart, it was time. It couldn't have gotten any better, for me, to end it like this. Time to move on to something else."

Birk played in 14 seasons, missing the 2005 season because of a hip injury. He moved into the starting lineup in 2000 and played in every game for the next four seasons. Over his final seven seasons - the past four in Baltimore - Birk started every game. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times as a Viking, tying Mick Tingelhoff for most appearances by a Vikings center.

He was named All-Pro in 2000 by Pro Football Weekly and in 2003 by PFW and The Sporting News.

Playing for the team he grew up rooting for was a dream, Birk said; he still can remember the postgame tailgate parties his parents and neighbors would throw, drawing hundreds of people.

"Because you get to share that journey with the people who matter to you the most," he said. "You get to bring them along with you on the ride."

Still, after the 2008 season, Birk decided to trade Vikings purple for Ravens purple. Maybe Birk and Vikings coach Brad Childress didn't see eye-to-eye. But, more important to Birk, he just needed to get out of his comfort zone.

"From a professional standpoint, it was good for me," he said. "From a personal perspective, for growth? It's hard to have growth without change. Looking back, I'm glad as a family that we did it."

And now what? Birk isn't sure. For now, he's going to focus on his family. Birk and his wife, Adrianna, have six kids. Because of the uncertainties of NFL life, his kids all have been home-schooled. Birk, who has a home in the Twin Cities area, said he ultimately will return to Minnesota.

The good news is that Birk - who had two years remaining on his three-year, $8.525 million contract - is leaving the game on his own terms. And, he said, in good health.

"Take a step back and look at it," he said. "Fifteen years? Are you kidding me? A guy like me? God's been good to me. I don't know how else to say it."

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/22/3248944/matt-birk-leaving-the-nfl-on-his.html

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Has evolution given humans unique brain structures?

Feb. 22, 2013 ? Humans have at least two functional networks in their cerebral cortex not found in rhesus monkeys. This means that new brain networks were likely added in the course of evolution from primate ancestor to human.

These findings, based on an analysis of functional brain scans, were published in a study by neurophysiologist Wim Vanduffel (KU Leuven and Harvard Medical School) in collaboration with a team of Italian and American researchers.

Our ancestors evolutionarily split from those of rhesus monkeys about 25 million years ago. Since then, brain areas have been added, have disappeared or have changed in function. This raises the question, 'Has evolution given humans unique brain structures?'. Scientists have entertained the idea before but conclusive evidence was lacking. By combining different research methods, we now have a first piece of evidence that could prove that humans have unique cortical brain networks.

Professor Vanduffel explains: "We did functional brain scans in humans and rhesus monkeys at rest and while watching a movie to compare both the place and the function of cortical brain networks. Even at rest, the brain is very active. Different brain areas that are active simultaneously during rest form so-called 'resting state' networks. For the most part, these resting state networks in humans and monkeys are surprisingly similar, but we found two networks unique to humans and one unique network in the monkey."

"When watching a movie, the cortex processes an enormous amount of visual and auditory information. The human-specific resting state networks react to this stimulation in a totally different way than any part of the monkey brain. This means that they also have a different function than any of the resting state networks found in the monkey. In other words, brain structures that are unique in humans are anatomically absent in the monkey and there no other brain structures in the monkey that have an analogous function. Our unique brain areas are primarily located high at the back and at the front of the cortex and are probably related to specific human cognitive abilities, such as human-specific intelligence."

The study used fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans to visualise brain activity. fMRI scans map functional activity in the brain by detecting changes in blood flow. The oxygen content and the amount of blood in a given brain area vary according to a particular task, thus allowing activity to be tracked.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by KU Leuven, via AlphaGalileo.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Dante Mantini, Maurizio Corbetta, Gian Luca Romani, Guy A. Orban, Wim Vanduffel. Evolutionary-Novel Functional Networks in the Human Brain? The Journal of Neuroscience, 2013; DOI: 10.1523/%u200BJNEUROSCI.4392-12.2013

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/xHGCPbZI-WU/130222120753.htm

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Do the Orioles have a rivalry with Washington?

I read a lot of different columns and even fan message boards on a daily basis. In some aspects it helps me to write this column every day, but on a sheer personal level I enjoy baseball ?chatter.? I came across this thread?on a Washington Nationals? message board yesterday regarding whether or not the Baltimore Orioles and Washington are rivals. Interesting topic to say the least, especially in the hearts and minds of the people in the mid-Atlantic region.

Courtesy of The Baltimore Sun

First off, if you read through it predictably turns into an Oriole-bashing thread. However the question at hand is whether or not there?s a true ?rivalry.??I would submit that rivalries are formed on the field and/or by the players more so than they are by fans. Certainly the fans can go back-and-forth in bars and even on message boards or columns such as this one about what happens on the field, which adds fuel to the rivalry. However, has this series had any on-field moments that would elevate it to the level of ?rivalry?? It matters what you consider rivalry-worthy I guess:

• 2006 -?Washington wins the first ?Battle of the Beltways? by taking two-of-three in May at RFK Stadium. (The Orioles won two-of-three in the Baltimore leg of the series, however Washington took the first ever series between the two teams.)
• 2007 -?Washington unceremoniously sweeps the Orioles at Camden Yards.
• 2008 -?Washington?s Ronnie Belliard hits a walk-off home run in the final game of the series at Nationals Park off of George Sherrill, spitting at Sherrill as he goes into his home run trot.
• 2010 -?Washington?s Josh Willingham hits a walk off home run off of the Orioles? Cla Meredith, giving Washington a 2-1 series win in the DC leg of the series. One month later at Camden Yards, the Orioles overcame serveral deficets and came back to sweep Washington (taking the season series for a second consecutive year).
• Overall?- The two teams have played 42 regular season games against each other since 2006. Ironically (since most of the above-mentioned highlights are in Washington?s column), the Orioles hold the edge with 23 wins to only 19 for Washington.

Some of those weren?t really the type of highlights that would arouse animosity, however walk off homers are something that fans tend to remember. Aside from Belliard appearing to spit in Sherrill?s direction, there?s nothing there that would really fuel bitterness. I doubt that we?ll ever see hatred on the level of Boston/New York due to the fact that these teams met only six times a year from 2005-2012, and moving forward it?ll only be four times a year. Furthermore and more importantly, they don?t compete with each other in terms of standings.

I?m not sure that rivalry is the right term, but perhaps there is a certain competitiveness between the two sides given the geography involved. I wouldn?t compare it to that of the New York or Chicago franchises. Those teams actually play in the same city, and while you?d be hard pressed to argue that Baltimore and Washington aren?t in the same ?area,? they are two distinct cities. But I guarantee you that Baltimoreans? knuckles don?t drag on the ground like some Washingtonians want to believe, just as Washingtonians aren?t as whiney as Baltimoreans claim. Having said that, I would suggest that this ?rivalry? is a bit more ?on the map? than perhaps Tampa/Miami, Texas/Houston (although that one could heat up with Houston now being an AL city), or San Francisco/Oakland.

Fans in the Baltimore/Washington area can see every team in baseball within a one hour?s drive (give or take). Not a lot of places can say that. Both cities also are coming off of playoff years, which is another thing that most areas can?t claim. I would submit that fans on both sides should simply take the attitude that?we?ll root against you when we see you. Other than that, the two teams are mutally exclusive. (I?m not naive; I know the agreement between MASN and the two teams. However that has nothing to do with what happens on the field.) ?For the record, anyone that was at any of the six games between the two teams last season knows what a great atmosphere they had. I would submit that those games were the franchises? first tastes of big time baseball. The two teams will meet this year in Washington DC on May 27th (Memorial day) and 28th, and in Baltimore on May 29th and 30th.

Follow @DomenicVadala on twitter for all breaking Orioles' news, in-game updates, and analysis. You can also follow the Orioles by liking our Birds Watcher Facebook page.

Topics: Baltimore Orioles

Source: http://birdswatcher.com/2013/02/21/do-the-orioles-have-a-rivalry-with-washington/

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Procam International wins 'Award for Excellence in Sports' at The Indian Merchants Chamber's Fusion 2013

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Company Brief
Mumbai, February 21

Procam International, India?s leading sports and leisure Management Company, won the Award for Excellence in Sports at Indian Merchants Chamber?s Fusion 2013, in Mumbai. Procam International were awarded for promoting the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, India?s largest sports and social extravaganza, also counted among the top ten marathons of the world, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.

Organised under the auspices of IMC?s Entertainment Committee, chaired by Karan Johar, IMC Fusion 2013 was hosted by actor Kabir Bedi. The award was handed over by Mr. Niranjan Hiranandani Founder & MD. Hiranandani Constructions Pvt. Ltd and IMC President to Mr Vivek B Singh, Jt. MD Procam International and Mr Dilip Jayaram -CEO, Procam International.

Procam International?s vision over the years has laid a foundation of excellence by promoting innovative and sustainable sporting and leisure properties in the country. Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, over the years has carved its place over other contemporary developments in the ever-evolving and dynamic sector of sports. It has brought about a running revolution in the country and placed India on the global marathon calendar

Speaking about the award, Mr. Vivek Singh, Jt Managing Director, Procam International said, ?On behalf of the entire Procam International team, we are delighted to receive this award. It?s a new level of excitement to win this award as this year we have successfully completed the 10th anniversary of Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. It?s amazing to see so many people come together on the streets and run on a platform that promotes health & fitness, communal harmony and charity.?

Recently Procam International bagged ?Best Sports Event Management Company? honour at the prestigious 'Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry' Sports Awards (FICCI) in New Delhi.

For further information:

ZZEBRA SPORTS
Karishma Malhotra
Mobile: +919967527340

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Police: Hotel altercation sparked Vegas shooting

Police rope off the scene of a shooting and multi-car accident on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas early Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. Authorities say at least one person in a Range Rover shot at people in a Maserati that then crashed into a taxi cab. The taxi cab burst into flames, and the driver and passenger were killed. The male driver of the Maserati also died, and his passenger was shot. (AP Photo/Las Vegas Sun, Steve Marcus)

Police rope off the scene of a shooting and multi-car accident on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas early Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. Authorities say at least one person in a Range Rover shot at people in a Maserati that then crashed into a taxi cab. The taxi cab burst into flames, and the driver and passenger were killed. The male driver of the Maserati also died, and his passenger was shot. (AP Photo/Las Vegas Sun, Steve Marcus)

Police rope off the scene of a shooting and multi-car accident on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas early Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. Authorities say at least one person in a Range Rover shot at people in a Maserati that then crashed into a taxi cab. The taxi cab burst into flames, and the driver and passenger were killed. The male driver of the Maserati also died, and his passenger was shot. (AP Photo/Las Vegas Sun, Steve Marcus)

Metro Police investigate a shooting and multi-car accident on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas early Thursday morning, Feb. 21, 2013. Gunshots fired from a black Range Rover on the Las Vegas Strip that caused a Maserati to crash into a taxi, creating a fireball and killing three people as the SUV sped away. Initial reports had it as a gunfight between the luxury SUV and the high-end sports car. But investigators don't think anyone in the Maserati was shooting, said Sgt. John Sheahan. (AP Photo/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus)

Police investigate the scene of a shooting between cars on the Las Vegas Strip early Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 in Las Vegas. Gunshots fired from a black Range Rover on the Strip early Thursday caused a Maserati to crash into a taxi, creating a fireball and killing three people as the SUV sped away. It's the latest in a series of violent actions on the tourist corridor since the beginning of the year. (AP Photo/KTNV)

Law enforcement personal investigate the scene of a mulit-vehicle accident on Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo Road Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. Authorities say a Range Rover opened fire on a Maserati at a stoplight, sending it crashing into a taxi that went up in flames, leaving three people dead and at least six injured. Police were checking with nearby businesses to see whether a previous altercation prompted the car-to-car attack (AP Photo/Las Vegas Review-Journal, Jeff Scheid) LOCAL TV OUT; LOCAL INTERNET OUT; LAS VEGAS SUN OUT

LAS VEGAS (AP) ? The Las Vegas Strip became a scene of deadly violence early Thursday when someone in a black Range Rover opened fire on a Maserati at a stoplight, sending it crashing into a taxi that burst into flames, leaving three people dead and at least six injured.

Police believe an altercation earlier at a hotel prompted the car-to-car attack in the heart of the Strip at Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road, the site of several major hotel-casinos, including Bellagio, Caesars Palace and Bally's.

"This doesn't happen where we come from, not on this scale," said Mark Thompson, who was visiting from Manchester, England, with his wife. "We get stabbings, and gang violence, but this is like something out of a movie. Like 'Die Hard' or something."

Police said they were contacting authorities in three neighboring states about the Range Rover Sport with tinted windows and paper dealer ads in place of license plates that fled the scene about 4:30 a.m.

In Southern California, the California Highway Patrol alerted officers in at least three counties to be on the lookout for the Range Rover with custom wheels, authorities said.

Police said the Maserati hit the taxi cab, which went up in flames, and the driver and passenger were killed. The male driver of the Maserati also died, and his passenger was shot.

Tourists staying in high-rise hotels around the scene found police tape blocking access to the area around the intersection. Closures were expected to last most of the day, snarling traffic in the tourist corridor.

Jeff Martin, 33, of Columbus, Ohio, said he was unable to cross the Strip several hours after the incident.

"When you're out at 4 a.m. nothing good's going to happen," he said.

Las Vegas Police Sgt. John Sheahan said the attack was not a rolling gun battle as previously described. The cars were stopped at a light when at least one person in the Range Rover opened fire. Several people were inside the vehicle.

Six other vehicles were involved in the crash that followed, including the taxi and Maserati. The taxi was affiliated with Desert Cab company, according to general manager Sandy Shaver. He declined to comment further.

The taxi might have been propane-powered.

The incident marked the latest violence on the Strip since the beginning of the year. Two people were critically wounded in a shooting at a parking garage Feb. 6, and a tourist was stabbed Saturday in an elevator at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay.

A spokesman for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Jeremy Handel, issued a statement reassuring people that much is being done to keep them safe.

"Recent incidents, while unfortunate, were isolated events," he said. "Las Vegas is among the safest travel destinations in the world and utilizes the most advanced technology and training to maintain a secure environment."

Las Vegas Police Officer Jose Hernandez acknowledged that the Strip has seen several violent incidents in recent weeks but said police have made arrests or identified suspects in each case.

"People don't have to worry," he said. "This is an unusual occurrence, as tragic as it may be."

Sheahan said police have video from traffic cameras at the intersection where the shooting occurred on Thursday.

"We have a lot of pieces to put together to establish a timeline as to why this confrontation occurred," Sheahan said.

___

Associated Press writers Michelle Rindels and Hannah Dreier contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-21-US-Vegas-Gun-Battle/id-fbc0d4312af64ab4aabb7daed2768132

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Boehner taking laid-back approach to Dem proposals

WASHINGTON (AP) ? House Speaker John Boehner is pulling back. After two stressful years as Washington's most powerful Republican and a pair of failed, high-profile rounds of budget talks with President Barack Obama, the battle-scarred House speaker is adopting a you-first approach.

Upcoming across-the-board spending cuts set to slam the economy in two weeks? Boehner says it's up to Obama and his Democratic allies in charge of the Senate to try to initiate a solution.

New ideas to prevent gun violence? Let's see what the Senate can pass, Boehner says, then we'll take a look.

Immigration reform? Boehner says it's best left to bipartisan working groups in both the House and Senate.

Boehner's approach is a response to getting burned, as he sees it, in dealing with the White House.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/boehner-taking-laid-back-approach-dem-proposals-075857643--politics.html

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Consolidated ramps up its business services strategy with Ethernet ...

With the integration of SureWest well underway, Consolidated Communications (Nasdaq: CNSL) has set a goal of advancing its business service set to extend into the Sacramento, Calif. and Kansas City areas it entered through that deal.

Leveraging a mix of internal and external growth methods, Consolidated has set itself on a path to transform from being a small town telephone provider to a service provider delivering IP-based services for consumers and business customers. ?

Similar to its previous acquisitions like Texas-based TXU and North Pittsburgh Systems Inc., last July's SureWest acquisition is another element in expanding its next-gen service vision.

"You would not necessarily plan to be in the geographies we are in, but what we have seen in our desire to transition our business from a traditional telephone business of 30 years ago to a broadband company, we identified through history organic facility deployment, market expansion opportunities as well as acquisitions that helped us to expand our broadband service opportunities across our consumer, business, and wholesale customer groups," said Bob Udell, chief operating officer of Consolidated, in an interview with FierceTelecom. "SureWest was a perfect fit for that."

A key element that SureWest and the Everest assets it purchased in 2007 will help Consolidated with will be in expanding its business services reach. Similar to other independent telcos, SureWest and Everest extended those facilities to address commercial customers.

"While SureWest was historically more consumer-focused, it has been easy to refocus some of that energy on commercial and wholesale development with a shorter payback lifecycle," Udell said.

Besides network assets, Consolidated appointed Ed Butler, who managed SureWest's sales efforts, to lead its sales operations, for example, in all six states its serves.

Unsurprisingly, a big focus of Consolidated's business drive is focused on Ethernet.

Currently, Consolidated has been growing its fiber and copper-based Metro Ethernet service reach across its ILEC and CLEC territories.

"Even though we started in Ethernet with larger multisite business, it's picking up momentum with more businesses finding that an acceptable platform because it allows us to layer on more user-driven services on top of it," Udell said.

One market where Consolidated has seen success is in Pittsburgh where it began offering a mix of fiber-based Ethernet in addition to Ethernet over Copper (EoC) for smaller businesses that it could make a business case for fiber.

"Ethernet has really reinvigorated our sales force there and our market," Udell said. "We're taking that copper product to our California market this quarter."

Udell added that EoC "gives us a platform for medium to allow small businesses in the sub-$1,000 a month range in spending to integrate voice and data over the same broadband connection and layer on data services and move into the cloud service product line without making it an exclusive business focus of ours."

Related articles:
Consolidated Communications says it's not afraid of Google Fiber
Consolidated Communications-SureWest synergy boosts Q3 revenue to $157M
Consolidated Communications posts Q2 earnings above 2011 figures
Consolidated expands geographic, service reach with the closing of its SureWest acquisition
Consolidated's SureWest acquisition gets shareholder approval

Source: http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/consolidated-ramps-its-business-services-strategy-ethernet/2013-02-14

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Would Hagel at Defense make war with Iran more likely?

Republican former Sen. Chuck Hagel testifies before a Senate committee in January. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)Would Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel help set the stage for a war with Iran? Or would the Republican former senator, who seems on track to be confirmed late this month, put the brakes on a possible military confrontation with Tehran over its nuclear program?

The answer -- to both questions -- is yes, some veteran observers of U.S. foreign policy say.

It's a question that reaches far beyond speculative inside-the-Beltway parlor games. There are signs that President Barack Obama?s second-term foreign policy and national security team?and his recent signals to Iran?are part of a final push on the diplomatic front before using military force.

The theory runs something like this: Secretary of State John Kerry is a staunch believer in diplomatic engagement. Hagel has repeatedly expressed deep skepticism about the effectiveness of war with Iran (he even opposed unilateral economic sanctions a decade ago). Both voted in favor of war with Iraq, then turned sharply critical of the conflict. Both men, decorated Vietnam War veterans, aren't likely to rush the country into another overseas occupation.

"These are exactly the people who could make an assault on [Iran] politically sellable," explains Hussein Ibish, a senior fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine. "They may be the smiley face painted on the tip of a bunker-buster."

Ibish said Obama is purposely assembling a team positioned to say two things simultaneously to the Iranian government.

?One is ?We want to make a deal with you, and you will get the best deal out of us that you?ll ever get from any U.S. administration, so take it,'" Ibish told Yahoo News. ?And two, 'If you don?t take it and you cross the red line, you?ll face military action by a group of people who are also in a perfect position to lead the world into a conflict without being vulnerable to the charges of recklessness or warmongering.'"

Ibish may have pioneered the theory, but it can also be heard among influential lawmakers.

Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, recently told Yahoo News he believes the Obama administration's diplomatic outreach may be laying the groundwork in the event that talks fail.

"The more we are out there diplomatically, doing everything we can to, in a rational way, negotiate with the Iranians, I do think we are building world support should something else have to occur," Corker said.

Vice President Joe Biden, in remarks at an international security conference in Germany, recently offered Iran direct talks. Tehran refused.

"They (the Obama administration) seem like they are checking the boxes of diplomacy," said one foreign policy analyst, who requested anonymity to offer a candid appraisal of that offer.

Hawkish Republicans opposed to confirming Hagel don't see it that way.

GOP senators led by John McCain of Arizona have repeatedly and forcefully denounced their former colleague as insufficiently tough on Iran?casting him as a defense secretary who might gaze on impotently while the Islamic republic develops an atomic arsenal. They've pointed to Hagel's criticisms of imposing unilateral economic sanctions a decade ago, as well as his open skepticism of the effectiveness of military action.

"Can we expect Sen. Hagel to advance and support policies to prevent Iran from gaining a nuclear weapons capability when he has opposed economic sanctions and military intervention?" said McCain, one of his party's top voices on national security.

McCain also dinged Hagel for saying in his confirmation hearing that he backed "containment" of a nuclear Iran?an apparent slip of the tongue on Hagel's part later corrected by the panel's chairman, Democratic Sen. Carl Levin.

?Sen. Hagel?s opposition to the use of sanctions; his apparent confusion about administration policy and its implications; and his apparent incomprehension of the threat a nuclear-armed Iran poses to international stability is alarming and would cause other nations to doubt the credibility of the president?s commitments," McCain charged.

At the White House, officials note that Obama has repeatedly said he won't shy away from using force to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon, even though he wants to exhaust diplomatic efforts first. The Democratic president has even embraced the diplo-speak phrase "all options are on the table" that refers to going to war.

?This president has shown time and again that he means what he says?on Iraq, on Afghanistan, on Osama bin Laden,? said National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor. ?Republicans should look over here and realize that's true on Iran.?

That may be the biggest problem with the notion that Hagel, or even Kerry, will have a decisive impact on foreign policy.

"It doesn?t matter what John Kerry thinks about Iran. It doens't matter what Chuck Hagel thinks about Iran," said Aaron David Miller, a Middle East expert who has served in Republican and Democratic administrations. "This president has no intention of being the president on whose watch Iran either acquires the capacity to produce a nuclear weapon or a weapon itself."

Obama may successfully cut a diplomatic deal in which Iran bows to demands to halt its uranium enrichment in return for some concessions, perhaps an easing of crippling economic sanctions, said Miller, a vice president at the Wilson Center.

Or, "with great reluctance and some trepidation, the president will use military force" that may not end Iran's nuclear program, Miller said.

"He will accept a messy conclusion, plunging stock markets, inflated oil prices and more regional instability, rather than be the potted plant of American power on this particular question," Miller said. "So Kerry and Hagel may be helpers in that enterprise, but they will not be shapers of it."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/hagel-confirmation-war-iran-more-likely-205057684--politics.html

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Photo Gallery: 2013 State of the Union

On Tuesday, President Obama laid out his agenda for the coming year. Citing the importance of a strong middle class, he provided the framework necessary to move America forward.

The White House Photo Office followed the President throughout the day, and they've put together a collection of images from the State of the Union, which include the President greeting Members of Congress, reactions of his speech from the audience and a few special behind the scene looks. Check out the gallery below and visit our State of the Union page to share your own reactions from the State of the Union.

This afternoon, President Obama will sit down for a discussion about the State of the Union and his plan to create jobs and strengthen the middle class. Be sure to check it out.?

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• President Obama signs two copies of his State of the Union address before departing for the U.S. Capitol. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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• Vice President Biden proceeds with the U.S. Senate to the State of the Union address. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

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• President Obama waits with Sergeants at Arms and Members of Congress before the State of the Union address. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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• President Obama greets Members of Congress before delivering the State of the Union address. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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• President Obama reaches to shake hands with a Member of Congress before the State of the Union address. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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• President Obama greets Vice President Biden and Speaker Boehner before the State of the Union address. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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• First Lady Obama, Dr. Biden, and guests, applaud as President Obama is introduced. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

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• President Obama acknowledges applause before he delivers the State of the Union address. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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• President Obama delivers the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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• President Obama delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

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• A Member of Congress wears a green ribbon in honor of Sandy Hook Elementary School. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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• Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., listens as President Obama delivers the State of the Union address. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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• President Obama delivers the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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• President Obama and Vice President Biden look toward the guests in the First Lady's box. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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• President Obama greets Rep. Brad Schneider as he departs following his State of the Union address. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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• President Obama with the parents of Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed last month. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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• President Obama's motorcade travels to the White House following the State of the Union address. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/02/14/photo-gallery-2013-state-union

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Arkansas baseball team picked to win SEC title

FAYETTEVILLE ? The Arkansas baseball team was predicted to win the Southeastern Conference by the league?s coaches Tuesday.

The Razorbacks, who are ranked No. 1 in several preseason polls, return 10 starters and five position players from its 2012 College World Series team. Arkansas received nine of a possible 14 votes as league champions. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams in the preseason poll.

Vanderbilt was second in the preseason poll with three votes, while Kentucky and LSU earned one each.

The Razorbacks also were tabbed as SEC West champs, earning 12 of a possible 14 votes to top LSU and Mississippi State (one vote each). Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Alabama and Auburn were fourth through seventh, respectively, in the SEC West.

Vanderbilt earned 12 of 14 votes to win the SEC East. Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Missouri, respectively, followed the Commodores in the projected SEC East standings.

Arkansas has won two SEC championships (1994, 2004) since entering the conference in 1992. The Razorbacks will aim for their third title when the 2013 season begins against Western Illinois at 3 p.m. Friday.

Source: http://thecabin.net/news/2013-02-12/arkansas-baseball-team-picked-win-sec-title

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Samsung Is Planning An Enormous Launch For The S4 - Business ...

Samsung is planning a huge launch for its next flagship phone, the S4, and it could pull resources away from Apple, says Jefferies analyst Peter Misek.

According to Misek's sources, Samsung is planning to build 100 million S4s from launch until the end of the year. He thinks the phone is launched in the March-April time frame.

"The enormous 100 million S4 build plan (we estimate the S3 sold 60M) is leading some suppliers to say that they will reallocate resources away from Apple," writes Misek, adding, "The S3 also had enormous builds and came within 10% of meeting them on an annual basis."

The S4 is expected to have a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED+ screen and possibly an 8-core processor.

Meanwhile, Apple, according to Misek, is cutting orders for the iPhone 5 because suppliers say sales are decelerating faster than expected. He also says Apple wanted to release a 4.8-inch iPhone this year, but manufacturers are struggling to make the screen Apple wants, and Apple may wait until it has new iOS software ready.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-is-planning-an-enormous-launch-for-the-s4-2013-2

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Rejoice In The Capital Of Joy, Take A Trip To Salvador!

Brazil is considered to be the top holiday destinations for those who love to party hard! This time if you are about to take a vacation, consider Salvador, North-Eastern Brazils largest city. Tourism in Salvador has grown steadily, thanks to its carnival celebration, music & art, cultural landscapes, museums, and much more. You can keep yourself indulged in various activities here and even enjoy its scintillating nightlife. This capital city of Bahia, offers jaw-dropping looks of the waters around.

Tourism in Salvador

The coastline along the city of Salvador is sure to amaze you completely. The High City beaches are bordered by the profound Atlantic Ocean while the Low City beaches would make you overlook the All Saints Bay. The Frades Island on the Todos os Santos Bay is one of the most popular beaches which offer a mesmerizing look of the entire city. The Porta da Barra Beach is another great place worth visiting. The Igreja Sao Francisco Church is another popular tourist attraction in Salvador. Known for its majestic art ceiling, the Church is groomed with precious stones, gold and silver.

The Rodin Bahia Arts Palace on the Graca Street attracts a lot of tourism in Salvador. The Museum is home to some 62 plaster sculptures. Santo Antonio da Barra fort and Nautic Museum is another great place to be at, if you like speciality museums. The Jorge Amado Museum offers you an enlightening glimpse of the Pelourinho History. The Getulio Vargas zoo is another place worth considering in your itinerary. For those of you who love witnessing cultural performances, the Bale Folclorico da Bahia on Rue Gregorio de Matos is a must visit place.

Salvador Hotels

The Aram Yami Hotel on Rua Direita de Santo Antonio is the ultimate place to experience luxury couple with some top-class service. The Villa Bahia and Pousada Porto da Lua are some great luxury Salvador Hotels worth staying at. Looking out for some cheaper alternatives? Well, there is the Alpha Hostel and Pousada da Praca. The Mar Brasil Hotel on Rua Flamengo is a decent place to stay which offers excellent views of the beach around. You can also consider Solar do Carmo, Zank Boutique and Hotel Cocoon for your accommodation in Salvador. With its majestic beaches, churches, museums and of course not forgetting its nightlife, the city of Salvador justifies the value you incur behind it!

About the Author:
Praveen is a prominent and amateur writer, primarily focusing on providing Salvador Travel Guide for those planning to travel to Salvador. Here you can get relevant facts about top tourist attractions Hotels in Salvador, weather, nightlife, things to do, Tourism in Salvador and lots more.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Rejoice-In-The-Capital-Of-Joy--Take-A-Trip-To-Salvador-/4431935

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Gunman in Delaware court killings was headed for son's hearing

(Reuters) - The gunman who killed his former daughter-in-law in a Delaware courthouse on Monday was accompanying his son to a child support hearing when he opened fire, police said on Tuesday.

The shooter was identified as Thomas Matusiewicz, 68, who shot Christine Belford, 39, of Newark, Delaware and her friend, Laura Mulford, 45, in the lobby of New Castle County Courthouse on Monday, killing them both.

His son is divorced from Belford and is the father of their three girls.

"Thomas S. Matusiewicz approached the two female victims that were standing within the public lobby area, produced a .45 caliber semiautomatic handgun and fired multiple rounds at close range, striking Belford in the upper body," said a police statement released on Tuesday.

"Mulford attempted to flee and Matusiewicz fired multiple rounds at close range, striking Mulford in the upper body," police said.

Capitol Police fired at Matusiewicz as he tried to flee. Two officers were hit in the ensuing gun battle but were saved by their bullet-proof vests.

Matusiewicz, who had been shot once in the upper body, shot himself in the head, dying at the scene, police said. The medical examiner ruled his death a suicide.

Police said the gunman had gone to court with his son, David Matusiewicz, for a child support hearing in the contentious custody case.

David Matusiewicz recently served a prison sentence for kidnapping the girls and hiding out with the children and his mother for 19 months in Nicaragua and other countries.

David Matusiewicz, an optometrist, was back in court on Tuesday in an orange jumpsuit to face charges of violation of probation in connection with the kidnapping case, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Wolf.

He appeared before federal Judge Mary Pat Thynge, who ordered him to appear at a detention hearing on Friday.

(Editing by Barbara Goldberg and Todd Eastham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gunman-delaware-court-killings-headed-sons-hearing-225707238.html

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Edith Houghton dies: Major League Baseball's first female scout was 100

Edith Houghton died February 2, at 100-years-old, after living a full life, doing what she loved most, playing baseball. According to the Associated Press, Edith started playing on baseball teams at age 10. By 12-years-old, she played with grown women, touring around the country, challenging any team that would have them, including some men's college teams. At 13, Edith toured Japan with her team, playing against teams in that country.

Eventually her playing days ended, and when that happened Houghton was determined to find work in the game she loved. She was hired on as a talent scout for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1946, becoming the first female in Major League Baseball history to do so. She stayed with the Phillies until 1952, when she left to join the military during the Korean War.

Upon retiring from the military, Edith relocated to Sarasota, Fla. for the remainder of her years. Her death came eight days before her 101st birthday. Houghton's?contributions?to baseball will likely never be forgotten, as even the Baseball Hall of Fame, in Cooperstown, displays mementos from her career, including the jersey she wore on a tour of Japan.

Photo/Video credit: Fair Use

Source: http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2013/02/edith-houghton-dies-major-league-baseballs-first-female-scout-was-100.html

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Hasbro's Toy Fair 2013 booth tour: Transformers, Furby rockers, Iron Man and more

Oh, the wondrous experience that is Toy Fair. And that particular experience, as you may know, includes anything from NERF hoop games and foam fusillades, to boxing robots and itty-bitty, tinkering novelties. To make things even better, though, Hasbro was kind enough to invite us over to its 2013 showcase in NYC, where the prodigious toy maker was exhibiting some Furby amigos known as Party Rockers, Iron Man's Sonic Blasting figurine and Arc Fx Mission life-sized mask, a Sesame Street play-and-learning system for toddlers, as well as a Transformers Rescue Bots Beam Box which enhances the experience by allowing the toys to mesh into a game that can be played on a TV set. There was also a little Star Wars and Star Trek action, of course -- and the good news is you, too, can see it all, just head past the break to take a look at the vast gallery and a quick video showing off a few of Hasbro's new toys.

Gallery: Hasbro's Toy Fair 2013 booth tour

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Source: Hasbro

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Sewell to serve as UNT vice president of research, economic development

The University of North Texas announced Monday that Kenneth W. Sewell will serve as ?vice president of research and economic development. He has been serving as associate vice president for research.

Meanwhile the university continues a national search for a permanent replacement.

In a prepared statement, UNT President Lane Rawlins said Sewell would be responsible for a lot of work related to the current legislative session, university budget hearings and advancements in the university?s computing facilities.

Sewell joined the Office of Research and Economic Development in 2008. As a senior member of the ORED senior leadership team, he had direct responsibility for a variety of internal grant programs to seed and stimulate faculty research.

A native of Coweta, Oklahoma (near Tulsa), Sewell earned his bachelor?s degree in psychology from Kansas State University, and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Kansas.

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Source: http://www.dentonrc.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20130211-sewell-to-serve-as-unt-vice-president-of-research-economic-development.ece

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Dreamliner Delays Add To Nightmare - Business Insider

Boeing faced with vast bill as 787 arrivals are delayed.

Boeing's Dreamliner nightmare deepened yesterday when the planemaker warned airlines, including one of its biggest European customers and Britain's Thomson Airways, it looks likely to miss deliveries of its flagship new jet.

The admission will pile tens of millions of dollars on to compensation claims as airlines set up replacement leasing deals and demand payouts for cancelled flights.

Boeing said: "We have informed our customers expecting 787 deliveries in the near term that those aircraft either have been or are at risk of being delayed. We are staying in close communication with our customers as we work towards... a plan for resumption of 787 deliveries."

The entire worldwide fleet of 787s has now been grounded for more than three weeks as investigators try to discover what is wrong with the plane's lithium-ion battery, which caught fire in Boston and forced an emergency landing in Japan.

A further blow for the business came as Deborah Hersman, chairman of the United States National Transportation Safety Board, said the conditions used to assess the safety of the Dreamliner's batteries should be reconsidered, potentially leaving the 787s grounded for much longer.

Switching to a different type of battery would be a major engineering operation as well as adding weight to the plane. Fuel efficiency thanks to the light lithium batteries was one of the 787's main selling points.

Airbus is also understood to be considering whether drop lithium-ion batteries in its new A350s as the investigations into Dreamliner's problems continue.

Thomson, which is due to take delivery of the first of eight Dreamliners this month, said it was "finalising contingency plans". Norwegian Air, which has eight Dreamliners on order, the first due in April and the second in June, said it "will enter into an agreement with a leasing company to operate long-haul routes in the event of the Dreamliner being delayed".

Analysts said leasing just two planes the size of the 787 for three months would cost about $6m (?3.8m), a bill Boeing would have to foot.

British Airways is still expecting its first 787 in May. It said it "remained committed to taking the delivery of four 787s in 2013".

But analysts warned Boeing's battery problems would delay delivery schedules by around three months. Zafar Khan, aerospace analyst at Soci?t? G?n?rale, said. "The real issue with the batteries has yet to be identified, but if they need to be redesigned or face recertification, it's looking like a delay of about three months. Clearly, Boeing will need to compensate customers."

This is in addition to reimbursing airlines which have had to ground jets. Japan Airlines, which has eight, is looking at a cost of $8m from its earnings to the end of March and rival ANA, with 17, said it lost ?1.4bn (?9.6m) in January alone.

Ms Hersman said: "The assumptions used to certify the battery must be reconsidered."

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/dreamliner-delays-add-to-nightmare-2013-2

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AP source: Vonn's knee surgery goes well

In this photo taken Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, U.S. ski racer Lindsey Vonn attends a press conference in Schladming, Austria. Vonn crashed during the super-G at the Alpine Skiing world championships Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 and has been taken by helicopter to a hospital from the world championships after apparently injuring her right knee. The American lost balance on her right leg while landing after a jump. Her ski came off immediately, and Vonn slid off course and hit a gate before coming to a standstill. Vonn received medical treatment on the slope for 12 minutes before going to the hospital. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

In this photo taken Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, U.S. ski racer Lindsey Vonn attends a press conference in Schladming, Austria. Vonn crashed during the super-G at the Alpine Skiing world championships Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 and has been taken by helicopter to a hospital from the world championships after apparently injuring her right knee. The American lost balance on her right leg while landing after a jump. Her ski came off immediately, and Vonn slid off course and hit a gate before coming to a standstill. Vonn received medical treatment on the slope for 12 minutes before going to the hospital. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

United States??Lindsey?Vonn speeds down the course during the women's super-G course, at the Alpine skiing world championships in Schladming, Austria, Tuesday, Feb.5, 2013. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

A helicopter transports United States'?Lindsey?Vonn off the slope after she fell during the women's super-G at the Alpine skiing world championships in Schladming, Austria, Tuesday, Feb.5,2013. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Lindsey Vonn had surgery on her right knee that "went well" after she shredded two ligaments during a crash last week at the world championships, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because an announcement was scheduled later Sunday.

Dr. William Sterett, a physician for the U.S. ski team, operated Sunday on the four-time overall World Cup champion in Vail, Colo.

Vonn tore her anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments last week during the super-G in Schladming, Austria. She also broke a bone in her lower leg.

Sterett said earlier he wouldn't set a return date to skiing for Vonn until sometime after the surgery. But other doctors believe she could be sidelined for up to eight months.

That would give her time to get back to the slopes for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, which are a year away. Vonn said recently she intends to defend her Olympic downhill title from the 2010 Vancouver Games.

She was hurt last Tuesday when was lifted into the air off a jump in the opening race at the championships. Upon landing, her right leg gave way and she spun down face first, throwing an arm out to protect herself. Vonn ended up on her back as she smashed through a gate.

She received medical treatment on the snow before being airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in Schladming. A few days, later she flew home to Vail.

This has been a difficult season for Vonn. She took a break for month from the World Cup circuit to regain her strength from an intestinal illness that struck in November. When she returned, she looked like the Vonn of old as she steadily regained her form and won two races last month. Her win in the giant slalom at Maribor, Slovenia, on Jan. 26 was the 59th victory of her career. She's three away from tying the women's record held by Annemarie Moser-Proell of Austria.

While her primary goal is to be ready for Sochi, Vonn ideally wants to be back for the World Cup speed races in Lake Louise, Alberta, in late November or early December. She's been so successful there ? winning 14 times ? that it's become known as "Lake Lindsey."

Comebacks are hardly new for Vonn, who has been plagued by injuries at her last six major championships ? from a thumb she sliced on a champagne bottle at the 2009 worlds in Val d'Isere, France, to a bruised shin that she treated with the unorthodox remedy of Austrian cheese at the Vancouver Olympics.

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AP Sports Writer Andrew Dampf in Schladming, Austria, contributed.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-02-10-Vonn%20Surgery/id-3fd4a24059f443df838b0999e6fd0070

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THE RESET: Obama on deck for 2nd big speech in row

President Barack Obama waves as he walks across the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, following his arrival on Marine One helicopter from the House Democratic Issues Conference in Lansdowne, Va. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

President Barack Obama waves as he walks across the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, following his arrival on Marine One helicopter from the House Democratic Issues Conference in Lansdowne, Va. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

House Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer of Md., right, is seated with other lawmakers as they listen to President Barack Obama speak at the House Democratic Issues Conference in Lansdowne, Va., Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013. From left are, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., unidentified, Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y. and Hoyer. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, leaves a news conference after telling reporters that the looming sequester and resulting budget cuts would be like "taking a meat ax to our government," at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013. Eager to buy time and avoid economic pain, President Barack Obama urged Congress on Tuesday to pass targeted short-term spending cuts and higher taxes as a way to put off sweeping, automatic cuts that would slice deeply into military and domestic programs starting March 1. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Re-elected presidents and their speechwriters often have a verbal overload problem at the outset of second terms: They must produce a State of the Union address just weeks after a second inaugural address.

It's hard to be lofty, eloquent and soaring twice in a row.

After he delivers his State of the Union address Tuesday, President Barack Obama will also face logistical problems not usually confronted by re-elected presidents.

While inaugurals tend to be inspirational, aspirational but somewhat vague, a president's diagnosis of the nation's health usually packages a sweeping catalogue of goals with a laundry list of proposed new and recycled legislation ? to be fleshed out in the annual budget he sends to Congress a week or two later.

This year the schedule was turned topsy-turvy by Obama's postponing his budget submission to sometime in March ? putting it well after a March 1 deadline for deep mandatory government spending cuts. If those "sequester" cuts occur on schedule, they will have a direct bearing on the president's budget.

"I want to keep my remarks short because I just made a pretty long speech a couple of weeks ago, and I'm about to make another next week, and I don't want you guys tired of me," Obama joked at a House Democratic retreat Thursday before answering questions behind closed doors.

First he offered a short preview of next week's speech: job creation, education, clean energy and, "yes, deficits and taxes and sequesters and potential government shutdowns and debt ceiling ? we'll talk about that stuff."

Obama has proposed a small package of spending cuts and tax increases to delay the March 1 sequester cuts. So far, Republicans have rejected the plan, even though House Speaker John Boehner likens the threatened cuts to "taking a meat ax to our government."

Opposition parties often call presidential budgets "dead on arrival." This year, Republicans suggest it's ailing even before birth.

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Follow Tom Raum on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tomraum

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-02-08-US-The-Reset/id-198846010b9e457d849b0e32786916ab

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Researchers explore quantum entanglement

Feb. 7, 2013 ? Albert Einstein called quantum entanglement -- two particles in different locations, even on other sides of the universe, influencing each other -- "spooky action at a distance."

Einstein made the comment while criticizing quantum mechanics as incomplete -- the phenomenon of quantum entanglement seems to be at odds with Einstein's theory of relativity.

"Eighty years after Einstein, quantum physics is still so mysterious that there are many different interpretations of its physical meaning. All the interpretations agree on what is going to be observed in any given experiment, but they each tell different stories of how these observations come about," says Christoph Simon with the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Faculty of Science at the University of Calgary.

Simon and his colleague, Boris Braverman from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have shown this spooky action at a distance in research published February 8 in Physical Review Letters. The paper proposes a way in which the effect can be shown experimentally.

"We consider spooky action at a distance in the framework of an interpretation from the English physicist David Bohm who posited that every quantum particle has a well-defined position and velocity," says Simon.

"If the two particles are entangled, then performing an action on one has an immediate effect on the other and our paper shows how this effect can be demonstrated in an experiment with entangled photons."

Entangled photons present an exciting new method of secure communications -- it's impossible for people to listen in. But this phenomenon can't be used for communication faster than the speed of light (what physicists call superluminal), allowing quantum physical systems to obey Einstein's theory of relativity, which posits that things can't communicate faster than light.

There is either no explanation for this -- it's magic and somehow there are the same outcomes on each side -- or the communication between photons is superluminal, which is problematic given the theory of relativity. "There has to be a way out," says Simon.

"Different pairs of particles coming from the same source have slightly different positions and velocities," he says. "If you observe just one of the two particles from a pair, you can't be sure if a variation in its velocity, say, is due to the long-distance influence of its partner, or whether it is just a statistical fluctuation. In this way the peaceful coexistence of quantum physics and relativity is preserved."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Calgary, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Boris Braverman, and Christoph Simon. Proposal to Observe the Nonlocality of Bohmian Trajectories with Entangled Photons. Physical Review Letters, 2013 DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.060406

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.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/matter_energy/physics/~3/nd8KL54EXh8/130208110253.htm

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3-D printing on the micrometer scale

Feb. 8, 2013 ? At the Photonics West, the leading international fair for photonics taking place in San Francisco (USA) this week, Nanoscribe GmbH, a spin-off of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), presents the world's fastest 3D printer of micro- and nanostructures. With this printer, smallest three-dimensional objects, often smaller than the diameter of a human hair, can be manufactured with minimum time consumption and maximum resolution. The printer is based on a novel laser lithography method.

The 3D laser litho-graphy systems developed by Nanoscribe -- the spin-off can still be found on KIT's Campus North -- are used for research by KIT and scientists worldwide. Work in the area of photonics concentrates on replacing conventional electronics by optical circuits of higher performance. For this purpose, Nanoscribe systems are used to print polymer waveguides reaching data transfer rates of more than 5 terabits per second.

Biosciences produce tailored scaffolds for cell growth studies among others. In materials research, functional materials of enhanced performance are developed for lightweight construction to reduce the consumption of resources.

Increased Speed: Hours Turn into Minutes

By means of the new laser lithography method, printing speed is increased by factor of about 100. This increase in speed results from the use of a galvo mirror system, a technology that is also applied in laser show devices or scanning units of CD and DVD drives. Reflecting a laser beam off the rotating galvo mirrors facilitates rapid and precise laser focus positioning. "We are revolutionizing 3D printing on the micrometer scale. Precision and speed are achieved by the industrially established galvo technology. Our product benefits from more than one decade of experience in photonics, the key technology of the 21st century," says Martin Hermatschweiler, the managing director of Nanoscribe GmbH.

Mechanism: Two-photon Polymerization

The direct laser writing technique underlying the 3D printing method is based on two-photon polymerization. Just as paper ignites when exposed to sunlight focused through a magnifying glass, ultra-short laser pulses polymerize photosensitive materials in the laser focus. Depending on the photosensitive material chosen, the exposed or unexposed volume only is dissolved. After a developer bath, these written areas remain as self-supporting micro- and nanostructures.

Removing Barriers

By means of the galvo technology, three-dimensional micro- and nanostructures can be printed rapidly and, hence, on large areas in principle. At highest resolution, however, the scanning field is limited physically to a few 100 ?m due to the optical properties of the focusing objective. Just as floor tiles must be joined precisely, the respective scanning fields have to be connected seamlessly and accurately. By the so-called stitching, areas can be extended nearly arbitrarily.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/matter_energy/electronics/~3/6UP-fbgozJM/130208105901.htm

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