Boeing wins $3.48 billion U.S. missile defense contract (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? Boeing Co beat out Lockheed Martin to retain its position as the prime contractor for the U.S. long-range missile shield, the Pentagon said on Friday.

The U.S. Defense Department said it was awarding Boeing a $3.48 billion, seven-year contract to develop, test, engineer and manufacture missile defense systems.

A team led by Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Co had vied with Boeing to expand and maintain the Ground-based Midcourse Defense, or GMD, hub of layered antimissile protection.

Boeing partnered with Northrop Grumman Corp to retain the work.

"We believe the government conducted a fair and open competition, making the right decision for the future of the program," Norm Tew, Boeing vice president and program director of GMD, said in a statement.

A representative from Lockheed did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The GMD contract's value to Boeing will have been about $18 billion from January 2001, when it formally became the system's prime contractor, through the end of this year, Boeing has said.

GMD uses radars and other sensors plus a 20,000-mile fiber optic communications network to cue interceptors in silos in Fort Greely, Alaska and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

The shield has been shaped initially to guard against ballistic missiles that could be fired by Iran and North Korea. It is the only U.S. defense against long-range missiles that could be tipped with chemical, biological or nuclear warheads.

(Reporting By Jim Wolf and Karey Wutkowski; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111230/bs_nm/us_boeing_missiledefense

nor easter nor easter st.louis cardinals st.louis cardinals drag me to hell alot alot

Senior Software Developer, Karachi - Orient Energy Systems

Industry:	Power/Energy
Category:	Software Development
Total Position:	1
Job Type:	Full Time/Permanent ( firstshift )
Department:	Information Technology
Job Location:	Karachi, Pakistan
Gender:	Male
Age:	20 - 35 Years
Minimum Education:	Bachelors
Degree Title:	BCS, BS, BSc, MS, MCS, MSc
Career Level:	Experienced (Non-Manager)
Minimum Experience:	2 Years(Knowledge of SCM, MM, PM, SM, FIA, PP, PC)
Require Travel:	Not Required
Apply By:	Jan 23, 2012
Posted:	Dec 30, 2011
?	?
?	?

Job Description:

Orient Energy Systems is looking for expert developers with 2 years of practice in ERP Development and execution having strong understanding of complex functional requirements. 1. You will be responsible for successful development and implementation of mid-market ERP. 2. You must have practice in various stages / process of ERP development and implementation Cycle 3. You must have strong development experience on Microsoft technologies, in addition to that Microsoft Certified preferred. 4. You must have domain knowledge of SCM, MM, PM, SM, FIA, PP, PC 5. We give to the right applicant is a stable and secure job and progressive growth opportunity.

?

Skills Required:

?

1. Strong communication skills and a proven track record for developing quality software products. At least two years of experience in designing / building highly automated 3-tier enterprise class applications. 2. Excellent coding skills and experience in all aspects of the software engineering life cycle. 3. Strong working knowledge of Windows 2003, XP, Vista, SQL Server, IIS and .NET technology and infrastructure. 4. Working experience with a structured software development life cycle and software test practices on medium to large projects. 5. Working knowledge of developer tools technologies including Languages like SQL, C# and Visual Basic .Net and the .NET Framework, complex XML Schema, HTML, and Java script. Ability to understand and modify the configuration of web services and other applications. 6. Strong working knowledge of SQL Server 2005,2008 Strong SQL Scripts writing skills, Stored Procedures, SQL Batch Jobs, SQL DTS Packages, and SQL back-end. 7. Strong analytical and organizational skills. 8. Solid verbal and written communication skills. 9. Highly motivated and self-driven.

?

Source: http://www.rozee.pk/orient-energy-systems-senior-software-developer-karachi-jobs-130579.php

target target walmart jcpenney loft old navy cyber monday best deals

Stock index futures signal mixed open (Reuters)

(Reuters) Stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street for the last session of the year on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.06 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.22 percent at 0930 GMT.

* European stocks inched higher in thin trade, with a number of euro zone indexes set to post 2011 losses of about 20 percent, hammered by the region's debt crisis.

* The U.S. Federal Reserve's balance sheet grew in the latest week with a rise in central bank liquidity swaps, even though holdings of Treasuries and agency debt declined, Fed data

showed on Thursday.

* The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission got a fresh dressing-down from the judge who rejected its $285 million settlement with Citigroup Inc (C.N), as he said the regulator kept him out of the loop on its efforts to salvage the case.

* Sears Holdings Corp (SHLD.O) identified 79 of the 100 to 120 Sears and Kmart stores it said earlier this week it would close, with the list split almost evenly between the two chains.

* U.S. stocks rallied on Thursday, moving the S&P 500 back into positive territory for 2011 ahead of the last trading day of the year, on more positive signals on the U.S. economy.

* The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) shot up 135.63 points, or 1.12 percent, to 12,287.04 at the close. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX) gained 13.38 points, or 1.07 percent, to 1,263.02. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) advanced 23.76 points, or 0.92 percent, to 2,613.74.

* The S&P 500 edged above its 200-day moving average, a key measure of the market's long-term momentum.

(Reporting by Blaise Robinson; Editing by David Holmes)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/stocks/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111230/bs_nm/us_markets_stocks

miguel cotto vs antonio margarito terminator salvation terminator salvation rockefeller center art basel 2011 art basel 2011 straight no chaser

Actavis settles Medicaid fraud case for $84 million (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? Actavis Group has reached an $84 million settlement with Texas to resolve civil claims that it defrauded the state's Medicaid program by artificially inflating prices for its generic drugs.

The sum is just under half the $170.3 million that a Travis County state jury had ordered Actavis, a privately-held Icelandic company, to pay the state in February. Actavis had appealed that verdict, which followed a three-week trial.

In announcing the accord with U.S. units Actavis Elizabeth LLC and Actavis Mid-Atlantic LLC, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said Actavis' inaccurate price reporting caused the Medicaid program to overpay pharmacies for prescription drugs.

The company did not admit liability in agreeing to settle, and both Actavis and Texas agreed to settle to avoid further litigation, according to the settlement agreement.

Doug Boothe, chief executive of Actavis Inc, the direct parent of Actavis Elizabeth and Actavis Mid-Atlantic, called the settlement a "favorable outcome" that allows Texas' Medicaid patients to continue using its drugs.

"Actavis will continue to report our product pricing in an manner consistent with all applicable laws as well as the terms of this agreement," Boothe said in a statement.

Abbott said the case arose from a whistleblower lawsuit filed more than a decade ago. He said his office has recovered nearly $450 million in drug pricing lawsuits.

Actavis has offices in Reykjavik and in Zug, Switzerland. It also has U.S. operations in Morristown, New Jersey.

The company was taken private for $3 billion in 2007 by Novator Partners, an investment vehicle of Actavis' chairman, the Icelandic businessman Bjorgolfur Thor Bjorgolfsson.

The case is Texas ex rel. Ven-A-Care of the Florida Keys Inc v. Alpharma USPD et al, District Court of Travis County, Texas, No. D-1-GV-08-001566.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/meds/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111228/hl_nm/us_actavis

anne hathaway news channel 5 nathan hale kohls coupons joe kapp joe kapp kohls

serkantoto: Updated with info from DENA, from my site: Who's Actually Playing Social Games In Japan? http://t.co/KzzohqSc

• Passer la navigation
• Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
• Passer cette ?tape
• Connexion

• Connexion
• Rejoignez Twitter !

Updated with info from DENA, from my site: Who's Actually Playing Social Games In Japan? serkantoto.com/2011/12/29/who? Il y a environ 3 heures via Tweet Button Retweeted by 4 people

serkantoto

Dr. Serkan Toto

Pied de page

• ? 2011 Twitter
• ? propos de nous
• Contact
• Blog
• Statut
• Ressources
• API
• Entreprises
• Aide
• Offres d'emploi
• Conditions
• Confidentialit?

Source: http://twitter.com/serkantoto/statuses/152336516755111936

mike leach billy graham scion fr s elf on a shelf elf on a shelf carrier iq carrier iq

Southern Fried Chicken (Harlesden, London, by Melinita)

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

Source: http://www.qype.co.uk/review/2616307

frank gore injury makana makana gloria cain gloria cain kandi burruss occupy portland

FSCalltothePen: Ryan Madson Rumors: Red Sox, Angels Interested in Madson: After Jonathan Papelbon and Heath Bell sign... http://t.co/89ZJohAX #Baseball

• Passer la navigation
• Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
• Passer cette ?tape
• Connexion

• Connexion
• Rejoignez Twitter !

Ryan Madson Rumors: Red Sox, Angels Interested in Madson: After Jonathan Papelbon and Heath Bell sign... bit.ly/rWKyCC #Baseball Il y a environ 5 heures via twitterfeed

FSCalltothePen

Call to the Pen

Pied de page

• ? 2011 Twitter
• ? propos de nous
• Contact
• Blog
• Statut
• Ressources
• API
• Entreprises
• Aide
• Offres d'emploi
• Conditions
• Confidentialit?

Source: http://twitter.com/FSCalltothePen/statuses/151321538493284352

white witch white witch occupy san francisco occupy san francisco top chef just desserts jamarcus russell sister wives

President Obama Enjoys the Calm Before the Storm (ABC News)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/179903526?client_source=feed&format=rss

earthquake map geoffrey mutai wes welker brandon jacobs brandon jacobs fred davis fred davis

PogoWasRight: RT @adamshostack: I hear Boston police have also issued @twitter subpoenas for @paulrevere, @samadams & @johnadams http://t.co/CCAZIaa9 ...

• Passer la navigation
• Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
• Passer cette ?tape
• Connexion

• Connexion
• Rejoignez Twitter !

I hear Boston police have also issued @twitter subpoenas for @paulrevere, @samadams & @johnadams bit.ly/sxyHXW (/cc @amac) Il y a environ 8 heures via TwitBird Retweeted by 2 people

adamshostack

adam shostack

Pied de page

• ? 2011 Twitter
• ? propos de nous
• Contact
• Blog
• Statut
• Ressources
• API
• Entreprises
• Aide
• Offres d'emploi
• Conditions
• Confidentialit?

Source: http://twitter.com/PogoWasRight/statuses/150437251321565184

adam shulman adam shulman nfl power rankings week 13 nfl power rankings week 13 patrice patrice tether

Iphone 4s White Contract Cheapest Christmas Deal

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

Source: http://www.articlesolve.com/articledetail.php?artid=227158&catid=27

tiki barber minnesota vikings packers vs vikings packers vs vikings randall cobb packers score google x

McCoy's concussion prompts NFL changes (AP)

BEREA, Ohio ? Browns quarterback Colt McCoy still hasn't shaken symptoms from a concussion sustained nearly two weeks ago, one that has reformed the NFL's game-day procedures on head injuries.

McCoy was not cleared to practice again on Wednesday, keeping him sidelined since he was illegally blasted in the face mask by Pittsburgh's James Harrison on Dec. 8. Browns coach Pat Shurmur said McCoy was evaluated by team doctors and did "a little physical activity" as he continues to recover.

McCoy has not been seen at the team's training facility this week. The second-year QB, who has displayed immense toughness while being roughed up all season, will miss his second straight game Saturday at Baltimore. Backup Seneca Wallace will start against the Ravens, although Shurmur has not made that announcement official.

Wallace doesn't know Cleveland's plans beyond this week.

"I just get ready," he said. "Colt started the season, he should finish the season as the starter if he's healthy. All the other stuff will take care of itself."

The Browns are being extra careful in their treatment of McCoy. It was their failure to check him for a concussion on the field or sideline at Heinz Field that prompted the league to institute a policy of having an independent certified trainer, paid by the NFL, in the press box at games to monitor for head injuries and help identify players who need to be tested.

The league said the trainer will not diagnose or prescribe treatment and can't order players be removed from a game. The trainer will be in a booth upstairs with access to video replay and direct communication to the medical staffs of both teams.

Also, the league will allow medical personnel to use their cell phones during games to get information to help any injured player, not just those with head injuries. In a statement announcing the changes, the league stressed the importance of communication between coaching and medical staffs and urged that "concussions continue to be managed in a conservative and medically appropriate way."

McCoy wasn't tested for a concussion until after the loss to the Steelers, and was sent back into the game after missing just two plays. The Browns said McCoy wasn't showing symptoms of a concussion so they didn't test him. Also, team doctors were treating other players and didn't see the impact from Harrison's vicious hit, which earned the Steelers' linebacker a one-game suspension he served in Pittsburgh's loss to San Francisco on Monday.

Harrison returned to practice on Wednesday and delivered another shot on the Browns. He believes they should be disciplined for their handling of McCoy.

"If he was hurt so bad I don't know why they let him back in the next two plays later," Harrison said. "Something should be done to them I would think. I got a game, what should they get?"

League spokesman Greg Aiello said the Browns will not be penalized for their handling of McCoy's injury.

The Steelers will finish the regular season at Cleveland on Jan. 1.

Shurmur was vague when he was asked if McCoy had visited any specialists on head trauma. Tight end Benjamin Watson sought outside medical advice last week after suffering his third concussion since July. The Browns, who have had eight players sustain concussions, placed him on injured reserve Friday.

"You can't say he hasn't seen one," Shurmur said. "He's been evaluated just like Ben, by all the proper people. They're all doctors. No real difference."

Browns Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas believes adding a trainer as an observer is a good thing.

"Anything they can do to protect player safety is always a positive," Thomas said. "Is it perfect? I don't know. Maybe. Is it better than nothing? I think so."

The league's medical staff and Players Association had input into the changes following their meeting with the Browns last week to discuss McCoy's post-injury treatment. Commissioner Roger Goodell took part in the talks via teleconference as did Browns president Mike Holmgren.

Notes: The Browns are battered as they near the finish line of another losing season. Starting CB Joe Haden (thigh) and WRs Mohamed Massaquoi (foot) and Jordan Norwood (head) missed practice Wednesday. Also out were DL Scott Paxson (hand; calf), LB Ben Jacobs (head) and S T.J. Ward (foot) sat out. Ward has missed six straight games and is unlikely to play next week. .... Shurmur said there's a good chance rookie DB Buster Skrine will return kickoffs this week in place of WR Josh Cribbs, who was limited in practice by a groin injury. Skrine returned one kick 32 yards last week. ... Shurmur expects newly signed TE Dan Gronkowski to play this week. The Browns are short on run blockers following the loss of Watson and Alex Smith. "We're teaching him the game plan, not the system," Shurmur said.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111221/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_browns_mccoy

andy williams andy williams nyc marathon nyc marathon coriolis effect coriolis effect giants patriots

Police find severed head of Jamaica gangster (AP)

KINGSTON, Jamaica ? Investigators say they have found the severed head of a high-ranking member of a notorious Jamaican gang known for beheading victims.

A police statement says the head of Navardo Hodges of the Clansman gang was found Wednesday along a commercial strip in Spanish Town, a troubled southern city where violent gangs are deeply entrenched.

A headless body with gunshot wounds was found on a nearby street.

Detectives suspect Hodges was butchered in revenge for killing another gangster's sister.

Over the past year, Jamaica's offensive against crime has created power vacuums within Spanish Town's gangs. Reputed Clansman leader Chan Tesha Miller was sentenced in April to 15 years in prison.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111221/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_jamaica_gang_beheading

cbsnews ufc on fox fight card florida marlins ncaa basketball boise state football boise state football jack and jill

[OOC] Vampires and Servants

Forum rules
This forum is for OOC discussion about existing roleplays.

Please post all "Players Wanted" threads in the Roleplayers Wanted forum!

This topic is an Out Of Character part of the roleplay, ?Assassins in Chains?. Anything posted here will also show up there.

Topic Tags:

Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.
So, once w have all the characters in, we will decide who is whose servant, ect.

How this will work; all vampires will post who they want, if someone wants the same person as another one, we can work it out.

We have to be fair, and make sure everyone is happy with who they get.

Nightmares

Member for 0 years

---

---

Return to Out of Character

Post a reply

RolePlayGateway is a site built by a couple roleplayers who wanted to give a little something back to the roleplay community. The site has no intention of earning any profit, and is paid for out of their own pockets.

If you appreciate what they do, feel free to donate your spare change to help feed them on the weekends. After selecting the amount you want to donate from the menu, you can continue by clicking on PayPal logo.

Who is online

Registered users: *~Nya-Chan~*, 96Nathan96, Abaddon*, Abalyth, Abraxas, Acedude58, Adig01, ?SIR Society*, Aftershock*, Akantha, almostinsane, AlxSoul*, AmiOfTheRain, Andaho, Andreis*, angelwolf123, Archlkan*, Aufeis, austyn101, AvidZombierReader, AzricanRepublic*, Bara'acus, Bashie L. Craft, BBClock*, BekaL101, Belladonna Dawn, bellelaine, Beta Type Jakuri, birdguard, Black, Blackbird26*, blackwolf*, Blacx*, Blademaster_v3*, BloodHawkMajor*, Blueshadow, BlueWind_22, Boxer, BrienaBloodLust, brigitteanncastro, BSX, Caelus, ChildishDelusion, chocolateloversuntie, ChristyLovesYou, Chrome Shiny, Chuckles*, Chulance*, Commisar_Gaunt, Conumbra*, CriminalMinds*, CrowboyToTheRescue, Cynique, darcness*, DarknessToDeath23*, deathrisesagain, DemiKara*, desire99600, dig17*, draketemple*, DumbDora*, Eddy V. Sovorov, Edge, Eisenhorn, Eleera Cain*, Essence, estrelas, Everscale, FalloutRomanae, Forget~Me~Not*, Fredalice*, Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], Google Feedfetcher, Grimpunker96, Harlequin Smile, Hazezon, HeroOfAwesomeness*, Higurashi, Hinasil, HisDyingBride*, Horseygirl*, Hushh*, Hydrall, Hydrokinesis, Iggi*, Ikiros*, Imaliongrr, inara1917, iowa90, IronPhoenix, Isra*, Izzyvamp*, I'm a Radical Dame!*, jackrules158*, JayZeroSnake*, Jinx911*, Jo_Tunn*, Jster, Kai, Kaida*, Ken Shiro, Kirinak*, kjrated, kkpigs, koto the anthro wolf, kris0the0girl*, KumoriRyuu, lallae, LavenderMistress, LeiaHair, Liela's Atomic Lover, Lifecharacter*, Light_of_the_Fallen*, Lioness_RAWR, lostamongtrees*, LRmember, LSunday, Lucy Knox, Lumana*, Marine3950, Mat_z6, MaxStokes*, mgoodwin2, minibear, Missing Link*, mistsong99, Moonscar*, Movintarget, MSNbot Media, mummydove, Muppet, Murmur, nancyboy*, Neon.lynxie*, Nevermore90, Nightgem, NightLady, Nightmares, NotAFlyingToy, nour06, Nulix*, OdiOdi, Oran Tarlin, Ottoman*, Patcharoo*, peachyme123, Pfauxmeh*, Phoenix6000, Pichu-Chan, PirateofPie*, poeticjustice8012, Princess Awinita*, projectdarkeden, Providence, qbsuperstar03*, Queenforaday*, RainbowMotorcycles, RainWish, Rarikou*, RedShereKhanChick, Rem?us*, Resoan, RinSai, Ropeburn*, Roxxy, RydeDawg*, safton*, Saint Bella*, sao, Saranghae, SasoriRinku, Saviarre, Saxious, Script*, SecretAgentCanada, Shan?, ShaShaBoomStar, Shpleem*, Siren*, Sirius Baren, SkullsandSlippers*, SkyRight*, Slendyman, SlightlyInsane, Smileybird, Smokescreen*, smrtazz13*, Sneakers*, Sorella*, Steppin' Razor*, Stilts, Stitchedintoreality, SunniBunny, SunshinexDeath, super-6-1, Sweet Angel Jocelyn, T3XT*, T?far?s, Talisman*, Team Forwood, Tearen Wover*, The Angry Penguin*, The Painkiller, The Protagonist, TheRaven&ThePawn, Tiko*, Trickster*, Tropicalpeacock*, True Grave, twi-twi, utahann, ValaunDae'Voth*, vampyre_smiles, ViceVersus*, victhevampire*, victim130*, viper45, VitaminHeart*, Vlashneer, wednesdaysun*, Wheatley*, Whiskey Go Dark, Wild1*, WindOnFire, Wing06Twilight*, Wudgeous, XavierDantius32, xnightxelfx, xxdarkglass*, xXxCryptic-AngelxXx, yogitheambrangyl, Yonbibuns, Zetta

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/h0ceVRPfAuU/viewtopic.php

lsu state of play the national defense authorization act the national defense authorization act bcs rankings lsu football lsu football

Gingrich fades in Iowa and nationally (Reuters)

DAVENPORT, Iowa (Reuters) ? Former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich's status as the front runner for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination is fading after weeks of attacks by rivals and intense media scrutiny of his political record and personality.

Gingrich acknowledged that negative advertisements by political opponents had dented his popularity but suggested he would refrain from launching his own attacks while responding more aggressively to criticism of his record.

"I will be back on a positive basis, I will ... tell you what I stand for and I will answer any question that comes up based on the false and inaccurate advertising of some of my friends," Gingrich told a crowd of about 250 people at a campaign event.

A Public Policy Polling survey of likely participants in the January 3 Iowa caucuses -- the first-in-the-nation Republican nominating contest -- showed the former House speaker dropping to third place from first in the Midwestern state in the span of a week. Congressman Ron Paul of Texas led the new poll, which was released on Monday.

Gingrich's lead also evaporated in national polling as Republican candidates competed for the right to face President Barack Obama, a Democrat, in the November 2012 presidential election.

"Newt Gingrich's campaign is rapidly imploding and Gingrich has now seen a big drop in his Iowa standing two weeks in a row," Public Policy Polling, which is affiliated with the Democratic Party, said in a statement.

Gingrich earned just 14 percent support in the new Iowa poll compared to 22 percent a week ago and 27 percent two weeks ago.

Paul took over the lead in Iowa with 23 percent in the new polls, an increase of 5 percentage points over the past weeks. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who has been seen as Gingrich's main national rival, was second with 20 percent.

The survey of almost 600 people, taken December 16-18, had a 4 percentage point margin of error.

Another poll, by CNN/ORC International, showed that Gingrich and Romney were tied with 28 percent of support nationally from Republicans and Republican-leaning independents.

An onslaught of television and radio commercials by Gingrich's opponents that paint him as unreliable and a Washington insider has taken a toll.

"It's tough not to feel the effects in millions of dollars in advertising spent against you with no comparable response," said Tim Albrecht, spokesman for Republican Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and a former Romney staffer during Romney's unsuccessful run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.

Gingrich acknowledged that criticisms aimed at him by rivals -- omnipresent on Iowa television and radio -- had taken a toll.

"You get enough negative ads before you start answering them, your numbers go down for a while," he told reporters after speaking to a small crowd at Global Security Services, a small business.

'WORLD IS DANGEROUS'

He nevertheless took a swipe at his rival Paul, who has opposed much of U.S. military action abroad, while discussing concerns about North Korea's nuclear capabilities.

"The world is dangerous," he said. "I really stand apart from some of our candidates in believing we need a strong defense."

Gingrich's personal favorability numbers also fell during the past two weeks among Iowa voters polled ahead of the January 3 caucuses, the polling firm said.

Gingrich's front-runner status has prompted attacks from rivals who say he is an unreliable conservative and an influence peddler, particularly because of fees he earned from Freddie Mac, a mortgage giant tied to the economic recession.

"(Gingrich) is taking an unprecedented beating. ... I have just never seen so many negative, substantively negative ads aimed at one candidate from so many different angles," said Cary Covington, a professor of political science at the University of Iowa. "Ron Paul is just eviscerating Newt Gingrich in the ads."

Iowa political operatives said there is still plenty of time for more changes in the two weeks before the caucuses.

"Newt may have peaked at the right time or peaked just a little bit too early," said Will Rogers, one of the members of Gingrich's campaign team who resigned en masse in June amid frustration over how it was being run.

Rogers, who has returned to support Gingrich as a volunteer and is heavily involved with the Republican Party, said polls represent only a snapshot in time and said it seems that many Iowa voters still remain undecided.

Rogers said Paul was benefiting from his strong organization in Iowa, unlike Gingrich who had to scramble to beef up his staff as he rose in the polls.

"You don't know where Iowans truly sit until January 3," Albrecht said. "There's an unprecedented level of uncertainty this late."

"Caucuses always surprise people at the end. One thing caucuses do is defy conventional wisdom. Someone always dramatically outperforms poll numbers and someone under performs."

Gingrich has run an unorthodox campaign, signing books at events and talking about topics ranging from the economy to brain research and lunar mining.

"His campaign has been one of speeches and ideas, not one as organized as the others. And it's been interesting to watch at public forums and speeches that people have gravitated toward him and liked what he's had to say," said John Gilliland of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry.

"But it's hard when you're trying to build infrastructure when you're behind the eight ball," he said.

(Additional reporting by Paul Eckert and Lily Kuo in Washington; Writing by Deborah Charles; Editing by Will Dunham)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111220/ts_nm/us_usa_campaign_poll

pie crust pie crust turkey recipes turkey recipes sweet potato pie sweet potato pie stuffing recipe

Arianna Huffington: Sunday Roundup

This week, the Pentagon marked the official end to the war in Iraq with a brief ceremony in a secure part of the Baghdad airport -- helicopters hovering protectively overhead. Although Defense Secretary Leon Panetta later declared that the cost paid by America was "worth it," a look at the price tag offers a more sobering assessment: 4,487 U.S. military personnel killed, over 2,000 U.S. government contractors killed, over 40,000 American troops wounded, over 100,000 Iraqis killed, at least 2 million Iraqis displaced from their homes, and a final tab that could ultimately reach $4 trillion doled out by U.S. taxpayers (a far cry from the $50 billion to $80 billion the Defense Department originally predicted it would cost). And beyond the cost in lives and treasure are the less quantifiable costs we'll be paying for years to come, including the strengthening of Iran and the weakening of America's moral standing in the world.

?

?

?

Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff

Read more from Huffington Post bloggers:

Stephanie Schriock: Women and the Road Home From Iraq

Though there are no words, I can only say today thank you to every American woman and man who served in Iraq. I will always be grateful for their sacrifice, and grateful for the women fighting to make sure that sacrifice is honored.

Tom Matzzie: You Ended the War in Iraq

America is weary of war and this war has been a psychic trauma on the United States that has shaken core beliefs of many. Now that it is over we must work to end other wars and start nation building here at home.

Alex Cornell du Houx: Welcome Home

The men and women of our military have, with skill and bravery, brought Iraq back from the brink. Today, they can all be proud of what they've accomplished and overjoyed to be coming home.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/sunday-roundup_212_b_1155689.html

whats going on bowl projections bedlam bedlam cotto vs margarito 2 rose bowl cotto vs margarito

MMA posters from Japan: Fedor fight card competes with UFC Japan

In 2011, is proper anymore to ask which card you're more excited to see?

Is it only hardcore UFC haters who'll say DREAM's 2011 card is better than UFC 144?

Above are the competing posters. Below is DREAM's attempt at getting people fired up for its card headlined by the Fedor Emelianenko fight against Satoshi Ishii.

Personally, I'm stoked to see the fight. What does Fedor have left and is Ishii ready to compete against the top level of MMA just six fights into his MMA career?

Tip via Bloody Elbow

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/MMA-posters-from-Japan-Fedor-fight-card-compete?urn=mma-wp10820

alec baldwin alec baldwin rock and roll hall of fame erin andrews erin andrews blagojevich sentence mythbusters cannonball

Call to Ban Cell Phones While Driving Is Absurd (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling for a ban on the use of all cell phones, including hands free models for all drivers. According to tgdaily.com, it is because "more than 3,000 people lost their lives last year in distraction-related accidents." This study doesn't say if these are cell phone-related or not, but we'll assume they are. Should such a ban be enacted?

Why is it that we feel it is necessary to infringe on people's freedoms just because there are people out there who have no personal responsibility? Because 3,000 people have been involved in accidents, all drivers should not be punished equally. This is the wrong approach. This is no different than using a double load of buckshot to swat a fly, more than just the fly is going to suffer or not allowing McDonald's to put toys in their Happy Meals because some parents can't control what their children eat.

Government doesn't need to control everything its citizens do. Each time we let them intrude in one area, they will find something else to stick their nose into, using the argument that "We already are doing this so we might as well as do that." As an example, let's say we ban the use of cell phones because we don't want distracted drivers and then we find there is a lot of accidents caused by people who are changing their radio stations. Do we then ban the listening of radios in vehicles, citing the precedent of the banning of cell phones? After all, it is another distraction and people have been killed.

In the meantime, we continue to allow drivers who haven't taken a driving test in 50 or more years to renew their licenses without having to prove they are still capable of reacting in time to avoid accidents, or distinguishing the difference between the gas and brake pedals. Perhaps there haven't been enough deaths caused by elderly drivers yet to require action?

If 3,000 deaths is a lot, isn't even one death too much? Absolutely, but not when you compare it to the deaths of approximately 1.2 million people who are legally aborted every year right here in America, according to the Wiley Online Library. What are these deaths we seem to not be concerned about? This is the number of abortions performed in 2008. Where is the outcry on this?

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111215/us_ac/10681949_call_to_ban_cell_phones_while_driving_is_absurd

occupy los angeles occupy los angeles comedian patrice o neal occupy philadelphia occupy philadelphia conrad murray conrad murray

iGloLEDset brings the party to the Kindle Fire, helps you lighten the mood (video)

Back when we first saw what iGloLEDset could do on an iPhone, few would've thought an Amazon tablet would exist today. But it does, and let's face it: the Kindle Fire could benefit from a colorful personality lift. You can make it happen if you're willing to take on the $299 price tag that's slapped on a set of remotely controlled LEDs. Aside from its app introduction to the Fire, nothing changes, so you'll get identical features to those using the bulbs on another Android or iOS device. Certainly a commodity, but no one could blame you for wanting to add a pinch of geek spice to the season's festivities. Surprise! Video demo is after the break.

Continue reading iGloLEDset brings the party to the Kindle Fire, helps you lighten the mood (video)

iGloLEDset brings the party to the Kindle Fire, helps you lighten the mood (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  YouTube (MEAmobile), iGloLEDset  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/17/igloledset-brings-the-party-to-the-kindle-fire-helps-you-lighte/

dan henderson oregon ducks oregon ducks oregon football lana turner donald glover julio cesar chavez jr

Discovery of a 'dark state' could mean a brighter future for solar energy

Public release date: 15-Dec-2011
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Xiaoyang Zhu
zhu@cm.utexas.edu
512-471-9914
University of Texas at Austin

Maximum theoretical efficiency of solar cells could increase from 31 to 44 percent

AUSTIN, Texas The efficiency of conventional solar cells could be significantly increased, according to new research on the mechanisms of solar energy conversion led by chemist Xiaoyang Zhu at The University of Texas at Austin.

Zhu and his team have discovered that it's possible to double the number of electrons harvested from one photon of sunlight using an organic plastic semiconductor material.

"Plastic semiconductor solar cell production has great advantages, one of which is low cost," said Zhu, a professor of chemistry. "Combined with the vast capabilities for molecular design and synthesis, our discovery opens the door to an exciting new approach for solar energy conversion, leading to much higher efficiencies."

Zhu and his team published their groundbreaking discovery Dec. 16 in Science.

The maximum theoretical efficiency of the silicon solar cell in use today is approximately 31 percent, because much of the sun's energy hitting the cell is too high to be turned into usable electricity. That energy, in the form of "hot electrons," is instead lost as heat. Capturing hot electrons could potentially increase the efficiency of solar-to-electric power conversion to as high as 66 percent.

Zhu and his team previously demonstrated that those hot electrons could be captured using semiconductor nanocrystals. They published that research in Science in 2010, but Zhu says the actual implementation of a viable technology based on that research is very challenging.

"For one thing," said Zhu, "that 66 percent efficiency can only be achieved when highly focused sunlight is used, not just the raw sunlight that typically hits a solar panel. This creates problems when considering engineering a new material or device."

To circumvent that problem, Zhu and his team have found an alternative. They discovered that a photon produces a dark quantum "shadow state" from which two electrons can then be efficiently captured to generate more energy in the semiconductor pentacene.

Zhu said that exploiting that mechanism could increase solar cell efficiency to 44 percent without the need for focusing a solar beam, which would encourage more widespread use of solar technology.

The research team was spearheaded by Wai-lun Chan, a postdoctoral fellow in Zhu's group, with the help of postdoctoral fellows Manuel Ligges, Askat Jailaubekov, Loren Kaake and Luis Miaja-Avila. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.

Science Behind the Discovery

• Absorption of a photon in a pentacene semiconductor creates an excited electron-hole pair called an exciton.
• The exciton is coupled quantum mechanically to a dark "shadow state" called a multiexciton.
• This dark shadow state can be the most efficient source of two electrons via transfer to an electron acceptor material, such as fullerene, which was used in the study.
• Exploiting the dark shadow state to produce double the electrons could increase solar cell efficiency to 44 percent.

###

Additional Contact:
Lee Clippard, media relations
512-232-0675
clippard@austin.utexas.edu

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 15-Dec-2011
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Xiaoyang Zhu
zhu@cm.utexas.edu
512-471-9914
University of Texas at Austin

Maximum theoretical efficiency of solar cells could increase from 31 to 44 percent

AUSTIN, Texas The efficiency of conventional solar cells could be significantly increased, according to new research on the mechanisms of solar energy conversion led by chemist Xiaoyang Zhu at The University of Texas at Austin.

Zhu and his team have discovered that it's possible to double the number of electrons harvested from one photon of sunlight using an organic plastic semiconductor material.

"Plastic semiconductor solar cell production has great advantages, one of which is low cost," said Zhu, a professor of chemistry. "Combined with the vast capabilities for molecular design and synthesis, our discovery opens the door to an exciting new approach for solar energy conversion, leading to much higher efficiencies."

Zhu and his team published their groundbreaking discovery Dec. 16 in Science.

The maximum theoretical efficiency of the silicon solar cell in use today is approximately 31 percent, because much of the sun's energy hitting the cell is too high to be turned into usable electricity. That energy, in the form of "hot electrons," is instead lost as heat. Capturing hot electrons could potentially increase the efficiency of solar-to-electric power conversion to as high as 66 percent.

Zhu and his team previously demonstrated that those hot electrons could be captured using semiconductor nanocrystals. They published that research in Science in 2010, but Zhu says the actual implementation of a viable technology based on that research is very challenging.

"For one thing," said Zhu, "that 66 percent efficiency can only be achieved when highly focused sunlight is used, not just the raw sunlight that typically hits a solar panel. This creates problems when considering engineering a new material or device."

To circumvent that problem, Zhu and his team have found an alternative. They discovered that a photon produces a dark quantum "shadow state" from which two electrons can then be efficiently captured to generate more energy in the semiconductor pentacene.

Zhu said that exploiting that mechanism could increase solar cell efficiency to 44 percent without the need for focusing a solar beam, which would encourage more widespread use of solar technology.

The research team was spearheaded by Wai-lun Chan, a postdoctoral fellow in Zhu's group, with the help of postdoctoral fellows Manuel Ligges, Askat Jailaubekov, Loren Kaake and Luis Miaja-Avila. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.

Science Behind the Discovery

• Absorption of a photon in a pentacene semiconductor creates an excited electron-hole pair called an exciton.
• The exciton is coupled quantum mechanically to a dark "shadow state" called a multiexciton.
• This dark shadow state can be the most efficient source of two electrons via transfer to an electron acceptor material, such as fullerene, which was used in the study.
• Exploiting the dark shadow state to produce double the electrons could increase solar cell efficiency to 44 percent.

###

Additional Contact:
Lee Clippard, media relations
512-232-0675
clippard@austin.utexas.edu

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-12/uota-doa121311.php

rum diary klipsch image s4 chris bosh world series october 28 2011 october 28 2011 jenelle evans

ON THE SUNDAY SHOWS (TIME)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/175335592?client_source=feed&format=rss

odom colt mccoy vt vt pittsburgh steelers cleveland browns fred thompson

US hits Saudi militant with sanctions (AP)

WASHINGTON ? The Obama administration has added a senior member of a Lebanese militant group to the list of global terrorists subject to U.S. sanctions.

The State Department says Saudi citizen Saleh al-Qarawi is a high-ranking operative for the Abdullah Azzam Brigades in Lebanon. The group has claimed responsibility for the bombing of a Japanese oil tanker last year and for several rockets fired from Lebanon into Israel.

The move freezes any assets held by al-Qarawi in the United States and bans Americans from doing business with him.

The department said that before moving to Lebanon, al-Qarawi fought American forces in Fallujah, Iraq, and worked alongside killed al-Qaida in Iraq chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

It said al-Qarawi is wanted for extradition by Saudi Arabia for extremist activity.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111215/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_us_terrorism

jenna lyons san francisco earthquake san francisco earthquake nextdoor premier fitness dan uggla kryptos

Science leads the fight for free speech

Science thrives on freedom of expression and must be at the forefront of defending it

THE words "science" and "censorship" do not sit easily together. And yet over the past decade, science has come to occupy an increasingly important role in debates over free speech.

This is partly due to public clashes between science and politics, from the censoring of climate science in the US under the Bush administration to David Nutt's dismissal as the UK government's adviser on drugs after voicing his views on the safety of ecstasy.

But it also reflects a revolution in access to information which has exposed every sector of society to an unprecedented level of scrutiny. From WikiLeaks to phone hacking, the tension between openness, privacy and confidentiality has become one of the defining issues of our time. Scientists have unexpectedly found themselves at the heart of this debate, as the latest round of leaked climate emails makes abundantly clear.

In recognition of this trend, the award-winning magazine Index on Censorship, which explores challenges to freedom of speech, has dedicated its latest issue, "Dark Matter", to science.

One well-documented clash between science and censorship is in the use of libel actions to try to silence scientists and science writers; the journal Nature and Richard Dawkins are among the most recent to face suits. Scientists and science writers have emerged from some of these battles as free speech champions and martyrs, notably the writer Simon Singh, cardiologist Peter Wilmshurst and NASA climate scientist James Hansen.

There have also been striking incidents within science itself, perhaps most notoriously during the original "climategate" scandal at the Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK. The hacked emails revealed a reluctance to comply with freedom of information requests and possible attempts to conceal data. The information commissioner recently ruled that UEA should release its data, and partly in response to climategate, the UK's Royal Society has set up an investigation into openness.

Not surprisingly there are debates about the proper course of action. Our special issue explores two opposing views. Fred Pearce, the leading chronicler of climategate, makes the argument for open access for the benefit of science and public discourse. Michael Halpern of the US Union of Concerned Scientists warns about freedom of information being deployed as a form of harassment. He is calling on legislators to consider whether there is sufficient protection of academic free speech.

This view has been echoed in the UK by Royal Society president Paul Nurse, as well as in the House of Lords during a debate on the proposed Protection of Freedoms legislation. The bill includes an amendment to the Freedom of Information Act which will oblige public authorities to release data sets in reusable electronic form and extend the range of FOI to the wider public sector.

Two of the academics in the Lords, historian Paul Bew and philosopher Onora O'Neill, raised concerns about the consequences for research. Bew has suggested including an exemption for unpublished research (which already exists in Scottish FOI legislation), warning of the possible harm that may be caused if data is released before it has been peer-reviewed.

However, even if an exemption is included in the bill, the combination of hackers, leakers and the sheer momentum of the open-access movement is likely to limit its scope, particularly for politically sensitive research. The leak of a further 5000 climategate emails last week is a case in point. So there may be no other choice but to embrace full transparency.

Any discussion about access to information cannot ignore the suppression of data within the drugs and medical devices industry. Lack of transparency in drug trials has left doctors dangerously ignorant of potential side effects. This is nothing new, but the demand for openness here too may become irresistible. As Deborah Cohen reports in our issue, Thomas Jefferson of the Cochrane Collaboration believes that open access should be the default setting for drug trials once a drug is registered. Yet despite the backing of all the most eminent scientific institutions for openness there has been limited success.

For now the focus remains on libel. The pressing need for reform has resulted in an unprecedented campaigning alliance between free speech groups and science. For the past two years, the organisation Index on Censorship has been working on this with Sense about Science and the writers' association English PEN.

There is no doubt that libel's chilling effect on scientific research and discourse has been a pivotal factor in the success of the campaign. While politicians are suspicious of giving any further freedom to the media, when presented with evidence of the extent to which scientists and science writers have been silenced and bullied by individuals, interest groups and industry, they have found it impossible to ignore.

Reform that makes it less easy to use the law as a tool of intimidation and that introduces a robust public interest defence will be of critical importance for the future open discussion of issues of scientific concern.

As Wilmshurst and Singh have demonstrated in their own costly and exhausting libel battles, all too often the fight for free speech depends on the courage of individuals. Both the law and the culture within the science establishment have to change in order to safeguard open debate. Freedom of expression depends on it.

Jo Glanville is editor of Index on Censorship, the magazine of the London-based campaigning organisation of the same name. Index on Censorship is hosting a debate called Is transparency bad for science? at Imperial College London on 6 December. To attend email eve@indexoncensorship.org

If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.

Have your say

Only subscribers may leave comments on this article. Please log in.

Only personal subscribers may leave comments on this article

Subscribe now to comment.

All comments should respect the New Scientist House Rules. If you think a particular comment breaks these rules then please use the "Report" link in that comment to report it to us.

If you are having a technical problem posting a comment, please contact technical support.

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/1ab29dfe/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg212284150B90A0A0Escience0Eleads0Ethe0Efight0Efor0Efree0Espeech0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Fonline0Enews/story01.htm

das racist ginger white conrad murray sentencing conrad murray sentencing sopa urban meyer adam shulman