daniel von bargen the beach blood diamond 8 bit google maps kids choice awards 2012 micah true kansas vs ohio state
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Hacker Xbox Hoax Leads to Police Raid on Unsuspecting Family
The dung beetle as celestial navigator
Only humans, birds, and seals are known to navigate using stars. But the dung beetle does use the Milky Way to chart its path, say scientists.
Dung beetles have been shown to use the Milky Way to navigate.Researchers have known for several years that the inch-long insects use the sun or moon as fixed points to ensure they keep rolling dung balls in a straight line - the quickest way of getting away from other beetles at the dung heap. Pictured here, a South African dung beetle.
REUTERS/Marcus Byrne/University of the Witwatersrand
EnlargeDespite having tiny brains, dung beetles are surprisingly decent navigators, able to follow straight paths as they roll poo balls they've collected away from a dung source. But it seems the insects' abilities are more remarkable than previously believed. Like ancient seafarers, dung beetles can navigate using the starry sky and the glow from the Milky Way, new research shows.
Skip to next paragraph' +
google_ads[0].line2 + '
' +
google_ads[0].line3 + '
Subscribe Today to the Monitor
"This is the first time where we see animals using the Milky Way for orientation," said lead researcher Marie Dacke, a biologist at Lund University in Sweden. "It's also the first time we see that insects can use the stars."
After locating a fresh pile of feces, dung beetles will often collect and roll away a large piece of spherical dung. Last year, Dacke and her colleagues discovered the beetles climb on their dung balls and dance around in circles before taking off. This dance is not one of joy, however; the insects are checking out the sky to get their bearings.
"The dorsal (upper) parts of the dung beetles' eyes are specialized to be able to analyze the direction of light polarization ? the direction that light vibrates in," Dacke told LiveScience. So when a beetle looks up, it's taking in the sun, the moon and the pattern of ambient polarized light. These celestial cues help the beetle avoid accidentally circling back to the poo pile, where other beetles may try to steal its food, Dacke said. [Photos of Dung Beetles Dancing on Poop Balls]
In addition to these cues, Dacke and her team wondered if dung beetles can use stars for navigation, just as birds, seals and humans do. After all, they reasoned, dung beetles can somehow keep straight on clear, moonless nights.
To find out, the researchers timed how long dung beetles of the species Scarabaeus satyrus took to cross a circular arena with high walls blocking views of treetops and other landmarks. They tested the insects in South Africa under a moonlit sky, a moonless sky and an overcast sky. In some trials, the beetles were fitted with cardboard caps, which kept their eyes to the ground. Overall, the beetles had a difficult time traveling straight and took significantly longer to cross the arena if caps or clouds obstructed their view of the sky.
Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/_kLAbUmFlvs/The-dung-beetle-as-celestial-navigator
demi moore roy oswalt kevin martin 2012 senior bowl chuck series finale welcome back kotter 2001 a space odyssey
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Nightclub fire highlights Brazil's safety laws
A man cries during a protest near the Kiss nightclub where a fire killed over 230 people in Santa Maria, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. The blaze began at around 2:30 am local time on Sunday, during a performance by Gurizada Fandangueira, a country music band that had made the use of pyrotechnics a trademark of their shows. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A man cries during a protest near the Kiss nightclub where a fire killed over 230 people in Santa Maria, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. The blaze began at around 2:30 am local time on Sunday, during a performance by Gurizada Fandangueira, a country music band that had made the use of pyrotechnics a trademark of their shows. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A woman holds up a black banner as people protest near the Kiss nightclub where a fire killed over 230 people in Santa Maria, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. The Rio Grande do Sul state forensics department raised the death toll Tuesday from 231 to 234 to account for three victims who did not appear on the original list of the dead. Authorities say more than 120 people remain hospitalized for smoke inhalation and burns, with dozens of them in critical condition, after the Sunday nightclub fire. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
A makeshift memorial that include pictures of the victims of the Kiss nightclub fatal fire is seen inside the gymnasium where a collective funeral was held a day earlier, in Santa Maria, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. A fast-moving fire roared through the crowded, windowless nightclub, early Sunday, killing more than 230 people. The first funeral services were held Monday for the victims. Most of the dead were college students 18 to 21 years old, but they also included some minors. Almost all died from smoke inhalation. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
This photo released by Policia Civil do Rio Grande do Sul, shows the inside of the Kiss nightclub where a fire killed more than 230 people in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2012. The blaze began at around 2:30 am local time on Sunday, during a performance by Gurizada Fandangueira, a country music band that had made the use of pyrotechnics a trademark of their shows. (AP Photo/Policia Civil do Rio Grande do Sul)
In this photo released by Policia Civil do Rio Grande do Sul, a police officer inspects victims' belongings after a fire at the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria City, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2012. The blaze began at around 2:30 am local time on Sunday, during a performance by Gurizada Fandangueira, a country music band that had made the use of pyrotechnics a trademark of their shows. (AP Photo/Policia Civil do Rio Grande do Sul)
SANTA MARIA, Brazil (AP) ? Flammable and toxic foam soundproofing on the ceiling. Just one exit for a large club that could hold hundreds of people. Not a ceiling water sprinkler system in sight.
These are some of the main causes of the massive death toll in a nightclub fire in Brazil ? and none broke any law, raising questions about safety regulations in a nation set to host the World Cup and Olympic Games.
Documents obtained by The Associated Press, including past building and fire safety plan permits issued to the Kiss club, where 234 people died within minutes in a fire early Sunday, showed that such deadly choices were within regulations.
"Do I agree with the fact that there was only one exit? No. Do I agree that the roof was covered with flammable material? No, I don't," said Maj. Gerson Pereira, an inspector with the local fire department. "I would have liked to shut down this place, but then the firefighters could be sued" because no law had been broken.
But the same documents also illustrate that other regulations were broken, including irregularities in the fire safety inspection of the club, as well as violations by the band the club hired whose pyrotechnics are blamed for causing the blaze. Police inspectors say any of these violations were reason enough to shut the club down.
One document shows that the club had already been labeled by fire officials as being at "medium" risk for having a fire. By state law, that designation requires that the club undergo annual inspections. But records show that the last inspection took place in August 2011.
Survivors of the fire have said that the club's fire extinguishers failed to work in early attempts to battle the blaze. Under state law, an extinguisher must have a receipt showing that it had been independently inspected within a year in order for it to be acceptable.
Marcelo Arigony, the lead police investigator in the case, said in a Tuesday press conference that it was clear the fire extinguishers had not been inspected and that they were clearly cheap models that should not be used anywhere.
Perhaps most egregious was what authorities point to as the cause of the fire.
The blaze began at around 2:30 a.m. local time during a performance by Gurizada Fandangueira, a country music band that had made the use of pyrotechnics a trademark of their shows. The band's guitarist told media that the 615-square-meter (6,650-square-foot) club was packed with an estimated 1,200 to 1,300 people, the same estimate police have given. Capacity for the club, however, is under 700.
Police said that members of the band knowingly bought flares meant for outdoor use because they cost a mere $1.25 a piece, compared with the $35 price tag for an indoor flare.
"It's not that this club was working to come within this or that law ? the place should have never been open in the first place," Arigony said. "This is a problem that is seen across Brazil, these laws. I can only hope this tragedy brings about change."
Jaime Moncada, a U.S.-based fire-safety consultant with nearly three decades experience in Latin America including large projects in Brazil, said he was not surprised that one exit was permissible under local law.
Shown a blueprint of the club obtained by the AP, he calculated that the farthest point from the front door was 105 feet (32 meters), and regulations in most Brazilian states dictate that a second exit is required only if the distance is 131 feet (40 meters) or more.
For the same reason of distance, Moncada said sprinklers and alarms would not be required.
"For an American audience, it is crazy to think that a place would have only one exit," he said.
In Brazil, he added, that would be the norm.
In the United States, the club would have failed an inspection in at least three ways, according to Moncada: Three separate exits would have been required; the foam would need to be treated with a fire retardant; and it would need sprinklers.
Amid the shock of what was the world's deadliest nightclub fire in a decade, changes in Brazil seemed on the horizon.
In Brasilia, the nation's capital, lawmakers in the lower house worked on a proposal that would require federal safety minimum standards across Brazil. Now states individually create such laws. The O Globo newspaper reported on its website that the mayor's office in Santa Maria ordered all nightclubs closed for 30 days while inspections are carried out.
Elsewhere, the government of the country's biggest city, Sao Paulo, set to host the opening match of the 2014 World Cup, promised tougher security regulations for nightclubs.
The Folha de S. Paulo newspaper reported that in Manaus, which will also host World Cup matches, nightclubs with empty fire extinguishers and unmarked emergency exits have been shut down and fined. And in Olympic host city, Rio de Janeiro, a consumer complaint hotline has received more than 60 calls since Sunday's tragedy denouncing hazardous conditions at night spots, theaters, supermarkets, schools, hospitals and shopping malls.
Outraged citizens in Santa Maria are demanding change.
Elise Parode, an 18-year-old student taking part in a protest before City Hall, chanted with all her might along with about 500 others, pushing up against the door of the building as municipal guards kept them from entering.
"We want justice! We want the government held accountable, just like the owners of the bar!" she yelled as the crowd around held aloft poster-size photos of the fire's victims. "Our own government doesn't know the laws ? we're not safe until they do."
___
Associated Press writers Bradley Brooks in Santa Maria and Justin Pritchard in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
Associated Pressus open Hurricane Isaac 2012 bill nye Snooki Baby terrell owens terrell owens neil armstrong
Socially acceptable: NCAA rules changes give coaches new way to connect to recruits
College coaches love the new recruiting rule. High school coaches don?t.
In June, the NCAA approved a rule that permits Division-I men?s basketball coaches to send unlimited text messages and make unlimited phone calls to recruits who have finished their sophomore year of high school. The rule also allows college coaches to send private messages to their prospects via Facebook and Twitter. Any public messages about a team?s recruiting efforts are still prohibited.
?I think it?s been a great change in the fact that it allows us as coaches and also the prospects to further develop a relationship,? said Matthew Graves, associate head coach at Butler. ?It?s been a big positive, especially being able to text a recruit after he?s had a big game. It?s more of an immediate response.?
Previously, the NCAA limited the coaches? ability to contact players to just one phone call per month. The NCAA approved the deregulation as part of a new recruiting model intended to help develop stronger relationships between coaches and recruits while limiting the influence of third parties. On Aug. 1, a similar rule will be applied to NCAA football recruiters.
Six months after the rule was put into effect in basketball, coaches at the college level are pleased with the outcome of the rule and how the recruiting process has evolved.
Before the NCAA altered the rules, recruiters? options were limited to sending emails, a hand-written note or relaying a message through a high school or AAU coach, Graves said. Now, recruiters can receive feedback from a player much more quickly after a notable performance by either the recruit or the college team.
Some recruiters use direct messages on Twitter to interact with players, but Graves and Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins said they use Twitter to follow recruits and keep themselves informed of the recruiting spectrum.
Twitter is also useful to build hype around a program, Hopkins said. He pointed to how Kentucky head coach John Calipari has tweeted about his interactions with celebrities such as Jay-Z and Charlie Sheen, tweets that could catch the eyes of a potential Wildcat.
But for one-on-one communication, Graves and Hopkins don?t use Twitter or Facebook. They instead use phone calls and text messaging, two methods that Syracuse commit Ron Patterson said he preferred to be contacted by during his recruiting period.
Hopkins said face-to-face exchanges are optimal, but being able to respond to texts at his convenience makes texting a valuable tool as well. The ability to text more than one recruit at a time is another perk of texting for Hopkins. Even 68-year-old Jim Boeheim texts, Hopkins said.
?I?m telling you, it?s about texting. It?s awesome,? Hopkins said. ?It?s a form of communication where they know you?re still actively recruiting them.?
Hopkins doesn?t like to be an ?overbearing? recruiter, which he thinks can be a positive and negative mentality. When building a relationship with a recruit, he said, it?s important to gauge just how frequently the recruiter should speak with the player.
Graves said text messages have become so popular among recruiters because of the very prospects with which they interact.
?Let?s face it, that?s the way kids like to communicate, via text, and they can do it on their own time,? Graves said. ?And you?re not being overly intrusive and it?s just been a great way to open up another way to communicate.?
The best recruiters, Graves said, will find the best ways to recruit, whether they use hand-written notes or adapt to new technology to communicate. A younger coach doesn?t necessarily have an edge over an older coach, said Jon Boon, the head coach at Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester, N.Y.
Boeheim still lands good recruits, Boon said, and so does Duke?s 65-year-old head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Age isn?t a big factor in how recruiting is communicated, Boon said.
?To be honest with you, it doesn?t really change a whole lot because they don?t contact the high school coaches very much anyway,? said Boon. ?? They have too much direct contact, in my opinion.?
Boon said recruiting violations and ongoing investigations across the country are the results of players and recruiters directly communicating with each other. Nobody is required to inform a high school coach when recruiters contact his players, he said.
Since June, the NCAA has investigated UCLA ? owner of the No. 2 recruiting class in the country ? Central Florida, Tennessee and Saint Mary?s for potential violations.
Cheaters will cheat, Boon said, regardless of how the process works. But violators now have an easier path to do so, since they aren?t required to communicate through anybody else.
Boon said a third person needs to oversee the recruiter-recruit interaction. The procedure would improve for everyone, he said, if it returned to the way it used to operate, when recruiters contacted recruits through the high school.
?I don?t know if there?s a right answer to the whole situation,? Boon said. ?I just think there?s too much direct contact with the kids.?
Recently, there was a football player at Bishop Kearney, Boon recalled, who was overwhelmed by the 30-40 phone calls he received each night from college coaches who were permitted to contact him directly ? there was a brief period where the rule fluctuated.
?He hastily made a decision to go to a school and by his own account, he made the wrong decision. And he had no one to kind of help him,? Boon said. ?But the way the system is set up, it?s not done that way.?
He has issues with the new rules, but Boon admitted he would recruit the same way if he were in that position.
Carl Arrigale, the head basketball coach at Neumann-Goretti High School in Philadelphia, has an issue with college coaches texting players during school hours, distracting them from their classes. It takes away from the recruits? high school experience, he believes.
Still, he recognizes the complexity of the situation.
?To be honest with you, I?m saying there should be restrictions on what you can do, (but) who?s going to know? It?s such a hard thing to monitor,? Arrigale said. ?I mean, coaches get fired when they don?t have winning seasons anymore, so you almost can?t blame them for wanting an advantage. They need players to survive. It?s a catch-22.?
Graves agreed the system isn?t fair, but believes it?s because of a ?staff-to-staff issue,? not an issue with the rules. When Butler?s coaches recruit, Graves said, they keep the high school coaches as involved and informed as possible because they feel it?s the proper way to communicate.
Regardless of whether the NCAA?s rules are flawed, Graves said it?s imperative that recruiters obey them and uphold the standards of the NCAA as they compete against each other for the next generation of student-athletes.
?I think it?s our job as coaches to be responsible,? Graves said. ?To utilize it in a way that will help enhance the process and getting to know not only the recruit, but their whole situation.?
Contact Phil: pmdabbra@syr.edu | @PhilDAbb
walker recall censor pipa and sopa sopa pipa wikipedia blackout kyla pratt justified season 3
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Chris Brown investigated for possible assault
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) ? Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown is under investigation for an alleged assault in a West Hollywood parking lot, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said early Monday.
Deputies responding to a report of six men fighting Sunday night found the scene clear, but were told by witnesses there had been a brief fight over a parking space.
"The altercation allegedly led to Chris Brown punching the victim," the department said in a statement released early Monday morning.
The "victim" wasn't identified, but the celebrity website TMZ, which first reported the fight outside the Westlake Recording Studio, said it also involved Frank Ocean, one of the top nominees at the Grammy Awards next month.
In a Twitter posting later, Ocean said he "got jumped by (Brown) and a couple guys" and suffered a finger cut.
It wasn't Brown's first problem in the run-up to the Grammys. His attack on singer Rihanna on the eve of the 2009 awards event overshadowed the show.
Last June, he was injured in a brawl with members of hip-hop star Drake's entourage at a New York nightclub.
No arrests were made. Brown was gone by the time deputies arrived but the department said the investigation is ongoing and Brown would be contacted later.
Email messages to Ocean's publicist and Brown's lawyer and representative were not immediately returned. A man answering the phone at the recording studio declined to comment.
Brown, 23, remains on probation for the attack on Rihanna and is due back in court on Feb. 6 to update a judge on his progress. Prosecutors have raised concerns about records showing that Brown has completed his community labor obligations.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chris-brown-investigated-possible-assault-090656620.html
bent new york jets etch a sketch romney sean payton saints bounty program toulouse france ny jets
Pets and other Critters: Book Reveiw. Birds of Paradise
Two men spent?months?undercover sitting?up in trees to obtain pictures of Birds of Paradise.? Many of these birds have never been photographed before.? Tim Laman and Edwin Scholes? have produced a coffee table style book full of incredible images of Birds of Paradise.
Here's a cool trailer on the project with some action shots of Bird of Paradise.
Why are they called Birds of Paradise?
In the 16th century when Europeans first saw these unusual birds, they declared that they were so beautiful that they could only have come from?Heaven's paradise.
Some Bird of Paradise Facts
?- lifespan: up to? 30 years.?
-? diet:? mostly fruit, but also plants, spiders, insects, small reptiles
-? 39 species
-? Order?Passeriformes.??Group Paradisaeidae.? Closest relatives: crows and jays.
-? dimorphic- males and?females are distinctly different.? Males ornate, females drab.
-? males are polygnist.? He spreads his seed to as many females as possible.
-? females?have one brood per year, usually?one chick.??Female does all the nest building and rearing.
-? ?symbiotic mutualism.? The birds eat the fruit of the trees then plant?the fruit seeds when they poop.
-? live in mountainous forested areas in NE Australia, New Guinea and surrounding islands.
Male Birds of Paradise?devote their lives to displaying their virility to females.? Males often use the same tree stump or clearing as their display stage for many years.?
Variations seen in?Birds of Paradise species are not only in their feathering.? Different beak styles are numerous, apparently adaptations to better extract meat from?assorted fruits that represent the bulk of their diet.?
These birds live in areas full of food and with very few predators.? This frees up time for flexing ones feathers and singing songs of love.
Learn more about the book, Birds of Paradise:? revealing the world's most extraordinary birds?by Tim Laman and Edwin Scholes.
Source: http://petsandothercritters.blogspot.com/2013/01/book-reveiw-birds-of-paradise.html
la riots new jersey devils torn acl derrick rose injury st louis news utah jazz lawrence of arabia
RIM lowers minimum app prices on BlackBerry World
BlackBerry-toting penny-pinchers have cause to rejoice, as RIM is introducing lower price tiers in BlackBerry World, starting with the British Pound and Euro. New price tags have yet to take hold across the board, but the the UK will see their lowest level fall from £1.00 to £0.75 (around $1.20). When it comes to the Euro, prices will vary by country, and we spotted apps as low as €0.75 ($1) on Spain's version of the shop. According to RIM, the tweak takes currency exchange rates and VAT requirements into account, and is an effort to gain a competitive edge and catch the eyes of consumers. It's certainly a far cry from how things used to be.
Via: N4BB
Source: BlackBerry Developer Blog
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/28/rim-lower-pricing-tiers-blackberry-world-apps/
Nashville TV Show VP debate drew brees drew brees sandusky Sam Champion Hulk Hogan sex tape
SAG Awards 2013: Complete Winners List
'Argo' once again takes the top honor, and Jennifer Lawrence continues win streak.
By MTV News staff
Jennifer Lawrence accepts her award for Best Actress at the SAG Awards 2013
Photo: John Shearer
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1700859/sag-awards-2013-winners-list.jhtml
brandon lloyd celtic thunder fabrice muamba collapse prometheus trailer patrice oneal shamrock slainte
Monday, January 28, 2013
How the "Shopping Cart" Patent Almost Ruined Online Shopping?And How Newegg Beat It
Jennifer Granholm Tulane player injured fox sports obama speech amber rose drew peterson Art Modell
Obama: Media Is 'One Of The Biggest Factors' Shaping Debates
Mr. President
U.S. President Barack Obama waves as the presidential inaugural parade winds through the nation's capital January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Mr. Vice President
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden walk along Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade following Obama's second inauguration as the 44th U.S. president on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images)
The First Couple
President and Michelle Obama wave to onlookers as the presidential inaugural parade winds through the nation's capital January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Right In Our Backyard
U.S. President Barack Obama and First lady Michelle Obama walk past the reviewing stand as the presidential inaugural parade winds through the nation's capital January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Parade Pandemonium
U.S. President Barack Obama drives down Pennsylvania avenue in his vehicle during the Inauguration Parade on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Secret Service Security
A U.S. Secret Service vehicle escorts President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's motorcade during the inauguration parade on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
Obama's Wheels
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: U.S. President Barack Obama drives down Pennsylvania avenue in his vehicle during the Inauguration Parade on January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. The President was sworn in for second term. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Awaiting Obama's Arrival
People watch as the presidential inaugural parade winds through the nation's capital January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Showtime
U.S. President Barack Obama exits his limousine to walk during a portion of the presidential inaugural parade in the nation's capital January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
A Walk Back In Time
Men in traditional colonial garb perform as U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk along Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade following Obama's second inauguration as the 44th US president on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C.(MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images)
A Hearty Thank You
President Barack Obama waves after taking the oath of office during the 57th Presidential Inauguration ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
The President's Pen
U.S. President Barack Obama (4R) is surrounded by (L-R) Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) and House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) while signing a proclamation to commemorate the inauguration, entitled a National Day of Hope and Resolve, directly after swearing-in ceremonies in the U.S. Capitol on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Jonathan Ernst-Pool/Getty Images)
Putting It In Writing
President Barack Obama (2L) signs a proclamation to commemorate the inauguration, entitled a National Day of Hope and Resolve, as (L-R) Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), and House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) look on directly after swearing-in ceremonies in the U.S Capitol on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Jonathan Ernst-Pool/Getty Images)
It's Official
President Barack Obama is sworn by Chief Justice John Roberts at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013.
The National Anthem
President Barack Obama, surrounded by members of his family, listens to the National Anthem during the 57th Presidential Inauguration ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
The Winning Ticket
U.S. President Barack Obama (L) talks with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on the reviewing stand as the presidential inaugural parade winds through the nation's capital January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Husband And Wife
President Barack Obama takes the oath of office during the 57th Presidential Inauguration ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
Father And Daughters
President Barack Obama is greeted by daughter Sasha as Malia looks on at the beginning of the 57th Presidential Inauguration ceremonial swearing-in at the US Capitol on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
Sister, Sister
First daughters Sasha (L) and Malia arrive for the 57th Presidential Inauguration ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
The Second Family
Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden attend the Inaugural Luncheon in Statuary Hall on Inauguration day at the U.S. Capitol building January 21, 2013 in Washington D.C. (Photo by Allison Shelley/Getty Images)
Bill & Hillary
Former president Bill Clinton and the current U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrive for the 57th Presidential Inauguration ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
Hillary & Harry
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, applaud during the Inaugural Luncheon in Statuary Hall on inauguration day at the U.S. Capitol building January 21, 2013 in Washington D.C. (Photo by Allison Shelley/Getty Images)
The Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court Justices (L-R) Anthony Kennedy, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Sonia Sotomayor Elena Kegan, Samuel A. Alito, and Stephen G. Breyer attend the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
Let's Do Lunch
President Barack Obama shakes hands as he and first lady Michelle Obama arrive at the Inaugural Luncheon in Statuary Hall on Inauguration day at the U.S. Capitol building January 21, 2013 in Washington D.C. (Photo by Allison Shelley/Getty Images)
Fine Dining
The place card for U.S. President Barack Obama sits ready for the Inaugural Luncheon in Statuary Hall on inauguration day at the U.S. Capitol building January 21, 2013 in Washington D.C. (Photo by Allison Shelley/Getty Images)
Neatly-Folded Napkins
Rocio Saucedo of Design Cuisine folds napkins in preparation for the Inaugural Luncheon in Statuary Hall on Inauguration day at the U.S. Capitol building January 21, 2013 in Washington D.C. (Photo by Allison Shelley/Getty Images)
Time To Eat
Caterers set up for the Inaugural Luncheon in Statuary Hall on Inauguration day at the U.S. Capitol building January 21, 2013 in Washington D.C. (Photo by Allison Shelley/Getty Images)
Crystal Clear
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, holds a crystal vase during a media briefing at the U.S. Capitol January 18, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
A Toast
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden toasts with Sen. Charles Schumer, Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, at the Inaugural Luncheon in Statuary Hall on inauguration day at the U.S. Capitol building January 21, 2013 in Washington D.C. (Photo by Allison Shelley/Getty Images)
Capitol Pomp And Circumstance
President Barack Obama gives his speech after taking the oath of office during the 57th Presidential Inauguration ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
The National Mall
People crowd the National Mall to view U.S. President Barack Obama taking the oath of office during the 57th Presidential Inauguration ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
The Presidential Motorcade
The presidential motorcade travels down Pennsylvania Ave. during the presidential inauguration January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
Take Your Seats
Reserved seats for guests to view U.S. President Barack Obama taking the oath of office during the 57th Presidential Inauguration ceremonial swearing-in at the US Capitol on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
The Podium
Placemarks are set for the Obama and Biden families before the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Places, Please!
Placemarks are set for the Obama and Biden families before the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
A Special Sunrise
American flags are waved as people gather near the U.S. Capitol building on the National Mall for the Inauguration ceremony on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The Gingrich Family
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and wife Callista Gingrich arrive during the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
You Go, Joe
President Barack Obama, center and Beau Biden, Attorney of Deleware, right, watch as his father Joe Biden is sworn in at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013.
Any Minute Now
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden look behind them on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, before their ceremonial swearing-in ceremony during the 57th Presidential Inauguration.
A Room With A View
Vice President Joe Biden, left and President Barack Obama wait for their ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013.
I'm Here
Caption contest, Anyone? Vice President Joe Biden, followed by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., arrives on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, for the Presidential Barack Obama's ceremonial swearing-in ceremony during the 57th Presidential Inauguration.
All Smiles
Flanked by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden arrive at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013.
The Team
President Barack Obama greets Vice President Joe Biden at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013.
Hillary Greets President Obama
President Barack Obama is greeted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton for his ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013.
The President Arrives
President Barack Obama arrives for his ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013.
Bill 'Photo Bombs' Joe
Vice President Joe Biden arrives at the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. Right is former President Bill Clinton.
Thumbs Up
President Barack Obama flashes a thumbs up at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013.
President Obama Salutes
This handout photo provided by NASA shows President Barack Obama saluting as he and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, depart the White House for Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, and Obama's ceremonial swearing-in ceremony during the 57th Presidential Inauguration.
Hillary & Bill Arrive On The West Front
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, for the Presidential Barack Obama's ceremonial swearing-in ceremony during the 57th Presidential Inauguration.
Even McCain Is Fired Up
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. arrives on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, for the Presidential Barack Obama's ceremonial swearing-in ceremony during the 57th Presidential Inauguration.
Leon Panetta Arrives
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood arrive on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, for the Presidential Barack Obama's ceremonial swearing-in ceremony during the 57th Presidential Inauguration.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/27/obama-media_n_2560269.html
kate upton hillary clinton apple stock Pro Bowl 2013 ariana grande Kick Ass Torrents jamarcus russell
Video: Buy sushi, get a manicure at glitzy new drugstores
>>> prescription, develop some photos. remember those days? times have changed. kristen dahlgren explains. good morning.
>> reporter: good morning. i'm here down on wall street . looks like i'm in an upscale supermarket complete with a sushi chef. that is just one of the surprises here. it's the hip new sushi bar, juice joint, liquor and cigar store and hot hollywood salon all rolled into one. this is definitely not your grandfather's drugstore.
>> anything i can do back here?
>> no.
>> reporter: in new york, chicago and lmplths a., the company that owns walgreen's has opened new glitzy stores.
>> you can get smoothies, sushi. i can get my diapers, wipes.
>> reporter: some aren't used to the idea of buying diapers and sushi in the same place. but for others --
>> i've gotten sushi here, made-to-order sandwiches, espresso bar .
>> reporter: hollywood a-listers helped to open the l.a. store. and jim cramer happened to stop by while we were shooting.
>> there isn't anything i've looked for that they don't have.
>> reporter: they say the idea is to provide a high-end shopping experience at all levels.
>> one of the first things you'll see when you walk into our store is obviously strong architectural design .
>> hi. thanks for dropping into the store.
>> reporter: from the virtual assistant that helps guide you to the automated perfume bar, technology is on full display.
>> if you've ever bought makeup at a drugstore, you know how tough it can be. not being able to try anything on. here they have the virtual makeover station. you're wondering how you would look in something like blue eyeshadow, take a picture, scan the product and there you go. if your look still needs help, there's a hair salon , and you can get your shoes shined.
>> get your eyebrows waxed. not that i did, but --
>> reporter: if all that just makes your head spin , don't forget, can you still get good, old-fashioned headache medicine here. i have to admit i was one of those sushi skeptics but did have some for lunch the other day. not bad and i didn't even have to walk around the corner to get any pepto bismol .
>> anywhere jim cramer goes --
Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50613863/
carmen whitney houston last performance cpac straw poll i will always love you whitney cummings maine caucus whitney houston has died
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Social Security and Medicare: Do you get back what you pay in?
People who pay into Social Security and Medicare their whole working lives are often told by politicians that they've 'earned' these retirement benefits. Here's why that's not necessarily so.
This 2005 photo shows rolls of blank social security checks at the U.S. Treasury's Financial Management services facility in Philadelphia.
Bradley C Bower/AP/File
EnlargeAre Social Security and Medicare ?earned entitlements,? returning benefits for which recipients have already paid?
Skip to next paragraph' +
google_ads[0].line2 + '
' +
google_ads[0].line3 + '
Subscribe Today to the Monitor
The question arises because earlier this week House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R) of Wisconsin said they are. Appearing on Laura Ingraham?s radio show on Jan. 22, Representative Ryan said President Obama had mischaracterized the GOP?s attitude toward the nation?s big social insurance programs.
?No one is suggesting that what we call our earned entitlements ? entitlements you pay for, like payroll taxes for Medicare and Social Security ? are putting you in a ?taker? category,? said Ryan. ?No one would suggest that whatsoever.?
Of course, Ryan is far from the only politician to describe Social Security and Medicare in this manner. The wording may be more common among Democrats, who often imply that these programs are simply keeping folks? tax cash warm until they need it ? so hands off!
Let?s quote Mr. Obama himself from an appearance last September before an American Association of Retired Persons audience: ?I want to emphasize, Medicare and Social Security are not handouts. You?ve paid into these programs your whole lives. You?ve earned them.?
To this we say, weelllll, not really. The situation is more complicated than that.
It?s true that workers fork over Social Security and Medicare taxes every payday. But under current law, over their lifetimes most Americans will get back substantially more from these programs then they?ve paid in, even after accounting for inflation and adjusting for interest you might have earned if you?d kept the money.
That?s primarily due to the rising value of projected Medicare health benefits. Social Security is a different story. In recent years the raising of the Social Security retirement age, plus other tweaks, have made the big retirement income entitlement less generous. New retirees won?t get back quite as much income support as they?ve contributed in Social Security taxes.
However, individual tax/benefit ratios for both programs are highly variable, depending on lifetime earnings, longevity, marital status, and health conditions.
Got all that? We weren?t kidding when we said it was ?complicated.?
buckeye west side story final four 2012 bridesmaids winning lottery numbers megamillions winner kansas jayhawks
Marleau leads Sharks past Avalanche 4-0
San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau (12) celebrates with teammates Joe Pavelski (8) and Joe Thornton (19) after scoring past Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan Wilson (44) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau (12) celebrates with teammates Joe Pavelski (8) and Joe Thornton (19) after scoring past Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan Wilson (44) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau, right, scores past Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov, center, of Russia, for his second goal of the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau (12) celebrates with teammate Joe Thornton, left, after scoring his second goal of the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau (12) scores past Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1), of Russia, and defenseman Ryan Wilson (44) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) ? About the only thing Patrick Marleau is struggling at so far this season is finding an explanation for his record start.
Marleau became the second player in NHL history to open a season with four straight multigoal games, striking twice on the power play in the first period in the San Jose Sharks' 4-0 victory against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
"I'll keep taking them if they keep coming," he said. "That's for sure."
Marleau has scored exactly two goals in each game this season, joining Ottawa's Cy Denneny in 1917-18 as the only players to open a campaign with four multigoal games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
"He obviously has a hot hand right now," defenseman Brad Stuart said. "We'll need contributions from everyone at some point. But right now Patty is playing amazing and putting the puck in the net every time he touches it it seems like."
Both of Marleau's goals came after Ryan O'Byrne took two additional minor penalties for retaliating after Stuart flattened Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog with a vicious hit.
Joe Thornton added a power-play goal in the second period, giving San Jose 10 power-play goals in four games and a franchise record 19 overall.
Thomas Greiss made 24 saves for his first career shutout and Matt Irwin got his first career goal as the Sharks are off to their best start since also winning the first four games in 2008-09.
The Avalanche lost their seventh straight game in San Jose since winning Game 1 of their first-round playoff series in 2010. After killing off 16 straight penalties coming into this game, Colorado allowed goals on San Jose's first three power plays, including two after the hit on Landeskog.
"You have a situation where a teammate is defending another teammate which is the game of hockey and in those situations we need to step up and get the job done for our teammate," Colorado coach Joe Sacco said. "We just didn't get it done. That was the difference in the game."
San Jose's power play is in midseason form in this lockout-shortened season, with 10 goals in 24 chances. Marleau has four of those goals as he is off to a scintillating start. He is the first Sharks player ever with four straight multigoal games and has outscored the Sharks' opponents, who have seven goals in four games.
"I don't know if he can keep scoring two goals every night. But he can keep his play up the way it's been," coach Todd McLellan said. "He's been skating extremely well. A ton of confidence. He's prepared to shoot the puck. He's engaged physically. It's a great reward for him. He came focused to play."
The Sharks took more than 12 minutes to get their first shot on goal, but managed to take a 2-0 lead in the first period because of stellar special teams play and a big hit by Stuart that changed the complexion of the game.
San Jose's troubled penalty-kill unit was up to the task early, allowing no shots on two power plays for Colorado. Then San Jose's dangerous power-play took over late in the period after Stuart's big hit that Landeskog felt was clean even if his coach thought it should have been a penalty.
"It was hard, that much I could tell you," he said. "I was reaching for the puck and didn't brace myself enough, Stuart stepped up and that's the way hockey always is. It was a big one. I knew he was there but I didn't think he was coming at me. Then he came and I saw him at the last second but not nearly early enough."
O'Byrne took offense and challenged Stuart to a fight. The Sharks came out of the scrum with two power plays after O'Byrne got hit with an instigator penalty and one for fighting with a facemask. Landeskog left the game briefly before returning for the second period.
Marleau and the Sharks made Colorado pay. Just 28 seconds into the first power play, Marleau whacked at a rebound and knocked it past Semyon Varlamov to give San Jose the lead.
He delivered again on the second power play after a nifty passing display from Dan Boyle to Thornton to Marleau, who tapped the puck in by the side of the net for his fourth straight two-goal game.
"We weren't playing particularly well. Then you get those two power plays and boom, boom, it's 2-0," Thornton said. "Really it was a huge momentum switch for us."
NOTES: Marleau is the first NHL player with fourth consecutive multigoal games since Alexander Mogilny had five straight in 1992-93 for Buffalo. ... Recently signed Scott Gomez made his Sharks debut on the fourth line in place of James Sheppard and also got time on the second power-play unit. ... O'Byrne got 19 minutes of penalties for his scuffle with Stuart as both players were sent off for fighting and O'Byrne got an additional 10-minute misconduct.
Associated Pressraffi torres michael mcdonald jon jones vs rashad evans earth day 2012 jon jones rashad evans ufc jones vs evans watergate
Sponsored By:
We were unable to forward you to the advertisement you clicked on.
The likely cause for this is that your browser, feed reader, or email application is configured to not accept cookies, or your reader may launch an external browser to view links without sharing cookies.
- If you're using Internet Explorer, make sure your privacy setting is at medium or below.
- Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
- Click the Privacy tab
- Adjust your privacy setting if necessary
?
- If you're using a reader that embeds Internet Explorer (examples: Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Feed Demon), you'll also need to select Internet Explorer as your default web browser.
- Open Internet Explorer
- Select 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu in your browser window
- Click the 'Programs' tab and check the box for Internet Explorer to check if it is the default browser and save your change
- Close your browser, re-open it, and when prompted, select Internet Explorer as your default
- You can then click on an ad in your newsletter and visit the site you wish to view
Source: http://ads.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=9ec7aab2e28ded3a1ad964d7fcc5c23c&p=4
colbert super pac colbert super pac sloth birth control pill recall ground hog day florida primary results black history
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Photos: Photographs from Vietnam's frontline
Wounded Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jeremiah Purdie (center, with bandaged head) reaches toward a stricken comrade after a fierce firefight south of the DMZ, Vietnam, October 1966. (Larry Burrows?Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)
Click here to see the full collection at LIFE.com
Wounded Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jeremiah Purdie (center, with bandaged head) reaches toward a stricken comrade after a fierce firefight south of the DMZ, Vietnam, October 1966. (Larry Burrows?Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)Click here to see the full collection at LIFE.com
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/vietnam-photographs-from-the-frontline-slideshow/
lindsay lohan Ronda Rousey BCS Bowls palestine powerball winner powerball winner Zig Ziglar
Facebook Is Done Giving Its Precious Social Graph To Competitors
Of all Facebook's data sets, it's the social graph that's truly unique. It's spent nine years getting you to confirm who you know, and apparently it's sick of handing over your friend list to competitors. This week it?cut off?both Twitter's new photo app Vine and messaging app Voxer from Find Friends, Facebook's API that lets you connect with Facebook friends on other apps. But this could backfireSource: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/-F74SbhZ9ZE/
Corvette Stingray Claire Danes quentin tarantino jessica chastain jessica chastain hugh jackman Amy Poehler
Mother of dying 15-month-old girl carried into hospital by 'sadistic ...
A mother whose sex offender ex-boyfriend murdered her infant daughter has branded his 25-year prison term too lenient.
Barry McCarney (pictured top right) will serve at least 25 years behind bars for killing Millie Martin (bottom right) in what the judge described as a ?sadistic sexual assault?. But Rachael Martin (pictured left at court today), the girl?s mother, criticised the sentence, saying: ?25 years isn?t long enough.? McCarney, 33, was caught on camera taking Millie (pictured centre) to Erne Hospital in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland after she sustained serious injuries from his attacks.
Barry McCarney was today given the life sentence tariff in Belfast Crown Court for the murder of 15-month-old Millie Martin in what the judge described as a ?sadistic sexual assault?.
But Rachael Martin, the toddler?s mother, criticised the sentence, saying: ?Twenty-five years isn?t long enough.?
Her mother and Millie?s grandmother Margaret Graham said 33-year-old McCarney, who was not the child?s father, should never be freed.
She said: ?It wasn?t long enough ? life should be life.?
?He should never see the light of day again. We won?t ever see Millie, her mummy won?t ever see her wee daughter and life should mean life.?
McCarney took Millie to Erne Hospital in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland after she sustained serious injuries from his attacks.
He was filmed trying to give her CPR, but the 15-month-old girl later died.
McCarney?s father Kevin insisted he was innocent of the murder and would be appealing against the verdict.
He said: ?We will be appealing the case and we know he will be proved innocent.?
In setting the minimum term McCarney must serve of his life sentence, Mr Justice Ben Stephens explained that the sentencing framework in Northern Ireland was very different to that in England and Wales, where a whole life term could be handed down.
He said the offence was serious enough to use the upward starting point guide of 15 to 16 years.
Explaining that aggravating features, among them the vulnerability and fragility of the victim, required him to make a ?substantial upward adjustment?, he told McCarney he would have to serve at least 25 years.
Once the 25-year term is spent, McCarney can only be released, on licence, if parole commissioners deem he no longer presents a danger to the public.
Setting the minimum sentence McCarney must serve, judge Ben Stephens told the labourer at Belfast Crown Court he was a ?deeply manipulative man?.
McCarney was also found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and sexual assault of Millie.
Mr Stephens told him he must serve at least six and two years for those crimes respectively, but those terms will run concurrently with his murder tariff.
McCarney, clean shaven and dressed in a grey jumper, showed little emotion as the judge delivered his sentencing decisions.
His ex-girlfriend Ms Martin looked on from the public gallery. At the same trial last year, she was acquitted of charges of allowing her daughter?s death and cruelty through wilful neglect.
McCarney met Ms?Martin just three months before the little girl?s death.
He quickly eased his way into the family home in?Enniskillen,?which allowed him access to Millie.
The judge said McCarney had duped Ms Martin into believing he cared for Millie and she was therefore willing to leave her daughter alone with him.
He said: ?You gained the total trust of Rachael Martin, you appeared to her to be very good to Millie,? he said.
On the night the toddler sustained the fatal injuries, McCarney had persuaded his girlfriend to go out to a shop to buy him a chocolate bar.
Justice Stephens said he was already on his way up the stairs with the intention of sexually abusing the young child in her bed as Ms Martin was reversing her car out of the driveway.
The judge said McCarney had struck Millie?s head on a hard surface in response to her cries as he inflicted a brutal sexual assault. That head injury would ultimately kill her.
Multiple bruises were also found on the youngster?s body along with a clearly visible oval shaped bump on her forehead.
During the post-mortem examination, the pathologist found injuries to her?abdomen caused by punching or prodding which would also have been fatal.
Millie had also been sexually assaulted. The prosecution described the attacks on her as vile and sadistic.
McCarney blamed Millie?s mother, claiming at trial that she had inflicted the injuries on her own daughter and that he was sickened by her death.
Speaking only through his barrister, he alleged that Ms Martin did not want social services involved because she had done these ?terrible things? herself.
But in a case with no forensic evidence to suggest who inflicted Millie?s injuries, the jury rejected McCarney?s claims and accepted that Ms Martin had unwittingly let a monster into her home, taking just three hours to reach a?unanimous?verdict.
He was found guilty of murder, sexual assault and causing grievous bodily harm.
Ms Martin?s family issued a statement saying the family would now be able to grieve properly as a result of the verdict.
They described the last three years as a ?waking nightmare? and described McCarney as a ?disgusting individual?.
They also questioned why Ms Martin was ever prosecuted in the first place.
Her brother, Matthew, speaking on behalf of the family said the police decision to prosecute her was ?shocking? at a time when she should have been left to grieve for baby Millie.
Outside court, Ms Martin?s stepfather Noel Graham said he was pleased McCarney, who he described as a ?scumbag?, would be off the streets away from women and children.
He said: ?We have been dealt a life sentence which will never go away.?
On McCarney?s protestations of innocence, Mr Graham added: ?If he had have been half a man he would have gone into the court and told the jury (the truth) and didn?t leave everything unanswered.?
@MailOnline
Do you have a story or an article to publish? Please email us to submit@in2eastafrica.net.
sturgis whitney houston laid to rest daytona bike week mary kay ash tiny houses maya angelou joan of arc
Friday, January 25, 2013
Conn. governor's Newtown panel meets for 1st time
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) ? Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's panel charged with reviewing state laws and policies after the deadly Newtown school shooting was set to hear from experts who sat on similar commissions following mass shootings in Colorado and Virginia.
Malloy's Sandy Hook Advisory Commission, scheduled to hold its first meeting on Thursday, also was expected to be briefed by Danbury State's Attorney Stephen J. Sedensky III on the status of the investigation into the Dec. 14 shooting which left 20 first graders and six educators dead.
The 16-member panel of experts, headed by Hamden Mayor Scott Jackson, faces a March 15 deadline to provide Malloy with a preliminary list of recommendations pertaining to school safety, mental health and gun violence prevention.
In addition to Malloy's group, the General Assembly has formed a bipartisan task force that is examining the same issues. A subcommittee on school safety is holding a public hearing on Friday at the Legislative Office Building. A hearing on gun safety is planned for Jan. 28 and another hearing on mental health issues is scheduled for Jan. 29.
Members of Malloy's task force will hear Thursday from two former members of similar commissions created by governors following mass shootings.
Former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, Denver's district attorney at the time of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, will make a presentation. He was a member of the Columbine Review Commission, which conducted a review for then-Gov. Bill Owens.
Ritter was elected governor of Colorado in 2007 and he served until 2011.
Also, Virginia Law Professor Richard Bonnie will discuss how his state reacted to the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting. He was a consultant to then-Virginia Gov. Tim Kane's Virginia Tech Review Panel. Bonnie is director of the Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy at the University of Virginia and is chairman of the Virginia Commission on Mental Health Law Reform.
Thursday's meeting, scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., was to be aired live by the Connecticut Network or CT-N.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/conn-governors-newtown-panel-meets-1st-time-072648316.html
duke invisible children garbage pail kids st bonaventure ncaa tournament 2012 peyton manning 49ers andy pettitte
In wrongful-death lawsuit, Catholic hospital argues fetus is not a ...
CWN - January 24, 2013
A Catholic hospital in Colorado has argued in court that an unborn child should not be considered a ?person? for purposes of a wrongful-death lawsuit.
In the case of a woman who died of a heart attack while pregnant with twins, a lawyer for St. Thomas More hospital called the court?s attention to ?the long-standing rule in Colorado that the term ?person,? as it is used the Wrongful Death Act, encompasses only individuals born alive.? In the wrongful-death case, the plaintiff had argued that while the mother?s life could not have been saved, doctors should have intervened to save the unborn baby twins.
Additional sources for this story
Some links will take you to other sites, in a new window.
|
An appeal from our founder, Dr. Jeffrey Mirus: Dear reader: If you found the information on this page helpful in your pursuit of a better Catholic life, please support our work with a donation. Your donation will help us reach four million Truth-seeking readers worldwide this year. Thank you! |
Progress toward our January expenses ($14,035 to go):
$30,000.00 $15,965.48 47% 53% |
Sound Off! CatholicCulture.org supporters weigh in.
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
Source: http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=16895
nurse jackie nurse jackie peeps nhl playoffs masters 2012 masters the borgias
A Special Needs Dog , Needs A Special Forever Home ? Steve ...
If you missed Pet Connection Today on the Sean and Richie Show, here is another chance for you to take a look at a couple of great pets up for adoption. Let?s take a look at the pets featured today. Tune in every Thursday at 7:20am to hear the stories of two incredible (and adoptable!) pets.
Bingo, is a white 2-3 year Pit Bull.He is neutered and looking for that special home.
This guy , he?s a tank?big and strong but has a heart of gold with a tail that never stops.
What you need to know about him, he is deaf.We had three deaf white pit bulls in the past 6 months, evidently there is a birth defect being passed around.
He needs to be in an adult home, because of his lack of hearing and he does get startled by dogs that come up from behind him, so he would be best in a one dog family. He is housebroken and great with older children.
If you think you can be that special friend to a dog who needs to be loved please contact the Saratoga City Animal Shelter at 885-4113.
Source: http://wgna.com/a-special-needs-dog-needs-a-special-forever-home-steve-caporizzos-pet-connection/
lil kim progeria what will my baby look like gary carter died cmas cmas tcu
Centrists make strong show in Israel, tempering Netanyahu
There is a future for Israel?s center after all. In fact, it?s looking surprisingly good.
Yair Lapid, the former TV anchor who entered politics only a year ago, defied all pollsters with a stunning second-place performance for his centrist Yesh Atid party in yesterday?s Israeli elections. While all eyes were on the right-wing leaders parading down the homestretch and waving to the crowds, the handsome rookie surged from behind to claim victory for Israelis who care less about grand ideological visions and more about how they will pay rent.
Mr. Lapid now finds himself in the unlikely position of kingmaker. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose party won a disappointing 31 seats, needs to woo parties with at least 30 seats between them to secure a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. He has already reached out to Lapid and is likely to offer him a plum position in his cabinet in exchange for the 19 seats earned by Yesh Atid, which means "There is a Future."
RECOMMENDED: Israeli elections: The 5 candidates steering the debate
If Lapid accepts, his presence could have a moderating influence on Netanyahu, whose center-right government over the past four years has put forward a raft of laws criticized as antidemocratic. Netanyahu, bolstered in part by his hawkish former foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has also nettled the US government by flouting its wishes on the Palestinian issue and pressing for a unilateral Israeli strike in Iran.
The rise of Lapid, and what it says about the Israeli electorate, suggests Netanyahu would not to be able to continue to pursue such policies, says Itzhak Galnoor, political science professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Get our FREE 2013 Global Security Forecast now
?Even if Netanyahu forms the new government, the entire spectrum ? both on domestic affairs and foreign affairs, including a state for Palestinians ? has changed dramatically,? says Prof. Galnoor. ?We are in a totally different situation now.?
INEXPERIENCED PARTY
Lapid, the son of a novelist and the late politician Tommy Lapid, was criticized at times as something of a lightweight. Not a single member of his party has ever served in parliament, let alone as a government minister. But in a country with many career politicians, where even the most disgraced manage to resurface again, Yesh Atid resonated ? which means "There is a future" ? with Israelis as a party made up of real people who actually care about their constituents.
Among its unusually varied list of candidates are a US-born rabbi, the first Ethiopian woman ever elected to Israel?s parliament, and enough voices from both left and right to appeal to a broad midsection of the political spectrum. Lapid also recruited security experts, including Yaakov Peri, former head of Shin Bet during the first intifada, and Maj. Gen. Mickey Levy (ret.), former chief of police for Jerusalem during the second intifada.
?In Israel, there is a large constituency which believes in the center,? about 30 seats, says Yehuda Ben Meir of the Institute for National Security Studies. ?They don?t have illusions like people on the left have. They know a settlement with the Palestinians is not around the corner ? but they?re definitely in favor of a two-state solution.?
Last time around, former foreign minister Tzipi Livni captured 28 of those seats. This time it was Lapid with 19 seats, Ms. Livni with six, and two for Kadima if it still meets the minimum threshold of 2 percent of the vote once all the ballots are counted. Voter turnout was 66 percent ? slightly higher than in 2009 and almost 10 percentage points higher than in the recent US election.
So why Lapid over Livni? Part of it is he was able to tap into frustrations that brought hundreds of thousands of Israelis to the streets in the summer of 2011.
And at least some voters were attracted by the fact that he consistently stated he would be willing to work with Netanyahu, unlike Shelly Yacimovich of the Labor party, who announced ahead of the election that she would not join a Likud-led coalition government.
?I was debating between Lapid, Livni, and Yacimovich? of the Labor party, says Tel Aviv voter Matan Levanon. ?Even though I see myself more in line with [Labor], Lapid was the one that was willing to stick with Netanyahu. It was obvious that he?s going to be the head of the biggest party and the next prime minister, and I think it?s better to support someone that can effect real change from within," rather than someone who's working in the opposition.
?I know a lot of my friends I talked to, a lot of supporters of both Likud and [Labor], voted Yesh Atid,? he adds. ?They knew Bibi was going to take the most votes and they wanted someone to keep him away from the ultra-Orthodox.?
ULTRA-ORTHODOX QUESTION
With external threats like Iran, the Arab Spring, and Palestinian militancy taking a back seat in this election campaign, one of the central issues that candidates touched on was Israel?s rapidly expanding ultra-Orthodox community. Most ultra-Orthodox men don?t serve in the army and eschew gainful employment in favor of religious study ? a situation that was tolerable when the community constituted a tiny percentage of Israelis.
But today, they make up roughly 20 percent of the adult population, and as Israelis grapple with a spike in housing and food prices, there is increasing frustration that the ultra-Orthodox ? many of whom receive welfare from the state ? are not doing more to share in the burden of defending the state and maintaining a prosperous economy.
Yesh Atid promoted the principle of "equal service for all" in its campaign, outlining a gradual phasing-in of a program that would allow ultra-Orthodox to serve their country and its economy while taking into consideration their cultural and religious values.
Lapid?s party also emphasized the need for better education in Israel, which ranks far below other modernized countries in international testing and teacher salaries. And he called for reining in the size of the Israeli government, which has swelled to 35 cabinet members ? five times more than Switzerland, which has a similar population. With a prime minister so beholden to so many ministers, Yesh Atid argues, it is impossible to push forward real reforms.
While pundits and voters alike were surprised that Yesh Atid?s agenda attracted so many voters, there was less surprise that Netanyahu?s Likud-Beytenu party didn?t do well.
Mr. Levanon, the Yesh Atid voter, says the writing was on the wall when Netanyahu joined forces with Mr. Lieberman?s Yisrael Beytenu party, quoting a saying that was making the rounds last night.
?Netanyahu,? he says, ?is a magician who took two parties and managed to make one disappear.?
* Chelsea B. Sheasley contributed reporting.
RECOMMENDED: Israeli elections: The 5 candidates steering the debate
Related stories
Read this story at csmonitor.com
Become a part of the Monitor community
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/centrists-strong-show-israel-tempering-netanyahu-142327355.html
Daniel Inouye steelers scarlett johansson tim tebow survivor snl WWE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)