Michigan School District Files Lawsuit, Forms Coalition to Block EFM (ContributorNetwork)

Highland Park (Mich.) School District, which was placed under the auspices of an emergency financial manager on Monday, announced the formation of a coalition designed to oppose state control and decide upon alternative measures, according to Michigan Radio.

The coalition, which is made up of school board officials and other local leaders, has vowed to fight newly appointed EFM Jack Martin. A lawsuit challenging the state's right to appoint an EFM was filed by School Board Secretary Robert Davis on Monday, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Here is information surrounding the district.

* Davis' lawsuit alleges the meetings regarding the beleaguered school district's financial situation violated the state's open public meetings law by being held behind closed doors. He named Gov. Rick Snyder, state Superintendent Michael Flanagan and members of the state-appointed financial review team as defendants.

* Davis is seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent Martin from beginning his duties.

* State Senator Bert Johnson, D-Highland Park, announced the formation of the Financial and Academic Reinvestment Commission, according to the Detroit News.

* The commission is reportedly going to join forces with other groups in the state that have formed in opposition to Public Act 4. It is also focused on spurring reinvestment and encouraging repopulation in the district, according to the Huffington Post.

* Rev. D. Alexander Bullock, a member of the new commission, has said EFMs have caused "irreparable damage" to Detroit Public Schools and the cities where EFMs have been placed in charge of managing budgets and deficits.

* Highland Park Superintendent Edith Hightower announced the district would close one of its three remaining schools after the consolidation of its two K-8 schools is complete. She also announced the district's administrative offices would change locations to one of the two open schools, according to MLive.

* Barber Focus School will close and all students will be moved to Henry Ford Academy.

* Hightower said the decision to close the school had been made before Gov. Snyder declared Highland Park to be facing a financial emergency and before he appointed Martin to be the district's EFM.

Vanessa Evans is a musician and freelance writer based in Michigan, with a lifelong interest in politics and public issues.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/education/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120131/pl_ac/10907209_michigan_school_district_files_lawsuit_forms_coalition_to_block_efm

big east expansion big east expansion google buzz trace cyrus hilary duff pregnant hilary duff pregnant psat

Kourtney, Khloe and Kim: Topless for Kardashian Kollection!

Are you sure you don't want to hit this, Tim Tebow?

In a new ad for the denim jeans of their Kardashian Kollection, sisters Kim, Kourtney and Khloe "go natural," as the former writers on her blog, adding: "I think it's such a beautiful shot and Khloe and Kourtney both look so stunning!"

This line of jeans - available at Sears - "will hug your curves and compliment your figure while remaining affordable and comfortable to wear," reads a press release.

No word yet on whether or not you must return the item within 72 days of purchase.

Study the topless figures above now and decide:

Which Kardashian sister would you rather Ray J?

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/01/kourtney-khloe-and-kim-topess-for-kardashian-kollection/

real housewives of new jersey coraline coraline jacqueline laurita mcfadden mcfadden ponder

EU leaders seek growth as Greece case looms (AP)

BRUSSELS ? European leaders were trying Monday to come up with ways to boost economic growth and jobs, which are being squeezed by their own governments' steep budget cuts across the continent.

The 27 EU leaders meeting in Brussels were also looking for common ground on a new treaty to toughen spending rules to dig the continent out of a crippling debt crisis. The elephant in the room, though, will be Greece.

Greece and its bondholders have come closer to a deal to significantly reduce the country's debt and pave the way for it to receive a much-needed euro130 billion ($170 billion) bailout.

Negotiators for the bondholders said Saturday that a debt-reduction deal could become final within the next week. If the agreement works as planned, it could help Greece avoid a catastrophic default, which would be a blow to Europe's already weak financial system.

But European officials are afraid that even that deal may not be enough to fix Greece's finances, with some blaming Athens for dithering in its austerity promises.

German officials over the weekend proposed that Athens temporarily cede control over tax and spending decisions to a powerful eurozone budget commissioner before it can secure further bailouts.

The idea proved immediately controversial ? both the European Commission and the Greek government refuted it ? to the point that German Chancellor Angela Merkel pulled back on the idea when she arrived in Brussels.

She said Europe had to support Greece in implementing promised austerity and reform measures, "but all that will only work if Greece and all other states discuss this together."

Though vital to turning around Europe's crisis, the negotiations in Greece don't resolve the weakening economic conditions across Europe as countries rein in spending to get their debts under control.

Front and center in Monday's discussions will be the continent's increasingly tough labor market.

Many now fear that Europe is on the verge of another recession, and leaders gathering Brussels said that spurring growth would be the focus of their talks Monday.

The big question is where to find money to boost growth when governments are trying to reduce debt.

"We have to have balanced budgets and at the same time focus on growth and jobs," said Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt of Denmark, which holds the rotating presidency of European Council. "It is possible to both at the same time and it is important to understand that these are two sides of the same coin."

Unemployment is rising steadily. In Spain, it has soared to nearly 23 percent and closed in on 50 percent for those under age 25, leaving more than 5 million people ? or almost one out of every four ? out of work as the country slides toward recession.

To help jump-start the EU toward more growth and employment, the European Commission is proposing to the summit leaders to redirect euro82 billion in existing development funds toward countries in dire need of help to fix their labor market.

The 27 heads of state and government got a taste of the popular frustration with austerity and high unemployment on their way to Monday's summit in a city paralyzed by strikes. Leaders had to fly into the military airport of Beauvechain 20 miles (30 kilometers) outside of Brussels after the city's main airport was shutdown by a 24-hour strike.

Belgium's three main unions joined hands in the walkout to protest national budgetary measures that have in part been imposed on the country by the EU. If the country hadn't met cost-cutting targets, financial sanctions would have been imposed.

Monday's strike has been mirrored in many other member states. Overall, 23 million people are jobless across the EU, 10 percent of the active population.

"Europe has to offer jobs, social protection and perspective for the future. Otherwise it risks losing the support of its citizens," said the strike manifesto of the ACV union.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/eurobiz/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120130/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_europe_financial_crisis

oobleck justin timberlake marine corps ball frank gore injury frank gore injury makana makana gloria cain

Scientists reveal how cholera bacterium gains a foothold in the gut

Saturday, January 28, 2012

A team of biologists at the University of York has made an important advance in our understanding of the way cholera attacks the body. The discovery could help scientists target treatments for the globally significant intestinal disease which kills more than 100,000 people every year.

The disease is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which is able to colonise the intestine usually after consumption of contaminated water or food. Once infection is established, the bacterium secretes a toxin that causes watery diarrhoea and ultimately death if not treated rapidly. Colonisation of the intestine is difficult for incoming bacteria as they have to be highly competitive to gain a foothold among the trillions of other bacteria already in situ.

Scientists at York, led by Dr. Gavin Thomas in the University's Department of Biology, have investigated one of the important routes that V. cholerae uses to gain this foothold. To be able to grow in the intestine the bacterium harvests and then eats a sugar, called sialic acid, that is present on the surface of our gut cells.

Collaborators of the York group at the University of Delaware, USA, led by Professor Fidelma Boyd, had shown previously that eating sialic acid was important for the survival of V. cholerae in animal models, but the mechanism by which the bacteria recognise and take up the sialic was unknown.

The York research, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), demonstrates that the pathogen uses a particular kind of transporter called a TRAP transporter to recognise sialic acid and take it up into the cell. The transporter has particular properties that are suited to scavenging the small amount of available sialic acid. The research also provided some important basic information about how TRAP transporters work in general.

The leader of the research in York, Dr. Gavin Thomas, said: "This work continues our discoveries of how bacteria that grow in our body exploit sialic acid for their survival and help us to take forward our efforts to design chemicals to inhibit these processes in different bacterial pathogens."

The research is published in the latest issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry and was primarily the work of Dr Christopher Mulligan, a postdoctoral fellow in the Dr Thomas's laboratory.

###

University of York: http://www.york.ac.uk

Thanks to University of York for this article.

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

This press release has been viewed 133 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/117153/Scientists_reveal_how_cholera_bacterium_gains_a_foothold_in_the_gut

the time machine cloverfield take shelter take shelter dressage byu football byu football

Hands on with Bag It! for iPhone and iPad [Macworld 2012]

While checking out the showroom floor at Macworld 2012, we encountered this cute little game called Bag It! The goal is to efficiently bag your groceries while optimizing space

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/sCEVVGRgRLM/story01.htm

alex trebek lightsquared jane lynch matt ryan matt ryan real housewives of new york mildred pierce

Grammy-winning composer Clare Fischer dead at 83 (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? Clare Fischer, a Grammy-winning composer who wrote scores for television and movies and worked with legendary musicians like Dizzy Gillespie, has died. He was 83.

Fischer died Thursday at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank after suffering a heart attack two weeks ago, family spokeswoman Claris Sayadian-Dodge said.

An uncommonly versatile musician, Fischer worked as a composer, arranger, conductor and pianist for more than 60 years.

He is best known for his arrangements for Prince, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Branford Marsalis, Raphael Saadiq, Usher and Brandy.

Nominated for a Grammy 11 times in the Best Instrumental Arrangement category, Fischer won in 1986 for his album "Free Fall" and in 1981 for "Salsa Picante plus 2+2."

Born in Durand, Mich., Fischer got his start playing piano and writing jazz-inspired arrangements for the group The Hi-Lo's, an a capella quartet popular in the 1950s.

He worked as the arranger on Gillespie's "Jazz Portrait of Duke Ellington."

Fischer recorded 51 albums over his lifetime with his son Brent Fischer. The music ranges in style from jazz to salsa to symphonies.

"Clare Fischer was a major influence on my harmonic concept," Herbie Hancock is quoted as saying on Fischer's website.

"(Fischer) and Bill Evans, and Ravel and Gil Evans, finally. You know, that's where it really came from. Almost all of the harmony that I play can be traced to one of those four people and whoever their influences were," Hancock said.

Clare Fischer is survived by his wife, Donna; sons Lee and Brent; daughter Tahlia; and three grandchildren.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tv/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120128/ap_en_tv/us_obit_fischer

houston texans houston texans texans lana del rey snl enemy of the state golden globe nominees arian foster

[OOC] Kuroshitsuji A New Era

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, ?Kuroshitsuji A New Era?. 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.

---

---

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: Adig01, Agent*, AlexHamato, allimagination*, Ambreose*, Animality Opera, aod0209, ArcticFox*, Armageddon, Ashes, Ashtonwolf*, AzricanRepublic*, Balzmann, Bashie L. Craft, BBClock, bizarre1, blackwolf*, Blademaster_v3*, BSDJoker*, Chulance*, CountessMomo, CrazyIrish*, DarkAngel13, dealing with it, dig17*, DivineBitterness*, Draruto, duskdriver, Eteles*, Finalhazard3*, Forevveru, FunnyGuy, girlwt*, Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], Google Feedfetcher, GotDraggedIntoThis*, Hadespwr*, HeroOfAwesomeness*, iderray, Imagine That!, infernwolf, Inno, iowa90, IronPhoenix, I'm a Radical Dame!, jackrules158, Jadeling Hawkins, Jaegerjaquez, Jamie95*, kathrin, Kenzi, Kiri711, Kirinak*, KrazyTigger, Lucky_Joker*, Lurelle*, Majestic-12 [Bot], MSNbot Media, Neon.lynxie, NeonFox, Nevan, Nexaeus, Nocte, NorthernSoul*, Northgaze, nour06, NymaLaputa, Oborosen*, OurLadyofSorrows, Patcharoo*, Pretty, Princess Awinita*, Qetzo*, Queenforaday, RadicalDreamer*, RayneMidnight, Rem?us*, Renmiri, Robinwing, Romaneck, RyuuKiba*, Saikua*, Saxious, ScarletRivers, Script, SerenityMist, Shavnia_Velmount*, Shi-chan, shmband, SilverStar89, SimpalySam, Solo Wing Pixy, sparkleshine, SparrowKing, speckles32shido, spudjohnson, Steppin' Razor*, Stilts, sweetgal, Sylwyn*, T?far?s, Tawanos*, TechGorilla, The Angry Penguin, The Painkiller, the_judged, ThePsycoWarlock, TheRaven&ThePawn*, theredbutterfly*, TheTreForce*, Tiko*, Tyliana*, unmog, Usui*, vampyre_smiles, ViceVersus, Vio-Lance, Wake*, Walking-travesty, Wing06Twilight, Wudgeous, XianEvermor, XMatthewxHitomiX, Xorn*, Yahoo [Bot], Ylanne, Zodia195, zody*, zolzol*

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/plmaMHxv3yo/viewtopic.php

breedlove kowloon walled city knicks oklahoma city thunder florida state football florida state football ben breedlove

Video: What does Pelosi know about Gingrich?

>>> tom brokaw is here with his take on the state of the presidential race . tom, good to see you, some state, isn't it?

>> a win in south carolina to building a moon base in the second term.

>> let me talk to you about nancy pelosi and newt gingrich . she makes this comment saying newt gingrich will not be president, there's something i know. now that in itself sounds -- pretty alarming. but if you go back and add to that something she said in an interview in december, she said one of these days, to an interviewer, one of these days we'll have a conversation about newt gingrich . i know a lot about him. i served on the investigative committee that investigated him. four of us locked in a room in an undisclosed location for a year. 1,000 pages of his stuff. clearly, she's hinting that she learned something that will make, will disqualify him as president. does she have the right to back out now and back off of that?

>> i think that she should come clean with the public. if she found out something in the course of that investigation that she is holding and it appears for political purposes, that's outrageous. i think that the speaker has to be very unhappy about that. on the other hand --

>> speaker gingrich.

>> right. if she doesn't know something, i think she has to say, look, i didn't learn anything in there that the public didn't learn. i'm just talking about what the evidence was and we think that is enough to disqualify him for the presidency. i think she has to go a lot farther than she has so far in terms of her ole in that investigation which me xi may have learned in the meetings in going through those files.

>> we've asked speaker pelosi to join us here this morning. she said she had a scheduling conflict. we'll keep our schedule open whenever she can clear hers.

>>> let's move on to newt gingrich in the race. after his win in florida , a lot -- i mean in south carolina . a lot of pundits were still saying this was mitt romney 's race to lose. if newt gingrich wins in florida , will that change that thinking?

>> it's going to be a big blow to mitt romney if he loses florida . florida is not south carolina . south carolina was safe in the republican district, almost custom-built for newt gingrich . florida is larger state, cosmopolitan. their old friend tim russert used to say florida , florida , florida . it's a play in play. it's a swing state . this is a big deal for mitt romney if newt gingrich loses in florida , my guess is he'll go on and i think he'll go on under any circumstances.

>> during the state of the union address , the president said that anyone who tells you that america is in decline doesn't know what they're talking about. yet we look at polling a lot. some of our own polls. you ask people, do you think the country is on the right track. and i've seen numbers as high as 64%, tom, saying no, we're on the wrong track. does the president need to be more realistic with that subject?

>> well i think what he's talking about are the fundamentals. it is still the underlying economy is stronger than any other in the world. china is coming up fast, but we're still the number one economy. we have rule of law. we've got a great education system , even though it's troubled. so on the state of the union speech you're kind of engaged in some hyperbole. this election is going to be all about the economy, probably in the fall. there's some unforeseen things that will occur. but people really are responding to the fact that they don't feel secure about their economic future and that is a big piece of national security . most of all, as i said here before, matt. i for the first time in my journalistic career, parents are coming to me and saying, i don't think my kids going to have the life i've had. that's been an essential part of the american dream .

>> for an example, you were out in california talking to people out there, a state that is struggling mightily.

>> jerry brown was saying california is on the mend. they have reduced the deficit by 60%, they've got good news on unemployment in california , it's down to 11% at this point. he's going to ask the state to raise taxes on themselves, especially the wealthy, come november. this is a very, very big play for him. but there is, if not a light at the end of the tunnel , there's a faint glow on the horizon on the economy. and that's giving people some hope. the federal reserve says it won't be until 2014 that we have a full recovery. that's a long slog ahead.

>> tom brokaw , tom, good to see you.

>>> great to see you.

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/46145488/

jim irsay florida primary ener1 jan brewer cher morgellons morgellons disease

Video: Vikram Pandit on Citi's Expenses

"We are completely focused on expenses," says Vikram Pandit, Citigroup CEO. "We are going to be cautious on the market side," he tells CNBC's Maria Bartiromo.

Related Links:

Business & financial news headlines from msnbc.com

Top of page

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/46137809/

bon vivant zynga ipo zynga ipo joe arpaio sam hurd arrested roddy white roddy white

Video: J.C. Penney's New Look & Strategy

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

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/46131562/

cnbc debate family circus spanier walmart black friday ad walmart black friday ad rick perry gaffe rick perry gaffe

Actor James Farentino dies of heart failure at 73 (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? A family spokesman says actor James Farentino, who appeared in dozens of movies and television shows, has died in a Los Angeles hospital. He was 73.

Family spokesman Bob Palmer says Farentino died of heart failure after a long illness at Cedars-Sinai Hospital on Tuesday.

Farentino starred alongside Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen in a 1980 science fiction film "The Final Countdown."

Farentino also starred opposite Patty Duke in 1969's "Me, Natalie."

He also had recurring roles on "Dynasty," "Melrose Place," "The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" and "ER," playing the estranged father to George Clooney's character.

A four-time divorcee, Farentino's tumultuous personal life made headlines, too.

In March 1994 he pleaded no contest to stalking his ex-girlfriend Tina Sinatra, daughter of Frank Sinatra.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120125/ap_en_ce/us_obit_farentino

tampa bay buccaneers meredith kercher meredith kercher waxahachie waxahachie erin burnett four loko

Video: Rep. Bachus: Consumer Protection Should Be Bipartisan

This agency is going to be under a dark cloud and any of its decisions will be challenged, says Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL).

Related Links:

Business & financial news headlines from msnbc.com

Top of page

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/46113615/

tom brokaw maria shriver andy irons ethan zohn jeremy mayfield occupy oakland general strike occupy oakland general strike

Education campaigner wants to expel climate denial

Read more: "US education advocates tackle climate change sceptics"

Eugenie Scott has struggled to keep creationism out of the classroom ? now her organisation is taking on climate change deniers too

You have battled for decades against the teaching of creationism in science lessons in the US. Why are you now also tackling climate change denial?
We have been receiving more and more reports of teachers being pressured against teaching climate change, much as they are pressured against teaching evolution. Right now the evidence is anecdotal but we have heard enough to suggest that it is a problem.

What form does this pressure against teaching climate change take?
We have heard that students will get up and walk out of the class when teachers start talking about climate change, or that parents will complain. Teachers don't want to fight with parents, and it is easy for them to think that it's just too much trouble to teach about climate change. That short-changes the education of the kids.

Have there been legislative attempts to influence teaching about climate change?
We have seen attempts to pass legislation directing teachers to teach both sides of the issue as if the science were in question. Five or six years ago we began to notice that evolution and the origin of life, global warming, and stem cells and human cloning were being bundled together in proposed state legislation calling for teachers to teach all sides of the controversy. The good news is that people in these states have managed to get these bills bottled up and not passed, except for one state: Louisiana.

How will you help teachers combat pressure over the teaching of climate science?
Often teachers and administrators don't appreciate the very strong scientific consensus that exists. We will give teachers ammunition to help make the case to administrators that this is sound science that should not be compromised. We can provide teachers with support from local scientists who can back them up. Good science education does not call for the teaching of denialist arguments.

You already do this for the teaching of evolution. Does climate science pose any new challenges?
In the US we have constitutional provisions requiring you not to advocate religion in public schools. So if people try to "balance" the teaching of evolution with creationism we can say: "If you do bring that in, you will be sued and you will lose." We cannot make this argument with climate change; there is no constitutional protection against bad science. It's going to be tougher.

Are there any links between creationists and climate change deniers?
The tactics are very similar but the personnel, by and large, are different. There are many more organisations opposing climate science, it's much better funded and has better access to the popular media. The motivation against evolution is religious. The motivation against climate change is economic and political.

Profile

Eugenie Scott is executive director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) based in Oakland, California, which defends the teaching of evolution in schools. This week the NCSE launched an initiative to defend climate change education

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/1c185ad3/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg21328480A0B30A0A0Eeducation0Ecampaigner0Ewants0Eto0Eexpel0Eclimate0Edenial0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Fonline0Enews/story01.htm

weather nj nyc weather nyc weather philadelphia weather chris carpenter chris carpenter the brothers grimm

RIM names new CEO as Lazardis, Basillie step down (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? Research In Motion's co-chief executives Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie have bowed to investor pressure and stepped down, handing the job to an insider with four years at the struggling BlackBerry maker.

Thorsten Heins, a former Siemens executive who has risen steadily at the Canadian company to become one of two chief operating officers, took over as CEO on Saturday, RIM said.

Barbara Stymiest, an independent board member who once headed the Toronto Stock Exchange, will take over as chairman, a role that Lazaridis and Balsillie had also shared. Lazaridis and Balsillie will remain board members.

COMMENTARY

SHAW WU, ANALYST AT STERNE AGEE

"It's a start. On the positive side, I think people might be positive on the fact they're actually doing something. But we'll have to wait and see.

"They might need someone with consumer electronics expertise, because they're a consumer company whether they like it or not. It started out as an enterprise business and even for RIM, it's going to be a consumer business.

"That they both remain part of the board might be the right move. I'm not sure people wanted them to be totally uninvolved.

"I'm not sure this is what people really wanted to see - it might have a little too bold. It seems a bit aggressive.

"Heins has been introduced at their events, I remember hearing him speak about the company. But he's not a well-known quantity.

"I think there's going to be a learning period.

"It remains to be seen whether these moves are going to be effective or not."

EDWARD SNYDER, ANALYST AT CHARTER EQUITY RESEARCH

"It's the first positive thing that they have done in months. It's a step in the right direction.

"With them (Laziridis and Balsillie) still in the game, is their strategy going to continue with the new CEO? Is it a change in direction, or is it a move to the shareholders and investors off their backs? Is it a real change, or is it window-dressing?

"It sounds like it might be a first good step, but ... I have my doubts. My feeling is that it's a figure-head change.

"The stock will probably rally a bit."

MICHAEL URLOCKER, ANALYST AT GMP SECURITIES IN TORONTO

"I am not sure that an engineer as new CEO really gets to the central issues faced by RIM."

(Reporting by Alastair Sharp in Toronto and Edwin Chan in Los Angeles, compiled by Tiffany Wu)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120123/bs_nm/us_rim_iv

abc store lobster recipes nate diaz vs donald cerrone vanderbilt texas a m alistair overeem alistair overeem

Appeals court dismisses suit over new CFTC rule (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) ? An appeals court has dismissed a lawsuit by the financial industry challenging new federal regulations aimed at cracking down on speculation in commodities markets, a move that will likely delay a decision over whether the rules pass muster.

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and the International Swaps and Derivatives Association in December filed challenges to the regulations adopted last year by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit dismissed the lawsuit saying that the case must first be heard by a lower court, an argument advanced by the CFTC.

"There is no express congressional authorization of direct appellate review applicable to the petition for review in this case," the three-judge panel said in a brief order issued late on Friday.

They said that federal laws provided for appellate review for other agency action but not the challenged regulation.

The CFTC voted 3-2 in October to set "position limits" on the number of commodity futures and swaps contracts that a trader could hold. It has been decried by traders as a politically motivated effort to cap prices that will make markets less liquid and more volatile.

The two trade groups sued to block the new rules arguing that the CFTC exceeded its authority and that the regulations were not adequately justified.

The CFTC had argued that the case should first be heard by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Once that court hears the case, whatever decision reached there can be challenged at the appeals court, a lengthier process.

"Although the statute was unclear, we thought that might be the answer and were prepared for it, and for that reason we filed in both courts," said Steve Kennedy a spokesman for ISDA. "We now will move forward quickly in the district court."

The industry groups already have filed a challenge at the district court as well, but it was put on hold pending a decision by the appeals court on whether it would hear the case.

The CFTC declined to comment.

(Reporting By Jeremy Pelofsky; Editing by Vicki Allen)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120121/bs_nm/us_financial_regulation_cftc

indeed indeed pink yvette vickers yvette vickers ronald reagan sidney crosby

Samsung SSD 830 Series (256GB)

If 2011 wasn't the year that solid-state drives (SSDs) went mainstream, it was a year they delivered newly groundbreaking performance. First came the incredibly fast 240GB OCZ Vertex 3, which was followed by its slightly less impressive 120GB version. Those looking for a lower-capacity SSD had at least one outstanding choice, the 128GB Samsung SSD 830 Series. But when Samsung's drives hit higher capacities, how well do they stand up against OCZ's? Pretty well, at least with regards to the 256GB version ($429.99 list)?though it doesn't come out on top in every situation.

Even so, it has all the features you have a right to expect from a top SSD contender at the beginning of 2012, starting with 6Gbps SATA III. (Samsung's 2010 debut consumer model, the SSD 470 Series, only used 3Gbps SATA II.) More impressively, this 2.5-inch-form-factor drive (which measures only 7mm in height?on the short side for an SSD) is Samsung all the way down, from its stylish and shiny black brushed-metal frame to its three-core controller to the DRAM to the 20nm MLC toggle DDR NAND flash memory itself. Samsung even claims that the drive's wear-leveling and garbage collection technologies are proprietary (though traditional TRIM is supported). You can expect to get about 238GB of usable space from the drive (the remaining gigabytes are dedicated to overprovisioning), and it's covered by a three-year warranty. Other nice inclusions are discs containing the full version of Norton Ghost and Samsung's SSD Magician software for performing tasks like optimizing performance (via garbage collection) and updating the drive's firmware and, as of early January 2012, a free download code for Batman: Arkham City.

Performance was robust as well, with the Samsung drive constantly trading top scores and times with the 240GB Vertex 3. What drive came out ahead and on which task depended on the particular application. On our AS SSD benchmark, OCZ's drive generally did better with reads and Samsung's with writes, and we witnessed something similar on the ATTO Disk Benchmark?up to a point. From 0.5KB to 2KB, OCZ owned the reads and the Samsung writes; at 4KB the two flipped and continued alternating wins straight down the line through 512KB. With results upwards of 546MBps in 128KB, 256KB, and 512KB sequential reads, the Samsung drive even surpassed its own stated performance rating of 520MBps?an impressive feat. (For the record, the Samsung drive also promises up to 400MBps sequential write speeds, and routinely performed above that rating, too.)

It was after that, however, that the Samsung's limitations began to show. The OCZ took the rest of the rest of the ATTO tests?both write and read?up to 8MB, all of the CrystalDiskMark tests except Sequential and 4KB QD32 reads, and all of the PCMark 7 storage trials. The biggest discrepancy we noticed was on CrystalDiskMark's 4KB QD32 Write test: The OCZ delivered a result of 252MBps, whereas the Samsung drive could only muster up 147.4MBps. Combined with the ATTO results, this shows that, when you're more intensively moving larger amounts of data, the 256GB Samsung drive can't quite keep up with the competition.

Based on what we observed, the Samsung SSD 830 Series isn't quite able to wrest our Editors' Choice title away from the 240GB OCZ Vertex 3 (which is also priced at $399.99 list, $30 less than the Samsung)?but in more standard everyday applications it's essentially a neck-and-neck race. Our standard position in situations like this is that, all else being equal, when you're paying this much money for this (relatively) little storage space, you want the fastest speeds possible, and you get those with the OCZ drive. Nevertheless, Samsung's drive is an attractive, consistent performer ideal for slightly lower-level applications, and its larger amount of storage space and free software may help cushion the blow of the marginally slower transfer rates that just keep the SSD 830 Series from taking the top prize.

More Storage Device reviews:
??? Iomega Helium Portable Hard Drive (1TB)
??? Iomega Mac Companion (3TB)
??? LaCie Little Big Disk Thunderbolt (240GB SSD)
??? Seagate Momentus XT (750GB)
??? LaCie Rugged Mini (500GB)
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/_MkNYMiVzYg/0,2817,2398958,00.asp

rhodes scholarship ufc 139 results lee corso lee corso thanksgiving appetizers greg jennings thanksgiving recipes

Video: Gingrich slams media at GOP debate

David Goldman?/?AP

At Thursday?s Republican presidential debate in South Carolina, Newt Gingrich slammed the news media for focusing on accusations by his ex-wife that he requested an ?open marriage.? NBC?s Peter Alexander reports.

Related Links:

TODAY.com home page

Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/46069573/

david beckham tyche tyche jejune jejune who won the glee project who won the glee project

Air Force launches military satellite into space (AP)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. ? The Air Force has sent into space a satellite that is expected to improve communications with military drones in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Officials say a Delta 4 rocket carried the WGS 4 satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 7:38 p.m. Thursday.

It's the fourth in a series of military satellites that have been put into place since 2007. The next one is expected to be ready to launch next year.

WGS stands for Wideband Global SATCOM. The satellites are replacing aging Defense Satellite Communications System spacecraft and have 10 times the speed and capacity of the older satellites.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/science/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120120/ap_on_sc/us_rocket_launch

ron white alcs alcs miguel cabrera pay it forward pay it forward haunted houses

Sundance 2012 will be biggest buyer's market ever (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) ? This year's Sundance Film Festival will be the biggest buyer's market ever.

But will any of the movies picked up there become a breakout hit?

That's the question that hangs over Park City, Utah, as the indie film world converges on the resort for the festival, which kicks off with a quartet of opening-night films on Thursday.

Last year's festival was one of the best in memory for acquisitions -- 40 films were scooped up -- but for none of them broke through on the order of "Little Miss Sunshine." The Paul Rudd comedy "Our Idiot Brother" topped last year's entries with a $24.8 million gross.

Films like "Like Crazy," "Martha Marcy May Marlene," and "Win Win" drew favorable reviews and awards attention, but none are really in the position to receive Best Picture nominations the way recent Sundance entries "The Kids Are All Right," "Precious," "An Education" and "Winter's Bone" did a year after their debut at the festival.

Buyers are trekking to Park City this week to check out movies starring the likes of Joel Edgerton, Julie Delpy and Sean Penn, plus the usual plethora of documentaries. The independent film community is hoping for another strong edition of the most important American film festival, and the key showcase for independent film anywhere.

How much a buyer's market is this year's festival? For the first time, every film premiering there did not have a buyer when Sundance booked it. Nearly every one of them still remains completely up for grabs.

This year's lineup boast more than 117 feature-length films, 45 of them by first-time filmmakers. They were selected from more than 4,000 submissions.

It will kick off with a quartet of films: actor-turned-director Todd Louiso's "Hello, I Must Be Going," featuring a buzzed-about performance from Melanie Lynskey; "Wish You Were Here," a Cambodian-set drama starring Joel Edgerton; "Searching for Sugar Man," a documentary about the obscure '70s rock 'n' roller Rodriguez; and Lauren Greenfield's doc "The Queen of Versailles," which stirred up controversy not because of the film but because of the Sundance press release announcing it.

The film details the construction of a 90,000-square-foot Florida mansion whose owner, David Siegel, sued Greenfield, her husband and the Sundance Institute over a description in the release that said his house had been foreclosed, which it had not. (TheWrap initially ran that description, but changed it when a Sundance rep contacted us to say that their initial wording was incorrect.)

Other competition films that have picked up attention include Behn Zeitlin's "Beasts of the Southern Wild," made with a cast of non-actors; Jonathan Kasdan's high-school drama "The First Time"; So Yong Kim's "For Ellen," with Paul Dano as a musician fighting for custody of his daughter; Ben Lewin's "The Surrogate," which stars John Hawkes as a man determined to lose his virginity even though he lives in an iron lung; and "Simon Killer," an Antonio Campos movie from the Borderline Films group that produced "Martha Marcy May Marlene."

The out-of-competition films showcase even bigger names: Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon in the financial thriller "Arbitrage," Bruce Willis and Catherine Zeta-Jones in Stephen Frear's "Lay the Favorite," Sigourney Weaver and Robert De Niro in Rodrigo Cortes' "Red Lights," and Chris Rock in actress-director Julie Delpy's "2 Days in New York," a follow-up to "2 Days in Paris."

Spike Lee is also bringing "Red Hook Summer" to the festival, while Lee Toland Krieger's relationship comedy "Celeste and Jesse Forever" and Jamie Travis' phone-sex comedy "For a Good Time, Call . " have buyers sniffing around.

"Bachelorette" insists that it's not another "Bridesmaids," but the comedy with Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher and Lizzy Caplan does look at the female side of wedding rituals.

Typically, Sundance showcases a number of young breakout stars, with last year's "Sundance It Girls" including Elizabeth Olsen ("Martha Marcy May Marlene" and "Silent House") and Felicity Jones ("Like Crazy"). Olsen is back this year with "Liberal Arts" and "Red Lights," while candidates for 2011 breakout status include Mary Elizabeth Winstead in "Smashed" and Gina Rodriguez in "Filly Brown."

The documentary side is traditionally a Sundance strength: Six of the Academy's 15 shortlisted feature docs screened at last year's festival. Competitive entries include Rachel Grady's "Detropia," Kirby Dick's "The Invisible War," Eugene Jarecki's "The House I Live In." HBO Documentary Films has already bought U.S. broadcast rights to "Me at the Zoo," about video blogger Chris Crocker.

Non-competition docs include Stacy Peralta's skateboard chronicle "Bones Brigade: An Autobiography," Rory Kennedy's look at her mother, "Ethel," and Joe Berlinger's "Under African Skies," which follows Paul Simon's return to South Africa 25 years after recording the "Graceland" album.

Whether or not he attends, Berlinger is also apt to be a presence when "West of Memphis" screens - because that documentary, directed by Amy Berg and produced by Peter Jackson, looks at the case of the West Memphis Three, which was exhaustively chronicled by Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky in the three "Paradise Lost" movies.

The big question: What will Berg and Jackson reveal that wasn't already covered by Berlinger and Sinofsky?

Then there's "Humpday" director and Sundance vet Lynn Shelton's "Your Sister's Sister," with Emily Blunt and Mark Duplass, and an anniversary screening of the iconic indie film "Reality Bites," and Paolo Sorrentino's "This Must Be the Place," with Sean Penn as an androgynous-looking rock star. Add an extensive lineup of midnight films and experimental films and short films, and the buyers will have an enormous amount to choose from.

If past Sundance Film Festivals are any indication, a surprisingly large percentage of the entries will wind up with theatrical distribution.

But will any of them turn a profit? That's a question that won't be answered in Park City over the next two weeks - though it'll definitely be asked, over and over.

TheWrap will have full coverage of the festival in the Report From Sundance column.

(Editing by Chris Michaud)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120119/media_nm/us_sundance_market

douglas fir jim boeheim jim boeheim bill of rights toys r us toys r us shame

p_vampireslayer: For those of you who read comics on iPhone, iPad or Android, Comixology now has new issues of PVS 3 posted! First... http://t.co/BkapfAVB

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

• Connexion
• Rejoignez Twitter !

For those of you who read comics on iPhone, iPad or Android, Comixology now has new issues of PVS 3 posted! First... fb.me/LcFTU3Wk Il y a environ 3 heures via Facebook

p_vampireslayer

Pinocchio

Pied de page

• ? 2012 Twitter
• ? propos de nous
• Contact
• Blog
• Statut
• Ressources
• API
• Entreprises
• Aide
• Offres d'emploi
• Conditions
• Confidentialit?

Source: http://twitter.com/p_vampireslayer/statuses/159653608357511168

verlander verlander justin verlander pepper spraying cop pepper spraying cop somaya reece padma lakshmi

Do Colbert and Stewart have a psychic connection?

"The Colbert Report's" Stephen Colbert was on the defensive last night, addressing allegations that he was in cahoots with "The Daily Show's" Jon Stewart and his Super PAC.?He offered a few possible explanations as to?why he appeared in the?PAC's ad, and insisted?it was perfectly legal, despite?media reports.?One explanation -- he and?Stewart?have developed a psychic twin connection.

And after a phone chat with the wise lawyer Trevor Potter on "Daily Show,"?the?two hosts?learned that?as a candidate, Colbert?is allowed know in advance?what the Super PAC has done, even if he can't know what they're doing. It's not coordinating, it's ... ordinating. And it's perfectly legal.

Stewart?also discovered that he could make good use?of the Super PAC's money ... you know,?just?in case they get?fined for any misleading attack ads.

On the broadcast networks, the late night hosts gave the GOP candidates a little bit of a break.

"Live!" host Jimmy Kimmel took one more dig at Jon Huntsman, saying now that he's done being a presidential candidate Huntsman can?return to his former job as "the guy in the picture that comes with the frame."

But it was Miss America's political stances that caught his attention.? When asked to discuss the current state of divisive partisan politics in Washington, Miss Wisconsin -- the eventual winner -- responded that politicians "represent all people, and in these difficult economic times they?should look to what all of America needs."

Her answer, Kimmel thought, made absolutely?no sense. Then?he showed a clip?of?Pastor James David Manning's explanation of why he thinks Newt Gingrich's real name is Newt Leroy McPherson, and how that?name means he must really?be African-American.

On "Late Show," David Letterman called in a favor. An IRS friend of his discovered what Letterman dubbed "Surprises in Mitt Romney's Tax Returns." According to the? information they uncovered, Romney has $5,000 in residuals from a JC Penney underwear photo shoot he did years ago.

href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FmsnbcEntertainment&width=292&height=62&colorscheme=light&show_faces=false&border_color&stream=false&header=false" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:292px; height:62px;" allowTransparency="true">

Now that's just ridiculous.

Related content:

Source: http://entertainment.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/18/10180928-late-night-roundup-colbert-and-stewart-may-have-a-psychic-twin-connection

matt hughes matt hughes matt dodge matt dodge jon jones lost in space yahoo sports

'Cougar Town' Returning To ABC On Valentine's Day (omg!)

"Cougar Town" is heading back to ABC.

Just one week after show boss Bill Lawrence and the cast, including Courteney Cox and Christa Miller, took part in a guerilla media event for television critics in Pasadena, Calif., ABC confirmed to Access Hollywood on Tuesday that the series will be back on the air on Valentine's Day.

PLAY IT NOW: Courteney Cox Talks Dating Rumors & Appearing On ?The Howard Stern Show? (2011)

"Cougar Town" will kick off its third season on February 14 at 8:30 PM, and continue every week on the same night and time.

"Man Up!" previously held the time slot, but was pulled in December and replaced with the cross dressing comedy "Work It," which was also pulled. The timeslot is currently held by repeats of Tim Allen's "Last Man Standing."

VIEW THE PHOTOS: A ?Friend? ?Til The End ? Courteney Cox

The returning "Cougar Town" fits in with Valentine's Day as Grayson (Josh Hopkins) is set to propose to Jules in the first episode, Courteney previously told Access.

"We get engaged in the first episode," Courteney told Access last Monday night.

Season 3 will tackle the run up to the wedding.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Primetime Hunks

"If we make it to the altar," Courteney teased.

All the things that come with an engagement and planning a wedding will definitely unnerve the completely flappable real estate agent with a penchant for wine, Jules Cobb.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Life After ?Friends?

"She's neurotic, but she's game for everything," Courteney told Access. "She's not that smart, but she's nervous about bringing her past baggage into the relationship. But I like it -- I like that we're just dealing with issues head on as opposed to 'Will they? Won't they?' They just went right for it."

Beyond Jules' engagement, the show in Season 3, will feature guest spots from several members of co-creator Bill Lawrence's former show, "Scrubs."

"Maybe Zach Braff did a cameo on 'Cougar Town,'" Christa Miller (Ellie) teased. "Maybe a lot of the 'Scrubs' cast did a cameo on 'Cougar Town... You never know who stops by our show."

In fact, Sarah Chalke, Christa's former "Scrubs" co-star, is set to stir the loins of Bobby (Bryan van Holt).

"Bobby falls in love. Sarah Chalke, she comes in the show," Courteney said, of upcoming plot twists, adding, "Travis has an accident on his skateboard and has to wear a helmet for seven episodes... Lori falls in love with someone online."

Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_cougar_town_returning_abc_valentines_day192339285/44208077/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/cougar-town-returning-abc-valentines-day-192339285.html

imagine watch movies online for free papillon papillon oc oc professor

The Costa Concordia disaster: How badly will it hurt the cruise industry? (The Week)

New York ? Carnival's stock price dropped as investors bet the tragedy will scare off tourists

Following last weekend's dropped a sharp 17 percent. Competitor Royal Caribbean's stock fell too. The fallout from the tragedy, which left at least 11 people dead, worsened with the release of a recording in which the captain refused to return to his sinking ship and lead the evacuation (he now claims he "tripped and fell" into a lifeboat). Will the deadly wreck scare away passengers and damage the entire cruise industry?

Cruise lines are in for trouble: The timing couldn't be worse for the cruise industry, says Brad Tuttle at TIME. The period between January and March is referred to as "Wave Season" because it's the busiest time of year for cruise bookings. With passengers spooked by the "Concordia horror," "the waves may be mild" this year. Cruise lines should brace for weak sales, and be prepared to offer "super cheap cruise deals" to compensate.
"Italy cruise disaster: A disaster for the entire cruise industry"

Actually, they will recover swiftly: Sure, we're "collectively shocked" by the accident, Heidi Sarna, co-author of Frommer's cruise guidebooks, tells the Chicago Tribune. But people will still take cruises, just as continueto fly after traumatic airplane crashes. Cruise ships overall are an incredibly safe mode of travel. Lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean will have to launch a PR campaign to reassure the public again, but "in the long run, I don't think the Costa accident will hurt the cruise industry."
"Costa Concordia 'a tragic accident, but it is a rare occurrence'"

But it's unlikely to bounce back entirely: Anecdotal evidence, such as online comments on Carnival Cruise Lines' Facebook page, indicate that fans will keep taking cruises, says Hugo Martin at the Los Angeles Times, and there have been no mass cancelations. But while existing business remains, the industry should expect a slowdown in the steady growth of the last several years. As safety concerns over new "mega ships" rise, it will put a damper on what had been "smooth sailing and a bright future" for the industry.
"Safety concerns may slow cruise industry's growth"

View this article on TheWeek.com
Get 4 Free Issues of The Week

Other stories from this section:

Like on Facebook?-?Follow on Twitter?-?Sign-up for Daily Newsletter

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/oped/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/theweek/20120119/cm_theweek/223413

turkey map walter isaacson walter isaacson zodiac killer battlefield 3 review battlefield 3 review real housewives of new jersey

Morning countdown: Kinect for Windows: How much would you pay?

Live Webcast October 13, 2011, 10:30 AM EST

Consumerization: How IT Can Gain Control

Attend this interactive webinar to discover: * The benefits of embracing and supporting consumerization * The benefits of supporting a Bring Your Own (BYO) policy * The role of desktop virtualization in helping IT gain control while users keep their independence * Best practices for rolling out a BYO initiative

Source: http://www.itworld.com/personal-tech/242187/morning-countdown-kinect-windows-how-much-would-you-pay

the graduate holly madison tragedy of the commons tragedy of the commons casey jones casey jones debit card fees

Nielsen: Android still top dog, but Q4 buyers preferred iPhone 4S

Nielsen crunched Q4 numbers today, and the results will likely have Apple analysts jumping up and down. The findings, focused on those who've purchased a smartphone within the previous three months, indicate a huge spike -- from 25 percent in October to 45 percent in December -- in iPhone purchases since October as an obvious result of the launch of the 4S. Conversely, the number of recent Android buyers fell by 14 percent in the same period. Of course, these numbers are directly affected by Apple's latest product launch and by no means should be any indicator that Apple is poised to win the battle against its bitter rival, as iOS continues to trail Android by over 16 percent in market share. Looking at the war for the third spot, RIM's US market share declined by 2.9 percent from Q3 to Q4, falling to 14.9 percent -- not a surprise, since it only captured the hearts of six percent of recent buyers this quarter -- and Windows Phone slightly increased from 1.2 to 1.3 percent. Full press release and chart can be found after the break.

Continue reading Nielsen: Android still top dog, but Q4 buyers preferred iPhone 4S

Nielsen: Android still top dog, but Q4 buyers preferred iPhone 4S originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/18/nielsen-q4-ratings-smartphone/

marine corps veterans day 2011 veterans day 2011 cnbc debate family circus spanier walmart black friday ad

Turkey reacts angrily after Republican candidate Perry says it is ruled by Islamic terrorists (Star Tribune)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/187748472?client_source=feed&format=rss

packers stock mastectomy st. nicholas st. nicholas heisman finalists heisman finalists kepler 22 b

Asian stocks sink after Europe credit downgrades

BANGKOK (AP) ? Asian stocks sank Monday after a ratings downgrade rattled Europe and crucial talks aimed at nudging Greece toward solvency were mired in disagreement.

Benchmark oil prices were slightly higher near $99 per barrel and the dollar rose against the euro but fell against the yen.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index slid 1.5 percent to 8,372.67 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 1 percent at 19,021.85. South Korea's Kospi index dropped 1.1 percent to 1,855.95.

Benchmarks in Singapore, Taiwan, India, Indonesia and mainland China also fell.

Standard & Poor's decision Friday to strip France of its top-notch credit rating and to downgrade eight other nations that use the euro battered investment sentiment, raising fears that a solution to the continent's sovereign debt crisis may be far off.

Negotiations between the Greek government and its private creditors on a bond swap nearly collapsed Friday. The deal would reduce Greece's debt by euro100 billion ($127.8 billion) by swapping private creditors' bonds with new ones of a lower value.

Without the swap, debt-crippled Greece is unlikely to secure a second financial bailout ? which could hurtle the country into bankruptcy and send economic shock waves around the world. Greece's first bailout came in 2010.

"There is growing risk of a disorderly default by Greece, with talks reportedly breaking down after private sector creditors could not agree on the coupon level of fresh bonds," said Stan Shamu of IG Markets in Melbourne, Australia.

"With a euro14.4 billion bond repayment due in March, and without restructuring in place, the entire sum would fall, making it increasingly likely that Greece will default," Shamu wrote in a email.

Improving monthly machine orders in Japan did little to stem worries. Core private sector machinery orders, excluding shipbuilding and electricity, rose 14.8 percent in November. That was the fastest growth since January 2008, the government said.

Some analysts said they believed that dealers had largely factored in the risk of a Greek default in their trades and were more concerned about what simmering tensions in the Middle East and Nigeria might do to oil prices.

The U.S. is trying to rally global support for sanctions against Iran for its alleged efforts to develop nuclear weapons. Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil exporter, has vowed to retaliate by shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, the passage for one-sixth of the world's oil.

That could send prices skyrocketing and feed inflation in the U.S. and potentially hinder its fragile recovery from the Great Recession.

Meanwhile, a threatened strike by oil workers in Nigeria, a top oil supplier to the U.S., has further complicated the picture. The threat is in response to the government's decision to end fuel subsidies, which more than doubled the price of gasoline in a country where most people live on less than $2 a day.

"Inflation is just around the corner," said Tom Kaan of Louis Capital Markets in Hong Kong. "That to me is a bigger concern than Europe. Europe isn't going to be resolved in a year's time or three year's time. I think Greece will go into default and then you will have a two-tiered Europe."

Financial-related shares headed lower amid worries that the eurozone debt crisis could put pressure on bank lending. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. fell 2.4 percent and Hong Kong-listed Agricultural Bank of China lost 1.4 percent.

In Australia, Platinum Asset Management fell 2.6 percent after the fund last week forecast a drop in profit. But Leighton Holdings jumped 4.4 percent after the construction giant upgraded its underlying profit forecast.

Japanese exporters continued to suffer on the back of a strong yen, which reduces the value of profits earned overseas. Sharp Corp. dropped 3.2 percent, and Sony Corp. fell 2.3 percent. Mazda Motors Corp. was down 3.1 percent.

In energy trading, benchmark oil rose 17 cents to $98.87 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 40 cents to close at $98.70 per barrel in New York on Friday.

The euro fell to $1.2643 from $1.2670 late Friday in New York. The dollar fell to 76.83 yen from 76.96 yen.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-01-16-World-Markets/id-560b90967c8440d785309080a270f5d6

discovery channel lea michele michael buble michael buble teddy roosevelt rita hayworth rita hayworth