Republicans Blast Don Young, Demand an Apology

Alaska Congressman Don Young's use of racial slurs in reference to Latinos prompted a strong backlash from his fellow Republican Party members today as both House and Senate leaders demanded an apology from Young.

Young used the derogatory term "wetbacks" to refer to Latino workers on his father's ranch in an interview Thursday. His comments came only a few weeks after the Republican National Committee released a party "autopsy" report on the presidential election that outlined revitalization strategies, which included prioritizing Hispanic voter outreach.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas was the first to condemn the congressman's words:

"Migrant workers come to America looking for opportunity and a way to provide a better life for their families. They do not come to this country to hear ethnic slurs and derogatory language from elected officials. The comments used by Rep. Young do nothing to elevate our party, political discourse or the millions who come here looking for economic opportunity," Cornyn said in a statement.

House Speaker John Boehner followed quickly with a statement of his own:

"Congressman Young's remarks were offensive and beneath the dignity of the office he holds. I don't care why he said it - there's no excuse and it warrants an immediate apology."

Representative Joaquin Castro tweeted the following:

"@ castro4congress: Congressman Young, your words are disgusting. fb.me/F07xSx8T" @ repdonyoung

- Joaquin Castro(@JoaquinCastrotx) March 29, 2013

Sen. John McCain also responded online:

Don Young's comments were offensive and have no place in our Party or in our nation's discourse. He should apologize immediately

- John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) March 29, 2013

RNC Chair, Reince Priebus released this statement:

"The words used by Representative Young emphatically do not represent the beliefs of the Republican Party. As I have continued to say, everyone in this country deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Our party represents freedom and opportunity for every American and a beacon of hope to those seeking liberty throughout the world. Offensive language and ethnic slurs have no place in our public discourse."

Top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi called for an apology from the congressman.

Congressman Young should fully apologize for deeply offensive comments that were not appropriate in his youth or now.

- Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) March 29, 2013

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/republicans-blast-don-young-demand-apology-192021851--abc-news-politics.html

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MPG confusing? Ford holds a contest for app developers to help.

With all of the options available to drivers, and the multitude of fuel efficiency claims, finding the greenest option can be difficult. But?Ford is offering prizes of $50,000 to software developers to come up with a smartphone app that helps people make sense of the barrage of information.

By Antony Ingram,?Guest blogger / March 30, 2013

A Ford logo is seen on a car during a press preview at the 2013 New York International Auto Show in New York. Ford is offerering cash prizes to app developers who can make sense of the wide array of information on fuel-efficient cars.

Mike Segar/Reuters

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With all the options available to today's buyers--more efficient gasoline, diesel, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric cars, biofuels and more--it's hard to know what is really best. Throw in the multitude of fuel efficiency claims, electric range and more, and, well, it gets pretty tough to understand.

That's why, says Earth Techling, Ford is offering prizes of $50,000 to software developers to come up with a smartphone app that helps people make sense of the barrage of information.

The Personalized Fuel Efficiency Apps Challenge asks software developers to design something that helps consumers better understand and improve their personal fuel efficiency. The service they provide will be highly personalized, taking into account the various factors that can see a car's fuel economy stray from official figures.

There's an element of irony in this of course, which is that Ford's recent Fusion and C-Max Hybrid models are particularly susceptible to driving style, resulting in many customers missing EPA numbers by a significant margin.

Using these as an example, one of the contest's successful apps might give consumers a better idea of how their driving style and typical use would impact upon fuel efficiency--perhaps leading to fewer disappointments.

Apps will be based on the OpenXC platform,?an open-source platform developed by Ford for research applications. A software and hardware development kit gives developers access to a wide range of vehicle data. By using both real-time data from the car, and historical data, an app could offer a truly tailored service.

Interested parties can register with Ford via the contest's website, and submissions for apps open on April 24.

The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of the best auto bloggers out there. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. To contact us about a blogger,?click here.?To add or view a comment on a guest blog, please go to the blogger's own site by clicking on the link in the blog description box above.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/lw-AMbNGJK8/MPG-confusing-Ford-holds-a-contest-for-app-developers-to-help

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For All You Foodies Out There- SAVOUR 2013: Come Celebrate the ...

This is for all you foodies out there because if you love food, SAVOUR 2013 is one food event that you must not miss out on!

SAVOUR 2013 will be taking place from 11th April 2013 [Thursday] to 14th April 2013 [Sunday] at the F1 Pit Building and Paddock!

[Credits to SAVOUR 2013 for the Image]

If you don?t know what SAVOUR is all about, it is a one of its kind concept in Singapore to relentless pursuit to unite the best in food and drink with a wide range of unique activities that is accessible to all. During last year?s SAVOUR 2012 event, it brought together over 14,000 like-minded food enthusiasts into one exclusive purpose-built venue where they enjoyed a day of Michelin-starred dishes, expert master classes, live demonstrations, fun workshops and culinary shopping.

An example of the fun workshops that will be conducted is the recent Nespresso Atelier Class that I attended. Click the following link to find out more: http://awinsomelife.org/2013/03/28/nespresso-atelier-class-savour-2013-preview/

SAVOUR 2013 is divided into three main exclusive areas, namely, Gourmet Village, Gourmet Market, and Gourmet Auditorium.

Gourmet Village

Credits to SAVOUR 2013 for the Image]

Credits to SAVOUR 2013 for the Image]

The alfresco Gourmet Village will feature over 25 leading chefs and 18 award-winning restaurants serving up a global tasting trail. The 2013 line-up will feature chefs with over 10 Michelin-stars between them in addition to top-100 ranked restaurants, including representation from South America and Africa. Overall, over 60 signature dishes will be on offer for you to create your very own culinary adventure. Click the following link to view participating chefs and restaurants: http://www.savour.sg/gourmet/chefs-restaurants-bars

Gourmet Market

Credits to SAVOUR 2013 for the Image]

[Credits to SAVOUR 2013 for the Image]

SAVOUR would not be complete without the two-storey Gourmet Market, a 10,000 sqm international showcase of a plethora of food and drink exhibitors. The Market also includes Savour Event Arenas which will host complementary workshops, tastings and product demonstrations conducted by renowned experts. Sample hundreds of quality products from an array of top producers, and take part in fun activities at the Wine Theatre, Baking Arena and even the Kids? Corner.

Gourmet Auditorium

Credits to SAVOUR 2013 for the Image]

Credits to SAVOUR 2013 for the Image]

Expect the best chefs from around the world as well as Singapore?s top talent to put on master classes to remember at the Gourmet Auditorium, SAVOUR?s bespoke 300-seater air-conditioned arena. SAVOUR 2013 will see a expanded schedule of master classes covering an increased variety of topics. Click the following link for the latest schedule of master classes: http://www.savour.sg/activity/event/activity_date_id/1/activity_date_detail_id/1

Tempted to go to SAVOUR 2013 yet?

Now, here?s 8 compelling reasons that I have gotten from SAVOUR 2013?s Website about why you should go to SAVOUR 2013!

1. Celebrate the all-new Gourmet Village
Singapore?s biggest gourmet festival packs a mighty punch, all in one 32,000sqm purpose-built location. The Gourmet Village in 2013 not only features the finest in food and drink, but an all-weather experience under additional shelter, including a brand new air-cooled dining pavilion.

2. Celebrate the Stars
Get up-close and personal with over 30 award-winning international chefs from here and around the world as they cook off against each other at the Gourmet Village. With over 12 Michelin stars across 18 top restaurants, find yourself served by some of the best chefs in the world.

3. Celebrate global cuisine at first class prices
Go on a tasting trail and sample over 60 award-winning dishes at the Gourmet Village because SAVOUR 2013 dishes are now priced lower, from S$6 to S$18. You can feel free to create your own unique culinary journey like starting with a molecular-fusion appetizer from Hong Kong, moving on to a main course from South Africa, and finishing off with a delicate Peruvian dessert

4. Celebrate SAVOUR at its great location
Savour a great dish, grab a drink and enjoy culinary workshops with friends and family members right in the heart of the city. Spend a day or three at SAVOUR, soaking up the exciting atmosphere, or simply coming for a fun, friendly day out.

5. Celebrate being inspired
Learn tricks of the trade from the very best in the culinary world. Attend FREE chef master classes and cooking demonstrations in the comforts of the 300-seater indoor Gourmet Auditorium. SAVOUR 2013 will give everyone the opportunity to immerse in an inspiring behind-the-scenes experience with their favourite chef.

6. Celebrate Market flavours
Visit the Gourmet Market and shop for top quality ingredients and produce sourced from around the world. Connect with an entire ecosystem of quality brands, food and wine producers, and attend live workshops, demonstrations and FREE sampling sessions. There?s over 300 different activities that are available for you to attend for that complete sensory experience.

7. Celebrate new discoveries with Savour Itineraries
Not sure what to experience first? Solve your culinary conundrum by picking up one of the many SAVOUR Itineraries customised to specific themes. Follow your nose on a fascinating tour of the World of Wines, satisfy your sweet tooth by taking on the SAVOUR Pastry Journey or delve into the the origins of exotic coffee on the SAVOUR Coffee Trail. The only problem you will have will be choosing between them all!

8. Celebrate great value, with a time extension
The SAVOUR Premier Pass is priced at $55 (Lunch Session) and $65 (Dinner Session), inclusive of SAVOUR Dollars to buy food and drinks at the Gourmet Village, and produce at the Gourmet Market. Extended opening hours at the Gourmet Village and Gourmet Market means a combined total of 7 more fun-filled hours to spend at SAVOUR 2013. It?s definitely fulfilling!

Well, it?s less than two weeks away to SAVOUR 2013 and looking at Sistic?s Website now, tickets for Saturday?s SAVOUR Pass [access to Gourmet Market only] and Sunday?s SAVOUR Pass [access to Gourmet Market only] are sold out! Also, tickets to Friday?s SAVOUR Premier Pass [Dinner] (access to Gourmet Village and Gourmet Market) and Saturday?s SAVOUR Premier Pass [Dinner] (access to Gourmet Village and Gourmet Market) are selling fast!

To purchase tickets to SAVOUR 2013, you can click here <?

Don?t miss out on SAVOUR 2013 and get your tickets soon! Baby and I have already purchased Saturday?s SAVOUR Premier Pass [Dinner] (access to Gourmet Village and Gourmet Market) so if you?re there too, do hook us up!

Source: http://awinsomelife.org/2013/03/30/for-all-you-foodies-out-there-savour-2013-come-celebrate-the-delicious/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=for-all-you-foodies-out-there-savour-2013-come-celebrate-the-delicious

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Obama touts infrastructure in Florida trip focused on economy

By Jeff Mason

MIAMI (Reuters) - President Barack Obama walked into the mouth of a giant tunnel in Miami on Friday to highlight proposals to boost investment in U.S. infrastructure, a move designed to show a leader still focused on the economy in the midst of broader policy battles in Washington.

Obama's tour of the Port of Miami tunnel project and a subsequent speech were aimed at convincing members of the U.S. Congress to back proposals that would leverage taxpayer dollars into funds to rebuild American roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

"My main message is, let's get this done," he said. "Let's rebuild this country that we love."

Obama, as he has in the past, said he wanted to develop a national infrastructure bank and capitalize it with $10 billion. The idea is to pull in private-sector funding and pick projects based on merit.

He would also create "America Fast Forward Bonds" that would help state and local governments attract money for infrastructure projects. These would be direct subsidy bonds in which the issuer would receive a 28 percent subsidy of the borrowing cost as a way of attracting a wider set of investors.

In addition, Obama would add $4 billion to support two programs that are used to provide grants for infrastructure projects like the Miami tunnel.

It is unclear how far the proposals will go in Congress. Republicans are reluctant to support what they consider government stimulus spending after a much criticized $787 billion stimulus plan that Obama managed to push through Congress in 2009.

The president noted that some people on both sides of the political spectrum, such as labor unions and the Chamber of Commerce, had supported his infrastructure ideas.

"Building bridges and schools, that's not a partisan idea," he said.

Obama was criticized in his first term for focusing too much on his signature policy goal of revamping the U.S. healthcare system, which critics said resulted in him giving less attention to the slow economic recovery.

The White House rejects that charge.

Since his re-election in November and his January inauguration, Obama has steered a policy push focused primarily on passing both immigration reform and tighter gun control measures.

However, his State of the Union address in February included a series of measures to boost the economy, and the Florida trip fleshed out some of those ideas.

Alan Krueger, Obama's chief economist, told reporters traveling with Obama on Air Force One that the three main proposals outlined by the president would cost some $21 billion but that cuts would be made elsewhere to avoid increasing the budget deficit.

Obama's fiscal 2014 budget proposal, which will be released on April 10, would spell out how they are paid for, he said. All of the proposals require congressional approval.

Although Obama will not run for re-election again, Florida is still important for him and his fellow Democrats. The political swing state backed the president in 2012 and will be critical to determining whether a Democrat holds on to the White House or whether a Republican recaptures it in 2016.

The White House believes an increase in infrastructure investment would make the United States more competitive while providing a boost to the construction industry, which is still suffering high levels of unemployment.

(Additional reporting by Steve Holland in Washington; editing by Christopher Wilson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-touts-infrastructure-florida-trip-focused-economy-185512785--business.html

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How hard is it to 'de-anonymize' cellphone data?

Thursday, March 28, 2013

The proliferation of sensor-studded cellphones could lead to a wealth of data with socially useful applications ? in urban planning, epidemiology, operations research and emergency preparedness, among other things. Of course, before being released to researchers, the data would have to be stripped of identifying information. But how hard could it be to protect the identity of one unnamed cellphone user in a data set of hundreds of thousands or even millions?

According to a paper appearing this week in Scientific Reports, harder than you might think. Researchers at MIT and the Universit? Catholique de Louvain, in Belgium, analyzed data on 1.5 million cellphone users in a small European country over a span of 15 months and found that just four points of reference, with fairly low spatial and temporal resolution, was enough to uniquely identify 95 percent of them.

In other words, to extract the complete location information for a single person from an "anonymized" data set of more than a million people, all you would need to do is place him or her within a couple of hundred yards of a cellphone transmitter, sometime over the course of an hour, four times in one year. A few Twitter posts would probably provide all the information you needed, if they contained specific information about the person's whereabouts.

The first author on the paper is Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye, a graduate student in the research group of Toshiba Professor of Media Arts and Science Sandy Pentland. He's joined by C?sar Hidalgo, an assistant professor of media arts and science; Vincent Blondel, a visiting professor at MIT and a professor of applied mathematics at Universit? Catholique; and Michel Verleysen, a professor of electrical engineering at Universit? Catholique.

Focusing the debate

Hidalgo's group specializes in applying the tools of statistical physics to a wide range of subjects, from communications networks to genetics to economics. In this case, he and de Montjoye were able to use those tools to uncover a simple mathematical relationship between the resolution of spatiotemporal data and the likelihood of identifying a member of a data set.

According to their formula, the probability of identifying someone goes down if the resolution of the measurements decreases, but less than you might think. Reporting the time of each measurement as imprecisely as sometime within a 15-hour span, or location as imprecisely as somewhere amid 15 adjacent cell towers, would still enable the unique identification of half the people in the sample data set.

But while its initial application may be discouraging, de Montjoye and Hidalgo hope that their formula will provide a way for researchers and policy analysts to reason more rigorously about the privacy safeguards that need to be put in place when they're working with aggregated location data.

"Both C?sar and I deeply believe that we all have a lot to gain from this data being used," de Montjoye says. "This formula is something that could be useful to help the debate and decide, OK, how do we balance things out, and how do we make it a fair deal for everyone to use this data?"

Everybody's different

In the data set that the researchers analyzed, the location of a cellphone was inferred solely from that of the cell tower it was connected to, and the time of the connection was given as falling within a one-hour interval. Each cellphone had a unique, randomly generated identifying number, so that its movement could be traced over time. But there was no information connecting that number to the phone's owner.

The researchers randomly selected a representative sampling from the set of 1.5 million cellphone traces and, for each trace, began choosing points at random. For 95 percent of the traces, just four randomly selected points was enough to distinguish them from all other traces in the database. In the worst (or, from another perspective, best) case, 11 measurements were necessary.

The researchers suspect that similar relationships might hold for other types of data. "I would not be surprised if a similar result ? maybe requiring more points ? would, for example, extend to web browsing," Hidalgo says. "The space of potential combinations is really large. When a person is, in some sense, being expressed in a space in which the total number of combinations is huge, the probability that two people would have the same exact trajectory ? whether it's walking or browsing ? is almost nil."

###

Massachusetts Institute of Technology: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice

Thanks to Massachusetts Institute of Technology for this article.

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

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127503/How_hard_is_it_to__de_anonymize__cellphone_data_

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BracketRacket: A floor, a Big Shocker and the Noid

Ohio State's Aaron Craft practices for a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 27, 2013. Ohio State plays Arizona Thursday. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Ohio State's Aaron Craft practices for a regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 27, 2013. Ohio State plays Arizona Thursday. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The Big Show attends the USA Network and Vanity Fair 2010 Character Approved Awards at the IAC building in New York, on in this Feb. 25, 2010 file photo. The WWE has a history of plucking athletes from other sports and molding them into wrestlers. Former WWE champion The Big Show was once The Big Shocker. Known then as Paul Wight and wearing No. 50, he averaged 2.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in 21 games (with one start) for Wichita State in 1991-92. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)

Welcome to BracketRacket, your one-stop shopping place for all things NCAA.

Today's menu includes a time-lapse of the Final Floor being built, one great Big Shocker, some hatin' on Ohio State's Aaron Craft, a familiar name atop a bracket challenge and intense loyalty by Domino's CEO with a side of Noid to go with it.

And for dessert, we've got some Bracket Bits that include a massive bracket, a Hurricane rap and a La Salle drummer who appears to be channeling Paul Rudd.

Bonappetit!

___

THE FINAL COURT

The court for the Final Four is being built by a Michigan company before being shipped to Atlanta.

Connor Sport Court International says it has been working on the maple floor since last year.

It was made at the company's plant in Amasa, Mich., and finished at another location. The plant also made the court for the women's Final Four in New Orleans.

See the men's court being put together in this cool time-lapse video: http://bit.ly/YdmLRl .

___

THE BIG SHOCKER

The WWE has a history of plucking athletes from other sports and molding them into wrestlers, including champion Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, a former football player at Miami.

Former WWE champion The Big Show was once The Big Shocker.

Known then as Paul Wight and wearing No. 50, he averaged 2.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in 21 games (with one start) for Wichita State in 1991-92. Though he's become a Miami fan after living in South Florida so long ? at 7-foot, 450 pounds, he may be the biggest Hurricanes fan out there ? he'd love to see the Shockers reach the championship game.

"I'm very proud of the fact that the program has really turned itself around," he told AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston. "It's great for the city. It's great for the old Henry Levitt Arena. I remember a lot of great pickup games there, even in the offseason. Xavier McDaniel would come back and Harvey Grant would come in. Barry Sanders. The fact that the Wichita State program is doing so well, I'm very happy for them."

After years of performing in front of 70,000-plus fans, Show has learned to manage his nerves, something he wished he had better control of at Wichita State.

"I remember I got my first start at Southern Illinois," he said. "I remember we were walking off the plane and the assistant coach comes up to me and says, 'You're starting tonight.' I remember just being completely nerve-wracked. The ball felt like an egg in my hand. I was so mentally screwed up over that. It was the first time I ever had a lot of pressure that hit me hard. I started for about 3 or 4 minutes, got sat on the bench and things were back to normal again."

The WWE will hold its own version of March Madness at WrestleMania, April 7 in East Rutherford, N.J.

___

HATIN' ON CRAFT

The folks at Grantland.com have put together a bracket that's sure to drum up annoying memories for college hoops fans.

The bracket ? seen here http://es.pn/10cFs7N ? features the most hated college basketball players over the past 30 years and includes one player in this year's NCAA tournament: Ohio State's Aaron Craft.

Unlike his team, the scrappy point guard didn't make it out of the first round, ousted by former Florida irritant Joakim Noah.

Craft took the nomination as a sort of backhanded compliment, comparing himself to OSU video coordinator Greg Paulus, the former Duke point guard who lost in the first round of the Duke region to eventual champion Christian Laettner.

"I know I wasn't the fondest of Gregory (Paulus) when he played. I'm assuming it's very similar to what's going on right now with me," Craft said. "Greg's one of the nicest guys I know. I didn't know him, I just chose not to like him very much. It is what it is. Go out and take care of business and let things fall where they may."

___

NICHOLAS BIG IN MARCH AGAIN

The co-leader in the Washington Post's Bracket Challenge is someone a few college hoops fans might remember, particularly those of you in ACC country.

Tied atop the big board is none other than Drew Nicholas, who played for Maryland from 1999-2003 and hit one of the most memorable shots in Terps' history: a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the first round of the 2003 NCAA tournament to defeat UNC-Wilmington.

It's the 10-year anniversary of Nicholas dribbling nearly the length of the court to hit his shot ? seen here http://bit.ly/9583bK ? so it's kind of fitting that he's getting some more March glory, albeit it on a much smaller scale.

Drew played in Europe from 2003-12 and has returned to start a career as a TV and radio analyst. He entered the Post's bracket as a fan.

___

LOYAL PIZZA CEO

Domino's is the official pizza of March Madness, but the company's CEO did not fill out a bracket because of deep-rooted bias.

"I did not, and usually don't, because I'm just kind of a rabid fan of one team, and I hate filling out anything that doesn't wind up with University of Michigan winning at the end," Patrick Doyle told AP Business Writer Christina Rexrode.

Doyle attended Michigan, his predecessor, Dave Brandon, is the Wolverines' athletic director and Domino's is based in Ann Arbor, so it's no surprise that his loyalties run so deep.

Doyle even stayed in the same dorm with the basketball players, including Roy Tarpley, during his freshman year.

"I remember feeling extremely short ? and I'm 6-4," Doyle said.

But Rexrode didn't just talk to Doyle about college hoops. She couldn't resist asking him about this, uh, guy? from the '80s, the Noid: http://bit.ly/10jeh9h

"He was a big part of Domino's history. I don't think there's anybody around here that doesn't have a warm spot for the Noid," Doyle said.

We're going to leave that one alone.

___

BRACKET BITS

A few quick-hitting items on the bracket before the next round of games begin:

If you're in the market for an oversized NCAA tournament bracket ? isn't everyone? ? this might be worth a look: http://kck.st/YrBFTz

The Miami Hurricanes postgame rap from Sports Illustrated: http://bit.ly/YIBGzD

Your bracket in shambles. Perhaps try this method next year: http://bit.ly/Yz3vxf

Fitting the dance theme in recent BracketRackets, FGCU's manager channeled his inner Pee-Wee Herman here: http://bit.ly/11Af9aS

This is either the drummer in La Salle's band or a new Paul Rudd character: http://bit.ly/14p2wUm

Check out the new addition at the top of Fort Myers', er Dunk City's, web page: http://www.cityftmyers.com/

___

STAT OF THE DAY

La Salle has taken a roundabout road to Los Angeles for its West Region semifinal game against Wichita State.

The Explorers were one of the First Four teams and opened in Dayton, Ohio, a trip of 539 miles. From there, La Salle went 598 miles to Kansas City and now has a 1,617-mile trip to LA to play in the Staples Center.

That's a total of 2,754 miles.

Hopefully they're getting airline miles with it.

___

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Busted." ? President Barack Obama after being asked about how he's feeling about his bracket.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-03-28-BracketRacket/id-5939d1a7ef55442b93f9ffd21f4664ff

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U.S. warns of fake emails claiming to be from Homeland Security

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Thursday warned computer users to beware of fake emails they may receive from hackers claiming to be from the Department of Homeland Security and demanding money to reinstate use of their computer.

Homeland Security's U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, or US-CERT, published an alert on its website warning it had received reports of DHS-themed "ransomware."

"Users who are being targeted by the ransomware receive an email message claiming that use of their computer has been suspended and that the user must pay a fine to unblock it," the warning said, adding that the ransomware falsely claims to be from the department and its National Cyber Security Division.

Ransomware is increasingly widespread malicious software that purports to encrypt a user's files and then demands payment to unlock them.

US-CERT urged users and systems administrations to use caution if they find a questionable email message that could contain the ransomware. It said to urge users not to click on the messages or submit any information to Web pages.

(Reporting by Deborah Charles; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-warns-fake-emails-claiming-homeland-security-180945266.html

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AP PHOTOS: Iditarod, 'The Last Great Race'

A musher drives a dog team towards the Koyuk checkpoint in Alaska during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Monday, March 11, 2013. (AP Photo/The Anchorage Daily News, Bill Roth)

A musher drives a dog team towards the Koyuk checkpoint in Alaska during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Monday, March 11, 2013. (AP Photo/The Anchorage Daily News, Bill Roth)

Cim Smyth drives his dog team towards the checkpoint in Shaktoolik checkpoint in Alaska during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Monday, March 11, 2013. (AP Photo/The Anchorage Daily News, Bill Roth)

Aily Zirkle drives her dog team towards Elim after leaving the checkpoint at Koyuk in Alaska during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Monday, March 11, 2013. (AP Photo/The Anchorage Daily News, Bill Roth)

Dallas Seavey beds down his dog team during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race at the Koyuk checkpoint in Alaska on Monday, March 11, 2013. (AP Photo/The Anchorage Daily News, Bill Roth)

Aliy Zirkle puts booties on her dogs prior to leaving Koyuk on Monday, March 11, 2013, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (AP Photo/The Anchorage Daily News, Bill Roth)

The world's most famous sled dog race, the Iditarod, is approaching the finish line. The race consists of a grueling 1,000-mile trek through unpredictable wilderness to the old gold rush town of Nome on Alaska's western coast. Whoever reaches Nome first wins a new truck and a cash prize of $50,400. The rest of the $600,000 purse will be split between the next 29 mushers to cross the finish line. The iconic race, however, seems to be about more than a monetary prize for most involved: a competition of human versus wild.

Here's a collection of the latest photos from the "Last Great Race."

___

Follow AP photographers on Twitter: http://apne.ws/XEJ4O2

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-12-Iditarod-Photo%20Gallery/id-77844776ce6d4ac1877cd2d64f3065c5

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Are You A Candidate for Bariatric Surgery? | Physicians Regional ...

For some patients, bariatric surgery is the solution they've long hoped for. Is it the right choice for you?

Undergoing a medical weight loss procedure is a life-changing experience. You'll receive a new body, both leaner and healthier ? but you will also encounter many new challenges as you change your lifestyle. Bariatric surgery is not the easy way out, and it is not the best option for every patient. For this reason, doctors only consider a small fraction of patients to be candidates for this surgery. Consider this criteria.

• Your efforts to lose weight ? Bariatric doctors will require potential candidates to make a genuine effort to eat well and exercise for at least a year before they consider surgery. In some cases, your doctor will create the diet and fitness plan for you himself, or recommend you to a specialist. If the weight does not come off, he'll start talking about surgery.
• Your BMI ? Medical weight loss options are typically not for patients who are only a few pounds overweight. Most bariatric candidates have a Body Mass Index of 40 or higher. Doctors may make a special exception for those with a BMI between 35 and 39.
• Your current health ? A bariatric doctor may disregard the previous two criteria if a patient presents with an immediate health concern related to his weight, such as diabetes or heart disease.
• Your risk level ? If surgery is risky for you because of your age, health condition, or other circumstances, your doctor may want to look into safer options.
• Your commitment level ? Life after bariatric surgery is not for the faint-hearted. You'll need to be 100 percent certain you can handle the changes necessary. Having a support system in place can help.

Bariatric surgery doesn't just improve the appearance of the body; in many cases it can preserve good health and give you back your comfort and quality of life. If you think you might be a candidate for one of our weight loss procedures, stop by our website to learn more about your options. If you would like a physician referral, please call us at (866) 793-4289.

Related Posts:
Coping with Diabetes
Keeping Your Heart Healthy

Source: http://blog.physiciansregional.com/2013/03/12/are-you-a-candidate-for-bariatric-surgery/

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HBT: Puerto Rico clinches spot in WBC round 2

In World Baseball Classic Pool C action, Puerto Rico emerged victorious over Venezuela 6-3. Starters Carlos Zambrano for Venezuela and Nelson Figueroa for Puerto Rico matched, each allowing two runs in their respective 3.2 and 4-inning outings.

Venezuela got on the board first, scoring two in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Omar Infante doubled, then was driven home when Marco Scutaro singled to left field. Later in the inning, with two outs and runners on first and second, Pablo Sandoval doubled to right scoring Scutaro. Asdrubal Cabrera attempted to score as well, but was thrown out at home.

Puerto Rico quickly responded in the top of the fourth. Angel Pagan led off with a double. However, he was quickly erased attempting to advance to third on a ground ball as first baseman Miguel Cabrera fired over to Sandoval for the tag. Zambrano began to get wild, walking Alex Rios to put runners on first and second. He then uncorked a wild pitch, allowing both runners to advance. He got Carlos Beltran to ground out to first for the second out, but walked Yadier Molina to load the bases, the final straw. Zambrano was replaced by reliever Enrique Gonzalez, who promptly allowed a single to Mike Aviles, scoring Irving Falu and Rios. The slow-moving Molina was thrown out at third base by center fielder Gerardo Parra, ending the inning.

The tie was broken by Puerto Rico in the top of the fifth against Henderson Alvarez. Martin Maldonado walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on a two-out RBI single to center by Pagan. Puerto Rico broke the game open in the eighth when Alvarez allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base, hitting Rios and a single to Beltran. Juan Rincon entered to try and put out the fire, but Molina singled to right to load the bases. Aviles then plated Rios with a sacrifice fly to center. Venezuela brought in Cesar Jimenez, who struck out Carlos Rivera, then called on Francisco ?K-Rod? Rodriguez to get the final out. With a 3-1 count, Luis Figueroa doubled to right, scoring Beltran and Molina to extend the lead to three runs.

Venezuela was unable to mount any offensive threat between the fourth and eighth innings, but attempted a ninth-inning comeback against J.C. Romero. With one out, Salvador Perez and Martin Prado hit back-to-back doubles, bringing the score to 6-3. Fernando Cabrera relieved Romero and ended the threat, retiring Miguel Montero and Infante in the final frame.

Puerto Rico?s win clinches second round appearances for both themselves and the Dominican Republic as both teams are 2-0 while Venezuela and Spain sit at 0-2. Spain and Venezuela match up tomorrow at 12:30 PM ET. Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic will match up and play for seeding at 7:30 PM ET. The winner will play the runner-up of Pool D in the second round?while?the loser will play the winner of Pool D.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/09/puerto-rico-defeats-venezuela-clinches-second-round-berth/related/

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Control your smartphone with NFC tags

If you’re lazy and you know it raise your hand. I bet you were too lazy to even do that…right? Then this article is going to be perfect for you. Or, it will be perfect if you are lazy AND also own a smartphone equipped?with NFC. Some of the latest Android smartphones like the Samsung [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/03/11/control-your-smartphone-with-nfc-tags/

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Comet Pan-STARRS is closest to Sun today: See it at sunset

Luis Argerich/Nightscape Photography

Astrophotographer Luis Argerich of Buenos Aires, Argentina, took this photo of Comet Pan-STARRS taken on March 2, 2013. He writes: "Comet Pan-STARRS was visible from about 8:15 pm to 9 pm above the western horizon."

By Tariq Malik, Space.com

A?comet sailing through the inner solar system make its closest approach to the sun and will be at its brightest at sunset tonight, but the glare of twilight may make it tricky to see, NASA says.

The?Comet Pan-STARRS?will be 28 million miles (45 million kilometers) from the surface of the sun when it swings around the star today, and should be bright enough to see without the aid of telescopes or binoculars, weather permitting. But the comet is also appearing low on the western horizon at sunset so some planning is needed to spot the celestial wanderer with the naked eye tonight.

"Look too early and the sky will be too bright," said Rachel Stevenson, a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "Look too late, the comet will be too low and obstructed by the horizon. This comet has a relatively small window."

Science@NASA

The progression of comet Pan-STARRS across the night sky in March 2013 is shown in this NASA graphic.

A good time to look is about 40 minutes after sunset. The comet may appear as a sort of exclamation point in the evening sky, with the point being the comet itself and its diffuse tail stretching nearly straight up from the horizon, JPL officials added. [How to see the comet]

Comet Pan-STARRS, officially known as comet C/2011 L4 Pan-STARRS, was discovered in June 2011 by astronomers using the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (or PAN-STARRS), a telescope atop the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii. The comet takes more than 100 million years to orbit the sun and appears to come from the Oort cloud, a vast halo of comets and icy objects at the outer edge of the solar system.

While the comet is making its closest pass by the sun tonight, the best views of the object are still to come. NASA scientists said the comet's proximity to the sun may make it too difficult to spot tonight, but that will change over the next few days.

"As it continues its nightly trek across the sky, the comet may get lost in the sun's glare but should return and be visible to the naked eye by March 12," JPL officials explained. "As time marches on in the month of March, the comet will begin to fade away slowly, becoming difficult to view (even with binoculars or?small telescopes) by month's end."

Astronomy Education Services / Gingin Observatory

Close-up of comet C/2011 L4 PANSTARRS as seen from Mount Dale, Western Australia.

And there is another reason to look for comet Pan-STARRS later this week. On Tuesday (March 12), the moon rises into the cosmic display.

"The comet will be joined in the western sky after dark by the slender crescent moon on March 12, 13, and 14," the editors of StarDate Magazine, a stargazing publication of the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas. "Good naked-eye views of the comet should continue for several nights, with the comet remaining visible through binoculars into April."

Comet Pan-STARRS is one of three?comets?capturing the attention of stargazers this year. The Comet Lemmon C/2012 F6 is currently visible to observers in the Southern Hemisphere and at times was in the night sky at the same time, allowing stargazers to capture?rare photos of two comets in the sky together.

Meanwhile, the Comet ISON is making its way into the inner solar system and could put on a spectacular cosmic display later this year. Officially designated C/2012 S1 (ISON), Comet ISON was discovered in September 2012 by Russian amateur astronomers Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok using a remotely operated International Scientific Optical Network (ISON) telescope.

Some astronomers have billed?Comet ISON?as a potential "comet of the century" since it could be brighter than the full moon in daylight when it makes its closest approach to the sun on Nov. 28. At that time, Comet ISON will be much closer to the sun than Comet Pan-STARRS is now. ISON will approach within 800,000 miles (1.2 million km) of the star, making it a true sungrazing comet.

StarDate Magazine

The location of Comet Pan-STARRS low in the western horizon in March 2013 is shown in this sky map released by StarDate Magazine, a publication of the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas.

Editor's note:?If you snap an amazing photo of Comet Pan-STARRS, or any other celestial object, and you'd like to share it for a possible story or image gallery, please send images and comments, including location information, to managing editor Tariq Malik at?spacephotos@space.com.

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him?@tariqjmalik?and?Google+. Follow us?@Spacedotcom,?Facebook?and?Google+. Original article on?SPACE.com.

Copyright 2013?SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/10/17258886-comet-pan-starrs-is-closest-to-sun-today-see-it-at-sunset?lite

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Flash Sales Site For Mums Casabu Raises $1.4M To Take On Zulily In The UK

You'd be forgiven for thinking that the window has closed on the flash sales concept, but apparently not. Casabu, the UK startup that targets mums with time-limited sales of clothing, toys, nursery equipment and maternity wear, has raised a ?900k (~$1.4m) Series A round led by Ingenious Ventures, the private equity division of investment and advisory group Ingenious, with participation from existing investor Horatio Investments.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Fbk4SV_V2X0/

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Source: http://www.hellofour.com/blog/95562/the-optimum-low-priced-web-hosting-option-designed-for-online-business-deve/

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Egyptian protester dies in clashes with police

An injured security official is carried from a police officers club in the upscale neighborhood of Zamalek, after protesters set fires following a court verdict in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, March 9, 2013. Fans of Cairo?s Al-Ahly club have stormed Egypt?s soccer federation headquarters and a nearby police club, and set them ablaze after a court acquitted seven of nine police official on trial for their alleged part in deadly stadium melee. (AP Photo/Mohammed Asad )

An injured security official is carried from a police officers club in the upscale neighborhood of Zamalek, after protesters set fires following a court verdict in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, March 9, 2013. Fans of Cairo?s Al-Ahly club have stormed Egypt?s soccer federation headquarters and a nearby police club, and set them ablaze after a court acquitted seven of nine police official on trial for their alleged part in deadly stadium melee. (AP Photo/Mohammed Asad )

Egyptian soccer fans of the Al-Ahly club celebrate in front of their club in Cairo, Egypt, after an Egyptian court confirmed death sentences against 21 people for their role in a deadly 2012 soccer riot that killed more than 70 people in the city of Port Said, Saturday, March 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

An Egyptian man walks on the grounds of a police officer's club as a fire set by protesters burns in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, March 9, 2013. An Egyptian court on Saturday confirmed the death sentences against 21 people for taking part in a deadly soccer riot but acquitted seven police officials for their alleged role in the violence, touching off furious protests in Cairo that torched the soccer federation headquarters and a nearby police club.(AP Photo/Ahmed Gomaa)

Smoke rises from the Police Officers Club, left, and the Egyptian Soccer Federation, right, as a police helicopter surveys the scene after protesters set fire following a court verdict in Saturday, March 9, 2013. Fans of Cairo?s Al-Ahly club have stormed Egypt?s soccer federation headquarters, set it ablaze after a court acquitted seven of nine police official on trial for their alleged part in deadly stadium melee. A fire also broke out Saturday in a nearby police club, but it was not immediately known whether Al-Ahly fans started the blaze there too. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

Several protesters set fire to tires on the city's dock in an attempt to prevent ships from coming in to the strategic city of Port Said at the Mediterranean end of the Suez Canal, in Egypt, Saturday, March 9, 2013. An Egyptian court on Saturday confirmed the death sentences against 21 people for taking part in a deadly 2012 soccer riot but acquitted seven police officials for their alleged role in a trial that has been the source of some of the worst unrest to hit Egypt in recent weeks. (AP Photo/Ahmed Ramadan)

CAIRO (AP) ? An Egyptian court on Saturday confirmed the death sentences against 21 people for taking part in a deadly soccer riot but acquitted seven police officers for their alleged role in the violence. The verdict enraged fans in Cairo, prompting them to torch the soccer federation headquarters and a police club in protest.

The trial over the melee that killed 74 people after a soccer game in the city of Port Said in early 2012 has been the source of some of the worst unrest to hit Egypt in recent weeks. While the violence has largely involved fans of rival soccer teams, the case has taken on political undercurrents because many blame the police for standing by during the violence last year.

Shortly after the verdict was announced Saturday, fans of Cairo's Al-Ahly club who had gathered in the thousands outside the team's headquarters in the center of the Egyptian capital went on a rampage, torching a police club nearby and storming Egypt's soccer federation headquarters before setting it ablaze. The twin fires sent plumes of thick black smoke billowing out over the Cairo skyline. Two army helicopters were used to extinguish the fires.

At least five people were injured in the protests, a Health Ministry official told the MENA state news agency.

The court's decision upheld the death sentences issued in late January to 21 people, most Port Said fans. The original verdict touched off violent riots in the Suez Canal city of Port Said that left some 40 people dead, most shot by police.

On Saturday, the court announced its verdict for the other 52 defendants in the case, sentencing 45 of them to prison, including two senior police officers who got 15 years terms each. Twenty-eight people were acquitted, including seven police officials.

The acquittal of the police officers prompted a wave of anger and raised tensions already high over political turmoil, a worsening economy and growing opposition to the rule of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. The country has faced repeated bouts of chaos in the more than two years since a revolution that ousted autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak.

In unrelated violence, at least two protesters were killed on Saturday in clashes between riot police and stone-throwing demonstrators on a Nile-side street in central Cairo, according to national ambulance service chief Mohammed Sultan. Nineteen others were injured in the clashes near two luxury hotels and the U.S. and British embassies.

In anticipation of more violence, authorities beefed up security near the Interior Ministry, which is in charge of the police force, with riot police deploying in the streets around the complex in central Cairo.

The president of the international soccer governing body FIFA appealed for calm.

"I call on football fans in Egypt to remain peaceful. Violence is never a solution and is contrary to the spirit of sport," Sepp Blatter tweeted.

Earlier at the courthouse across town, Judge Sobhi Abdel-Maguid read out the verdict live on TV, sentencing five defendants to life in prison and nine others to 15 years in jail. Six defendants received 10-year jail terms, two more got five years and a single defendant received a 12-month sentence.

The court's decision on the nine Port Said security officers on trial was among the most highly anticipated ? and potentially explosive ? verdicts. In the end, the judges sentenced the city's former security chief, Maj. Gen. Essam Samak, and a colonel both to 15 years in prison, while the others were acquitted.

Al-Ahly's fans accuse the police of collusion in the killing of their fellow supporters, arguing that they had advance knowledge of plans by supporters of Port Said's Al-Masry to attack them. They also accuse them of standing by as the Al-Masry fans set upon the visiting Al-Ahly supporters.

The court rulings can be appealed.

Many residents of Port Said, which is located on the Mediterranean at the northern tip of the vital Suez Canal, say the trial is unjust and politicized, and soccer fans in the city have felt that authorities have been biased in favor of Al-Ahly, Egypt's most powerful club.

The Feb. 1, 2012 riot followed a league match between Al-Masry and Cairo's Al-Ahly club, with Port Said supporters setting upon the visiting fans after the final whistle. The deadly melee is Egypt's worst soccer disaster.

In Port Said, a city that for weeks has been in open rebellion against the Islamist president, several hundred people, many of them relatives of the defendants, gathered outside the local government offices to vent their anger. They chanted slogans against Morsi's government and the verdicts.

Some people in a cafe watching the verdict live on TV hit their heads in frustration, while others broke down and wept. Some said they can live with the verdict because an appeal leaves room for hope.

"There's still an appeal process. God willing, our rights will be restored," said Islam Ezzeddin, a local soccer fan. "We are not thugs. I hope to God when there's an appeal, that we feel we live in a country of law and justice."

Several protesters in Port Said sought to disrupt shipping in the vital waterway by releasing small speedboats into the traffic lanes, although the effort failed to disrupt shipping. Others set fire to tires on the city's dock to prevent ships from coming in, but that again was quickly abandoned.

A spokesman for the Suez Canal Authority, Tareq Hasanein, told Egypt's official MENA news agency that shipping in the international waterway was proceeding normally, with 41 vessels transiting the canal on Saturday.

However, the national railways chief, Hussein Zakaria, ordered trains headed to Port Said to terminate their services at Ismailiya, another Suez Canal city south of Port Said. He said the measure was taken out of fear for the safety of passengers.

___

Batrawy reported from Port Said. Associated Press writer Mariam Rizk contributed to this report from Cairo.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-09-Egypt/id-23a6d11285c940b9981438b279e9335b

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Heavy snowfall blankets Colorado

DENVER (Reuters) - A powerful Pacific storm dumped heavy snow across Colorado on Saturday, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights at Denver International Airport and the postponement of a Major League Soccer game.

No part of Colorado was spared from the fast-moving storm, which triggered blizzard conditions on the state's eastern plains, the National Weather Service said.

A foot of heavy, wet snow is forecast to fall in the Denver metropolitan area, with higher totals expected in the foothills west of the city before the system moves out toward Kansas and Nebraska in the evening, said National Weather Service meteorologist Kari Bowen.

More than 500 flights in and out of Denver International Airport were canceled on Saturday, although the facility remains open, said airport spokesman Heath Montgomery.

"Many of the canceled flights are commuter flights that go to mountain towns," Montgomery said.

But air passengers can expect delays of up to 30 minutes as crews de-ice departing aircraft, he said.

The Colorado Rapids postponed their Major League Soccer game against the Philadelphia Union until Sunday, the team said on its website.

Blowing and drifting snow prompted the closure of a 180-mile (290-km) stretch of Interstate 70 in both directions between Denver and the Kansas state line, the Colorado Department of Transportation said in an alert.

Westbound lanes of Interstate 70 have also been closed at the Eisenhower Tunnel in the mountains 50 miles west of Denver. "Conditions are rapidly deteriorating in many areas of the state," the department warned.

The heaviest snow accumulations are forecast in the southwest mountains, with up to 2 feet of snow predicted, Bowen said.

Winds gusts up to 35 mph prompted the weather service to issue a blizzard warning for a dozen eastern Colorado counties, where travel is being discouraged.

The snowfall was good news for farmers in eastern Colorado, who have been in the grips of a multi-year drought.

(Editing by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Peter Cooney)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/heavy-snow-blankets-colorado-prompts-flight-cancellations-221706612--sow.html

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UN says 21 peacekeepers detained on Golan Heights

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin speaks at the stakeout area outside the United Nations Security Council, Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Churkin, the current Security Council president, said talks are under way between U.N. officials from the peacekeeping force, known as UNDOF, and the captors of 20 UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights by a group of armed fighters linked to the Syrian opposition. (AP Photo/Rick Bajornas, United Nations)

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin speaks at the stakeout area outside the United Nations Security Council, Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Churkin, the current Security Council president, said talks are under way between U.N. officials from the peacekeeping force, known as UNDOF, and the captors of 20 UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights by a group of armed fighters linked to the Syrian opposition. (AP Photo/Rick Bajornas, United Nations)

UNITED NATIONS (AP) ? Armed fighters linked to the Syrian opposition detained 21 U.N. peacekeepers from the Philippines Wednesday in the increasingly volatile zone separating Israeli and Syrian troops on the Golan Heights, a new escalation in the spillover of Syria's civil war.

The U.N. Security Council demanded their immediate and unconditional release.

In Manila, Philippine military spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said that Syrian rebels were holding 21 Filipino peacekeepers "as guests."

"They were in a military convoy doing their run. They were suddenly held at one Syrian rebel outpost. They were allowed to go through the first outpost but were stopped at the second outpost," Burgos said.

"I don't have the details yet on the demands. It seems they are asking about the placement of military hardware... for a reduction of Syrian forces," he said.

The capture comes a week after the announcement that a member of the peacekeeping force is missing. The force, known as UNDOF, was established in 1974 following the 1973 Yom Kippur war to monitor the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces and maintain a cease-fire.

Israeli officials have grown increasingly jittery as the Syrian war moves closer to Israel. There have been several instances in which stray fire has landed in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, and Israel is concerned that Syrian weapons could fall into the hands of hostile groups and be used against Israel. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and Syria wants the land returned in exchange for peace.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, the current Security Council president, said talks are under way between U.N. officials from the peacekeeping force and the captors.

U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous, who briefed the council behind closed doors, identified the captors as being from a group associated with the Syrian armed opposition, Churkin said.

"There was no fighting, according to his briefing to us," Churkin said. "My understanding is that they took over the trucks in which the UNDOF personnel was moving around."

Churkin said the capture of the peacekeepers "is particularly unacceptable and bizarre" because the UNDOF peacekeepers are unarmed and their mission has nothing to do with Syria's internal conflict.

"They are there on a completely different mission so there is no reason at all under any circumstances, any kind of sick imagination to try to harm those people," he said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the capture of the 21 peacekeepers, U.N. deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey said.

Del Buey said the U.N. observers were on a regular supply mission when they were stopped by approximately 30 armed fighters near an observation post that was damaged in heavy combat last weekend and had been evacuated.

A video posted online by activists showed a group of armed rebels standing around at least three white U.N. vehicles with the words UNDOF on them, allegedly in the village of Jamlah in Daraa province.

The video, circulated by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, accuses the peacekeepers of assisting the Syrian regime to redeploy in an area near the Golan that the fighters had seized a few days ago in battles that left 11 fighters and 19 regime forces dead.

A man identified as Abu Qaed al-Faleh, spokesman for the Martyrs of Yarmouk Brigades, announced the group is holding the peacekeepers until Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces withdraw from Jamlah.

"They will not be released until after Bashar Assad's forces withdraw from the village of Jamlah bordering Israel," the man said.

Churkin urged countries with influence on the Syrian opposition to use it to help free the peacekeepers. He did not name any countries but Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are known to have been providing military aid to some Syrian rebel groups.

The international community has been divided in its response to Syria's conflict.

The United States and other countries have supported Syria's political opposition but have been reluctant to send weapons partly because of fears they may fall into the hands of extremists who have been gaining influence among the rebels. The Obama administration, however, announced last week that it would, for the first time, provide non-lethal aid directly to the rebels.

Russia and China, meanwhile, have continued to back Assad's regime.

Human Right Watch, meanwhile, is investigating whether the same rebels linked to seizing the peacekeepers were involved in the executions of captured regime soldiers in another incident around Jamlah several days ago. The rights group began the investigation after receiving one video apparently showing the capture of the Syrian soldiers and a second video showing bodies in the same area, Peter Bouckaert of Human Rights Watch said.

"We were just starting to investigate this today ... when we learned about the incident with the UN peacekeepers," he said.

Asked about why the rebels might be holding the U.N. peacekeepers, he said: "This seems to be a rather inexperienced group. It shows the desperation that many people, including armed groups, around Syria feel about protecting the civilians in their own villages."

Ban has warned of escalating military activity along the Israeli-Syrian border as a result of the intensifying Syrian conflict, which began in 2011 and has cost more than 70,000 lives.

In December, Ban accused the Syrian government of serious violations of the 1974 separation agreement and called on both countries to halt firing across the cease-fire line. He cited numerous clashes between Syrian security forces and opposition fighters in the disengagement zone.

In response, he said, UNDOF has adopted a number of security measures.

____

Associated Press writers Karin Laub and Zeina Karam in Beirut, Lebanon, and Hrvoje Hranjski in Manila, Philippines contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-03-06-UN-Syria-Israel/id-e1a16b5298c84bbe9fc75b056a276a02

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Want more retirement security? Move to Slovenia

By Allison Linn, TODAY

The United States ranks 19th worldwide when it comes to retirement security, according to a new analysis of worldwide economic and other data. That's?probably comes as no surprise to many Americans who are fretting about whether they?ll ever have enough money to stop working.

The Natixis Global Retirement Index puts U.S. retirees in a more precarious position than retirees in Western European countries including Norway, Switzerland and Germany, which have strong social programs providing health care and retiree benefits. But the analysis finds that the U.S. also lags countries including Israel, Japan, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

On the other hand, we do rank better than the Brits, who came in at No. 20. And we?re apparently in much better shape than Zimbabawe, which placed dead last at?150th in?the rankings.

Natixis, an asset management firm with $779 billion in assets under management, created the index using worldwide data from the World Bank, United Nations and other sources. The index weighed factors including health expenditures, life expectancy, income inequality, unemployment and the ratio of young workers to older retirees.

The list comes as more Americans are fretting about their retirement own security. A Pew report released last fall found that nearly 4 in 10 Americans are not very confident they?ll have enough money for retirement, a sharp increase over just a few years ago.

Fewer Americans are also now counting on retiring by age 65, a switch from a trend toward earlier retirement that lasted into the mid-1980s.

In the last several decades, many companies have moved from pension-type retirement plans to 401(k)-type plans that put more responsibility on individuals to save for their?golden years.

Many Americans aren?t saving enough, and some people who did have retirement savings were forced to pull money from those plans during the recent recession. The Natixis study cited a Senate report released last summer showing that, in total, Americans have saved $6.6 trillion less than they should have at this point for retirement.

The recent run-up in the stock market has probably helped some Americans feel better about the state of their 401(k)s, but a bull market won?t be enough to make up the shortfall many Americans face.

The United States does have social safety nets in the form of Social Security and Medicare, which provide some monthly assistance and help to cover many health care expenses. But many other developed countries have much stronger safety nets that provide much more robust financial security.

?The message is clear: You will be call on to finance more of your retirement,? John Hailer, Natixis?s president and chief executive for the Americas and Asia, said in a statement.

Here are the top 20 nations in the Natixis retirement index.

1.??????????? Norway ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??
2.??????????? Switzerland ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??
3.??????????? Luxembourg ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??
4.??????????? Sweden ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??
5.??????????? Austria ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
6.??????????? Finland ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
7.??????????? Netherlands
8.??????????? Denmark
9.??????????? Germany
10.????????? France
11.????????? Australia
12.????????? Israel
13.????????? Canada
14.????????? Belgium
15.????????? Japan
16.????????? Slovenia
17.????????? Czech Republic
18.????????? Slovakia
19.????????? United States
20.????????? United Kingdom

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How confident are you that you'll be able to save enough for retirement?

Source: http://lifeinc.today.com/_news/2013/03/07/17224902-want-more-retirement-security-move-to-slovenia?lite

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