Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Bloom.fm Is A Mobile-First Music Streaming Service That's Playing To A Different Tune

mzl.ycaxqman.320x480-75It's nice to see a startup trying something different and garnering some promising traction along the way. The UK's Bloom.fm is a mobile-first music streaming service -- it currently exists as an iOS app only -- that launched four months ago out of the ashes of the deadpooled music social network mflow.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/rV9njprA0Ls/

charles barkley valentines valentines day George Ferris happy valentines day all star game blue ivy carter

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Nanoblock micro-sized building blocks review

A few weeks ago when I was in a Barnes & Noble bookstore, I happened to see Nanoblock micro-sized building blocks kits. As a huge LEGO fan, I was instantly captivated by these miniature LEGO-like bricks. My mind was whirling with ideas of cool models that I could build and display at home and work. [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/05/21/nanoblock-micro-sized-building-blocks-review/

masters par 3 gwen stefani overeem laron landry mary j blige burger king islands 2013 nissan altima

Corel WinDVD Pro 11


With CyberLink's PowerDVD getting most of the OEM bundled disc-playing software action these days, Corel's once-dominant WinDVD has begun to fade. The current version hasn't been updated since 2011, but the company informs me that a new version will be coming soon. Look for an update of our review when it does ship. For a product that claims to have sold 250 million copies, it's a bit of a disappointment, but the software does some things quite well. Read on to see if WinDVD has what you need.

Setup
Corel WinDVD runs on Windows 7, Vista, and XP. You can try it out with a 30-day, full-function trial download. Windows 8 is compatible with Windows 7 applications in desktop mode, and WinDVD ran fine except for Blu-ray. It's a 118MB download, considerably less than PowerDVD's 161, but there are caveats, as you'll see below.

The whole installation process on my test Windows 8 laptop, a Lenovo G580 with 4GB RAM and integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000, took just 3 minutes. During the process you're asked your zone for DVD playback. Oddly and annoyingly, it tries to install a browser toolbar, something people just no longer need or want. You can set up with recommended or custom settings, which let you choose file association for the product. You're required to fill in the online registration form, and at first run, I had to download additional codecs.

Interface
WinDVD has a very Windows Vista look to it, with lots of elements sporting that once-fashionable shiny 3D, transparent look. It couldn't look more different than ArcSoft TotalMedia Theater's modern Windows 8 appearance, but that said, WinDVD's is not an unpleasant or unattractive interface to work in. And it's a lot simpler looking than PowerDVD's, mostly because it doesn?t offer as many playback options as that CyberLink program.

The Corel Guide, accessible from an icon at the top of the program's window offers not only tutorial videos, but even has the FlixFinder video search page, which can find movies available on Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. A search bar at the top of the interface lets you do the same. But when I typed in Skins, which I know is on Netflix, the response said 0 results on Netflix, as it did for all searches. When I did find a free Amazon show to play, it played in the site's web-player, not in WinDVD, so this search is less useful than it might be.

Playing DVDs
Since Windows 7 and later now can play DVDs in Windows Media Player without external software, straightforward DVD playback isn't enough to justify the purchase of a separate application for that purpose. Like PowerDVD, WinDVD earns its keep by adding playback improvements like lighting improvements, stabilization, upscaling to HD quality, and 2D-to-3D conversion. WinDVD 11 does all that, but how well?

To improve DVD playback quality for viewing on an HD screen, WinDVD offers the Enhancements dialog, popped up by clicking the tool icon on the toolbar at the bottom of the screen and choosing Enhancements. Other tools available are Bookmarks and Capture, which lets you save a picture from the movie. The Enhancements dialog offers both Audio and Video modes. We'll concern ourselves with the latter first, which is itself divided among four tabs?Video Effect, Color, Ratio, and Time Stretch.

Video Effects include an upscaler, to make DVD look HD; Stabilizer; and Motion Streamliner. To really see the effects of these Effects, a split screen option lets you see them in action alongside the unmodified original video. The image indeed looks sharper and brighter with Video Upscaler turned on, and I liked that you can adjust the strength of this effect with a slider control?something not available in ArcSoft's similar tool.

The Motion Streamliner effect, which effectively increases the frame rate, did make some video easier on the eyes. And I was surprised that the stabilizer effect was available for movie title discs as well as for your own shot video clips. This could be useful for some of those handheld Scandinavian art films. This stabilizer did a great job on my iPhone videos, and let me adjust the effect with a slider and a choice between lateral and rotational motion.

A final couple of tools in WinDVD for DVD playback deserve mention. The first is Time Stretch, which gets its own tab on the Effects dialog. Here you get options to adjust playback speed, choose a time the movie should end, or specify a target length for the movie. When I tried making an hour-and-a-half movie just one hour, the dialog was clipped, too fast. Lesser adjustments are livable, but do you really want to alter a movie's pacing, just because you don't have enough time to watch?

The second, Capture, lets you snap a screen capture or video clip of the currently playing video. It's a well-designed tool, showing a tray of all your captures, and even offers direct emailing of the captures using your default mail client.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/DIZyB_4HLng/0,2817,2419232,00.asp

Luis Suarez Earth Day 2013 westboro baptist church meteor shower NBA Al Michaels Canelo vs Trout

Lisa Belkin: The Tornado in Oklahoma Is This Parent's Living Nightmare

  • Antonio Flores of Moore, Okla. searches for his car after a tornado damaged the Moore Medical Center and the vehicles in the parking lot in Moore, Okla. on Monday, May 20, 2013. (Alonzo Adams / AP)

  • The Moore Medical Center and vehicles lay damaged after a tornado moves through Moore, Okla. on Monday, May 20, 2013. (Alonzo Adams / AP)

  • Teachers carry children away from Briarwood Elementary school after a tornado destroyed the school in south Oklahoma City, Monday, May 20, 2013. A monstrous tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Paul Hellstern, <a href="http://newsok.com/gallery/6028700/pictures/2092574" target="_blank">The Oklahoman</a>)

  • This aerial photo shows damage to the Plaza Towers Elementary School after massive tornado hit Moore, Okla., Monday May 20, 2013. (Steve Gooch / AP)

  • Ambulances are parked at Plaza Towers Elementary School as workers continue to dig through the rubble after a tornado moved through Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

  • Brady Williams and his girlfriend drove into Moore, Okla. to survey the damage and assist with rescue efforts. "We soon found ourselves in a neighborhood that was absolutely devastated by this tornado," Williams said. "Nearly every single house was turned into a pile of rubble as far as the eye could see."

  • This aerial photo shows the remains of homes hit by a massive tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday May 20, 2013. A tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Steve Gooch / AP)

  • Emergency crews recover a body from the 7-11 store at the corner of Telephone Road and SW 4th Street after a tornado in Moore, Okla. on Monday, May 20, 2013. (Alonzo Adams / AP)

  • A Moore Medical Center patient sits in the parking lot after a tornado damaged the hospital in Moore, Okla. on Monday, May 20, 2013. (Alonzo Adams / AP)

  • This aerial photo shows damage to Moore Medical Center after it was hit by a massive tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday May 20, 2013. A tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Steve Gooch / AP)

  • Workers walk past the rubble of Plaza Towers Elementary School after a tornado moved through Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

  • Workers continue to dig through the rubble of Plaza Towers Elementary School after a tornado moved through Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

  • People search the debris near Telephone Road and SW 4th Street in Moore, Okla. after a tornado on Monday, May 20, 2013. (Alonzo Adams / AP)

  • This aerial photo shows the remains of homes hit by a massive tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday May 20, 2013. A tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Steve Gooch / AP)

  • This aerial photo shows the Moore Medical center in Moore, Okla., following a tornado Monday, May 20, 2013. A tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Steve Gooch / AP)

  • Brady Williams and his girlfriend drove into Moore, Okla. to survey the damage and assist with rescue efforts. "We soon found ourselves in a neighborhood that was absolutely devastated by this tornado," Williams said. "Nearly every single house was turned into a pile of rubble as far as the eye could see."

  • Two men walk through debris just east of Western and north of SW 149th after a tornado struck south Oklahoma City and Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. (Nate Billings / The Oklahoman / AP)

  • Brady Williams and his girlfriend drove into Moore, Okla. to survey the damage and assist with rescue efforts. "We soon found ourselves in a neighborhood that was absolutely devastated by this tornado," Williams said. "Nearly every single house was turned into a pile of rubble as far as the eye could see."

  • Flipped vehicles are piled up outside the heavily damaged Moore Medical Center after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people. (Brett Deering / Getty Images)

  • The hood of car is wedged into the front window of the Moore Medical Center after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people. (Brett Deering / Getty Images)

  • People assess the damage after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people. (Brett Deering / Getty Images)

  • This aerial photo shows the remains of homes hit by a massive tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday May 20, 2013. A tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Steve Gooch / AP)

  • A vehicle lies upside down in the road after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people. (Brett Deering / Getty Images)

  • People walk through a damaged area near the Moore Warren Theater after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people. (Brett Deering / Getty Images)

  • Nathan Ulepich searches outside the back of his house destroyed after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people. (Brett Deering / Getty Images)

  • This aerial photo shows the remains of homes hit by a massive tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday May 20, 2013. A tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Steve Gooch / AP)

  • This aerial photo shows the remains of houses in Moore, Okla., following a tornado Monday, May 20, 2013. A tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Steve Gooch / AP)

  • Brady Williams and his girlfriend drove into Moore, Okla. to survey the damage and assist with rescue efforts. "We soon found ourselves in a neighborhood that was absolutely devastated by this tornado," Williams said. "Nearly every single house was turned into a pile of rubble as far as the eye could see."

  • A man searches a damaged home near SW 4th Street and Telephone Road after a tornado moved through Moore, Okla., on Monday, May 20, 2013. (Alonzo Adams / AP)

  • Cars marked with an orange 'X', denoting they had been checked for occupants, are piled up in what was the front entrance to the damaged Moore Medical Center after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people. (Brett Deering / Getty Images)

  • The steeple of a church at South Janeway Avenue and SW 4th Street lays across the lawn after a tornado moved through Moore, Okla. on Monday, May 20, 2013. (Alonzo Adams / AP)

  • Cars marked with an orange 'X', denoting they had been checked for occupants, are piled up in what was the front entrance to the damaged Moore Medical Center after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people. (Brett Deering / Getty Images)

  • A tornado moves past homes in Moore, Okla. on Monday, May 20, 2013. (Alonzo Adams / AP)

  • Philip Gotcher stands in the rubble of his house after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people. (Brett Deering / Getty Images)

  • A child is pulled from beneath a collapsed wall at the Plaza Towers Elementary School in following a tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

  • Carlos and Kim Caudillo stand in the debris of their home after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people. (Brett Deering / Getty Images)

  • A woman carries her child through a field near the collapsed Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. A tornado as much as a mile (1.6 kilometers) wide with winds up to 200 mph (320 kph) roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (AP Photo Sue Ogrocki)

  • A tornado moves through Moore, Okla. as northbound traffic on Interstate 35 stops at Indian Hills Road on Monday, May 20, 2013. (Alonzo Adams / AP)

  • A boy is pulled from beneath a collapsed wall at the Plaza Towers Elementary School following a tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. A tornado as much as a mile (1.6 kilometers) wide with winds up to 200 mph (320 kph) roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

  • Debris covers the ground after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people. (Brett Deering / Getty Images)

  • A tornado moves past homes in Moore, Okla. on Monday, May 20, 2013. A monstrous tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Alonzo Adams / AP)

  • A boy is pulled from beneath a collapsed wall at the Plaza Towers Elementary School following a tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. A tornado as much as a mile (1.6 kilometer) wide with winds up to 200 mph (320 kph) roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on the elementary school. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

  • Yvonne Barragar, left along with Joe Marshall and Barbara Garcia sit in front of Barragar's destroyed house after a powerful tornado ripped through the area on May 20, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. The tornado, reported to be at least EF4 strength and two miles wide, touched down in the Oklahoma City area on Monday killing at least 51 people. (Brett Deering / Getty Images)

  • Moore police dig through the rubble of the Plaza Towers Elementary School following a tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. A tornado as much as a mile (1.6 kilometers) wide with winds up to 200 mph (320 kph) roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

  • Map locates Moore, Oklahoma, that was hit by tornadoes.

  • A child is carried from the rubble of the Plaza Towers Elementary School following a tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. A tornado as much as a mile (1.6 kilometers) wide with winds up to 200 mph (320 kph) roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

  • Rescue workers dig through the rubble of a collapsed wall at the Plaza Tower Elementary School to free trapped students in Moore, Okla., following a tornado Monday, May 20, 2013. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

  • Rescue workers dig through the rubble of a collapsed wall at the Plaza Tower Elementary School to free trapped students in Moore, Okla., following a tornado Monday, May 20, 2013. A tornado as much as a mile (1.6 kilometers) wide with winds up to 200 mph (320 kph) roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

  • A fire burns in the Tower Plaza Addition in Moore, Okla., following a tornado Monday, May 20, 2013. A tornado as much as a mile (1.6 kilometers) wide with winds up to 200 mph (320 kph) roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

  • A child calls to his father after being pulled from the rubble of the Tower Plaza Elementary School following a tornado in Moore, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. A tornado as much as a mile (1.6 kilometers) wide with winds up to 200 mph (320 kph) roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school. (Sue Ogrocki / AP)

  • Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-belkin/the-tornado-in-oklahoma-is-this-parents-living-nightmare_b_3309570.html

    florida panthers tannehill joel ward mock draft north country brian mcknight sbux

    Monday, May 20, 2013

    Brady Bunch reunion: What did 'Greg' say? (+video)

    Brady Bunch reunion: Three of the original Brady Bunch joined a reunion at the Kings Island theme park near Cincinnati, Ohio, on Sunday.

    By Staff,?Associated Press / May 20, 2013

    Three of the actors from "The Brady?Bunch" television series returned to Kings Island for an anniversary celebration.

    Skip to next paragraph

    ' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
    ' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

    '; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; // google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

    Actors Barry Williams (Greg Brady), Christopher Knight (Peter Brady) and Susan Olsen (Cindy Brady) went to the Cincinnati-area theme park Sunday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of a popular episode of the iconic 1970s TV show.

    The episode that aired in 1973 was filmed at Kings Island. The episode entitled "The Cincinnati Kids" involved the family visiting Kings Island so dad Mike Brady (Robert Reed) can present his architectural plans for a new addition to the park.

    The three actors entertained park guests during four shows of singing, dancing and anecdotes from the show that ran from 1969 to 1974. They also met fans and sign autographs.

    USA Today reported that Barry Williams (Greg Brady) was the unofficial host of the shows Sunday.

    ?He came out first and introduced the others. He talked about the clips, and he did a little Johnny Bravo. And in truth, Williams remains quite groovy. His skin is tan, his hair is dark, and his pants still fit just right.

    And everybody loved it. At the first of four shows Sunday, there was not an empty seat in the 844-seat venue. People who couldn't get into the first show were given wristbands for the second. There were already enough to fill the place for all four shows.

    "I think everybody, at some point in their life, wanted to be a Brady," Williamson said, sounding quite reasonable. "Their whole family seemed so perfect. They were so nice. I think it resonates with the child in all of us to want to be Brady."

    Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

    Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/nOUYafE_QMI/Brady-Bunch-reunion-What-did-Greg-say-video

    ohio primary cell phone jammer g8 summit netanyahu aipac vanessa minnillo super tuesday

    '30 Rock's' Bowden, musician Jorgensen wed

    Celebs

    3 hours ago

    Ben Jorgensen and Katrina Bowden.

    Getty Images file

    Ben Jorgensen and Katrina Bowden.

    Former "30 Rock" actress Katrina Bowden is now married: She and musician Ben Jorgensen tied the knot in New York City on Sunday, said E! Online.

    They exchanged vows at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and will head to Hawaii for the honeymoon. Their website is set up for loved ones to donate to the honeymoon fund, so fans who want to feel like part of the action can still contribute to things like their volcano hiking adventure, or upgrade the pair to first class.

    The 24-year-old Bowden played Cerie, Liz Lemon's assistant on "30 Rock," and has appeared in movies including "Scary Movie 5." Jorgensen is 29 and formerly sang and played guitar with the band Armor for Sleep.

    The couple got engaged in January 2012, and she announced the union on the red carpet at that year's Screen Actors Guild awards. At the time, she showed off her ring and told E! News's Giuliana Rancic that Jorgensen had proposed the night before in Los Angeles.

    "He proposed and showed me the ring and I was so shocked and said, 'Oh, my God!' and I hugged him and he said to me, 'So is that a yes?'" she said.

    "I married y'all!!!" Bowden tweeted after the ceremony. "I'm now Mrs. @benjorg !!!" Replied Jorgensen, also on Twitter: "Is there a cloud 10?"

    Aww.

    Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/30-rocks-katrina-bowden-musician-ben-jorgensen-wed-6C9995490

    Time earthquake today earthquake today bachelor justin timberlake gerard butler Daylight Savings Time 2013

    You Can Thank China for Bentley's Back Seat Bonanza

    Bentley Flying Spur

    ?

    Back in the day when Bentleys and Rolls-Royces hailed from the same Crewe factory, the "Flying B" varieties were considered the car of choice for drivers, while the Rollers were the undisputed pick for those who preferred to be chauffered.

    ?

    Fast forward to 2013, and the new world order has dramatically shifted the relationship between those once entwined manufacturers. While Rolls-Royce has re-emerged under the tutelege of BMW AG, Bentley has redefined itself under the auspices of the Volkswagen Group. And while a massive technology trickle down has benefited both brands, the ultraluxury marques have also undergone a dramatic shift in philosophical bents.?

    ?

    Prime example: the 2014 Bentley Flying Spur, which we recently sampled along bustling Beijing boulevards and desolate rural roads. Why would Bentley host the car's global press launch in China? The real questin is, "Why not?" After all, China gobbled up 55% of the Flying Spur's first generation sales, and of the 8,510 Bentleys sold worldwide in 2012, 2,253 of those were destined for China.?

    ?

    Not only do China's Bentley buyers tend to be younger than their Western counterparts, they also prefer to be driven-- which explains doodads like the Flying Spur's stronger-than-ever emphasis on rear seat amenities. Sure, the imposing sedan can be customized with old world touches like a champagne cooler and veneered picnic tables with vanity mirrors, but nothing speaks to Bentley's Asian target audience quite as clearly as available internet connectivity and this little touchscreen number:

    ?

    Remote

    ?

    Using the small handheld device or a downloadable smartphone app, rear seat passengers are able to take control of HVAC settings, multimedia screens, seat heating and ventilation, and access to speedometer information. And lest you worry about that the famously racing-obsessed W.O. Bentley is turning in his grave, consider the fact that this nearly three-ton car is furnished with the same 616 hp, 590 lb-ft twin-turbocharged W12 you'll find in the Continental GT Speed, which facilitates a unnervingly swift 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds.

    ?

    The 2014 Flying Spur's Chinese post-tariff price of?$550,000 may be difficult to comprehend for most American enthusiasts, but there's little doubt that the sedan's back seat delights will succeed at luring even more Far Eastern buyers to the Bentley brand.

    Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/auto-blog/you-can-thank-china-for-bentleys-back-seat-bonanza?src=rss

    houston texans houston texans Joe Webb Fiesta Bowl Jeanie Buss NFL playoff schedule 2013 Bronson Pelletier

    Sunday, May 19, 2013

    Bills DE Williams fails to mediate ring dispute

    BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) ? Bills defensive end Mario Williams isn't any closer to getting back his $785,000 diamond engagement ring from his former fiancee, Erin Marzouki.

    And Marzouki's attorney, Tony Buzbee, upped the ante on Friday by releasing a series of text messages he said were between his client and Williams that indicate how despondent the player was over their breakup in November.

    Without going into detail, Buzbee said in an email that a court-encouraged effort to mediate the dispute was unsuccessful in Houston earlier in the day.

    Accusing Williams of experiencing "dramatic mood swings" throughout the engagement, Buzbee also released an exchange of texts between the two he said he copied off his client's phone. It's a conversation dated as occurring between 4:51 and 8:26 p.m. Central Time on Nov. 11, and includes a break between 5:03-8:02 p.m.

    During the exchange, Williams wrote: "No money in the world should leave me with suicidal thoughts."

    Williams also wrote that he took three hydrocodones that morning ? that was the day of Buffalo's game at New England. And he planned to take two more on the plane home. Hydrocodone is classified as a narcotic, and prescribed to relieve moderate to severe pain.

    Marzouki responded by urging Williams to get help.

    "Why don't you talk to someone? Clearly you're not happy & if your takin pills that's bad," she wrote.

    Williams apologized, and then wrote he agreed with her that he's furious and should not have texted her in "this state." Williams added: "I need to go back n my shell. There's no telling what Ill do to myself at this point. I'm sry Ill disappear from now on."

    Messages left with Williams and his attorney, Monica Orlando, weren't returned.

    Williams did post several notes on his Twitter account Friday night ? among his first since July. Though they didn't mention Marzouki or the lawsuit, the messages posted were in defense of his character.

    "I'm still here and always will be," Williams wrote. "I'm too strong for ridicule and the childish extremes those will do to try and taint a persons name when in reality you make me stronger, hungrier and more determined."

    In a separate post, he wrote: "The true character of someone is always revealed in times that we don't typically agree with. In these times it's how you respond and portray yourself to others that shows the ethics, character and true morals of a person. What's shown speaks for itself!"

    Williams filed a lawsuit in Texas' Harris County district court May 3, demanding Marzouki return the ring and accusing her of breaking off the engagement in January. He alleged, Marzouki never had any intention of marrying him, accused her of absconding with the ring and using the relationship as a means to get at his money.

    Williams is entering his second season with Buffalo. In March of last year, the Bills signed the free agent to a six-year, $100 million contract ? the richest awarded to an NFL defensive player.

    Marzouki filed a countersuit this past week, calling Williams' claims "ridiculous" and "patently false," and accused the player of breaking off the engagement.

    Marzouki added that Williams made it "abundantly clear in writing" that he wanted her to keep the ring following their last of many breakups in December. And, she said, Williams also communicated his wishes in text messages to her father and brother.

    On Friday, Buzbee accused Williams of filing the lawsuit out of anger after Marzouki refused to reconcile after the last breakup.

    "Ms Marzouki will not be bullied," Buzbee wrote. "In the court system, no matter how rich you are, everyone is treated equally."

    Buzbee released a three-page long series of texts off his client's phone. The first 15 were blacked out, as were the last 15. In between, there were 30 consecutive texts that were shown to be exchanged between Williams and Marzouki.

    Williams writes: "Ill focus on getting better all together and being string for myself." He then added: "Leave it alone. It's my business. I will get through it."

    Marzouki responded by urging Williams to get help, and added: "The way you are handling it us incredibly self destructive."

    Williams was at the Bills facility last week taking part in a three-day voluntary minicamp, and briefly discussed the lawsuit on Tuesday.

    He referred to it as "something that happened and it is what it is," adding he doesn't believe it will be a distraction.

    "When I'm here, this is my haven, this is my family and this is the most important thing for me, being around these guys," Williams said. "It's all about us, it's not about anything else. Anything personal is personal. You don't mix that with what we're trying to accomplish here."

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bills-williams-fails-mediate-ring-dispute-055346584.html

    randy moss randy moss superbowl commercials OJ Brigance What Time Does The Superbowl Start 2013 Psalm 91 Super Bowl 2013 Commercials

    Unified Backlash To Education Mandates Grows, Spreads

    This page states the general terms of use under which you, the blog visitor (hereinafter "you", "user", or "visitor") may use NYCrubberroomreporter.blogspot.com. By reading this blog, you agree to all of the terms set forth below. You may reprint, copy, and use any article on this website as long as you do not sell or change the article and you cite this blog as your source. This blog reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to change any or all of the provisions of this "Terms of Use & Disclaimer Agreement" at any time; the agreement in effect at the time of your use shall govern your use and your use after the effective date of any changes to these Terms will be deemed acceptance of your acceptance of the changes. We have followed what we believe to be the guidelines of US Code TITLE 17, Chapter 1, Section 107: FAIR USE: "the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phone records or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright." We will, if asked with good reason to remove any material from our site that the original owner feels may jeopardize their standing before the Law, do so. We oppose violence of any kind, disrespect, verbal or physical abuse, and any kind of theft or hurtful behavior toward anyone at any time, and expect all users of this blog to be mindful of these values and use the information we have collected in good faith. We have made every effort to describe the actions, not motives, of public people, and we have supported everything that we post with documents to prove the validity of what we say in order to not make any fraudulent or false claims. We believe that it is a civic duty to expose wrong-doing, and we have the legal right to name the perpetrators who pursue illegal activities as defined by the respondents to their actions. If a public official or employee writes, says, or does anything that is against the Laws of this country or that falsifies data which leads to the intentional infliction of emotional distress, harassment, verbal and/or physical abuse of a student/parent/teacher, we claim license to post the acts of such people on our website, with the name of the perpetrator. The truth is not defamatory. We claim that we are not "out to get" any particular person.You agree that you do not acquire any ownership rights in any downloaded content. You further agree that all rights in the site and any of the content found on the site not granted to you under this agreement are expressly reserved to the editor. You agree to not extract any content in order to repurpose or resell the site's content or tools, and you agree to not "scrape" and/or reformat any information without the written permission of the editor. This blog protects and enforces copyrights for its' own creative material and respects the copyright property of others, as well as our right to "FAIR USE". We do not permit materials known by us to be infringing on the copyright of others to be on the site, and we ask that you notify us promptly if you believe that any materials infringe upon a third-party copyright. Upon receipt of a proper notice of claimed infringement under the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) we will respond promptly to remove or disable access to the material claimed to be infringing that is in our direct control, assuming that there is also infringement of FAIR USE. This agreement and any policies and rules posted on this blog constitute the complete and exclusive and final expression of the agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. No waiver by the editor of this blog or you of any breach or default under this agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding or subsequent breach or default.This blog provides as a service homepages of websites we believe may be helpful to the user; we provide these links and resources solely as a convenience to you, the user, and we do not endorse the content of these sites. We are not responsible for the content of any linked sites and make no representations regarding the content or accuracy of materials on these sites. If you visit any sites linked to this site, you do so at your own risk. We will not assume any responsibility for the servicing or replacing of equipment or data, or any costs for either. This site and its material are provided on an "as is" basis without any warranties of any kind. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, SHALL THE EDITOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES THAT MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SITE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION USE OF OR RELIANCE ON INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THIS BLOG - WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY AND WHETHER THE EDITOR IS ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES - INTERRUPTIONS, ERRORS, DEFECTS, MISTAKES, OMISSIONS, DELETIONS OF FILES, DELAYS IN OPERATION OR TRANSMISSION, NONDELIVERY OF INFORMATION, DISCLOSURE OF COMMUNICATIONS, OR ANY OTHER FAILURE OF PERFORMANCE. THE EDITOR OF THIS BLOG DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THE WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS, AND THE WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. YOU AGREE THAT ANY RECOURSE FOR DISSATISFACTION OR PROBLEMS WITH THIRD-PARTY GOODS OR SERVICES WILL BE SOUGHT FROM THE THIRD-PARTY PROVIDER DIRECTLY.To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless The EDITOR OF THIS BLOG (and any of her subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, distributors, third party providers, and licensors) from and against all claims, liability, and expenses, including attorney's fees and legal fees and costs, arising out of your use of the site or your breach of any provision of this agreement. The Editor reserves the right, in her sole discretion and at her own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you. You will cooperate as fully as reasonably required in the defense of any claim.This agreement, your performance under it, and any disputes arising under it shall be governed exclusively by the laws of internet usage as stated by the federal courts of the United States. You agree to pay all legal fees incurred by any legal action filed against the Editor of this blog in any action in which she as the defendant prevails.Any information collected about your visit to the web site is non-personal in nature and used solely for the purpose of helping us to assess the areas of our site that are most useful to visitors, and therefore need to be as complete and user-friendly as possible. In the area of listserv sign-ups, contribution data, and/or any other email or membership sign-up option now or in the future on our site, all information is collected on a strictly voluntary and confidential basis, and will not be sold, used or released for any third-party purpose. We do not permit any transactions from or by any person who is 13 years old or younger.

    Source: http://nycrubberroomreporter.blogspot.com/2013/05/unified-backlash-to-education-mandates.html

    giuliana rancic giuliana rancic elie wiesel temptations work hard play hard tim ferriss wmt

    Saturday, May 18, 2013

    Sugar producer tops Russia&#39;s largest landowner list ? RT Business

    Russia?s largest sugar producer Prodimex is officially the largest land owner in the country with 480,000 hectares (1.18 million acres), which is 20% of all private land. The figures come from auditor BEFL's annual landowner report.

    Prodimex has 16 sugar factories in 3 different provinces, and produces over 1.1 million tons of sugar a year.

    The company's general director, Viktor Aleksakhin told Vedomosti that production requires such a large land holding due to the nature of sugar beet cultivation - which must be replanted on a different field each year.

    Russia accounts for a sixth of the world?s landmass and has several private land owners, with the top five having ties to agricultural production.? At the beginning of 2012, agricultural land in Russia was 196 million hectares, 115 are fertile and in use. In April 2013, the Russian Ministry of Agriculture said the industry was ?unprofitable?, and only made possible by state subsidies.

    RusAgro, which specializes in pig breeding, and production of sugar and cooking oil in the Moscow region, owns 452,000 hectares.

    Vamin, a dairy specialist in Tartarstan that has recently declared bankruptcy, owns 450,000 hectares.

    Siberian agricultural major Sakho has 400,000 hectares and is owned by State Duma Deputy Airat Khairullina.

    Tatar agro-company Krasny Vostok Agro has 350,000 hectares.

    Before Prodimex was founded in 1992, nearly all sugar was imported from Ukraine.

    Employees of the agricultural complex harvesting lettuce. (RIA Novosti)

    Kings of agriculture dominate landholding in Russia, but in the US, it?s a millionaire ranch and cattle club.
    John Malone, Liberty Media Chairman, owns almost twice as much land as Russia?s largest sugar producer, about 890,000 hectares (2.2 million acres) which combined are the equivalent of 150 Manhattans.

    Malone owns ranches in Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, and New Mexico. The most famous is ?The Bell Ranch?, a 290,100 acre cattle ranch which he bought in 2010 for a listed, but not confirmed price, of $83 million.

    Malone?s equities are widespread. Liberty Global agreed to buy Britain's Virgin Media cable company for $16 billion in February 2013. Malone also has diversified interests in US sports teams (the Atlanta Braves) and media (Starz channel).

    Land has made a comeback ? from cattle, private ski resorts, hunting and fishing clubs, to Maine coastline ? for American entrepreneurs who prefer to take a stake in natural real estate to diversify and hedge their assets against the risky gold, oil, and stock prices.

    With an improving US housing market, land holdings are likely to appreciate, especially those acquired during the recession.

    Media mogul Ted Turner, the owner of CNN has over 2 million acres of land spread through New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Florida. The grand Vermejo Park ranch in New Mexico and Colorado is 590,823 acres and his hunting sanctuary in Florida, where he has residence is 30,000 acres.

    Source: http://rt.com/business/russia-largest-land-sugar--428/

    turkey brine Imessage Not Working mc hammer pecan pie recipe Hector Camacho Jill Kelly McKayla Maroney

    Afghan lawmakers block law on women's rights

    An Afghan woman harvests wheat on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, May 15, 2012. Afghani's harvest wheat to feed their animals. (AP Photo/Ahmad Jamshid)

    An Afghan woman harvests wheat on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, May 15, 2012. Afghani's harvest wheat to feed their animals. (AP Photo/Ahmad Jamshid)

    (AP) ? Conservative religious lawmakers in Afghanistan blocked legislation on Saturday aimed at strengthening provisions for women's freedoms, arguing that parts of it violate Islamic principles and encourage disobedience.

    The fierce opposition highlights how tenuous women's rights remain a dozen years after the ouster of the hard-line Taliban regime, whose strict interpretation of Islam once kept Afghan women virtual prisoners in their homes.

    Khalil Ahmad Shaheedzada, a conservative lawmaker for Herat province, said the legislation was withdrawn shortly after being introduced in parliament because of an uproar by religious parties who said parts of the law are un-Islamic.

    "Whatever is against Islamic law, we don't even need to speak about it," Shaheedzada said.

    The Law on Elimination of Violence Against Women has been in effect since 2009, but only by presidential decree. It is being brought before parliament now because lawmaker Fawzia Kofi, a women's rights activist, wants to cement it with a parliamentary vote to prevent its potential reversal by any future president who might be tempted to repeal it to satisfy hard-line religious parties.

    The law criminalizes, among other things, child marriage and forced marriage, and bans "baad," the traditional practice of exchanging girls and women to settle disputes. It makes domestic violence a crime punishable by up to three years in prison and specifies that rape victims should not face criminal charges for fornication or adultery.

    Kofi, who plans to run for president in next year's elections, said she was disappointed because among those who oppose upgrading the law from presidential decree to legislation passed by parliament are women.

    Afghanistan's parliament has more than 60 female lawmakers, mostly due to constitutional provisions reserving certain seats for women.

    There has been spotty enforcement of the law as it stands. A United Nations analysis in late 2011 found only a small percentage of reported crimes against women were pursued by the Afghan government. Between March 2010 and March 2011 ? the first full Afghan year the decree was in effect ? prosecutors filed criminal charges in only 155 cases, or 7 percent of the total number of crimes reported.

    The child marriage ban and the idea of protecting female rape victims from prosecution were particularly heated subjects in Saturday's parliamentary debate, said Nasirullah Sadiqizada Neli, a conservative lawmaker from Daykundi province.

    Neli suggested that removing the custom ? common in Afghanistan ? of prosecuting raped women for adultery would lead to social chaos, with women freely engaging in extramarital sex safe in the knowledge they could claim rape if caught.

    Another lawmaker, Mandavi Abdul Rahmani of Barlkh province, also opposed the law's rape provision.

    "Adultery itself is a crime in Islam, whether it is by force or not," Rahmani said.

    He said the Quran also makes clear that a husband has a right to beat a disobedient wife as a last resort, as long as she is not permanently harmed. "But in this law," he said, "It says if a man beats his wife at all, he should be jailed for three months to three years."

    Lawmaker Shaheedzada also claimed that the law might encourage disobedience among girls and women, saying it reflected Western values not applicable in Afghanistan.

    "Even now in Afghanistan, women are running from their husbands. Girls are running from home," Shaheedzada said. "Such laws give them these ideas."

    More freedoms for women are one of the most visible ? and symbolic ? changes in Afghanistan since the 2001 U.S.-led campaign that toppled the Taliban regime. While in power, the Taliban imposed a strict interpretation of Islam that put severe curbs on the freedom of women.

    For five years, the regime banned women from working and going to school, or even leaving home without a male relative. In public, all women were forced wear a head-to-toe burqa, which covers even the face with a mesh panel. Violators were publicly flogged or executed.

    Since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, women's freedoms have improved vastly, but Afghanistan remains a deeply conservative culture, especially in rural areas.

    Saturday's failure of the legislation in parliament reflected the power of religious parties but changed little on the ground, since the decree is still the law of the land, however loosely enforced. Kofi said the parliament decided to send the legislation to committee, and it could come to a vote again later this year.

    "We will work on this law," she said. "We will bring it back."

    Some activists, however, worry about potential changes to the law. Bringing the legislation before parliament also opened it up to being amended, leaving the possibility that conservatives will seek to weaken it by stripping out provisions they dislike ? or even vote to repeal it.

    "There's a real risk this has opened a Pandora's box, that this may have galvanized opposition to this decree by people who in principle oppose greater rights for women," said Heather Barr, a researcher for Human Rights Watch.

    That's true for lawmaker Rahmani, who said President Hamid Karzai should never have issued the decree and wants it changed, if not repealed.

    "We cannot have an Islamic country with basically Western laws," he said.

    ___

    Associated Press writer Rahim Faiez contributed in Kabul.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-05-18-Afghanistan-Women's%20Rights/id-b5d67a9fbde44e51ad8512a9320e464c

    Valerie Harper brandi glanville White Smoke Kwame Kilpatrick New pope 2013 earthquake california earthquake california

    First ever underwater university lectures

    May 17, 2013 ? Students at the University of Essex have taken their lectures to a whole new level -- 18 metres under the sea in remote Indonesia to be precise.

    The ground-breaking underwater marine biology lectures were the first of their kind, adding to the teaching, educational and learning experience during dives on tropical coral reef systems.

    The lectures were held during the annual field trip to the Wakatobi Marine National Park in Indonesia, organised by the University's School of Biological Sciences for its students.

    The serious challenges threatening the future of the world's coral reefs are the backbone of major research being carried out by the University's internationally-recognised Coral Reef Research Unit (CRRU). Its on-going research, focused in this area of Indonesia, looks at the impact of climate change on coral reefs and how to work with nature to find a solution. More than half a billion people depend on coral reefs for food and income.

    For the underwater lectures, Professor David Smith used specialised audio equipment so he could talk to students underwater, explaining exactly what they were seeing as they were seeing it. This was a world away from usual underwater communication involving basic slates to write on and hand signals.

    "It was a fantastic experience as I was able to use the power of observation like never before," explained Professor Smith. "I have been on thousands of dives over the years but this was a totally new experience as I was able to explain to students exactly what they were seeing and inject more passion and feeling into the whole lecture. It was very special and transformed the whole experience both for me and our students."

    Using a University of Essex special teaching grant, Professor Smith was able to buy an audio system which, to date, has never been used for formal lecturing and is only used by TV presenters and some professional divers. Professor Smith wore a full face mask which included a microphone and the students wore headsets so they could hear him talk. A hydrophone -- an underwater microphone ? was then positioned in the water which was linked to a control box and recorder on a boat.

    With over 1,000 videos taken during the underwater lectures, adding up to 15 hours of footage, these will prove to be a valuable virtual field course resource for students who are not able to travel to Indonesia but can still get an insight into the experience whilst also providing a great "listen again" opportunity for participating students.

    Second-year marine and freshwater biology student Tilly James said: "The underwater lectures were an invaluable part of the course as they enabled us to get a much better understanding of how all the components of the reef system were interacting with each other.

    "It was an experience you simply cannot get with traditional lectures. Professor Smith was able to ask us questions throughout the dives, encouraging us as students to apply our theoretical knowledge in a much more practical setting."

    Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/strange_science/~3/ezU58-UM8vM/130517085722.htm

    tcu football westminster bonnaroo 2012 lineup twisted metal sea lion si swimsuit 2012 westminster dog show

    Friday, May 17, 2013

    IRS chief declines to identify employees involved in scandal

    By Andy Sullivan and Kim Dixon

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The outgoing head of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service angered Republican lawmakers on Friday by resisting their demands that he identify who at the tax-collection agency had inappropriately targeted conservative groups for extra scrutiny.

    But during the first hearing into a growing IRS scandal that could preoccupy Washington for months, Republicans did learn that a top official in President Barack Obama's administration knew that the IRS was looking into targeting by the tax agency nearly a year ago.

    That detail could encourage Republicans' efforts to link the scandal to the White House as the administration faces a series of setbacks that threaten to derail Obama's second-term priorities, which include revamping immigration laws and reaching a budget deal with Republicans.

    Friday's hearing was dominated by lawmakers' grilling of acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller, who provided few clear answers while apologizing for the extensive questioning and years-long delays that many conservative groups have experienced after applying for tax-exempt status.

    Miller, who was fired by Obama on Wednesday, said the overly aggressive scrutiny of such groups was the result of mismanagement, not partisan politics. His comments echoed the findings of a Treasury Department inspector general's report released this week.

    "I think what happened here is that foolish mistakes were made by people trying to be more efficient," said Miller, who will leave his post next week and be replaced by Daniel Werfel, a budget specialist in the administration.

    Miller said he did not know who had come up with the idea to single out groups that appeared to be politically conservative for intense reviews of whether they qualified to be tax-exempt.

    He said that although the added scrutiny was wrong, he did not think that IRS employees had broken any laws.

    That claim drew the ire of Republicans on the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, as did Miller's shrugs when lawmakers pressed him over why he had not told Congress about the probe even though he learned about it a year ago.

    "This is offensive, to hear this testimony," said Representative Tom Reed, a Republican from New York.

    A LINK TO THE WHITE HOUSE?

    The hearing did seem to yield some fruit for Republicans who are trying to cast the targeting of conservative "Tea Party" and "Patriot" groups as a political initiative encouraged by the Obama administration, a claim the White House rejects.

    Critics have hammered the White House this week on the IRS scandal, its handling of the deadly attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, and the Justice Department's seizure of phone records of Associated Press journalists in a criminal probe into intelligence leaks.

    The Treasury Department's internal watchdog, J. Russell George, told the House panel that Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin, an Obama political appointee, learned nearly a year ago that a government watchdog was looking into inappropriate targeting by the IRS.

    Wolin, the No. 2 official at Treasury, is due to testify next week before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

    In a statement, the Treasury Department said it made the probe public last fall in an annual report that listed more than 200 other internal investigations.

    Treasury Secretary Jack Lew was told about the investigation when he took office in March, the department said, but neither he nor Wolin was told about its findings even as a preliminary version circulated elsewhere within the department.

    Miller's often-defiant appearance on Friday was unlikely to satisfy Republicans who have accused Obama's Democratic administration of using the machinery of government to target political foes.

    They also have accused Miller of misleading Congress last year.

    Miller acknowledged that he learned that IRS investigators were looking into the issue a year ago, but he did not mention the probe to lawmakers until the news became public last week. He said he had not misled lawmakers by keeping quiet about the issue in prior appearances on Capitol Hill.

    "I was answering the questions that I was asked" by Congress, he told the House committee.

    Miller appeared to grow irritated over the course of the four-hour hearing, repeatedly interrupting questioners, flashing quizzical looks and shrugging his shoulders.

    Miller said the IRS has had trouble keeping up with the flood of 70,000 tax-exempt applications it has received in recent years, and asked for money to hire more examiners.

    Several Republicans responded that the IRS should instead be shrunk.

    The IRS has seen the number of groups applying for 501(c)4 status nearly double in the wake of January 2010 Supreme Court decision that loosened campaign-finance rules.

    That status allows groups to keep their donor lists secret while engaging in limited political activity. Political campaigns, by contrast, must make their donor lists public.

    Several Democrats on the committee said the IRS needed to take a harder look at those applications to ensure that political groups do not exploit the tax code to shroud political activities in secrecy.

    Miller said the IRS needs clearer guidance from Congress to determine what constitutes political activity.

    FACEBOOK POSTS, BOOK LISTS

    The scandal has angered lawmakers in both parties, but Miller's appearance appeared to further inflame Republicans who see it as a symptom of a federal government that has grown too large and is overly intrusive into Americans' lives.

    Tea Party groups investigated by the IRS say the tax agency made unusually extensive demands, such as asking the groups to provide social-media posts and lists of books that members had read, and tell agents whether any members of the group planned to run for public office in the future.

    The questioning in some cases took nearly three years, preventing some groups from participating in the 2010 and 2012 elections.

    The Treasury Department report did not identify individuals in the IRS's Washington headquarters or its Cincinnati field office who were responsible for coming up with the criteria used to single out conservative groups. The watchdog is continuing its investigation.

    Republicans have vowed to find out who was involved, but Miller did not provide much of a road map.

    "Who is responsible for targeting these individuals?" asked Representative Kevin Brady, a Texas Republican.

    "I don't have names for you," Miller responded.

    Republicans accused him of dodging their questions.

    "I'm hearing, 'I don't know, I don't remember, I don't recall, I don't believe,'" said Representative Dave Reichert of Washington. "You don't even know who investigated the case, but yet you say it was investigated."

    Democrats seemed more inclined to accept Miller's explanation.

    "I am not convinced that this is a great big political conspiracy," Democratic Representative Danny Davis said.

    Two other congressional committees will hold IRS hearings next week. One of them, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, plans to question five lower-level IRS employees over whether they played a role in the targeting of conservative groups.

    Wolin and Douglas Shulman, who was IRS commissioner when the targeting occurred, also are scheduled to testify.

    (Additional reporting by Karey Van Hall, Patrick Temple-West and Susan Heavey; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by David Lindsey, Jackie Frank and Jim Loney)

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/irs-chief-declines-identify-employees-involved-scandal-005432151.html

    rose bowl jenny mccarthy auld lang syne dick clark Happy new year fiscal cliff Pitbull

    The Most Stunning Way To Start a Fire Since Lightning

    The simple form and function of a Zippo lighter has made it an incredibly iconic design. But it could soon be supplanted by Alessi if the Italian houseware manufacturer prices its new Sushi lighter to compete with the Zippo. That, or convince a Hollywood producer to have an action hero prominently use it in an upcoming blockbuster.

    Read more...

        


    Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/7rsMyzGrnE4/the-most-stunning-way-to-start-a-fire-since-lightning-508278334

    Rob Parker Comcast Pokemon X and Y Rob Ryan bethenny frankel sacramento kings alex jones

    eBay's iPhone app updated with new UI and driver's license scanning

    eBay's iPhone app gets updated with new UI and driver's license scanning

    eBay has trotted out an update to its iPhone app that sports a slew of notable changes. First, the app is draped in a redesigned UI that enables users to checkout multiple items at the same time, view larger photos and touts improved last-minute bidding for those hot commodities. The software also tacks on driver's license scanning via the handset's camera for quick registration on the go -- but only in certain states in the US, for now. If you're looking to give it a whirl, you'll need a device that wields iOS 5 or higher in order to get in on the action.

    Filed under: ,

    Comments

    Via: 9to5Mac

    Source: iTunes

    Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/16/ebay-app-update-license-scanning/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

    Australian Open Girls Hbo Golden Globes homeland homeland Miss America 2013 Aaron Swartz

    Under Armour Armour39 Review: Beast Mode Unlocked

    I know what you're thinking and no, this is not another sportswear company entering the wearable tech arena to cash in on all of you suckers. This is different, and that's a good thing.

    First revealed back in 2011 at the NFL Combine, the then called E39 was embedded in a shirt that tracked an athlete's heart rate and g force during acceleration, among other things. Fast forward to earlier this year and the consumer debut of the Armour39. It's not an activity tracker, like a FuelBand or Fitbit, but an electronic performance aide that tells you how hard you're working when you're working it out.

    Design

    Heart rate monitors like the Armour39 (A39) aren't new per say. Polar and Garmin have been making chest-worn monitors for quite a while. Even Motorola makes one for its MotoActiv line. And the A39 is really no different except for the usual (and somewhat obnoxious) in-your-face Under Armour graphics and branding.

    That aside, the A39 chest strap is relatively comfortable to wear and rarely slips down the torso once you've figured out the right size. The front of the strap can be a bit stiff at first but it softens after a couple wears.

    The module that collects your biometric data is a half-dollar sized, replaceable battery-powered, Bluetooth disc that you insert into the strap before a workout. It even does an Iron Man impression and flashes when you've successfully connected the iOS app before your workout starts, like so.

    Under Armour says the module's battery will last dozens upon dozens of hours. And because it's powered by a CR2032 battery, swapping it out is a piece of cake. Just be sure to pop it out of the strap when you're done, so it doesn't drain the battery more than is necessary. And hang dry the strap.

    Using It

    To start, you'll need to pair the A39 with your iOS device and the app to undergo a 10-minute, five-part assessment, which collects your resting heart rate, max heart rate and other things in between. This baseline data helps UA analyze each workout and whether or not you're hitting your WILLpower goal, which, by the way, is an option you can flick on or off. Like any other chest strap, it needs to be wetted down before it's strapped on.

    Your WILLpower score or goal is set by you and measures your level of exertion based on how hard your heart is working. You might sweat a lot when you work out but that doesn't accurately measure whether or not you're working hard enough. If your ticker isn't in the zone?based on your age/gender/etc.?then what's the point of exercising? During your workout, you'll see the below stats in real time. You'll know when you're in the zone when everything that's green?your heart rate?turns to red indicating that you're in an optimal heart rate zone.

    When you're done, you'll see this.

    Because of the nature of heart rate monitors like this, the A39 wasn't exactly the easiest thing to compare against similar devices. You can't really wear two chest straps at once. I tried. It did not go well. In any event, I used Polar's FT60 as a parallel and found that the data captured was more or less the same. There weren't any noticeable spikes or dips during my usual two mile run and the data captured by both were more or less the same. But it's a lot easier to look at your phone than your wrist and that tiny little display with all the bells whistles that the FT60 comes with.

    Like

    As a performance monitor, the A39 is about as motivating as a personal trainer screaming in your face to get your knees up and not to break form. There's nothing better than seeing your level of intensity and heart rate in real time. There's simply no room for bullshit. You either worked out or dicked off.

    You don't always have to have your iOS device on you while working out either. The module will collect up to 16 hours of data before it needs to be offloaded, says Under Armour.

    Dislike

    As much as I thought WILLpower was going to be a thing. It was a secondary feature to seeing actual biometric feedback. I didn't work out any harder because I wanted to reach my WILLpower score. I wanted to work out harder because I could see that my heart rate wasn't in the zone.

    Audible cues would have been a nice 1.0 addition, like in Nike's Running app. Constantly looking at your phone isn't always conducive for certain types of exercise.

    No Android app? No Android app.

    Should You Buy It?

    This is not, I repeat, this is not an activity tracker like the FuelBand, UP or Fitbits of the world. This isn't meant to be worn all day. If you're looking to better measure and tweak your workout sessions, then this is the monitor to get. Now, it doesn't do anything

    The A39 as is will set you back $150. But if you don't have an iOS device, then you'll have to shell out an extra $200 for the accompanying watch, which doesn't appear to be live on the company's site just yet. Compare that to Garmin or Polar (depending on the model) and $350 for both isn't all that crazy sounding.

    With summer just around the bend, it's time to get that winter body in order and with the A39, you'll get there in no time. [Under Armour]

    Source: http://gizmodo.com/under-armour-armour39-review-beast-mode-unlocked-506284006

    binders of women presidential debates Felix Baumgartner Little Nemo gawker Romney Bosses Day 2012

    Obama:"no apologies" over U.S. security leak probe (Reuters)

    Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

    Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/306275507?client_source=feed&format=rss

    jarhead montrose marshawn lynch earthquake bay area deron williams clear channel drexel

    Thursday, May 16, 2013

    Obama's 'juice' squeezed by scandals?

    The burst of controversy out of the IRS and Justice Department, in addition to lingering GOP pressure over Benghazi, has sidelined attention to President Obama's agenda.?

    By Linda Feldmann,?Staff writer / May 14, 2013

    President Barack Obama walking from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington May 9. The president finds himself rocked by multiple controversies that are demoralizing his allies, emboldening his political foes -- and posing huge distractions.

    Carolyn Kaster/AP/File

    Enlarge

    Suddenly, the Obama administration is under siege. And predictably, media talk of a ?second-term curse? is taking hold as the White House tries to push back on a narrative of scandal that seems to befall US presidents after reelection.

    Skip to next paragraph

    ' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
    ' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

    '; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; // google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

    From the Internal Revenue Service to Benghazi to the Justice Department, the actions of US officials are under scrutiny, leaving the White House gasping for air as it insists President Obama?s second-term agenda is alive and well.

    But if, months from now, the White House is still playing 20 questions with the media over controversial behavior by government agencies, then Mr. Obama will have a hard time convincing Americans he?s still focused on policy. Typically, the first year of a president?s term is the most fertile period for passing legislation, before politics takes over in the run-up to midterm elections.

    For now, the White House is struggling to make the questions stop. Even close allies of the president suggest the White House?s posture is too passive.

    But whether Obama?s ?juice? for second-term accomplishments is being squeezed by scandal is another matter. The president won reelection by a convincing margin and started his second term with decent job-approval ratings. But he couldn?t get legislation to expand background checks for gun buyers out of the Senate, despite emotional speeches around the country and 90 percent support in opinion polls.

    The power of the presidential bully pulpit is a ?myth,? says George Edwards, a presidential scholar at Texas A&M University in College Station.

    Also, a president can?t, through sheer force of personality, force a balky Congress to bend to his will if the members don?t believe it?s in their own political interests to vote the way he wants, Mr. Edwards says.

    ?This notion that presidents ? Lyndon Johnson is the prime case ? can pin members? backs to the wall and get whatever they want, that?s nonsense,? he says. ?That?s not how it works.?

    Next up in Congress is the battle over comprehensive immigration reform. Most important to the prospects for legislation is whether Republicans leaders can get enough of their own members to go along with the bill. The GOP?s need to attract Latino voters could be the most salient factor in driving Republicans to work with Democrats on the issue ? not presidential pressure.

    So where does all this leave Obama, as he tries to get back on top of his game?

    He can start by being more proactive, suggests a former top aide. When news broke last Friday that the IRS had subjected conservative groups to extra scrutiny in their applications for tax-exempt status, Obama waited three days to say anything. ?

    At a press conference Monday, the president cast himself as a member of the public, saying he learned about the IRS?s actions from the same news reports everyone else did. Then, in lawyerly language, he expressed conditional outrage over what had happened.

    Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/QFuwhCMGGa0/Obama-s-juice-squeezed-by-scandals

    WWE Rita Ora Meteor Russia jay z Oscar Pistorius Carnival Triumph charles barkley