Bells, applause as Pope Benedict XVI flies out of Vatican

In a dramatic exit from the Vatican, Pope Benedict flew off to the papal retreat Castel Gandolfo. Tourists gathered in St. Peter's Square to watch the momentous occasion. NBC's Anne Thompson reports.

By Alastair Jamieson, Staff writer, NBC News

To a chorus of bells and a ripple of applause from his closest advisers, Pope Benedict XVI departed the Vatican for the last time as pontiff Thursday.

He emerged from the Apostolic Palace and was saluted by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, and other senior staff members in the St. Damaso Courtyard before being driven to his helicopter for the journey to his lavish temporary residence.

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A crowd of well-wishers was waiting to greet him from the piazza when he arrived by helicopter at his temporary residence at Castel Gandolfo, which is about 20 miles south-east of Rome.

They chanted his name in Italian and cheered wildly as he appeared from the balcony of the building. Some were moved to tears.

"Thank you for your friendship," he said. "I am just a pilgrim."

To coincide with his 5 p.m. local time (11 a.m ET) departure, a final message was posted to the pontiff's official Twitter account.

"Thank you for your love and support," it said. "May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the centre of your lives."

Although the pope has a helicopter pilot?s licence, the chopper was flown by an Italian air force pilot, as is customary.

Thousands of faithful pack the medieval square outside Castel Gandolfo in Lazio, Italy, to greet Pope Benedict XVI and thank him for his papacy as he settles into his new surroundings.

Due to join the pontiff on the 15-minute flight were his personal secretaries Archbishop Georg Ganswein and Monsignor Alfred Xuereb, along with Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, the deputy prefect of the papal household, Professor Patrizio Polisca who is the pope's personal physician, and Sandro Mariotti, the pope's butler.

It was a quiet departure, characteristic of his shy demeanor, giving little hint of the historical significance of the event ? the first of its kind for almost six centuries.

Earlier, he said a muted goodbye to his cardinals and closest advisers.

"I will continue to be close to you," he told them in the Vatican's 16th century Sala Clementina, before exchanging individual, private greetings.

"The future pope is among you," the pontiff added, pledging his "unconditional reverence and obedience" to his successor.

He also expressed a desire for the church to work like an orchestra where diverse elements came together in harmony ? yet another reference to his frustration over infighting at the top of the church.

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As the final day of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy comes to a close, focus turns to the cardinals entrusted to elect the next leader of the church. NBC's Anne Thompson reports on the upcoming conclave and the centuries-old tradition of a secret vote.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, was among 11 cardinals from the United States bidding him farewell on his final day as pontiff.

"It was kind of somber for me," Dolan told TODAY. "To see this gentle, learned, loving holy man, to see him very fragile, to see him having made what I consider to be a remarkably humble and courageous decision, it was very moving, it was a very tender moment."

"I was honored that he remembered my name ? it?s always good when the boss knows your name," he added.

When the doors of Castel Gandolfo closed shorlty after 8 p.m. local time Friday (2 p.m. ET)?it marked the end of his papacy ? a resignation instead of a death. The?distinctive Swiss Guards in attendance went off duty.

The pontiff, who will now be known as pope emeritus, will remain at the papal summer residence for two months until his permanent home in a monastery within the Vatican is refurbished.

'A caring pastor'
NBC News Vatican expert George Weigel said Benedict would be remembered as "the greatest papal preacher since Gregory the Great in the 6th century" and "a caring pastor."

Almost eight years after the death of John Paul II, it's clear Catholics still feel a special affection for the man often called "the people's pope," who was renowned for his compassion and support of human rights. NBC's Savannah Guthrie reports.

Father John Bartunek, a priest and author who works in Rome, added: "One of the characteristics that has struck us is personal humility and sincerity. He has a certain sweetness and openness and he?s always present, always willing to listen and that will also be part of his legacy."

"A lot of the repercussions of his decisions won?t be seen right away," he said.

Thursday's goodbyes were in stark contrast to?Wednesday's public event, where a crowd of more than 100,000?cheered, applauded and waved banners of support as he delivered his final audience at a packed St. Peter's Square.

He assured pilgrims and well-wishers that he was not "coming down from the cross" despite renouncing his office, saying his decision was taken "in full awareness of its gravity and rarity but also with profound serenity of spirit."

An introverted theologian, Benedict is credited with pushing the "new evangelization" and repairing rifts with Jews, but faulted for not taking stronger action as a sex-abuse scandal tarnished the church's reputation and for letting the Vatican bureaucracy run amok.

Vatican watchers say there is no clear front-runner to replace him and Benedict's legacy will loom large as they look to the future.

A Vatican spokesman told the Catholic News Service that the college will probably not meet over the weekend but could gather the following Monday for informal talks to set a date for the conclave and begin talking about priorities for 266th pope.

Gabriel Bouys / AFP - Getty Images

The pope delivers his final audience in St. Peter's Square as he prepares to stand down.

Under church law, the conclave couldn?t start until March 15, but an amendment this week will allow the cardinals to push up the date as along as all 115 electors are in place. There were supposed to be 117, but one is too sick to attend and another recused himself after being accused of inappropriate behavior with priests.

And the Vatican guesthouse, where the cardinals will stay during the conclave, must be swept for listening devices before they can move in.

The length of the conclave ? with its four secret ballots a day, cast in the Sistine Chapel ? is anyone's guess; it took two days to elect Benedict and three to choose his predecessor, John Paul II.

Dolan, who will be in the conclave, said: "There?s a mixed feeling. You hear cardinals say there is a sense of wanting a new pope as soon as possible, and for that to happen in the most prudent way you need some time for reflection and prayer to get to know each other. But the ?first item on the agenda at the general congregations next week will be 'When well we begin the conclave?'"

Meanwhile, the Vatican announced on Thursday that a 92-year-old French cardinal, Jean Honor?, died on Wednesday. Because of his age, he was not among the 117 cardinals eligible to take part in the conclave.

NBC News' Tracy Connor contributed to this report.

Related:

Inside Castel Gandolfo, Pope Benedict's spectacular temporary retirement home

'Amateur hour': Vatican conclave drama is one for the history books, experts say

Inside the Vatican: The $8 billion global institution where nuns answer the phones

This story was originally published on Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:57 AM EST

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/28/17129365-thank-you-for-your-friendship-pope-benedict-xvi-flies-from-vatican?lite

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Review: Keith McMillen QuNeo Pad Controller

With the ability to process three parameters at once, this iPad-sized MIDI controller adds an extra dimension to your electronic music production rig.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/757yrIt6ByU/

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Germany, Italy in spat over 'clowns' jibe

Getty Images, Reuters

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, left, and comic-turned-politician Beppe Grillo have been described as "clowns" by a German politician.

By Holger Hansen and Stephen Brown, Reuters

BERLIN ? Italian President Giorgio Napolitano canceled a dinner with the German opposition's chancellor candidate on Wednesday after he described Italian former premier Silvio Berlusconi and comic-turned-politician Beppe Grillo as "clowns."

Peer Steinbrueck, a Social Democrat who will take on Chancellor Angela Merkel in Germany's next national election in September, has a reputation for gaffes, and his remark created the first diplomatic incident of his accident-prone campaign.

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Steinbrueck said on Tuesday he was "appalled that two clowns have won" Italy's Feb. 24-25 election. The vote was actually inconclusive with no party gaining a majority, although Grillo's protest party surged dramatically.

Ralph Orlowski / Reuters

Peer Steinbrueck, an opposition candidate to become Germany's next chancellor, referred to two of Italy's top election finishers as "clowns.

Napolitano, an 87-year-old former communist with no natural affinity for Berlusconi or Grillo, now faces the difficult task of trying to appoint a coalition government.

Italian media said he had expressed concern about "populism" after the election result in a private meeting during his visit to Germany, but these comments could not be confirmed.

As head of state, he may have felt duty-bound to defend the dignity of Italy's political institutions.

The German candidate's spokesman said Napolitano canceled "because of Steinbrueck's remarks on Tuesday" and added that the Social Democrat politician "understood Napolitano's domestic political reasons for canceling."

Napolitano's spokesman was unavailable for comment.

Napolitano and Steinbrueck had been scheduled to meet over dinner at a Berlin hotel. Napolitano, who visited Munich on Tuesday and Wednesday, was due to meet Merkel in the German capital on Thursday.

'Testosterone boost'
Steinbrueck made it absolutely clear in his comments to a party rally in Potsdam he was referring to Grillo and Berlusconi, calling the latter "clearly a clown with a testosterone boost."

"My impression is that two populists won," he said.

Berlusconi, a scandal-ridden billionaire media mogul, is very unpopular in Germany and is assailed often in the media.

But Steinbrueck did himself no favors with his frank talk.

German politicians are expected to strike a serious tone and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of European partners. On Twitter, some commentators dismissed the acerbic Steinbrueck as the "real clown."

Italy's elections, which threaten to tip the euro zone back into crisis, showed a big swell in support for Grillo's 5-Star Movement and a surprisingly strong result for Berlusconi. He had been expected to lose heavily to the center left, which won the lower house but not the senate.

Both Grillo and Berlusconi campaigned against the austerity measures implemented by technocrat Prime Minister Mario Monti at the urging of Germany's conservative chancellor Merkel.

Grillo, in his popular blog, laid into Merkel for imposing German-style fiscal austerity on Italy. Berlusconi has made more personal attacks on Merkel, whom he blames for his fall from power in 2011 because of her hesitancy on bailouts.

Berlusconi, who has been sentenced for tax fraud and is on trial accused of having sex with an under-aged prostitute, is reported to have made rude remarks about Merkel's appearance in a phone call wiretapped by investigators, though he denies this.

Steinbrueck made waves with undiplomatic statements when he served as finance minister under Merkel between 2005 and 2009, for example referring to the Swiss as Indians running scared from the cavalry during a crackdown he led on tax havens.

Related:

Italy careens toward political paralysis as Berlusconi rebounds

Italy's 'bunga bunga' man Berlusconi, 76, unveils girlfriend, 27

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/27/17117499-germany-italy-in-diplomatic-spat-over-clowns-jibe-aimed-at-berlusconi-grillo?lite

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Linking insulin to learning

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Though it's most often associated with disorders like diabetes, Harvard researchers have shown how the signaling pathway of insulin and insulin-like peptides plays another critical role in the body ? helping to regulate learning and memory.

In addition to showing that the insulin-like peptides play a critical role in regulating the activity of neurons involved in learning and memory, a team of researchers led by Yun Zhang, Associate Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, show that the interaction between the molecules can fine-tune how, or even if, learning takes place. Their work is described in a February 6 paper in Neuron.

"People think of insulin and diabetes, but many metabolic syndromes are associated with some types of cognitive defects and behavioral disorders, like depression or dementia," Zhang said. "That suggests that insulin and insulin-like peptides may play an important role in neural function, but it's been very difficult to nail down the underlying mechanism, because these peptides do not have to function through synapses that connect different neurons in the brain"

To get at that mechanism, Zhang and colleagues turned to an organism whose genome and nervous system are well described and highly accessible by genetics ? C. elegans.

Using genetic tools, researchers altered the small, transparent worms by removing their ability to create individual insulin-like compounds. These new "mutant" worms were then tested to see whether they would learn to avoid eating a particular type of bacteria that is known to infect the worms. Tests showed that while some worms did learn to steer clear of the bacteria, others didn't ? suggesting that removing a specific insulin-like compound halted the worms' ability to learn.

Researchers were surprised to find, however, that it wasn't just removing the molecules that could make the animals lose the ability to learn ? some peptide was found to inhibit learning.

"We hadn't predicted that we would find both positive and negative regulators from these peptides," Zhang said. "Why does the animal need this bidirectional regulation of learning? One possibility is that learning depends on context. There are certain things you want to learn ? for example, the worms in these experiments wanted to learn that they shouldn't eat this type of infectious bacteria. That's a positive regulation of the learning. But if they needed to eat, even if it is a bad food, to survive, they would need a way to suppress this type of learning."

Even more surprising for Zhang and her colleagues was evidence that the various insulin-like molecules could regulate each other.

"Many animals, including the humans, have multiple insulin-like molecules and it appears that these molecules can act like a network," she said. "Each of them may play a slightly different role in the nervous system, and they function together to coordinate the signaling related to learning and memory. By changing the way the molecules interact, the brain can fine tune learning in a host of different ways."

Going forward, Zhang said she hopes to characterize more of the insulin-like peptides as a way of better understanding how the various molecules interact, and how they act on the neural circuits for learning and memory.

Understanding how such pathways work could one day help in the development of treatment for a host of cognitive disorders, including dementia.

"The signaling pathways for insulin and insulin-like peptides are highly conserved in mammals, including the humans," Zhang said. "There is even some preliminary evidence that insulin treatment, in some cases, can improve cognitive function. That's one reason we believe that if we understand this mechanism, it will help us better understand how insulin pathways are working in the human brain."

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Harvard University: http://www.harvard.edu

Thanks to Harvard University for this article.

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

This press release has been viewed 58 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127040/Linking_insulin_to_learning

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Video: In young women, an ?alarming? incidence of breast cancer

>>> we mentioned this earlier. there are some alarming headlines out tonight about breast cancer in younger women. a new analysis shows advanced breast cancer cases are up among women ages 25 to 39. our chief medical editor, dr. nancy snyderman , is in our new york studios with more on this tonight.

>> good evening, brian. a key thing to remember is that breast cancer is rare in young women , although it's aggressive, and the united states has made progress in the war against cancer. this is the first major study to show a slight but significant increase in breast cancer in young women , particularly the aggressive met static breast cancer , which has, by definition, already spread to other organs in the body. published today in the journal of the american medical association , researchers found the increase in women 25 to 39 years of age. and it's alarming because we don't know exactly why this is happening. it could be rising obesity rates, early menstrual periods, even environmental factors that we don't have pinned down. scientist raze still unsure. but it is not a reason to rush out and get a mammogram if you are a young woman . for most women, you should start getting mammograms around the age of 50. and in the meantime, you can keep up with your self-examinations, watch your weight, stop smoking, and of course, if you find anything that strays from the norm, that's when you check in with your doctor. brian?

>> nancy snyderman back at home base in new york tonight with today's medical story. nancy, thanks.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/50964465/

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New Atheism offers better philosophy, faith than religion

As science advanced over time, the God hypothesis became increasingly less necessary as a way to explain the occurrence of natural events. This caused religiosity to decline, especially among educated people. As secular states developed and freedom of expression emerged as a human right, criticism of religion ? both by philosophers and scientists ? became widespread.

In this sense, the so-called New Atheists movement ? led by Richard Dawkins, Dan Dennett, Sam Harris and the late Christopher Hitchens ? is not new. It was, however, started because of the way the power of religion started to be utilized ? the terrorist attacks of 9/11 wouldn?t have happened if it weren?t for blind faith in the concept of a rewarding afterlife.

The New Atheists present a modern supporting framework for individuals who are able to overcome the frightening concept of eternal punishment, which is often presented to them during a religious childhood. The movement also helps people realize that adages like ?anything is possible? or ?God works in mysterious ways? are merely shortcuts, ways of avoiding more intellectual explanations. Many books written by New Atheists provide excellent guidance out of the mazes and away from the traps of faith in its pure form.

However, despite recent attempts such as Dawkins? ?The Magic of Reality? and Harris? ?Free Will,? the New Atheists don?t have the same level of success they used to with laying the foundations of a fulfilling atheist life.

As it turns out, the pursuit of happiness is a journey far more complex than understanding the way the brain works. Throughout history, besides supernatural affairs, many aspects related to the self and life in society were taken care of by religion. It often provided valuable answers in the individual and collective realms, including the practice of meditation and the act of gathering to celebrate a common purpose.

As technology becomes increasingly powerful in a highly interconnected world and cultures clash on an unprecedented scale, it becomes too dangerous to leave guidance on these complicated topics to people who base their rationale on dogmas and supposedly sacred books from the ages of tribalism, dreams and entities that are indistinguishable from imaginary friends.

This gap has been recognized. We can see the emergence of interesting movements, such as secular humanism. Thinkers such as Alain de Botton are starting to approach the topic. Unfortunately, there is not yet a solid, structured proposal, and the average atheist is in great part left to find his way through life alone, having to learn and test alternatives by himself.

This is partly because the territory of the mind is largely unknown, and an honest, confident answer cannot be formulated yet. It is promising that New Atheists treat the topic carefully, but we need more people ? newer atheists ? to start thinking and acting toward that goal. Because, as the clich? goes, life is too short ? a fact we atheists are very aware of.

A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Feb. 25 print edition. Marcelo Cicconet is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.

Source: http://nyunews.com/2013/02/25/cicconet-8/

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26-year-old man named as suspect in Vegas shooting

LAS VEGAS (AP) ? The black SUV used as a getaway car in a pre-dawn shooting and crash that killed an aspiring rapper in a Maserati and two people in a taxi on the Las Vegas Strip was found Saturday as police named a 26-year-old man as the prime suspect.

Ammar Harris was being sought in connection with the shooting and six-vehicle chain-reaction carnage Thursday on the neon-lit boulevard near the Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Bally's and Flamingo resorts, police said.

"His location is unknown," police Capt. Chris Jones said of Harris, who sometimes goes by the name Ammar Asim Faruq Harris. Police say he has been arrested for working as a pimp.

Police released a photo that was taken when Harris was arrested last year on pandering, kidnapping, sexual assault and coercion charges. The disposition of that case was not immediately known.

The photo shows Harris with tattoos on his right cheek and words on his neck above an image that appeared to depict an owl with blackened eyes. Jones warned that Harris should be considered armed and dangerous.

Police had been searching for the black Range Rover, with blackout windows and distinctive black rims, since it was last seen speeding from the shooting. It was located at an apartment complex just a couple of blocks east of the neon-lit boulevard, and was impounded as evidence, Jones said.

The shooting killed aspiring rapper Kenneth Wayne Cherry Jr., who was driving a dark gray Maserati that was peppered by gunfire from the SUV. Taxi driver Michael Boldon and passenger Sandra Sutton-Wasmund, of Maple Valley, Wash., died when the Maserati hit their taxi, which exploded in flames.

Boldon, 62, was a family man who moved from Michigan to Las Vegas. Sutton-Wasmund, 48, was a businesswoman and mother of three.

A passenger in the Maserati was wounded in the arm and four people from four other vehicles were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The Maserati passenger was cooperating with investigators. His name hasn't been made public.

The shocking chain of events had family members and friends in Las Vegas, California, Michigan and Washington trying to grasp the blink-of-an-eye finality of it all.

"My son was a good boy," Kenneth Cherry Sr. told reporters Saturday in a news conference convened by Las Vegas lawyers Vicki Greco and Robert Beckett.

Beckett said they wanted to respond to rumors that the 27-year-old son ? who produced a rap video using the name Kenny Clutch ? was a gangster and a troublemaker. The attorneys had represented his son, and now represent his estate and the family.

"My son was a victim just like the two people in that taxi," Kenneth Cherry Sr. said. "Trouble found him. The people in the taxicab, trouble found them."

Court records show Cherry had no criminal cases or convictions in Las Vegas, and police said there was no record of arrests.

The Clark County coroner determined that Kenny Cherry died of at least one gunshot to the chest. Boldon and Sutton-Wasmund died of injuries in the crash. All three deaths were ruled homicides.

Police say the shooting appeared to stem from an argument at the valet area of the upscale Aria resort-casino about a block south of the crash scene. The shooting happened after a night featuring Morocco-born rapper French Montana at Aria nightclub Haze.

Cherry's parents live in Emeryville, Calif., and the father said his son's body would be taken back to Oakland. He said his son started a music career there and was recognized by other rappers within a West Coast hip-hop strain called hyphy.

Cherry wasn't well-known in wider music circles, according to Chuck Creekmur, CEO of AllHipHop.com.

Kenny Clutch's YouTube music video, "Stay Schemin," shows scenes of hotels along the Strip as he sings about paying $120,000 for his Maserati.

"One mistake change lives all in one night," he raps in one verse.

Kenneth Cherry Sr., who said he runs a cellphone business, said he helped his son make payments on the Maserati. He said he last spoke to him on Wednesday, when they talked about the high cost of the son's cellphone use.

Cherry Sr. described his son as an entrepreneur but didn't say how he made money or if he had jobs other than his music production.

Boldon's family in Las Vegas was struggling to cope with his death, said Tehran Boldon, the taxi driver's younger brother.

Boldon's sister, Carolyn Jean Trimble, said Boldon was a father, a grandfather and a car race enthusiast who drove a Mercedes when he wasn't in a cab. He owned a clothing store in Detroit and worked at a car dealership, his sister said, and drove taxis after moving to Las Vegas about 1? years ago.

The irony that a man with a taste for beautiful cars was killed by a sports car wasn't lost on Trimble.

"He would be tickled to death: 'Damn, of all things, a Maserati hit me, took me out like that,'" she said. "I'm happy he didn't suffer."

In Washington, Sutton-Wasmund co-owned a dress shop, said Debbie Tvedt, the office manager for a Maple Valley plumbing company that Sutton-Wasmund started with her husband, James Wasmund. Sutton-Wasmund was in Las Vegas attending a trade show with her business partner.

"It's a big loss," Tvedt said in a telephone interview with AP.

The Maple Valley-Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce website said Sutton-Wasmund was a board member from 2004 to 2011 before becoming a marketing representative.

A phone message left for James Wasmund was not immediately returned.

The famously glowing, always-open Las Vegas Strip was closed for some 15 hours after the crash. Nevada Highway Patrol Sgt. Eric Kemmer recalled a similarly long closure after the 1996 drive-by slaying of rapper Tupac Shakur.

That shooting ? involving assailants opening fire on Shakur's luxury sedan from a vehicle on Flamingo Road ? happened about a block away from Thursday's crash.

The Shakur killing has never been solved.

___

Associated Press writers Michelle Rindels in Las Vegas, Garance Burke in San Francisco, Kathy McCarthy in Seattle and AP Music Writer Mesfin Fekadu in New York contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/26-old-man-named-suspect-vegas-shooting-031840040.html

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Cycles in Action ? Automotive Rendering | BlenderNation

I always enjoy watching Cycles rendering. In this short video, eMirage shows Cycles at work in rendering a car.

eMirage writes:

A quick video showcasing the power of blender?s render engine (Cycles) in automotive rendering.

The purpose of this demo is to show you how practical cycles is, and how much it helps to quickly set shaders / material colors, change the lighting and set the render views

The video playback run slightly faster than normal speed, but you can see the real render times in the top of the render view ?elapsed? (expressed in fraction of seconds)
the playback runs faster because it was recorded at 20i/s and plays at 24i/s

Used hardware spec (GPU rendering):

CPU: intel core i7 2600 3.5GHz ? RAM: 16Gb
GPU: Geforce GTX285 as a display device
2x Geforce GTX580 as CUDA compute devices

follow my works and stay tuned, thanks :)

Link

This entry was posted in Video by Community Reporter. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://www.blendernation.com/2013/02/24/cycles-in-action-automotive-rendering/

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ZTE reveals competitive pricing on Grand S LTE in China

ZTE is looking to launch its flagship Grand S LTE in mainland China at a competitive price, based on statements by executives. With a svelte design concealing a 1080P 5-inch display, Snapdragon S4 Pro processor and 13MP camera, you might expect its price to fall in line with other high-end devices. Instead, head of ZTE's mobile division He Shiyou estimates the Grand S will hit mainland China in the range of ¥3,000 to ¥3,500 (or $480 to $560).

In our time with the device at CES 2013 we came away impressed with the step up in quality from what ZTE has offered in the past. The price may still have to come down a bit more to entice users away from other handsets though, especially considering the price sensitivity of the Chinese market. As for the U.S. market, we don't have any notable information on pricing or availability.

Source: Engadget

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/6HkXCSivg0k/story01.htm

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South Africa destroy Pakistan with as innings victory to complete a series whitewash

By Mike Dawes

PUBLISHED: 11:53 EST, 24 February 2013 | UPDATED: 11:53 EST, 24 February 2013

South Africa today won the third Test against Pakistan by an innings and 18 runs to complete a 3-0 series clean sweep.

The Proteas had won each of the first two Tests with a day to spare and went one better at Centurion, wrapping up the tourists' second innings for 235 on the third evening.

Dale Steyn took four for 80 in the second innings while Kyle Abbott took nine wickets on his Test debut.

Key moment: South Africa celebrating the key wicket of Younis Khan

Posing with the trophy: South Africa re-affirmed their status as the No.1 Test team

Half-century partnerships between Azhar Ali and Imran Farhat and the unlikely pairing of Saeed Ajmal and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed were in vain as Pakistan managed only a minor improvement on their first-innings capitulation to 156 all out.

The visitors began the third day on 14 for one, with Azhar and Younus Khan at the crease, having followed on 253 runs behind.

However, the partnership was broken on 38 by Steyn, with Younus edging to captain Graeme Smith at first slip on 11.

Howzat! Alviro Petersen, Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers have a huge appeal for LBW against Saeed Ajmal

Azhar and Farhat patiently negotiated the remaining overs before lunch but after their partnership reached 54, a mix-up as they turned for a second run saw Azhar sent back by his partner and run out for 27 as Steyn fizzed in a powerful throw and AB de Villiers demolished the stumps.

Farhat followed for 43, slashing a short ball from Kyle Abbott to De Villiers, as the rot set in.

Misbah-ul-Haq (five) offered another easy catch to the wicketkeeper with a thin edge off Rory Kleinveldt and Asad Shafiq (six) then popped a leading edge off the same bowler straight to Vernon Philander at wide mid-off, with Pakistan still 139 behind.

Two reviews then went in the batsmen's favour, Ajmal successfully overturning an lbw decision as Hawk-Eye showed Robin Peterson's delivery was bouncing over the top, before South Africa failed to have Sarfraz caught at slip.

Defence: Pakistan's Azhar Ali showed some resistance to put some fight into their performance

Ajmal paddled Peterson neatly over De Villiers' head for two and lofted the next ball down the ground for six as the pair offered some overdue resistance with a stand of 62 by tea.

The interval arrived with Sarfraz unbeaten on 30 and Ajmal on 27, but the latter added only an additional boundary in taking the partnership to 69 before being dismissed lbw by Steyn, with DRS this time unable to save him.

Again, the departure of one set batsman was swiftly followed by another. Sarfraz had advanced to 40 from 45 balls before slashing Steyn to third man, where Dean Elgar took a very well judged catch.

Bails flying: De Villiers runs out Ali for 27 runs and end Pakistan's hoes of survival

Ehsan Adil hit two boundaries before becoming Abbott's ninth victim of the match, caught at mid-on for 12.

Rahat Ali hit five boundaries, two of them edged off Steyn in an over that also saw him successfully overturn a bat-pad decision against him, but was trapped lbw by Peterson to end the match.

Abbott's match figures of nine for 68 were the third best ever by a Proteas debutant, bettered only by Alf Hall and Sydney Burke who took 11 wickets apiece.

The two teams will now contest two Twenty20 internationals, next Friday and Sunday, followed by five one-day internationals.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/dailymail/sport/~3/_1uQJSwhJsc/South-Africa-destroy-Pakistan-innings-victory-complete-series-whitewash.html

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Chromebook Pixel allows for custom bootloaders, is Linux-friendly

WiFi-only flavors of the Chromebook Pixel have only just started shipping, but if you're already itching to install Linux on one of them, you're in luck. Not only have kernel patches been submitted for the hardware, but Google's Bill Richardson has now laid out exactly how to load up the devices with Linux Mint. Richardson says that part of the Chrome OS BIOS is read-only, so changes to it are generally exclusive to new hardware. Pixel, for example, has been tuned to support user-provided custom bootloaders thanks to an unverified BIOS slot. Unfortunately, Mint doesn't support the laptop's touchscreen and trackpad because it leverages the stock kernel. Adventurous types looking to boot a Tux-powered OS on a Pixel can hit the neighboring source link for step-by-step instructions.

Filed under: Laptops, Google

Comments

Via: Android Central

Source: Bill Richardson (Google+)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/23/chromebook-pixel-linux-unverified-bios-slot-custom-bootloader/

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Prep football powerhouses Miami Northwestern, St. Thomas Aquinas to face off this fall

BY ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ The Miami Herald

For years, fans have asked, ?Who would win if Northwestern and St. Thomas Aquinas played each other??

They?ll get an answer this fall.

Northwestern and St. Thomas Aquinas agreed this week to play their mutual season opener at Sun Life Stadium on the weekend of Aug. 29-31. The date will be finalized once the schedules for the University of Miami and Miami Dolphins are released.

?It?s pretty much all set, we?re just working out a few of the details now,? Northwestern athletic director Andre Williams told The Miami Herald on Thursday morning.

The two programs have combined for 11 state championships and three national titles. St. Thomas Aquinas captured its seventh state crown this past season, winning the Class 7A championship, and won national titles in 2008 and 2010.

Northwestern went 9-3 last season, reaching the Class 6A regional semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Central.

Northwestern has won four state titles (1995, 1998, 2006, 2007), including a national championship in 2007.

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/22/3245944/prep-football-powerhouses-miami.html

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Israel Prepares for Wild Weekend of Purim Holiday Celebrations

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Source: www.ibtimes.com --- Saturday, February 23, 2013
Festival commemorates deliverance of Jews from genocide in 6th century Persia, and celebrations have been getting bigger and wilder in recent years. ...

Source: http://www.ibtimes.comhttp:0//www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/438628/20130223/purim-jews-israel-festival.htm

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Cakes in Maidstone | Cakes in Medway | Birthday, Wedding Cakes

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

Source: http://www.sarahdscupcakes.co.uk/contact-us.html

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Countering Urban Terrorism in India

Yesterday?s twin bomb blasts in Hyderabad has reiterated that the phenomenon of urban terrorism has taken firm root in India. In less than a decade, there have been about 20 major attacks in urban areas, averaging two a year. The targeted cities include Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Jaipur, Varanasi, Pune, Kanpur, Coimbatore, Srinagar, Jammu and Ahmedabad. All of these attacks have led to large-scale casualties, material damage and disruption of life and economic activity.

While urban terrorism is relatively new to India, it has a long history in the international arena. The Irish Republican Army had fought British forces in Northern Ireland for several decades before a political settlement was finally negotiated. The Baader-Meinhof gang, a communist urban guerrilla group, was responsible for several acts of terrorism in Germany in the 1960s and 1970s. Most of the terror groups in Latin America are urban-based. Palestinian militants have managed to launch numerous urban terror attacks on Israeli civilians despite Israel?s vigorous pre-emptive measures and a pro-active response strategy. Members of Aum Shinrikyo, a cult group, carried out five co-ordinated sarin gas attacks on several lines of the Tokyo Metro in March 1995. Chechen rebels have been fighting Russia since the 1990s mostly in urban areas. Read more

Source :?www.idsa.in

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThinkIndiaFoundation/~3/zypfaZdtzso/countering-urban-terrorism-in-india.html

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Diane Lane signed divorce doc on Valentine's Day

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Court records show Diane Lane signed her filing to divorce Josh Brolin on Valentine's Day.

Lane's petition to end the actors' marriage after eight and a half years was filed on Feb. 15.

Her filing, released Friday, lists irreconcilable differences for the couple's breakup and lists Feb. 13 as their separation date. It does not indicate they have a prenuptial agreement.

The actors have no children together. It was a second marriage for both when they tied the knot in August 2004.

Lane received an Oscar nomination for her performance in the 2002 film "Unfaithful" and co-stars in the upcoming Superman film "Man of Steel."

Brolin was Oscar-nominated for his performance in 2008's "Milk" and recently starred in "Gangster Squad."

A representative for the couple confirmed the divorce on Thursday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/diane-lane-signed-divorce-doc-valentines-day-184734221.html

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Bobby Valentine to become college AD

Get the top 10 Yardbarker stories delivered to your inbox Monday-Friday. You can also personalize your newsletter to receive even more stories about the teams and sports that matter to you most. And the best part? It's free!

* Not a MLB fan? Choose another sport or team

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/bobby_valentine_to_become_college_ad/12969730

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"New Girl," "Mindy Project" get temporary post-"Idol" slots

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Trying to boost viewership for "New Girl" and "The Mindy Project," Fox will air episodes of the comedies in a special timeslot following "American Idol" on April 4.

"New Girl" will air at 9 p.m., with "The Mindy Project" airing at 9:30. The specially scheduled episodes will air in the place of a previously scheduled "Glee" repeat.

Currently, the series run Tuesday nights, in a lineup that received a jolt last month when the freshman comedy "Ben and Kate" was pulled from the schedule. In the absence of "Ben and Kate," the shows have been preceded by one-hour installments of "Raising Hope," except this Tuesday, when a repeat of "New Girl" immediately preceding them.

Both shows suffered ratings declines with their most recent airings Tuesday night, with "New Girl" dropping 15 percent from two weeks ago to a 2.2 rating/6 share in the key 18-49 demographic, and "The Mindy Project" dropping 16 percent to a 1.6/4. (Both shows were preempted by coverage of the State of the Union Address the week before.)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/girl-mindy-project-temporary-post-idol-slots-001458633.html

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White House threatens trade sanctions for countries found cyber-snooping

International diplomacy may feel like schoolyard antics, but the participants do have something a little heavier to throw at each other. After President Obama signed an executive order to improve national cyber security, the White House is now reportedly opening the box marked Trade and Diplomatic Sanctions, which it'll lob at any country that's found to be appropriating US trade secrets. The executive has published a report, outlining a dozen thefts from companies such as GM, Ford and DuPont, fingering China as being behind a majority of them. If the hacking persists, then James Lewis, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says the White House should deny visas or access to US banks to Chinese people and corporations -- making us wistful for the courtroom dramas of yore.

Update: We've corrected the story to correctly attribute the comments made by James Lewis.

Filed under: Misc, Internet

Comments

Via: WSJ

Source: White House (.PDF)

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/vISexFzhiPU/

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Adding movement to 'dry run' mental imagery enhances performance

Feb. 20, 2013 ? Adding movement to mental rehearsal can improve performance finds a study in BioMed Central's open access journal Behavioral and Brain Functions. For high jumpers the study shows that dynamic imagery improves the number of successful attempts and the technical performance of jumps.

The technique of mental rehearsal is used to consolidate performance in many disciplines including music and sport. Motor imagery and physical practice use overlapping neural networks in the brain and the two together can improve performance as well as promoting recovery from injury. Researchers from the Centre de Recherche et d'Innovation sur le Sport found that adding simple movements to mental rehearsal could further improve performance by a third.

When they looked at the rates of 'hit' or 'miss' for high jumpers taught to use either internal visual imagery or external visual imagery (such as mimicking the arm movements during the jump), the researchers found that while mental rehearsal improved performance by 35%, mental rehearsal plus 'dry run' movements increased performance by 45%. Dynamic imagery scored the highest for all measured aspects of the jump including approach, curve, impulsion, and bar clearance. It also shortened the number of jumps required

Prof Aymeric Guillot, who led the study, said, "Our study on high jumpers suggests that dynamic imagery may provide a training edge to professional and amateur athletes. This technique may also be of use to people in other disciplines where 'dry run' rehearsals are routinely used."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by BioMed Central Limited, via AlphaGalileo.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Aymeric Guillot, Kevin Moschberger and Christian Collet. Moving while imagining as a new perspective for motor imagery practice: a within-subjects design. Behavioral and Brain Functions, (in press) [link]

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/living_well/~3/wdudKAYV3cQ/130219201523.htm

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Simple view of gravity does not fully explain the distribution of stars in crowded clusters

Feb. 20, 2013 ? Gravity remains the dominant force on large astronomical scales, but when it comes to stars in young star clusters the dynamics in these crowded environments cannot be simply explained by the pull of gravity.

After analyzing Hubble Space Telescope images of star cluster NGC 1818 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, researchers at the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics (KIAA) at Peking University in Beijing found more binary star systems toward the periphery of cluster than in the center -- the opposite of what they expected. The surprising distribution of binaries is thought to result from complex interactions among stars within young clusters.

The team's finding will be published in the March 1 print issue of The Astrophysical Journal and is now online.

In the dynamic environment of a star cluster, high-mass stars are thought to gravitate toward the center of a cluster when they give a 'kick' to lower-mass stars and lose energy, explained KIAA Prof. Richard de Grijs, who led the study. This leads them to sink to the cluster center, while the lower-mass stars gain energy and might move to orbits at greater distances from the cluster core. Astronomers call this process "mass segregation."

However, when the Kavli researchers looked closely at binary star systems within NGC 1818, they found a much more complex picture.

Most stars in clusters actually form in pairs, called "binary stars," which initially are located so close to one another that they interact, resulting in the destruction of some binary systems. Other binaries, meanwhile, swap partners. Astronomers had expected that the same process that leads a cluster's most massive stars to gravitate toward the center would also apply to binaries. This is because together, the stars that make up binaries have more mass on average than a single star.

When the astronomers discovered that there were more binaries the farther from the core they observed, they were initially baffled by this unexpected result. They concluded that so-called "soft" binary systems, in which the two stars orbit each other at rather large distances, are destroyed due to close encounters with other stars near the cluster's center. Meanwhile, "hard" binaries, in which the two stars orbit one another at much shorter distances, survive close encounters with other stars much better, all throughout a cluster. This is why more binaries were seen farther out than close in.

Mapping the radial distribution of binary systems in dense star clusters had never been done before for clusters as young as NGC 1818, which is thought to be 15-30 million years old. This is difficult to do in any case, because there are no young clusters nearby in our own Milky Way galaxy. The new result provides new insights into theoretically predicted processes that govern the evolution of star clusters.

"The extremely dynamic interactions among stars in clusters complicates our understanding of gravity," team member Chengyuan Li said. "One needs to investigate the entire physical environment to fully understand what's happening in that environment. Things are usually more complex than they appear."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by The Kavli Foundation.

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---

Journal Reference:

1. Richard de Grijs, Chengyuan Li, Yong Zheng, Licai Deng, Yi Hu, M. B. N. Kouwenhoven, James E. Wicker. Gravitational Conundrum? Dynamical Mass Segregation Versus Disruption Of Binary Stars In Dense Stellar Systems. The Astrophysical Journal, 2013; 765 (1): 4 DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/765/1/4

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/HSk9CENvF1s/130220163631.htm

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Medicaid expansion pressure is having an effect (Offthekuff)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/286078793?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Mikey Deleasa anuncia que vai abrir os shows dos Jonas Brothers

Como j? postamos antes, o Mikey Deleasa abrir? alguns shows dos Jonas Brothers na Am?rica do Sul. Al?m de assistir o seu show de abertura, teremos a oportunidade de comprar um pacote de Meet&Greet para conhecer, pegar autografo e tirar foto com ele. O valor do M&G est? $25,00, por volta de R$50,00 na moeda brasileira.

Deleasa postou em seu twitter a grande novidade:

Animado em anunciar que eu irei fazer a abertura para os @JonasBrothers na Am?rica do Sul!!! Aqui o link para o meu Meet&Greet!!! http://bit.ly/15pGDmL RT!

Kevin tamb?m postou no seu twitter sobre a novidade:

Estou animado em compartilhar que @MikeyDeleasa ir? fazer alguns meet and greets segue o link #JBSouthAmerica M&G http://bit.ly/15pGDmL

At? o momento somente S?o Paulo, Rio de Janeiro e Porto Alegre est?o na lista de M&G do Mikey, n?o sabemos se ter? em Curitiba e em Belo Horizonte, ou se ainda est?o negociando. Vamos aguardar!

Para comprar o M&G para conhecer o Mikey, clique aqui.

Cr?dito e Tradu??o: JonasBrasil.com

Source: http://jonasbrasil.com/mikey-deleasa-anuncia-que-vai-abrir-os-shows-dos-jonas-brothers/

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UK patient dies from SARS-like coronavirus

LONDON (AP) ? A patient being treated for a mysterious SARS-like virus has died, a British hospital said Tuesday.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, central England, said the coronavirus victim was also being treated for "a long-term, complex unrelated health problem" and already had a compromised immune system.

A total of 12 people worldwide have been diagnosed with the disease, six of whom have died.

The virus was first identified last year in the Middle East. Most of those infected had traveled to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan or Pakistan, but the person who just died is believed to have caught it from a relative in Britain, where there have been four confirmed cases.

The new coronavirus is part of a family of viruses that cause ailments including the common cold and SARS. In 2003, a global outbreak of SARS killed about 800 people worldwide.

Health experts still aren't sure exactly how humans are being infected. The new coronavirus is most closely related to a bat virus and scientists are considering whether bats or other animals like goats or camels are a possible source of infection.

Britain's Health Protection Agency has said while it appears the virus can spread from person to person, "the risk of infection in contacts in most circumstances is still considered to be low."

Officials at the World Health Organization said the new virus has probably already spread between humans in some instances. In Saudi Arabia last year, four members of the same family fell ill and two died. And in a cluster of about a dozen people in Jordan, the virus may have spread at a hospital's intensive care unit.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uk-patient-dies-sars-coronavirus-110739376.html

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Alabama GOP Lawmaker Claims A Baby Is The 'Largest Organ In A Body'

Alabama state Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin (R) is pushing legislation that would impose restrictions on abortion clinics -- a move that she argues is necessary because the procedure is a major surgery that removes the largest "organ" in a woman's body.

?When a physician removes a child from a woman, that is the largest organ in a body,? McClurkin told the Montgomery Advertiser on Thursday. ?That?s a big thing. That?s a big surgery. You don?t have any other organs in your body that are bigger than that.?

A "child" is not a bodily "organ." Indeed, children have organs of their own. The largest human organ is actually the skin. According to National Geographic, adults carry about eight pounds of skin, which is slightly above the average weight of a newborn baby.

McClurkin's argument actually undermines the "personhood" bills being pushed around the country by other like-minded Republican lawmakers. Those pieces of legislation argue that undeveloped zygotes are people too and should therefore be given full legal rights, thus making abortion -- and even certain forms of birth control -- illegal.

McClurkin's bill would impose stringent requirements on abortion clinics that could make it hard for them to keep their doors open. It would, according to the Montgomery Advertiser, "require physicians at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at local hospitals; require clinics to follow ambulatory clinic building codes and make it a felony -- punishable by up to 10 years in prison -- for a nurse, nurse practitioner or physician?s assistant to dispense abortion-inducing medications."

There are five remaining abortion clinics in the state of Alabama. McClurkin and her allies have argued that the bill is not meant to stop abortions, but rather to make sure that patients who do undergo the procedure are kept safe.

Opponents, however, note that studies have shown that abortion is already safe, and McClurkin's bill would likely shut down clinics.

"The real purpose of this bill is to make safe and legal abortion in Alabama unavailable under any circumstance," Nikema Williams, vice president of public policy for Planned Parenthood Southeast, told the Montgomery Advertiser.

Hospitals, for example, aren't required to extend admitting privileges to doctors at abortion clinics, which would make it impossible for those doctors to comply with the bill's restrictions. According to Williams, Mississippi physicians were rejected at seven hospitals.

In the 2012 elections, the Republican Party stumbled after some of its candidates put forward unscientific claims in order to argue against abortion. The most high-profile, of course, was former Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) -- then a candidate for U.S. Senate -- who said that women are physically able to stop themselves from getting pregnant after a "legitimate rape."

(HT: Jezebel)

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/18/mary-sue-mcclurkin-baby-largest-organ_n_2712812.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

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Local real estate broker wants to buy and renovate Centlivre Village ...

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Centlivre Village Apartments was once known as a luxury apartment complex when it was built in the 1960's but it has now become an eyesore, according to the complex's property manager.

"They're just really secure, well-built buildings, and it's a shame to see anybody wanting to tear them down or to have them be vacant like this," said Zach Banohoom, a local real estate broker.

There are currently 495 units in five different buildings. 17 residents currently occupy one of the buildings.

Banohoom said in the last 15 years, this property has lost its luster. He said once the owner turned the complex into Section 8 government housing, that's when the property started going downhill. In addition, there has been crime in the area. He said he's checked with the Fort Wayne Police Department and found out 16 calls to 911 were made to that area in the last 30 days. Even with these stats, he has faith in Centlivre.

"You can have a great community here. Large grounds, park areas, pool, basketball courts, it could really be prime place to live just north of town," he said. "For people who are looking for an alternative for the high rents downtown, they're still close."

There have been several attempts to get state and federal funding to help renovate all the complexes, but all attempts have been denied. The owner, who lives in California, is looking to sell the property for $3.5 million. Banohoom said there's only one way to buy and renovate Centlivre Village.

"I think there will be issues getting private funding, but I think it's the last resort," he said.

Banohoom is currently raising money through private investors and community members. He is looking to raise $5 million but estimates it will take between $10 and $15 million to bring all 495 units up-to-date.

Anyone interested in becoming a private investor or in the progress being made can visit www.rally.org/rebuildcentlivre or www.facebook.com/rebuildcentlivre.

Source: http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/local/local-real-estate-broker-wants-to-buy-and-renovate-centlivre-village-apts

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Masked intruders raid Greek gold mining company

SKOURIES, Greece (AP) ? About 40 masked attackers raided the facilities of a prospective gold mine in northern Greece overnight Sunday, setting machinery and offices alight, authorities said.

A police officer said employees told them the intruders tied up two security guards and doused them with gasoline, threatening to set them on fire. One of the guards was kicked and sought hospital treatment for bruises and respiratory problems, while the remaining 10 guards employed by the company at the facility fled, the officer said on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media.

There has long been opposition to the prospect of a gold mine and processing plant being built at Skouries in the Halkidiki peninsula, with some residents objecting to what they say will be the destruction of the environment and of pristine forest in the area, leading to the loss of tourism and other local activities such as farming, the rearing of livestock and fishing.

The mining company, Hellas Gold, is 95 percent owned by Canadian mining company Eldorado Gold Inc. The Greek government has been eager for the foreign investment as it struggles through a deep financial crisis. But the dispute has led to frequent protests in the area, with tear gas and firebombs used and residents trading accusations with the company about heavy-handed reactions and the use of violence.

"Hellas Gold SA regretfully announces an unprovoked attack at its installations in Skouries ... Considerable material damages were done without ? fortunately ? loss of life. This incidence is an escalation of the attacks against us and is not surprising...The company takes for granted that it is supported by the majority of the locals in Halkidiki ... since it took charge of the mines, in February 2012, it tripled the workforce from 400 to 1,200 permanent employees," the company said in a statement released later Sunday.

"We do not understand these attacks ... we call on the authorities to defend legality and support any investment effort in our country, which is of crucial importance for its economic recovery," the statement says. It adds that the company's measures to ensure environmental safety exceed Greek and EU standards.

The attackers left the area on foot and placed logs on a road to delay firefighters, the officer said. Police believe the attackers used several getaway vehicles stationed some distance from the mine site, the officer said.

Police said they have detained 27 people for questioning early Sunday morning but all were subsequently released.

In a later statement Sunday evening, police said they have detained a further four persons and are looking for four more. They say they have also found a full face mask, a surgical mask and bloodstains. Forensics experts are examining evidence at the site.

Mine's supporters say that 1,200 jobs have already been created in an area that is especially hard hit by long-term unemployment. About 5,000 people also applied for an additional 200 jobs at the mine, said Giorgos Arvanitis, general secretary of the local miners' union.

"Who are they who come here and burn everything and threaten our lives?" Angelos Deliyovas, a mine employee told reporters Sunday. "We care for our livelihood and our lives. We have families and kids. The state should tell us what they are going to do about this."

"Tying employees with ropes and threatening (to burn) them, this is fascism. We will not let this pass by," says Arvanitis.

The Skouries project is the latest in a complex of mining facilities in the area. Hellas Gold holds mining licenses for an area covering 317 square kilometers (122 square miles) with proven and probable reserves of lead, zinc, silver, gold and copper.

Many see the foreign investment as vital to helping Greece emerge from its economic morass, where a quarter of the workforce unemployed and the economy heading into a sixth year of recession.

"Without the company, the game is over (for the local economy)," Deliyovas said. "Those who try to shut this project, they will find us on the other side."

Opponents also argue that unlike many other countries, the Greek state gets no royalties from mine concessions other than taxes and jobs. Concessions granted in 2004 for Stratoni, one of the Halkidiki mines that is currently operating and is near Skouries, are valid until 2026 and can be renewed twice for 25 years each time, free of charge.

Opponents say the new mine, which will consist of an open pit, tunnels beneath, and processing plant, will destroy the forest and contaminate groundwater. The company rejects these claims, saying it will refill and replant the open pit once the ore has been extracted, and that all necessary care is being taken not to pollute the environment.

"We (the employees) live here; we are the first ones who want to protect the environment," Deliyovas said.

Eldorado Gold did not immediately respond to requests for comment or details about the raid.

______________

Demetris Nellas contributed to this report from Athens, Greece.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/masked-intruders-raid-greek-gold-mining-company-104330054--finance.html

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