Must See HDTV (November 28th - December 4th)

Welcome to the midseason break -- while many shows are either already on hiatus or getting ready for one, cable favorites like The Closer and Rizzoli & Isles are just getting restarted. Of course, given the season that's not all there is to watch with a slew of movie debuts and one-off events like the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and Grammy nominations taking place as well. Check below for the highlights this week, followed after the break by our weekly listings of what to look out for in TV, Blu-ray and videogames.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams
This week is a good one for 3D fans, in theaters Martin Scorsese's Hugo is racking up the acclaims for its integration of effects and story, while at home viewers can finally experience Werner Herzog's trek into the Chauvet Caves of South France, exposing the oldest known human drawings. The entire documentary is filmed in 3D to help bring the shape and depth of the cave paintings alive, and by all accounts it's effective. Since you're probably not on the (very short list) of people who will ever be allowed access to the cave and its delicate relics, this is your best shot at taking a step 35,000 years into the past at an entirely different era of humankind. Check out the trailer after the break, but after seeing this one in theaters earlier this year we can definitely say 3D is the only way to watch.
(November 29th, $18.99 on Amazon)

College Football
The last week of the college football season means everything comes down to these games to decide conference championships and who goes on to which bowl games. From the Big East being decided by the result of West Virginia vs. South Florida, to a couple of brand new conference championship games for the Pac-12 and Big Ten, to the always classic ACC and SEC football championships, and even a few rivalry games like Baylor/Texas and Oklahoma/Oklahoma State -- it's all here. No matter which team you root for there will be something at stake this weekend, so arrange your schedule accordingly.

The Take
After jumping into the original programming game earlier this year with Moby Dick, Encore is ready to push The Take, a British crime drama. Tom Hardy (Inception, Bronson, The Dark Knight Rises) stars as Freddie Jackson, an ex-con fresh out of prison who is trying to take over London's underworld with the help of the rest of his similarly crooked family. As you can tell by the name, the theme here is that everyone and everything is available for a price, we're willing to spend an hour of our time and see if this is a series worth watching thanks to its strong cast, check out a quick trailer embedded after the break.
(December 2nd, Encore, 9PM)

Continue reading Must See HDTV (November 28th - December 4th)

Must See HDTV (November 28th - December 4th) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/28/must-see-hdtv-november-28th-december-4th/

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Obama pops into bookstore, backs small businesses (AP)

WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama has pitched in to help small businesses get into the holiday shopping season.

The president took his daughters, Malia and Sasha, along on a shopping run to a bookstore a few blocks from the White House.

He says he made the visit because it's "small business Saturday" and he wanted to support a small business.

The retail industry is encouraging shoppers to patronize mom-and-pop businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It's a counterpoint to Black Friday and the sales and special deals offered by department stores and other large retailers.

The Obamas walked out with a selection of books including "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever" and "Descent into Chaos: The U.S. and the Disaster in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111126/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_shopping

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Sickle cell anemia as malaria defense

Sickle cell anemia causes pain, fatigue and delayed growth, all because of a lack of enough healthy red blood cells. And yet genetic mutations that cause it ? recessive genes for the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin protein ? have survived natural selection because they also seem to provide a natural defense against malaria. Scientists have long known this, and they have long wondered how it worked.

In a paper published this month in the journal Science, researchers describe their look into how mutated hemoglobin genes defend their cells against attacks by the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Study lead author Marek Cyrklaff, an electron microscopist and molecular biologist at Heidelberg University in Germany, explained the results.

How dangerous is this malaria parasite?

There are a large number of casualties every year ? something like 500 million new infections and approximately 1 [million] to 2 million people who die every year. Of the various malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum is the most virulent of all.

When infected or damaged, red blood cells are normally supposed to be removed by the spleen or the liver. But the parasite inside the infected red blood cell sends molecules called adhesins to the cell's surface to make the red blood cell adhere to the blood capillaries, to make it sticky. So the infected cells do not get cleaned out of the blood circulation because they stay in the microvasculature, in the capillaries of the other organs. This is the strategy of the pathogen to survive and multiply.

The invaded red blood cells stick to the epithelium, to the capillaries, and block blood circulation to vital organs like the brain, or the placenta in pregnant women. Very often, this leads to death.

How does the parasite achieve this?

For the first time, we observed the role of what is known as the actin cytoskeleton in the process. Actin is a protein that is one of the skeletal elements in every cell; normally, among other tasks, these actin networks are responsible for maintaining the shape of the cell.

When the malaria parasite invades the red blood cells it hijacks the actin cytoskeleton and uses it to build a cable system out of actin filaments to carry the adhesins to the cell's surface.

Until now, the role of this actin cytoskeleton was not really proven. Our work is the first to show that actin is involved.

Where does sickle cell disease come in?

Some part of the human population has a mutation to their hemoglobin, which is the protein in the red blood cell that carries oxygen. Often, people of sub-Saharan African origins have two copies of this mutated gene, which leads to severe sickle cell disease.

Individuals with that disease suffer a lot, because their abnormally shaped, nonflexible blood cells block blood circulation and deliver less oxygen to the body. But, on the other hand, this trait is beneficial to humans because it prevents the most severe symptoms of malaria, including death. So throughout history, during endemic times of malaria, people who carried such mutations to the hemoglobin code had much better chances of survival.

For people with one normal gene and one mutated gene, the Plasmodium parasite makes itself very comfortable in the cells that they have. These patients also get the typical symptoms of malaria ? the recurring fever, anemia and so on ? but they do not die. This is an advantage from carrying the sickle cell gene ? which is why the mutation has survived in the population.

This has been known for a relatively long time, but the mechanism of this protection has not been understood. So we took sickle cells from sickle cell anemia patients; we infected them with Plasmodium parasites, put them in an electron microscope and studied this actin cytoskeleton.

Rather than the long cables of actin you would see in a normal infected red blood cell, in sickle cells we see actin filaments that are shorter, that are somehow not fully developed. In sickle cells, for some reason, the parasite is not able to form the fully functional actin network in the host cell.

Can we use these findings to defend against the parasite?

This is still in the area of basic science. However, our findings shed light on new and hitherto uncharted territory in the complex interactions between the malaria pathogen and its host. The logical step now is to identify the factors involved in this natural protection, and future studies will aim to develop inhibitors. But before we succeed in an efficient antimalarial strategy, it will take more years of work.

This interview was edited for space and clarity.

amina.khan@latimes.com

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/yVlB6Kvn27A/la-sci-sickle-cell-malaria-20111126,0,4453035.story

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Giffords serves Thanksgiving meal at Ariz. base (AP)

TUCSON, Ariz. ? U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords helped serve a Thanksgiving meal to service members and retirees at a military base in her hometown.

Giffords arrived in the dining hall at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson at midday Thursday wearing a ball cap and an apron with her nickname of "Gabby" sewn on the front. She was accompanied by her retired astronaut husband, Mark Kelly, who also donned an apron.

Giffords used only her left hand as she served, a sign that physical damage remains from the injuries she suffered when she was shot in January.

Kelly supported her from her left side as she worked the turkey station on the serving line. He served ham.

The event marked the first time Giffords has met with her constituents since the shooting. After serving dinner, she mingled with service members, exchanging pleasantries and mostly one-word greetings and responses.

She did tell Airman 1st Class Millie Gray, of Kansas City, Mo., "Happy Thanksgiving, thank you for your service."

Gray said she had intended to only grab a plate and head back to her dorm to eat, until she heard that Giffords was going to be there.

"She's such an inspiration and her story is so inspirational, it really made me proud. I felt very proud and very humble," Gray said. "It just feels really good to see that she is out here supporting the troops, and just continuing to be an inspiration and a strong role model for Americans in general.

"She was very warm, asked how our meal was, which, of course, was amazing. The food is awesome," Gray said. "She and her husband were very, just delightful and asked a lot of questions. It was just very warm-hearted, and I told her she was an inspiration and she was very thankful for that."

Giffords and Kelly left after less than an hour.

Giffords has been undergoing intensive rehabilitation at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston as she recovers from a gunshot wound to the head. She was among 19 people shot Jan. 8 as she met with constituents outside a Tucson supermarket. Six people died.

The congresswoman arrived in Tucson on Tuesday evening from Houston for a private visit with her parents and other family members and friends.

"It's always special to have a member of Congress come and spend time with the troops and show support," said Brig. Gen Jon Norman, acting commander of the the 12th Air Forces, Southern. "But after everything that she's been through, it's a little bit more special."

Giffords' staff said base officials originally asked a member of the congresswoman's staff to take part in the annual Thanksgiving dinner. When the staff member told Giffords about the event, the congresswoman decided she wanted to go herself.

Giffords previously returned to Tucson for the Father's Day and Labor Day weekends.

___

Christie reported from Phoenix.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/usmilitary/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111124/ap_on_re_us/us_congresswoman_shot_thanksgiving

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Germany arrests another neo-Nazi group suspect (AP)

BERLIN ? German prosecutors say police have arrested a man on charges he supported a neo-Nazi terror group that is believed to have killed 10 people and carried out several attacks over more than a decade.

The Federal Prosecutors' Office said in a statement Thursday that a police special operations team arrested the 32-year-old German citizen near Berlin in a morning raid.

They say police are also searching four apartments in different cities.

The man, identified only as Andre E., is suspected of being an accessory to crimes, inciting racial hatred, and supporting the far-right terrorist group.

Police arrested one other alleged supporter earlier this month. One of the group's suspected founders is also in custody while two others died in an apparent murder-suicide earlier this month.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111124/ap_on_re_eu/eu_germany_far_right

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Cricket unveils ZTE Chorus, its third Muve Music smartphone

We're not saying much, but a little bird told us about this travesty months and months ago. Now, it seems that Cricket is ready to act on its plans, and well, here's the ZTE Chorus. It's certainly a handsome device, but sadly, there's not a whole lot going on underneath the hood. It combines a 3.2-inch 400 x 240 (WQVGA) resistive touch display with a 600MHz CPU, a 2 megapixel camera and a 1000mAh battery. Seeking redemption, the Chorus is the third smartphone in Cricket's stable to offer Muve Music access, and its $40 price tag (after some hefty rebates) is nothing to sneeze at, but really, even without contract, don't saddle yourselves down with this one, folks. The Samsung Vitality is a much better device, costs only two Jacksons more, and is free of all that self-loathing buyer's remorse. Yes, we hear the chorus, but why not travel to the beat of a different drum? If you haven't been fully dissuaded, you'll find the complete PR after the break.

Continue reading Cricket unveils ZTE Chorus, its third Muve Music smartphone

Cricket unveils ZTE Chorus, its third Muve Music smartphone originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/Dsa7wGgscMI/

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16 Quirky Gadget Gifts for the Holidays (Mashable)

Need some ideas about what to get your tech-obsessed friends and family members this holiday season? Browse through our gallery to discover 16 quirky gadgets.

SEE ALSO: 16 Sustainable Gifts for the Eco-Minded Techie

[More from Mashable: Lady Gaga?s Thanksgiving Show Features 8 Intimate Performances [SNEAK PEEK]]

What else is hot on the holiday techie horizon? Let us know in the comments below!

[More from Mashable: Why Journalists Must Earn the Right to Teach Old Media New Tricks [VIDEO]]

This story originally published on Mashable here.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/mashable/20111124/tc_mashable/16_quirky_gadget_gifts_for_the_holidays

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Video: Dust-up: Two boys and a bag of flour

With so many Americans baking, and roasting, and slaving over a hot stove for the Thanksgiving holiday, we thought you'd get a smile out of seeing what two little boys can cook up with a simple bag of flour. NBC?s Anne Thompson reports.

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/45409395/

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Western states step up sanctions on Iran (Reuters)

LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) ? The United States and European Union are set to impose more sanctions on Iran, with Britain on Monday banning dealings with the central bank and France calling for measures on an "unprecedented scale" over Tehran's nuclear program.

The steps come in response to a November 8 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that presented intelligence suggesting Iran had worked on designing an atomic bomb and may still be secretly carrying out related research. Iran says its nuclear work is entirely peaceful.

The range of unilateral steps planned by Western powers reflects the difficulty of persuading Russia and China not to veto further measures at the U.N. Security Council, where they have supported four previous sanctions resolutions.

While Britain ordered its financial institutions to stop all business with Iran, a source familiar with the sanctions said the steps would not directly target trade in Iranian oil.

"We believe that the Iranian regime's actions pose a significant threat to the UK's national security and the international community. Today's announcement is a further step to preventing the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons," said British finance minister George Osborne.

The United States has not bought Iranian oil since 1995, but it appeared unlikely the U.S. Treasury would try to now cut off the Iranian banking system entirely, a move that could disrupt global energy markets and harm U.S. economic recovery.

A U.S. official said the Treasury Department planned to designate Iran as an area of "primary money laundering concern" on Monday, a move allowing it to take steps to isolate the Iranian financial sector further.

The United States is also expected to unveil sanctions against Iran's petrochemical sector on Monday, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday.

It was unclear exactly what steps the U.S. Treasury plans, but the measures, which the U.S. official said were to be announced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, appeared designed as a warning about the risks of dealing with Iran's financial institutions.

EU governments could reach a preliminary deal on Tuesday to add about 190 Iranian people and entities to a list of those targeted by asset freezes and travel bans, diplomats said.

Canada will immediately ban the export to Iran of all goods used in the petrochemical, oil and gas industry as part of an international sanctions package, the government said on Monday.

But France called for much stronger action.

"As Iran steps up its nuclear program, refuses negotiation and condemns its people to isolation, France advocates new sanctions on an unprecedented scale to convince Iran that it must negotiate," said a statement from President Nicolas Sarkozy's office.

"France therefore proposes to the European Union and its member states, the United States, Japan and Canada and other willing countries to take the decision to immediately freeze the assets of the Iranian central bank (and) stop purchases of Iranian oil," it added.

The new EU measures will likely target industries such as shipping and will be formalized at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on December 1, but discussions on possible further steps could take place in the coming days, diplomats said.

"NOOSE TIGHTENING"

Henry Smith, Middle East analyst at the Control Risks consultancy in London, said the British move may not significantly affect Iran's major oil customers.

"It essentially de-legitimizes the country's financial system but in reality it may not make that much practical difference. The Chinese, Indians and others will continue to engage, while many Western multinationals have already pulled out," he said.

Smith said tighter sanctions had appeared more likely than any Western attack to knock out Iran's nuclear facilities. "We wouldn't regard Israel or indeed the U.S. as having the wherewithal to pursue the kind of military action required to destroy Iranian nuclear facilities," he said.

"It's going to affect trade finance which has a derivative effect on oil trade. That seems clear," said John Solomon, director of threat finance research at World-Check, a risk intelligence firm owned by Thomson Reuters.

"The proverbial noose has been tightened and the new sanctions will definitely have an unprecedented chilling effect on Iran's economic dealings globally, not just in Europe, not just in the UK, but even in the Middle East," he said.

U.S. sanctions have already made it extremely difficult for many global oil companies and traders to obtain bank financing to trade Iranian crude, of which less than a third goes to Europe with the rest flowing to China and India.

"A LOSE-LOSE GAME"

The U.S. administration suspects Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons capability under cover of its civilian atomic energy program. Tehran says it has no interest in nuclear arms.

In Tehran, Trade Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari said sanctions were hitting the Iranian economy but warned Western countries they were harming their own interests.

"Sanctions are a lose-lose game in which both sides make a loss. If they don't invest in our oil projects, they will lose an appealing market," Ghazanfari told a news conference before the British announcement.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has often said sanctions have little effect and in some cases make the economy stronger by making Iran find domestic solutions to challenges.

Ghazanfari reiterated that Iran had found alternatives to Western imports and investments, but did not deny the downside.

"Facing hardship in a fight is inevitable. I admit projects will get harder as our trading costs will go up, delays will hit projects and money transfer will get harder," he said.

U.S. officials say there has been a debate within the Obama administration about whether to sanction Iran's central bank, which many Iranian crude importers use to clear transactions.

Despite calls for such sanctions by Democratic and Republican lawmakers, U.S. officials have been reluctant to do so because of the fear that this could cause oil prices to jump, potentially impairing the U.S. economic recovery.

There is also a concern that importers of Iranian oil, including China and India, could be hurt by such a move, thereby antagonizing nations whose support Washington needs.

(Additional reporting by Ramin Mostafavi in Tehran, Peter Apps, Yeganeh Torbati and Dmitry Zhdannikov in London, David Ljunggren in Ottawa, Leigh Thomas in Paris and Justyna Pawlak in Brussels; Writing by David Stamp and Jon Hemming; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/iran/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111121/wl_nm/us_iran_sanctions

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FCC finds AT&T merger not in public interest, Genachowski issues order to hold trial

FCC chairman Julius Genachowski issued a draft order this morning that calls for a hearing to take the AT&T / T-Mobile merger before an Administrative Law Judge. Such a hearing, reminiscent of the one held for the attempted buyout of DirecTV by EchoStar in 2002, would be held once the Department of Justice's litigation is complete and would certainly be another blockade for AT&T to push through. According to the FCC, the Chairman's order is awaiting final approval from the Commission at a later date, and won't be made public until that time. If the order gets the green light and a hearing is held, it'll be done so like a trial -- one involving cross examination, witnesses, rules of evidence and a good 'ol fashioned two-sided duel.

It's no secret that the FCC has raised concerns over the proposed merger, and pushing this order forward understandably reflects that. In fact, during a conference call with media, the FCC expressed fears that the deal would violate antitrust standards and isn't in the public interest, and the Commission cited records showing it would ultimately result in a loss of jobs, contrary to AT&T's claims. Naturally, this means there's one more hoop for the carrier to go through before it can hope to pick up T-Mobile, and it's a biggie; with the FCC and DoJ holding steadfastly against the acquisition, the GSM carrier's chances of success appear to be slimming significantly. Head past the break to see AT&T and Sprint's reactions to the news.

Continue reading FCC finds AT&T merger not in public interest, Genachowski issues order to hold trial

FCC finds AT&T merger not in public interest, Genachowski issues order to hold trial originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[OOC] Web of Lies and Secrets

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McDonald delivers epic knockout of Soto in just 56 seconds at UFC 139

SAN JOSE - Michael McDonald is soft-spoken, well-mannered kid, but when he's in the Octagon, look out. The 20-year-old nearly did permanent damage to Alex Soto with a hellacious knockout finish in the first fight of the Spike broadcast of UFC 139 at the HP Pavilion.

McDonald (14-1, 3-0 UFC) is giving MMA fans a glimpse of what could be on the way from the next generation of fighters who've trained in all disciplines from a young age. He has a good submission game to go with very composed striking. His composure with his hands paid off as Soto charged recklessly in the opening seconds.

Soto (6-1-1, 0-1 UFC) attempted a low kick with his left leg and left his chin exposed. Mcdonald countered with a beautiful overhand right than landed ont he button. Soto went down in a heap, he was out momentarily until McDonald came down hard with another right that actually woke up his opponent.

Soto scrambled to his feet, but his legs were gone. He settled on the cage where McDonald bounced an uppercut off his forehead. Soto dropped down and actually trapped his left leg. He couldn't move. McDonald, showing some real killer instinct landed three more shots to completely prone Soto. The ref jumped in just as McDonald was backing away.

Soto, a near 4-to-1 underdog, took this fight on late notice when Johnny Eduardo pulled out because of a shoulder injury just 10 days ago.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/McDonald-delivers-epic-knockout-of-Soto-in-just-?urn=mma-wp9680

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Eyeing Deal Flow, Bain Capital Ventures Heads West; Opens Silicon Valley Office

Bain Ventures, the Boston-based venture capital arm of private equity firm of Bain Capital, has recently opened a Palo Alto office, the firm's first presence on the West Coast. The new office is being led by Bain partner (and former Trilogy alum) Ajay Agarwal. "We needed to be part of the ecosystem out here, and we want to build a business out here for the long term," he explains. Agarwal says that the Palo Alto office will focus on sourcing Series A opportunities and growth capital for startups, in the range of $3 to $5 million. The fund will be investing out of Bain's $525 million fund.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/ICj5eljdlvg/

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Jason Segel Hosts SNL, Preview Videos

It is Saturday and that means an all new Saturday Night Live, woohoo. This week the host is the super funny Jason Segel and you can see a couple of preview videos below, good stuff I tell you. Jason Segel has the honor of hosting SNL tonight with musical guest Florence + The Machine. Who doesn?t love Jason? I mean the guy is laugh out loud funny. I for one can?t wait to see what he will do as host. Tonight is actually his hosting debut at the hit show, so who the heck knows what is going to happen. Since the show is live we obviously have no idea what the night has in store for viewers but thanks to the below preview videos we can get a little bit of idea of what Jason will bring to the table. The actor along with the musical guest do a number of different spots that will entertain you for sure, although couple of them everyone looks a little awkward but I think that is intentional. I am a huge fan of Segel?s. I think he is awesome. As I am sure you all know he is appearing in the new [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/GLTToilCROQ/

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Crystal Cathedral sees risky future without church

This Oct. 27, 2011 photo shows the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif. As the ministry famous for its ?Hour of Power? television program muddles through bankruptcy, churchgoers face the possibility of seeing the property sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and being forced to move to a new location. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

This Oct. 27, 2011 photo shows the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif. As the ministry famous for its ?Hour of Power? television program muddles through bankruptcy, churchgoers face the possibility of seeing the property sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and being forced to move to a new location. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

This Oct. 27, 2011 photo shows the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif. As the ministry famous for its ?Hour of Power? television program muddles through bankruptcy, churchgoers face the possibility of seeing the property sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and being forced to move to a new location. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) ? The sale of the Crystal Cathedral to the Catholic church could mark an end to the storied televangelist ministry broadcast around the world that came crashing down in hard times.

While the church's spiritual leaders vow to carry on in a new location, the cathedral's own financial expert says it is impossible to see the future once the congregation loses its famed, glass-spired home.

What began more than 50 years ago as a weekly prayer service atop a drive-in movie theater snack bar in Orange County evolved into a televangelist empire broadcasting from the striking sanctuary that became an icon of the Rev. Robert H. Schuller's ministry.

The church raked in millions in donations through its "Hour of Power" television program to pay for the elaborate building and 40-acre grounds in Garden Grove filled with Biblical messages and statues. But it saw revenue plummet in 2008, and despite massive budget cuts, sought bankruptcy protection last year.

Now, congregants question the future of the church without the building they have come to love ? and that has given the ministry its name. And many worry the "Hour of Power" broadcast ? the source of 70 percent of the church's revenue ? is doomed once the congregation moves to a new location that is unfamiliar to viewers and pales in comparison to the glimmering church that lets worshippers see the sky and swaying palm trees through its glass-paned walls.

"People think the ministry isn't about a building. Usually they're right. But that one represents Jesus Christ, positive thinking, and if you believe in yourself and believe in the Lord there isn't anything you can't do," Sherwood Oklejas, a congregant who opposed the diocese's bid, told a federal bankruptcy court judge at a hearing on the church's future. "If the ministry no longer has the Crystal Cathedral to operate from, in my opinion, it will not last at all."

The Crystal Cathedral is selling its property to help pay creditors more than $51 million and emerge from federal bankruptcy protection. After weeks of intense bidding, a federal bankruptcy judge on Thursday night approved the church's sale to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. The diocese plans to use the building designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson as a long-sought countywide cathedral.

Oklejas is one of many congregants who rallied for the church to accept a competing bid on the property from Orange County's Chapman University that would have paid up to $59 million and let them continue using the church ? which they see as critical to their ability to survive.

But the ministry's board of directors flip-flopped at the last minute and instead backed a $57.5 million offer from the diocese, arguing the sale will preserve the campus as a religious, not an educational, institution ? as donors intended.

Under the plan, the Crystal Cathedral will be able to lease the building for up to three years, but then must move to a new location, possibly a smaller Catholic church up the street that the diocese will vacate.

Crystal Cathedral leaders insist the ministry founded by Schuller under the auspices of the Reformed Church in America will survive even without the landmark building, noting its educational programs and efforts to help the homeless will continue ? just at a new location.

"Crystal Cathedral church is not a building. A church is comprised of people who are dedicated to practicing through words and works," senior pastor Sheila Schuller Coleman ? the daughter of the founder ? said in a statement.

Church attorney Marc Winthrop said the congregation could even keep its name, though U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert N. Kwan said he didn't see how that would be possible.

Losing the church is an especially hard hit because the congregation's identity is so tied to the building, said William Dyrness, a professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary.

But religion experts said the Crystal Cathedral's troubles run far deeper than the loss of the campus and stem from Schuller's retirement, an ill-fated attempt to hand over the ministry to his son and the church's failure to adapt to attract younger worshippers.

On the contrary, some said losing the building will force the ministry to do some much needed soul-searching on how it can remain relevant.

"If they stayed in place, they were doomed to slowly dissolve into nothing over time. And if there's any hope for them at all, it is a kind of rebirth out of these ashes," said Scott Thumma, a professor of sociology of religion at the Hartford Institute for Religious Research.

"That Crystal Cathedral has in fact encapsulated them and held them in a crystal prison," he said.

Moving forward, a key challenge will be shoring up the Crystal Cathedral's finances. The church should emerge with close to $7 million in surplus cash from the sale of the property, according to an attorney for the committee of unsecured creditors. But many congregants question whether the "Hour of Power" program can continue to draw viewers ? and donations ? without the iconic setting.

"It's virtually impossible to know what will happen to ministry revenue if the campus changes hands to a non-Protestant religious institution," Michael VanderLey, the church's financial adviser, told the bankruptcy court. "It's just a very uncertain set of potential revenues."

In 2008, the church's revenues plummeted amid a decline in donations and ticket sales for holiday pageants. Church officials blamed the recession, but some experts said the church's leadership struggles alienated members.

VanderLey said the decline in revenue appears to be slowing and the church is poised to reel in $3.5 million in December ? a key month for revenue ? down from $4 million in the same month last year.

But some churchgoers say their ranks are dwindling and will only get smaller once the ministry leaves its beloved building.

Dante Gebel, pastor of the church's Hispanic ministry, wrote on his Facebook page that his growing Spanish-speaking congregation will likely need a larger venue in three years' time such as a nearby stadium or convention center, and he stressed the group's independence from the English-language church.

These days, the Crystal Cathedral's parking lot is empty when worshippers pull up to attend Sunday services, though it was packed just a few years ago, said congregant Rob Ekno, who questioned whether the ministry can survive.

"Anything is possible," he said. "Obviously, we're dealing with a church here, so it's all in God's hands."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-11-18-US-Crystal-Cathedral/id-8408196fd5f145a3bf2f13bed740a13c

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Nearly 1 in 3 US children poor, Census says

WASHINGTON?? The number of children in the United States considered poor rose by 1 million in 2010, the U.S. Census said on Thursday, with nearly one in three of the youngest Americans now living in poverty.

"Children who live in poverty, especially young children, are more likely than their peers to have cognitive and behavioral difficulties, to complete fewer years of education, and, as they grow up, to experience more years of unemployment," the Census said.

In 2010, when the Census survey was conducted, 32.3 percent of children across the country were poor, compared to 30.8 percent in 2009.

That was mainly due to a rise in the number of children living below the federal poverty threshold, defined as an annual income of $22,314 for a family of four, to 15.7 million from 14.7 million in 2009.

The figures reflect the overall state of the economy. The national poverty rate stands at 15.3 percent and the unemployment rate is at 9 percent some two years after the recession that began in 2007 officially ended.

The number of people living in poverty has reached an all-time high in the United States, despite the country's position as one of the wealthiest in the world. Its gross domestic product per capita of $47,184 was 3,095 percent more than India's $1,477 in 2010.

In 24 states and Washington, D.C., more than 20 percent of those up to 17 years old lived at or below the poverty threshold.

Racial gaps
The Census found that the percentage of white children in poverty increased in 25 states in 2010 from the year before.

Overall, "white and Asian children had poverty rates below the national average, while black children had the highest poverty rate at 38.2 percent," it said.

"The poverty rate for Hispanic children was 32.3 percent, and children identified with two or more races had 22.7 percent living in poverty."

Children in some states fared worse than in others.

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"About one of every three children in poverty lived in one of the four most populous states, each of which saw increases in the number and the percentage of children in poverty between 2009 and 2010," the Census said.

There were 2 million children in poverty in California, followed by Texas, where 1.8 million children were considered poor. Slightly less than 1 million children lived in poverty in Florida and New York.

The Census found that the number and percentage of children in poverty rose in 27 states in 2010. Utah's rate increased the most, 11.5 percent.

Among states, Mississippi had the highest proportion of children in poverty, 32.5 percent. In Washington, D.C., and in New Mexico, child poverty rates also neared one-third.

In 10 states child poverty rates are 25 percent or higher, including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.

New Hampshire has the lowest child poverty rate, 10 percent.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45346041/ns/us_news-life/

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Beijing is wary of Obama's assertive China policy (tbo)

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Justin Bieber vs. Mariah Yeater: It's Not Over!

Earlier this week, text messages allegedly sent by Mariah Yeater were leaked to TMZ and seemed to include reference to someone other than Justin Bieber as the father of her child. This revelation took place soon after the accuser dropped her paternity suit against the singer.

So, case closed, right?

Justin Bieber Baby Daddy Debate: The Pulse

YES, says Bieber's attorney, telling E! News: "This information proves Mariah Yeater fabricated the story... Yeater and her co-conspirators hatched this scheme in order to extort money from him and to sell her story to the media. There have been no settlement discussions and there never will be."

NO, says Jeffrey Leving, Yeater's attorney. He believes the messages were "fabricated," adding that "the information I have is these text messages were not sent by her."

Bieber still plans to take a DNA test, sources confirm, in order to end this rumor once and for all.

His manager reiterated in a radio interview with Elvis Duran that there will be NO settlement and, in the same interview, Justin proved that he still has a sense of humor.

"If it was up to me, it would've been a better story - like Justin Bieber went off to South America with this 27-year-old supermodel," he joke. "That would've been an awesome rumor."

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/11/justin-bieber-vs-mariah-yeater-its-not-over/

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Tata Communications, Oman's Nawras launch undersea cable ...

Mumbai, Nov 15 (IANS) Tata Communications, which runs one of the largest telecom cable networks in the world, and Oman-based Nawras Tuesday announced the launch of the Oman-to-India undersea cable network system.

"The undersea cable will be used to instantaneously route voice and data traffic from Oman to Mumbai and onwards to the rest of the world via Tata Global network," Tata Communications said in a regulatory filing.

The cable link offers enormous capacity for broadband and high quality voice services, enabling Nawras to meet the growing demand for international voice and data services from its customers, be it in the form of calls or internet surfing.

"The Middle East is fast establishing itself as an emerging market hotspot for business which brings with it the need for solid infrastructure and associated enterprise services that require high speed bandwidth," said Radwan Moussalli, managing director, Middle East and North Africa, Tata Communications.

"This launch is yet another step in our overall strategy to participate and assist in the rapid development of this key region," he added.

The development forms part of the TGN-Gulf cable project, which will connect the Gulf region to the rest of the world via the Tata Global Network (TGN), providing reliable high-speed bandwidth to all the key cities in the world.

Source: http://pluzmedia.com/news/business-economy/22540/tata-communications,-oman-s-nawras-launch-undersea-cable-network

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US crude supplies shrink by 1.1 million barrels (AP)

NEW YORK ? The nation's crude oil supplies decreased last week, the government said Wednesday.

Crude supplies shrank by 1.1 million barrels, or 0.3 percent, to 337 million barrels, which is 5.8 percent below year-ago levels, the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report.

Analysts expected a decline of 1.5 million barrels for the week ended Nov. 11, according to Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.

Gasoline supplies grew by 1 million barrels, or 0.5 percent, to 205.2 million barrels. That's 1.2 percent below year-ago levels. Analysts expected gasoline supplies to fall by 1.5 million barrels.

Demand for gasoline over the four weeks ended Nov.11 was 5.7 percent lower than a year earlier, averaging 8.6 million barrels a day.

U.S. refineries ran at 84.8 percent of total capacity on average, 2.5 percentage points higher than the prior week. Analysts expected capacity to increase to 82.6 percent.

Supplies of distillate fuel, which include diesel and heating oil, decreased by 1.9 million barrels to 133.7 million barrels. Analysts expected distillate stocks to shrink by 3 million barrels.

Benchmark crude rose $2.42, or 2.4 percent, to $101.80 a barrel in New York.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/energy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111116/ap_on_bi_ge/us_crude_inventories

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Cities with the fewest underwater homeowners

President Obama recently announced he would extend the nation?s mortgage refinancing program in an effort to provide relief to homeowners whose mortgages are worth more than the value of their homes. With 11 million underwater households no one can claim the housing crisis over. However, some regions have survived the crisis better than others. In those areas, home values are either stable or rising, and unemployment is below the national average.

24/7 Wall St. has identified the markets with the least underwater homes. When the housing bubble was in full swing in the beginning of the 2000s, millions of Americans bought new homes at historic high prices. Based on the belief that property values continue to rise, it seemed a good strategy. However, when the housing bubble finally burst and the recession began, home values declined sharply, unemployment skyrocketed, and homeowners could no longer make their mortgage payments.

24/7 Wall St.: American cities sunk by underwater mortgages?

Strong employment and housing markets went hand in hand. Regions that added jobs also had sizzling housing markets. Of course, the housing boom in these areas contributed to further job growth. In places like Las Vegas, which saw major job growth during the the boom, home prices increased by 36 percent during the first half of the decade. When the market collapsed, these regions were hurt the most. The extension of the Home Affordable Modification Program, which is considered a failure by many economists, may provide a shot in the arm to such markets.

It appears the only places that managed to survive this crisis were those that were suffering economically at the time when people were building and buying new homes. These cities, which include Rochester, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh, were in many cases former industrial powerhouses that have been steadily losing jobs for the past 40 years. In these regions, home values remained stable during the crisis and relatively few risky mortgages were taken out on new homes.

Now, these regions, which did not benefit from the nation?s housing boom, are doing better than most. Because fewer homes were built in the last decade and these cities are now adding jobs, prices have remained stable and even increased.

Using data obtained from housing data and analytics firm CoreLogic, 24/7 Wall St. has identified the ten regions built around an urban center ? core-based statistical areas ? with housing markets that had the lowest percent of homes with underwater mortgages. We compared the data to the number of REO sales (sales of homes that had been repossessed) and distressed sales (sales by homeowners who could not continue to make mortgage payments) for the same regions. We obtained unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We obtained data on homes built since 2000 from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Here is 24/7 Wall St.?s ten cities with the fewest underwater mortgages.

10. Honolulu, Hawaii

• Percentage of homes underwater: 6.58
• 12-Month home price change: +6.97 percent
• Unemployment: 5.5 percent
• Homes built since 2000: 11 percent

The value of homes in the Hawaii region has gone up nearly 7 percent in the past 12 months, which is one of the biggest price increases in the country, according to enterprise risk management firm VeroFORECAST. Honolulu owes its strong housing market to a low unemployment rate ? just 5.5 percent ? as well as a general high demand for homes. Properties on the island have a much higher value than the U.S. average. According to the Census Bureau?s housing statistics, 58.3 percent of Honolulu?s homes are worth $500,000 or more, compared to the national average of just 10.5 percent.

24/7 Wall St.: America?s worst housing markets poised to recover

9. Pittsburgh, Pa.

• Percentage of homes underwater: 5.93
• 12-Month home price change: +4.39 percent
• Unemployment: 7.8 percent
• Homes built since 2000: 6.7 percent

About 94 percent of all homes in the Pittsburgh region are more valuable than their mortgages. Homeowners in the region are fiscally sound. The 7.8 percent unemployment rate is significantly lower than the national average of 9.1 percent. In addition, the costs associated with owning a home ? mortgages, insurance payments, and taxes ? are lower than the national average. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, many are choosing to buy homes in the region because housing is affordable and foreclosures are relatively low. Last year, Forbes named Pittsburgh as the best place to buy a Home. This year, the city was rated second.

8. Oklahoma City, Okla.

• Percentage of homes underwater: 5.71
• 12-Month home price change: +0.83 percent
• Unemployment: 5 percent
• Homes built since 2000: 15.8 percent

Oklahoma City was rated by Forbes as the fourth best city to buy a home, citing the region?s good conditions for employment. Among the 372 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the U.S., Oklahoma City has the 11th lowest unemployment rate, at just 5 percent. According to NewsOK, despite the relatively good condition of the local housing market, regional officials are still thankful for the changes to the Affordable Refinance Program.

7. Lancaster, Pa.

• Percentage of homes underwater: 5.44
• 12-Month home price change: -1.83 percent
• Unemployment: 7.3 percent (tied for 93rd lowest)
• Homes built since 2000: 10.6 percent

Lancaster, located in Pennsylvania?s Dutch country, has one of the healthiest housing markets in the country, with just 5.44 percent of homes with underwater mortgages. The region has low unemployment, and 95.5 percent of homes are occupied, compared to a national rate of 86.9 percent. This year, Forbes rated Lancaster as the 7th best place to buy a home, citing low unemployment and affordable housing.

24/7 Wall St.: America?s richest (and poorest) states

6. Huntsville, Ala.

• Percentage of homes underwater: 5.30
• 12-Month home price change: -4.39 percent
• Unemployment: 8.1 percent
• Homes built since 2000: 21.7 percent

Only 9.1 percent of home sales in Hunstville, Alabama are made by owners who can no longer afford to make mortgage payments. Part of the reason for this is the relatively small expenses owners have to incur to keep the home, such as mortgage and insurance payments. In 53 percent of the region?s homes, these costs for homeowners are less than 20 percent of their annual income. In the U.S. as a whole, only 33 percent of homes are in that favorable position.

5. Fayetteville, N.C.

• Percentage of homes underwater: 4.56
• 12-Month home price change: +1.14 percent
• Unemployment: 6.6 percent
• Homes built since 2000: 21.6 percent

The expenses that come with owning a home include mortgage and insurance payments, real estate taxes, and heating costs. Nationwide, nearly 30 percent of homeowners pay more than 2,000 or more on such expenses. In Fayetteville, North Carolina, just 10 percent pay that much. Unemployment in the region is relatively high, at 10.4 percent, but low costs and rising home values in the region help keep more than 95 percent of the region?s mortgages above water.

4. Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.

• Percentage of homes underwater: 4.22
• 12-Month home price change: 3.92 percent
• Unemployment: 7.3 percent
• Homes built since 2000: 5.3 percent

Buffalo home values have been declining for years as businesses have slowly left the region. However, the housing market is beginning to pick up in the region. As reported in USA Today, the Buffalo housing market remained sluggish during the housing bubble, and so it didn?t suffer from the collapse most of the country experienced. In the article, Bonnie Clement, a local realtor, explains: ?We?ve never had a market that has gone way over the top, and, therefore, we don?t have a market that?s now falling down.? In the past 12 month period, home values have increased by nearly 4 percent.

24/7 Wall St.: America?s ten largest newspapers

3. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y.

• Percentage of homes underwater: 4.01
• 12-Month home price change: -0.90 percent
• Unemployment: 6.7 percent
• Homes built since 2000: 9.6 percent

Just 4.01 percent of mortgaged homes in the Albany region are worth less than their mortgages. Like Buffalo, the region didn?t experience much of a housing boom with the rest of the nation, and so the market hasn?t suffered as much in the aftermath. Only 9.6 percent of currently standing homes were built in the past ten years, compared to a national average of 14.9 percent. Unemployment in the region is just 6.7 percent, and just 2.58 percent of home sales were made because owners could no longer afford upkeep.

2. El Paso, Texas

• Percentage of homes underwater: 3.89
• 12-Month home price change: +5.73 percent
• Unemployment: 10.6 percent
• Homes built since 2000: 19.6 percent

In the past 12 months, home prices in El Paso have increased by 5.73 percent, while prices nationwide have dropped by 4.4 percent. The housing market in the region, according to the El Paso Times, is exceedingly tight. Just 8.2 percent of homes are vacant, compared to a national rate of 13.1 percent. According to the article, El Paso is seeing ?Historically low home mortgage rates, including a drop below 4 percent for the first time ever early this month?? This has helped increase home value in the area.

1. Rochester, N.Y.

• Percentage of homes underwater: 3.41
• 12-Month home price change: +0.25 percent
• Unemployment: 7.1 percent
• Homes built since 2000: 7.2 percent

Just 3.41 percent of mortgages in the Rochester, N.Y. region are underwater mortgages. This is the lowest rate in the country. The story for Rochester is very much the same as its regional neighbors Albany and Buffalo. The housing boom failed to reach the area, and so very few new homes were built. In the U.S., 8.8 percent of all homes were built between 2000 and 2005. In Rochester, just 4.1 percent of current homes were built during that period. Foreclosure rates have been extremely low in the region. In the past recorded 12-month period, just 2.89 percent of home sales were of formerly foreclosed-upon homes.

Copyright ? 2011 24/7 Wall St. Republished with permission.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45229431/ns/business-real_estate/

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