Self help books and websites can benefit severely depressed patients

Feb. 26, 2013 ? Patients with severe depression show at least as good clinical benefit from 'low-intensity' interventions, such as self help books and interactive websites, as less severely ill patients, according to new research by The University of Manchester.

Depression is a major cause of disability worldwide and effective management of this is a key challenge for health care systems.

The study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), confirmed evidence that 'low-intensity' interventions provide significant clinical benefit. Initial severity of depression is one of the key variables determining who gets 'low' or 'high' intensity treatment, but this is largely based on epidemiological studies and clinical experience rather than high quality evidence.

Researchers from an international collaboration carrid out a meta-analysis of several studies involving 2470 patients with depression, all treated in a non-hospital setting. All studies were from the year 2000 or later with a sample size of more than 50 patients. The mean age in all studies was 35-45, and studies included patients with lower levels of depressive symptoms, as well as those with quite severe depression.

'Low-intensity' treatment was defined as interventions designed to help patients manage depressive symptoms such as self-help books or interactive websites, often with limited guidance and support from a health professional. Self-help groups were excluded.

The researchers found that patients with more severe depression at baseline derive "at least as good clinical benefit from 'low-intensity' interventions as less severely ill patients." They recommend including 'low-intensity' interventions in the first step of treating severely ill patients and encouraging the majority of patients to use them as the initial treatment option.

Professor Peter Bower, from The University of Manchester who led the research, said: "To better manage depression in the community, many services seek to provide simple forms of psychological therapy (so called 'low intensity' interventions) to depressed patients. We assessed whether more severely ill patients demonstrated better or worse treatment effects from 'low-intensity' treatments. We found no clinically meaningful differences in treatment effects between more and less severely ill patients receiving 'low-intensity' interventions. Patients with more severe depression can be offered 'low-intensity' treatments as part of a stepped care model."

The researchers also say that an important research question for the future is whether low-intensity treatments are cost-effective and if "initial experience with low intensity interventions could act as a barrier to further treatment."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Manchester.

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Journal Reference:

1. Peter Bower et al. Influence of initial severity of depression on effectiveness of low intensity interventions: meta-analysis of individual patient data. BMJ, 2013; 346 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.f540

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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/mind_brain/mental_health/~3/EpZw92v9ku4/130226194010.htm

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Storm that buried Plains slams Great Lakes region

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A powerful winter storm that buried the U.S. Plains and left at least three people dead moved on Tuesday into the southern Great Lakes region, where it snarled the evening commute in Chicago and Milwaukee, created near-whiteout conditions and forced hundreds of flight cancellations.

Much of the region was under either a winter storm warning or a winter weather advisory, according to the National Weather Service, as the system's potent blend of wet snow, sleet and strong winds bore down on north central Illinois, southern Wisconsin and northern Indiana and Ohio.

The most intense snowfall and greatest accumulations were expected through Tuesday night, the NWS said. With winds gusting up to 35 mph, near-whiteout conditions were reported in some rural areas, the agency said.

More than 500 flights were canceled at Chicago's O'Hare International and Midway airports alone, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. Those flights that managed to take off or land faced delays of up to an hour.

The Illinois Tollway agency, which maintains nearly 300 miles of highway around Chicago, deployed its fleet of more than 180 snowplows to keep the roads clear.

As the afternoon rush hour began in Chicago, blowing snow reduced visibility and created treacherous driving conditions, doubling average travel times in and out of the city on major expressways, according to Traffic.com.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation warned that much of Interstate 94 between the Illinois state line and Milwaukee was ice covered.

In Chicago, the city's public school system, the third-largest school district in the country, canceled all after-school sporting events, including six state regional basketball games.

The snowstorm may have discouraged some voters in Chicago and its suburbs from voting in a special election primary to replace indicted Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., who resigned the seat in November citing health concerns.

Forecasters with the National Weather Service said the storm would continue to move eastward, dumping 3 to 5 inches of wet snow on Detroit overnight and into Wednesday morning.

It is then expected to move slowly into the Northeast, largely avoiding the cities of New York, Boston and Washington, D.C., but bringing snow to parts of New York state, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, said Brian Korty, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

"It's going to linger for a long time over portions of the Northeast," Korty said.

Parts of New York and Pennsylvania could get a "sloppy mix" of snow, ice and rain. Already, ice accumulations were causing sporadic power outages across higher terrains of western Maryland, eastern West Virginia and far western Virginia, said Erik Pindrock, a meteorologist with AccuWeather.

"It's a very multi-faceted storm," Pindrock said. "It's a whole potpourri of wintry weather."

In Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas, where the storm hit earlier, residents were digging out.

Highways in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles and parts of Kansas remained closed because of heavy and drifting snow.

Amarillo, Texas, saw 19 inches of snow Sunday night into Monday, the third-largest snowfall ever in that city, Pindrock said.

The storm contributed to at least three deaths, two in Kansas and one in Oklahoma.

A woman died and three passengers were injured Monday night on Interstate 70 when their pickup truck rolled off the icy roadway in Ellis County, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback said. Earlier Monday, a man was killed when his car veered off the interstate in Sherman County near the Colorado border, he said.

"We urge everyone to avoid travel and be extremely cautious if you must be on the roads," said Ernest Garcia, superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol.

In northern Oklahoma, one person died when the roof of a home partially collapsed in the city of Woodward, said Matt Lehenbauer, the city's emergency management director.

"We have roofs collapsing all over town," said Woodward Mayor Roscoe Hill Jr. "We really have a mess on our hands."

Kansas City was also hard hit by the storm, which left snowfalls of 7 to 13 inches in the metro region on Tuesday, said Chris Bowman, meteorologist for the National Weather Service. Another 1 to 3 inches is forecast for Tuesday evening and nearly two-thirds of the flights at Kansas City International Airport Tuesday afternoon were canceled.

In addition to the winter storm, National Weather Service forecasters on Tuesday issued tornado watches across central Florida and up the eastern coast to South Carolina.

(Reporting by Kevin Murphy in Missouri, David Bailey in Minneapolis, James B. Kelleher in Chicago and Corrie MacLaggan in Texas; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Barbara Goldberg, Nick Zieminski, Dan Grebler, Phil Berlowitz and Eric Walsh)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/storm-buried-plains-slams-great-lakes-region-025456755.html

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Report: Indian casinos revenue up slightly in 2011

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) ? A report says Indian casinos posted higher revenue in 2011 despite a weak economy.

The study, "Casino City's Indian Gaming Industry Report," released Wednesday, says that revenue rose 3 percent, to $27.4 billion.

Indian casinos account for about 43 percent of total casino gambling revenue, just slightly less than 45 percent for commercial casinos. Race track casinos account for the rest.

Indian gambling was slowing before the start of the recession in late 2007 due to legislation, regulations and court decisions. Alan Meister, the industry report's author, says restrictions include the types of games offered by Indian casinos, the states where gambling is permitted and other limits.

The report says the outlook for Indian gambling looks healthy because the economy is expected to continue improving, restoring consumer spending.

In addition, many tribes are upgrading, expanding and replacing casinos.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/report-indian-casinos-revenue-slightly-2011-080755362--finance.html

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Italy debt auction to show cost of political crisis

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy will pay the price for its latest political crisis with higher borrowing costs on Wednesday when it sells longer-dated bonds to investors worried about an inconclusive election.

The vote cast over the weekend gave none of the political parties a parliamentary majority, raising the risk of prolonged instability and a rekindling of the euro zone crisis.

The results, notably the dramatic surge of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement of comic Beppe Grillo, left the center-left bloc with a majority in the lower house but without the numbers to control the upper chamber.

"Markets have been underpricing Italian political risk for months and are now struggling to come to terms with an extremely unstable and fluid political situation," said Nicholas Spiro, managing director of Spiro Sovereign Strategy.

After a sell-off in Italian bonds and stocks on Tuesday, investors on tenterhooks in early trade on Wednesday. In the grey market, the yield on the new 10-year bond maturing May 2023 was trading at 4.97 percent after briefly topping 5 percent, up from 4.90 percent late on Tuesday.

If confirmed at the auction, that level would be the highest since September 2012. At the end-January sale, Rome paid 4.17 percent to sell 10-year paper.

"The market is very nervous, every piece of news could trigger a violent reaction," said a Milan trader.

The premium investors demand to hold 10-year Italian bonds over equivalent German Bunds stood at 345 basis points after earlier touching a peak at 350 basis points.

The political stalemate could halt reforms needed to spur growth and help Italy cut its massive 2 trillion euro debt pile.

As stunned parties look for a way forward after the messy result, the treasury will seek to sell between 3 billion and 4 billion euros of a new 10-year bond and between 1.75 and 2.5 billion euros of five-year paper.

"Italy's debt market is facing its most serious challenge since the announcement of the European Central Bank's bond-buying program last summer," said Spiro.

On Tuesday Rome's six-month borrowing costs rose by 0.51 percent compared to a similar sale at the end of January and reached their highest level since October 2012, shortly after the ECB pledged to buy bonds of struggling euro zone countries.

The risk is that the political stalemate may reverse a cautious comeback of foreign investors into Italy's debt that started after by the ECB's bond-buying pledge.

"If political parties are not able to give in the short term a strong signal of change, foreign banks could reduce their activity in the country," Guido Rosa, head of the Italian association of foreign lenders, told Reuters.

The treasury had taken advantage of a benign environment at the beginning of this year to cover more than 20 percent of its total 2013 refunding needs.

(Editing by Anna Willard)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/italy-debt-auction-show-cost-political-crisis-000404703.html

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NJ's highest court hears 'joking judge' appeal

Vince A. Sicari, a South Hackensack, N.J., Municipal Judge, performs at Carolines on Broadway comedy club Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, in New York. New Jersey's Supreme Court is going to begin the process of deciding whether Vince Sicari can do both or has to give one up. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Vince A. Sicari, a South Hackensack, N.J., Municipal Judge, performs at Carolines on Broadway comedy club Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, in New York. New Jersey's Supreme Court is going to begin the process of deciding whether Vince Sicari can do both or has to give one up. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Vince A. Sicari, a South Hackensack, N.J., Municipal Judge, performs at Carolines on Broadway comedy club Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, in New York. New Jersey's Supreme Court is going to begin the process of deciding whether Vince Sicari can do both or has to give one up. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Vince A. Sicari, a South Hackensack, N.J., Municipal Judge, performs at Carolines on Broadway comedy club Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, in New York. New Jersey's Supreme Court is going to begin the process of deciding whether Vince Sicari can do both or has to give one up. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Vince A. Sicari, a South Hackensack, N.J., Municipal Judge, performs at Carolines on Broadway comedy club Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, in New York. New Jersey's Supreme Court is going to begin the process of deciding whether Vince Sicari can do both or has to give one up. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Vince A. Sicari, a South Hackensack, N.J., Municipal Judge, performs at Carolines on Broadway comedy club Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, in New York. New Jersey's Supreme Court is going to begin the process of deciding whether Vince Sicari can do both or has to give one up. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) ? It may have been his toughest crowd yet.

In a decidedly humorless proceeding Tuesday, New Jersey's Supreme Court heard arguments over whether a municipal judge can keep his other paying gig as an actor and stand-up comic.

Vince A. Sicari's attorneys argued that the longtime comedian, who performs under the name Vince August, has always kept his identity as a South Hackensack municipal court judge separate, and "there is never mention in either profession of the other."

The 43-year-old Sicari is appealing a 2008 state ethics committee ruling that said he can't continue working as a paid entertainer while working part-time as a judge overseeing things like traffic ticket cases and disorderly persons offenses.

Kim D. Ringler of the state attorney general's office argued in favor of the ban, saying municipal judges represent the most frequent contact the public has with the justice system. Some of the characters Sicari has depicted on TV could confuse the public and reflect badly on the judiciary, she said.

"His actions detract from the dignity of his judicial office and may reflect adversely on the judge's impartiality," Ringler said of Sicari's performances.

Sicari's attorney, E. Drew Britcher, countered that the public is able to tell the difference between Sicari's professional demeanor as a judge and his roles as actor and comedian.

"It's important to recognize that whether he be comedian or actor, he is in roles where he is not expressing ... his opinion," Britcher said.

Sicari makes $13,000 a year as a part-time judge. He argues he is equally passionate about each of his jobs, though his entertainment work earns him more income and entitles him to health benefits.

He never cracks jokes on the bench and never lets on that he moonlights as a comic, Britcher said. On stage, he doesn't touch lawyer jokes, the lawyer said.

On Tuesday, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner questioned whether Sicari's comedic routines touched on topics considered commonplace in the comedy world, including "remarks demeaning individuals on the basis of race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation or socio-economic status," which are prohibited under judge's rules of conduct.

Britcher said Tuesday that much of Sicari's comedy is derived from personal observations outside of work, such as his upbringing as an Italian Catholic.

On Monday night, Sicari headlined at Caroline's comedy club in New York and brought down the house with his acerbic takes on current events, including the scandals surrounding Lance Armstrong and Oscar Pistorius. None of the jokes targeted the legal profession, but his humor did touch on the categories Rabner mentioned.

Several justices questioned whether the public had the ability to separate Sicari's position as a judge from roles he has played on the ABC hidden camera show "What Would You Do?" in which he has portrayed homophobic and racist characters.

Associate Justice Anne M. Patterson asked about a person who watches such a skit on TV and then comes into court for a traffic ticket hearing. "Is that person going to have their confidence in the dignity of the judiciary affected?" Patterson asked.

Ringler, arguing that the roles of judge and comedian are incompatible, cited the example of the actor Larry Hagman, who was said to have been berated in public by fans who associated him with his role as the conniving J.R. Ewing in the long-running television series "Dallas."

Sicari declined to comment after his Monday night appearance or following Tuesday's Supreme Court arguments, other than to say that he loved being a performer.

Sicari says he makes hundreds of stand-up comedy appearances a year, including on stage, on network television, as a warm-up for Comedy Central audiences and in film. He's a member of the Screen Actors Guild and other professional performers unions.

He has said he got hooked on standup comedy as a young boy after watching Richard Pryor.

"I immediately thought that's what I wanted to do," he said in an interview with NTDTV that appeared online in 2008.

At an early age, he began doing impressions, including one of Vinnie Barbarino, John Travolta's character on the TV show "Welcome Back, Kotter." He told the interviewer that he remembers telling his parents when he was 12 he wanted to be a comedian. He said their answer was, "You're nuts."

Being a standup comedian requires some of the same skills as being a lawyer, he said. "You have to be very quick on your feet," he said.

___

Follow Samantha Henry at http://www.twitter.com/SamanthaHenry

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-26-US-Joking-Judge/id-62685815c5f54f2bb269ff6cd714f8ba

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The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Recap: Who's Up For a Threesome?

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/02/the-real-housewives-of-beverly-hills-recap-whos-up-for-a-threeso/

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Voters head to polls in ex-Rep. Jackson's district

FILE - In the Dec. 15, 2012, Illinois Democratic U.S. Congressional hopeful Debbie Halvorson speaks during a candidate presentation at the 2nd Congressional District slating meeting in South Holland, Ill. Candidates for former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.'s 2nd congressional seat made their final push for votes Monday Feb. 25, 2013, ahead of tomorrow's high-stakes primary. Turnout is expected to be paltry despite the lurid headlines surrounding the disgraced Chicago Democrat and millions in outside super PAC money driven largely by the guns debate. (AP Photo/John Smierciak, File)

FILE - In the Dec. 15, 2012, Illinois Democratic U.S. Congressional hopeful Debbie Halvorson speaks during a candidate presentation at the 2nd Congressional District slating meeting in South Holland, Ill. Candidates for former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.'s 2nd congressional seat made their final push for votes Monday Feb. 25, 2013, ahead of tomorrow's high-stakes primary. Turnout is expected to be paltry despite the lurid headlines surrounding the disgraced Chicago Democrat and millions in outside super PAC money driven largely by the guns debate. (AP Photo/John Smierciak, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2012 file photo, Illinois Democratic U.S. Congressional hopeful Robin Kelly speaks during a candidate presentation at the 2nd Congressional District Slating Meeting in South Holland, Ill. Candidates for former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.'s 2nd congressional seat made their final push for votes Monday Feb. 25, 2013, ahead of tomorrow's high-stakes primary. Turnout is expected to be paltry despite the lurid headlines surrounding the disgraced Chicago Democrat and millions in outside super PAC money driven largely by the guns debate. (AP Photo/John Smierciak, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 7, 2013 file photo, Illinois Democratic U.S. Congressional hopeful Anthony Beale, speaks at a news conference in Chicago. Candidates for former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.'s 2nd congressional seat made their final push for votes Monday Feb. 25, 2013, ahead of tomorrow's high-stakes primary. Turnout is expected to be paltry despite the lurid headlines surrounding the disgraced Chicago Democrat and millions in outside super PAC money driven largely by the guns debate. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

CHICAGO (AP) ? The primary contest to replace disgraced former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson was in the hands of Chicago-area voters Tuesday, just three months after his resignation and an intense period of campaigning by more than a dozen candidates.

The front-runners ? former state Rep. Robin Kelly, former U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson and Chicago Alderman Anthony Beale ? planned Election Day stops at train stations and restaurants in the district that spans Chicago's South Side, south suburbs and some rural areas. They were among 14 Democrats and four Republicans in the special primary, but the Democratic winner was expected to sail through the April 9 general election because of the heavily-Democratic region.

Beale planned to vote at a school in Chicago, Halvorson was set to cast a ballot at a suburban community center and Kelly voted early.

Voters haven't seen an open primary since 1995, when Jackson first won office.

Turnout at the polls was expected to be low, and candidates and election officials braced for a possible winter storm that could dump up to six inches of snow on the region and complicate Tuesday's logistics. Election officials said they were in communication with streets and sanitation workers about making sure pathways to polls were kept clear.

In Chicago, fewer than 2,800 voters, or roughly 2 percent or registered voters in the district, cast early ballots. In suburban Cook County ? the bulk of the district's voting population ? it was nearly 2 percent. The last time the Chicago area had a special primary election for Congress was 2009 after Rahm Emanuel left his seat to take a job as White House chief of staff. Roughly 18 percent of registered voters in the district spanning North Side neighborhoods voted. In suburban Cook County, the percentage was far lower.

Guns and ethics were on the minds of voters, and both were main issues on the campaign trail, particularly as Jackson's legal saga played out in federal court. He pleaded guilty to illegally spending $750,000 in campaign money on personal items and faces prison time. The son of the civil rights leader is the third consecutive congressman from the district to leave office under an ethical or legal cloud.

Still, gun control became the top issue on the campaign trail, including at candidate forums and television ads.

Independence USA, the super PAC of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, poured more than $2 million into the race for anti-gun ads in support of Kelly and against Halvorson, a former state lawmaker and one-term congresswoman. Kelly supports a ban, but Halvorson does not.

"Gun control, we need it," said retiree Angela Craig, an undecided Chicago voter. She had supported Jackson in the past but didn't feel like she got enough time to weigh the candidates.

Jackson resigned in November after a months-long medical leave. He pleaded guilty early this month to charges that he misspent $750,000 in campaign money on lavish personal items, including a Rolex watch and furs. His departure created a rare opening in the district.

__

Sophia Tareen can be reached at http://twitter.com/sophiatareen

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-26-House-Jackson%20Seat/id-6604acf8d2ee4c339376a329912eae90

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Remains of the Day: Your New Mac May Not Be Able To Reinstall Mountain Lion

Late-2012 Mac owners are reporting issues with reinstalling Mountain Lion, Apple settles a class-action lawsuit, Chrome is testing a convenient new feature, and Twitter for Windows Phone catches up with its mobile brethren .

• Late 2012 Macs Unable to Reinstall OS X Mountain Lion or Restore from Time Machine Backups An issue effecting Apple's late-2012 Macs?the Mac Mini, the new iMacs, and the Retina MacBook Pros?has some users reporting that they are unable to reinstall OS X Mountain Lion on their system. This includes reinstalling from a recovery partition or Time Machine backup in addition to the app store download. Apple has not commented on the issue, however, the next OS X update, 10.8.3, has been in testing since November and may address the issue. [MacTrast]
• Apple Settles Lawsuit Over Apps Aimed at Kids - Will Pay $5 iTunes Credit or Cash A proposed settlement in a class action lawsuit against Apple may result in compensation for customers whose children racked up charges for virtual currency in free apps. If the settlement is approved by a federal judge, Apple will offer $5 in iTunes credit for those who were charged without their knowledge, matching the cost up to $30 in credit. For amounts in question over $30, a cash refund can be claimed. In order for Apple customers to claim settlement money, they will have to attest that "a minor bought 'game currency' and that the user did not provide the minor with the Apple password." [GigaOm]
• Google Chrome Audio Indicators The latest Chromium build now has an indicator that will show which Chrome tabs are currently playing audio. No word on when the official Chrome update containing this feature will roll out, but having an easy way to tell which tab is making noise will be great. [Google+]
• An Update to Twitter for Windows Phone Today Twitter updated its Windows Phone app to reflect the four-tab design already used by the iOS and Android version. Also in the update is live tile support and fixed Tweet/Search buttons that can be used anywhere in the app. [Twitter]
• Indie Fantasy StoryBundle Now Available StoryBundle, the ebook service from former Lifehacker Jason Chen, has returned with a pay-what-you-want bundle of fantasy books. Those who pay more than $10 will score two additional books. The bundle will be available for another three weeks. [StoryBundle]

Photo by photastic (Shutterstock), a2bb5s (Shutterstock), and Feng Yu (Shutterstock).

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/5jXhXiZ2wx8/remains-of-the-day-your-new-mac-may-not-be-able-to-reinstall-mountain-lion

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Andy Rubin confirms 'no plans' for Google retail stores

If those Google retail rumors fuelled visions of whiling away some mall-time, thumbing at the latest Nexus gadgets in a parlor of their own, then Andy Rubin says keep dreaming. While there are some legitimate Google outposts to be found in stores, the Android chief has confirmed to journalists today that -- as far as he's concerned -- there's no need to explore bricks and mortar stores of their own. Rubin was adamant that there are no plans at this time -- and he's in a good position to know. The reason, however, isn't to do with the ageing model of retail, or a well pinned map of consumer behaviour patterns, with Rubin merely stating that he didn't think the Nexus line is quite at the stage that would warrant a store of its own, the same is true of it home-grown Chromebook devices. That's ok though, if you just gotta have that Nexus right now, there are still some options to explore.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google

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Source: AllThingsD

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California couple vanishes during cycling trip in Peru

(Reuters) - Authorities in Peru have launched a search for a California couple reported missing while on a cycling trip through the Andean country in an area where U.S. citizens have been warned of kidnapping risks, U.S. Embassy officials in Lima said on Monday.

Families of the couple, Garrett Hand and Jamie Neal, said they last heard from the pair on January 25, a day before they were expected to arrive in Lima after a journey of several hundred miles from Cusco, in the country's mountainous interior southeast of the capital, the embassy said in a statement.

"Embassy officers are ... in close contact with Peruvian authorities who are working diligently to find Mr. Hand and Ms. Neal," said the statement, furnished to Reuters by information officer Leslie Nunez Goodman.

The couple, both 25, were longtime friends who began dating last spring or summer and lived together in Oakland, California, east of San Francisco, said Neal's boss, Jeff Jerge, who owns a Bay-area bicycle shop, the Pedaler, where she works.

Hand had worked summers as a fisherman in Alaska, he said.

"My worries are pretty great," Jerge told Reuters. "They had been corresponding (from their trip) fairly regularly, and it ceased that day (January 25)," he said, adding that no money has been withdrawn from either of their bank accounts since then. He said he worried they had been abducted.

Their disappearance coincides with a travel advisory issued by the U.S. Embassy on February 13 warning of foreign tourists near Cusco and the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu of a potential kidnapping threat.

The warning was widely interpreted as being linked to efforts by a remnant band of Maoist Shining Path rebels to repel a government push to regain control of jungle valleys in the Cusco region that are rife with coca cultivation and cocaine trafficking.

But the embassy statement about the missing couple said diplomats knew of "no connection between the disappearance of these two U.S. citizens" and the travel advisory issued in February.

The embassy statement that the couple were last been heard from on January 25 en route from Cusco to Lima appeared to be at odds with accounts of Peruvian police and the Arcoiris ecological community in the Amazonian region of Iquitos, located hundreds of miles northeast of the capital.

Arcoiris told Reuters the couple had stayed there for five days before departing by boat on an upriver journey to Ecuador on February 16, three weeks after their families said they received their last communication from the pair.

Hand and Neal originally had intended to bicycle from the San Francisco Bay area to South America through Mexico, but friends concerned about security in Mexico persuaded the couple to fly to South America and start their trip there instead, Jerge said.

Another co-worker at the bike shop, Ron Hammer, said the pair, who were studying Spanish in preparation for their trip, had mostly been camping by tent during their journey and on occasion stayed with extended family of people they knew in South America.

Family members and friends of the pair have begun collecting money to offer as a reward, and were seeking to get flyers with pictures of the couple and information about them distributed in Peru.

(Additional reporting by Mitra Taj in Lima; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Lisa Shumaker)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/california-couple-vanishes-during-cycling-trip-peru-000934306.html

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Kerry opens first official overseas trip in London

LONDON (AP) ? U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry kicked off his first official overseas trip by meeting Monday with British leaders in London, the first leg of a hectic nine-country dash through Europe and the Middle East.

Kerry's first diplomatic meeting abroad came with British Prime Minister David Cameron, where they discussed the prospects of a free trade agreement between the United States and the European Union and the importance of the Middle East peace process.

Cameron's spokesman, Jean-Christophe Gray, said the prime minister and Kerry also "reiterated their shared determination to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran" ahead of talks between world leaders and Tehran in Almaty, Kazakhstan, this week.

The two also spoke about the challenges posed by fragile states such as Syria, Libya and Egypt, the spokesman added.

Later, Kerry is expected to discuss the Falkland Islands with U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague before flying to Germany for meetings in Berlin.

Kerry arrived on London late Sunday as the Obama administration launched a frantic effort to try to salvage a Syrian opposition conference that Kerry plans to attend this week in Rome. Some members of the sharply divided Syrian Opposition Council are threatening to boycott the meeting.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-opens-first-official-overseas-trip-london-090645714.html

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TomTom to supply maps to Intel's Telmap, creates a total navigation app package

Intel scored access to code for location-based services when it acquired Telmap, but it didn't get the all-important location data needed to make the code sing. Rather than leave developers to find the content themselves, Telmap has struck a deal to get mapping information from TomTom. Navigation apps built around Telmap's work will soon have access both to TomTom's base maps as well as 3D maps, junctions, points of interest and voice mapping. While there's no mention of exactly when TomTom data will show up, the union is characterized as a "long-term partnership" -- we'd expect TomTom routing to quickly become a mainstay of Telmap's platforms (and potentially Intel's) in the near future.

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Software, Intel

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Using the Internet as a Business Tool | Cubla Incorporated

In this modern and technologically savvy world, the internet has become an unavoidable and easy way for people to gather information. When most people have a question and need answers they turn to the internet, rather than a stack of encyclopedias like our parents did. As a business owner that is something to keep in mind when trying to reach out to your clientele. It is safe to assume that all of them have the internet, an email address, and a preferred search engine. With that in mind, you now can formulate a strategy to get your business name and services in their peripheral.

The Small Business Association (SBA) stated, ?Setting up your business on the Internet can be a lucrative way to attract customers, expand your market and increase sales.? Even a very small business can benefit tremendously from having a website that is clean, neat, and organized. Every question that your consumer has should be answered on your website. How can they contact you? What services are you providing with them? Why should your team be trusted over another? Words don?t always have to be how this is accomplished. Having a clean, sleek design, with attractive graphics can do a lot to make a costumer feel comfortable with your business.

Your website is your best way to advertise to your customers. Advertisements can announce your company?s birthday, specials and sales, events your company is sponsoring, and to promote goodwill with your customers. If you plan to run advertisements on your site, keep them updated! A website should be fresh, and looked after. Your website is your garden, cultivate it, care for it, and you will reap the benefits of your harvest.

Social Media outlets are also important for your business. Regardless of your personal feelings about Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc, others are more than likely using some sort of social media. Join in with your customers! As these sites grow larger and larger, people are using their email less and less. Your business?s page should have a direct link to your website. The idea is to drive customers to your actual website where all of their questions can be answered. Find a niche, and stick with it. Your Facebook page can be used to advertise to your clientele as well. You can promote your sales, specials, community events, and so much more.

There are countless options of marketing to your customers, and these social media sites are a great tool. With sites like Pintrest, and Instagram you can quickly reach out to people that would have never known your business existed. Don?t be fearful of the internet, it is your friend!

There are many ways that you can use the internet as a tool for your business. Your website and participation online should not be an afterthought. Your website is often the first and longest lasting impression on a client. Be sure to find a designer and developer that you can have an open relationship with. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who present themselves as something they are not and can take advantage of your inexperience with the internet. Let Cubla Incorporated show you how building a brand and marketing can help you expand your business! Contact us today to find out more.

Source: http://www.cubla.com/businesstool/

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SME Advisor Middle East ? Innovation a key focus for UAE businesses

GE has announced the findings of its third annual GE Global Innovation Barometer survey, revealing that 89% of UAE businesses regard innovation as a strategic priority to help drive business growth, with more than half the respondents stating that developing new business models is a promising way to boost future performance.

The UAE is one of only two countries in the region where the study was conducted, highlighting GE?s commitment to the country, which has identified innovation, knowledge and sustainable development as key drivers of its growth. The only Arab country classified as an innovation-driven economy by the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2012-13, the UAE is ranked 24^th out of 144 globally in overall competitiveness.

In all 3,000 executives from 25 countries were surveyed with 73% of the respondents in the country stating that innovation, marked by improvement of products and services, had contributed to stronger business performance in the past.

Nabil Habayeb, GE?s President & Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, said: ?In its third year now, the GE Global Innovation Barometer underlines the strategic importance that businesses in the UAE place on innovation. Quite significantly, UAE businesses demonstrate their openness to partnerships to drive innovation, with 88% of the respondents stating that their firms are increasingly looking at innovating through partnerships.?

He added: ?In other significant findings, UAE businesses feel that the government and public authorities are allocating an adequate share of budget to support innovative companies. A majority of the respondents, at 86%, state that SMEs and individuals can be as innovative as large corporations, highlighting the success of the UAE in promoting the SME sector, which contributes significantly to the non-oil GDP. The findings complement GE?s growth approach to the UAE, where we are focused on building business partnerships, knowledge sharing and human capital development, which the country?s business executives identify as key drivers to innovation.?

Power of collaboration

An overwhelming 91% of UAE respondents said they would be more successful at innovation through partnerships than by going about it alone ? four points more than the global average of 87%.

• The UAE executives said partnerships are important to enter new markets (80%), access new technology (79%), speed up time to market (78%) and improve an existing product or service (75%)
• 72% said collaborations will help their businesses in benefiting from the partner company?s sales force ? 14 points higher than the global average
• Barriers to collaborative innovation, according to UAE respondents, are lack of protection of confidentiality/IP (58%) and lack of trust in partner companies (43%)

Innovation as driver for growth

81% of the UAE respondents said that understanding customers and anticipating market evolutions is the most important ability needed by businesses to innovate successfully

• 81% believe innovating on improving products and services will drive business performance
• Respondents said developing new technology (70%), creating an environment conducive to innovation (69%), and mining data inside and outside the company (62%) are key abilities businesses have to muster to innovate successfully
• 62% said localised innovation to meet domestic needs will play a key role in driving business performance

New business models and talent development?

Reiterating the growing emphasis that UAE businesses place on innovation, the survey identified that 54% of the executives believe creating new business models is important to boost performance.

• 62% said attracting and retaining innovative people is another key driver for innovation
• While 58% of UAE business executives report that the country has a strong innovation-conducive environment, 54% expect decision-makers to encourage a stronger entrepreneurial culture in the education system through stronger linkages between students and business-savvy individuals
• 46% said creating? financial environment that encourages the development of venture capital to support innovation is important

Although, UAE executives largely perceive innovation as a positive force and key economic driver, 45% of the respondents believe that with innovative practices creating more competition among businesses and making some products and services obsolete, it could have a negative impact on the economy in the long-run. This perception is shared by more business executives in the country than the global average of 30%.

This emerging ?Innovation Vertigo? ? an uneasiness with the changing dynamics of today?s business landscape and uncertainty over the best path forward ? is challenging leaders to think differently about how they will achieve growth. Many executives, however, seem to be embracing this complexity by exploring new and sometimes unexpected opportunities to innovate.

?Innovators must be resilient or risk being left behind,? said Beth Comstock, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of GE. ?Change has become constant and we see leaders responding by betting big on more unconventional approaches to innovation to unlock growth. At GE, we are exploring different markets, partnerships structures and business models ? all in the pursuit of uncovering new ways to better serve our customers and meet the world?s biggest challenges head on.?

The Barometer was commissioned by GE and conducted by independent research and consulting firm StrategyOne to explore how business leaders around the world view drivers and barriers to innovation and how those perceptions influence strategy.

For more information on the study and a detailed report, visit: www.ge.com/innovationbarometer

Related posts:

1. GITEX global leaders summit to focus on the importance of innovation
2. Innovation and customer service focus of ?Cards and Payments Middle East 2012?
3. Study: Family owned-businesses
4. UAE should have central agency for innovation: Abu Dhabi Innovation Forum 2010
5. Emiratisation efforts in focus

Source: http://www.smeadvisor.com/2013/02/innovation-a-key-focus-for-uae-businesses/

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List of 85th annual Academy Award winners

Jennifer Lawrence speaks onstage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Jennifer Lawrence speaks onstage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Anne Hathaway accepts the award for best actress in a supporting role for "Les Miserables" during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Actor Christoph Waltz accepts the award for best actor in a supporting role for "Django Unchained" during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

List of the 85th annual Academy Award winners announced Sunday in Los Angeles:

1. Best Picture: "Argo."

2. Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, "Lincoln."

3. Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook."

4. Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, "Django Unchained."

5. Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway, "Les Miserables."

6. Directing: Ang Lee, "Life of Pi."

7. Foreign Language Film: "Amour."

8. Adapted Screenplay: Chris Terrio, "Argo."

9. Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, "Django Unchained."

10. Animated Feature Film: "Brave."

11. Production Design: "Lincoln."

12. Cinematography: "Life of Pi."

13. Sound Mixing: "Les Miserables."

14. Sound Editing (tie): "Skyfall," ''Zero Dark Thirty."

15. Original Score: "Life of Pi," Mychael Danna.

16. Original Song: "Skyfall" from "Skyfall," Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth.

17. Costume: "Anna Karenina."

18. Documentary Feature: "Searching for Sugar Man."

19. Documentary (short subject): "Inocente."

20. Film Editing: "Argo."

21. Makeup and Hairstyling: "Les Miserables."

22. Animated Short Film: "Paperman."

23. Live Action Short Film: "Curfew."

24. Visual Effects: "Life of Pi."

___

Oscar winners previously presented this season:

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Jeffrey Katzenberg

Honorary Award: Hal Needham

Honorary Award: D.A. Pennebaker

Honorary Award: George Stevens Jr.

Award of Merit: Cooke Optics

___

Online:

http://www.oscars.org

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-24-US-Oscars-List/id-a67de7a23b594c1cbc13f54999a40cc8

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White House details budget fallout amid blame game

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The White House has detailed the potential fallout in each state from budget cuts set to take effect at week's end, while congressional Republicans and Democrats keep up the sniping over who's to blame.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said on "Fox News Sunday" that there was little hope to dodge the cuts "unless the Republicans are willing to compromise and do a balanced approach."

No so fast, Republicans interjected.

"I think the American people are tired of the blame game," Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Yet just a moment before, she was blaming President Barack Obama for putting the country on the brink of massive spending cuts that were initially designed to be so unacceptable that Congress would strike a grand bargain to avoid them.

The $85 billion budget mechanism could affect everything from commercial flights to classrooms to meat inspections. With Friday's deadline nearing, few in the nation's capital were optimistic that a realistic alternative could be found.

And, yes, those cuts will hurt.

They would slash from domestic and defense spending alike, leading to furloughs for hundreds of thousands of government workers and contractors.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said the cuts would harm the readiness of U.S. fighting forces. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said travelers could see delayed flights. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said 70,000 fewer children from low-income families would have access to Head Start programs. And furloughed meat inspectors could leave plants idled.

White House officials pointed to Ohio ? home of House Speaker John Boehner ? as one state that would be hit hard: $25.1 million in education spending and another $22 million for students with disabilities. Some 2,500 children from low-income families would also be removed from Head Start programs.

Officials said their analysis showed Kentucky would lose $93,000 in federal funding for a domestic abuse program, meaning 400 fewer victims being served in Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's home state. Georgia, meanwhile, would face a $286,000 budget cut to its children's health programs, meaning almost 4,200 fewer children would receive vaccinations against measles and whooping cough.

The White House compiled its state-by-state reports from federal agencies and its own budget office. The numbers reflect the impact of the cuts this year. Unless Congress acts by Friday, $85 billion in cuts are set to take effect from March to September.

As to whether states could move money around to cover shortfalls, the White House said that depends on state budget structures and the specific programs. The White House did not have a list of which states or programs might have flexibility.

Republican leaders were not impressed by the state-by-state reports.

"The White House needs to spend less time explaining to the press how bad the sequester will be and more time actually working to stop it," said Michael Steel, a spokesman for Boehner.

___

Follow Philip Elliott on Twitter: https://twitter.com/philip_elliott

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-25-US-Budget-Battle/id-9a7fa4d9807c403396f3f48847e2b151

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Foreigners To North Korea To Get Uncensored 3G

Foreign visitors going to North Korea will be able to receive uncensored 3G data, starting Mar 1. Koryolink, a joint venture between Egyptian company Orascom Telecom Holding and North Korean state-owned Korea Post and Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC), has set up a 3G service for visitors into the country. The service, which is not available to locals, won?t come cheap. A $100 Wi-Fi hotspot and $200 SIM card will be needed, after which 2 Gb of data will cost $300, and 10 Gb for $525. Phone calls abroad will cost $0.50 a minute to European countries like Switzerland and France, and $7 a minute to the US. Calls to South Korea, however, are blocked. According to the AP, services typically banned like Twitter and Skype will be available on Koryolink?s network. North Koreans are blocked from the global Web, and only allowed some 3G services such as MMS messaging and subscriptions to the state-run paper, Rodong Sinmun. Calls to foreign numbers are also blocked. This news comes just after the country started to allow foreigners to bring their own phones into the country to use with Koryolink SIM cards. It?s not clear if the new uncensored service will be extended to SIM cards that are available to visitors, so you can skip buying the hotspot. Koryolink is 75 percent owned by Orascom. Orascom has a 3G license in North Korea that was awarded in 2008. Its censored service to the locals had about 1 million subscribers as of February 2012. The country?s capital of Pyongyang has a population of about 2 million.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/umYf-_iE9EE/

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NFL Combine 2013: Prospects Making a Name for Themselves After Day 3

After three days at the NFL Combine, there are some prospects who are standing out above the rest and making a name for themselves.

Offensive tackle Lane Johnson of Oklahoma, tight end Vance McDonald of Rice and Terron Armstead of Arkansas-Pine Bluff have all done a stellar job in the bench press and 40-yard dash.

As a result, they are each turning the heads of NFL scouts at the combine.

Let's take a look at how each of these prospects performed and what it means for their respective draft stocks.

All combine results are courtesy of NFL.com.

?

Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

We already knew that Johnson has great footwork when blocking and he certainly showed that on Day 3, but he was excellent in other areas as well.

Johnson ran an impressive?40-yard dash time of 4.72, which would have been tops among all offensive linemen if not for an astounding performance by Armstead. However, the Oklahoma product did top both Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M and Eric Fisher of Central Michigan.

In the bench press, Johnson posted 28 reps and while that wasn't good enough to put him at the top of the board, he once again outperformed both Joeckel and Fisher (27).

The jury was out on just how good of a run blocker Johnson can be in the NFL, but after his showing at the combine, there's no doubt he has the qualities to be a great all-around lineman.

?

Vance McDonald, TE, Rice

McDonald is one of the lesser known tight ends in this year's class, but his combine performance will change that.

We already knew he's a solid playmaker from his days in college and he showed his athleticism by posting a 40-yard dash time of 4.69. When compared to other top tight ends in this year's draft, McDonald topped Stanford's?Zach Ertz (4.76), but fell just short of Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert (4.68).

The most impressive part of McDonald's combine was his bench press. The Rice product displayed incredible strength by notching 31 reps, which was good enough to top both Ertz (24) and Eifert (22), showing he?has the necessary strength to be a great blocking?tight end as well.

It wasn't clear if McDonald had the necessary physical abilities to be an all-around tight end, but those doubts should be put to bed as his draft stock continues to soar.

?

Terron Armstead, OT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Armstead wasn't on anyone's radar before the combine, but the small-school prospect is all the rage after his great combine numbers.

Armstead started off his combine right by benching 31 reps, which was superior to Joeckel, Fisher and Johnson.

But the thing that really had people talking was Armstead's 40-yard dash time of 4.71. That time was surpassed only by the fastest tight ends in the class and was the best score for an offensive lineman since 2006.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say Armstead was a speedy skill-position player, not an offensive lineman. It's pretty clear Armstead is a great athlete with freakish abilities that should get him a better position on draft day.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1541807-nfl-combine-2013-prospects-making-a-name-for-themselves-after-day-3

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Governors press for alternative to impending spending cuts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Less than a week before billions of dollars of U.S. spending cuts are set to begin, governors meeting in Washington ratcheted up the pressure on Congress and President Barack Obama to find an alternative to the reductions and give states more say in bringing down the federal debt.

"I certainly join the chorus of voices that are calling for that administration and members of Congress to come together and find more responsible cuts," said Indiana Governor Mike Pence, a Republican who served in the House of Representatives during the 2011 negotiations that led to the cuts.

Congress is expected to return to work on Monday to try to forge an agreement on avoiding the cuts, which are known as sequester or sequestration and are intended to save $1.2 trillion over 10 years. At the end of 2012, lawmakers decided to push the sequester's start date back to March 1 from January 1.

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie, a Democrat who served in the House of Representatives for nearly 20 years, anticipates they will decide again to delay the start of the process.

"I think there will be a push-off," he said on Saturday. "But what will happen is some deep breaths will be taken, some real soul-searching will take place about what the political implications are going to be if this happens again and again. And I think a more long-term resolution ... will take place."

Republican and Democratic governors agree the federal government must shrink the deficit. They have already met with the White House and lawmakers in the first two months of 2013 to discuss sequestration alternatives.

In those meetings "We said, look we all know we've got to suffer a little bit together to get this ship righted," said Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, a Democrat. "We're willing to take our share, but we don't want to take more than our share."

They are asking that any plan addressing the deficit should also help states save money, give them flexibility in deciding which areas to cut in their states, and not shift costs onto their budgets, said Governor Mary Fallin, a Republican from Oklahoma.

Sequestration was designed as a threat by Congress, which set itself a deadline in the fall of 2011 to agree on spending reductions. Because it missed the deadline, a scheme of automatic cuts decided by formula kicked in.

"We should all remember that sequestration was originally designed by Congress as something so odious, so repellant that it would force both sides into a compromise," said Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado, a Democrat. "There can be no question that this is something nobody wants."

'DOUBLE WHAMMY'

During and after the 2007-09 recession, states' revenues plummeted to lows not seen in decades, while newly jobless and homeless residents turned to the their governments for help. Only in the last year have their revenues returned to pre-recession levels and spending demands eased. Many governors see sequestration as a threat to their slowly improving economies.

The two main sources of federal money for states - Medicaid, the healthcare program states run with federal reimbursements, and highway funding - are exempt from sequestration.

The remaining programs that are subject to sequestration directly provide on average 6.6 percent of states' revenues, according to Pew Center on the States. In South Dakota, they provide 10.3 percent.

The federal government, by employing people and buying goods and services, also plays an indirect role in states' economic fortunes.

On average, federal spending on procurement, salaries and wages within a state represents 5.3 percent of its gross domestic product, according to Pew. For Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland, federal spending has the most economic impact, making up 19.7 percent of their GDP.

For federal defense spending, the average is 3.5 percent of state GDP, with Hawaii having the highest at 14.6 percent.

An analysis by Wells Fargo Securities Economics Group last week found that under sequestration states close to the nation's capital and in the South "will be the hardest hit, while states in the Midwest and the West Coast will likely be impacted to a lesser extent."

Governor Peter Shumlin, of Vermont, who also heads the Democratic Governors Association, called the reduced direct funds and potentially harmful economic effects a "double whammy."

"I have no idea what they're going to do down here," he said about Congress reaching an agreement. "All I can tell you is that the President ... seems quite convinced they're actually willing to push the button and undermine the economic recovery and prosperity that we're seeing in our states."

Democratic and Republican governors alike say statehouses and businesses have been left with too much uncertainty as the country approaches sequestration. Federal agencies are only now disclosing where they will cut spending and reduce work forces.

Fallin has pushed since the summer for an alternative and also does not want sequestration repeatedly postponed.

"Do the least harm and give us the flexibility," she said. "It is not good to have the sequester talk every couple of months."

(Editing by Eric Walsh)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/governors-press-alternative-impending-spending-cuts-005657999.html

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Video: Banksy art mystery from London to Miami

Cardinal Mahony urged to stay away

Cardinal Roger Mahony, one of the 11 American cardinals who will join 105 others to choose a new pope, is being urged to stay away because of his role in shielding sexually abusive priests. CBS News' Magalie Laguerre Wilkinson.

Source: http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~r/CBSNewsTheEarlyShowBoxOffice/~3/EYE5mOKseJU/

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Afghanistan: U.S. special forces must leave province

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? Afghanistan's president on Sunday ordered all U.S. special forces to leave a strategically important eastern province within two weeks because of allegations that Afghans working with them are torturing and abusing other Afghans.

The decision seems to have caught the coalition and U.S. Forces Afghanistan, a separate command, by surprise. Americans have frequently drawn anger from the Afghan public over issues ranging from Qurans burned at a U.S. base to allegations of civilian killings.

"We take all allegations of misconduct seriously and go to great lengths to determine the facts surrounding them," the U.S. forces said in a statement.

Also Sunday, a series of attacks in eastern Afghanistan showed insurgents remain on the offensive even as U.S. and other international forces prepare to end their combat mission by the end of 2014.

Suicide bombers targeted Afghanistan's intelligence agency and other security forces in four coordinated attacks in the heart of Kabul and outlying areas in a bloody reminder of the insurgency's reach nearly 12 years into the war.

Presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi said the decision to order the American special forces to leave Wardak province was taken during a meeting of the National Security Council because of the alleged actions of Afghans who are considered linked to the U.S. special forces.

He said all special forces operations were to cease immediately in the restive province next to Kabul, which is viewed as a gateway to the capital and has been the focus of counterinsurgency efforts in recent years.

The Taliban have staged numerous attacks against U.S.-led coalition forces in the province. In August 2011, insurgents shot down a Chinook helicopter, killing 30 American troops, mostly elite Navy SEALs, in Wardak. The crash was the single deadliest loss for U.S. forces in the war.

Afghan forces have taken the lead in many such special operations, especially so-called night raids.

"Those Afghans in these armed groups who are working with the U.S. special forces, the defense minister asked for an explanation of who they are," Faizi said. "Those individuals should be handed over to the Afghan side so that we can further investigate."

A statement the security council issued in English said the armed individuals have allegedly been "harassing, annoying, torturing and even murdering innocent people."

Ceasing all such operations could have a negative impact on the coalition's campaign to go after Taliban leaders and commanders, who are usually the target of such operations.

Faizi said the issue had already been brought up with the coalition.

The U.S. statement said only that the announcement was "an important issue that we intend to fully discuss with our Afghan counterparts. But until we have had a chance to speak with senior Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials about this issue, we are not in a position to comment further."

The brazen assaults, which occurred within a three-hour timespan, were the latest to strike Afghan forces, who have suffered higher casualties this year as U.S. and other foreign troops gradually take a back seat and shift responsibility for security to the government.

The deadliest attack occurred just after sunrise ? a suicide car bombing at the gate of the National Directorate of Security compound in Jalalabad, 125 kilometers (78 miles) east of Kabul.

Guards shot and killed the driver but he managed to detonate the explosives-packed vehicle, killing two intelligence agents and wounding three others, according to a statement by the intelligence agency. Provincial government spokesman Ahmad Zia Abdulzai confirmed the casualty toll and said the building was damaged in the attack.

A guard also shot and killed a man in an SUV filled with dynamite that was targeting an NDS building on a busy street in Kabul, not far from NATO headquarters. The explosives in the back of the vehicle were defused. Blood stained the driver's seat and the ground where security forces dragged out the would-be attacker.

Shortly before the Jalalabad attack, a suicide attacker detonated a minivan full of explosives at a police checkpoint in Pul-i-Alam on the main highway between Kabul and Logar province. One policeman was killed and two others were wounded, along with a bystander, according to the NDS.

Also in Logar province, which is due south of Kabul, a man wearing a suicide vest was stopped by police as he tried to force his way into the police headquarters for Baraki Barak district, said Din Mohammad Darwesh, the provincial government spokesman. The attacker detonated his vest while being searched, wounding one policeman, according to Darwesh and the NDS.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the Jalalabad attack and two others in the eastern province of Logar in an email to reporters. He did not address the attempted assault in Kabul.

____

Associated Press writers Heidi Vogt, Rahim Faiez and Kim Gamel contributed to this report from Kabul.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/afghanistan-us-special-forces-must-leave-province-161601103.html

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