Saturday, December 31, 2011

Skype's Giving Manhattan Free Wi-Fi For New Year's [Skype]

If you live in NYC, or are headed there for the massive clusternut of cold and pain that is the Times Square ball drop, you can officially leave your data plan behind. Skype's flooding the island with free, fast Wi-Fi from noon tomorrow until noon on January 1. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/1wW7LHfjo8Q/skypes-giving-manhattan-free-wi+fi-for-new-years

howard stern americas got talent china aircraft carrier barbara walters most fascinating person 2011 golden globe nominations los angeles clippers los angeles clippers charlize theron

Egyptian Military Raids Foreign-Funded NGO Offices

Comments

Please keep your community civil. All comments must follow the NPR.org Community rules and terms of use. See also the Community FAQ.

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login / Register

More information is required for you to participate in the NPR online community. Add this information

?

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its website or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

?

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/30/144471272/egyptian-military-raids-foreign-funded-ngo-offices?ft=1&f=1004

act new orleans saints sinead o connor atlanta falcons falcons dan marino passing record ipad 2 cases

Friday, December 30, 2011

Sinead O'Connor: crack cocaine ended 16-day marriage (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) ? Move over, Whitney and Bobby.

Sinead O'Connor is wasting no time elaborating on the reasons why she broke up with her husband after 16 days of marriage. One of them? Crack cocaine.

The Irish songstress previously revealed she and fourth husband Barry Herridge went on a search for marijuana on the night of their wedding in Las Vegas.

It seems the singer's decision to bring her new husband, a drug-abuse counselor, along for a marijuana search in a seedy portion of Las Vegas on the night of their wedding wasn't such a great call.

In fact, the way O'Connor tells it, the newlyweds ended up with a drug somewhat harder than pot.

Elaborating on the "wild ride," she told British tabloid The Sun: "We ended up in a cab in some place that was quite dangerous. I wasn't scared -- but a drugs counselor. What was I thinking?

"Then I was handed a load of crack," she added. "Barry was very frightened -- that kind of messed everything up a bit, really."

Crack aside, it doesn't sound like the marriage was meant to last anyway.

"It felt like I was living in a coffin," she also told The Sun. "It was going to be a coffin for both of us, and I saw him crushed. The whole reason I ended it was out of respect and love for the man."

It seems that the experience has crushed O'Connor too -- or damaged her libido, at least. The singer -- who famously went hunting for "a very sweet sex-starved man" earlier this year -- said she doesn't plan to date anyone for awhile.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/celebrity/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111229/people_nm/us_sineadoconnor

julia child bill maher francesca woodman kennedy center honors neil diamond howard hughes danny gokey

Jil Sanders Windows Phone ? First Impressions

So, after this post from Leigh, some of you might be considering purchasing this phone.

We have one of these in the house, so I thought I?d share with you my first impressions.

The phone seems to be a slightly remodelled version of the LG Optimus 7. A first generation Windows Phone handset, but this doesn?t matter. I shall explain why?

Specifications imply this should be a relatively slow affair, but Windows Phone OS seems to do a very good job with comparatively mid-range specifications. In every day use, it?s very fast. My wife has changed from an iPhone 4 to this handset, and loves it. The Windows Phone OS is brilliantly different from anything else, yes the app store has a bit of catching up to do still, but that?s happening fast, and the main applications (at least the ones I use) are all there.

The phone itself has a good build quality. It?s not as premium as the adverts suggests, but good nonetheless. There is quite a lot of plastic, but it?s solid in the hand and feels good.

The included headphones sound great, have a good microphone, and a button so you can skip tracks without taking the phone out of your pocket. Also, the Windows Zune software is a pleasant change from iTunes. It too, looks lovely and is extremely easy to use.

The camera isn?t brilliant (for more details, just see reviews of the Optimus 7, as I?m sure it?s the same hardware) but the OS is pretty, fast and catching up quickly.

?150 doesn?t get you very much in the phone market these days, but this phone is terrific value for money.

If you want to know anything specifically in the meantime, you can use the comments below!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/coolsmartphone/uJxV/~3/kWO2Wj3Sdyc/

the thin man republic wireless space ball drops on namibia prometheus colts colts matt barkley

Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Cancer Stem Cell Antigens CD133, BCRP1/ABCG2 and CD117/c-KIT Are Not Associated with Prognosis in Resected Early-stage Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Source

Department of Thoracic Oncology, Thoraxklinik/University of Heidelberg, Amalienstr. 5, 69126 Heidelberg, Germany. sandra.gottschling@thoraxklinik-heidelberg.de.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

In various tumor entities, expression of cancer stem cell (CSC) antigens has been proven to be prognostically unfavorable. However, for lung cancer, the data are scant and conflicting.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

The CSC antigens CD117/c-KIT, CD133 and breast cancer resistance protein-1 (BCRP1/ABCG2) were immunohistochemically analyzed in tissues from a total of 133 completely resected stage I/II non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with a median follow-up time of 53.8 months. Their expression was related to clinicopathological characteristics, angiogenic features and prognosis.

RESULTS:

Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed no association between CSC antigens, disease-free survival or overall survival (OS). However, in the subgroup of patients with relapse and tumors >3 cm, there was a trend towards worse OS upon expression of CD117 (hazard ratio=2.6, 95%, confidence interval=0.8-8.3, p=0.080). Except for CD133, which was overrepresented in T1 tumors (p=0.001), the CSC antigens were not linked to clinico-pathological characteristics or angiogenic features.

CONCLUSION:

In resected early-stage NSCLC, CSC antigens show no association with prognosis. However, in patients with relapse and tumors >3 cm, expression of CD117 might predict worse OS.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?tmpl=NoSidebarfile&db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=22199321&dopt=Abstract

super bowl 2012 gene kelly ron paul zoe saldana sugar bowl zooey deschanel and joseph gordon levitt andrew bailey

Consumer confidence index surges in December

FILE - In this Nov. 25, 2011 file photo, a shopper rests herself and her bags in Herald Square during the busiest shopping day of the year, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 25, 2011 file photo, a shopper rests herself and her bags in Herald Square during the busiest shopping day of the year, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

In this Dec. 13, 2011 photo, Jerry Clay of Chicago, shops at the Macy's on State Street store, in Chicago. A monthly survey shows consumers' confidence in the economy in December surged to the highest level since April and is near a post-recession peak.(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

(AP) ? Americans are gaining faith that the economy is on the upswing.

An improving job outlook helped the Consumer Confidence Index soar to the highest level since April and near a post-recession peak, according to a monthly survey by The Conference Board.

The second straight monthly surge coincided with a decent holiday shopping season for retailers, though stores had to heavily discount to attract shoppers.

The rise in confidence jibes with a better outlook for the overall economy. An Associated Press poll of three dozen private, corporate and academic economists projects U.S. economic growth will speed up in 2012, if it isn't derailed by upheavals in Europe.

But confidence is still far below where it is in a healthy economy. And Americans' mood could sour again if the debt crisis in Europe deepens and spreads to the U.S. Shoppers still face big obstacles ? higher costs on household basics and a still-slumping housing market.

"This is encouraging. It's good to be talking about improvement," said Mark Vitner, an economist at Wells Fargo. "But there is still a lot of room for trouble."

The Conference Board, a private research group, said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index rose almost 10 points to 64.5 in December, up from a revised 55.2 in November. Analysts had expected 59. The level is close to the post-recession high of 72, reached in February.

The December surge builds on a big increase in November, when the index rose almost 15 points from October. That month's reading was the lowest since March 2009, the depths of the recession.

One component of the index that measures how shoppers feel now about the economy rose to 46.7 from 38.3 in November. The other barometer, which measures how shoppers feel about the next six months, rose to 76.4 from 66.4.

In particular, shoppers' assessment of the job market improved, according to preliminary results of the survey conducted Dec. 1-14. Those anticipating more jobs in the months ahead increased to 13.3 percent from 12.4 percent while those anticipating fewer jobs declined to 20.2 percent from 23.8 percent.

Economists watch confidence numbers closely because consumer spending ? including items like health care ? accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity.

Americans have more reason to be optimistic. The economy has produced at least 100,000 new jobs for five months in a row, the longest such streak since 2006. The number of people applying for unemployment benefits has dropped to the lowest level since April 2008.

According to the AP poll of economists, conducted Dec. 14-20, the U.S. economy is expected to grow 2.4 percent next year. In 2011, it likely grew less than 2 percent.

"We're starting to make some progress," said Kathy St. Louis of Atlanta, who was picking up lunch Tuesday at CNN Center. "It could always be better, but we're trying to move in the right direction." She said she spent $700 on holiday presents, up from the $300 she spent last year, even though not much changed with her paralegal job.

Ahlum Beruk, 22, a Greenville, Miss., resident who was visiting Atlanta, was a student last year and worried about finding a job. This year she works for a hotel and spent about $100 on Christmas presents. She spent nothing on gifts last year.

"I do feel better because I have a job now, and I didn't before," she added.

Shoppers still face many hurdles. In fact, while the job market is steadily improving, the unemployment rate is still high at 8.6 percent. And housing remains wobbly. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index of home prices, also released Tuesday, dropped in October in 19 of the 20 cities it tracks. It was a second straight declining month, further evidence of a bumpy housing recovery

Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, noted renewed fears about a second recession hurt confidence last summer.

"While consumers are ending the year in a somewhat more upbeat mood, it is too soon to tell if this is a rebound from earlier declines or a sustainable shift in attitudes," Franco said. "Have we rebounded from a summer lull or are we turning the corner?"

In fact, even with the increase in confidence, shoppers have been focused on deals this holiday season. Shoppers, enticed by expanded hours and bargains, packed stores for the start of the holiday season, resulting in discount-fueled record spending. But then they retreated for a few weeks to wait for better deals.

Based on the stronger-than expected start and rising optimism that more spending was to come in the finale, the National Retail Federation earlier this month upgraded its holiday sales growth forecast to 3.8 percent, from the original forecast of 2.8 percent made in September. More data will be released this week that will help quantify the last-minute sales surge.

Still unclear is how the discounting will affect stores' profit margins. It might not be all bad for retailers: Roxanne Meyer, a retail analyst at UBS Investment Research, says post-Christmas markdowns were not as deep as expected, with less than half of retailers she surveyed increasing promotions from last year.

_______

AP Retail Writer Mae Anderson in Atlanta contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2011-12-27-US-Consumer-Confidence/id-77c25e6425104632a642b8206f7f95c1

kevin durant david lee gift card exchange tj holmes bulls waste management aaron rodgers

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Bobcats' Augustin expected to play vs Heat (AP)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. ? If the Bobcats are going to take a step forward this season they're going to need some big plays and strong shooting from point guard D.J. Augustin.

So far, so good.

Augustin scored a team-high 19 points in the Bobcats' 96-95 win over the Bucks in Monday night's season opener, including a driving layup that put his team ahead for good with 36.5 seconds left.

It was a quality win for the young and rebuilding Bobcats.

But the NBA can be a grind, even in a 66-game season, and Augustin and his teammates know they'll face a much stiffer test when LeBron James and the Miami Heat come to town on Wednesday night.

"I watched them play on Christmas and they look like they have a chip on their shoulder," Augustin said. "We know they have a great team, so we have to come in and play hard like we did (against the Bucks)."

Added coach Paul Silas of the Heat: "They're just so talented it's unbelievable."

Silas said he expects to have Augustin available for the game.

Augustin sprained his left ankle in the final minute of Monday night's game while chasing after a loose ball near midcourt. He's had problems with the ankle before. He didn't practice Tuesday but Silas said, "he thinks he might be able to make it (Wednesday) night."

But the Bobcats have to be careful.

Even with backup Kemba Walker looking like the real deal, the Bobcats need Augustin for the long run.

After a rough start as a rookie, Augustin's turnaround as a player coincided with the arrival Silas last December.

Under former coach Larry Brown, Augustin was timid and often afraid to shoot. Then Silas arrived.

"Playing for coach Brown, I was looking over my shoulder because I didn't want to make a mistake," Augustin said. "He's still a great coach and taught me a lot of fundamentals. But with coach Silas, he gives you that chance to be free and make plays."

That was never more evident than in a game last season against Minnesota.

Augustin was having a horrible night shooting from the field, and Silas noticed he was starting to pass up open shots.

So Silas called a timeout.

When Augustin got the sideline, Silas looked him in the eyes and gave the 6-foot point guard a lesson he's never forgotten.

"I brought him over to the bench and I said, `Son, if you ever pass up another shot I'm going to take you out of the game and I'm not going to play you at all,'" Silas said. "I told him, `Listen, every time you get the ball, I want you to shoot it.'"

Augustin did just that, making his next couple of shots.

He's not stopped shooting since.

"The fact that I had some confidence in him just seemed to open up a whole new world for him," Silas said.

Augustin's average went from 12.6 points to 14.4 at the end of the season.

"Paul gave me a lot of confidence," Augustin said. "Paul is such a positive coach, such a positive person that he makes you believe in yourself. When you walk out on the court, you feel like every shot is going in. You're able to learn from your mistakes. You're not going to be perfect and he knows that."

Augustin thinks there's something about Silas' laid-back demeanor that meshes with his personality.

"I think it is just how he talks and speaks to you," Augustin said. "He shows everybody that same respect. He's so positive. If you miss a shot, he'll tell you, `Hey, it's OK, keep shooting.' That makes you want to keep shooting."

That includes in big games against the Heat.

Silas said this game will serve as a measuring stick for the Bobcats and just how far they've come and how far they have to go.

"I'd like to see how we do against a team like that," Silas said. "Can we stay competitive and not get blown away? I think if we do that we will have a chance to really improve. But it's tough to keep a team like that down."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111227/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkn_bobcats_prepare_for_heat

bonjovi dead amber portwood sam shepard sam shepard san francisco 49ers san francisco 49ers ben roethlisberger

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Where will Russian probe fall? Too early to say

AGI animation shows where Russia's Phobos-Grunt probe would have gone, and what will happen instead.

By Alan Boyle

When and where will Russia's doomed probe to a Martian moon fall back to Earth? The RIA-Novosti news service caused a stir when it reported that the 13-ton Phobos-Grunt spacecraft would crash in southwestern Afghanistan at 2:22 a.m. Moscow time on Jan. 14. The report attributed the prediction to the U.S. Strategic Command, but experts say it's way too early to be that precise about the Phobos-Grunt debris zone.

"Yes, it is much too early to predict" the circumstances of Phobos-Grunt's re-entry, Gene Stansbery of NASA's Orbital?Debris Program Office at Johnson Space Center told me today.

The U.S. Strategic Command is being circumspect as well, deferring comment to NASA and to Roscosmos, Russia's space agency.


The most that can be said about the impact zone right now is that it will be somewhere between 51.4 degrees north and 51.4 degrees south latitude. That's a swath of the planet that stretches from Calgary, Alberta (or Ghent, Belgium) in the north to the Falkland Islands in the south and takes in the vast majority of the world's population. Satellite-watcher Marco Langbroek reports on the See-Sat-L discussion forum that the predicted time of re-entry is Jan. 13, plus or minus 11 days. A couple of weeks ago, Roscosmos estimated that re-entry would come sometime between Jan. 6 and 19.

Typically, the projected area of the debris zone can't be narrowed down until hours before re-entry, if then. It's possible that RIA-Novosti picked up on a prediction that was centered around a precise time and place of re-entry, but left out the part about the plus-or-minus uncertainty. (You can see where Phobos-Grunt is right now by checking the Heavens-Above website.)

The spacecraft was launched from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Nov. 9 local time, and was supposed to leave Earth orbit hours later for the trip to Phobos, the larger of Mars' two moons. Along the way, it would have deployed a Chinese mini-probe in Martian orbit. If everything went well, the $165 million Phobos-Grunt mission would have brought a sample of Phobos soil back to Earth in 2014. ("Phobos-Grunt," or the more correctly transliterated "Fobos-Grunt," is Russian for "Phobos-Soil.")

Everything didn't go well, as we now know: The spacecraft's upper-stage thrusters didn't fire, and it's been stuck in Earth orbit ever since. This month, Russian officials finally gave up on attempts to revive the craft and admitted that it would fall to its destruction?next month.

Most of the spacecraft's mass consists of the toxic?propellants?it would have used to get to Phobos. There's also?a small amount?of radioactive cobalt-57 that was?meant to?power a spectrometer.?The Russians say that the?fuel will burn up in Earth's atmosphere, and that the cobalt won't pose a contamination threat.

Twenty to 30?parts from the probe with a total weight of up to 440 pounds (200 kilograms) are expected to survive the plunge. One of those parts could be the sample return capsule, which is designed to withstand the intense heat of atmospheric re-entry. David Warmflash, the principal investigator for one of the?mission's experiments, said?"it is quite possible" that his team's LIFE capsule will make it back to Earth intact.??

If it lands in Afghanistan, the chances of recovery might be poor, given the proximity to a war zone. But if it lands in the ocean, which is currently the likeliest scenario, the chances aren't any better. Over the past few months, two other high-profile satellites ? NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite and Germany's ROSAT space telescope?? fell through the atmosphere over the South Pacific and the Bay of Bengal, respectively, and no trace of them was ever found.

More about Phobos-Grunt and other falls to Earth:


Alan Boyle is msnbc.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.

Source: http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/27/9746585-will-russias-mars-probe-fall-in-afghanistan-too-early-to-tell

ncaa bowl schedule occupy dc trisomy 18 oklahoma state farrah abraham whats going on venus williams

Trees In Trouble: Grim Future For Frankincense

Frankincense comes from the Boswellia sacra tree, which grows mainly in the Horn of Africa. The number of trees that produce the fragrant resin could decline by 90 percent in the next 50 years. scott.zona/flickr

Frankincense comes from the Boswellia sacra tree, which grows mainly in the Horn of Africa. The number of trees that produce the fragrant resin could decline by 90 percent in the next 50 years.

The original Christmas presents were gold, frankincense and myrrh. That's what wise men brought to the baby Jesus, according to the Gospel of Matthew. Frankincense is still used today ? for perfumes, incense and traditional medicines ? but a new study suggests that its future looks grim.

The trees that produce this fragrant resin are in serious trouble, says Frans Bongers, a forestry expert at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He says production of frankincense could be cut in half in just 15 years. And in the next 50 years, tree numbers could decline by 90 percent, according to his new study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.

Frankincense comes from various species of Boswellia, a tree that mainly grows in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. People make cuts in the bark and let the tree sap ooze out. After it hardens into yellowish lumps, they come back to collect it, and then make more cuts. "And so they come back every two weeks for the whole dry season, and that's about nine months," Bongers explains.

He and colleagues monitored forests in Ethiopia with thousands of frankincense trees for about two years, comparing plots where trees were tapped with plots where trees were left alone.

They found that the forests were declining, regardless of whether they were tapped for frankincense or not. In general, they found big, old trees that were dying at an alarming rate, possibly because of insect attack.

Meanwhile, they found a dearth of younger trees. Bongers said they mainly saw just tiny seedlings in the grass. "They do not grow into a sapling, and they do not grow into a new tree," says Bongers.

He says that's because they burn up in fires set by farmers or are eaten by grazing cattle.

The only hope of preserving frankincense is to set aside large areas, to let young trees get established, says Bongers. But that's a hard case to make when local people are struggling to make a living.

"People say, 'Well, yes, we do understand, but at the same time we have to survive,' " he says. "So I'm realistic on this, I think."

Already, in some countries, like Yemen and Oman, says Bongers, the frankincense is almost gone.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/25/144193371/trees-in-trouble-grim-future-for-frankincense?ft=1&f=1007

philip rivers 11 11 11 meaning miracle berry billy crystal veterans day thank you veterans day thank you nigel tufnel day

Monday, December 26, 2011

WRAL_top: Nigerians fear more church attacks after 39 killed http://t.co/oVsgeQ71

  • Passer la navigation
  • Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
  • Passer cette ?tape
  • Connexion
Loader Twitter.com
  • Connexion
Nigerians fear more church attacks after 39 killed bit.ly/tKTrrp WRAL_top

WRAL Top Stories

Pied de page

Source: http://twitter.com/WRAL_top/statuses/151279225494708225

maps directions josephine baker pumpkin patch troy polamalu boo at the zoo when is daylight savings time 2011 when is daylight savings time 2011

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Attorney, accountant taken off Huguette Clark estate

W.A. Clark Memorial Library

Huguette Clark's estate will now be managed by a public official, not her attorney and accountant. Still to be determined: Which of her documented wills should the court honor?

NEW YORK ? Based on "shocking" evidence of tax fraud, a judge on Friday suspended the?attorney and accountant for reclusive copper heiress Huguette Clark from handling her $400 million estate.

The judge said there was more than enough evidence that the two men engaged in a tax fraud that allowed the elderly woman to run up an IRS bill of $90 million in unpaid gift taxes, interest and potential penalties.

The decision costs each man about $8 million he would have earned as an executor.

Also Friday, a remaining executor of the estate?said he will?try to recover at least one of the gifts given from Clark's accounts in recent years, a $5 million check written by Clark's attorney to Clark's registered nurse, Hadassah Peri. Clark's attorney had no authority to make that gift, the executor alleged. The $5 million was part of about $26 million given to the nurse over the past 15 years, even before Clark left more than $30 million to Peri in her will.


In Surrogate's Court in Manhattan, Surrogate Kristin Booth Glen took away the powers of Clark's attorney, Wallace "Wally" Bock, and accountant, Irving Kamsler. The two men remain under criminal investigation by the Manhattan district attorney for the way they managed her estate. They have not been charged with any crime and have said they acted appropriately.

The judge?only suspended the men's privileges in handling her estate, instead of revoking them permanently, because their attorneys?said a conflict of interest has arisen, apparently indicating that the two men are starting to tell different stories about the handling of Clark's affairs over the past 15 years. Until that is sorted out, attorney Barry Vasios said, the attorneys couldn't file an answer to the claim of tax fraud.

Even without hearing from the two men, the judge said she couldn't imagine?how?they could?refute the claim that they are?"unfit to serve" for wasting money from the estate, violating rules of conduct, dealing dishonestly with authorities and violating their fiduciary duty.?She called the allegations shocking and suspended them immediately.?If they want back into the case, she said, they can file a petition. And she said the two men may have to pay some of their own attorney fees, instead of having them paid by the estate, if their delay or dishonesty ran up the legal bills.

The estate will now be managed entirely by attorneys for the public administrator,?who earlier this week alleged the tax fraud. Details on the allegations are in our earlier story: Tax fraud alleged in estate of heiress Huguette Clark; accountant resigns. Earlier this week, the accountant, Kamsler, told the court through an attorney that he planned to resign as an executor. He had not yet resigned by the time of Friday's hearing, however.

An attorney for the public administrator, Peter Schram, said an expert in legal ethics "could tell you how many ethical considerations and disciplinary rules Mr. Bock has violated. My guess is you'd need two hands and a couple of toes to count them."

Huguette Clark, daughter of William A. Clark, who was a senator from Montana and a copper magnate.

The judge also ruled on a second question, whether to allow Clark's relatives, descendants from her father's first marriage, to become parties to the case?during the accounting of the estate. The judge blocked the family from entering the case now, saying that the interests of the estate are being well looked after by the public administrator, who was appointed at first as a third temporary executor to watch over Bock and Kamsler. This ruling will not keep the family from entering the case later. The family's entry was opposed by Clark's nurse, Peri.

Clark, who died in May at age 104, gained public attention in a series of articles on msnbc.com over the past two years, focusing at first on the mystery of her empty mansions and then the financial dealings of her attorney and accountant. The full series of articles is at http://clark.msnbc.com. Born in 1906, Clark was the youngest child of former U.S. Sen. William Andrews Clark (1839-1925), a copper miner and U.S. senator from Montana, said to be one of the richest men in the world. Below are links to the full story.

A dozen lawyers stood before Judge Glen on Friday morning in the courtroom in lower Manhattan, less than a mile from the office where Clark's father?managed his mines, railroads and other properties until his death in 1925.?Huguette, born in Paris in 1906, was his youngest daughter.

Clark signed two wills, in 2005, at age 98. The first left $5 million to the nurse, and the rest to the relatives. The second, signed just six weeks later, left nothing to the family, more than $30 million to the nurse, about $12 million to a goddaughter, $500,000 each to her attorney and accountant, $1 million to Beth Israel Hospital in New York City, $100,000 to her physician, a Monet painting worth about $25 million to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington. It also?set up a charitable foundation to run an art museum at her oceanfront estate in Santa Barbara, Calif., to be controlled by her attorney and accountant. Her apartments on Fifth Avenue in New York City and her country home in Connecticut would presumably be liquidated.

The public administrator alleges that while Clark lived as a recluse in New York City hospital rooms for the last 20 years of her life, attorney?Bock and accountant?Kamsler:

  • Failed to file federal gift tax returns for Clark for the years 1997 through 2003, when she made approximately $56 million in gifts to individuals. The gift tax and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax due would have been about $41.5 million.
  • Charged her for filing tax returns that were not filed.
  • Paid only $7.5 million in estimated tax payments toward the gift tax in those years.
  • Failed to pay the remaining $34 million during the years since, exposing her to millions in IRS interest and?penalties for failure to file.
  • Failed to tell Clark about the unpaid taxes or possible interest and penalties, even though she had sufficient liquid assets to pay the bill in full.
  • Filed false returns with the IRS for the years 2004 through 2009, claiming that previous gift tax returns had been filed, and understating Clark's current tax liabilities by more than $7 million.
  • Underreported and underpaid by millions her federal taxes.
  • Misrepresented to the IRS that returns had been filed.
  • Lied to the IRS, with Kamsler claiming he was unaware of a $5 million gift to Clark's nurse, when documents show he listed that gift on a profit and loss statement seven months earlier.
  • Lied to the public administrator, claiming that they were searching for the gift tax returns, until the IRS disclosed that none had been filed.

The new allegations raise the possibility that the men could face federal charges, with the public administrator noting that it is a felony to willfully submit fraudulent tax returns.

The accountant, Kamsler, 64, from the Bronx, N.Y.,?is a convicted felon and a registered sex offender who pleaded guilty in 2008 to attempting to distribute indecent materials to teenage girls in a chat room on AOL, under the moniker "IRV1040."?The court granted Kamsler a "relief from civil disabilities," a document that allowed him to keep his state license as a certified public accountant. The attorney, Bock, 79, is?from Queens, N.Y.

Msnbc.com reported last year that the two men also handled the affairs of another elderly client, Donald Wallace, who in fact was the previous attorney for Huguette Clark. After the man's will was revised six times, during years when his relatives said he was suffering from dementia, Bock and Kamsler ended up as his executors and also beneficiaries in his will, getting his New York apartment and his Mercedes.

An attorney representing Bock and Kamsler in the estate case, John Dadakis of the firm of Holland and Knight, issued this statement Wednesday through a spokesman: "For 30 years, Irving Kamsler was Mrs. Clark's accountant, and for 15 years Wallace Bock was her attorney. There is no allegation in the papers filed that either individual was taking anything out of her account for themselves. Their entire handling of her affairs was an effort to protect and preserve Mrs. Clark's chosen lifestyle."

---

Documents (PDF files)

Family reply to nurse Peri and Bock and Kamsler, Dec. 21, 2011

Public administrator's petition to remove Bock and Kamsler, Dec. 20, 2011

Bock and Kamsler reply to the family's motion to intervene, Dec. 16, 2011

Nurse Peri's motion opposing the family entering the case, Dec. 7, 2011

Family motion to intervene in the estate case, Nov. 28, 2011

Huguette Clark's last will and testament, signed April 19, 2005

Huguette Clark's previous will, signed March?7, 2005

Family's petition seeking a guardian for Huguette Clark, September 2010

Attorney Bock's sworn statement to the court, September 2010

Judge's ruling rejecting her family's guardianship petition, September 2010

Kamsler letter informing Clark of his guilty plea, February 2009

Kamsler's criminal court file and investigator's report

---

Previous stories in the Huguette Clark mystery on msnbc.com:

Archive of all?stories, photos and videos

Photo narrative, "The Clarks: An American story of wealth, scandal and mystery," Feb. 26, 2010.

Printable version of the photo narrative, Feb. 26, 2010.?

Clark family notes and sources, Feb. 26, 2010.

Investigative report, part one, "At 104, the mysterious heiress Huguette Clark is alone now: Relatives are kept away. Only her accountant and attorney visit. Who protects HuguetteClark, with 3 empty homes and no heirs?" Aug. 19, 2010.

Investigative report, part two, "Who is watching Huguette Clark's millions? Reclusive heiress's assets are sold by two advisers, one an accountant with a felony conviction. Another elderly client signed over his property to the same accountant and attorney," Aug. 20, 2010.?

"Criminal probe begins into the finances of reclusive heiress Huguette Clark: Manhattan DA's Elder Abuse Unit is on the case. The same unit prosecuted the Brooke Astor case?? though Clark has about four times the wealth," Aug. 24, 2010.?

"Report sparks welfare check on heiress Huguette Clark," Aug. 25, 2010.?

"Generosity of an heiress: four homes for a nurse, gifts for attorney's family," Sept. 1, 2010.?

"Huguette Clark, the reclusive heiress, has signed a will, attorney says," Sept. 2, 2010.

"Family of copper heiress asks court to protect her from attorney, accountant," Sept. 3, 2010.

"Attorney for 104-year-old heiress defends his handling of her finances," Sept. 7, 2010.?

"Judge leaves pair under investigation in control of heiress Huguette Clark's fortune,"?Sept. 9, 2010.?

"Huguette Clark, the reclusive copper heiress, dies at 104," May 24, 2011.

"Family excluded from Huguette Clark burial," May 26, 2011.

"Heiress Huguette Clark's will leaves $1 million to advisers," June 22, 2011.

"The 1 percent of the 1 percent: How Huguette Clark's millions were spent," Nov. 19, 2011.

"A $400 miillion twist: Huguette Clark signed two wills, one to her family," Nov. 28, 2011.

"Tax fraud alleged in estate of heiress Huguette Clark; accountant resigns," Dec. 21, 2011.

"Nurse, in line to inherit millions, battles family of heiress Huguette Clark," Dec. 22, 2011.

?

Source: http://openchannel.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/23/9659274-judge-bounces-attorney-and-accountant-from-estate-of-heiress-huguette-clark

leona lewis rodney atkins carlos beltran francesca woodman air jordan 11 concord unemployment extension the thin man

Commercial Real Estate Investing Vs Residential

Commercial real estate investing is a better investment than investing in residential property? Now we all know that real estate is usually an investment vehicle and the two large residential and commercial properties can be good investments. Avenue can be a huge impact on your net worth, but most people only think of a property if they think about investing in real estate. All this is certainly the most appropriate way for most people, commercial real estate can not provide additional benefits to the residential model can offer.

Three reasons are better than commercial residential investment offers:

1). Commercial Real Estate offers you more access to more capital

It is my experience that it is a bit easier to raise large amounts of capital (less than $ 3 million) to increase by a commercial offer at $ 150,000 contract for a house. As an investor, your access to housing capital is primarily due to traditional financing, limited hard money lenders and private money from investors. If you are not able to raise capital are from one of three ways, then you are forced to purchase goods with the owner of a creative financing, subject strategies, lease options, etc. This is not itself a bad thing, But unfortunately you have a few bargains that can not be purchased to run with creative financing techniques.

Bundle in the commercial real estate financing, it is common for investors to invest their capital together and treated Union, you will also find that small business private equity and finance companies are more willing to make joint-venture projects and provide the necessary capital, to complete the transaction, if a lot of sense. Then as a commercial investor, you have the ability to raise capital for an agreement from the same sources as residential projects such as traditional financing and difficult to collect money, but also you can access to capital by small businesses in private equity, hedge funds, private REITs, investment groups, and the list goes on.

It seems also a sense of intrigue and prestige have when it comes to investing in commercial transactions. Perhaps because of the current state of the commercial market, it seems investors are more oriented to invest in commercial projects.

2) Commercial Real Estate is less competitive

If you think about it from a marketing point of view, most investors target homeowners that the housing market more competitive. In many arenas, from industry news sources, the World Wide Web, all the ?We Buy Houses? signs on almost every street corner there are many marketing tactics to promote the residential owners. If you discuss the same marketing strategies and take on commercial real estate, you will probably find that you are the only person in contact with these commercial owners to sell their property. Most commercial properties of less than $ 5,000,000 are generally too large for most residential investors, too small for most institutional investors.

3). Commercial Real Estate allows a ?forced? Appreciation

Residential properties are generally based on comparable properties that were sold in the region and are rated similar in functionality. If the ?comps? for Room 3 / 2 bath home in a neighborhood of about $ 100,000, then your property is likely to be at a value of $ 100,000. It is not too much if your target property has additional features that matter, or if your home is $ 900 per month in rent instead of the house on the street, that the rent $ 700 per month. All in all, your property will be evaluated more fairly be close to the ?Comp? in the region.

But in the commercial real estate financing, the valuation of a property on the turnover is generated by the property. Now commercial property still subject to ?comps? of the area, as it is about the ?how? refers to the revenue are evaluated in terms of capitalization rates. But the general premise is that the more income a property generates more value than the property is.

In order to ?force? that is, the value of your commercial property, you have additional ways to find revenue increase generated by the property. A slight increase in revenue to increase the value of a property depending on the ?cap rate? in the region for this type of commercial property. Unfortunately, with residential real estate is not an option, you really can not force appreciation. Your property will be assessed in the general area of ??market comps.

What you see now, offers many advantages over commercial real estate investments in housing, in addition to a higher return on your investment.

Now of course there are also disadvantages of each type of investment, including commercial real estate. However, you should consider the following when choosing between private and commercial investment to your passive income source to create;

1) The building meets the requirements for the loan, the borrower

2) The building shall not loan, the borrower

3) Allow others to the building to manage the borrower

4) income determines the value of the land, not comps

5) activation rate measures the demand for goods, not comps.

In summary we can say: The value of commercial property is income producing assets and forever linked the general demand for the services of the property. Therefore, depending on the location of the land and the optimal use, commercial real estate investments can certainly provide a higher return on your investment of time verses on investments in residential real estate. Perhaps even more so in our current market cycle.

Source: http://www.commercial-real-estate.org/commercial-real-estate-investing-vs-residential

plane crash plane crash kardashian christmas card lori berenson lori berenson the incredibles yu darvish

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Former UFC fighter Browning is big news in Thailand, finally turns himself in

Former UFC fighter Browning is big news in Thailand, finally turns himself in

Junie Brownie has been out of the UFC's hair for a while, but he's been back in the news over the last week. Apparently, it's a big deal in Thailand.

The former reality star on Season 8 of "The Ultimate Fighter" got into a big brouhaha at a bar in Phuket on Dec. 13. He fled the hospital where he was being treated for injuries, been missing ever since and the Thai papers are all over the story.

Police have mounted a Phuket-wide hunt for an American man who started one brawl in a Phuket bar then continued it in the emergency treatment ward at Patong Hospital. Police have named the suspect they wish to interview as Allen Browning, 26, a Thai boxer who fled into the night on Sunday in Patong and has not been seen since.

Earlier in the night, Mr Browning allegedly was seen beating up on an expat woman in a bar in Patak Road, Karon. He also lashed out at Thai female bar staff when they tried to intervene, police said.

Four other tourists from Australia and the US also attempted to intervene but Mr Browning lashed out at them, too, police said.

UPDATE: Browning finally showed up at the police station and turned himself in according to Phuketwan.com.

Former UFC fighter Browning is big news in Thailand, finally turns himself inOne of those tourist was Simon Menzies. Browning claims it was Menzies, who was the real troublemaker. Fightlinker discovered that Menzies was also in trouble with the law earlier this year during a flight from Sydney to Darwin.

Sydney man Simon Wilson Menzies, 31, was drunk and angry when he told the female cabin crew manager on a flight this week that he could "bring the plane down if he wanted."

Menzies said: "I'm half muslim, half Aboriginal and everyone else is a white [expletive]. I could [expletive] blow up the plane."

[...] The court heard Menzies was on Jetstar flight JQ81 from Brisbane to Darwin on Tuesday com when he became abusive after being refused a fourth beer.

The court heard he was refused service because he continued to be rowdy despite repeated warnings.

After he was refused service Menzies, who is 190cm and solidly built, stood over the cabin crew manager and told her to get the captain.

"Send the captain I will [expletive] smash him I'm the biggest guy on the plane," he said.

None of this comes as much of a shock with Browning. He was nearly kicked off TUF 8 several times for violent outbursts. He survived and was even given two more fights with the promotion.

In 2009, Browning was taken to a Las Vegas area hospital after what was reported to be a failed suicide attempt. He compounded his issue by allegedly attacking a female nurse at the hospital. The UFC immediately released him from his contract. He's gone 1-4 since his stint with the promotion and last fought in August. Frankly, right now fighting is the least of his problems.

Arrest tip via MMAWeekly

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Former-UFC-fighter-Browning-is-big-news-in-Thail?urn=mma-wp11023

bernie fine matt leinart cyber monday 2011 cyber monday 2011 turkey pot pie turkey pot pie southern university

Friday, December 23, 2011

Federal Appeals Court Upholds New York City Campaign Finance ...

Christine Quinn (file / credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Christine Quinn (file / credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) ? The federal Appeals Court turned back a legal challenge mounted by lobbyists against New York City?s campaign finance law which limits contributions from anyone doing business with the City, and bars corporate contributions, including partnerships.

?This is a victory for individual New Yorkers and clean government and clean campaign finance,? said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

LISTEN: WCBS 880?s Rich Lamb reports

Quinn characterized those who failed in their attempt to overturn the law as ?people who didn?t want big business and special interests taken out of campaign donations.?

?They put a very powerful provision into the law that significantly limits to a couple of hundred dollars how much money you can give a candidate if you are trying to get city contracts, if you are trying to get a re-zoning, if you are engaged in an attempt to get city business. That was upheld,? she said.

?The Court upheld the actions of the City Council, actions we took to limit the involvement of businesses in funding campaigns, to limit pay-to-play, to limit the involvement of people who are giving money to candidates who also are trying to get City business,? the Speaker added.

Please leave a comment below?

Source: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/12/22/court-upholds-nycs-campaign-finance-law-over-lobbyists-challenge/

rich rodriguez the muppet movie the muppet movie mars rover mars rover trent richardson apple cup

Crews expand search area for missing Maine toddler

People attend a candle-light vigil held for missing 20 month-old Ayla Reynolds, Wednesday, Dec 21, 2011 in Waterville, Maine. The area being searched for a missing 20-month-old girl in Maine is being expanded to include trails and more waterways, and the number of tips from the public has grown to more than 160, police said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Michael C. York)

People attend a candle-light vigil held for missing 20 month-old Ayla Reynolds, Wednesday, Dec 21, 2011 in Waterville, Maine. The area being searched for a missing 20-month-old girl in Maine is being expanded to include trails and more waterways, and the number of tips from the public has grown to more than 160, police said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Michael C. York)

Ken Brown , Hannah Letourneau and theri daughter Mackenzie Brown listen as prayers are offered at the First Congregational Church, for 20-month-girl, Ayla Reynolds Wednesday, Dec 21, 2011 in Waterville, Maine. The area being searched for a missing 20-month-old girl in Maine is being expanded to include trails and more waterways, and the number of tips from the public has grown to more than 160, police said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Michael C. York)

People attend a candle-light vigil held at the First Congregational Church for missing 20 month-old Ayla Reynolds, Wednesday, Dec 21, 2011 in Waterville, Maine. The area being searched for a missing 20-month-old girl in Maine is being expanded to include trails and more waterways, and the number of tips from the public has grown to more than 160, police said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Michael C. York)

This undated photo obtained from a facebook page shows missing toddler Alya Reynolds. Police in Maine are appealing to the public for help in locating the 20-month-old girl who was last seen Friday night. Waterville Police Chief Joseph Massey held a news conference this afternoon to ask anyone with information about Ayla Reynolds to call police. Ayla's father called police yesterday morning to report that his daughter was not in her bed and couldn't be found. She was last seen sleeping at about 10 p.m. Friday by a family member. (AP Photo/obtained from Facebook)

(AP) ? The area being searched for a missing 20-month-old girl in Maine is being expanded to include trails and more waterways, and investigators are painstakingly checking out all tips, which now total more than 160, police said Wednesday.

A stream has already been drained in the search for Ayla Reynolds, and authorities said other streams, rivers and ponds in Waterville were also being checked as the area grows outward from the girl's neighborhood of neatly kept postwar homes.

More than 60 townspeople ? many of them mothers with young children ? gathered for a candlelight vigil for Ayla, praying, singing hymns and offering support to those helping in the quest to find the girl.

"I can tell you, they are working just as hard as if it was their own child," City Manager Mike Roy told the group at the vigil at the First Congregational Church. A photo of a smiling Ayla, a few children's drawings and stuffed toys formed a centerpiece at the front of the pews.

Searchers have looked through trash bins and lowered portions of Messalonskee stream in the central Maine city of about 16,000 residents.

More streams and ponds were lowered Wednesday, Police Chief Joseph Massey said, and additional woods and open areas were checked. The Maine Marine Patrol searched the Kennebec River, at the city's edge. The FBI continued Wednesday to go door-to-door in a "knock and talk" canvassing effort.

Dozens of new tips from the public poured in, bringing the total to more than 160, and each one was being checked out, Massey said.

"That is keeping investigators very, very busy, as you can imagine," the chief said.

The toddler was last seen Friday night when her father, Justin DiPietro, said he put her to bed wearing a green one-piece pajama set with polka dots and the words "Daddy's Princess."

DiPietro called police the next morning to say she wasn't there. Several other adults were in the home at the time, but Massey declined to identify them.

Tuesday night, DiPietro addressed the public for the first time, saying in a statement he had "no idea what happened to Ayla, or who is responsible."

DiPietro released the statement through the Waterville police, saying his family and friends will do "everything we can to assist in this investigation and get Ayla back home."

He and Ayla's mother, Trista Reynolds, continue to cooperate with police in what remains a missing-person case, Massey said.

An Amber Alert, which lets the public know about an abducted child, wasn't declared, and no manhunt is under way. State police say the case didn't fit the criteria for an Amber Alert because Ayla was reported missing about 12 hours after being last seen, and there was no vehicle and no suspect.

Before Wednesday night's vigil, which was moved indoors because of raw weather and freezing rain, Cori Cote held her 16-month-old daughter and said wanted to support Ayla's family.

"I couldn't imagine losing my little girl," she said. "I want Ayla back safe."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-12-21-Missing%20Toddler/id-996914f54dda4d98ae0a54325e8d7779

hobbit trailer greenhill nj plane crash plane crash new jersey beef o bradys bowl the hobbit sopa

Sunday, December 18, 2011

AP sources: Rollins, Phils agree on 3-year deal (AP)

PHILADELPHIA ? Jimmy Rollins is bringing his swagger back to the Phillies. Three people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that Rollins has agreed to a 3-year, $33 million contract with Philadelphia. The deal includes a vesting option for a fourth year.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity Saturday because the agreement is pending a physical.

"Gotta deal with me for 3 (4) more years!" Rollins wrote on Twitter. He also thanked former Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, who tweeted congratulations to Rollins and the Phillies.

Rollins is a three-time All-Star shortstop and the 2007 NL MVP. He has spent his entire career with the Phillies after being selected in the second round of the 1996 amateur draft, and was a free agent for the first time.

Rollins, who turned 33 last month, sought at least a five-year deal. The Phillies didn't want to go that long, and were able to reach an agreement after the market for Rollins lessened.

From the start, Rollins said he wanted to stay in Philadelphia. He has been the heart and soul of a team that has won five consecutive NL East titles and the 2008 World Series. Rollins is undeniably the team leader, a charismatic personality who brings a special confidence to the clubhouse.

Rollins was the guy who boldly proclaimed the Phillies were the team to beat in the division before the 2007 season, even though Philadelphia hadn't won anything in 14 years. He backed that up by having an MVP year, and leading the Phillies to their first postseason appearance since 1993.

Rollins hasn't come close to matching the numbers he put up in 2007 ? .296 average, 30 homers, 94 RBIs, 20 triples, 41 steals. But he remains one of the best defensive players at his position, and is still an offensive threat atop the lineup.

He hit .268 with 16 homers, 63 RBIs and 30 steals this year. He has been plagued by leg injuries in three of the last four years, and played in a career-low 88 games in 2010. He started 135 this year.

Re-signing Rollins had been a top priority for the Phillies. Their biggest move of the offseason was giving former Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon a $50 million, four-year contract.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111218/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbn_phillies_rollins

ron paul 2012 extremely loud and incredibly close zynga stock zynga stock sam houston state university sam houston state university bradley manning

Hundreds of migrants missing off Indonesia as boat sinks (Reuters)

TRENGGALEK, Indonesia (Reuters) ? At least 217 people are missing, and possibly scores more, after an overcrowded boat packed with illegal immigrants heading for Australia sank in heavy seas off the coast of east Java in Indonesia, authorities said on Sunday.

Many of the passengers on the wooden vessel are believed to be economic migrants from countries including Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. Indonesia is a transit point for illegal immigrants from the Middle East who cross the Indian Ocean in search of a better life in Australia.

Authorities gave differing accounts of the number of people missing and the potential casualty toll.

Sahrul Arifin, head of emergency and logistics at the East Java Disaster Mitigation Centre, said only 76 people of 380 people on board had been rescued.

The boat was wrecked in strong seas about 90 km (55 miles) out to sea on Saturday night, officials said.

"Our search and rescue team have begun sweeping the water around where the accident took place but we are now sending body bags," Arifin said.

However Hariyadi Purnomo, a Search and Rescue (SAR) spokesman in East Java, said 217 remained missing and 33 people had been rescued. SAR site coordinator Kelik Enggar Purwanto told Reuters by telephone those rescued included one woman. Several of the others were boys aged 8-10.

"Survivors are suffering from severe dehydration and exhaustion as they were floating in the middle of the sea approximately for 5 hours," Purwanto said.

NO SIGN OF MORE SURVIVORS

Purwanto said the boat sank on Saturday morning and had a capacity of about 100 people. He said survivors were found clinging to the wreckage.

"We see no signs of further survivors or casualties and now we're focusing the search east of where the survivors were found yesterday. Based on a statement from the victims, waves hit the side of the boat, breaking it in half and then it capsized," Purwanto said.

"Fishermen found them about 20 miles from the shore when the waves were as high as 2 to 3 meters," Purwanto said,

Philippines TV showed images of more than a dozen shocked survivors huddled in a clinic in Trenggalek, a town on Java's south coast. Immigration officials were interviewing survivors.

"Extreme weather has caused reduced visibility, making the rescue process difficult," Brian Gautama, a SAR member at the site, was quoted as saying by state news agency Antara. "They (survivors) must be evacuated as soon as possible because they can't stay for long in the middle of the sea."

One survivor told authorities four buses with around 60 or more adult passengers each had turned up to the port where they embarked, Antara said, giving no further details.

"The reason for our journey is that I, along with the rest of the people on the boat, wanted to seek asylum in Australia," one Iraqi survivor, who gave his name as Fahmi, told Reuters in Arabic.

Australian-based refugee advocate Ian Rintoul said the blame for the disaster lay squarely with the Australian government, which had pressured Indonesia into taking a harsh stance against people smuggling.

Earlier this year, Indonesia enacted a new law making people smuggling punishable by a minimum of 5 years in jail, he said.

"What it means is that people come into Indonesia and are desperate to get out of Indonesia as quickly as possible. That happens under the radar. It used to happen much more in the open," Rintoul told Reuters.

Boat people are a major political issue in Australia, although according to U.N. figures the number of asylum seekers reaching Australia is tiny in comparison with other countries.

Australian Prime Julia Gillard has put pressure on Indonesia, where most of the boats leave from, and other neighbors to help stem the number of arrivals.

Australia-based refugee advocate Jack Smit told Reuters the boat appeared to be overloaded. He suggested a new and inexperienced people-smuggling operator trying to make money quickly might be involved.

Indonesia is currently in its wet season, when its waters are prone to storms, making the journey even more hazardous.

Passengers typically pay between $3,000 and $8,000 to get on such a boat, Smit said, which are often ramshackle and poorly equipped for the dangerous voyage to Australia.

The people-smuggling syndicates are often run by people from the Middle East, exploiting family contacts. The sinking off Java is the latest of several such disasters in recent years.

(Additional reporting by Karima Anjani and Olivia Rondonuwu in JAKARTA and Chris McCall in SYDNEY; Writing by Matthew Bigg; Editing by Paul Tait)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111218/wl_nm/us_indoesia_boat

rocksmith blackbeard widespread panic widespread panic

Saturday, December 17, 2011

[OOC] The Past Cannot Be Forgotten

Forum rules
This forum is for OOC discussion about existing roleplays.

Please post all "Players Wanted" threads in the Roleplayers Wanted forum!

Topic Tags:

Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.


Return to Out of Character

Post a reply

RolePlayGateway is a site built by a couple roleplayers who wanted to give a little something back to the roleplay community. The site has no intention of earning any profit, and is paid for out of their own pockets.

If you appreciate what they do, feel free to donate your spare change to help feed them on the weekends. After selecting the amount you want to donate from the menu, you can continue by clicking on PayPal logo.

Who is online

Registered users: Akantha*, Alasund De'astio*, Alias*, AmiOfTheRain*, Andaho*, Andreis*, Aniihya, Annaky, Arcanus*, Archlkan*, Artik, Asclepion*, Athra*, Aufeis*, Auricambrflaym, AvidZombierReader*, AzricanRepublic*, barney_fife*, Beta Type Jakuri, Blackbird26*, Blackfridayrule, BlaizeJ01, Blindsite*, BrienaBloodLust*, Caelus, Calvazara, CaptainLogan, Censored69, ChildishDelusion, Choclate~Pyrus, ChristyLovesYou, Chulance*, Cloasse*, CptxMorgan*, Cryotech, Cynique*, danm36, Dante1313, Dark Star*, DarkerLight, DarknessToDeath23*, dealing with it, desire99600, dig17*, Draruto, Drygionas, DumbDora, Eleera Cain*, Elrith Eldwind, eotallan121, estrelas, Fallen*, FalloutRomanae*, Firewind*, Fortune Walking, freakofnature*, Fredalice, freemixer25*, FullMoon_Nyx*, Gack04, Gigabot [Bot], Google [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], Google Feedfetcher, Grimpunker96*, Hazezon, Hiron, HoneyDoodle, Hydrall, Irish Wolf, itsallinthedark, jackrhien, Jacopo, Jadeling Hawkins, Jaybt9*, JayZeroSnake, JokerofSpades*, Katana_Wing*, Kenzi, Kesteven*, Kestrel, Kiamaj, kjrated, Kuril*, kylewolfblade, Lainpinky131, LavenderMistress, LeiaHair, littlebirddogmint*, Lodnir*, Lovely VonSchultz, LRmember, LSunday, Lumana*, Luna Star, Lurelle, Lux_Disraeli*, Majestic-12 [Bot], Mat_z6*, MaxStokes, Metal4Life, Misuteri_Akurei, Mojito*, Moonscar*, Movintarget*, Mr. Crow, Mr_Doomed, MrMurdoch, MSNbot Media, musicalsweets, NarrowEye, Nightgem, NorthernSoul, Ottoman*, Outlaw*, Perilute, Phoenix6000, pieluver, PixieCP, PlutoDirect, Princess Awinita*, Protoman X, pulpfriction93, qbsuperstar03*, RainWish, Rarikou*, RavenaXxX, Reginox, Rem?us*, rizzyrat*, rockerr69*, Ryand-Smith*, Saken, Sammilicous, SamuraiMaster*, Sandbear, Sangranor, Sanick, Saranghae, satec77, Script*, Scythe Massak?r, SelinaQuinn, Sench, SeraphicStar*, Setsugie*, ShaShaBoomStar, Shattered233, Shpleem*, Silent Rain, Sivermist09*, SkullsandSlippers, SkyRight, SlowlyCrazyIAmGoing, Smokescreen*, smrtazz13*, Sneakers*, Sneakyrio, Solo Wing Pixy, SolrSurfr3*, Something?, Sorella, Spanner, Spiral Thoughts, SunshinexDeath, SurRealPlayer*, Sweet Angel Jocelyn, sweetgal, The Painkiller, the_judged*, TheNoremac42*, TheOneAndOnly, TheRaven&ThePawn*, Tide*, Tiko*, tomakiXikouris, True Grave, twi-twi*, TwiliXDragon, Tyliana*, utahann, VampWiz08, Vestiline, VitaminHeart*, wednesdaysun*, Wild1, Winds Of Fate, Wing06Twilight, Wren, XavierDantius32*, XMatthewxHitomiX*, Yonbibuns*, Yoru-Senpai*, YusukeFlame*, Zetta*, Zitacamron95, Zodia195

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/yKI6wzfsN30/viewtopic.php

theo epstein darknet james ray williston nd williston nd mists of pandaria mists of pandaria

Capitalism by Any Other Name (Prospect)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/175522882?client_source=feed&format=rss

milwaukee brewers will power will power indy 500 martin luther king memorial walking dead season 2 walking dead season 2