The Final Four is set after blowouts, surprises

ATLANTA (AP) ? An inspired Louisville squad vs. the surprising Shockers.

A new group of Fab Wolverines vs. the stingiest zone defense in college basketball.

After a weekend of blowouts and another upset, the Final Four is set.

Top overall seed Louisville will face Wichita State at the Georgia Dome next Saturday, while Michigan takes on Syracuse in the other national semifinal. The winners advance to the April 8 championship.

On Sunday, the Cardinals drew inspiration from a gruesome injury to guard Kevin Ware and cruised past Duke 85-63 in the Midwest Regional. Michigan led from the opening tip, routing Florida 79-59 in the South.

A day earlier, Syracuse shut down Marquette 55-39 to win the East. Wichita State punched its Final Four ticket with a 70-66 upset of Ohio State out West.

In the final year of the Big East before it splits into two new conferences, Louisville and Syracuse provided a fitting send-off to a league that quickly became a basketball powerhouse after it was founded in 1979.

Before it goes, this version of the Big East has a shot at one more national title.

With two teams, no less.

The Cardinals ? who, like Syracuse, are moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference ? were the only No. 1 seed to make it to the Final Four. And, boy, it's been an impressive run.

Louisville (33-5) has won its four NCAA games by an average margin of nearly 22 points, capped by a second-half blowout of Duke after the Cardinals shook off the incredible shock of Ware's injury with about 6? minutes to go before halftime.

"We won this for him," coach Rick Pitino said.

The sophomore snapped his lower right leg after coming down awkwardly while defending a 3-point shot. The injury occurred right in front of the Louisville bench, where the players gasped and turned away quickly at the sight of Ware's dangling leg, which was broken in two places.

Russ Smith collapsed onto the floor, along with several players, and was crying as doctors attended to Ware. While Ware was loaded onto a stretcher, the Cardinals gathered at midcourt until Pitino called them over, saying the injured player wanted to talk to them before he left.

The sophomore, who played his high school ball in suburban Atlanta, urged his teammates to complete the trip to the Georgia Dome. Pitino wiped his eyes as Ware was wheeled out, as did several Louisville players.

"All he kept saying ? and remember, the bone is 6 inches out of his leg ? all he's yelling is, 'Win the game! Win the game!'" Pitino said. "I've never seen that in my life. We're all distraught and all he's saying is, 'Win the game.' Kevin is a special young man."

This is a special team. Smith scored 23 points. Gorgui Dieng had 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.

The Cardinals simply refused to lose, breaking open a game that was tied at 42. They dove on the floor for loose balls. They pounded the boards ferociously. They contested every shot and swarmed around the Blue Devils like they had an extra player on the court.

In a sense, they did. During every timeout, Pitino reminded the players of their hospitalized teammate.

"This is a gritty bunch," the coach said. "From the beginning of the year to now, they've not had a bad game. I'm really proud of these guys."

While the Cardinals are the clear favorite heading to their second straight Final Four, Wichita State was the most improbable team to advance.

The ninth-seeded Shockers lived up to their nickname in the West, knocking off top-seeded Gonzaga in the second round and No. 2 seed Ohio State in the regional final Saturday night.

Wichita State (30-8) built a 20-point lead on the Buckeyes, then managed to hang on through a nerve-racking final five minutes to pull off the latest upset in a tournament filled with them.

The Shockers will need an even bigger stunner to knock off Louisville, the one team in a wide-open tournament that has looked unbeatable.

Then again, that other team from Kansas has shown no fear so far.

"It feels very good," said Cleanthony Early, a junior forward who, like most guys on this team, was passed over by higher-profile programs, "but we understand the fact that we've got to stay hungry and humble, because we've got two more games left to really be excited about."

Old-timers might remember Louisville and Wichita State as former conference rivals. The Cardinals were a member of the Missouri Valley Conference in the 1960s and '70s, which meant annual games against the Shockers.

Louisville holds a 19-5 edge in the series, but the teams haven't played since 1976.

Michigan (30-7) is headed back to the Final Four for the first time since the Fab Five era of the early 1990s, when the Wolverines lost in back-to-back national title games.

This team has much the same feel, led by sophomore Trey Burke, the Big Ten player of the year, and three freshmen starters. They were downright fabulous against Florida on Sunday, never seriously threatened after scoring the first 13 points.

"A lot of guys said we were really young and that we couldn't get here," said Burke, who scored 15 points against Florida but really came through in an improbable comeback against top-seeded Kansas in the regional semifinals. "We're here now and we still have unfinished business."

One of the freshmen, Nik Stauskas, hit all six of his 3-pointers and scored 22 points to lead the fourth-seeded Wolverines past the third-seeded Gators. Another of the youngsters, 6-foot-10 Mitch McGary, chipped in with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Florida became the first team to make it to three straight regional finals without winning any of them, according to STATS.

The Wolverines will have their work cut out against Syracuse (30-9), a team that has totally stuffed its NCAA opponents with a stifling zone defense. The fourth-seeded Orange are headed to their first Final Four since winning it all in 2003 largely because they have allowed fewer than 46 points a game in the tournament.

Syracuse leads the series against Michigan 8-5. Their last meeting was Nov. 26, 2010, when the Orange prevailed 53-50 in the Legends Classic at Atlantic City, N.J.

The schools have never met in the NCAA tournament.

Syracuse has been like an octopus when it settles in around the its own lane ? shutting off passing routes, preventing anyone from penetrating, yet still managing to defend the 3-point line with quickness and long arms. Montana, California, top-seeded Indiana and Marquette combined to make just under 29 percent from the field (61 of 211) and a paltry 15.4 percent (14 of 91) outside the arc.

"We were as active these two games here in Washington as we've ever been," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said after Saturday's win over league rival Marquette, which is headed to a new version of the Big East next season. "I just really can't say enough about how good these guys played on the defensive end of the court."

___

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/final-four-set-blowouts-surprises-000324199--spt.html

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Obamacare: "Driving Up Unemployment and Insurance Costs Since ...

Jobless claims stopped their record-breaking, fearsome, FOUR-WEEK job-creation rampage today as the BLS reported that initial claim rose- again- by more than economists expected.
?First-time jobless claims rose by 16,000 to 357,000 in the week ended March 23,? reports Reuters, ?the highest level in more than a month, Labor Department data showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 48 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for an increase to 340,000. The four-week average climbed from the lowest level in five years.?

Economists, says Reuters, were expecting claims to come in between 330,000 at the low end and 355,000 at the high end.

?We?re not making progress the way we?d like to,? said Robert Brusca, president of Fact & Opinion Economics in New York, who projected claims would climb to 350,000. ?It?s still a very disappointing picture for jobs.?

Disappointing for people too.

But not so bad for Obama, who is making a pitch today that we should?ban guns? Oh, wait?no this week it?s?the boondoggle on a study related to snail sex. No? Oh, yes?it?s gay marriage. Or wait, how about this one: an Easter egg roll that avoids using Jesus? name or any talk of religion.

Never fear: I think they?ll make up for it later with a Socratic seminar on ?Jesus Stompin?.? ?

But who really cares? The recovery just keeps getting better and better, for people who live in DC.

Outside the Beltway, it?s a bit tougher.

Despite all the ?great news? manufactured by the media about how ?great? the economy is, average people aren?t so sure.

?The Conference Board, a private research group, said its index of consumer confidence declined about 8 points to 59.7 in March from a revised 68.0 in February,? reports theWall Street Journal, ?the first reported as 69.6. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had expected the index to fall, but only to 67.1.?

What the heck is wrong with these people?

Don?t they know we are in the greatest economic recovery in the history of the universe brought to us by the record-setting healthcare premiums charged by insurance companies as a result of Obamacare?

Obamacare: Driving Up Unemployment and Insurance Costs Since 2010?

Source: http://townhall.com/columnists/johnransom/2013/03/29/obamacare-driving-up-unemployment-and-insurance-costs-since-2010-n1552443

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Confederate flag comes down at old N.C. capitol

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) ? A Confederate battle flag hung inside the old North Carolina State Capitol last week to mark the sesquicentennial of the Civil War is being taken down after civil rights leaders raised concerns.

The decision was announced Friday evening, hours after the Associated Press published a story about the flag, which officials said was part of an historical display intended to replicate how the antebellum building appeared in 1863. The flag had been planned to hang in the House chamber until April 2015, the 150th anniversary of the arrival of federal troops in Raleigh.

"This is a temporary exhibit in an historic site, but I've learned the governor's administration is going to use the old House chamber as working space," Cultural Resources Secretary Susan Kluttz said Friday night. "Given that information, this display will end this weekend rather than April of 2015."

Kim Genardo, the spokeswoman for Gov. Pat McCrory, said the exhibit that includes the Confederate battle flag will be relocated, possibly across the street to the N.C. Museum of History.

The decision was a quick about-face for the McCrory administration, which initially defended the display. Many people see the flag as a potent reminder of racial discrimination and bigotry.

State Historic Sites Director Keith Hardison had said Thursday the flag should be viewed in what he called the proper historical context.

"Our goal is not to create issues," said Hardison, a Civil War re-enactor and history buff. "Our goal is to help people understand issues of the past. ... If you refuse to put something that someone might object to or have a concern with in the exhibit, then you are basically censoring history."

North Carolina NAACP president Rev. William Barber was shocked Friday when he was shown a photo of the flag by the AP.

"He is right that it has a historical context," Barber said. "But what is that history? The history of racism. The history of lynchings. The history of death. The history of slavery. If you say that shouldn't be offensive, then either you don't know the history, or you are denying the history."

Barber couldn't immediately be reached Friday night, after the decision to take down the flag.

Sessions of the General Assembly moved to a newer building a half-century ago, but the old Capitol building is still routinely used as a venue for official state government events. McCrory's office is on the first floor, as are the offices of his chief of staff and communications staff.

The Republican governor was in the House chamber where the Confederate flag hangs as recently as Thursday, when he presided over the swearing-in ceremony of his new Highway Patrol commander.

The presentation of the Confederate battle flag at state government buildings has long been an issue of debate throughout the South. For more than a decade, the NAACP has urged its members to boycott South Carolina because of that state's display of the flag on the State House grounds.

Prior to taking his current job in North Carolina in 2006, Hardison worked as director at the Mississippi home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, which is operated as a museum and library owned by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The group has led the fight in the South for the proud display of the Confederate flag, which it contends is a symbol of heritage, not hate.

Hardison said the battle flag was displayed with other flags described in the diary of a North Carolina woman who visited the Capitol in 1863. A large U.S. flag displayed in the Senate chamber is reminiscent of a trophy of war captured from Union troops at the Battle of Plymouth.

"I thought, wouldn't it be wonderful to recreate this?" Hardison said. "I think we were all thinking along the same vein. ... The Capitol is both a working seat of government, in that the governor and his staff has his office there. But it is also a museum."

Hardison pointed out that the national flag used by the Confederate government, with its circle of white stars and red and white stripes, is still flown over the State Capitol dome each year on Confederate Memorial Day. The more familiar blood-red battle flag, featuring a blue "X'' studded with white stars, was used by the rebel military.

David Goldfield, a history professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and author of the book "Still Fighting the Civil War," said the battle flag can hold starkly different meanings depending on a person's social perspective.

"The history of the Confederate battle flag, how it was designed and formulated, how it has been used through the years, clearly states that it is a flag of white supremacy," Goldfield said. "I know current Sons of Confederate Veterans would dispute that, saying 'Hey, I'm not a racist.' But the fact remains that the battle flag was used by a country that had as its foundation the protection and extension of human bondage."

___

Follow Michael Biesecker at twitter.com/mbieseck

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/confederate-flag-old-nc-capitol-coming-down-234855125.html

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Coffee culture taking SA by storm - All4Women Food & Drink Articles

Photo ?: ? Kzenon - Fotolia.com

Coffee shops never seem to rest. Before most of the proletariat trundle into their offices to start the day, these coffee parlours are already wide awake.....

Cheery baristas serve up liquid gold

They are filled with whizzing, hissing, clinking noises and undecipherable chatting, as the team of unbelievably, refreshingly cheery baristas serve cups brimming with liquid gold to sometimes not-quite-awake patrons.

Coffee culture around the world

Coffee outlets are culturally important places. The greatest cities in the world enjoy vibrant and indelible coffee cultures: think New York with thousands of people walking down traffic-congested streets while clutching cups of Starbucks; Paris has its oft-praised cobbled-street caf?s.?

This seems to indicate the two extremes that exist under the umbrella term ?coffee culture? ? New York?s highly frenetic approach to the consumption of coffee, and Paris?s more relaxed enjoyment of the beverage.

Aromatic backdrop for life

A welcoming coffee house provides a venue and an aromatic backdrop for business meetings, first dates and reunions.?

It offers a place in which to dream up your next big idea, or to pen chapters for the novel you always promised yourself you would write.?

It presents a place away from the office in which to work, or perhaps even a place to which to escape the busy day for an hour or so.?

New environment boosts creativity?

Businesspeople have caught onto the idea that creatives have long-since espoused: that working in an environment different to the one in which you usually work allows you to gain a fresh perspective on old problems.?

A change of work environment imbues even those who are difficult to inspire with renewed vigour and passion.

Communal melting pot

The secret of coffee houses is their emphasis on community.?

Even though people are sitting in groups of two or four, those sitting in a coffee shop at any one time form an energetic community whose members are all passionate about different things.?

The term ?melting pot? has never been used so accurately as when describing coffee houses.?

Students occupy the same space as CEOs, entrepreneurs share the space with writers, painters, yoga devotees, photographers, philosophers, industrial engineers and estate agents.

Find your favourite coffee house?

To be able to find your favourite coffee house, it is important that it strikes a balance between the New York-styled coffee culture, and the Parisian-styled coffee culture.?

One is thus able to rush in and pick up a cup of coffee before dashing into the office or hurrying to a business meeting.?

But one can also amble into the fragrant venue with the aim to finding a quiet corner in which to spend time with oneself while sipping a latte and watching people rush in and drift out, coffee in hand, invigorated and inspired.

Fun coffee facts

? Both the American Revolution and the French Revolution were plotted in coffee houses.

? The average coffee drinker consumes 4-6kg of roasted coffee per annum; South Africans only consume 0,6kg per person per annum.

? Arabica beans contain half the caffeine of Robusta

? In 1675 Charles II, King of England issued a proclamation banning Coffee Houses. He stated Coffee Houses were places where people met to plot against him.

? Coffee starts out as a yellow berry, changes into a red berry and then is hand-picked to harvest. Through a water-soaking process, the red berry is de-shelled and left inside is the green coffee bean. This bean then dries in the sun for 3-5 days and is then packed and ready for sale.

Don't miss out! Subscribe to our free Recipes Daily or Recipes Weekly Newsletters

Source: http://all4women.co.za/food-and-recipes/food-articles/coffee-culture-taking-sa-by-storm.html

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Answer to mystery of Pluto's moons could depend on 2015 flyby

Pluto and its moon Charon act like a double-planet system with wreath of other, smaller moons. NASA's New Horizons mission could help explain how those moons got there.

By Pete Spotts,?Staff writer / March 25, 2013

This photo by the Hubble Space Telescope shows the five moons in their orbits around Pluto.

Hubble Space Telescope/NASA/AP

Enlarge

New research by two astronomers has the potential to make the current NASA mission to Pluto and beyond more than just a first close-up glimpse of the distant, demoted planet. It could help scientists understand how planets form around other stars.

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The reason: While Pluto's companion, Charon, is widely considered a moon, its orbital relationship to Pluto is identical to that of stars in a binary-star system. Indeed, some astronomers hold that Charon is not a moon, but part of a binary dwarf-planet system, with Pluto as the senior partner.

With at least four other small moons orbiting beyond Charon, the Pluto system could be a unique laboratory for scientists.

"Not only could we try to understand the outer part of the solar system, we could actually have an idea of how planets form around binary stars and actually test it real life," says Scott Kenyon, a researcher at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass., who performed the analysis along with University of Utah's Benjamin Bromley.

Charon is thought to have formed from a collision between Pluto and another object, Dr. Kenyon explains. To try to determine how the smaller outer moons might have formed thereafter, the researchers used computer simulations. Did the outer moons form from the debris of the collision? Or did they take shape long afterward from the primordial disk of dust, rock, and ice that Pluto-Charon captured from its general neighborhood?

The simulations suggest that both scenarios are possible, but that each would yield moons with different compositions. NASA's New Horizons mission could help prove if either scenario is right. New Horizons is now half way to Pluto and is expected to reach the dwarf planet in 2015.

The results of the calculations by Kenyon and Dr. Bromley have been submitted for publication and have been posted on an astrophysics website in hopes that the New Horizons science team can work in observations that would test these competing ideas into the mission's science plan during the Pluto flyby.

Over the years, the known size of the Pluto system has expanded. Pluto itself was discovered in 1930 by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. It took another 48 years to pick out Charon. In 2005, astronomers discovered Nix and Hydra. And between July 2011 and July 2012, researchers detected another two moons ? P4 and P5. (A recent nonbinding poll to name the two moons suggested Vulcan and Cerberus.)

Assuming a giant impact formed Charon, the raw material for the other moons could have come from debris that formed a disk outside Charon's orbit.

For moons to form in this way, there would have needed to be enough debris, and it would have needed to be orbiting Pluto and Charon at a distance relatively undisturbed by their gravity ? so clumping could occur. "If you can't get material out past the orbit of P5 [the closest known moon to Pluto and Charon], then you're doomed," Kenyon says, because gravity from Pluto-Charon would sweep the material into those two objects.

But simulations of the impact scenario suggested that material did pass the orbit of P5 and that this scenario was the most efficient means of producing moons, Kenyon says. The collision yields more than enough debris to make moons with the masses astronomers think the system's moons have. Moreover, in the simulations, the innermost moon tends to settle into an orbit at a distance comparable to P5.?

But the approach that focuses on the primordial disk of dust and ice can also form moons, simulations found. At some point after the giant collision, the Pluto-Charon system could have drawn in a ring of dust and ice from material in the vicinity ? material that was part of the solar system's original inventory of dust, gas, and ice.

"You just gradually accumulate stuff over millions and millions of years, and that coagulates into the satellites," Kenyon says.

But simulations found that the masses of the moons formed in this scenario are at the lowest end of the range of mass estimates astronomers have calculated for the moons in the Pluto-Charon system. And those less-massive moons would appear in orbits much farther from Pluto-Charon than the existing moons.

Either way, if both scenarios start out with the same amount of mass in the debris disks, the same number of satellites will form, but their composition will be different.

If the satellites are formed from the collision debris, their composition will look much like Charon's. Charon is less dense than Pluto, consisting of a roughly 50-50 mix of ice (mostly water ice) and rock with a very icy surface. This allows it to reflect a relatively larger amount of sunlight from its surface than would a more mixed surface composition.

If the satellites formed via gradual accretion of primordial ice and rock well after a giant impact, Kenyon adds, the satellites would be darker and with a higher proportion of rock to ice.

In that way, they would look more like typical objects in the Kuiper Belt ? the broad expanse of rocky and icy objects left over from solar system's construction phase some 4.6 billion years ago. The belt's inner edge is about 2.8 billion miles from the sun, just beyond Neptune's orbit. The outer edge is thought to lie about 4.7 billion miles from the sun.

Pluto, which orbits the sun at an average distance of 3.7 billion miles, is the second largest known dwarf planet. The solar system's largest, most massive dwarf planet is Eris, which orbits the sun at an average distance of 6.3 billion miles.

Based on the simulations, New Horizons could find perhaps five to 10 more moons in the Pluto-Charon system, Kenyon says. They would be small, perhaps ranging from 1,000 feet to a mile or two across, and outside the orbit of Hydra. And there would be enough material for a tenuous disk of particles whose size are measured in inches.

New Horizons can begin its observations of the Pluto-Charon system about 70 days before its closest encounter and for some days after.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/FmuskSbrWAI/Answer-to-mystery-of-Pluto-s-moons-could-depend-on-2015-flyby

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?The Korean Zombie? asks Georges St-Pierre to stop wearing ?Rising Sun? symbol at fights

UFC featherweight Chan Sung Jung has a fight with Ricardo Lamas coming up in July. The fight will likely have title implications, and will give "The Korean Zombie" a chance to prove he belongs at the top of the UFC's 145-lb. class. But the upcoming fight didn't keep Jung from speaking up to one of the UFC's biggest stars.

Jung posted a letter on his Facebook page to UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre about the Rising Sun symbol GSP wore to his fight with Nick Diaz.

Dear Mr. Georges St. Pierre
Hi, My name is Chan Sung Jung from South Korea. As one of many Koreans who like you as an incredible athlete, I feel like I should tell you that many Korean fans, including myself, were shocked to see you in your gi designed after the Japanese 'Rising Sun Flag'. For Asians, this flag is a symbol of war crimes, much like the German Hakenkreuzflagge. Did you know that? I hope not.

Just like Nazis, the Japanese also committed atrocities under the name of 'Militarism'. You can easily learn what they've done by googling (please do), although it's only the tiny tip of an enormous iceberg.

Furthermore, the Japanese Government never gave a sincere apology, and still to this day, so many victims are dying in pain, heartbroken, without being compensated. But many westerners like to wear clothes designed after the symbol under which so many war crimes and so much tragedy happened, which is ridiculous.

I know most of them are not militarists. I know most of them do not approve unjustified invasion, torture, massacre, etc. They're just ignorant. It's such a shame that many westerners are not aware of this tragic fact. Wearing Rising Sun outfits is as bad as wearing clothes with the Nazi mark on it, if not worse.

Since you're influenced by Japanese Martial Arts, your wearing a headband designed after Japanese flag is understandable. But again, that huge 'Rising Sun' on your Gi means something else.

Many people say GSP is the best Welterweight fighter throughout history, to which I totally agree. This means you have a great influence on every single fan of yours all around the world. And I do believe your wearing 'the symbol of War Crime' is a very bad example for them, not to mention for yourself.

So, what do you reckon? Do you want to wear the same Gi next time as well?

The Rising Sun flag was used by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II, and it was banned by the United Nations in 1945. Jung is not the only person to have an issue with seeing it used by an athlete. During the 2012 Olympics, Japanese gymnasts wore a leotard that was inspired by the Rising Sun, and some South Koreans were not happy about it.

When one-time MMA sponsor Hoelzer Reich used Nazi imagery on the gear UFC and WEC fighters wore into the cage, the promotions banned their items from the cage. Jung has the courage to speak up to a fighter he admittedly admires. GSP and the UFC owe him a response.

UPDATE: Both GSP and Hayabusa, the company who made GSP's gi, have apologized. GSP posted a statement from Hayabusa:

Since Georges St-Pierre wore our walkout gi at UFC 158 we have received attention surrounding the negative connotation of the rising sun graphic used. The last thing we want is to offend or alienate anyone with the choice of design on our products.

We at Hayabusa have the utmost respect for culture and history and appreciate all of our customers worldwide. As such, we accept full responsibility for this design and are taking all complaints and comments very seriously.

The gi worn by GSP will not be brought to market. In addition, we will be very conscious of this specific design element when developing future communication materials and products.

Please accept our sincerest apology for any offence this has caused. If you have any questions or comments regarding this matter, please feel free to discuss it with us at customerservice@hayabusafightwear.com. One of our representatives will be happy to assist you.

And GSP added:

I'd like to also personally apologize to anyone who was offended by this. I am very sorry, that was never my intention.

Both GSP and Hayabusa acted quickly to apologize. Though it would have been better if the symbol was never used, Jung used the moment to educate others on the issues with the symbol. For that, he should be commended.

Thanks, Bloody Elbow.

Memorable Moments on Yahoo! Sports:

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/korean-zombie-asks-georges-st-pierre-stop-wearing-164004367--mma.html

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Windows 8 Update Windows Blue Leak - Business Insider

A leaked version of an update to Microsoft's Windows 8, code-named "Windows Blue," has surfaced.?

The Verge?first alerted us to the update.?

Microsoft is working to improve Windows 8's shortcomings. The update includes smaller tile arrangements, a larger Start Screen desktop tile, and more room for personalization.

Besides improving visual cues, Windows Blue has more touch-friendly settings.

Windows Blue isn't a brand new operating system. But it's a huge makeover for Windows 8, which was released late last year to criticism that it was confusing.

Here's a video showing off the changes:

Here's more information about upcoming changes from The Verge:?

Microsoft is building in additional Snap Views into Windows Blue, allowing users to place apps side-by-side in the Windows 8 view. The new 50 / 50 view is similar to the desktop mode snapping, but Microsoft also supports up to 4 snapped apps alongside each other. New alarm, sound recorder, and calculator Windows 8 -style apps will also take advantage of these new views, but we understand developers will be able to update their apps to support the additional Snap Views alongside other API changes and additions. The new Snap Views also allow users to use Windows 8-style applications across multiple monitors.

Windows 8 hasn't had the consumer success that Microsoft hoped for. It's been?plagued with poor sales.?

A full release of Windows Blue is expected later this year but a public preview may be available within the next few months.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/windows-8-update-windows-blue-leak-2013-3

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Amazingly Stupid Fox News Commentary of the Day (Little green footballs)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/294131262?client_source=feed&format=rss

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ISRAEL FIRES INTO SYRIA

JERUSALEM | Sun Mar 24, 2013 1:17pm EDT

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel said it fired into Syria on Sunday and destroyed a machinegun position in the Golan Heights from where shots had been fired at Israeli soldiers in a further spillover of the Syrian civil war along a tense front.

It was not immediately clear whether Israel held Syrian troops or rebels responsible for what a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said had been a deliberate attack on Israeli patrols in the occupied territory.

Israeli forces "destroyed a Syrian machine gun nest that fired twice in the last 24 hours on Israeli patrols operating to safeguard the border," the spokesman, Ofir Gendelman, said on his Twitter page.

Shells have fallen several times inside Israeli-controlled territory during Syria's civil war. Some of the incidents have drawn Israeli return fire.

Syria's southern provinces bordering Jordan and Israel have become an increasingly significant battleground as the capital Damascus - in Syria's south - comes into play and President Bashar al-Assad's forces fight hard to prevent rebel advances.

The Israeli military said one of its vehicles was hit late on Saturday by shooting from across the Israeli-Syrian ceasefire line on the Golan Heights, but no one was hurt.

Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner, said, "Our understanding is that it wasn't stray fire."

After a second incident on Sunday, Israeli soldiers "responded with accurate fire toward the Syrian post from which they were fired on", the military said.

Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said in a statement that Israel viewed shooting from Syria "with severity" and would not allow "the Syrian army or any other element to violate Israeli sovereignty by firing at our territory".

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed the strategic plateau in 1981 in a move that has not won international recognition.

"Any ... fire from the Syrian side will be answered immediately by silencing the sources of fire when we identify them," Yaalon said.

Amos Gilad, a senior Israeli Defence Ministry official, said battles between Syrian government forces and Syrian rebels sometimes take place just a short distance from Israeli lines.

"At times, shells or bullets are fired at Israel. Usually the shooting (from Syria) is not deliberate, but it doesn't matter," he told Army Radio.

"Israel should not be the target of any attack, whether intentional or unintentional - because after all, if you accept something that was unintentional, that could lead to something intentional in the end," Gilad said.

Israel has said for months that it expects Assad's government to fall and has voiced concern that its chemical weapons could fall into the hands of Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas and al Qaeda.

Israeli President Shimon Peres has called for Assad to step down.

(Reporting by Dan Williams and Jeffrey Heller Writing by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Louise Ireland)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DrudgeReportFeed/~3/b0oe15KUU7o/us-syria-israel-idUSBRE92N06020130324

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Egyptians in south clash over president's visit

CAIRO (AP) ? Police have fired tear gas to disperse thousands of supports and opponents of President Mohammed Morsi during clashes over his visit to a southern Egyptian city.

Morsi was in Sohag on Saturday to launch a housing project and new education complex when thousands of protesters tried to storm the hall where he was meeting with officials.

Supporters of Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood, chanted inside a hall where he delivered a speech, saying they would sacrifice their lives in support of the president.

Proponents and opponents clashed outside the hall, prompting police to fire tear gas to break up the two sides.

The state-run Ahram news website said student protests and a boycott by professors forced Morsi to cancel his visit to the university in Sohag.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egyptians-south-clash-over-presidents-visit-161909324.html

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Wieters, Ford, Johnson lead Orioles over Twins 7-1

(AP) Matt Wieters hit a two-run homer, Lew Ford drove in three runs and Steve Johnson pitched four scoreless innings to help a Baltimore Orioles split squad beat the Minnesota Twins 7-1 on Sunday.

Ford, a non-roster outfielder, is batting .483 this spring. Wieters is hitting .500. J.J. Hardy, who was 1 for 21 entering the game, also had a home run.

Johnson, one of several pitchers competing for the No. 5 spot in Baltimore's rotation, allowed three hits and walked one. He struck out two.

Twins starter Vance Worley, who could get the ball on opening day, gave up three runs and six hits. He walked one and struck out three.

Brandon Boggs homered with two outs in the ninth for Minnesota's only run.

Associated Press

Source: http://timesleader.com/news/apsports/5475322764312083713/Wieters-Ford-Johnson-lead-Orioles-over-Twins-7-1&source=RSS

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Melissa DeRosa is Cuomo's new communications chief

Can a 30-year-old be referred to as an old Capitol hand? Maybe a young old Capitol hand? If so, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has just named one to serve as his third communications director: Melissa DeRosa, who recently served as Attorney General Eric Schneiderman?s acting chief of staff, will step into the post left vacated by Allison Gollust?s move to CNN.

DeRosa had been active in just about every segment of government activity, from personal and policy campaigns to lobbyist John Cordo?s shop.

From Cuomo?s news release:

?I am thrilled to welcome Melissa to our administration,? Governor Cuomo said. ?I have known and respected Melissa for many years and believe her experience, character and intellect will be an invaluable asset as she leads our communications effort. A key component of restoring the people?s trust in government is effectively informing New Yorkers about the work their government is doing and I thank her for agreeing to bring her extraordinary talents to this effort.?

?New York has long been a national leader of progressive reform and that tradition has been reinvigorated under Governor Cuomo?s leadership,? said Ms. DeRosa said. ?He has assembled a team that is committed to public service, eager to both take on challenges and create new opportunities for New Yorkers across the state. I am honored to serve with him and our colleagues to work to build on an already-impressive record of success.?

Melissa DeRosa, 30, has worked in New York State politics for the last decade.

Since 2011, Ms. DeRosa has worked in the Attorney General?s Office as Deputy Chief of Staff and most recently serving as Acting Chief of Staff. Her portfolio included managing the executive division, and directing strategic communications as well as the departments of intergovernmental and legislative affairs. Ms. DeRosa led the office?s effort to negotiate and pass the country?s most aggressive prescription drug reform package, I-STOP (Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing Act).

Prior to working for the AG, Ms. DeRosa served as New York State Director of Organizing for America, President Obama?s national political action organization. While at OFA, Ms. DeRosa developed and oversaw the grassroots strategy to lobby New York?s Congressional Delegation to vote in favor of the Affordable Care Act. In 2010, she developed and executed OFA-NY?s midterm strategy.

Before joining OFA, Ms. DeRosa served as the director of communications and legislation for Cordo and Company, an Albany based government affairs firm.

She was also the campaign manager for Tracey Brooks for Congress, deputy press secretary to Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, and deputy press secretary for the successful NY State Transportation Bond Act Campaign ?Vote Yes? in 2005.

She holds a bachelor?s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations and a Masters Degree in Public Administration, both from Cornell University. She has served on the executive board of the Women?s Leadership Forum Network of the Democratic National Committee.

Ms. DeRosa will officially join the administration starting April 1.

Source: http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/181957/melissa-derosa-is-cuomos-new-communications-chief/

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Save Time and Frustration by Keeping a Battery ... - Automotive RV

Just when you need batteries are often the times when you don?t have them. Always be ready for the times you may be left in the dark. Keep your batteries in an organizer so you always have them when you need one. These organizers not only store your batteries for you but dispenses them conveniently one at a time. You may love a battery organizer if:

? You are a professional photographer. If you?re taking a lot of pictures, chances are you?re using up a great deal of batteries. You don?t want to annoy clients with digging through your bags looking for more. Keep a battery holder right in your case so you are able to simply reach in and grab your batteries, with out stopping your photo session at all.

? You are in law enforcement. If you?re working the night shift and need batteries for large or small flashlights, be prepared and carry battery organizers that are filled with different sizes of batteries. You will never be left in the dark again!

? The outdoors is your favorite place. When you?re outdoors, there are so many uses for batteries. Hunting, fishing, and hiking all require batteries for many different types of gear. Never step out the door with out a battery holder. Even better, buy a glow-in-the dark battery organizer for those times when your flashlight or lantern burns out and you are searching for your batteries. Once you find them, you will be able to easily dispense them because they will be perfectly organized by size in your convenient-to-use battery holder.

? Do you fly planes? Batteries are used for radios, intercoms and lights. Your time can?t be wasted digging around for batteries when you?re flying a plane. Battery organizers separate the batteries by type and size so you will always find the ones you need.

Whether you keep them in your living room and use them for the remote controls, or have a holder near your child?s playroom, battery organizers are an invaluable part of everyday life to ensure you always have the correct battery when you need it.

To get more information about battery holders and the various ways they keep you organized,?go here.?

C?mk?k: Battery Holder, Battery Organizer, Organizer for Batteries, PowerPax, Storacell, Tools Aviation

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Source: http://automotive4.site90.com/archives/604

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VFS Grad Unites the Vancouver Arts Community - VFS Blog

Since graduating from the Entertainment Business Management?program last summer, Gloria Bernal has created her own event planning company and launched Lab Art Show. An exhibition of everything from film to music to sculpture to dance, Lab Art Show was created for artists to showcase their talents and network with audience members. We spoke with Gloria about how VFS helped her find her true calling.

Tell us about your experience at VFS.

Gloria: The Entertainment Business Management program at VFS helped me figure out what I really wanted to do and experience in my career. I studied Marketing in Guadalajara, Mexico, and worked in various media-related industries, but I always wanted to develop entertainment.

During the program, we had to develop several projects in a very short period of time. As I was working with students from many different countries, it was very interesting and creative. These projects taught me how to negotiate, produce concepts quickly, and work with designers, producers, companies, and musicians. Most importantly, it helped me create connections within the city of Vancouver as well as learn how to create business in North America.

VFS opened up a new perspective for the creation of projects, whether for a film or developing specific events. I liked the teamwork aspect because together we could achieve and develop extraordinary things. VFS showed me how to plan and organize a better event and it has been a great support to me now that I?m developing Lab Art Show.

What are the Lab Art Shows? What is your role within the event?

Gloria: I developed the Lab Art Show as my final project in Entertainment Business Management. During my year at VFS, I realized that I wanted to become an event planner so I created my own company, Glitz Entertainment.

Glitz produces quality events, creative solutions, and innovative ideas for a corporation or an individual in need of an event planner. At the Lab Art Shows, we exhibit different styles of art ? short film, music, audiovisual presentations, painting, sculpture, acting, contemporary dance, animation, fashion shows, and more. It?s a place where the audience can network with different types of artists and the artists can showcase their talent.

I do the planning, coordination, and production of the show as well as the advertising and marketing.

Check out the video below for a look at what Lab Art Show is all about.

What has been the involvement of VFS students in these events?

Gloria: Last year, we showed various animations, short films, and illustrations created by VFS students. After the show, we contacted all the participants to get feedback on how we could improve the event and see how many pieces each artist sold. We found out that most of the artists sold several of their pieces and other participants got jobs as a result of the show.

This is why we invite students to participate ? so that they can connect with other people. In a city like Vancouver, you can meet people from all around the world.

When is the next Lab Art Show? How can people get involved?

Gloria: Glitz Entertainment presents Lab Art Show 2, a celebration of expression that explores the ever changing and evolving world of art as a platform for artist growth. The event will be held at Heritage Hall in Vancouver on Thursday, April 11 and Friday, April 12 from 6:00pm to Midnight. An Open Gallery will be held April 12 from 10:00am to 3:00pm.

VFS students are invited to be a part of the show in various ways. They can submit their own projects to exhibit at the event or they can be a part of the production. We are currently looking for a music technician, lighting technician, an emcee, performers, and event volunteers.

Those interested in participating can email me at gloria@glitz-entertainment.com.

Thanks, Gloria. Best of luck with Lab Art Show 2!

For further details about the event and to purchase tickets, visit their website.
?

Posted in Entertainment Business Management, Grad Success. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://blog.vfs.com/2013/03/14/vfs-grad-unites-the-vancouver-arts-community/

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Polish president's network attacked by hackers

Staff , Reuters ? ? ? 7 hrs.

WARSAW ? Hackers broke into the computer network of the Polish president's office and attempted to spread a computer virus in the form of an email attachment, the president's press office said on Thursday.

Similar incidents have taken place at several other government offices this month, including the Defense and Foreign Affairs ministries.

The internal security agency ABW had placed strict limits on Internet access at Prime Minister Donald Tusk's office after the cyber attacks were first detected.

The president's press office declined to discuss the details of the latest hacking incident, except to confirm it took place and an email with a "harmful contents" was being investigated.

Niebezpiecznik, a website specializing in covering cyber security, said it had been contacted by a hacker using the pseudonym Alladyn2 who claimed responsibility for the attacks on government networks.

The person was quoted as saying they were only meant to test the government's ability to withstand them.

The website included several screenshots of what it said were the contents of an email account of a high-ranking official at the prime minister's office and a list of passwords used by its workers.

The attacks follow similar incidents in the Czech Republic.

(Reporting By Karolina Slowikowska and Dagmara Leszkowicz)

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/polish-presidents-network-attacked-hackers-1C8873666

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Pope Francis prays at Rome basilica in 1st outing

In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis waves the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who chose the name of Pope Francis, is the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis waves the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who chose the name of Pope Francis, is the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)

Faithful wave an Argentine flag and sing outside the Metropolitan Cathedral as they celebrate in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Latin Americans reacted with joy on Wednesday at news that Bergoglio was elected pope. Bergoglio, who chose the name Pope Francis, is the first pope ever from the Americas. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Pope Francis opened his first morning as pontiff by praying Thursday at Rome's main basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary, a day after cardinals elected him the first pope from the Americas in a bid to revive a Catholic Church in crisis and give it a preacher with a humble touch.

The former archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, entered the St. Mary Major basilica through a side entrance just after 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) and left about 30 minutes later. He had told a crowd of some 100,000 people packed in rain-soaked St. Peter's Square just after his election that he intended to pray Friday to the Madonna "that she may watch over all of Rome."

He told cardinals he would also call on retired Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday and celebrate an inaugural Mass in the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals on Wednesday elected him leader of the 1.2 million-strong church in an unusually quick conclave.

Francis, the first Jesuit pope and first non-European since the Middle Ages, decided to call himself Francis after St. Francis of Assisi, the humble friar who dedicated his life to helping the poor.

The new pope immediately charmed the crowd in St. Peter's that roared when his name was announced.

Waving shyly, he told said the cardinals' job was to find a bishop of Rome. "It seems as if my brother cardinals went to find him from the end of the earth, but here we are. Thank you for the welcome."

The 76-year-old Bergoglio, said to have finished second when Pope Benedict XVI was elected in 2005, was chosen on just the fifth ballot to replace the first pontiff to resign in 600 years. In the past century, only Benedict, John Paul I in 1978 and Pius XII in 1939 were elected faster.

Francis spoke by phone with Benedict, who has been living at the papal retreat in Castel Gandolfo, and was to visit him on Friday, according to U.S. Cardinal Timothy Dolan. The visit is significant because Benedict's resignation has raised concerns about potential power conflicts emerging from the peculiar situation of having a reigning pope and a retired one.

Benedict's longtime aide, Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, accompanied Francis to the vist at St. Mary Major, the ANSA news agency reported. In addition to being Benedict's secretary, Gaenswein is also the prefect of the papal household and will be arranging the new pope's schedule.

Francis' election elated Latin Americans, who number 40 percent of the world's Catholics but have long been underrepresented in the church leadership. On Wednesday, drivers honked their horns in the streets of Buenos Aires and television announcers screamed with elation at the news.

"It's a huge gift for all of Latin America. We waited 20 centuries. It was worth the wait," said Jose Antonio Cruz, a Franciscan friar at the St. Francis of Assisi church in the colonial Old San Juan district in Puerto Rico. "Everyone from Canada down to Patagonia is going to feel blessed."

The new pontiff brings a common touch. The son of middle-class Italian immigrants, he denied himself the luxuries that previous cardinals in Buenos Aires enjoyed. He lived in a simple apartment, often rode the bus to work, cooked his own meals and regularly visited slums that ring Argentina's capital.

He considers social outreach, rather than doctrinal battles, to be the essential business of the church.

"As a champion of the poor and the most vulnerable among us, he carries forth the message of love and compassion that has inspired the world for more than 2,000 years ? that in each other, we see the face of God," President Barack Obama said in a statement.

As the 266th pope, Francis inherits a Catholic church in turmoil, beset by the clerical sex abuse scandal, internal divisions and dwindling numbers in parts of the world where Christianity had been strong for centuries.

While Latin America still boasts the largest bloc of Catholics on a single continent, it has faced competition from aggressive evangelical churches that have chipped away at strongholds like Brazil, where the number of Catholics has dropped from 74 percent of the population in 2000 to 65 percent today.

Francis is sure to bring the church closer to the poverty-wracked region, while also introducing the world to a very different type of pope, whose first words were a simple, "Brothers and sisters, good evening."

He asked for prayers for himself, and for Benedict, whose stunning resignation paved the way for his election.

"I want you to bless me," Francis said in his first appearance from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, asking the faithful to bow their heads in silent prayer.

___

Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-03-14-Vatican-Pope/id-f6da74fda76c42ed828954ffc9a784ef

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Republicans: Searching for their Mr. or Mrs. Right

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, March 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, March 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, MD., Thursday, March 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, March 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., is interviewed at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, March 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, speaks at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, March 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) ? Tired of election defeats, conservatives are searching for their next Mr. or Mrs. Right.

They say they want a leader brash enough to protect conservative orthodoxy and open-minded enough to help the Republican Party change its image: white, old, and male. And there's no shortage of Republicans angling to fill a void in party leadership as the GOP's future dominates the sideline discussion during a three-day summit of conservative leaders.

From the dozens of luminaries on stage to the thousands of activists crowding hallways, Republicans at this week's Conservative Political Action Conference are looking for a way forward for a party that has lost four of the past six presidential elections. For many, the path to 2016 begins with a lesson drawn from Mitt Romney's failed presidential bid: They want a candidate who stays true to conservative principles but also pushes a more inclusive message. They acknowledge it's a delicate balance.

"We ran the wrong candidate," 58-year-old South Dakotan Bob Fischer said Thursday as the conference began at Maryland's National Harbor, just south of Washington. "We need a Republican Party with backbone."

But that's not all. His sentiment was echoed in interviews with a dozen conservatives. But most also called for leadership that attracts a more diverse electorate ? particularly the Hispanic voters who helped President Barack Obama win re-election last fall.

These conservatives say they're encouraged by the Republican leaders who stacked the speaking program, potential as well as presidential candidates among them. There was, it seemed, a broad recognition that the party must evolve to find success in the coming elections.

A banner across the conference stage signaled change might be afoot: "America's future: the next generation of conservatives."

"The GOP of old has grown stale and moss-covered," said Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who headlined Thursday's speaking program along with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

Rubio said the party needs to aim its message at middle-class families, adding: "There has to be a home and a movement in America for people who believe in limited government, constitutional principles and a free enterprise system, and that should be us."

The conference in some ways presented a clash of new and old.

Plenty of possible 2016 presidential contenders were on hand, including Rubio, Paul, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. But the gathering also is featuring appearances by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Donald Trump, outspoken conservatives who still carry weight with the party's most passionate voters for their vigorous criticism of the Obama administration. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who praised Obama's hurricane response last fall, wasn't invited.

At the same time, not complete agreement on how to reach out, either. There is concern here ? just as with other Republicans across the nation ? that the party may become too inclusive in the name of winning election.

"I'm a firm believer that if the Republican Party is going to have some success, it's going to do so by being a conservative party and not a home for everybody. That's how you grow," Al Cardenas, chairman of the American Conservative Union, said Thursday. He added that the party could expand its tent "by convincing others, persuading others that yours is the way. And you build your tent by reaching out to the new demographics of America, not with a watered down version of who we ought to be."

The conference comes at a critical time for Republicans. The Republican National Committee is preparing to release a comprehensive plan next week ? dubbed the Growth and Opportunity Project ? to help improve the Republican brand.

Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster who advises Rubio, said the party was in the same position that Democrats found themselves in in 1988 when President George H.W. Bush succeeded President Ronald Reagan.

"Along came Bill Clinton, said I'm a new Democrat and ushered in a new period of Democratic dominance of the White House," Ayres said. "I am absolutely convinced that we are only one candidate and one election away from resurrection."

But in the crowded hallways of the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, 18-year-old Nicole Johnson isn't so sure. She describes herself as "very conservative" but said she sometimes feels out of place among the traditional Republican crowd.

"The GOP has this tag on it that says rich, old, white man. They need to send a better message," said Johnson, a high school senior and president of Young Republican club at Washington's National Cathedral School.

Alec Jones, 23, a senior at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., said the party needs a "mix of pragmatism and principles" and a renewed focus on civil liberties and economic issues that resonate not only with Republicans but also "disgruntled Democrats."

Jones, who wore a red "Stand With Rand" sticker on the coat of his lapel, said young GOP leaders like Paul and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas offer a fresh approach, but he cautioned that the party can't rely solely on attractive candidates.

"We can't put all of our stock in candidates because we've done that in the past and lost big," Jones said, pointing to a need for a "re-establishment of who we are as a party."

"In a lot of ways, Barack Obama is one of the best things that happened to the Republican Party because he's forced us to reassess who we are and where we're going," Jones said.

Down the hallway, 60-year-old Eileen Beamer, of Virginia, said she's looking for a Republican leader who focuses more on solutions and less on criticizing Obama.

"We have to give people a reason to join the party," she said.

Like others here, she's reluctant to support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but she also faults the Romney campaign for not doing enough to connect with minority groups. Above all, she says Romney didn't fight hard enough.

"He was too nice a guy," she said.

Fischer, of South Dakota, said the new generation of conservative leaders offers cause for optimism.

"The Republican Party is the conservative party. They may be a little disheartened. But they're ready to fight," he said.

___

Follow Ken Thomas on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Ken_Thomas and Steve Peoples http://twitter.com/sppeoples

___

Online:

CPAC 2013: http://conservative.org/cpac/

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-14-Republicans-Conservatives/id-31b993d8ff294ca2abda5f63f3cdc617

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Current TV, Olbermann settle their legal dispute

NEW YORK (AP) ? Keith Olbermann and Current TV say they've settled their dispute nearly a year after Olbermann was fired by the network and responded with a $50 million lawsuit.

Both parties say in a Wednesday statement that the terms of the settlement are confidential.

Olbermann was fired last March as a host and executive at the left-leaning cable talk network.

Olbermann sued, claiming Current violated his agreement and engaged in shoddy production values. Current's countersuit accused him of breaching his contract, including taking vacation without notice.

The at-times volatile host came to Current in June 2011 after a stormy eight-year stint at MSNBC, which he abruptly left that January.

Current, co-founded by Al Gore, is now being acquired for $500 million by Al-Jazeera, which is owned by the government of Qatar.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/current-tv-olbermann-settle-legal-dispute-142459135.html

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2 new marine protected areas created on Argentina's southern coasts

Public release date: 13-Mar-2013
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Contact: Stephen Sautner
ssautner@wcs.org
718-220-3682
Wildlife Conservation Society

NEW YORK (March 13, 2013)The Wildlife Conservation Society applauds the Government of Argentina for creating two enormous marine protected areas in Patagonia, a region filled with majestic shorelines and abundant wildlife.

The new marine parksIsla Pingino Coastal Marine Park and Makenke Coastal Marine Parkwere recently established by the National Congress in Argentina and will safeguard sea lions, penguins, dolphins, and other marine and coastal species.

"We commend the Government of Argentina for their conservation stewardship in creating this new network of marine protected areas," said Dr. Cristin Samper, President and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society. "Isla Pingino and Makenke Coastal Marine Parks now protect vital wildlife populations for posterity and create new opportunities for Argentina's ecotourism industry."

Stretching some 80 miles south of Puerto Deseado and extending 12 miles out to sea, Isla Pingino covers nearly 1,800 square kilometers (720 square miles) of ocean and cliff-bordered coastline. The new protected area contains large populations of South American sea lions, red-legged cormorants, and one of the largest colonies of imperial cormorants found anywhere (with more than 8,000 breeding pairs). Isla Pingino also boasts one of the only colonies of rockhopper penguins on the coast of Patagonia.

Farther south, the Makenke Coastal Marine Park begins at the entrance of the Ra San Julin, covering almost 600 square kilometers (230 square miles) of shore and ocean. The park contains the largest colony of rare red-legged cormorants in the country. It also protects breeding colonies of the dolphin gull, a rare scavenger, and pods of the small but spectacular black and white Commerson's dolphin

Both marine protected areas are steeped in history as well as natural wonders. Charles Darwin traveled to the region now contained in Isla Pingino in 1833, describing the wildlife he observed there during his seminal voyage aboard the HMS Beagle. Makenke Coastal Marine Park now borders the inlet of San Julian, where in 1520 Ferdinand Magellan executed and marooned a group of mutineers intent on aborting what would become the world's first circumnavigation of the globe.

"We commend the National Congress in Argentina for passing laws to create these new marine parks, which will protect the country's natural heritage given what will likely be an increase in development along the coast in years to come," said Dr. Julie Kunen, Director for WCS's Latin America and Caribbean Program.

Dr. Caleb McClennen, Director of WCS's Marine Program, said: "Isla Pingino and Makenke Coastal Marine Parks continue a tradition of conservation teamwork, with organizations such as WCS providing support to the government in protecting both coastal breeding areas for mammals and birds and the marine habitats they rely upon."

Isla Pingino and Makenke Coastal Marine Parks were made possible as a result of work conducted by Dr. Patricia Gandini, President of the National Parks Service, and Dr. Esteban Frere of the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Both biologists began studying the wildlife of the coast of Santa Cruz with support of WCS in 1985.

Both areas were identified as priority conservation sites by the Patagonia Coastal Zone Management Plan project, carried out by both the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Fundacin Patagonia Natural with support from the Global Environmental Facility and the UNDP (United Nations Development Program). Support for the research was also provided by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientficas y Tcnicas (Conicet).

WCS has been involved in the conservation of coastal Patagonia since the 1970s, beginning with Dr. Roger Payne's behavioral work on southern right whales, and continues to this day with research by WCS's Global Health Program on new threats to their survival. WCS began a long-running study on Magellanic penguins in the 1980s. That work led to conservation efforts that helped reduce the number of penguin deaths due to oil spills at sea from more than 40,000 a year to fewer than 1,000 annually, and helped move shipping lanes 30 miles offshore to avoid spills affecting seabird colonies.

WCS has also been conducting research on southern elephant seals, South American sea lions, rockhopper penguins, cormorants, gulls, terns, and other species that breed along the shores of Patagonia. These studies informed the region's first atlas of breeding seabirds, a work designed to guide management decisions on fisheries and other natural resource usage. Over the past 40 years WCS has helped Argentina transition from harvesting of coastal wildlife to a burgeoning tourism industry based on its spectacular coastal species. These two new parks are the latest addition to the country's extraordinary marine conservation effort.

WCS's efforts to help protect wildlife on the Argentine coast and sea are generously supported by the Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation, the Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas, the Waitt Foundation, and others.

###

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth. Visit http://www.wcs.org.

The Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas, based in New York City was established 1991 with funding from Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan, and its U.S.-based subsidiary, Mitsubishi International Corporation. Since its establishment, the Foundation has dedicated more than $7.2 million to environmental causes throughout the Americas. For more information, please visit http://www.mcfamericas.org.

Funding partnerships and projects in conjunction with its grantees and institute, the Waitt Foundation supports a variety of national and international programs concentrating on ocean conservation initiatives and marine related issues. By increasing global awareness, our goal is to reverse the current decline of ocean life while inspiring humanity to make informed choices that contribute to a healthy marine ecosystem.

Special Note to the Media: If you would like to guide your readers or viewers to a Web link where they can make donations in support of helping save wildlife and wild places, please direct them to wcs.org.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 13-Mar-2013
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Contact: Stephen Sautner
ssautner@wcs.org
718-220-3682
Wildlife Conservation Society

NEW YORK (March 13, 2013)The Wildlife Conservation Society applauds the Government of Argentina for creating two enormous marine protected areas in Patagonia, a region filled with majestic shorelines and abundant wildlife.

The new marine parksIsla Pingino Coastal Marine Park and Makenke Coastal Marine Parkwere recently established by the National Congress in Argentina and will safeguard sea lions, penguins, dolphins, and other marine and coastal species.

"We commend the Government of Argentina for their conservation stewardship in creating this new network of marine protected areas," said Dr. Cristin Samper, President and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society. "Isla Pingino and Makenke Coastal Marine Parks now protect vital wildlife populations for posterity and create new opportunities for Argentina's ecotourism industry."

Stretching some 80 miles south of Puerto Deseado and extending 12 miles out to sea, Isla Pingino covers nearly 1,800 square kilometers (720 square miles) of ocean and cliff-bordered coastline. The new protected area contains large populations of South American sea lions, red-legged cormorants, and one of the largest colonies of imperial cormorants found anywhere (with more than 8,000 breeding pairs). Isla Pingino also boasts one of the only colonies of rockhopper penguins on the coast of Patagonia.

Farther south, the Makenke Coastal Marine Park begins at the entrance of the Ra San Julin, covering almost 600 square kilometers (230 square miles) of shore and ocean. The park contains the largest colony of rare red-legged cormorants in the country. It also protects breeding colonies of the dolphin gull, a rare scavenger, and pods of the small but spectacular black and white Commerson's dolphin

Both marine protected areas are steeped in history as well as natural wonders. Charles Darwin traveled to the region now contained in Isla Pingino in 1833, describing the wildlife he observed there during his seminal voyage aboard the HMS Beagle. Makenke Coastal Marine Park now borders the inlet of San Julian, where in 1520 Ferdinand Magellan executed and marooned a group of mutineers intent on aborting what would become the world's first circumnavigation of the globe.

"We commend the National Congress in Argentina for passing laws to create these new marine parks, which will protect the country's natural heritage given what will likely be an increase in development along the coast in years to come," said Dr. Julie Kunen, Director for WCS's Latin America and Caribbean Program.

Dr. Caleb McClennen, Director of WCS's Marine Program, said: "Isla Pingino and Makenke Coastal Marine Parks continue a tradition of conservation teamwork, with organizations such as WCS providing support to the government in protecting both coastal breeding areas for mammals and birds and the marine habitats they rely upon."

Isla Pingino and Makenke Coastal Marine Parks were made possible as a result of work conducted by Dr. Patricia Gandini, President of the National Parks Service, and Dr. Esteban Frere of the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral. Both biologists began studying the wildlife of the coast of Santa Cruz with support of WCS in 1985.

Both areas were identified as priority conservation sites by the Patagonia Coastal Zone Management Plan project, carried out by both the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Fundacin Patagonia Natural with support from the Global Environmental Facility and the UNDP (United Nations Development Program). Support for the research was also provided by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientficas y Tcnicas (Conicet).

WCS has been involved in the conservation of coastal Patagonia since the 1970s, beginning with Dr. Roger Payne's behavioral work on southern right whales, and continues to this day with research by WCS's Global Health Program on new threats to their survival. WCS began a long-running study on Magellanic penguins in the 1980s. That work led to conservation efforts that helped reduce the number of penguin deaths due to oil spills at sea from more than 40,000 a year to fewer than 1,000 annually, and helped move shipping lanes 30 miles offshore to avoid spills affecting seabird colonies.

WCS has also been conducting research on southern elephant seals, South American sea lions, rockhopper penguins, cormorants, gulls, terns, and other species that breed along the shores of Patagonia. These studies informed the region's first atlas of breeding seabirds, a work designed to guide management decisions on fisheries and other natural resource usage. Over the past 40 years WCS has helped Argentina transition from harvesting of coastal wildlife to a burgeoning tourism industry based on its spectacular coastal species. These two new parks are the latest addition to the country's extraordinary marine conservation effort.

WCS's efforts to help protect wildlife on the Argentine coast and sea are generously supported by the Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation, the Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas, the Waitt Foundation, and others.

###

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth. Visit http://www.wcs.org.

The Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas, based in New York City was established 1991 with funding from Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan, and its U.S.-based subsidiary, Mitsubishi International Corporation. Since its establishment, the Foundation has dedicated more than $7.2 million to environmental causes throughout the Americas. For more information, please visit http://www.mcfamericas.org.

Funding partnerships and projects in conjunction with its grantees and institute, the Waitt Foundation supports a variety of national and international programs concentrating on ocean conservation initiatives and marine related issues. By increasing global awareness, our goal is to reverse the current decline of ocean life while inspiring humanity to make informed choices that contribute to a healthy marine ecosystem.

Special Note to the Media: If you would like to guide your readers or viewers to a Web link where they can make donations in support of helping save wildlife and wild places, please direct them to wcs.org.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/wcs-tnm031313.php

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