Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 2

With the Panorama 2 ($2,200 list), Bowers & Wilkins has refined what audiophiles may consider to be a dubious concept: the high-end soundbar. You could easily question whether it makes sense to spend more than two grand on a single speaker, when you could outfit your room with a top-notch 5.1 system with surround speakers and a dedicated receiver for the same money. But the Panorama 2 is aimed at the listener who wants the best sound possible in a single, beautiful box, and doesn't have the room (or the aesthetic tolerance) for separate components. The Panorama 2 sounds great with movies, with surprisingly spacious left-center-right imaging. But it's not particularly convincing surround-wise, and its slightly colored midrange performance messes with some on-screen voices and puts a damper on using the Panorama 2 as a music playback system.

Design, Connectivity, and Remote
The Panorama 2 is beautifully crafted, with a gently curved outer enclosure that has no seams. The look is clean, minimalist, and understated. It measures 5 by 44 by 7.24 inches (HWD) and weighs 31.1 pounds. It's much heavier than low-end soundbars we've tested, like the Editors' Choice Sony HT-CT260. And it's quite a bit wider and deeper, too, by at least several inches. The mirror black, stainless steel skin and black steel mesh grille exude class and sophistication; no one is going to look at this thing and think "cheap."

Bowers & Wilkins packages two sets of four screw-on feet in the box; the sets are of different heights, and help you get just the right placement. You can also mount the Panorama 2 to a wall. Around back, and unlike the first Panorama model, the Panorama 2 supports HDMI switching with three inputs and one output. There's also a subwoofer output, a 3.5mm analog and digital combination input, and a second, analog-only 3.5mm input. Unfortunately, there's no support for AirPlay or Bluetooth wireless streaming, so you can't use the soundbar as a straight wireless stereo system for your iPhone or Android smartphone, at least without plugging in a wire.

The revised display now includes a proximity sensor; simply wave your hand in front of the display, and it will light up. Sure, Bang & Olufsen has been doing this sort of thing for years, but it never gets old. The display doesn't help all that much, though; while it features touch capacitive buttons for Volume, Surround Mode, and Mute, and features a hardware Power button below, there's no visible volume indicator. More than once, I started playing a scene without realizing the input was incorrect; even after pressing the Volume button down several times, I'd switch to the correct input and then get blown out of my chair.

The Panorama 2 can display an on-screen menu, but you can only see it via an HDMI connection, not over coaxial or optical digital. I found it's worth hooking up this way, though; click the Menu button on the remote, and you'll see many more adjustments for sound EQ, room setup, and tuning, in addition to visual feedback for all settings. You can customize the EQ for how far away you are sitting, whether you're to the left or right of the soundbar, and how far the soundbar is from the left and right walls, sometimes in one foot increments.

The remote control is a bit of a disappointment. It's basically the same unit we saw with the Zeppelin Air. It's not backlit, is made of glossy black plastic, and the individual buttons let out a cheap clicky sound with each press. Worse, it's tough to tell if it's upside down when you pick it up without looking, unless you feel around for the little indentation on the back; I tried muting the sound once and accidentally turned the Panorama 2 off. For $2,200, the remote should be better.

Performance and Conclusions
The Panorama 2 supports Dolby Digital and DTS surround encoding, and also features an all-new array of tweeters, midrange, and low-frequency drivers. There are two 1-inch metal dome tweeters, two 3-inch midrange drivers, two 3.5-inch subwoofer drivers, and four 3-inch surround channel drivers. A 50-watt amplifier drives the two subwoofer cones, while five 25-watt amplifiers handle the rest. In standby mode, the Panorama 2 is rated to consume just half a watt.

We tested the system with the $500 Oppo BDP-103, our current Editors' Choice for high-end Blu-ray players. In Tron: Legacy, the flight and game scenes rang true, with crisp, stunning sound effects and beautiful separation in the front virtual channels. Rear-channel effects were a bit less convincing, though; discs flying by went sort of "up" instead of behind the chair the way proper surround speakers would. Sometimes, dialog from the movie sounded smooth and natural, with excellent dispersion. Other times, various actors sounded oddly distorted at higher volumes?not as if the entire Panorama 2 system was physically distorting, but as if something in the digital surround processing is driving the signal too hard.

With music, the Panorama 2 was also a mixed bag. The unit certainly sounds huge, with plenty of volume and punch. But there's also an overly prominent midrange, with too much low-mid emphasis that makes a mess of electric guitars, sending them too far forward in Rage Against the Machine's "Fistful of Steel." Putting the Panorama 2 in stereo mode helps considerably, of course, but the midrange emphasis is still there. In Muse's "Resistance," the surround mode separated the backing vocals from the lead vocal nicely in the song's chorus, but the reverberant drums were a little hazy in both surround and standard stereo modes, and the bass guitar sounded too prominent in the mix compared with the rest of the instruments.

None of these flaws are fatal, incidentally. Anyone casually walking into the room and hearing the Panorama 2 would be impressed at its clarity, volume, and dynamics; it's clearly a cut above soundbars with a three-digit price tag. And while certain kinds of music and sound effects give away the Panorama 2's lack of a discrete subwoofer, other scenes have plenty of weight and just enough rumble to simulate a real home theater.

Really, the problem is the jaw-dropping price. At $2,200, Bowers & Wilkins is targeting a specific discerning audiophile customer, and this is where the Panorama 2 runs into trouble. At this price level, the Panorama should be just as good at music as it is at movie and TV sound, as if it were an oversized, more-capable Zeppelin Air, and it falls short of that mark. Meanwhile, home theater enthusiasts looking for the best possible sound at this price can do significantly better with separate components, passive speakers, and a powered subwoofer from a range of companies like Paradigm, NHT, PSB, or of course B&W's own excellent line of speakers.

If you don't mind a soundbar with a small, wireless, powered subwoofer, the Harman Kardon SB 30 sounds great with both music and movies and costs less than half of what the Panorama 2 does, although it doesn't look as nice or get quite as loud. But if you have the means, don't have the room for the extra components, and still want movies to sound larger than life, the Panorama 2 delivers the goods.

More Speaker Reviews:
??? Sony HT-CT260 Home Theater Soundbar
??? Vizio SB4021M-A1 Home Theater Soundbar
??? Harman Kardon SB 30
??? Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 2
??? Yamaha YAS-101
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/jG2ZwCtmPtE/0,2817,2415727,00.asp

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Math Warriors: Season 3

Have you ever watched ?Mean Girls?? It?s one of the movies before Lindsey Lohan really began to let her career slip. She plays Cady, a smart girl, homeschooled by her parents as they lived in Africa until her high school years, where, desperate to fit in AND to ?get the guy?, she dumbs down her math ability. She redeems herself in the end, as you can see in this clip (but not without a lot of stereotypes coming into play) by joining the math team and using her abilities.

This was the very first thing I thought about as I ran across the following series of videos called ?Math Warriors?, which has everything one could ever want in a mini-series; a plot, great dialog, characters you can get to know, a love triangle (ooooh!) and of course, MATH!

Here is the Season 3 Trailer

and the second episode of season 3 adds a bit of beauty pageant fun mixed in with mathematics competition:

(and many of you probably remember the spoof on the evolution question asked of Miss America pageant contestants called Should Math Be Taught In Schools)

The internet is an incredible place. Mini-series that may never find a home on a television network can reach a particular niche audience quite successfully! And here we see a group of students aiming high in college mathematics competitions!

I ran across the Math Warriors Kickstarter project in January. Math Warriors is the brainchild and labor of love of Kristina Harris. Her Kickstarter Project, which exceeeded its goal, was to help her and her team continue to produce this series. You can learn a lot more about Kristina and her project at the Kickstarter blog!

Kristina Harris has a background in film but received her PhD in Biochemistry, giving her a unique perspective from which to create her video series. The actors in the series are not mathematicians, but legitimate actors. They have to learn the jargon and terminology and all of the problems are checked through by Kristina?s mathematician husband, and sometimes eminent math professors make cameos in the series!

If you want to learn and watch more, check out Kristina?s youtube page to watch the entire series and, of course you can also follow them on twitter and like them on Facebook!

Watch a few episodes and let us know what you think!

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=884dc1d4f43d5aebeed355f47171a834

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Obama nears deadline on gay marriage decision

President Barack Obama speaks at the Business Council dinner in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

President Barack Obama speaks at the Business Council dinner in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The next phase of President Barack Obama's evolving position on gay marriage may come Thursday, the deadline for his administration to weigh in on a landmark Supreme Court case that could determine whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to wed.

Gay rights supporters are pressing the administration to file a friend-of-the-court brief urging the justices to overturn California's gay marriage ban. Obama is not required to file a brief, though he raised expectations in his second inaugural address when he declared that gays and lesbians must be "treated like anyone else under the law."

An administration brief would not be legally binding. But it could offer the clearest insight into Obama's views on gay marriage, which he supports but has said should be governed by the states.

On Thursday afternoon, with the filing deadline just hours away, White House spokesman Jay Carney wouldn't say whether the administration planned to file a brief and referred questions to the Justice Department.

The Proposition 8 ballot initiative was approved by California voters in 2008 in response to a state Supreme Court decision that had allowed gay marriage. Twenty-nine other states have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage, while nine states and the District of Columbia recognize same-sex marriage.

Also Thursday, 13 states, including four that do not currently permit gay couples to wed, urged the court to declare California's Proposition 8 ballot measure unconstitutional.

Delaware, Illinois, New Mexico and Oregon joined with the nine states and the District of Columbia that allow same-sex marriage in telling the justices that states encourage marriage because it enhances economic security and emotional well-being for the partners, and is better for children.

"All of these interests are furthered by ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from the institution," said the brief signed by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and also joined by Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington.

More than 100 prominent Republicans have also signed a friend of the court brief in support of gay marriage. Among them are former GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman and Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

Gay rights advocates are anticipating the administration filing a broad brief, one that would ask the justices to not only strike down the California measure, but also rule that the Constitution forbids any state from banning same-sex unions. But the administration could also file a narrower brief applying only to California.

Even the latter brief would appear to mark a shift away from the president's contention that states have the right to determine whether to allow same-sex marriages.

While an administration brief alone is unlikely to sway the high court, the government's opinion does carry weight with the justices.

Solicitor General Donald Verrilli would formally file a brief, though he has been consulting with White House officials. And it's almost certain that Obama, a former constitutional law professor, made the administration's final decision.

In his inaugural address, the president said the nation's journey "is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law."

"For if we are truly created equal, than surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well," he said.

Obama has a complicated history on gay marriage. As a presidential candidate in 2008, he opposed the California ban but didn't endorse gay marriage. As he ran for re-election last year, he announced his personal support for same-sex marriage but said marriage was an issue that should be decided by the states, not the federal government.

Public opinion has shifted in support of gay marriage in recent years. In May 2008, Gallup found that 56 percent of Americans felt same-sex marriages should not be recognized by the law as valid. By November 2012, 53 percent felt they should be legally recognized.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Proposition 8 case on March 26. One day later, the justices will hear arguments on another gay marriage case, this one involving provisions of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The act defines marriage as between a man and a woman for the purpose of deciding who can receive a range of federal benefits.

The Obama administration abandoned its defense of the law in 2011 but continues to enforce it. In a brief filed last week, the government said Section 3 of DOMA "violates the fundamental constitutional guarantee of equal protection" because it denies legally married same-sex couples many federal benefits that are available only to legally married heterosexual couples.

___

Associated Press writer Mark Sherman contributed to this report.

___

Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-02-28-Obama-Gay%20Marriage/id-ffbb5ebceae04aaa995dd28a5d0d206f

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Obama nears deadline on gay marriage decision

President Barack Obama speaks at the Business Council dinner in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

President Barack Obama speaks at the Business Council dinner in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The next phase of President Barack Obama's evolution on gay marriage may come with the deadline for his administration to weigh in on a landmark Supreme Court case that could determine whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to wed.

Gay rights supporters are pressing the administration to file a friend-of-the-court brief urging the justices to overturn California's gay marriage ban. Obama is not required to file a brief, though he raised expectations in his second inaugural address when he declared that gays and lesbians must be "treated like anyone else under the law."

An administration brief would not be legally binding. But it could offer the clearest insight into Obama's views on gay marriage, which he supports but has said should be governed by the states.

Ahead of Thursday's deadline, dozens of prominent Republicans signed a friend of the court brief asking the justices to declare California's Proposition 8 ballot measure unconstitutional. Among them are former GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman and Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

The Proposition 8 ballot initiative was approved by California voters in 2008 in response to a state Supreme Court decision that had allowed gay marriage. Twenty-nine other states have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage, while nine states and the District of Columbia recognize same-sex marriage.

Gay rights advocates are anticipating the administration filing a broad brief, one that would ask the justices to not only strike down the California measure, but also rule that the Constitution forbids any state from banning same-sex unions. But the administration could also file a narrower brief applying only to California.

Even the latter brief would appear to mark a shift away from the president's contention that states have the right to determine whether to allow same-sex marriages.

While an administration brief alone is unlikely to sway the high court, the government's opinion does carry weight with the justices.

Solicitor General Donald Verrilli would formally file a brief, though he has been consulting with White House officials. And it's almost certain that Obama, a former constitutional law professor, made the administration's final decision.

In his inaugural address, the president said the nation's journey "is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law."

"For if we are truly created equal, than surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well," he said.

Obama has a complicated history on gay marriage. As a presidential candidate in 2008, he opposed the California ban but didn't endorse gay marriage. As he ran for re-election last year, he announced his personal support for same-sex marriage but said marriage was an issue that should be decided by the states, not the federal government.

Public opinion has shifted in support of gay marriage in recent years. In May 2008, Gallup found that 56 percent of Americans felt same-sex marriages should not be recognized by the law as valid. By November 2012, 53 percent felt they should be legally recognized.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Proposition 8 case on March 26. One day later, the justices will hear arguments on another gay marriage case, this one involving provisions of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The act defines marriage as between a man and a woman for the purpose of deciding who can receive a range of federal benefits.

The Obama administration abandoned its defense of the law in 2011 but continues to enforce it. In a brief filed last week, the government said Section 3 of DOMA "violates the fundamental constitutional guarantee of equal protection" because it denies legally married same-sex couples many federal benefits that are available only to legally married heterosexual couples.

___

Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-02-28-Obama-Gay%20Marriage/id-1e2950d915454b0db26fedd94562dcc7

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Fast food linked to higher asthma and allergy risk | MNN - Mother ...

Fast food linked to higher asthma and allergy risk

New study links fast-food consumption to a greater risk for developing asthma, eczema and allergies.

Tue, Jan 15 2013 at 8:56 AM

Teens and kids who eat a lot of fast food may be at greater risk for developing asthma, eczema?and allergies, according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal's respiratory magazine,?Thorax.

?

For the study, researchers from?the University of Auckland in New Zealand and the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom looked at surveys from more than 500,000 kids in 51 countries to determine how diet affected their allergy-related risks. They found that?eating fast food three times a week may lead to asthma, eczema?and itchy, watery eyes in children. ?

?

Researchers surveyed kids and their parents to determine whether or not they experienced symptoms of allergies, asthma and eczema. Participants also shared what types of foods they consumed each week. In the study, children in their early teens who ate fast food three or more times each week had a 39 percent greater risk of severe asthma. For 6- and 7-year-olds, there was a 27 percent increased risk. Overall, kids who ate fast food three or more times a week had about a 30 percent increased risk of severe allergies. The results were consistent across all age groups regardless of gender or socioeconomic status. ?

?

Interestingly, kids who ate fruit were able to cut their risk of developing these conditions. Researchers found that kids who ate three or more portions of fruit each week reduced their risk of severe asthma, eczema and allergies by between 11 and 14 percent.

?

Related allergies and asthma stories on MNN:

?

The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.

Source: http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/fast-food-linked-to-higher-asthma-and-allergy-risk

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Power Matters Alliance garners support from BlackBerry, NEC, TI and ZTE

Another Mobile World Congress, another round of highfalutin' talk surrounding the concept of wireless power. We already witnessed a consumer approach by PowerbyProxi, and now we're hearing that the Power Matters Alliance is getting a second wind as well. The self-proclaimed "leading ecosystem and standard for wireless power" took to Boston-area Starbucks locations last fall, and now it has notched support from BlackBerry, NEC, Texas Instruments, ZTE and dozens more. There's still no word on whether all of these factions are going to bite the bullet and come together in order to actually make some progress that consumers can appreciate, but hey -- we've got nothing but time, right?

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Comments

Source: Power Matters Alliance

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/27/power-matters-alliance-support-from-blackberry-nec-ti-zte/

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Web Design central coast - Build Eye-catching & Easily manageable ...

E-shops offers a cost-effective alternative to brick and mortar stores. In fact, e-commerce business enables many businesses to minimize the overhead and eliminate the need for employees to maintain the store, while adding the ability to compete worldwide and cultivate a larger potential customer base. The primary factor in deciding whether your business needs an E-shop is the type of goods/ service you planned to sell online and whether they can be easily transported in the mail. Normally your E-shop work very well if you planning to offer specialist goods / services to a geographically diverse market, selling competitively priced goods/services, offering an additional services to the existing mail order customers.

Graphic design NSW: In order to start your online business, you need someone on your team who well know the online marketplace. Oz Monkey can help you launch your E-shop so that it promotes your business while keeping customers safe. We've been designing robust, hassle-free e-commerce solutions which can make your potential customers eager to click add to cart and checkout! Web professionals of Oz Monkey can guarantee the future success of your E-shop business activities online. Design of your E-shop is generally attractive enough to grab the attention of potential buyer or customer. This is extremely possible with the help of most proficient web developers, web designers and web programmers and all these from just one web solution provider in Australia.

Since the Internet world becomes an integral part of everyone's life, it is becoming very essential for many business's to provide customers and clients the facility of buying products online. An E-shop evokes the physical analogy of purchasing products or services at a bricks-and-mortar retailer or in a shopping mall with the help of Internet. An E-shop gives your company an International reach. You will get the possibility of selling your product to every country in the world.

Create an E-shop as unique as your business. Whether your e-shop needs a makeover or a quick touchup for your e-shop, professional designers of Oz Monkey will work closely with you to turn your vision into reality.

Oz Monkey's goal is to offer a streamlined process for our clients making the idea of creating a web space simple, easy and exciting. We pride ourselves on getting to know our customers by working within there specific budgets and cohering to realistic timelines.

Source: http://www.articleswide.com/article/18109-Web_Design_central_coast_-_Build_Eye-catching_amp_Easily_manageable_E-shops.html

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Sightseeing, Lodging And Leisure, Everything About Rome Will ...

It is known for its scenic postcard beauty. The city has been a vacationers delight for numerous reasons. It is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but also is one of the most advanced cities. Rome has every possible thing that you would need for a fun filled and exotic vacation. The historic monuments, museums, mouth watering cuisine and the gardens that the city boasts of have been attracting tourists to the city for decades now.

One of the oldest cities in the world, the Italian capital has ranked quite high on the tourism map for numerous reasons. Onboard any of the Rome flights and get set to witness some of the finest monuments in the world. From the renowned Coliseum and the Roman Forum and from the Piazza Venezia to various museums, parks and absolutely cheerful nightlife, everything will take your holiday experience to the next level. The city is so splendid that you would never ever get bored here.

Everything about the Italian capital is fascinating and enthralling. And, what makes the place all the more likable are the splendid lodging options of the place. It is a stunning city, and the convenience and lodging in the city makes the city all the more favorite tourist hotspot. There are various types of hotels and lodges in the city and whatever your liking is, you will definitely get something. The city has numerous two and three star accommodations, which offer various kinds of amenities and services that you need for a comfortable and pleasing stay. The best part is that these lodgings have deals and discounts from time to time, so you might get to stay amongst the premium comfort and lavishness without burning a hole in your pocket.

If you want an economical stay without being too heavy on your pocket and want to spend more while shopping and sightseeing, then, you can opt for the budget motels or the bed and breakfast inns. If you think that by compromising on the price, you will also have to compromise on the amenities and services, then, you are mistaken, you will be surprised by the facilities and services here. The rooms are hygienic and the breakfast is delicious. You will have a different experience staying in these.

The fact is that whether you choose to stay in a five star lodging or budget lodging, you will get the value of your money. So, onboard one of the Rome flights and get set for one of the most alluring holidays and get ready to gather some of the priceless moments with your friends.

About the Author:
Abhishek Kumar started his content writing service in 2007 and he is having expertise in field's like Travel, Finance, Legal, Automotive, Computer.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Sightseeing--Lodging-And-Leisure--Everything-About-Rome-Will-Enthrall-You/4454466

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Jury awards $3.35 million in vaginal mesh case against Johnson & Johnson

ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (Reuters) - A jury on Monday said Johnson & Johnson should pay a South Dakota woman $3.35 million for failing to adequately warn her doctor of the potential dangers of a vaginal mesh implant made by the company's Ethicon subsidiary, and for misrepresenting the product in brochures.

It was the first verdict among some 1,800 vaginal mesh cases pending in New Jersey against Ethicon and J&J, and could have an impact on thousands of lawsuits against other manufacturers of similar products.

The lawsuit, in state Superior Court in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was brought by Linda Gross, 47, of Watertown, South Dakota, in November 2008. It alleged that the Gyncare Prolift vaginal mesh was not safe and that J&J and Ethicon were liable, among other things, for "their defective design, manufacture, warnings and instructions."

The Ethicon product, before being taken off the U.S. market last year, was used to treat urinary incontinence and pelvic organ collapse, a condition for which the plaintiff, a nurse, was treated in November 2008. That condition happens when tissue that holds the pelvic organs in place is weak or stretched and bulges into the vagina. There are different types of this prolapse condition, which usually occurs after menopause, childbirth or a hysterectomy.

Gross, a nurse, filed her lawsuit after having surgery in 2006 to install a Gyncare Prolift for pelvic prolapse. She alleged the surgery led to a variety of problems, including mesh erosion, scar tissue, inflammation and "neurologic compromise to ... structures and tissue."

She said she had to seek medical treatment and 18 operations to repair the damage caused by the mesh.

Ben Anderson, the lawyer representing Gross, called the jury verdict "a strong statement to Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon that they cannot put profits before women's safety."

The verdict, by a panel of six women and three men, followed a six-week trial before Judge Carol Higbee. The judge was expected to decide later today whether to allow a hearing on punitive damages.

Sheri Woodruff, a spokeswoman for Ethicon, said, "While we are always concerned when a patient experiences medical conditions like those suffered by the plaintiff, all surgeries for pelvic organ prolapse present risks of complications."

She said she could not comment further.

In addition to the lawsuits against Ethicon and J&J in New Jersey, about 11,000 other claims have been filed against a variety of manufacturers of vaginal mesh, according to Florida attorney Bryan Aylstock.

Those claims have been consolidated into five cases that are pending in federal court in West Virginia, according to Aylstock, co-lead counsel in one of the West Virginia cases.

The defendants in those cases are Ethicon, C.R. Bard Inc, Boston Scientific Corp, Coloplast, and Endo Health Solutions' American Medical Systems Inc.

Last year, jurors in a state court in Bakersfield, California, said C.R. Bard was liable for $3.6 million in the first case over the vaginal mesh devices to go to trial. The panel found the plaintiff and her husband were entitled to a total of $5.5 million for her medical expenses, pain, suffering and other damages resulting from Bard's Avaulta Plus device.

Last June, J&J announced that it had stopped selling the vaginal mesh following lawsuits that allege they caused infections and bleeding.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, some 75,000 women received mesh repairs for pelvic organ prolapse in 2010, and about 200,000 more received the mesh implants for stress urinary incontinence.

Tim Nelson, a senior analyst for Nuveen Asset Management, said the size of the award to Gross was surprising. But he said the many lawsuits over the product pose little risk to J&J's finances or its shares.

"That's because big companies like J&J can drag out these cases forever" and thereby whittle down judgments through appeals or other means, he said. "So it's hard to generalize one award to multiple cases. My guess is that it won't be a huge issue for the company."

J&J shares were down 20 cents to $76.04 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

(Reporting by Dave Warner; additional reporting by Ransdell Pierson; editing by John Wallace)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/jury-awards-3-35-million-vaginal-mesh-case-180916388--sector.html

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American Cancer Society raising money selling wedding favors ...

Are you getting married? The American Cancer Society?s Wedding Favors program offers couples a unique way to honor guests with beautiful scrolls or acknowledgement cards indicating that a donation has been made in place of traditional wedding favors. Customized with the name of a loved one lost to cancer or one currently undergoing treatment, our favors will add meaning to your big day. To learn more, visit:?www.acsweddingscrolls.org

Susan Clifford, director of communications, New England Division, One Bowdoin Mill Island, Topsham. 373-3710.

?

Source: https://bangordailynews.com/community/american-cancer-society-raising-money-selling-wedding-favors/

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Higher levels of several toxic metals found in children with autism

Public release date: 25-Feb-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Joe Kullman
joe.kullman@asu.edu
480-965-8122
Arizona State University

TEMPE, Ariiz. -- In a recently published study in the journal Biological Trace Element Research, Arizona State University researchers report that children with autism had higher levels of several toxic metals in their blood and urine compared to typical children. The study involved 55 children with autism ages 5 years compared to 44 controls of similar age and gender.

The autism group had significantly higher levels of lead in their red blood cells (+41 percent) and significantly higher urinary levels of lead (+74 percent), thallium (+77 percent), tin (+115 percent), and tungsten (+44 percent). Lead, thallium, tin, and tungsten are toxic metals that can impair brain development and function, and also interfere with the normal functioning of other body organs and systems.

A statistical analysis was conducted to determine if the levels of toxic metals were associated with autism severity, using three different scales of autism severity. It was found that 38-47 percent of the variation of autism severity was associated with the level of several toxic metals, with cadmium and mercury being the most strongly associated.

In the paper about the study, the authors state "We hypothesize that reducing early exposure to toxic metals may help ameliorate symptoms of autism, and treatment to remove toxic metals may reduce symptoms of autism; these hypotheses need further exploration, as there is a growing body of research to support it."

The study was led by James Adams, a President's Professor in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, one of ASU's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. He directs the ASU Autism/Asperger's Research Program.

Adams previously published a study on the use of DMSA, an FDA-approved medication for removing toxic metals. The open-label study found that DMSA was generally safe and effective at removing some toxic metals. It also found that DMSA therapy improved some symptoms of autism. The biggest improvement was for children with the highest levels of toxic metals in their urine.

Overall, children with autism have higher average levels of several toxic metals, and levels of several toxic metals are strongly associated with variations in the severity of autism for all three of the autism severity scales investigated.

###

The study was funded by the Autism Research Institute and the Legacy Foundation.

---

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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: 25-Feb-2013
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Contact: Joe Kullman
joe.kullman@asu.edu
480-965-8122
Arizona State University

TEMPE, Ariiz. -- In a recently published study in the journal Biological Trace Element Research, Arizona State University researchers report that children with autism had higher levels of several toxic metals in their blood and urine compared to typical children. The study involved 55 children with autism ages 5 years compared to 44 controls of similar age and gender.

The autism group had significantly higher levels of lead in their red blood cells (+41 percent) and significantly higher urinary levels of lead (+74 percent), thallium (+77 percent), tin (+115 percent), and tungsten (+44 percent). Lead, thallium, tin, and tungsten are toxic metals that can impair brain development and function, and also interfere with the normal functioning of other body organs and systems.

A statistical analysis was conducted to determine if the levels of toxic metals were associated with autism severity, using three different scales of autism severity. It was found that 38-47 percent of the variation of autism severity was associated with the level of several toxic metals, with cadmium and mercury being the most strongly associated.

In the paper about the study, the authors state "We hypothesize that reducing early exposure to toxic metals may help ameliorate symptoms of autism, and treatment to remove toxic metals may reduce symptoms of autism; these hypotheses need further exploration, as there is a growing body of research to support it."

The study was led by James Adams, a President's Professor in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, one of ASU's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. He directs the ASU Autism/Asperger's Research Program.

Adams previously published a study on the use of DMSA, an FDA-approved medication for removing toxic metals. The open-label study found that DMSA was generally safe and effective at removing some toxic metals. It also found that DMSA therapy improved some symptoms of autism. The biggest improvement was for children with the highest levels of toxic metals in their urine.

Overall, children with autism have higher average levels of several toxic metals, and levels of several toxic metals are strongly associated with variations in the severity of autism for all three of the autism severity scales investigated.

###

The study was funded by the Autism Research Institute and the Legacy Foundation.

---

[ | 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/2013-02/asu-hlo022513.php

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Billboard converts desert air into drinking water

(UTEC)

An advertising agency has created what it is calling the world's first billboard that converts air into drinking water.

The billboard?a collaboration between agency Mayo DraftFCB and Peru's University of Engineering and Technology?was placed in Peru's rain-starved desert capital, Lima.

Lima gets less than an inch of rain per year on average, but since the city's humidity hovers around 98 percent, generators attached to the structure are able to capture atmospheric moisture, filter it and produce potable water.

The harvested water is then stored in 20-liter tanks and can be retrieved from taps at the base of the billboard.

"Agua aqui," a neon display near the base reads.

According to the university, the billboard produced 9,450 liters of drinking water in three months?enough to sustain hundreds of Peruvian families per month.

Watch a short video explaining the project below.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/billboard-air-water-peru-lima-142159082.html

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In Wyoming, a bare-knuckle fight for control of education

CODY, Wyoming (Reuters) - Thinly populated Wyoming is embroiled in debate over how to manage a school system that has achieved only moderate gains in test scores despite having one of the top five highest rates of education spending in the nation.

Anger over how the education system is managed in the staunchly conservative state has prompted the state legislature to strip the elected superintendent of schools of her main duties and cut her budget and staff while appointing an interim director of public education to serve in her stead.

The State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Cindy Hill, has countersued to block the changes, and last week Republican Governor Matt Mead announced an independent inquiry to look into employee concerns in the department.

The Wyoming debates on education mirror those nationally over standardized testing, legislative oversight, and how to best measure if progress is being made, with one key difference - the debate is raging mostly within the Republican Party.

The Republicans' conservative Tea Party faction, which normally targets excessive government spending as its signature issue, opposes transferring power from an elected official to a "government bureaucrat."

Some Wyoming lawmakers have complained that Hill has not provided necessary performance data required under federal funding requirements and has been slow to implement accountability measures they mandated.

Legislators have also complained Hill overstepped her powers when she spent $200,000 to create a new program for teacher training. Senate Education Committee Chair Hank Coe, a Republican, wants to make it tougher for teachers to gain tenure.

HIGHER SPENDING

Bubbling under the surface is the fact that per-student spending in Wyoming has increased every year over the past decade, according to the National Education Association, rising from $9,246 in 2003 to $15,997 in 2011.

A 2012 Harvard University study that tracked state trends in student performance singled out Wyoming as one of three states with large spending increases that "had only marginal test-score gains to show for all that additional expenditure."

Elected in 2010 to a four-year term, Hill was moved from a prestigious office space to more modest accommodations nearby as a result of the bill, had her budget and staff cut sharply, and was left with mostly ceremonial duties.

Hill has since filed suit to block the changes and has vowed to run for governor in 2014.

The governor has said the inquiry "allows us to shine a light on the (state education) agency, which is something that the public has asked for and is entitled to" receive. The inquiry will focus on human resources, operations and budget issues, Mead's office said.

Some legislators said during debate on the bill to strip Hill of her powers that they had heard numerous complaints from department employees about how the agency was run under Hill.

Hill said the governor's inquiry was a distraction for the department, and the result of the "political and personal agendas" of Mead and a small group of legislators.

Some Wyoming residents have expressed strong disapproval of the move to strip Hill of her duties, calling the effort an end-run around the state constitution.

"If there was a prior concern about Cindy Hill's running of the education department, why didn't they convene a panel then?" said Bob Berry, a Tea Party member who unsuccessfully challenged Coe in last year's Republican primary. "It has all been innuendo, and this doesn't wash."

(This story is corrected by deleting reference to basement office in 10th paragraph)

(Editing by Alex Dobuzinskis and Eric Walsh)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wyoming-bare-knuckle-fight-control-education-173705129--business.html

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Sandy Koufax welcomed back to spring training

Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax watches workouts during spring training baseball in Phoenix, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax watches workouts during spring training baseball in Phoenix, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax signs autographs during spring training baseball in Phoenix, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax, left, talks with pitcher Chris Capuano during spring training baseball in Phoenix, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax signs autographs during spring training baseball in Phoenix, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) ? Sandy Koufax hadn't worn a major league uniform for more than two decades until the Dodgers got him back in blue this spring.

The beloved left-hander is in camp with Los Angeles as a special instructor, doling out advice and experience to young players who haven't forgotten his singular achievements during an all-too-brief career.

During a rare interview, the 77-year-old Koufax says he doesn't know why so many people think he's reclusive and shy. He's grateful simply to talk pitching with the Dodgers, saying it might be the only thing he's ever been good at.

Manager Don Mattingly says the three-time Cy Young Award winner is just one of the guys during spring, although he read a list of Koufax's accomplishments to the team just to make sure everybody knew.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-02-23-BBN-Dodgers-Koufax-in-Camp/id-7c433bc01b734332b410e5f94813eee0

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Kerry takes case on Syria to Europe, Mideast

FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2013 file photo, Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at the State Department in Washington. Kerry will make his first overseas trip next week to Europe and the Middle East, but is skipping Israel because that country's government isn't fully formed after recent elections. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 14, 2013 file photo, Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at the State Department in Washington. Kerry will make his first overseas trip next week to Europe and the Middle East, but is skipping Israel because that country's government isn't fully formed after recent elections. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Secretary of State John Kerry embarked Sunday on his first official overseas voyage in a diplomatic mission to bring new ideas to capitals in Europe and the Middle East on how to end nearly two years of brutal violence in Syria.

Kerry left Washington to start a grueling nine-nation, 10-day trip that will take him to America's traditional western European allies of Britain, Germany, France and Italy along with Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. In addition to Syria, he will focus on conflicts in Mali and Afghanistan and Iran's nuclear program.

Kerry has said he is eager to discuss new ways of convincing Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down and usher in a democratic transition in the country that has been wracked by increasing violence that has killed at least 70,000 people. He has not offered details of his ideas but officials say they revolve around increasing pressure on Assad and his inner circle.

Kerry begins his trip in London where he will see senior British officials on a range of issues, from Afghanistan to the status of the Falkland Islands, over which Britain is in a major dispute with Argentina.

He then travels to Germany to discuss trans-Atlantic issues with German youth in Berlin, where he spent time as a child as the son of an American diplomat posted to the divided Cold War city. He will also meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the German capital.

In Paris, Kerry will discuss France's ongoing intervention in Mali. And in Rome, he'll attend a meeting with Syrian opposition leaders.

U.S. officials have said the trip will be primarily a "listening tour" when it comes to Syria and won't result in immediate shifts in U.S. policy that has until now stayed clear of military support for the rebels fighting Assad.

Despite the numerous Middle East stops. Kerry will not travel to Israel or the Palestinian territories. He will wait to visit them when he accompanies President Barack Obama there in March.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-24-Kerry/id-3475a6b0bc364672bde8b4afd952b56b

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EPA regulations a looming blow to Arizona economy

Higher electricity rates under new EPA regulations would have negative impact on Arizona's ability to attract and create new jobs, experts tell a group of state lawmakers.

By Evan Tracey,?American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) / February 22, 2013

This content provided by a Monitor sponsor. What's this?

The main plant facility at the Navajo Generating Station is seen from Lake Powell in Page, Ariz. The federal government is proposing new limits for pollution from the coal-fired power plant to reduce haze in places like the Grand Canyon. But the plant's owners say it could come with a price tag of more than $1 billion.

Ross D. Franklin/AP/File

Enlarge

Last month?we mentioned a story?regarding the Navajo Generating Station that stated that EPA regulations that would require adding new emissions controls to the plant would cost $1.1 billion and would only marginally reduce the plants portion of haze in the area.

Skip to next paragraph Evan Tracey

Senior Vice President for Communications, American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE)

Mr. Tracey oversees the strategy on how to communicate the importance of electricity from coal and the value of investments in clean coal technology. He has two decades of political, legislative and issue research experience and has provided strategic media analysis for a number of trade associations, foundations, Fortune 500 companies, political party committees, the national press, academic institutions, as well as hundreds of national, statewide and local political campaigns.

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It was?reported yesterday that Arizona?s?economy?could soon be feeling the effects of higher electricity rates under regulations recently announced by the EPA, a group of state lawmakers were told on Monday.

According to the?White Mountain Independent, ?In a rare joint committee hearing chaired by Senator Gail Griffin (R-Hereford), members of the Senate Government and Environment Committee and the House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Representative Frank Pratt (R-Casa Grande) heard testimony from state air quality regulators, utility officials, a hospital executive, union representative, and the Director of the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, all of whom agreed that new regulations announced by the EPA could have a significant, negative impact on Arizona?s economy and its ability to attract and create new jobs.?

?This is a non-partisan issue that has alarmed Republicans and Democrats alike,? Senator Griffin said. ?Regardless of how one feels about the EPA, there is nothing logical about requiring Arizona residents to pay a billion dollars for regulations that make virtually no improvement in visibility and have nothing to do with public health.?

This is just further evidence that the EPA continues to ignore the damage that its new regulations are causing to the U.S. economy and to states that depend on coal for jobs and affordable electricity.

The Monitor allows its sponsoring partners to connect directly with Monitor readers by including content on CSMonitor.com. Sponsored content is always clearly labeled?and is written, edited, and produced by the sponsor. Questions? E-mail us.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/wFFb43BNqew/EPA-regulations-a-looming-blow-to-Arizona-economy

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'Vet Ink' shares tales of battle, loss and life-long pride

Kate Singh / Clark County Historical Museum

Victoria Parker's tattoos honor five soldiers in her unit who were killed in Iraq during her second deployment there.

By Bill Briggs, NBC News contributor

The five men are not her brothers. But that?s what she calls them.

The five initials are not for her children. But many who spot her non-sleeved left arm ask if the tight stack of black letters represents her kids. The question bothers her.

From the top of her booming bicep ? where ?M.G. 27 JAN 07? is positioned ? to the bottom of the bulge ? where ?B.E.? rests ? Army Reserve Drill Sgt. Victoria Parker?s limb permanently honors the five fellow soldiers in her unit who were killed in Iraq during her second deployment there. Images of those those tattoos also went on display Tuesday as part of ?Vet Ink,? an exhibit at the Clark County Historical Museum in Vancouver, Wash.

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?The motto is: ?Always remember, never forgot.? I told them I would always remember them. And by putting it on my arm, I remember them every day. I think about them every day,? said Parker, 27, who lives in Vancouver. Her largest, accompanying tattoo depicts the ?fallen soldier battle cross? ? a helmet poised on a standing rifle placed inside empty, unlaced boots. That was inked from a photo she snapped of the memorial shrine set up for Army Sgt. Blair Emery (?B.E.?), killed in a roadside bomb attack?in 2007 in Taji, just north of Baghdad.

?The tattoos helped me cope and move on and still honor their memories,? Parker said. ?It?s no longer painful.?

?Vet Ink? is the brainchild of Susan Tissot, executive director of the museum, located in a city rich with Army roots. Before the Civil War, then-Capt. Ulysses S. Grant was quartermaster at the Columbia Army Barracks in that town. Vancouver has also served as home to part of the 104th?Infantry Division.

Kate Singh / Clark County Historical Museum

Tattoos on the back of Jeremy Hubbard.

?The Army is very prevalent in everything we do ? there are a lot of veterans here, a lot of Army personnel and our former mayor was a colonel in the Army. My father-in-law is a retired Naval officer,? Tissot said. ?It?s a very personal exhibit.

?I knew the tattoos told a story," she added. "It?s a very touching story."?

?Vet Ink? spans military members who served from the 1950s through to today?s armed forces ? 11 veterans (or active members or reserves) spanning every branch but the Coast Guard. Each panel details their time in uniform as well as when and why they decided to get tattooed.

Some of the images, like those gracing Parker?s arm, represent the ?memorial? category of ink art that recall the fallen or a certain battle. Among military tattoos ? a tradition that sprouted among Navy sailors generations ago but now are commonplace among post-9/11 veterans ? are the other three classes: ?patriotic? (flags, eagles), ?spiritual? (a star, a cross, the Virgin Mary), and ?identity,? (a specific unit, battalion or division), according to Kristina Wells, the museum?s collections manager.

?There?s been an interesting evolution in what tattoos the military would even accept. Our Vietnam veteran in the exhibit and one of the other 1960s service guys who took part didn?t get their tattoos until they were in their 60s. It was less accepted by the military back then,? Wells said. ?If you were tattooed, you maybe wouldn?t even be accepted into the Army and Marines (during that era).?

Later, military regulations were relaxed, and banned tattoos on the neck and face.

Kate Singh / Clark County Historical Museum

Christian Nippolt-Vetter.

The ink also once carried something of a ?hidden? code, especially in the Navy, according to the museum. For example, the image of a sparrow or swallow signified having traveled 5,000 or more miles. Tattoos of pigs or roosters were good-luck charms meant to prevent drowning because those animals often were carried in wooden crates, which would float if the ship ever sank.

For Parker, the tattoos also serve as a shorthand account of her combat experiences for any other veterans who spy them ? an ?automatic understanding? and a ?unifying symbol.? She said she and fellow veterans can read one another?s service history from their ink.

But for those who haven?t served, she said, there is often misunderstanding.

?I get a lot of people asking me if they?re my kids. That?s frustrating and hurtful,? Parker said. ?The female veterans, we?re so invisible. People don?t assume we?re veterans at all.?

Related:?

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/22/17045909-vet-ink-shares-tales-of-battle-loss-and-life-long-pride?lite

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Rob Kardashian Packs on Pounds, Vows to Lose Weight

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/02/rob-kardashian-packs-on-pounds-vows-to-lose-weight/

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Big bucks flowing to California home owners under mortgage settlement

Nearly 72,000 Californians have had their mortgages reduced or forgiven under terms of a multi-state mortgage settlement with five major banks, according to a report Thursday from the state appointee monitoring the banks' compliance.

"California is faring very well under this deal," said Katherine Porter, the UC Irvine law professor who is serving as the state's monitor of the settlement with 48 state attorneys general.

About 41 percent of the relief so far has gone to Californians, she said.

"We think that's the result of two things -- a California commitment by three banks and the attorney general who made itclear how serious she was about enforcement of this deal. My office also worked really hard to educate borrowers," Porter said.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris held out for a special "California commitment" from three of the six banks -- Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America -- which is increasing the state's share.

The three banks committed to $12 billion in principal reductions and the appointment of a monitor. "The banks that participated in the California commitment are exceeding what they said they would do to help," pushing the expected total of all forms of relief to struggling home owners in the state to $20 billion, Porter said.

An additional 24,377 borrowers are "in progress" on mortgage reductions, and the total is expected to reach 100,000 before the settlement ends. Out of a total

of $16.9 billion so far, $7.5 billion has been in first or second mortgage reductions or forgiveness, Porter said.

Other relief includes assistance on short sales and "cash for keys" to homeowners who want to leave their homes.

Six banks agreed to a $25 billion multi-state settlement of charges stemming from a "robo-signing" scandal involving improper foreclosures. They are Citibank, JP Morgan Chase/Washington Mutual, Bank of America/Countrywide, Wells Fargo/Wachovia, and Ally Financial

Contact Pete Carey at 408-920-5419 Follow him on Twitter.com/petecarey

Source: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/business/ci_22632361/big-bucks-flowing-california-home-owners-under-mortgage?source=rss_emailed

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US troops in Niger to set up drone base

WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama said Friday that about 100 American troops have been deployed to the African nation of Niger. Two U.S. defense officials the troops would be setting up a base for unarmed drones to conduct surveillance.

Obama announced the deployment in a letter to Congress, saying that the forces "will provide support for intelligence collection and will also facilitate intelligence sharing with French forces conducting operations in Mali, and with other partners in the region."

The move marks a deepening of U.S. efforts to stem the spread of al-Qaida and its affiliates in the volatile region. It also underscores Obama's desire to fight extremism without involving large numbers of U.S. ground forces.

The drone base will allow the U.S. to give France more intelligence on the militants its forces have been fighting in Mali, which neighbors Niger. Over time, it could extend the reach not only of American intelligence-gathering but also U.S. special operations missions to strengthen Niger's own security forces.

One of the two U.S. defense officials who discussed the development confirmed the American troops would fly drones and other surveillance platforms from Niger military airstrips, tracking militant and refugee movement inside Mali and around the border. The U.S. will share that intelligence with Niger's military, the official said.

Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the project.

The drones at the Niger base will be unarmed and used for surveillance, not airstrikes. Still, the development of a base in Niger raises the possibility that it could eventually be used for launching strikes.

Obama said in his letter to Congress that the U.S. forces have been deployed with the consent of Niger's government. The forces were also deployed with weapons "for their own force protection and security," the president said.

Last month, the U.S. and Niger signed a status-of-forces-agreement spelling out legal protections and obligations of American forces that might operate in Niger in the future.

Africa is increasingly a focus of U.S. counterterrorism efforts, even as al-Qaida remains a threat in Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere. Last month's terrorist attack on a natural gas complex in Algeria, in which at least 37 hostages and 29 militants were killed, illustrated the threat posed by extremists who have asserted power propelled by long-simmering ethnic tensions in Mali and the revolution in Libya.

A number of al-Qaida-linked Islamic extremist groups operate in Mali and elsewhere in the Sahara, including a group known as al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, which originated in Algeria and is active in northern Mali. Earlier this month, French forces intervened to stop the extremists' move toward Mali's capital, and Washington has grown more involved by providing a variety of military support to French troops.

France has said it will eventually pull out of its Mali operation so that African forces can help stabilize the West African country.

___

AP Intelligence Writer Kimberly Dozier contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-troops-niger-set-drone-011915164--politics.html

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Let's do coffee | Urban Pundit

Getting up for work in the morning can be a difficult task for the best of us, especially during these cold winter months. Getting ready for work half asleep is a ritual many of us experience every day, applying a little too much foundation and barely dressing ourselves in time to make it out the door. With little time free in the mornings for breakfast, a great deal of us will rely on their morning coffee fix en route, and if we?re in a rush (which we all generally are) it needs to be the good stuff.?So sit back, put your feet up and take great comfort in the following list of some of London?s best coffee shops, all located in close proximity to the a variety of commuter portals (tube/train).

Nude Espresso
Closest Tube: Tottenham Court Road
A sanctuary away from many of bad chains that litter the stations of London, Nude Espresso offers its customers great coffee without the fuss. With the beans roasted in house (nice pong) customers can ensure a great tasting blend, freeze dried need not apply.

Notes Music & Coffee
Closest Train: LondonCharing Cross
A coffee house that encourages relaxation, Notes Music & Coffee is fast, approachable and best off all provides great tasting beverages. Though not the cheapest of coffee shops, after you have tried one of their drinks you will be certainly be glad you paid the extra.

Monmouth Coffee
Closest Tube: Covent Garden
One of the great leaders in pour-over filter coffee, Monmouth coffee takes its coffee making very seriously. Using organic Jersey Milk, their luscious lattes and other drinks are velvety and smooth, and owe a lot to their rich milky blends. Monmouth is one of a few coffee houses that takes its milk choice as seriously as its coffee blends.

Kaffeine
Closest Tube: Goodge Street
Offering some of the best value for money, Kaffeine uses Square Mile beans for its ridiculously great tasting coffee. Charging only ?2.50 for a latte, I can hear the stampede already!

Tapped & Packed
Closest Tube: Warren Street
With speedy baristas making your drinks in a mere matter of seconds, Tapped & Packed offers some of the best filter coffee in London. With two separate grinders, each blend is custom used according to the drink you order, so a stronger tasting combination will be used to cut through really milky styles. With an inviting interior you?d be sure to overstay, if only you had the time.

So if these little drops of coffee heaven just happen to be on your way to work then you are truly sorted for your caffeine fix. And if they aren?t your boss will have to get use to you being 15 minutes late for work. Sorted.

For more information on the best coffee in London click here.

?

Source: http://urbanpundit.view.co.uk/lets-do-coffee/

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These include vegetables and some fruits as well as eating salads. Just as before, it is usually critical to include any brewing intake many different exercises together with a wholesome diet plan. Usually released the fact that coffee must not be intoxicated before eating any breakfast simply given that it allows you to poor and even harms ones ab. Nevertheless, this concept fails to implement usually. Seeing that pu-erh teas are the fermented an individual, no have any damaging result on any stomach and is regarded right before for the morning. This variety of charcoal toy tea will be split into two categories ( blank ) natural and additionally ready. The first kind is usually not as ordered for those who have an inadequate digestive system nevertheless the recent is capable of doing nourishing that.

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