Four Pets Dead After Fire | WNEP.com

MILTON ? A fire left four animals dead in Northumberland County.

Firefighters said that the fire started at a home on Dougal Street, just before 8:30, Friday night.

Officials said Crews had the flames under control in 20 minutes, but it was too late to save the house, two dogs, and two cats from the fire.

According to investigators, the fire was caused by an electrical surge protector.

The home owners will be staying with family, and assisted by the Red Cross.

Source: http://wnep.com/2013/03/23/four-pets-dead-after-fire/

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White House to argue for GPS tracking without a warrant | USAHM ...

Posted: Yesterday

Lawyers for the Obama administration will argue next week that US authorities are not required to obtain a search warrant before attaching a GPS device to an individual?s car in order to keep tabs on them.

The case, set to be heard on Tuesday by the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, comes over a year after a US Supreme Court decision failed to convince the Department of Justice that warrantless GPS tracking is an infringement on Americans? Constitutional rights.

?This case is the government?s primary hope that it does not need a judge?s approval to attach a GPS device to a car,? Catherine Crump, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) told Wired magazine.

In January 2012 the Supreme Court overruled an Obama administration assertion that police should be permitted to affix a GPS device to a personal vehicle without a search warrant. Questions were left, however, when the Court declined to answer whether that type of search was unreasonable and when justices could not reach a consensus on how police would need to monitor a suspect before requesting a warrant.

?We hold that the government?s installation of a GPS device on a target?s vehicle, and its use of that device to monitor the vehicle?s movement, constitutes a ?search,?? Justice Antonin Scalia wrote for the five-justice majority last January.

Scalia stipulated in the opinion that a warrant was not always necessary, but failed to mention any specific examples of when this would be the case.

Now prosecutors are honing on Scalia?s exact language, arguing that the Supreme Court?s decision only specifies that the installation of a GPS constitutes a search, while the tracking that follows does not. The government argues that the Supreme Court has given police near free reign in allowing for search warrant exceptions.

Searches of students, individuals on probation and border crossings are among the proposed exceptions.

The argument resurfaced after Philadelphia brothers Harry, Michael and Mark Katzin were indicted for a string of late-night pharmacy burglaries in 2010. Suspicious of the Dodge Caravan they thought was used in the robberies, investigators monitored the vehicle with a GPS device for 48 hours and were able to trace the brothers? involvement.

Arguing in US v. Katzin, government prosecutors claimed that a law requiring them to seek a warrant would seriously impede investigations of terrorist suspects.

?Requiring a warrant and probable cause before officers may attach a GPS device to a vehicle, which is inherently mobile and may no longer be at the location observed when the warrant is obtained, would seriously impede the government?s ability to investigate drug trafficking, terrorism and other crimes,? authorities said in court.

?Law enforcement officers could not use GPS devices to gather information to establish probable cause, which is often the most productive use of such devices. Thus, the balancing of law enforcement interests with the minimally intrusive nature of GPS installation and monitoring makes clear that a showing of reasonable suspicion suffices to permit use of a ?slap-on? device like that used in this case.?

While the ACLU accused the government of prosecutorial overreach in the case, it praised a new bill ? the so-called ?GPS Act? ? that would require law enforcement to get a warrant in order to access an individual?s GPS tracking history, whether it be from a vehicle device or a cell phone provider. The bill, which would not affect emergency services but would require police to prove probable cause, was reintroduced into Congress by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mike Kirk (R-IL) and Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT).

In a statement, Wyden decried the government?s blind eye to police overreach.

?GPS technology has evolved into a useful commercial and law enforcement tool ? but the rules for the use of that tool have not evolved with it,? he said. ?The GPS Act provides law enforcement with a clear mandate for when to obtain a warrant for the geolocation information of an American?It protects the privacy and civil liberty of any American using a GPS-enabled device.?

Source: RT News

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Source: http://usahitman.com/whtagtwaw/

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Business Highlights

___

The cash register rings its last sale

NEW YORK (AP) -- Ka-ching! The cash register may be on its final sale.

Stores across the country are ditching the old-fashioned, clunky machines and having salespeople ? and even shoppers themselves ? ring up sales on smartphones and tablet computers.

Barneys New York, a luxury retailer, this year plans to use iPads or iPod Touch devices for credit and debit card purchases in seven of nearly two dozen stores. Urban Outfitters, a teen clothing chain, ordered its last traditional register last fall and plans to go completely mobile one day. And Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, is testing a "Scan & Go" app that lets customers scan items as they shop.

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Crisis in Cyprus threatens EU role and legitimacy

BERLIN (AP) -- By rejecting an EU bailout and turning to Russia for help, Cyprus has exposed the growing frustration and dwindling solidarity within the European Union, a bloc meant to bring the continent closer together after World War II.

While talks about a Russian rescue appeared stalled Friday, experts noted that the idea of seeking Russian money alone raised doubts about the legitimacy of the European project ? notably over perceived German dominance and threats to national sovereignty. The extraordinary spectacle of an EU member seeking salvation from the old Cold War enemy has raised deep questions about how far Europe can or will go to take care of its own.

Ever since the financial crisis five years ago put pressure on heavily indebted countries ? from Greece to Portugal to Ireland ? the bailouts have become as much a political as an economic issue, with wealthy Germany insisting on strict austerity measures as a condition for help.

___

Tiffany 4Q net income rises less than 1 percent

NEW YORK (AP) -- Tiffany says fourth-quarter net income edged up less than 1 percent, but still beat Wall Street predictions as strong customer demand in Asia for its pricey baubles offset weakness in the U.S.

The upscale jewelry company also offered an annual sales outlook that topped analysts' estimates, and its shares rose nearly 2 percent Friday.

The results, which include the critical holiday season, show Tiffany's resilience even as it faces challenges in the U.S. and a fiscal crisis in Europe.

___

Darden 3Q profit falls but tops Street's view

NEW YORK (AP) -- Darden Restaurants' third-quarter net income dropped 18 percent, as it dealt with soft sales at Red Lobster, but the results still beat Wall Street's expectations.

The Orlando, Fla., company said Friday that sales at its Olive Garden, Red Lobster and LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants open at least a year fell a combined 4.6 percent.

This figure is a key gauge of a restaurant operator's performance because it excludes results at store recently opened or closed.

___

Investigators scold Boeing over 787 comments

Boeing's comments about the smoldering batteries on its 787 have annoyed the National Transportation Safety Board.

Boeing gave its own account of two battery incidents, which included a fire, at a detailed press briefing in Tokyo last week. The problem is that the NTSB is still investigating the incidents. Boeing is a party to the investigation, meaning it provides technical experts and, in effect, gets a seat at the table as investigators try to sort out what happened.

Boeing's "failure to inform the NTSB of the content off the recent technical briefing in Tokyo prior to its occurrence is inconsistent with our expectations for a party," the NTSB wrote.

The letter released late Thursday noted that on the day of the battery fire in Boston, someone from Boeing signed a certification committing it to the NTSB's guidelines for participating in the investigation.

___

FCC Chairman Genachowski to step down

NEW YORK (AP) -- The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Julius Genachowski, said Friday that he's stepping down in the "coming weeks," after a four-year tenure that's garnered mixed reviews for him and tangible progress in the industries he oversees.

The country's top telecommunications regulator told a staff meeting of his decision Friday morning. His impending departure was reported Thursday by several news outlets.

Genachowski, 50, was appointed in 2009 and has taken a middle line between the desires of public-interest groups and the telecom industry, which hasn't enamored him to either side.

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FAA to close 149 air traffic towers under cuts

CHICAGO (AP) -- Under orders to trim hundreds of millions of dollars from its budget, the Federal Aviation Administration released a final list Friday of 149 air traffic control facilities that it will close at small airports around the country starting early next month.

The closures will not force the shutdown of any of those airports, but pilots will be left to coordinate takeoffs and landings among themselves over a shared radio frequency with no help from ground controllers under procedures that all pilots are trained to carry out.

The plan has raised concerns since a preliminary list of facilities was released a month ago. Those worries include the impact on safety and the potential financial effect on communities that rely on airports as key economic engines for attracting businesses and tourists.

___

South Korea misidentifies China as cyberattack origin

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- In an embarrassing twist to a coordinated cyberattack on six major South Korean companies this week, investigators said Friday they wrongly identified a Chinese Internet Protocol address as the source.

A joint team of government and private experts still maintains that hackers abroad were likely to blame, and many analysts suspect North Korea. But the error raises questions about investigators' ability to track down the source of an attack that shut down 32,000 computers Wednesday and exposed big Internet security holes in one of the world's most wired, tech-savvy countries.

South Korean investigators said Thursday that a malicious code that spread through the server of one of the hackers' targets, Nonghyup Bank, was traced to an IP address in China. Even then it was clear that the attack could have originated elsewhere because hackers can easily manipulate such data.

___

BP announces $8 billion share buyback

LONDON (AP) -- Oil company BP said Friday it will buy back $8 billion of shares using money it earned by selling its stake in Russian producer TNK-BP.

The announcement came after BP completed the sale of its 50 percent interest in TNK-BP to Moscow-based Rosneft, in a deal that gave it $12.5 billion in cash and a stake in the state-owned oil company. The deal allowed Rosneft, the Russian oil giant, to tighten its grip on the country's lucrative oil industry.

___

PepsiCo says it's not hungry for a big snack deal

NEW YORK (AP) -- PepsiCo Inc. says it isn't interested in any big acquisitions after a report suggested a mega-snack food deal could bring its Doritos under the same roof as Oreos.

The Purchase, N.Y., company, which dominates the salty snack market with Frito-Lay, issued a short statement Friday after the Telegraph newspaper of London said activist investor Nelson Peltz could push it to merge with Mondelez, which is known for sweets including Cadbury and Nabisco.

The report cited unnamed sources saying Peltz, who often makes big investments in companies and then forces change, has been building stakes in Pepsi and Mondelez in recent weeks.

___

By The Associated Press(equals)

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 90.54 points, or 0.6 percent, to 14,512.03 Friday. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 11.09 points, or 0.7 percent, to 1,556.89. The Nasdaq composite gained 22.40 points, or 0.7 percent, to 3,245.

Benchmark oil for May delivery rose $1.26, or 1.4 percent, to $93.71 a barrel. Brent crude, used to price many kinds of oil imported by U.S. refineries, fell 23 cents to $107.24 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

Wholesale gasoline fell 1 cent to $3.06 a gallon. Heating oil lost 1 cent to $2.97 a gallon. Natural gas dropped 1 cent to $3.93 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/business-highlights-221928528.html

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Holder averts furloughs of prison staffers

FILE ? In this March 6, 2013, file photo U.S.Attorney General Eric Holder testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. Congress passed a spending bill to keep the government open through the end of September 2013, which Holder says provides no relief from the $1.6 billion in budget reductions that became effective March 1. In a memo to Justice Department employees he says he dealt with the problem by transferring $150 million in existing Justice Department funds to the Bureau of Prisons account, thus averting daily furloughs of 3,570 federal prison staffers around the country, and staving off what would have been a serious threat to the lives and safety of staff, inmates and the public. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

FILE ? In this March 6, 2013, file photo U.S.Attorney General Eric Holder testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. Congress passed a spending bill to keep the government open through the end of September 2013, which Holder says provides no relief from the $1.6 billion in budget reductions that became effective March 1. In a memo to Justice Department employees he says he dealt with the problem by transferring $150 million in existing Justice Department funds to the Bureau of Prisons account, thus averting daily furloughs of 3,570 federal prison staffers around the country, and staving off what would have been a serious threat to the lives and safety of staff, inmates and the public. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Attorney General Eric Holder says he has averted daily furloughs of 3,570 federal prison staffers around the country, moving $150 million from other Justice Department accounts to stave off a serious threat to the lives and safety of correctional staff, inmates and the public.

Some 38,000 employees at the U.S. Bureau of Prisons supervise 176,000 inmates at 119 institutions, ensuring security and providing prisoners with needed programs.

In a memo Friday to all Justice Department employees, Holder said that congressional passage of a spending bill keeping the government open through the end of September provides no relief from $1.6 billion in Justice Department budget reductions that already took effect.

Holder's memo did not say which department agencies were tapped for the $150 million and spokeswoman Nanda Chitre declined to comment on that question Saturday.

Holder said the cuts still raise serious issues.

"I am deeply troubled by the impact the sequester will have on the department's capacity to prevent terrorism, combat violent crime, partner with states and local law enforcement agencies and protect the judiciary and our most vulnerable citizens," Holder wrote.

"I am still evaluating whether we have the ability to avoid other furloughs in the department this year," he added, addressing concerns of department employees. "I will do all that I can to minimize the impact of these events on your lives."

The attorney general said moving the $150 million can protect prison facilities through the end of the fiscal year in September, but does not resolve "serious life and safety issues" the Bureau of Prisons faces next year.

Holder said his department has already required extensive cuts to travel, training, contracts and other accounts.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-03-23-US-Holder-Prison-Furloughs/id-8fdba710568a4557a68bfdc3b55651c7

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93% Zero Dark Thirty

All Critics (241) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (225) | Rotten (17) | DVD (1)

What's striking is the absence of triumphalism -- Bigelow doesn't shy away from showing the victims shot down in cold blood in the compound -- and we come away with the overwhelming sense that this has been a grim, dark episode in our history.

Chastain makes Maya as vivid as a bloodshot eye. Her porcelain skin, delicate features and feminine attire belie the steel within.

No doubt Zero Dark Thirty serves a function by airing America's dirty laundry about detainee and torture programs, but in its wake, there's a crying need for a compassionate Coming Home to counter its brutal Deer Hunter.

While "Zero Dark Thirty" may offer political and moral arguing points aplenty, as well as vicarious thrills,as a film it's simply too much of a passable thing.

From the very first scenes of Zero Dark Thirty, director Kathryn Bigelow demonstrates why she is such a formidable filmmaker, as adept with human emotion as with visceral, pulse-quickening action.

A timely and important reminder of the agonizing human price of zealotry.

Despite what those silly Oscars would have you believe, it was this movie, not Argo, that was the finest of 2012.

Indulges Cheneyian fantasies complete with the bad-movie scene of the prisoner's defiance: "You're just a garbage man in the corporation," shouts the Arab who needs a lesson in manners from the Ph.D. (in torture?) who is racking him.

Bigelow tells the story very well, very efficiently, but doesn't really say much about it, which is ironic given the response to the film in some quarters.

Kathryn Bigelow takes the procedural model and brushes away every unnecessary detail, leaving behind a heavy, blunt object of a film that is also hugely watchable, engrossing and, best of all... highly suspenseful.

Rotten Tomatoes notes that I agree with Tomatometer critics 80 percent of the time, but this is one of those times I have to part ways with them.

Bigelow has directed excellent movies before, but this deserves to be remembered as the film that established her as a master.

You can't deny that what Zero Dark Thirty sets out to do, it does excellently.

An exhilarating and compelling historical document worthy of praise.

Bigelow's latest proves a rewarding piece of filmmaking, one that, in its best moments at least, is as gripping and as troubling as anything the director's ever made.

Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal shape history -- those breaks, big and small, that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden -- into one of the finest fact-based thrillers since "All the President's Men."

Purely as cinematic exercise, Zero Dark Thirty is an exhilarating piece of work. But, beyond its for-the-times subject matter, the work does not linger whatsoever.

Zero Dark Thirty is interesting as opposed to enjoyable, intriguing as opposed to entertaining, and certainly less memorable than The Hurt Locker.

It's quite remarkable how Bigelow and Boal managed to take 12 years of information (including a conclusion that everyone knows) and packaged it into a coherent, intimate and intense movie.

We know the ending, yet remain mesmerized by familiar details, filmed with a harrowing sense of urgency. It's as close to being in the White House situation room that night, watching a closed-circuit broadcast, as anyone could expect.

The second half of the film IS the film.

Whereas Locker was less about war than what it is to have a death wish, ZDT is less about the suspenseful true-life search for Osama bin Laden than the red tape one woman must wade through to prove that a mean old bastard is living in suburban Pakistan.

Bigelow's great achievement is stripping down the action from the exaggerated theatrics in movies and television shows so the missions feel no less exciting and immediate.

One of the finest movies of the year is a thriller about the tracking and, finally, slaying of Osama bin Laden.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/zero_dark_thirty/

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North Dakota passes toughest anti-abortion package in US; bills await governor

James Macpherson / AP

North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple, a Republican, hasn't said where he stands on the measures, which the Republican-dominated House approved on Friday.

By M. Alex Johnson, staff writer, NBC News

North Dakota lawmakers approved measures Friday that would effectively ban abortion in the state, including a ballot referendum that would let voters declare that life begins at conception.

Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple, who has three legislative days to decide whether to sign or veto two of the three measures, hasn't signaled where he stands on the bills. The referendum doesn't need his signature and will be part of the state's 2014 general election ballot.

---

The measures, which had previously been approved by the state Senate and were passed Friday by the House, would ban abortions after 20 weeks except in medical emergencies and require doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a local hospital.

The Red River Women's Clinic in Fargo, North Dakota's sole abortion provider, said the hospital provision "is clearly intended to regulate abortion out of existence in North Dakota."

"Admitting privileges are not easily come by under any circumstances, but more importantly, such a requirement gives hospitals the power to decide whether abortion is even available in the state," the clinic said in a statement.

The clinic vowed to stay open and asked supporters on its Twitter feed to call Dalrymple to urge him to veto the measures.

Related:?40 years after Roe v. Wade, more states restricting abortion

Rep. Vernon Laning, a Republican from Bismarck, defended the hospital measure as a safeguard for women who have complications during their pregnancies.

"It ensures the physician is well-qualified to address the problem," Laning said on the House floor. "I certainly think a woman undergoing a procedure would want as many safety precautions as possible."

But Rep. Kylie Oversen, a Democrat from Grand Forks, said House Republicans had taken a giant step toward making North Dakota the most dangerous state in the U.S. for pregnant women, NBC station KMOT of Minot reported.

"As a young woman who has not yet had the privilege of becoming a mother, I want to know that when I make a decision to do so, any already difficult decision that I must face with my physicians and my family will not be complicated by legal matters, by an overreach of state government," Oversen said.

Opponents also said the measures would force the state to spend millions of dollars defending them against legal challenges 40 years after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down many state restrictions on abortion in its Roe v. Wade decision.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe cited that concern earlier this month in vetoing what he called a "blatantly unconstitutional" measure that banned abortions in that state after only 12 weeks. The Legislature overrode the veto, and that ban will go into effect in May.?

The ballot measure, meanwhile, asks North Dakotans whether "the inalienable right to life of every human being at any stage of development must be recognized and protected" ? that is, to declare a fetus to be a person from the moment of conception.

The practical effect of the referendum, if approved by voters, would be to amend the state constitution to completely ban abortion, without exceptions for rape, incest or the health of the woman. Supporters said they hope it can serve as the basis for a legal challenge to Roe v. Wade.

Keith Mason, president of Personhood USA, a national anti-abortion-rights activist group, said the referendum gives North Dakotans the chance to "(pave) the way for human rights nationwide."

"We applaud the North Dakota House and Senate for their willingness to protect all of the people in their state," Mason said in a statement.

But Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, a pro-abortion-rights organization, said she was "confident that the voters of North Dakota will see through this blatant attack on Roe v. Wade and vote it down at the ballot box."

Follow M. Alex Johnson on Twitter and Facebook.

Watch the most-viewed videos on NBCNews.com

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653381/s/29e4725c/l/0Lusnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A30C220C17420A9270Enorth0Edakota0Epasses0Etoughest0Eanti0Eabortion0Epackage0Ein0Eus0Ebills0Eawait0Egovernor0Dlite/story01.htm

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Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Joseph Fiennes, John Hurt join Dwayne Johnson in "Hercules"

By Lucas Shaw

NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Joseph Fiennes, John Hurt, Rebecca Ferguson and Aksel Hennie have all joined the cast of Paramount and MGM's "Hercules," an upcoming film based on the myth (and a graphic novel). Brett Ratner will direct the film, which will star Dwayne Johnson as the eponymous hero.

Paramount and MGM will co-produce "Hercules," an adaptation of Radical Studio's graphic novel "Hercules: The Thracian Wars," a reimagining of the classic tale. Ryan Condal and Evan Spiliotopoulos wrote the script for the film, which Paramount signed on to co-produce in November. The two studios have since announced the new film will open July 25, 2014.

"We are thrilled to surround Dwayne with an ensemble cast featuring legendary actors as well as some of the finest emerging talents working today," Jonathan Glickman, president of MGM's motion picture group, said in a statement. "We are anxious to get production underway on what promises to be a high-action film that works around the globe."

It marks the second original film for MGM since it emerged from bankruptcy, following "The Machine," a film starring Vin Diesel that will begin production later this year. The studio had a strong year in 2012 thanks to existing properties "The Hobbit" and "Skyfall."

McShane, who won a Golden Globe for his work on HBO's "Deadwood," can be seen now in "Jack the Giant Slayer." Sewell last appeared in "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" while Fiennes, best known for "Shakespeare in Love," starred in season two of "American Horror Story." Hurt, an iconic British actor with multiple awards to his name, last appeared in "Jayne Mansfield's Car."

Beau Flynn, Barry Levine and Ratner are producing the film.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ian-mcshane-rufus-sewell-joseph-fiennes-john-hurt-225928200.html

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What San Antonio Has to Teach Washington

SAN ANTONIO?It?s hardly self-evident that you can transform a city?s workforce by teaching 4-year-olds how to count to 10. But that?s what a mayoral task force here concluded last year. And voters found its argument so convincing they opted in November to raise taxes by an eighth of a cent to pay for it. Just three months later, President Obama pitched the same idea?universal prekindergarten education?in his State of the Union address. Now this city is about to become a national proving ground.

Ask San Antonio?s leaders what?s holding the city?s economy back and you?ll get a one-word answer: education. The South Texas city weathered the recession well, but its population of 1.4 million has less education and a higher dropout rate than similarly sized cities. Civic leaders have worried openly about workforce development and the school system since 2009, when a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas pointed out that only 24 percent of San Antonians 25 and older had a college degree, compared with 27.1 percent in Phoenix and 38.8 percent in Austin. So when Mayor Julian Castro empaneled his task force and instructed it to find the best use for the fractional tax hike, it recommended all-day preschool. Plenty of families, Castro tells National Journal, ?don?t make enough to write a check for good pre-K, but they don?t make so little that they can get it for free, either.?

Studies show that students who have better early-childhood learning experiences are more likely to graduate from high school, and that early interventions have the biggest impact on a child?s cognitive growth. Obama and Castro both point to a decades-long Chicago study begun in 1985, which found that every dollar invested in pre-K resulted in a roughly $7 return on investment. But the data aren?t airtight: The Chicago survey compares children enrolled in a high-quality program with those who would otherwise have had no preschool; newer studies make comparisons with a population much likelier to get at least some pre-K, and these show much less dramatic results. Investments for disadvantaged children go much further than for those already up to speed, and a high-quality program makes a much bigger difference than the average pre-K offering.

San Antonio is convinced that high-quality pre-K is worth the investment: Its plan, which launches this fall, emphasizes teacher training, parental involvement, and top-flight academics. The majority of its children are already enrolled in some kind of pre-K program?whether it?s half-day, full-day, or home-schooling?but, according to City Hall, 5,700 children eligible for state-funded pre-K aren?t enrolled in a full-day program. There is money to help improve their lifetime potential, and it?s not being used.

To capitalize, Castro put his panel?s recommendation up for a vote. The ballot initiative passed with 53 percent, thanks in part to a joint lobbying effort by municipal and business leaders. It lifts the city?s sales tax to the maximum allowed by the state, 8.25 percent, for eight years to serve 22,000 4-year-olds during that period. It targets both families who meet Texas pre-K eligibility criteria?including those living at or below 185 percent of the poverty level; those learning English as a second language; those in foster care; those without homes; and those with military parents?and middle-class families, who will pay income-based tuition. The aim is to reduce the achievement gap in language by 25 percent, math by 33 percent, and literacy by 90 percent compared with eligible children who don?t attend the centers. Full-day pre-K could also jump-start the city?s economy by allowing more parents to return to work.

Obama, who also cited the economic imperative, won?t have such an easy time with pre-K access. The president would expand full-day eligibility to all families at or below 200 percent of the poverty level, and the Education Department would push states to means-test it for middle-class families. Obama has yet to say how much his plan would cost, but in a political moment so focused on deficit-cutting, House Republicans are not likely to find the cash.

And even if they could, critics say the Chicago Longitudinal Study is no longer reliable. A range of studies shows a range of results. But doubters especially cite a Health and Human Services Department report last December in which Head Start, the major federal preschool program, does almost nothing to improve a low-income child?s educational trajectory. Head Start students displayed initial gains in language and literacy, but those all but vanished by the end of third grade. Things look worse now partly because most of today?s control group is enrolled in pre-K, too, unlike in 1985 Chicago, meaning the education quality in Head Start is no longer superior to what children elsewhere receive. (Head Start defenders note that the program?s funding dropped 13 percent from 2002 to 2008, during the period of study.)

It?s unlikely that expanded pre-K in San Antonio (let alone a national version) would return 700 percent of the investment, as the Chicago study found. Even reaping a $3 return for every dollar spent would be hard in a city where preschool enrollment is common. That?s why this city?s commitment to high-quality schools over more middle-of-the-road ones will shape the outcome. As for President Obama, he has yet to put his money where his mouth is.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/san-antonio-teach-washington-223013667--politics.html

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Kimmel pokes fun at Lululemon pants recall

By Rebecca Macatee, E! Online

Are you one of the millions of women suffering from the Lululemon yoga pants recall?

Jimmy Kimmel feels your pain. On Tuesday, the late-night host premiered a hilarious PSA drawing attention to "the crisis sweeping the nation," aka a possible yoga pants shortage resulting from the recall of hundreds of semi-transparent bottoms.?

"I know this seems like a joke, but for white people, it isn't a joke," Jimmy quipped. "This is as serious as it gets."?

More on the Lululemon yoga pants recall?

Clearly. In the clip, paid for by Save Our Spandex, women resort to wearing cardboard pants, bubble wrap pants, and yogurt pants when their beloved Lululemons become unavailable.?

"With your donation of just $120 a day, you can put one woman in a pair of yoga pants," one woman says.?

Or you could, you know, not wear designer workout clothes.?

Check out stars' hot workout gear?

That said, watch the PSA above and let us know on our Facebook page what you think!?

Related content:

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Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2013/03/20/17389488-jimmy-kimmel-live-pokes-fun-at-lululemon-yoga-pants-shortage?lite

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Sony Xperia E officially on sale in the UK, costing ?129.99

Sony's latest entry level offering, the Xperia E, is now officially on sale in the UK. In the past it had been pegged for a February release, but retailer Clove Technology now has the device for sale for the pretty reasonable price of £129.99. 

Only the black versions are currently available -- white ones are due sometime in April. For your money, you're getting a solid entry level Android smartphone. Better still, it's a solid entry level smartphone running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. 

Other specs include a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 3.5-inch HVGA display, 4GB of onboard storage, 512MB of RAM a microSD card slot and a respectable for its size, 1500mAh battery. 

This is by no means going to excite those that breathe bleeding edge devices, but the Xperia E also has a little party piece. Sony has released an experimental Firefox OS ROM for the Xperia E, so for those so inclined, it's not an overly expensive way of checking that out either. 

Source: Clove

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/sxzYFpDEKd8/story01.htm

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Nexus 7 8GB on sale for $139.99 at 1saleaday

Google's Nexus 7, one of the most popular tablets around, is available on 1saleaday for today only. These units are factory-refurbished versions of the 8GB model, which is no longer available directly from Google. They come with a 90-day warranty, as well as the AC adapter and micro-USB cable. At this price, you can grab yourself a Nexus 7 and the dock for less than the price of the cheapest model in the Play Store.

If Google sticks to a yearly refresh cycle for their tablets, we can expect a new version of the Nexus 7 tablet to be announced in less than two months. But if a deal is more important than having the latest and greatest, and you don't mind having 8GB of storage, then jump on this deal before it's gone.

1saleaday Wireless

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/LE_pgVgPFBI/story01.htm

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T-Mobile 'UnCarrier' plans possibly leaked, make unlimited talk and text a given (updated)

T-Mobile made much ado at CES of its desire to become the "UnCarrier," with steps away from subsidies and the usual complexities of smartphones. Thanks to tipsters, we have a better sense of what the provider meant. A memo suggests that T-Mobile is revamping plans in the near future to make unlimited talk and text a de facto part of the experience, where data would be the only changeable factor: on Classic tiers , the starter $60 plan would have 500MB of full-speed data with hotspot support built-in, while subscribers could upgrade their service in 2GB increments that cost between $10-20 dollars per month for individuals. You'd still have 'real' unlimited data on Classic from $90, with the hotspot as a bolt-on option. What we've seen doesn't specify a date or price, but T-Mobile happens to have an appropriately-themed event coming up on the 26th; we wouldn't be shocked if we heard more at that stage.

Update: We've done some digging, and this is the full sheet that made a quick stopover at TmoNews. The Classic plans may only be available at third-party stores, while T-Mobile's own stores would go only with contract-free Value rates that start at $50 and include the $70 unlimited plan we saw in January.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, T-Mobile

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/19/t-mobile-uncarrier-plans-leak-make-unlimited-talk-and-text-givens/

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Double Cochlear Implant: Toddler Gets Double Chance... | Stuff.co.nz

Lower Hutt toddler Addison Blundell will be on the road to recovery this week, after Hutt Valley DHB agreed to underwrite the cost of a double cochlear implant.

The 14-month-old, who cannot hear or speak, was the first victim of a series of nationwide failures in hearing tests for newborns.

A Ministry of Health investigation this year found eight screeners, out of about 108, had not followed protocol by either screening the same ear of a baby twice, or their own ears instead of the baby's.

Addison's hearing loss was not picked up until she was 10 months old.

One cochlear implant is publicly funded, but a second one usually costs the family $50,000. If carried out at the same time as the first one, the cost reduces to $34,000.

Addison's father Rawiri Blundell said he and partner Kerrie MacKay had been overwhelmed with public support since The Dominion Post reported on their fundraising efforts this week.

Through an online donation site and a bank account, almost $9000 had been donated towards the cost of Addison's surgery.

But the best news was that Hutt Valley District Health Board had agreed to underwrite the cost of the second implant, Mr Blundell said.

"They've told us that it's an urgent situation and we can deal with the finer details and costs afterwards."

Russell Simpson, of Hutt Valley DHB, said it would work with the Blundells to raise the funds with local charities. "We're confident that these joint efforts will cover the cost of the second implant."

The family was also investigating further coverage through medical insurance, and hoped to be able to pay the cost of the surgery sooner, Mr Blundell said.

"Suddenly there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

"It's a lot to take in, but I'm feeling a lot more positively about it because it's more achievable now."

Getting both implants at once meant the family could focus on getting Addison through speech therapy to bring her up to speed with other children, he said.

"It's really two birds with one stone. Just one surgery, one lot of therapy, then rehabilitation. It's wonderful."

- ? Fairfax NZ News

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/8452382/Toddlers-silent-world-gets-chance-for-sound

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'Goosebumps' Scares Up A Director

R.L. Stine's beloved horror series "Goosebumps" is making its way to the big screen. "Jack the Giant Killer" writer Darren Lemke was hired to pen a script for the movie back in 2012, and now it's being reported that "Monsters vs. Aliens" director Rob Letterman is in negotiations to helm the project. Deadline has the [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2013/03/20/goosebumps-director/

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Oil falls as traders eye US data, Europe concerns

NEW YORK (AP) ? The price of oil fell slightly Tuesday as traders weighed encouraging housing data against the prospect of rising crude supplies in the U.S.

Benchmark oil for April delivery fell 27 cents to $93.84 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, used to price many kinds of oil imported by U.S. refineries, dipped 56 cents to $108.95 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

The Commerce Department said builders broke ground on homes last month at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 917,000, up from 910,000 in January and the second-fastest pace in 4 ? years. Building permits also increased in February, rising by 4.6 percent to 946,000, the most since June 2008.

On Wednesday the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration is expected to report an increase of 2 million barrels in crude oil supplies and a drop of 2.5 million barrels in gasoline stocks, according to a survey of analysts by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.

U.S. oil production, at more than 7 million barrels a day, is at the highest level in 20 years.

Energy market investors are watching developments in Cyprus, where lawmakers have sought to tax bank accounts to stabilize its financial sector and clear the way for a massive international bailout. That has prompted fears of a run on banks across Europe, with accountholders questioning the sanctity of what they had considered safe places for their savings.

Analysts at Frankfurt's Commerzbank, while noting that "the upside potential is likely to remain limited" until the uncertainty over Cyprus subsides, also pointed out that the lack of alternative investment opportunities could support crude prices.

"The continuing high liquidity among investors, coupled with their willingness to take risks, is likely to lend support also to the commodities markets in the coming months," Commerzbank said.

Natural gas rose again Tuesday, supported by forecasts for cold weather through the end of March. "Gas prices which have rallied 84 cents or nearly 27 percent in a little more than a month as strong end-of-season weather factors and dwindling inventories have boosted the market to levels not seen since the end of October, 2011," independent energy analyst Addison Armstrong noted.

Natural gas futures rose 3 cents to $3.94 per 1,000 cubic feet in midday trading.

At the gas pump the national average for a gallon of regular stayed around $3.69. That's down a penny from a week ago and 15 cents lower than a year ago. Drivers in the Northeast, Midwest and on the West Coast are paying the most. Gas is cheapest in the South.

In other energy futures trading on the Nymex:

? Wholesale gasoline lost 4 cents to $3.09 a gallon.

? Heating oil fell 4 cents to $2.89 a gallon.

___

Pamela Sampson in Bangkok, Pablo Gorondi in Budapest and Christopher S. Rugaber in Washington contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-03-19-Oil-Prices/id-b6ee3cc0ade840ca8791361e5def80c3

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Real Estate related job

Look to a construction company, a large one and see if you can get into construction management.

One of the functions of large corporates is a real estate division, management of company holdings, maintenance and new construction of expansions.

Insurance claims offices hire and train claims people for RE losses.

City government has planning and zoning, maintenance and building regs

Utility companies acquire easements, learn to negotiate leases and ED acquisitions.

PM companies have thier own maintenance people, a license would be a plus.

Hotel/motel chains have RE depts, chain stores, C-stores, all kinds of franchized and corporate owned expansions look for new sites, evaluate markets and they all don't have degrees.

Speaking of degrees, consider getting back to school too, after you get a job! Good luck

Most large RE companies hold properties, they have paid staff.

Source: http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/85481-real-estate-related-job

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The Changing Photography Industry - Make your ideas Art

Photography

Published on March 19th, 2013 | by Guest Author

With changes in all industries having become increasingly apparent during the technologic age, it is no wonder that a change is sweeping over aspects of the photography industry, too.

Modern Marketing

Most apparent have been the shifts in how a professional photographer will most effectively go about marketing their business, and advertising their services. Many modern companies in touch with modern marketing techniques require a marked internet presence for many reasons, including, but not limited to, keeping a presence with a more price aware, tech savvy and social customer base.

This is nothing new for these larger corporations, but what does this mean for small photography businesses, sole traders, self employed and individuals, who have to rely mostly on their own ingenuity in order to market their services on these new increasingly globalised and saturated platforms?

Marketing Methods

Although recommendations through word of mouth are still the main weapon in a budding professional photographer?s arsenal, there are increasing numbers who are turning to, for example, social media, blogs, and websites as their main sales platform. This can certainly make the costs of marketing plummet, with these platforms typically being cheaper than those of more traditional choices, such as print advertising.

In this case, it seems like a clear win for online versus bricks and mortar, at least when it comes to a start-up photography business. This is because, as a photographer beginning in business, there are already fixed costs associated with purchasing equipment, amongst others, which can be offset through the cheaper or even free options of online marketing, promotion and advertising.

Perfect Platform

The benefits of an online space marketing a photography business are clear. Particularly on social media platforms, it presents the photographer with an opportunity to promote their proudest pictures to prospective purchasers. A blog can prove a useful promotional platform to represent your business, as linking between blogs of different popularity, means that even smaller businesses can gain customers from those browsing more popular blogs through linking, and promote their website, and even improve their search engine rankings.

Conclusive Conclusion

So, it?s easy to see why the internet is changing the photography business, and why it will prove to make the difference in offering potential customers an interest in the promotional sites and blogs. Done well, this means going further than marketing, and including the boosting in online presence, becoming an attractive location to visit for web surfers, linking from other relevant blogs and sites, and boosting popularity for both matters of promotion, and offering potential customers a resource of creativity and interest.

Featured Image: Creative Commons licensed from Wikimedia Commons ? source

Article by Mark Dolby

Mark Dolby is a professional Wedding Photographer based in Bradford. Visit Mark?s site to see some examples of his photos.

Tags: guest post, marketing, photography tips

About the Author

Guest Author This post was written by the guest author credited above. If you have an awesome idea, or an article you'd like to contribute, or if you'd like to become a regular author, feel free to contact us.

Source: http://makeyourideasart.com/photography/the-changing-photography-industry/

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When to call a tradesperson - Home improvement tips and advice

Today?s blog is going to be quite general and non-trade specific, but an explanation of when exactly you should call a tradesperson ? such as a plumber, electrician or pest control technician ? to help with your domestic problem.

In a current economic climate where everyone needs to save money, you need think carefully about whether you actually need to outlay the expense of getting an engineer in to fix your property maintenance problem. This requires a fair amount of assessment on your own behalf?

You first need to think ?can I fix this myself??. Smaller jobs are sometimes quite easy to fix and can save you a lot of money. Look online for how-to guides for fixing your problem and if you?re confident enough ? give it a go.

However, on the whole we don?t really recommend the DIY approach unless you are experienced. On a weekly basis we?re faced with a lot of DIY-gone-wrong projects to fix. Often home owner?s go out of their depth to try and repair their property, and realise this when washer is gushing out into their living room!

It?s important to note that there are some things that you cannot legally attempt to repair without necessary qualifications and training. A prime example of this is trying to mend gas appliances yourself ? you?re not legally allowed to do this without a being Gas Safe registered. The same goes with more complex home electrics ? for your own safety it?s best that you leave this to a professional electrician.

With pest control, it entirely depends on what pests are causing disturbance in your property. If it?s just a few flies, you can probably sort this out yourself with some fly deterrent spray. However, if it?s a much bigger problem like a full wasp nest, mice or foxes ? then it is always best to call a professional pest control technician.

Pest control should be seen as more of a long term solution. It?s unlikely that even a professional will be able to rid your property of pests just on the first visit ? they?ll use their experience over a repeat number of trips to fully eradicate the pests from your property.

This brings me on to the most important point: Experience. The main reason to call a professional is to rely on their experience ? some of these people devote their entire lives to solving problems like yours, so it makes sense to trust them to solve yours. Attempting DIY maintenance can be rewarding, but for the ultimate peace of mind and more professional results then we recommend calling a tradesperson.

Source: http://www.pgs-online.co.uk/2013/03/misc/when-to-call-a-tradesperson/

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Live from Expand: Robopocalypse: Now (video)

Top honchos of 3D Robotics, Willow Garage and Boston Dynamics (yes, of BigDog fame) join us -- and some mechanical pals -- to discuss the past, present and future of robotics.

March 17, 2013 2:15 PM EDT

For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.

Filed under: Robots

Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/17/live-robopocalypse-now/

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It's March Madness! Slam dunk your office rivals

Mark Koba , CNBC ? ? ? 13 hrs.

Okay, college sports fans, it's March Madness time. That means putting on your thinking caps, sharpening those pencils, grabbing an eraser or two and filling out your pool brackets for the NCAA basketball tournaments. (Use a pen at your own risk.)

Some 57 percent of workplaces will have a pool this year, according to the Society of Resource Management. And about $3 billion will be put into those pools. Of course, sports betting is illegal in most states. Currently only Oregon, Delaware, Montana, and of course, Nevada, allow it.

However, most people look the other way when it comes to the NCAA. So chances of getting busted for slipping the pool organizer a few dollars for your entry are slim.

Read More: Software Giant SAP Getting Giant Boost in NFL

Many analysts say there's no dominant team this year in college basketball. The teams ranked number one in the coach and sports writer polls have changed nearly as often as the price of gasoline. It's tough to even find a surefire favorite.

Before we get into some winning tips for your pool, here's a short refresher course. The men's tourney begins on March 19, with the championship game on April 8. The women's will be played from March 23 through April 9.

Sixty-eight men's teams and 64 women's teams make their tournaments. They are seeded or ranked from 1-16 in four regions around the country based on several factors including win-loss record, playing schedule and team conference play.

There are six rounds of games (with one extra play-in round for men), usually with a top seed playing the lowest seed, and the loser being eliminated from the tournament. It's win or go home.

So with that said, what's the best way to slam dunk your rivals at work and walk away with your own championship crown? We got some experts and self-described stat geeks to weigh in.

"You have to take this somewhat seriously if you want to win," said Brad Carlin, a professor of biostatistics at the University of Minnesota who has co-authored papers on the NCAA tournament probabilities.

"Don't pick a team because you like the color of their shorts. You might as well just buy a lottery ticket then. Pick intelligently," said Carlin.

There's plenty of research out there on college teams like the rating percentage index, or RPI. This ranks teams based on their win percentage and strength of schedule and how they might fare against other teams.

Constantly updated, the current ranking (subject to change) has Duke at the top followed by New Mexico, Louisville and Miami. Most people might not think of New Mexico as even a possible NCAA champion, but the RPI seems to indicate otherwise and might be a good choice, at least in the first few rounds.

Other information you may want to know are player injuries and where the games are played. Some consider a UCLA Bruin team playing in the West region a better bet than if they are seeded in the East and have to travel across the country.

Once you've done your homework, Carlin said the way to start is from the inside out.

"Pick who you think will in the tournament, be in the final four and then fill in brackets back to the first games. That way you won't sacrifice as many good teams too early," Carlin said.

You're looking for teams that are usually ranked in the top five or six before the tournament starts, according to Carlin.

As for dark horses or those considered with a slim chance of advancing but become fan favorites, Carlin has a word of caution.

"Cinderella teams don't usually make it to the ball," Carlin explained. "Most of the time half the number one seeds in the tournament make the final four, so think top seeds as well as teams seeded three and four."

But at the same time, it's good to be a contrarian, said Jarad Niemi, a professor of statistics at Iowa State University.

"Don't necessarily take the top teams because that is who everybody will pick," said Niemi. "Instead, pick the third or fourth number one seeds or one of the top number two seeds."

An example of a good contrarian pick is Duke, said Niemi.

Read More:Guess Which Sport is Recession Proof

"People love to hate Duke, along with other schools, and people will avoid picking the Blue Devils at any cost," Niemi said.

"But that makes it a good contrarian move even if they are likely a number one seed," argued Niemi. "Remember, contrarian is only relative to what your other contestants are doing."

Niemi explained it's key to take into account how your pool is set up when it comes to scoring points for each correct selection.The idea is to not necessarily predict the right outcomes of the games but where you can gain advantage over your fellow contestants.

"My departmental pool has a scoring scheme that gives correct picks one point in the round of 64, two points in the round of 32 and four points for the regional games plus the difference in seeds if the underdog wins," Niemi said.

"In this type of pool, you would be best to pick underdogs in the first and even the second rounds. For example, if you pick a 12 seed to beat a five in the first round ? everybody's favorite upset ? you have the possibility of gaining eight points rather than just one," said Niemi.

Read More:Watch Out Yankees and Red Sox, It's a New Era in Baseball

(Formula: A No. 12 seed beats a No. 5 seed for one point, plus the difference between the two seeds adding up to eight points:1+12-5 = 8.)

Certainly there are other tips: trusting your own instincts or listening to the TV analysts if you are so inclined and avoiding picking upsets of a No. 16 seed over a No. 1 seed in the first round. In the last 25 years of tournament play, that's never happened.

Another way is to turn to the gambling pros, said Doug Drinen, associate professor of math at the University of the South in Tennessee.

"The quickest and easiest way to fill out a reasonable bracket is to check the Vegas odds of each team winning the tournament, and fill in each slot in your bracket with the team that Vegas thinks has a better chance of winning it all," said Drinen. "They know how good a team is."

But if all this gives you a headache, there's an easier way, according to the experts. Just go to poologic.com, and they'll do all the work for you. Just put in a team you want to win and they'll figure out the brackets for free.

Oh, there's one more tip.

"My last suggestion is to just enjoy watching the games," said Niemi. "I tend to build my brackets slightly more upset heavy because I enjoy watching the games constantly cheering for upsets. It's called March Madness for a reason."

? 2013 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/slam-dunk-your-rivals-office-march-madness-pool-1C8912546

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