jeetroy14: 2012

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Michigan lawmakers approve right-to-work bills

Drew Dobson, of Coleman, Mich., protests at a rally at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. The crowd is protesting right-to-work legislation passed last week. Michigan could become the 24th state with a right-to-work law next week. Rules required a five-day wait before the House and Senate vote on each other's bills; lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene Tuesday and Gov. Snyder has pledged to sign the bills into law. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)p

A protester holds an American flag at a rally on the State Capitol grounds in Lansing, Mich., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. The crowd is protesting right-to-work legislation passed last week. Michigan could become the 24th state with a right-to-work law next week. Rules required a five-day wait before the House and Senate vote on each other's bills; lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene Tuesday and Gov. Snyder has pledged to sign the bills into law. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Thousands of protesters gather for a rally on the State Capitol grounds in Lansing, Mich., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. The crowd is protesting right-to-work legislation that was passed by the state legislature last week. Michigan will become the 24th right-to-work state, banning requirements that nonunion employees pay unions for negotiating contracts and other services. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Protesters gather for a rally in the State Capitol rotunda in Lansing, Mich., Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. The crowd is protesting right-to-work legislation passed last week. Michigan could become the 24th state with a right-to-work law next week. Rules required a five-day wait before the House and Senate vote on each other's bills; lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene Tuesday and Gov. Snyder has pledged to sign the bills into law. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

LANSING, Mich. (AP) ? Over the chants of thousands of angry protesters, Republican lawmakers made Michigan a right-to-work state Tuesday, dealing a devastating and once-unthinkable defeat to organized labor in a place that has been a bastion of the movement for generations.

The GOP-dominated House ignored Democrats' pleas to delay the final passage and instead approved two bills with the same ruthless efficiency that the Senate showed last week. One measure dealt with private-sector workers, the other with government employees. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder signed them both within hours, calling them "pro-worker and pro-Michigan."

"This is about freedom, fairness and equality," House Speaker Jase Bolger said during the floor debate. "These are basic American rights ? rights that should unite us."

After the vote, he said, Michigan's future "has never been brighter, because workers are free."

The state where the United Auto Workers was founded and labor has long been a political titan will join 23 others with right-to-work laws, which ban requirements that nonunion employees pay unions for negotiating contracts and other services.

Supporters say the laws give workers more choice and support economic growth, but critics insist the real intent is to weaken organized labor by encouraging workers to "freeload" by withholding money unions need to bargain effectively.

Protesters in the Capitol gallery chanted "Shame on you!" as the measures were adopted. Union backers clogged the hallways and grounds shouting "No justice, no peace." And Democrats warned that hard feelings over the legislation and Republicans' refusal to hold committee hearings or allow a statewide referendum would be long lasting.

U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and other Democrats in the state's congressional delegation met with Snyder on Monday and urged him to slow things down.

"For millions of Michigan workers, this is no ordinary debate," Levin said after the House vote. "It's an assault on their right to have their elected bargaining agent negotiate their pay, benefits and working conditions, and to have all who benefit from such negotiations share in some way in the cost of obtaining them."

The crowds were considerably smaller than those drawn by right-to-work legislation in Indiana earlier this year and in Wisconsin in 2011 during consideration of a law curtailing collective bargaining rights for most state employees. Those measures provoked weeks of intense debate, with Democrats boycotting sessions to delay action and tens of thousands of activists occupying statehouses.

In Michigan, Republicans acted so quickly that opponents had little time to plan massive resistance.

Snyder and GOP leaders announced their intentions last Thursday. Within hours, the bills were hurriedly pushed through the Senate as powerless Democrats objected. After a legally required five-day waiting period, the House approved final passage.

The governor said he saw no reason not to sign the bills immediately, especially with demonstrators still hoping to dissuade him.

"They can finish up, and they can go home because they know ... making more comments on that is not going to change the outcome," he said. "I view this as simply trying to get this issue behind us."

Snyder said he expects the law to be challenged in court but believes it will stand. He said unions were largely responsible for its divisiveness, having ignored his advice and pushed an unsuccessful November ballot initiative seeking to make right-to-work laws unconstitutional. The bitter campaign over the ballot measure put the issue on center-stage.

"Introducing freedom-to-work in Michigan will contribute to our state's economic comeback while preserving the roles of unions and collective bargaining," Snyder said.

Protesters began assembling before daylight outside the sandstone-and-brick Capitol, chanting and whistling in the chilly darkness and waving placards with slogans such as "Stop the War on Workers." Others joined a three-block march to the building, some wearing coveralls and hard hats.

Valerie Constance, a reading instructor for the Wayne County Community College District and member of the American Federation of Teachers, sat on the Capitol steps with a sign shaped like a tombstone. It read: "Here lies democracy."

"I do think this is a very sad day in Michigan history," Constance said.

The crowds filled the rotunda area, beating drums and chanting. The chorus rose to a deafening thunder as House members voted. Later, protesters surged toward a building across the street housing Snyder's office. Two people were arrested when they tried to get inside, state police said.

By late afternoon, the demonstrators had mostly dispersed.

The governor insisted the matter wasn't handled with undue haste, calling the debate in the House and Senate a "healthy discussion."

Michigan gives the right-to-work movement its strongest foothold yet in the Rust Belt, where the 2010 election and tea party movement produced assertive Republican majorities that have dealt unions repeated setbacks.

Opponents said they would press Snyder to use his line-item veto authority to remove a $1 million appropriation from the bills, making them eligible for a statewide referendum. But the House swiftly rejected a Democratic amendment to that effect.

Lawmakers who backed the bills "will be held accountable at the ballot box in 2014," said state Rep. Tim Greimel, the incoming House Democratic leader.

But Sen. John Proos, a Republican from St. Joseph who voted for both bills, predicted that objections would fade as the shift in policy brings more jobs to Michigan.

"As they say in sports," he said, "the atmosphere in the locker room gets a lot better when the team's winning."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-12-11-Right-to-Work-Michigan/id-174a8ff3bd1c4fa3b5f064e4b58493b9

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Business WP Template ? Self-Improvement For Stress Management ...

Stress is a part of life whether we like it or not. No matter how we try to get rid of it, it will always come back and haunt you every single day of your life. Stress can be expected as you go through your daily routine, or just come out into the open and surprise you.

Problems, big or small, can affect us emotionally, mentally and physically. Even if we keep smiling on the outside, stress usually troubles us from within. Leaving us in doubt, desperate, anxious, or even irritable if we let if get out of control. The best way to deal with stress is to not let it get a foot hold in your life. You should control it before it even begins to grow ? and the secret to that success depends on you.

Body self-improvement techniques

Taking care of your body is the initial step to self-improvement. We should be sensitive to what our body needs by knowing how stress affects our physical self to adapt to it. Here are some techniques that you can use to improve your body and getting stress out of your system.

1. Give your body a break. It is very important to know the limits of our body especially when it comes to dealing with stress. Some people would justify that the more our body is exposed to stress, the stronger we become ? so not true. Our body can only do so much and will deteriorate rapidly when we exceed our capacity. If you feel some aches and pains while working, then you better take some time off and relax before it turns to something serious

Once you begin to move beyond basic background information, you begin to realize that there?s more to Stress Management than you may have first thought.

2. Relax and enjoy. To help your body relieve stress then you need to engage in some activities that will push it along the road to recovery. A massage is perfect for energizing your body while getting rid of those tight muscles that will eventually lead pain and limit your body flexibility. Pamper yourself by visiting a health at least once week; a few hours with professional hands can do wonders.

3. Exercise and sweat it out. Indulging in physical exercise is a great way to get rid of stress while keeping your body in top shape. Not many can allocate the time and effort for a physical exercise, but if you really want a stress free life then you better accommodate. Daily 1 hour exercise can do wonders to your cardiovascular functions and keep your heart in proper working order.

Self-improvement for a stress free life

The tips above borders on the physical side of releasing stress, but your mind is till vulnerable to its attacks. Physical exercise can provides an outlet for emotional problems like anxiety, fear and depression. But your mind is something else.

Before you can dispel any stress from your life, you need to improve your coping mechanism first, and it all starts in your mind. Even if we feel the physical and emotional backlash of the problems that we face, it will always start with how you think and how you devise ways in dealing with it.

Before you can apply the tips above, you have to condition your mind by focusing on the need to improve yourself in getting rid of stress.

There?s a lot to understand about Stress Management. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

Filed under: Stress Management

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Source: http://resalerightsworld.com/Business3/stress-management/self-improvement-for-stress-management.htm

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Source: http://ylutasug.posterous.com/business-wp-template-self-improvement-for-str

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Fish have enormous nutrient impacts on marine ecosystems, study finds

Dec. 11, 2012 ? Fish play a far more important role as contributors of nutrients to marine ecosystems than previously thought, according to researchers at the University of Georgia and Florida International University. In a pair of papers in the journal Ecology, they show that fish contribute more nutrients to their local ecosystems than any other source-enough to cause changes in the growth rates of the organisms at the base of the food web.

Jacob Allgeier, a doctoral student in the UGA Odum School of Ecology, and Craig Layman, associate professor at Florida International University, led the study, which took place in the waters of a large bay on Abaco Island, Bahamas.

Most tropical coastal ecosystems are nutrient limited, meaning that the system's primary food sources such as algae and seagrass need to have enough nitrogen and phosphorus-in the right proportions-to grow and thrive.

"We've been thinking about the role of fish and the nutrients they're excreting in these ecosystems for a while now," Allgeier said. In marine food webs, fish are usually thought of as predators, he explained, consuming microorganisms, plants and smaller animals. But fish have another important, although often overlooked, role in the system. Through excretion, they recycle the nutrients they take in, providing the fertilizer sea grass and algae need to grow.

To determine the impact of nutrients from fish, the team needed to compare sites with fish populations of different sizes. Knowing that fish tend to congregate around reefs-the larger the reef, the more fish it attracts-they built a series of artificial reefs of two sizes, large and small, and selected a number of control sites with no reefs at all.

Over the course of two years they surveyed each site periodically to record the number, size and species of fish present. Allgeier created models to estimate the supply of nutrients from all species of fish at the various sites.

The researchers also measured the nutrient content and growth rate of seagrass. They weren't surprised that seagrass at the large reefs grew faster and contained more nutrients than seagrass at the small reefs and control sites-but they were surprised at the magnitude of the difference and the extent to which it occurred.

"The rate of daily seagrass growth ranged from 37 square millimeters at large reefs to 10 square millimeters at control sites-nearly a four-fold difference," Allgeier said. "Fish are putting an enormous amount of nutrients into this system-it appears to be even more than all other sources, including runoff from golf courses and all other human caused impacts, combined."

The effect extended for roughly three meters around each large reef. The fish were contributing more nutrients than the seagrass could take in, allowing the excess nutrients to drift further away from their source, fertilizing seagrass and algae in ever-widening areas. The researchers anticipate this effect to extend further with increased time.

Allgeier described the large reefs as "biogeochemical hotspots"-areas with particularly high rates of chemicals cycling between organisms and the environment.

"The reefs are nodes within the ecosystem matrix," he said. "They're increasing productivity around the reefs by orders of magnitude. If there are enough of them (reefs), then they may be increasing productivity at the ecosystem level by orders of magnitude as well. That's something we're going to be looking at next."

Allgeier said the team's findings further point to the importance of maintaining a healthy fish community, explaining that different types of fish contribute different amounts of nutrients.

"Even if you have large numbers of fish, if they're dominated by one species, they're filling just one nutrient cycling niche in that ecosystem," he said. "That's not how these systems are used to being fed nutrients."

The papers' coauthors were Lauren Yeager and Elizabeth Stoner of FIU. Funding for both studies was provided by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with logistical support from Friends of the Environment, Abaco, Bahamas.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Georgia. The original article was written by Beth Gavrilles.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal References:

Jacob Edward Allgeier, Lauren A. Yeager, Craig A. Layman. Consumers regulate nutrient limitation regimes and primary production in seagrass ecosystems. Ecology, 2012; : 121003113720007 DOI: 10.1890/12-1122.1
Craig A. Layman, Jacob Edward Allgeier, Lauren A. Yeager, Elizabeth W. Stoner. Thresholds of Ecosystem Response to Nutrient Enrichment from Fish Aggregations. Ecology, 2012; : 121002102215001 DOI: 10.1890/12-0705.1

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/QIJUEd5jJag/121211163545.htm

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Video: How Will the Fed Replace Operation Twist?

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/50157807/

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Daycare double duty

Public release date: 11-Dec-2012
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Contact: Clea Desjardins
clea.desjardins@concordia.ca
514-848-2424 x5068
Concordia University

Parents' knowledge of children's daycare experience incomplete, Concordia study finds

Montreal, December 11, 2012 Nearly 1.5 million Canadian children grow up living double lives: one at home with their parents and another in some form of childcare environment. While parents hope to be informed of what goes on when they're not around, a recent Concordia study suggests that parents ought to be more involved in the daycare experience, a major component of their child's development.

Nina Howe, a professor in Concordia's Department of Education and a lead author on the study, set out to uncover what Canadian parents really know about their children's care. "We suspected that most parents know very little about the education, training, and background experiences of their children's educators or what goes on during the child's day," she explains. "No one buys a car without doing some homework, so why don't parents do some homework when selecting childcare?"

The past few decades have seen a historic change in the number of Canadian women employed in the workforce, and consequently more parents require childcare. With the demand far exceeding the number of available spaces, Howe believes some parents may ascribe more importance to factors like the centre's proximity than its philosophy.

The study, which will soon be published in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Early Childhood Research, was part of a larger project on delivering professional development to early childhood educators. Howe and her colleagues Ellen Jacobs and Holly Recchia at Concordia's Department of Psychology and Goranka Vukelich at Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario were interested in whether parents noticed a difference in the quality of their children's education after changes in curriculum had been implemented.

The researchers singled out several aspects of the daycare experience, from the childcare centre's educational mandate to the teacher's education. They based their research on 44 not-for-profit daycare centres in three cities across the countryHalifax, Montreal and Winnipeg. The research team interviewed 261 parents or guardians by phone, and found that while seventy-five percent of parents reported some knowledge of the centre's philosophy, which was for the most part acquired from written statements issued by the educator, even fewer parents, about forty percent, knew how much education the teacher had.

Research indicates that teachers with more formal training provide more developmentally appropriate activities for the children and have stronger relations with parents. This is due to the fact that during his or her training, the teacher would have had courses and field placements that would have taught them to establish a good rapport with parents and keep the lines of communication open.

"Parents are often unaware of the role that teacher education plays in providing high quality care for children; they think that an attractive centre with a warm and nurturing teacher is sufficient," Howe explains. "While these factors are important, parents need to know what the centre's philosophy is, what kind of activities are offered to the children, how the day is organized, and so on. Considering that many children spend eight to nine hours a day, five days per week in childcare, this is a critical question."

Howe has written a new book with Dr. Larry Prochner at the University of Alberta titled Recent Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Care in Canada. The book provides an overview of early childhood education with a focus on historical context, aspects of various curricula, and government involvement in education programs.

###

Related links:

Concordia's Department of Education http://doe.concordia.ca/index.php

Nina Howe's Research @ Concordia profile http://www.concordia.ca/explore/#!/profile/90/

Journal of Early Childhood Research http://ecr.sagepub.com/

Recent Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Care in Canada http://www.utppublishing.com/Recent-Perspectives-on-Early-Childhood-Education-and-Care-in-Canada.html

Media contact:

Cla Desjardins
Senior Advisor, External Communications
Concordia University
Tel: 514-848-2424, ext. 5068
Cell: 514-909-2999
e-mail: clea.desjardins@concordia.ca
Web: concordia.ca/media-relations
Twitter: twitter.com/CleaDesjardins

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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.

Daycare double duty

Public release date: 11-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail |

Share ]

Contact: Clea Desjardins
clea.desjardins@concordia.ca
514-848-2424 x5068
Concordia University

Parents' knowledge of children's daycare experience incomplete, Concordia study finds

###

Related links:

Concordia's Department of Education http://doe.concordia.ca/index.php

Nina Howe's Research @ Concordia profile http://www.concordia.ca/explore/#!/profile/90/

Journal of Early Childhood Research http://ecr.sagepub.com/

Recent Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Care in Canada http://www.utppublishing.com/Recent-Perspectives-on-Early-Childhood-Education-and-Care-in-Canada.html

Media contact:

[ | 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/2012-12/cu-ddd121112.php

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Better Vision Tied to Health Plans That Cover Eye Exams - Health.com

eyechart Better Vision Tied to Health Plans That Cover Eye Exams

MONDAY, Dec. 10 (HealthDay News) ? Working-age adults who have vision insurance have better eyesight than those without insurance, new research indicates.

The study included more than 30,000 people, aged 40 to 64, in the United States. About 40 percent of the participants had no vision insurance.

People with vision insurance were more likely to report having periodic eye examinations and, on average, those who had such a checkup in the previous year had better eyesight. The findings highlight the long-term benefits of vision insurance for preventing vision problems, according to study author Yi-Jhen Li, of the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., and colleagues.

Their study was published online Dec. 10 in the Archives of Ophthalmology.

?Lack of vision insurance impedes eye-care utilization, which, in turn, may irrevocably affect vision. Vision insurance for preventive eye care should cease to be a separate insurance benefit and should be mandatory in all health plans,? Li?s team said in a journal news release.

With periodic eye checkups, vision loss or impairment due to age-related eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts, or other causes, can be found in time to prevent irreversible loss of eyesight, the study authors pointed out in the release.

More information

The U.S. National Eye Institute has more about eye examinations.

? Robert Preidt

SOURCE: Archives of Ophthalmology, news release, Dec. 10, 2012

Last Updated: Dec. 10, 2012

Source: http://news.health.com/2012/12/10/better-vision-tied-to-health-plans-that-cover-eye-exams/

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Egypt Gives Military Arrest Powers to Protect Referendum (Voice Of America)

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Badureliya Sports Club v Colombo Cricket Club ? Premier Limited ...

Badureliya Sports Club v Colombo Cricket Club ? Premier Limited Over Tournament (Group A) ? Match Update ? Badureliya SC win by 2 wickets

A 5-wicket haul from Roshan Laksiri enabled the Badureliya Sports Club to keep the Colombo Cricket Club down to a low total, which they then chased down successfully, securing a 2-wicket win in their Group A match during the ongoing Premier Limited Over Tournament, played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, today on December 10.

The Badureliya SC won the toss and decided to field first, after which Roshan Laksiri (10-1-23-5) launched a fierce assault, backed by Saliya Saman (10-0-55-2) and Lahiru Gamage (8-0-40-2). Together, they succeeded in bowling the Colombo CC out for 207.

Wicketkeeper batsman Suresh Niroshan (4), Adeesha Nanayakkara (1), and Gihan Rupasinghe (0) were all dismissed early, the first two off Gamage, and the latter by Saman. However, opening batsman Lahiru Weragala top-scored for the team with 55, although most of the remaining batsmen failed to support him in keeping the Colombo CC?s innings moving forward.

Weragala found an able partner in Hasantha Fernando (26), who joined him for a 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket. After Fernando?s dismissal at the hands of Laksiri, Weragala teamed up with Gayan Wijekoon (39) for a 76-run fifth-wicket stand.

The Colombo CC had managed to reach a steady 148, when Laksiri struck in the 40^th over ? after taking Wijekoon, Weragala, and Maduka Liyanapathiranage (0) out of the game, he followed it up with the wicket of Arosh Janoda (3) four overs later. By this point, the Colombo CC were at 158 for 8.

Nimesh Perera ? snr (35) offered the team some respite, and his 44-run 9^th-wicket stand with Chinthaka Perera (16) got the team past the 200-run mark ? however, the latter soon fell prey to Saman, while the former was bowled by Sahan Wijeratne, with the Colombo CC finishing, all out, at 207.

The Badureliya SC, however, were up to the challenge of the chase, and managed to reach 208, despite the efforts of the Colombo CC?s Fernando (8-1-29-2) and Rupasinghe (10-0-26-2).

Saliya Saman top-scored for the team with an unbeaten 38, while Pabasara Waduge (34) and Nilushan Nonis (30) chipped in with useful performances. Sebastian Perera (26) and skipper Sahan Wijeratne (24) both managed to pass the 20-run mark, but the remainder of the batsmen failed to capitalise on their starts. However, the contributions of Mapa Bandara (12), Ruvinda Shamen (15), Roshan Laksiri (11*) came in handy, and guided by Saman, the Badureliya SC worked their way up to 208, with 2 wickets and 4 balls remaining.

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Badureliya-Sports-Club-v-Colombo-Cricket-Club-Premier-Limited-Over-Tournament-Group-A-Match-Update-Badureliya-SC-win-by-2-wickets-a207452

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'Girls' creator Lena Dunham's book proposal leaks online

Lena Dunham's 66-page book proposal earned her $3.5 million in her deal with Random House.

By Molly Driscoll,?Staff Writer / December 10, 2012

Lena Dunham is the creator, star, producer and writer of the HBO series 'Girls.'

Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Enlarge

The book proposal for Lena Dunham?s advice book, which will be titled ?Not That Kind of Girl,? leaked online, giving readers a peek into what the book will presumably include when it?s published on an unnamed date.

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Egypt army gets temporary power to arrest civilians

By Reuters

CAIRO -- Egypt's government has temporarily given the military the authority to arrest civilians to help safeguard a constitutional referendum planned for Saturday, the official military gazette said.

The order, issued late Sunday, said the military would support police and liaise with them to protect "vital institutions" until the referendum result is declared.

The decree gave army officers the right to make arrests and transfer detainees to prosecutors.

Echoes of Mubarak era?
Despite its limited nature, the edict will revive memories of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak's emergency law, also introduced as a temporary expedient, under which military or state security courts tried thousands of political dissidents and Islamist militants.

But a military source stressed that the measure, introduced by a civilian government, would have a short shelf-life.

"The latest law giving the armed forces the right to arrest anyone involved in illegal actions such as burning buildings or damaging public sites is to ensure security during the referendum only," the military source told Reuters.

PhotoBlog:?Protests in Egypt continue despite Morsi's concession

"The armed forces secured polling stations during previous elections when it was in charge of the country," the source told Reuters, referring to 16 months of army rule after Mubarak fell.

"Now the president is in charge. In order for the armed forces to be involved in securing the referendum, a law had to be issued saying so," the source added.

Presidential spokesman Yasser Ali said the committee overseeing the vote had requested the army's assistance.

Despite President Morsi rescinding much of the decree he issued last month giving him near absolute authority, Egypt's opposition want the Islamist leader to cancel a referendum on a disputed draft of a new constitution. TODAY's Natalie Morales reports.

"The armed forces will work within a legal framework to secure the referendum and will return (to barracks) as soon as the referendum is over," Ali said.

Egypt's journalists struggle under Mubarak-era laws

On Saturday, the military urged rival political forces to solve their disputes via dialogue and said the opposite would drag the country into a "dark tunnel," which it would not allow.

A statement issued by the military spokesman and read on state radio and television made no mention of President Mohammed Morsi, but said a solution to the political crisis should not contradict "legitimacy and the rules of democracy."

'Men don't have to worry about being caught': Sex mobs target Egypt's women

A military source close to top officers told Reuters that the statement "does not indicate any future intervention in politics."

A military council took over after a popular revolt ended Mubarak's 30 years of army-backed rule last year. It then handed power to Morsi, who became Egypt's first freely elected leader in June. The military has not intervened in the latest crisis.

Must-Read Op-Eds: The Washington Post's David Ignatius joins Morning Joe to discuss the highly controversial Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi who angered many Egyptians for giving himself unlimited powers as president.

'Dark tunnel'
The army statement said the military's duty was to protect national interests and secure vital state institutions.

ANALYSIS: Egyptians warn Morsi is no friend of US

"The armed forces affirm that dialogue is the best and only way to reach consensus," it added. "The opposite of that will bring us to a dark tunnel that will result in catastrophe and that is something we will not allow."

Hassan Abu Taleb of the Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies said Saturday's army statement suggested the military wanted both sides to talk out their differences, but discounted the chance of direct military intervention.

"They realize that interfering again in a situation of civil combat will squeeze them between two rocks," he said.

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Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/10/15818675-egypt-army-gets-temporary-power-to-arrest-civilians-ahead-of-referendum?lite

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Monday, December 10, 2012

Benson Henderson holds onto UFC lightweight belt with controlling win over Nate Diaz

The UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson held onto his belt with a dominating performance over Nate Diaz at the Key Arena in Seattle on Saturday night. Henderson took the five-round bout 50-43, 50-45, 50-45. Henderson landed 133 significant strikes throughout the bout.

Henderson set the tone early when he got a takedown and stood over Diaz before landing shots. Throughout the round, Henderson peppered Diaz with leg kicks. It caused damage early and throughout the bout.

Diaz showed signs of life in the third round with leg lock and heel hook submission attempts. Both ?times Henderson was able to get out. Late in the round, he dropped Diaz, who continued to try for leg submissions.

At the end of the fourth round, Henderson jumped around and showed how fresh he was while Diaz had to get his eyes checked by the fight doctor. Henderson had a big takedown in the fifth, and continued to control Diaz throughout the round.

When the fight was over, Henderson reportedly walked over towards the media on press row and shouted to them:

"I don't talk, it's in here. Do you guys get it?"

This was Henderson's second title defense. He is undefeated since joining the UFC and has a record of 17-2. His last two bouts were razor-close decisions, but with this fight, Henderson has a signature performance to show he is deserving of the UFC's shiny, gold belt.

Going into this fight, Diaz had three wins at lightweight. Two were by submission, but his submission skills didn't work on Henderson. Diaz falls to an overall record of 16-8.

Fantasy advice from Yahoo! Fantasy Minute:

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/benson-henderson-holds-onto-ufc-lightweight-belt-controlling-034450168--mma.html

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Report: Atheists face discrimination, persecution

By NBC News staff and wire reports

GENEVA -- Atheists and other religious skeptics suffer persecution or discrimination in many parts of the world and in at least seven countries can be executed if their beliefs become known, according to a report issued Monday.

The study, from the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), showed that "unbelievers" in Islamic countries face the most severe -- sometimes brutal -- treatment at the hands of the state and adherents of the official religion.

But it also points to policies in some European countries and the United States that favor the religious and their organizations and treat atheists and humanists as outsiders.

The report, "Freedom of Thought 2012," said "there are laws that deny atheists' right to exist, curtail their freedom of belief and expression, revoke their right to citizenship, restrict their right to marry."

Other laws "obstruct their access to public education, prohibit them from holding public office, prevent them from working for the state, criminalize their criticism of religion, and execute them for leaving the religion of their parents."

In the United States, for example, where freedom of religion and speech is protected, a social and political climate prevails "in which atheists and the non-religious are made to feel like lesser Americans, or non-Americans,"?the report said.

In at least seven U.S. states, constitutional provisions are in place that bar atheists from public office and one state, Arkansas, has a law that bars atheists from testifying as witnesses at trials, the report said.

Atheist billboard hits snag in Hasidic neighborhood

"It is often not the case that when people hear of freedom of religion they interpret that in terms of the non-religious too," Bob Churchill, a spokesperson for IHEU, told NBC News. "This report shows clearly how people who mildly criticize religion may go on to suffer months or years in jail, even awaiting a death sentence."

The report was welcomed by Heiner Bielefeldt, U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, who said in a brief introduction there was little awareness that atheists were covered by global human rights agreements.

The IHEU -- which links more than 120 humanist, atheist and secular organizations in more than 40 countries -- said it was issuing the report to mark the U.N.'s Human Rights Day on Monday.

According to its survey of some 60 countries, the seven where expression of atheist views or defection from the official religion can bring capital punishment are Afghanistan, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.

Forced to lie
The 70-page report lists no recent cases of actual execution for "atheism" -- but researchers say the offence is often subsumed into other charges.

Atheists bill big names for 'coming out' party in the capital

In a range of other countries -- such as Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait and Jordan -- publication of atheist or humanist views on religion are totally banned or strictly limited under laws prohibiting "blasphemy."

In many of these countries, and others like Malaysia, citizens have to register as adherents of a small number officially-recognized religions -- which normally include no more than Christianity and Judaism as well as Islam.

Atheists and humanists are thereby forced to lie to obtain their official documents without which it is impossible to go to university, receive medical treatment, travel abroad or drive.

In Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin and North America, countries which identify themselves as secular give privileges to or favor Christian churches in providing education and other public services, the IHEU said.

In Greece and Russia, the Orthodox Church is fiercely protected from criticism and is given pride of place on state occasions, while in Britain bishops of the Church of England have automatic seats in the upper house of parliament.

NBC News' Rachel Elbaum and Reuters contributed to this report.

More world stories from NBC News:

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Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/10/15814394-like-lesser-americans-atheists-face-discrimination-persecution-report-says?lite

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GM Launches Chevy Sail In India

GM India launched the Chevrolet Sail U-Va (hatchback) in November, replacing the outdated Aveo range in the process. The subcompact hatch is built on GM?s new global small passenger car platform designed specifically for fast-growing emerging markets, and has a starting price of 444,000 Indian Ruppes (roughly $8,100 using current conversion rates).

Engine Choices

The car is offered in India with a choice of two engines ? a 1.3 liter diesel and a 1.2 liter petrol unit.

The 1.3 liter Smartech common rail diesel engine was developed by the GM Diesel Engine Tech Center in Turin, Italy with support from engineers in Pune and Bangalore. The diesel-burning four-banger makes 78 PS (76 horsepower) @ 4,000 RPM and 205 Nm (151 lb.-ft.) of torque, while achieving 22.1 km/l (50 MPG) @ 1,750 RPM.

Meanwhile, the 1.2 liter Smartech gasoline burner was developed entirely in India and makes 86 PS (84 horsepower) @ 6,000 RPM and 113 Nm (83 lb.-ft.) of torque @ 5,000 RPM.

Both engines are built at GM?s flexible engine plant in Pune, India. Interestingly, the car?s fuel tank is placed in the middle of the car to maximize interior space and provide ample legroom (we wonder why GM didn?t think to do the same in the 2013 Malbu).

Centrally-placed gas tank

Exterior Colors

The Sail is offered in seven colors, including:

Super Red
Switchblade Silver
Summit White
Caviar Black
Linen Beige
Sandrift Grey
Misty Lake

Sometimes we wonder why GM doesn?t rename its Silver Ice Metallic color (available in North America) to Switchblade Silver? because that just sounds so cool.

Infotainment

The Sail offers the ?Fun-Wide? audio system that features Bluetooth functionality and supports up to five phone pairings. Audio streaming is part of the package, as are 4 speakers (2 in the front and 2 in the rear).

Testing & Validation

GM says that its engineers at the Technical Center in Bangalore, India ?spent nearly two years adapting the platform for India to ensure that it would meet the requirements of the Indian market and Indian car buyers.? We can?t imagine it took that long to tweak an already-existing vehicle (the Sail has been sold in China for the last few years); as such, we have a hunch that the time was spent testing and sourcing local parts, as Indian law requires a high percentage of local content to meet local requirements.

To that end, The General says that 1,567 parts and components were subjected to the same stringent global testing procedures that apply to GM?s other offerings.

The Sail hatch is expected to be joined by its sedan counterpart as well as the Sail MPV ? which is really a rebadged GM-Wuling Hong Guang microvan. We?ll be here to report on when that takes place.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gmauthority/~3/pBTYBfisMIM/

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Instagram officially kills photo integration within Twitter, leaves no trace behind

If you've taken to Twitter today, it's likely that you noticed all your Instagram photos that were stored as gallery Cards are gone. Unfortunately, this isn't a temporary glitch: as of today, the photo-sharing service has officially killed all photo integration on Twitter. So, although links to your photos will function like normal, there is no way to preview them within Twitter anymore. If you'll recall, it was merely a few days ago that Instagram pulled Card support from Twitter, which made any filtered snapshots display in wonky fashions within the micro-blogging network. While today's move by Instagram isn't totally shocking -- it would rather you view pictures on its new browser-accesible profiles, after all -- it's a shame that the contents of many Twitter galleries have vanished in a flash.

Comments

Via: Gizmodo, Instagram

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/09/instagram-kills-twitter-photo-integration/

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The Comics Reporter Video Parade

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UN conference adopts extension of Kyoto accord

Local and international activists demonstrate inside a conferences center to demand urgent action to address climate change at the U.N. climate talks in Doha, Qatar, ,Saturday, Dec.8, 2012. After all-night wrangling, the latest draft agreements Saturday lacked the strong commitments on climate action and financing by rich countries that poor countries had hoped for. But they did include a text on "loss and damage," a relatively new concept which relates to damages from climate-related disasters. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal)

Norwegian Environmental Minister B?rd Vegar, second right, speaks to local and international activists during their protest inside a conference center to demand urgent action to address climate change at the U.N. climate talks in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012. After all-night wrangling, the latest drafts Saturday lacked the strong commitments on climate action and financing by rich countries that poor countries had hoped for. But they did include a text on "loss and damage," a relatively new concept which relates to damages from climate-related disasters. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal)

Local and international activists march inside a conference center under a giant statue of a spider to demand urgent action to address climate change at the U.N. climate talks in Doha, Qatar, Friday, Dec. 7, 2012. A dispute over money clouded U.N. climate talks Friday, as rich and poor countries sparred over funds meant to help the developing world cover the rising costs of mitigating global warming and adapting to it. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal)

Local and international activists protest inside a conference center to demand urgent action to address climate change at the U.N. climate talks in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012. After all-night wrangling, the latest draft agreements Saturday lacked the strong commitments on climate action and financing by rich countries that poor countries had hoped for. But they did include a text on "loss and damage," a relatively new concept which relates to damages from climate-related disasters. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal)

Local and international activists protest inside a conference center to demand urgent action to address climate change at the U.N. climate talks in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012. After all-night wrangling, the latest drafts Saturday lacked the strong commitments on climate action and financing by rich countries that poor countries had hoped for. But they did include a text on "loss and damage," a relatively new concept which relates to damages from climate-related disasters. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal)

DOHA, Qatar (AP) ? Seeking to control global warming, nearly 200 countries agreed Saturday to extend the Kyoto Protocol, a treaty that limits the greenhouse gas output of some rich countries, but will only cover about 15 percent of global emissions.

The extension was adopted by a U.N. climate conference after hard-fought sessions and despite objections from Russia. The package of decisions also included vague promises of financing to help poor countries cope with climate change, and an affirmation of a previous decision to adopt a new global climate pact by 2015.

Though expectations were low for the two-week conference in Doha, many developing countries rejected the deal as insufficient to put the world on track to fight the rising temperatures that are shifting weather patterns, melting glaciers and raising sea levels. Some Pacific island nations see this as a threat to their existence.

"This is not where we wanted to be at the end of the meeting, I assure you," said Nauru Foreign Minister Kieren Keke, who leads an alliance of small island states. "It certainly isn't where we need to be in order to prevent islands from going under and other unimaginable impacts."

The two-decade-old U.N. climate talks have so-far failed in their goal of reducing the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions that a vast majority of scientists says are warming the planet.

The 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which controls the emissions of rich countries, is considered the main achievement of the negotiations, even though the U.S. rejected it because it didn't impose any binding commitments on China and other emerging economies.

Kyoto was due to expire this year, so failing to agree on an extension would have been a major setback for the talks. Despite objections from Russia, which opposed rules limiting its use of carbon credits, the accord was extended through 2020 to fill the gap until a wider global treaty is expected to take effect.

However, the second phase only covers about 15 percent of global emissions after Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Russia opted out.

The decisions in Doha mean that in future years, the talks can focus on the new treaty, which is supposed to apply to both rich and poor countries. It is expected to be adopted in 2015 and take effect five years later, but the details haven't been worked out yet.

U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern highlighted one of the main challenges going forward when he said the U.S. couldn't accept a provision in the Doha deal that said the talks should be "guided" by principles laid down in the U.N.'s framework convention for climate change.

That could be interpreted as a reference to the firewall between rich and poor countries that has guided the talks so far, but which the U.S. and other developed countries say must be removed going forward.

"We are now on our way to the new regime," European Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said. It definitely wasn't an easy ride, but we managed to cross the bridge."

"Hopefully from here we can increase our speed," she added. "The world needs it more than ever."

The goal of the U.N. talks is to keep temperatures from rising more than 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 Celsius), compared to preindustrial times. Temperatures have already risen about 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 Celsius) above that level, according to the latest report by the U.N.'s top climate body.

A recent projection by the World Bank showed temperatures are on track to rise by up to 7.2 Fahrenheit (4 Celsius) by the year 2100.

"For all of the nations wrestling with the new reality of climate change - which includes the United States - this meeting failed to deliver the goods," said Alden Meyer, of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

"At the end of the day, ministers were left with two unpalatable choices: accept an abysmally weak deal, or see the talks collapse in acrimony and despair ? with no clear path forward," Meyer said.

Poor countries came into the talks in Doha demanding a timetable on how rich countries would scale up climate change aid for them to $100 billion annually by 2020 ? a general pledge that was made three years ago.

But rich nations, including the United States, members of the European Union and Japan are still grappling with the effects of a financial crisis and were not interested in detailed talks on aid in Doha.

The agreement on financing made no reference to any mid-term financing targets, just a general pledge to "identify pathways for mobilizing the scaling up of climate finance."

Tim Gore, climate policy adviser at British aid group Oxfam said the Doha deal imperiled the lives and livelihoods of the world's poorest communities, who are the most vulnerable to shifts in climate.

"It's nothing short of betrayal of the responsibilities of developed countries," he said. "We are now in the red zone in fighting climate change."

Small island nations scored a victory by getting the conference to adopt a text on "loss and damage," a relatively new concept which relates to damages from climate-related disasters.

Island nations under threat from rising sea levels have been pushing for some mechanism to help them cope with such natural catastrophes, but the United States has pushed back over concerns it might be held liable for the cleanup bill since it is the world's second-biggest emitter behind China.

___

Karl Ritter can be reached at www.twitter.com/karl_ritter and Michael Casey Casey at www.twitter.com/mcasey1

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-12-08-Climate%20Talks/id-21ac7123de6142028e3d1d8260e5ea6e

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California couples on stand-by as Supreme Court considers gay ...

By Claudia Boyd-Barrett, December 9, 2012

After four years on stand-by, thousands of gay couples hoping to marry legally in California learned Friday they could be in for another six-month wait.

That didn't stop a flurry of excitement among gay rights activists over news the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of the state's same-sex marriage ban.

The final decision, expected by June, could have far-reaching implications for the future of gay marriage, not only in California, but also throughout the United States.

"It's incredible the progress that has been made," said San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, a plaintiff in the case. "The Supreme Court has signaled its readiness to consider the civil rights issue of our time."
At the heart of the case is California's Proposition 8, a ballot measure passed by voters in 2008 that restricted marriage to relationships between a man and a woman. That effectively banned gay marriage in the state, which California?s Supreme Court had legalized a few months earlier.

Since then, two federal courts have ruled California's ban unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether to uphold that opinion. If it does, experts say it could open the way to dissolving gay marriage bans across the country.

The justices said today they will also consider challenges to the 1996 U.S. Defense of Marriage Act, which blocks married same-sex couples from receiving federal tax breaks and other benefits bestowed on heterosexual spouses.

"Today's news is nothing short of a milestone moment, quite frankly, for equality,? proclaimed Chad Griffin, co-founder of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, the organization sponsoring the case against Proposition 8.

Mr. Griffin pointed to growing support for gay marriage across the country, evidenced in opinion polls and the recent approval of same-sex marriage by voters in Maryland, Maine and Washington State. He also noted President Obama's declared support. Currently, nine states and the District of Columbia recognize same-sex marriage.

Foes of gay marriage in California vowed to continue their opposition. Protect Marriage, the official proponent of Proposition 8, issued a statement on its website saying the organization sees the Supreme Court?s decision as an opportunity to have the opinion of California voters heard.

?More than seven million Californians of all races, creeds, and walks of life voted for Proposition 8 to preserve the traditional definition of marriage,? the statement said. ?They believe that the unique relationship between one man and one woman continues to meaningfully serve as the cornerstone of society.?

The organization?s spokesman cold not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, some gay marriage advocates in California expressed frustration at the Supreme Court's decision.
If the court had dismissed the Proposition 8 case, the ruling to strike it down would have stood, allowing gay marriage to resume immediately.

"Emotionally, I have to say my heart hit my feet when I read the decision," said Lisa Phillian, a same-sex wedding officiant and owner of Rainbow Weddings in Rosemead, southern California. "I have so many clients that have been waiting to have a legal marriage.?

The approximately 40 gay couples she marries a year are recognized in the state as domestic partners. But they long for the rights and protections a full legal marriage would bring, such as transferable Social Security benefits or a military pension, she said. Some have spouses serving in the U.S. Army and fear what would happen to them if their partner were killed, Ms. Phillian said.

Still, she said the Supreme Court's decision to examine Proposition 8 could ultimately be worthwhile.

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Source: http://www.progressive.org/california-couples-on-stand-by-as-supreme-court-considers-gay-marriage

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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Michigan lawmakers approve right-to-work bills

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Fish have enormous nutrient impacts on marine ecosystems, study finds

Video: How Will the Fed Replace Operation Twist?

Daycare double duty

Parents' knowledge of children's daycare experience incomplete, Concordia study finds

Parents' knowledge of children's daycare experience incomplete, Concordia study finds

Better Vision Tied to Health Plans That Cover Eye Exams - Health.com

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Benson Henderson holds onto UFC lightweight belt with controlling win over Nate Diaz

Report: Atheists face discrimination, persecution

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GM Launches Chevy Sail In India

Engine Choices

Exterior Colors

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Testing & Validation

Instagram officially kills photo integration within Twitter, leaves no trace behind

The Comics Reporter Video Parade

UN conference adopts extension of Kyoto accord

California couples on stand-by as Supreme Court considers gay ...

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