Syria forces retake Damascus suburbs; showdown at U.N. (Reuters)

AMMAN/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) ? Syrian government forces reasserted control of Damascus suburbs on Tuesday after beating back rebels at the capital's gates as diplomatic pressure mounted on President Bashar al-Assad at the United Nations.

Western and Arab diplomats pushed for a U.N. Security Council resolution which would call for Assad to step down to defuse a 10-month-old uprising against his family's dynastic rule.

They will make the case for a resolution adopting a plan by the Arab League for Assad to quit, with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe and Britain's William Hague presenting a united western front.

The resolution's fate depends on whether the Arabs and their Western backers can persuade Russia not to veto it.

But a senior Russian diplomat said in Moscow the move would only set the stage for civil war, Interfax news agency reported.

"The Western draft Security Council resolution on Syria will not lead to a search for compromise," it quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov as saying. "Pushing it is a path to civil war."

On the battlefront, activists in eastern districts of Damascus said troops fired in the air as they advanced beyond areas from which the defector Free Syrian Army withdrew, capping three days of fighting activists said killed at least 100 people. Tanks also swarmed into the area.

"The suburbs are under an unannounced curfew. A small grocery shop opened this morning and soldiers came and beat the owner and forced him to shut down," said an activist in the Ain Tarma neighborhood on Tuesday.

Others said residents of some eastern districts were allowed to flee their neighborhoods in vehicles by advancing troops, but that security forces in the district of Irbin rounded up young men at gunpoint and detained them.

Events on the ground are difficult to confirm as the Syrian government restricts most access by journalists.

Activist groups said 25 people were killed on Monday in Damascus suburbs and dozens more died in other parts of the country, mostly in raids in and around the central city of Homs, which has seen some of the heaviest attacks by Assad's forces.

Government troops were on the move as Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby and the prime minister of Qatar readied the appeal to the Security Council to back their call for Assad to quit power and prepare for elections.

NEW PHASE

The uprising against Assad - one of the most violent revolts of the "Arab Spring" - has entered a new phase in recent weeks, with an insurgency whose leadership is based in Turkey daring to show its face at the outskirts of the capital.

A last-ditch bid by Moscow to broker talks between Assad's government and rebels foundered when the opposition refused to attend, citing the continued killing, torture and imprisonment of the president's opponents.

Washington said countries needed to accept that Assad's rule was doomed and stop shielding him in the Security Council.

"It is important to calculate into your considerations the fact that he will go," White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Monday.

Syria dismissed the U.S. remarks.

"We are not surprised at the lack of wisdom or rationality of these statements and regret that they are still issued by countries that are used to making the Middle East an arena for their follies and failures," the state news agency quoted a foreign ministry source as saying.

A draft of the U.N. Security Council resolution, obtained by Reuters, calls for a "political transition" in Syria, and says the Security Council could adopt unspecified further measures if Syria does not comply with its terms.

It endorses the Arab League power transfer plan. So far Moscow has shown little sign of being persuaded to let it pass.

Nevertheless, some Western diplomats said they hoped Russia and China could be persuaded not to block the draft.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for consensus among the Council to stop the bloodshed, saying: "Every day tens of people are killed ... It is crucially important for the Security Council to act on this."

REBELS SHOW FACE IN CAPITAL

Assad's forces appear to have decisively beaten back an attempt by the opposition to assert themselves near Damascus.

An activist said armed defectors mounted scattered attacks on government troops who advanced through the district of Saqba, held by rebels just days earlier.

Their forays near the capital follow a negotiated victory in Zabadani - a town of 40,000 in mountains near the border with Lebanon - after government forces pulled back under a ceasefire.

Some rebel commanders have spoken of creating "liberated" territories to force diplomatic action.

Bloodshed and unrest are not confined to the capital.

Homs residents said fighting erupted on Monday in the al-Qusour neighborhood, and several armored vehicles belonging to loyalist forces where destroyed.

Demonstrations have rippled through the northern commercial hub of Aleppo since pro-Assad militiamen killed 10 people after a demonstration on Friday. Activists said security forces cut electricity to one district and arrested 100 youths after an anti-Assad protest.

The United Nations said in December more than 5,000 people had been killed in the protests and crackdown. Syria says more than 2,000 security force members have been killed by militants.

(Additional reporting by Suleiman al-Khalidi and Steve Gutterman; Writing by Joseph Logan; Editing by Giles Elgood)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/un/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120131/wl_nm/us_syria

steelers vs broncos rupaul meet the press barry sanders barry sanders jay z chris herren

NFL Communications - NFL Introduces Communications System For ...

\ '); $('#wpl-mustlogin').hide().slideDown('fast'); } ); $('#wpl-mustlogin input.input').live( 'focus', function() { $(this).prev().hide(); }).live( 'blur', function() { if ( $(this).val() == '' ) $(this).prev().show(); }); $('#wpl-mustlogin input#wp-submit').live( 'click', function(e) { e.preventDefault(); $.post( 'http://nflcommunications.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', { 'action': 'wpl_record_stat', 'stat_name': 'loggedout_login_submit' }, function() { $('#wpl-mustlogin form').submit(); } ); }); $('#wpl-mustlogin a#wpl-signup-link').live( 'click', function(e) { e.preventDefault(); var link = $(this).attr('href'); $.post( 'http://nflcommunications.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', { 'action': 'wpl_record_stat', 'stat_name': 'loggedout_signup_click' }, function() { location.href = link; } ); }); }); /* ]]> */

Source: http://nflcommunications.com/2012/01/30/nfl-introduces-communications-system-for-super-bowl-xlvi-ticket-holders/

jessica biel tim howard west virginia rob roy gaslight justin timberlake michael dyer

Iran official says oil will reach $150 per barrel

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran's official news agency reports that the head of the state oil company is claiming that the price of crude will go up to $150 per barrel.

Head of the National Iranian Oil Company Ahmad Qalehban did not give a time frame for the prediction, nor any other details in the Sunday report by IRNA.

The price of benchmark U.S. crude on Friday was around $99.56 per barrel.

Qalehban's statement comes as Iranian officials prepare to debate a ban on crude sales to European Union countries, in response to a planned EU embargo on Iran's oil by summer because of that country's nuclear program.

The United States and its allies argue that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons technology, while Tehran says the program is for purely peaceful purposes.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-01-29-ML-Iran-Oil/id-70d28ab461ac4f26a9837dc0f748ecf4

cyber monday best deals cyber monday best deals brownback brownback salvia cybermonday deals cybermonday deals

Grief-stricken soap actor commits suicide

Brooklyn-born actor Nick Santino committed suicide Wednesday, The New York Post reports.

1. More Entertainment stories
   1. 'Scary Potter' movie comes to theaters

      Best bets: Daniel Radcliffe is onscreen with "Woman in Black," while Madonna is behind the camera with "W.E." And on the s...

   2. Anyone? Ferris Bueller returning ... to TV
   3. Demi Moore 911 call: 'She smoked something'
   4. Fran Drescher: Aliens implanted me with chip
   5. Readers bid farewell to 'Kotter's' Juan Epstein

The soap opera star was wracked with grief after his beloved pit bull Rocco was euthanized Tuesday ? the same day Santino turned 47.

PHOTOS: Us Weekly's photo tribute to stars we've lost

"Today I betrayed my best friend and put down my best friend," Santino wrote in a suicide note, according to close friend Stuart Sarnoff. "Rocco trusted me and I failed him. He didn't deserve this."

The actor, who appeared on seven episodes of "All My Children" and six episodes of "Guiding Light," had been feeling "harassed" by his building management company, according to his neighbor Lia Pettigrew.

PHOTOS: Stars' soap opera beginnings

He was allegedly threatened with a $250 fine for having a barking dog, but according to neighbor Kevan Cleary, "the dog was not a barker, but somebody complained that the dog would bark."

Santino phoned a former girlfriend at 2 a.m. Wednesday. Police found Santino's body in his bedroom later that afternoon. The actor had overdosed on pills.

PHOTOS: Stars gone too soon

The actor's pet Rocco has been cremated; friends tell The New York Post Santino's remains will also be cremated.

Copyright 2012 Us Weekly

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/46176268/ns/today-entertainment/

big ten championship game ultimate fighter 14 ultimate fighter 14 2011 bowl projections ndamukong suh ndamukong suh aptera

Thousands take polar bear plunge in Chesapeake Bay

Plungers run into the Chesapeake Bay during the 16th annual Polar Bear Plunge to raise funds for the Special Olympics Maryland Sat. Jan 28, 2012 in Annapolis, Md.(AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Plungers run into the Chesapeake Bay during the 16th annual Polar Bear Plunge to raise funds for the Special Olympics Maryland Sat. Jan 28, 2012 in Annapolis, Md.(AP Photo/Gail Burton)

David Zihmer runs out of the Chesapeake Bay during the 16th annual Polar Bear Plunge to raise funds for the Special Olympics Maryland Sat. Jan 28, 2012 in Annapolis, Md.(AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Laura Hanna runs out of the Chesapeake Bay during the 16th annual Polar Bear Plunge to raise funds for the Special Olympics Maryland Sat. Jan 28, 2012 in Annapolis, Md.(AP Photo/Gail Burton)

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) ? Thousands of people clad in bathing trunks, bikinis and even some woolly winter hats have taken the Polar Bear Plunge into the Chesapeake Bay for charity.

The surging mass of bathers whooped and hollered as they dashed into the chill winter waters, monitored by safety divers in wetsuits just offshore at Sandy Point State Park in Maryland.

Some participants spent mere seconds in the water, leaving behind sandals and floppy beach hats in the rush to get out just as fast as they got in. Some wore costumes, one like "Star Wars" character Darth Vader.

Saturday's was the 16th annual Polar Bear Plunge at the park, benefiting Special Olympics Maryland. Last year's plunge raised nearly $3 million, but there was no immediate word on the amount raised this year.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-29-Polar%20Bear%20Plunge/id-7a9ef9aacf234e319c9b219118449336

eli manning steven tyler ny giants chip kelly billy cundiff new york giants super bowl tickets

Evelyne Politanoff: California Dreaming... (Huffington post)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/192361076?client_source=feed&format=rss

game 7 anya ayoung chee peru earthquake peru earthquake big 12 last minute halloween costumes rum diary

Making memories last: Prion-like protein plays key role in storing long-term memories

ScienceDaily (Jan. 27, 2012) ? Memories in our brains are maintained by connections between neurons called "synapses." But how do these synapses stay strong and keep memories alive for decades? Neuroscientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have discovered a major clue from a study in fruit flies: Hardy, self-copying clusters or oligomers of a synapse protein are an essential ingredient for the formation of long-term memory.

The finding supports a surprising new theory about memory, and may have a profound impact on explaining other oligomer-linked functions and diseases in the brain, including Alzheimer's disease and prion diseases.

"Self-sustaining populations of oligomers located at synapses may be the key to the long-term synaptic changes that underlie memory; in fact, our finding hints that oligomers play a wider role in the brain than has been thought," says Kausik Si, Ph.D., an associate investigator at the Stowers Institute, and senior author of the new study, which is published in the January 27, 2012 online issue of the journal Cell.

Si's investigations in this area began nearly a decade ago during his doctoral research in the Columbia University laboratory of Nobel-winning neuroscientist Eric Kandel. He found that in the sea slug Aplysia californica, which has long been favored by neuroscientists for memory experiments because of its large, easily-studied neurons, a synapse-maintenance protein known as CPEB (Cytoplasmic Polyadenylation Element Binding protein) has an unexpected property.

A portion of the structure is self-complementary and -- much like empty egg cartons -- can easily stack up with other copies of itself. CPEB thus exists in neurons partly in the form of oligomers, which increase in number when neuronal synapses strengthen. These oligomers have a hardy resistance to ordinary solvents, and within neurons may be much more stable than single-copy "monomers" of CPEB. They also seem to actively sustain their population by serving as templates for the formation of new oligomers from free monomers in the vicinity.

CPEB-like proteins exist in all animals, and in brain cells they play a key role in maintaining the production of other synapse-strengthening proteins. Studies by Si and others in the past few years have hinted that CPEB's tendency to oligomerize is not merely incidental, but is indeed essential to its ability to stabilize longer-term memory. "What we've lacked till now are experiments showing this conclusively," Si says.

In the new study, Si and his colleagues examined a Drosophila fruit fly CPEB protein known as Orb2. Like its counterpart in Aplysia, it forms oligomers within neurons. "We found that these Orb2 oligomers become more numerous in neurons whose synapses are stimulated, and that this increase in oligomers happens near synapses," says lead author Amitabha Majumdar, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in Si's lab.

The key was to show that the disruption of Orb2 oligomerization on its own impairs Orb2's function in stabilizing memory. Majumdar was able to do this by generating an Orb2 mutant that lacks the normal ability to oligomerize yet maintains a near-normal concentration in neurons. Fruit flies carrying this mutant form of Orb2 lost their ability to form long-term memories. "For the first 24 hours after a memory-forming stimulus, the memory was there, but by 48 hours it was gone, whereas in flies with normal Orb2 the memory persisted," Majumdar says.

Si and his team are now following up with experiments to determine for how long Orb2 oligomers are needed to keep a memory alive. "We suspect that they need to be continuously present, because they are self-sustaining in a way that Orb2 monomers are not," says Si.

The team's research also suggests some intriguing possibilities for other areas of neuroscience. This study revealed that Orb2 proteins in the Drosophila nervous system come in a rare, highly oligomerization-prone form (Orb2A) and a much more common, much less oligomerization-prone form (Orb2B). "The rare form seems to be the one that is regulated, and it seems to act like a seed for the initial oligomerization, which pulls in copies of the more abundant form," Si says. "This may turn out to be a basic pattern for functional oligomers."

The findings may help scientists understand disease-causing oligomers too. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease, as well as prion diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, all involve the spread in the brain of apparently toxic oligomers of various proteins. One such protein, strongly implicated in Alzheimer's disease, is amyloid beta; like Orb2 it comes in two forms, the highly oligomerizing amyloid-beta-42 and the relatively inert amyloid-beta-40. Si's work hints at the possibility that oligomer-linked diseases are relatively common in the brain because the brain evolved to be relatively hospitable to CPEB proteins and other functional oligomers, and thus has fewer mechanisms for keeping rogue oligomers under control.

Other researchers who contributed to the work include Wanda Col?n Cesario, Erica White-Grindely, Huoqin Jian, Fangzhen Ren, Mohammed 'Repon' Khan, Liying Li, Edward Man-Lik Choi, Kasthuri Kannan, Feng Li, Jay Unruh and Brian Slaughter at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, Missouri.

The research was supported by the Searle Foundation, the March of Dimes Basil O'Connor Starter Award, the Klingenstein Foundation and the McKnight Foundation.

Recommend this story on Facebook, Twitter,
and Google +1:

Other bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Stowers Institute for Medical Research, via Newswise.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Amitabha Majumdar, Wanda Col?n Cesario, Erica White-Grindley, Huoqing Jiang, Fengzhen Ren, Mohammed ?Repon? Khan, Liying Li, Edward Man-Lik Choi, Kasthuri Kannan, Fengli Guo et al. Critical Role of Amyloid-like Oligomers of Drosophila Orb2 in the Persistence of Memory. Cell, 26 January 2012 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2012.01.004

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120127162409.htm

advanced search alexander the great personhood amendment haynesworth haynesworth ohio issue 2 ohio issue 2

Health Tip: Manage Pain During Childbirth (HealthDay)

(HealthDay News) -- Pain is a virtual certainty during childbirth, but there are ways to ease the discomfort without medication.

The womenshealth.gov website mentions these no-medication possibilities:

• Practicing relaxation and breathing techniques.
• Relaxing in a warm shower or bath, or getting a gentle massage.
• Receiving hot and cold therapy, including placing a cool washcloth on the forehead or a heating pad on the lower back.
• Seeking the care and support of a doula, nurse or loved one.
• Trying various positions to get more comfortable, from crouching to walking.
• Listening to soothing music.
• Using a labor ball.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/parenting/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20120128/hl_hsn/healthtipmanagepainduringchildbirth

9 11 pictures janet jackson brooklyn decker palladium king arthur king arthur september 11 2001

I?m Glad We Can Stop Pretending Otherwise (Balloon Juice)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/192366640?client_source=feed&format=rss

auburn football auburn football costumes seth macfarlane bobby flay clemson football the new girl

NC Democratic Gov. Perdue won't seek re-election (AP)

RALEIGH, N.C. ? Democratic North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue, the first woman elected governor in the state, said Thursday she would not seek re-election this year because she believes a bid would make it more difficult to fund education.

Perdue has faced poor poll numbers, continued budget troubles and a campaign investigation while Republicans took over the Legislature last year.

She announced last week she would offer a budget this spring that would seek a sales tax increase for education. Republicans let a temporary sales tax increase expire last summer, and at least one legislative leader called her proposal dead on arrival.

"We live in highly partisan times, where some people seem more worried about scoring political points than working together to address the real challenges our state faces," Perdue said in an email to supporters. A re-election bid, she added, "will only further politicize the fight to adequately fund our schools."

Perdue faced a tough rematch against former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, a Republican she narrowly defeated in 2008 in the state's closest gubernatorial contest since 1972. Perdue's win was partly attributed to Barack Obama's surprise victory in North Carolina ? the first in 36 years for a Democratic nominee for president.

News of Perdue's decision came as North Carolina Democratic Rep. Brad Miller said he also would not seek re-election, avoiding a potential primary contest against fellow Democrat David Price after the Republican-controlled Legislature drew them into the same district.

North Carolina is considered an important state for Obama's re-election prospects and Democrats decided to hold the party convention in Charlotte in September.

Perdue, 65, has struggled with a state economy hit hard by the recession and an unemployment rate persistently above the national average. Polling conducted throughout her term has consistently shown her approval ratings hovering around 40 percent.

She's had to deal with state budget problems that led her and fellow Democrats to raise the sales tax by a penny in 2009 and make deep cuts to education and health care. The first-term governor more recently clashed with the new Republican leadership in the General Assembly, which swept into power after the 2010 elections and gave GOP control of the Legislature for the first time since the 1870s.

Perdue has traded jabs with Republican leaders on issues ranging from jobless benefits to a measure allowing death row inmates to use statistical evidence of racial bias to challenge their convictions. In a sign of the tension, she vetoed a record 16 bills last year.

She faced scrutiny about her 2008 campaign and more than three dozen flights that she didn't initially report on campaign filings required by state election officials. A local prosecutor has said the governor wasn't the focus of his investigation, but four people have been indicted related to the flight investigation, including her former campaign finance director.

Perdue had said for months she was running again, and she raised more than $2.6 million in 2011. The amount was only slightly more than what McCrory had raised during last year ? a poor showing in a state where Democratic candidates routinely outspend Republicans in statewide elections. Perdue's term goes through the end of the year.

"To those of you who have supported me throughout my years of public service, I will always be grateful for the confidence you have placed in me," Perdue said. "In my remaining months in office, I look forward to continuing to fight for the priorities we share, by putting North Carolinians back to work and investing in our children's future."

Democratic state Rep. Bill Faison, who has been hinting he wanted to run for governor, said he was not surprised Perdue is stepping aside. For weeks, prominent people in the party worried about Perdue's low poll numbers had been visiting the governor and suggesting she not run, Faison said.

"I don't think anyone will be surprised by what that announcement is," Faison said.

Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, another Democrat, would seem to consider a run. Democratic Attorney General Roy Cooper, who toyed with a gubernatorial bid in 2008 but decided against the idea, announced Thursday he would run for a fourth term as the state's top law enforcement officer.

A native of Virginia, Perdue worked as a teacher and moved in the 1970s to the coastal town of New Bern, where she became director of geriatric services at a hospital before entering politics. She served in the Legislature and as lieutenant governor before being elected governor.

___

Robertson reported from Raleigh. Associated Press writers Michael Biesecker and Tom Breen in Raleigh also contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_on_re_us/us_nc_governor

the falling man the falling man mermaid roger federer drake corset andy murray

'SpongeBob' Cameo Gives Johnny Knoxville 'Street Cred'

'Jackass' star lends his voice to 'very handsome' extreme athlete Johnny Krill on upcoming episode.
By James Montgomery

Johnny Knoxville
Photo: Getty Images

You would think Johnny Knoxville is a pretty big deal around the offices of Dickhouse Productions, but, apparently, you'd be wrong. It seems no one paid much attention to him until late last year, when he let it be known he'd be appearing on an upcoming episode of "SpongeBob SquarePants." Then everything changed.

"It was a real attention-getter. Everyone around the office was immediately psyched. Lots of street cred around the office," the "Jackass" star laughed. "It went over huge. Everyone's big fans of 'SpongeBob' around here. It's a tough office to get a reaction in, but this got it."

In the upcoming episode, Knoxville plays Johnny Krill ("some extreme sports, motorcycle guy," as he put it), the leader of the high-octane Drastic Radicals sports team, which SpongeBob and his pal Patrick are dying to join. And while we suspect he's kidding about the cred thing, Knoxville was dead serious when he said lending his voice to an upcoming episode of the long-running Nickelodeon cartoon was not only a total thrill, but an automatic no-brainer — for reasons other than just office acceptance.

"It took me two seconds to say 'yes,' " Knoxville said. "I know my 16-year-old daughter was very happy, and my other two kids, one's 2 and the other's three months, so one day, hopefully they'll be proud of pop.

"I also need to add that Johnny Krill is very handsome and very well hung, so, you know, it's really suspending belief," he continued. "And that's also probably why it took me two seconds to say 'yes.' "

And the benefits didn't stop there: "They loaded me up with a bunch of schwag! Every toy they ever made — skateboards, wristbands, all kinds of great stuff. They just don't quit with the perks. Then I got to do a photo shoot with SpongeBob. They let me do my own stunts for this episode. It was amazing."

The Knoxville episode of "SpongeBob SquarePants" — called "Extreme Spots" — is set to air this summer on Nickelodeon.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1677904/spongebob-johnny-knoxville-cameo.jhtml

justin timberlake engaged bluefin tuna jonestown hayden panettiere greg oden snooki john dillinger

Review: Software extras ease do-it-yourself taxes (AP)

NEW YORK ? It's never been easier to prepare your own tax return.

The software available for the 2012 tax season has been both expanded and made easier to use. This will make the annual chore quicker and reduce the chance of missing big deductions and important tax credits.

Close to 40 million taxpayers prepared their own returns online last year. That's up 14 percent from 2010 and nearly 24 percent from 2009, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Still, more than 33 million returns were submitted on paper forms in 2011, meaning there's still a large target market for software providers. Whether you're an old hand or trying e-filing for the first time, you'll find an array of software choices:

TurboTax

? Basic level starts at $19.95.

? Online and desktop versions available.

? Apps available for iPad, iPhone and Android phone.

? Live help available via phone and online chat.

This market-leading program is user-friendly and easy to navigate. That's a big plus for anyone who may be a little uncomfortable handling financial paperwork. It uses multiple graphics to depict various categories of deductions, such as a small house for mortgage, property taxes and related deductions and a graduation cap for education-related items.

It also asks simple questions that lead you to various points on the return and to additional forms to possibly include, without making it obvious what's happening.

Do-it-yourselfers who used Intuit Inc.'s TurboTax in past years should be able to call up their information from prior years when they log in. TurboTax also can grab prior-year return information from your computer if you used another company's software. The software compares results between years, which is another way to ensure you don't miss any deductions or credits you may qualify for.

TurboTax has added free live advice from tax professionals, through which you can ask questions via online chat or by telephone. It also still has its popular "community" questions and answers link.

Along with the free version, TurboTax has pricing tiers depending on an individual's needs. The basic level is $19.95 for a federal return. Prices rise to the Home and Business version for $74.95. Besides its online offerings, TurboTax software may also be purchased off the shelf at major office supply chains and other stores, starting at $29.99.

The company also is pushing its prepaid card as a way to receive your refund via direct deposit. If you choose to use it, you'll be entered into a contest to double your refund. The card comes with a $5.95 monthly fee unless you keep a balance of at least $50. It offers just one free ATM withdrawal per month and carries several other potential fees.

H&R Block At Home

? Basic level starts at $19.95.

? Online and desktop versions available.

? Apps available for iPad, iPhone and Android phone.

? Live help available via phone.

Still the nation's largest tax preparer, H&R Block Inc. made some gains on TurboTax last year with its online offerings. Its new software is easier to use than in the past, with simple guidelines and questions to help taxpayers navigate their returns.

Block's presentation is more businesslike, with fewer graphics and icons. Like its rival, it has numerous spots where you can choose to go it alone or rely on built-in guidance to ask questions about various deductions and credits.

The company this year also is introducing "Block Live," online prep done by one of its tax professionals using video chat. A simple federal form is free, and a standard 1040 starts at $99. State forms start at an additional $39.

A hybrid version called "Best of Both" allows you to complete your returns on your own time, then submit it to Block for a professional review. That extra level of service costs $79.95.

Returning customers may have their personal information loaded from past returns. The software is capable of extracting information from other software, if it is stored on your computer.

Like TurboTax, Block has a prepaid card for customers who don't have bank accounts and want to receive their refunds via direct deposit. Through Feb. 4, the company will allow its Emerald Card users to deduct the cost of their federal tax prep from their refunds at no charge.

Emerald Cards do not carry a monthly usage fee, but charge $2.50 for each ATM withdrawal and $1 for balance inquiries or denied withdrawals.

TaxAct

? Wide variety of free forms; basic level starts at $9.95.

? Online and desktop versions available.

? Apps available for iPad, iPhone and Android phone.

? Live help available via phone.

The third most popular software also is simple and easy and has the added appeal of showing you images of actual tax forms at certain stages in the process. For taxpayers who are used to preparing returns on paper forms, being able to see a 1040 or a Schedule A may help ease the transition to electronic filing.

Like its rivals, the software can transfer key data from last year's return even if it was prepared on another program.

TaxAct offers help answering questions via email and free phone help for those who buy the product. Free Edition users can email questions for free or purchase unlimited phone assistance for $7.95. Unlike some of the other free offerings, TaxAct offers forms for more complex returns in its free federal edition as well.

Like the others, a prepaid card is available. It can be loaded with the refund, minus the cost of the software. The card comes with a hefty $16.95 startup fee and charges $1.95 per ATM withdrawal.

___

Before you pay for software, you should determine if you qualify to file your federal return for free. Taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $57,000 or less in 2011 may choose software from 15 companies through the IRS Free File program. About 3 million people used Free File last year, but the IRS said 70 percent of taxpayers, or about 100 million, are eligible.

Free File software options include the most popular brands, TurboTax and H&R Block. Most of the participating companies also prepare state returns for free; some charge an additional fee. Details and links to the available software can be found at http://www.freefile.irs.gov.

It's also possible to file simple federal returns for free, mainly 1040EZ forms, using the websites of TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct, Liberty Tax Service's e-Smart Tax and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. All charge a fee for state returns, ranging from $19.95 with Liberty's e-Smart software to $27.95 with TurboTax.

One boon to using at-home software is that users can start and stop the process. This is particularly helpful for those who want to file early but are still waiting for W-2 and 1099 forms. Taxpayers can enter the details as their paperwork arrives, then file when their return is complete.

All of the major software options allow customers to start preparing their returns for free and only charge a fee when the return is filed. That makes it easier to compare different offerings to see which is the most comfortable to use.

___

Online:

Free File program: http://www.freefile.irs.gov

TurboTax: http:// www.turbotax.com

H&R Block: http:// www.hrblock.com

TaxAct: http:// www.taxact.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/software/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120125/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_digital_life_tech_test_taxes_software

safety razor safety razor star wars blu ray star wars blu ray drive patch adams preamble

BeachMint Raises Another Big Round: $35 Million For Celebrity-Backed Shopping Experiences

BeachMint ??an ecommerce startup that lets customers subscribe to receive products hand-picked by celebrities each month ?? has quickly become one of the hottest companies in Los Angeles. Today the company is announcing that it's raised a $35 million funding round with some big-name investors: the round is being led by Accel Partners, with participation from Goldman Sachs, New World Ventures, NYC-based and Millennium Technology Value Partners, with existing investors participating as well. Accel's Greg Waldorf will be joining BeachMint's board. This brings BeachMint's total funding to a whopping $75 million. This is obviously a big raise, and it comes only seven months after the company raised $23.5 million at a rumored $150 million valuation. Why are they raising so much? The short answer: they're growing like crazy and are planning to go international ? and they'll be fending off plenty of competition.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/BX-u2ndnJac/

apple news apple iphone apple iphone chris christie cnet tampa bay rays netanyahu

Workers to pump oil from grounded liner Saturday

An Italian Navy officer talks on a walkie-talkie in the harbor of the Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, where the cruise ship Costa Concordia run aground, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. Italian officials say Monday two more bodies have been pulled from the wreckage of a cruise liner capsized off the Tuscan coast, bringing the number of confirmed dead to 15. The national civil protection agency official in charge of the search said Monday that divers recovered the bodies of two women from the ship's internet cafe. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

An Italian Navy officer talks on a walkie-talkie in the harbor of the Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, where the cruise ship Costa Concordia run aground, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. Italian officials say Monday two more bodies have been pulled from the wreckage of a cruise liner capsized off the Tuscan coast, bringing the number of confirmed dead to 15. The national civil protection agency official in charge of the search said Monday that divers recovered the bodies of two women from the ship's internet cafe. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

The grounded cruise ship Costa Concordia lies on its side off the Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. Salvage experts can begin pumping fuel from a capsized cruise ship as early as Tuesday to avert a possible environmental catastrophe and the ship is stable enough that search efforts for the missing can continue, Italian officials said. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

In this undated photo released by Vigili del Fuoco (Italian firefighters) Monday, Jan. 23, 2012 scuba divers of the firefighters unit inspect the Costa Concordia cruise ship, off the tiny Giglio island, Italy. Italian officials say Monday two more bodies have been pulled from the wreckage of a cruise liner capsized off the Tuscan coast, bringing the number of confirmed dead to 15. The national civil protection agency official in charge of the search said Monday that divers recovered the bodies of two women from the ship's internet cafe. (AP Photo/Vigili del Fuoco)

In this undated photo released by Vigili del Fuoco (Italian firefighters) Monday, Jan. 23, 2012 rocks emerge from the Costa Concordia cruise ship, off the tiny Giglio island, Italy. Italian officials say Monday two more bodies have been pulled from the wreckage of a cruise liner capsized off the Tuscan coast, bringing the number of confirmed dead to 15. The national civil protection agency official in charge of the search said Monday that divers recovered the bodies of two women from the ship's internet cafe. (AP Photo/Vigili del Fuoco)

Italian Guardia di Finanza and Civil Protection officers recover pieces of furniture from the grounded cruise ship Costa Concordia off the Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. Italian officials say Monday two more bodies have been pulled from the wreckage of a cruise liner capsized off the Tuscan coast, bringing the number of confirmed dead to 15. The national civil protection agency official in charge of the search said Monday that divers recovered the bodies of two women from the ship's internet cafe. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

GIGLIO, Italy (AP) ? A barge carrying a crane and other equipment has hitched itself to the toppled Costa Concordia, signaling the start of preliminary operations to remove a half-million gallons (1.9 million liters) of fuel from the grounded cruise ship before it leaks into the pristine Tuscan sea.

Actual pumping of the oil isn't expected to begin until Saturday, but teams from the Dutch shipwreck salvage firm Smit were working on the bow of the Concordia on Tuesday and divers were to make underwater inspections to identify the precise locations of the fuel tanks.

They were at work on the now-hitched Meloria barge as divers who blasted through a submerged section of the third-floor deck located another body from the wreckage, bringing the death toll to 16.

The Concordia ran aground and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio on Jan. 13 after the captain veered from his approved course and gashed the ship's hull on a reef, forcing the panicked evacuation of 4,200 passengers and crew.

The 16 bodies found so far include the one located on the third-floor deck Tuesday. Seven of the badly decomposed bodies remain unidentified and are presumed to be among some of the 17 passengers and crew still unaccounted for. On Tuesday, the U.S. ambassador to Italy David Thorne was at Giglio's port where he had lunch with relatives of two missing Americans, Gerald and Barbara Heil of Minnesota.

"I think it's a tragedy, we feel very badly for all the families," Thorne told journalists after the meeting.

Giglio and its waters are part of a protected seven-island marine park, favored by VIPs and known for its clear waters and porpoises, dolphins and whales.

Officials have identified an initial six fuel tanks that will be drilled into, tapped and outfitted with hoses to vacuum out the oil from the Costa Concordia. Franco Gabrielli, head of the national civil protection agency, told reporters Tuesday that once those initial six tanks are emptied, 50 percent of the fuel aboard the ship will have been extracted.

The pumping will continue 24 hours a day barring rough seas or technical glitches, he said, noting that these six tanks are relatively easy to access.

"At this stage we don't see a big risk in an oil spill, but if weather deteriorates nobody can tell what the vessel will do," Bart Huizing, head of operations at Smit, told The Associated Press.

The disaster prompted the U.N. cultural organization to ask the Italian government to restrict access of large cruise ships to Venice, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. UNESCO charged that the liners cause water tides that erode building foundations, pollute the waterways and are an eyesore.

Italy's environment minister, Corrado Clini, appeared to take up the cause Tuesday. "The aim is to free St. Mark's basin from the big ships once new canals have been dug," Clini was quoted by the Italian news agency ANSA as saying during a public appearance in northern Italy. He did not elaborate.

But Clini added that "in the meantime, it will be up to the port authority and to the city to decide which (sea) traffic is sustainable and compatible" with Venice's particular situation."

Venice officials have said that since tug boats guide the big cruise ships through the part of the lagoon weaving through the city, the risk of accidents is virtually eliminated.

Divers, meanwhile, continued blasting holes inside the steel-hulled Costa Concordia to ease access for crews searching for the missing. The search and rescue operation will continue in tandem with the fuel removal operation.

Smit officials say the first thing divers will do is drill holes into the tanks and attach valves onto them. The sludge-like oil will then be heated and hoses attached to the valves to suck out the oil as seawater is pumped into displace it.

"It's never a routine, there is always a risk, but we've done this before, so at this moment we don't see any problems," Huizing told AP. "But still it is difficult because it's really heavy fuel oil which we most probably need to heat before we can pump."

On Monday, islanders and officials spotted an oil film on the water about 300 meters (yards) from the wreck. Absorbent panels were put around the oil to soak up the substance and officials said Tuesday it was a very thin film that didn't present any significant levels of toxicity.

Gabrielli said he had formally asked Costa Crociere SpA, the owner of the Concordia, to come up with a plan for what to do with the innards of the ship that are floating away ? the tables and chairs and other furniture that are knocking into divers and being hauled away by barge on a daily basis. And he said he had asked provincial authorities to designate a site on the mainland where the material can be dumped.

Costa is a unit of Miami-based Carnival Corp., the world's biggest cruise operator.

It has blamed the captain, Francesco Schettino, for the disaster, saying he made an unauthorized and unapproved deviation from the route. Schettino remains under house arrest facing accusations of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning the ship before all passengers were off.

Early Tuesday, amid continued outrage by passengers of the chaotic evacuation, Costa promised to refund the full cost of the cruise, reimburse all travel expenses to and from the ship, all on-board expenses and any medical expenses incurred as a result of the grounding.

"Every effort will be made to return the valuables left in the cabin safe," Costa said in a statement.

___

Dorothee Thiesing contributed from Giglio.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-01-24-Italy-Cruise%20Aground/id-3a81d1102ccb4f14934acf902fc6e0ca

darlene love free kindle books roasted potatoes turkey recipes turkey recipes happy holidays norad

Oscar nominations announced for supporting actor (AP)

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. ? The 84th annual Academy Award nominations for supporting actor in a motion picture have been announced in Beverly Hills, Calif., by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The nominees announced Tuesday morning are: Kenneth Branagh, "My Week with Marilyn"; Jonah Hill, "Moneyball"; Nick Nolte, "Warrior"; Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"; Max von Sydow, "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close."

The Oscars will be presented Feb. 26 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Billy Crystal and broadcast live on ABC.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/celebrity/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120124/ap_en_mo/us_oscar_nominations_supporting_actor

hiroki kuroda gene hackman pineda john edwards heart condition mena suvari pretty in pink allen west

US stocks mixed as Greece negotiates to cut debt (AP)

NEW YORK ? Stocks swung between small gains and losses Monday while traders kept an eye on talks in Europe to cut Greece's crushing debt load and prevent what could be a worldwide financial crisis.

European stocks and the euro rose after the continent's finance ministers put pressure on banks that hold Greek government bonds to accept a 50 percent lower face value and lower interest rates.

The Greek stock market gained 5 percent, and markets in Germany, France, Spain and Britain all advanced less than 1 percent. The euro rose more than a penny to $1.302, close to its highest level against the dollar this year.

Negotiators are trying to prevent a disorderly default by Greece in March. The direst scenarios include a credit crisis similar to what happened after the Lehman Brothers investment house fell in 2008.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 44 points in the first hour of trading, drifted lower to a loss of 54 points, then floated higher. It was down 17 points at 12,703 just after 2 p.m. EST.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index was down less than a point at 1,314. The Nasdaq composite index was down three points at 2,783.

Stocks are off to a strong start in 2012. Investors' biggest fears have slowly faded. Stronger than expected job growth in the U.S. and falling borrowing costs for European governments have helped the S&P 500 index post gains on 11 of 13 trading days.

For the year, the Dow is up about 4 percent, the S&P about 4.5 percent.

Maybe the biggest boon to markets this year is the lack of scary headlines, said Jeff Lancaster, a principal at the investment firm Bingham, Osborn & Scarborough.

"When everybody is feeling distressed, anxious and worried as they were at the end of last year, it doesn't take a lot of good news for the mood to change," he said. "It just takes a diminishing quantity of bad news."

Energy companies made big moves. Chesapeake Energy Corp., the No. 2 producer of natural gas in the United States, jumped 6 percent after it said it plans to cut production, a response to the recent slump in natural gas prices.

Natural gas futures rose 7.4 percent to $2.57 per 1,000 cubic feet. Gas futures were trading above $4 just six months ago.

Stocks of other gas producers shot higher. Southwestern Energy Co. jumped 8.7 percent, the biggest gain in the S&P 500. Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. was right behind, rising 7.4 percent.

Apache Corp., a producer of oil and gas, added 1 percent after it said it plans to buy Cordillera Energy Partners in a $2.85 billion deal. It's the largest merger announced in the U.S. this year.

The price of oil rose 67 cents to $99 per barrel. The European Union tightened sanctions against Iran by banning the purchase of Iranian oil. Iran threatened to block shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the passageway for one-sixth of world's oil exports.

Research In Motion Ltd., maker of the BlackBerry, sank 6.5 percent after its new chief executive said no drastic changes are needed. The company's founders announced they were stepping down as co-CEOs late Sunday.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/eurobiz/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120123/ap_on_bi_st_ma_re/us_wall_street

gpa calculator menorah chanukah chanukah david archuleta david archuleta hobbit trailer

Italian officials: 2 more bodies found (AP)

GIGLIO, Italy ? Italian officials say two more bodies have been pulled from the wreckage of a cruise liner capsized off the Tuscan coast, bringing the number of confirmed dead to 15.

The national civil protection agency official in charge of the search said Monday that divers recovered the bodies of two women from the ship's internet cafe.

The recovery of the two brings to 17 the number of known missing. However, officials over the weekend said it appeared unregistered guests were on board at the time of the accident, meaning the number of officially missing could increase.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120123/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_italy_cruise_aground

breaking bad nancy shevell nancy shevell weezer weezer slavoj zizek paul mccartney

Video: Christie on Romney?s ?connection? with voters

A Second Take on Meeting the Press: From an up-close look at Rachel Maddow's sneakers to an in-depth look at Jon Krakauer's latest book ? it's all fair game in our "Meet the Press: Take Two" web extra. Log on Sundays to see David Gregory's post-show conversations with leading newsmakers, authors and roundtable guests. Videos are available on-demand by 12 p.m. ET on Sundays.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/vp/46090595#46090595

arbor apple crisp recipe apple crisp recipe listeria symptoms listeria symptoms lsat bluegrass festival

Romney says he'll attend debates in Florida (AP)

GREENVILLE, S.C. ? Mitt Romney says he will attend the next GOP presidential debates in Florida, which is next up on the election calendar.

After last weekend's two debates in South Carolina, advisers to the former Massachusetts governor had said the candidate hadn't committed to any more campaign debates.

But Romney said Saturday, on the day when South Carolinians are voting in their state's GOP primary, that he will be at the Tampa debate, and advisers say he also will participate in the Jacksonville debate on Thursday.

His commitment to the debate might be a sign that he doesn't think he will do as well as first thought in South Carolina against rival Newt Gingrich and will need to continue the fight in Florida.

The Florida primary is Jan. 31.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Mitt Romney is heading into primary day conceding that he'll win some and lose some.

Romney on Friday acknowledged the contest here is "neck-and-neck" and said he expects to lose "some primaries" to rival Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker.

As voters head to the polls Saturday, Romney and Gingrich both planned to appear at the same breakfast restaurant in the morning. Both campaigns refused to change their schedules Friday night, potentially setting up a face-off between the two men ahead of the polls closing.

The past week has been an abrupt reversal of fortune for the former Massachusetts governor, who landed here last Wednesday after a big victory in New Hampshire and what was then a narrow win in Iowa.

But this week the Iowa GOP reversed his win there after problems with the vote count, and he's been dogged by questions about releasing his tax returns. And instead of emerging from South Carolina with three wins and a seeming lock on the GOP nomination, Romney and his team are now acknowledging they could lose here. That would leave the putative front-runner with just one early state win heading into Florida's Jan. 31 primary.

Romney's campaign planned at least two campaign stops Saturday ahead of polls closing. He planned to visit his campaign headquarters and Tommy's Country Ham House, where Gingrich also planned to stop. Romney was to end the day in Columbia, the state capital.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120121/ap_on_el_pr/us_romney

the brothers grimm the brothers grimm grimm fairy tales grimm fairy tales gold rush gold rush weather boston

AP source: Philbin accepts Dolphins' coaching job

BC-FBN--Dolphins-Philbin Hired, 6th Ld-Writethru ,708Packers' Philbin accepts Dolphins' coaching jobAP Photo NY159, NY155Eds: Adds video link. With AP Photos. AP Video.By STEVEN WINEAP Sports Writer

MIAMI (AP) ? A month of wrenching emotion for Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin took another turn Friday when he landed the Miami Dolphins' head coaching job.

The deal was sealed less than two weeks after Philbin's 21-year-old son drowned in an icy Wisconsin river. The Dolphins confirmed the hiring in a news release and plan a news conference Saturday.

Philbin, who has never been a head coach, first interviewed with Miami on Jan. 7. The body of son Michael, one of Philbin's six children, was recovered the next day in Oshkosh.

After spending a week away from the Packers, Philbin rejoined the team last Sunday for its divisional playoff loss to the New York Giants.

Philbin has been with Green Bay since 2003, serving as offensive coordinator since 2007. Coach Mike McCarthy called the plays, but Philbin put together the game plan for one of the NFL's most prolific offenses.

The Dolphins' top choice, Jeff Fisher, turned them down a week ago to become coach of the St. Louis Rams. Miami owner Stephen Ross and general manager Jeff Ireland then conducted a second round of interviews this week with Philbin, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and Todd Bowles, the Dolphins' interim coach at the end of the season.

"Joe has all the attributes that we were looking for when we started this process," Ross said in a statement. "Jeff Ireland and I felt Joe was the right choice to bring the Dolphins back to the success we enjoyed in the past."

The Dolphins are coming off a third consecutive losing season, their longest such stretch since the 1960s. Even so, Philbin called them "one of the premier franchises in professional sports."

"The Dolphins have a strong nucleus to build around," he said in a statement. "And working with everyone in the organization, I know that together we will return the team to its winning tradition."

Ross fired Tony Sparano last month with three games to go in his fourth year as the Dolphins' coach. When the search for a new coach began, Ross said he would like to give the franchise much-needed stability by hiring "a young Don Shula."

Instead he chose the 50-year-old Philbin, who has 28 years of coaching experience, including 19 years in college.

With Philbin's help, the Packers have ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in yardage each of the past five seasons, including third in 2011. A year ago they won the Super Bowl.

"A huge congratulations to Joe Philbin," Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finley tweeted. "No one deserves it more than this guy. The Pack will miss him!"

The hiring might give the Dolphins an edge if they decide to pursue Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn, who becomes a free agent this offseason. Flynn set Packers records with 480 yards passing and six touchdowns in their regular-season finale. Philbin played a major role in the development of Flynn and Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

"Worked five years with Joe Philbin," former Packers executive Andrew Brandt tweeted. "Calm, cerebral, humble and a skilled offensive mind. His style will resonate with players."

Assistants becoming first-time NFL head coaches have had mixed results in recent years. The group includes the Ravens' John Harbaugh, the Saints' Sean Peyton and the Steelers' Mike Tomlin, but also three coaches recently fired ? Jim Caldwell by the Colts, Todd Haley by the Chiefs and Steve Spagnuolo by the Rams.

Before joining the Packers, Philbin was Iowa's offensive line coach for four years. The former small-college tight end has been an offensive coordinator at Harvard, Northeastern and Allegheny College.

Philbin becomes the seventh coach in the past eight years for the Dolphins, who went 6-10 this season and missed the playoffs for the ninth time in the past decade. It has been 19 years since they reached the AFC championship game, 27 years since they reached the Super Bowl and 38 years since they won an NFL title.

Perhaps mindful of the drought, former Miami coach Jimmy Johnson offered this tweet: "Joe Philbin new Dolphin coach..good luck!"

Philbin will now begin assembling a staff. Bowles might remain as a replacement for defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, who took the same job this week with the Atlanta Falcons.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-01-20-Dolphins-Philbin%20Hired/id-8628400109cc460a94570392a373230d

wade phillips new orleans hornets time person of the year sag nominations sag nominations derek jeter time magazine person of the year

Jessica Alba Launches The Honest Company

The actress and mom of two launches a new collection of eco-friendly cleaning products, diapers and wipes that are safe for the whole family.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/gxLhB8cRmSY/

stuffing recipe happy thanksgiving dwts cnn debate kennedy assassination kennedy assassination jfk assassination

US says al-Qaida magazine got into Guantanamo cell (AP)

FORT MEADE, Md. ? A copy of a magazine published by an arm of al-Qaida made its way to a terror suspect at the Guantanamo Bay prison, leading to an inspection of cells and a contentious new policy requiring special review teams to examine correspondence between prisoners and attorneys, U.S. prosecutors said Wednesday.

Navy Cmdr. Andrea Lockhart told a military judge during a pre-trial hearing that a copy of Inspire magazine got into a cell. She provided no details on who received the magazine or how. But she said the breach showed that prior rules at the base governing mail review were not adequate. Yemen's al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula launched the online, English-language magazine in 2010. An early issue contained tips to would-be militants about how to kill U.S. citizens.

Lockhart is part of the U.S. team prosecuting the case against Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a Saudi national charged with orchestrating the attack in 2000 on the USS Cole that killed 17 sailors. Al-Nashiri, 47, is considered one of the most senior al-Qaida leaders. He has been held at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, since 2006 after spending several years held by the CIA in a series of secret prisons.

Rick Kammen, a civilian attorney for al-Nashiri, told reporters on that his client was not the recipient of the magazine and was not involved in the incident.

How mail between Guantanamo prisoners and their attorneys should be handled consumed several hours of the al-Nashiri's pre-trial session on Tuesday and Wednesday. At issue is whether even a cursory examination of the legal correspondence violates the attorney-client privilege.

The dispute reflects the untested nature of this latest attempt to resume the military tribunals at Guantanamo. The prosecution of al-Nashiri is already underway and the U.S. is preparing to prosecute five other prisoners accused in the Sept. 11 attacks, yet defense lawyers and government prosecutors are still fighting to establish basic legal ground rules.

The military commission system has been revised by the Obama administration and Congress, which has refused to allow the administration to move prisoners from the American base in Cuba. The trial system is still sharply criticized by civil and human rights groups and defense lawyers who say the procedures favor the prosecution. Kammen has called the military commissions a "second-class system of justice."

But former members of the Cole crew and family members of several of the sailors killed on the ship who spoke to reporters at Guantanamo on Wednesday said al-Nashiri is getting better legal treatment than he deserves. "It's been over 11 years now since the Cole was bombed," retired Chief Petty Officer Paul Abney said.

He urged that the military commission be allowed to do its work, adding: "They are doing their job to be as fair and honest as possible."

Al-Nashiri's defense team, as well as the lawyers for other Guantanamo prisoners and the chief defense counsel for the military commissions, are opposed to the security review of legal mail, which was put in place last month by Navy Rear Adm. David Woods, the prison commander.

Army Col. James Pohl, the judge in al-Nashiri's case, ordered the detention center in November to stop Guantanamo guards from reading mail between the prisoner and his lawyers. The judge's order came after Woods authorized an inspection of detainee cells in October that included reading mail between prisoners and their attorneys.

In late December, Woods issued a new directive requiring legal mail to undergo a security review to ensure prisoners were not receiving prohibited materials, such as top-secret information or objects that might be fashioned into weapons.

The December order from Woods created a "privilege review team" independent of the prison staff that would include attorneys, law enforcement and intelligence experts who would examine legal communications between lawyers and their clients. The goal of the order, prison officials said, was to ensure safety and security on the base while preserving attorney-client privilege by having a group not under the prison's command perform the mail review.

Wood testified on Tuesday that the privilege team is made up of contractors hired by the Pentagon's intelligence directorate.

Al-Nashiri's mail has not yet been examined by the team. Marine Col. Jeffrey Colwell, the chief defense counsel for the Guantanamo Bay tribunals, instructed attorneys not to follow Woods' order. Colwell said last week that the rule does not adequately protect attorney-client privilege and violates codes of professional conduct.

But Woods testified that his order doesn't allow team members to read mail. Their role, he said, is to perform a "plain sight review" of correspondence between attorneys and their clients to ensure the documents are marked with the proper stamps to ensure it is actually privileged information. If the material is not marked properly or there are obvious signs of a security risk or contraband, the mail is forwarded to higher authorities for review.

Al-Nashiri's attorneys peppered Woods with questions about how team members could do their jobs without actually reading the information. The order creates situations in which the privilege team has no choice but to dig deeper into a document to understand what is in it, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Reyes said. Reyes also asked Woods why translators were needed on the team if no reading was required.

Woods deflected many of Reyes' questions by saying that he does not have control over the privilege team contract. He also testified that he does not know who monitors the day-to-day activities of the team. "They do not work for me," he said.

On Wednesday, Pohl directed the prosecution and defense to provide him with their proposals for reviewing mail in the al-Nashiri case. A decision from Pohl is not expected for at least two weeks, however.

The Associated Press and other news organizations viewed the proceedings at Guantanamo Bay on a closed circuit telecast shown in a small theater at Fort Meade, a military base located between Washington and Baltimore.

Al-Nashiri has attended the proceedings on both days, but could be seen only intermittently due to the angle of the camera in the courtroom at Guantanamo. He wore a white prison uniform and sat next to his defense team. Defense officials said al-Nashiri was not shackled during his hearing.

__

Associated Press writer Ben Fox in San Juan, Puerto Rico contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120119/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_guantanamo_war_crimes

kennedy center honors neil diamond danny gokey sonny rollins sweet caroline lottery winning numbers pro bowl roster

No Wikipedia? What if the Internet went down?

[unable to retrieve full-text content]WASHINGTON (AP) ? If a day without Wikipedia was a bother, think bigger. In this plugged-in world, we would barely be able to cope if the entire Internet went down in a city, state or country for a day or a week.

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2012-01-18-World%20Without%20Internet/id-80f66c7009cd428c90b7e497e762bdf1

del rio das racist das racist ginger white conrad murray sentencing conrad murray sentencing urban meyer

Haitian driver for Frenchman slain in robbery

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) ? The news director for a Port-au-Prince radio station says the Haitian driver for a French journalist has been killed in a robbery.

Wendell Theodore of Radio Metropole says driver Maxime Alcius died of gunshot wounds but journalist Anthony Lapeyre and his wife escaped unharmed.

Theodore says the attack happened while the three were sitting in traffic near the international airport Wednesday and three gunmen approached and demanded their cellphones and money. He says the robbers got what they wanted, and it's unclear why they shot the driver.

Lapeyre has worked for the privately run radio station for six years.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-01-19-CB-Haiti-Frenchman-Attacked/id-f390430fba1148d58cd0819706e07783

ali lohan new york election new york election americas got talent tyler perry tupac tupac shakur