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Source: http://www.facebook.com/DroidLife/posts/10151740930132902
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Sunday, July 28, 2013
Manslaughter charge filed in Hudson boat crash
PIERMONT, N.Y. (AP) ? A deadly nighttime speedboat crash on the Hudson River hurled a bride-to-be and her fiance's best man into the water and left the groom and three others injured, including a friend charged with vehicular manslaughter on Saturday, just two weeks before the couple was to exchange their vows.
Six friends were on board the boat Friday night when it struck a barge near the Tappan Zee Bridge, sending Lindsey Stewart and Mark Lennon, both 30, into the water and injuring the other four, including groom-to-be Brian Bond, officials said.
A body matching Stewart's description was recovered Saturday while Lennon is presumed dead, Rockland County Sheriff's Department Chief William Barbera said. The search for Lennon's body will resume Sunday.
"The search has been suspended this evening and the tides have a lot to do with that," Barbera said. "We'll start again first thing in the morning."
Authorities charged the boat's operator, Jojo John, 35, of Nyack, with vehicular manslaughter and vehicular assault. He was arraigned from a hospital bed and ordered held on $250,000 bond, Barbera said. John is suspected of operating the boat while intoxicated but authorities are still awaiting the result of blood tests.
Attempts to reach John's family were not immediately successful and it was not clear if he had an attorney.
Earlier Saturday, authorities pulled a woman's body from the water that matched Stewart's description. Officials were working to confirm that the body was Stewart's but it was unclear how long that could take.
Stewart and Lennon were thrown from the boat when it struck a barge carrying materials for the construction of a replacement for the Tappan Zee Bridge, about a half-hour's drive north of New York City.
The boat, a 21-foot Stingray, had left the village of Piermont for a short trip across the river to Tarrytown, authorities said.
Stewart, of Piermont, worked for an insurance company. She and Bond were set to be married Aug. 10, family members said.
Bond was knocked unconscious in the crash but later woke and was able to call 911, Stewart's mother, Carol said.
Stewart's stepfather, Walter Kosik, said the couple have known each other since they were young children and used to go to church together.
"They have been friends the whole time, and they fell in love about 3 ? years ago," Kosik said.
They were to be married at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Pearl River, with a reception at a vineyard in Hillburn, he said.
Barbera declined to identify the other people aboard the boat and had no information on their conditions. He said the barge was equipped with lights, but it was still difficult to see on the water late at night.
The New York State Thruway Authority, which is overseeing the bridge project, said it was reviewing safety procedures.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time," the authority said in a statement. It added that the lighting on the barges appeared to be functioning normally.
Stewart's former English teacher at Pearl River High School, who remained in contact with her through Facebook, called the accident "heartbreaking."
"She was one of my students and a bright, sweet girl loved by everyone," said Doreen Arney. "I knew that she was getting married, and to Brian. To happen to two such special kids ? it just shouldn't happen."
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/manslaughter-charge-filed-hudson-boat-crash-002231044.html
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"It was a good chance to prepare my players," says Brazil coach
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Source: www.fivb.org --- Saturday, July 27, 2013
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, July 27, 2013- Maurico Thomas, Coach of Brazil ?We played hard from the beginning until the end of the game. We want our players to keep concentrate on the game they are playing. It was a good chance to prepare my players through the participation of all the team list. ...
Source: http://www.fivb.org/viewPressRelease.asp?No=41583&Language=en
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The age of the connected car will bring new safety, comfort ? and threats
cars 
14 hours ago
How do you reduce the number of highway accidents? Just tell all the cars to look out for each other.
As far out as that may sound, that's exactly what the National Transportation Safety Board recommended this week, following a fatal bus crash, and it's part of a fundamental shift in the automotive world.
Cars are already equipped with cutting-edge innovations such as accident-avoidance lasers and smart parking. Soon, they'll get wireless car-to-car communications, and even city-wide traffic control. And while most of these innovations will steer us to safer roads, they also raise some concerns over privacy and security the likes of which the century-old auto industry has never seen.
"It's clear the next few years will see greater expansion of in-car infotainment and navigation offerings, and technologies requiring communication between cars," Ray Wert, former editor-in-chief of the Jalopnik car blog, told NBC News.
"Some of that push will come from governmental regulation, while some will come from consumer demand. Either way, it's coming. And fast."
Built-in high-tech tools are nothing new, of course. Cruise control in some vehicles has for years been able to track other cars on the road ? using radar, lasers or something more exotic ? and adjust their speed or stop entirely if a collision is likely. Similar tech is sometimes used to warn drivers when they're drifting out of their lanes, perhaps when nodding off or trying to mop up spilled coffee.
More impressive are the automated parking systems already available from cars made by Ford, Toyota and others. Using a button or smartphone app to tell your car to park itself sounds very sci-fi ? but for those with a fundamental inability to parallel park (you know who you are), it's a welcome reality.
The real next step in this surge of semi-automated, semi-aware cars is vehicle-to-vehicle communication.
"Effective countermeasures are needed to assist in preventing intersection crashes," notes the NTSB's official report on the crash. "For example, systems such as connected vehicle technology could have provided an active warning to the school bus driver of the approaching truck as he began to cross the intersection."
But how would such a system work?
German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence
A group of connected cars navigates an intersection without stopping for one another.
The picture above (from the EO connected car project, covered in the video at top), illustrates how wirelessly connected vehicles can share the same space. They wouldn't just be beaming their plans directly to oncoming cars as they approach an intersection. Instead, they could also connect to a larger network that plans the cars' paths like an air traffic control system.
Bad visibility, blind spots, fatigue ? these could be compensated for with a system that can tell you exactly how far away the next car is, and whether it's safe to go. The benefits of such a system, with every car aware of and communicating with every other car, are difficult to overstate. Any number of things might have prevented the crash in New Jersey, but such an inter-vehicle connection, preventing collisions in low-visibility areas, might have been a lifesaver.
And industry observers say this kind of technology is almost here. "We're in the final stages of testing, and it's up to us to say 'Yes, we are going to do this,'" said Egil Juliussen, IHS automotive technology analyst, in an interview with NBC News. Juliussen cautions that automakers have to be willing ? or required ? to take on such a system en masse.
"I think the decision should be that it is mandatory on all cars," he said. "If it's on just one car, it's useless."
The benefits are easy to imagine. A 2012 study found that cars working together on the road could increase efficiency by as much as 273 percent. This could be done both by careful routing at the city or even state level, but also by "platooning" vehicles closely together if they're headed to the same destination, increasing fuel efficiency.
But it's not just about getting to the game on time or shaving 10 minutes off your commute. Beyond preventing collisions while narrowing gaps between cars, this level of organization could route drivers around points of congestion, notify them of hazardous road conditions, and in case of accidents or car trouble, alert AAA or emergency responders instantly.
Nevada DMV
One of Google's self-driving cars receives the first autonomous vehicle license plates in Nevada.
As this sort of system ramps up, accompanied by creature comfort features such as car-to-car messaging, performance-tweaking apps, and free parking space notifications, we will edge closer to the holy grail of intelligent vehicles: the totally autonomous car.
Though the real thing is still a bit far off, it's not for lack of investment. Google is likely the farthest along: Its self-driving cars have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles on their own through country and city with nary an accident.
The complex array of cameras and sensors on board may be too big and expensive to include on an entry-level Honda today ? but you could have said the same thing about touchscreens and keyless entry a few years ago as well, and now these once-futuristic options are standard on budget cars. As for upsells, it only costs $395 to equip a Ford Focus Titanium with automatic parking, and a $1,750 technology package on a new Toyota Avalon will get you radar-assisted cruise control and smart "pre-collision" braking. It's only a matter of time before wireless car-to-car options become as prevalent ? and affordable.
With all this increased connectivity, however, comes new risks. Stories of high-end cars being stolen with nothing more than a tweaked wireless key fob are common enough. And if your car is connected to the Internet (which many already are), the data is vulnerable to hacking. An upcoming presentation at this year's Defcon hacking conference is widely expected to lay bare many automotive vulnerabilities.
Yet even if you manage to secure the vehicle against hackers, who's to say your data is safe from, say, the NSA? Juliussen thinks we're not quite prepared for this.
"I really think that the U.S. needs to have much better privacy laws. The black box [which records crash data in newer cars] is bringing that up in a major way," he said. "It's up to Congress to do that ... you can't do it without."
Luckily, there's time. As Juliussen notes, even if wireless car-to-car networking were mandated on all new vehicles, it would take 10 years or more before it would really work well. Hopefully a decade is enough time to work out all of the kinks.
Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. His personal website is coldewey.cc.
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Saturday, July 27, 2013
Watch out for the 'Change My Address' scams
consumer 
10 hours ago
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
The BBB has received more than 150 complaints in the last year about Change-My-Address.com.
It?s one of the million little things you need to do when you move ? contact the post office to change your mailing address.
Here?s the problem: many people do a random search for ?address change? and wind up on one of a number of sites run by private businesses. These companies charge anywhere from $17 to $24 to file that simple change of address form for you, something you can do yourself on the official USPS site for a dollar.
Scambook.com, an online complaint resolution site, has received hundreds of complaints about "change of address" sites.
?Some people report they are charged $1.00 at first, but then a short time later, there?s another charge for additional services they did not knowingly purchase,? said Scambook?s Miranda Perry.
Most of these complaints are about a site called change-my-address.com. The company?s Google Search advertisement appears at the top of the list when you search terms like ?forward my mail,? ?change my address,? register new address,? or ?USPS change of address.?
Angela Leddy went online to change her address after her recent move to a new house in Indianapolis. She searched for ?change my mailing address? and saw an ad that said ?USPS? Change of Address Form. Fast & Secure Mail Forwarding?.?
She clicked on the link and landed on change-my-address.com. Thinking she was on the Postal Service site, Leddy filled out the form and punched in her credit card number.
Two days later, she spotted a $19.99 charge on her account. And she was furious.
?It?s deceitful, it?s deceptive and it?s misleading,? she said. ?And for someone who?s pretty Internet savvy, I was scammed.?
Leddy called the company and they agreed to refund $10. Not satisfied with that partial refund, Leddy complained to the Better Business Bureau of Cincinnati (where the company is located) which was able to get the company to refund the rest of her payment.
The BBB has received more than 150 complaints in the last year about Change-My-Address.com.
?That?s a lot of complaints for one company,? said Leslie Kish, vice president of operations at the Cincinnati BBB. ?There is a pattern of complaints about customer service and refund issues. Some people said they paid the money and did not receive the change of address service.?
Change-My-Address has an F rating with the Better Business Bureau.
In a statement emailed to NBC News, Change-My-Address.com said it addresses all complaints, and offers a partial refund of $10 to anyone who requests it within 10 days.
?We have worked since our inception to be in compliance with all local, state and federal laws,? Benjamin Miller in corporate communications wrote. ?We have attempted to work with our local Better Business Bureau, unfortunately with little success. However, we answer all complaints with the BBB and have a positive resolution rate better than 97 percent.?
The company said it gives its ?members? generous value-added services for that $19.95 fee, such as special offers from major retailers.
Miller noted that the company says in six different places that is it not affiliated with the USPS. Here is the notice on the company?s home page:
Change My Address is a private business entity that facilitates the address change process for its users and is not affiliated with the US Postal Service?. The fee for this service is to cover the postage, handling, additional services not available through the post office and processing fees charged by the US Postal Service?. If you just wish to file with the US Postal Service and not receive our additional benefits, you may do so by visiting the USPS? website. There is a one dollar processing fee charged by the USPS? for submitting an online address change request that must be paid with a valid debit or credit card.
Note: The $19.95 charge is not mentioned in that disclosure ? or anywhere else on the home page. That little detail is buried in the fine print on the ?Legal Terms? page ... if you bother to click on the link to that page.
Instead, there is a disclosure box at the top of the payment page that indicates you are agreeing to a one-time charge of $19.95.
But, it?s easy to miss that price information because of the way that page is designed. The top of the payment page (where the price is shown) comes up above the top of your screen. You don?t see it unless you scroll UP on the page. When I tried the site, I missed it the first two times ? and I was specifically looking for pricing information.
It?s easy to understand why people like Geoffrey Faucett, who recently moved from Kansas to North Carolina, are so upset when they find that unexpected charge on their credit or debit card. Faucett thought he was on the official Postal Service site and only expected to pay a dollar.
?I think it?s wrong to take advantage of people like this,? he told me. ?It?s a total rip-off.?
Why are so many people confused about the true nature of this site?
The Better Business Bureau believes it may be because of the wording of the company?s Google Search ad which says "USPS? Change My Address - Change-My-Address.com," and "USPS? Change of Address Form."
Back in February, the BBB notified Change-My-Address it was concerned that this ad ?may create the impression that the business is related to the United States Postal Service.?
In April, the BBB met with the company and requested it make changes to those ads to ?more clearly explain? that they are not related to the United States Postal Service. To date, those modifications have not been made.
It?s perfectly legal for change of address companies to charge for this service. But you can do it easily yourself for only a dollar by going to the official United States Postal Service website or for free by visiting you neighborhood post office.
Herb Weisbaum is The ConsumerMan. Follow him on Facebook and Twitteror visit The ConsumerMan website.
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Friday, July 26, 2013
Video: Goodbye to 'Obamanomics?'
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Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/cnbc/52570690/
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Thursday, July 25, 2013
Facebook shares rise 18 on back of higher-than-expected mobile ad sales
BEIJING - GlaxoSmithKline said it expects its performance in China to take a hit from Beijing's probe into bribery allegedly carried out by senior staff, the British drugs firm said Wednesday, and described the matter as "shameful". "Clearly, we are likely to see some impact to our performance in China as a result of the current investigation, but it is too early to quantify the extent of ...
FCA fines RBS to not reporting almost 45mn transactions
LONDON - The UK regulator has fined Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) 5.6 million pounds for failing to report almost 45 million transactions and incorrectly reporting 804,000 trades made in wholesale markets. The fine relates to the period between November 2007 and February 2013 when the regulators Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found mistakes in more than 37% of relevant transactions carried ...
Facebook shares rise 18 on back of higher-than-expected mobile ad sales
Social media giant Facebook's shares rose 18 percent as it surpassed market expectations with earnings from mobile ad sales. According to the BBC, Facebook reported profits of 333 million dollars in the second quarter and saw 655.6million dollars in revenue from mobile ads in the three months from April to June. Founder Mark Zuckerberg said that the work they company has done to make mobile ...
UK growth figures to show if recovery is on track - live
Well bred. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne visited Warburtons Bakery yesterday, ahead of new growth data this morning. Photograph: Stefan ...
Spanish Banks In Profit As Jobless Goes Down
A trio of Spanish banks, including bailed out lender Bankia, have posted big jumps in first-half profits - as the latest statistics show the first drop in the jobless for two years. The banks have shown trading gains and lower writedowns on property assets helped a partial recovery from their annus horribilis last year. Spanish bank profits were gutted in 2012 by massive losses on the ...
European markets pause before German UK data
LONDON (Reuters) - European assets were flat in early trade on Thursday as investors trod cautiously before German and British data expected to add weight to signs the continent's economy is ...
South Korea reopens bidding for 8.3 trillion won fighter jet competition
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea said on Thursday it will reopen competition for its 8.3 trillion won ($7.43 billion) purchase of 60 next generation fighter jets which had been suspended due to the high prices of bids ...
Nigeria MTN Gets First Nigerian Chief Executive Officer
Michael Ikpoki, currently the CEO of MTN Ghana has been named as the new Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria. Ikpoki replaces Brett Goschen, who took on the role of MTN Group Chief Financial Officer and Executive Financial Director on the Board on Monday. Ikpoki was appointed CEO of MTN Ghana in April 2011 after successfully running MTN Nigeria's Sales and Distribution channel as its ...
Earnings help Britains FTSE hold near 7-week highs
* Good Ifo numbers could lift euro towards 1-month highs* Sterling firmer before UK GDP numbers* NZD up, mkt sees hawkish tint in RBNZ statementBy Anirban NagLONDON, July 25 (Reuters) - The euro rose against the ...
Unilever first-half net profit rises 13 percent
AMSTERDAM -; Unilever PLC, the maker of products including Lipton tea, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and Axe deodorants, says its first-half net profit for 2013 rose 13 percent compared with the same period last year to 2.7 billion euros ($3.58 billion), despite tough market ...
Caterpillar Outlook Drags Stocks Down
A gloomy outlook from Caterpillar, the world's largest construction equipment company, tugged the stock market lower Wednesday. The meager drop gave the stock market two consecutive days of losses, the first time that's happened in an otherwise strong month. Caterpillar's earnings fell 43 percent in the second quarter as China's economy slowed and commodity prices sank. The ...
Asian stocks retreat from seven-week highs
Sydney - Asian stocks retreated from seven-week highs on Thursday after Wall Street buckled under profit-taking pressure and as investors were wary as the earnings season got under way, while upbeat US economic news helped the dollar snap a three-day ...
Unilever CEO Patchy US outlook
The U.S. is showing signs of recovery but the uncertain outlook could affect Unilever's business in the country, the group's chief executive told CNBC on ...
BRIEF-Logitech opens 10.6 percent higher after earnings
ZURICH, July 25 | Thu Jul 25, 2013 3:02am EDT ZURICH, July 25 (Reuters) - Logitech international SA : * Shares open 10.6 percent higher after ...
Unilevers second-quarter sales growth misses forecasts
UNc.AS ) reported underlying sales growth of 5 percent for the second quarter, just shy of market expectations, and said that growth was slowing in emerging ...
Mixed earnings from the US weighs on stocks Techs perform well
US auction watched as yields hit two year high. European indices are expected to open slightly higher this morning, despite stocks in the US and Asia falling on mixed earnings and a global growth warning from Caterpillar. While US earnings season is still being seen as a success so far, yesterday was pretty mixed, which weighed on investor sentiment. Strong earnings from Apple helped boost the ...
Investors Cautious Ahead of Earnings but Apple Soars 5 Percent
Asian markets were capped from reaching higher levels and moved lower as investors chose to show caution ahead of the earnings season. There are also fresh concerns emerging regarding China's liquidity. Decent economic reports out of both Europe and the U.S. helped to minimize losses. U.S. Home Sales rose by 8.3 percent in June. This is the highest level since May 2008. Also manufacturing ...
Top three drugs boost Roches first-half earnings
Reuters ? The logo of the Swiss drugmaker Roche is seen on a factory in Burgdorf near Bern, Switzerland in this November 17, 2010 file photo. REUTERS/Pascal ...
Caterpillar Q2 Profit Plunges On Inventory Changes Slashes Full Year Outlook
Quote ) Wednesday reported a plunge in profit for the second quarter as sales declined across all segments and regions impacted mainly by changes in dealer inventory. Further, the mining and agricultural equipment maker slashed its annual forecast.Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman said, ''We experienced headwinds during the quarter, and while we had a positive $135 million gain related ...
Futures Movers Oil prices stretch losses ahead of U.S. data
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- U.S. crude-oil futures fell further Thursday, extending losses into a second straight session as the outlook for energy demand was hurt in part by soft data from ...
Merafe Resources Half-year earnings ?likely to fall 20?
Merafe Resources expected to report a 20 percent drop in earnings for the six months to June compared with the comparable period last year, the company said yesterday. This came after the group was hit by an impairment on its Horizon mine, which is for sale. Merafe expected basic earnings a share of between 1.2c and 1.4c from 5.5c last year. Headline earnings a share were likely be between 3.5c ...
Coca-Cola switches to green for new eco-friendly drink
Coca-Cola has used its distinctive curved script since 1887. And since the 1920s its famous logo has been placed on a red background on the company?s classic ...
Source: http://www.kyrgyzstannews.net/index.php/sid/216049447/scat/3a8a80d6f705f8cc
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Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Handcent 5 Skin Valentine 2012 for Android
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Source: www.appszoom.com --- Tuesday, July 23, 2013
by handcent_market Handcent SMS Skin (Valentine's Day 2012) Valentine's Day 2012 skin for new Handcent SMS 5.0. Pink and romantic valentine's day skin. Install it and apply it from handcent services->skin->active *** App2SD *** This plugin support... FREE ...
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Google Takes Aim at Apple with New Nexus 7, Google Play Games and Chromecast
At a press conference today in San Francisco, Google announced?its second generation Nexus 7, which comes with a number of enhancements. The tablet, which is thinner and lighter than the previous version, has an improved screen with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 and a pixel density of 323 PPI.
It is equipped with a Qualcomm 1.5GHz quad-core S4 Pro, 2GB of RAM, a 9 hour battery life, and it comes with NFC and Bluetooth 4.0. The iPad mini, released in late 2012, sports less impressive internals in comparison as it has yet to be updated, including a dual-core A5 processor and 512MB of RAM, along with a screen that is 1024 x 768.
Google has not focused much effort on the camera of the Nexus 7, which is in line with the iPad mini?s 1.2-megapixel front camera and 5-megapixel back camera. The Nexus 7 is also slightly heavier than the mini, with a smaller screen and a smaller profile.
In addition to releasing an updated Nexus 7, Google is also aiming at Apple services on several other fronts, taking on both Game Center and AirPlay.
The company has launched its Google Play Games app, which is designed to be the Android version of Apple?s Game Center. It works hand in hand with Google Play games services, a feature that lets developers build cloud saving, multiplayer gameplay, and achievements into apps.
Chromecast, another feature Google introduced today, is an HDMI accessory that functions similarly to AirPlay, allowing users to mirror content from a tablet, smartphone, or computer. Chromecast works with video, music, and apps like Netflix, and can be used with a number of devices, including iPhones and iPads. Chromecast, which will retail for $35, will be available later today through Best Buy, Amazon, and the Google Play Store.
While Google?s Nexus 7 will be available on July 30 with a $230 price tag, there appears to be no iPad mini upgrade on the horizon. Apple has plans to release a redesigned fifth generation iPad with a thinner design and smaller bezels, but it remains unclear when the company will offer a new iPad mini. A recent report from reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that the company might not release an updated mini until March or April of 2014.
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Navigating the shopping troubles with insurance exchanges
One could easily make a case that health care is today?s biggest consumer problem?not unlike those that sparked the consumer movement of the 1960s and 70s. Back then, consumer issues centered on problems with using credit, buying cars and home improvement services, and obtaining the best price for food, appliances, and just about every other new-fangled and expensive product that sprang from the post-war economy.
Like many old consumer problems, health care is complicated. There?s no transparency when it comes to the terms and price of services, advertising can be deceptive and misleading, care can be unsafe?even deadly?and there?s often no place to seek help when you need it.
A recent email from a reader drove home the point that health care is today?s hottest consumer product?and problem. The 59-year-old woman had just received a notice from Aetna, her insurance carrier, advising her of a $100, or 17 percent increase, in her monthly premium for an individual policy covering her and two adult children. The new $704 premium is steep to pay on a freelance proof reader?s income, so she questioned the need for the increase and wanted to complain. But where?
At the start of the consumer movement in the 1960s, consumers faced similar roadblocks. Where could consumers go to register complaints about deceptive and misleading sales practices, exorbitant prices and unsafe products? Mostly they got the run-around until state and local governments set up consumer protection agencies to help buyers in their transactions with unscrupulous sellers.
The woman who emailed me got the run-around too. First she called Aetna to ask about the rate increase. A customer service rep told her she would have to write to Aetna?s grievance and appeals board since they had no phone number. The rep also also explained that the state of Pennsylvania had allowed the premiums to go up. If she had a complaint, she should take it to state insurance regulators.
She called her representative in the Pennsylvania state legislature. ?They did everything they could and gave me a complaint form to fill out,? she said. Then she called the office of her Congressman. A staffer said her complaint about high premiums was a legislative issue, and they would have to call her back.
At that point, the woman contacted me.
This woman?s problem and her need for information is the tip of the proverbial iceberg. There will be zillions more like her as newly insured consumers encounter shopping troubles with insurance exchanges and begin to experience the hassles of dealing with insurance. The process will hardly be as simple as buying an airplane ticket through Travelocity, as the Obama administration has promised.
It was the groundswell of complaints like these that prompted the creation of many state and local consumer agencies, many of which are now out of business. Theoretically, state insurance departments have consumer complaint divisions, but the quality of help varies considerably. State attorneys general often look into consumer complaints, but how many consumers think about checking in with the local AG?s office?
The Affordable Care Act calls for navigators?community groups or nonprofit organizations?that would undergo training to help people shop the new insurance exchanges. Will they be able to help resolve complaints or advocate on behalf of the consumers of health care? How good will they be? And will the states even let them do their jobs?
In some 20 other states, a classic legislative fight is brewing that?s reminiscent of the battles fought during the heyday of the consumer movement. Those battles eventually resulted in licensing requirements for businesses like car repair shops and home improvement contractors.
Should states require navigators to be licensed and required to have special training to help consumers? Insurance brokers and agents say yes. Groups that want to be navigators fear some of the requirements might scare them from participating.
While states sort this out, people like the Pennsylvania woman must decide whether to keep her more expensive insurance or buy a new, cheaper policy; she needs help now. ?Do you want the devil you know or the devil you don?t know,? she asked. It?s the classic consumer dilemma.
Trudy Lieberman?is a journalist and an adjunct associate professor of public health, Hunter College.?She blogs regularly on the?Prepared Patient blog.
Source: http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/07/navigating-shopping-troubles-insurance-exchanges.html
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Tuesday, July 23, 2013
'Bad Piggies' get badder in newly added levels
bad piggies 
11 hours ago
Rovio
"Angry Birds" developer Rovio Entertainment just released a sizable update for its spin-off game "Bad Piggies."
"Bad Piggies," the spin-off of the popular "Angry Birds" series that puts players in the position of the villainous pigs for the first time, just got a hefty update complete with new levels and gadgets, developer Rovio announced this week.
The new "Rise and Swine" levels (get it?) continue the "Bad Piggies" tradition of challenging players to create Rube Goldberg-like vehicles that transport the iconic green oinkers from one end of a level to another (mostly) unscathed. In total, the update adds some 30 levels to "Bad Piggies" along with new items and power-ups such as a grappling hook that lets players rappel their pigs to an objective and an almost game-breaking "Super Mechanic" power-up that basically creates a winning vehicle to complete a given level. That may not sound like a lot of fun, but you can probably imagine the monetization strategy that's at work here.
Other new tools include super glue, magnets, and ?turbo charges" that help a vehicle move faster.
You can download the new "Bad Piggies" content through Rovio's website now. Watch the new trailer below.
Yannick LeJacq is a contributing writer for NBC News who has also covered technology and games for Kill Screen, The Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic. You can follow him on Twitter at @YannickLeJacq and reach him by email at: Yannick.LeJacq@nbcuni.com.
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Monday, July 22, 2013
Charlotte church members protest pastor's leadership
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Tensions ran high at a north Charlotte church Sunday morning as members protested Pastor Andrew Rollinson?s leadership, saying he was fired nearly three months ago but refuses to leave.
?Rollinson must go!? about a dozen people chanted outside Morningstar Baptist Church at 5623 Phillips St., off West Sugar Creek Road in the Derita area. ?When? Today!?
Rollinson said he has no intention of leaving the church. He said the members who fired him did not follow church bylaws, and therefore the decision is invalid. He did not say how the members violated the bylaws.
?I?m the pastor. I will be the pastor until people want to follow the bylaws,? he said. ?This is a group of irate individuals who want what they want and are not able to get it according to the bylaws, and they became irate.?
Several Mecklenburg County sheriff?s deputies remained parked outside the church for hours Sunday. At least twice, opposing sides of the protest argued face to face before services.
?I?m the pastor,? Rollinson told a group of protesters.
?No, you?re not. You?ve been dismissed,? one responded.
Some of the church?s 200 members say they fired Rollinson in April but that he refuses to leave.
?Due to his character that is not becoming of a pastor, his dishonesty, controlling demeanor, using the pulpit to disrespect his members ... we are removing Pastor Andrew J. Rollinson from his duties effective immediately,? says the April 28 letter signed by five church leaders. ?May God continue to bless you and your family and we hate things had to end this way.?
Since Rollinson was hired three years ago, some at the church say he has given himself more power and used it to ban members who don?t agree with him. Some also say Rollinson has given himself more control over church finances.
?All we want is for him to leave,? said Vernell Miller-Thompson.
Nobody was arrested at the church Sunday.
Deputies told Rollinson that after talking with the Sheriff?s Office attorney, they determined he was not trespassing.
Donald Fontenot, one of Rollinson?s deacons, read a statement Sunday in response to the protest.
?We love our pastor Andrew J. Rollinson and the leadership he brings,? the letter said. ?He has not done anything wrong and he leads us in the fear of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.?
The statement also acknowledges that the church has banned 19 members for reasons including ?violating our First Amendment Right, participating (in) and encouraging a public disturbance (and) continuous outbursts of false accusations from the pew.?
Jackie Black, chairman of the board of deacons, said he?s lost trust in church leadership.
?I have a different perspective on preachers now,? he said. ?I see this as a business for them and not a place of worship.?
By the time services began shortly after 11 a.m., the two sides appeared to have reached a truce. Law enforcement left and many members headed into the church for worship.
Dwayne President, who was attending the church for the first time Sunday, said he did not know which side to believe. He also said the tension was distracting from the true purpose of Sunday.
?Gandhi said, ?I like your Christ. I don?t like your Christians.? I can see why he said that now,? President said. ?I?m apologizing for the church. The church is supposed to be an example and a light amongst nonbelievers.?
Black acknowledged that the drama has taken away from the church?s mission.
He said the church plans to involve its attorney more when drafting a contract for the next pastor to ensure nothing like this happens again.
?We?re going to make sure it?s very specific so nobody can take advantage of us again,? he said.
Some of the church?s 200 members say they fired Rollinson in April but that he refuses to leave.
?Due to his character that is not becoming of a pastor, his dishonesty, controlling demeanor, using the pulpit to disrespect his members ... we are removing Pastor Andrew J. Rollinson from his duties effective immediately,? says the April 28 letter signed by five church leaders. ?May God continue to bless you and your family and we hate things had to end this way.?
Since Rollinson was hired three years ago, some at the church say he has given himself more power and used it to ban members who don?t agree with him. Some also say Rollinson has given himself more control over church finances.
?All we want is for him to leave,? said Vernell Miller-Thompson.
Nobody was arrested at the church Sunday.
Deputies told Rollinson that after talking with the Sheriff?s Office attorney, they determined he was not trespassing.
Donald Fontenot, one of Rollinson?s deacons, read a statement Sunday in response to the protest.
?We love our pastor Andrew J. Rollinson and the leadership he brings,? the letter said. ?He has not done anything wrong and he leads us in the fear of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.?
The statement also acknowledges that the church has banned 19 members for reasons including ?violating our First Amendment Right, participating (in) and encouraging a public disturbance (and) continuous outbursts of false accusations from the pew.?
Jackie Black, chairman of the board of deacons, said he?s lost trust in church leadership.
?I have a different perspective on preachers now,? he said. ?I see this as a business for them and not a place of worship.?
By the time services began shortly after 11 a.m., the two sides appeared to have reached a truce. Law enforcement left and many members headed into the church for worship.
Dwayne President, who was attending the church for the first time Sunday, said he did not know which side to believe. He also said the tension was distracting from the true purpose of Sunday.
?Gandhi said, ?I like your Christ. I don?t like your Christians.? I can see why he said that now,? President said. ?I?m apologizing for the church. The church is supposed to be an example and a light amongst nonbelievers.?
Black acknowledged that the drama has taken away from the church?s mission.
He said the church plans to involve its attorney more when drafting a contract for the next pastor to ensure nothing like this happens again.
?We?re going to make sure it?s very specific so nobody can take advantage of us again,? he said.
Source: http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Charlotte-churchs-members-protest-pastors-leadership-216435561.html
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Ethiopian troops quit Somali city, but no full withdrawal planned
By Aaron Maasho
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia has begun pulling troops out of a former rebel stronghold in Somalia, but it has no plans for a complete withdrawal from the fight against al Qaeda-linked insurgents, its foreign minister said on Monday.
Somalia has enjoyed relative calm after military offensives by African Union (AMISOM) peacekeepers and Ethiopian troops, who have pushed al Qaeda-allied al Shabaab from urban strongholds in central and southern Somalia.
But suicide attacks have reinforced concerns the militants remain a potent force and Ethiopia's sudden withdrawal in March from Hudur - the capital of Bakool province near the Ethiopian border - enabled al Shabaab to retake the town.
Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom said Ethiopia had begun pulling out of Baidoa - once considered the most important rebel city after the port of Kismayu - because it was now relatively stabile and Somali forces were able to take over.
"The withdrawal from Baidoa should have been done almost a year ago but AMISOM was not ready and that could not be done," he told Reuters in an interview. Ethiopia seized the city, about 250 km (150 miles) northwest of Mogadishu, last year.
"I am now glad that there is a well organised and planned withdrawal and the space is already being occupied by Somali forces," Adhanom said.
After a 2006-2009 stint, Ethiopia once again sent troops to Somalia in 2011 to fight al Shabaab, alongside African Union forces from Uganda and Burundi and Kenyan troops that later incorporated the AMISOM mission, after entering Somalia independently to pursue al Shabaab.
Addis Ababa pledged at the time that its forces would stay in the war-ravaged country until Somalia's government could ratify a new constitution and its ragtag military was able to fend off the militant Islamist threat on its own.
Tedros said Ethiopia's aim now was to deploy in areas where the rebels appeared to have a far stronger presence. He expressed confidence that Somali troops would be able to stand their ground in places Ethiopia left.
Ethiopian troops may deploy back to areas they have left if AMISOM and Mogadishu asked for their return, he said.
ON THE RUN
"That is what is needed when al Shabaab is on the run - the best use of our forces instead of stationing them in just certain places," he said.
"I don't think there is a need to put a deadline for complete withdrawal because they (troops) will be engaged in one end every now and then, based on the need."
Diplomats say Ethiopia has a contingent of around 8,000 troops in the country.
The overthrow of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 plunged Somalia into two decades of violence, first at the hands of clan warlords and then Islamist militants, while two semi-autonomous regions - Puntland and Somaliland - have emerged in northern Somalia.
U.N. sanctions experts said this month that Eritrea was undermining stability by paying political agents and a warlord linked to Islamist militants to influence the Mogadishu government.
Tedros accused Eritrea - long at odds with Ethiopia over an unresolved border dispute - of supporting the rebels.
"We have evidence that Eritrea is continuing to support al Shabaab," he said. "I think the international community should really take this seriously and take serious action especially in terms of strengthening the sanctions that have already been imposed by the U.N."
Eritrea denies playing any negative role in Somalia, saying it has no links to al Shabaab. It says U.N. sanctions imposed on it in 2009 for supporting the insurgents were based on lies and has called for the sanctions to be lifted.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ethiopian-troops-quit-somali-city-no-full-withdrawal-140338222.html
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Brazil buzzing with anticipation for Pope Francis
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) ? Pope Francis began his first international trip Monday, flying toward the warm embrace of his home continent and saying aboard his plane that he's concerned about a generation of youth growing up jobless and isolated as the world economy sputters.
The message is expected to resonate with the mammoth crowds expected to attend a papal Mass and other ceremonies this week on Rio's Copacabana beach.
During his seven-day visit, Francis will meet with legions of young Roman Catholics converging on Rio for the church's World Youth Day festival, believers whose behavior so far hasn't been typical of most tourists in this seaside Sin City known for hedonistic excess.
The pontiff is expected to arrive in Rio de Janeiro at 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) Monday.
During his flight from Rome, Francis warned about youth unemployment in some countries in the double digits, telling about 70 journalists aboard the papal plane that there is a "risk of having a generation that hasn't worked." He said, "Young people this moment are in crisis."
He didn't specify any country or region, but much of Europe is seeing those gloomy youth joblessness numbers, especially in Greece, Spain and Italy. Brazil is in far better shape than European nations, with unemployment at an all-time low on the back of a decade of economic expansion.
Francis also expressed concern about the elderly, saying older people should not be isolated or "thrown away ... as if they had nothing to offer us."
"A people has a future if it goes forward with bridges: with the young people having the strength to bring it forward and the elderly because they have the wisdom of life," the pope said. The elderly have "the wisdom of history, the wisdom of a nation, the wisdom of a family, and we need this."
More than 1 million people are expected to pack the white sands of Copacabana to attend Mass celebrated by the 76-year-old Francis. He also will visit a tiny chapel in a trash-strewn slum, and grassroots Catholics are delighted that he plans a side trip to venerate Brazil's patron saint.
"I'm here for faith! I'm here for joy! And I'm here for the first Latino pope!" Ismael Diaz, a 27-year-old pilgrim wrapped in the flag of his native Paraguay, said as he bounded down the stone sidewalks of Copacabana hours ahead of Francis' arrival.
Diaz gave high fives to four fellow pilgrims, then turned toward local beachgoers who looked on while calmly sipping green coconut water and staring from behind dark sunglasses.
"I'm here because I have the force of God in me and want to make disciples of all. Arghhhhhhhhhh!" he yelled, lifting his head and howling into Rio's hot, humid air before flexing his arms and striking a bodybuilder's pose.
It would be easy for Francis if all Catholics shared such fervor. But Diaz and his fellow pilgrims are the exception in Brazil and much of Latin America, a region with more faithful than any other in the world but where millions have left the church for rival Pentecostal evangelical churches or secularism.
A poll from the respected Datafolha group published Sunday in the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo said 57 percent of Brazilians age 16 and older call themselves Catholic, the lowest ever recorded. Six years ago, when Pope Benedict XVI visited, a poll by the same firm found 64 percent considered themselves among the faithful. In 1980, when Pope John Paul II became the first pontiff to visit Brazil, 89 percent listed themselves as Catholics, according to that year's census.
Pentecostal evangelicals stood at 19 percent of the population in the latest poll, rising from virtually nothing three decades ago by aggressively proselytizing in Brazil's slums.
There is also a huge gap in the level of participation in the different churches, a fervor factor that deeply troubles the Catholic Church. The Datafolha poll said 63 percent of Pentecostal evangelicals report going to church at least once a week, while only 28 percent of Catholics say they attend Mass weekly.
Datafolha interviewed 3,758 people across Brazil on June 6-7 and said the poll had a margin error of 2 percentage points.
Francis has spoken often of the need for humility in the church, and he kept to that message Monday ? Francis carried his own black hand luggage as he boarded a special Alitalia flight from Rome.
"Every pope is different, and Pope Francis is showing himself to be extremely charismatic, with a language that is simple and direct," Sao Paulo Cardinal Odilo Scherer said.
Playing out alongside the papal visit is political unrest in Brazil, where widespread anti-government protests that began last month have continued and are expected to occur outside Rio's Guanabara Palace, the seat of state power where Francis is expected to meet with President Dilma Rousseff on Monday evening.
With the exception of gay rights groups and others angered by the church's doctrine against abortion and same-sex marriages, the target of most protesters won't be Francis but the government and political corruption. The pontiff is said to support Brazilians peacefully taking to the streets, and when he was a cardinal in Buenos Aires he didn't shy from conflict with Argentina's leaders as he railed against corruption.
When Francis talks with Rousseff, they are likely to focus on the poor. Upon taking office, the Brazilian leader declared that eradicating extreme poverty was her top goal as president, and she has expanded a network of social welfare programs that have helped lift almost 30 million Brazilians out of poverty in the last decade.
"Unlike his predecessors, who had a theoretical understanding, Francis has a pastoral understanding honed by living and working in working-class neighborhoods of Buenos Aires," said Joseph Palacios, a sociologist at Georgetown University and former Catholic priest who has studied the church.
That's evident to Maria Nascimento, a 60-year-old Catholic living in the Varginha slum that Francis will visit this week.
"God chose wisely when he decided to send this humble man to lead the church," she said, standing in her kitchen where photos of grandchildren's baptisms were stuck to her refrigerator with magnets.
"There's going to be a huge impact on Brazil after he has come and left, after his feet have walked these streets in our slum. He's going to help the church in Brazil, the love here for him is growing so fast."
___
Associated Press reporter Bradley Brooks reported from Rio de Janeiro. Jenny Barchfield contributed to this report.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/brazil-buzzing-anticipation-pope-francis-071223012.html
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Sunday, July 21, 2013
Jobs lost, but unemployment rate remains level
Published: Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 19:38 PM.
Though nearly 11,000 left their jobs in the state in June, only 596 are considered unemployed and didn?t make a significant enough impact on the numbers, leaving the state unemployment rate at 8.8 percent.
June represented the last month many people would receive benefits under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program, with the last benefit checks going out June 29. Also, the maximum weekly benefit reduced from $535 to $350 and the maximum period a person could receive benefits dropped from 26 to 20 weeks.
?Of course, since unemployment benefits have ended, we?ve seen an increase in traffic, like I envisioned two weeks ago ? ,? said Jamie Wallace, state Division of Workforce Solutions manager for Lenoir and Greene counties. ?We?ve seen a lot more people come into the office, looking for work, trying to get assistance in different areas.
?And, that?s probably happened in the last two weeks or so. We got a lot of phone calls the first week, and in the second week we had a lot more traffic.?
Some people denied that unemployment benefits may be eligible if anticipated tweaks to the law happen before the end of the General Assembly session.
An official with the federal Office of Unemployment Insurance said in a letter to Dale Folwell, assistant secretary of the state Division of Workforce Solutions, the new regulations didn?t square with federal law, and could lead to decertification of the state.
That could mean canceling the grant to the state government to run the unemployment programs, and doing away with a tax credit to state businesses estimated at $1 billion.
?For employment separations, a total reduction of benefits rights may be imposed only if the individual is discharged for misconduct connected with work, fraud in connection with a claim for compensation, or receipt of disqualifying income,? wrote Gay Gilbert, administrator of the OUI.
Gilbert specifically mentioned reducing or eliminating benefits for those who leave their jobs voluntarily, not seeking work while in job training programs or work in education.
For those who are actively seeking work, Wallace said there is employment to be had.
?We have job orders available ? there is work out there,? Wallace said. ?We just need people to come down, and then find and check out our services ? find what jobs are available and a job they may qualify for. But, we don?t have a shortage of job orders in the system. We?re just trying to find some good people to fill them.?
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.
North Carolina unemployment rate for 2013
June: 8.8 percent
May: 8.8 percent
April: 8.9 percent
March: 9.1 percent
February: 9.4 percent
January: 9.5 percent
Source: N.C. Department of Commerce
Source: http://www.kinston.com/news/local/jobs-lost-but-unemployment-rate-remains-level-1.175606
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Is the West Turning Away from Middle East Energy?
Russian energy company Gazprom said this week it was considering sending a delegation to Algeria to review the prospects for more energy work. The Russian energy giant said it was interested in exploiting the estimated 160 trillion cubic feet of natural gas there. A report published in May warned that Algerian natural gas production was in decline, however, because aging fields were no longer giving up resources. A lack of foreign investments is hurting the situation even further. Though Gazprom is reviewing its options, a warning from the U.N. Security Council suggests it may be awhile before the region?s state of affairs are in order enough to support any major foreign interest.
Viktor Zubkov, chairman of the Gazprom board of directors, welcomed Algerian Ambassador to Russia Smail Chergui to his office in Moscow to discuss bilateral cooperation in the energy sector. Gazprom in 2006 signed a preliminary agreement with Algerian state energy company Sonatrach and in 2010 produced 2.1 million cubic feet of gas from the desert Rhourde Sayah-2 well, its first ever discovery in North Africa.
Save Time Make Money! A new stock idea each week for less than the cost of a trade. CLICK HERE for your Weekly Stock Cheat Sheets NOW!?The parties agreed to prepare and hold a business trip of Viktor Zubkov to Algeria before the end of the current year,? Gazprom said.
A May report from the U.S. Energy Department?s analytical arm reported Algeria in 2011 produced 2.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Production has been in decline since 2005, however, because its natural gas fields are depleting. The Algerian government in 2012 started revising national laws to bring in more foreign investments. The May report, however, stated several planned projects have faced setbacks or were repeatedly delayed despite those efforts.
Source: http://wallstcheatsheet.com/stocks/is-the-west-turning-away-from-middle-east-energy.html/
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Ao longo dos pr?ximos dias, os usu?rios ganhar?o a op??o de ?destacarem? a caixa...
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Source: http://www.facebook.com/meiobit/posts/692180690797397
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Saturday, July 20, 2013
Water companies warn over fracking
19 July 2013
Last updated at 10:25 ET
Drinking water could be contaminated with methane gas and chemicals due to fracking, water companies have warned.
Water UK, which represents all major UK water suppliers, said the shale gas extraction method posed a threat if not "carefully planned and carried out".
It also warned fracking's "huge" use of water could cause shortages in areas of low supply, like South East England.
Shale gas company Cuadrilla said there were no proven cases of aquifers being contaminated by fracking.
Dr Jim Marshall, of Water UK, called on fracking firms to hold "upfront discussions" with water companies "before fracking becomes widespread in the UK".
He said the water industry was not "taking sides" in the fracking debate, but wanted to ensure "corners are not cut and standards compromised, leaving us all counting the cost for years to come".
'No contamination'Fracking - short for "hydraulic fracturing" - involves drilling deep underground and releasing a high-pressure mix of water, sand and hundreds of chemicals to crack rocks and release gas stored inside.
Water companies are worried the process could contaminate drinking water aquifers that lie above shale gas reserves.
Water UK said this could happen by gases such as methane permeating into water sources from rocks where it was previously confined, chemicals getting in through cracks created by the fracking process, or by poor handling of waste water on the surface.
A spokesman for Cuadrilla, which is carrying out test drilling in Lancashire, said: "There have been over two million hydraulic fracture treatments carried out globally, the majority in the US, and from that activity we are not aware of one single verified case of fracturing fluid contaminating aquifers."
The spokesman said the firm, which also wants to drill at a site in West Sussex, was "committed to the highest standards of well integrity".
He added that Cuadrilla was in "regular contact" with water suppliers and its supply of water "will never be prioritised over peoples' houses or farming".
A joint report by the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering published last year said the risks could be managed effectively through "strong regulation".
Joseph Dutton, of Leicester University, told the BBC fracking presented "minimal danger" of water contamination if done properly, as the cracks it created were far deeper underground than aquifers.
He said leaks in well casings near the surface, caused by "poor workmanship" or the tremors associated with fracking, were the most likely cause of contamination.
Current EU and UK regulations "should ensure" no such incidents take place, Mr Dutton said - but he said the government "wants to speed up the process" and warned that loosening environmental controls, as happened in the US, would increase the risks.
Mr Dutton said the amount of water used in fracking varies, but each well uses at least a million gallons.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change said water companies "will assess the amount of water available before providing it to operators".
Speaking about the risk to water quality, a spokesman said there was "no evidence to date from the US of fracking causing groundwater contamination".
Fracking expansionHe said the Environment Agency would regulate use of chemicals in the UK on a "site-by-site basis and would order fracking to stop if a risk to groundwater was identified.
Widespread fracking has not started in the UK yet, but Cuadrilla began exploratory drilling in Lancashire in 2011 and many other possible sites have been identified.
BBC industry correspondent John Moylan said he expected the creation of 40 to 50 fracking wells over the next two years.
Large-scale fracking has reduced energy bills in the USA, but there is debate over whether the same would happen in the UK.
Chancellor George Osborne, who earlier announced tax breaks to promote fracking, said it had the "potential to create thousands of jobs and keep energy bills low for millions of people."
But Friends of the Earth said the government's "wild-eyed reverence for the new god of shale is completely misguided" and said there was "no evidence" it would reduce energy bills.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23373618#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
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Too Many 'Spider-Man' Villains? Marc Webb Tells Fans Not To Worry
'If you touch him, it's like the voltage of a thousand third rails,' director Marc Webb said.
By Kevin P. Sullivan, with reporting by Josh Horowitz
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1710863/amazing-spider-man-electro-marc-webb-2013-comic-con.jhtml
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[News] Wales Gives College Student $25,000 Schloarship
A Hampton University student says she can now afford to stay in college thanks to a $25,000 scholarship she won from Wale.
Wale?recently helped a Hampton University student by "gifting"?her with a $25,000 scholarship, according to thejasminebrand.com. Lauren Pryor, a sophomore Psychology student,?won the Wale "The Gifted" Scholarship by calling into Norfolk, Virginia Hip Hop station 103 JAMZ.
?I was on my way to a friend?s home in Hampton when I heard the radio challenge?that the twenty-fifth caller would win the prize," Pryor said to the?Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal, as per thejasminebrand.com.?"The station said to call between 4 and 5?pm. I called four or five times. The line was always busy. On about the fourteenth call?I told myself to give it a rest then, I heard a man say, ?Hello.? I didn?t believe it. He?told me there were millions of calls and he only picked up the phone 14 times nationwide."
Wale attended Robert Morris College and Virginia State?University on football scholarships before transferring to a third school, Bowie?State, prior to his rap career.
Pryor received the scholarship at the album release party and concert for?Wale?s?The Gifted. Debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, The?Gifted is Wale's third studio album and the second to come out while signed to Rick Ross??Maybach Music Group.?
?Winning this scholarship was truly a blessing," Pryor says. "Almost not returning?to Hampton University in the fall because of expenses, I was exceedingly fortunate?to receive this scholarship. It was truly a test of faith.?
RELATED: Wale Talks "The Gifted," Says He Didn't Believe Rihanna Would Be On "Bad (Remix)"
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Blake Griffin Meets A Big Fan In China
Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony are in China on a Jordan Brand Flight Tour in an effort to promote their line of sneakers. While in Guangzhou, Blake met a fan who tried to emulate Griffin's Slam Dunk winning throw down in his own special way. Pretty cool stuff.?
Photo via Griffin's Instagram
Source: http://thescore.com/buzz/articles/1235870-blake-griffin-meets-a-big-fan-in-china
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Friday, July 19, 2013
Stocks held back by tech sector
Stocks fell Friday led by a slump in technology stocks. Microsoft fell?the most in more than four years after the company wrote off nearly $1 billion on its new tablet computer and reported declining revenue for its Windows operating system.?
Specialist trader Joe Mastrolia works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange, Friday. Technology stocks in the S&P 500 have lagged the S&P 500 this year, gaining only 8.5 percent, versus 18.6 percent for the broader index.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
EnlargeA bad day for technology?stocks?Friday held back the?stock?market's big run-up.
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Microsoft led the slump in tech, falling the most in more than four years after the company wrote off nearly $1 billion on its new tablet computer and reported declining revenue for its Windows operating system. Google dropped after its revenue fell below analysts' forecasts, partly because the Internet search leader's ad prices took an unexpected turn lower.
With tech?stocks?falling, the Standard & Poor's 500 index was held to a gain of 2.72 points, or 0.2 percent. That pushed the index up to another all-time of 1,692.09. The S&P 500 has rebounded from a poor performance last month and is up 5.3 percent in July.
Despite the market's broad advance this month, a growing list of poor tech results is raising concerns about the strength of the economy and the?stock?market. Intel and eBay also reported weak results this week, and chipmaker Advanced Micro reported a second-quarter loss because of a worldwide slump in PC demand.
Technology "has definitely been a sector that people have been expecting big things from and it has not delivered," said Randy Frederick, Managing Director of Active Trading & Derivatives at the Schwab Center for Financial Research.
The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 4.80 points, or 0.03 percent, to 15,543.71. If not for the declines in Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard and IBM, the index would have gained about 70 points.
A brighter outlook on the U.S. economy from industry bellwether General Electric was also overshadowed by the slump in tech.
The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite fell 23.66 points, or 0.7 percent, to 3,587.61. The index was the only major market benchmark to end the week lower, falling 0.4 percent.
Technology?stocks?in the S&P 500 have lagged the S&P 500 this year, gaining only 8.5 percent, versus 18.6 percent for the broader index. The industry is one of four of the 10 sectors in the S&P 500 that are expected to see earnings growth contract in the second quarter.
So far, 104 companies from the S&P 500 have reported earnings. Two-thirds of them have beaten analysts' expectations, according to S&P Capital IQ data. Just under half have exceeded analysts' forecast for revenue.
Microsoft dropped $4.04, or 11.4 percent, to $31.40 after reporting its earnings late Thursday. That's the biggest one-day decline since the?stock?slumped 11.7 percent in January 2009. Google fell $14.08, or 1.5 percent, $896.60. It also posted earnings late Thursday.
The?stock?market rose sharply in July after the Federal Reserve reassured investors that it won't pull back on its economic stimulus before the economy is strong enough. The U.S. central bank is currently buying $85 billion in bonds every month to keep long-term interest rates low and to encourage borrowing and hiring.
In government bond trading, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.48 percent from 2.53 percent late Thursday. Ten-year Treasurys have risen, pushing their yield lower, since July 5, when the government reported strong hiring in June. The yield rose as high as 2.74 percent that day.
The pullback in bond yields should help?stocks?sustain their rally because it makes them look more attractive compared to bonds, said Paul Zemsky, head of multi-asset strategies for ING U.S. Investment Management. Lower interest rates should also support the housing market by holding down mortgage rates.
"A lot of the fears that had come from these higher rates are abating," Zemsky said. "Rates have come back down and that's good."
The price of crude oil edged up a penny to $108.05 a barrel. The price of gold climbed $8.70 to $1,292.90 an ounce.
Among other?stocks?making big moves:
? General Electric rose $1.09, or 4.6 percent, to $24.72 after posting a slight gain in net income in the second quarter. GE also said its U.S. operations are picking up steam. The results were better than analysts had forecast.
? Chipotle Mexican Grill climbed $32.22, or 8.6 percent, to $408.90 after the Mexican fast-food chain reported results that beat analysts' expectations.
? Whirlpool surged $9.54, or 8 percent, $128.91 after its second-quarter net income soared 75 percent as demand improved for its appliances. Whirlpool also benefited from some tax credits.
Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/Vvw9XbCTu3I/Stocks-held-back-by-tech-sector
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