Utah GOP lawmakers laud sheriffs? stand on gun rights

(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Rep. Paul Ray shares a laugh with members of the Utah Sheriffs' Association, which recently sent a controversial letter to President Barack Obama saying Utah law enforcement officials would lay down their lives to protect the Constitution. At the request of Rep. Curt Oda, Millard County Sheriff Robert Dekker read the letter to the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee of the Legislature at the State Capitol Complex House Building, Tuesday January 29, 2013.

Legislature ? Democratic leader questions whether focus on gun rights eclipses other constitutional rights.

Rep. Curt Oda asked a signatory to the Utah Sheriffs? Association to read aloud that group?s letter to President Barack Obama during a committee hearing Tuesday that declared it would stop any attempts by federal agents to seize guns from Utah residents.

Millard County Sheriff Robert Dekker read the letter that said the group of 28 of 29 county sheriffs ? in defense of the Second Amendment ? were "prepared to trade our lives for the preservation of its traditional interpretation."

Oda, a Republican from Clearfield, said he expected the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee would support the "courage" of the letter that drew unabashed support from about 1,500 who gathered on the Capitol Steps Jan. 19 for Gun Appreciation Day while drawing derision from Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder.

"I can almost recite it by heart," said Oda, known for his vocal support of gun rights.

But Minority Leader Jennifer Seelig said she simply couldn?t back the letter?s message.

Seelig, a Democrat from Salt Lake City, was at Trolley Square Feb. 12, 2007, when a gunman entered the mall and killed five people while wounding four others. She was getting her nails done at a salon when she heard the gunshots and had to hide in a storage closet before a swat team killed Sulejman Talovic during the young man?s shooting spree.

Seelig made mention of her experience at Trolley Square ? making sure to thank the sheriff for doing his job and specifically thanking the police at the massacre.

But she felt the letter went too far.

"I am curious about other constitutional rights and how that would fit into your weighing of this issue ? like property rights and the supremacy clause," Seelig said.

But Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, said he was grateful for the sheriffs? stance on guns.

story continues below

"That was a risk on your part and I appreciate it," Ray said.

The issue of firearms is expected to be a hot issue this legislative session in the wake of Obama?s proposals to require tougher background checks, reduce magazine capacity on guns and ban assault weapons.

There is a measure being proposed to make Utah just one of a handful of so-called constitutional carry states where a concealed weapon permit isn?t needed to be in possession of a gun. And a freshman lawmaker, Rep. Brian Greene, R-Pleasant Grove, will introduce a bill that would grant sheriffs the ability to arrest federal authorities attempting to take guns from Utah residents.

The letter, in fact, warns that "no federal official will be permitted to descend upon our constituents and take from them what the Bill of Rights ? in particular Amendment II ? has given them."

But Dekker was less confrontational in front of the committee.

"We?re not going to be standing at the border with our rifles," he said.

Obama?s proposals, which would require congressional approval to take effect, do not call for a retroactive ban or confiscation of firearms that are currently legal.

dmontero@sltrib.com

Twitter: @davemontero

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/55727717-90/committee-federal-gun-guns.html.csp

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The Daily Roundup for 01.30.2013

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/30/the-daily-roundup-for-01-30-2013/

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US Justice Department asks FCC to delay Sprint's merger with Softbank (update)

It appears that Dish wasn't the only one who wants the FCC to put the brakes on Softbank's merger with Sprint. Bloomberg reports that the US Justice Department has just requested that the FCC delay the deal as well. No word on why governmental lawyers are making the request, but we'll update this post as soon as more information is available.

Update: While the DOJ has recommended that the FCC delay its approval of the deal due to national security concerns, it turns out that Dish has decided not to stand against the merger, after all. So, Sprint and Softbank have exchanged a private sector problem for a governmental one. The DOJ's scrutiny certainly provides a significant hurdle for the deal to clear, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the two telcos can never be together. We'll have to wait and see whether Uncle Sam gives the merger its final stamp of approval.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Sprint

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Via: The Verge

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/BjW6DlE9cfM/

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Swiss Scientists Discover Dung Beetles Use The Milky Way For GPS

A team of Swedish scientists has discovered that dung beetles climb on dung balls and dance around in circles before taking off. This dance is not one of joy, however ? the insects are checking out the sky to get their bearings. Melissa Block and Audie Cornish have more.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2013/01/29/170588505/swiss-scientists-discover-dung-beetles-use-the-milky-way-for-gps?ft=1&f=1007

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'RHOBH's' Yolanda Foster: Brandi should 'zip it'

By Randee Dawn, TODAY contributor

She may be the newest member of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," but that won't keep Yolanda Foster down -- she filmed the show while also battling Lyme disease, and on her first day out of the house, dropped by TODAY to chat with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford.

"While I was shooting the show I was really, really sick," she explained, sitting next to her Real Husband of Beverly Hills, Grammy-winning songwriter-producer David Foster. "As I watch myself (on the show) I'm like, 'Ok, girl, get to the point!' Because I had such tremendous brain fog."

Still, in her role as the show's "voice of reason," she had to deal with the mysterious brain workings of her fellow castmates, most of whom seemed to always have a problem with someone. Take Brandi Glanville's repeated comments about LeAnn Rimes, who is now married to Brandi's ex, Eddie Cibrian. "I think that Brandi would be a lot more powerful if she would just zip it and just walk her walk," said Yolanda. "(But) people tune in because they love to see that (sort of behavior)."

Despite the drama, David said he could never have told his wife they couldn't make the show, as she's using it as a platform to launch herself and her ideas. "Yolanda has a purpose, she has a goal ... it's a great way to get your name out there," he said. "Could you imagine (me) saying, 'No, you can't'?"

The pair have been together "7 years almost," said Yolanda, and here's one of the goals she wants to reach: "My goal is I want to piss off all of his ex-wives, because I want to be married to him longer than any of them," she grinned.

"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on Bravo.

Related content:

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Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2013/01/29/16754787-yolanda-foster-beverly-hills-housewife-brandi-glanville-should-just-zip-it?lite

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Search is on for golden cookie stolen in Germany

The combo photo released by Police in Hannover, northern Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 shows a statue gracing the facade of German cookie baker Bahlsen's Hannover office before and after the rectangular gilded bronze sculpture was taken away. A police statement said a local newspaper received a picture Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013 showing someone in an outfit similar to Sesame Street's Cookie Monster holding a golden cookie. The sender wrote to demand cookies be delivered to children at a city hospital. (AP Photo/Police Hannover)

The combo photo released by Police in Hannover, northern Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 shows a statue gracing the facade of German cookie baker Bahlsen's Hannover office before and after the rectangular gilded bronze sculpture was taken away. A police statement said a local newspaper received a picture Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013 showing someone in an outfit similar to Sesame Street's Cookie Monster holding a golden cookie. The sender wrote to demand cookies be delivered to children at a city hospital. (AP Photo/Police Hannover)

BERLIN (AP) ? Missing: One golden cookie, weighing around 44 pounds (20 kilograms).

Suspect: The Cookie Monster?

The rectangular gilded bronze sculpture was part of a statue gracing the facade of German cookie baker Bahlsen's Hannover office.

How the century-old symbol was taken remains unclear, but police say witnesses reported having seen two men with a ladder in the area earlier this month.

The company has offered ?1,000 ($1,350) for information leading to the cookie's recovery.

A police statement said a local newspaper received a picture Tuesday showing someone in an outfit similar to Sesame Street's Cookie Monster holding a golden cookie.

The sender wrote to demand cookies be delivered to children at a city hospital.

Police aren't sure if it's the same cookie, or a real claim of responsibility.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/aa9398e6757a46fa93ed5dea7bd3729e/Article_2013-01-29-EU-ODD-Germany-Stolen-Cookie/id-e03bfe87db5247f3ad14cb3203a29c91

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Detroit edges closer to bankruptcy filing

6 hrs.

Nick Carey, Bernie Woodall and Karen Pierog , Reuters

DETROIT - At the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month, luxury was in the air. Pricey new Bentleys and Maseratis glittered - including a Maserati 2014 Quattroporte with a $132,000 price tag; U.S. Cabinet Secretaries and dignitaries rubbed shoulders; and many of the well-heeled attendees ponied up for a $300-a-ticket black-tie charity ball.

But in a city that is slowly dying, the glitz didn't extend much beyond the Cobo Center exhibition hall.?General Motors Co. and Chrysler, which along with Ford Motor Co. gave the Motor City its identity, survived near-death experiences after filing for bankruptcy during the financial crisis.?

Now, Detroit itself is edging closer to a similar precipice, only unlike the automakers, its chances of getting a federal bailout are almost nonexistent.

The story of Detroit's decline is decades old: Its tax revenue and population have shrunk and labor costs have remained out of whack. But the city's budget problems have deepened to such an extent that it could run out of cash in a matter of weeks or months and ultimately be forced into what would be the largest-ever Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy filing in the United States.

Frustrated by the lack of concrete progress, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, last month appointed a team to scour the city's books. The audit could result in a state takeover of Detroit's finances through the appointment of an emergency financial manager. Such a manager, who would seize control of the city's checkbook, could then propose federal bankruptcy court as the best option.

Snyder, who has called the situation "a crisis in terms of financial affairs," said the team would deliver its report in February.

"Detroit is teetering on the verge of bankruptcy after the City Council has failed to make the necessary cuts to deal with having a smaller population," said Rick Jones, chairman of the Republican majority caucus in the state Senate.

Jones, who has indicated he does not favor a bankruptcy, said he would like to see an emergency manager installed to fix the city's problems. If that failed, there would be a case for finding a way to shrink the Detroit municipal area, he argued.

Detroit's population is now just over 700,000 - down 30 percent since 1990 - but the city still has to provide services to an area encompassing more land than San Francisco, Boston and the borough of Manhattan.

While Democratic Mayor Dave Bing and the Detroit City Council have moved to reduce spending and initiate some reforms to stave off a takeover, including layoffs and wage and benefit cuts, the progress may not be enough for Michigan officials and lawmakers.

Streets without lights
In the booming post-Second World War era, Detroit was America's fifth-largest city. Today, it ranks 18th. In addition to a sharp population decline, it suffers from high unemployment related to a loss of businesses, a flood of home foreclosures and a cut in state funding. That has led to shriveling revenue, leaving the city unable to afford a workforce of more than 10,000 and the surging health and pension costs that go with them and with its retirees. As a result, credit ratings on Detroit's approximately $8.2 billion of outstanding debt have sunk deeper into junk territory.

The city's labor costs, including health care and pensions, are shrinking in absolute terms but rising as a share of the budget. They are slated to drop to $968 million, or nearly 49.5 percent of the operating budget, in the fiscal year ending June 30 versus $1.14 billion, or 45.5 percent, a year earlier.

Signs of decline are everywhere - in a rising crime rate, streets without lights and block after block of abandoned buildings. The murder rate of one per 1,719 people last year was more than 11 times the rate in New York City. The jobless rate is above 18 percent, more than twice rate for the country as a whole.

A bankruptcy would be messy.

The interests of creditors would likely collide with those of labor unions wanting to protect workers' benefits, said Eric Scorsone, a Michigan State University economist who has written papers on municipal bankruptcy and on the state's emergency manager laws.

"It is going to require the players - the City Council, the mayor, the state - to be on the same page. If you go into bankruptcy with a lot of conflict and dissent, it's going to cost more," said Scorsone.

It could also be racially explosive. Detroit has the largest percentage of black people of any U.S. city, with 83 percent of the population identifying themselves as African American, black or Negro, according to the 2010 U.S. census. Most of Michigan's state government, including the governor's office, is run by white Republicans. ?

Detroit Council Member JoAnn Watson, who along with two other members of the city's all-black City Council has been resisting reform measures, said she is still hopeful of a federal bailout or an injection of state money that she claims the city is owed.

Mayor Bing would not comment for this story.

Consequences
The automakers have little to say publicly about the crisis. Most of their operations in Michigan are now outside Detroit, and getting any top executive to even discuss the possibility of a city bankruptcy was almost impossible at the auto show. "I don't want to get into the politics," said GM CEO Dan Akerson, while Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said: "I don't see what the consequences would be for us."

One of the city's biggest challenges is its complex set of labor agreements with a whopping 48 bargaining units that represent most of the city's workforce.

Max Newman, a bankruptcy attorney at Michigan-based Butzel Long, said a Chapter 9 bankruptcy could help the city throw out its collective bargaining agreements with unions.

Costs would have to be tackled since Detroit cannot just jack up taxes to reduce the cumulative budget deficit, which grew to $326.6 million in fiscal 2012 from $196.6 million in fiscal 2011. The state would likely resist tax increases, and they might only make matters worse anyway. "If taxes go up any further it would exacerbate the flight out of the city," Newman said.

But for some of those who have seen Detroit struggle for years, bankruptcy is starting to look like the least awful option - even though it will be painful.

"I think...off and on, that it wouldn't be a bad idea," said former Ford chief financial officer Allan Gilmour, now the president of Detroit's Wayne State University. "Let's clean this out once and for all."

Additional reporting by Deepa Seetharaman and Paul Lienert in Detroit.

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/stuck-reverse-detroit-edges-closer-bankruptcy-1C8149698

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Mali secures recaptured towns, donors pledge funds

DOUENTZA/GAO, Mali (Reuters) - French-backed Malian troops searched house-to-house in Gao and Timbuktu on Tuesday, uncovering arms and explosives abandoned by Islamist fighters, and France said it aimed to hand over longer-term security operations in Mali to an African force.

An 18-day offensive in France's former West African colony has pushed the militants out of major towns and into desert and mountain hideouts to head off the risk of Mali being used as a springboard for jihadist attacks in the wider region or Europe.

French and Malian troops retook the two Saharan trading towns of Timbuktu and Gao at the weekend virtually unopposed.

Doubts remain about just how quickly the African intervention force, known as AFISMA and now expected to exceed 8,000 troops, could be fully deployed in Mali to hunt down and eradicate retreating al Qaeda-allied insurgents in the north.

International donors meeting in Addis Ababa pledged just over $455 million for the Mali crisis. But it was not clear whether all of this would go directly to AFISMA, which African leaders have estimated will cost almost $1 billion.

"You will certainly understand that it is not sufficient. But I think it is only the beginning. We hope that it will continue, and that the money we need will come," Malian interim President Dioncounda Traore told reporters in Addis Ababa.

He earlier announced his government would aim to organize "credible" elections for July 31 in response to demands from major Western backers of the anti-rebel action.

Malian soldiers combed through the dusty alleys and mud-brick homes of Gao and Timbuktu. In Gao, they arrested at least five suspected rebels and sympathizers, turned over by local people, and uncovered caches of weapons and counterfeit money.

Fleeing Islamist fighters torched a Timbuktu library holding priceless ancient manuscripts, damaging many.

Residents reported some looting of shops in Timbuktu owned by Arabs and Tuaregs suspected of having helped the Islamists who had occupied the world-famous seat of Islamic learning, a UNESCO World Heritage site, since last year.

Malian troops have also been accused by international human rights groups of carrying out revenge killings of suspected Islamist rebels and sympathizers in retaken areas.

In the face of reports of such reprisals, France called on Tuesday for the swift deployment of international observers in Mali to ensure human rights are not abused.

DESERT HIDEOUTS

Malian army sources told Reuters pockets of armed Islamist fighters, on foot to avoid French air strikes, were still hiding in the savannah and deserts around Gao and Timbuktu and near main roads leading to them, parts of which were still unsafe.

The West African country has been in political limbo since a March 2012 coup triggered the Islamist takeover of the north.

France has sent around 3,000 troops to Mali at the request of its government but is anxious not to get bogged down in a messy counter-insurgency war in their former Sahel colony.

The French have also made clear that while the first phase of liberating the biggest north Mali towns may be over, a more difficult challenge to flush the Islamist desert insurgents from their isolated rural lairs still looms.

"We will stay as long as necessary. We want to make sure there will be a good handover between France and AFISMA. There is no question of us getting stuck in the mud," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in Addis Ababa.

MORE FUNDS NEEDED

The leading donors pledging funds in Addis Ababa were Japan, the European Union and the United States. But African Union officials could not immediately break down how much was intended for the African intervention force, how much for Mali's army and how much for broader humanitarian purposes.

"The participants are of the view there is a need to continue to work together to mobilize further resources," said AU Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra.

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara, who chairs the West African bloc ECOWAS contributing the most troops for the African Mali force, estimated its cost at more than $950 million.

The United States and European governments are backing the French and African military operation against the Islamist rebels with logistical, airlift and intelligence support, but they are not sending combat troops.

They regard the intervention as vital to root out an al |Qaeda-allied insurgency in West Africa that could threaten African governments and Western interests from Mauritania to oil-producing Nigeria, as well as strike directly in Europe.

The head of the U.N. mission in Libya, Tarek Mitri, told the Security Council the French-led military intervention could worsen a "precarious" security situation inside Libya by pushing fighters and arms across its porous Saharan borders.

U.S. DRONES FOR NIGER

The bulk of the planned African intervention force for Mali is still struggling to get into the country, hampered by shortages of kit and supplies and lack of airlift capacity.

Around 2,000 troops are already on the ground to fight the Islamists, who have retreated to the rugged northeast mountains of the Adrar des Ifoghas range on the border with Algeria.

Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Niger and Chad are providing soldiers. Burundi and other nations have pledged to contribute. Hundreds of soldiers from Chad and Niger with desert warfare experience have already crossed into Mali.

The commander of Chad's forces in Mali, Abdu Aziz Hassan Adam, told Reuters in Gao his forces were ready to "sweep the terrorists out of the north of Mali. They are a threat for all the countries of the world".

Britain said on Tuesday up to 240 soldiers could take part in missions to train troops in Mali in addition to at least 90 already taking part in logistical operations.

The United States has extended deployment of surveillance drones that could track down rebel bases and columns in the Sahara desert. Mali's neighbor Niger on Tuesday gave permission for U.S. drones to fly from its territory.

The United States has also begun doing aerial refueling for French aircraft in Mali, has been sharing intelligence with France and by January 27 had ferried over 390 tonnes of equipment and supplies and over 500 personnel, the Pentagon said.

"This is a key effort...Terrorist groups have threatened to establish a safe haven in Mali and the French have done absolutely the right thing," said Pentagon spokesman George Little. Washington would consider further aid based on need.

(Additional reporting by Aaron Maasho in Addis Ababa, Laurent Prieur in Nouakchott, Mohammed Abbas in London, Abdoulaye Massalatchi in Niamey, Lucia Mutikani, Anna Yukhananov and David Storey in Washington; Writing by Pascal Fletcher; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/malian-troops-uncover-rebel-arms-caches-recaptured-towns-155158359.html

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Is McDonald's Actually Getting Healthier Or Does It - Business Insider

McDonald's has announced the creation of 2,500 new British jobs. Over the last five years, in fact, the company increased its UK workforce by 20,000 ? a rise of over 20%. Many of these McJobbers will be workers on benefits or "Wobs", of course, and they'll still be miserably underpaid on seven or eight quid an hour while, last year, the company's chief executive James Skinner took home almost $9m.

But whatever its reputation among those of us who care about working conditions, public health, the environment and the quality of the food we eat, McDonald's is still doing extraordinarily well. Every day, 68 million people visit one of its restaurants. If you'd bought its stock in 2004, when Morgan Spurlock released Supersize Me and some people predicted the eventual death of the giant, you'd have tripled your money by now.

The McDonald's PR campaign of the mid-noughties has undeniably been a success. But did the chain actually improve, or were its changes merely cosmetic? In the UK, at least, I would argue McDonald's felt genuinely compelled to act on some of the concerns people had raised about it. It introduced more salads and fresh fruit to its menus, it began to use only free-range eggs and organic milk, it made its revolting coffee Rainforest Alliance and it began to recycle much more than it had before. People argued, with some reason, that the lettuce leaves were just fig leaves: that healthy-ish food in a burger joint was only a "vehicle to sell more burgers and fries", as one anti-junk food campaigner put it to the New York Times.

In part, she was probably right. But Jamie Oliver was right as well: it's now possible to eat a relatively healthy meal in McDonald's. (This is if you define "healthy" as merely "not high in fat and sugar": a narrow definition, but the most important in the debate on obesity.) This is an undeniable improvement on the situation 10 years ago. Many people thought that putting calorie counts on menus would look stupid or nannying, but those numbers turned out to make it much easier for people to make better choices about the food they buy. Middle class as I am, I use them in Pret sometimes. Anyone could guess that a ham and cheese toastie is going to be more calorific than a tuna salad, but few would necessarily have realised the toastie has well over three times as many calories as the tuna.

While it's clear that McDonald's continues to make it easy to eat very badly for very little money, I'm not convinced it's reasonable to blame it alone for the obesity crisis. Blind though it perhaps is of me, I still marvel that it can raise, kill and butcher a cow, make a bun and cheese with all those weird chemicals, lurid colours and sugar, van everything round the country or the planet, pay the rents on the restaurants, hand its staff their abysmal wages or million-dollar bonuses, market itself ferociously, and still sell a cheeseburger for 99p.

I'm no convert to McDonald's. Its pay remains a disgrace; its core product deeply unhealthy (a "Big Tasty with Bacon", large fries and medium chocolate milkshake has 1,780 calories) and it retains a pathological hostility to trade unions. I was as revolted as anyone at its presence in those monolithically ugly premises in the Olympic park. But under pressure from campaigners it has been forced to improve a little in the last few years. The correct response is not applause, it should be to intensify that pressure.

? This article was commissioned after a suggestion from Imageark. If there's a subject you'd like to see covered on Comment is free, please visit our You tell us page

This article originally appeared on guardian.co.uk

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/is-mcdonalds-actually-getting-healthier-or-does-it-just-have-good-pr-2013-1

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Harbaugh Family Started Football Career in Eaton

EATON -- This Sunday, football history will be made when Jim and John Harbaugh become the first brothers to coach against each other in the Super Bowl.

But the Harbaughs' passion for the game actually started here in the Miami Valley on a football field in Eaton, where dad, Jack, roamed the sidelines.

''He was only here for two years, but he made quite an impact on the town.'', Phillip Manley, who played for Eaton in 1964 told us.

Jack Harbaugh's first head coaching job was with Eaton High School from 1964-65, and even today at the Red Mule Inn, his former players still talk about his arrival.

''My sophomore year we were 0-10, my junior year we went 1-9 and then Jack came in and turned the program around.'', Ron Hayes, another one of Harbaugh's former players tells us.

The former Eaton players tell us Jim and John spent a lot of time on the sidelines, when they were just two and three years old, and none of the former Fighting Eagles are shocked by their rise to success.

''Well it doesn't surprise me.? I'd say the sons, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.'', Brad Davis remembers.

Bob and Brad Davis add another father son twist to this story, Bob played for Jack at Eaton and Bob was part of the elder Harbaugh's two decades of success at Western Kentucky.

''Not many father and sons can sit back and enjoy this moment.? It really is quite special and I'm not sure how many people can appreciate that.? We both have been under Harbaugh, influenced by Harbaugh and that's a special thing.''

But ask these guys which Harbaugh they will be rooting for this Sunday, and they all come up undecided.

''Not rooting for either one of them, just thrilled to death that both of them have accomplished what they accomplished.''

Jack Harbaugh was at Eaton for two seasons before eventually moving to Xenia for one year and eventually went on to win a National Championship at Western Kentucky.Harbaugh Family Started Football Career in Eaton

Source: http://www.abc22now.com/shared/news/top-stories/stories/wkef_harbaugh-family-started-football-career-eaton-11130.shtml?wap=0

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Family, Parenting, Reviews, and Giveaways - The Attic Girl: Gifts for ...

We always look forward to birthdays at our house.? They are a chance to celebrate milestones with family and friends.? And another excuse to eat delicious treats.? Because really, what would a birthday be without a yummy indulgement?

My hubby is celebrating a birthday this month and sometimes he can be tough to buy for.? He's not hard to please; he's exactly the opposite.? He will tell me he doesn't need anything and I am left hunting for birthday gift ideas.

Shari's berries was right up my alley.? They have a great selection of delicious treats to choose from for every occasion, from cookies and cupcakes to dipped strawberries.? Neither my hubby nor I have ordered anything from this company, but we had heard great things about them and I was excited to pick out something to surprise my sweetheart!

{I will warn you now that you will end up hungry and possibly drooling after reading this post.}?

?I chose this combination of 4 Caramel Pretzels and a Full Dozen Hand-Dipped Medley Berries.? Milk Chocolate, White chocolate, dark chocolate, caramel....this one has it all.?? It combines my hubby's love for fruit, pretzels, and chocolate.? I figured I couldn't go wrong.

The ordering process is easy peasy.??? You can choose the date you want your order shipped, which is a good thing, because you want to be home to get this box off your porch as soon as possible to refrigerate.? You will have to pay a bit extra in shipping if you want a morning delivery (I opted not to).

The box arrived in mid-afternoon on my doorstep.? I'm glad I was paying attention because I didn't hear a knock at the door.

There was some padding in the top of the box and an ice pack.? The instructions on the outside of the box are pretty humorous.? I most definitely would have listened if this had been for me.? But instead, I opened it up, took some photos, and put it in the fridge like a good wife. ?
?The box included a gift card, an ingredient list, and some discounts toward my next order.? I was a little disappointed that the pretzels arrived with half of them broken, but it wasn't a big enough deal for me to complain.? The strawberries were absolutely perfect: no melting, no broken chocolate coating.??

These hand-dipped strawberries were very fresh and juicy.? The chocolate was just right; not too rich and the right amount covering the berry.? My hubby devoured about half of them when they arrived.? (I helped him out by trying one and it was nummy!) He finished the box the next day.? I would suggest planning on eating them the day they arrive while they are at their freshest.? A couple of the berries weren't as fresh the day after.??

{Don't they look delicious?}?

Hubby said the pretzels were quite good.? Because they are dipped in chocolate and caramel, the insides are not super crisp.? But he likes a softer pretzel so he was happy.? I am not a big pretzel eater, but I tried a bite.? I definitely liked the chocolate and caramel together, especially the white chocolate.?

This gift was a huge hit and satisfied my hubby's (and my) sweet tooth.? We have definitely become Shari's Berries fans through this experience!? While these are expensive for a family on a budget (roughly $65 including shipping), they are certainly a delicious treat for special occasions, especially Valentine's Day gifts.? And you can find coupon codes on their site.

Right now, you can save 20% off your order of $39 or more through 2/12/13. Find out how at this link:
Sharri's Berries Discounts

Disclosure:? I received the above items for review purposes.? No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.? For more info. see my Disclosure Policy.

Source: http://www.atticgirl.com/2013/01/gifts-for-your-sweetheart-your-sweet.html

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Hospital patient loads often at unsafe levels, physician survey says

Jan. 28, 2013 ? Nationwide, more than one-quarter of hospital-based general practitioners who take over for patients' primary care doctors to manage inpatient care say their average patient load exceeds safe levels multiple times per month, according to a new Johns Hopkins study. Moreover, the study found that one in five of these physicians, known as hospitalists, reports that their workload puts patients at risk for serious complications, or even death.

The research, reported in JAMA Internal Medicine, comes as health care systems anticipate an influx of new patients generated by the Affordable Care Act over the next few years; as restrictions on resident-physicians limit their duty hours; and as one in three physicians is expected to retire or otherwise leave medicine over the next 10 years, cumulatively resulting in increased patient care needs coupled with stressed staffing demands.

"As perceived by physicians, workload issues have the significant potential to do harm and decrease quality," says study leader Henry J. Michtalik, M.D., M.P.H., M.H.S., an assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "It is the elephant in the room that cannot be ignored. We have to find that balance between safety, quality and efficiency."

The Johns Hopkins study comprised a survey of 890 hospitalists across the United States, 506 of whom responded. Twenty-two percent of the respondents reported ordering costly and potentially unnecessary tests, procedures or consults because they didn't have time to properly assess patients assigned to their care.

"If a hospitalist is short on time and a patient is having chest pains, for example, the doctor may be more likely to order additional tests, prescribe aspirin and call a cardiologist -- all because there isn't adequate time to immediately and fully evaluate the patient," Michtalik says.

For the study, Michtalik, a hospitalist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and his colleagues electronically surveyed self-identified hospitalists enrolled in an online physician community, QuantiaMD.com. Of those who responded over the course of four weeks in November 2010, the average age was 38 years and more than half worked in community hospitals. Among other questions, physicians were asked to report what they felt was a safe number of patients to see in a typical shift. Most physicians reported that they could safely see 15 patients in a shift if they could focus 100 percent on clinical matters. When the average actual workload was compared to the perceived safe workload, 40 percent of physicians exceeded their own reported safe level.

Michtalik says that JHH's hospitalists typically stay below that number, while hospitalists at community hospitals often see more than 15 patients per shift.

"Hospitals need to evaluate workloads of attending physicians, create standards for safe levels of work and develop mechanisms to maintain workload at safe levels," he adds.

The study was supported by National Institutes of Health grant T32 HP10025-17-00, the NIH/Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research KL2 Award 5KL2RR025006 and the Johns Hopkins Hospitalist Scholars Program.

Other Johns Hopkins researchers involved in the study include Hsin-Chieh "Jessica" Yeh, Ph.D.; Peter J. Pronovost, M.D., Ph.D.; and Daniel J. Brotman, M.D.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Johns Hopkins Medicine, via Newswise.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Henry J. Michtalik, Hsin-Chieh Yeh, Peter J. Pronovost, Daniel J. Brotman. Impact of Attending Physician Workload on Patient Care: A Survey of Hospitalists. JAMA Intern Med., 2013 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1864

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://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/9LhIrMIRPJ4/130128163331.htm

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Just Add Sugar: Oklahoma Baby Shower

Ryan & I have been so blessed with wonderful friends & family offering to host baby showers for us.? I know it's sort of unusual to have so many.? But since we both have large families that live in town?& just moved from Kansas City to Bartlesville, OK we've ended up having several showers.? We have the best friends? and family anyone could ever ask for!? Thank you guys!!

Two weeks ago my good friends, Janet & Sara, hosted a small baby shower for friends in Bartlesville.? That way they didn't have to travel to the one in Kansas City.? The shower was held at Janet's beautiful home that's actually just down the street from our house!

I LOVED these invitations.? Sara found the design off Etsy.

How cute is this setup??

The girls made everything homemade including the strawberry lemonade.? Everything was to die for.

Sara also made this sweet diaper wreath for the front door.? I've never seen one of these before!? This girl is talented.? :)

Sara also found this idea on Pinterest to have all the guests make head bands for Maggie!? She found the kit on Etsy.? I had never heard of this before either!! I LOVED this and can't wait to put them on Maggie's sweet little head knowing my friends made them for her.

Katie, Stacey, Megan & Lauren (the back of her)

Of course the finger print tree came to this shower as well!

Sara, Megan, Katie, Lauren, Jill (the back of her), Janet?& Stacey

I love getting girly baby clothes!? Sara found this sweet thing off Etsy as well. (Don't you just love Etsy?!)

A gift from my good friend, Emily, (shout out!)?who now lives in Texas & couldn't make it to the shower.

Janet, Me & Sara

The amazing hostesses!!? Thank you guys so much for the gorgeous shower.? It was absolutely perfect!!

Source: http://www.just-add-sugar.com/2013/01/oklahoma-baby-shower.html

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'Zero Dark Thirty' Debate: Torture Has No Place in a Civilized Society

As I sat through the movie "Zero Dark Thirty," I shut my eyes in some of the "interrogation" scenes and reflected on the debate surrounding the movie. Some have said the movie shows torture did help in finding Osama bin Laden. Others have said the film reveals that torture really wasn't instrumental in tracking him down. To quote Hillary Clinton (on another topic), does it really matter???

Torture has no place in a civilized society. No matter the success or means to achieve a good end, torture (or as some leaders referred to it, enhanced interrogation techniques) reflects our darkest impulses and pulls all of us in this democracy to a dark place.

Would we as a society tolerate this kind of torture of our own citizens? I think not. Do we really deep down find that this behavior makes us a better people? I sure hope not. As I watched other folks in the theater in downtown Austin turn away at the water boarding and other torture techniques, I thought to myself if we have to turn away watching a movie then doesn't that really tell us that this is wrong, no matter all the rationalization about it helping to save lives and track terrorists.

READ: 'Zero Dark Thirty': Bin Laden Manhunt Film Based on Controversial Firsthand Accounts: 'Nightline' Exclusive

I also thought about my son who served in the army for five years who speaks Arabic and actually looks a good bit like the main terrorist character (when he hasn't shaved for a bit) who was tortured through most of the first half of the movie. It turned my stomach to think of my son tied up like that or treated like that by some tribal group in Iraq (where he was deployed for nearly a year and a half) who might think he was the aggressor in their country.

Putting my son in that terrorist's place just for a moment actually opened a truth for me. If we believe as underlined in the movie "Lincoln" and in President Obama's Inaugural Address, that it is a self-evident truth that "all men are created equal," then how can we as a free compassionate "Christian" nation allow this to go on. Does "all men" just stop at our shores? Does it stop when some person or group does something horrendous to us? It is not in the niceties that our values are tested, but when something horrible and awful and undeserved happens that we truly know who we are.

READ: Kathryn Bigelow Answers Critics on Torture

The debate surrounding "Zero Dark Thirty" shouldn't be about whether the means of torture actually helped in achieving the good end of tracking down bin Laden. It should really be about whether any good ends justify use of means we would never accept or tolerate on our citizens. In the end, it is the means with which we live life or the means in which our society and leaders act, that will determine what we will end up like in this great journey of life.

READ: 'Zero Dark Thirty' Director: Torture 'Reprehensible'

I am not arguing that we don't have a right to defend ourselves and fight back when innocents are threatened. I come from a large Irish Catholic family in Detroit who deeply believes in protecting each other and the vulnerable in our society. In fact, I have one brother who retired from the Coast Guard and one who served in the Marines, as well as my son who enlisted on his own as a 19-year-old.

I am just saying that if for a moment you closed your eyes in the awful torture scenes and put your son or daughter in the place of that terrorist or a brother or sister or a niece or nephew, would you think those were acceptable techniques to extract information. I believe we as a people are better than that, and if we really believe that "whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do unto Me," then we deep down know the answer. Civil liberty and decency and justice are meant for all men and women. And each person in the world is our sister and brother or son and daughter.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/zero-dark-thirty-debate-torture-no-place-civilized-113222389--abc-news-politics.html

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The Sunday Shows (TIME)

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The TV Business: A Primer For The Uninformed | KIT digital

It?s a relentless drumbeat: the TV industry is dead. It?s just like the music industry. 20somethings are avoiding the cord. I want HBO a la carte. YouTube will kill cable. The TV industry is dead.

And yet, if there?s a common thread to all these articles and blog posts, it?s that so many of the people writing them have a limited idea of how the television industry actually works, particularly from a business perspective.

So here?s a little primer on how the US television industry works (there are significant difference in other countries), just to clear the air.

The Players:
This is step one ? knowing who is who and what their relationships are. We are going to look at the 7 key players, circa 2013: The Networks, The MVPDs, The Premium Networks, The OTT Networks, Smart TVs, Third Party devices and Social TV.

PLAYER #1: The Networks: The networks (ABC, CBS, MTV, et al) provide content and right now, they are the most powerful force in the industry.
How Do They Make Money?
Networks have two revenue streams:
1. Ad Sales ? networks sell national advertising on their shows; local advertising is sold by the carriers.
2. Content Deals ? networks license their content to the various cable companies, satellite providers and telcos (collectively known in the industry as MVPDs.? Multichannel Video Programming Distributors) The price is determined by the value of the network (number of viewers, potential revenue from local ad sales) multiplied by the number of subscribers the MVPD has. These deals are renegotiated every few years, which is why you sometimes see battles where say, Verizon is threatening not to show AMC programming because the post-Mad Men/Breaking Bad AMC wants more money than Verizon is prepared to give them. Here?s Where It Gets Tricky: Most of the larger networks own multiple channels. And they sell them to the MVPDs as an airtight package: You want ESPN? Well then you need to take the Badminton Channel and the Dodge Ball Channel and all 30 of ESPN/Disney?s other channels too. Right now, the MVPDs don?t have much wiggle room since they compete with each other and not being able to offer ESPN to potential subscribers would put them at a huge disadvantage. But Wait! There?s More! The networks know that you probably don?t want to watch the Badminton Channel, so they forbid the MVPDs from letting you do things like making your ?Favorite Channels? list the default view, lest you leave the Badminton Channel off of that list. Networks also pay to have a good spot in the channel line-up and so they?re not about to give that up and let you, the viewer, start creating your own order? at least not as the default view.
What You Need To Know ? Comcast, Verizon, Time-Warner et al are not forcing you to take thousand-channel bundled packages. The networks are more or less forcing them to offer it. The MVPDs would love to be able to sell unbundled packages since they?d make more money by signing up more subscribers while simultaneously cutting their own content acquisition costs.
When Will This Change? So here?s the current thinking: at some point, someone will launch a virtual MVPD (e.g. internet-based) with a beautiful interface and all the bells and whistles of advanced TV systems (any device, any place, any time.) This will be a premium priced system and will be very popular. Popular enough, that it will be in the best interest of an ESPN to allow this new MVPD to break up their bundle. And then the wall will crumble. This is what Apple has been trying to do (the mythical Apple TV) and they are not alone. So far, no one?s gotten any traction? there?s no compelling business reason for any of the networks to play ball with them, but at some point this will change.
?A Beautiful Interface?? The interface is the main pain point in today?s TV viewing experience. That giant, unwieldy grid was designed for about 7 channels and is now being forced to accommodate 700. A new interface would need to be free from the stranglehold of bundled content, which is why you haven?t seen one yet. But look at XBox or Roku for an idea of what?s possible.

PLAYER #2: The MVPDs
Comcast, Verizon, DirectTV and the rest. The United States is the only country where MVPDs ? Multichannel Video Programming Distributors (e.g. the cable, satellite and telcos who bring you your pay TV) are regional rather than national.
How Do They Make Money?
MVPDs have two revenue streams:
Local Ad Sales on the programming they run
Subscription fees So here?s the thing to remember here: the vast majority of MVPDs don?t just sell pay TV packages. They sell broadband and landline services too. The old ?Triple Play.? It?s an incredibly lucrative system for them and an incredibly bulletproof one too. How Many Cords Can You Cut? It?s bulletproof because what pundits forget when they talk about ?cord cutting? is that the cord that brings you television is generally attached to the cord that brings you internet. And if you?re cutting the one, you?re still going to need the other. (To put this in perspective, over 90% of FIOS and Uverse subscribers get TV and broadband from the same provider.) So here?s where the genius of this set-up kicks in: the MVPDs will give you two options ? get the pay TV service and get unlimited bandwidth (free unlimited bandwidth, in the case of Google Fiber), or, get broadband only, but face bandwidth caps. If you?re a heavy TV watcher who plans to get content off web-based services like Netflix and iTunes, you probably won?t wind up saving any money. MVPDs Are Not Blind They see where the market is going, understand the effect of Netflix and iTunes. And so they are busy cutting deals to include them in their offering. It?s already happening in Kansas City, where Google Fiber TV has Netflix baked into the program guide with more OTT (broadband) channels to come. Other MVPDs are not far behind.
What Happened To TV Everywhere? The lawyers squashed it. Not the MVPDs lawyers ? they?re the ones trying to get it off the ground. Rather, it?s been the lawyers for the networks and other content providers. They don?t want users watching shows outside the house unless they can get retrans fees from the MVPDs (retransmission fees? they are claiming that a Comcast subscriber watching a live show on her iPad on the train is watching a different transmission than the one her husband is watching at home and the MVPD should reimburse them accordingly, because there?s no way to count the iPad views for ratings (and eventually advertising purposes.) But Dish Is Bringing It Back To Life: At CES 2013, Dish unveiled a new set top box called the Sling Hopper that essentially blew TV Everywhere out of the water. The Slinghopper, which is a mash-up of the Slingbox and the Hopper, gives viewers the ability to watch shows off their home set top box anywhere there?s an internet connection.That is likely to open up the door for the other MVPDs to roll out their own TV Everywhere systems, lest they lose customers to Dish.
What You Need To Know - Convenience usually trumps price and the MVPDs will soon be offering all the services viewers were cutting the cord for. Add in disincentives like bandwidth caps, and cutting the cord starts to seem like a bad idea.

PLAYER #3: THE PREMIUM NETWORKS
HBO, Showtime, Red Zone and other sports networks.
How Do They Make Money?
Subscriptions. The subscriptions are sold via the MVPDs who collect the money for them and keep a percentage for themselves as a profit. HBO GO The success of HBO GO took the network by surprise: they did not expect it to become such a runaway hit and are still figuring out what to do with it. What they do know is that it?s a great bargaining chip with the MVPDs: give us a bigger share of the subscription fee or we?ll start selling directly to consumers. We?ve already got it up and running in Scandinavia. Why That?s Not Going To Happen Anytime Soon: Ever had to collect money for a co-worker?s birthday party? Remember how painful that was? Multiply that by 29 million and you?ll get a sense of what HBO is going to be up against if they try selling HBO GO on their own. 29 million bills each month. Call centers. Online help. Chasing down the deadbeats. Meanwhile, under the current system, the MVPDs collect the money for them and provide a steady income stream every month. They run specials like ?three free months of HBO when you join? that bring even more subscribers on board. They even handle authentication on HBO Go. So why would HBO ever want to give that up? Especially since the MVPDs would drop them like a proverbial hot potato if they ever tried? Bottom line is that HBO is not ?leaving money on the table? by not giving you an a la carte subscription. They?re just making sure the money stays on the table.
So No A La Carte, Ever? Not directly through HBO. But probably through your MVPD, who?d love to sell a combo basic cable/HBO subscription to all those recent college grads. It?ll happen at around the same time the bundles get unbundled.

PLAYER #4: THE OTT SERVICES
Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Vudu, iTunes and all the other streaming services. (OTT = Over The Top, a reference to how web-based video is delivered, e.g. without a set top box. Like MVPD, this is another industry term that?s good to know.)
How Do They Make Money?
Subscriptions (Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime)
Sales and Rentals (Amazon, Vudu, iTunes)
Subscription services have the edge here. They may not have the selection their counterparts have, especially in terms of new movies, but they have ease of use. Rentals are tough: rights issues limit the rental period to 48 hours and forbid renewals making it a tough sell. So is having to pay $3 or $4 every time you want to see a movie: with a monthly subscription, the viewer is less aware of the financial transaction.
Where Are They Headed: Industry expectation is that the various OTT services will all cut deals with the MVPDs, where they?ll either be just another premium channel (Netflix) or a Pay Per View option. It?s just easier all around, particularly for consumers, who won?t need to add an extra device to watch OTT networks on their main TV. It?s also better for OTT networks as it expands their base of potential viewers.

PLAYER #5: SMART TVs
Samsung, Sony, Panasonic and other manufacturers
How Do They Make Money?
Direct sales to consumers. The additional ?smart? features were used to justify higher prices than ?dumb? HDTVs, though eventually everything goes on sale
Most Consumers Don?t Hook Them Up While the advantage of a smart TV is the ability to use an app-like button built into the set?s interface as an easy way to connect to Netflix or Facebook, several studies in the US and UK show that most consumers don?t bother hooking up the Smart TVs to the internet. Difficulty of set-up is the most likely reason for that, though lack of interoperability between different brands, and lack of demand for non-TV-centric apps (e.g. Facebook) also figure prominently
Future Prospects Not very bright for the app-based Smart TVs, but the notion of a ?connected TV? ? a TV that connects to the internet via a second screen device is where the industry is headed. Connected TVs will enable cloud-based systems capable of serving up millions of hours worth of programming. (That?s a lot of reruns.)

PLAYER #6: 3RD PARTY OTT DEVICES
Roku, Apple TV, Boxee, Google TV
How Do They Make Money?
Direct sales to consumers. Though Roku is moving into Pay-Per-View specials (think 1980s HBO) and they?re all looking for licensing deals with TV manufacturers and MVPDs (similar to the ones Cablevision and TimeWarner inked with Roku this month) particularly in developing countries, where TV is likely to skip the cable-to-the-house phase.
Long Term Prognosis: Roku recently introduced a device the size of a thumb drive that plugs into the TV?s USB drive and draws power from the TV set. All the more reason to believe that all these third party devices and their operating systems will get snatched up by MVPDs and/or TV manufacturers who will incorporate the technology and interfaces into an all-in-one device.

PLAYER #7: SOCIAL TV
Zeebox, Viggle, NextGuide, Fanhattan, Twitter, Facebook, et al. ?Second Screen apps? is the industry term for what?s also known as Social TV
How Do They Make Money?
They don?t.
Not yet anyway. They don?t even make the networks and MVPDs any kind of demonstrable money beyond a possible viewership boost on a handful of shows and specials. (True Blood, The Grammys, Pretty Little Liars)
Changing The Channel Is The Killer App Time shifting (watching a show via catch-up, DVR or On-Demand) makes chat less relevant and discovery more relevant. The problem with discovery-based apps is that you still need to find the remote in order to change the channel. That?s not a very good user experience and it?s why we?re starting to see apps adding that functionality (Zeebox and Sky in the UK.)
2nd Screen Apps Will Likely Come From The MVPDs The most likely evolution of the second screen app is as a combination remote control-program guide with an overlay of social functionality that lives on a 7 or 8 inch tablet (iPad Mini or Nexus) and is provided by the MVPD. (Full Disclosure: KIT makes such a product, the white-label SPG.) The apps will be able to accommodate a range of second screen content, programming and discovery features,as well as an ?ad locker? ? a screen where users can do deeper dives into ads they?ve seen on TV at their own convenience. Google Fiber is giving voice-enabled Nexus tablets to users of its Google Fiber TV to use as remote controls and the rest of the industry is expected to follow suit over the next year or two. As current thinking has tablet-based apps replacing set top boxes (tablets are cheaper to provide and apps are easier to update) this is going to happen pretty quickly.
Making Money Off The Second Screen: The second screen is likely to become a major revenue source for the MVPDs. With more content than ever before, discovery will become critical. Unable to rely on on-air promotions to drive interest in new shows, networks will pay to have their properties featured in second screen recommendation engines. That opens the door to brand tie-ins and related ad vehicles. Look for the second screen ad market to eventually rival the first screen one.

SUMMARY
Change Happens Gradually And Then All At Once. The TV industry is in the same place the cell phone industry was just before the introduction of the iPhone: all the pieces are there, it?s just no one?s bothered to put them together. There?s no pressure on anyone to innovate because no one?s disrupting the market and so there?s no business reason to be an innovator: it?s risky and most companies are risk-averse. Eventually, someone will toss that bomb into the crowd and blow things up, the way the iPhone blew up the cell phone market. It may be Google or Apple or Intel or someone you?ve never heard of. Whoever it is, it has to be someone who feels their current market position is tenuous enough to make a risky move worth it. And what?s important to remember is that right now there?s no one in the TV industry who fits that description: profits are up, not down. But it will happen, and once it happens, change will come quickly. And everything you?ve just read will be completely and hopelessly out-of-date.

Source: http://www.kitd.com/2013/01/7168/

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Bulgarians seen challenging government in nuclear plant vote

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgarians are expected to vote in favor of building a new nuclear power plant in their first referendum in the post-communist era on Sunday, challenging the government's decision to abandon the multi-billion-dollar project.

The plebiscite will be seen as a test of public support for the policies of rightist Prime Minister Boiko Borisov ahead of a July election, even though high turnout requirements mean the result of the nuclear referendum is not likely to be binding.

Only 9.34 percent of the voters in the Balkan country had cast a ballot by 1 p.m. (6.00 a.m. ET), six hours before the polling stations were to close, official data showed. Analysts said the apparent voter apathy was mainly due to lack of expert information on the cost, benefits and need for a new plant.

Borisov, already struggling to revive a lackluster economy, canceled the construction of the 2,000-megawatt plant at Belene in March, saying the Balkan country could not afford to foot the bill, estimated at more than 10 billion euros ($13.5 billion).

Bulgaria's allies in Brussels and Washington also opposed the project, fearing it would deepen the country's economic and political dependence on Russia. Moscow offered to finance the plant, which would have been built by its Atomstroyexport.

But opinion polls suggested two thirds of people who said they intended to vote would choose to press on with the plant, many of them hoping it would rein in electricity prices, create jobs and help make Bulgaria an energy hub for southeast Europe.

"Bulgaria needs a new nuclear power plant. I do not want my kids to pay high electricity bills and that's what will happen if we give up the construction of the Belene plant," engineer Georgi Avramov, 49, told Reuters ahead of the vote.

FRUSTRATED VOTERS

While the economy has emerged from a deep recession, it is growing only slowly and many voters are frustrated Bulgaria still trails other ex-communist members of the European Union, with wealth per capita less than half the bloc's average.

Analysts said a strong vote in favor of Belene would be an embarrassment for Borisov, a former bodyguard who has made little progress in his promises to root out corruption since he came to power in 2009.

Unpopular austerity measures imposed by Borisov's ruling center-right GERB party have already narrowed its lead over opposition Socialists - who called for the referendum - ahead of parliamentary elections in July.

"If we get a strong 'pro-Belene' vote as expected, even though the results are likely to be invalid, we would already have a serious political issue on which Borisov will have to act very carefully," said Gallup International political analyst Kantcho Stoichev.

The result of the referendum, which asked whether new nuclear power plant should be built and not about the use of nuclear power in general, will only be valid if 4.35 million out of the 6.9 million eligible voters take part - a figure analysts say will be almost impossible to reach.

If 20 percent of voters participate and half of them vote in favor of Belene, the issue will go to parliament for a final decision.

Bulgaria has an operational 2,000 megawatt nuclear power plant at Kozloduy and has hired U.S. firm Westinghouse to draw up plans to add another 1,000 MW unit at the site.

The new plant at Belene, on the River Danube, was also opposed by environmentalists, who said it would be built near an earthquake-prone area, and by rights groups who said the high-cost project would encourage corruption in the EU's poorest member state. ($1 = 0.7421 euros)

(Additional reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bulgarians-seen-challenging-government-nuclear-plant-vote-083741436--business.html

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Women already serve in some combat-related jobs (The Arizona Republic)

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The Similarities Between Managers and Leaders

Although not the same by definition, management and leadership are closely linked. In order for a manager to remain focused and successful, he or she must demonstrate effective leadership skills. Conversely, a good leader must also be able to properly manage their employees. Management training courses work on improving organization and coordination skills, while leadership development training focuses on inspiring and motivating others. Leaders drive performance, and the higher the leader's position and the broader the scope of their responsibility, the greater the impact that individual has on the management of an organization.

Management training courses are extensive and focus driven, with clearly defined tasks that must be accomplished. Management is an occupation and requires the exemplification of specific skill sets. Managers are responsible for administering, maintaining, focusing, asking, imitating, and accepting. A manager's eye is always kept on the bottom line and they make sure that the smartest business decisions are being made. Common questions asked by managers are very straightforward and include finding out how and when something will be done. They do not think long term; instead they take a short-range view and meticulously maintain the accepted systems and structures that have already been implemented. In terms of connecting with their managers, employees value leaders who are relatable and who do not pride themselves on their authority. The best managers are, in fact, leaders who are not afraid to be themselves. Managers who respect and connect with their employees on a human level inspire enormous levels of dependability.

Leaders, on the other hand, have much more flexibility in their responsibilities. Leadership development training has become a high priority in many companies; it now constitutes a larger percentage of all the training delivered in many organizations because of several positive business benefits. Although it cannot be learned, per se, leadership training will teach people how to better innovate, develop, focus, inspire, originate and challenge. Explaining and understanding the nature of good leadership is easier than putting it into practice. Through trial and error scenarios, leaders will learn to uncover solutions to given problems, and from there they will execute strategies for improvement. Developing trust has become extremely important for any leadership position. If people cannot trust the person who is leading them, then the elements of respect and dedication are lost entirely. For leadership to work, people must be able to connect their expectations to the basic purpose of the organization.

Leadership is an essential quality for every manager to demonstrate and execute. Good leadership is centrally concerned with people. Skills alone do not make good leaders--style and behavior do. Both leaders and managers aim at achieving goals, mobilizing and utilizing resources, and motivating employees. Since good management is evaluated through effective leadership, managers must fully understand the concerns of the people that they are in charge of leading. Leaders make things happen by knowing objectives and having a plan to achieve them. Management training courses will assist in making the workplace environment progress and run very smoothly at an efficient pace. Management and leadership must be considered two inseparable and entangled aspects of the workplace environment in order to achieve success.

David Shoemaker is Vice President of Learning Solutions and Innovation at eCornell. For more information on management training courses, leadership development training, or eCornell, please visit http://www.eCornell.com

Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/the-similarities-between-managers-and-leaders-313586

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HOUSTON, Jan. 24, 2013: Group 1 Automotive Enters Agreement ...

By Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

HOUSTON, Jan. 24, 2013 ? /PRNewswire/ --?Group 1 Automotive, Inc.?(NYSE: GPI), a Fortune 500 automotive retailer, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase 100 percent of the outstanding shares of UAB Motors Participacoes S.A., one of Brazil's largest automotive retailers, for approximately $47.4 million cash, 1.45 million shares of Group 1 common stock and the assumption of approximately $62 million of net non-floorplan debt. Upon closing, Group 1 will assume ownership of 100 percent interest in 18 dealerships ? two Toyota, four Nissan, two BMW, two BMW/MINI, three Renault, three Peugeot, one Land Rover and one Land Rover/Jaguar. The dealerships, that include 21 franchises representing eight major brands in the Sao Paulo market and key metropolitan markets in the neighboring state of Parana, are expected to generate approximately $650 million in estimated annual revenues.

Group 1 expects the pending transaction to be modestly accretive, approximately $0.03 to $0.05, to earnings per diluted common share in 2013 excluding any associated deal costs. The acquisition is targeted to close on or about Feb. 28, 2013, and is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from various manufacturers.

Group 1 anticipates that it will report pretax deal costs associated with this acquisition of approximately $1.5 million in its fourth-quarter 2012 results.

Based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, UAB's operations include 18 dealerships with 21 franchises, as well as five collision centers, located in the Sao Paulo metro market and the adjacent state of Parana. The franchises include current Group 1 brands Toyota, Nissan, BMW and MINI, and will add four new brands ? Renault, Peugeot, Land Rover and Jaguar ? to Group 1's portfolio. In Brazil, UAB is one of the largest sellers of Nissan and Peugeot vehicles and is a top five retailer of BMW, MINI and Land Rover vehicles. The business will continue to be operated by the current management team, with UAB's chairman, Lincoln da Cunha Pereira Filho, reporting directly to Earl J. Hesterberg, Group 1's president and chief executive officer. As part of the transaction, Group 1 will appoint Pereira to its board of directors, expanding its membership to eight.

Brazil is the fourth largest new vehicle market in the world, with annual sales of 3.8 million units in 2012. Brazil also has one of the lowest vehicle-to-population ratios among the developing markets, providing a strong foundation for future growth in the market.

"Group 1 is delighted by the opportunity of expanding into Brazil, a fast-growing automotive market, by adding these great brands and the successful UAB operating team to our company," said Earl J. Hesterberg, Group 1's president and chief executive officer. "To enter one of the largest auto markets in the world with a well-established retail infrastructure and management team provides Group 1 and our shareholders with an incredible growth opportunity. We are also excited to further expand our relationships with some of our key manufacturer partners to the Brazilian market. As this market continues to evolve, we are confident that we can add value in the area of used vehicles, parts, service and the overall application of technology and processes."

Barclays acted as the exclusive advisor to Group 1 on this transaction. Jones Day and Mattos Filho acted as legal counsel to Group 1 on this transaction.

Conference Call Group 1's senior management will host a conference call?on?Friday, Jan. 25,?at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss the pending acquisition transaction.

The conference call will be simulcast live on the Internet at www.group1auto.com, then click on 'Investor Relations' and then 'Events' or through this link: http://www.group1corp.com/news/events.aspx. A replay will be available for seven days. A slide presentation will also be posted to the Events page prior to the call.

The conference call will also be available live by dialing in 10 minutes prior to the start of the call at:

Domestic: 1.877.317.6789 International: 1.412.317.6789 Conference ID: 10023894

A telephonic replay will be available following the call through Feb. 4 at 9 a.m. ET by dialing:

Domestic: 1.877.344.7529 International: 1.412.317.0088 Conference ID: 10023894

About Group 1 Automotive, Inc. Group 1 owns and operates 121 automotive dealerships, 157 franchises, and 31 collision centers in the United States and the United Kingdom that offer 31 brands of automobiles. Through its dealerships, the company sells new and used cars and light trucks; arranges related vehicle financing, service and insurance contracts; provides automotive maintenance and repair services; and sells vehicle parts.

Group 1 Automotive can be reached on the Internet at www.group1auto.com.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are statements related to future, not past, events and are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. In this context, the forward-looking statements often include statements regarding our goals, plans, projections and guidance regarding our financial position, results of operations, market position, pending and potential future acquisitions and business strategy, and often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "should," "foresee," "may" or "will" and similar expressions. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we anticipate. Any such forward-looking statements are not assurances of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, (a) general economic and business conditions, (b) the level of manufacturer incentives, (c) the future regulatory environment, (d) our ability to obtain an inventory of desirable new and used vehicles, (e) our relationship with our automobile manufacturers and the willingness of manufacturers to approve future acquisitions, (f) our cost of financing and the availability of credit for consumers, (g) our ability to complete acquisitions and dispositions and the risks associated therewith, (h) foreign exchange controls and currency fluctuations, and (i) our ability to retain key personnel. For additional information regarding known material factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our projected results, please see our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor Contacts: Kim Paper Canning Manager, Investor Relations Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 713-647-5741 | kpaper@group1auto.com

Media Contacts: Pete DeLongchamps V.P. Financial Services and Manufacturer Relations Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 713-647-5770 | pdelongchamps@group1auto.com or Clint Woods Pierpont Communications, Inc. 713-627-2223 | cwoods@piercom.com

SOURCE Group 1 Automotive, Inc.

Source: http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/01/24/4568403/group-1-automotive-enters-agreement.html

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