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maokoi · March 31, 2013

Associated Press Sports

updated 12:32 p.m. ET March 31, 2013

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) -Steven Gerrard's penalty sealed a second-half turnaround by Liverpool in a 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Aston Villa on Sunday, boosting his team's hopes of playing in Europe next season.

Villa, which is now third from bottom with seven games to play, took a halftime lead thanks to Belgium striker Christian Benteke's 14th goal of the campaign but Jordan Henderson started Liverpool's comeback with an equalizer in the 47th minute.

Luis Suarez then tumbled in the area under a challenge from Nathan Baker 13 minutes later and Gerrard converted the spot-kick into the bottom corner to keep Liverpool five points behind fifth-place Arsenal, which occupies the final European position.

Liverpool will require an almost-perfect end to the season, and for a few of the teams above it to slip up, to qualify for either the Champions League or Europa League next season.

"Sometimes you can let the season fizzle out but we don't want to do that," said Gerrard, who now has 98 goals in the Premier League. "We want to see if we can nick fifth or sixth in the table."

However, the nature of this comeback showed once again that Liverpool, under Brendan Rodgers, is a side on the up after its slow start to the season. This was its fourth win in the past five league games.

"We upped the tempo after the break and we were excellent," Rodgers said. "It is a terrific win for us. . Our quality was there for all to see."

The visitors had trouble in the first half coping with Benteke, who enhanced his reputation as one of the signings of the offseason by giving Liverpool's defense a torrid time and capping it with a well-taken goal in the 31st.

Gabriel Agbonlahor cushioned a long ball over the top with his right thigh into the path of his strike partner, who volleyed low past Pepe Reina for his ninth goal in 11 league games.

Agbonlahor earlier had a great chance saved from point-blank range by Reina but Liverpool was always dangerous at the other end, with goalkeeper Brad Guzan twice denying Suarez.

The cutting edge arrived immediately after the break, with Philippe Coutinho finding the sprinting Henderson with a defense-splitting pass and the midfielder finished into the corner. Coutinho has now scored or assisted in all six of his appearances since joining from Inter Milan in January.

Liverpool was rampant over the next 15 minutes, Coutinho shooting wide when clean through and Glen Johnson hitting the post with a deflected shot before Suarez was brought down by a clumsy sliding tackle from Baker. Guzan dived the right way for Gerrard's low penalty but couldn't keep it out.

Gerrard needed to produce a flying header to clear Benteke's header off Liverpool's line in the 65th minute to preserve the lead.

"I was glad to get on the scoresheet with the penalty but the header at the other end probably won us the game," Gerrard said.

Wigan's 1-0 victory against Norwich on Saturday dropped Villa into the relegation zone on goal difference.

"We are playing well enough to win and I certainly have the belief that we will be fine," Villa manager Paul Lambert said. "We had chances and we didn't look like a team down there at the bottom."

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Late equalizer boosts LA

PST: Teenager Jose Villarreal hit a spectacular bicycle kick in stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw for the Galaxy in Toronto.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45714965/ns/sports-soccer/

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LEAWOOD, Kan. (AP) ? Two former CIA employees whose Kansas home was fruitlessly searched for marijuana during a two-state drug sweep claim they were illegally targeted, possibly because they had bought indoor growing supplies to raise vegetables.

Adlynn and Robert Harte sued this week to get more information about why sheriff's deputies searched their home in the upscale Kansas City suburb of Leawood last April 20 as part of Operation Constant Gardener ? a sweep conducted by agencies in Kansas and Missouri that netted marijuana plants, processed marijuana, guns, growing paraphernalia and cash from several other locations.

April 20 long has been used by marijuana enthusiasts to celebrate the illegal drug and more recently by law enforcement for raids and crackdowns. But the Hartes' attorney, Cheryl Pilate, said she suspects the couple's 1,825-square-foot split level was targeted because they had bought hydroponic equipment to grow a small number of tomatoes and squash plants in their basement.

"With little or no other evidence of any illegal activity, law enforcement officers make the assumption that shoppers at the store are potential marijuana growers, even though the stores are most commonly frequented by backyard gardeners who grow organically or start seedlings indoors," the couple's lawsuit says.

The couple filed the suit this week under the Kansas Open Records Act after Johnson County and Leawood denied their initial records requests, with Leawood saying it had no relevant records. The Hartes say the public has an interest in knowing whether the sheriff's department's participation in the raids was "based on a well-founded belief of marijuana use and cultivation at the targeted addresses, or whether the raids primarily served a publicity purpose."

"If this can happen to us and we are educated and have reasonable resources, how does somebody who maybe hasn't led a perfect life supposed to be free in this country?" Adlynn Harte said in an interview Friday.

The suit filed in Johnson County District Court said the couple and their two children ? a 7-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son ? were "shocked and frightened" when deputies armed with assault rifles and wearing bulletproof vests pounded on the door of their home around 7:30 a.m. last April 20.

"It was just like on the cops TV shows," Robert Harte told The Associated Press. "It was like 'Zero Dark Thirty' ready to storm the compound."

During the sweep, the court filing said, the Hartes were told they had been under surveillance for months, but the couple "know of no basis for conducting such surveillance nor do they believe such surveillance would have produced any facts supporting the issuance of a search warrant."

Harte said he built the hydroponic garden with his son a couple of years ago. He said they didn't use the powerful light bulbs that are sometimes used to grow marijuana and that the family's electricity usage didn't change dramatically. Changes in utility usage can sometimes lead authorities to such operations.

When law enforcement arrived, the family had just six plants ? three tomato plants, one melon plant and two butternut squash plants ? growing in the basement, Harte said.

The suit also said deputies "made rude comments" and implied their son was using marijuana. A drug-sniffing dog was brought in to help, but deputies ultimately left after providing a receipt stating, "No items taken."

Pilate said no one in the Harte family uses illegal drugs and no charges were filed. The lawsuit noted Adlynn Harte, who works for a financial planning firm, and Robert Harte, who cares for the couple's children, each were required to pass rigorous background checks for their previous jobs working for the CIA in Washington, D.C. Pilate said she couldn't provide any other details about their CIA employment.

Pilate said any details gleaned from the open records suit could be used in a future federal civil rights lawsuit.

"You can't go into people's homes and conduct searches without probable cause," Pilate said.

Leawood City Administrator Scott Lambers said Friday that he couldn't comment on pending litigation. The sheriff's office also had no comment.

"Obviously with an ongoing lawsuit we are not able to talk about any details of it until it's been played out in court," said Johnson County Deputy Tom Erickson.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kansas-couple-indoor-gardening-prompted-pot-raid-182449463.html

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Risk and reward at the dawn of civilian drone age

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The dawn of the age of aerial civilian drones is rich with possibilities for people far from the war zones where they made their devastating mark as a weapon of choice against terrorists.

The unmanned, generally small aircraft can steer water and pesticides to crops with precision, saving farmers money while reducing environmental risk. They can inspect distant bridges, pipelines and power lines, and find hurricane victims stranded on rooftops.

Drones ? some as tiny as a hummingbird ? promise everyday benefits. But the drone industry and those eager to tap its potential are running headlong into fears that the peeping-eye, go-anywhere technology will be misused.

Since January, drone-related legislation has been introduced in more than 30 states, largely in response to privacy concerns. Many of the bills would prevent police from using drones for broad public surveillance or to watch individuals without sufficient grounds to believe they were involved in crimes.

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Cyprus sends rumbles through shaky banking system

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- This week's deal to rescue Cyprus and its banks from financial collapse has renewed fears about Europe's shaky financial system and where trouble might next appear.

Many banks across Europe have been struggling for more than three years as losses on government bonds and bad loans piled up. Some governments, meanwhile, have taken on more debt trying to prop up their lenders to the point where they have needed bailing out themselves.

In Cyprus's case, its banking sector became much bigger than the country's government could afford to rescue ? seven times the size of the country's economy. When the banks were hit by large losses and Cyprus could not afford to bail it out on its own, the country turned to the other 16 European Union countries that use the euro.

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US consumer spending, income jump in February

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. consumers stepped up spending in February after their income jumped, aided by a stronger job market that offset some of the drag from higher taxes. The gains led economists to predict stronger economic growth at the start of the year.

Consumer spending rose 0.7 percent in February from January, the Commerce Department said Friday. It was the biggest gain in five months and followed a revised 0.4 percent rise in January, which was double the initial estimate.

Americans were able to spend more because their income rose 1.1 percent last month. That followed huge swings in the previous two months, which reflected a rush to pay bonuses and dividends in December before taxes increased.

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Unemployment fell in February in 22 US states

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Unemployment rates fell in 22 U.S. states in February from January, a sign that hiring gains are benefiting many parts of the country.

The Labor Department said Friday that unemployment rates rose in 12 states and were unchanged in 16.

Nationally, the unemployment rate slid to a four-year low of 7.7 percent in February, down from 7.9 percent in January. Since November, employers across the country have added an average of 200,000 jobs a month, nearly double the average from last spring.

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Cleaner gas rule would mean higher price at pump

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration's newest anti-pollution plan would ping American drivers where they wince the most: at the gas pump. That makes arguments weighing the cost against the health benefits politically potent.

The proposal to reduce sulfur in gasoline and tighten auto emission standards, released Friday, would raise gasoline prices by less than a penny per gallon, the Environmental Protection Agency says. But the oil industry points to its own study putting the cost between 6 and 9 cents a gallon.

The EPA also said its proposal would add about $130 to the price of new vehicles, beginning in 2025.

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UPS pays $40 million to end online pharmacies probe

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Shipping company UPS has agreed to pay $40 million to end a federal criminal probe connected to its work for online pharmacies.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that the Atlanta-based company would also "take steps" to block illicit online drug dealers from using their delivery service.

The DOJ says the fine amount is the money UPS collected from suspect online pharmacies.

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Portfolio manager accused in insider trading case

NEW YORK (AP) -- A senior portfolio manager for one of the nation's largest hedge funds was arrested Friday, accused of joining an insider trading conspiracy that the government said made more than $6 million illegally for the powerhouse investment company founded by billionaire businessman Steven A. Cohen.

The arrest broadens the government's probe of trading practices at SAC Capital Advisors, which manages $15 billion.

Two weeks ago, the Securities and Exchange Commission said that two affiliates of SAC Capital would pay more than $614 million in what federal regulators called the largest insider trading settlement ever. The settlement is subject to court approval.

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Sears former CEO's compensation shrank in 2012

The former CEO of Sears Holding Corp. took a pay cut of nearly 90 percent in 2012.

Louis D'Ambrosio's became CEO of Sears in February 2011 and stepped down last month due to heath issues involving his family.

In a proxy statement filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the retailer said D'Ambrosio's salary rose to $1 million last year from $930,769 in 2011. The value of his perks, like corporate housing and travel from his primary residence in Philadelphia to Chicago, shrank to $278,741 from $852,037 in 2011.

Sears gave D'Ambrosio a signing bonus of $150,000 and $8 million in stock awards in 2011 after he joined the company. But he received no bonus or stock awards in 2012.

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United delays Denver-Toyko service as 787s sit

CHICAGO (AP) -- United Airlines is delaying its new Denver-Tokyo service ? again ? because its new Boeing 787 jets remain grounded.

United said Friday that service between Denver and Tokyo's Narita Airport will begin June 10. The airline had already pushed back the original March 31 start to at least May 12.

The airline said that it is still determined to use the plane on the new route.

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By The Associated Press(equals)

U.S. stock, bond and commodities markets were closed Friday, March 29 in observance of Good Friday.

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

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KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) ? A corrupt, low-level cop with a healthy dose of street smarts rises to control hundreds of illegal gambling dens in Pakistan's largest city. By doling out millions of dollars in illicit proceeds, he protects his empire and becomes one of the most powerful people in Karachi.

The allegations against Mohammed Waseem Ahmed ? or Waseem "Beater" as he is more commonly known ? emerged recently from surprise testimony by a top police commander before a crusading anti-crime Supreme Court judge. The story has given a rare and colorful glimpse into the vast underworld in Karachi, a chaotic metropolis of 18 million people on Pakistan's southern coast.

The sprawling city has become notorious for violence, from gangland-style killings and kidnappings to militant bombings and sectarian slayings. Further worrying authorities have been signs that the Pakistani Taliban are using the chaos to gain a greater foothold in the city.

For months, the Supreme Court's Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry has been leading special hearings on Karachi's crime, berating the city's top police officers for failing to act. This past week, he demanded they move in to clean up so-called "no-go" areas ? entire neighborhoods where police fear to tread ? according to local press reports.

Further fueling the problem is rampant police corruption, undermining efforts to combat the city's violent gangs and extremists. Among the public, the police nationwide are seen as the country's most crooked public sector organization, a high bar given claims of pervasive corruption throughout the government.

The allegations surrounding Ahmed further fuel questions about the overlap between Karachi's underworld and its police forces. After the testimony to the Supreme Court earlier this year, police officials in Karachi provided The Associated Press with additional details over his reported rise.

The AP made repeated attempts to contact Ahmed, who has been removed from the force and fled to Dubai, but was not successful.

Ahmed came from a poor family in Karachi's old city and joined the police force in the 1990s. He soon started working as a "beater," a low-level thug who works for more senior cops to collect a cut from illegal activities in their area, such as gambling, prostitution and drug dealing, said half a dozen police officers who knew him personally at the time. They all spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.

Ahmed, who sports a bushy black mustache and usually dresses in a simple, white shalwar kameez, earned a reputation for carrying out his illicit work efficiently, said two police officers who have known him ever since he joined the force. That reputation helped him forge relationships with more senior figures, and eventually he was collecting money for some of the top police officers and civilian security officials in Karachi, they said.

The heavyset 40-year-old also attracted the attention of a local boss who controlled the largest concentration of illegal gambling dens in Karachi, located in the city's rough and tumble Ghas Mandi area, where Ahmed worked, said the policemen and a local journalist. The two teamed up to expand their gambling empire to other parts of Karachi and surrounding Sindh province.

Gambling was not always illegal in Pakistan, a nation of 180 million people that gained independence from Britain in 1947 as a sanctuary for Muslims who did not believe they could thrive as part of what is now India, a majority Hindu state. Despite the religious undertones of Pakistan's founding, the country's major cities, such as Karachi and Lahore, were relatively liberal places in the first few decades after independence. Alcohol flowed freely in nightclubs filled with dancing girls.

But in 1977, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto banned gambling and alcohol for Muslims in an attempt to appease Islamic hard-liners. Drinking and gambling, which are forbidden in Islam, didn't stop, but much of it was driven underground.

The gambling dens in Ghas Mandi are hidden behind nondescript facades down dark alleyways with tangled electrical wires hanging overhead in one of the oldest and densest populated parts of Karachi.

In one den, a dozen men dressed in shalwar kameez sat in a semicircle on the floor playing a local card game, mang patta, beneath bare bulbs hanging from the ceiling. The men sipped tea and tossed 100 rupee ($1) poker chips at the dealer.

In an adjacent room, a handful of men played chakka, a game that involved guessing the numbers that would appear when the dealer rolled three dice out of what looked like an old leather Yahtzee cup. Rupee notes were placed on a table as bets and held in place by a large metal washer. Everyone stopped their games when the Muslim call to prayer came over a loudspeaker from a nearby mosque ? and they promptly resumed the dice and cards once the prayer ended.

Ahmed earned tens of thousands of dollars each day from hundreds of such gambling dens, said the policemen and journalist who knew him. He also collected extortion money from drug dealers and brothels and smuggled diesel fuel into Karachi from neighboring Iran, where it is much cheaper, they said.

He distributed cash to senior officials, and the pay-outs made him one of the most powerful people in Karachi's police force, said his acquaintances. He won significant influence over who was posted to senior positions, thus providing him with protection, they said. Known as a man of few words who rarely loses his cool, Ahmed also handed out money to Karachi's powerful criminal gangs and traveled with roughly a dozen armed guards as an insurance policy.

He was sailing smoothly through the underworld until one of the Supreme Court sessions in January.

A petitioner outlined to the court allegations of Ahmed's illicit activities and his power in the police force. Chief Justice Chaudhry then asked senior police officers and civilian officials who were present about the allegations. They all expressed ignorance.

But Deputy Inspector General Bashir Memon spoke up and backed the petitioner's claims.

"I said yes, Waseem 'Beater' is present among the ranks of the Karachi police. He controls the gambling business in Karachi," Memon told The Associated Press. "I also confirmed that he is involved in the transfer and posting of junior and senior police officers."

Another senior police officer in Sindh province, Sanaullah Abbasi, also testified that he knew Ahmed and that he controlled gambling dens in Karachi.

Chaudhry lambasted the senior officials for not going after Ahmed and asked Memon whether he was concerned about contradicting his colleagues.

"I replied, 'I only told you the truth,'" Memon told the AP.

As a sign of Ahmed's power, Memon said he was told the same day he would be transferred out of Karachi, but the Supreme Court canceled the transfer order.

Ahmed was dismissed from the police force after the Supreme Court hearing, according to two senior police officers, and government records indicate he flew to Dubai and has not returned.

Hassan Abbas, an expert on the Pakistani police at the New York-based Asia Society, said Ahmed's case provides a stark illustration of the level of corruption in the Karachi police force, which he described as the worst in any of Pakistan's major cities. Criminal cases are currently pending against 400 police officers serving in Karachi, said Abbas.

Civilian officials, who also benefit from corruption, have shown no willingness to reform the system, making the force relatively ineffective in cracking down on criminal gangs and Islamist militants in the city, said Abbas.

"The chaos in Karachi provides criminal gangs with the cover they need to operate," said Abbas. "Corruption provides an incentive to continue that chaos."

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Follow Sebastian Abbot on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sebabbot

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-underworld-cop-said-king-065254507.html

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Independent creators keen on motion capture have had affordable solutions like cheaper sensors and Kinect-based implementations for awhile now, but a large space for moving around has usually been required. OptiTrack has come up with an answer to that problem, however, in the form of the PRIME 17W mocap camera that it introduced at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. The 1.7-megapixel lens has a 70-degree by 51-degree field of view that promises to capture motion in a relatively small space, which also means you need fewer cameras to get a full 360-degree shot. Other features include a global shutter, high-speed 360 FPS capture and low distortion, enabling UAV and sports tracking. At $3,700, it's still not exactly cheap, but it's certainly affordable enough for indie engineers and animators with space constraints to get started in the mocap biz.

Gallery: OptiTrack PRIME 17W

Filed under: Cameras, Gaming

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Source: OptiTrack

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

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Could the "senator from Wall Street" become the "chairman from Wall Street?"

It?s the question being asked from the corridors of the Capitol to the cobblestone alleyways of lower Manhattan in the wake of this week?s announcement that Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson, D-S.D., is retiring.

Johnson?s departure frees up the gavel on the influential panel and sets off a chain of musical chairmanships that won?t be finalized until 2015. The two leading contenders for the influential Senate Banking Committee chairmanship are Sen. Chuck Schumer, Wall Street?s home-state senator, and Sen. Sherrod Brown, a progressive Ohio Democrat who has made it clear he wants to break up the nation?s biggest banks.

Schumer is above Brown in the Senate?s seniority pecking order, but he faces a tricky political calculus. Schumer doesn?t need the Banking gavel to raise big bucks from Wall Street ? he already tops the Senate at that ? and a serious policy committee could prove a time drain and distraction for a politician with his eye on the long-term goal of becoming majority leader. He already heads the Rules Committee.

On the other hand, the Banking perch could help thicken his legislative resume while tending to the interests of his own state?s important and influential financial sector.

?It?s a tough call. I?m not sure there?s a wrong answer,? said Chris Kofinis, a Democratic strategist and former chief of staff to Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.

It?s no secret that the bank lobby would rather see a Chairman Schumer than a Chairman Brown. It?s not that Schumer is seen as an industry champion; Wall Street lobbyists still fault him for not doing more to help protect the financial-services sector during the debate over the Dodd-Frank financial reforms. But the banking industry sees Brown as a far worse alternative.

?It?s just a lesser of two evils thing,? said one financial-industry executive.

With so much that could alter the political landscape between now and the next Congress, Schumer is unlikely to make a decision soon. His office didn?t respond to requests for comment. The bank lobby is also keeping a low profile for now.

?There is nothing to be gained by going out and lobbying for something that is not going to happen for a year and a half,? said Brian Gardner, an analyst with the financial-research firm Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. ?To go back a horse right now and push for something that may never come to pass seems to me to be wildly premature.?

Whoever is selected as the next chairman, Gardner wrote in a research note to clients this week, is ?in our view, likely to be less bank-friendly than [Senator] Johnson.?

Brown is among the Senate?s most ardent critics of the banking sector. After the committee's confirmation hearing this month for Mary Jo White, President Obama's nominee to head the Securities and Exchange Commission, Brown was the lone dissenting voice in a 21-1 vote to approve her. He also has taken the lead, along with Sen. David Vitter, R-La., in trying to limit the size of banks that are deemed ?too big to fail.?

With Johnson?s retirement, the most senior Democrat on the Banking Committee will be Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, but he?s widely expected to assume the open chairmanship of the Armed Services Committee in the next Congress. Schumer is next in line after him, followed by Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey (who already chairs Foreign Relations) and then Brown.

The debate about whether Schumer would benefit more, politically, by taking the Banking gavel or staying atop Rules came to a boil this week. The Senate Rules Committee chairmanship puts Schumer in the middle of the internal mechanics of the chamber. ?In terms of building relationships, strengthening relationships, it?s incredibly powerful,? said Kofinis. ?But [Schumer] already has all that.?

Looming in the distance is a potential leadership showdown between Schumer and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., whenever current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., decides to retire.

In that potential tussle, bankers would also prefer Schumer. Durbin has long had an adversarial relationship with the banking industry, siding with retailers over bankers in the fight over swipe fees and advocating for bankruptcy reforms to make it easier for consumers to discharge debt.

?We in the industry may not formally weigh in, but we would definitely be lobbying a little bit ? to try and push Schumer over Durbin, and it would all be quiet,? said one industry lobbyist, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

There has been some talk that Schumer would be unable to keep his post as the Senate?s No. 3-ranking ?Democrat and lead the Banking panel, but a senior Democratic aide dismissed that argument, noting that Sen. Patty Murray chairs the Budget Committee and is also a member of the Senate leadership.

The top spot on the Senate Banking Committee historically is a plum post for a lawmaker looking to shake loose Wall Street campaign dollars. But the last time Schumer was on the ballot, in 2001, he raised more money from the finance, insurance, and real-estate industries ? $5.485 million all told ? than any other senator, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Schumer, who has a reputation first as a political operative and message-maker and second as a legislator, has worked hard this year to buff up his legislative credentials. The Banking chairmanship would give him a prominent post from which to legislate in 2015, though historic breakthroughs this year on immigration reform or gun safety?could render that need moot. Schumer is in the middle of negotiating both legislative packages.

The prime arguments against the New York senator taking the job are that it could be seen as a detour from his leadership aspirations, bogging him down in legislative arcana rather than big-picture national politics. It could also be awkward for Schumer to lead oversight of Wall Street, which has become more controversial and higher profile since the financial crisis, while still catering to an important constituency in his state.

?It can be an important perch for your constituents, but, on the other hand, as someone who tries to court the liberal base to the extent he can, that?s going to be a pretty delicate balancing act,? said a former Senate Democratic leadership aide.

Schumer could also appease the left wing of the Democratic Party by clearing the way for Brown to take the gavel. ?He could score a ton of points with the progressives by orchestrating Senator Brown taking that spot,? said Jaret Seiberg, a financial analyst with Washington Research Group.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/could-chuck-schumer-well-set-chair-senate-banking-105120481--politics.html

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This isn't quite the BlackBerry earnings story you're waiting for -- after all, the US figures covering the success (or otherwise) of the Z10 won't arrive until the next quarter. Instead, we're looking at the company's results from the end of the fiscal year to March 2nd, which shows that the smartphone maker made $94 million in GAAP income on revenues of $2.7 billion -- in contrast with the $125 million net loss it made in the same quarter last year. More importantly, however, it shipped out almost one million BlackBerry 10 devices during the three weeks of the quarter that they were available. In addition, it managed to push five million of its older smartphones and 370,000 PlayBook tablets out of the door, but saw user numbers fall from 79 million last quarter to 76 million now.

As revenue has remained relatively flat, the surge in profits can only be attributed to Thorsten Heins' aggressive cost-cutting measures, with the CEO remarking that the "numerous changes" he has implemented at the company have "resulted in [BlackBerry] returning to profitability." At the same time, Mike Lazaridis has announced that he'll retire from his position as vice-chair and director of the outfit he founded the better part of three decades ago. He'll exit the business on May 1st so that he can concentrate on his new enterprise, Quantum Valley Investments.

Update: During the conference call, Thorsten Heins has revealed that around two-thirds or three-quarters of the one million BB10 devices shipped have been sold.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Blackberry

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/28/blackberry-2013-q4/

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chief Justice John Roberts, who spent the last two days presiding over high-profile oral arguments on gay marriage, has been a victim of credit card fraud, a Supreme Court spokeswoman said on Thursday.

Roberts' credit card problem was first reported by the Washington Post in a story that said the chief justice was heard talking about it in a suburban Maryland Starbucks on Tuesday morning. That was the day the court weighed the validity of Proposition 8, a California ban on gay marriage.

Roberts was again in the spotlight on Wednesday when the court weighed the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which restricts the definition of marriage to opposite-sex couples for the purposes of federal benefits.

Kathy Arberg, the court spokeswoman, said Roberts had no comment on the incident.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Howard Goller and Todd Eastham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chief-justice-roberts-victim-credit-card-fraud-214804410.html

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Samsung lost out big to Apple last year in a mobile patent blowout in the U.S., but it's been slowly building up an arsenal of patents that potentially will keep it from falling into the same situation again. Samsung, also currently the world's biggest mobile company, received the most mobile patents in 2012, and it now holds the most mobile patents of any company worldwide, according to the latest patent report out from mobile analyst Chetan Sharma, which lays out a thicket of companies scrambling to put a legal seal on their intellectual property in the fast-moving world of wireless communications.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/GBQjdPN_OnM/

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Mailbird Is Like Sparrow for Windows (and We’ve Got Invites) Windows: There are a lot of great desktop email clients available for Windows, but Mailbird promises to bring some elegance, simplicity, and useful new features to your desktop. We've been testing it for a few months now, here's what we think (and how you can try it out too).

At first blush, you wouldn't be wrong for thinking that Mailbird looks an awful lot like Sparrow, our favorite mail client for the Mac. Many of the same features are available in the same places: messages display on the right in a collapsable conversation view. Tags, labels, reply/reply all, and info buttons are all in the same places. Even the layout is similar. That's no mistake: Mailbird was clearly inspired by Sparrow's simple, functional design, and that's not a ding: why fix what's not broken? So Mailbird is like Sparrow for Windows...if Sparrow was kind of sucky. Here are the pros and cons.

What It Does Well

Mailbird Is Like Sparrow for Windows (and We’ve Got Invites) Mailbird does offer some great features on its own. It syncs perfectly with Gmail and can access all of your labels and folders. You don't get advanced features like canned responses and filters, but basic Gmail functionality is there, and we recommend having a desktop email client on hand for a number of reasons, even if it isn't your main source for email. Also, Mailbird is fast. Composing and sending messages is a snap, search is quick and accurate, and the app supports Gmail keyboard shortcuts, so if you're familiar with the web interface, you don't need to learn a bunch of new tricks.

Mailbird also has add-on "apps" to extend its functionality. Some of the ones pre-installed (but not enabled, you'll have to do that manually) include Dropbox for attachments, contacts, calendar, Facebook?which goes beyond just downloading profile images and contact information but also lets you post status updates and keep up with your friends, and even a Lifehacker app that brings you right to our site. The developers plan even more apps to extend the app's functionality as it marches towards public beta and eventual launch.

Mailbird Is Like Sparrow for Windows (and We’ve Got Invites)

Where It Falls Short

It's not all roses with Mailbird though. For starters, the app in its current state only supports one Gmail account. No POP, no IMAP, not even more than one Gmail account if you have multiple. The developers say multi-account support is on the way, but it's hard to even discuss an email client without it. Instead, they're working on "multi-identity," or account aliasing, but that's not the same, and it's not nearly as useful.

The other major downside is Mailbird's pricing. While in beta, the app is free, and if you sign up using our invite link, you'll get six months of Mailbird Pro for free, even after the beta ends. After that, there'll be two versions, Free and Pro:

The free version will be ad-supported and attach a "Sent Using Mailbird" link at the bottom of your messages.
The Pro version will remove the ads and the signature link, and let you add as many accounts as you like (when that feature exists. This implies free accounts will either not be able to add multiple accounts, or only be able to add a few-the folks I spoke with didn't say.)
The Pro version will also cost you an annual subscription of $12 USD/year (you can pre-order now for $9/yr). You'll have to decide whether that's worth your money, especially compared to apps like Postbox (one-time fee), previously mentioned Inky (completely free), or our favorite, Thunderbird (completely free) with more forgiving price tags and more features, even if they're not as pretty, lightweight, or fast.

How to Get It

The team behind Mailbird plan to launch their public beta on April 2nd, but if you want to give it a try now, they've offered us 3000 beta invites for Lifehacker readers. You'll need to use the referral link below to grab it, but they're only offering Mailbird to the first 3000 people who click it. After that you'll be in line to join the public beta on the 2nd.

Mailbird Download | via Get Mailbird

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/aKwpH5u89Q4/mailbird-is-the-closest-thing-you-may-get-to-sparrow-for-windows-and-weve-got-invites

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After stuffing ourselves silly like hyperactive five-year-old children at the Southbank Chocolate festival, we discovered a unique and delightful guide to London. Through chocolate.

Artisan chocolatier and experienced Michelin starred restaurant pastry chef, Damian Allsop, celebrates the diverse culinary subculture of our great city through an expertly made multi-dimensional collection called Eat London.

However, it?s not just a matter of whacking in exotic and compatible ingredients. In a cheeky twist, he conveys the sense of a merry jaunt around London, as each bar is a carefully crafted journey in itself, purposely created to change taste as you chomp your way down the river. We also noted they?re cleverly sealed as to make sure you start eating at the right end.

Your tastebuds will thank you for taking them out to the following areas:

Brick Lane (Bengali): 40% milk chocolate, Mango and handmade Basmati crisps, with the rice becoming stronger closer towards the end of your gleeful mastication.
Brixton Hill (Afro-Caribbean): A winning combination of freeze-dried banana chips and freeze-dried coffee in 50% milk chocolate. One to perk you up.
China Town (Chinese) : 45% milk with caramelised peanuts, soy sauce and ginger crisp. Salty, sweet and tangy.
Edgware Road (Arabic): A blend of Ras al hanout spices up this 64% dark chocolate with honeycomb pieces.
Soho Square (Italian): No, nothing remotely resembling a pizza (you crazy kids!), just 64% swarthy dark with homemade raspberry and basil crisps. Sharp.
Grosvenor Square (Home of the American Embassy): Coca Cola provides inspiration in both taste and texture, popping candy, hints of cinnamon and a lemon zing in white chocolate.

We at Londonist towers couldn?t resist a sample, and went straight for the two award winning concoctions in the collection (Soho and Chinatown) and they are definitely not to be scoffed down (or at). We recommend taking a quiet moment to yourself to soak in and fully enjoy the flavours at a leisurely pace.

It?s a genius, tangible and tasty representation of life in London ??its vibrant multiculturalism and the world of flavours we are fortunate enough to have right on our doorstep. And we let you know just in time for Easter too. No need to thank us, citizen. It?s what we do.

Bars retail for ?2 each, or a whole yummy set for ?10. Currently available online, and at Bond Street behemoth Selfridges soon, so we hear.

Source: http://londonist.com/2013/03/a-chocolatiers-interpretation-of-london.php

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BEIRUT (AP) ? Lebanon's Energy Ministry says 50 companies have participated in a pre-qualification process to win licenses for oil and gas work off the Lebanese coast.

The ministry says the companies include Chevron and Exxon Mobil Corp. from the United States and Royal Dutch Shell PLC.

Lebanon is a resource-poor nation and any finds could help it pay off what is one of the highest debt rates in the world.

The names of winning companies will be announced on April. 18.

Recent Israeli discoveries of oil and gas have raised tensions between Lebanon and neighboring Israel, which are in a state of war. Both countries claim a small maritime area of 850 square kilometers (328 square miles) in the Mediterranean.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/50-companies-apply-explore-oil-lebanon-152222471--finance.html

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Since I started seeing BF about 18 months ago--my only experience with polyamory, only time I've ever known anyone in an open marriage (that I know of)--I have done a lot of reading on polyamory and open marriages.

BF said from the start that problems usually arise when, like us, one person is married and the other single. So far, it's suited me, because I'm busy with work and children, wasn't looking for a boyfriend, and have no desire for a husband. I've enjoyed every minute with him, I have seen both of us grow, change, and, I believe, become better people as a result of our time together.

The only issues between us have involved him getting upset when I try to understand this world that's totally unfamiliar to me and question my place in his life and what this really means to him. He lives in fear of me breaking up with him.

The times I feel most inclined to break up with him is when I'm reading about open marriages and/or polyamory and read the statement that outside relationships enhance the primary relationship. As the outside relationship, this leaves me feeling that these extra relationships are, well...marital enhancers. Living, breathing marital aids. I, personally, have no desire to enhance someone's marriage at what could be seen as a cost to myself (the cost being that there is no future in this relationship, although at this stage I admittedly don't want one--one day I might.)

I do not believe for a minute that BF sees me as that. But he gets agitated when I try to understand from him how people in open marriage do see their OSOs, and apparently can't explain, although he's normally well-spoken, articulate, and thoughtful. He says I should know I'm not just a side dish to him and don't I know how he feels about me. He tells me what we have is 'the real deal.' Whatever that means in the context of a relationship that can never be more than what it is now.

So...I still struggle with that idea that outside relationships 'enhance' the primary relationship. Can those members who are in primary relationships, especially those whose OSOs are single, tell me their response to this comment on OSOs enhancing your primary relationship, and how that balances with seeing your secondary/OSO as a person in their own right?

Last edited by WhatHappened; Yesterday at 04:57 PM. Reason: clarification

Source: http://www.polyamory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43590

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View 8.47.20 AM Single Family House in The Netherlands All Cladded in Ceramic Tiles

Away from the city rush, on a small plot of land (210 square meters), a single-family home in a picturesque settlement is all some of us need, in order to experience the wonders of a new and fresh lifestyle. The V House, designed by BaksvanWengerden Architecten in Alkmaar (the Netherlands) is an interesting example of modern architecture,?being all cladded in ceramic tiles. A wonderful and relaxing garden spreads ahead, just for you, to simply enjoy spectacular views while reading your favourite newspaper in the morning. On the South, the kitchen opens up to a formal front yard. The bedrooms are located upstairs, for an additional amount of privacy.

Front View1 Single Family House in The Netherlands All Cladded in Ceramic Tiles

The design of the house looks interesting, without being too edgy. ?The position and proportions of the building plot as well as the different views and privacy resulted in a north-south orientation on the ground floor which?is organized around a free-standing box containing services and mechanical and electrical components for the surrounding spaces?.?It is rather a solid house with a humble aspect. The striking element is definitely the garden, with its exquisite lush vegetation. Soak your senses into deep relaxation and enjoy the view!

Side View1 Single Family House in The Netherlands All Cladded in Ceramic Tiles V House Netherlands Single Family House in The Netherlands All Cladded in Ceramic Tiles Detail2 Single Family House in The Netherlands All Cladded in Ceramic Tiles House Detail Single Family House in The Netherlands All Cladded in Ceramic Tiles Staircase 8.47.20 AM Single Family House in The Netherlands All Cladded in Ceramic Tiles White Stairs Single Family House in The Netherlands All Cladded in Ceramic Tiles Interior5 Single Family House in The Netherlands All Cladded in Ceramic Tiles Details Plan2 Single Family House in The Netherlands All Cladded in Ceramic Tiles Sketch1 Single Family House in The Netherlands All Cladded in Ceramic Tiles

Source: http://freshome.com/2013/03/26/single-family-house-in-the-netherlands-all-cladded-in-ceramic-tiles/

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VANDERBIJLPARK, South Africa (AP) ? The brother of double-amputee athlete Oscar Pistorius went on trial in a South African court Wednesday for the death of a woman in a road collision in 2008.

Carl Pistorius, who faces a charge of culpable homicide, or negligent killing, wore a dark suit and was accompanied by his sister, Aimee. Oscar Pistorius, who was charged with murdering his girlfriend on Feb. 14, was not present. The Olympian hasn't been seen in public since he was granted bail at Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Feb. 22. His lawyers plan to challenge his bail restrictions on Thursday.

Initial proceedings in Carl Pistorius' case at Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg focused on a request by South Africa's national broadcaster, SABC, to show the trial proceedings live on national television or record them for later use.

Magistrate Buks du Plessis said reporters could attend the trial but turned down the SABC request, saying he wanted to guard against "emotional hype" and that any public interest in the trial stemmed only from the intense interest in the murder case against Oscar Pistorius. News photographers were not allowed to cover the trial while it was in session.

"He's not a celebrity in his own right," du Plessis said of Oscar's brother. Addressing Carl Pistorius, the magistrate then said: "Apologies to you, sir."

Carl Pistorius smiled and nodded.

Defense lawyer Kenneth Oldwadge said the legal team for Oscar Pistorius had been "overwhelmed by the media," and that similar press scrutiny would make it difficult to work in court during the older brother's case. Oldwadge cited a comment by the judge in Oscar Pistorius' bail hearing that the media treated the athlete like some kind of unusual "species" instead of a human being.

Prosecutors say Carl Pistorius was driving an SUV in March 2008 when he collided with a female motorcyclist. The woman, Marietjie Barnard, died in a hospital. Although the culpable homicide charge against Carl was initially dropped, it was reinstated this year because forensic evidence and reports from the accident scene became available, according to prosecutors.

The Pistorius family said last month that Carl deeply regretted the incident but insisted it was a "tragic accident." He was not under the influence of alcohol, the family said.

Oscar's legal team filed an appeal against some of his bail conditions on March 7, objecting to him being not allowed to travel outside of South Africa even though a magistrate said he was not a flight risk when granting him 1 million rand ($108,000) bail. They're also challenging an alcohol ban and a ruling that Pistorius cannot speak with residents at the gated estate where he shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead in the early hours of Valentine's Day.

The athlete denies murdering Steenkamp and says he shot her by mistake, fearing an intruder was in his home. Prosecutors say he killed her intentionally following an argument.

Oscar Pistorius must appear in court again on June 4.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-03-27-Pistorius-Shooting/id-9431f76d43c545dba772325cad622002

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Monday's Passover seder at the White House will be the fifth Obama has hosted. No, he's not Jewish, but he recently elaborated on why the story of the Exodus speaks to a universal 'yearning' ? and to him personally.

By David T. Cook,?Staff writer / March 25, 2013

President Obama pauses during his speech at the Jerusalem Convention Center in Jerusalem, Israel, Thursday. The president?s speech last week in Israel revealed that his daughters are a key reason he holds Monday's Passover seder at the White House.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

Enlarge

For the fifth time since he moved into the White House, President Obama will host a Passover seder Monday evening, a ritual that is celebrated by Jewish families throughout the world and that the president, a Protestant Christian, says speaks personally to him. ??

Skip to next paragraph David T. Cook

Senior Editor and Washington Bureau Chief

Cook is senior editor and Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts.

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The gathering of about 20 people in the elegant family dining room?on the first floor of the White House is expected to include first lady Michelle Obama as well as presidential daughters Malia and Sasha. ??

Mr. Obama is believed to be the first president to host seder dinners at the White House. America has not had a Jewish president.

During his speech to an audience of young people at the Jerusalem International Convention Center last Thursday, the president spoke at length about what the celebration of the Jews' escape from slavery in Egypt means to him. ?It?s a story of centuries of slavery, and years of wandering in the desert; a story of perseverance amidst persecution, and faith in God and the Torah. It?s a story about finding freedom in your own land,? Obama said. ?It?s a story that?s inspired communities across the globe, including me and my fellow Americans."

The president told his audience of young Israelis that the Passover story has a special resonance to him, as an African-American whose early years were not rooted in any one place. ?To African Americans, the story of the Exodus was perhaps the central story, the most powerful image about emerging from the grip of bondage to reach for liberty and human dignity ? a tale that was carried from slavery through the Civil Rights Movement into today,? he said. ?For me, personally, growing up in far-flung parts of the world and without firm roots, the story spoke to a yearning within every human being for a home."

The?seder tradition began in 2008?when candidate Obama unexpectedly joined a seder arranged by three young Jewish aides in the basement of a Sheraton hotel in Harrisburg, Pa., during some of the darkest days of his campaign. The organizers included Eric Lesser, who worked on trip logistics; campaign videographer Arun Chaudhary; and Herbie Ziskend, who did campaign advance work. All have since left the Obama team but are expected to attend Monday night?s dinner.

After the pledge that ends the traditional seder, ?next year in Jerusalem,? candidate Obama raised his glass and declared, ?Next year in the White House,?recounts the Jewish Daily Forward. At the time, he was still engaged in a ferocious primary battle with Hillary Rodham Clinton.?

Those who have attended the White House seders say they blend traditional and new aspects. On an untraditional note, the event includes the reading of President Abraham Lincoln?s Emancipation Proclamation. More traditionally, Malia and Sasha in the past have taken on the traditional duties of Jewish children, asking four questions about the evening?s purpose and searching for a piece of matzoh that has been hidden at the White House.

The president?s speech last week in Israel revealed that his daughters are a key reason he holds the seders at the White House. ?I did so because I wanted my daughters to experience the Haggadah, and the story at the center of Passover that makes this time of year so powerful," he said.?

Like the Obamas and their daughters, not all attendees at the seder will be Jewish. For example, Jen Psaki?s first seder was the dinner in Harrisburg while she was serving as the Obama campaign?s traveling press secretary. She has since been pictured at White House seders. Ms. Psaki, now the State Department spokesman, learned the Exodus story at Catholic school.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/ZyPbCTndOhY/Why-Obama-a-Christian-hosts-a-Passover-seder-each-year-at-White-House

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When Tufts University developmental biologist Michael Levin proposed tweaking cells? electrical signals to create new patterns of growth, he encountered some resistance. "People thought it was nuts," Levin says. That's because although all cells have electric potentials (defined as the amount of energy required to move a given electrical unit against an electrical field), and these potentials clearly relate to cellular properties?the assumption in most cases was that the electric potential related primarily to cellular maintenance or ?housekeeping.? Disrupting a cell?s electrical potential, the conventional wisdom went, would kill it. Yet for more than a decade Levin's work has countered this idea. He has manipulated the electrical potentials of cells in various ways to produce a menagerie of strange beasts: tadpoles with eyes on their tails or within their guts and frogs sprouting toes at the site of an amputated leg. In fact, Levin believes he has found a new role for the bioelectricity of cells. He posits that the pattern of cellular voltages creates a system of electric signals that direct how the body grows. He calls these signals the bioelectric code and believes they are fundamentally as important in understanding growth and development as the genes in the body or the various chemical switches that turn them on and off. Indeed, he thinks that changes in electric potentials across cells can also serve as a so-called epigenetic switch to regulate how genes function. Although Levin may have coined the phrase ?bioelectric code,? the belief that electric signals relate to patterns of growth is not a new concept. "The idea goes back a long way," says regenerative biologist David Stocum of Indiana University?Purdue University Indianapolis. "[Levin]'s taken it to a much higher art,? Stocum says, by actually looking at cellular potentials with specialized dyes. Some of the earliest investigations go back nearly one hundred years. In the early 20th century Yale University biologist Harold Burr placed various organisms in a voltmeter to study their electric potentials and suggested there was a link between shape and electrical properties. Then in the 1970s Lionel Jaffe, a biologist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass., used a probe to study electrical currents in and around cells. He noted differences in the electrical properties of creatures that could regenerate, such as salamanders, and those that could not, such as adult frogs. But much of this bioelectric research would be forgotten in subsequent decades in the rush toward molecular biology and genetics. In recent years, researchers at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland have been examining how electric fields guide the growth of tissues during healing. But Levin's approach is the first to look at electric potentials on the level of individual cells and how they can be incorporated into our knowledge of molecular biology. All cells have an electric potential that comes from the difference between charged atoms and molecules, or ions, on either side of the cell's membrane. Highly malleable cells, such as stem cells, which have the ability to grow into other cell types as well as tumor cells (which are characterized by abnormal and uncontrolled growth) have low electric potentials whereas mature and stable cells have high potentials. Levin reasoned that if you could alter a cell's potential you can change how it would grow. And by changing the electric potential of many cells, he hypothesized that he could trigger the growth of a specific structure. Levin sees these patterns of electrical activity as a form of cellular communication, signaling when and how to grow. To test his hypothesis, Levin has co-opted tools from neuroscience and molecular biology. By inserting new genetic material or compounds into cells, for example, he has found he can manipulate their electric potentials. For example, an injection of the appropriate genetic information leads to the creation of new pumps and channels in the cell membrane that allow ions to cross whereas certain pharmaceutical compounds can facilitate the flow of ions in and out of the cell. More recently his lab has begun publishing work that incorporates opto-genetics, which involves genes that contain the hereditary instructions for making light-sensitive proteins, allowing the researchers to control cellular changes with the flick of a lightswitch. The approach is simple conceptually?help ions pass in or out by encouraging or constricting flow?but in practice it is more complex, requiring intricate calculations to determine what changes will produce the desired charge within and outside of the cell. "You have to think about the whole mathematics of all the pumps and channels present, and the medium inside and outside of the cell," Levin says. In the January issue of Development Levin and colleagues describe how they identified the pattern of cellular voltages responsible for growing a frog's eyes. Tweaking those voltages during early development caused them to be malformed. Mimicking this pattern of voltages with other cell clusters in the body induced the growth of eyes in those locations, creating frogs with eyes on their tails or backs. The work is a proof of concept with implications for regenerative biology. Levin believes one could take any cluster of cells in the body?including mature and fully differentiated cells?and override existing chemical and molecular signals by changing electric potentials. The signals would then direct growth into any shape desired, such as a new nose or eyes as well as manipulate them to repair a lost limb or correct birth defects. What's most impressive about the study is not the outcome?scientists investigating regenerative medicine have created similar strange creatures for decades with grafts and chemical interventions?but the approach. It's possible that the electric signals serve as a master switch, meaning researchers don't need to know about the subsequent interplay of chemical and molecular signals involved in creating a new structure. This is not to say genetics and epigenetics are not important. In fact, Levin points out that these signals are all cyclically linked and interdependent. "Genetics determines the cell's channels, for example, which in turn determines the gradient," he says. "And the bioelectric gradient can change gene expression." Precisely how these three sets of signals are intertwined in nature, however, remains unclear. Levin's lab has also demonstrated how observing patterns of electrical potential can be used to recognize abnormal growths?a finding they believe can have important implications in cancer research. In a study to be published in the May issue of Disease Models & Mechanisms, the team details how it identified electrical signals associated with tumor formation. Levin and graduate student Brook Chernet noticed a bioelectric signature associated with tumor-like structures, which offers a novel approach to spotting cancer. In addition, they even had some success in raising the typically low electrical potentials of these cells to prevent tumor development. But many challenges remain in understanding the possibilities of Levin's bioelectric code. Levin, for example, believes far more needs to be understood about cellular physiology, and hopes that with more data and tools he and his colleagues can begin creating a more systematic understanding of how sets of bioelectric signals relate to specific growth patterns. It also remains to be seen how well this work translates to other animals. University of Dayton regenerative biologist Panagiotis Tsonis points out that although mature frogs do not typically regenerate limbs, amphibians generally are more gifted in regeneration than mammals and less prone to cancers. "I would like to see this work extended to animals like mice," Tsonis says. "If that works, that would be fantastic." Follow Scientific American on Twitter @SciAm and @SciamBlogs. Visit ScientificAmerican.com for the latest in science, health and technology news.
? 2013 ScientificAmerican.com. All rights reserved.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/electric-biologists-seek-crack-cell-bioelectric-code-161000036.html

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LOS ANGELES (AP) ? In his first public speech since resigning as head of the CIA, David Petraeus apologized for the extramarital affair that "caused such pain for my family, friends and supporters."

The hero of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars struck a somber, apologetic tone as he spoke to about 600 people, including his wife and many uniformed and decorated veterans, at the University of Southern California's annual ROTC dinner on Tuesday.

"I know I can never fully assuage the pain that I inflicted on those closest to me and a number of others," Petraeus said.

Petraeus has remained largely in seclusion since resigning after the extramarital affair with his biographer was disclosed. His lawyer, Robert B. Barnett, has said Petraeus spent much of that time with his family.

Dressed in a dark suit and red tie, Petraeus made motions toward a return to public life as a civilian. He spoke of a need for better treatment for veterans and soldiers, though he stopped short of criticizing current practices.

"While our country continues to improve its support and recognition for all of our veterans and their families, we can and must do more," he said.

The retired four-star general also noted the challenges of transitioning from military life, saying: "There's often a view that because an individual was a great soldier, he or she will naturally do well in civilian world. In reality, the transition from military service to civilian pursuits is often quite challenging."

He received applause and a standing ovation before he began the evening's program by cutting a cake with a sword in military tradition, a task reserved for the highest ranking person in the room.

He started his speech by addressing the affair with biographer Paula Broadwell, which was discovered during an FBI investigation into emails she sent to another woman she viewed as a romantic rival.

"Needless to say, I join you keenly aware that I am regarded in a different light now than I was a year ago. I am also keenly aware that the reason for my recent journey was my own doing. So please allow me to begin my remarks this evening by reiterating how deeply I regret ? and apologize for ? the circumstances that led to my resignation from the CIA and caused such pain for my family, friends and supporters," he said.

At the time the affair was made public, Petraeus told his staff he was guilty of "extremely poor judgment" and that the "such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours."

As the military leader credited with reshaping the nation's counterinsurgency strategy, turning the tide in the U.S. favor in both Iraq and Afghanistan and making the U.S. safer from terrorism, a friendly audience was expected at the ROTC dinner.

At least one expert in crisis communications said that if his apology comes across as heartfelt and sincere, the public will indeed be seeing much more of him.

"America is a very forgiving nation," said Michael Levine who, among dozens of other celebrity clients, represented Michael Jackson during his first child molestation investigation.

"If he follows the path of humility, personal responsibility and contrition, I submit to you that he will be very successful in his ability to rehabilitate his image," he said.

Another longtime crisis communications expert, Howard Bragman, said Petraeus has handled the situation perfectly so far. He noted that unlike former President Bill Clinton, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards and other public figures caught in extramarital affairs, Petraeus didn't try to lie his way out of it, immediately took responsibility and moved on.

"I think the world is open to him now," said Bragman, vice chairman of the image-building company Reputation.com. "I think he can do whatever he wants. Realistically, he can even run for public office, although I don't think he'd want to because he can make more money privately."

While at USC, Petraeus also planned to visit faculty and students at the Price School of Public Policy, which administers the ROTC program, and USC's School of Social Work, which trains social workers in how to best help veterans returning from war.

Petraeus was presented with a gift of silver cuff links by Nikias after his speech.

___

Associated Press writer Pauline Jelinek in Washington, D.C., contributed to this story.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/petraeus-sorry-affair-led-resignation-080918035.html

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China's Prime Minister Li Keqiang addressed the foreign and domestic press for the first time today in an event carried live on national TV.

By Peter Ford,?Staff Writer / March 17, 2013

Chinese premier Li Keqiang gives a press conference on Sunday.

Andy Wong/AP

Enlarge

China is unlike any other country in the world when it comes to press conferences: You generally learn more from the questions that are asked than from the answers that officials give.

Skip to next paragraph Peter Ford

Beijing Bureau Chief

Peter Ford is The Christian Science Monitor?s Beijing Bureau Chief. He covers news and features throughout China and also makes reporting trips to Japan and the Korean peninsula.

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What It Does Well

Where It Falls Short

How to Get It

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A Chocolatier's Interpretation Of London | Londonist

50 companies apply to explore for oil in Lebanon

Question for primaries, Outside partners enhance marriage ...

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Oscar Pistorius' brother on trial for road death

Why Obama, a Christian, hosts a Passover seder each year at White House

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It s Electric: Biologists Seek to Crack Cell s Bioelectric Code

Petraeus: Sorry for affair that led to resignation

China's Premier Li meets the press ? but no unscripted questions, thank you

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