Saturday, December 31, 2011

Pro-Huntsman group jabs at Romney in new ad (AP)

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. ? Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman on Friday urged New Hampshire voters to stand up to the status quo and reject Mitt Romney, while a group of his supporters prepared a new television ad calling Romney a chameleon willing to do anything to get elected.

The $300,000 ad campaign is expected to begin running across New Hampshire this weekend, according to an adviser for the organization known as Our Destiny PAC. The adviser was not authorized to comment publicly.

"Two serious candidates remain," a voice says in the ad, which flashes images of Huntsman, the former Utah governor, and Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and front-runner in New Hampshire. "One willing to say anything, be anything. One who can actually do the job."

It continues: "One state can stop the chameleon. Vote Jon Huntsman."

Huntsman, who served as ambassador to China in the Obama administration, has not been anywhere near that pointed in his criticism of Romney. Speaking to employees at a Portsmouth software company Friday, he said Romney would be unlikely to change the "trust deficit" in Washington given that Romney has "half of Congress supporting him."

"Who's going to want to change anything when you've got the status quo supporting you?" Huntsman said. "You can have a candidate who's going to fight for change who is not going to be in the hip pocket of special interest groups, or you're going to have the status quo choice."

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also wouldn't do anything to restore trust in Washington, Huntsman said.

"Speaker Gingrich is not the kind of person who is going to be able to deal effectively with the trust issue because you can't deal effectively with the trust issue if you are a fixture of Washington, D.C., and have been for 40 years."

Huntsman, who is skipping Tuesday's Iowa caucuses, is betting his candidacy on a strong finish in New Hampshire's Jan. 10 Republican primary, which is open to independents as well as registered Republicans.

Huntsman entered the presidential contest with great expectations earlier in the year. But national polling suggests he's still largely unknown to many Republican voters. He's also struggled to raise enough money to pay for his own television advertising campaigns. On Wednesday, he told The Associated Press he's likely to leave the race unless he finishes in the top three in New Hampshire.

Pam Hicks, one of the software company workers, said she was 100 percent adamant before meeting Huntsman that she would not vote for him. After the event, Hicks said she was reconsidering although she doesn't like his anti-abortion views or his opposition to gay marriage, which is legal in New Hampshire.

"We believe nobody has the right to tell us how to live our lives," she said.

Still, Hicks said she planned to do more research on Huntsman.

"He needs a more serious look," she said.

In perhaps further proof that Huntsman's efforts in New Hampshire are paying off, voter Cynthia Ouellette echoed Hicks' sentiments hours later in Canterbury, where Huntsman attracted about 150 people to a town hall meeting. Like Hicks, Ouellette said she was sure she wasn't going to vote for Huntsman ? until she met him in person.

She described losing her teaching job because of budget cuts and grilled Huntsman about how he would be different from former President George W. Bush.

"He's the only one I've been able to meet, and I was impressed by his honesty and openness," she said.

Our Destiny PAC has now spent roughly $1.9 million on New Hampshire advertising to help Huntsman. That's more than any other outside group or other campaign has spent in the state, according to numbers obtained by The Associated Press.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111231/ap_on_el_pr/us_huntsman_super_pac

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Beyond Solar: BP Exits Business | The Energy Collective

According to several news reports last week, BP finally admitted that it can't handle the solar market and told its staff of 100 employees worldwide that it will fold its solar business after ?being in the market for 40 years.

According to Financial Times, BP Solar CEO Mike Petrucci wrote an internal email to staff last week explaining that it had finally realized it can't many anymore money from solar given the rapidly expanding low-cost solar panel manufacture in China.

According to IMS Research analyst Sam Wilkinson in his blog, average photovoltaic (PV) module price now are 44% lower compared to a year ago. Average gross margins are now in the single digits and most suppliers are making net losses on their operations. PV module manufacturing capacity worldwide is said to have hit 50 GW this year despite demand just reaching 24 GW.

"Clear winners in 2011 have been large pure-play Chinese suppliers, whose lower cost structure and highly aggressive pricing has allowed them gain market share throughout the year. Consequently, 4 of the world's 5 largest suppliers of PV modules are now Chinese." - IMS Research
BP started scaling back its solar operations and had reduced its staff by about 1,650 positions since 2008. It now plans to sell its stakes in remaining key projects that it has developed with local partners such as a 32 MW solar plant in the grounds of the US Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory in conjunction with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA).The Long Island Solar Farm (LISF) project, owned by BP Solar and Met Life, and funded by LIPA, has been completed and commissioned in November (see video). LIPA has not yet announced what will happen to the $298m project, which ratepayers have footed the bill (glad I don't live in Long Island or I'll be a little pissed about it!).

Financial Times also cited another 150MW project in Australia, which was billed as the country's first utility-scale solar power station. According to a Sydney Morning Herald article, BP is said to be sticking for now to the proposed $923m Mooree solar project although the project consortium (which has received commitments of close to $400m in government funding) has yet to sign power-supply agreements needed to advance the project (deadline was supposed to be December 15).

The Australian project is expected to start construction in the second half of 2012, later than previously estimated.

In India,?Tata BP Solar, the company's JV with Tata Power, announced last week that it has not been impacted by BP's decision to exit the solar business. Tata Power said yesterday that is has agreed to buy BP's 51% stake in the JV for an undisclosed fee. Tata BP Solar has a 125MW solar module manufacturing capacity.

"The size of the solar market in India will go up to anywhere between 800MW to 1,200MW by the year 2014-2015." - Tata Power

Source: http://theenergycollective.com/dorisdeguzman/73328/beyond-solar-bp-exits-business

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Friday, December 30, 2011

BYU football: Bowl win would cap Tulsa's tragic year

Published: Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011 8:34 p.m. MST

FORT WORTH ? Amid a trying season, Tulsa has learned plenty about adversity.

The Golden Hurricane's 1-3 start on the field pales in comparison to the kind of hardship they've dealt with this year off the field.

Over the past nine months, Tulsa has seen three former players who were part of the team that defeated BYU in 2007 lose their lives.

Fifth-year senior Wilson Holloway lost his battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma in February. In September, linebacker George Clinkscale, who finished his eligibility in 2009, died from injuries sustained in a boxing match. Then four-year letterman Anthony Germany, a safety who finished his career in 2007, passed away after a short illness in October.

The numbers of all three players will be displayed on the Tulsa players' helmets when the Golden Hurricane meet BYU in the Armed Forces Bowl on Friday (10 a.m., MT, ESPN).

"This team has faced a lot of tragedy, with three former teammates dying," said Tulsa defensive coordinator Brent Guy. "They've faced a lot of adversity and ups and downs. That's the one thing about these guys ? they're going to battle. It gives perspective for the kids, to appreciate being healthy and being able to play college football. You learn how precious life is. One of the guys who died was in our locker room for homecoming. Three days later, he was gone. You never know, so you have to give your best every day. You always know you have to deal with some types of adversity, but not this much, especially not with death, and not with the death of teammates. That's what was so difficult about this. Winning the bowl game would be a nice way to cap this season off."

Under first-year coach Bill Blankenship, Tulsa (8-4) dropped three of its first four games, including defeats to nationally ranked Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Boise State.

But the Golden Hurricane rebounded to win seven consecutive games before falling to nationally ranked Houston in the regular-season finale.

Senior quarterback G.J. Kinne has completed 64 percent of his passes for 2,876 yards and 25 touchdowns this season.

"Tulsa is a team that has a lot of grit and a lot of heart," said BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall. "That stems from their quarterback. He's a really, really good football player that makes plays, extends plays and finds a way to move the chains and lead their team. Their team takes on his identity."

Kinne can also make plays with his feet, as he has rushed for 400 yards and three TDs.

"He's very elusive, and he has nice feel for making people miss," Mendenhall said of Kinne. "I'm just impressed. He's confident, he's poised, he's tough. And he knows where the first-down markers are and he just finds a way to move his team. It will be a great challenge for us. Our players respect him."

Source: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700210760/BYU-football-Bowl-win-would-cap-Tulsas-tragic-year.html?s_cid=rss-38

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Abortion, immigration changes among new 2012 laws (AP)

Girls seeking abortions in New Hampshire must first tell their parents or a judge, some employers in Alabama must verify new workers' U.S. residency, and California students will be the first in the country to receive mandatory lessons about the contributions of gays and lesbians under state laws set to take effect at the start of 2012.

Many laws reflect the nation's concerns over immigration, the cost of government and the best way to protect and benefit young people, including regulations on sports concussions.

Alabama, with the country's toughest immigration law, is enacting a key provision requiring all employers who do business with any government entity to use a federal system known as E-Verify to check that all new employees are in the country legally.

Georgia is putting a similar law into effect requiring any business with 500 or more employees to use E-Verify to check the employment eligibility of new hires. The requirement is being phased in, with all employers with more than 10 employees to be included by July 2013.

Supporters said they wanted to deter illegal immigrants from coming to Georgia by making it tougher for them to work. Critics said that changes to immigration law should come at the federal level and that portions of the law already in effect are already hurting Georgia.

"It is destroying Georgia's economy and it is destroying the fabric of our social network in South Georgia," Paul Bridges, mayor of the onion-farming town of Uvalda, said in November. He is part of a lawsuit challenging the new law.

Tennessee will also require businesses to ensure employees are legally authorized to work in the U.S. but exempts employers with five or fewer workers and allows them to keep a copy of the new hire's driver's license instead of using E-Verify.

A South Carolina law would allow officials to yank the operating licenses of businesses that don't check new hires' legal status through E-verify. A federal judge last week blocked parts of the law that would have required police to check the immigration status of criminal suspects or people stopped for traffic violations they think might be in the country illegally, and that would have made it a crime for illegal immigrants to transport or house themselves.

California is also addressing illegal immigration, but with a bill that allows students who entered the country illegally to receive private financial aid at public colleges.

Many laws aim to protect young people. In Colorado, coaches will be required to bench players as young as 11 when they're believed to have suffered a head injury. The young athletes will also need medical clearance to return to play.

The law also requires coaches in public and private schools and even volunteer Little League and Pop Warner football coaches to take free annual online training to recognize the symptoms of a concussion. At least a dozen other states have enacted similar laws with the support of the National Football League.

People 18 and under in Illinois will have to wear seat belts while riding in taxis for school-related purposes, and Illinois school boards can now suspend or expel students who make explicit threats on websites against other students or school employees.

Florida will take control of lunch and other school food programs from the federal government, allowing the state to put more Florida-grown fresh fruit and vegetables on school menus. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam says the change will help children eat healthier.

A California law will add gays and lesbians and people with disabilities to the list of social and ethnic groups whose contributions must be taught in history lessons in public schools. The law also bans teaching materials that reflect poorly on gays or particular religions.

Opponents have filed five potential initiatives to repeal the requirement outright or let parents remove their children while gays' contributions are being taught.

In New Hampshire, a law requiring girls seeking abortions to tell their parents or a judge first was reinstated by conservative Republicans over a gubernatorial veto. The state enacted a similar law eight years ago, but it was never enforced following a series of lawsuits.

In Arkansas, facilities that perform 10 or more nonsurgical abortions a month must be licensed by the state Health Department and be subject to inspections by the department, the same requirements faced by facilities that offer surgical abortions in the state.

It affects two Planned Parenthood facilities that offer the abortion pill, though they're not singled out in the statute.

Among federal laws, a measure Congress passed last week to extend Social Security tax cuts and federal unemployment benefit programs raises insurance fees on new mortgages and refinancings backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration by 0.1 percent beginning Jan. 1.

That covers about 90 percent of them and effectively makes a borrower's monthly payment on a new $200,000 mortgage or refinancing about $17 a month more than it would have been if obtained before the first of the year.

Nevada's 3-month old ban on texting while driving will get tougher, with tickets replacing the warnings that police have issued since the ban took effect Oct. 1. In Pennsylvania, police are preparing to enforce that state's recently enacted ban on texting, scheduled to take effect by spring.

Election law changes in Rhode Island and Tennessee will require voters to present photo ID, a measure that supporters say prevents fraud and that opponents say will make it harder for minorities and the elderly to cast ballots.

In Ohio, a measure that creates one primary in March, instead of two that would have cost the state an extra $15 million, goes into effect later in January.

Ohio is also one of eight states with automatic increases in the minimum wage taking effect Jan. 1. The others, with increases between 28 and 37 cents, are Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Montana, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

A few laws try to address budget woes. In Delaware, new state employees will have to contribute more to their pensions, while state workers hired after Jan. 1 in Nevada will have to pony up for their own health care costs in retirement.

Jan. 1 is the effective date in many states for laws passed during this year's legislative sessions. In others, laws take effect July 1, or 90 days after passage.

___

Welsh-Huggins reported from Columbus, Ohio, and can be reached at http://twitter.com/awhcolumbus.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111229/ap_on_re_us/us_new_laws

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Asian stocks fall on Europe bank worries (AP)

BANGKOK ? Asian stock markets slumped Thursday amid new signs of pressure on Europe's banking system and a downturn on Wall Street.

Benchmark oil lingered above $99 per barrel while the dollar rose against the euro but fell against the yen.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index fell 0.7 percent to 8,362.33. South Korea's Kospi lost 0.1 percent to 1,823.44 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was 0.9 percent lower at 18,348.95.

Benchmarks in Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia were also lower, while Malaysia and the Philippines rose and mainland China was mostly flat. Overall, stock markets were quieter than normal as many traders go on vacation the week between Christmas and New Year's.

Investor sentiment waned hours after the European Central Bank said banks had parked $590.72 billion with it overnight, surpassing the record set only Monday. That means European banks were less willing to take the risk of making short-term loans to each other, opting instead to earn low interest rates from the ECB.

The move shook confidence in the euro currency, which on Wednesday dropped to $1.2910 ? its lowest level against the dollar in nearly a year ? before recovering slightly.

"As we have seen time and time again throughout 2011, when EUR/USD falls, so does equities, and so does gold, with traders buying into fixed income assets," Chris Weston of IG Markets in Melbourne wrote in a research note.

Even successful bond auctions in Italy failed to lift the euro against the dollar. Demand for Italian bonds was strong Wednesday, and the country was able to pay lower interest rates.

That's a sign that investors are more confident about Italy's ability to repay its debt. The country recently passed a big package of budget-cutting measures.

The yen's rise to a 10-year high against the euro put stress on Japan's exporters. Kyodo News agency said the euro briefly fell to 100.35 yen in Tokyo, its lowest level against the Japanese currency since June 2001.

Canon Inc. fell 1 percent and Sharp Corp. shed 3.3 percent. Yamaha Motor Corp. lost 1 percent.

In currency trading Thursday, the euro fell to $1.2927 from $1.2941 late Wednesday in New York. The dollar fell to 77.78 yen from 77.91 yen.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 1.1 percent to 12,151.41. The S&P 500 fell 1.3 percent to 1,249.64. The Nasdaq composite declined 1.3 percent to 2,589.98.

Benchmark crude for February delivery rose 19 cents to $99.55 a barrel at midday Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $1.98 to settle at $99.36 in New York on Wednesday.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111229/ap_on_re_as/world_markets

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Mid-February trial date for Packers LB Erik Walden (AP)

GREEN BAY, Wis. ? A mid-February trial date has been set for Green Bay Packers linebacker Erik Walden on a disorderly conduct-domestic abuse charge.

He pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor, which stems from a dispute with his girlfriend last month.

A judge Tuesday set a trial date of Feb. 16, which is 11 days after the Super Bowl.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an email to The Associated Press that the league will review the matter after the court case is resolved.

Defense attorney Steve Richards says he hopes the case can be resolved at a Feb. 13 pre-trial conference. Brown County district attorney John Zakowski says Walden didn't get special treatment.

Walden spent the weekend after Thanksgiving in jail after his Nov. 25 arrest, and has continued to play.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111228/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_packers_walden

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Dropbox top iPhone productivity app in TUAW Best of 2011 voting

Merry Christmas! Although today is officially a holiday and we're all spending time with our families and friends, the voting elves at TUAW have been working hard to continue the coverage of our TUAW Best of 2011 awards.

Today's winner is an app and service that should be on everyone's iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and PC -- Dropbox. The Dropbox iPhone app (free) pulled in 38.6 percent of the votes form TUAW readers, topping Evernote (free), which came in second with 28.0 percent.

Dropbox provides 2 GB of synced cloud storage to everyone at no cost, 50 GB at $99.99 per year, or 100 GB at $199.99 annually. There are team account options as well.

Congratulations to the Dropbox team, and we look forward to more from this astoundingly good productivity app in the future.


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Source: http://www.tuaw.com/2011/12/25/dropbox-top-iphone-productivity-app-in-tuaw-best-of-2011-voting/

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Cops: Someone took missing Maine toddler

A police chief leading a search for a missing 20-month-old girl says investigators believe someone took her from her father's home in Maine.

The comment Monday by Waterville police Chief Joseph Massey marks the first time he has said directly he doesn't believe Ayla Reynolds left her home by herself.

Ayla had been living with her father, who reported her missing Dec. 17. He told police he last saw her when he put her to bed the previous night at his home in Waterville. The home has been sealed with crime scene tape.

Also Monday, Waterville lawyer John Nale announced a $30,000 reward from businesses and individuals for information leading to Ayla's whereabouts, WCSH6 reported.

Maine Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland says it's the largest reward ever offered in a Maine missing-person case.

Ayla's disappearance was featured on "America's Most Wanted" on Friday night.

Information from The Associated Press and WCSH6.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45791588/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

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Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas toys: Five ways to make sure they're safe

More than two dozen Christmas toys on sale this year have too much lead, contain dangerous plastic additives, or pose choking or hearing hazards, according to a recent report from consumer group U.S. Public Interest Research Group (see my blog post on it). But often, the dangers aren?t discovered until after the presents are bought and opened. So how can parents ensure that their children?s new Christmas toys are safe? Here are five ways to stay informed.

- Mike Rozembajgier,?Contributor

1. Sign up for recall alerts for your child's Christmas toys

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the regulatory body charged with protecting the public from risks of injuries associated with consumer products, including toys and other children?s items. Parents can find out about product safety recalls through a variety of resources, including the commission?s website for recalls. By filling in their e-mail addresses on the website, parents can receive an alert whenever a product recall or a safety advisory is announced. You can even tailor the e-mail alert to notify you only when certain types of products are recalled.

Recalls can be announced months after a product is purchased. So it is always a good idea for parents to check recall lists well before and after the holiday season. Before you give your child a gift, cross check it with the CPSC?s recall alerts to make sure it has not been recalled. Consumers should also review the CPSC?s recall database regularly and long after the holiday season has passed to make sure that their children?s Christmas toys and games are safe. If you find that a gift has been recalled, immediately follow the remedy instructions provided in the recall announcement.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/Amzqo9hvgSE/Christmas-toys-Five-ways-to-make-sure-they-re-safe

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zeitgeistblog: Google News: Justice Department rejects South Carolina voter ID law - Los Angeles Times http://t.co/B6c8hg6b

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

iMAME pulled from the Apple App Store

Saturday, December 24th 2011. Posted in Gadget by TechOST

iMAMEIt only took a couple of days, but it looks like the iMAME app which allowed gamers to play classic games on their iOS devices has finally been pulled out from the Apple App Store. Can?t say we didn?t see this coming, since Apple forbids apps on its store from running emulated code. However, it?s safe to say that this isn?t going to be the last we?ve seen of the app. Various emulator apps have managed to pop up on the App Store in the past (and were consequently thrown out after a enjoying a short while of success) and you can be sure that more variations will surface in the future. So for those of you that missed out on iMAME this time around, keep your eyes peeled for another emulator in the future.

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Friday, December 23rd 2011.

Last month, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) was proposed in an attempt to curb and stop online piracy ? in theory. In reality, it is a?highly controversial law that if passed, would allow anyone to sue and shut down a website just

Thursday, December 22nd 2011.

There are a number Bluetooth heart rate monitors available on the market, but Wahoo Fitness claims to have created the world?s first Bluetooth Smart heart rate monitor. Called the Blue HR, it turns your smartphone into a device that is capable of giving

Wednesday, December 21st 2011.

There are some gizmos that you would have certainly seen before, being used by authorities such as security and military personnel, invoking the green-eyed monster in you as such devices have not been made available to the general public. Well, the stand-up electric

Tuesday, December 20th 2011.

While it was reported that the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Nexus S started rolling out in certain parts of the world last week, it looks like the update is going to be delayed for the rest of us who haven?t received

Monday, December 19th 2011.

If you see a particularly cheap pair of Beats by Dr. Dre that sports a price point that is too good to be true, be forewarned ? it is most probably a counterfeit product. Well, Christmas being just less than a week away

Source: http://techost.info/imame-pulled-from-the-apple-app-store.html

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Warrant issued for sports agent Leigh Steinberg over debt

SANTA ANA, Calif. - A California court has issued a bench warrant for veteran sports agent Leigh Steinberg in a case involving a $1.4 million judgment owed to a landlord.

Orange County Superior Court spokeswoman Carole Levitzky said Thursday the warrant was issued after Steinberg failed to attend court last week.

Court papers show Steinberg was ordered to pay $1.4 million last year to The Irvine Company for office space he leased in Newport Beach.

In court papers, the company says Steinberg stopped paying under his lease terms in 2009.

Steinberg says he is not hiding and is responsible for his debts.

Irvine Company officials declined comment.

Steinberg has represented NFL stars including Troy Aikman and Ben Roethlisberger and was the inspiration for Tom Cruise's character in the movie "Jerry Maguire."

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19601460?source=rss_viewed

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bydanielvictor: It's kinda like putting baseball cards in your spokes, except it's this instead. http://t.co/Fax3hhlS

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Saturday, December 24, 2011

New crew arrives at International Space Station (Reuters)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) ? A Russian Soyuz capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Friday with a trio of astronauts, bringing the orbital outpost back to full staffing after a failed cargo ship launch in August disrupted flight schedules.

Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, NASA's Don Pettit and the European Space Agency's Andre Kuipers blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday for the space station, a $100 billion research complex that orbits about 240 miles above Earth.

Their two-day trip in the cramped capsule ended at 10:19 a.m. EST (1519 GMT) when the Soyuz slipped into the Earth-facing docking port on the station's Rassvet module.

The docking occurred about three hours after another botched Russian launch, the fifth this year.

An unmanned Soyuz-2 rocket carrying a Russian communications satellite lifted off from Russia's Plesetsk space center at 7:08 a.m. EST (1208 GMT), but failed to reach orbit after a third-stage engine failure.

The rocket and its payload crashed in Siberia, according to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

There was no immediate word about whether the Soyuz-2 failure will impact upcoming launches, including a Soyuz flight slated for Wednesday to put six Globalstar mobile communications satellites into orbit.

The engine on the Soyuz-2 rocket lost Friday is different than the one used on the rocket that launches space station cargo and crews, NASA said.

"This is unlikely to have any effect on operations to the International Space Station," said NASA spokesman Joshua Buck.

The next cargo run to the space station is scheduled for launch on January 25.

At a news conference broadcast on NASA Television following the new crew's arrival, Russian space agency officials acknowledged the country's aerospace industry is in trouble.

"There are problems," Roscosmos chief Vladimir Popovkin said through a translator. "There is aging of many resources. We need to optimize everything. We need to modernize."

"It's also aging of human resources," Popovkin said. "Given the troubles we had in the '90s, quite a lot of people left and nobody came to replace them."

Russian launch troubles kept the space station short-staffed for most of the past three months.

Crew flights to the station were delayed while Russian engineers scrambled to find and fix the cause of a Progress cargo ship engine failure on August 24. The engine is virtually identical to the one used on the Russian Soyuz capsules that ferry crew.

The accident was traced to contamination or a blockage in a fuel line.

Russia beefed up its inspection and quality control systems and resumed flying on October 30.

Russian launch failures this year also claimed a long-awaited mission to return samples from the Martian moon Phobos. The 13-ton Phobos-Grunt spacecraft is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere between January 9 and 16.

The newly arrived crew at the space station joined station commander Dan Burbank and two cosmonauts, who have been aboard the outpost since November 16.

"It is so great to have all six crew members on board the space station," said NASA's head of human spaceflight Bill Gerstenmaier.

"This will be an exciting period for the crew. They have many activities over the next several months."

With the return to a six-member crew, the station can resume full-time science operations, including medical research, physics experiments and astronomical observations.

The crew also will begin preparations for the arrival of the first commercial cargo ship.

Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, is scheduled to launch its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule on February 7 for a trial run to the station.

The debut flight of a second U.S. supplier, Orbital Sciences Corp., is expected later in the year.

(Editing by Kevin Gray and Will Dunham)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/space/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111223/sc_nm/us_space_station

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AT&T wins regulatory approval to buy Qualcomm spectrum (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? AT&T Inc said late on Thursday that it won regulatory approval to buy wireless spectrum from U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm Inc, a move that would boost the company's 4G network.

AT&T is buying 700 megahertz (MHz) airwaves for about $1.93 billion, with the aim of countering criticism over iPhone service quality and competitive threats from rivals like Verizon Wireless.

"This spectrum will help AT&T continue to deliver a world-class mobile broadband experience to our customers," Bob Quinn, an AT&T senior vice president, said in a statement.

The companies expect to close the transaction in the coming days, AT&T said.

(Reporting by Sakthi Prasad in Bangalore; Editing by Matt Driskill)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111223/tc_nm/us_att

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Miley Cyrus Movie Opening Delayed Due to Scandal, Lack of Funds


Whether or not Miley Cyrus was joking about her affection for marijuana, the star's recent scandal has had a negative impact on her big screen career.

Sources confirm that Miley's next movie - the comedy LOL, which also stars Demi Moore and Ashley Greene - was scheduled for an international release in either late 2011 or early 2012. However, that opening has now been scrapped in large part due to last-minute editing out of a scene in which Miley's character smokes cigarettes with her friends.

Producers are hoping to avoid any and all controversy related to this topic.

LOL Movie Poster

So, when might LOL hit American theaters? That is also uncertain, as Lionsgate is facing significant financial problems.

The studio simply can't afford to market the film and is reportedly hoping to make enough bank on The Hunger Games - which, ironically, stars Miley's boyfriend, Liam Hemsworth - this spring to then turn its efforts back over to Cyrus and company.

LOL is based a remake of a French hit and centers on Lola (Cyrus) and her teenage pals, as they navigate the world of high school romance and friendship.

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/12/miley-cyrus-movie-opening-delayed-due-to-scandal-lack-of-funds/

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Friday, December 23, 2011

Philippines revises up missing from floods to 1,000 (Reuters)

MANILA (Reuters) ? The Philippines disaster agency said Friday more than 1,000 people were missing from a storm and flash floods last week, sharply raising the number of victims unaccounted for as the true extent of the disaster became known.

Typhoon Washi and the flash floods it caused on the southern island of Mindanao are known to have killed 1,080 people, the national disaster agency said.

The agency said Thursday dozens of people were missing but Friday it revised that figure to more than 1,000, saying more complete data had come in and people were reporting the disappearance of relatives.

Most of the casualties were in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, where hundreds of thousands of people were displaced. Many of them are sheltering in schools, churches, gymnasiums and an army base.

Benito Ramos, head of the national disaster agency, said authorities had expanded the search in light of the new tally of missing and because some bodies had been found on shores nearly 100 km (60 miles) from the disaster area.

"We've deployed helicopters to help navy ships scour the seas further away," Ramos told reporters.

The number of missing was put at 1,079, he said.

The disaster had caused damage of 1 billion pesos ($22.92 million) to highways, bridges, schools and other infrastructure, the agency said.

The agriculture department estimated 310.2 million pesos worth of crops, including 703 metric tons of unmilled rice and 7,751 metric tons of corn were destroyed.

Ramos said the situation for survivors was slowly getting back to normal though the displaced needed sustained help.

Two navy ships and aircraft from the main island of Luzon had been deployed to help in the search and relief operations, he said.

"We're not taking any Christmas break," Ramos said.

Some families have moved home and are trying to pick up their pieces of their lives.

"We only need something on top of our heads this Christmas," villager Teresita Bragas told a television station, as she and some neighbors tried to rebuild amid mounds of logs and debris in their coastal village.

Aid agencies have appealed for $28.6 million aid to ease overcrowding at shelter areas.

($1 = 43.6350 pesos)

(Reporting By Manuel Mogato; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/weather/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111223/wl_nm/us_philippines_typhoon

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The Grinchiest MMA Christmas wish list ever

The Grinchiest MMA Christmas wish list ever

This is the time of year we think about gifting and re-gifting for those closest to us. That includes our favorites characters in the world of mixed martial arts.

We choose to re-gift. Bleacher Report's Brian Hiergesell did a dynamite job of coming up with great gift ideas, but with an absolutely snarky tone.

Our favorites were:

12. Michael McDonald - A Time Machine
At this point in his career, Michael McDonald has enough talent and an awesome gift of raw power to win the UFC bantamweight title. The only problem?? He's 20 years old.

Unbelievable, right?

McDonald is one of the only guys at 135 lbs. that can knock out his opponents at such a small weight.? If he had his chance at using a time machine, he'd be able to bypass the useless fights over the next year and wormhole his way to a title shot against Dominick Cruz.

11. Roy Nelson - A KFC Bucket

Roy Nelson probably eats so much food on Christmas Day, it's ridiculous.

I'm talking roast beef, steak, potatoes, yams, corn, the whole nine.? But can you blame him?

It clearly doesn't affect his Octagon skills.? Nelson would be just as good, and he is, if he weighed 180 lbs. compared to his usual 265. No matter what the critics say, the belly is here to stay.

The Grinchiest MMA Christmas wish list ever

5. Jon Jones - A Weakness

I don't think so.? A victory over Overeem would launch Lesnar back into title contention in the heavyweight division and dispel any concerns people have about his recovery from diverticulitis. I realize their fight comes on the eve of New Year's Eve, but how great would it be to see Lesnar step into the Octagon, land a couple of rights, and put Overeem to sleep?

I'm thinking somebody needs to get Jon Jones a weakness for Christmas.? The guy is too good.

3. Brock Lesnar - An Alistair Overeem nap

Is there a more perfect gift for Brock Lesnar this Christmas than an Alistair Overeem snooze?

Apparently Brian isn't a big fan of Overeem, but that's the joy of prepping for UFC 141. Lesnar is the most polarizing guy in the sport and there are plenty of Overeem critics. So pick your poison. It's a win-win for the fans and a helluva late Christmas gift from the UFC.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/The-Grinchiest-MMA-Christmas-wish-list-ever?urn=mma-wp11008

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Sunday, December 18, 2011

Last troops exit Iraq in subdued end to 9-year war

The last convoy of soldiers from the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division crosses the border from Iraq into Kuwait, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. The brigade's special troops battalion are the last American soldiers to leave Iraq. The U.S. military announced Saturday night that the last American troops have left Iraq as the nearly nine-year war ends. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

The last convoy of soldiers from the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division crosses the border from Iraq into Kuwait, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. The brigade's special troops battalion are the last American soldiers to leave Iraq. The U.S. military announced Saturday night that the last American troops have left Iraq as the nearly nine-year war ends. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

A soldier shouts from the gun turret of the last vehicle in a convoy of the US Army's 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division crosses the border from Iraq into Kuwait, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. The brigade's special troops battalion are the last American soldiers to leave Iraq. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

In this Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 photo, a U.S. Army soldier from 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas, sits on top of his armored vehicle at Camp Adder during final preparations for the last American convoy to leave Iraq. The U.S. military says the last American troops have left Iraq as the nearly nine-year war ends. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

In this Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 photo, U.S. Army soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas, inspect their body armor at Camp Adder during final preparations for the last American convoy to leave Iraq. The U.S. military announced Saturday night that the last American troops have left Iraq as the nearly nine-year war ends. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

A U.S. Army soldier holds a flag as a convoy of the US Army's 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division crosses the border from Iraq into Kuwait, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. The brigade's special troops battalion are the last American soldiers to leave Iraq. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

(AP) ? Outside it was pitch dark. The six American soldiers couldn't see much of the desert landscape streaming by outside the small windows of their armored vehicle. They were hushed and exhausted from an all-night drive ? part of the last convoy of U.S. troops to leave Iraq during the final moment of a nearly nine-year war.

As dawn broke Sunday, a small cluster of Iraqi soldiers along the highway waved goodbye to the departing American troops.

"My heart goes out to the Iraqis," said Warrant Officer John Jewell. "The innocent always pay the bill."

When they finally crossed the sand berm that separates Iraq from Kuwait, illuminated by floodlights and crisscrossed with barbed wire, the mood inside Jewell's vehicle was subdued. No cheers. No hugs. Mostly just relief.

His comrade, Sgt. Ashley Vorhees, mustered a bit more excitement.

"I'm out of Iraq," she said. "It's all smooth sailing from here."

The final withdrawal was the starkest of contrasts to the start of the war, which began before dawn on March 20, 2003. That morning, an airstrike in southern Baghdad, where Saddam Hussein was believed to be hiding, marked the opening shot of the famed "shock and awe" bombardment. U.S. and allied ground forces then stormed from Kuwait toward the capital, hurtling north across southern Iraq's featureless deserts.

The last convoy of heavily armored personnel carriers, known as MRAPS, left the staging base at Camp Adder in southern Iraq in Sunday's early hours. They slipped out under cover of darkness and strict secrecy to prevent any final attacks. The 500 soldiers didn't even tell their Iraqi comrades on the base they were leaving.

The attack never materialized. The fear, though, spoke volumes about the country they left behind ? shattered, still dangerous and containing a good number of people who still see Americans not as the ally who helped them end Saddam's dictatorship, but as an enemy.

About 110 vehicles made the last trip from Camp Adder to the "berm" in Kuwait, the long mound of earth over which tens of thousands of American troops charged into Iraq at the start of the war.

The roughly five-hour drive was uneventful, with the exception of a few vehicle malfunctions.

Once they crossed into Kuwait, there was time for a brief celebrations as the soldiers piled out of the cramped and formidable-looking MRAPs. A bear hug, some whooping, fist bumps and fist pumps.

The war that began eight years and nine months earlier cost nearly 4,500 American and well more than 100,000 Iraqi lives and $800 billion from the U.S. Treasury. The bitterly divisive conflict left Iraq shattered and struggling to recover. For the United States, two central questions remain unanswered: whether it was all worth it, and whether the new government the Americans leave behind will remain a steadfast U.S. ally or drift into Iran's orbit.

But the last soldiers out were looking ahead, mostly, and not back. They spoke eagerly of awaiting family reunions ? some of them in time for Christmas ? and longing for Western "civilization" and especially the meals that await them back home.

The 29-year-old Vorhees was planning a Mexican dinner out at Rosa's in Killeen, Texas. Her favorite is crispy chicken tacos. Another joy of home, she said: You don't have to bring your weapon when you go to the bathroom.

Spc. Jesse Jones was getting ready to make the 2 1/2 hour drive from Ft. Hood, Texas, where the brigade is based, to Dallas. His quarry: an In & Out Burger.

"It's just an honor to be able to serve your country and say that you helped close out the war in Iraq," said Jones, 23, who volunteered to be in the last convoy. "Not a lot of people can say that they did huge things like that that will probably be in the history books."

In the last days at Camp Adder, the remaining few hundred troops tied up all the loose ends of a war, or at least those that could be tied up.

The soldiers at the base spoke often of the "lasts" ? the last guard duty, the last meal in Iraq, the last patrol briefing. Even the last Friday was special until it was eclipsed by the last Saturday.

Spc. Brittany Hampton laid claim to one of the most memorable "lasts." She rode the last vehicle of the last convoy of American troops leaving Iraq.

Hampton was thinking of her dad, also a soldier who has served four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I can't wait to ... call my dad and tell him about this," she said. "He's not going to believe it. He's going to be so proud of me."

She joked that no one was going to believe her back home when she told them she was in the very last vehicle to leave.

"But we really, truly were the last soldiers in Iraq. So it's pretty awesome," she said.

In the final days, U.S. officials acknowledged the cost in blood and treasure was high, but tried to paint it as a victory ? for both the troops and the Iraqi people now freed of a dictator and on a path to democracy. But gnawing questions remain: Will Iraqis be able to forge their new government amid the still stubborn sectarian clashes? And will Iraq be able to defend itself and remain independent in a region fraught with turmoil and still steeped in insurgent threats?

President Barack Obama stopped short of calling the U.S. effort in Iraq a victory.

"I would describe our troops as having succeeded in the mission of giving to the Iraqis their country in a way that gives them a chance for a successful future," Obama said in an interview with ABC News' Barbara Walters, recorded Thursday.

Saddam and his regime fell within weeks of the invasion, and the dictator was captured by the end of the year ? to be executed by Iraq's new Shiite rulers at the end of 2006. But Saddam's end only opened the door to years more of conflict as Iraq was plunged into a vicious sectarian war between its Shiite and Sunni communities. The near civil war devastated the country, and its legacy includes thousands of widows and orphans, a people deeply divided along sectarian lines and infrastructure that remains largely in ruins.

In the past two years, violence has dropped dramatically, and Iraqi security forces that U.S. troops struggled for years to train have improved. But the sectarian wounds remain unhealed. Even as U.S. troops were leaving, the main Sunni-backed political bloc announced Sunday it was suspending its participation in parliament to protest the monopoly on government posts by Shiite allies of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

"We are glad to see the last U.S. soldier leaving the country today," said 25-year-old Iraqi Said Hassan, the owner of money exchange shop in Baghdad. "It is an important day in Iraq's history, but the most important thing now is the future of Iraq," he added.

"The Americans have left behind them a country that is falling apart and an Iraqi army and security forces that have a long way ahead to be able to defend the nation and the people."

The convoys that left Sunday were the last of a massive operation pulling out American forces that has lasted for months to meet the end-of-the-year deadline agreed with the Iraqis during the administration of President George W. Bush.

On Saturday evening at Camp Adder, near Nasiriyah and about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast of Baghdad, the vehicles lined up in an open field to prepare, and soldiers went through last-minute equipment checks to make sure radios, weapons and other gear were working.

Gen. Lloyd Austin, the commanding general for Iraq, walked through the rows of vehicles, talking to soldiers over the low hum of the engines. He thanked them for their service.

"I wanted to remind them that we have an important mission left in the country of Iraq. We want to stay focused and we want to make sure that we're doing the right things to protect ourselves," Austin said.

Early Saturday morning, the brigade's remaining interpreters made their routine calls to the local tribal sheiks and government leaders that the troops deal with, so that they would assume that it was just a normal day.

"The Iraqis are going to wake up in the morning and nobody will be there," said Spc. Joseph, an Iraqi American who emigrated from Iraq in 2009 and enlisted. He asked that his full name be withheld to protect his family.

Camp Adder is now an Iraqi air force base, although they don't have any planes yet. Many of the Americans spent their last day sweeping out the trailers that housed thousands of troops and contractors while Iraqi officers came by to inspect their future domain.

Little by little, the U.S. military gave up pieces of Camp Adder. Soldiers closed down guard towers, turned over checkpoints leading into the base and left hundreds of vehicles, oil tankers and trucks in vast lots with the keys on the dashboard.

The volleyball and basketball courts stood empty. And no one worked out at the gym called "House of Pain."

The roughly 13-square-mile base had at one time been a major way station where troops and supplies often stopped on their way south or north.

But by the time the Americans pulled out for good, their numbers had dwindled so low that the wild dogs that used to be too afraid to come near the living quarters now wandered freely through the rows of trailers and concrete blast walls.

Sgt. First Class Hilda McNamee was the truck commander in the last MRAP to drive out of Iraq. The 34-year-old said when she gets back to Texas, she plans to take her son to the International House of Pancakes.

For her the significance of the last convoy driving out was immediately apparent.

"It means I won't open a newspaper and find out that one of my friends passed away," said McNamee.

She welled up but didn't want to go any deeper. Some memories will always be too fresh.

Going home will also bring new dangers for the troops.

Col. Douglas Crissman, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said one of his biggest concerns now was making sure that all his soldiers who survived this deployment also survive their re-entry into what is supposed to be a safer world.

"Quite frankly, we lost more soldiers in peacetime in the nine or ten months before this brigade deployed due to accidents and risky behavior ... than we lost here in combat," he said.

His brigade, which controlled the four provinces in southern Iraq, lost three soldiers during this tour. Two were killed by roadside bombs and one was killed by a rocket, likely as he was trying to get to a bunker.

But in the roughly 10 months leading up to their deployment, they lost 13 people. At least one was a confirmed suicide.

The U.S. plans to keep a robust diplomatic presence in Iraq, hoping to foster a lasting relationship with the nation and maintain a strong military force in the region. Obama met in Washington with Prime Minister al-Maliki last week, vowing to remain committed to Iraq as the two countries struggle to define their new relationship.

U.S. officials were unable to reach an agreement with the Iraqis on legal issues and troop immunity that would have allowed a small training and counterterrorism force to remain. U.S. defense officials said they expect there will be no movement on that issue until sometime next year.

In the end, many of the departing troops wrestled with a singular question: Was it worth it?

Capt. Mark Askew, a 28-year-old from Tampa, Florida, said the answer will depend on what type of country Iraq turns into years from now ? whether it is democratic and respects human rights.

"People are asking themselves: 'Was this worth it?'" he said, speaking to his troops before they set off to Kuwait. "I can't answer that question right now."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-12-18-ML-Iraq-The-End/id-325d378a571946519482ddbcebe2fe3f

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Gingrich defends government-sponsored enterprises

(AP) ? Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich describes some government-sponsored enterprises as valuable entities that can help people.

Gingrich on Thursday night defended his time working with Freddie Mac, the quasi-government home mortgage agency. Gingrich made more than $1.6 million working with it.

Gingrich says at the latest GOP debate that some public-private partnerships ? institutions like credit unions and electricity cooperatives ? are important and do a good job.

His Republican rivals criticized him. Texas Rep. Ron Paul says those are the "worst kind" of economic entity because they mix free enterprise with the government.

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann says Freddie Mac and a similar entity, Fannie Mae, "need to go away."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2011-12-15-GOP%20Debate-Gingrich-Freddie%20Mac/id-fe04be70e54147cda96f03c305d85752

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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Is a 'farmland bubble' looming?

The price of farmland has doubled over the past four to five years in the nation?s heartland. Are we headed for another bubble?

The Wall Street Journal just caught up with the boom in farmland story yesterday. The price of farmland has doubled over the past past 4-5 years in the nation?s heartland. While some question the rise in prices, rationalizations have appeared as is always the case.

Skip to next paragraph Mises Economics Blog

This is the institutional blog of the Ludwig von Mises Institute and many of its affiliated writers and scholars commenting on economic affairs of the day.

Recent posts

Less than 2% of the cropland in Iowa is sold each year, and 74% of it ends up in the hands of local farmers, who tend to buy for the long term and often buy with cash instead of debt.

Except that TIAA-CREF is not exactly your garden variety ?local farmer.? The retirement system for employees of nonprofits, has acquired 600,000 acres of cropland worth $2.5 billion, about half of which are in the U.S.

?If opportunities arose, we could double our portfolio,? said Jose Minaya, TIAA-CREF?s head of natural-resources investments tells the WSJ.

?Investors discount worries of a price bubble, if only because the rapid appreciation in land doesn?t seem to be fueled by easy credit. In states such as Nebraska, roughly half the land purchases are for cash,? Mark Peters and Scott Kilman write for the WSJ.

Well sure, but it now takes 6 years worth of a crop to equal an acre of land, when the historical metric is 4 years.

Also, while land prices keep lurching upward, crop prices are going the other way.

Whether leverage is used or not, land prices move up and down depending upon interest rates.

Sterling Liddell, an agribusiness analyst at Rabobank, said Midwest cropland prices could drop 12% to 15% sometime over the next three years to five years if interest rates climb back to more-normal levels, which would make alternative investments more attractive.

This isn?t the first boom in farmland prices and it won?t be the last. Nothing causes memory loss as surely as an investment mania. As I?wrote back in July, ?Every new bubble feels different.?

The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of the best economy-related bloggers out there. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. To contact us about a blogger, click here. To add or view a comment on a guest blog, please go to the blogger's own site by clicking on blog.mises.org.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/5GY_juexHkE/Is-a-farmland-bubble-looming

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Son has made life richer,' Bullock says





>>> with one of our favorite guests around here, sandra bullock . two years after winning the oscar she is finally returning to the big screen and the new movie is called " extremely loud and incredibly close ." sandra plays a 9/11 widow and mom to a 9-year-old boy trying to cope after their tragic loss. take a look.

>> what do you miss about him?

>> oh, i miss so many things about him.

>> i miss how he could tell the weather just by touching the window.

>> when woe cohe would come in the house and yell "what's everybody doing?"

>> he told me. he said, i really love your mother. she's such a good girl.

>> welcome back, sandra . it's nice to see you.

>> thank you.

>> i feel the need to start this interview by telling our viewers two things. one, bring tissues.

>> yes.

>> it's a very emotional and powerful movie. the second is if they're going to this movie because they want to see you, up on screen for the whole film, this is not that movie.

>> true.

>> you're in there about 15 minutes .

>> it's actually 24 minutes .

>> sorry. i miscalculated.

>> throughout the whole film. strategically placed moments.

>> yes.

>> but, no. it's truly this amazing story of this child's point of view of what happened in his life that was this horribly tragic event and to see it through his eyes is far more i think poignant and impactful than to see it through an adult's eyes.

>> i bring it up only -- first of all, you are great in those 22 minutes .

>> 24.

>> sorry. because -- 15 the way i calculate.

>> 24.

>> i like it because i like the fact that did you this. i think there are a lot of a-list actors who would have said this isn't a big enough star term for me and i admire your choice on that.

>> i've already had those moments i think. i'm -- there might be more. i don't know. but i don't know how many moments and opportunities like this there will be with stories like this, with directors and casts like this. you know, it's where, like, the rare moments in life where all the elements are there and they all come together for some strange or bigger reason and i, you know, you can't say no to that.

>> it's haunting stuff. i mean, it takes place, 9/11, or as it's called in the movie sometimes the worst day. here in new york city as those planes hit the world trade center , you were actually in the city, so this is close and personal for you as it is for a lot of people. as part of the research for this movie you went and listened to the voice mails left behind by people trapped in that tower for their families. talk to me about that.

>> the fact we were given access to them by the families or that they allowed people to have access to them is pretty --

>> why do you think they shared? were you surprised?

>> i was at first until you see the tremendous gift it was to them, left by those who are no longer here. you know, so many of them were a progression of e-mails from i'm going to be fine. everything is great. don't worry. to, we're trying to find a way out. and then of course the final outcome. but i was absolutely and still am -- it's haunting and it's inspiring that the last message inevitably was one of hope for the families left behind and i -- as a human being you don't know how to comprehend that. but i -- i am so glad that those handful of people had that gift. they didn't have the contact that they would have loved, but they are able to have this gift and the strength of the loved one just what they gave is just mind blowing.

>> let's talk about the young man who plays your son in this, thomas horn. i mean, he is in just about every scene. you're in eight minutes. but he is in about every scene here and he is extraordinary.

>> yeah, yeah.

>> when you look at him and you know this movie is going to change his career.

>> yeah.

>> what advice do you have for a young man like that?

>> you don't give someone like thomas horn advice.

>> why not?

>> because he doesn't need it. this isn't going to be his sole career. he is destined to do so many things of great worth. not that acting isn't something of great worth. but he has his -- he knows what he is here to do and he has so many interests and he might only be 13, 14. i don't know if he's 13 or 14. but he is far more educated, wiser, kind, empathetic than most adults in this room and i don't say that as a negative thing. i just say that he is an extraordinary human being and he was given this opportunity. it was something he wanted to take. and he did not shy away from it from day one. it's frightening to watch his level of professionalism. it was frightening.

>> tom hanks as well. max -- he never says a word without giving anything away about who his character is. he is a guy who either has lost the ability to speak or chooses not to speak. we don't know. and the power he brings is -- i was blown away by him.

>> yeah. the beauty of this story is it shows so many points of view of grief and how vastly different they are. and, you know, we like to see pretty grief on film but in the end you have such a cathartic response to this movie. it lets you feel what you're feeling whatever it is. you know? and it's a rare thing.

>> let's leave them laughing. let's end on a lighter note. christmas around the corner. i was reading you're going to spoil the pants off louie.

>> yes.

>> we have him in a sound proof booth down at nbc.

>> yes.

>> so he can't hear. what is the most extravagant thing you'll buy him?

>> i don't know if i've stopped.

>> what did you buy?

>> i am not going to tell you.

>> he can't hear.

>> no. i'm not going to tell you because he understands everything.

>> you bought him a plane didn't you?

>> i kind of did. i got him a g-5. maybe he'll let mommy use it. i don't know.

>> he'll grow into it. what is your favorite christmas song ? since you're musically trained.

>> yeah, because that gene did not pass on to me like sometimes two doctors don't have a surgeon child. they have, well, we've seen what happens. it's usually my favorite christmas songs are ones that are like by some beautiful choir with a great orchestration and sounds like in some holy place .

>> do you have a name?

>> no, again, because there are many. i know you want me to pick one thing but life isn't about just one thing, matt.

>> it's true.

>> i'm sorry, you guys. you have to do this every day. i have to deal with this once every two years.

>> the movie is incredible. extremely loud and incredibly close . sandra 's two minutes in this movie are just incredible.

>> why am i here? why did i show up today?

>> merry christmas .

>> you too.

>> good to see you. it opens in theaters on january 20th . and nationwide on that

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45682612/ns/today-entertainment/

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