"My plan hasn't changed," Manning said at a hotel after media day at Lucas Oil Stadium featuring the Giants and Patriots. "I'm on track with what the doctors have told me to do, and I'm doing that. I'm rehabbing hard."
When asked about reports he may soon cheap burberry 2012 retire, he responded: "I have no plans on doing that."
Manning's shadow has been looming over the NFL title game for days, and it doesn't show signs of going away anytime soon though he wishes he wasn't such a distraction.
"It's not the way it should be," he said earlier in a taped interview with ESPN. "I really don't think it will be as the week goes on."
The quarterback of the hometown Colts has not played in more than a year because of a damaged nerve that caused weakness in his throwing arm. He had neck surgery in May, then underwent his third and most invasive neck surgery in 19 months in September. Doctors fused two vertebrae together, a procedure that forced him to miss the Colts' 2-14 season.
Since then, Manning hasn't been able to escape the spotlight.
There has been rampant speculation about his recovery, the potential risks of a return, whether the Colts will pay Manning a $28 million roster bonus in early March to prevent him from becoming a free agent or whether the soon-to-be 36-year-old might quit playing.
The ongoing saga has spilled right into the first Super Bowl week in Indianapolis.
While the marquee story line was supposed to be Manning's brother Eli vs. Brady, it's the older Peyton who continues to make news.
Following last week's public spat with team owner Jim Irsay and the ensuing make-up, Irsay joined the city's mayor, the Indiana governor and host committee officials at Monday's news conference to discuss game week. Irsay wound up taking most of the questions and, of course, most focused on Manning's future. He also said he didn't want to discuss the Manning situation again this week.
On Tuesday, Manning was the chatty one.Cheap burberry 2012 new arrivals for sale, all designer bags, fashion clothing, luxury accessories and discount shoes are 60% off for men, women and kids, free shipping for orders exceed $200.
Shortly after about 5,000 fans watched more than 1,000 reporters spend two hours interviewing Patriots and Giants, Manning delivered the third part of media day with an impromptu appearance in front of a small group of reporters. His motive was to turn the attention away from him and back to Sunday's game and his brother's quest to win a second Super Bowl ring.
That didn't work too well, either.
"I'm working hard, I had a really good session today," Manning said after throwing to several teammates. "I continue to make progress and work hard. The doctors are encouraged and that's encouraging to me."
Manning smiled throughout the 10-minute interview and looked happier and more vibrant than he has in months.
Not everyone is paying attention to the diversion.
"Oh you meant Eli? I got it now," Patriots linebacker Gary Guyton said when asked about coming to Indy with Manning in the headlines.
Most Colts fans, meanwhile, have enthusiastically backed Eli in hopes of sending the dreaded Patriots home empty-handed again from Indy. And Eli chimed in, too.Burberry belt, burberry leather belts cheap sale for men and women.
"Peyton has had an unbelievable career. Since I've been watching football, I haven't seen anybody play at a higher level than he has," Eli said. "It has always been my goal to get to his level of football, to get to his level of play. That is something that I've worked on. I've watched him in situations and I'm just amazed on some of the throws and plays he's made in his career. I try to ask as many questions and get as much help from him as I can."
2012年1月30日星期一
By studying the amount of solar energy absorbed by the atmosphere
Earth's primary energy source is the sun, which bombards the planet with solar rays every day. This energy helps drive our weather cheap burberry outlet system, makes the planet warm enough for life and drives photosynthesis in plants, among other things. But not all of this energy is retained by the Earth — some of it is reflected or radiated back into space.
By studying the amount of solar energy absorbed by the atmosphere, and comparing it to the energy released back into space by the planet, a team of researchers has calculated how much energy is retained by the planet. Most of the energy is held within the oceans as heat; the influx causes a slow rise in temperature.
Missing or not?
A previous study, released by a different group in 2010, noted that the ocean heating from 2004 to 2008 seemed to slow. This led them to suggest that some of the planet's energy was missing.
But the new team, led by Norman Leob of NASA's Langley Research Center, re-examined the numbers measured over the course of the last decade and found them to be relatively stable.
Loeb's team maintained that the margin of error was larger than the original study took into account.
"One of the things we wanted to do was a more rigorous analysis of the uncertainties," Loeb said in a statement. "When we did that, we found the conclusion of missing energy in the system isn't really supported by the data."
Using a decade's worth of data collected by the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE), the team determined the amount of energy burberry outlet 2012 absorbed from the sun. They then subtracted the energy reflected back into space, as well as the energy emitted by the Earth, using the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES).
The energy left over is trapped somewhere on Earth. Less than 10 percent of it heats the land and atmosphere, and melts snow and ice, while the rest heats the ocean.
The original study found that the Earth's temperature, which had been steadily rising, slowed its pace. But the new study notes that the methods for measuring characteristics of the ocean shifted in 2003.
In a cool new undertaking, the ever-forward-thinking New York Public Library has pulled together a vast collection of roughly 100-year-old archival images for a very clever proto-3-D project.
When accounting for the margin of error of both methods employed, the new study states that the apparent decline is "not statistically significant, nor is it observed by CERES."Burberry ties, silk ties for men, cheap burberry tie on sale.
Currently, data on the ocean is collected via the Argo program, which has dropped more than 3,000 floats in saltwater around the world. As the floats sink and rise, they measure the temperature and salt content of the water up to a depth of 1.25 miles (2,000 meters).
By studying the amount of solar energy absorbed by the atmosphere, and comparing it to the energy released back into space by the planet, a team of researchers has calculated how much energy is retained by the planet. Most of the energy is held within the oceans as heat; the influx causes a slow rise in temperature.
Missing or not?
A previous study, released by a different group in 2010, noted that the ocean heating from 2004 to 2008 seemed to slow. This led them to suggest that some of the planet's energy was missing.
But the new team, led by Norman Leob of NASA's Langley Research Center, re-examined the numbers measured over the course of the last decade and found them to be relatively stable.
Loeb's team maintained that the margin of error was larger than the original study took into account.
"One of the things we wanted to do was a more rigorous analysis of the uncertainties," Loeb said in a statement. "When we did that, we found the conclusion of missing energy in the system isn't really supported by the data."
Using a decade's worth of data collected by the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE), the team determined the amount of energy burberry outlet 2012 absorbed from the sun. They then subtracted the energy reflected back into space, as well as the energy emitted by the Earth, using the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES).
The energy left over is trapped somewhere on Earth. Less than 10 percent of it heats the land and atmosphere, and melts snow and ice, while the rest heats the ocean.
The original study found that the Earth's temperature, which had been steadily rising, slowed its pace. But the new study notes that the methods for measuring characteristics of the ocean shifted in 2003.
In a cool new undertaking, the ever-forward-thinking New York Public Library has pulled together a vast collection of roughly 100-year-old archival images for a very clever proto-3-D project.
When accounting for the margin of error of both methods employed, the new study states that the apparent decline is "not statistically significant, nor is it observed by CERES."Burberry ties, silk ties for men, cheap burberry tie on sale.
Currently, data on the ocean is collected via the Argo program, which has dropped more than 3,000 floats in saltwater around the world. As the floats sink and rise, they measure the temperature and salt content of the water up to a depth of 1.25 miles (2,000 meters).
2012年1月29日星期日
The drama was finally over at Rod Laver Arena
This was the final act in Djokovic's 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 victory over Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final - a sweat-drenched,www.cheapburberryoutlet2012.com sneaker-squeaking 5-hour, 53-minute endurance contest that ended at 1:37 this morning in Melbourne.
Djokovic overcame a break in the fifth set to win his fifth Grand Slam tournament title and third in a row. None, though, had been quite like this. This one involved tears, sweat and, yes, even a little blood. It was the longest Grand Slam singles final in the history of pro tennis and it came against Nadal, the player who built a career on his tenacity - on outlasting opponents in matches such as this.
"It was obvious on the court for everybody who has watched the match that both of us, physically, we took the last drop of energy that we had from our bodies," Djokovic said. "We made history tonight, and unfortunately there couldn't be two winners."
When the drama was finally over at Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic, 24, joined Laver, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Nadal as the only men to win three consecutive majors since the Open Era began in 1968. Nadal was his opponent in all three.
Djokovic will go for the "Nole Slam" in the French Open in May.
As the players waited for the trophy presentation, Nadal leaned on the net, while Djokovic sat on his haunches. Eventually, a nearby official took pity and they were given chairs and bottles of water.
Nadal held his composure during the formalities, and even opened his speech with a lighthearted one-liner.
"Good morning, everybody," he said.
A few minutes earlier, after hugging Nadal at the net, Djokovic tore off his sweat-soaked black shirt and headed toward his player's box, pumping his arms repeatedly as he roared. He walked over to his girlfriend, his coach and the rest of his support team and banged on the advertising signs at the side of the court.
"I think it was just the matter of maybe luck in some moments and matter of wanting this more than maybe the other player in the certain point," Djokovic said.
"It's just incredible effort. You're in pain,cheap burberry outlet 2012 you're suffer(ing). You're trying to activate your legs. You're going through so much suffering your toes are bleeding. Everything is just outrageous, but you're still enjoying that pain."
The match was full of long rallies and amazing gets. Djokovic finished with 57 winners, along with 69 unforced errors. Nadal had 44 winners against 71 unforced errors.
Laver was part of the 15,000-strong crowd when the players walked on to the court at 7:30 p.m. Sunday to flip the coin and start the warm-up. He was still there, along with most of the crowd, after 2 a.m. today for the trophy presentations.
It went so long because Nadal refused to yield. He was trying to avoid becoming the first man to lose three consecutive Grand Slam finals - and seeing his losing streak in finals stretch to seven against Djokovic, who beat him for the Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles and took his No. 1 ranking last year.
Nadal thought his win in the 2008 Wimbledon final against Federer was the best match he has played, but he gave this match a top place in his personal rankings.
"I really understand that was a really special match," Nadal said, "and probably a match that's going to be in my mind not because I lost; no, because the way that we played."
Iran said it will install its first 20 percent nuclear fuel plates at the Tehran Research Reactor within a month, Tehran Times reported, citing Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.
Western nations “did not imagine that we could achieve 20 percent enrichment and transform it into fuel plates,” Salehi was quoted by the newspaper as saying in Addis Ababa yesterday, on the sidelines of an African Union summit.Burberry shirts for women, cheap burberry women long shirts outlet.
Iranian officials said the country began in 2010 processing low enriched uranium to a 20 percent purity level as it needed to secure fuel for its research reactor, which produces medical isotopes for cancer patients. Enriched uranium can fuel a reactor or, enriched to higher degrees, form the core of a bomb.
Djokovic overcame a break in the fifth set to win his fifth Grand Slam tournament title and third in a row. None, though, had been quite like this. This one involved tears, sweat and, yes, even a little blood. It was the longest Grand Slam singles final in the history of pro tennis and it came against Nadal, the player who built a career on his tenacity - on outlasting opponents in matches such as this.
"It was obvious on the court for everybody who has watched the match that both of us, physically, we took the last drop of energy that we had from our bodies," Djokovic said. "We made history tonight, and unfortunately there couldn't be two winners."
When the drama was finally over at Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic, 24, joined Laver, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Nadal as the only men to win three consecutive majors since the Open Era began in 1968. Nadal was his opponent in all three.
Djokovic will go for the "Nole Slam" in the French Open in May.
As the players waited for the trophy presentation, Nadal leaned on the net, while Djokovic sat on his haunches. Eventually, a nearby official took pity and they were given chairs and bottles of water.
Nadal held his composure during the formalities, and even opened his speech with a lighthearted one-liner.
"Good morning, everybody," he said.
A few minutes earlier, after hugging Nadal at the net, Djokovic tore off his sweat-soaked black shirt and headed toward his player's box, pumping his arms repeatedly as he roared. He walked over to his girlfriend, his coach and the rest of his support team and banged on the advertising signs at the side of the court.
"I think it was just the matter of maybe luck in some moments and matter of wanting this more than maybe the other player in the certain point," Djokovic said.
"It's just incredible effort. You're in pain,cheap burberry outlet 2012 you're suffer(ing). You're trying to activate your legs. You're going through so much suffering your toes are bleeding. Everything is just outrageous, but you're still enjoying that pain."
The match was full of long rallies and amazing gets. Djokovic finished with 57 winners, along with 69 unforced errors. Nadal had 44 winners against 71 unforced errors.
Laver was part of the 15,000-strong crowd when the players walked on to the court at 7:30 p.m. Sunday to flip the coin and start the warm-up. He was still there, along with most of the crowd, after 2 a.m. today for the trophy presentations.
It went so long because Nadal refused to yield. He was trying to avoid becoming the first man to lose three consecutive Grand Slam finals - and seeing his losing streak in finals stretch to seven against Djokovic, who beat him for the Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles and took his No. 1 ranking last year.
Nadal thought his win in the 2008 Wimbledon final against Federer was the best match he has played, but he gave this match a top place in his personal rankings.
"I really understand that was a really special match," Nadal said, "and probably a match that's going to be in my mind not because I lost; no, because the way that we played."
Iran said it will install its first 20 percent nuclear fuel plates at the Tehran Research Reactor within a month, Tehran Times reported, citing Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.
Western nations “did not imagine that we could achieve 20 percent enrichment and transform it into fuel plates,” Salehi was quoted by the newspaper as saying in Addis Ababa yesterday, on the sidelines of an African Union summit.Burberry shirts for women, cheap burberry women long shirts outlet.
Iranian officials said the country began in 2010 processing low enriched uranium to a 20 percent purity level as it needed to secure fuel for its research reactor, which produces medical isotopes for cancer patients. Enriched uranium can fuel a reactor or, enriched to higher degrees, form the core of a bomb.
2012年1月24日星期二
The couple gave away $7 million
None came from wages, the primary source of income for most Americans. Instead, Romney and his wife, Ann, collected millions in capital gains burberry outlet from a profusion of investments, as well as stock dividends and interest payments.
The couple gave away $7 million in charitable contributions over the past two years, including at least $4.1 million to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Romney's family has for generations been among the Mormon Church's most prominent members.
The Romneys sent somewhat less to Washington over that period, paying an estimated $6.2 million in federal income taxes. According to his 2010 return, Romney paid about $3 million to the IRS, for an effective tax rate of 13.9 percent.
For 2011, Romney estimates that he will pay about $3.2 million, for an effective rate of 15.4 percent. That's in line with his earlier estimates, but sharply lower than the rates paid by President Obama and Romney's closest Republican rival, Newt Gingrich.
"You'll see my income, how much taxes I've paid, how much I've paid to charity," Romney said at a debate Monday night in Tampa. "I pay all the taxes that are legally required and not a dollar more. I don't think you want someone as the candidate for president who pays more taxes than he owes."
Romney: People will talk, but "no surprises" in tax returns cheap moncler jackets
Republican debate: Mitt Romney strikes back
Special section: Campaign 2012
He said his tax bill is "entirely legal and fair," adding: "I'm proud of the fact that I pay a lot of taxes."
Romney released his tax returns -- nearly 550 pages, including the 2010 returns for three family trust funds and a foundation -- in a bid to regain his footing in the Republican presidential campaign after stumbling badly in last weekend's South Carolina primary.
The Romney campaign planned to publicly release the tax documents Tuesday morning but gave a preview late Monday night to The Washington Post.
In recent days, Romney's GOP rivals have pressed him to make his returns public, arguing that it is critical for the public to vet his finances before the party settles on its nominee. The revelation that Romney pays a significantly lower tax rate than most wealthy Americans underscores his image as a multimillionaire financier, an image that some Republicans believe would hurt his chances in the general election.
Economic inequality is emerging as a central theme in the battle for the White House, with Obama trying to harness populist anger at Wall Street and corporations against a backdrop of chronically high unemployment. He plans to call for higher taxes on millionaires in his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday night, embracing an idea advanced by billionaire investor Warren Buffett and Occupy Wall Street protesters.
"The president believes that it is not fair -- inherently not fair -- that those who are millionaires and billionaires pay at a lower rate than average Americans who are struggling to get by," White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters Monday. "This theme about economic insecurity for the middle class . . . is what got this president into politics. So this is a foundational belief for him, and he's happy to have that debate gucci outlet."
Because the bulk of Romney's income flows from investment profits, it is taxed at a flat 15 percent rate, far below the highest rates on ordinary wages.
His 2010 returns show that he made $12.6 million in capital gains, $4.9 million in ordinary dividends and $3.3 million in taxable interest.
Romney's overall tax rate is in line with that of the average American taxpayer. However, it has drawn fire because the federal tax system is designed moncler jackets to be progressive -- the more you earn, the more you are supposed to pay.
The couple gave away $7 million in charitable contributions over the past two years, including at least $4.1 million to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Romney's family has for generations been among the Mormon Church's most prominent members.
The Romneys sent somewhat less to Washington over that period, paying an estimated $6.2 million in federal income taxes. According to his 2010 return, Romney paid about $3 million to the IRS, for an effective tax rate of 13.9 percent.
For 2011, Romney estimates that he will pay about $3.2 million, for an effective rate of 15.4 percent. That's in line with his earlier estimates, but sharply lower than the rates paid by President Obama and Romney's closest Republican rival, Newt Gingrich.
"You'll see my income, how much taxes I've paid, how much I've paid to charity," Romney said at a debate Monday night in Tampa. "I pay all the taxes that are legally required and not a dollar more. I don't think you want someone as the candidate for president who pays more taxes than he owes."
Romney: People will talk, but "no surprises" in tax returns cheap moncler jackets
Republican debate: Mitt Romney strikes back
Special section: Campaign 2012
He said his tax bill is "entirely legal and fair," adding: "I'm proud of the fact that I pay a lot of taxes."
Romney released his tax returns -- nearly 550 pages, including the 2010 returns for three family trust funds and a foundation -- in a bid to regain his footing in the Republican presidential campaign after stumbling badly in last weekend's South Carolina primary.
The Romney campaign planned to publicly release the tax documents Tuesday morning but gave a preview late Monday night to The Washington Post.
In recent days, Romney's GOP rivals have pressed him to make his returns public, arguing that it is critical for the public to vet his finances before the party settles on its nominee. The revelation that Romney pays a significantly lower tax rate than most wealthy Americans underscores his image as a multimillionaire financier, an image that some Republicans believe would hurt his chances in the general election.
Economic inequality is emerging as a central theme in the battle for the White House, with Obama trying to harness populist anger at Wall Street and corporations against a backdrop of chronically high unemployment. He plans to call for higher taxes on millionaires in his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday night, embracing an idea advanced by billionaire investor Warren Buffett and Occupy Wall Street protesters.
"The president believes that it is not fair -- inherently not fair -- that those who are millionaires and billionaires pay at a lower rate than average Americans who are struggling to get by," White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters Monday. "This theme about economic insecurity for the middle class . . . is what got this president into politics. So this is a foundational belief for him, and he's happy to have that debate gucci outlet."
Because the bulk of Romney's income flows from investment profits, it is taxed at a flat 15 percent rate, far below the highest rates on ordinary wages.
His 2010 returns show that he made $12.6 million in capital gains, $4.9 million in ordinary dividends and $3.3 million in taxable interest.
Romney's overall tax rate is in line with that of the average American taxpayer. However, it has drawn fire because the federal tax system is designed moncler jackets to be progressive -- the more you earn, the more you are supposed to pay.
2012年1月21日星期六
German national Kim Dotcom
German national Kim Dotcom, also known as Kim Schmitz, was one of four men arrested on Friday, a day before his 38th birthday, in an investigation of the Megaupload.com website led by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation cheap burberry outlet 2012.
The group was accused of engaging in a scheme that took more than $500 million away from copyright holders and generated over $175 million in proceeds from subscriptions and advertising.
A police official said dozens of officers, backed by helicopters, forced their way into the mansion, nestled in lush, rolling farmland, after Dotcom refused them entry, a scene more reminiscent of a high-octane spy drama than the usual policeman's lot in rural New Zealand.
"Despite our staff clearly identifying themselves, Mr Dotcom retreated into the house and activated a number of electronic-locking mechanisms," said Detective Inspector Grant Wormald from the Organised and Financial Crime Agency New Zealand.
Officers broke the locks and Dotcom barricaded himself into a safe room which officers had to cut their way through to gain access.
"Once they gained entry into this room, they found Mr Dotcom near a firearm which had the appearance of a shortened shotgun," he said. "It was definitely not as simple as knocking at the front door."
ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM
Two firearms were seized and a 55-year-old New Zealand man has since been charged with illegal possession of a pistol. Computers and documents were also retrieved and more than NZ$10 million ($8 million) was seized from financial institutions cheap moncler jackets finder.
Television footage showed vehicles, including a pink Cadillac and a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, being removed from the property.
The house where Dotcom was arrested was one of the largest and most expensive in the country, worth around NZ$30 million.
Located in hills northwest of New Zealand's largest city, the mansion is surrounded -- at suitably discreet distances -- by other substantial country homes and luxury lifestyle blocks complete with stables, swimming pools and tennis courts.
Dotcom leased the property after being blocked from buying it last year by the government after failing to meet a "good character" test for migrants, although he was granted residency in 2010.
Dotcom has previous convictions for insider trading and embezzlement from his time in Germany and Thailand, according immigration authorities, leading some opposition politicians to question why he was allowed to settle in the first place.
"New Zealand is under the radar, away from Interpol and a better lifestyle than Eastern Europe," Jeffrey Carr, an Internet security expert founder of Taia Global Inc, said of Dotcom's decision to settle in New Zealand.
"They obviously weren't aware how closely the FBI has been building its international relationships over the past few years cheap gucci outlet 2012."
The FBI said Dotcom personally made $42 million from Megaupload in 2010 alone.
Standing some 6'7" tall and reportedly weighing around 300 pounds (136 kg), Dotcom appeared to revel in his outlaw reputation.
Personalized number plates on some 20 vehicles seized from the site included KIMCOM, HACKER, STONED, GUILTY, MAFIA, GOD and POLICE, according to the indictment.
One video on YouTube shows him racing a Mercedes in the Gumball 3000 road rally and talking about bribing a Moroccan official.
Another clip shows a 2011 New Year's Eve fireworks display over Auckland organized and paid for by Dotcom to celebrate his family being granted residency. The display was reported to have cost $500,000.
PIRACY DEBATE
The arrests were made as the debate over online piracy reaches fever pitch in Washington where Congress is trying to craft tougher legislation.
Lawmakers stopped anti-piracy legislation on Friday, postponing a critical vote in a victory for Internet companies that staged a mass online protest against the fast-moving bills.
The movie and music industries want moncler jackets 2011 outlet Congress to crack down on Internet piracy and content theft, but major Internet companies like Google and Facebook have complained that current drafts of the legislation would lead to censorship.
The group was accused of engaging in a scheme that took more than $500 million away from copyright holders and generated over $175 million in proceeds from subscriptions and advertising.
A police official said dozens of officers, backed by helicopters, forced their way into the mansion, nestled in lush, rolling farmland, after Dotcom refused them entry, a scene more reminiscent of a high-octane spy drama than the usual policeman's lot in rural New Zealand.
"Despite our staff clearly identifying themselves, Mr Dotcom retreated into the house and activated a number of electronic-locking mechanisms," said Detective Inspector Grant Wormald from the Organised and Financial Crime Agency New Zealand.
Officers broke the locks and Dotcom barricaded himself into a safe room which officers had to cut their way through to gain access.
"Once they gained entry into this room, they found Mr Dotcom near a firearm which had the appearance of a shortened shotgun," he said. "It was definitely not as simple as knocking at the front door."
ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM
Two firearms were seized and a 55-year-old New Zealand man has since been charged with illegal possession of a pistol. Computers and documents were also retrieved and more than NZ$10 million ($8 million) was seized from financial institutions cheap moncler jackets finder.
Television footage showed vehicles, including a pink Cadillac and a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, being removed from the property.
The house where Dotcom was arrested was one of the largest and most expensive in the country, worth around NZ$30 million.
Located in hills northwest of New Zealand's largest city, the mansion is surrounded -- at suitably discreet distances -- by other substantial country homes and luxury lifestyle blocks complete with stables, swimming pools and tennis courts.
Dotcom leased the property after being blocked from buying it last year by the government after failing to meet a "good character" test for migrants, although he was granted residency in 2010.
Dotcom has previous convictions for insider trading and embezzlement from his time in Germany and Thailand, according immigration authorities, leading some opposition politicians to question why he was allowed to settle in the first place.
"New Zealand is under the radar, away from Interpol and a better lifestyle than Eastern Europe," Jeffrey Carr, an Internet security expert founder of Taia Global Inc, said of Dotcom's decision to settle in New Zealand.
"They obviously weren't aware how closely the FBI has been building its international relationships over the past few years cheap gucci outlet 2012."
The FBI said Dotcom personally made $42 million from Megaupload in 2010 alone.
Standing some 6'7" tall and reportedly weighing around 300 pounds (136 kg), Dotcom appeared to revel in his outlaw reputation.
Personalized number plates on some 20 vehicles seized from the site included KIMCOM, HACKER, STONED, GUILTY, MAFIA, GOD and POLICE, according to the indictment.
One video on YouTube shows him racing a Mercedes in the Gumball 3000 road rally and talking about bribing a Moroccan official.
Another clip shows a 2011 New Year's Eve fireworks display over Auckland organized and paid for by Dotcom to celebrate his family being granted residency. The display was reported to have cost $500,000.
PIRACY DEBATE
The arrests were made as the debate over online piracy reaches fever pitch in Washington where Congress is trying to craft tougher legislation.
Lawmakers stopped anti-piracy legislation on Friday, postponing a critical vote in a victory for Internet companies that staged a mass online protest against the fast-moving bills.
The movie and music industries want moncler jackets 2011 outlet Congress to crack down on Internet piracy and content theft, but major Internet companies like Google and Facebook have complained that current drafts of the legislation would lead to censorship.
2012年1月17日星期二
The organisation has slashed its growth forecasts
The organisation has slashed its growth forecasts, and is now predicting a 0.3% contraction for the eurozone in 2012 www.cheapguccioutlet2012.com.
"Developing countries need to evaluate their vulnerabilities and prepare for further shocks, while there is still time," said World Bank chief economist Justin Yifu Lin.
"Escalation of the crisis would spare no-one," the report's author warned.
Referring to the eurozone crisis and its potential to impact growth in rich and poor countries, Andrew Burns said:
"Developed and developing-country growth rates could fall by as much or more than in 2008/09.
"The importance of contingency planning cannot be stressed enough."
The World Bank is predicting growth of 5.4% for developing countries in 2012 and 1.4% for high income countries, down from its forecasts of 6.2% and 2.7% respectively in June.
The World Bank's Global Economics Prospects report says that slower growth is already visible in global trade and commodity prices.
It said that declining commodity prices were better news for the developing world, although food security for the poorest countries was still a major concern.
Food prices are down about 14% from their peak in February 2011.
Andrew Burns, manager of global macroeconomics at the World Bank, told the BBC there was a danger that the downturn could be longer lasting than the one which followed the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008.
"This time, going in, [developing countries] will be in much better condition than high income countries, but that said, we are concerned," he said.
"They are going to be operating in a situation where the high income countries aren't going to be able to offer the same type of counter fiscal policy and the same type of support to the financial system as they did in 2008/9." As a best gucci outlet online shop, we are a professional retailer, providing gucci 2012 new arrilvals for men and women, all designer gucci shoes, clothing, bags, wallets, watches and sunglasses are on cheap sale. Our distribution covered all over the world, including USA, UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, Netherlands, Italy, Australia, France, Greece, Thailand, Viet Nam and United Arab Emirates, we also have received a good reputation from Armenia, Angola, Jamaica, Morocco, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Germany, Uzbekistan, etc. You can buy 2012 latest gucci items online at cheap price, up to 70% off, Free Shipping for orders exceed $200. Welcome to mix your favorite gucci items together, buy more, save more! Enjoy the 2012 new year with GUCCI !
"Developing countries need to evaluate their vulnerabilities and prepare for further shocks, while there is still time," said World Bank chief economist Justin Yifu Lin.
"Escalation of the crisis would spare no-one," the report's author warned.
Referring to the eurozone crisis and its potential to impact growth in rich and poor countries, Andrew Burns said:
"Developed and developing-country growth rates could fall by as much or more than in 2008/09.
"The importance of contingency planning cannot be stressed enough."
The World Bank is predicting growth of 5.4% for developing countries in 2012 and 1.4% for high income countries, down from its forecasts of 6.2% and 2.7% respectively in June.
The World Bank's Global Economics Prospects report says that slower growth is already visible in global trade and commodity prices.
It said that declining commodity prices were better news for the developing world, although food security for the poorest countries was still a major concern.
Food prices are down about 14% from their peak in February 2011.
Andrew Burns, manager of global macroeconomics at the World Bank, told the BBC there was a danger that the downturn could be longer lasting than the one which followed the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008.
"This time, going in, [developing countries] will be in much better condition than high income countries, but that said, we are concerned," he said.
"They are going to be operating in a situation where the high income countries aren't going to be able to offer the same type of counter fiscal policy and the same type of support to the financial system as they did in 2008/9." As a best gucci outlet online shop, we are a professional retailer, providing gucci 2012 new arrilvals for men and women, all designer gucci shoes, clothing, bags, wallets, watches and sunglasses are on cheap sale. Our distribution covered all over the world, including USA, UK, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, Netherlands, Italy, Australia, France, Greece, Thailand, Viet Nam and United Arab Emirates, we also have received a good reputation from Armenia, Angola, Jamaica, Morocco, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Germany, Uzbekistan, etc. You can buy 2012 latest gucci items online at cheap price, up to 70% off, Free Shipping for orders exceed $200. Welcome to mix your favorite gucci items together, buy more, save more! Enjoy the 2012 new year with GUCCI !
According to head trainer Danny Rand
But for all the wrong reasons.
It was announced on Tuesday that designated hitter Victor Martinez tore the ACL in his left knee during a workout last week and will likely miss the entire 2012 season.
Martinez, 33, originally thought he'd strained the knee, but an MRI exam on Monday revealed the tear. He will re-evaluated next week moncler jackets to determine whether surgery is necessary. But Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski acknowledged that the chances of Martinez avoiding surgery and being able to play this season are very poor.
According to head trainer Danny Rand, Martinez suffered the injury while going through agility drills. His right foot slipped, causing all of his weight to come down on that left knee. Martinez strained the same knee last season while running the bases. Did that leave him more vulnerable to this type of injury?
Martinez was the Tigers' best hitter not named Miguel Cabrera last season, hitting .330/.380/.470 with 12 home runs and 103 RBI. His .850 OPS was third on the team, while that .330 batting average was the sixth-highest in the majors.
Obviously, this is a huge blow to a Tigers moncler jackets for men lineup that scored the fourth-most runs (787) in the big leagues, despite having few hitters who could reliably get on base and arguably needed to add another bat even before Martinez got hurt.
The question now becomes how the Tigers replace Martinez in their batting order. (Signing Martinez's son, Victor Jose, probably isn't an option as he's only six years old.)
Detroit has been mentioned as one of the teams in pursuit of Cuban outfielder Yoennis Cespedes. Signing him would allow the Tigers to play Delmon Young at DH, where he's arguably better suited anyway.
But if there's a bright side to this development (and really, it's small consolation), it's that many DH-type of hitters are still available on the free agent market.
None of them will likely be able to replace Martinez's production, but Detroit should still be able to find someone to bat behind Cabrera. (That is, if cheap moncler vest the Tigers don't decide to put Alex Avila or Jhonny Peralta in the lineup's No. 5 spot.)
Vladimir Guerrero, Casey Kotchman and Hideki Matsui are among the players that could help the Tigers out in the short-term. Carlos Pena and Johnny Damon are both former Tigers who could return to the team for a second tour. Perhaps a trade for someone like Carlos Lee, Alfonso Soriano or Bobby Abreu is a possibility.
Or for those Tigers fans living in fantasy land, maybe Dombrowski can check with Scott Boras and see if Prince Fielder really is willing to take a one-year deal and try the free agent market again next year.
Team spokesman J.J. Hebert confirmed that Hall "fell and a teammate tried to avoid him and his skate cut him."
Hall did not play in the first period. The team announced in the second period that Hall had suffered a "cut to the head" and would not play in the game.
Hall, who was not wearing a helmet, had blood running down the side of his head while a trainer tried to staunch the flow.
The 20-year-old, the first overall cheap moncler pick in the 2010 draft, has 15 goals and 16 assists in 36 games.
It was announced on Tuesday that designated hitter Victor Martinez tore the ACL in his left knee during a workout last week and will likely miss the entire 2012 season.
Martinez, 33, originally thought he'd strained the knee, but an MRI exam on Monday revealed the tear. He will re-evaluated next week moncler jackets to determine whether surgery is necessary. But Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski acknowledged that the chances of Martinez avoiding surgery and being able to play this season are very poor.
According to head trainer Danny Rand, Martinez suffered the injury while going through agility drills. His right foot slipped, causing all of his weight to come down on that left knee. Martinez strained the same knee last season while running the bases. Did that leave him more vulnerable to this type of injury?
Martinez was the Tigers' best hitter not named Miguel Cabrera last season, hitting .330/.380/.470 with 12 home runs and 103 RBI. His .850 OPS was third on the team, while that .330 batting average was the sixth-highest in the majors.
Obviously, this is a huge blow to a Tigers moncler jackets for men lineup that scored the fourth-most runs (787) in the big leagues, despite having few hitters who could reliably get on base and arguably needed to add another bat even before Martinez got hurt.
The question now becomes how the Tigers replace Martinez in their batting order. (Signing Martinez's son, Victor Jose, probably isn't an option as he's only six years old.)
Detroit has been mentioned as one of the teams in pursuit of Cuban outfielder Yoennis Cespedes. Signing him would allow the Tigers to play Delmon Young at DH, where he's arguably better suited anyway.
But if there's a bright side to this development (and really, it's small consolation), it's that many DH-type of hitters are still available on the free agent market.
None of them will likely be able to replace Martinez's production, but Detroit should still be able to find someone to bat behind Cabrera. (That is, if cheap moncler vest the Tigers don't decide to put Alex Avila or Jhonny Peralta in the lineup's No. 5 spot.)
Vladimir Guerrero, Casey Kotchman and Hideki Matsui are among the players that could help the Tigers out in the short-term. Carlos Pena and Johnny Damon are both former Tigers who could return to the team for a second tour. Perhaps a trade for someone like Carlos Lee, Alfonso Soriano or Bobby Abreu is a possibility.
Or for those Tigers fans living in fantasy land, maybe Dombrowski can check with Scott Boras and see if Prince Fielder really is willing to take a one-year deal and try the free agent market again next year.
Team spokesman J.J. Hebert confirmed that Hall "fell and a teammate tried to avoid him and his skate cut him."
Hall did not play in the first period. The team announced in the second period that Hall had suffered a "cut to the head" and would not play in the game.
Hall, who was not wearing a helmet, had blood running down the side of his head while a trainer tried to staunch the flow.
The 20-year-old, the first overall cheap moncler pick in the 2010 draft, has 15 goals and 16 assists in 36 games.
The deputy head of Russia's space agency
The unmanned Phobos-Ground probe cheap gucci fell Sunday after being stuck in Earth's orbit for two months.
The $170 million craft was one of the heaviest and most toxic pieces of space junk ever to crash to Earth, but space officials and experts said the risks posed by its crash were minimal because the toxic rocket fuel on board and most of the craft's structure would burn up in the atmosphere high above the ground anyway.
News agencies had cited Defense Ministry spokesman Alexei Zolotukhin as saying Sunday that fragments of the craft fell in the Pacific Ocean off Chile's coast. But Zolotukhin told The Associated Press Monday that estimate was based on calculations, and no witness reports had been received.
The deputy head of Russia's space agency, Anatoly Shilov, told state news channel Vesti that agency data assumed the craft broke up somewhere over Brazil.
A statement Monday from the space agency, Roscosmos, cited the reported Defense Ministry assessment, but gave no further information, noting "the lack of means of visual and other monitoring" in the region.
The Phobos-Ground probe was designed to travel to one of Mars' twin moons, Phobos, land on it, collect soil samples and fly them back to Earth in 2014 in one of the most daunting interplanetary missions ever. It got stranded in Earth's orbit after its Nov. 9 launch, and efforts by Russian and European Space Agency experts to bring it back to life failed.
The probe weighed 13.5 metric tons (14.9 tons), and that included a load of 11 metric tons (12 tons) of highly toxic rocket fuel intended for the long journey to the Martian moon of Phobos and left unused as the probe got stranded in orbit around Earth gucci 2012.
Roscosmos had said that all of the fuel would burn up on re-entry.
Phobos-Ground was Russia's most expensive and the most ambitious space mission since Soviet times. Its mission to the crater-dented, potato-shaped Martian moon was to give scientists precious materials that could shed more light on the genesis of the solar system.
Russia's space chief has acknowledged the Phobos-Ground mission was ill-prepared, but said that Roscosmos had to give it the go-ahead so as not to miss the limited Earth-to-Mars launch window. Gucci slippers for men, cheap gucci slippers 2012 new arrival sale.
The $170 million craft was one of the heaviest and most toxic pieces of space junk ever to crash to Earth, but space officials and experts said the risks posed by its crash were minimal because the toxic rocket fuel on board and most of the craft's structure would burn up in the atmosphere high above the ground anyway.
News agencies had cited Defense Ministry spokesman Alexei Zolotukhin as saying Sunday that fragments of the craft fell in the Pacific Ocean off Chile's coast. But Zolotukhin told The Associated Press Monday that estimate was based on calculations, and no witness reports had been received.
The deputy head of Russia's space agency, Anatoly Shilov, told state news channel Vesti that agency data assumed the craft broke up somewhere over Brazil.
A statement Monday from the space agency, Roscosmos, cited the reported Defense Ministry assessment, but gave no further information, noting "the lack of means of visual and other monitoring" in the region.
The Phobos-Ground probe was designed to travel to one of Mars' twin moons, Phobos, land on it, collect soil samples and fly them back to Earth in 2014 in one of the most daunting interplanetary missions ever. It got stranded in Earth's orbit after its Nov. 9 launch, and efforts by Russian and European Space Agency experts to bring it back to life failed.
The probe weighed 13.5 metric tons (14.9 tons), and that included a load of 11 metric tons (12 tons) of highly toxic rocket fuel intended for the long journey to the Martian moon of Phobos and left unused as the probe got stranded in orbit around Earth gucci 2012.
Roscosmos had said that all of the fuel would burn up on re-entry.
Phobos-Ground was Russia's most expensive and the most ambitious space mission since Soviet times. Its mission to the crater-dented, potato-shaped Martian moon was to give scientists precious materials that could shed more light on the genesis of the solar system.
Russia's space chief has acknowledged the Phobos-Ground mission was ill-prepared, but said that Roscosmos had to give it the go-ahead so as not to miss the limited Earth-to-Mars launch window. Gucci slippers for men, cheap gucci slippers 2012 new arrival sale.
2012年1月16日星期一
Stock trading and El Al flights operated normally despite the disruption
The attacks came just days after an unidentified hacker, proclaiming Palestinian sympathies, posted the details of thousands of Israeli moncler jackets credit card holders and other personal information on the internet in a mass theft.
Stock trading and El Al flights operated normally despite the disruption, which occurred as Israeli media reported that pro-Palestinian hackers had threatened at the weekend to shut down the TASE stock exchange and airline websites.
While apparently confined to areas causing only limited inconvenience, the attacks have caused particular alarm in a country that depends on high-tech systems for much of its defence against hostile neighbours. Officials insist, however, that they pose no immediate security threat.
"They have demanded an apology for Israel's defensive measures," Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said on his Facebook page, alluding to the conflict with Palestinians. "I am using this platform to send a clear message that ... they will not silence us on the Internet, or in any forum."
The First International Bank of Israel (FIBI) and two subsidiary banks, Massad and Otzar Hahayal, said their marketing sites had been hacked but that sites providing online services to clients were unaffected.
Israel's third-largest bank, Discount, moncler jackets for men said it had been spared attack, but that it was temporarily shutting down foreign access to its website as a precaution.
The Tel Aviv bourse website could only be accessed intermittently, but screen-based trading was not hit.
"There has been an attack by hackers on the access routes to the website," said Orna Goren, deputy manager of the exchange's marketing and communications unit. "The stock exchange's trading activities are operating normally."
El Al said it had taken precautions to protect the company site and warned of possible disruptions to its online activity.
There was no claim of responsibility for Monday's incidents.
However, the Islamist group Hamas, which governs the small Palestinian territory of Gaza, welcomed the attacks as a blow against the Jewish state, which it refuses to recognise.
"This is a new field of resistance against cheap moncler vest the Occupation and we urge Arab youth to develop their methods in electronic warfare in the face of (Israel's) crimes," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in Gaza.
Israeli Information Minister Yuli Edelstein told a conference in Tel Aviv that the cyber attacks were part of a wider move to smear the country's reputation and "threaten Israel's economic stability and security".
"It's another episode in the war our enemies are conducting as a campaign of delegitimisation to hit our pockets and lifestyle," he said, in reported comments confirmed by his spokesman.
"Israel must use all measures at its disposal to prevent these virtual dangers from turning into real threats and to prevent with all its force attacks against it and its institutions. Today it's credit card theft and toppling Web sites, and tomorrow it could be theft of security information and harm to infrastructure."
Israel opened an agency to tackle cyber attacks earlier this month. A founding member of the unit, Isaac Ben-Israel, said the country's most vital systems were already protected, but that incidents like the ones seen recently would only increase.
"As long as the systems are cheap moncler not guarded, any hacker anywhere in the world can break into them and do damage," Ben-Israel said on Israel Radio. "I believe that, done right, in a year or two, we will be able to wipe out all these hackers' threats."
Stock trading and El Al flights operated normally despite the disruption, which occurred as Israeli media reported that pro-Palestinian hackers had threatened at the weekend to shut down the TASE stock exchange and airline websites.
While apparently confined to areas causing only limited inconvenience, the attacks have caused particular alarm in a country that depends on high-tech systems for much of its defence against hostile neighbours. Officials insist, however, that they pose no immediate security threat.
"They have demanded an apology for Israel's defensive measures," Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said on his Facebook page, alluding to the conflict with Palestinians. "I am using this platform to send a clear message that ... they will not silence us on the Internet, or in any forum."
The First International Bank of Israel (FIBI) and two subsidiary banks, Massad and Otzar Hahayal, said their marketing sites had been hacked but that sites providing online services to clients were unaffected.
Israel's third-largest bank, Discount, moncler jackets for men said it had been spared attack, but that it was temporarily shutting down foreign access to its website as a precaution.
The Tel Aviv bourse website could only be accessed intermittently, but screen-based trading was not hit.
"There has been an attack by hackers on the access routes to the website," said Orna Goren, deputy manager of the exchange's marketing and communications unit. "The stock exchange's trading activities are operating normally."
El Al said it had taken precautions to protect the company site and warned of possible disruptions to its online activity.
There was no claim of responsibility for Monday's incidents.
However, the Islamist group Hamas, which governs the small Palestinian territory of Gaza, welcomed the attacks as a blow against the Jewish state, which it refuses to recognise.
"This is a new field of resistance against cheap moncler vest the Occupation and we urge Arab youth to develop their methods in electronic warfare in the face of (Israel's) crimes," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in Gaza.
Israeli Information Minister Yuli Edelstein told a conference in Tel Aviv that the cyber attacks were part of a wider move to smear the country's reputation and "threaten Israel's economic stability and security".
"It's another episode in the war our enemies are conducting as a campaign of delegitimisation to hit our pockets and lifestyle," he said, in reported comments confirmed by his spokesman.
"Israel must use all measures at its disposal to prevent these virtual dangers from turning into real threats and to prevent with all its force attacks against it and its institutions. Today it's credit card theft and toppling Web sites, and tomorrow it could be theft of security information and harm to infrastructure."
Israel opened an agency to tackle cyber attacks earlier this month. A founding member of the unit, Isaac Ben-Israel, said the country's most vital systems were already protected, but that incidents like the ones seen recently would only increase.
"As long as the systems are cheap moncler not guarded, any hacker anywhere in the world can break into them and do damage," Ben-Israel said on Israel Radio. "I believe that, done right, in a year or two, we will be able to wipe out all these hackers' threats."
2012年1月15日星期日
Malkin had three goals and two assists
And all he wanted to talk about after the game Sunday was the Pittsburgh Penguins' 6-3 win.
Malkin had three goals and two assists, moncler jackets and James Neal added two goals for the Penguins, who recovered from a blown three-goal lead and skated off with a victory.
"I didn't think about playing a great game … I know we have two points," Malkin said.
Malkin scored twice in a stretch of 1:49 midway through the third period to put Pittsburgh ahead 5-3 after the Penguins had squandered a 3-0 edge earlier in the frame. He completed his eighth career hat trick and fifth five-point game with an empty-net goal with 56 seconds to play.
Richard Park had the other goal for the Penguins, who have won two in a row following a six-game losing streak.
Malkin and Tampa Bay captain Vincent Lecavalier were part of the first of two third-period scrums that resulted in penalties.
Malkin received a roughing penalty, while Lecavalier got a pair of roughing minors and a 10-minute misconduct at 12:11.
Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher said Lecavalier felt Malkin went for his knees on an earlier play.
"In those situations, he's a captain and he wants to show that we're not going to take everything and just be little poodles and wait for things to happen," Boucher said. "So, for me, there's absolutely no blame on his part there. That was his way of showing that we're not going to take it."
The Lightning said Lecavalier left before the locker room was opened after the game.
Malkin said he moved downward after not seeing moncler jackets for women Lecavalier until the last second on the potential check.
"I just wanted to play hockey … I'm not going to fight," Malkin said of the scrum. "I wanted to stay on the ice."
Matt Gilroy, Ryan Malone and Teddy Purcell scored for the Lightning, who have lost seven straight and dropped into last place in the Eastern Conference.
"Same story," Malone said. "The game starts at 1, so we have to be ready, and we weren't ready. I don't know what to say."
Malkin scored on an in-close backhander at 7:38 of the third to break the 3-all tie and then skated in from the left wing boards and beat Mathieu Garon with another backhander with 10:33 remaining.
At 2:00 of the third, Gilroy scored his first goal in 71 games, dating to Jan. 5, 2011, to make it 3-1. Malone then connected on Tampa Bay's first power play at 4:53, and Purcell tied it with a rebound goal past Marc-Andre Fleury at 6:50.
"You're looking up and having two really good periods of hockey evaporate on you," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. "We had a lot of guys step up when we needed it, when things were unraveling there."Cheap moncler women vest for sale, buy 2011 new style women moncler vest.
Neal scored his second of the game, and 12th power-play goal, to make it 3-0 just 34 seconds into the third. He gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead during a power play 2:43 into the game.
"It gives us momentum when we score on the power play," Neal said. "You want to do anything you can to get that goal in the man-advantage, and we're doing a great job moving the puck around in a shot-first mentality."
Park made it 2-0 from the slot at 10:38 of the first to snap his 17-game goal drought.
The Penguins outshot Tampa Bay 17-5 in the first. The Lightning have been outscored 54-30 during the opening period this season.
Pittsburgh had second-period shots by Park and Ben Lovejoy hit posts, and the Lightning had a potential goal wiped out when it was ruled that Malone put the puck into the net with a high stick. The call was upheld after a video view.
Neal and Tampa Bay's Pavel Kubina cheap moncler were given 10-minute misconducts following the second scrum of the third at 12:16.
Notes: Penguins C Sidney Crosby (concussion-like symptoms) watched the game. Crosby, who has missed the past 16 games, resumed skating on Friday. … Malkin also had three goals and five points on Dec. 17 against Buffalo. … Lightning RW Martin St. Louis has gone 11 games without a goal, but has 13 assists during that time. He had one assist on Sunday. … Pittsburgh had been 1-for-18 on the power play before Neal's goal in the first. The Penguins converted two of five opportunties. … Tampa Bay D Marc-Andre Bergeron missed his second consecutive game because of an undisclosed upper body injury.
Malkin had three goals and two assists, moncler jackets and James Neal added two goals for the Penguins, who recovered from a blown three-goal lead and skated off with a victory.
"I didn't think about playing a great game … I know we have two points," Malkin said.
Malkin scored twice in a stretch of 1:49 midway through the third period to put Pittsburgh ahead 5-3 after the Penguins had squandered a 3-0 edge earlier in the frame. He completed his eighth career hat trick and fifth five-point game with an empty-net goal with 56 seconds to play.
Richard Park had the other goal for the Penguins, who have won two in a row following a six-game losing streak.
Malkin and Tampa Bay captain Vincent Lecavalier were part of the first of two third-period scrums that resulted in penalties.
Malkin received a roughing penalty, while Lecavalier got a pair of roughing minors and a 10-minute misconduct at 12:11.
Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher said Lecavalier felt Malkin went for his knees on an earlier play.
"In those situations, he's a captain and he wants to show that we're not going to take everything and just be little poodles and wait for things to happen," Boucher said. "So, for me, there's absolutely no blame on his part there. That was his way of showing that we're not going to take it."
The Lightning said Lecavalier left before the locker room was opened after the game.
Malkin said he moved downward after not seeing moncler jackets for women Lecavalier until the last second on the potential check.
"I just wanted to play hockey … I'm not going to fight," Malkin said of the scrum. "I wanted to stay on the ice."
Matt Gilroy, Ryan Malone and Teddy Purcell scored for the Lightning, who have lost seven straight and dropped into last place in the Eastern Conference.
"Same story," Malone said. "The game starts at 1, so we have to be ready, and we weren't ready. I don't know what to say."
Malkin scored on an in-close backhander at 7:38 of the third to break the 3-all tie and then skated in from the left wing boards and beat Mathieu Garon with another backhander with 10:33 remaining.
At 2:00 of the third, Gilroy scored his first goal in 71 games, dating to Jan. 5, 2011, to make it 3-1. Malone then connected on Tampa Bay's first power play at 4:53, and Purcell tied it with a rebound goal past Marc-Andre Fleury at 6:50.
"You're looking up and having two really good periods of hockey evaporate on you," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. "We had a lot of guys step up when we needed it, when things were unraveling there."Cheap moncler women vest for sale, buy 2011 new style women moncler vest.
Neal scored his second of the game, and 12th power-play goal, to make it 3-0 just 34 seconds into the third. He gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead during a power play 2:43 into the game.
"It gives us momentum when we score on the power play," Neal said. "You want to do anything you can to get that goal in the man-advantage, and we're doing a great job moving the puck around in a shot-first mentality."
Park made it 2-0 from the slot at 10:38 of the first to snap his 17-game goal drought.
The Penguins outshot Tampa Bay 17-5 in the first. The Lightning have been outscored 54-30 during the opening period this season.
Pittsburgh had second-period shots by Park and Ben Lovejoy hit posts, and the Lightning had a potential goal wiped out when it was ruled that Malone put the puck into the net with a high stick. The call was upheld after a video view.
Neal and Tampa Bay's Pavel Kubina cheap moncler were given 10-minute misconducts following the second scrum of the third at 12:16.
Notes: Penguins C Sidney Crosby (concussion-like symptoms) watched the game. Crosby, who has missed the past 16 games, resumed skating on Friday. … Malkin also had three goals and five points on Dec. 17 against Buffalo. … Lightning RW Martin St. Louis has gone 11 games without a goal, but has 13 assists during that time. He had one assist on Sunday. … Pittsburgh had been 1-for-18 on the power play before Neal's goal in the first. The Penguins converted two of five opportunties. … Tampa Bay D Marc-Andre Bergeron missed his second consecutive game because of an undisclosed upper body injury.
2012年1月13日星期五
India was once recognized as the world's epicentre of polio
Calling it "India's greatest public health achievement", the WHO said the number of polio-endemic countries - those which have never stopped indigenous wild poliovirus transmission - could soon be reduced to a historical low of moncler jackets three: Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.
"India was once recognized as the world's epicentre of polio. If all pending laboratory investigations return negative, in the coming weeks India will officially be deemed to have stopped indigenous transmission of wild poliovirus. India's success is arguably its greatest public health achievement and has provided a global opportunity to push for the end of polio," said WHO's director-general Margaret Chan.
Chan said the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is in full emergency mode and focused on using this momentum to bring down the crippling disease. "Stopping polio in India required creativity, perseverance and professionalism. The lessons from India must now be adapted and implemented through emergency actions to finish polio everywhere," Chan added.
TOI on Friday had reported how countries like Angola, Lebanon, Tajikistan, Bangladesh and Namibia are fighting polio with most of them having imported the virus from India multiple times in the last decade.
On similar lines, the WHO said, "Poliovirus can moncler jackets for women travel easily to polio-free areas. Stopping polio in India will prevent a recurrence of the polio outbreaks - due to virus of Indian origin - seen in recent years in countries as diverse as Angola, Bangladesh, Nepal, Russia and Tajikistan."
Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr Thomas Frieden said, India must continue to protect its children through supplementary immunization activities and improved routine immunization coverage rates or risk a potentially horrific re-importation event. "Polio's history contains many cautionary tales," Dr Frieden said.
"Polio anywhere in the world is a risk everywhere in the world, and to protect itself from a setback, India is appropriately planning to continue meticulous monitoring and intensive childhood vaccination against polio," he added.
UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake said, "India's achievement is proof positive that we can eradicate polio even in the most challenging environments - in fact, it is only by targeting these areas that we can defeat this evil disease. We have the ability to protect every last person, especially children, from this entirely preventable disease - and because we can, we must finish the job of eradicating polio globally, once and for all."
Rotary International had first launched the moncler global polio eradication drive in 1985. Rotary International's president Kalyan Banerjee said that with the intensity of transmission in India, many experts had predicted it would be the last country in the world to achieve eradication.
In 2009, India had more polio cases than any other country in the world. India recorded 741 cases of polio in 2009 - nearly half the number of global cases. But, the nation reported only one case of polio from West Bengal on January 13, 2011. Since then, India has managed to keep the deadly virus at bay. Experts agree that the introduction of the new bivalent vaccine made a difference.
India saw a 94% decline in polio cases in 2010. It recorded only 42 polio cases. The number of affected districts also saw a sharp dip - from 90 in 2008, 56 in 2009 to only 17 in 2010. Polio hotbed Uttar Pradesh reported 10 polio cases in 2010 as compared to 602 in 2009.
Bihar recorded nine polio cases cheap moncler in 2010 against 117 in 2009. Scientific studies showed that BOPV induced a significantly higher immune response - 30% more than other trivalent or monovalent vaccines that was used earlier.
"India was once recognized as the world's epicentre of polio. If all pending laboratory investigations return negative, in the coming weeks India will officially be deemed to have stopped indigenous transmission of wild poliovirus. India's success is arguably its greatest public health achievement and has provided a global opportunity to push for the end of polio," said WHO's director-general Margaret Chan.
Chan said the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is in full emergency mode and focused on using this momentum to bring down the crippling disease. "Stopping polio in India required creativity, perseverance and professionalism. The lessons from India must now be adapted and implemented through emergency actions to finish polio everywhere," Chan added.
TOI on Friday had reported how countries like Angola, Lebanon, Tajikistan, Bangladesh and Namibia are fighting polio with most of them having imported the virus from India multiple times in the last decade.
On similar lines, the WHO said, "Poliovirus can moncler jackets for women travel easily to polio-free areas. Stopping polio in India will prevent a recurrence of the polio outbreaks - due to virus of Indian origin - seen in recent years in countries as diverse as Angola, Bangladesh, Nepal, Russia and Tajikistan."
Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr Thomas Frieden said, India must continue to protect its children through supplementary immunization activities and improved routine immunization coverage rates or risk a potentially horrific re-importation event. "Polio's history contains many cautionary tales," Dr Frieden said.
"Polio anywhere in the world is a risk everywhere in the world, and to protect itself from a setback, India is appropriately planning to continue meticulous monitoring and intensive childhood vaccination against polio," he added.
UNICEF executive director Anthony Lake said, "India's achievement is proof positive that we can eradicate polio even in the most challenging environments - in fact, it is only by targeting these areas that we can defeat this evil disease. We have the ability to protect every last person, especially children, from this entirely preventable disease - and because we can, we must finish the job of eradicating polio globally, once and for all."
Rotary International had first launched the moncler global polio eradication drive in 1985. Rotary International's president Kalyan Banerjee said that with the intensity of transmission in India, many experts had predicted it would be the last country in the world to achieve eradication.
In 2009, India had more polio cases than any other country in the world. India recorded 741 cases of polio in 2009 - nearly half the number of global cases. But, the nation reported only one case of polio from West Bengal on January 13, 2011. Since then, India has managed to keep the deadly virus at bay. Experts agree that the introduction of the new bivalent vaccine made a difference.
India saw a 94% decline in polio cases in 2010. It recorded only 42 polio cases. The number of affected districts also saw a sharp dip - from 90 in 2008, 56 in 2009 to only 17 in 2010. Polio hotbed Uttar Pradesh reported 10 polio cases in 2010 as compared to 602 in 2009.
Bihar recorded nine polio cases cheap moncler in 2010 against 117 in 2009. Scientific studies showed that BOPV induced a significantly higher immune response - 30% more than other trivalent or monovalent vaccines that was used earlier.
2012年1月12日星期四
It could start a snowball effect for Sears
The news triggered fears that other lenders to the retailer's suppliers would follow a similar path, making it harder for the moncler jackets company to do business.
"It could start a snowball effect for Sears," said turnaround expert Gene Baldwin of CRG Partners.
Refusal of CIT and other lenders to finance Sears' suppliers could force it to draw on its line of credit to pay for goods up front, Baldwin said. If too many vendors seek prepayment, banks could be pressured and cut back on lines of credit for Sears, making it harder for Sears to buy inventory.
Sears shares initially fell more than 6 percent on Thursday but rallied late in the day to close up 3.3 percent.
"Investors feel comfortable that Sears will be able to handle this credit problem after an initial negative reaction in the shares," said William Lefkowitz, options strategist at New York-based brokerage firm vFinance Investments.
Some also found it positive that Edward Lampert, the company's chairman and largest shareholder, has bought more shares of the struggling retailer.
"Lampert clearly has better information than most investors given limited disclosures from the company. Additionally, his increased exposure could reflect his faith in the ongoing performance of the company," Goldman analyst Adrianne Shapira said.
According to documents filed Wednesday night, Lampert, who owns directly and through related entities about 59 percent of the company, bought roughly $159 million in Sears shares from his ESL Investments hedge fund, representing 4.46 million shares in private sales. In addition, Lampert also bought shares on the open market for about $12 million.
Still, CIT's decision to discontinue vendor financing is "an additional liquidity concern for the retailer in 2012, potentially boosting working capital requirements," Fitch Ratings said on Thursday afternoon.
CIT's action comes just weeks after Sears down jackets for men Holdings, operator of Sears department stores and the Kmart discount chain, posted dismal holiday sales numbers and said it would close as many as 120 stores.
"We disagree with their action," Sears spokeswoman Kimberly Freely said in an email. "In fact, we'd point out that other (lenders) are approving shipments to Sears Holdings and CIT's payables represented less than 5 percent of inventories."
Bloomberg first reported that CIT, run by Wall Street executive John Thain, will no longer approve credit for orders after Wednesday, January 11. CIT spokesman Curt Ritter said it does not comment on specific customers.
Sears, whose sales have decreased every year since Lampert formed it with the merger of Sears and Kmart in 2005, also said it "has more than adequate liquidity and ample resources at our disposal."
Investors will get some clues as to Sears' future when it reports annual results on February 23. Lampert typically publishes a letter to shareholders around that time.
The retailer, home to brands including Craftsman tools and Kenmore appliances, is feeling pressure from the economy, aggressive competition and its own reputation for run-down locations and poor customer service.
A Sears Holdings' collapse is not likely in the near future, but that could change if key vendors demand cash on delivery, decide to ship in smaller quantities, or ask for letters of credit, bankruptcy experts have told Reuters.
HARSHER TERMS
CIT and other finance companies, known in the industry as factors, provide short-term loans to manufacturers while they are waiting to be paid by those receiving their goods or services. Apparel and home goods are two categories for which credit is often provided by factoring companies.
When a factor pulls credit to suppliers, it could trigger a similar reaction from others, some said.
"Though CIT's factoring is only 5 percent of Sears business, I have asked smaller factors what they are thinking, (and) if everyone jumps (the) boots 2011 winter same way CIT did, then Sears will have a problem," said Munir Mashooqullah, founder and president of apparel supply chain management firm Synergies Worldwide.
One factor has turned down many requests from Sears' vendors in the past six months because of the retailer's problems.
Sears may have to pay cash on delivery in some cases if it wants vendor deliveries, this person said, noting that such a development would hurt Sears' cash flow.
"When the factoring community starts pulling back, in order to get goods, they have to provide vendors with better terms," this person said, noting that factor defections could snowball otherwise.
Factors want to see evidence Sears is fixing its business, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity, not wanting to jeopardize relations with Sears.
A different factor, also declining to be identified, agreed that Sears would likely have to pay vendors more quickly and offer shorter payment terms to keep factors on board.
"Some of the risk managers are probably saying, 'you know what, why should we have to focus on Sears when we could ... sleep at night and factor other companies?,'" said Bobby Cohen, chief executive of Lochem Capital. His firm serves as an intermediary between buyers and suppliers.
Still he believes Sears' troubles are temporary and more a result of fear caused by troubling headlines in the media.
Sears's credit default swaps were cheap moncler jackets for women unchanged on Thursday, while its key supplier Whirlpool's spreads bore the brunt of headlines tied to Sears.
Based on Thomson Reuters data, there is a 77 percent chance that Sears Holdings would default in the next five years.
"It could start a snowball effect for Sears," said turnaround expert Gene Baldwin of CRG Partners.
Refusal of CIT and other lenders to finance Sears' suppliers could force it to draw on its line of credit to pay for goods up front, Baldwin said. If too many vendors seek prepayment, banks could be pressured and cut back on lines of credit for Sears, making it harder for Sears to buy inventory.
Sears shares initially fell more than 6 percent on Thursday but rallied late in the day to close up 3.3 percent.
"Investors feel comfortable that Sears will be able to handle this credit problem after an initial negative reaction in the shares," said William Lefkowitz, options strategist at New York-based brokerage firm vFinance Investments.
Some also found it positive that Edward Lampert, the company's chairman and largest shareholder, has bought more shares of the struggling retailer.
"Lampert clearly has better information than most investors given limited disclosures from the company. Additionally, his increased exposure could reflect his faith in the ongoing performance of the company," Goldman analyst Adrianne Shapira said.
According to documents filed Wednesday night, Lampert, who owns directly and through related entities about 59 percent of the company, bought roughly $159 million in Sears shares from his ESL Investments hedge fund, representing 4.46 million shares in private sales. In addition, Lampert also bought shares on the open market for about $12 million.
Still, CIT's decision to discontinue vendor financing is "an additional liquidity concern for the retailer in 2012, potentially boosting working capital requirements," Fitch Ratings said on Thursday afternoon.
CIT's action comes just weeks after Sears down jackets for men Holdings, operator of Sears department stores and the Kmart discount chain, posted dismal holiday sales numbers and said it would close as many as 120 stores.
"We disagree with their action," Sears spokeswoman Kimberly Freely said in an email. "In fact, we'd point out that other (lenders) are approving shipments to Sears Holdings and CIT's payables represented less than 5 percent of inventories."
Bloomberg first reported that CIT, run by Wall Street executive John Thain, will no longer approve credit for orders after Wednesday, January 11. CIT spokesman Curt Ritter said it does not comment on specific customers.
Sears, whose sales have decreased every year since Lampert formed it with the merger of Sears and Kmart in 2005, also said it "has more than adequate liquidity and ample resources at our disposal."
Investors will get some clues as to Sears' future when it reports annual results on February 23. Lampert typically publishes a letter to shareholders around that time.
The retailer, home to brands including Craftsman tools and Kenmore appliances, is feeling pressure from the economy, aggressive competition and its own reputation for run-down locations and poor customer service.
A Sears Holdings' collapse is not likely in the near future, but that could change if key vendors demand cash on delivery, decide to ship in smaller quantities, or ask for letters of credit, bankruptcy experts have told Reuters.
HARSHER TERMS
CIT and other finance companies, known in the industry as factors, provide short-term loans to manufacturers while they are waiting to be paid by those receiving their goods or services. Apparel and home goods are two categories for which credit is often provided by factoring companies.
When a factor pulls credit to suppliers, it could trigger a similar reaction from others, some said.
"Though CIT's factoring is only 5 percent of Sears business, I have asked smaller factors what they are thinking, (and) if everyone jumps (the) boots 2011 winter same way CIT did, then Sears will have a problem," said Munir Mashooqullah, founder and president of apparel supply chain management firm Synergies Worldwide.
One factor has turned down many requests from Sears' vendors in the past six months because of the retailer's problems.
Sears may have to pay cash on delivery in some cases if it wants vendor deliveries, this person said, noting that such a development would hurt Sears' cash flow.
"When the factoring community starts pulling back, in order to get goods, they have to provide vendors with better terms," this person said, noting that factor defections could snowball otherwise.
Factors want to see evidence Sears is fixing its business, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity, not wanting to jeopardize relations with Sears.
A different factor, also declining to be identified, agreed that Sears would likely have to pay vendors more quickly and offer shorter payment terms to keep factors on board.
"Some of the risk managers are probably saying, 'you know what, why should we have to focus on Sears when we could ... sleep at night and factor other companies?,'" said Bobby Cohen, chief executive of Lochem Capital. His firm serves as an intermediary between buyers and suppliers.
Still he believes Sears' troubles are temporary and more a result of fear caused by troubling headlines in the media.
Sears's credit default swaps were cheap moncler jackets for women unchanged on Thursday, while its key supplier Whirlpool's spreads bore the brunt of headlines tied to Sears.
Based on Thomson Reuters data, there is a 77 percent chance that Sears Holdings would default in the next five years.
2012年1月11日星期三
Canada's government is providing $19.9 million
"You've been here for two years,Burberry bags, cheap burberry handbags outlet, buy 2012 burberry purse suffering without talking, with the kids," Martelly told a crowd of about a 1,000 onlookers who applauded the news a day before the quake's second anniversary. "We are going to remove everyone from under the tents."
Canada's government is providing $19.9 million over two years to finance the resettlement of the camp dwellers.
Canadian Minister of International Cooperation Beverley Oda said the project will also help train 50 Haitian entrepreneurs and create 2,000 jobs for removing debris and rebuilding and repairing homes.
The announcement came the same day that former U.S. President Bill Clinton arrived in Haiti in his role as U.N. special envoy to tour two businesses in the northeastern corner of the country — a factory run by the shoe manufacturer Timberland and a small farm that grows papaya, cashews and habanero peppers.
While visiting the Timberland plant, Clinton told reporters he hoped the mandate of a recovery commission on which he served as co-chairman would be renewed by Haiti's parliament.
"Right now I think it's pretty important for them to do so," Clinton said. "If they don't want this system we can manage another one. But I think that in order to maintain donor confidence they, we need the same sort of transparency."
The international panel was created by decree a few months after the 2010 earthquake to coordinate reconstruction efforts and give donors assurance that their aid money would not be squandered in a country with a history of corruption. Despite Martelly's request for a 12-month extension, the commission's mandate expired in October because opposition lawmakers took no action.
The absence of a autlet burberry 2012 commission has halted future projects from being approved, which helps secure financing with donors from the World Bank-run Haiti Reconstruction Fund and other groups. It could also discourage donors from releasing half of $4.6 billion already pledged for reconstruction.
Clinton said the businesses he visited could encourage other investors to follow them.
"This is a prime example of the things that other companies ought to do," said Clinton, who is co-chairman of an economic advisory board for Martelly.
Timberland has created a community group that promotes reforestation by helping farmers plant trees. The company expanded its operations from the neighboring Dominican Republic to the Haitian border town of Ouanaminthe last June. It employs 150 workers and hopes to hire 100 more this year.
The workers hand-stitch shoes at Haiti's minimum wage of $5 a day, Timberland executive Gareth J. Brooks said. They can also see a doctor or nurse who visits the plant weekly.
Down the road, the 14-acre North Coast Development farm employs 21 workers, including farmers, agronomists and a beekeeper. The crops, honey and beeswax candles are sold to buyers overseas.
Workers there also earn the minimum wage, though some make $350 a month and more because of their experience, said Andy English, executive director of North Coast Development.
The earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010, killed an estimated 300,000 people and displaced 1.5 million more. Officials say the number of people now without homes has dropped to about 550,000.
Government officials and foreign aid workers have spent this week touting their accomplishments in the two years since the disaster, but some Haitians say they have see very little progress.
Several thousand people marched through downtown cheap burberry 2012 Port-au-Prince on Wednesday to protest what they say is a lack of housing.
Canada's government is providing $19.9 million over two years to finance the resettlement of the camp dwellers.
Canadian Minister of International Cooperation Beverley Oda said the project will also help train 50 Haitian entrepreneurs and create 2,000 jobs for removing debris and rebuilding and repairing homes.
The announcement came the same day that former U.S. President Bill Clinton arrived in Haiti in his role as U.N. special envoy to tour two businesses in the northeastern corner of the country — a factory run by the shoe manufacturer Timberland and a small farm that grows papaya, cashews and habanero peppers.
While visiting the Timberland plant, Clinton told reporters he hoped the mandate of a recovery commission on which he served as co-chairman would be renewed by Haiti's parliament.
"Right now I think it's pretty important for them to do so," Clinton said. "If they don't want this system we can manage another one. But I think that in order to maintain donor confidence they, we need the same sort of transparency."
The international panel was created by decree a few months after the 2010 earthquake to coordinate reconstruction efforts and give donors assurance that their aid money would not be squandered in a country with a history of corruption. Despite Martelly's request for a 12-month extension, the commission's mandate expired in October because opposition lawmakers took no action.
The absence of a autlet burberry 2012 commission has halted future projects from being approved, which helps secure financing with donors from the World Bank-run Haiti Reconstruction Fund and other groups. It could also discourage donors from releasing half of $4.6 billion already pledged for reconstruction.
Clinton said the businesses he visited could encourage other investors to follow them.
"This is a prime example of the things that other companies ought to do," said Clinton, who is co-chairman of an economic advisory board for Martelly.
Timberland has created a community group that promotes reforestation by helping farmers plant trees. The company expanded its operations from the neighboring Dominican Republic to the Haitian border town of Ouanaminthe last June. It employs 150 workers and hopes to hire 100 more this year.
The workers hand-stitch shoes at Haiti's minimum wage of $5 a day, Timberland executive Gareth J. Brooks said. They can also see a doctor or nurse who visits the plant weekly.
Down the road, the 14-acre North Coast Development farm employs 21 workers, including farmers, agronomists and a beekeeper. The crops, honey and beeswax candles are sold to buyers overseas.
Workers there also earn the minimum wage, though some make $350 a month and more because of their experience, said Andy English, executive director of North Coast Development.
The earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010, killed an estimated 300,000 people and displaced 1.5 million more. Officials say the number of people now without homes has dropped to about 550,000.
Government officials and foreign aid workers have spent this week touting their accomplishments in the two years since the disaster, but some Haitians say they have see very little progress.
Several thousand people marched through downtown cheap burberry 2012 Port-au-Prince on Wednesday to protest what they say is a lack of housing.
Astronomers Bradley Schaefer and graduate student Ashley Pagnotta
The discovery settles decades of questions over the origin of so-called Type 1a supernovas, researchers said.
Astronomers have long suspected moncler jackets that two stars were responsible for the explosion, with one being a white dwarf — a compact, dying star. But scientists weren't sure if both culprits were white dwarf stars that crashed, or consisted of one white dwarf that siphoned off material from a regular companion star. Both scenarios could cause the supernova.
But some of that doubt has been laid to rest. Astronomers Bradley Schaefer and graduate student Ashley Pagnotta, both of Louisiana State University, used a Hubble Space Telescope photo of the supernova SNR 0509-67.5 as a critical clue to determine that two white dwarf stars collaborated to set off the star explosion.
Pagnotta presented the results at the 219th American Astronomical Society meeting in Austin, Texas, Wednesday. The research also is detailed in this week's edition of the journal Nature.
A classic 'eureka' moment'
The discovery occurred last year as the astronomers worked on a proposal to search for a companion star in the debris of SNR 0509-67.5, a supernova remnant about 160,000 light-years away in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite of our own Milky Way. (A light-year is the distance that light can travel in one year — about 6 trillion miles, or 10 trillion kilometers.) But a glance at the Jan. 25, 2011, Astronomy Picture of the Day saved them the trouble.
The photo, which shows the supernova remnant 60% off moncler jackets as a gossamer bubble of red gas about 23 light-years across, was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Advertise | AdChoices
"They had taken the image we wanted with a different scientific purpose," Schaefer told Space.com.
They printed the image and used a ruler to estimate the supernova remnant's center, then searched for a companion, but they found no trace of one. The quick and dirty process took only half an hour, but answered the question of several decades.
Schaefer describes it as "the classic 'eureka' moment."
Of course, a more in-depth search was needed to be certain, he added. The spherical supernova remnant exploded from a single source that a companion star would have once orbited. The first step, then, was finding that point.
A deeper look
To calculate the exact center, they needed more than a ruler. The pair used three different measurements to determine the source, and all three gave the same region of space.
If the companion was a white dwarf, the collision between the two would have obliterated both. But a regular, main sequence star should still remain. It would no longer be orbiting the destroyed white dwarf, as the blast would have "blew it away," Schaefer explained.
Schaefer and Pagnotta created an enormous error box, based on worst-case scenarios of the type of star and how far it could travel — and then searched beyond it. The Hubble Space Telescope data they studied included stars 50 times dimmer than the dimmest scenarios modeled.
Cheap moncler jackets outlet, moncler boots 2011 new arrivals for sale, buy cheap moncler vest for men and women, free shipping, welcome to best moncler sale online shop, up to 70% off.
Surprisingly, the center of the ring boasted an object with an amorphous shape.
The team's first instinct was that it was simply a background galaxy that happened to be located in the line of sight with the middle.
"An ex-companion would have to be a point source," Schaefer explained.
They are in the middle of taking spectra to confirm that it is simply a coincidence, but Schaefer is confident it will prove to be irrelevant.
"It looks like a background galaxy, and it quacks like a background galaxy, so I think it probably is a background galaxy," he said.
Advertise | AdChoices
But this is the only object anywhere near the center, and there are no point sources that would indicate a leftover star.
When nothing is evidence of something
The lack of a remaining companion star is evidence that the explosion that formed SNR 0509-67.5 was not a combination of a white dwarf and a main sequence star, known as a single-degenerative system.
This left astronomers with only one other theory still standing, a so-called double-degenerative system made up of two white dwarf cheap moncler stars that collided.
"For the first time, we have a decisive answer," Schaefer said. "What we have done for 0509 is eliminated all the 0509 single-degenerative models."
Astronomers have long suspected moncler jackets that two stars were responsible for the explosion, with one being a white dwarf — a compact, dying star. But scientists weren't sure if both culprits were white dwarf stars that crashed, or consisted of one white dwarf that siphoned off material from a regular companion star. Both scenarios could cause the supernova.
But some of that doubt has been laid to rest. Astronomers Bradley Schaefer and graduate student Ashley Pagnotta, both of Louisiana State University, used a Hubble Space Telescope photo of the supernova SNR 0509-67.5 as a critical clue to determine that two white dwarf stars collaborated to set off the star explosion.
Pagnotta presented the results at the 219th American Astronomical Society meeting in Austin, Texas, Wednesday. The research also is detailed in this week's edition of the journal Nature.
A classic 'eureka' moment'
The discovery occurred last year as the astronomers worked on a proposal to search for a companion star in the debris of SNR 0509-67.5, a supernova remnant about 160,000 light-years away in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite of our own Milky Way. (A light-year is the distance that light can travel in one year — about 6 trillion miles, or 10 trillion kilometers.) But a glance at the Jan. 25, 2011, Astronomy Picture of the Day saved them the trouble.
The photo, which shows the supernova remnant 60% off moncler jackets as a gossamer bubble of red gas about 23 light-years across, was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Advertise | AdChoices
"They had taken the image we wanted with a different scientific purpose," Schaefer told Space.com.
They printed the image and used a ruler to estimate the supernova remnant's center, then searched for a companion, but they found no trace of one. The quick and dirty process took only half an hour, but answered the question of several decades.
Schaefer describes it as "the classic 'eureka' moment."
Of course, a more in-depth search was needed to be certain, he added. The spherical supernova remnant exploded from a single source that a companion star would have once orbited. The first step, then, was finding that point.
A deeper look
To calculate the exact center, they needed more than a ruler. The pair used three different measurements to determine the source, and all three gave the same region of space.
If the companion was a white dwarf, the collision between the two would have obliterated both. But a regular, main sequence star should still remain. It would no longer be orbiting the destroyed white dwarf, as the blast would have "blew it away," Schaefer explained.
Schaefer and Pagnotta created an enormous error box, based on worst-case scenarios of the type of star and how far it could travel — and then searched beyond it. The Hubble Space Telescope data they studied included stars 50 times dimmer than the dimmest scenarios modeled.
Cheap moncler jackets outlet, moncler boots 2011 new arrivals for sale, buy cheap moncler vest for men and women, free shipping, welcome to best moncler sale online shop, up to 70% off.
Surprisingly, the center of the ring boasted an object with an amorphous shape.
The team's first instinct was that it was simply a background galaxy that happened to be located in the line of sight with the middle.
"An ex-companion would have to be a point source," Schaefer explained.
They are in the middle of taking spectra to confirm that it is simply a coincidence, but Schaefer is confident it will prove to be irrelevant.
"It looks like a background galaxy, and it quacks like a background galaxy, so I think it probably is a background galaxy," he said.
Advertise | AdChoices
But this is the only object anywhere near the center, and there are no point sources that would indicate a leftover star.
When nothing is evidence of something
The lack of a remaining companion star is evidence that the explosion that formed SNR 0509-67.5 was not a combination of a white dwarf and a main sequence star, known as a single-degenerative system.
This left astronomers with only one other theory still standing, a so-called double-degenerative system made up of two white dwarf cheap moncler stars that collided.
"For the first time, we have a decisive answer," Schaefer said. "What we have done for 0509 is eliminated all the 0509 single-degenerative models."
Romney finished with around 38% of the vote
The former Massachusetts governor Burberry men t-shirts, cheap burberry t-shirts for men 2012 outlet became the first non-incumbent Republican to ever win the Iowa caucuses and then the Granite State primary, the first two contests in the primary and caucus calendar.
New Hampshire is Romney country. He owns a home there and has spent lots of time in the Granite State over the past six years campaigning for himself and for fellow Republicans.
He was expected to win big. So, did he beat expectations?
Romney finished with around 38% of the vote, the same as what Sen. John McCain captured when he beat Romney to win the primary here in 2008. Romney finished around 15 points ahead Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who came in second. Solid but not spectacular numbers.
Second place can be just as good as first
How do you top a strong third-place finish in Iowa? By finishing an ever stronger second a week later in New Hampshire.
Thanks in part to an outpouring of independent voters, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas captured the silver medal in the Granite State, which he calls a win.
"I called Gov. Romney a short while ago before he gave his talk and congratulated him because he had a clear-cut victory, but we are nibbling at his heels," Paul said in his speech Tuesday night, adding that, "there was another victory tonight. He had a victory, but we have had a victory for the cause of liberty."
Exit polls indicate Paul scored big among younger voters, first-time voters, and held his own against Romney among independents. (What do the exit polls say?)
Paul may not perform as well in South Carolina and Florida, the next two states to hold contests. But thanks to showing in Iowa and placing in New Hampshire, the libertarian-leaning Paul can keep his "revolution" alive for months to come.
Tim Pawlenty on Romney's competition cheap burberry ties Ron Paul campaign chair on 2nd place Paul: We're nibbling at Romney's heels Huntsman: Third place is ticket to ride
Third's enough for Huntsman
He didn't win the gold or silver, but it seems a bronze medal is good enough for Jon Huntsman to fight another day.
"I'd say third-place is a ticket to ride," Huntsman told supporters Tuesday night, adding at the end of this speech, "Here we go to South Carolina."
The former Utah governor and ambassador to China placed all his chips on New Hampshire, skipping campaigning in Iowa, the state that kicked off the presidential primary and caucus calendar, to concentrate just about all of his time on the Granite State.
Exit polls of people who voted in the primary indicate that Huntsman performed well with independent voters, grabbing nearly a quarter of their vote. He also came out on top among the small percentage of Republicans who say they're not supporters of the Tea Party movement. Those factors may have helped him in fiercely independent New Hampshire, but it won't give him a boost in South Carolina, which has a much more conservative Republican electorate.
Huntsman got his "ticket to ride" to move on to South Carolina, but its not clear how much longer his ride will last.
...in a blaze of glory
He was hoping for third but finished fourth. Now he's hoping to make a stand in South Carolina.
Newt Gingrich turned off the niceness that he had avowed — and runs against his political history — after the blistering attacks from super PACs that support Romney toppled him from front-runner to also-ran in a couple of weeks.
But Gingrich's new line of attack — condemning Romney's history at private equity firm Bain Capital — has turned a key part of his own party, including one-time ally Rush Limbaugh who compared Gingrich to Occupy Wall Street, against the former House speaker.
Tracking the New Hampshire ballot Gergen: Romney's N.H. speech memorable Gingrich: Let me be your spokesperson
Attacks on capitalism is a dubious strategy in Republican primaries, but Gingrich appears to be intent on doing as much damage to the front-runner as he can, no matter the cost.
A super PAC supporting Gingrich plans to launch a video on Wednesday called "When Mitt Romney Came to Town," which portrays Romney as Bain chief as a heartless cheap burberry corporate raider who maximized profits at the expense of workers.
New Hampshire is Romney country. He owns a home there and has spent lots of time in the Granite State over the past six years campaigning for himself and for fellow Republicans.
He was expected to win big. So, did he beat expectations?
Romney finished with around 38% of the vote, the same as what Sen. John McCain captured when he beat Romney to win the primary here in 2008. Romney finished around 15 points ahead Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who came in second. Solid but not spectacular numbers.
Second place can be just as good as first
How do you top a strong third-place finish in Iowa? By finishing an ever stronger second a week later in New Hampshire.
Thanks in part to an outpouring of independent voters, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas captured the silver medal in the Granite State, which he calls a win.
"I called Gov. Romney a short while ago before he gave his talk and congratulated him because he had a clear-cut victory, but we are nibbling at his heels," Paul said in his speech Tuesday night, adding that, "there was another victory tonight. He had a victory, but we have had a victory for the cause of liberty."
Exit polls indicate Paul scored big among younger voters, first-time voters, and held his own against Romney among independents. (What do the exit polls say?)
Paul may not perform as well in South Carolina and Florida, the next two states to hold contests. But thanks to showing in Iowa and placing in New Hampshire, the libertarian-leaning Paul can keep his "revolution" alive for months to come.
Tim Pawlenty on Romney's competition cheap burberry ties Ron Paul campaign chair on 2nd place Paul: We're nibbling at Romney's heels Huntsman: Third place is ticket to ride
Third's enough for Huntsman
He didn't win the gold or silver, but it seems a bronze medal is good enough for Jon Huntsman to fight another day.
"I'd say third-place is a ticket to ride," Huntsman told supporters Tuesday night, adding at the end of this speech, "Here we go to South Carolina."
The former Utah governor and ambassador to China placed all his chips on New Hampshire, skipping campaigning in Iowa, the state that kicked off the presidential primary and caucus calendar, to concentrate just about all of his time on the Granite State.
Exit polls of people who voted in the primary indicate that Huntsman performed well with independent voters, grabbing nearly a quarter of their vote. He also came out on top among the small percentage of Republicans who say they're not supporters of the Tea Party movement. Those factors may have helped him in fiercely independent New Hampshire, but it won't give him a boost in South Carolina, which has a much more conservative Republican electorate.
Huntsman got his "ticket to ride" to move on to South Carolina, but its not clear how much longer his ride will last.
...in a blaze of glory
He was hoping for third but finished fourth. Now he's hoping to make a stand in South Carolina.
Newt Gingrich turned off the niceness that he had avowed — and runs against his political history — after the blistering attacks from super PACs that support Romney toppled him from front-runner to also-ran in a couple of weeks.
But Gingrich's new line of attack — condemning Romney's history at private equity firm Bain Capital — has turned a key part of his own party, including one-time ally Rush Limbaugh who compared Gingrich to Occupy Wall Street, against the former House speaker.
Tracking the New Hampshire ballot Gergen: Romney's N.H. speech memorable Gingrich: Let me be your spokesperson
Attacks on capitalism is a dubious strategy in Republican primaries, but Gingrich appears to be intent on doing as much damage to the front-runner as he can, no matter the cost.
A super PAC supporting Gingrich plans to launch a video on Wednesday called "When Mitt Romney Came to Town," which portrays Romney as Bain chief as a heartless cheap burberry corporate raider who maximized profits at the expense of workers.
2012年1月10日星期二
A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press
The news came Tuesday, exactly a month moncler jackets after Griffin became the first Baylor player to win college football's highest individual honor.
ESPN, citing an anonymous family source, first reported that Griffin was going pro and in the final stages of picking an agent.
A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press that Griffin opted to declare for the draft. The person spoke Tuesday night on condition of anonymity because the quarterback had not yet made an official announcement.
Baylor officials had indicated this week the possibility of a news conference on campus as early as Wednesday. There was still nothing officially scheduled Tuesday night.
Griffin played 41 games during his record-setting career at Baylor. He completed 800 of 1,192 passes (67 percent) for 10,366 yards with 78 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, along with 2,254 yards Moncler Women Vest - Cheap Moncler Jackets and 33 TDs rushing.
Robert Griffin III
AP
FILE - In this Oct. 8, 2011, file photo... View Full Caption
He was the nation's most efficient passer this season, when he completed 291 of 402 passes (72 percent) for 4,293 yards and 37 TDs with only six interceptions. He also ran for 699 yards and 10 more touchdowns.
The Bears matched a school record with 10 wins and closed the season with a six-game winning streak, including a record-breaking 67-56 victory over Washington in the Alamo Bowl for their first bowl victory since 1992. They were 13th in The Associated Press Top 25 released Tuesday, the first time they were ranked in the final poll since 1986.
Griffin played this season as a fourth-year junior. He had another season of eligibility remaining at Baylor because he got a medical redshirt after he tore the ACL in his right knee in the third game of the 2009 season.Cheap moncler scarves caps, 2011 moncler accessories for sale.
During an interview with the AP last month, Griffin said he wouldn't be facing a decision on whether to stay for another season had he not gotten hurt two years ago.
"If I come back, people would be like why. If I leave, people at Baylor will be like why," Griffin said then. "So it's a tough decision."
But Griffin's draft stock rose dramatically this season, especially during the Bears' last six wins. Griffin and Stanford's Andrew Luck, the Heisman runner-up, are likely to be the first two quarterbacks selected.
Baylor swept their four November games, including overcoming its biggest fourth-quarter deficit ever with Griffin throwing three TDs before winning in overtime at Kansas. The Bears also beat Oklahoma for the first time, with cheap moncler Griffin throwing for 479 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winner with 8 seconds left that came right after Oklahoma had overcome a two-TD deficit to tie the game in the final minute.
ESPN, citing an anonymous family source, first reported that Griffin was going pro and in the final stages of picking an agent.
A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press that Griffin opted to declare for the draft. The person spoke Tuesday night on condition of anonymity because the quarterback had not yet made an official announcement.
Baylor officials had indicated this week the possibility of a news conference on campus as early as Wednesday. There was still nothing officially scheduled Tuesday night.
Griffin played 41 games during his record-setting career at Baylor. He completed 800 of 1,192 passes (67 percent) for 10,366 yards with 78 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, along with 2,254 yards Moncler Women Vest - Cheap Moncler Jackets and 33 TDs rushing.
Robert Griffin III
AP
FILE - In this Oct. 8, 2011, file photo... View Full Caption
He was the nation's most efficient passer this season, when he completed 291 of 402 passes (72 percent) for 4,293 yards and 37 TDs with only six interceptions. He also ran for 699 yards and 10 more touchdowns.
The Bears matched a school record with 10 wins and closed the season with a six-game winning streak, including a record-breaking 67-56 victory over Washington in the Alamo Bowl for their first bowl victory since 1992. They were 13th in The Associated Press Top 25 released Tuesday, the first time they were ranked in the final poll since 1986.
Griffin played this season as a fourth-year junior. He had another season of eligibility remaining at Baylor because he got a medical redshirt after he tore the ACL in his right knee in the third game of the 2009 season.Cheap moncler scarves caps, 2011 moncler accessories for sale.
During an interview with the AP last month, Griffin said he wouldn't be facing a decision on whether to stay for another season had he not gotten hurt two years ago.
"If I come back, people would be like why. If I leave, people at Baylor will be like why," Griffin said then. "So it's a tough decision."
But Griffin's draft stock rose dramatically this season, especially during the Bears' last six wins. Griffin and Stanford's Andrew Luck, the Heisman runner-up, are likely to be the first two quarterbacks selected.
Baylor swept their four November games, including overcoming its biggest fourth-quarter deficit ever with Griffin throwing three TDs before winning in overtime at Kansas. The Bears also beat Oklahoma for the first time, with cheap moncler Griffin throwing for 479 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winner with 8 seconds left that came right after Oklahoma had overcome a two-TD deficit to tie the game in the final minute.
2012年1月9日星期一
The fourth-quarter net loss was $191 million
The fourth-quarter net loss was $191 million, or 18 cents a share, compared with net income of $258 million, or 24 cents, a year earlier cheap burberry outlet 2012, the New York-based company said yesterday in a statement. The loss excluding restructuring costs was 3 cents a share, matching the average projection from 18 estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Sales rose 6 percent to $5.99 billion from $5.65 billion.
The loss is Alcoa’s first on an adjusted basis since the second quarter of 2009, when the company was dealing with a slump in aluminum prices that followed the global financial crisis. Aluminum fell in 2011, with the benchmark three-month price in London averaging 11 percent lower in the fourth quarter than a year earlier, and Alcoa said last week it would close 12 percent of its smelting capacity.
The loss “makes it very much an uphill battle” to meet analysts’ current expectations in 2012, Jorge Beristain, an analyst at Deutsche Bank AG who rates the shares “hold,” said by phone yesterday. Alcoa needs earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization “to essentially double in the next quarter and then stay at that level for the next four,” he said.
Alcoa rose 0.7 percent to $9.49 at 7:47 p.m. in New York after the close of regular trading. Alcoa is the first company in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to report earnings for the quarter. The stock slumped 44 percent last year, the second- biggest decline on the Dow Jones Industrial Average after Bank of America Corp.’s 58 percent drop.
Output Cuts
The company will cut its global smelting capacity by 531,000 metric tons. U.S. smelters at Alcoa, Tennessee, and Rockdale, Texas, will be affected, it said Jan. 5. Alcoa said yesterday it will curtail production at smelters in Portovesme, Italy, and La Coruna and Aviles in Spain as part of the plan.
Aluminum supply has exceeded demand and inventories have soared, leaving some smelters unprofitable at current metal prices. Global output exceeded demand by 953,516 metric tons in the first three quarters of 2011, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Industries burberry bags.
Chief Executive Officer Klaus Kleinfeld said yesterday that global aluminum demand will grow 7 percent this year, compared with 11 percent in 2011. That expansion, combined with production cuts, will lead to a market deficit of 600,000 tons in 2012, Alcoa said.
Aerospace Growth
Aerospace sales growth will be 10 percent to 11 percent in 2012, the company said yesterday in an analyst presentation. European auto- and truck-manufacturing output and construction sales will decline year. Beverage-can and packaging sales in Europe will grow by as much as 5 percent in Europe, while that segment will grow as much as 20 percent in China, Alcoa said.
European aluminum demand won’t grow in 2012, compared with expansion of 1 percent last year, it said. Chinese demand will increase 12 percent this year, down from 15 percent.
Alcoa is a fully integrated aluminum producer. It mines bauxite, an ore that contains aluminum, and refines it into alumina, the raw material used by aluminum smelters. As well as selling aluminum to industrial users, Alcoa makes products such as can sheet and components for cars and aircraft.
Alcoa’s aluminum output increased 5.4 percent to 962,000 tons in the quarter. Its alumina production rose 1.4 percent to 4.18 million tons. Burberry men shirts - designer long shirts, cheap short shirts sale.
The loss is Alcoa’s first on an adjusted basis since the second quarter of 2009, when the company was dealing with a slump in aluminum prices that followed the global financial crisis. Aluminum fell in 2011, with the benchmark three-month price in London averaging 11 percent lower in the fourth quarter than a year earlier, and Alcoa said last week it would close 12 percent of its smelting capacity.
The loss “makes it very much an uphill battle” to meet analysts’ current expectations in 2012, Jorge Beristain, an analyst at Deutsche Bank AG who rates the shares “hold,” said by phone yesterday. Alcoa needs earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization “to essentially double in the next quarter and then stay at that level for the next four,” he said.
Alcoa rose 0.7 percent to $9.49 at 7:47 p.m. in New York after the close of regular trading. Alcoa is the first company in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to report earnings for the quarter. The stock slumped 44 percent last year, the second- biggest decline on the Dow Jones Industrial Average after Bank of America Corp.’s 58 percent drop.
Output Cuts
The company will cut its global smelting capacity by 531,000 metric tons. U.S. smelters at Alcoa, Tennessee, and Rockdale, Texas, will be affected, it said Jan. 5. Alcoa said yesterday it will curtail production at smelters in Portovesme, Italy, and La Coruna and Aviles in Spain as part of the plan.
Aluminum supply has exceeded demand and inventories have soared, leaving some smelters unprofitable at current metal prices. Global output exceeded demand by 953,516 metric tons in the first three quarters of 2011, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Industries burberry bags.
Chief Executive Officer Klaus Kleinfeld said yesterday that global aluminum demand will grow 7 percent this year, compared with 11 percent in 2011. That expansion, combined with production cuts, will lead to a market deficit of 600,000 tons in 2012, Alcoa said.
Aerospace Growth
Aerospace sales growth will be 10 percent to 11 percent in 2012, the company said yesterday in an analyst presentation. European auto- and truck-manufacturing output and construction sales will decline year. Beverage-can and packaging sales in Europe will grow by as much as 5 percent in Europe, while that segment will grow as much as 20 percent in China, Alcoa said.
European aluminum demand won’t grow in 2012, compared with expansion of 1 percent last year, it said. Chinese demand will increase 12 percent this year, down from 15 percent.
Alcoa is a fully integrated aluminum producer. It mines bauxite, an ore that contains aluminum, and refines it into alumina, the raw material used by aluminum smelters. As well as selling aluminum to industrial users, Alcoa makes products such as can sheet and components for cars and aircraft.
Alcoa’s aluminum output increased 5.4 percent to 962,000 tons in the quarter. Its alumina production rose 1.4 percent to 4.18 million tons. Burberry men shirts - designer long shirts, cheap short shirts sale.
We usually think about leaves only as photosynthetic organs
The rare plant Philcoxia minensis is found in the tropical savannas of Brazil, areas rich in biodiversity and highly in need of moncler jackets conservation. Although some of the plant's millimeter-wide leaves grow above ground as expected, strangely, most of its tiny, sticky leaves lie beneath the surface of the shallow white sands on which it grows.
"We usually think about leaves only as photosynthetic organs, so at first sight, it looks awkward that a plant would place its leaves underground where there is less sunlight," said researcher Rafael Silva Oliveira, a plant ecologist at the State University of Campinas in Brazil. "Why would evolution favor the persistence of this apparently unfavorable trait?"
RELATED: Are you scientifically literate? Take our quiz to find out!
Researchers suspected the mysterious subterranean leaves of Philcoxia minensis and its relatives were used to capture animals. They share a number of traits with known carnivorous plants — for instance, Venus flytraps possess leaves covered in glands with protruding stalks that help the plant detect prey. Like P. minensis, Venus flytraps also live in nutrient-poor soils, which is apparently why they seek out prey in the first place.
To see if Philcoxia minensis is carnivorous, the scientists tested whether it could digest and absorb nutrients from the many nematodes,Moncler Women Vest - Cheap Moncler Jackets also called roundworms, which end up trapped on its sticky underground leaves. They fed the plant nematodes loaded with the isotope nitrogen-15, atoms of which have one more neutron than regular nitrogen-14. Essentially, the scientists placed these Caenorhabditis elegans worms on top of underground leaves of plants kept in a lab setting.
Chemical analysis of the leaves that had been covered in nematodes revealed significant amounts of nitrogen-15, suggesting the plant broke down and absorbed the worms. The leaves also possessed digestive enzyme activity similar to that seen in known carnivorous plants, suggesting that the roundworms did not decompose naturally; the researchers speculate the leaves trapped the worms and then secreted enzymes that digested the worms.
This newfound strategy suggests "carnivory moncler outlet 2011 may have evolved independently more times in plants than previously thought," Oliveira told LiveScience. [See Photos of Meat-Eating Plants]
"I personally think these findings also broaden up our perception about plants," Oliveira added. "They might look boring for some people because they don't move or actively hunt for their food, but instead, they have evolved a number of fascinating solutions to solve common problems, such as the lack of readily available nutrients or water. Most of the time, these fascinating processes of nutrient acquisition cheap moncler are cryptic and operate hidden from our view."
"We usually think about leaves only as photosynthetic organs, so at first sight, it looks awkward that a plant would place its leaves underground where there is less sunlight," said researcher Rafael Silva Oliveira, a plant ecologist at the State University of Campinas in Brazil. "Why would evolution favor the persistence of this apparently unfavorable trait?"
RELATED: Are you scientifically literate? Take our quiz to find out!
Researchers suspected the mysterious subterranean leaves of Philcoxia minensis and its relatives were used to capture animals. They share a number of traits with known carnivorous plants — for instance, Venus flytraps possess leaves covered in glands with protruding stalks that help the plant detect prey. Like P. minensis, Venus flytraps also live in nutrient-poor soils, which is apparently why they seek out prey in the first place.
To see if Philcoxia minensis is carnivorous, the scientists tested whether it could digest and absorb nutrients from the many nematodes,Moncler Women Vest - Cheap Moncler Jackets also called roundworms, which end up trapped on its sticky underground leaves. They fed the plant nematodes loaded with the isotope nitrogen-15, atoms of which have one more neutron than regular nitrogen-14. Essentially, the scientists placed these Caenorhabditis elegans worms on top of underground leaves of plants kept in a lab setting.
Chemical analysis of the leaves that had been covered in nematodes revealed significant amounts of nitrogen-15, suggesting the plant broke down and absorbed the worms. The leaves also possessed digestive enzyme activity similar to that seen in known carnivorous plants, suggesting that the roundworms did not decompose naturally; the researchers speculate the leaves trapped the worms and then secreted enzymes that digested the worms.
This newfound strategy suggests "carnivory moncler outlet 2011 may have evolved independently more times in plants than previously thought," Oliveira told LiveScience. [See Photos of Meat-Eating Plants]
"I personally think these findings also broaden up our perception about plants," Oliveira added. "They might look boring for some people because they don't move or actively hunt for their food, but instead, they have evolved a number of fascinating solutions to solve common problems, such as the lack of readily available nutrients or water. Most of the time, these fascinating processes of nutrient acquisition cheap moncler are cryptic and operate hidden from our view."
2012年1月8日星期日
In a newly-released report on business ethics
In a newly-released report on business ethics, the Ethics Resource Center reports that while misconduct has declined, when it does occur the costs to those who report it are increasing. Retaliation against whistleblowers has risen from 12% in 2007, to 22% in 2011, with the greatest increase in retaliation against those who reported sexual harassment or substance abuse cheap burberry.
Yet we love to romanticize the whistleblower, finding inspiration in their courage and tenacity when we encounter them from the safety of our homes or theaters. But rarely does that admiration extend to the worker beside us, regardless of our labor values.
On screen, the whistleblower will find once loyal friends disappear, their marriage will become strained, and unmistakable retaliation will commence -- usually on par with a telephoned threat to the lives of the children, a dead pet, or something thrown through the window (a rock with a scary note attached, a Molotov cocktail perhaps). The whistleblower is shaken, expresses a momentary desire to turn back, but is then provoked to an even greater determination to bring the truth the light of day. In these films, the hero prevails, whatever dirty deed they revealed is cleaned up and any victims are rewarded, while a shop floor of now joyous co-workers or a camera-studded crowd outside the steps of the courthouse cheers for the brave and victorious whistleblower who comes out smiling.
Sadly, real life follows a different script. In an organization characterized by ethical leadership, when misconduct is reported, it is addressed, swiftly and often informally. Yet in organizations in which leadership is unstable or changing, acts in secrecy, and limits opportunities for advancement (leading those who achieve such positions to be more determined to hang on to them), the potential for retaliation is greater.
"There's nothing management hates more than the corporate office looking into a problem with one employee," writes Phil Porter in Eat or Be Eaten: Jungle Warfare for the Corporate Master Politician, "When they do, the employee is added to the "kill-at-all-cost" list. Every member of management will conspire to snag him, even if it takes a while burberry bags outlet."
But because rocks are seldom thrown through windows, lives are hardly ever threatened, and co-workers rarely apologize, proving such retaliation is difficult. And perversely, the more severe and blatant the retaliation, the more likely perception will be swayed that it is justified. This is because we like to think that we are immune to such things happening to ourselves -- we are more comfortable believing it would only happen to someone who did something to bring it on.
As a result, in organizations where managers do retaliate, the retribution is likely to rapidly evolve into workplace "mobbing." Even the most humane and caring of workers can be easily swept into a momentum of aggression through gossip, rumors, fear, and opportunism. When this happens, going after the vindictive management that initiated the retaliation may seemingly make sense, but ultimately prove futile as more and more of the workforce joins in viewing the whistleblower as the problem, and not the management.
From the perspective of the whistleblower, however, the problem they present is not their personal problem, as much as it is a problem of the organization. But authoritarian leaders do not view it the same way -- having to address a problem is the problem, and the one who brought the problem to light is the one who is likely to be targeted. In such cultures, the whistleblower will find themselves very much alone. Burberry accessories - warm socks, fashion earrings, cheap keychains outlet.
Yet we love to romanticize the whistleblower, finding inspiration in their courage and tenacity when we encounter them from the safety of our homes or theaters. But rarely does that admiration extend to the worker beside us, regardless of our labor values.
On screen, the whistleblower will find once loyal friends disappear, their marriage will become strained, and unmistakable retaliation will commence -- usually on par with a telephoned threat to the lives of the children, a dead pet, or something thrown through the window (a rock with a scary note attached, a Molotov cocktail perhaps). The whistleblower is shaken, expresses a momentary desire to turn back, but is then provoked to an even greater determination to bring the truth the light of day. In these films, the hero prevails, whatever dirty deed they revealed is cleaned up and any victims are rewarded, while a shop floor of now joyous co-workers or a camera-studded crowd outside the steps of the courthouse cheers for the brave and victorious whistleblower who comes out smiling.
Sadly, real life follows a different script. In an organization characterized by ethical leadership, when misconduct is reported, it is addressed, swiftly and often informally. Yet in organizations in which leadership is unstable or changing, acts in secrecy, and limits opportunities for advancement (leading those who achieve such positions to be more determined to hang on to them), the potential for retaliation is greater.
"There's nothing management hates more than the corporate office looking into a problem with one employee," writes Phil Porter in Eat or Be Eaten: Jungle Warfare for the Corporate Master Politician, "When they do, the employee is added to the "kill-at-all-cost" list. Every member of management will conspire to snag him, even if it takes a while burberry bags outlet."
But because rocks are seldom thrown through windows, lives are hardly ever threatened, and co-workers rarely apologize, proving such retaliation is difficult. And perversely, the more severe and blatant the retaliation, the more likely perception will be swayed that it is justified. This is because we like to think that we are immune to such things happening to ourselves -- we are more comfortable believing it would only happen to someone who did something to bring it on.
As a result, in organizations where managers do retaliate, the retribution is likely to rapidly evolve into workplace "mobbing." Even the most humane and caring of workers can be easily swept into a momentum of aggression through gossip, rumors, fear, and opportunism. When this happens, going after the vindictive management that initiated the retaliation may seemingly make sense, but ultimately prove futile as more and more of the workforce joins in viewing the whistleblower as the problem, and not the management.
From the perspective of the whistleblower, however, the problem they present is not their personal problem, as much as it is a problem of the organization. But authoritarian leaders do not view it the same way -- having to address a problem is the problem, and the one who brought the problem to light is the one who is likely to be targeted. In such cultures, the whistleblower will find themselves very much alone. Burberry accessories - warm socks, fashion earrings, cheap keychains outlet.
The debut was more than twice what most analysts expected
Despite reviews that would frighten any Hollywood producer (and a sharply divided reaction from audiences), the $1 million The Devil moncler jackets Inside scared up $34.5 million, according to studio estimates from Hollywood.com.
The debut was more than twice what most analysts expected and helped propel the first full weekend of 2012 nearly 30% ahead of the same weekend last year. Final figures are due Monday.
The no-name horror film overtook big-name holdovers — an impressive feat given that many fans agreed with critics that the micro-budget movie was a stinker.
About 19% of audiences gave the film an F, says survey firm CinemaScore. According to amalgam site Rottentomatoes.com, only 57% of audiences said they enjoyed the movie, a low score considering that paying audiences rarely score a movie below 60%. Critics were savage: Only 7% gave the picture a thumbs-up, Rottentomatoes.com says.
"As we've seen, the movie continues to be polarizing," distributor Paramount Pictures says in a release. The release acknowledges that audiences moncler women jackets are "both loving it and also being being disturbed by it."
No matter to the bottom line. Older teens and men in their 20s, who had been craving something other than holiday family films, made the movie profitable by the time its Thursday midnight screenings ended.
"The first shocker of the year," says Tim Briody of Boxofficeprophets.com. "Apparently every single one of us saw The Devil Inside."Moncler shoes for men, cheap moncler men shoes 2011 sale, free shipping.
Well, not everyone, but the hand-held, found-footage setup is a cheap and popular horror device that has turned out other low-budget hits such as Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch Project.
The sharp division of opinion (16% gave the movie an A, Paramount points out) might not hurt Devil's grosses, as horror films do most business on opening weekend. And the debut of the faux documentary, analysts say, will likely lead to a sequel, though none was officially announced.
Dave Lewis of Hitfix.com calls Devil's haul "further proof that audiences love a good post-holiday scare."
Devil supplanted Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol from its two-week perch at No. 1. The Tom Cruise sequel took second place with $20.5 cheap moncler million, lifting its total to $170.2 million.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows was third with $14.1 million, followed by David Fincher's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo with $11.3 million. The adaptation has done $76.8 million in four weeks.
The debut was more than twice what most analysts expected and helped propel the first full weekend of 2012 nearly 30% ahead of the same weekend last year. Final figures are due Monday.
The no-name horror film overtook big-name holdovers — an impressive feat given that many fans agreed with critics that the micro-budget movie was a stinker.
About 19% of audiences gave the film an F, says survey firm CinemaScore. According to amalgam site Rottentomatoes.com, only 57% of audiences said they enjoyed the movie, a low score considering that paying audiences rarely score a movie below 60%. Critics were savage: Only 7% gave the picture a thumbs-up, Rottentomatoes.com says.
"As we've seen, the movie continues to be polarizing," distributor Paramount Pictures says in a release. The release acknowledges that audiences moncler women jackets are "both loving it and also being being disturbed by it."
No matter to the bottom line. Older teens and men in their 20s, who had been craving something other than holiday family films, made the movie profitable by the time its Thursday midnight screenings ended.
"The first shocker of the year," says Tim Briody of Boxofficeprophets.com. "Apparently every single one of us saw The Devil Inside."Moncler shoes for men, cheap moncler men shoes 2011 sale, free shipping.
Well, not everyone, but the hand-held, found-footage setup is a cheap and popular horror device that has turned out other low-budget hits such as Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch Project.
The sharp division of opinion (16% gave the movie an A, Paramount points out) might not hurt Devil's grosses, as horror films do most business on opening weekend. And the debut of the faux documentary, analysts say, will likely lead to a sequel, though none was officially announced.
Dave Lewis of Hitfix.com calls Devil's haul "further proof that audiences love a good post-holiday scare."
Devil supplanted Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol from its two-week perch at No. 1. The Tom Cruise sequel took second place with $20.5 cheap moncler million, lifting its total to $170.2 million.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows was third with $14.1 million, followed by David Fincher's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo with $11.3 million. The adaptation has done $76.8 million in four weeks.
2012年1月6日星期五
I feel blessed that all these people
The Hopkins Elementary School first-grader died Monday after having an allergic reaction to something she ate. She was at school when she had the reaction burberry outlet.
"I feel blessed that all these people were able to come out to just support us and show their love for Amarria," said Laura Pendleton, Amarria's mother, at the vigil held in the front yard of her home on Manassas Drive in Chesterfield County.
Pink balloons decorated the mailbox and porch, and dozens of people, including family, friends and classmates, said a prayer, sang "Amazing Grace" and offered remembrances before ending with "Jesus Loves Me."
"It's a hurting thing," said Leroy Green, Amarria's grandfather, who asked those gathered to remember her name.
"We need to educate the schools. We need to educate the parents. This could happen again," Green added.
Pendleton said she would be able to say more about what happened next week. Services for her daughter are being planned for Saturday. Donations are being accepted at local branches of Wells Fargo bank.
At the vigil, family members talked about a little girl who sometimes said she was "itchy" and would ask for Benadryl when she felt a reaction coming on.
According to Chesterfield emergency officials, authorities received an emergency call from the school at 2:26 p.m. Monday. The child was in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived and she was pronounced dead after being taken to CJW Medical Center (Chippenham), a Chesterfield Fire & EMS spokesman said.
School officials, citing federal health privacy rules, would not comment on whether there was an individualized emergency health plan for what to do if Amarria had a severe allergic reaction at school.
Such plans are prepared by the child's doctor and parents to provide schools with guidance. If the plan says to give the child oral medication such as Benadryl or epinephrine by injection, the parent has to provide the medications. Burberry scarves, burberry hat, cheap burberry scarf & cap online.
Of the 60,000 students in Chesterfield County Public Schools, just more than 600 have health plans on file that permit school officials to give them an epinephrine injection if they have an allergic reaction to food, bee stings or latex, a spokesman said. "We do have students who have EpiPens at schools," schools spokesman Shawn Smith said. "The only medication the school has is medication provided by the family as prescribed by their emergency health plan," he said.
He said if an emergency health plans is submitted and the medications or other resources it calls for are not provided by the family, a public health nurse follows up.
Advocacy groups are pushing to have EpiPens, which have to be prescribed by a doctor for a particular patient, become a standard part of school first aid kits.
The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act has been introduced in the U.S. Senate and House.
"It wouldn't be prescribed to a particular child but to the school," said Maria L. Acebal, head of Fairfax-based Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network."My daughter has a food allergy," Acebal said. "Hers is prescribed to her. Say the school had a child in an emergency reaction. They could not use my child's on the other child. The legislation we are supporting would allow schools to have an epinephrine auto injector that could be in the first aid kit."
The fatality has local school officials reminding parents to make sure schools know about any medical issues their children have burberry bags 2012.
Richmond Public Schools spokeswoman Felicia Cosby said reminders are going out to parents.
"I feel blessed that all these people were able to come out to just support us and show their love for Amarria," said Laura Pendleton, Amarria's mother, at the vigil held in the front yard of her home on Manassas Drive in Chesterfield County.
Pink balloons decorated the mailbox and porch, and dozens of people, including family, friends and classmates, said a prayer, sang "Amazing Grace" and offered remembrances before ending with "Jesus Loves Me."
"It's a hurting thing," said Leroy Green, Amarria's grandfather, who asked those gathered to remember her name.
"We need to educate the schools. We need to educate the parents. This could happen again," Green added.
Pendleton said she would be able to say more about what happened next week. Services for her daughter are being planned for Saturday. Donations are being accepted at local branches of Wells Fargo bank.
At the vigil, family members talked about a little girl who sometimes said she was "itchy" and would ask for Benadryl when she felt a reaction coming on.
According to Chesterfield emergency officials, authorities received an emergency call from the school at 2:26 p.m. Monday. The child was in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived and she was pronounced dead after being taken to CJW Medical Center (Chippenham), a Chesterfield Fire & EMS spokesman said.
School officials, citing federal health privacy rules, would not comment on whether there was an individualized emergency health plan for what to do if Amarria had a severe allergic reaction at school.
Such plans are prepared by the child's doctor and parents to provide schools with guidance. If the plan says to give the child oral medication such as Benadryl or epinephrine by injection, the parent has to provide the medications. Burberry scarves, burberry hat, cheap burberry scarf & cap online.
Of the 60,000 students in Chesterfield County Public Schools, just more than 600 have health plans on file that permit school officials to give them an epinephrine injection if they have an allergic reaction to food, bee stings or latex, a spokesman said. "We do have students who have EpiPens at schools," schools spokesman Shawn Smith said. "The only medication the school has is medication provided by the family as prescribed by their emergency health plan," he said.
He said if an emergency health plans is submitted and the medications or other resources it calls for are not provided by the family, a public health nurse follows up.
Advocacy groups are pushing to have EpiPens, which have to be prescribed by a doctor for a particular patient, become a standard part of school first aid kits.
The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act has been introduced in the U.S. Senate and House.
"It wouldn't be prescribed to a particular child but to the school," said Maria L. Acebal, head of Fairfax-based Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network."My daughter has a food allergy," Acebal said. "Hers is prescribed to her. Say the school had a child in an emergency reaction. They could not use my child's on the other child. The legislation we are supporting would allow schools to have an epinephrine auto injector that could be in the first aid kit."
The fatality has local school officials reminding parents to make sure schools know about any medical issues their children have burberry bags 2012.
Richmond Public Schools spokeswoman Felicia Cosby said reminders are going out to parents.
The league said it will stick to its current format
The change to a four-conference setup was approved 26-4 in December by the NHL's board of governors. Under the plan, the moncler jackets top four teams in each conference would make the playoffs and the first two rounds of the playoffs would be played within the conference.
The league said it will stick to its current format — six divisions, with the top eight teams in the Eastern and Western conferences making the playoffs — for next season.
STORY: Original story after December vote
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly issued the following statement:
"It is unfortunate that the NHLPA has unreasonably refused to approve a plan that an overwhelming majority of our clubs voted to support, and that has received such widespread support from our fans and other members of the hockey community, including players.
"We have now spent the better part of moncler women jackets four weeks attempting to satisfy the NHLPA's purported concerns with the plan with no success. Because we have already been forced to delay and, as a result, are already late in beginning the process of preparing next season's schedule, we have no choice but to abandon our intention to implement the realignment plan and modified playoff format for next season.
"We believe the union acted unreasonably in violation of the league's rights. We intend to evaluate all of our available legal options and to pursue adequate remedies, as appropriate."
The NHL was forced to realign because the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg and were temporarily kept in the Southeast Division. The league needed to move the Jets to the Western Conference. A one-for-one swap was possible, but a four-conference setup was also pitched.
The realignment plan was viewed as more advantageous to the Western Conference teams because it set up conferences based on time zones, thus cutting back on travel.
Because it required that every team play a home-and-home with at least every other team in the league, that meant more travel and wear-and-tear for teams in the Eastern Conference.Moncler jackets, cheap moncler vest, moncler boots 2011 outlet.
Also, under the setup, the westernmost conferences had eight teams and the easternmost conference had seven. That meant there was less of a chance to make the playoffs in the West.
"It is incorrect (and) inaccurate to report that the NHLPA 'rejected' the NHL's realignment plan," agent Allan Walsh said on Twitter. "Never happened. League imposed deadline of (today)."
The league and NHLPA cheap moncler will being negotiating a collective-bargaining agreement around the All-Star break. The current agreement runs out on Sept. 15.
The league said it will stick to its current format — six divisions, with the top eight teams in the Eastern and Western conferences making the playoffs — for next season.
STORY: Original story after December vote
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly issued the following statement:
"It is unfortunate that the NHLPA has unreasonably refused to approve a plan that an overwhelming majority of our clubs voted to support, and that has received such widespread support from our fans and other members of the hockey community, including players.
"We have now spent the better part of moncler women jackets four weeks attempting to satisfy the NHLPA's purported concerns with the plan with no success. Because we have already been forced to delay and, as a result, are already late in beginning the process of preparing next season's schedule, we have no choice but to abandon our intention to implement the realignment plan and modified playoff format for next season.
"We believe the union acted unreasonably in violation of the league's rights. We intend to evaluate all of our available legal options and to pursue adequate remedies, as appropriate."
The NHL was forced to realign because the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg and were temporarily kept in the Southeast Division. The league needed to move the Jets to the Western Conference. A one-for-one swap was possible, but a four-conference setup was also pitched.
The realignment plan was viewed as more advantageous to the Western Conference teams because it set up conferences based on time zones, thus cutting back on travel.
Because it required that every team play a home-and-home with at least every other team in the league, that meant more travel and wear-and-tear for teams in the Eastern Conference.Moncler jackets, cheap moncler vest, moncler boots 2011 outlet.
Also, under the setup, the westernmost conferences had eight teams and the easternmost conference had seven. That meant there was less of a chance to make the playoffs in the West.
"It is incorrect (and) inaccurate to report that the NHLPA 'rejected' the NHL's realignment plan," agent Allan Walsh said on Twitter. "Never happened. League imposed deadline of (today)."
The league and NHLPA cheap moncler will being negotiating a collective-bargaining agreement around the All-Star break. The current agreement runs out on Sept. 15.
2012年1月5日星期四
He sponsored at least two Senate bills
He sponsored at least two Senate bills and pushed to amend a mammoth Medicare overhaul to include the extra spending, which would have benefited Universal Health Services, a Pennsylvania-based hospital management company with facilities in Puerto Rico. If it seems at odds with the small-government philosophy Mr. Santorum now espouses in his presidential campaign, it was in line with his legislative efforts to help businesses in his state. Cheap burberry - designer bags, shoes, accessories, clothing outlet 2012.
And some of those businesses were happy to return the favor.
Within months of leaving the Senate, Mr. Santorum joined the board of Universal Health Services, where he collected $395,000 in director’s fees and stock options before resigning last year. He also became a consultant to Consol Energy, after years of advocating drilling and extraction policies helpful to the company, a Pennsylvania gas and coal producer. And he consulted for the American Continental Group, a lobbying firm whose clients won earmarks he sponsored.
As Mr. Santorum’s standing in the race for the Republican presidential nomination has been energized by his strong showing in the Iowa caucus, so too has the scrutiny of his activities since leaving the Senate. When he left office he was not especially wealthy, but records show he wasted little time fashioning a lucrative post-government career based largely on income from businesses that had benefited from his work in Congress.
John Brabender, a senior adviser to Mr. Santorum’s campaign, said Thursday that the former senator had not drastically increased his net worth since leaving Capitol Hill and that it would be wrong to link his consulting work with anything he did in the Senate.
“He’s done a lot of things that have helped a lot of companies and a lot of individuals,” Mr. Brabender said. “Almost anywhere he went, there’s somebody who benefited from his legislation.”
Certainly, Mr. Santorum would not be the first politician to take the revolving door to greener pastures in the private sector. But a look at his record both in and out of the Senate finds overlaps between the two, suggesting that connections he made while in office helped soften the sting of his unexpected re-election defeat.
“Given his long and well-documented efforts aimed at providing American consumers with affordable energy,” said Lisa Seay, a spokeswoman for Consol Energy, the company hired Mr. Santorum “to provide strategic counsel on a variety of public policy-related issues.”
A financial disclosure report Mr. Santorum filed last August as part of his presidential campaign shows the full extent of his newfound wealth. He earned a total of more than $1 million in the previous 18 months from several jobs, including a fellowship with a conservative research organization, serving as a commentator for Fox News and a handful of consulting contracts, as well as income from rental properties in Pennsylvania.
The campaign has repeatedly highlighted Mr. Santorum’s humble Pennsylvania roots — he is the grandson of a coal miner — and sought to portray him as a champion of working people. Indeed, he was one of the poorer members of the Senate and by his own admission was living paycheck to paycheck at times. But by the time his Senate career drew to a close, he had become an emblem for some of a pay-to-play culture on Capitol Hill.
Mr. Santorum enjoyed unusually close ties to Washington lobbyists while in office. For several years, he held regular breakfast meetings with a handpicked group of 30 to 40 power players, ostensibly to brief them on the Republican agenda. But the meetings began with a representative of the Republican National Committee circulating a list of open jobs at trade associations and other lobbying shops, according to one participant cheapburberryoutlet2012.
The jobs list was part of a carefully plotted effort by party activists and leaders to make sure these positions were filled by Republican loyalists, an effort that was championed by Tom DeLay in the House and came to be known as the “K Street Project.”
And some of those businesses were happy to return the favor.
Within months of leaving the Senate, Mr. Santorum joined the board of Universal Health Services, where he collected $395,000 in director’s fees and stock options before resigning last year. He also became a consultant to Consol Energy, after years of advocating drilling and extraction policies helpful to the company, a Pennsylvania gas and coal producer. And he consulted for the American Continental Group, a lobbying firm whose clients won earmarks he sponsored.
As Mr. Santorum’s standing in the race for the Republican presidential nomination has been energized by his strong showing in the Iowa caucus, so too has the scrutiny of his activities since leaving the Senate. When he left office he was not especially wealthy, but records show he wasted little time fashioning a lucrative post-government career based largely on income from businesses that had benefited from his work in Congress.
John Brabender, a senior adviser to Mr. Santorum’s campaign, said Thursday that the former senator had not drastically increased his net worth since leaving Capitol Hill and that it would be wrong to link his consulting work with anything he did in the Senate.
“He’s done a lot of things that have helped a lot of companies and a lot of individuals,” Mr. Brabender said. “Almost anywhere he went, there’s somebody who benefited from his legislation.”
Certainly, Mr. Santorum would not be the first politician to take the revolving door to greener pastures in the private sector. But a look at his record both in and out of the Senate finds overlaps between the two, suggesting that connections he made while in office helped soften the sting of his unexpected re-election defeat.
“Given his long and well-documented efforts aimed at providing American consumers with affordable energy,” said Lisa Seay, a spokeswoman for Consol Energy, the company hired Mr. Santorum “to provide strategic counsel on a variety of public policy-related issues.”
A financial disclosure report Mr. Santorum filed last August as part of his presidential campaign shows the full extent of his newfound wealth. He earned a total of more than $1 million in the previous 18 months from several jobs, including a fellowship with a conservative research organization, serving as a commentator for Fox News and a handful of consulting contracts, as well as income from rental properties in Pennsylvania.
The campaign has repeatedly highlighted Mr. Santorum’s humble Pennsylvania roots — he is the grandson of a coal miner — and sought to portray him as a champion of working people. Indeed, he was one of the poorer members of the Senate and by his own admission was living paycheck to paycheck at times. But by the time his Senate career drew to a close, he had become an emblem for some of a pay-to-play culture on Capitol Hill.
Mr. Santorum enjoyed unusually close ties to Washington lobbyists while in office. For several years, he held regular breakfast meetings with a handpicked group of 30 to 40 power players, ostensibly to brief them on the Republican agenda. But the meetings began with a representative of the Republican National Committee circulating a list of open jobs at trade associations and other lobbying shops, according to one participant cheapburberryoutlet2012.
The jobs list was part of a carefully plotted effort by party activists and leaders to make sure these positions were filled by Republican loyalists, an effort that was championed by Tom DeLay in the House and came to be known as the “K Street Project.”
Golden State would bank on selling Howard on a possible new downtown San Francisco arena
The contract is guaranteed through the 2012-13 season. Smart replaces Paul Westphal, who was fired earlier Thursday, moncler jackets hours after the team suffered a 27-point loss to the Denver Nuggets and just four days after the coach openly feuded with center DeMarcus Cousins.
Smart, who joined Westphal’s staff this season as an assistant, will coach the team in Thursday’s home game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
In what could ultimately be the franchise’s final season in Sacramento, the Kings have opened with a 2-5 record, worst in the Western Conference. All but one of the losses have been by at least 17 points.
Westphal’s firing comes four days after he banished Cousins from the team for one game, saying the young center demanded a trade. Kings general manager Geoff Petrie and co-owner Joe Maloof had said they supported Westphal’s decision, but also said they have no intention of trading Cousins.
Westphal and Cousins argued cheap jackets for men in the coach’s office after the Kings’ loss to the New York Knicks on Saturday, team sources said. One player said he heard Cousins say, “Trade me,” but Cousins’ agent denied his client was making a formal trade demand.
Westphal had the team release a statement Sunday night saying he ordered Cousins to stay away from that evening’s game against the New Orleans Hornets because Cousins “continually, aggressively, lets it be known that he is unwilling/unable to embrace traveling in the same direction as his team.”
Just last week, Cousins had another verbal altercation with Westphal after Westphal called him for a technical in practice, several sources said.
Howard, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, has indicated he won't re-sign with Orlando and Golden State isn't on his three-team list of desirable trade destinations. Howard said he'd be open to signing a contract extension upon being dealt to either the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks or New Jersey Nets.
The Warriors would reportedly surrender a package including either Stephen Curry or Monta Ellis, a future No. 1 draft pick and their willingness to absorb Hedo Turkoglu's three-year, $34 million contract.Moncler bags outlet, buy cheap moncler 2011 new bags. Curry, though, suffered his third sprained ankle this season on Wednesday and is out indefinitely.
According to the report, the Warriors would also be willing to make a trade without any assurances that Howard would re-sign with them. Golden State would bank on selling Howard on a possible new downtown San Francisco arena, a top-five media market with a loyal fan base and earning $30 million more by re-signing with the Warriors because of the new collective bargaining agreement, the report says.
Cousins returned to the Kings on Monday and played in their past two games, but didn’t start.
Westphal was 51-120 in two-plus seasons as coach of the Kings. “Unfortunately, the overall performance level of the team has not cheap moncler approached what we felt was reasonable to expect,” Petrie said in a statement released by the team.
Smart, who joined Westphal’s staff this season as an assistant, will coach the team in Thursday’s home game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
In what could ultimately be the franchise’s final season in Sacramento, the Kings have opened with a 2-5 record, worst in the Western Conference. All but one of the losses have been by at least 17 points.
Westphal’s firing comes four days after he banished Cousins from the team for one game, saying the young center demanded a trade. Kings general manager Geoff Petrie and co-owner Joe Maloof had said they supported Westphal’s decision, but also said they have no intention of trading Cousins.
Westphal and Cousins argued cheap jackets for men in the coach’s office after the Kings’ loss to the New York Knicks on Saturday, team sources said. One player said he heard Cousins say, “Trade me,” but Cousins’ agent denied his client was making a formal trade demand.
Westphal had the team release a statement Sunday night saying he ordered Cousins to stay away from that evening’s game against the New Orleans Hornets because Cousins “continually, aggressively, lets it be known that he is unwilling/unable to embrace traveling in the same direction as his team.”
Just last week, Cousins had another verbal altercation with Westphal after Westphal called him for a technical in practice, several sources said.
Howard, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, has indicated he won't re-sign with Orlando and Golden State isn't on his three-team list of desirable trade destinations. Howard said he'd be open to signing a contract extension upon being dealt to either the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks or New Jersey Nets.
The Warriors would reportedly surrender a package including either Stephen Curry or Monta Ellis, a future No. 1 draft pick and their willingness to absorb Hedo Turkoglu's three-year, $34 million contract.Moncler bags outlet, buy cheap moncler 2011 new bags. Curry, though, suffered his third sprained ankle this season on Wednesday and is out indefinitely.
According to the report, the Warriors would also be willing to make a trade without any assurances that Howard would re-sign with them. Golden State would bank on selling Howard on a possible new downtown San Francisco arena, a top-five media market with a loyal fan base and earning $30 million more by re-signing with the Warriors because of the new collective bargaining agreement, the report says.
Cousins returned to the Kings on Monday and played in their past two games, but didn’t start.
Westphal was 51-120 in two-plus seasons as coach of the Kings. “Unfortunately, the overall performance level of the team has not cheap moncler approached what we felt was reasonable to expect,” Petrie said in a statement released by the team.
2012年1月4日星期三
They ranged from big names like Apple
A year ago I spoke to the good people at Thomson Reuters, who track analysts’ recommendations. I asked for all the recommendations across the Standard & Poor’s 500 index SPX +1.55%. Cheap burberry - designer bags, shoes, accessories, clothing outlet 2012.
Then I scanned for the top 10 — the stocks with the highest amount of “buy” and “outperform” ratings. These were the cool kids on the block, the best of the best of the best. Supposedly.
They ranged from big names like Apple and Google to Thermo Fisher Scientific TMO +4.29% , Agilent Technologies A +0.24% , Celgene CELG +0.20% and R.R. Donnelly & Sons RRD +4.57% .
How’d they do?
If you had invested $10,000 in each of these stocks a year ago, banked the dividends, and cashed out at the end of the year, you’d have actually lost money. You’d be down 3.5%, even before trading costs and taxes, meaning you’d have $96,500 left of your stake.
Meanwhile the S&P 500 overall ended the year even. In other words, you’d have been better off just owning an index fund.
So much for Wall Street!
Six of the “top 10” stocks actually lost you double-digits. The median fell 12%.
As I noted a year ago, this is something of a pattern: Over the previous five years — you can now make that six — Wall Street analysts “top 10” stock picks have actually earned you slightly less over time than the index.
Out of whimsy, I also looked at the reverse story: Wall Street’s most hated stocks, the ones the analysts told you to avoid. I screened the Thomson Reuters data for the stocks with the most “sell” recommendations and the fewest “buys.”
It produced an interesting miscellany, from Brown-Foreman BF.B +0.12% (maker of Jack Daniel’s) to drugs giant Eli Lilly LLY +0.58% , to retailer Sears Holdings SHLD -0.83% , to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway BRK.A -0.02% .
So how’d they do for cheapburberryoutlet2012?
They fell 4.3% on average. In other words, the 10 stocks that analysts loved the most beat the stocks they hated the most by an average of less than 1%.
Wow! Those analysts sure are worth the money!
Then I scanned for the top 10 — the stocks with the highest amount of “buy” and “outperform” ratings. These were the cool kids on the block, the best of the best of the best. Supposedly.
They ranged from big names like Apple and Google to Thermo Fisher Scientific TMO +4.29% , Agilent Technologies A +0.24% , Celgene CELG +0.20% and R.R. Donnelly & Sons RRD +4.57% .
How’d they do?
If you had invested $10,000 in each of these stocks a year ago, banked the dividends, and cashed out at the end of the year, you’d have actually lost money. You’d be down 3.5%, even before trading costs and taxes, meaning you’d have $96,500 left of your stake.
Meanwhile the S&P 500 overall ended the year even. In other words, you’d have been better off just owning an index fund.
So much for Wall Street!
Six of the “top 10” stocks actually lost you double-digits. The median fell 12%.
As I noted a year ago, this is something of a pattern: Over the previous five years — you can now make that six — Wall Street analysts “top 10” stock picks have actually earned you slightly less over time than the index.
Out of whimsy, I also looked at the reverse story: Wall Street’s most hated stocks, the ones the analysts told you to avoid. I screened the Thomson Reuters data for the stocks with the most “sell” recommendations and the fewest “buys.”
It produced an interesting miscellany, from Brown-Foreman BF.B +0.12% (maker of Jack Daniel’s) to drugs giant Eli Lilly LLY +0.58% , to retailer Sears Holdings SHLD -0.83% , to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway BRK.A -0.02% .
So how’d they do for cheapburberryoutlet2012?
They fell 4.3% on average. In other words, the 10 stocks that analysts loved the most beat the stocks they hated the most by an average of less than 1%.
Wow! Those analysts sure are worth the money!
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