Building the Bionic Man

I'm a cyborg; the lens in my left eye was replaced by a device called a CrystaLens, which gives it better than 20/20 vision at all distances. After needing thick glasses all my life, not even needing reading glasses at age 60 is nothing short of miraculous.

However, had I not gotten a steroid-induced cataract that pretty much blinded that eye I'd not had the surgery, mostly because I wouldn't have been able to afford the surgery but partly because, well, would you let someone stick a needle in your eye if it wasn't an emergency and glasses or contacts would do the job?

All surgey is dangerous. People have died in dentists' chairs. The difference between people and PCs is we can't just unscrew a panel, replace a part, and screw the panel back in. We have knives and needles and danger of infection and other possible complications, machinery doesn't. We have to heal, and often need some sort of therapy after surgery.

A lot of folks who have had hips, knees, and other joints replaced must suffer additional pain and surgery because of faulty parts; there are several class action lawsuits going on now over defective parts.

However, rather than bionic parts replacement with enhancements for perfectly healthy body parts (which, as I mention, is dangerous), things like third arms, exoskeletons that allow us to lift hundreds of pounds, are already in development.

Bionics will most likely be for replacement of existing, faulty human parts rather than enhancing or "upgrading" human tissues unless we get McCoy's knifeless surgery.

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/A-ASW-Vr7A8/building-the-bionic-man

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Obama camp pulls in $40 million (Politico)

President Barack Obama?s reelection campaign raised $40 million in the last three months of the year, ending the year with $82 million in the bank and $3 million in debt, according to a report filed Tuesday afternoon with the Federal Election Commission.

Separately, a joint fundraising committee supporting Obama?s reelection and the Democratic National Committee, reported raising $24 million in the fourth quarter, spending $23 million and finishing the year with less than $1 million on hand.

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Obama?s campaign committee spent $20 million in the fourth quarter on a wide range of expenses that show that Obama is beefing up in preparation for the general election, including $4.7 million on payroll, $2.2 million in on-line advertising and $809,000 on computer equipment and software.

Obama?s campaign also released a list of major bundlers ? a step his prospective Republican rivals have not taken ? showing that about 450 bundlers combined to collect at least $74.4 million for his campaign and the DNC.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/politico_rss/rss_politico_mostpop/http___www_politico_com_news_stories0112_72230_html/44368918/SIG=11mugfv0f/*http%3A//www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/72230.html

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HBT: Greinke open to extension with Brewers

Zack Greinke, who left CAA Sports last year and is currently without an agent, said he is open to doing a new deal with the Brewers this winter.

?I?ll talk to them about it,? he told MLB.com. ?I don?t really want to talk to anyone else about it. But I like the business of baseball. It?s exciting for me. It?s not like I plan on being my agent, but it is exciting being able to know what?s going on behind the scenes.?

Greinke will be eligible for free agency for the first time next winter after finishing the four-year, $38 million contract he originally signed with the Royals. He?ll make $13.5 million in 2012. Barring an extension, he?s set to join Cole Hamels and Matt Cain in what looks like a pretty strong class of free agent pitchers. Still, like Jered Weaver before him, he may choose to take a bit less to stay where he is.

?Everything feels really good at the stadium and stuff, the team is great, and I love the whole coaching staff and front office, too,? Greinke said. ?The owner [Mark Attanasio] is probably the best owner in baseball, maybe. He?s incredible.?

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/29/zack-greinke-still-agentless-yet-open-to-extension/related/

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World stocks fall ahead of EU summit

BANGKOK (AP) ? World stock markets fell Monday, with uncertainty about a tentative deal to resolve Greece's debt crisis weighing on investor sentiment ahead of a summit of European leaders.

Benchmark oil slipped to near $99 per barrel while the dollar rose against the euro but fell against the yen.

Stock markets opened lower in Europe, where leaders gathering in Brussels for a summit on taming the continent's financial crisis were met by a nationwide strike that hobbled trains and other public transportation.

Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.5 percent to 5,707.50 and Germany's DAX lost 0.6 percent to 6,470.18. France's CAC-40 shed 0.6 percent to 3,298.07. Wall Street was also headed for a lower open, with Dow Jones industrial futures falling 0.4 percent to 12,559 and S&P 500 futures down 0.5 percent to 1,305.50.

Losses began earlier in Asia, with the investment mood dampened by Friday's release of data showing the U.S. economy grew more slowly than expected in the last three months of 2011. The economy grew at an annual rate of 2.8 percent in the October-December quarter, lower than the 3 percent that economists were expecting.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index shed 0.5 percent to close at 8,793.05. South Korea's Kospi was 1.2 percent lower at 1,940.55 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 1.7 percent to 20,160.41. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.4 percent at 4,272.70.

Benchmarks in mainland China, Singapore, Indonesia, India and the Philippines also fell. Taiwan and New Zealand rose.

European leaders were to meet later Monday in Brussels to discuss austerity and belt-tightening measures as well as a tentative deal reached Saturday between Greece and its private investors that could avert a disastrous Greek default on its debt.

If the deal holds and works, it will help prevent a potential shock to the world banking system. But it doesn't resolve the weakening economic conditions in Greece and other European nations as they rein in spending to get their debts under control.

Stan Shamu of IG Markets in Melbourne said that "the Greece debt issues will remain a source of uncertainty and might dampen the risk mood ahead of the EU summit today."

Under the agreement, investors holding 206 billion euros ($272 billion) in Greek bonds would exchange them for bonds with half the face value. The replacement bonds would have a longer maturity and pay a lower interest rate.

The deal would reduce Greece's annual interest expense from about 10 billion euros to about 4 billion euros. When the bonds mature, Greece would have to pay its bondholders only 103 billion euro.

Some analysts said stocks were taking a breather after post-New Year rallies in several markets that were spurred by signs of improvement in the U.S. economy and Europe's debt crisis stabilizing. Hong Kong's Hang Seng, for example, is up more than 11 percent since the beginning of the year. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 is 5.7 percent higher.

"Probably it's a case of the market getting a little bit tired. We've had quite a significant rally now, and that's been based on some news that was mildly encouraging out of Europe," said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney.

"But we may have arrived at a level where the market will need a bit further concrete evidence and news to continue the rally," Spooner said.

Shares of CNK International, a South Korean mineral development company, plunged 14.9 percent after company executives were implicated in a stock manipulation scheme, Yonhap News agency said.

Japan's Mitsubishi Electric Corp. plummeted 14.8 percent after the Defense Ministry and the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center said they would not sign contracts with the electric machinery manufacturer, which acknowledged it had overcharged on defense and space-related projects, Kyodo News agency reported.

Traders are awaiting more data this week for clues about which way the U.S. economy is headed. On Wednesday, the Institute for Supply Management will release its manufacturing index for January. The Labor Department will release monthly employment data Friday.

"Because the market has been expecting rather good economic data from the U.S. ... I am afraid if those figures disappoint the market, it may trigger further correction in the stock market," said Louis Wong, dealing director of Phillip Securities Ltd.

Benchmark oil for March delivery was down 49 cents to $99.07 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 14 cents to end at $99.56 per barrel on the Nymex on Friday.

In currencies, the euro fell to $1.3145 from $1.3208 late Friday in New York. The dollar fell to 76.67 yen from 76.72 yen.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-01-30-World-Markets/id-9be545efd5ac4573883ead62e5250701

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Fresh iPhone Apps for Jan. 30: Hamlet in Bits, Fanhattan update, Hank Hazard, RoboHero (Appolicious)

Start your week with a dose of Hamlet, thanks to our leading iPhone app, Hamlet in Bits. The app brings you all kinds of information that helps to understand Shakespeare?s play, including audio and animated performances and the text to go with it. We?ve also got a big update to Fanhattan, which can help you find new shows and movies to watch on Netflix, iTunes, Hulu and more. Hank Hazard, a physics-based puzzle game about a daredevil hamster, will keep your thumbs busy this week, as will turn-based strategy title RoboHero.

Got an English exam over Shakespeare?s Hamlet coming up, or just an interest in understanding one of the most studied plays in the English language? You?ll want to check out Hamlet in Bits, an education app that packs of wealth of resources about the play including a complete, unabridged original version that you can read right on your iPhone or iPad.

Hamlet in Bits also includes three hours of professional audio recordings of performances of Hamlet, as well as animations showing the play?s various scenes. You?ll be able to read along with the text as you watch or listen to the dialog being spoken, and Hamlet in Bits also includes character biographies to keep you up to speed with who?s who in Shakespeare?s tale of murderous intrigue. The app even includes a character relationship map, so you?ll never lose track of why characters are important or what?s going on in the twisting narrative.

Entertainment app Fanhattan is a portal for discovering new movies and TV shows across a variety of services including Hulu, Netflix, Lifetime, Crackle, iTunes and PBS. When you fire up the app, you?re greeted with a list of popular new content from the services you use. You can also find more by searching by directors, actors, titles and more; then, Fanhattan provides you other choices you might like based on the things you?re already into.

Fanhattan just got a big update that adds more news services to the app?s content choices. You can see what?s going in the latest entertainment news with the new Fan Feed feature, and from that news you can find new entertainment to enjoy, like TV shows or movies that are garnering a lot of attention (or just got nominated for Oscars). You can also favorite stories, directors, actors, shows and movies to find more content that includes them, making Fan Feed smarter and bringing you even more stuff you?ll enjoy.

Daredevil hamster Hank Hazard needs to show off his stuff, earn points and become the greatest daredevil (hamster) ever. So you?ll need to help him through level after physics-based level, popping bubbles and carefully maneuvering Hank through each puzzle in Hank Hazard, grabbing all stars in each stage before reaching a goal. It?s standard fare for physics-based puzzle titles, but Hank Hazard brings in its own feel and some solid level design to a crowded field.

Each stage in Hank Hazard requires you to meet a special requirement to get a bonus ?nut? that kicks up your score. In some levels, you?ll want to finish as quickly as you can to beat a timer. In others, it?ll be the number of ?moves? (like taps or actions where you manipulate the level) you need to keep to a minimum. This adds a little bit of variety to each of Hank Hazard?s levels, plus something to strive for to help you climb the game?s leaderboards, care of Game Center.

RoboHero (iPhone, iPad) Free (with $1.99 in-app purchase)

Turn-based strategy title RoboHero is all about planning. Each level has you attempting to navigate to reach a goal of some kind, moving your robot around a grid to avoid hazards, blast enemies and get where he?s going as quickly as possible. To move him around in each stage, you?ll tap the grid to give him commands, storing up to 15 in his memory banks at a time. Once you?ve planned out each round?s moves, you?ll hit the play button to put your robot into motion. Strong planning is the key to keeping him from getting turned into scrap.

RoboHero packs 30 levels and three gameplay modes, most of which his free (after the first 10 levels, you?ll need to purchase the full game through an in-app purchase of $1.99). It also includes an arena mode and a multiplayer mode that allows you to take on as many four other players, or six computer-controlled opponents.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/internet/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/appolicious_rss/rss_appolicious_tc/http___www_appolicious_com_articles10901_fresh_iphone_apps_for_jan_30_hamlet_in_bits_fanhattan_update_hank_hazard_robohero/44352609/SIG=142b74gf7/*http%3A//www.appolicious.com/tech/articles/10901-fresh-iphone-apps-for-jan-30-hamlet-in-bits-fanhattan-update-hank-hazard-robohero

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New Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX released on Verizon (Appolicious)

Battery life has been an issue for smartphones from the very beginning. Motorola hopes to stand out from the crowded smartphone market with its newest Droid Razr Maxx, combining an extended battery life with a sleek design for a truly new-age phone. LG?s also debuting a CES treat on Verizon, marking a 4G first for the Android manufacturer, while Inspiration Works delivers an Android tablet just for kids. Here are this week?s top Android devices.

Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX

Just launched on Verizon for about $300, Motorola?s Droid RAZR Maxx has increased battery life over the original RAZR while still maintaining the same sexy and slim figure. Apparently, you?ll get 21 hours of talk time on a single charge, and seven hours of streaming video, even when you take into consideration Verizon?s battery-hogging 4G LTE network. It?s the RAZR MAXX?s 3,300 mAh lithium ion battery that powers extended life, nearly twice the capacity of the original RAZR. There?s also some software perks, such as ?Smart Actions,? to automatically monitor GPS, Wi-Fi and other battery-draining settings to keep your phone powered up. Thanks to the massive battery, the RAZR MAXX weighs 0.32 pounds and measures 0.28 inches thick (slightly bigger than the original RAZR). Shipping with Android 2.3.5, expect the RAZR MAXX to be appearing in stores now, with the ability to upgrade to 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in the future.

LG Spectrum

LG is upping the ante on 4G with its latest Spectrum, available now through Verizon Wireless. The Spectrum debuted at CES a couple weeks ago, boasting an HD screen at 4.5 inches, with a Qualcomm 1.5 GHz dual-core processor. Running Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread, the LG Spectrum will later be upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. There?s also an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus and LED flash, as well as 1080p video capture. The front-facing camera is 1.3 megapixels, and the Spectrum also comes with SmartMovie HD, an app for creating and editing HD videos on the fly. Expect to pay about $200 for the Spectrum with a new two-year contract.

Inspiration Works Kurio

If you?re tired of your two year-old banging away at your tablet, get them one of their own. Unveiled at the Toy Fair 2012, Inspiration Works has wrapped an Android 4.0-powered tablet in sturdy plastic with a kid-friendly user interface. Dubbed the Kurio, this tablet is for entertainment and education, complete with parental controls to limit web access and control app downloads and purchases. You can add up to eight profiles on the Kurio, each customizable. You can time-lock the tablet as well, keeping kids from downloading apps after bedtime. As far as specs go, the Kurio has three models: a 7-inch version with a capacitive 800x480 display, an 8-inch model with a squarer 800x600 screen and a 9.7-inch version closer to an iPad in size, with a 1024x600 panel. All three models come with USB ports, mini HDMI and 4GB of built-in storage, expandable to 32GB with a microSD card. The larger models have 2-megapixel front- and 0.3-megapixel rear-facing cameras (the smallest Kurio comes only with a rear-facing camera). Look for this toddler-ready Android tablet to hit stores in July, with an initial release in the UK and no details yet on a U.S. release.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tech/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/appolicious_rss/rss_appolicious_tc/http___www_androidapps_com_articles10893_new_motorola_droid_razr_maxx_released_on_verizon/44338786/SIG=1310gfdgp/*http%3A//www.androidapps.com/tech/articles/10893-new-motorola-droid-razr-maxx-released-on-verizon

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Germans float direct EU control over Greek budget (AP)

BERLIN ? Germany is proposing that debt-ridden Greece temporarily cede sovereignty over tax and spending decisions to a powerful eurozone budget commissioner before it can secure further bailouts, an official in Berlin said Saturday.

The idea was quickly rejected by the European Union's executive body and the government in Athens, with the EU Commission in Brussels insisting that "executive tasks must remain the full responsibility of the Greek government, which is accountable before its citizens and its institutions."

But the German official said the initiative is being discussed among the 17-nation currency bloc's finance ministers because Greece has repeatedly failed to fulfill its commitments under its current euro110 billion ($145 billion) lifeline.

The proposal foresees a commissioner holding a veto right against any budgetary measures and having broad surveillance ability to ensure that Greece will take proper steps to repay its debt as scheduled, the official said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are confidential.

Greece's international creditors ? the International Monetary Fund, the European Union and the European Central Bank ? already have unprecedented powers over Greek spending after negotiating with Athens stringent austerity measures and economic reforms in return for the first bailout.

The so-called troika of creditors is currently negotiating another euro130 billion rescue package for the heavily indebted country. German news magazine Der Spiegel on Saturday cited an unnamed troika official as saying Greece might actually need a euro145 billion package because of its prolonged recession.

The German proposal, first reported by the Financial Times, is likely to spark controversy in Greece.

Despite the quick rejection from the EU Commission, Germany's demand underlines the frustration of the eurozone with Greece's slack implementation of the promised reforms, spending cuts and privatizations. During every verification mission last year, the troika found huge implementation shortfalls, which in turn increased gaps in Athens' budget and intensified the need for a second bailout.

A powerful budget commissioner would further diminish the political leeway of Greece's government, just as politicians there are gearing up for an election set to take place this spring.

A government official in Athens said a similar proposal had been floated last year but got nowhere. Greece would not accept such a measure, he added. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because no formal proposal has been made by the EU or Germany yet.

The unprecedented and sweeping powers for creditors would indeed deal a huge blow to Greece's sovereignty, but they could help mobilize more support for the government in Athens from its European partners.

Several German lawmakers have repeatedly said that giving more money to Greece is unthinkable without stricter enforcement and control of the conditions attached to the rescue packages.

Greece is currently locked in a twin effort, seeking to secure a crucial debt relief deal with private investors while also tackling the pressing demands from its European partners and the IMF for more austerity measures and deeper reforms.

Failure on either front would force the country to default on its debt in less than two months, pouring new fuel on the fires of Europe's debt crisis.

In that case, Greece would likely leave the eurozone, which would bring disaster to the country, destabilize the currency bloc, fuel panic on financial markets and ultimately threaten the fragile world economy.

Despite two weeks of intensive talks, a debt relief agreement with private investors worth some euro100 billion has yet to be reached.

Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos met anew with representatives of international banks and other private institutions Saturday, with a final deal being very close, officials in Athens said.

A statement from the creditor representatives said the two sides are "close to the finalization" of the voluntary writedown that would roughly halve Greece's privately held debt. "We expect to conclude next week as discussions on other issues move forward," they said.

The statement also referred to a previous framework agreement which indicated that the creditors have accepted an interest rate below 4 percent for the new bonds to be issued in place of the old ones ? a very favorable rate that will make it easier for the Greek government to service its debt.

With the current troika mission still ongoing and no final deal with the private sector creditors, Greece is unlikely to feature prominently at a summit of the EU's 27 leaders Monday, according to officials in Brussels.

___

Demetris Nellas in Athens and Gabriele Steinhauser in Brussels contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120129/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_europe_financial_crisis

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Pats' line has tough job against Giants' pass rush (AP)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. ? Tom Brady felt the power of the New York Giants' pass rushers when he was sacked five times in their first Super Bowl confrontation.

Four years later, the New England Patriots' offensive linemen expect another fierce attack on their quarterback in the championship rematch on Feb. 5. The Giants will indeed have plenty of strong, speedy pass rushers zeroing in on Brady.

"This year, they're definitely the best defensive line in football," Patriots right guard Brian Waters said Friday. "The wave of good football players they throw at you definitely makes them a difficult task."

There's Jason Pierre-Paul with 16 1/2 sacks, Osi Umenyiora with nine and Justin Tuck with five. Chris Canty and Mathias Kiwanuka also can put pressure on the quarterback.

"They've got good pass rushers across the board," left guard Logan Mankins said, "and when their backups come in they're good, too, so you're going to always have four guys that are very good pass rushers in the game."

At least Brady has Super Bowl experience against an aggressive Giants pass rush.

The Patriots' quest for a perfect 19-0 season ended with a 17-14 loss in the 2008 Super Bowl. After the Giants scored the decisive touchdown with 35 seconds left, Brady was sacked for the fifth and final time.

Mankins didn't care to discuss his memories of the Giants' pass rush on that day.

"That was four years ago," he said Friday. "Next question."

But Umenyiora thinks the Patriots view the upcoming game as a chance to get even.

"Of course," he said. "I mean, if I were them, that's what I would be doing. Great players ? Mankins, (Matt) Light, the (Sebastian) Vollmer kid. They have some very good football players. They were embarrassed about that last game and they are going to do everything in their power not to allow that to happen."

The Patriots have had some memorable, if regrettable, games when Brady's gotten hit.

In the opener of the 2008 season, he suffered a season-ending knee injury when he was hit by Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard. In a 33-14 wild-card playoff loss to Baltimore on Jan. 10, 2010, Brady was sacked three times. The next year, he was sacked five times as the New York Jets won a divisional playoff game 28-21.

But Brady has received decent protection recently. He was sacked a respectable 32 times in the regular season. In the playoffs, he wasn't sacked in a 45-10 win over Denver and was sacked just once in a 23-20 win over Baltimore in the AFC championship game.

The Giants sacked him just twice in their 24-20 win on Nov. 6. But one of those sacks, by Michael Boley, forced a fumble and the Giants took a 10-0 lead on the next play on Brandon Jacobs 10-yard run.

"Tom has been in this position before," said running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who may do more blocking than usual. "We have to come out and just be assignment sound."

At times, the Giants use four defensive ends, trying to generate speed against the power of the offensive linemen.

"That's the biggest difference," Waters said, "knowing who you're going against from play to play. You have to know that every one of those guys have different elements of their game from JPP (Pierre-Paul) and his long arms and his super athletic ability to a guy like Tuck, who is a veteran, a guy who is always going to give you one look and do something different to the bigger guys in the middle, the guys who are real physical."

So what's an offense to do?

It can keep an extra blocker in, a running back or wide receiver. It can have a wide receiver or tight end throw a chip block before starting his route. It can throw quick passes before the pressure reaches Brady.

Draw plays and screen passes can slow down pass rushers by making them hesitate before charging the quarterback, but the Patriots have used those infrequently this season.

Deion Branch came up with an original tactic for him and his fellow wide receivers.

"Well, if we can switch positions with the linemen, hopefully (defensive) linemen move out and then we block the corners," he said with a laugh. "But, overall, there's a lot of things we can do. We'll make those adjustments on the sideline."

They can also fight.

Umenyiora said he and Patriots left tackle Light did that in their first meeting this season.

"I've actually fought him twice, a for-real fight on the football field twice. Me and him have history and we are going to rekindle that," Umenyiora said. "He wasn't as bad in the Super Bowl, but this past game we fought again. I don't know what it is he does, but there is something he is doing that really gets under my skin. I am not that type of guy. He is the only guy I have ever fought on the football field.

"I think he is more important to his team than I am right now. So if we both fight and get kicked out (Pierre-Paul) and Tuck will have a field day."

___

AP Sports Writer Tom Canavan in East Rutherford, N.J. contributed to this story.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120128/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_patriots_protecting_brady

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Biden Prediction: Dems Will Retake House (Michellemalkin)

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Need for courtroom artists fade as cameras move in (AP)

CHICAGO ? One marker in hand and one in his mouth, Lou Chukman glances up and down from a sketchpad to a reputed Chicago mobster across the courtroom ? drawing feverishly to capture the drama of the judge's verdict before the moment passes.

Sketch artists have been the public's eyes at high-profile trials for decades ? a remnant of an age when drawings in broadsheet papers, school books or travel chronicles were how people glimpsed the world beyond their own.

Today, their ranks are thinning swiftly as states move to lift longstanding bans on cameras in courtrooms. As of a year ago, 14 states still had them ? but at least three, including Illinois this month, have taken steps since then to end the prohibitions.

"When people say to me, `Wow, you are a courtroom artist' ? I always say, `One day, you can tell your grandchildren you met a Stegosaurus," Chukman, 56, explained outside court. "We're an anachronism now, like blacksmiths."

Cutbacks in news budgets and shifts in aesthetic sensibilities toward digitized graphics have all contributed to the form's decline, said Maryland-based sketch artist Art Lien.

While the erosion of the job may not be much noticed by people reading and watching the news, Lien says something significant is being lost. Video or photos can't do what sketch artists can, he said, such as compressing hours of court action onto a single drawing that crystallizes the events.

The best courtroom drawings hang in museums or sell to collectors for thousands of dollars.

"I think people should lament the passing of this art form," Lien said.

But while courtroom drawing has a long history ? artists did illustrations of the Salem witch trials in 1692 ? the artistry can sometimes be sketchy. A bald lawyer ends up with a full head of hair. A defendant has two left hands. A portly judge is drawn rail-thin.

Subjects often complain as they see the drawings during court recesses, said Chicago artist Carol Renaud.

"They'll say, `Hey! My nose is too big.' And sometimes they're right," she conceded. "We do the drawings so fast."

Courtroom drawing doesn't attract most aspiring artists because it doesn't afford the luxury of laboring over a work for days until it's just right, said Andy Austin, who has drawn Chicago's biggest trials over 40 years, including that of serial killer John Wayne Gacy.

"You have to put your work on the air or in a newspaper whether you like it or not," she said.

The job also involves long stretches of tedium punctuated by bursts of action as a witness sobs or defendant faint. It can also get downright creepy.

At Gacy's trial, a client asked Austin for an image of him smiling. So, she sought to catch the eye of the man accused of killing 33 people. When she finally did, she beamed. He beamed back.

"The two of us smiled at each other like the two happiest people in the world until the sketch was finished," Austin recalled in her memoirs, titled "Rule 53," after the directive that bars cameras in U.S. courts.

There's no school specifically for courtroom artists. Many slipped or were nudged into it by circumstance.

Renaud drew fashion illustrations for Marshall Field's commercials into the `90s but lost that job when the department store starting relying on photographers. That led her to courtroom drawing.

Artists sometime get to court early and sketch the empty room. But coming in with a drawing fully finished in advance is seen as unethical.

Some artists use charcoal, water colors or pungent markers, which can leave those sitting nearby queasy. Most start with a quick pencil sketch, then fill it in. Austin draws right off the bat with her color pencils.

"If I overthink it, I get lost," she said. "I have a visceral reaction. I just hope what I feel is conveyed to my pen."

These days, Chukman and Renaud fear for their livelihoods. They make the bulk of their annual income off their court work. Working for a TV station or a newspaper can bring in about $300 a day. A trial lasting a month can mean a $6,000 paycheck. Chukman does other work on the side, including drawing caricatures as gifts.

Austin is semiretired and so she says she worries less. She also notes that federal courts ? where some of the most notorious trials take place, like the two corruption trials of impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich ? seem more adamant about not allowing cameras.

Still, though Rule 53 remains in place, federal courts are experimenting with cameras in very limited cases.

"If federal courts do follow, that will be the end of us," Austin said.

Renaud holds out hope that, even if the worst happens, there will still be demand from lawyers for courtroom drawings they can hang in their offices. Lien plans to bolster his income by launching a website selling work from historic trials he covered, including of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.

Chukman, a courtroom artist for around 30 years, jokes that if asked for his opinion, he'd have told state-court authorities to keep the ban in place a few more years until he retires.

"I recognize my profession exists simply because of gaps in the law ? and I've been grateful for them," he said wistfully. "This line of work has been good to me."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120127/ap_on_re_us/us_camera_in_courts_sketch_artist

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dealing with it's "it"

Criticism is welcome. It's hard to be objective about one's own work.

Purgatory
-----------

I lean on glass, to fall right through.
Hours and days gone, and in my mind,
I plan to flee, leaving behind
My ectoplasmic residue.

Lightbulbs hidden in the ceiling,
Controlled by faders for my use,
Why I'd need to, I can't deduce.
Since sound's my sole useful feeling.

I can hear it, if someone screams,
Or when one smokes three times a day.
Three times, too, I eat pills and tray,
No one tells me what all this means.

Purgatory, a place on Earth.
Built of rooms for rumination,
And some tacky decoration.
Broke brain, boxed in. What am I worth?

Here they process ghosts and corpses,
Medicate many minds unclean.
When lacking reason, you're not seen,
Save when cloistered, by trained nurses.

Here I stand, pressed to frigid wall,
Believing I have joined the dead,
Contrary proof not in my head.
I'm locked out from Heavenly hall.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/u8H5c3pu8G4/viewtopic.php

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RolePlayGateway?

Hello,

I'm looking for a RP partner for a 1x1 roleplay! I don't have any set ideas, but I'm looking for someone who is not afraid to try something new.

Here are some things that you might want to know:

I don't mind any paring - I can do yaoi/slash, yuri/fem-slash, het...I am very open about these things although I tend to lean towards yaoi as I'm more experienced in that. I don't mind doing PG or NC-17 stuff.I can play high-rated things, as I don't really mind getting down and dirty, if you know what I mean. However, that content is strictly off-site email RP as I don't want to break any RPG rules.

I will NOT roleplay Twilight. Ever. Normal werewolf/vampire/magical creature/supernatural RPs are fine, just not when the werewolves have practically no weaknesses and the vampires sparkle.

I can do pretty much any setting sans Western,Star Wars-y sci fi and Historically Accurate RPs. History was never my strong point and I have no interest in the first two. I love romance and dark/horror settings. From fandoms, I can do Naruto, Harry Potter and The Night Angel Trilogy.

I consider myself a literate roleplayer, and I expect you to be at least semi-literate or higher. I also don't want someone abandoning the roleplay out of the blue.

I think that is enough information for you. Also, I have an idea for a roleplay that I would love to do with someone:

(Note: This is written as a yaoi, but can be easily changed to yuri or het.)
A man is shipwrecked on a tropical island and he is the only survivor. At first, he thinks that he is the only one on the on the island and knows that there is no chance of him being rescued. Then he meets another man - who's part of a tribe of people that lived on the island in seclusion for generations. The two later have a romance and the shipwrecked man becomes part of the tribe.

This is only the bare bones of it, as I generally like to work with the people I RP with to flesh things out :) I have a bit more planned, but that's for you to find out some other time!

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/RolePlayGateway

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A confident Dana White defends policy of confidentiality on fighter pay and welcomes government scrutiny

CHICAGO -- Dana White has his mind made up. You're never going to know what UFC fighters truly make and that's just the way it has to be.

"So just because you don't know everything, you don't have to know anything, and to be honest with you? It's none of your [expletive] business how much these guys are making. They're making a lot of money. [...] How much money is none of your business. I'm not asking how much money you're making," said White (3:10 mark).

White believes that the salary information, so readily available in the other pro sports has ruined things for the athletes. He pointed to the recent $214 million megadeal inked by Detroit Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder.

"His whole life is going to change. He thought it was bad before with the (expletive) he had going on in his life? Everybody and their mother is coming after that 214," White said (2:10 mark). "Believe me when I tell you. Mark my words, Prince Fielder talk to me in five years and tell me what it was like when the news put out there that you were making $214 million dollars. I'm not going to do that to my guys."

The UFC often gets a bad rap for fighter pay because the only numbers revealed are those given to state commissions. The promotion beefs up the pay with behind-the-scenes discretionary and pay-per-view bonuses. White is often asked if all the complaints about pay would go away if Zuffa simply revealed all the details.

"Even when we sat down and had that first FOX meeting, the guys at FOX were like, holy [expletive]! They're like, 'Why don't you plaster this everywhere? This is the thing that will put you guys over the top. This is the thing that people love to see and talk about. Look at Mike Tyson.' And I said, 'Yeah, look at Mike Tyson,'" White said. "I've had these conversations with Mike. Mike said that when his money was reported, his [expletive] life was miserable. I'm not doing it."

Some believe the UFC's reluctance to be more transparent prompted the Federal Trade Commission to open an anti-trust violation investigation to look into Zuffa's practices.

"My understanding is that yes [the FTC has] opened a non-public investigation based on the acquisition we made of Strikeforce," said UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta.

CBSSports.com's Gregg Doyel said this is a sign of awful things to come for the UFC.

The FTC vs. the UFC? That's a heavyweight fight. That's Dana White's worst nightmare. The FTC looks for antitrust violations, picking apart monopolies as the unfair bullies they are -- and as far as I'm concerned, the UFC is guilty as charged.

The story set off White.

"There was guy yesterday, he wrote this story and you could tell this thing was like 'I want some attention. I want some attention. Maybe he'll get mad and say some [expletive].' [...] When we get stories written about us like that, I know it seems like I get crazy and come off too personal ... well, [expletive] yeah it's personal! What you're saying is untrue," said White (0:51 mark).

White said everything about the promotion is on the up and up.

"If the government wants to come in and look inside and take a peak and look around, they're more than welcome," White said. "Many of you have heard stories and all kinds of things ... mark my [expletive] words right here, right now, today ... we're not going anywhere. And everything we say is true."

As far as we know the FTC is still looking at Zuffa. White certainly came off sounding very confident nothing will come from the investigation.

White pointed out that there is no sport that has been more heavily scrutinized by governments all levels. The promotion has survived and thrived to become what White called the best sports story of the last 50 years.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/confident-dana-white-defends-policy-confidentiality-fighter-pay-175442433.html

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Watch key testimony on Hasegawa?s Washington Investment Trust bill and an interview with KING 5?s Robert Mak

WIT Task Force member Darel Grothaus presents testimony on HB 2434 to the House Committee on Business and Financial Services on January 26, 2012:

If the video doesn?t play, please click here

King County Assesor Lloyd Hara presents testimony on SB 6310 to the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions, Housing & Insurance on January 25, 2012:

If the video doesn?t play, please click here

Watch an interview with Robert Mak on January 25, 2012:

If the video doesn?t play, please click here

Source: http://www.housedemocrats.wa.gov/bob-hasegawa/watch-key-testimony-on-hasegawas-washington-investment-trust-bill-and-an-interview-with-king-5%E2%80%99s-robert-mak/

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Biden: GOP candidates promoting Bush-era policies (AP)

ROCHESTER, N.H. ? Republican presidential hopefuls are blatantly focused on advancing economic policies that favor the wealthy over most Americans, giving voters in the 2012 election a clear choice, Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday.

Biden told reporters there's no discussion in the Republican campaign about compassionate conservatism, or wanting to save Medicare or education as in past campaigns.

"The reason I think this race is going to be so clear is that for the first time in my career, Republicans aren't hiding the ball," he said.

"They're putting forward a political philosophy that is absolutely straight-forward... The way it's going to work is to not only keep the tax cuts for the wealthy but increase tax cuts for the wealthy, and the way to move forward is to deregulate Wall Street."

Biden said Republicans want to "unshackle" businesses by eliminating regulations, but doing so would shift risk to the average American instead. He argued that reasonable regulation of business and Wall Street is necessary.

Biden was making his seventh trip to New Hampshire as vice president. Obama carried New Hampshire in the 2008 general election, but the state is expected to be heavily contested in the fall.

On Thursday, Biden spoke to employees of Albany Engineered Composites and Safran USA, two companies that used a labor department grant to design a training program with Great Bay Community College to help workers acquire advanced manufacturing skills. He cited the program as an example of the Obama administration's efforts to encourage companies to expand in the United States rather than of overseas.

"Our job is to encourage," he said. "The government doesn't produce jobs, it produces incentives," he said.

Biden said after years of economic distress, "Americans are tired of being tired," and added that he's tired as well.

"I am tired of the naysayers. I'm tired of people telling me America isn't going to come back," he said. "We start off better positioned than any nation in the world to be the dominant economic force of the 21st century."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_on_el_pr/us_biden_gop

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Archbishop Dolan Feels Betrayed By Obama Regarding Birth Control

By David Gibson
Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS) In the wake of President Obama's controversial decision to mandate that religious groups pay for contraceptives for their employees, much of the coverage focused on how the president had disappointed progressive allies by giving religious groups an extra year to comply.

But the decision also had New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, feeling personally betrayed.

"I have to say, there's a sense of personal disappointment," Dolan said Tuesday (Jan. 24) after he gave a lecture on "Law and the Gospel of Life" at Fordham Law School.

Last November, amid deepening tensions between the bishops and the administration over the pending contraception mandate and other issues, Obama invited Dolan to the Oval Office, where the two men shared what Dolan called a productive and "extraordinarily friendly" meeting.

"The president seemed very earnest, he said he considered the protection of conscience sacred, that he didn't want anything his administration would do to impede the work of the church that he claimed he held in high regard," Dolan recalled on Tuesday. "So I did leave a little buoyant."

That optimism ended last Friday, however, when Obama phoned Dolan to tell him that he was not expanding the conscience exemption to include religious institutions -- such as Catholic hospitals, universities and social service agencies. In a bid to appease critics like Dolan, the White House gave church organizations an extra year to find a way to comply with the mandate that all health insurance plans provide free contraceptive coverage.

"I had to share with him that I was terribly let down, disappointed and disturbed, and it seemed the news he had given me was difficult to square with the confidence I had felt in November," Dolan said.

Dolan indicated that his preference is to keep the lines of communication with the administration open. But Dolan is already facing pressure from other bishops to take a more confrontational stance toward the White House.

Dolan was scheduled to leave Wednesday for a nine-day spiritual pilgrimage to Israel; after a brief return to New York, he will head to Rome where he will be formally elevated to the rank of cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI.

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/25/dolan-obama-betrayed-birth-control_n_1232364.html

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Box Office Preview: 'Underworld' to bite again (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? Sony's "Underworld: Awakening" should be wide awake atop the domestic box office again this weekend, with a gross of around $12 million following last weekend's $25 million debut and continued dominance midweek.

Of course, the "Underworld" vampires will have to contend with newfound action star Liam Neeson as Open Road unleashes the R-rated Alaskan adventure "The Grey," which should wolf down from $10 million to $12 million in receipts.

Flying into its second weekend, Fox's World War II drama "Red Tails" from George Lucas will set its sights on a gross in the $10 million range.

Crowding those skies even more will be Sam Worthington as the "Man on a Ledge," a debuting crime thriller from Summit Entertainment that should also earn around $10 million.

With two Oscar nominations, including best picture, the 9/11 drama "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" from Warner Bros. enters its second weekend of wide release with solid momentum. But it will have to contend with the opening weekend of Lionsgate's Katherine Heigl comedy "One for the Money" for a spot in the top 5 and grosses in the $8 million to $10 million range.

Look for major Oscar nominees such as "The Descendants," "Hugo" and "The Artist" to get a bit of an "Oscar bounce" as their higher profiles and additional screens make them more of a "must see" this weekend.

___

Paul Dergarabedian is president of the Box Office Division of Hollywood.com and provides box office analysis for The Associated Press.

___

Online: http://www.Hollywood.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_on_bi_co_ne/us_box_office_preview

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Libyan government concedes to restive town's demands (Reuters)

TRIPOLI (Reuters) ? Libya recognized a tribal-based local government in the former Gaddafi stronghold of Bani Walid on Wednesday, illustrating the power of tribal leaders over the fragile interim government.

Fighters from the Warfallah tribe -- the dominant tribe in Bani Walid and the most populous in Libya -- drove out a pro-government militia from the town this week.

Salah al-Maayuf, a member of the Warfallah Elders Council in Bani Walid, said his tribal body appointed a new local council on Tuesday and that Defense Minister Osama al-Juwali recognized the body during all-day talks on Wednesday.

"The Defense minister told us that if we, as a tribe, believe that the new local council in Bani Walid will work, then we have convinced him that it can," Maayuf told Reuters from Bani Walid, a bastion of support for former leader Muammar Gaddafi during last year's rebellion.

"We told him that we want to keep the whole country peaceful

and that national unity was a priority," Maayuf added.

An official at the Defense ministry confirmed that Juwali had accepted the new council, but did not give further details.

NTC RETREATS

Juwali is a member of the provisional government installed in November by the National Transitional Council (NTC), the self-appointed body which won Western backing in the uprising that ousted Gaddafi in August.

On Monday, armed residents attacked the barracks of the NTC force in the town, killing four fighters by the account of the government militia, and forcing the unit to retreat to beyond the desert city's limits. Eight of the town's residents were also killed, doctors at the hospital said.

Echoing complaints by residents that the NTC fighters had been harassing people, making arrests and abusing prisoners, the town's elders said on Tuesday they did not want any interference from the Tripoli authorities and dismissed the local NTC council.

The unrest will heighten doubts about the NTC's ability to bring order and establish control over armed groups - goals crucial to rebuilding oil exports and securing Libya's vast desert borders in a region where al Qaeda is active.

Bani Walid, in Libya's Western Mountains 150 km (90 miles) south of Tripoli, was one of the last towns to surrender to the anti-Gaddafi rebellion last year. But residents reject accusations from NTC fighters that they remain loyal to Gaddafi.

After Gaddafi was captured and killed in October, one of his sons, the now captive Saif al-Islam, staged his last stand in Bani Walid before fleeing into the Sahara.

Reuters reporters who toured Bani Walid on Tuesday saw no signs of the Gaddafi-era green flags which NTC supporters said had been hoisted over the town following the retreat of the pro-government militia.

Some pro-Gaddafi graffiti remains in the town, but the most common banners flying were the red, green and black tricolor of the NTC.

GOVERNMENT FORCES SURROUND THE TOWN

Bani Walid is not alone. Towns and cities across Libya are being run with little reference to central authority. In a number of areas tensions have emerged between groups which were nominally allies in the revolt.

Abdul Azziz al-Jmaili, a resident of Bani Walid, said government forces were around the town to prevent escalating fighting.

Speaking to Reuters by telephone, Jmaili said a "peacekeeping force" comprised of units of former rebel fighters loyal to the NTC and drawn from other towns in the region had set up checkpoints in the outskirts of Bani Walid.

(Additional reporting by Taha Zargoun and Oliver Holmes; Writing by Oliver Holmes; Editing by Rosalind Russell)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/africa/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120125/wl_nm/us_libya_talks

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AC Milan, Valencia reach semis in domestic cups

/

updated 5:29 p.m. ET Jan. 26, 2012

MILAN - AC Milan rallied past Lazio 3-1 Thursday night behind goals by Robinho, Clarence Seedorf and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to advance to the Italian Cup semifinals.

Djibril Cisse put visiting Lazio ahead in the fifth minute, but Robinho tied it in the 15th and Seedorf put the Rossoneri ahead three minutes later. Ibrahimovic entered in the 70th and scored in the 84th.

Aiming for its sixth title in the competition, Milan plays Serie A leader Juventus in the semifinals, while Napoli meets Siena.

___

VALENCIA, Spain (AP) ? Valencia defeated Levante 3-0 on Pablo Piatti's two goals, setting up a semifinal with Barcelona in the Copa del Rey. Valencia eliminated Levante 7-1 total goals.

Piatti assisted on Aritz Aduriz's opening goal in the 25th minute and made it 2-0 five minutes later against Valencia's crosstown rival.

Levante played from the 72nd with 10 men after recent signing Oscar Serrano received his second yellow card for fouling Piatti. Piatti scored on a rebound in the 86th minute to complete the scoring.

Valencia will host Barcelona in the first leg next week. Athletic Bilbao visits third-tier Mirandes in the other semifinal.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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More newsChristopher Pasatieri / Getty Images

'She wants the best for me'

U.S. defender Tim Ream cancels his honeymoon in Tahiti and heads east after being contated by English Premier League club Bolton.

Solo out?

Hope Solo has an ailing leg, the result of some extra work she was putting in to get back into playing shape after "Dancing With the Stars."

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/46154092/ns/sports-soccer/

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Nintendo Q3 profit slumps, guidance slashed (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? Nintendo Co Ltd posted a 61 percent drop in quarterly operating profit on Thursday and forecast a 45 billion yen ($580 million) operating loss for the year to March, far worse than market expectations, hit by weak sales and the strong yen.

The full-year operating loss will be the first since the company started announcing earnings in their current form in 1981. The company blamed yen strength and weaker-than-expected sales.

The creator of the Super Mario franchise dominated the video games industry for years with its DS handheld players and Wii home consoles, but is now struggling to keep up with more versatile gadgets like Apple's smartphones and tablets.

It cut its annual forecast for its ageing Wii console to 10 million devices from 12 million, and for the 3DS handheld games device to 14 million from 16 million.

"We had higher expectations for the year-end season, but failed to meet them," President Satoru Iwata told reporters in Osaka.

Poor sales forced Nintendo to slash the price of its much-anticipated 3DS handheld games device in August, only six months after its launch.

The move halted its record of making profits on games hardware as well as software, a business model that took operating income to a high of 555 billion yen in 2008/09.

Nintendo also faces harsher competition in the home console market from Sony Corp's Move and Microsoft Corp's Kinect

PROFIT FALLS

Profit slumped to 40.9 billion yen for the traditionally strong October-December period, compared with a consensus estimate of a 52 billion yen profit, based on a survey of three analysts by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Shares in Nintendo have halved to below 11,000 yen since the beginning of the financial year in April, hit by the 3DS flop and market disappointment with the Wii U next-generation home console, unveiled at the E3 games show in June and set to go on sale in the second half of this year. At their peak, in late 2007, the shares traded at 73,200 yen.

Last week, its shares fell to 10,020 yen, their lowest since April 2004, before either the DS or Wii were launched.

($1 = 77.58)

(Reporting by Yoshiyuki Osada in OSAKA and Isabel Reynolds in TOKYO; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Edwina Gibbs)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120126/ts_nm/us_nintendo_results

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Video: President Obama's State of the Union

Andrew Parmentier, Height Analytics, and Josh Boak, Politico.com offer a preview of President Barack Obama's third State of the Union address tonight.

Related Links:

Business & financial news headlines from msnbc.com

Top of page

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/46119364/

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Obama to Republicans: Game on (AP)

WASHINGTON ? President Barack Obama delivered an election-year broadside to Republicans: Game on.

The GOP, from Congress to the campaign trail, signaled it's ready for the fight.

In his third State of the Union address, Obama issued a populist call for income equality that echoed the Occupy Wall Street movement. He challenged GOP lawmakers to work with him or move aside so he could use the power of the presidency to produce results for an electorate uncertain whether he deserves another term.

Facing a deeply divided Congress, Obama appealed for lawmakers to send him legislation on immigration, clean energy and housing, knowing full well the election-year prospects are bleak but aware that polls show that the independent voters who lifted him to the presidency crave bipartisanship.

"I intend to fight obstruction with action," Obama told a packed chamber and tens of millions of Americans watching in prime time. House Republicans greeted his words with stony silence.

The Democratic president's vision of an activist government broke sharply with Republican demands for less government intervention to allow free enterprise. The stark differences will be evident in the White House's dealings with Congress and in the presidential campaign over the next 10 months.

In the Republican response to the president's address, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who once considered a White House bid, railed against the "extremism" of an administration that stifles economic growth.

"No feature of the Obama presidency has been sadder than its constant effort to divide us, to curry favor with some Americans by castigating others," Daniels said, speaking from Indianapolis. "As in previous moments of national danger, we Americans are all in the same boat."

Obama said getting a fair shot for all Americans is "the defining issue of our time." He described an economy on the rebound from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, with more than 3 million jobs created in the last 22 months and U.S. manufacturers hiring. Although unemployment is high at 8.5 percent, home sales and corporate earnings have increased, among other positive economic signs.

Republicans say the president's policies have undermined the economy.

Obama "had the opportunity and the responsibility to level with the American people, admit that the policies of the past three years have delivered an underwhelming record of economic growth and job creation, and show an interest in changing direction and uniting, not dividing the nation," said Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., head of the Republican Policy Committee. "The president failed to meet that responsibility."

There were brief moments of bipartisanship. Republicans and Democrats sat together, continuing a practice begun last year. The arrival of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt, elicited sustained applause and cheering, with chants of "Gabby, Gabby." Republican Rep. Jeff Flake escorted her into the chamber and Obama greeted her with a hug.

The president received loud applause from both sides when he said: "I'm a Democrat. But I believe what Republican Abraham Lincoln believed: That government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves, and no more."

But all that belied a fierce divide.

Obama ticked off items on a hefty agenda that he wants from Congress ? a path to citizenship for children who come to the United States with their undocumented parents if they complete college, tax credits for clean energy, elimination of red tape for Americans refinancing their mortgages, a measure that bans insider trading by lawmakers and a payroll tax cut.

Political reality suggests it was largely wishful thinking on Obama's part. The payroll tax cut and must-do spending bill are the most likely legislative items to survive the election year.

But Obama's far-reaching list and the hour-plus speech offered a unique opportunity to contrast his record with congressional Republicans and his top presidential rivals, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich.

"Anyone who tells you America is in decline or that our influence has waned, doesn't know what they're talking about," Obama said ? a clear response to the White House hopefuls who have pummeled him for months.

In an attack on the nation's growing income gap, Obama called for a new minimum tax rate of at least 30 percent on anyone making more than $1 million. Many millionaires ? including Romney ? pay a rate less than that because they get most of their income from investments, which are taxed at a lower rate.

"Now you can call this class warfare all you want," Obama said. "But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense."

Obama calls this the "Buffett rule," named for billionaire Warren Buffett, who has said it's unfair that his secretary pays a higher tax rate than he does. Emphasizing the point, Buffett's secretary, Debbie Bosanek, attended the address in first lady Michelle Obama's box.

Obama made his appeal on the same day that Romney released some of his tax returns, showing he made more than $20 million in a single year and paid around 14 percent in taxes, largely because his wealth came from investments.

In advance of Obama's speech, Romney said, "Tonight will mark another chapter in the misguided policies of the last three years ? and the failed leadership of one man."

Obama highlighted his national security successes ? the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, the diminished strength of al-Qaida and the demise of Moammar Gadhafi. In hailing the men and women of the military, the commander in chief contrasted their cooperation and dedication with the divisions and acrimony in Washington.

"At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations," Obama said. "They're not consumed with personal ambition. They don't obsess over their differences. They focus on the mission at hand. They work together. Imagine what we could accomplish if we followed their example."

Obama leaves Washington for a three-day tour of five states crucial to his re-election bid. On Wednesday he'll visit Iowa and Arizona to promote ideas to boost American manufacturing; on Thursday in Nevada and Colorado he'll discuss energy; and in Michigan on Friday he'll talk about college affordability, education and training.

He also addresses a conference of House Democrats focused on their own re-election in Cambridge, Md., on Friday.

Polling shows Americans are divided about Obama's overall job performance but unsatisfied with his handling of the economy.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120125/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_state_of_the_union

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Box-office numbers for Oscar best-picture nominees (AP)

U.S. and Canadian box-office performance as of Sunday for Oscar best-picture nominees, in order of gross receipts to date:

? "The Help," Disney, four nominations, $169.5 million, released Aug. 10.

? "Moneyball," Sony Pictures, six nominations, $75.5 million, released Sept. 23.

? "War Horse," Disney, six nominations, $72.2 million, released Dec. 25.

? "Midnight in Paris," Sony Pictures Classics, four nominations, $56.4 million, released May 20.

? "Hugo," Paramount, 11 nominations, $55.8 million, released Nov. 23.

? "The Descendants," Fox Searchlight, five nominations, $51.2 million, released Nov. 16.

? "The Tree of Life," Fox Searchlight, three nominations, $13.3 million, released May 27.

? "The Artist," Weinstein Co., 10 nominations, $12.1 million, released Nov. 25.

? "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," Warner Bros., two nominations, $10.7 million, released Dec. 25.

___

Online:

http://www.hollywood.com/boxoffice/

___

Sony and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney is owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Fox Searchlight is owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. is a unit of Time Warner Inc.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120124/ap_en_mo/us_oscar_nominations_box_office

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Sage mindful of European woes on customers (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) ? British accountancy software maker Sage said it was watching the economic situation in Europe and the impact a downturn would have on its small and medium customers, although it said trading was still on track.

The company, which sells software to more than 6 million businesses, said trading since the start of its financial year on October1 2011 was "satisfactory" and in line with its expectations.

Chief Executive Guy Berruyer said on Tuesday that the macro-economic environment remained challenging for Sage's customers, but it was able to cope with the ups and downs of the economic cycle.

"We are confident that the business priorities, on which we are focused to drive growth, will bear fruit as the year progresses but we remain watchful of the European environment in particular," he said.

The group said it had received 200 million pounds ($312 million) from the disposal of Sage Software Healthcare to Vista Equity Partners, and it had net cash of 149.8 million pounds at December 31 against debt of 24.9 million at September 30.

($1 = 0.6412 British pounds)

(Reporting by Paul Sandle)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/software/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120124/tc_nm/us_sage

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Romney paid $3M in federal income tax in 2010 (AP)

TAMPA, Fla. ? Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney paid about $3 million in federal income taxes in 2010, having earned more than seven times that from his investments. Those earnings, $21.7 million, put him among the wealthiest of American taxpayers.

At the same time, Romney gave nearly $3 million to charity ? about half of that amount to the Mormon Church ? which helped lower his effective tax rate to a modest 14 percent, according to records his campaign released early Tuesday.

For 2011, he'll pay about $3.2 million with an effective tax rate of about 15.4 percent, the campaign said. Those returns haven't yet been filed yet with the Internal Revenue Service.

The former Massachusetts governor had been under pressure in recent weeks to release his tax returns, his GOP opponents casting him as a wealthy businessman who slashed jobs in the private sector. Rival Newt Gingrich made public his returns on Saturday, showing he paid almost $1 million in income taxes ? a tax rate of about 31 percent.

Romney's campaign confirmed the details of his tax information after several news organizations saw a preview of the documents. He had said he planned to release his returns in full Tuesday morning, and campaign officials would be prepared to discuss them in detail with reporters.

"You'll see my income, how much taxes I've paid, how much I've paid to charity," Romney said during Monday night's debate 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's 2010 returns show the candidate is among the top 1 percent of taxpayers. The returns showed about $4.5 million in itemized deductions, including $1.5 million to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Before the tax records were released, Romney's old investments in two government-backed housing lenders stirred up new questions at the same time his campaign targeted Gingrich for his work for Freddie Mac.

Gingrich earned $1.6 million in consulting fees from Freddie Mac. Romney has as much as $500,000 invested in the U.S.-backed lender and its sister entity, Fannie Mae.

The fight over releasing the tax information highlighted an argument that Democrats are already starting to use against Romney ? that he is out-of-touch with normal Americans. And it probably hurt him in the South Carolina primary, where he lost by 12 percentage points to Gingrich after spending several days resisting releasing the returns.

On Monday, Romney would not answer questions from debate moderator Brian Williams about just what pieces of his tax returns could cause political headaches. But they will shine the spotlight on a fortune estimated at between $190 million and $250 million, and could raise questions about where he keeps his money and how he earns it.

For example, Romney keeps some of his personal fortune in investments that are domiciled in the Cayman Islands, where many international investors shelter their income from American taxes. Romney aides say he doesn't use the funds to avoid or put off paying the appropriate taxes.

The returns could also reveal more details about his annual take as founder of the Bain Capital private equity firm.

But it's clear that Romney's campaign is bracing for an onslaught of criticism of his personal fortune. His wife, Ann, has started talking about the returns during campaign appearances. She told supporters at a Florida rally Sunday: "I want to remind you where we know our riches are. Our riches are with our families."

Most of Romney's vast fortune is held in a blind trust that he doesn't control. A portion is held in a retirement account.

___

Gillum reported from Washington.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120124/ap_on_el_pr/us_romney_taxes

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