Thursday, June 30, 2011

U.S. Senior Citizen - Apartments for Rent in Barcelona as your ...

Whether you are planning your holidays in Barcelona as a vacation getaway, or an opportunity to be near family or friends, you will want to plan your trip so you can make the best of it.? There is much to see and do in Barcelona, including taking in the beautiful beaches along the Diagonal Mar, or steeping yourself in the customs and traditions of the nearby villages like Barcelonetta, or touring the sights of the city, such as the Cathedral de la Seu, the Quadrat d?or, and the Casa Mila.? You will want to arrange lodging that is most suitable to your vacation needs and that is convenient to the activities and sights you are most interested in.? There is a way to do this and ensure yourself comfortable lodgings to meet your needs better than a hotel. Consider available apartments to rent in Barcelona.

Varieties to Suit your Needs

Apartments are available in many areas of Barcelona for short-term rent.? These are fully furnished apartments, complete with bedding, furniture, and kitchen utensils.? Families can choose from alternatives, including one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three- and four- bedroom, beach, loft, or luxury apartments, depending on the needs of the group.? In addition to these choices, you have the opportunity to choose an apartment on the beach or in the city, or something more remote if you would like something quieter and a little removed from activity in the evenings.

Advantages

Even if you are traveling in a party of one or two, the comfort and convenience of an apartment will far outweigh those of a hotel; a full kitchen affords the opportunity to eat a meal without leaving the apartment or paying for room service.? The bed is in the bedroom, meaning that someone can go to bed while another watches television.? The living room is furnished with comfortable furniture, and meals can be eaten at a dining table, not on your lap, at the foot of a bed.? The convenience is even more apparent if you are traveling with the family, simply by virtue of the space and rooms available.

Holiday travelers have special needs over vacationers and business travelers.? They have traditions and celebrations they are leaving behind when they choose to travel at this time.? Apartment rentals in Barcelona offer a living space, where you can put up a Christmas tree and exchange presents, or a kitchen where you can prepare a holiday meal and a dining room table where you can enjoy it.? There is comfortable, furnished space for entertaining without asking guests to sit all over the beds in a hotel room, and many apartments are furnished with terraces for outdoor entertaining as well.

In Barcelona, during some holidays, the stores and restaurants all close for the day or more.? Travelers in a hotel are confined to their room or the hotel lobby and pool, and will have to have planned ahead for meals or pay for room service.? Families staying in an apartment will need to plan ahead as well, but will be able to do so with a fully stocked kitchen.? They will be able to prepare meals and, if they do choose to spend the day inside, they will be able to relax in a homey, comfortable apartment, together in the living area, or apart in their bedrooms as they wish.

Checking out holds no more responsibilities than checking out of a hotel.? While it is expected that the apartment will be left in good condition, there are no extra cleaning responsibilities or laundry duties expected of tenants.? Facility employees will clean the apartment after your party leaves and prepare it for the next travelers.

Booking an Apartment

There are a few steps in booking an apartment, but the process is not difficult, and the results are worth the effort involved.? Be sure to find a booking agent that is registered.? There will be an SL or SA after their name; an internet search will give you a number of agencies to choose from.? Consider where you would like to stay.? Some travelers want to be within walking distance of restaurants and activities, whiles others may prefer a beach area.? Be sure to communicate this to your agent.? Also consider the members of your traveling party: Are there children or senior citizens?? Do you need a handicap accessible apartment or elevators? Finally, consider how you will be using the space.? Do you expect to entertain others, and how much time will you be spending there?? Communicate these considerations and needs to your agent, and he/she will accommodate your needs and have your apartment ready when you arrive.

There are a multitude of apartments to rent in Barcelona.? The convenience and comfort will make your holidays in Spain enjoyable and memorable.


Elisabeth Luna -
About the Author:

Details of vacation http://www.way2barcelona.com together with detailed information on tourist hot-spots and where to go to make the most of your Barcelona vacation.

Source: http://usseniorcitizen.com/2011/06/28/apartments-for-rent-in-barcelona-as-your-holiday-home/

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China detains Vatican-backed Catholic priest (AFP)

BEIJING (AFP) ? Chinese police detained a Vatican-backed Catholic priest and blocked his ordination as a bishop, a parishioner said Thursday, in a move likely to raise tensions with the Holy See.

The detention of Joseph Sun Jigeng came as China's state-run Catholic church reportedly ordained another bishop without the consent of the Vatican, which stipulates ordinations can only go ahead with the Holy See's blessing.

"Joseph Sun Jigeng was taken away by police on June 26 and he has not been released," a member of the Handan Catholic church in northern China's Hebei province told AFP by phone.

"On June 29, we had planned to have the ordination ceremony, but the police have blocked the road and no ceremony can be held. Police said it was an 'illegal activity'," said the church member, who refused to be named.

But the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA) -- which controls the state-backed church -- denied Sun, 43, had been detained when contacted by AFP, while police in Handan refused to comment.

The Vatican and China have not had formal diplomatic ties since 1951, when the Holy See angered Mao Zedong's Communist government by recognising the Nationalist Chinese regime in Taiwan as the legitimate government of China.

But as China's Catholic population has grown in recent years, the two sides have warmed to each other, although Beijing's insistence in overriding Vatican authority in approving bishops has cast a shadow over improved ties.

Last week, the Beijing-backed church said it wanted to ordain at least 40 bishops "without delay".

On Wednesday, Paul Lei Shiyin was ordained without Vatican approval as the bishop of Leshan in a ceremony held in southwest China's Sichuan province, the Vatican-linked AsiaNews website reported.

Liu Bainian, deputy head of the CPCA, confirmed Lei's ordination but was noncommittal about Vatican approval.

"We have not contacted the Vatican on this, but I think they know it. I'm not sure whether they agreed to this or not," he said.

China's 5.7 million Catholics are caught between staying loyal to the ruling Communist Party or showing allegiance to the pope as part of an "underground" Church not recognised by the authorities.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110630/wl_asia_afp/chinareligionvaticanbishop

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bennett - Principles of Environmental Science | Best Book Reviews

Principles of Environmental Science

Rather than the 25 to 30 chapters found in most environmental science textbooks, the authors have limited Principles of Environmental Science: Inquiry and Applications to 15 chapters?perfect for the one-semester, non-majors environmental science course. True to its title, the goal of this concise text is to provide an up-to-date, introductory view of essential themes in environmental science along with offering students numerous opportunities to practice scientific thinking and active learning.

List Price: $ 84.96

Price: $ 99.00

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Source: http://www.negolfmarketing.org/440/principles-of-environmental-science.html

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Why Lexus.co.uk: Helping with the Lexus CT 200h Hybrid review ...

The CT 200h Hybrid is a new car brought by Lexus. This amazing car is very new in the market and not many people now about how amazing this car truly is. Thankfully, a website known as?Lexus.co.uk has helped us give a good?Lexus CT 200h Hybrid review. This specific car model of Lexus, unlike other?luxury cars has a significant difference. If you want to know more about this?hybrid car, read on.

Based from?Lexus.co.uk, the CT 200h is full hybrid car. That means that in can fully maximize its energy efficiency from either an electronic source or from diesel fuel. This makes the car for a lot cheaper in the long run when it comes to fuel.

The car has been well commended for becoming very safe. 8 airbags are installed for added protection to the driver and the passengers. Smart stop technology lets the car slow down when breaks are grounded. Automatic wipers keep your rear and front view clean and clear. A camera is installed at the back for to view from what is commonly known as the blind side. With all these measures, you can be sure the CT is an excellent choice for safety.

Overall, the car is an excellent addition to the Lexus family. It drives smooth and looks great. Energy wise, it is efficient and it offers a lot of safety measures. Thanks to?Lexus.co.uk, people can now view more information about this car. If you want to learn more about Lexus cars visit?Lexus.co.uk.

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Source: http://www.pulpfictionart.com/2011/06/why-lexus-co-uk-helping-with-the-lexus-ct-200h-hybrid-review/

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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Universities to compete on places

Students in a lectureUniversity students are to be promised more information and consumer power

A planned shake-up of higher education in England is being set out later, with a promise of more competition and consumer power for students.

From 2012 universities could compete for places, including with the private sector, and be held accountable for the quality of their teaching.

A White Paper is promising to ensure "students get their money's worth" as they face paying higher tuition fees.

Labour's John Denham attacked the plans as "unfair and unsustainable".

The government wants to encourage more market forces in higher education by promoting consumer choice and making universities more accountable to students paying higher fees.

This will include plans for inspections to be triggered if there are concerns about the quality of courses or teaching standards.

The White Paper will set the landscape for higher education at a time when many students will be paying tuition fees of £9,000 per year.

The overall number of university places is expected to be kept at about the current level but there will be measures to encourage more competition between institutions.

Universities will be allowed to create more places for the most talented applicants - those with at least grades AAB at A-level.

UNIVERSITY CHANGESMore places for students with AAB A-level gradesUniversities will have to publish information about students' employment chances and salariesInspections triggered if concerns raised about teaching standardsStudent charter setting out consumer rightsWider role for private sector colleges and partnershipsUniversities compete for proportion of placesOpen University available through FE colleges

And it is expected there will also be more room for expansion for those universities willing to charge lower fees of around £6,000 per year.

But Labour's universities spokesman, Gareth Thomas, said this would be a "race to the bottom", designed to push down the overall cost of student loans, when many more universities than anticipated opted to charge the maximum fee.

Universities are also set to bid for a proportion of places above a "core" number - with the expectation that it will create an opportunity for more private providers.

At present there are only five private bodies in England with degree-awarding powers - but it is expected that this could increase.

And there are plans to remove barriers to new providers, which could mean more private institutions being set up or partnerships between public universities and the private sector.

The government wants a more flexible choice for students in a more "liberalised" higher education market.

As an example, the Open University will offer courses through local further education colleges.

There will be a "student charter" setting out their rights if there are disputes over the quality of courses or facilities.

University graduatesUniversities will have to publish information about how their graduates fare in the jobs market

Last week the Higher Education Funding Council announced that universities would have to publish key information about courses, such as the average salary of former students, the cost of accommodation, teaching hours and satisfaction ratings from previous students.

The funding council will itself have a new role as a "consumer champion" for students.

"The reforms are all about ensuring that students get their money's worth. We're asking graduates to contribute more once they are earning so it is only right that universities deliver for students," said a source close to ministers.

"Universities will become more accountable to students and they will have to be far more transparent about what they are offering."

John Denham, the shadow business secretary, said: "The White Paper will sacrifice quality in an attempt to tackle the fees crisis caused by government incompetence.

"Universities should be able to concentrate on working with business on the skills, growth and jobs needed to ensure we can pay our way in the future, not be distracted by the fallout of a policy that was unfair, unnecessary and unsustainable."

This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/education-13927710

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Maths subversives celebrate anti-pi day

Slice of pie Fans of tau suggest it makes more sense than pi when describing fractions of a circle
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The mathematical constant pi is under threat from a group of detractors who will be marking "Tau Day" on Tuesday.

Tau Day revellers suggest a constant called tau should take its place: twice as large as pi, or about 6.28 - hence the 28 June celebration.

Tau proponents say that for many problems in maths, tau makes more sense and makes calculations easier.

Not all fans of maths agree, however, and pi's rich history means it will be a difficult number to unseat.

"I like to describe myself as the world's leading anti-pi propagandist," said Michael Hartl, an educator and former theoretical physicist.

"When I say pi is wrong, it doesn't have any flaws in its definition - it is what you think it is, a ratio of circumference to diameter. But circles are not about diameters, they're about radii; circles are the set of all the points a given distance - a radius - from the centre," Dr Hartl explained to BBC News.

"If you define your circle constant as the ratio of circumference to the diameter, what you're really doing is defining it as the ratio of the circumference to twice the radius, and that factor of two haunts you throughout mathematics."

The discrepancy is most noticeable when circles are defined not as a number of degrees, but as what are known as radians - of which there are two times pi in a full circle. With tau, half a circle is one-half tau.

Person writing maths equation on black board

Dr Hartl reckons people still use degrees as a measure of angle because pi's involvement in radians makes them too unwieldy.

He credits Bob Palais of the University of Utah with first pointing out that "pi is wrong", in a 2001 article in the Mathematical Intelligencer.

But it is Dr Hartl who is responsible for the Tau Manifesto - calling tau the more convenient formulation and instituting Tau Day to celebrate it.

Kevin Houston, a mathematician from the University of Leeds, counts himself as a convert.

"It was one of the weirdest things I'd come across, but it makes sense," he told BBC News.

"It's surprising people haven't changed before. Almost anything you can do in maths with pi you can do with tau anyway, but when it comes to using pi versus tau, tau wins - it's much more natural."

Dr Hartl is passionate about the effort, but even he is surprised by the fervent nature of some tau adherents.

"What's amazing is the 'conversion experience': people find themselves almost violently angry at pi. They feel like they've been lied to their whole lives, so it's amazing how many people express their displeasure with pi in the strongest possible terms - often involving profanity.

"I don't condone any actual violence - that would be really bizarre, wouldn't it?"

This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/science-environment-13906169

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Active Cyber-defense Strategy Best Deterrent against Cyber-attacks ...

http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/active-cyber-defense-strategy-best-deterrent-against-cyber-attacks

Published 28 June 2011

With the threats of cybercrime, cyberterrorism, and cyberwarfare looming over a hyper-connected world, the best defense for the United States might be a good offense; experts argue that an active self-defense regime, which they term "mitigative counterstriking" -- is a necessity in cyberspace, especially to protect critical infrastructure such as banking, utilities, and emergency services

With the threats of cybercrime, cyberterrorism, and cyberwarfare looming over a hyper-connected world, the best defense for the United States might be a good offense, says new research by a University of Illinois expert in technology and legal?issues.

Law professor Jay P. Kesan warns that an active self-defense regime, which he terms ?mitigative counterstriking,? is a necessity in cyberspace, especially to protect critical infrastructure such as banking, utilities, and emergency?services.

?The threats from cyber-attacks are real, and the harm of a potential attack can be far greater than what we can currently combat,? Kesan?said.

A University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign release reports that Kesan?s analysis, co-written with former U. of I. law student Carol M. Hayes and published in a forthcoming issue of the Harvard Journal of Law and Technology, concludes that mitigative counterstriking against attacks instead of simply relying on passive defense options (firewalls, patches and anti-virus software) is legally justifiable as self-defense, although a more exhaustive legal framework needs to be?implemented.

?The principles of mitigative counterstriking are legally justifiable under several areas of domestic and international law, and can be made consistent with other areas of law by amending or reinterpreting the law,? he?said.

Kesan says an active defense regime consists of three distinct elements: detecting intrusions, tracing the attack back to the attacker, and executing a?counterstrike.

A counterstrike can be characterized in one of two ways: retributive counterstrikes, which punish the attacker; and mitigative counterstrikes, which minimize the damage to the victims? information-technology?infrastructure.

According to the authors? study, there currently is no effective domestic or international legal apparatus to deter cyber-attacks. Criminal law enforcement is complicated by the lack of a consistently enforced international law, jurisdictional issues and the difficulty of identifying an attacker in a manner specific enough to justify criminal prosecution. Resorting to civil litigation would likely be slow and?impractical.

?Cyber-attacks are fundamentally different from crime,? Kesan said. ?The person may be physically very far away from you, and you may not be able to use traditional legal remedies against that person, since civil and criminal remedies require jurisdiction over a person. In those circumstances, what do you?do??

Kesan suggests that a government-affiliated agency, preferably a public-private partnership, should be responsible for an active defense program, including providing resources for private parties to detect and trace intrusions, and executing?counterstrikes.

?We?re at a particularly interesting moment in time because the technologies available to do this are getting better,? Kesan said. ?Trace-route and trace-back technologies ? where we pinpoint where certain intrusions are coming from, even if they?re going through intermediaries ? are getting better. The swiftness of the technologies is getting better, which itself might be a?deterrent.?

Kesan says the confluence of better technology and inadequate legal protection provides a unique opportunity to think through the issues associated with creating new legal?policy.

?Obviously, some sort of self-defense in cyberspace is justifiable,? he said. ?But how far do we go? Do we just block packets, or do we send them back? That?s something we need to think carefully?about.?

Active defense, however, has been and continues to be a controversial subject. Kesan says the reason the government has been tentative is that, in some quarters, an active defense is viewed as tantamount to vigilantism. It also carries the risk of inflicting significant collateral?damage.

?There will be consequences to engaging in that kind of conduct, so we don?t want to take actions that are perceived as being lawless or could potentially cause lots of collateral harm,? Kesan said. ?Technologies are never 100 percent perfect or?foolproof.?

If the United States is subject to an attack, ?then we should have the ability to enact some measures to at least minimize the damage,? he said. ?Additionally, I would argue that a system to promote active defense and permit mitigative counterstriking should also include a liability rule to protect innocent third party intermediaries whose systems are compromised by attackers and?counterstrikers.?

Kesan says it is vital that formal policy is finalized soon, while there is still time for thoughtful deliberation and analysis of all of the potential implications of an?attack.

?We rely on our online infrastructure for just about everything,? he said. ?That represents a good choke point, one that might be an attractive target for people who wish to do harm to us. If they were successful, it would have the potential to cause a great deal of economic hardship. That?s why we need to be prepared before we are faced with the fallout from an?attack.?

? Read more in Jay P. Kesan and Carol M. Hayes, ?Mitigative Counterstriking: Self-Defense and Deterrence in Cyberspace,? Social Science Research Network (11 June?2011)

Source: http://grendelreport.posterous.com/active-cyber-defense-strategy-best-deterrent

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'Tortoise mafia'

Cashing in on Madagascar's endangered reptiles

This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-africa-13799205

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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Home Improvement Remodeling: Sony Breach Reveals Users Lax With ...

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Source: http://homeimprovementremodelings.blogspot.com/2011/06/sony-breach-reveals-users-lax-with.html

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Cabrera's 9th-inning home run gives Indians win Albany Times Union

3 hrs ago on Flagstaff Today Sports

Yahoo! Sports (blog) Cabrera's 9th-inning home run gives Indians winAlbany Times UnionArizona Diamondbacks' Kelly Johnson can't stop an RBI base hit by Cleveland Indians Lonnie Chisenhall during the sixth inning of an interleague baseball game Monday, June 27, 2011 in Phoenix. (Matt York / AP) Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ian Kennedy Cabrera's 9th-inning home run gives ...

Source: http://feeds.fwix.com/~r/fwix/flagstaff/~3/E_-ZzqX2MR8/194_ec4cb14d25

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Romney and Bachmann lead Iowa poll (Reuters)

DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) ? Republican front-runner Mitt Romney and U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann led a closely watched presidential poll of Iowa Republicans, the state that holds the first contest in the nomination battle.

The Iowa caucuses, often held on a frigid winter night that can limit turnout to those most committed, often serves to winnow the field of candidates.

Whoever captures the nomination in the unsettled Republican field is expected to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama in the November 2012 general election.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, led the poll of likely caucus-goers with 23 percent, followed by 22 percent support for Bachmann, who is from neighboring Minnesota and a favorite of fiscal conservatives and the Tea Party.

Businessman Herman Cain had 10 percent support in the poll, U.S. Representative Ron Paul of Texas and former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich followed with 7 percent. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty had 6 percent while former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum got 4 percent and former U.S. envoy to China Jon Huntsman followed with 2 percent.

The Des Moines Register poll has in the past been an accurate barometer of support in the key state, and it often sets a benchmark for candidate momentum as the race takes shape. This is the first Iowa poll for the upcoming election.

The poll of 400 likely Republican caucus-goers by pollster Selzer & Co was conducted June 19 to 22 and had a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points.

In 2008, the poll correctly predicted wins for Republican former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who got support from Iowa's strong contingent of social conservatives, and for then-U.S. Senator Obama. Obama went on to win the presidency over Republican nominee John McCain.

Romney has consistently been the early front-runner in national polls for the 2012 Republican nomination but he has said he would not participate in the informal Iowa straw poll held in August. He had a disappointing second-place finish in the 2008 Iowa caucuses despite pouring resources into the race.

Iowa's first-in-the nation caucuses are widely seen as vital to the presidential hopes of Bachmann and Pawlenty of nearby Iowa.

Bachmann was set to formally announce her candidacy on

Monday in Waterloo, Iowa, where she spent her early childhood.

Last weekend, Texas' Paul won a non-binding preference poll at a Republican conference in New Orleans. Huntsman joined the field last week but said he will not campaign in Iowa, betting on a good showing in New Hampshire's primary roughly a week later.

The Republican field may expand, with the intentions of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Texas Governor Rick Perry unknown.

(Reporting by Kay Henderson and Andrew Stern; Editing by Bill Trott)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110627/pl_nm/us_usa_campaign_iowa

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Home Improvement Remodeling: Language Of Social Sounds Too Soft To ...

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Source: http://homeimprovementremodelings.blogspot.com/2011/06/language-of-social-sounds-too-soft-to.html

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Monday, June 27, 2011

VIDEO: Tom Hanks hints at Toy Story 4

Hollywood A-lister Tom Hanks talks to Tim Muffett about new film Larry Crowne

This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/entertainment-arts-13923988

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What pets do you find absolutely irresistible? | ask/answer uk

Question by skycat: What pets do you find absolutely irresistible?

Best answer:

Answer by clarelouiseprince
cats,rats and dogs.

Give your answer to this question below!

This entry was posted in Pets and tagged absolutely, find, irresistible, pets. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://askuk1.spinelink.com/what-pets-do-you-find-absolutely-irresistible.html

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Peter Falk, TV's rumpled Columbo, has died (omg!)

Story photo: Peter Falk, TV's rumpled Columbo, has diedFILE - In this Aug. 9, 2007 file photo, actor Peter Falk arrives for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's annual installation luncheon at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Falk, the stage and movie actor who became identified as the squinty, rumpled detective in 'Columbo,' died Thursday, June 23, 2011 at his Beverly Hills, Calif., home. He was 83. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, file)Associated Press

NEW YORK - The best way to celebrate Peter Falk's life is to savor how Columbo, his signature character, fortified our lives.

Thanks to Falk's affectionately genuine portrayal, Lt. Columbo established himself for all time as a champion of any viewer who ever felt less than graceful, elegant or well-spoken.

Falk died Thursday at age 83 in his Beverly Hills, Calif., home, according to a statement released Friday by family friend Larry Larson. But Columbo lives on as the shining ideal of anyone with a smudge on his tie, whose car isn't the sportiest, who often seems clueless, who gets dissed by fancy people.

As a police detective, Columbo's interview technique was famously disjointed, with his inevitable awkward afterthought ("Ahhh, there's just one more thing...") that tried the patience of his suspect as he was halfway out the door.

Columbo was underestimated, patronized or simply overlooked by nearly everyone he met ? especially the culprit.

And yet Columbo, drawing on inner pluck for which only he (and an actor as skilled as Falk) could have accounted, always prevailed. Contrary to all evidence (that is, until he nailed the bad guy), Columbo always knew what he was doing.

Even more inspiring for viewers, he was unconcerned with how other people saw him. He seemed to be perfectly happy with himself, his life, his pet basset, Dog, his wheezing Peugeot, and his never-seen wife. A squat man chewing cigars in a rumpled raincoat, he stands tall among TV's most self-assured heroes.

What viewer won't take solace forever from the lessons Columbo taught us by his enduring example?

Columbo ? he never had a first name ? presented a refreshing contrast to other TV detectives. "He looks like a flood victim," Falk once said. "You feel sorry for him. He appears to be seeing nothing, but he's seeing everything. Underneath his dishevelment, a good mind is at work."

On another occasion, he described Columbo as "an ass-backwards Sherlock Holmes."

"As a person, he was like Columbo. He was exactly the same way: a great sense of humor, constantly forgetting things," said Charles Engel, an NBCUniversal executive who worked with Falk on "Columbo" and was his neighbor and longtime friend.

He remembered Falk as a "brilliant" actor and "an amazingly wonderful, crazy guy," and said a script was in place for a two-hour "Columbo" special, but Falk's illness made the project impossible. In a court document filed in December 2008, Falk's daughter Catherine Falk said her father was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Somehow fittingly, Falk ? the perfect choice to play Columbo ? failed to be the first choice. Instead, the role was offered to easygoing crooner Bing Crosby. Fortunately, he turned it down.

With Falk in place, "Columbo" began its run in 1971 as part of the NBC Sunday Mystery Movie series, appearing every third week. The show became by far the most popular of the three mysteries, the others being "McCloud" and "McMillan and Wife."

Falk was reportedly paid $250,000 a movie and could have made much more if he had accepted an offer to convert "Columbo" into a weekly series. He declined, reasoning that carrying a weekly detective series would be too great a burden.

NBC canceled the three series in 1977. In 1989 ABC offered "Columbo" in a two-hour format usually appearing once or twice a season. The movies continued into the 21st century. "Columbo" appeared in 26 foreign countries and was a particular favorite in France and Iran.

Columbo's trademark: an ancient raincoat Falk had once bought for himself. After 25 years on television, the coat became so tattered it had to be replaced.

Falk was already an experienced Broadway actor and two-time Oscar nominee when he began playing Columbo. And, long before then, he had demonstrated a bit of Columbo-worthy spunk: at 3, he had one eye removed because of cancer.

Then, when he was starting as an actor in New York, an agent told him, "Of course, you won't be able to work in movies or TV because of your eye." And after failing a screen test at Columbia Pictures, he was told by studio boss Harry Cohn that "for the same price I can get an actor with two eyes."

But Falk prevailed, even before "Columbo," picking up back-to-back Oscar nominations as best supporting actor for the 1960 mob drama "Murder, Inc." and Frank Capra's last film, the 1961 comedy-drama "Pocketful of Miracles."

Paying tribute, actor-comedian Michael McKean said, "Peter Falk's assault on conventional stardom went like this: You're not conventionally handsome, you're missing an eye and you have a speech impediment. Should you become a movie star? Peter's correct answer: Absolutely.

"I got to hang with him a few times and later worked a day with him on a forgettable TV movie," McKean went on, calling Falk "a sweet, sharp and funny man with a great soul. Wim Wenders called it correctly in 'Wings of Desire': He was an angel if there ever was one on Earth."

"There is literally nobody you could compare him to. He was a completely unique actor," said Rob Reiner, who directed Falk in "The Princess Bride."

"His personality was really what drew people to him. ... He had this great sense of humor and this great natural quality nobody could come close to," Reiner said. Falk's work with Alan Arkin in "The In-Laws" represents "one of the most brilliant comedy pairings we've seen on screen."

Peter Michael Falk was born in 1927, in New York City and grew up in Ossining, N.Y., where his parents ran a clothing store.

After serving as a cook in the merchant marine and receiving a master's degree in public administration from Syracuse University, Falk worked as an efficiency expert for the budget bureau of the state of Connecticut.

He also acted in amateur theater and was encouraged to become a professional by actress-teacher Eva Le Gallienne.

An appearance in "The Iceman Cometh" off-Broadway led to other parts, among them Josef Stalin in Paddy Chayefsky's 1964 "The Passion of Josef D." In 1971, Falk scored a hit in Neil Simon's "The Prisoner of Second Avenue," Tony-nominated for best play.

Falk made his film debut in 1958 with "Wind Across the Everglades" and established himself as a talented character actor with his performance as the vicious killer Abe Reles in "Murder, Inc."

Among his other movies: "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," "Robin and the Seven Hoods," "The Great Race," "Luv," "Castle Keep," "The Cheap Detective" and "The Brinks Job."

Falk also appeared in a number of art-house favorites, including "Wings of Desire" (in which he played himself as a former angel), and the semi-improvisational films "Husbands" and "A Woman Under the Influence," directed by his friend John Cassavetes.

"Today we lost someone who is very special and dear to my heart. Not only a wonderful actor but a very great friend," said Gena Rowlands, who co-starred with Falk in the latter film, and was married to the late Cassavetes.

Falk became prominent in television movies, beginning with his first Emmy for "The Price of Tomatoes" in 1961. His four other Emmys were for "Columbo."

He was married to pianist Alyce Mayo in 1960; they had two daughters, Jackie and Catherine, and divorced in 1976. The following year he married actress Shera Danese. They filed for divorce twice and reconciled each time.

When not working, Falk spent time in the garage of his Beverly Hills home. He had converted it into a studio where he created charcoal drawings. He took up art in New York when he was in the Simon play and one day happened into the Art Students League.

He recalled: "I opened a door and there she was, a nude model, shoulders back, a light from above, buck-ass naked. The female body is awesome. Believe me, I signed up right away."

Falk is survived by his wife Shera and his two daughters.

___

Associated Press Television Writers Lynn Elber and David Bauder, Entertainment Writer Anthony McCartney and former writer Bob Thomas in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/http___omg_yahoo_com_news65812/41989465/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/peter-falk-tvs-rumpled-columbo-has-died/65812

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Learn Online Investing and How To Safely Start Investing For ...

Online investing is becoming a major player in our moneymaking world of today. The best professional investors are born every day from hard work and the efforts to gain an exceptional education. Most of us would like to just wake up one morning and find investing for beginners to be easy. We would all trade like professionals if that were possible to do so. In any event, if you want to trade like a pro then you must learn online investing the right way.

Online investing provides an exciting platform to make money when performed appropriately. The biggest challenge investing for beginners must face has everything to do with learning to trade the right way. A good way to learn about professional stock trading and options strategies is to make time to study before you go to bed each night. By taking steps to learn correctly, one can speed up the progress of investing for beginners.

Internet access is available worldwide and the ability to invest conveniently is very appealing to most traders. The appeal of online investing has been growing continuously in leaps and bounds. Hence, just starting an account doesn?t make for easy profits. A lot of thought is required and it isn?t exactly as simple as signing up. Investing for beginners requires that you properly manage the stocks that you buy.

The online broker you use must be well equipped to assist you with your trading. However, the automation of stock markets and online brokers has revolutionized the world of online investing. Beginning investors are supplied with a whole new set of options to invest with. That being said, they still need to be familiarized with online investing before taking advantage of its benefits.

There are many good things online brokers provide, starting with an investing for beginners course and articles on most stock and options strategies placed on their websites. You can use these sections of their websites to enhance your experience and help you compare each broker?s services.

Be careful to consider the fees that you can be charged as part of the service they provide. While trading online is convenient, fees can mount up to great expense. Brokers make their money based on the trading actions that you take with your online account. While this is common, be sure that you have taken these costs into account. It would be wise to learn how to minimize or even completely eliminate the fees being charged.

Commonly, most fees are associated with trading commissions, but there can also be wire transfer fees, inactivity fees, account maintenance fees, and a whole host of other fees that can get tacked on. If you are not responsible as an investor to evaluate these fees correctly, you will lose money on the trades you make.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the kind of trading platform being used by your broker. For those of you who are just starting out, this can be especially confusing. Therefore, you want to be careful to understand the trading platform well.

There is generally two ways to acquaint yourself with the trading process. Most sites offer free virtual stock trading and free virtual options trading that you can take advantage of. Here, you can trade with a practice account so that you can avoid losing real money in the process. The second way is to call your broker?s customer service and have them walk you through placing your first stock and options trades.

Traders sometimes have an urge to trade frequently. While low commissions and fast access may bring this on, the more practical thing to do is to trade slowly and consistently rather than frequently. This way you can let your portfolio grow along with the companies that you have invested in. I trust you will be careful to minimize your fees in the process of all your trading.

Trade Stocks and Options With Care!

Option4Options.com is a publisher of news, perspective & market intelligence on options and options strategies. There are online investing tips at http://www.option4options.com/. To learn investing for beginners get a VIRTUAL STOCK TRADING ACCOUNT at http://www.option4options.com/freevirtualstocktrading

James Glisson has been a Builder, Developer, Mortgage Broker and Real Estate Broker providing quality affordable development and custom housing to the citizens in Mobile and Baldwin County, Alabama and surrounding areas more than 30 years. James has a B.S. in Building Sciences, School of Architecture, and a Minor in Business Administration from Auburn University.

Source: http://pennystocks-towatch.net/learn-online-investing-and-how-to-safely-start-investing-for-beginners/

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Sunday, June 26, 2011

Serengeti road halt for wildlife

Sunset in the SerengetiThe Serengeti is a key destination for tourists in Tanzania
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Controversial plans to build a tarmac road across the Serengeti National Park have been scrapped after warnings that it could devastate wildlife.

The Tanzanian government planned a two-lane highway across the park to connect Lake Victoria with coastal ports.

But studies showed it could seriously affect animals such as wildebeest and zebra, whose migration is regarded as among the wonders of the natural world.

The government confirmed the road across the park will remain gravel.

Bat-eared foxThe bat-eared fox is another Serengeti resident, and depends on wildebeest for much of its food

In a letter sent to the World Heritage Centre in Paris, the Department of Natural Resources and Tourism says the 50km (30-mile) section of road across the park will "continue to be managed mainly for tourism and administrative purposes, as it is now".

The government is considering an alternative route for a major trade highway that would run to the south of the park.

This would avoid areas of high conservation value, and - although a longer route - would bring the opportunities afforded by a modern transport link to more people.

Last year, a group of scientists warned that the proposed road across the park could bring the number of wildebeest in the park, estimated at about 1.3 million, down to 300,000.

Collisions between animals and traffic would be unavoidable, they said.

And with a corridor on either side of the road taken out of the hands of the park authorities and given to the highways agency, fencing would almost certainly result, blocking movement of the herds.

If wildlife were damaged, they warned, that could also affect the local economy, in which tourism plays a major role.

The researchers described the Serengeti as "a rare and iconic example of an ecosystem driven by a large mammal migration".

That annual north-to-south trek involves about 1.5 million animals, including wildebeest and zebra.

Wildebeest grazingMore than a million wildebeest live in the Serengeti

As the animals travel, they dump vast quantities of urine and dung across the land, fertilising plant growth, while the trampling of hooves also prevents bush from over-growing the grassland.

An impact assessment compiled for the government confirmed the expected impact on migration, adding that the decline of wildebeest and zebra would have a knock-on effect on predators such as lions and cheetahs.

These are among the animals that tourists come to see.

Scientists also warned that the road could bring invasive plant species or unfamiliar diseases into the park, a World Heritage Site.

Last year, the World Heritage Committee expressed its "utmost concern" about the "potentially irreversible damage" that the highway could bring.

Environmental campaigners have welcomed the government's decision, with the organisation Serengeti Watch saying: "A battle has been won".

However, they warned that the region faces a number of other threats, including roads around the park and poaching.

This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/science-environment-13904464

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Both Element Authentication Option Explained

Two element validation is usually regarded as a sort of stability where a person will have to produce 2 kinds of stability info. This kind of stability is considered a great deal less hazardous to the regular shopper.

The Two kinds of Basic safety Data Needed In View Of Two Element Authentication

Providing your password for your bank account may seem like a good way and also hardwearing . finances plus your name harmless. However the true protection will come once you will have to produce but not only the pass word but also the charge card that is given to you with the traditional bank. This sort of stability is two element validation, where you will have to produce something that you have along with something that you know.

With an upswing of world-wide-web consumer banking, internet shopping, and also other routines that positively require the present of non-public info, two element validation is now significantly critical for maximum stability. Passwords aren?t enough at preserving sensitive information online. For this reason, gadgets are used to aid consumers guard on their own.

Electronic Units That Are Used

Some firms present an automated token unit card with regard to their consumers. To work with this token unit card, the buyer must see the web page where they need to sign in. Immediately after furnishing an individual brand and pass word to the web page, they shall be questioned to check on their token unit card to get a quantity that should validate them for the reason that true user. Commonly, the person are able to enter in the quantity which comes cleaner standing on the card and can admittance the web page. From time to time, even though, the person will have to enter one more pass word, similar to a PIN number, that is placed to protect the token unit card in the case of theft.

Other products are used now in addition to provide checking world-wide-web better. Most companies will provide their consumers with one-time pass word logins and stability requirements which might be sent on to their cell phones. The cellular telephone will have to of course come with an program on it that is compatible.

Who is Using Two Element Certification?

Security firms allow organization, businesses, and folks to work with these devices to protect their info. The safety company sets within the two element validation and will give you the organization or individual with all the info that they need to know as a way to work it. It is a straightforward course of action, with very little-to-no teaching wanted. Businesses provides this sort of safe and sound having access to their internet site to each their workforce along with their clients. A firewall software is usually established to permit only a number of, permitted consumers to get into info.

According to Techcrunch.org, even brands like The search engines will provide this sort of stability selection for account holders. Any additional security password can be mailed to your cell phone plus you?ve got only a few momemts to knowledge the information into the presented location on the computer monitor.

Two element validation is a great stability method if you wants to guard their sensitive information. It may possibly prevent you protected from id theft and gives a better a sense stability than the use of a pass word by yourself.

Source: http://www.montezuma-lafayette52.com/both-element-authentication-option-explained/

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Calling for a SmarterSafer Flood - best insurance

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Source: http://www.best-insurance.net/best-rt-wildlifeaction-calling-for-a-smartersafer-flood-insurance-program-wildlife-promise-httpt-col0klhdd-via-nwf-senate-nfip/

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Leading defector predicts Gaddafi will quit Libya (Reuters)

ROME (Reuters) ? A former Libyan foreign minister who has defected to the opposition said on Thursday he believed Muammar Gaddafi realized he could no longer stay in Libya and may leave within a few weeks.

Abdurrahaman Shalgam, one of the highest-ranking Libyan defectors, told Corriere della Sera TV he believed Gaddafi was negotiating for asylum with either another African country or Belarus.

"He is maneuvering for three things -- to leave the country, to have money and to be shielded from the International Criminal Court," said Shalgam, who still serves as Libya's ambassador to the United Nations.

"He is maneuvering to go to another African country or even Belarus because the president there is his friend. I think that he will leave Libya in a few weeks, in two or three weeks at the most."

Gaddafi has said he would fight to the death.

He sounded a new note of defiance with an audio recording on Thursday, broadcast on Libyan television, in which he called NATO states murderers of innocent civilians and said he would avenge their deaths.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/africa/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110623/wl_nm/us_libya_envoy

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Saturday, June 25, 2011

Water plentiful, drought signs dot Calif. roads (Providence Journal)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/105425824?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Amazing Deals On Auto Insurance? ? IS Dirt Cheap Car Insurance A ...

Home > insurance > Amazing Deals On Auto Insurance? ? IS Dirt Cheap Car Insurance A Reality





Recently, a breakthrough time for the entire household, car insurance, you may be able to take an important part of your monthly expenses. Cheap car insurance it is hard to find 's, if not the holy grail that everyone was looking for. May cause a bit of time and effort in a large transactions, some of the more disposable income than others.

If the only source for cheap car insurance you have, click on the link at the bottom of this article at all times. If you would like more information you can, please read.

When shopping we have a lot of cheap auto insurance is necessary to note that some of the. Auto insurance agent if you have to pay the monthly premiums you will have access to a huge range of insurers, they have the information you need to be fair, you 're driving history, your income, it is possible.

Your driving record, in all areas, giving every detail you and your detective work, which requires open and honest question. Not to disclose any important facts on their insurance company may be trying to avoid paying the claim.

Your driving record is important, it is showing the sort of driver for your past, at the following shows the type of risk insurance companies. Miss on the road but everyone driving event record does not indicate an attempt to get dirt cheap car insurance people are not good.

Surprisingly, the academic record will also help reduce insurance costs. Students from a school with a 3.0 GPA, you may be discounted. Strange but true. I think people who get good grades than those who may charge for Don 't this means

Discount auto insurance is a way to save a large sum of insurance you really. They take a look at the street outside of the company for you. Most agents will visit your home will be displayed along with you and your family. Because they are trying to trade your best, perhaps this is a good idea. This is not necessarily so, car insurance, online shopping is the best way to get a deal remains elusive.

Source: http://www.shebeijixie.com/20110624/45049.html

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Top 10 food and drink festivals via Travel Off The Cuff

??Canterbury's top 10 budget eats (0 miles away)

??The great British weekend: Broadstairs, Kent (17 miles away)

??Time (Zone) Travel: All Thanks to Longitude (49 miles away)

??Top 10 things to do in Margate (15 miles away)

??European cruise great view through history (47 miles away)

???Pooh-Pooh? Your Troubles At Ashdown Park (48 miles away)

??Holidays in Britain ? why we do like to be beside the seaside (17 miles away)

??Savour Stratford Tasting (50 miles away)

??Surfacing History in Greenwich, England (49 miles away)

??Take the Family to France with P&O Ferries (40 miles away)

??Daily Travel Photo ? Greenwich, London (49 miles away)

??Spirit of Britain super-ferry enters service on the busy Dover-Calais route (14 miles away)

??Britain?s fastest train: you?d spill your coffee (if you could buy one) (10 miles away)

??Wild Autumn Breaks in the British Isles (49 miles away)

??Walking across Abbey Road, 40 years later (47 miles away)

??Ten of the best Christmas markets (49 miles away)

??London Attractions ? Greenwich, The Home of Time (49 miles away)

??The 10 best lighthouses to stay in (14 miles away)

??London?s Bridges, Tunnels and Ferries: Top 5 ways to cross the Thames (50 miles away)

??A warm feeling in Hastings (36 miles away)

Source: http://traveloffthecuff.com/news/20110622_top_10_food_and_drink_festivals

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Getting Help with Bankruptcy | pbabt.com

Los angeles bankruptcy attorneys are experts in dealing the with financial restructuring. Although having good credit is important for individuals and businesses, sometimes situations occur in which the best course of action is to declare bankruptcy. This can prevent debt collectors from trying to seize your assets and otherwise hassling you. It is true that a bankruptcy can stay on your financial record for up to seven years and that a bad credit record can extremely hinder your business resources like securing loans, but a record of extended bad credit can be much worse as financial problems can allowed to spiral deeper and make recovery that much more impossible. Most importantly a good bankruptcy attorney can help you restructure your personal or business finances and set up a plan to become solvent and successful in the future once again. It is hard going through a bankruptcy but it is much more difficult to do it alone than with the assistance of experts on your side fighting for your rights.

Source: http://www.pbabt.com/business-finance/debt-consolidation/getting-help-with-bankruptcy

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Friday, June 24, 2011

Meet the Japanese Robot Culture That Gave Us a Fake Pop Star (The Atlantic Wire)

A new ad campaign in Japan enthralled the fans of the pop idol group AKB 48. It revealed a new member of the band named Aimi Eguchi. The fact that AKB 48 had a new member wasn't so surprising--the all-female group has been adding members with a systematic auditioning regimen since their formation in 2005. However, this time around, there was no audition, and fans could find few details about Aimi on the internet. On Sunday, the candy company running the ad released a new video that revealed what many already suspected. Aimi Eguchi was a robot.

Related: Comment of the Day: Remembrance of Whoppers Past

Related: Japan's Prime Minister Survives No-Confidence Vote

Aimi's not a robot in the same way that the Jetsons' maid Rosie is a robot. She's a digital composite of the band members' best features. Her eyes, lips, hair, ears--everything was copied from the individual members of AKB 48 and digitized to create this Platonic ideal of a pop star. It fits in well with the over-arching concept behind AKB 48.?The group is the brainchild of Yasushi Akimoto, a music producer who envisioned a group of "idols you can meet everyday." AKB 48 has its own theater in Tokyo where they perform almost daily and expand as demand for their music allows. Though they started in 2005 with 24 members, they claimed the Guinness world record for the largest pop group when they swelled the 48 members. The lastest count, minus Aimi, is 61.?

Related: Reports: Radioactive Water No Longer Leaking into the Pacific

Extending the metaphor of a synthetic band to a synthetic band member is interesting because it brings up an age old debate about the automaton.?Jesus Diaz at Gizmodo writes:

The fact is that all this is not science fiction anymore. It's science. And just a matter of time before there's a huge jump that puts together synthetic lifeforms out of the screen and into the physical world. "A new world of machines and possibilities!" as Dal? said in his futurist manifesto? I know. This is not new. It's been the subject of movies and books for most of the 20th century. Heck, you can even find the same themes in classic greek mythology. But literature and film is one thing. Watching it happening right in front of you is quite different.

However, he stops short of pointing out that it's an especially old hat in Japan. Adam Yamaguchi at Current called Japan the "Robot Nation" in a Vanguard special that illustrated the countries affinity towards artificial beings. The nation is aging rapidly, and there's a shortage of young people. In order to fill the gap, robotic scientists are scrambling to create synthetic versions of people to do jobs they can't fill. They're even creating pets to help comfort the elderly. That's where it's kind of creepy (although, let's be fair: Japan's not the only country to host some slightly disturbing robotic technology). You'd expect that older people especially might feel ill at ease surrounded by robots. But as Yamaguchi reported, they apparently love it.

Related: Japan Doubles Fukushima Radiation Estimate

Related: One Month After Quake, Japan Hit with Another Strong Aftershock

The graphic imaging in the AKB 48 video is so good, we can't tell at all that she's not real. This is a little bit different than the definitely robotic robots that Current depicted in their 2008 report. But it's just a reminder that the advances are coming fast. Here's our question: is there any way this singing-dancing robot technology could, say, clean up a nuclear spill?

Want to add to this story??Open Wire.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/japan/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/atlantic/20110623/tc_atlantic/japansrobotcultureakb48commercial39182

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'Footloose,' 'Ghostbusters,' and more: Risk-averse Hollywood remakes '80s films

'Footloose' is one of some 30 upcoming movies retreaded from a popular 1980s film. Hollywood hopes the blend of nostalgia and freshness will add up to box office gold.

Los Angeles

As the trailer for the ?Footloose? remake teases a whole new generation with the story of young people fighting for the freedom to dance, it?s clear that Hollywood?s fascination with the 1980s is here to stay. According to Variety, there are no fewer than 30 redos on studio dockets, including everything from ?Red Dawn? to ?Private Benjamin,? ?Poltergeist,? and new installments of ?Beverly Hills Cop? and ?Ghostbusters.?

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While familiar material is catnip to studio executives looking to cash in on audience nostalgia, this particular decade hits the sweet spot right now.

?Younger audiences haven?t seen the originals, and older viewers might just be curious enough to buy a ticket to see what the updated version looks like,? says film studies expert Wheeler Winston Dixon.

?There this perfect symbiosis with the 1980s,? says Dwight DeWerth-Pallmeyer, director of communication studies at Widener University in Chester, Penn. ?There is enough distance for nostalgia, but not so much that the kids can?t relate,? he says.

A town that clamps down on teen behavior as a result of a tragedy, he adds, can spur conversation for families.

In the original version, starring Kevin Bacon ? made in 1984 for only $8 million ? the crash that takes the lives of a carload high school students is mentioned but never shown. In the new version, the movie opens with the accident, framing the entire story with a grittier feel, points out Professor DeWerth-Pallmeyer.

Mining earlier eras is an old trick in Hollywood, points out Professor Dixon, editor of the Quarterly Review of Film and Video at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Scanning the list of upcoming titles, including ?Honey, I Shrunk the Kids? and ?Police Academy,? he says via email, ?Is there a spark of originality in any of these projects? Of course not, but that is the point.? Tapping familiar titles means studios can count on audiences to know what a ?Ghostbuster? film is about, he says.

The increasingly corporate Hollywood mindset is always looking for a safe bet, notes Dixon. ?An original concept? Risky. A sequel, reboot, or remake? Usually, money in the bank.?

This ultra-commercial approach to narrative material dates back to the dawn of cinema, he points out. Cinematic pioneer Alice Guy-Blach? remade her 1896 hit La Fe? Aux Choux in 1900, he notes, when the original negative wore out before public demand for the film.

Word-of-mouth ? the Holy Grail of movie marketing ? makes only the most pre-sold projects attractive to the major Hollywood studios, he adds.

But more than anything, economics is driving the trend, says Villanova University film Professor John O?Leary. ?The powers that be in the film industry are feeling the heat from a bad economy and a changing distribution system,? he points out via email, adding that studios are so afraid of failure that they don?t dare venture into any uncharted waters. ?They go to stories that have already been successful with the American public (even if they were in another medium or at another time) and make them again.?

The current popularity of singing and dancing, spurred on by Disney?s High School Musical franchise and Fox?s Glee, helps fan interest in a music-heavy film like ?Footloose,? says Hollywood.com box office expert, Paul Dergarabedian. ?All that MTV-inspired 1980s stuff is just cool again.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/jJorhZI_pX4/Footloose-Ghostbusters-and-more-Risk-averse-Hollywood-remakes-80s-films

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Tata Motors contests land return

Farmer outside Nano factory in SingurLand acquisition is becoming a major political issue in India
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Indian carmaker Tata Motors has challenged the government of West Bengal over measures it has taken to reclaim land which the company had acquired for a car factory.

The land in Singur, near Calcutta, was acquired by the state's former communist government in 2006 for Tata Motors to make its low-cost Nano car.

After months of violent protests, the company pulled out of West Bengal.

Tata Motors then went on to set up a new plant in the state of Gujarat.

In May, the regional Trinamul Congress party led by Mamata Banerjee won a landslide victory in West Bengal against the state's long-serving communist government, on the promise that she would restore the land to the farmers.

Earlier this month, West Bengal passed a law that would allow for the return of about 400 acres of land to farmers who never accepted government compensation for their land.

Some legislators have criticised the law, saying it was introduced in haste. Others have demanded that the entire 997 acres of land taken for the project should be restored.

Tata Motors spokesman Debasis Ray said that the company was contesting the decision in the high court in Calcutta.

Tata Motors has reported a tripling of profits in the last year.

However, sales of small cars lagged somewhat in the last year, perhaps reflecting difficulties with the Nano, which began production in 2008.

This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-south-asia-13871104

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