Sunday, December 23, 2012

Developing Minds Want to Know: Q&A with Quinton Alsbury of Roambi

Roambi provides polished business analytics tools and financial expertise to a wide range of companies. Through Roambi Analytics and Roambi Flow, their unparalleled services also available on iPhone and iPad, they make it a cinch for clients to monitor important business statistics.

Quinton Alsbury, co-founder and president of Product Innovation at Roambi, shared his thoughts on inspiration, innovation, and the misconception that apps are exclusively microware. He also provided a short history of his company, the services they offer, and dishes out advice for aspiring app developers.


Key Company Facts

Name and Title: Quinton Alsbury, co-founder and president of Product Innovation

Company: Roambi

Location: San Diego, CA

Size (Revenue and/or Employees): 150 Full-time?employees

Primary Apps/Platforms: Roambi Analytics, Roambi Flow (both iOS Only)


APPOLICIOUS: What inspired you to become an app creator?

Quinton Alsbury: When the first iPhone came out it was obvious to us that a tectonic shift in computing and software was about to occur. With a completely different screen size, and interface paradigm, along with a huge leap in hardware specs from other "smart phones" on the market, we believed that traditional software would have to be completely rethought, redesigned, and reinvented. Having come from an enterprise software background, we decided to try and reinvent the category for the new world.

APPO: How long have you been developing apps, and what is the most significant difference between now and when you began?

QA: We formed our company in November 2007, five months before Apple announced the native SDK. We felt so strongly that the path forward would be to open the platform to true native software development that we took a huge gamble at the time and started hiring hackers to open up iOS so we could experiment with bringing some of our ideas to life. The biggest difference was the evolution of the platform, in contrast to those early days when it was purely experimental.

APPO: What apps (outside of those that you develop) inspire you the most and why? Where do you see the most innovation in the app sector?

QA: Since we are in the enterprise world, the biggest inspiration has been to look to the world of consumer applications as a model for how a mobile business app should look, feel, perform, and engage. One of the biggest shifts in application development from the traditional PC world to mobile is the counterintuitive concept (especially to enterprise software) of simplifying functionality. We are also focusing on building highly engaging user experiences that lead to recurring usage of business-related tools on the phone, instead of just waiting to get to a desk, hotel room, office, etc.

APPO: How do you harness that innovation in your own titles?

QA: We use all of the above from the ground up. We milk every ounce of functionality we can out of the hardware and software innovations coming out of Apple. These devices are far too powerful to be considered a dumb terminal to a server. They are becoming the primary device for millions and your product needs to respect that.

APPO: In such a crowded space, explain how you generate awareness and drive downloads to your applications.

QA: In many ways I like to equate the App Store to the iTunes music store. Marketing, PR, and promotional activities are an important component of any awareness strategy, but I believe at the end of the day, the quality of the experience is the critical success factor. The habit-forming usage of mobile devices breeds a highly viral environment where people that love an app will continuously use it, show and share it with peers, friends, and family. If you build something special, and get it into people?s hands, they become the best advocates for your app.

APPO: What are the biggest technical constraints that exist today in the app sector? How do you (or will you) make money from your application?

QA: As the hardware continues to increase in processing power and other hardware specs, we?re seeing that constraints are becoming abstracted. You truly are only limited by your imagination! If you approach mobile as a checkbox for an existing PC application, or a cheap marketing utility, you will never fully realize all opportunities it presents. Every couple of decades we see a huge leap in technology that forces the development world to change: the first was the PC, then the web, and now mobile. To fully take advantage you must embrace the nuances and the opportunity of the new technology.

We monetize our application by selling a backend server that is used by companies to extract data from their major data warehouses and business intelligence tools.

APPO: What advice do you have to those working on their first applications?

QA: Design your product. That means going beyond the UI, all the way to the architecture that in the end drives how your app looks, feels, moves, and performs. The margin for adoption in mobile is razor thin. Most people don't need mobile apps, but they download, buy, and use applications that give them an amazing experience and provide an invaluable service. They'll delete it from their phones, or abandon it to the back page and never open it again, literally within minutes of using it. Apps are like singles in music, they are the equivalent of the perfect three-minute song.

APPO: Where do you see the app sector one year from now? Five years from now?

QA: It will be interesting to see how the evolution of HTML5 begins to affect how people perceive apps both from the developer side and the consumer side. Will there be backlash against a unique app for every individual task, service, or destination? It looks to me like the app concept, instead of morphing back into the traditional PC model, is actually beginning to permeate back into PCs as OSX begins to look more and more like iOS, with the same being true for Windows 8. I can see a day where developing "apps" isn?t a term that?s specific to a small piece of a microware especially made for mobile devices.

Download the Appolicious Android app

Source: http://www.appolicious.com/tech/articles/13072-developing-minds-want-to-know-q-a-with-quinton-alsbury-of-roambi

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Saturday, December 22, 2012

AfterShokz to debut 'world's first' bone-conducting Bluez headphones at CES 2013

DNP AfterShokz to debut 'world's first' boneconducting Bluez headphones at CES 2013

At first glance, you might think the guy in the photo above is wearing his sunglasses backwards. However, he's actually getting hiz groove on with the AfterShokz Bluez, a pair of Bluetooth headphones that transmits audio using bone conduction. We've seen the technology before, but never on stereo wireless headsets. Instead of vibrating your eardrums, the Bluez use transducer pads that sit on your cheekbones to send audio directly to your ears. As such, the headphones have an "open-ear" design, presumably to let you hear your surroundings while listening to tunez. If this zoundz intriguing, you can pre-order them for $100 (despite their $129 retail price) from the company's website, or just wait until January when they will make their official debut at CES 2013.

Continue reading AfterShokz to debut 'world's first' bone-conducting Bluez headphones at CES 2013

Comments

Source: AfterShokz

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

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Ky. court upholds decision in penis removal case

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- A Kentucky man lost his bid Friday to force a doctor to pay damages for removing a cancer-riddled section of his penis during what was scheduled to be a simple circumcision.

The Kentucky Court of Appeals found that a jury correctly concluded that 66-year-old Phillip Seaton of Waddy consented to allow Dr. John Patterson to perform any procedure deemed necessary during the Oct. 19, 2007, surgery.

Patterson, a Kentucky-based urologist, maintains he found cancer in the man's penis during surgery and that it had to be removed. The patient claims the surgery was supposed to be a circumcision and he never authorized the amputation, nor was he given a chance to seek a second opinion.

"Additionally, there is uncontroverted testimony in the record that if Mr. Seaton were not treated for the penile cancer, it would prove fatal in the future," Judge Janet Stumbo wrote for the court.

Judge Michael Caperton dissented, but did not issue a written opinion.

Seaton and his wife, Deborah, sued Patterson, a Kentucky-based urologist, in Shelby County Circuit Court in 2008. Seaton, now in his 60s, was having the procedure to better treat inflammation. The Seatons also sued Jewish Hospital, where the surgery took place. The hospital settled with the couple for an undisclosed amount.

Both sides agree that Seaton had squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, in his penis. Patterson concluded that a tumor had overtaken much of the top of the organ, which made it impossible to insert a catheter.

"He also opined that serious complications and additional surgery could result if he did not insert the catheter," Stumbo wrote.

The main point of contention is whether Patterson acted reasonably in removing the organ immediately or if amputation could have been delayed to let Seaton seek other medical options.

Stumbo and Judge Donna Dixon concluded that, even though Seaton had limited ability to read and write, he never informed the doctor of that fact and signed the consent form in the presence of a witness. The Seatons claimed that the waiver didn't give Patterson authority to conduct an amputation without further consent.

"They maintain that no harm would have resulted if Dr. Patterson has consulted with either of them before proceeding, or if he had allowed them to consult with another physician to get a second opinion or other treatment options," Stumbo wrote.

Stumbo wrote that Patterson acted properly because the tumor had consumed such a large section of the organ.

"For this reason alone, the resection of the tumor was 'necessary and proper' in the context of inserting a catheter," Stumbo wrote.

Clay Robinson, the Lexington-based attorney for Patterson, and Kevin George of Louisville, the attorney for Seaton, did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

______

Follow Associated Press reporter Brett Barrouquere on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BBarrouquereAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ky-court-upholds-decision-penis-163845890.html

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Bombing kills 4, wounds 11 in Iraq

BAGHDAD (AP) ? Iraqi authorities say an explosion at a shop selling CDs has killed 4 people in a town northeast of the capital, Baghdad.

Police officials say a bomb, hidden in a plastic bag, exploded near the shop Saturday afternoon in the town of Qazqniyah. Eleven people were wounded in the attack, and the shop was completely destroyed.

Qazaniyah is 180 kilometers (110 miles) northeast of Baghdad.

A medic in a nearby hospital confirmed the death toll. All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to brief reporters.

Violence has ebbed in Iraq, but insurgent attacks are still frequent.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bombing-kills-4-wounds-11-iraq-202049834.html

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Are heirs responsible for credit card debts? - The Help Desk ...

My elderly mother-in-law has several credit cards, two of which are being used by her granddaughters. The minimum is paid each month, but never the full balance. Will my wife, who will be the sole survivor of my mother-in-law's very small estate, be responsible for the credit card balances? ? Craig P.

As an heir, your wife will not be liable for any outstanding credit card debt in the estate. But it also means that she may not receive much of an inheritance. "If there is money in the estate, then the estate has the responsibility to pay off any creditors," says April Hill, a St. Petersburg, Fla.-based elder law attorney. That process typically takes place in probate, or court-supervised administration of the estate.

So if your mother-in-law's estate runs out of money before the credit card balances are paid down, the responsibility for the debt won't land on your wife. Creditors cannot go after anyone who had no part in creating the debt, says Hill.

? Austin Kilham

Got a question for the Help Desk? Send it to?helpdesk@cnnmoney.com.

Source: http://helpdesk.blogs.money.cnn.com/2012/12/20/heirs-responsible-credit-card-debts/

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Friday, December 21, 2012

2012: A Year Of Letting Your Body Do The Talking | The Natural ...

The point of 2012?s theme was to show you how easy it is to use your natural resources. Public speaking confidence and communicating under pressure needn?t be a hard slog or a terrifying ordeal when you know how to tap into what you?ve already got. Here?s a summary of the previous 10 issues with links to the full article and video:

February 2012
Rabbit In The Headlights: How To Stop Freezing When You Speak
Freezing when public speaking generally feels much worse to the speaker, than it looks to the listener. A 30 second blank, can look like a pause. Taking time to gather your thoughts is appreciated by listeners because it means? you are thinking about what you say in the present moment, not repeating mechanised rote. When I film clients for the first time giving a talk, they are amazed that their occasional blank moments come across as natural pauses?

March 2012
Look At Me! How To Easily Maintain Audience Attention
Trying hard at anything is tiring. And people, well we can just be perverse. If an audience knows you desperately want their attention they will likely choose to not give you any. Stop trying so hard. Who ever said speaking with people had to be hard work? I?m not suggesting you don?t put in any effort ? just stop trying to force people to listen to you. Instead, give them a choice and something worth listening to ? you?

April 2012
Sitting Versus Standing: Position Yourself Powerfully When You Speak
Should I sit or should I stand? Believe it or not I get asked this question regularly. For those of you who are thinking, ?Pish! What a question!?, there is a lot more going on here. The decision to sit or stand sends a non-verbal signal about your intention to establish authority, power, attention, intimacy, connection and relationship?

May 2012
Pause Power: Slow Down And Speak With Spacious Ease
You do not need to change your essential self and be something you are not. You just need to pause frequently. Imagine where the commas, colons, dashes, fullstops and new paragraphs would be begin if your talk was in writing. That?s where you pause. Give people time to digest. A pause is like a non-verbal full stop. So take a risk and stop. It is only a matter of seconds or a couple of breaths?

June 2012
The Grand Entrance: Start Your Speech With Impact
?Da Daa!? Introducing, YOU! And in you come dancing to a funky sound track, boa feather trailing behind, your newly shaved head reflecting the strobe lights? is this the kind of impact you?d like to make? Yup, you would be memorable unless of course your colleagues also read this article and boa feather sales go through the roof. Actually, that?s quiet a nice thought?

July 2012
End Well: Why A Strong Exit Makes You A Memorable Speaker
Think of a finale as a delicious taste lingering on the tongue. If your speech was a flavour,? what would it be? The lingering velvet of chocolate oohs and ahhhs or? a sharp tangy, citrus wake up? I reckon audiences want to be:
engaged (connection), informed (data), inspired (action), in that order. If you engage your audience first, they will listen to your information which if inspiring, will motivate them into action?

August 2012
Why Relaxing Your Eyes Makes You A Better Speaker
Imagine your eyes lazing in hammocks, heavy and supported. Miraculously, when the eyes are relaxed, the brain sends a message to your whole body, saying ?You are safe and can relax now.? So let your body do its natural thing and ignore any contrary mental self talk when you speak?

September 2012
Communicating Under Pressure
Some days we wear our pit boots and some days we are are fragile as gossamer. Working with people is one of the most difficult juggling acts we perform and many of us do it everyday, at home and at work. Finely turned interpersonal communication skills and a basis of empathy is needed, especially if you are supporting the personal and professional growth of others?

October 2012
Take A Deep Breath: How To Use Breath To Mange Speaking Nerves
Doncha hate that the very thing you teach, you struggle with? And isn?t it always the way? It?s why hairdressers have bad hair and builders? homes are half renovated. Too busy helping others and not taking time out for self care is part of the issue, but not the only issue. Helping professionals are often better at giving than receiving. I struggled for years too, but then I came up with a method to help. I call it, ?Make It Right For Me??

November 2012
Public Speaking Tips For Shy Silent Types
I define ?public speaking? as ?whenever you have a conversation with anyone other than yourself, you are, ?public speaking.? So, face to face, phone, verbose or taciturn, whenever you speak with someone you are in fact, speaking in public. We can all benefit from improving our interpersonal skills, no matter your personal communication style. Here?s 4 tips for the naturally taciturn to remain in integrity with their natural style?

December 2012
2012: A Year Of Letting Your Body Do The Talking
You are reading it now! For further reading on the subject of non-verbal communication, read my October 2011 Cool, Calm & Connected issue, ?Shut Up & Let Your Body Talk?. It was the popularity of this particular issue? which inspired me to focus on non verbal communication in 2012.

In 2013, each issue will focus on a different theme with links to related articles and videos. I?d love to hear your suggestions or your public speaking challenge ? just email me ? Geraldine

? 2012, Geraldine Barkworth, authentic public speaking coach. Geraldine shows you how to feel comfortable in your own skin by being real, raw and authentic, rather than perfect, polished and ?powerpointed? every time you speak.

Contact Geraldine at http://www.goddessofpublicspeaking.com.au/

Source: http://www.goddessofpublicspeaking.com.au/blog/public-speaking/2012-a-year-of-non-verbal-communication/

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Canadian experiment to track space radiation and its risks

Dec. 20, 2012 ? Space can be a potentially hazardous environment to live and work in, especially when it comes to radiation. Originating from violent storms on the Sun and galactic cosmic rays produced in distant supernovae explosions, this natural radiation can pose a serious health risk for astronauts on long-duration space missions like those on the International Space Station (ISS).

Like a protective bubble, Earth's atmosphere and magnetosphere shields life on our planet from this never-ending bombardment of high-energy particles. However, in low-Earth orbit where the International Space Station (ISS) flies, astronauts are regularly exposed to high doses of radiation, including charged particles trapped in Earth's magnetic field, as well as cosmic rays and solar radiation.

To prepare for future missions that may last for months or years, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), along with other space agencies around the world, have been stepping up research into radiation biology in recent years, recognizing that it deserves the highest priority.

During CSA astronaut Chris Hadfield's mission to the ISS, he will carry a new set of instruments into orbit to measure one of the most serious types of radiation -- caused by high-energy neutron particles -- and monitor the dose an astronaut absorbs during space flight.

What is Neutron Radiation?

Neutron radiation is considered to be one of the most severe of all types of radiation experienced in space as it can cause biological damage. It represents approximately 30% of the total exposure for those aboard the ISS. In space, neutrons are produced when charged particles collide with physical matter, such as the walls and equipment on the ISS. Just like medical X-rays, these high-energy particles can shoot through delicate body tissues, and through long-term exposure, they can damage DNA and potentially cause cataracts, bone marrow damage or even cancer.

It's all in the bubbles -- Bubbles and Radiation Trouble

Radi-N2 is Canada's second generation of neutron radiation monitoring aboard the ISS and continues on where fellow Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk and the original Radi-N experiment left off in 2009.

A collaborative effort between the CSA and Russia's RSC-Energia and State Research Center of Russia Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP) Russian Academy of Sciences, the Radi-N2 study will have Chris Hadfield and fellow crewmember Roman Romanenko measure the neutron radiation levels on the station while onboard the ISS for Expedition 34/35.

Radi-N2 uses bubble detectors produced by a Canadian company, Bubble Technology IndustriesExternal link, Opens in a new window of Chalk River, Ontario, designed to focus on detecting neutrons while ignoring other types of radiation. Bubble detectors have been used in space for more than two decades on space shuttle missions and the MIR space station, and have become popular because of their accuracy and convenience.

Eight of these finger-sized instruments are going to be placed by Hadfield and Romanenko around various ISS modules. Each detector is filled with a clear polymer gel, inside which are liquid droplets. When a neutron strikes the test tube, a droplet may be vaporized. This creates a visible gas bubble in the polymer. Each bubble, which represents neutron radiation, is then placed within an automatic reader and counted.

Radi-N2 will provide critical information for potential future human missions to the moon, asteroids and eventually Mars.

The CSA's support of radiation research will not only lead to major advancements for future human exploration of space but also in our knowledge of the health risks of radiation, such as cancer, neurological damage and degenerative tissue disease.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Canadian Space Agency.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/astronomy/~3/krzKJ9PC7nQ/121220212917.htm

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Multi-tasking whales sing while feeding, not just breeding

Dec. 19, 2012 ? Humpback whales are famed for their songs, most often heard in breeding season when males are competing to mate with females. In recent years, however, reports of whale songs occurring outside traditional breeding grounds have become more common. A new study may help explain why.

Humpbacks sing for their supper -- or at least, they sing while they hunt for it.

The research, published December 19 in PLoS ONE, uncovers the whales' little-understood acoustic behavior while foraging.

It also reveals a previously unknown behavioral flexibility on their part that allows the endangered marine mammals to balance their need to feed continuously with the competing need to exhibit mating behaviors such as song displays.

"They need to feed. They need to breed. So essentially, they multi-task," said study co-author Ari S. Friedlaender, research scientist at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment. "This suggests the widely held behavioral dichotomy of breeding-versus-feeding for this species is too simplistic."

Researchers from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, the University of California-Santa Barbara and Duke tracked 10 humpback whales in coastal waters along the Western Antarctic Peninsula in May and June 2010. The peninsula's bays and fjords are important late-season feeding grounds where humpbacks feast on krill each austral autumn before migrating to warm-water calving grounds thousands of miles away.

Using non-invasive multi-sensor tags that attach to the whales with suction cups, the researchers recorded the whales' underwater movements and vocalizations as they foraged.

All 10 of the tags picked up the sounds of background songs, and in two cases, they recorded intense and continuous whale singing with a level of organization and structure approaching that of a typical breeding-ground mating display. The song bouts sometimes lasted close to an hour and in one case occurred even while sensors indicated the whale, or a close companion, was diving and lunging for food.

Humpbacks sing most frequently during breeding season, but are known to sing on other occasions too, such as while escorting mother-calf pairs along migratory routes. Though the reasons they sing are still not thoroughly understood, one distinction is clear: Songs sung in breeding grounds are quite different in duration, phrase type and theme structure from those heard at other locations and times.

"The fact that we heard mating displays being sung in late-season foraging grounds off the coast of Antarctica suggests humpback whale behavior may be more closely tied to the time of year than to physical locations. This may signify an ability to engage in breeding activities outside their traditional warm-water breeding grounds," said Douglas P. Nowacek, Repass-Rogers University Associate Professor of Conservation Technology at Duke's Nicholas School.

As the region's climate warms, sea ice cover around the Western Antarctic Peninsula has thinned in recent years and the water stays open later in the foraging season, he explained. Whales are remaining there longer into austral autumn to feast on krill instead of heading off to warm-water breeding grounds, as many scientists previously believed.

"Mating may now be taking place at higher latitudes," Nowacek said. "This merits further study."

Alison K. Stimpert, research associate in oceanography at the Naval Postgraduate School, was lead author of the new study. Lindsey E. Peavey, a PhD Student at the University of California at Santa Barbara's Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, co-authored it with Stimpert, Friedlaender and Nowacek.

Audio of whale: http://www.plosone.org/article/fetchSingleRepresentation.action?uri=info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0051214.s001

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Journal Reference:

  1. Stimpert AK, Peavey LE, Friedlaender AS, Nowacek DP. Humpback Whale Song and Foraging Behavior on an Antarctic Feeding Ground. PLoS One, 2012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051214

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/_6IAoH6Xwis/121219174156.htm

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Tony Hawk's 'frontside fling' photo with daughter causes uproar

At first glance, one may revel in the glee and exuberance of childhood innocence in the photo professional skateboarder Tony Hawk posted to his Instagram earlier this week. Hawk is seen swinging his delighted 4-year-old daughter, Kadence Clover, into the air as they skateboard together at his 5,000-square-foot skate park in his backyard.

But on closer inspection, you'll see Kadence dangling in the air without a helmet.

Hawk's caption: "Updated frontside fling photo via @mikeblake. She is learning to skate on her own, so we might not be doing this much longer."

The photo, which soon went viral, sparked instant uproar on Twitter and Instagram.

In response to the angry messages he received from some of his 3 million-plus followers, Hawk posted another image on his Instagram, along with the caption, "For those that say I endanger my child: it's more likely that you will fall while walking on the sidewalk than I will while skating with my daughter."

Catherine Connors, editor-in-chief of Babble, a Disney-owned parenting website and magazine, told ABC News (which Disney also owns) the compelling photo opens the doors to discuss the broader issue of childhood safety. As a powerful and influential figure, Tony Hawk inevitably serves as a role model for his fans and followers.

However, as Hawk is the father of four children, Connors says it is up to Hawk and his children's mothers to decide how they choose to raise their children.

"It's up to the parent's own assessment of what risk their child can tolerate and to make their own parenting choices," Connors said. "In that sense, Tony Hawk is the assessor of his own children's ability."

The photo, Connors said, sets an example against the use of safety gear. "In reality, it is important to encourage greater use of safety gear."

Representatives for Tony Hawk did not immediately respond to ABC News.com's requests for comments.

A few days later, Hawk posted a picture of his young son Riley skating, but this time, with a helmet on.

Also Read

Source: http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/tony-hawks-photo-raises-safety-questions-110125636--abc-news-topstories.html

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Obama to send Congress gun proposals in January

Vice President Joe Biden, left, listens as President Barack Obama announces that Biden will lead an administration-wide effort to curb gun violence in response to the Connecticut school shooting, during a news conference in the briefing room of the White House on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

Vice President Joe Biden, left, listens as President Barack Obama announces that Biden will lead an administration-wide effort to curb gun violence in response to the Connecticut school shooting, during a news conference in the briefing room of the White House on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

President Barack Obama stands with Vice President Joe Biden as he makes a statement Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, about policies he will pursue following the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Ct. Obama is tasking Vice President Joe Biden, a longtime gun control advocate, with spearheading the effort. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Barack Obama stands with Vice President Joe Biden as he makes a statement in the Brady Press Briefing Room about policies he will pursue following the Newtown, Ct., school shootings, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

(AP) ? Declaring the time for action overdue, President Barack Obama promised on Wednesday to send Congress broad proposals in January for tightening gun laws and curbing violence after last week's schoolhouse massacre in Connecticut.

Even before those proposals are drafted, Obama pressed lawmakers to reinstate a ban on military-style assault weapons, close loopholes that allow gun buyers to skirt background checks and restrict high-capacity ammunition clips.

"The fact that this problem is complex can no longer be an excuse for doing nothing," Obama said in his most detailed comments on guns since Friday's killing of 20 schoolchildren and six adults in Newtown, Conn. "The fact that we can't prevent every act of violence doesn't mean we can't steadily reduce the violence."

Gun control measures have faced fierce resistance in Congress for years but that may be changing now because of last week's violence. Since then, Obama has signaled for the first time in his presidency that he's willing to spend political capital on the issue and some prominent gun-rights advocates on Capitol Hill ? Democrats and Republicans alike ? have expressed willingness to consider new measures.

Still, given the long history of opposition to tighter gun laws, there is no certainty the legislation Obama backed Wednesday or the proposals he will send to Congress next month will become law.

Obama tasked Vice President Joe Biden, a longtime gun control advocate, with overseeing the administration-wide process to create those proposals. Beyond firearms' restrictions, officials will also look for ways to increase mental health resources and consider steps to keep society from glamorizing guns and violence.

Obama's January deadline underscores the desire among White House officials to respond swiftly to the Newtown shooting. Obama aides worry that as the shock of the shooting fades, so, too, will the prospects that pro-gun lawmakers will work with the White House to tighten restrictions.

"I would hope that our memories aren't so short that what we saw in Newtown isn't lingering with us, that we don't remain passionate about it only a month later," said Obama. He pledged to talk about gun violence in his State of the Union address.

Emphasizing the need to take action, Obama said eight people have been killed by guns across the U.S. since the Newtown shooting. Among them were a 4-year-old boy and three law enforcement officers.

The president has called for a national dialogue on gun violence before, after other mass shootings during his presidency. But his rhetoric has not been backed up with concrete action. And some of the gun measures Obama has signed lessened restrictions on guns, allowing people to carry concealed weapons in national parks and in checked bags on Amtrak trains

The president bristled at suggestions that he had been silent on gun issues during his four years in office. But he acknowledged that the Newtown shooting had been "a wake-up call for all of us."

The shooting appears to have had a similar impact on several longtime gun backers on Capitol Hill. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a conservative Democrat and avid hunter, has said "everything should be on the table" as Washington looks to prevent another tragedy, as has 10-term House Republican Jack Kingston of Georgia

There was little response from Republicans Wednesday following Obama's statements. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who has been sharply critical of the president's lack of action on gun issues, called the effort a step in the right direction.

Obama, seeking to ease the fears of gun owners, reiterated his support for the Second Amendment. And he said no effort to reduce gun violence would be successful without their participation.

"I am also betting that the majority, the vast majority, of responsible law-abiding gun owners would be some of the first to say that we should be able to keep an irresponsible, law-breaking few from buying a weapon of war," he said.

He also challenged the National Rifle Association to do "some self-reflection." The gun lobby is a powerful political force, particularly in Republican primaries, and previously has worked to unseat lawmakers who back gun control measures.

The NRA, in its first statements since the shooting, pledged Tuesday to offer "meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again."

The Biden-led task force will also explore ways to improve mental health resources and address ways to create a culture that doesn't promote violence. The departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security, along with outside groups and lawmakers, will all be part of the process.

Biden will start his discussions Thursday when he meets with law enforcement officers from around the country. He'll be joined by Attorney General Eric Holder, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Biden's prominent role could be an asset for the White House in getting gun legislation through Congress. The vice president spent decades in the Senate and has been called on by Obama before to use his long-standing relationships with lawmakers to build support for White House measures.

The vice president also brings to the effort a long history of working on gun control issues, having chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee and leading the original effort to ban assault weapons. The ban expired in 2004, but Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., says she plans to bring it back for a vote early next year.

___

Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-12-19-Obama-Gun%20Control/id-b8434e7f4864434f9450b900fe429574

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

'Unexpected Pleasures' at Design Museum, London

'Unexpected Pleasures' at Design Museum, London

Jewellery is rarely the focus of major exhibitions at prominent galleries. This year has been different, with standalone exhibtions from Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels being staged in museums across Europe. Adding to that this week, and somewhat at the opposite end of the scale, is '

Source: http://www.facebook.com/wallpapermagazine/posts/10151341351636253

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NESCA News & Notes: IDEA Words and Terms to Know (and Post ...

From NCLD.org - The National Center for Learning Disabilities

By the NCLD Public Policy Team

December 10, 2012

Accommodations

Tools and procedures that provide equal access to instruction and assessment for students with disabilities. Designed to "level the playing field" for students with disabilities, accommodations are generally grouped into the following categories:

  • Presentation (e.g., repeat directions, read aloud, use of larger bubbles on answer sheets, etc.)
  • Response (e.g., mark answers in book, use reference aids, point, use of computer, etc.)
  • Timing/Scheduling (e.g., extended time, frequent breaks, etc.)
  • Setting (e.g., study carrel, special lighting, separate room, etc.).
Americans with Disabilities Act

Federal law that protects persons with disabilities from discrimination in the operations of public businesses and governments.

Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)

A plan to address problem behavior that includes, as appropriate, positive behavioral interventions, strategies, and supports; program modifications; and supplementary aids and services that may be required to address the problem behavior.

Child with a Disability

A child who has a disability as defined in one of the 13 disability categories in IDEA and who needs special education and related services because of the disability; or a child aged 3 through 9 who is experiencing developmental delay.

Child Find

Ongoing activities undertaken by states and local school districts to locate, identify, and evaluate all children residing in the state who are suspected of having disabilities so that a free appropriate public education (FAPE) can be made available to all eligible children, including all children in public and private schools, including religious schools.

Courses of Study

Middle and high school course work (or classes) that lead to a certain type of diploma and/or are required for post-secondary education.

Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM)

Tools for measuring student competency and progress in the basic skill areas of reading fluency, spelling, mathematics and written language.

Developmental Delay

A disability category states may use for certain students aged three through nine as a way to provide early services for students suspected of having a disability. If used, the definition of developmental delay is determined by the state and may include a child whose development, as measured by appropriate diagnostic tests and procedures, lags behind peers in one or more of the following areas:

  • physical development,
  • cognitive development,
  • communication development,
  • social or emotional development,
  • adaptive development;
and who, because of such delays, needs special education and related services.

Disability Categories

IDEA disability categories include:

  • autism,
  • deaf-blindness,
  • deafness,
  • emotional disturbance,
  • hearing impairment,
  • mental retardation (intellectual disability),
  • multiple disabilities,
  • orthopedic impairment,
  • other health impairment (e.g., asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, epilepsy, heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia and Tourette syndrome),
  • specific learning disability, (e.g., Perceptual Disabilities, Brain Injury, Minimal Brain Dysfunction, Dyslexia, Developmental Aphasia), speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment (including blindness),
  • developmental delay.

Due Process Complaint

A written complaint filed by a parent or a school district involving any matter relating to the identification, evaluation, educational placement or provision of a free, appropriate, public education to a student with a disability. Due process complaints must be filed within two years of the matter in dispute.

Due Process Hearing

A formal, quasi-legal procedure before an impartial hearing officer or administrative law judge (or panel of judges) who is not an employee of the state educational agency or school district. Both the parents and the school district present arguments and evidence.

Early Intervention Services

Services to infants and toddlers provided under Part C of IDEA. Part C established the Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities, a federal grant program that assists states in operating a comprehensive statewide program of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, aged birth through age 2 years, and their families.

Early intervention services include multidisciplinary evaluation of needs of children and family-directed identification of the needs of each family as set out in an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

Eligibility

The determination that a student is a child with a disability.

Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)

Special education and related services that are provided at public expense, under public supervision and direction, and without charge to the parent, and that meet the standards of the state education department.

Special education and related services must be provided in conformity with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) as required by IDEA.

Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)

A problem-solving process for addressing student problem behavior. FBA relies on a variety of techniques and strategies to identify the reasons for a specific behavior and to help IEP teams select interventions that directly address the problem behavior.

Functional Skills

Skills needed for independent living, such as cooking, comparison shopping, working with or managing money, using public transportation, and knowing how to be safe in the community.

General Education Curriculum

The body of knowledge and range of skills that all students in the state are expected to master.

Interim Alternative Educational Setting (IAES)

A setting other than the student's current placement that enables the student to continue to receive educational services according to his or her IEP. The IAES must enable the student to continue to participate in the general education curriculum, although in another setting, and progress toward meeting the goals set out in the IEP.

Students in an IAES should also receive, as appropriate, a functional behavioral assessment, behavioral intervention services and modifications that are designed to address the behavior violation so that it does not happen again. The particular IAES is determined by the student's IEP team.


Individualized Education Program (IEP)

A written statement for each child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised according to the requirements of IDEA.

Informed Consent

Procedure to ensure that the parent:
  • Has been fully informed of all information related to the proposed activity (in his native language, or other mode of communication)
  • Understands and agrees in writing to carrying out the activity for which his consent is sought
  • Understands that giving consent is voluntary and may be revoked at any time
  • Understands that revoking consent will not apply to an activity that has already occurred
  • Informed consent is required for an evaluation, a reevaluation and for the initial delivery of special education services.
Intervention A change in instructing the student in the area of learning difficulty to try to improve learning and achieve adequate progress.

Least Restrictive Environment

To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities are to be educated with children who are not disabled. Special classes, separate schooling, or other ways of removing children with disabilities from the regular educational environment should only occur when the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes cannot be achieved satisfactorily with the use of supplementary aids and services.

Mediation

A confidential, voluntary process that allows parties to resolve disputes without a formal due process hearing. An impartial mediator helps the parties to express their views and positions and to understand the other's views and positions. The mediator's role is to facilitate discussion and help parties reach an agreement ? not to recommend solutions or take positions or sides.

No Child Left Behind

The current version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) ? the principal federal law affecting public education from kindergarten through high school in the United States.

Parent

A natural, adoptive or foster parent; an individual acting in the place of a natural or adoptive parent; an individual who is legally responsible for the child; a guardian; or a surrogate parent.

Post-secondary Education

Formal education or training beyond high school, including college, university, vocational school and trade school.

Pre-referral Interventions

Interventions delivered in the student's regular classroom that attempt to improve learning prior to a referral for formal special education evaluation.

Prior Written Notice

A written notice that the school must provide to the parents of a student with a disability within a reasonable time if they wish to:
  • Evaluate the student
  • Determine whether the student is eligible for special education services
  • Change the student's evaluation or educational placement or educational plan (IEP)
  • Refuse the parents' request to evaluate their child or change their child's educational plan (IEP) or placement.
Progress Monitoring A scientifically based practice used to assess students' academic performance and evaluate the effectiveness of instruction. Progress monitoring can be implemented with individual students or an entire class.

Related Services

Supportive services that are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education. Related services include:

  • transportation,
  • developmental and corrective services,
  • speech-language pathology and audiology services,
  • interpreting services,
  • psychological services,
  • physical and occupational therapy,?
  • recreation (including therapeutic recreation),
  • counseling services (including rehabilitation counseling),
  • orientation and mobility services,
  • medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes.
Related services also include school health services, school nurse services designed to enable a child with a disability to receive a free appropriate public education as described in the child's IEP, social work services in schools, and parent counseling and training.

Response-to-Intervention (RTI)

A comprehensive, multi-step process that closely monitors how the student is responding to different types of services and instruction.

Resolution Session

A mandatory meeting that the school district must convene within 15 days of receiving the parents' due process complaint. The resolution session includes parents, members of the IEP team relevant to the complaint, and a representative of the school district who has decision-making authority.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

A federal law that requires a school district to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to each child with a disability in the district's jurisdiction.

School District

The term "school district" and "school" are used to refer to the entity that has legal authority, control and responsibility for public education in a city, county, town (or combination of these), or other subdivision of a state.

Scientific Research-Based Instruction

Curriculum and educational interventions that are research based and have been proven to be effective for most students

Special Education

Specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings; and instruction in physical education.

Specially-Designed Instruction

Ways that special education professionals adapt the content, methodology (approaches to teaching certain grade level content), or the delivery of instruction to address the unique needs that result from the child's disability. Specially designed instruction should also ensure that the eligible child has access to the general curriculum so that he or she can meet the educational standards of the school district that apply to all children.

Specific Learning Disability

A disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which disorder may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. The term includes such conditions as:

  • perceptual disabilities,
  • brain injury,
  • minimal brain dysfunction,
  • dyslexia,
  • developmental aphasia.
The term does not include a learning problem that is primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.

State Complaint

A written complaint that can be filed by any organization or individual claiming that a school district within the state has either violated a requirement of Part B of IDEA (the part that contains all requirements regarding the delivery of special education services) or the state's special education law or regulations. State complaints must be filed within one year of the alleged violation.

Summary of Performance

A summary of the student's academic achievement and functional performance that includes recommendations to assist the student in meeting his or her post-secondary goals.

Supplemental Aids and Services

Aids, services, and other supports that are provided in regular education classes or other education-related settings to enable children with disabilities to be educated with nondisabled children to the maximum extent appropriate. Examples of supplemental aids and services might be assistive technologies such as a computer or adapted physical education

Transition Services

A coordinated set of activities that:
  • Improves the academic and functional skills of the student in order to facilitate the student's movement from school to post-school activities such as post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living or community participation;
  • Is based on the individual student's needs, taking into account his or her strengths, preferences, and interests;
  • Includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives and, when appropriate, the acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation.
Universal Screening A step taken by school personnel early in the school year to determine which students are "at risk" for not meeting grade level standards. Universal screening can be accomplished by reviewing a student's recent performance on state or district tests or by administering an academic screening to all students in a given grade. Students whose scores on the screening fall below a certain cut-off point are identified as needing continued progress monitoring and possibly more intensive interventions.

Vocational Rehabilitation?Agency

A publicly funded state agency that provides direct and indirect services to youth with disabilities as they transition from school to work, in order to maximize their employability, independence and integration into the workplace and the community.


Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

A set of services offered to individuals with disabilities designed to enable participants to attain skills, resources, attitudes, and expectations needed to compete in the interview process, get a job, and keep a job.

Source: http://nesca-news.blogspot.com/2012/12/idea-words-and-terms-to-know-and-post.html

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Source: http://isidro37.posterous.com/nesca-news-notes-idea-words-and-terms-to-know

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Samsung has reportedly dropped its patent lawsuits against Apple in Europe, part...

VR-Zone
Samsung has reportedly dropped its patent lawsuits against Apple in Europe, particularly in U.K., France, Germany, Italy, and Netherlands. The South Korean technology giant confirmed to The Verge today saying, http://goo.gl/Q5ExX
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Video: Matthews: Nobody on the right will blame Obama for mass shootings

PFT: Jets bench Sanchez, go with McElroy

Mark Sanchez has been benched. Tim Tebow has been bypassed. Greg McElroy is the New York Jets? starting quarterback. McElroy, who has played in only one game in his NFL career, has been announced as the starter for the Jets on Sunday against the Chargers. Jets coach Rex Ryan made the decision after Sanchez had a disastrous four-interception game in a Monday night loss that eliminated the Jets from playoff contention.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/hardball/50241561/

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Ireland to legislate for life-saving abortions

DUBLIN (AP) ? Ireland's government says it will draft a new law spelling out the right of women to receive abortions in cases where the pregnancy poses a risk to their lives ? including from a woman's own threats to commit suicide.

For two decades, successive governments have resisted passing any law in support of a 1992 Supreme Court judgment that such abortions should be legal in Ireland.

Catholic conservatives particularly oppose the suicide-threat justification, arguing it could be used to expand access to abortion beyond relatively rare cases where a pregnancy endangers a woman's life.

Tuesday's announcement follows international uproar over the October death of a miscarrying Indian woman in an Irish hospital.

Her widower said she was denied a prompt termination because the fetus had a heartbeat.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ireland-legislate-life-saving-abortions-204205340.html

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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Infosys may trim forecast again as U.S. clients cut back

BANGALORE (Reuters) - Infosys, India's No. 2 software services provider, may cut its revenue forecast next month as U.S. business clients defer spending and balk at signing big deals.

The outsourcing icon, which has missed its own revenue guidance in three of the past four quarters, has struggled as its big customers cut costs, and analysts have criticized management for sticking with a rigid pricing policy when competitors have offered more flexible plans.

Infosys executives have sounded downbeat in recent interviews and in meetings with analysts, citing client troubles ranging from Hurricane Sandy-related shutdowns to worries about the U.S. "fiscal cliff" of tax hikes and spending cuts.

"From what they've been saying in various conversations, it's not unlikely that they will cut guidance," said Ambit Capital analyst Ankur Rudra, who has maintained a "sell" rating on Infosys shares since January 2011.

An Infosys spokeswoman declined to comment, noting that the company is in a mandatory quiet period ahead of its earnings results due in January.

With about 60 percent of its business in the United States, Infosys is particularly vulnerable to swings in U.S. corporate sentiment and has been hit hard by spending deferrals.

Diviya Nagarajan, an analyst at UBS, wrote in a December 6 note to clients that the company's growth forecast for the fiscal year ending in March could be under threat because of cutbacks on large projects and delays in closing deals.

UBS organized an investor meeting on December 6, featuring Infosys Chief Executive Officer S.D. Shibulal.

Longer-than-expected client shutdowns due to Hurricane Sandy, especially in the manufacturing sector, were also hurting Infosys, wrote Nagarajan in her report.

Infosys's guidance of 5 percent dollar revenue growth for the current fiscal year compares with an estimate of 11 percent for the sector by the National Association of Software and Services Companies, or NASSCOM.

Infosys, for years an investor favorite for exceeding its targets, stopped providing quarterly guidance in July after a string of disappointing results. It now provides only an annual revenue forecast.

It is expected to update its outlook for the fiscal year ending in March when it reports quarterly results on January 11. A forecast cut would be the second this fiscal year. In July, Infosys halved its dollar revenue growth estimate from as much as 10 percent - forecast in April - to 5 percent.

LEANING OVER THE CLIFF

Long the sector bellwether, Infosys is in the midst of a strategy shift that it calls "Infosys 3.0" as it tries to diversify away from businesses that have become commoditized. It is focusing on developing its own software and building technological expertise.

At the same time, industry insiders say, it is quietly becoming more flexible on its premium pricing, given fierce competition.

"Things have become challenging, because in the U.S., which is the largest market for all of us, the fiscal cliff is still not resolved, they are still talking about it, there is a lot of uncertainty, so all the corporates are sitting tight on their spending," V. Balakrishnan, who was previously chief financial officer and now heads three Infosys units, told reporters on December 12.

The company is also heavily exposed to discretionary spending in the financial sector. While such business is lucrative during good times, it is vulnerable when the industry is retrenching.

"Previously, the banks would come and talk to us, you know. Now, discretionary projects, they can pull the plug with 48 hours notice," Infosys CFO Rajiv Bansal told Reuters on December 8.

UNDERPERFORMER

Infosys shares are down almost 18 percent this year, compared with a 7 percent gain for larger rival Tata Consultancy Services and a 3.1 percent fall for the sector index. That compares with a 25 percent gain for the broader market.

Some investors are betting the stock will continue to fall. Nearly three-quarters of Infosys American depositary receipts that can be borrowed are out on loan, compared with an average of about 8.7 percent for all ADRs, according to data from Markit Securities Finance.

In the nine months ended September, Infosys's operating profit dropped about five percentage points as a proportion of revenue, from 31.2 percent for the quarter ended December 2011 to 26.3 percent, according to data on the company's website.

Cowen and Co analysts downgraded Infosys to "neutral" from "outperform" on December 3, expecting it to have a "protracted revenue growth recovery."

In a Cowen survey of IT buyers, Infosys scored poorly, behind competitors such as Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp, on both new client additions and project workload, which the analysts define as spending intentions from existing and new clients.

U.S. based Cognizant expects to end the year to December with 20 percent revenue growth.

Infosys's difficulties stand in contrast with commentary from larger rival TCS, which is known to be more flexible on pricing and has maintained that it will beat NASSCOM's estimate this year and that next year will be even better.

Cognizant and India's HCL Technologies have also been winning market share by being more flexible on pricing, which puts more pressure on Infosys at a time when customers are hesitant to add new spending.

"While the net new scope of work hasn't been increasing greatly, a large number of contracts of significant value are coming back to the market as renewals or recompetes," said Siddharth Pai, partner at Information Services Group, which advises global clients on outsourcing strategies.

"Our data suggests that incumbents win these contracts the majority of the time, but each renewal constitutes an opportunity for a rival to displace the incumbent," he said.

(Additional reporting by Nishant Kumar in Hong Kong; Editing by Tony Munroe and Emily Kaiser)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/infosys-may-trim-forecast-again-u-clients-cut-074409396--sector.html

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New Calls for Gun Limits (WSJ)

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

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Charlie Brown's Christmas Reunion Will Ruin Your Childhood

In the aftermath of Friday's Newtown school shooting, we've heard tales mostly horrifying and occasionally heroic, from surviving witnesses and mourning citizens alike, but this one lies somewhere in between, all the more unshakeable. One six-year-old Sandy Hook student played dead in her first-grade classroom, her family pastor said late Sunday, with the kind of quick thinking that ended up saving her life but now leaves her with the unshakeable memories of watching all her classmates being shot and killed. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/charlie-browns-christmas-reunion-ruin-childhood-224319358.html

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Monday, December 17, 2012

Embalmed body of N. Korea's Kim Jong Il unveiled

Ng Han Guan / AP

North Koreans clap beneath part of a slogan that calls on people to carry out the revolutionary ideology of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, North Korea on Monday.

By NBC News wire services

PYONGYANG, North Korea ? The embalmed body of Kim Jong Il, still in his trademark khaki jumpsuit, was unveiled on the anniversary of the North Korea leader's death Monday as mourning mixed with pride over a recent satellite launch that was a long-held goal of the late authoritarian leader.

Kim lies in state a few floors below his father, national founder Kim Il Sung, in the Kumsusan mausoleum, the cavernous former presidential palace.


Kim Jong Il was presented lying beneath a red blanket, a spotlight shining on his face in a room suffused in red.

Wails echoed through the chilly hall as a group of North Korean women sobbed into the sashes of their traditional Korean dresses as they bowed before his body.

North Korean state television showed a pudgy Kim Jong Un and his wife paying homage on Monday at a national memorial service at the mausoleum.?

Pregnant? North Korea leader's wife reportedly returns to public eye after long silence

In the footage, Kim's wife, Ri Sol-ju, was wearing traditional Korean black mourning clothes and looked to be pregnant - in accordance with recent rumors - but there was no official announcement on her status by North Korean media.

North Korea also unveiled Kim's yacht and his armored train carriage, where he is said to have died. Among the personal belongings featured in the mausoleum are the parka, sunglasses and pointy platform shoes he famously wore in the last decades of his life. A MacBook Pro lay open on his desk.

'Event with great significance'
North Koreans paid homage to Kim and basked in the success of last week's launch of a long-range rocket that sent a satellite named after him to space.

Ng Han Guan / AP

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, officially reopens the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun mausoleum in Pyongyang, North Korea on Monday.

The launch, condemned in many other capitals as a violation of bans against developing its missile technology, was portrayed not only as a gift to Kim Jong Il but also as proof that his young son, Kim Jong Un, has the strength and vision to lead the country.

North Korean satellite 'tumbling out of control,' US officials say

The elder Kim died last Dec. 17 from a heart attack while traveling on his train. His death was famously followed by scenes of North Koreans dramatically wailing in the streets of Pyongyang, and of the 20-something son leading ranks of uniformed and gray-haired officials through funeral and mourning rites.

The mood in the capital was decidedly more upbeat a year later, with some of the euphoria carrying over from last Wednesday's launch.

North Korea claims discovery of 'unicorn lair'

North Koreans across the country stopped in their tracks at midday to bow their heads and honor the former ruler as the national flag fluttered at half-staff along streets and from buildings.

China has offered a rare criticism of Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, after the country fired a long-range rocket that has been described by U.S. officials as a weapons test. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.

Pyongyang construction workers took off their yellow hard hats and bowed at the waist as sirens wailed across the city for three minutes. Earlier, Kim Jong Un attended a solemn ceremony to reopen the sprawling granite mausoleum where his father and his grandfather lie in state in separate halls.

Tens of thousands of North Koreans gathered in the frigid plaza outside, newly transformed into a public park with lawns and pergolas.

Speaking outside the mausoleum, renamed the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the military's top political officer, Choe Ryong Hae, said North Korea should be proud of the satellite, calling it "a political event with great significance in the history of Korea and humanity."

North Korea pays tribute to Kim Jong Il's 'threadbare and discolored' parka

Much of the rest of the world, however, was swift in condemning the launch, which was seen by the United States and other nations as a thinly disguised cover for testing missile technology that could someday be used for a nuclear warhead.

The test, which potentially violates a United Nations ban on North Korean missile activity, underlined Kim Jong Un's determination to continue carrying out his father's hardline policies even if they draw international condemnation.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., talks about the mounting international pressure on North Korea and Syria for their recent rebellious behavior.

Despite inviting further isolation for his impoverished nation and the threat of stiffer sanctions, Kim Jong Un won national prestige and clout by going ahead with the rocket launch.

ANALYSIS: 'Spoiled child' North Korea snubs key ally China with rocket test

The reopening of the mausoleum on the anniversary of the leader's death also follows tradition. Kumsusan, the palace where his father, Kim Il Sung, served as president, was reopened as a mausoleum on the first anniversary of his death in 1994.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

More world stories from NBC News:

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Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/17/15966408-body-of-n-koreas-kim-jong-il-unveiled-for-anniversary-of-his-death?lite

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Obama to meet with school shooting victims' families

By NBC News staff

President?Barack Obama?will travel to Newtown, Conn., on Sunday to meet with families of the victims in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and to thank first responders, the White?House?announced on Saturday night.

The president will also?speak at an interfaith vigil for families of the victims as well as other families from Sandy Hook Elementary.?


In his weekly radio and Internet address earlier on Saturday, Obama said it was time to "take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this.''? ?

But he stopped short of specifically calling for tighter gun-control laws.

On Friday, an emotional Obama paused to wipe away a tear as he spoke from the White House about the tragedy hours after it unfolded.

"The majority of those who died today were children -- beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old," he said. "They had their entire lives ahead of them -- birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own."

He added:?"Our hearts are broken today, for the parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children, as well as the families of the adults who were lost."

A gunman authorities identified as Adam Lanza, 20, shot to death 20 children and six adults at the school. He earlier killed his mother at her home, officials have said.

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/15/15935160-obama-to-visit-newtown-meet-with-school-shooting-victims-families?lite

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