Sunday, June 30, 2013

Key events in Egypt's revolution and transition

CAIRO (AP) ? Hundreds of thousands of Egyptian marched in the streets Sunday demanding the removal of President Mohammed Morsi on the anniversary of his inauguration, with his Islamist backers vowing to defend him.

Here are some key events from more than two years of turmoil and transition.

Jan. 25-Feb. 11, 2011 ? Egyptians stage nationwide demonstrations against the rule of autocrat Hosni Mubarak, who led the country for nearly three decades. The 18-day "revolution," launched by secular and leftist youth, draws in a wide spectrum, including the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists. Hundreds of protesters are killed as Mubarak and his allies try to crush the uprising.

Feb. 11 ? Mubarak steps down and turns power over to the military. Two days later, the body of top generals, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, dissolves parliament and suspends the constitution, meeting two key demands of protesters.

March 19 ? In the first post-Mubarak vote, Egyptians cast ballots on constitutional amendments sponsored by the military setting the framework for the transition to democracy, including scheduling the first parliamentary and presidential elections. Islamists back the amendments, eager to hold elections they are poised to dominate. Many revolutionaries push for a "no" vote, arguing a constitution should be written first. The measures are overwhelmingly approved.

Oct. 9 ? Military troops crush a protest by Christians in Cairo over a church attack, killing more than 25 protesters. The rally as among many during the military's nearly 17-month rule, with protesters often calling for the removal of the generals and clashes frequently erupting that killed dozens

Nov. 28, 2011-Feb 15, 2012 ? Egypt holds multistage, weekslong parliamentary elections, with Islamists scoring big. In the lawmaking lower house, the Muslim Brotherhood wins nearly half the seats, and ultraconservative Salafis take another quarter. The remainder goes to liberal, leftist, independent and secular politicians. In the largely powerless upper house, few voters bother to cast ballots, and Islamists take nearly 90 percent of the seats.

May 23-24, 2012 ? The first round of voting in presidential elections, with a field of 13 candidates. Morsi and Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister under Mubarak, emerge as winners to face each other in a runoff.

June 14 ? The Supreme Constitutional Court orders the dissolving of the Islamist-dominated lower house of parliament on grounds that a third of its members were elected illegally. The military swiftly closes down parliament.

June 16-17 ? Egyptians vote in the presidential runoff between Morsi and Shafiq. The generals issue a "constitutional declaration" giving themselves sweeping authorities and limiting the powers of the next president. Morsi emerges as the victor, with 51.7 percent of the vote.

June 30 ? Morsi takes his formal oath of office before the Supreme Constitutional Court, a day after reading a symbolic oath in Cairo's Tahrir Square, birthplace of the revolution.

Aug. 12 ? In a bold move, Morsi orders the retirement of the top Mubarak-era leadership of the military and cancels the military's last constitutional decree, taking back the powers that the generals gave themselves. The move was seen as way to curb the military's role in political affairs but it also gave Morsi the power to legislate in the absence of parliament.

Nov. 19 ? Members of liberal parties and representatives of Egypt's churches withdraw from the 100-member assembly writing the constitution, created by parliament before it was dissolved. They say they are protesting attempts by Islamists who dominate the panel to impose their will on the draft.

Nov. 22 ? Morsi unilaterally decrees greater authorities for himself, giving his decisions immunity from judicial review and barring the courts from dissolving the constituent assembly and the upper house of parliament. The move came just ahead of court decisions that could have dissolved the bodies. The move sparks days of protests, with clashes between Morsi's supporters and opponents. At one point, some 200,000 people rally in Tahrir Square, with some of the first chants for Morsi to "leave."

Nov. 30 ? In a marathon, all-night session, Islamists on the constituent assembly rush to complete the draft of the constitution, with non-Islamists almost completely boycotting the gathering. Morsi sets a Dec. 15 date for a referendum, further fueling protests.

Dec. 2 ? Islamists protest outside the Supreme Constitutional Court, blocking judges from entering to rule on the legality of the constituent assembly.

Dec. 4 ? More than 100,000 protesters march on the presidential palace, demanding the cancellation of the referendum and the writing of a new constitution. The next day, Islamists attack a peaceful anti-Morsi sit-in outside the palace, sparking all-out street battles that leave at least 10 dead. Days later, Morsi rescinds his initial decrees, but maintains the date of the referendum.

Dec. 15, Dec. 22 ? In the two-round referendum, Egyptians approve the constitution, with 63.8 percent voting in favor. Turnout, however, is low with only 32.9 percent of voters participating.

Dec. 29 ? The Egyptian Central Bank announces that foreign reserves ? drained to $15 billion from $36 billion in 2010 ? have fallen to a "critical minimum" and starts new measures to stop a sharp slide in the value of the Egyptian pound. The pound's decline slows but doesn't stop, and now stands at just over 7 to the dollar, compared to as strong as 5.5 to the dollar in 2010.

Jan. 25, 2013 ? Hundreds of thousands hold protests in Tahrir Square and nationwide against Morsi on the 2-year anniversary of the start of the revolt against Mubarak, and clashes erupt in many places. The following day, residents of the city of Port Said stage protests, angered by a court ruling convicting and sentencing to death a group of local soccer fans for a 2012 stadium riot. Police crack down hard in Port Said, killing more than 40 protesters, and in outrage the city and others nearby go into near revolt. Much of the anger is focused at Morsi, who praised the police for their crackdown.

Feb. 22 ? Morsi schedules elections for a new lower house of parliament, to begin in April. But the election is postponed after a court rules that the upper house ? which is carrying out legislative duties until a lower house is created ? improperly approved the law governing the election. It remains unknown when elections will be held.

Feb.-March 2013 ? Protests continue in Port Said and other cities for weeks, with dozens more dying in clashes, and some police units around the country go on strike. Brotherhood youth and their opponents fight in the streets outside the group's main Cairo headquarters.

April 7 ? A Muslim mob attacks the main cathedral of the Coptic Orthodox Church when Christians hold a funeral and protest there over four Christians killed in sectarian violence outside of Cairo the day before. One person is killed in clashes at the cathedral, and Pope Tawadros II publicly blames Morsi for failing to protect the building, thought the president condemns the attack.

May 7 ? Morsi reshuffles the Cabinet, bringing in more ministers from the Muslim Brotherhood to total 11 members of the 36-member government. Officials say the changes aim to finalize long-stalled negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for crucial $4.8 billion loan, which requires sensitive reductions to fuel and food subsidies that take up a large chunk of the budget. A deal has still not been reached.

June 23 ? A mob beats to death four Egyptian Shiites in their home in a village on the edge of Cairo. Morsi condemns the attack, but critics blame virulent anti-Shiite rhetoric by his hard-line Islamist allies, fueled by Syria's civil war. A week earlier, Morsi shared a stage with hard-line clerics at a rally, sitting silently as they denounced Shiites as "filthy."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/key-events-egypts-revolution-transition-082102564.html

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[Deal Alert] Samsung Galaxy Player Refurb Variants on Sale

Samsung-Galaxy-Players

?

If you are in the market for a good mp3 player with our favorite Andy logo branded on it, then today, you will find a nice little deal available to you straight from our friends at Walmart. While they are definitely nothing new to the market, the Samsung Galaxy Player variants were essentially the answer to Apple?s iPod Touch series, but they boasted a more appealing platform with screen size options and Android installed, which?automatically?meant rooting would be involved.

If you want one, but aren?t necessarily open to the $200+ price tags that come along with them on Samsung.com and Amazon, then go ahead and take a look at Walmart.com, who is selling them, Walmart refurbished, for sub $150 prices. That?s something you can?t give up!

The available players go as follows:

Samsung Galaxy Player 5.0 ? $134.99

Android (Version 2.3.5 Gingerbread) OS

8GB flash memory

Display Screen: 5.0?, WVGA (800 x 480)

Battery Type: Lithium-polymer 2,500mAh

802.11b/g/n WiFi

3.2 megapixel camera, front; 3.2 megapixel camera, back

GPS

Bluetooth 3.0

FM Radio

USB 2.0

Embedded Speaker (Stereo)

Embedded Microphone

microSD card (Up to 32GB)

Android Market

File Formats: MP3, WMA, Ogg, FLAC, AAC, WAV, MPEG4, DivX 4/5/6, XviD, H.264

Color: White

?

Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 ? $129.99

8GB memory

Front and rear cameras

WiFi

Operating System: Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) OS

Bluetooth v3.0 technology

?

Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0 ? $120.99

Android (Version 2.2 Froyo) OS

8GB flash memory

Display Screen: 4.0?, WVGA (800 x 480)

Battery Type: Lithium-ion 1,200mAh

802.11b/g/n WiFi

3.2 megapixel camera, front; 3.2 megapixel camera, back

GPS

Bluetooth 3.0

FM Radio

USB 2.0

Embedded Speaker (Stereo)

Embedded Microphone

microSD card (Up to 32GB)

Android Market

File Formats: MP3, WMA, Ogg, FLAC, AAC, WAV, MPEG4, DivX 4/5/6, XviD, H.264

Color: White

?

Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 ? $99.98

8GB memory

Front and rear cameras

WiFi

Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) OS

Bluetooth v3.0 technology

?

Now for the 4.2 and 3.6, those are the only specifications they had listed on the Walmart page, but I am sure that they are similar in some form or fashion. Seeing as how Apple wants $179.99 for a Refurbished iPod Touch 4th Generation (looks like the iPhone 4/4S for those that don?t know), the fact that the price is so low AND you have options on screen size is something that you cannot look past. The only catch 22 is that I?m sure that 4th Gen iPods will in fact see iOS7, while there are no hopes of seeing 4.0+ on the Samsung Galaxy Player in true Android fashion. I looked on XDA for ICS/JB ROM alternatives, but ALL of them had none-working cameras, whether it be the FFC or rear, ?sometimes both. Regardless, GB Touchwiz actually was very smooth, just don?t look too forward to playing NBA 2K13 on the 5.0 without sacrificing something on the hardware side.

With all that in consideration, if you are interested, please use the links in each of the descriptions of one of the Samsung Galaxy Player variants in order to choose which one best suits your needs, then tell us how you like it if you bought one. Also, don?t be scared away by the ?refurb? tag, every review on Walmart.com said that the players looked like they were fresh off the production line.

Tell us what you think in the comments below.

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About the Author

Mingo Allen II

It all began with a Mytouch 3G Slide, and never in a million years would I have thought that I would be where I am today with Android. I'm a developer, gamer and absolute Android fanatic. Right now, I'm sporting an HTC Evo 3D, with my old Samsung Galaxy S 4G as my mp3 player, and My Nook Tablet as my go to device for games and stuff! Oh, and I love to write man!
More articles by Mingo Allen II+ ?

Source: http://androidspin.com/2013/06/29/deal-alert-samsung-galaxy-player-refurb-variants-on-sale/

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Saturday, June 29, 2013

The Newcomer's Guide To Efficient Internet Promotion - Maynas Eric

It is no secret that there is a lot of hard work involved in Website marketing. Hard work and persistence can help your Internet promotion plan improve your bottom line. It does no good to work very hard at pointless tasks. The tips listed here will get you going in the right direction.

A client mailing list is vital. Post notification on your website to collect emails. However, if you want to be slightly more aggressive, request it in order for customers to purchase items off your site. Either way, you can use this information later to send out sales information, offer promotional materials or to ask for customer feedback.

You need to create a great site before worrying about getting it ranked. Building a great website should be your very first step in starting a web business. Once your website operates without glitches and looks great, you are ready to move forward with marketing.

TIP! To increase your ad clicks, place an image on your page that, when clicked, leads to a page that describes the item you are advertising or selling. Ensure you use the font that you use in your articles and linking it.

Split your website into sections, and have a map from which people can choose the products they?d like to see. While variety is desirable, ensure that your options are presented in an organized way.

Try putting a blog on your site and updating it regularly. Frequent blogging is a great way of keeping your potential customers informed and up to date about your business. Having a blog also makes your site larger, which gives search engines more material to index and should thus bring you more traffic.

You have everything you need to be successful with internet marketing. Fancy computer programs and overpriced get-rich-quick schemes can?t compare to a person with knowledge and the desire to get the job done. Just work hard and imagine what you can achieve when you are marketing yourself.

TIP! Use social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook as a part of your Internet marketing campaign. You can use these sites to advertise new offers or to share your latest articles.

To build a good website, be as content-focused and as comprehensive as you can. Your main goal should be to teach the viewer about your product in a timely manner. Repetitive descriptions and data, facts and information that the customer will find irrelevant or even boring, should be avoided.

Video marketing is an awesome way to generate interest in your business. Incorporating an informative video onto your website is a great method for gaining the attention of your viewers. Sharing these videos should be easy thanks to social networks and blogs.

To become a successful internet marketer, you need dedication and a high work ethic rather than luck. There is no such story about a business that just got lucky in their success. Coca Cola?s success isn?t pure luck, but rather years of research and work that culminated in a wildly successful soft drink. Not at all. They did a superb job of marketing their product.

TIP! A ?squeeze page? can be an effective way to gather contact info for your mailing list. This will encourage visitors to enter their email addresses.

The majority of cellular providers permit multiple numbers to be routed to a single phone. Therefore, it is wise to get a dedicated number.

To bolster the credibility of your web business, you should try to land interviews with authorities within your niche who are well respected. The interviews can be done on video, audio, or in text form. Your interview will boost readership of your website, improve your reputation as someone in the know and give you more incoming traffic.

You should approach banner advertising differently, and go for a unique approach when designing one for your website. The more appealing and original your banner ad appears, the more people you?ll have clicking on it.

TIP! Check out what your competition is up to. You can check your competition?s site to see what they have.

Consider creating a web page for comments and customer reviews of your products and services. Customer reviews can help establish loyalty and will increase your reputation in the industry.

Add the word ?fast? in you advertisement campaigns and add language that would strengthen your products. Customers value speedy service, which is why you want to ensure that your products are delivered quickly.

TIP! If you website is static and rarely ever changes, perhaps you should consider including a blog on your site. New content gets the attention of the search engines which will increase your ranking in their listings and lead to more traffic for your site.

Offering free gifts or promotions will make your customers feel valued. Sometimes, it is easy to overlook simple things such as this, but offering freebies can keep customers coming back.

Customers will order their products faster if you give them incentives to do so. This could include free shipping, faster shipping or free gift wrapping. One way to do this is to offer free shipping to the first 100 customers who purchase a specified item. Offering incentives can encourage more people to purchase your product and promote customer satisfaction.

Are you searching for some way to do online marketing? Encourage people to give you their email address or to connect with you on social networks by advertising special offers regularly. Offer freebies or contests and ask them if you can send them future emails. A customer will provide their email if they get something in return for it.

TIP! Internet marketing ventures will not succeed through chance, only through deliberate effort and hard work can you hope to enjoy success. No one ever got rich in their own business from luck.

Employ a lot of descriptions on the site. Adjectives work very well in the world of web marketing. Be creative, and come up with your own words and site- or product-specific jargon. Make them want to revisit your site just to read what you have to say.

Write relevant content and submit it to article directories online. Make sure these articles are signed with your full name and contain information about your business. If you get published in an online magazine, include a link to your site. You can entice the editors with commissions or freebies that encourage them to publish your content.

Offer something free with your business name and logo on it. For example, if it?s a wallpaper, submit it to sites that offer free wallpapers. Many websites are available that give out free e-content and are easy to submit too.

TIP! Put customer testimonials on your site. It is easy to claim that your product is effective, but without good, solid proof, your audience may not buy it.

Many people won?t believe ad copy. For years, advertising has been misleading. Because of this, you have to show proof of what you claim on your website. Examples of this include testimonials, before-and-after photographs, and test reports. Just do not say anything that you cannot back up. You must take your customer?s word as truthful and sincere. Don?t take advantage of people. You will get a great reputation and gain customers to do business with for a long time.

Take advantage of these hints and ensure that you are making positive strides toward maximum profits. Armed with the information you learned here, and with a bit of hard work, soon you will see the results of your website marketing efforts.

Join me on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/maynaseric

Source: http://www.maynaseric.com/the-newcomers-guide-to-efficient-internet-promotion

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'Heat' broadens buddy-cop movie mix with 2 women

This publicity photo released by Twentieth Century Fox shows Melissa McCarthy, left, as Detective Shannon Mullins, and Sandra Bullock as FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn, in a scene from the film, "The Heat." The movie releases June 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Twentieth Century Fox, Gemma La Mana)

This publicity photo released by Twentieth Century Fox shows Melissa McCarthy, left, as Detective Shannon Mullins, and Sandra Bullock as FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn, in a scene from the film, "The Heat." The movie releases June 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Twentieth Century Fox, Gemma La Mana)

This publicity photo released by Twentieth Century Fox shows Tom Wilson, center, as Capt. Woods trying to separate warring law enforcement partners Melissa McCarthy, left, as Detective Shannon Mullins, and Sandra Bullock as FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn, in a scene from the film, "The Heat." (AP Photo/Twentieth Century Fox, Gemma La Mana)

(AP) ? The buddy-cop movie has been around for decades, typically starring two mismatched male characters, except for those few instances where the buddies are actually a man and a dog, as in 1989's "K-9" and "Turner & Hooch."

Now Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy are getting into the mix with "The Heat," and advance ticket sales show fans are warming quickly to the concept.

Movie website Fandango says "The Heat," from 20th Century Fox, is the most popular offering this weekend, comprising 35 percent of nationwide ticket sales.

"It's taking a genre that very much appeals to one demographic, and inserting stars who appeal to another demographic," which makes the film equally appealing to men and women, said Dave Karger, chief correspondent for Fandango. "It has the action and it has the comedy which the guys are probably going to go for, then the female-friendship angle, too. Women just love Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy and are excited to see a big summer movie with two women in the lead."

The standard buddy-cop formula is at play here, with Bullock playing an uptight, lonely FBI agent who's paired with McCarthy's foul-mouthed, no-nonsense Boston police officer to take down a drug dealer. But having women play the incompatible cops makes the film unusual, if not downright groundbreaking. (The 1988 movie "Feds" focused on the comedy of two women accepted to the FBI training academy.)

"As insane as it sounds, it's such a unique thing to have two women," Karger said. "They thought of putting a dog in there before they thought of putting a woman in there, but that's Hollywood for you."

It's not only unusual to see two women take on the buddy-cop genre, but two women over 40 opening a big summer picture, said Tatiana Siegel, who covers the film industry for the trade publication The Hollywood Reporter.

"You might see two women in a movie like a Sundance movie, but this is a major, heavily marketed summer movie with franchise potential that in the past would have featured two men starring in it," Siegel said.

But she adds that the film is no great risk for Fox because of its relatively modest budget and the star-power of McCarthy and Bullock.

Karger said "Bridesmaids" cleared the way for this film: "Clearly the massive success of 'Bridesmaids' allowed a movie like this to exist."

"The Heat" is directed by "Bridesmaids" director Paul Feig, who declined to be interviewed for this story.

Box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian predicts that "The Heat" could beat its buddy-action competitor, "White House Down," also opening Friday, which stars Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx.

If "The Heat" wins the box-office race, it would be "a huge coup" for actresses, Siegel said.

"Actresses in general are paid less than their male counterparts," she said. "If this movie finishes first, it speaks volumes about the work of two actresses and how audiences are more than willing to support movies like this."

___

AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen is on Twitter: www.twitter.com/APSandy .

___

Online:

http://www.theheatmovie.com/

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-06-28-US-Film-The-Heat/id-5e5f48b94da04e14ac4844c670e8e930

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Interplay of ecology, infectious disease, wildlife and human health featured at annual conference

Interplay of ecology, infectious disease, wildlife and human health featured at annual conference [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 28-Jun-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Cheryl Dybas
cdybas@nsf.gov
703-292-7734
National Science Foundation

Scientists discuss spillover of infectious diseases among wildlife, domestic animals and people; find links between environment and human health

West Nile virus, Lyme disease and hantavirus. All are infectious diseases spreading in animals and in people. Is human interaction with the environment somehow responsible for the increase in these diseases?

The ecology and evolution of infectious diseases will be highlighted at two symposia at the Ecological Society of America's annual meeting, held from Aug. 5-9 in Minneapolis, Minn.

One symposium will address human influences on viral and bacterial diseases through alteration of landscapes and ecological processes.

Another will focus on the emerging field of eco-epidemiology, which seeks to integrate biomedical and ecological research approaches to addressing human health threats.

Much of the research presented is funded by the joint National Science Foundation- (NSF) National Institutes of Health Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID) Program.

"These sessions show that basic research is critical for managing disease threats," said Sam Scheiner, NSF EEID program director. "They also showcase the need to link scientists with public health professionals."

The first symposium, on Monday, Aug. 5, will take a deeper look at the connections between human activities and infectious diseases.

Though we often think of diseases as simply being "out there" in the environment, human actions--such as feeding birds--can influence the abundance, diversity and distribution of wildlife species and thus, infectious diseases.

"New human settlements, the spread of agriculture and the increasing proximity of people, their pets and livestock to wild animals increase the probability of disease outbreaks," said session organizer Courtney Coon of the University of South Florida.

"We're interested in learning more about how urban and other environments that humans dramatically change affect the susceptibility and transmission potential of animals that are hosts or vectors of disease."

What are the key determinants of spillover of wildlife diseases to domestic animals and humans?

Why is the prevalence of pathogens in wildlife in urban areas often altered by counterparts in less developed environments?

Speakers will address these and other questions.

The second symposium, on Tuesday, Aug. 6, will continue the theme of infectious diseases, but with an eye toward integrating biomedical and ecological approaches into the investigation and control of emerging diseases.

"Environmental processes and human health are linked, and we'd like to chart a future in which ecologists and epidemiologists more routinely work in tandem to address health problems," said symposium organizer Jory Brinkerhoff of the University of Richmond.

Scientists studying human diseases may overlook possible ecological factors.

For example, most Lyme disease cases in the eastern United States happen in the North even though the black-legged tick, which transmits the bacterium, is found throughout the Eastern states.

Human life histories and interactions with the environment, researchers say, are critically important to the success of managing a mosquito-borne virus called dengue fever.

"Disease ecologists and epidemiologists address some of the same kinds of questions, yet operate largely in isolation of one another," said Brinkerhoff.

"We're bringing them together to share their approaches and study designs, and to strengthen our ability to address public health issues."

###

Disease Ecology in Human-Altered Landscapes: Monday, Aug. 5, 2013, 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m., 205AB, Minneapolis Convention Center.

Organizer/Moderator: Courtney Coon, University of South Florida
Co-Organizer: James Adelman, Virginia Tech

Speakers:

  • Parviez Hosseini, EcoHealth Alliance
  • Matthew Ferrari, Penn State University
  • Marm Kilpatrick, University of California, Santa Cruz
  • Raina Plowright, Penn State University
  • Sonia Altizer, University of Georgia
  • Becki Lawson, Zoological Society of London

Eco-Epidemiology: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Addressing Public Health Problems: Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013, 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m., 205AB Minneapolis Convention Center.

Organizer/Moderator: Jory Brinkerhoff, University of Richmond
Co-Organizer: Maria Diuk-Wasser, Yale School of Public Health

Speakers:

  • Maria Diuk-Wasser, Yale School of Public Health
  • Daniel Salkeld, Colorado State University
  • Mark Wilson, University of Michigan
  • James Holland Jones, Stanford University
  • Harish Padmanabha, National Center for Socio-Environmental Synthesis
  • Jean Tsao, Michigan State University

-NSF-


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Interplay of ecology, infectious disease, wildlife and human health featured at annual conference [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 28-Jun-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Cheryl Dybas
cdybas@nsf.gov
703-292-7734
National Science Foundation

Scientists discuss spillover of infectious diseases among wildlife, domestic animals and people; find links between environment and human health

West Nile virus, Lyme disease and hantavirus. All are infectious diseases spreading in animals and in people. Is human interaction with the environment somehow responsible for the increase in these diseases?

The ecology and evolution of infectious diseases will be highlighted at two symposia at the Ecological Society of America's annual meeting, held from Aug. 5-9 in Minneapolis, Minn.

One symposium will address human influences on viral and bacterial diseases through alteration of landscapes and ecological processes.

Another will focus on the emerging field of eco-epidemiology, which seeks to integrate biomedical and ecological research approaches to addressing human health threats.

Much of the research presented is funded by the joint National Science Foundation- (NSF) National Institutes of Health Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID) Program.

"These sessions show that basic research is critical for managing disease threats," said Sam Scheiner, NSF EEID program director. "They also showcase the need to link scientists with public health professionals."

The first symposium, on Monday, Aug. 5, will take a deeper look at the connections between human activities and infectious diseases.

Though we often think of diseases as simply being "out there" in the environment, human actions--such as feeding birds--can influence the abundance, diversity and distribution of wildlife species and thus, infectious diseases.

"New human settlements, the spread of agriculture and the increasing proximity of people, their pets and livestock to wild animals increase the probability of disease outbreaks," said session organizer Courtney Coon of the University of South Florida.

"We're interested in learning more about how urban and other environments that humans dramatically change affect the susceptibility and transmission potential of animals that are hosts or vectors of disease."

What are the key determinants of spillover of wildlife diseases to domestic animals and humans?

Why is the prevalence of pathogens in wildlife in urban areas often altered by counterparts in less developed environments?

Speakers will address these and other questions.

The second symposium, on Tuesday, Aug. 6, will continue the theme of infectious diseases, but with an eye toward integrating biomedical and ecological approaches into the investigation and control of emerging diseases.

"Environmental processes and human health are linked, and we'd like to chart a future in which ecologists and epidemiologists more routinely work in tandem to address health problems," said symposium organizer Jory Brinkerhoff of the University of Richmond.

Scientists studying human diseases may overlook possible ecological factors.

For example, most Lyme disease cases in the eastern United States happen in the North even though the black-legged tick, which transmits the bacterium, is found throughout the Eastern states.

Human life histories and interactions with the environment, researchers say, are critically important to the success of managing a mosquito-borne virus called dengue fever.

"Disease ecologists and epidemiologists address some of the same kinds of questions, yet operate largely in isolation of one another," said Brinkerhoff.

"We're bringing them together to share their approaches and study designs, and to strengthen our ability to address public health issues."

###

Disease Ecology in Human-Altered Landscapes: Monday, Aug. 5, 2013, 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m., 205AB, Minneapolis Convention Center.

Organizer/Moderator: Courtney Coon, University of South Florida
Co-Organizer: James Adelman, Virginia Tech

Speakers:

  • Parviez Hosseini, EcoHealth Alliance
  • Matthew Ferrari, Penn State University
  • Marm Kilpatrick, University of California, Santa Cruz
  • Raina Plowright, Penn State University
  • Sonia Altizer, University of Georgia
  • Becki Lawson, Zoological Society of London

Eco-Epidemiology: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Addressing Public Health Problems: Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013, 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m., 205AB Minneapolis Convention Center.

Organizer/Moderator: Jory Brinkerhoff, University of Richmond
Co-Organizer: Maria Diuk-Wasser, Yale School of Public Health

Speakers:

  • Maria Diuk-Wasser, Yale School of Public Health
  • Daniel Salkeld, Colorado State University
  • Mark Wilson, University of Michigan
  • James Holland Jones, Stanford University
  • Harish Padmanabha, National Center for Socio-Environmental Synthesis
  • Jean Tsao, Michigan State University

-NSF-


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-06/nsf-ioe062813.php

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Court: Hobby Lobby can challenge health care law

DENVER (AP) ? An appeals court said Thursday that Hobby Lobby and a sister company that sells Christian books and supplies can fight the nation's new health care law on religious grounds, ruling the portion of the law that requires them to offer certain kinds of birth control to their employees is particularly onerous, and suggesting the companies shouldn't have to pay millions of dollars in fines while their claims are considered.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver said the Oklahoma City-based arts and crafts chain, along with Mardel bookstores, not only can proceed with their lawsuit seeking to overturn a portion of the Affordable Care Act, but can probably win.

The judges unanimously sent the case back to a lower court in Oklahoma, which had rejected the companies' request for an injunction to prevent full enforcement of the new law.

"Hobby Lobby and Mardel have drawn a line at providing coverage for drugs or devices they consider to induce abortions, and it is not for us to question whether the line is reasonable," the judges wrote. "The question here is not whether the reasonable observer would consider the plaintiffs complicit in an immoral act, but rather how the plaintiffs themselves measure their degree of complicity."

Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., Mardel Inc. and their owners, the Green family, argue for-profit businesses ? not just religious groups ? should be allowed to seek an exception if the law violates their religious beliefs. The owners approve of most forms of artificial birth control, but not those that prevent implantation of a fertilized egg ? such as an IUD or the morning-after pill.

Hobby Lobby is the largest and best-known of more than 30 businesses in several states that have challenged the contraception mandate. A number of Catholic-affiliated institutions have filed separate lawsuits, and the court suggested faith-based organizations can follow for-profit objectives in the secular world.

"A religious individual may enter the for-profit realm intending to demonstrate to the marketplace that a corporation can succeed financially while adhering to religious values. As a court, we do not see how we can distinguish this form of evangelism from any other," they wrote.

A majority of judges couldn't decide whether the Oklahoma court had sufficiently addressed two parts of Hobby Lobby's initial complaint and sent them back for further review at the local level.

Throughout a ruling that covered more than 160 pages, the judges noted Hobby Lobby faced a difficult choice ? violate its religious beliefs, pay $475 million in fines for failing to comply with the law (a $100 fine per day for each of its 13,000 workers), or pay $26 million to the government if it dropped its health care plan altogether.

Hobby Lobby and Mardel won expedited federal review because the stores would have faced fines starting Monday for not covering the required forms of contraception. The 10th Circuit judges said the Oklahoma court was wrong to not grant the companies an injunction in the face of serious financial penalties.

Hobby Lobby and other companies challenging the contraception mandate say the morning-after pill is tantamount to abortion because it can prevent a fertilized egg from becoming implanted in a woman's womb. The 10th Circuit heard the case before eight active judges instead of the typical three-judge panel, indicating the case's importance.

The U.S. Department of Justice argued that allowing for-profit corporations to exempt themselves from requirements that violate their religious beliefs would be in effect allowing the business to impose its religious beliefs on employees. In its ruling, the 10th Circuit cited a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court conclusion that for-profit corporations have rights to political expression.

"We see no reason the Supreme Court would recognize constitutional protection for a corporation's political expression but not its religious expression," the judges wrote.

One judge went even further in a concurring opinion.

"No one suggests that organizations, in contrast to their members, have souls," Judge Harris Hartz wrote. "But it does not follow that people must sacrifice their souls to engage in group activities through an organization."

Hobby Lobby calls itself a "biblically founded business" and is closed on Sundays. Founded in 1972, the company now operates more than 500 stores in 41 states and employs more than 13,000 full-time employees who are eligible for health insurance.

Emily Hardman, spokeswoman for the Washington-based Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represents Hobby Lobby, called the ruling a "resounding victory for religious freedom."

But Americans United for Separation of Church and State said the judges were wrong.

"This isn't religious freedom; it's the worst kind of religious oppression," executive director Barry Lynn said in a statement.

___

Kristen Wyatt is on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/APkristenwyatt

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/court-hobby-lobby-challenge-health-care-law-175533290.html

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Friday, June 28, 2013

Clashes as Egypt leader's backers, foes rally

CAIRO (AP) ? The health department says one person has died and at least 85 others were injured in clashes between supporters and opponents of Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.

Thousands of anti-Morsi protesters marched toward the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters Friday, where up to a 1,000 supporters of the president's political group were deployed. Fighting erupted when someone on the Islamist side fired birdshots on the marchers, according to an Associated Press cameraman at the scene. Later, opposition protesters broke into the headquarters and torched it.

The health department reported one death in the fighting, without elaborating. It was not immediately known which side the victim belonged to.

Backers and opponents of Egypt's Islamist president held competing rallies Friday ahead of massive protests planned Sunday demanding Morsi's removal.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/clashes-egypt-leaders-backers-foes-rally-143955240.html

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In Egypt, skepticism over religion in politics

CAIRO (AP) ? In a tiny mosque in southern Egypt, the cleric railed in his sermon against opponents of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, comparing them to "the Devil, who rebelled against God and was kicked out of heaven." Among the Muslim worshippers, a 42-year-old civil servant had enough.

Recounting the incident, Nasser Ahmed said he stood up and chanted, "Down with the rule of the Guide," referring to the head of the Muslim Brotherhood, the conservative political powerhouse from which Morsi hails. Other worshippers in the el-Lawa Mosque joined the chanting. Some became so angry they rushed the cleric and tried to beat him up, Ahmed told The Associated Press.

The outburst during the Friday sermon earlier this month in the Luxor province village of Bouairat hasn't been the only case of the faithful lashing out at preachers who stray into politics. It was part of growing signs that, after a year of Morsi's presidency and two years of growing Islamist political power in general, religiosity is not the political selling point it once was among Egyptians.

Increasingly, Egyptians denounce "wrapping politics in the cloak of religion," even in rural areas seen as the heartland of the conservative, "piety" voter. Along with anger over Egypt's economic woes and discontent with Morsi's managing of the country, the disillusionment is a factor fueling support for massive protests to demand Morsi's removal, planned for Sunday.

Egyptians are hardly becoming less religious. But more are losing their belief that someone who touts his religiosity is necessarily a trustworthy, clean and effective politician. Even one ultraconservative party, al-Nour, is shifting its stance in response to the new cynicism.

Though not universal, the shift has been fast. In the series of elections since the fall of Hosni Mubarak in early 2011, it was a common refrain from voters that Islamists' piety means they will not be corrupt and will work for the good of the people. That helped boost the Muslim Brotherhood and the more ultraconservative movement known as Salafis to win every vote.

Over years under Mubarak, the conservative Muslims' beard and "zabiba" ? a mark on the forehead from prostration in prayer ? came to be seen as signs of a good man. Mubarak oppressed some Islamist groups, giving them the allure of being victims of a corrupt system. Non-political Islamists, who were spared in crackdowns, set up networks helping the poor and filling the vacuum amid Mubarak's neglect of social services.

Now those disillusioned with politicizing religion point to what they call Morsi's failures ? fuel shortages, rising prices, continual instability. But they also say they have been turned off by seeing clerics taking political sides on TV, in mosques and at political rallies. Others are alienated by rhetoric on Salafi TV channels they see as dividing Egyptians into good or bad Muslims ? or branding opponents as "kuffar," or infidels.

They point to lslamists in parliament and in executive posts, many in religious trappings like beards and robes, engaging in the same unseemliness all politicians do: Internal fights, violent rhetoric, planting loyalists in positions, and even the occasional sex scandal.

"The image has been greatly disturbed," said Mohammed Habib, who was once the deputy leader of the Muslim Brotherhood but split and has become a sharp critic. "The people will not make the same choices as before." He said the group's leadership has hurt itself by being "narrow-minded" and showing "lack of vision."

Kamal Habib, a researcher in Islamic movements, said that "politicizing religion has led people to doubt the channels they long trusted and even viewed as sacred."

A spokesman for the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party argued that religiosity was not why people voted for Morsi. Rather it was because Morsi belonged to a group ? the Brotherhood ? that has a foot in every village and town and has always been close to the people, said Abdel-Mawgoud Dardery.

He blamed private media and Mubarak loyalists for misrepresenting Morsi. Media "tarnished the image of President Morsi, he said, while old regime elements "have been trying to sabotage the economic process of the country."

Indeed, religion was not the Brotherhood's only or even strongest selling point in legislative elections it dominated in late 2011-early 2012 or in Morsi's win. The group boasts Egypt's most powerful organizational network, with cadres to campaign for it nationwide, and a history of charities that helped the poor. That means it would likely still perform strongly in any election in the near-term.

Still, Brotherhood officials often lean on religious rhetoric, talking of the need to defend the "Islamist project" to rally hard-liners behind Morsi. The president, who frequently says he is the leader of all Egyptians, is less direct but laces his speeches with Quranic references. Nine months into his administration, a book by a supporter listed among Morsi's accomplishments that he was the first Egyptian president with a beard, the first to allow a state TV presenter to wear a conservative headscarf and the first to hold prayers every Friday in a mosque.

In two post-Mubarak referendums, including December's which passed the new constitution, Salafi clerics and other hard-liners campaigned for a "yes" vote in each by saying, in one form another, God wanted it.

Such rhetoric seems to have diminishing appeal.

Khadiga Gad el-Mawla, a housewife in the southern city of Deir Mawass in the Islamist stronghold Minya province, says she is no longer a fan of two of the most popular Salafi sheiks, Mohammed Hassan and Mohammed Hussein Yaacoub, who have large followings in mosques and on TV.

"I used to listen when they talked to us about obeying God and the way to heaven," she told AP. "The clerics told us to elect Morsi because he is God's choice. ... But they cheated us."

"The more they say something and do the opposite, the more I get shocked," she said.

Ali Assel, a cleric in the southern city of Nassariya, said he was dismayed by Islamists' battles with the judiciary and the media. Last year, Islamist protesters besieged the Supreme Constitutional Court, preventing judges from ruling on disbanding the interim parliament and the body writing the constitution. Other Islamists barricaded Media City, a complex near Cairo that houses TV stations, angry over "the liberal media."

"Politics corrupted religion," Assel said, adding he was shocked to see the Brotherhood "serving their own agenda and battling to topple down state institutions."

There are few polls in Egypt, so getting a broad picture is difficult. A poll released this week by the Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research, or Basserah, found Morsi's approval rating at 32 percent, compared to 78 percent after his first 100 days in office. The group polled 6,179 Egyptians across the country, with a margin of error of less than 1 percent. It did not ask questions about attitudes on religion.

Among the first blows to religious prestige came with a sex scandal soon after parliament was seated, when a Salafi lawmaker was caught in a compromising position in a car with a woman wearing the "niqab," the black robes and veil that leave only the eyes exposed. Another Salafi who said his facial bruises came from being attacked by enemies was discovered to have gotten a nose job.

Another factor: comedian Bassem Youssef, who has a weekly program in the style of Jon Stewart's The Daily Show. Youssef frequently plays footage of Islamists' TV appearance to show contradictions and mock their rhetoric ? so pointedly that he was investigated by police for insulting religion.

Youssef is often seen as an urban, liberal phenomenon. But with an audience of millions, plenty in rural and conservative areas watch him.

Youssef "exposes to the simple people the contradictions of the religious views and the triviality of the clerics," said Atef Ibrahim, 54, head of the chamber of commerce in the southern city of Assiut, who records Youssef's program to watch with his friends over the week.

Saad al-Azhari, a cleric who appears on a Salafi TV station, recognized Youssef's impact. But he said it will be "short-lived."

"Frankly speaking, the Islamist current is losing popularity," he said. "But this is the case for all movements" in Egypt.

He said Islamists' shortcomings have been because their powers are "incomplete" and "there is resistance from within state institutions."

In a telling sign of the diminished power of religious rhetoric, the Salafi al-Nour Party seems to be trying to a subtly different path. Once an ally of Morsi and the second biggest winner in the parliament elections, it has since distanced itself from the president. In a statement this week, it warned against dividing the country into Islamic and non-Islamic camps.

"The party rejects identifying those who oppose the ruing regime as against Islam or the Islamic project," the statement said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egypt-skepticism-over-religion-politics-204121626.html

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Stocks gone wild: Why are investors so panicked?

wall-street

June 24, 2013 at 3:25 PM ET

Traders gather at the post of specialist Patrick Murphy, right, on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. Traders in the U.S. dumped stoc...

Richard Drew / AP

Traders gather at the post of specialist Patrick Murphy, right, on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. Traders in the U.S. dumped stocks, bonds and commodities, prompted by signs of distress in China's economy and worries about the end of the Federal Reserve bank's easy money policies.

The Federal Reserve thinks the economy is improving, so much so that it has hinted it may throttle back a bit on easy money policies in place since the financial crisis. So why are the financial markets acting like the sky is falling?

Stock markets have been in turmoil since Fed chairman Ben Bernanke last week suggested that if the economy continues to perk up the central bank will remove a least some of the low interest rate punch bowls that banks and businesses have been drinking from for years. And while part of Monday's stock drop could be blamed on worries about China's economy, the world's second largest, it came against a backdrop of fears about what the Fed may do later this year.

Stocks dropped again Monday, though the markets recovered some of their losses later in the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed nearly 250 points before making up some of that lost ground, closing 140 points lower, nearly 1 percent down. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq also finished off their lows. So far this month, the S&P has shed about 3.5 percent.

Several Fed officials spent the day trying to talk the financial markets off a ledge, and they partly succeeded. But investors remain jittery. They have have good reasons to be concerned. They hate uncertainty, and few people alive today have ever lived through an economic and financial cycle like this one. That?s because the financial panic of 2008 was deeper than any since the Great Depression. And the remedies applied by the Federal Reserve have never been tried on such a giant scale.

But causes of the gut-wrenching market plunge of the last week are pretty easy to spot. Here are the big ones:

Why are interest rates moving higher?

Soon after the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, the flow of capital around the planet seized up as banks and investment firms feared lending to one another. No one knew which bank might be the next Lehman. The global credit machine completely froze.

To restart lending, the central banks around the world began pumping trillions of dollars into the financial system. Since then, the Fed has continued pumping $85 billion a month of surplus into the credit markets to keep rates low.

But at its regular policy meeting last week, central bankers said they?re getting ready to ?taper off? that flow of cash. With less money sloshing around the system, the cost of borrowing will begin rising.

That means I?ll get a higher return on my savings account, right? What?s wrong with that?

Nothing, as long as the economy keeps humming along and employers keep creating new jobs. But the worry is that those higher rates could make consumers more reluctant to use their credit cards, or potential home buyers think twice about taking out a mortgage to buy a house.

The Fed, though, thinks the economy may be nearly ready to sustain those higher rates. Consumer confidence and spending have been gathering momentum ? partly because house prices have begun recovering and the job market continues to improve, albeit slowly. And while stock prices have fallen nearly 5 percent in just the last four days trading days, prices are still 20 percent higher than they were a year ago. That extra stock market wealth has also helped fill in the $7 trillion crater in household wealth that was created by the twin collapses of the housing and financial markets five years ago.

Is the market going lower?

Yes, and then higher. But we have no idea when. Or how far. This is a website, not a psychic hotline.

If the folks at the Fed spooked the markets, can?t they calm them down again?

Yes and no. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has made it clear that as central bankers begin slowing the flow of the money fountain, they can always restore full pressure if the economy falters or the markets begin to tank. And the Fed hasn?t actually started to taper off the flow of money ? they?re just telling the world they?re beginning to think about how and when to do so.

But while the Fed?s money machine is the biggest in the world, and the dollar is the closest thing to a global currency, the U.S. central bank isn't the only game in town.

The latest market jitters have been heightened by a much more immediate ? and severe ? credit clampdown in China. On Friday, the People's Bank of China (the country's central bank) tried to cut off the financial oxygen of a loose network of speculators and informal lenders who have been inflating a bubble in stocks and real estate. In doing so, the People's Bank let short term interest rates spike as high as 25 percent.

That sounds a lot like the kind of credit crunch that started this whole mess five years ago.

It certainly spooked investors around the world ? that?s why stocks markets have fallen in unison over the last few week.

But there?s a big difference between the panic-induced collapse of Lehman Brothers and the People's Bank- engineered Chinese credit crunch. China?s central bankers can restore the flow of credit with the click of a mouse (or two).

That makes the Chinese crunch more like the U.S. interest rate spike of the early 1980s, when then Fed chairman Paul Volcker all but strangled the U.S. bond market. Volcker?s move was designed to snap a decade of runaway inflation and reignite growth. It worked. Once inflation subsided, the Fed let rates fall, and the economy and stock market roared back to life.

China faces a very different set of problems, and the Chinese state-owned banking system is very different than the U.S. But the current credit crunch that is rippling through Asia could easily be reversed.

Chinese officials are betting that a short-term credit squeeze will throw enough cold water on the speculators and show banking lenders to prevent another bubble-bust cycle.

But there?s not a lot that Fed Chairman Bernanke and his Fed colleagues can do if the People's Bank made the wrong bet.

More business news:

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

6 Need-To-Know Tips For Online Dating After Divorce | Teresa Atkin ...

Dating In The Digital Age: Online Dating After Divorce
Fact: 80 percent of online daters lie on their profiles. Keep your expectations in check!

Ready for a second chance at love? It could be one click away.

There's no doubt: dating after divorce can be either an exciting or scary prospect. The vast majority of people who get divorced do go on to date again, and online dating expands the pool of people with whom they might connect. That said, any unresolved issues from your divorce could surface in a new relationship. There is a reason why rebound relationships can be intense and (usually) don't last.

An increasing number of relationships are forming from online dating. New statistics revealed that more than one-third of American marriages today get their start online ? and those are also less likely to end in divorce.

More from YourTango: The Love Hormone: The Truth About Oxytocin

I decided to ask people who had been through my classes, were divorced and had started dating again what their experiences were of online dating and any advice they might have. The results were mixed, but there were some common themes:

1. It All Starts With A Captivating Profile
Men particularly seem to be looking for something that made a woman stand out. Share your witty sense of humor, an unexpected comment or an unusual hobby to catch someone's eye online. Divorced women tend to go for a profile that's descriptive ? they know what they're looking for!

2. Be Sufficiently Prepared For Rejection
Both men and women agree that your feeling of self-worth is hurt by divorce and everyone fears being rejected. The respondents in my survey commented that even if they weren't especially interested in the person they had been "chatting" with, they often felt badly when the other person stopped communicating. So here's a tip: Give yourself time to rebuild self-esteem before putting yourself out there.

More from YourTango: 13 Ways To Revive Intimacy In A Long-Term Relationship

3. Recognize That Most Online Daters Embellish Their Profiles
In fact, that number is as high as 80 percent. One of the most common comments was that people embellished their profiles ? or even flat-out lied. According to research, women tended to lie about their weight or age while men tended to lie about things like their height or income. People who have no profile photos (or use "you" instead of "I," which may be indicative of dodging the truth about themselves) should be approached with caution. On the other hand, make sure you have up-to-date photos that accurately represent who you are too! Keep reading...

More dating after divorce advice from YourTango:

Source: http://www.yourtango.com/experts/teresa-atkin/tips-online-dating-after-divorce

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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Jerry Lawler comments on the death of wrestling legend Jackie Fargo

For those fortunate enough to watch ?The Fabulous One? Jackie Fargo thrill wrestling audiences with his fiery fisticuffs and unimpressionable strut, this is a week of remembrance of a true ring innovator.

Fargo?s death Monday at the age of 82 was felt throughout the wrestling community and beyond, but few are better qualified to talk about the man?s legacy and influence on the mat game than WWE Hall of Famer Jerry ?The King? Lawler.

?Probably every Superstar that has ever been in WWE has, at one point in time in their career, had someone who inspired them; without that person, they wouldn?t have even dreamed of being a WWE Superstar,? Lawler said Monday. ?And I can say that for me, that person was ?The Fabulous? Jackie Fargo.?

To those who grew up in Southern wrestling hotbeds such as Memphis and Chattanooga, Tenn., and Louisville, Ky., in the 1950s and 1960s, Fargo was far and away the sport?s most popular figure, akin to John Cena today, said Lawler, a Memphis native. With his bleached blond hair, aggressive ring style and an entertaining, if funky, way of walking that?d eventually be known as the ?Fargo Strut,? Fargo was a revolutionary force.

?He was such an innovator at a time when a lot of wrestling, to me, at least, seemed bland,? The King said. ?Suddenly, Jackie Fargo stuck out, and I idolized the guy.?

Whereas Fargo was a larger-than-life hero to most who saw him, to Lawler, he eventually became nothing short of a father figure. The King credits Fargo with helping him break into the sport, and once Lawler was well on his way to becoming a Memphis ring legend, he spent countless matches in the 1970s and 1980s fighting both with and against Fargo.

On June 24, 1974 ? 39 years to the day before Fargo?s passing ? Lawler and Fargo battled over the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title in Memphis? Mid-South Coliseum. Lawler ultimately lost the match, which was billed as a no time limit, no-disqualification duel, but interest in the match was so great that it drew 11,783 fans, setting a new indoor sports record in the city. The King?s run of matches against Fargo around that time helped cement Lawler, then in his early 20s, as a credible main event wrestler in Memphis?and earned him the title ?King of Wrestling.?

?For me to finally actually get to meet Jackie and become friends with him ? have him help bring me into this business and become literally a father figure to me over the years ? is just something so special,? Lawler said. ?He?s just been the greatest inspiration. I?ve tried to emulate him throughout my entire career, and it?s such a sad day for me for Jackie to be gone. I?ll miss him forever.?

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Source: http://www.wwe.com/inside/jerry-lawler-on-jackie-fargo

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Texas abortion bill falls after challenge

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Despite barely beating a midnight deadline, hundreds of jeering protesters helped stop Texas lawmakers from passing one of the toughest abortion measures in the country.

As the protesters raised the noise to deafening levels in the Texas Senate chamber late Tuesday, Republicans scrambled to gather their colleagues at the podium for a stroke-of-midnight vote.

"Get them out!" Sen. Donna Campbell shouted to a security guard, pointing to the thundering crowd in the gallery overhead that had already been screaming for more than 10 minutes.

"Time is running out," Campbell pleaded. "I want them out of here!"

It didn't work. The noise never stopped and despite barely beating the midnight end-of-session deadline with a vote to pass the bill, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said the chaos in the chamber prevented him from formally signing it before the deadline passed, effectively killing it.

Dewhurst denounced the protesters as an "unruly mob." Democrats who urged them on called the outburst democracy in action.

In either point of view, a raucous crowd of chanting, singing, shouting demonstrators effectively took over the Texas Capitol and blocked a bill that abortion rights groups warned would close most abortion clinics in the state.

"They were asking for their voices to be heard," said Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth, who spent nearly 11 hours trying to filibuster the bill before the outburst. "The results speak for themselves."

The final outcome took several hours to sort out.

Initially, Republicans insisted the vote started before the midnight deadline and passed the bill that Democrats spent the day trying to kill. But after official computer records and printouts of the voting record showed the vote took place Wednesday, and then were changed to read Tuesday, senators retreated into a private meeting to reach a conclusion.

At 3 a.m., Dewhurst emerged from the meeting still insisting the 19-10 vote was in time, but said, "with all the ruckus and noise going on, I couldn't sign the bill" and declared it dead.

He denounced the more than 400 protesters who staged what they called "a people's filibuster" from 11:45 p.m. to well past midnight. He denied mishandling the debate.

"I didn't lose control (of the chamber). We had an unruly mob," Dewhurst said. He even hinted that Gov. Rick Perry may immediately call another 30-day special session, adding: "It's over. It's been fun. But see you soon."

Many of the protesters had flocked to the normally quiet Capitol to support Davis, who gained national attention and a mention from President Barack Obama's campaign Twitter account. Her Twitter following went from 1,200 in the morning to more than 20,000 by Tuesday night.

"My back hurts. I don't have a lot of words left," Davis said when it was over and she was showered with cheers by activists who stayed at the Capitol to see her. "It shows the determination and spirit of Texas women."

Davis' mission was cut short but her effort ultimately helped Democrats earn a rare victory in a Legislature dominated by Republicans for more than a decade.

"It's a bad bill," said Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin, leader of the Senate Democrats.

The bill would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy and force many clinics that perform the procedure to upgrade their facilities and be classified as ambulatory surgical centers. Also, doctors would be required to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles ? a tall order in rural communities.

If signed into law, the measures would have closed almost every abortion clinic in Texas, a state 773 miles wide and 790 miles long with 26 million people. A woman living along the Mexico border or in West Texas would have to drive hundreds of miles to obtain an abortion if the law passed. The law's provision that abortions be performed at surgical centers means only five of Texas' 42 abortion clinics are currently designated to remain in operation.

Republicans and anti-abortion groups insisted their goal was to improve women's health care, but also acknowledged wanting clinics to close.

"If this passes, abortion would be virtually banned in the state of Texas, and many women could be forced to resort to dangerous and unsafe measures," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and daughter of the late former Texas governor Ann Richards.

The showdown came after Davis had slogged her way through about 11 hours of speaking while Senate Republicans ? and several House members ? watched and listened for any slipup that would allow them to end the filibuster and call a vote.

Democrats chose Davis, of Fort Worth, to lead the effort because of her background; she had her first child as a teenager and went on to graduate from Harvard Law School.

Rules stipulated she remain standing, not lean on her desk or take any breaks ? even for meals or to use the bathroom. But she also was required to stay on topic, and Republicans pointed out a mistake and later protested again when another lawmaker helped her with a back brace.

Lawmakers can vote to end a filibuster after three sustained points of order. As tension mounted over Davis' speech and the dwindling clock, Campbell, a first-term lawmaker from New Braunfels, made the call on the third violation, sparking nearly two hours of debate on how to handle it.

After much back and forth and senators shouting over each other, the Republican majority forced a vote to end the filibuster minutes before midnight, sparking the raucous response from protesters.

Senate security and several Department of Public Safety state troopers tried to quiet the crowd but were simply outnumbered and had no hope of stopping the outburst.

Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, blamed the confusion surrounding the final vote on the demonstrators and Democratic senators who urged them on.

"Had that not happened, everyone would have known," what was happening, Patrick said.

Standing next to him was Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, a Democrat.

"This is democracy," Hinojosa said. "They have a right to speak."

___

Senate Bill 5: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=831&Bill=SB5

___

Follow Jim Vertuno on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JimVertuno .

Follow Chris Tomlinson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/cltomlinson

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/texas-abortion-bill-falls-challenge-124527318.html

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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Profanity, theatrics mark first day of Zimmerman?s trial

SANFORD, Fla.?One of the most anticipated murder trials in recent memory began with a torrent of profanity from the prosecution and a knock-knock joke from the defense.

The State of Florida?s case against George Zimmerman began Monday with the expected debate about whether the man who shot and fatally wounded 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last February committed murder or acted in self-defense. What was not expected was a bit of forced humor, which fell jarringly flat.

The lead defense attorney, Don West, declared early in his remarks that ?sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying? and then ventured a joke. He confessed it was ?a little bit weird? to do so, and asked the jury to avoid holding the joke against the defendant.

Then he went ahead.

?Knock knock,? West said, stunning both the jury and the assembled onlookers.

?Who?s there?? he answered himself.

?George Zimmerman.?

?George Zimmerman who??

?Congratulations. You?re on the jury.?

There was barely a reaction.

?Nothing?? West said, in genuine surprise.

This was met with some nervous laughter.

It was a deeply strange way to open a trial about a killing that has rattled and vexed an entire nation. The death of Martin, on his way home from buying candy at a local convenience store, has touched a national third rail, launching arguments and protests about race, gun laws and civil rights.

Later, after a lunch recess, West apologized. ?I really thought it was funny,? he said. ?Sorry if I offended anyone.?

A clunky start struggled to find footing as West slogged through a long trail of evidence that lasted more than two-and-a-half hours. The argument meandered, and West admitted as much.

?I don?t know if you follow what I mean,? he told the jury at one point.

West?s statement stood in stark contrast to that of state?s attorney John Guy, who launched immediately into a flurry of storytelling that repeated Zimmerman?s muttered cusswords over and over again.

"'F---ng punks,'" Guy stated right away, quoting Zimmerman in his call to a police dispatcher in the moments before his confrontation with Martin. ?'These a--holes, they always get away.' Those were words in that grown man?s mouth.?

Guy tried to keep the emotion level raised throughout his opening, dipping into a narrative that seemed to come straight from a crime drama.

?As the smoke and the smell of that fatal gunshot rose into a rainy Sanford night,? Guy said, ?Trayvon lay face down in wet grass, laboring through his final breaths on planet Earth.?

Guy went on to declare that Zimmerman ?followed and murdered an unarmed teenager.? He also promised the jury, ?The truth is going to come directly from his month. Hateful words. Lies he told to police.?

He accused Zimmerman of ?going after? Martin: ?This defendant, riding around in his car, not with candy, not with fruit juice, but with 9 mm semi-automatic weapon.? Thirty minutes of crisp accusations, ushered along with voice modulation and the occasional gesture toward the stone-faced Zimmerman, ended with this:

?We are confident at the end of this trial you will know in your head, heart and stomach that George Zimmerman didn?t shoot Trayvon Martin because he had to. He shot him because he wanted to.?

Guy?s theatrics were offset by West?s scientific approach. One issue in this trial is Zimmerman?s mindset, and whether he was instigating or afraid. Second degree murder, as defined in Florida, is ?The unlawful killing of a human being, when perpetrated by any act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind regardless of human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular individual.?

Part of the defense?s goal is to show Zimmerman as calm and rational, motivated by protecting himself and the gated community for which he served as a neighborhood watch ?liaison.? While Guy presented the image of Zimmerman as determined to pursue Martin even though the minor was unarmed, West tried through painstaking detail that it was Zimmerman who was in trouble, noticing an unknown teenager approaching him, taking no aggressive steps in the minutes between seeing Martin in the dark and pulling the trigger.

?My focus is on the detail,? West told the jury. ?And if I have to sacrifice passion, it?s not because I don?t care. Even if it?s boring or somewhat technical, I want to give you the information.?

And so he went, explaining that Zimmerman obtained a gun because of a neighbor?s unruly dog and learned from an air marshal friend that he learned to use it correctly. ?He was licensed and responsible,? West said. ?He did have the gun, and thank god.?

Throughout the two-and-a-half hours he spoke, West returned often to Zimmerman?s state of mind.

?George Zimmerman cooperated fully,? West said. ?He answered all the questions as many times as they wanted, as many days as they wanted.? This despite ?Tremendous blows to his face and to his head.?

Zimmerman certainly portrayed little emotion throughout the day. He stared straight ahead, stone-faced, through Guy?s remarks and even appeared to be on the verge of dozing off during West?s. He hardly reacted to anything, at any point.

Martin?s mother, however, did react. Sybrina Fulton, after becoming emotional during a brief statement before the trial began, left the courtroom before the 911 call of the gunshot that ended her son?s life. She did not return until after the lunch recess.

West?s argument picked up momentum after the break, especially when he said Martin?s father told an investigator that it was not his son?s voice screaming on the 911 call. That will be a major point of contention, as much will ride on who the jury believes was crying for help in the seconds before Martin was shot.

Also at issue is whether Martin was on top of Zimmerman when the fatal shot was fired. West mentioned several pieces of evidence in his opening remarks?including the can of iced tea found on Martin after the shooting?to suggest Zimmerman was in a prone position. The lack of blood on Martin?s hands, noted in the state?s attorney?s remarks, was explained by the wet conditions and perhaps a medical examiner?s mistakes. As for the absence of Martin?s DNA? West said that ?doesn?t necessarily prove anything.? West even closed by countering the prosecution?s statement that Martin was unarmed.

?What the evidence will show you,? West said, ?is that?s not true. Mr. Martin armed himself with the concrete sidewalk. That is a deadly weapon.?

It left the jury with at least the idea that Martin, not Zimmerman, was the aggressor. And it was a sure signal that in such a sobering and troubling trial, there will be no more canned jokes.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/profanity-theatrics-joke-day-1-george-zimmerman-murder-212736939.html

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