Sunday, June 30, 2013

Obama tells leaders to follow Mandela's example

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) ? President Barack Obama on Saturday encouraged leaders in Africa and around the world to follow former South African President Nelson Mandela's example of country before self, as the U.S. president prepared to pay personal respects to relatives who have been gathered around the critically ill anti-apartheid icon.

"We as leaders occupy these spaces temporarily and we don't get so deluded that we think the fate of our country doesn't depend on how long we stay in office," Obama said.

Obama spoke at a news conference with South African President Jacob Zuma in the midst of a weeklong tour of the continent that also included stops in Senegal and Tanzania. But many other African nations are embroiled in religious, sectarian and other conflicts.

Obama decided to avoid stopping in his father's home nation of Kenya because of international disputes there. The International Criminal Court is prosecuting Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta for crimes against humanity, including murder, deportation, rape, persecution and inhumane acts allegedly committed by his supporters in the violent aftermath of Kenya's 2007 elections.

"The timing was not right for me as the president of the United States to be visiting Kenya when those issues are still being worked on, and hopefully at some point resolved," Obama said. He noted he's visited Kenya several times previously and expects he will as well in the future.

Obama and Zuma appeared at the Union Buildings that house government offices and the site of Mandela's 1994 inauguration as the country's first black president after 27 years behind bars for his activism.

The 94-year-old Mandela has been in a nearby hospital for three weeks after being admitted with a lung infection. Zuma told reporters that Mandela is in critical but stable condition and the whole nation is praying that he will improve.

Obama and his wife planned to meet with some of Mandela's relatives later in the day but because of their wishes doesn't plan to see the man Obama on Saturday revered as "one of the greatest people in history."

Obama referred to Mandela by his clan name as he praised South Africa's historic integration from white racist rule as a shining beacon for the world.

"The struggle here against apartheid for freedom, Madiba's moral courage, this country's historic transition to a free and democratic nation has been a personal inspiration to me, it has been an inspiration to the world," Obama said.

"The outpouring of love that we've seen in recent days shows that the triumph of Nelson Mandela and this nation speaks to something very deep in the human spirit, the yearning for justice and dignity that transcends boundaries of race and class and faith and country," Obama said. "That's what Nelson Mandela represents, that's what South African at its best represents to the world, and that's what brings me back here."

Zuma told Obama he and Mandela are "bound by history as the first black presidents of your respective countries."

"Thus, you both carry the dreams of millions of people in Africa and in the diaspora who were previously oppressed," Zuma said, reading from a prepared statement.

On other topics, Obama declined to commit to supporting South Africa's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. He said the U.N.'s structure needs to be updated and it would be "odd" for an expanded Security Council not to have African representation.

"How we do that and what fashion is complicated, it's difficult and it involves all kinds of politics," Obama said.

"Everybody wants a seat at the table, but when it comes time to step up and show responsibility, sometimes people want to be free riders," Obama said, adding he wasn't referring to South Africa specifically.

Zuma responded that he wishes the process of change at the U.N. would speed up.

Obama also said he wants to boost trade with Africa and plans to renegotiate an African trade pact to improve it for American businesses. He said he welcomes competition from other nations who have been aggressive in pursuing commercial opportunities in Africa, including China.

"I don't feel threatened by it. I think it's a good thing," he said. He added: "Our only advice is make sure it's a good deal for Africa." He said that includes making sure foreign investment employs Africans and doesn't tolerate corruption or take its natural resources without compensation for Africans.

Obama also is paying tribute to South Africa's fight against apartheid by visiting the Soweto area Saturday afternoon for a town hall with students at the University of Johannesburg. At least 176 young people were killed in Soweto township 27 years ago this month during a youth protest against the apartheid regime's ban against teaching local Bantu languages. The Soweto Uprising catalyzed international support against apartheid, and June is now recognized as Youth Month in South Africa.

The university plans to bestow an honorary law degree on the U.S. president.

Protesters demonstrated outside the university against U.S. policy on issues including the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the war in Afghanistan and global warming. Hundreds marched to the U.S. Embassy on Friday, carrying signs that read: "No, You Can't Obama," a message inspired by Obama's "yes, we can" campaign slogan.

Obama has been trying to inspire the continent's youth to become civically active and part of a new democratically minded generation. Obama hosted young leaders from more than 40 African countries at the White House in 2010 and challenged them to bring change to their countries by standing up for freedom, openness and peaceful disagreement.

Obama wraps up his South Africa stay Sunday, when he plans to give a sweeping speech on U.S.-Africa policy at the University of Cape Town and take his family to Robben Island to tour the prison where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years behind bars.

Obama has visited the island before, but said it's a particular privilege to bring his daughters back to learn its lessons.

___

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-tells-leaders-mandelas-example-112000386.html

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Saturday, June 29, 2013

Obama's ties to Mandela loom over S. Africa visit

FILE - This two-picture combination of file photos shows Nelson Mandela on Aug. 8, 2012, left, and President Barack Obama on May 31, 2013. It was as a college student that President Barack Obama began to find his political voice. Inspired by Nelson Mandela?s struggle against South Africa?s apartheid government, the young Obama joined campus protests against the white racist rule that kept Mandela locked away in prison for nearly three decades. Now a historic, barrier-breaking figure himself, Obama will arrive in South Africa Friday to find a country drastically transformed by Mandela?s influence, and a nation grappling with the beloved 94-year-old?s mortality. (AP Photo/File)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? Inspired by Nelson Mandela's struggles in South Africa, a young Barack Obama joined campus protests in the U.S. against the racist rule that kept Mandela locked away in prison for nearly three decades.

Now a historic, barrier-breaking figure himself, President Obama arrives in South Africa Friday to find a country drastically transformed by Mandela's influence ? and grappling with the beloved 94-year-old's mortality.

It was unclear whether Mandela's deteriorating health would prevent Obama from making a hospital room visit. The former South African leader is said to be in critical condition.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One as he made his way to Johannesburg, Obama said he would gauge the situation when he arrived.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obamas-ties-mandela-loom-over-africa-visit-173837509.html

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For Feline Lovers, An Adorable Parade Of Animated Japanese Cartoon Cats

Here?s something for all you feline lovers out there.

?MitchiriNeko March? is an adorable animated video that features a parade of Japanese cartoon cats marching past your screen.

Described as a ?cat-like creature that likes to crowd together?, they come in various colors and they each play a different instrument to create an uplifting and catchy melody.

If you want more of ?MitchiriNeko?, there is a game for the iOS and Android, which you can download from the iTunes Store and Google Play.

We hope this video will help kick start your awesome weekend.

Click to watch the video below:

[via Laughing Squid]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/designtaxi_news/~3/QWe4mB5xpDc/

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This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27th

This week we revisited the best Google Reader alternatives, dealt with our slow internet, crushed procrastination, and checked out some new office furniture. Here's a look back.

This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27thS

Google is closing Google Reader's doors on July 1st, meaning you'll need to find a new way to get your news fix. Here's how to export all your feeds and put them into a new reader (and which ones you should check out).

This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27thS

Sometimes, slow internet is the universe's way of telling you to go play outside. Other times, it's the universe's cruel joke to destroy your productivity. Here are 10 ways to troubleshoot, fix, or just survive a slow internet connection.

This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27thS

Procrastination is something that everyone deals with. It?s hard to place too much blame on ourselves though, as the internet offers an unlimited amount of alternatives to doing our work. Since that?s the case, what are some proven ways to combat procrastination? Let?s take a look!

This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27thS

You can't have a great workspace without a great desk and chair. While we know of thepopular options, a lot of inexpensive but awesome office furniture exists that you've probably never heard of. Here's a look at some of the best we've found (and their DIY alternatives).

This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27thS

Whether it?s consumer debt on credit cards, student loans, or a mortgage, most people find themselves weighed down by debt at some point in their lives. This can keep us working jobs we hate just to pay the bills and keep our heads above water. By learning how to pay off debt, you can release the burden and remove some some stress. I?m going to explain how to pay off your debt as fast as possible using the "stack method."

This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27thS

After promising your boss you would complete an important assignment on time, you realize you're behind and it's going to be late. You unintentionally leave a colleague out of the loop on a joint project, causing him or her to feel frustrated and a bit betrayed. On the subway, you aren't paying attention and accidentally spill hot coffee all over a stranger's expensive suit. It's time for a mea culpa.

This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27thS

I started running a year ago. I had just begun a new job after leaving my own startup. I was tired of being a founder and desperately needed a break. I wanted to have a calmer lifestyle and I wanted a hobby. Running seemed like a great choice for a hobby. As a computer programmer, my brain gets a great workout but my butt sits in a computer chair all day. I thought that a little bit of exercise would balance it out.

This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27thS

I?ve always been an entrepreneurial sprinkler, chasing business ideas in every direction. This drive was finally channeled three years ago. Some close friends of mine challenged me to pick a business idea and pour myself into it. I chose Craigslist.

This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27thS

Gmail and If This Then That are already two of our favorite services. When you combine the two together they become seriously powerful. Here are a few of our favorite IFTTT recipes that make Gmail even more awesome.

This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27thS

Human memory is quirky, complicated, and unreliable. Even when we think we're remembering everything accurately, chances are things have gotten twisted along the way. Let?s take a look at why your memory sucks, and how you can change that.

This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27thS

When I was 14, my stereo broke. Opening it up, I found a small piece of metal had been disconnected from the circuit board at the base. I grabbed a lighter, and melted the piece back in place. I plugged the stereo back in, and turned it on. It worked. It was the first time I actually got something I tried to fix working.

This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27thS

For the first two weeks of last month, I religiously tried to follow a new routine I created for myself: a 7-day work week routine. The idea was quite simple: I would work 7 days a week, rest 7 days a week, go to the gym 7 days a week, reflect 7 days a week. This was less about working lots, and more about feeling fulfilled every day.

This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27thS

Microsoft showed off an in-depth look at Windows 8.1 today, and released a preview for everyone to try out. Here are all the new features you'll find in the next version of Windows.

This Week's Most Popular Posts: June 21st to 27th

If you want to put homegrown fruits and vegetables on the table, you don't have to go out and buy seeds; you can generate all the food you want with old kitchen scraps.

Related
Five Best Office Chairs

You spend hours at a time at your desk, so hopefully you're sitting in a comfortable chair. If not, it might be time for an upgrade. This week,? Read?

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/IlPsRnzaaRE/this-weeks-most-popular-posts-june-21st-to-27th-598545166

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Maingear launches liquid-cooled Epic series with 4th-gen Intel Core-i7 CPUs

Maingear launches liquidcooled Epic 4thgen Intel series for the performanceminded

Liquid-cooled PCs are de rigueur for serious gamers, but Maingear knows there are plenty who'd rather crowbar headcrabs than fiddle with plumbing. To that end, the company's just buttressed its water-chilled desktop lineup with the Epic Series, consisting of the full-tower Force and mid-sized Rush models. Each pack a "BiTurbo" pump design that keeps things cool in the event of a single pump failure, along with the latest Intel 4th-generation Core i7 or AMD FX processors. As for graphics, you'll get four-way SLI NVIDIA GeForce GTX Titan or Radeon HD 7970 GPUs if you opt for the Force model, while the Rush offers two-way GeForce GTX Titan SLI or dual Radeon HD 7990 graphics. There are also numerous memory, storage and static pressure fans using Corsair parts, and custom touches like lighting and Glasurit paint with an "automotive finish." Prices start at $3,259 for the Force and $3,059 for the Rush and go way up from there -- if that doesn't phase you, check the source for more.

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Source: Maingear

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/UQTBlEL-_5E/

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The China Edit | Gieves & Hawkes, Rising Retail Rents, I.T's New ...

?Styled in Britain, Owned In China? (The New York Times)

?For more than two centuries, Gieves & Hawkes at No. 1 Savile Row in London has been creating suits for the men of the British royal family ? including the dark navy one that Prince William wore 2010 to announce his engagement to Kate Middleton. Yet today, in the upscale IFC Mall in Hong Kong, it is common to see a customer from mainland China trying on a double-breasted blazer similar to one owned by the prince and happily paying 12,000 Hong Kong dollars, or $1,550, for it. This quintessential British brand, owned by Trinity Limited of China, now has its largest customer base in China and has been gathering a tailor?s knowledge of these new clients? ?I want to maintain the British aristocratic accent but move the collection in a more international direction,? said Jason Basmajian, former artistic director of the Italian men?s wear house Brioni, who was appointed creative director of Gieves & Hawkes early this year.?

?Shop Rents Driven by Cashed-up Youth? (South China Morning Post)

?Shop rents in most mainland cities are expected to increase steadily as retail sales continue to grow on the back of a vast market of young, fashion-conscious shoppers who are willing to spend a significant proportion of their monthly incomes in stores, says property consultancy CBRE. The trend will not be confined to the first-tier cities, and tier-two cities, which are on the radar of international retailers, are expected to see a steady rise in new entrants to their retail markets.?

?Hong Kong?s I.T Limited Will Open Three New Mainland China Outlets? (China Retail News)

?Hong Kong fashion apparel retailer I.T Limited plans to invest HKD300 million to enhance its position in Hong Kong while expanding its business map in mainland China by opening three new stores in Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin in July 2013. In addition, its new store in Chengdu is expected to open at the end of 2013 or the beginning of 2014. The group?s largest project in 2013 is the new Galeries Lafayette project, which will be open in September in Beijing. Located in Xidan, the new Galeries Lafayette is a joint operating project by I.T Limited and Galeries Lafayette Group. With an area of five million square feet, the new Galeries Lafayette department store will have specialty stores of various brands, including Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Chloe, and Givenchy. Those stores will cover 70% of the total area; while the remaining 30% will display products and brands sold via I.T. By opening four new stores, I.T will have 11 stores in mainland China.?

?The ?China Price? Is Not Right? (Jing Daily)

?Foreign brands in China are expensive. This is not just in relation to China?s lower income level: due to a mixture of duties, taxes, logistics costs, and price positioning, the price of foreign brands in China typically ranges from 30 to 80 percent more expensive than in their home markets. Among China?s sophisticated consumers, the price gap between China and the rest of the world has become common knowledge?especially among the aspirational and affluent white-collar workers who are expected to drive growth in the premium and luxury segments. These consumers are increasingly global and savvy in their purchasing behavior, have the opportunity to shop abroad, and are increasingly doing so. In an ongoing SmithStreet study of Chinese luxury customers in Europe, for example, every single respondent has essentially stopped buying luxury goods in mainland China, citing price as the primary (and typically solitary) reason.?

?Americans Exit Harrods Top 10 As Chinese Flock To London Store? (Bloomberg)

?The days of Americans being the biggest overseas shoppers at London?s Harrods store are over. While seven years ago U.S. visitors were the top foreign spenders at the purveyor of luxury fashions and specialty teas, they are now outnumbered by wealthy customers from China and the Middle East, according to Managing Director Michael Ward. ?It is probable today that America will not feature in our top 10 of overseas customers because of the growth of the east and the mineral- and oil-rich nations,? Ward, who has been in charge for more than seven years, said in an interview in his office at the 164-year-old store. China is ?by far No. 1.??

?

Source: http://www.businessoffashion.com/2013/06/the-china-edit-gieves-hawkes-rising-retail-rents-i-t-to-open-three-new-mainland-outlets-the-china-price-chinese-flock-to-harrods.html

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Cutlery: Do size, weight, shape and color matter?

June 26, 2013 ? The appearance of cutlery can affect perception of a food's taste, reports BioMed Central's open access journal Flavour. Food tastes saltier when eaten from a knife, and denser and more expensive from a light plastic spoon. Taste was also affected by the color of the cutlery.

The crockery we use has been shown to alter our perception of food and drink. Beverages in cold colored glasses were rated more refreshing and the weight and color of a plate can alter how dense, salty or sweet food tastes. In this study, researchers from the University of Oxford demonstrated that cutlery can also have an impact on how we experience food.

They found that when the weight of the cutlery confirms expectations (e.g. a plastic spoon is light), yoghurt seemed denser and more expensive. Color contrast is also an important factor: white yoghurt when eaten from a white spoon was rated sweeter, more liked, and more expensive than pink-colored yoghurt. These effects were reversed for yoghurt tasted from a black spoon, which suggests that color contrast mediates the effects of cutlery on flavor perception. Similarly, when offered cheese on a knife, spoon, fork or toothpick, the cheese from a knife tasted saltiest.

Dr Vanessa Harrar and Prof Charles Spence, who performed this study, explain, "How we experience food is a multisensory experience involving taste, feel of the food in our mouths, aroma, and the feasting of our eyes. Even before we put food into our mouths our brains have made a judgment about it, which affects our overall experience."

Vanessa Harrar continued, "Subtly changing eating implements and tableware can affect how pleasurable, or filling, food appears. So, when serving a dish, one should keep in mind that the color of the food appears different depending on the background on which it is presented (plate or cutlery) and, therefore, tastes different. This may also be used to help control eating patterns such as portion size or how much salt is added to food. Alternatively, people may be able to make better food choices if their ingrained color associations are disrupted by less constant advertising and packaging."

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/living_well/~3/kNhuHcpy3kI/130626113420.htm

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U.S. military chief recommends bolstering Lebanon, Iraq forces

By Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. military officer said on Wednesday he has recommended bolstering Lebanese forces grappling with the fallout from Syria's civil war by sending in military trainers and accelerating arms sales.

General Martin Dempsey also said he had recommended helping Iraq better deal with the re-emergence of al Qaeda.

"We've made a recommendation that as we look at the challenges faced by the Lebanese armed forces, the Iraqi security forces with a re-emerging al Qaeda in Iraq, and the Jordanians, that we would work with them to help them build additional capability," Dempsey told reporters at the Pentagon.

A spokesman said Dempsey's recommendations were made "in recent weeks" during internal discussions with the U.S. military's Central Command, as it deliberates how to respond to the growing, regional unrest.

After two years of fighting that has killed more than 100,000 people, Syria's war is dragging its neighbors into a deadly proxy confrontation between Shi'ite Iran supporting President Bashar al-Assad and Sunni Arab Gulf nations backing the Syrian rebels.

Both Iraq and Lebanon have suffered increasing violence at home as the Syrian conflict has escalated.

Dempsey was nominated by President Barack Obama on Wednesday for another two years as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

He was responding to a question at the news conference about whether Lebanon had asked for military help and whether the U.S. military might go into that country.

"When you say would we send the United States Army or the United States military into Lebanon, I'm talking about teams of trainers, and I'm talking about accelerating foreign military sales for equipment for them," Dempsey said in response.

"This is about building their capability, not ours."

A spokesman clarified that this would come on top of any ongoing U.S. military support being provided to Lebanon and Iraq.

The United States has left about 700 U.S. combat-equipped troops in Jordan after a military drill, which also fears a spillover of the war into its territory and where an estimated half-million Syrian refugees have fled to escape the bloodshed.

RISKS OF NO-FLY ZONE

The Pentagon has also announced that it would leave Patriot missiles and F-16 fighters in Jordan after the same drill, fueling speculation that the United States might be considering a no-fly zone that would prevent the Syrian military from flying its aircraft.

Although Obama has not ruled out participating in a no-fly zone, he has appeared skeptical about such a move, and his military commanders, including Dempsey, have been outspoken about the risks involved.

Dempsey, suggesting a no-fly zone may do little to stem the bloodshed, told reporters that Assad's air power was responsible for few of the casualties.

"And if we choose to conduct a no-fly zone, it's essentially an act of war, and I'd like to understand the plan to make peace before we start a war," Dempsey said.

He also noted that any U.S. decision to impose a no-fly zone in Syria would require tough decisions about America's military priorities at a time of shrinking budgets and other demanding commitments - including the Afghan war.

"We are suffering some readiness shortfalls right now," Dempsey said. "We have resources that are at heightened states of alert in the vicinity of the Korean peninsula, in the Gulf, because of potential provocations (by) Iran. Clearly, we still remain very deeply engaged in Afghanistan.

He added: "And the question for the nation will be - and for our elected leaders - where will we prioritize our resources? But if that (a no-fly zone) becomes a priority, we can make it happen."

(Editing by Alistair Bell and Christopher Wilson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-military-chief-recommends-bolstering-lebanon-iraq-forces-225742923.html

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With Facebook Ready to Go, Windows 8 Finally Gets Some App Respect

With Facebook Ready to Go, Windows 8 Finally Gets Some App Respect

Today, Microsoft announced that Facebook, Flipboard, and NFL Fantasy Football would all soon have official apps. That may not be an earth-shaking revelation, but it's a sign that some big names are ready to step up and give Windows 8 the old Metro try.

Read more...

    


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/tcoRkju9HNg/with-facebook-ready-to-go-windows-8-finally-gets-some-588464378

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'Independence Day' sequel: Would Will Smith return?

An 'Independence Day' sequel will reportedly take place 20 years after the first film. The film is scheduled to hit theaters in 2015.

By Sandy Schaefer,?Screen Rant / June 25, 2013

Would an 'Independence Day' sequel feature Will Smith?

Misha Japaridze/AP

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It?s taken 17 years, but Fox has at last dated Independence Day 2 to hit theaters during (when else?) the Fourth of July holiday frame in 2015. The sequel will pick up in real-time, some twenty years after the first movie. However, co-writers Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich (the latter is returning to direct) have revealed that ID4-2 takes place in an alternate present-day reality, where humanity has spent the last two decades harvesting the alien technology featured in the first movie.

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Screen Rant had a humble start back in 2003 as a place to rant about some of the dumber stuff related to the movie industry. Since then, the site has grown to cover more and more TV and movie news (and not just the dumb stuff) along with sometimes controversial movie reviews. The goal at Screen Rant is to cover stories and review movies from a middle ground/average person perspective.

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Cast-wise, Independence Day 2 is expected to bring back characters from the first film ? like former U.S. president Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman) and MIT graduate-turned cable repairman Dave Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) ? but Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) won?t be among them. Similarly, the cast will be half new characters, some of whom may become more prominently featured in a third installment (assuming the first sequel is a satisfactory box office hit).

Devlin and Emmerich had mapped out the?ID4 sequel as a two-part narrative arch, under the working title ID Forever Part I & II. The latter has informed Collider that ?I think [Fox]?decided to only do one first? for the time being, and has set?James Vanderbilt (the writer for Emmerich?s?White House Down) to polish off the script.

That?s understandable, given that Emmerich?s disaster blockbuster formula isn?t so fresh nowadays (following ID4,?The Day After Tomorrow and 2012), and the self-contained nature of?ID4 gives all the more reason to wonder if demand for a sequel is so high after many years. Not to mention,?the number of alien films?released in recent years ? a handful of which proved to be mediocre or worse ? make it harder to get enthused about yet another blockbuster that feature extraterrestrials in an apocalyptic scenario (the end-of-the-world sub-genre is, likewise, starting to feel over-saturated at this point).

As for Smith?s lack of involvement, Emmerich told the NY Daily News:

?Will Smith can not come back because he?s too expensive, but he?d also be too much of a marquee name. It would be too much.?We have like maybe half of the people that you know would know from the first film (in the script) and the other half people who are new.?

What?s funny is that Smith has made it known that he doesn?t want to turn into ?the sequel guy,? and yet many of his oft-rumored upcoming projects are followups to his previous tentpole successes (Bad Boys 3, Hancock 2, I Am Legend 2, etc.). While M. Night Shyamalan?s After Earth ? which stars Will and his son Jaden ? has performed below expectations, the sci-fi film has still managed to take in $172 million worldwide; meaning, the ex-Fresh Prince?s ability to get projects green-lit probably won?t take that big a hit (and it won?t change his mind about not becoming the go-to guy for sequels).

Sandy Schaefer blogs at Screen Rant.

The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of music, film, and television bloggers. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by The Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own and they are responsible for the content of their blogs. To contact us about a blogger, click here.

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Queen scores record profit from booming London property

LONDON (Reuters) - The Crown Estate - owned by the Queen - on Thursday said it made record profit in the year to March, thanks to the strong performance of its central London properties.

Crown Estate's 5.2 percent rise in profits to 252.6 million pounds gives the queen a 38 million pounds 2014/15 payout, pegged at 15 percent of the total by a 2012 law designed to link her income to the UK's economic health.

The rest of the profits go to Britain's Treasury or finance ministry. Chancellor George Osborne on Wednesday detailed 11.5 billion pounds of spending cuts.

Owner of wind farms and most of Britain's sea bed along with its Regent Street properties, the company has outperformed the wider economy due to strong overseas interest in London property and the UK's growing reliance on green energy.

"We are proud that another record Crown Estate performance will again make a strong contribution to the nation's finances," said Chairman Stuart Hampson. The company's property portfolio is now worth 8.1 billion pounds.

The Queen - whose payout rose 20 percent to 36 million this year - was previously paid by taxpayers through an allowance set by parliament and other government grants.

It is not allowed to borrow in capital markets and has formed joint ventures with overseas funds to finance its redevelopment plans. In May, it signed a 320 million pound deal with Oxford Properties, owned by one of Canada's largest pension funds, to redevelop London's upmarket St James's Market district.

The Queen, who celebrated the 60th anniversary of her coronation earlier this month, uses her salary mainly to pay the royal household's staff as well as items such as laundry, stationery and official functions.

The Crown Estate belongs to the reigning king or queen but its properties cannot be sold by the monarch. King George III ceded its profits to the government in 1760.

(Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Louise Ireland and Tom Bill)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/queen-scores-record-profit-booming-london-property-081137029.html

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Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Breaking: Supreme Court limits federal oversight of Voting Rights Act (CNN)

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Record-Breaking 700,000-Year-Old Horse Genome Sequenced

DNA from a horse that lived 700,000 years ago has become the oldest genome to be completely sequenced, blowing away the previous record holders?an 88,000-year-old human fossil and a 120,000-year-old polar bear fossil. The results, published in Nature this week, provide new insight into equine evolution and extend the known limits of DNA survival.

"It's not every day you get a sixfold improvement in ancient genome sequencing," says Harvard geneticist George Church, who wasn't involved in the new study.

DNA typically begins to degrade just after an organism dies, rapidly breaking into smaller and smaller chunks that become increasingly difficult for scientists to piece back together into a complete genome. In this case the new genome comes from a leg bone dug up from the permafrost in the Yukon Territory of Canada. And so the scientists had ice on their side: The cold temperatures had slowed the degradation process, though the DNA was still broken into many small pieces.

To put the pieces back together, researchers used a modern horse genome, sequenced in 2009, as a reference for what the ancient genome should look like. "It's very much like a puzzle where everything is mixed together, and you try to put it back from where it came from," says the study's lead author Ludovic Orlando, who studies ancient DNA at the University of Copenhagen. But 700,000-year-old horse DNA doesn't match up perfectly with the modern horse genome. So Orlando's team also compared the sample with DNA from another ancient horse from 43,000 years ago, as well as with DNA from a donkey, several modern horse breeds, and a Przewalski's horse, a wild cousin to the domesticated horse that is still living in Asia.

By studying the similarities and differences between genomes, the team concluded that modern equines?horses, donkeys, and zebras?share a common ancestor that lived approximately 4 million years ago. That's twice as old as conventional wisdom suggested. The data also revealed regions of the modern horse genome that appear to have been heavily shaped by the domestication process, and proved that Przewalsky's horses are a distinct group. Previously some scientists thought Przewalsky's horses might be a subset of domestic horses that reverted back to wildness, but the new data show these animals come from a different branch that was never domesticated.

Przewalsky's horse. Credit: Claudia Feh

"Until this study many experts would have thought that it was impossible to recover a genome from a sample of this age because of the rapid degradation of DNA," molecular biologists Craig Millar and David Lambert wrote in a commentary in Nature. The new analysis suggests that, given the right conditions, scientists may be able to unlock valuable information from fossils that previously would have been considered much too old to sequence.

"In an environment similar to the one we have studied, we could predict that very short molecules of DNA, which have information to work with, could very well survive over millions of years," Orlando says.

Millar and Lambert write that the study "encourages us to wonder if it might be possible to recover DNA from a wide range of Middle Pleistocene samples. Of particular interest would be material from ancestral human species such as Homo heidelbergensis and Homo erectus." Complete or partial genomes from ancient hominins would help clear up humanity's messy family tree. Orlando says he'd also like to check out the genomes of mastodons, cave lions, and other specimens preserved in permafrost.

Although Church cautions that the new method may not be applicable to all species, he says that some future technique "may enable us to get much older information than today's record of 700,000 years."

And completing genomes of ancient animals might offer more than just information. Church has been pioneering methods to resurrect extinct species using modern genomics (read more about this in the July/August issue of PopMech, on newsstands now). By copying and pasting genes of extinct species into the genomes of their living relatives, Church has said that biologists could revive species that are up to 200,000 years old. That time-frame estimate has to be revised in light of the new findings, Church says. "We could potentially resurrect this 700,000-year-old horse."

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/genetics/record-breaking-700000-year-old-horse-genome-sequenced-15631224?src=rss

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Paula Deen's 'Today' appearance ends in tears

NEW YORK (AP) ? Paula Deen dissolved into tears during a "Today" show interview Wednesday about her admission that she used a racial slur in the past, saying anyone in the audience who's never said anything they've regretted should pick up a rock and throw it at her head.

The celebrity chef, who had backed out of a "Today" interview last Friday, said she was not a racist and was heartbroken by the controversy that began with her own deposition in a lawsuit. Deen has been dropped by the Food Network and as a celebrity endorser by Smithfield Foods.

"I've had to hold friends in my arms while they've sobbed because they know what's been said about me is not true and I'm having to comfort them," she said.

Deen told Lauer she could only recall using the "n-word" once. She had earlier said that she remembered using it when retelling a story about when she was held at gunpoint by a robber who was black while working as a bank teller in the 1980s in Georgia. In a deposition for the lawsuit involving an employee in a restaurant owned by Deen and her brother, she had said she may also have used the slur when recalling conversations between black employees at her restaurants.

Looking distressed and her voice breaking, Deen said if there was someone in the audience who had never said something they wished they could take back, "please pick up that stone and throw it as hard at my head so it kills me. I want to meet you. I want to meet you.

"I is what I is and I'm not changing," she said. "There's someone evil out there that saw what I worked for and wanted it."

An uncomfortable Lauer tried to end the interview, but Deen repeated that anyone who hasn't sinned should attack her.

Deen said she appreciated fans who have expressed anger at the Food Network for dropping her, but said she didn't support a boycott of the network.

"These people who have met me and know me and love me, they're as angry as the people who are reading these stories that are lies," she said.

___

Online:

http://www.today.com/

___

Follow Dave Bauder on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dbauder

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/paula-deens-today-appearance-ends-tears-120225940.html

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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Thalmic Takes A Cue From Google, Launches #ifihadMYO Campaign To Give Away MYO Armbands

contest_hexaThalmic Labs, the Waterloo startup behind the upcoming MYO armband motion control device, is giving away five of its devices, to be delivered to the lucky winners early next year. The campaign may seem familiar, since it's called "#ifihadMYO," which is a direct lift of Google's recent #ifihadGlass Twitter-based giveaway of its own wearable tech product.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/DCBreL8SlKg/

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Spatial training boosts math skills

June 25, 2013 ? Training young children in spatial reasoning can improve their math performance, according to a groundbreaking study from Michigan State University education scholars.

The researchers trained 6- to 8-year-olds in mental rotation, a spatial ability, and found their scores on addition and subtraction problems improved significantly. The mental rotation training involved imagining how two halves of an object would come together to make a whole, when the halves have been turned at an angle.

Past research has found a link between spatial reasoning and math, but the MSU study is the first to provide direct evidence of a causal connection -- that when children are trained in one ability, improvement is seen in the other. The findings will be published in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Cognition and Development.

Kelly Mix, professor of educational psychology, said the findings suggest spatial training "primes" the brain to better tackle calculation problems. Mix authored the study with Yi-Ling Cheng, a doctoral student in MSU's College of Education.

"What's shocking is that we saw these improvements in math performance after giving the students just one 20-minute training session in spatial ability," Mix said. "Imagine if the training had been six weeks."

Understanding the connection between spatial ability and math, she said, is especially important in the early elementary grades because many studies indicate early intervention is critical for closing achievement gaps in math.

Spatial ability is important for success in many fields, from architecture to engineering to meteorology, according to a Johns Hopkins University paper. An astronomer must visualize the structure of the solar system and the motions of the objects in it, for example, while a radiologist must be able to interpret the image on an X-ray.

Some education experts have called for including spatial reasoning in the elementary math curriculum. But there are many forms of spatial ability and Mix said it's important to first figure out how each of them may or may not relate to the various math disciplines.

To that end, Mix is leading a larger study that tests elementary students on different forms of spatial ability and math performance.

Mix's research into spatial ability and math is funded by two grants totaling $2.8 million from the Institute of Education Sciences, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_technology/~3/qnePuR5O67Q/130625121239.htm

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Sydney Home ? Ferne Colls and Family | The Design Files

The incredible Sydney home of Ferne Colls and family, designed by Harry Seidler in 1972! ?Marcel Breuer Wassily Lounge Chairs, Vico Magistretti Maralunga sofa, Harry Seidler coffee table (designed especially for the house), B&B Italia slab sofa. ?Photo ? Sean Fennessy, production ? Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Looking from loungeroom to front entrance. ?Warren Platner arm chair just sneaking in on the left! original fixed cabinetry in hall. ?Photo -?Sean Fennessy, production ? Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Dining room ? with amazing double height ceiling and beautiful views to the leafy exterior! ?Florence Knoll Oak dining table, Thonet Hoffman dining chairs, original fixed cabinetry to right. ?Photo -?Sean Fennessy, production ? Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Main lounge room from above. ?Marcel Breuer Wassily Lounge Chairs, Vico Magistretti Maralunga sofa, Harry Seidler coffee table (designed for the house), B&B Italia slab sofa, Saarinen side table (foreground), AJ standing lamp (in the far corner). Photo ? Sean Fennessy, production ? Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Amazing swimming pool, adjacent to main living room.?Photo -?Sean Fennessy, production ? Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

It?s not every day we have the opportunity to share a home quite like this one. ?Today?s ?truly iconic Australian home was designed by revered modernist architect Harry Seidler in 1972 ? and, remarkably, is still almost entirely in its original condition. ?It?s known as the Gissing House after its first owners, John and Janet Gissing, who lived here for 36 years until 2008 ? an incredible tenure which speaks volumes for the appeal of this elegantly designed, functional family home, and has ensured its near perfect preservation. ?The house is?now home to Sydneysider Ferne Colls and her beautiful kids?Luxe (12), Avah (10) and Leo (6),?plus sausage dogs Bruno and Franki! ?The Colls family has lived here, in Sydney?s leafy suburb of Wahroonga, for just over 5 years.

When purchasing a home like this, there often seems to be an inherent responsibility to restore and preserve the original features of the home, and beyond this, an obligation?to really share and educate others about the beauty and efficiency of mid century architecture. ?Everyone I meet who is lucky enough to live in an original mid century home seems to feel this sense of obligation ? which is a wonderful thing, especially considering how many amazing homes from this era are sadly still demolished in favour of new development. ?Ferne has taken this responsibility seriously ? she regularly opens her home up to architects and design students, on the proviso that they promise to share this sense of respect and responsibility in all their future work!

The Gissing House retains it?s original layout and almost all its original features, with the exception of some paint finishes and carpet which have required replacing over time. ?Ferne has invested in a thorough restoration of all the oak timber throughout the home (doors, ceilings, cabinetry), and the odd bit of repainting to freshen up some surfaces. The garden and pool, too, remain in their original layout, and simply require regular maintenance. ?It really is a testament to Seidler?s incredible skill and foresight that this home has required so little significant restoration in its 40+ years, and still feels contemporary, serving a family of four in 2013 with the same robust efficiency as it did in the 70?s!

Of course what also makes this home so special is the restrained furniture and styling choices Ferne has made, including mostly classic mid century pieces (some of which were purchased with the home), complemented by a smattering of contemporary artwork and home accessories. ?The result is a relaxed, sophisticated space with an unmistakeable sense of nostalgia ? a visit here really feels a little like stepping back in time!

With three energetic young kids, Ferne doesn?t often find the opportunity to have time to herself, but when there?s a spare moment, her favourite spot is by the window, stretched out with a good book in her Le Corbusier Chaise by Cassina. (Sadly not pictured ? sorry about that!). ?It?s great to relax and read with the filtered light from the trees streaming in through the window? says Ferne. ?The opportunity ?doesn?t come around very often, but perhaps it?s more the temptation of the opportunity that I like so much!? she says!

Other favourite pieces for Ferne include her outdoor chairs by the pool, another classic design by Australian designer Clement Meadmore ? and a sentimental favourite, passed on from Ferne?s father, who introduced her to Meadmore?s work and sculpture from a very young age.

Mid century enthusiasts might be keen to learn a little more about the history of this beautiful Australian Home ? if so, pop over to The Modern House website for a more detailed back story.

Enormous thanks to Ferne for entrusting us to share her very special home with you all today, in the spirit of appreciation and preservation of Australian mid century architecture!

A photogenic corner in the dining room ? Leo?s train set sneaks in at the bottom of the frame! ?Photo -?Sean Fennessy, production ? Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Tighter detail of dinig room, looking to external courtyard. ?Florence Knoll Oak dining table, Thonet Hoffman dining chairs.?Photo -?Sean Fennessy, production ? Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Master bedroom, with leafy outlook to garden. ?At desk ? Series 7 Arne Jacobsen chair,?Snoopy lamp by Achille Castiglion. ?Photo -?Sean Fennessy, production ? Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Leo?s bedroom! ?(He is a lego wizard!). ?Photo -?Sean Fennessy, production ? Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Main lounge room. ?Harry Seidler coffee table,?Vico Magistretti Maralunga sofa. ?Photo -?Sean Fennessy, production ? Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Main lounge room, reverse angle. ?Warren Platner Arm Chairs with Saarinen side table to left, original fixed cabinetry to right. ?Photo -?Sean Fennessy, production ? Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Pool area. ?Clement Meadmore dining chairs. ?Photo -?Sean Fennessy, production ? Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Pool again (we couldn?t resist!). ?Clement Meadmore dining chairs. ?Photo -?Sean Fennessy, production ? Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

House exterior. ?Butterfly chairs and Eames table. ?Photo -?Sean Fennessy, production ? Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Source: http://thedesignfiles.net/2013/06/sydney-home-ferne-colls-and-family/

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