Thursday, February 28, 2013

IELTS Writing Task 2: 'money' topic - ielts-simon.com

Following on from yesterday's video, let's look at a writing task 2 question:

After leaving school or university, young people should choose a job or career that they love, rather than one that pays the best salary. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Don't attempt this question without spending some time planning first:

  • Decide on your overall point of view: agree or disagree (or maybe 'partly agree').
  • Plan your 4-paragraph essay structure: what will each paragraph be about?
  • Note some ideas for each main paragraph: think about how you will explain your ideas in detail, and what real-life examples you could use.

Source: http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/2013/02/ielts-writing-task-2-money-topic.html

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CFPB: Fixing student loans in an effort to help housing | HSH ...

February 28th, 2013 by Marcie Geffner

?

SchoolThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is gathering information to help develop policy options that might aid borrowers struggling to repay private student loans. This issue is important in part because people burdened by student loans are less able to finance a home purchase.

Specifically, the CFPB is seeking input on such issues as:

  • How student loans affect the U.S. economy and consumers? access to mortgages and car loans
  • How distressed borrowers manage their student loan obligations
  • What options borrowers currently have to lower their private student loan payments
  • Examples of alternate payment programs that might apply to student loans
  • Effective mechanisms for communicating with distressed borrowers

CFPB Director Richard Cordray said in a statement that too many private student loan borrowers are struggling with debt that prevents them from climbing the economic ladder.

?We will be analyzing plans for policymakers to consider that might help avoid a repeat of the mortgage meltdown for today?s student loan borrowers,? Cordray said.

Easier repayment terms for student loans could help people better position themselves to buy a house.

Comments will be accepted until April 8, 2013.

Bank expect higher student-debt delinquencies

Student loans continue to be a subject of concern for lenders, according to FICO, a credit scoring and analytics company in San Jose, Calif.

In a recent quarterly survey of 251 U.S. bank risk professionals, FICO found a generally positive outlook for consumer credit health, but heightened expectations of rising delinquencies on student loan debt. This marked the fifth consecutive quarter in which a majority of survey respondents offered a pessimistic outlook for student loans.

An October 2012 CFPB report found borrowers had trouble negotiating affordable repayment plans for private student loans, which aren?t designed with income-based payment options. This report recommended that policymakers explore ways to encourage alternative repayment and refinance options for student loan debt.

An earlier study by the Pew Research Center found 19 percent of U.S. households owed student debt in 2010, a significant rise compared with the 15 percent of households that owed such debt in 2007. A record 40 percent of households headed by someone younger than 35 years old owed student loan debt, the highest proportion by far among any age group. The average outstanding student loan balance was $26,682.

Unpaid loans impede future borrowing

?As more people default on their student loans, their credit ratings will drop, making it harder for them to access new credit and help grow the economy,? Dr. Andrew Jennings, FICO?s chief analytics officer, said in a statement. ?Even people who stay current on their student loans are dealing with very large debts, which reduces the money they have available to spend elsewhere,? Jennings said.

That elsewhere spending certainly includes housing and costs related to homeownership.

Source: http://blog.hsh.com/index.php/2013/02/cfpb-fixing-student-loans-in-an-effort-to-help-housing/

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Hagel?s confirmation; the Republican scorecard, with particular attention to Rand Paul (Powerlineblog)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/287680214?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Obama: Budget Cuts Will Cause 'Tumble Downward'

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama says looming automatic budget cuts will cause a "tumble downward" for the economy.

He acknowledges many people may not immediately notice the full impact of the so-called sequester cuts if they take effect Friday. But he says yanking $85 billion from the economy this year would be a "big hit" on a nation still trying to fully recover from a recession.

Speaking to business executives Wednesday, Obama acknowledged it will be difficult for lawmakers to reach a deal to offset the cuts by Friday. He says the logjam is not technical, "it's political.

The president wants Republicans to drop their opposition to using some new tax revenue to offset the cuts. And he says members of his own party must accept some changes to government entitlement programs.

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/27/obama-budget-cuts_n_2777668.html

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Woman, 22, a 'person of interest' in Vegas shooting

(Reuters) - Police identified a 22-year-old woman on Tuesday as a "person of interest" in the slaying of an aspiring rapper who was shot and killed while driving his Maserati on the Las Vegas strip and for the deaths of two more people in a fiery crash that ensued.

Las Vegas police said Tineesha Lashun Howard was riding in a black Range Rover with prime suspect Ammar Harris when he opened fire on the Maserati being driven by 27-year-old Kenneth Wayne Cherry Jr. before dawn on Thursday.

Cherry, who performed under the name "Kenny Clutch," was mortally wounded and his silver sports car veered out of control, colliding with a taxicab in an intersection at the heart of the strip, near several casino resort hotels.

Harris, 26, has been the subject of a multistate manhunt since the incident, and police say he has a long criminal history that includes arrests for robbery, sexual assault, kidnapping and soliciting prostitution.

Police believe Harris is "involved in the sex trade," said Las Vegas Metropolitan Police spokesman Officer Bill Cassell.

Harris is described as having several tattoos, including a large black-eyed owl on his neck and small heart on his upper right cheek.

Police officials described Howard as a "missing and possibly endangered individual" from the Miami area.

"She's listed as a missing person," Cassell said. "How she went missing is part of the Miami Police Department's investigation."

Several photos released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department showed Howard and Harris together in each others' arms. In one of them they are seen riding in a sport utility vehicle, possibly the Range Rover.

The Range Rover used in the shooting, which bore paper dealer plates, has been impounded by police, but officials have not said where they found the luxury sport utility vehicle. No weapons were recovered from inside.

Earlier on Tuesday, Las Vegas taxicab companies pledged $35,000 toward a reward fund for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Harris.

Authorities say the dramatic shooting in a busy intersection of the desert resort city may have stemmed from a verbal altercation in the valet area of the Aria Resort and Casino a few blocks away on the Strip.

The incident took place less than a mile from where rapper Tupac Shakur was fatally shot in September 1996 while riding in a BMW with Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight after the two men had attended a Mike Tyson boxing match.

Shakur, 25, was hit by gunfire from at least one assailant in a Cadillac while sitting in Knight's car at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane and died six days later at a hospital. His murder remains unsolved.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Cynthia Johnston, Bernard Orr and Lisa Shumaker)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/police-woman-22-person-interest-vegas-shooting-002811358.html

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Oxfam slates AB Foods on development impact, praises Nestle

ZURICH (Reuters) - Associated British Foods scored lowest among 10 of the top food and beverage companies assessed for their social and environmental impact on poor countries, development group Oxfam said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Nestle and Unilever ranked highest for their policies on seven areas assessed by Oxfam as critical to sustainable agriculture: women, small-scale farmers, farm workers, water, land, climate change and transparency.

Oxfam said in the report that Nestle and Unilever had done more to tackle social and environmental risks within their supply chains than companies it ranked less favourably including AB Foods and Kellogg Co.

Big food and beverage companies have come under increasing scrutiny in recent years over their sourcing of raw materials, courting criticism on issues ranging from child labour on cocoa farms to the impact of palm oil plantations on rain forests.

Oxfam said it had launched the "Behind the Brands" campaign to try to assess "ubiquitous" declarations of sustainability made by food and beverage companies as well as a proliferation of corporate social responsibility programmes.

"There are enormous gaps in terms of basic transparency which makes it very difficult to hold these companies to account," Raymond Offenheiser, President of Oxfam America, told a phone conference for journalists.

"The goal is not to criticise these companies for poor performance but encourage a 'race to the top'."

Oxfam ranked Nestle first, Unilever second, Coca-Cola third, PepsiCo fourth, Mars fifth, Danone and Mondelez International joint sixth, Kellogg Co and General Mills join eighth, and AB Foods in 10th place.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oxfam-slates-ab-foods-development-impact-praises-nestle-000335212--sector.html

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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

ZTE Grand Memo hands-on: a Galaxy Note competitor without a stylus (video)

ZTE Grand Memo handson a Galaxy Note competitor without a stylus video

Nothing's changed since last we saw ZTE's Grand Memo in Hong Kong last January. But the Chinese OEM's trotting it out once again at MWC 2013 here in Barcelona, reintroducing the palm-stretching device for the global press. From the name alone, it's clear that ZTE's angling this tabletphone (sorry, no stylus included) at Samsung's successful Note line; a competition that's already been won by the recently unveiled and incredibly massive Note 8. The Grand Memo's specs have remained the same -- 5.7-inch 720p TFT display, quad-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro, 1GB RAM, Android 4.1.2 and 13-megapixel rear camera module -- but now we have an English-language demo to walk you through it. So check out the video tour after the break and stay tuned for our live coverage of ZTE's press event.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/25/zte-grand-memo-hands-on/

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Ring's return brings new life for Mo. homeless man

(AP) ? A homeless Kansas City man will soon have well over $100,000 after returning an engagement ring to a woman who accidentally dropped it in his cup earlier this month.

"I think in our world we often jump to like the worst conclusion, and it just makes you realize that there are good people out there," said Sarah Darling, whose fianc? set up a website seeking donations for Billy Ray Harris, the man who found the ring. By Monday, more than 6,000 people had donated more than $145,000 to the fund.

Harris, who frequently panhandles on Kansas City's Country Club Plaza, discovered the ring about an hour after Darling dumped spare change from her coin purse into his cup. She had taken off her ring earlier that day and put it with the coins.

"The ring was so big that I knew if it was real, it was expensive," Harris told KCTV.

Darling was horrorstruck when she realized the next day what she had done. She went back to Harris, squatted beside him and told him that she might have given him something valuable.

"'Was it a ring?'" he recalled asking her. "And she says, 'Yeah.' And I said 'Well, I have it.' "

Darling gave Harris all the cash she had in her wallet at the time.

"It seemed like a miracle," Darling said. "I thought for sure there was no way I would get it back."

In explaining why he didn't keep the ring, Harris said he had a religious upbringing.

"My grandfather was a reverend," Harris said. "He raised me from the time I was 6 months old and thank the good Lord, it's a blessing, but I do still have some character."

___

Online:

http://www.giveforward.com/billyray

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-25-Homeless%20Man-Engagement%20Ring/id-ebf4bf7e74ee48e9b99f80c75fbfa200

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Some Common House Painting Questions | Home Improvement ...

Before choosing the house painting company that?s best for you, you need to make sure that the painters you hire are reliable. Before making any decisions regarding the best painter that is right for you, you must make sure that the painting company is reliable and reputable.Make sure you screen multiple painters before hiring and check all of their professional references to find the best contractor. It is always a good sign when a house painting company hires their own employees rather than subbing out their work to other contractors.

Always be sure to see if your contractor is licensed and make sure the painters working on your home have experience and are skilled workers. It is a good idea to check and see if there are any outstanding complaints online about the contractor you are considering hiring. If you follow these steps and use your common sense you will be closer to getting a trustworthy house painting company to work on your home, said some painters Christchurch.

A variety of different factors will contribute to the time it takes to complete your house painting project.The time it takes to paint an interior is different than the amount of time it takes to paint the exterior. Setbacks in the schedule can occur based on the weather during your particular project so it is important to also consider things like humidity, heat and rain that can affect your project. The time it takes to finish the project can also be affected by the square footage and height of the building which may require crews to take extra safety precautions and extra ladder movements which can add to the time. To insure that your needs and deadlines are met by the house painting company you want, make sure you schedule your project weeks or even months in advance.

Every house we paint is totally different than the last as each homeowner has different preferences making no two jobs the same. The cost of painting your home depends on a variety of factors when calculating the exact price. Some of the factors that influence pricing are the experience of the Phoenix painters on the job, the square footage of the house, the quality of the paint being used and whether or not you are getting the interior or exterior of the house painted. These are just a few of the many considerations that we use when calculating a price to paint your house.

Be very cautious of any contractor looking to do your painting for very cheap. It?s common that these low priced painting contractors will leave you with a disappointing paint job and they will use illegal workers and low quality paint.Spend the extra money to get your paint job done right the first time and you will be glad you did. Eclipse Painting is dedicated to giving you the highest quality standards in craftsmanship, service and product. One can also refer to http://www.mrcarpetcleaner.co.nz/ for the related services.

Posts related to Some Common House Painting Questions

Source: http://www.23cdk.com/some-common-house-painting-questions/

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Monday, February 25, 2013

Michelle Obama's 'Evolution of Mom Dancing' rocks YouTube (+video)

First lady Michelle Obama joined late-night TV host Jimmy Fallon in a dance skit to promote her 'Let's Move' anti-childhood obesity program. 'Evolution of Mom Dancing' went viral on YouTube.

By Brad Knickerbocker,?Staff writer / February 23, 2013

Jimmy Fallon dances with first lady Michelle Obama during an appearance on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," Friday. Mrs. Obama was promoting her "Let's Move" anti-obesity campaign and to perform in a sketch called "Evolution of Mom Dancing."

Lloyd Bishop/NBC/AP

Enlarge

First lady Michelle Obama is rocking YouTube with a viral video of her dancing with the host of "Late Night With Jimmy?Fallon.?

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'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // --> First lady Michelle Obama and Jimmy Fallon in a dance skit called 'Evolution of Mom Dancing.'

On Friday night, Mrs. Obama joined Mr. Fallon ? both were dressed as suburban moms ? for a dance routine called the ?Evolution of Mom Dancing? ? a take-off on Judson Laipply?s wildly popular video ?Evolution of Dance? (more than 200 million views so far).

Steps included "Go Shopping, Get Groceries", "Driving the Station Wagon?, "Oh My God, I Love This Song", and ?Where?s Your Father (Get Him Back Here).?

Michelle Obama: 10 quotes on her birthday

Social media and the blogosphere went nuts. ?The first lady demonstrated an uncanny ability to make the lamest dance moves look cool,? wrote Daniel Politi on Slate.

One tries to imagine Mamie Eisenhower or Pat Nixon doing "The Sprinkler." Bette Ford or Hillary Clinton (before she became a US Senator and Secretary of State) maybe, but probably not either of the Bush first ladies.

Fallon suggested a Michelle-Hillary ticket for president in 2016. But the first lady said she had her eye on another post-White House job. ?I hear that when Jay Leno retires that 'The Tonight Show' position is going to open and I'm thinking about putting my hat in the ring,"?she joked.

The President?s dancing skills inevitably came up.

"How about Barack, is he a good dancer?" Fallon asked.

"You know, I give him a B," Mrs. Obama said, tactfully. "His dancing is right here in the pocket. He's got like three good moves. But they're all right here," she said while dancing with her hands by her hips.?

Dancing with Fallon is part of an effort to promote Mrs. Obama?s "Let's Move" anti-childhood obesity campaign, which marked its third anniversary this month.

Besides the appearance on "Late Night," Mrs. Obama discussed the initiative while in New York City during segments taped for broadcast Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America" and Thursday on "The Dr. Oz Show," the Associated Press reports. Next Wednesday, Mrs. Obama embarks on a two-day promotional tour, with stops in Clinton, Miss.; Chicago; and Springfield, Mo.

For the second anniversary of "Let's Move," she and?Fallon?turned the East Room of the White House into a playground. They did pushups, twirled hula hoops, and competed at dodge ball and tug-of-war before the first lady triumphed over the comedian in a climactic potato sack race.

Michelle Obama: 10 quotes on her birthday

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/jFKXv9MeDoU/Michelle-Obama-s-Evolution-of-Mom-Dancing-rocks-YouTube-video

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Obama administration to argue for gay marriage in Supreme Court case

The US Supreme Court next month hears arguments in a case challenging the 'Defense of Marriage Act.' In a brief filed Friday, the Obama administration asserts that DOMA discriminates against gay and lesbian couples in violation of the US Constitution.

By Brad Knickerbocker,?Staff writer / February 23, 2013

Edith Windsor in her New York City apartment. Ms. Windsor is challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act in the United States Supreme Court. She sued the government in 2010 because she was told to pay $363,053 in federal estate tax after her partner of 44 years, Thea Spyer, died in 2009.

Richard Drew/AP

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The Obama administration has taken another important step in its advocacy of same-sex marriage, weighing in on an important case to be heard in the US Supreme Court next month.

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The essence of the administration?s argument is that the 1996 ?Defense of Marriage Act? violates the US Constitution in defining marriage as the legal union between one man and one woman ? specifically Section 3 of DOMA, which bars recognition of same-sex marriages in the granting of federal benefits including Social Security survivors? benefits, immigration, insurance benefits for government employees,?and filing joint?tax returns.

In the Justice Department brief filed with the Supreme Court Friday, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli writes that DOMA?s Section 3 ?targets the many gay and lesbian people legally married under state law for a harsh form of discrimination that bears no relation to their ability to contribute to society.?

How much do you know about the US Constitution? A quiz.

?It is abundantly clear that this discrimination does not substantially advance an interest in protecting marriage, or any other important interest,? Mr. Verrilli writes. ?The statute simply cannot be reconciled with the Fifth Amendment?s guarantee of equal protection. The Constitution therefore requires that Section 3 be invalidated.?

The administration made it clear during the latter half of Mr. Obama?s first term that it would not continue to defend DOMA in the court cases where it?s been challenged. Taking up DOMA?s defense has been the ?Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group? in the US House of Representatives, directed by Speaker John Boehner to take the place of the Justice Department in arguing court cases on behalf of the controversial law.

The House brief filed last month asserts that the same-sex marriage issue should be left to the democratic process and that gays are quite capable of pursuing their rights in those venues, according to a Politico analysis.

?Gays and lesbians are one of the most influential, best-connected, best-funded, and best-organized interest groups in modern politics, and have attained more legislative victories, political power, and popular favor in less time than virtually any other group in American history,? the House brief says.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/pfbGkqDgHQI/Obama-administration-to-argue-for-gay-marriage-in-Supreme-Court-case

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Alcatel-Lucent's latest lightRadio development aims to spread TD-LTE across China

AlcatelLucent's latest lightRadio development aims to spread TDLTE across China

We've yet to hear much about Alcatel-Lucent's lightRadio since it's original introduction in early 2011, but here in Barcelona, the outfit has announced (in cooperation with China Mobile, no less) that its latest innovation could help spread the wondrous waves of TD-LTE across China. Available now for large-scale commercial deployment in China Mobile's first trial TD-LTE network, which spans 13 cities in China, lightRadio Metro Radio will bring legitimate 4G services to residents in densely populated areas of Shanghai, Nanjing and Qingdao.

China Mobile itself has over 722 million subscribers, and a huge swath of those are no doubt clamoring for faster transmission speeds. In China, lightRadio Metro Radio will be deployed in bustling indoor and outdoor locations, such as shopping malls and stadiums, but there's no word on when the masses might expect this stuff to launch in earnest. Here's hoping for a speedy trial, eh?

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Source: Alcatel-Lucent

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/25/alcatel-lucent-lightradio-china-mobile-td-lte-rollout/

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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Up to 12,000 U.S., allied troops for Afghanistan

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond lead their delegations during a bilateral meeting at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defense Ministers Meetings, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Panetta and his NATO counterparts are considering leaving 8,000 to 12,000 troops in Afghanistan after 2014, but a dispute arose Friday between the U.S. and German defense officials over whether that contingent would be an international force or an American one. (AP Photo/Chip Somodevilla, Pool)

Associated Press

WASHINGTON ? The U.S. and its NATO allies revealed Friday they may keep as many as 12,000 troops in Afghanistan after the combat mission ends next year, largely American forces tasked with hunting down remnants of al-Qaida and helping Afghan forces with their own security.

Patience with the 11-year-old war has grown thin in the U.S. and Europe, yet Washington and its allies feel they cannot pick up and leave without risking a repeat of what happened in Afghanistan after Soviet troops withdrew in 1989: Attention turned elsewhere, the Taliban grabbed power and al-Qaida found refuge.

In disclosing that he and his NATO counterparts were discussing a residual force of between 8,000 and 12,000 troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said most allied defense ministers assured him they are committed to remaining part of a U.S.-led coalition.

"I feel very confident that we are going to get a number of nations to make that contribution for the enduring presence," Panetta told a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels at the conclusion of a defense ministers meeting.

The U.S. and its allies have managed to stick together throughout the war, despite differing views. The Europeans have seen the military mission as mainly aimed at promoting stable governance; the Americans have viewed it as mainly combat. Some allies, including France, have already pulled out their combat troops.

The Obama administration has not said how many troops or diplomats it intends to keep in Afghanistan after 2014; it is in the early stages of negotiating a bilateral security agreement with Kabul that would set the legal parameters. There currently are 66,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, down from a 2010 peak of 100,000.

In addition to targeting terrorists, the post-2014 missions are expected to be defined as training and advising a still-developing Afghan army and police force and providing security for the U.S. and allied civilian and military presence, officials said.

The largely unspoken assumption on which the post-2014 plan is built is that Afghanistan's own forces will be strong enough to hold off the Taliban on their own starting in 2015 and to prevent the country's relapse into civil war. The worry is that if the Taliban regained power they would allow al-Qaida to return in large numbers, defeating the original purpose of the U.S. military action in 2001.

It's a touchy topic at this stage of a still-unfolding war, with Afghans fearful of being abandoned by their foreign partners and Washington and its NATO allies wary of committing too heavily to a corrupt Kabul government facing an uncertain future.

Budget pressures in the U.S. and Europe also complicate the outlook.

"There's no question in the current budget environment, with deep cuts in European defense spending and the kind of political gridlock that we see in the United States now with regards to our own budget, is putting at risk our ability to effectively act together," Panetta said. "As I prepare to step down as secretary of defense, I do fear that the alliance will soon be, if it is not already, stretched too thin."

Source: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765623214/Up-to-12000-US-allied-troops-for-Afghanistan.html

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Suspect named in Las Vegas shooting that killed aspiring rapper

(Reuters) - Police have identified a suspect in the fatal shooting of an aspiring rapper as he drove on the Las Vegas Strip in a Maserati before dawn on Thursday, sparking a fiery crash that also killed a cab driver and his passenger.

Ammar Asim Faruq Harris, described as armed and dangerous, was still at large on Saturday, but the black Range Rover from which he is suspected of opening fire had been impounded, Las Vegas police said.

Authorities said a gunman in a Range Rover opened fire early on Thursday on the silver Maserati being driven by 27-year-old Kenneth Wayne Cherry Jr., who performed under the name "Kenny Clutch."

Cherry was slain and his car veered out of control and smashed into a taxi, which exploded into flames in an intersection on the Las Vegas Strip in front of several casino resorts, killing the driver and a passenger and triggering another multi-car crash.

Authorities believe the confrontation started in the valet parking lot of a nearby hotel, the Aria Resort and Casino. But police did not identify a motive for the shooting or the altercation.

Police identified Harris, 26, as the driver of the apparently brand-new luxury sport utility vehicle, and said he had also opened fire. Police said in a statement that he had an "extensive and violent criminal history."

Killed in the cab were driver Michael Bolden, 62, and a passenger who has not been identified by authorities. Las Vegas television station KTNV identified the passenger killed as Sandi Sutton, a Washington state woman who worked for a Seattle-area chamber of commerce.

A passenger in Cherry's vehicle suffered a minor injury and cooperated with police, authorities said. Three other people were also injured in the melee, which took place near the Bellagio and Caesars Palace hotels.

The incident occurred less than a mile from where rapper Tupac Shakur was shot in September 1996 while riding in a BMW with Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight after the two men had attended a Mike Tyson boxing match.

Shakur, 25, was hit by gunfire from at least one assailant in a Cadillac while sitting in Knight's car at the intersection of Flamingo Road and Koval Lane and died six days later at a hospital. His murder remains unsolved.

(Reporting by Karen Brooks in Austin, Texas; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Peter Cooney)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/suspect-named-las-vegas-shooting-killed-aspiring-rapper-035036806.html

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Iran says it has captured a foreign 'enemy drone'

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard said Saturday that it had captured a foreign unmanned aircraft during a military exercise in southern Iran.

Gen. Hamid Sarkheili, a spokesman for the military exercise, said the Guard's electronic warfare unit spotted signals indicating that foreign drones were trying to enter Iranian airspace. Sarkheili said Guard experts took control of one drone's navigation system and brought it down near the city of Sirjan where the military drills began on Saturday.

"While probing signals in the area, we spotted foreign and enemy drones which attempted to enter the area of the war game," the official IRNA news agency quoted the general as saying. "We were able to get one enemy drone to land."

Sarkheili did not say whether the drone was American.

In Washington, a CIA spokeswoman declined to comment on the report.

Iran has claimed to have captured several U.S. drones, including an advanced RQ-170 Sentinel CIA spy drone in December 2011 and at least three ScanEagle aircraft.

State TV said the Guard's military exercise, code-named Great Prophet-8, involved ground forces of the Guard, Iran's most powerful military force. State TV showed tanks and artillery attacking hypothetical enemy positions. He said various systems, including unmanned planes that operate like suicide bombers, were tested.

"Reconnaissance as well as suicide drones, which are capable of attacking the hypothetical enemies, were deployed and their operational capabilities were studied," the semi-official Fars news agency quoted him as saying.

____

Associated Press writer Thomas Strong in Washington contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/iran-says-captured-foreign-enemy-drone-183530547.html

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Friday, February 22, 2013

Woman Arrested For Having Sex With Pit Bull?Not The Rapper (VIDEO)

Woman Arrested For Having Sex With Pit Bull…Not The Rapper (VIDEO)

Kara Vandereyk arrested and her pit bull taken awayA Las Vegas woman was arrested Tuesday when a 23-year-old woman was having sex with her pet pit bull in her back yard in the broad daylight. Neighbors called the police on Kara Vandereyk, who was still having sexy time with her dog when police arrived on the scene. Police arrived to observe Kara Vandereyk ...

Woman Arrested For Having Sex With Pit Bull…Not The Rapper (VIDEO) Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/02/woman-arrested-for-having-sex-with-pit-bull-not-the-rapper-video/

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

Jennifer Lawrence Seeks 'The Ends Of The Earth' With David O. Russell

Oscar nominees announce another joint project: an affair-driven oil tycoon drama.
By Josh Wigler


David O. Russell and Jennifer Lawrence
Photo: Rebecca Sapp/ Getty Images

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1702245/jennifer-lawrence-david-o-russell-ends-of-the-earth.jhtml

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Police: Man kills 3, himself in Southern California shooting spree

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Ali Syed killed three, wounded three during spree that involved carjackings in Orange County, police say
  • Authorities: Syed first killed woman at his parents' home, then shot at motorists
  • Suspect killed himself after police spotted him north of Tustin, police say

(CNN) -- In the middle of a shooting spree that killed three people and unleashed terror on Southern California motorists Tuesday morning, Ali Syed told one of his carjacking victims to walk away, police say.

"Mr. Syed ... said, 'I don't want to hurt you, I killed somebody. Today's my last day. Give me your keys,' " Tustin Police Chief Scott Jordan told reporters.

According to preliminary accounts from police, Syed, 20, didn't intentionally spare another target.

Police say they believe Syed, a part-time college student, fatally shot a woman at his family's Ladera Ranch home before killing two other people -- including a senior citizen executed outside his vehicle -- and wounding three others as he fired a shotgun at Orange County motorists on the Costa Mesa Freeway and committed three carjackings.

The spree ended when Syed died after he turned his gun on himself as police approached on a road north of Tustin, authorities say.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department says it was called to the Ladera Ranch home, where Syed lived with his parents, on a report of shots fired about 4:45 a.m. PT.

A woman in her 20s was found dead there. Police said she wasn't related to Syed, but they didn't release her name, and they said they didn't know why she was at the home.

Syed left the home in his parents' SUV, police said. About 25 minutes after that police call and 20 miles to the northwest, Syed drove into a Denny's and Big Lots parking lot in Tustin, exited the vehicle and shot a driver in the back of the head, Jordan said.

The wounded motorist -- a man who was waiting for his son to carpool with him to work -- managed to drive away before stopping near an overpass, Jordan said. The victim was being treated Tuesday, police said.

That's when Syed, whose SUV had a flat tire, approached the man he would spare. Syed ran toward the man at a nearby gas station, took his keys and drove the pickup truck away without firing at him, Jordan said.

Syed then drove south on the Costa Mesa Freeway, exited onto a transition road, got out of the vehicle and fired a shotgun at southbound vehicles on the freeway, hitting three vehicles, police said.

One of the freeway drivers was wounded in the hand and face, but investigators don't know whether the wounds were from shotgun rounds or debris, according to Jordan.

Police said Syed then drove to nearby Santa Ana, crashing the pickup into a curb on a freeway off-ramp. There, he pointed the shotgun at Melvin L. Edwards, 69, of Laguna Hills, who was in a BMW at a stop sign.

"Syed ... got (Edwards) out of the car at gunpoint, walked him across the road and executed him -- shot him three times," Jordan said.

Syed drove Edwards' BMW to the parking lot of a Tustin-area Micro Center computer store, where police said he found his next two shooting victims.

Syed shot and killed Jeremy Lewis, 26, of Fullerton, who was in a vehicle in the lot, police said. Lewis had worked at a construction site across the street.

People from the construction site then approached, and Syed shot and wounded one of them in the arm, Jordan said. Syed entered that person's vehicle and drove north on the Costa Mesa Freeway before exiting again.

By that time, authorities had received many phone calls about the shootings, and California Highway Patrol officers found Syed driving at an intersection about 5 miles north of Tustin, Jordan said.

Syed exited the vehicle as it slowly rolled near the intersection, according to police.

"There really wasn't a confrontation at that very end," Jordan said. "As soon as he got out of his vehicle, before it actually came to a complete stop, he shot and killed himself," Jordan said.

Syed was unemployed and taking one class at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, an Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesman said.

Police said they're trying to determine what led to the shootings, and that they didn't yet know of a motive.

CNN's John Fricke contributed to this report.

Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_mostpopular/~3/0fnBczS9nxg/index.html

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Tips That Will Help You Give Up Smoking | Daily Health Boost

Tips That Will Help You Give Up Smoking

Tips That Will Help You Give Up Smoking

Get some exercise. You might be surprised by how much easier and more pleasurable exercise is now that you?re not smoking. If you engage in frequent physical activity, you will also be less likely to gain weight. Exercise produces endorphins, which do not replace nicotine highs, but do ease the withdrawal symptoms.

If you feel like you need a cigarette immediately, then try breathing exercises to calm the craving. When you are focusing on your breathing, focus also on why you want to quit smoking. It can also assist in providing oxygen for your lungs, and this will refresh you. Practicing deep breathing is a simple technique and can be accomplished in any place or time.

In the event that the urge to smoke melts your resolve, at least attempt to put it off as long as possible. Take a brief walk before you give yourself permission to smoke, or finish a glass of water. This will help you to reduce your temptations and shift your focus elsewhere. By using the delay technique you may smoke one less cigarette a day.

Protect your family?s health by quitting smoking. Secondhand smoke is very dangerous and causes various types of cancer, as well as many other health conditions. When you quit smoking, you decrease the amount of time that your loved ones are exposed to that dangerous second hand smoke. So, both you and your loved ones can live healthier due to your decision to quit smoking.

Try exercising or joining a gym to keep you from smoking, and to better your health. Exercise can go a long way to reducing the stress brought on by nicotine withdrawals. If you do not exercise normally, you can start by taking short walks outside daily. Before beginning an exercise plan, discuss this with your doctor.

The first step toward quitting smoking is the ability to commit yourself to the cause. A lot of smokers have a hard time quitting because they are not approaching the issue with the right mindset and do not have enough motivation. Help yourself stay motivated by remembering everything that caused you to want to quit, and write them down to help keep them on your mind.

If you are sincere in your effort to quit, find a support group and stick with them. It is beneficial to have a network of others who are where you are and can understand what you?re going through. Other ex-smokers can support you in your attempt to stop smoking, and can suggest techniques to try that worked for them. Support groups are universal, as you will find there are many people who have quit smoking. Try looking for one online, or at your local college or church.

Now that you have read this article, you should be more aware of the benefits and best practices for smoking cessation. As you are able to figure out what works for you, the process of quitting your smoking habit will go much more quickly! Follow the tips provided in this article, and it will be possible for you to quit smoking successfully.

Source: http://dailyhealthboost.com/tips-that-will-help-you-give-up-smoking/

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Sell *** Good - ***** - Bank Login - Acc PayPal - Western Union money transfer servic

--------- Hello All Customer ---------
Hello all buyer ...My name : Smith JonSon happy if business with you
- Sell *** good fresh cheap with good balance,replace if *** dont work!!
- I'm seller best and alway sell CC fresh with hight balance.
- And i have software do bug account bank and information western union.
- I have account paypal with good balance
- I hope u good customers and will be long-term cooperation

------- Yahoo Messenger : good_sellerprohere

---- E-mail : good_sellerprohere@yahoo.com

---------------- My work is online 24/24 ----------------

********** Western union Transfer :

Transfer : US,UK,CA,AU,EU and very easy to cashout African

- 500$ for MTCN 8000$
- 400$ for MTCN 6000$
- 250$ for MTCN 4000$
- 150$ for MTCN 1500$

= Give me your western union info and payment me fee transfer's
Then i will done transfer for you
After about 30 mins you'll have MTCN and sender name + country sender to cash money

********** ***** + Pin / Track 1&2 :

- *****,Tracks 1&2 Us = 90$ per 1
- *****,Tracks 1&2 Uk = 110$ per 1
- *****,Tracks 1&2 Ca = 120$ per 1
- *****,Tracks 1&2 Au = 120$ per 1
- *****,Tracks 1&2 Eu = 130$ per 1

Will check with hight balance
Track1: 5232556061018719WYATT/ROBERTSON1007101171410000271000000
Track2: 5232556061018719=10071011000042400000
Track1: B4490360696278529^COPPEDGE/MATHILDE D^1306101000000000004070000274
Track2: 4490360696278529=13061010407000027400
pin: 5678,5432,5187,5505,and much pin other

********** Sell *** (Very Good and Fresh , Work 100%) :

* List *** i have and price i have :
--------------------------------
- Us (Visa,Master) = 4$ per 1
- Us (Amex,Dis) = 5$ per 1
- Us Bin 10$ , US Dob 15$
- Us fullz info = 25$ per 1
--------------------------------
- Uk (Visa,Master) = 8$ per 1
- Uk (Amex,Dis) = 10$ per 1
- Uk Bin 15$ , UK Dob 20$
- Uk fullz info = 30$ per 1
--------------------------------
- Ca (Visa,Master) = 10$ per 1
- Ca (Amex,Dis) = 12$ per 1
- Ca Bin 15$ , CA Dob 20$
- Ca fullz info = 30$ per 1
--------------------------------
- Au (Visa,Master) = 10$ per 1
- Au (Amex,Dis) = 15$ per 1
- Au Bin 17$ , AU Dob 20$
- Au fullz info = 30$ per 1
--------------------------------
- Eu (Visa,Master) = 20$ per 1
- Eu (Amex,Dis) = 23$ per 1
- Eu Bin 25$ , AU Dob 30$
- Eu fullz info = 40$ per 1
--------------------------------
- Italy = 20$ per 1 (fullz info = 35$)
- Spain = 20$ per 1 (fullz info = 35$)
- Denmark = 25$ per 1 (fullz info = 35$)
- Sweden = 20$ per 1 (fullz info = 35$)
- France = 20$ per 1 (fullz info = 35$)
- Germany = 20$ per 1 (fullz info = 35$)
- Ireland = 20$ per 1 (fullz info = 35$)
- Mexico = 15$ per 1 (fullz info = 30$)
- Asia = 15$ per 1 (fullz info = 30$)

- And many country orther...let me know if have i will sell for you.
all *** very good and fresh , work 100% with hight balance.
will change if *** not good or dont work.

********** BANK LOGIN and TRANFER BANK : (COUNTRY : US,UK,CA,EU,ASIAN...)

- Bank Us : ( HALIFAX,BOA,CHASE,Wells Fargo...)
. Balance 6000$ = 500$
. Balance 8000$ = 600$
. Balance 12000$ = 800$
. Balance 15000$ = 1000$
. Balance 20000$ = 1200$

- Bank UK : ( LLOYDS TSB,BARCLAYS,Standard Chartered,HSBC...)
. Balance 10000 GBP = 700$
. Balance 12000 GBP = 800$
. Balance 16000 GBP = 900$
. Balance 20000 GBP = 1400$
. Balance 30000 GBP = 1600$

- You can contact me for more and many Bank Logins you need.
- Have all details for login and I can transfer balance to your account if you want

Bank To Bank Transfer To Any Usa Bank
Bank To Bank Transfer To Any Uk Bank
Bank To Bank Transfer To Any Euro Country Bank
Amount To Pay For That Depend On Amount You Want To Transfer
- chat with me for know more details: (Yahoo Messenger : cvvsale.hacking)

********** Ship (Laptop/Iphone/Ipad) :

- The price of transportation of high-end electronics
= Laptop Apple = 250$
= Laptop HP + Dell = 140$
= Laptop Toshiba + Samsung = 140$
= Laptop Vaio = 200$
= Iphone 3GS = 130$
= Iphone 4G = 160$
= Iphone 4GS = 190$
= Ipad2 = 180$
= Black Berry = 150$

===> Transit time from 1 to 2 days
===> Every 5 hours will send a shipping tracking

********** Sell Account Paypal Verification :

= Account Paypal 1500$ = 150$
= Account Paypal 2500$ = 200$
= Account Paypal 4000$ = 300$
= Account Paypal 7000$ = 500$

( Email address + PayPal password ) fullz infomation
- I always check the balance and details before selling

******************** Business rule ********************

Before make business or add my ID let's read carefull my rule because i really hate Spamer,Ripper and Scamer

1. With me I never give test free or Screenshot . Business with me , first is TRUST me , not trust don't contact

2. Payment first...it's my rules work...

3. I always check and update new *** good and fresh every day

4. I will change *** if not good or dont work

5. Orther stuff you can buy 1 for test ! but for *** minimum or is 5

6. If you buy over 30 stuff, I will discount for you

7. I only accept payment with Libertyreserve (LR) and Westernunion (WU)

8. Hope you are best customer and we can to work a long time business

~~~~~~ Thanks all read my post ....... hope to see you soon ~~~~~~

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

------- Yahoo Messenger : good_sellerprohere
---- E-mail : good_sellerprohere@yahoo.com

.................. See you soon ..................

Source: http://www.thefreeadvertisingsite.com/sell-good-bank-login-acc-paypal-western-union-money-transfer-servic-330785.html

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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

PlayStation 4 will not have native PS3 backwards compatibility

PlayStation 4 will not have native PS3 backwards compatibility

During today's PlayStation event Gaikai's Dave Perry revealed that the PS4 will not natively support PS3 games and that Sony's next-gen console will instead stream PS1, PS2 and PS3 games from the cloud -- something that the company has already confirmed on Twitter.

Check out our liveblog of Sony's event to get the latest news as it happens.

Filed under: ,

Comments

Source: Sony (Twitter)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/20/playstation-4-will-not-have-native-ps3-backwards-compatibility/

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APNewsBreak: Jenni Rivera memoir due in July

FILE - In this April 26, 2012 file photo, singing superstar Jenni Rivera performs during the Latin Billboard Awards in Coral Gables, Fla. Some final words from the late Mexican-American singer and TV star Jenni Rivera will be out this summer. Atria Books announced Monday, Feb. 18, 2013 it's publishing a memoir by the multimillion-selling artist, who died in a plane crash in December at age 43. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

FILE - In this April 26, 2012 file photo, singing superstar Jenni Rivera performs during the Latin Billboard Awards in Coral Gables, Fla. Some final words from the late Mexican-American singer and TV star Jenni Rivera will be out this summer. Atria Books announced Monday, Feb. 18, 2013 it's publishing a memoir by the multimillion-selling artist, who died in a plane crash in December at age 43. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Some final words from the late Mexican-American singer and TV star Jenni Rivera will be out this summer.

Atria Books announced Monday it's publishing a memoir by the multimillion-selling artist, who died in a plane crash in December at age 43. "Unbreakable," coming out simultaneously in English and Spanish, is scheduled for July and has been authorized by Rivera's family.

Rosie Rivera, the late singer's sister, said the family had decided to share Rivera's book with her fans so they could "enjoy her as we have."

"I miss my sister every moment, but on days that I want to feel her close, I open her book written in her own words, and feel her right next to me," Rosie Rivera said in a statement issued by Atria.

Atria vice president and senior editor Johanna Castillo said she had talked to Rivera about the impact she hoped her book's message would have on readers.

"This book is her legacy to all of her fans," Castillo said.

Rivera had worked on "Unbreakable" for several years and completed it before her death, Atria spokesman Paul Olsewski said. She had been in talks with Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, since 2011.

According to Atria, "Unbreakable" will provide "an intimate look into the heart and soul of this self-made woman, who ascended to the top of the charts against all odds, becoming a legend in a completely male dominated music category," grupero, a type of Mexican folk music.

A candid memoir would be in character for Rivera, a mother and grandmother of two known as the Diva de la Banda, or Diva of the Band, for her frank talk about her life. At the time of her death, she had been recently divorced from her third husband, former Major League Baseball player Esteban Loaiza.

Rivera, who was born in Los Angeles, launched her career by selling cassette tapes at flea markets. She went on to sell more than 15 million copies of her 12 major-label albums.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-02-18-Books-Jenni%20Rivera/id-b0f26b2cd34740c2b0e2da09ece2073c

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Video: Twin-Turbo Ford GT Completes Quater Mile in 9.72 Seconds - http://www.gts...

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151295267920143&set=a.335493695142.159311.10344285142&type=1

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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Wreck It Ralph Review. - OMG

A review by Tim Stoddard.

What to say about Wreck-It-Ralph? Well, obviously it?s a Disney animated film where video game characters from an arcade live in a world where they can interact with each other, and being characters in a video game is practically their day to day job, and since I?m a huge video game nerd and retro gamer, I could write a thesis on the abundance of video game references, as well as the design of the worlds, the characters and all the minor details that makes this the most well done video game film out there. However what I mean is, what is there that I can say about this film to give it justice as a film, because what surprised me is that Wreck-it-Ralph is not just a video gaming hype machine, but possibly one of the best films I?ve seen so far this year.

To summarise, the story is about Wreck-it-Ralph, a bad guy from the classic arcade game Fix-it Felix Jr. Like all the video game characters, he is programmed to have the personality, backstory and behaviours, so Ralph is programmed to be prone to destroying things around him, as well as having a bad temper. Sadly this doesn?t make him very liked among the other people of his game, who usually leave him out and make him live in rubbish, even after celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the game. Feeling he?s had enough of being left out and badly treated, he decides to sneak into another game, Hero?s Duty to earn a medal that will allow him to get the respect he wants. But his recklessness ends up leading him into the cutesy racer Sugar Rush, and he ends up requiring the help of an irritating wannabe racer named Vanellope in order to get his medal and leave the game.

So with Disney involved, there has clearly been a lot of thought done with the design and animation. While a few of the character models appear like they?ve been provided by the game developers, they feel kind of out of place, however Disney put a lot of effort into the authenticity of the game designs in the perspective of a 3D environment, since the older game characters look rounded and cartoony, and the newer game characters are more detailed and realistic. They even put effort into some of the movements, such as the home owners in Fix-it-Felix Jr with their very choppy movements.

The music surprisingly has the least relevance to video games. While there is a video game ?like? sounds, and a lot of video game sound effects are used, most of the soundtrack was either the commonplace Disney orchestra or songs, both original and licensed music. The music is still very catchy (the Sugar Rush theme will be in my head for about a week), and the closing theme by Owl City is very well done, just a shame that it?s the one that?s lacking for video game fans. The huge cast, including John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman and Jane Lynch, is impressive; each character is very dynamic and creative, even with some of the little twists and touches added, including Alan Tudyk playing the King of Sugar Rush as a vocal tribute to Disney?s Animated Mad Hatter.

Now it?s time to point out the elephant in the room. In a story telling perspective, references can not only gain interest and appeal in a story for fans, but can also ruin the story both for fans and non-fans alike. From the day the first trailer was shown, Wreck-it-Ralph was hyped to the brim as one huge video game dream for gamers, and that isn?t really a problem unless you are not a gamer who could understand most of the references. It can also be bad for the fans, as too many references, especially references out of context, can eventually get really boring. Wreck-it-Ralph is half video game references, the rest of it is a very well written story about people who feel rejected and only wish to be accepted. The video game references make the story very unique and clever, especially with the aspect that the ones inside the video games are programmed characters. It?s hard to explain without spoiling the film, but there are moments which make you sad, worried and even shocked.

Wreck-it-Ralph is probably one of the most well-made video game films to date, making it both a joy for fans to spot references and accuracies, as well as producing a well-made story with well written characters around it. Regardless of whether you like to play the games or not, anyone can like something in this film. I also like to mention the animated short shown prior called Paperman, a nice little love story about an accountant with cel-shaded animation so good it almost looks 2D.

Source: http://omgstaffs.com/2013/02/18/wreck-it-ralph-review/

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BreakDanceSympoh Sympoh Princeton University

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Added: 17-02-2013
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Description:
Daway danced at Princeton Annual Break Dance Performance on 2-16-2013. This is the only piece without "theme". Just "Break Dance Battle". Another one is the curtain call from the class of 2016 members.
Channels: Schools and Education? Entertainment and Music? Proud of Princeton U.?
Tags: entertainment? shopping? dining? hotels? princeton? nj? yourtowntube? business? fun? theatre? music? university? 2012?

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Source: http://www.yourtowntube.com/video/6946/BreakDanceSympoh-Sympoh-Princeton-University

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U.S. Presidents Immortalized in Flash Drive

Here are some Presidents' Day facts for you: John Quincy Adams had a pet alligator. Ulysses S. Grant got a speeding ticket in a horse and carriage. And George Washington and Abraham Lincoln have been turned into adorable flash drives from Mimobot. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/14wKxrrDpUQ/us-presidents-immortalized-in-flash-drive

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