Murray rallies past Ferrer for Sony Open title

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) ? Andy Murray erased a championship point Sunday and rallied past David Ferrer 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1) in a grueling final at the Sony Open.

One point from defeat in the last set, Murray skipped a forehand off the baseline to stay in the match. He then dominated the tiebreaker, while Ferrer appeared to cramp and collapsed to the court after one long point.

The match was filled with grinding baseline rallies, including at least a dozen of more than 20 strokes and one lasting 34. Murray and Ferrer dueled for 2 hours, 44 minutes, and as a result, the 11:30 a.m. start on Easter turned out not to be early enough for CBS.

The network cut away from the final when it went to the tiebreaker, switching to the tipoff of the NCAA tournament game between Michigan and Florida. CBS later showed a replay of match point.

Murray also won the title in 2009. His path to this year's championship was made easier because Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal skipped the tournament and Novak Djokovic lost in the fourth round.

Murray made a breakthrough last year by winning an Olympic gold medal and his first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open. He'll now move ahead of Federer to No. 2 in the rankings behind Djokovic.

He became the first Key Biscayne men's champion to save a championship point.

The No. 3-seeded Ferrer, who was seeking the biggest title of his career, fell to 0-13 against top-five players in finals. Spaniards are 0-6 in the Key Biscayne men's final, with Nadal losing three of those matches.

Playing in sunny, 80-degree weather, Murray and Ferrer both appeared drained in the third set, which started with six consecutive service breaks.

Murray was a point from defeat serving at 5-6. When he hit a forehand on the line, Ferrer stopped to challenge the call. A weary Murray leaned on his racket while replay confirmed the ruling to make the score deuce.

He won the game to hold two points later, then raced to a 4-0 lead in the tiebreaker. At 4-1, a 28-stroke exchange ended with Ferrer pulling a backhand wide, and he then crumbled to the concrete, apparently from leg cramps.

Ferrer limped through the final two points. When Murray hit a return winner for the victory, he quickly dropped his racket, eager to call it a day. The two exhausted finalists then met at the net to trade pats on the back.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/murray-rallies-past-ferrer-sony-open-title-184454532--spt.html

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Okla. governor signs horse slaughter legislation - NewsOn6.com ...

By TIM TALLEY
Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma's 50-year-old ban on horse slaughtering was lifted Friday when the governor signed a new law that will allow facilities to process and export horse meat, despite bitter opposition by animal rights activists.

Supporters argue that a horse slaughtering facility in Oklahoma will provide a humane alternative for aging or starving horses, many of which are abandoned in rural parts of the state by owners who can no longer afford to care for them. Gov. Mary Fallin also noted that horses are already being shipped out of the country, including to facilities in Mexico, where they are processed in potentially inhumane conditions.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 166,000 horses were sent to Canada and Mexico last year alone.

"In Oklahoma, as in other states, abuse is tragically common among horses that are reaching the end of their natural lives," the Republican governor said. "Those of us who care about the wellbeing of horses - and we all should - cannot be satisfied with a status quo that encourages abuse and neglect, or that rewards the potentially inhumane slaughter of animals in foreign countries."

She noted that law strictly prohibits the selling of horse meat for human consumption in the U.S.

Similar efforts are under way in other states, but not without controversy. In New Mexico, a processing plant has been fighting the U.S. Department of Agriculture for more than a year for approval to convert its former cattle slaughter operation into a horse slaughterhouse. In Nevada, state agriculture officials have discussed ways to muster support for the slaughter of free-roaming horses, stirring protests.

The Oklahoma legislation received bipartisan support and was approved by wide margins in both the state House and Senate. It also was backed by several agriculture organizations including the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association and American Farmers.

But animal rights groups fought hard against the plan, including the Humane Society of the United States. Cynthia Armstrong, the organization's Oklahoma state director, said she was disappointed.

"It's a very sad day for Oklahoma and the welfare of the horses that will be exposed to a facility like this," Armstrong said. "It's very regrettable."

In addition to animal welfare concerns, opponents have said slaughtering horses for human consumption could pose a threat to human health and safety. American horses are often treated with drugs and medications that are not approved for use in animals intended for food.

Horse slaughter opponents are pushing legislation in Congress to ban domestic slaughter, as well as the export of horses to other countries for slaughter. Many animal humane groups and public officials are outraged at the idea of resuming domestic slaughter. But others - including some horse rescuers, livestock associations and the American Quarter Horse Association - support the plans.

They point to a 2011 report from the federal Government Accountability Office that shows horse abuse and abandonment have been increasing since Congress effectively banned horse slaughter by cutting funding for federal inspection programs in 2006. They say the ban on domestic slaughter has led to tens of thousands of horses being shipped to inhumane slaughterhouses in Mexico.

Although there are no horse slaughtering facilities in Oklahoma, the Humane Society said the USDA has received an application for horse slaughter inspection permits from a meat company in Washington, Okla., about 40 miles south of Oklahoma City.

Fallin said her administration will work with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture to ensure that any horse meat processing plant in the state is run appropriately, follows state and local laws, and does not pose a hazard to the community. The law takes effect Nov. 1.

"It's important to note cities, counties and municipalities still have the ability to express their opposition to processing facilities by blocking their construction and operation at the local level," the governor said.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.newson6.com/story/21832293/okla-governor-signs-horse-slaughter-legislation

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Look out squirrels: Leopards are new backyard wildlife

Friday, March 29, 2013

A new study led by WCS-India scientist Vidya Athreaya finds that certain landscapes of western India completely devoid of wilderness and with high human populations are crawling with a different kind of backyard wildlife: leopards.

The study found as many as five adult large carnivores, including leopards and striped hyenas, per 100 square kilometers (38 square miles), a density never before reported in a human-dominated landscape.

The study, called "Big Cats in Our Backyards," appeared in the March 6 edition of the journal PLoS One. Authors include: Vidya Athreya and Ullas Karanth of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Centre for Wildlife Studies in Bangalore; Morten Odden of Hedmark University College; John D. C. Linnell of the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research; and Jagdish Krishnaswamy of Asoka Trust for Research of Ecology in the Environment.

Using camera traps, the authors founds that leopards often ranged close to houses at night though remained largely undetected by the public. Despite this close proximity between leopards and people, there are few instances of attacks in this region. The authors also photographed rusty spotted cat, small Indian civet, Indian fox, jungle cat, jackal, mongoose ? and a variety of people from the local communities. The research took place in western Maharashtra, India.

"Human attacks by leopards were rare despite a potentially volatile situation considering that the leopard has been involved in serious conflict, including human deaths in adjoining areas," said big cat expert Ullas Karanth of WCS. "The results of our work push the frontiers of our understanding of the adaptability of both humans and wildlife to each other's presence."

The authors say that the findings show that conservationists must look outside of protected areas for a more holistic approach to safeguarding wildlife in a variety of landscapes.

###

Wildlife Conservation Society: http://www.wcs.org

Thanks to Wildlife Conservation Society for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 50 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127521/Look_out_squirrels__Leopards_are_new_backyard_wildlife

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Bill Allowing Gold and Silver as Money; Bureaucratic Nightmare ...

I have encouraging news in the state of Arizona where lawmakers back gold, silver as currency.

The measure is Arizona's latest jab at the federal government, which prohibits states from minting their own money. It also reflects a growing distrust of government-backed money.

The bill, which advanced in a 4-2 vote by a House committee Monday, states that gold and silver should be legal currency not subject to tax or regulation as property. The Republican-led Senate gave the bill its blessing in February in a 17-11 partisan vote.

The bill would let people use the precious metals as money as long as businesses agree to take them. If made law, it would take effect in 2014.

Democrats oppose the measure. They say it would be a bureaucratic nightmare because businesses don't have the equipment to determine the value of gold and silver.

Bureaucratic Nightmare?

Nonsense.

The bill is well written and extremely well thought out. It does not force companies to accept gold or silver (nor should it), it merely allows businesses to do so if they want. Any company that does not want to deal with gold or silver will not have to. So where's the nightmare?

States will not be minting their own money under such a proposal (nor should they) so there is no conflict on that part of Federal law.

I commend this bill, expect Arizona lawmakers to pass it, and urge the Governor to sign it. When that happens, gold will once again be legal money.

I support gold as money and believe gold is money whether or not the bill passes.

There is significant reason for people to distrust government-sponsored fiat currencies backed by nothing. I made the case recently in Fraudulent Guarantees; Fictional Reserve Lending; Comparison of US to Cyprus; What About New Zealand?

Here is a brief synopsis, but I encourage you to read the full article.

Monetary Recap

• Base Money Supply: $2.9 Trillion
• M1: 2.4 Trillion
• M2: 10.4 Trillion
• Total Credit Market Debt Owed: $56.3 trillion

One Giant Ponzi Scheme

Clearly far more money has been lent than exists. How can it possibly be paid back? If it can't be paid back, how good is a government guarantee on deposits?

In 2010 Bernanke proposed ending reserve requirements completely, but long-time Mish readers understand what Bernanke proposed is the de facto state of affairs already. (see the above link for an explanation).

Five Key Points

1. In a Fractional Reserve Lending scheme, the notion there are meaningful reserves is ridiculous.
2. Far more money has been lent out than really exists (the rest is a fictional accounting entry).
3. Fractional reserve lending constitutes fraud (just as lending something you do not own is fraud).
4. There is no way for all this money to be paid back (so it won't be).
5. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has the most sensible policy on deposit insurance of all the world's central banks. (NZ offers no deposit insurance). See my article for a full explanation.

In the sake of full disclosure, I own gold, silver, platinum, as well as shares in various mining corporations.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com

Source: http://townhall.com/columnists/mikeshedlock/2013/03/30/bill-allowing-gold-and-silver-as-money-bureaucratic-nightmare-n1553007

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'G.I. Joe: Retaliation': The Reviews Are In!

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson takes the helm in this CGI-heavy reboot
By Driadonna Roland

Dwayne Johnson in "G.I. Joe: Retaliation"
Photo: Paramount

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1704570/gi-joe-retaliation-movie-reviews.jhtml

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Terri Herring Releases Statement On Her Nomination To Mississippi ...

Terri Herring sent a press release via Keith Plunkett today, thanking Gov. Phil Bryant for nominating her to the state Board of Health and touting her credentials for the position.

The release reads:

Terri Herring thanked Governor Phil Bryant today for his trust in nominating her to the Mississippi State Board of Health.

?I am honored by the confidence Governor Bryant has placed in me to serve in this very important post,? said Herring. ?The past twenty six years of my life have been dedicated to health issues and health care, and I am pleased to have an opportunity to continue that as a member of the State Board of Health.?

Herring and husband Clint own TrustCare in Ridgeland, Mississippi. TrustCare is a medical provider, specializing in walk-in urgent care, and occupational medicine. The Herrings have run the Kerioth Corporation, a family-owned real estate and development company since 1984. They are also partnered with St. Dominic Hospital to promote fitness through ?The Club?, with locations across metro Jackson and one in Hernando, MS.

Sister Dorothea Sondgeroth, Associate Executive Director of St. Dominic Health Services, recommended Herring and called her an ?outstanding nominee?. Sondgeroth said Herring has been a key asset in promoting women?s health issues and healthy living in Mississippi.

?Terri is a devoted mother and knows the importance of women?s health and has been heavily involved in community efforts that enhance family life and women?s health,? said Sondgeroth. ?I have known Terri for sixteen years and have worked with her as she championed the cause of protecting women?s and infants health and well-being.?

Herring has assisted young pregnant women across Mississippi through pregnancy resource centers to receive prenatal education, medical care, and financial assistance. She distributes $200,000 annually to resource centers across the state as founder and President of the Choose Life Advisory Committee.

Herring has been a featured speaker on women?s health issue in articles and on television across the globe. She is sought after as an advocate for women?s health, and on the subjects of fetal mortality, abstinence and reproductive education.

Herring is a controversial appointment, and one that I believe Bryant erred in making.

Herring is a devoted advocate for the pro-life movement, and she has a compelling story to tell about how she became involved. In the few times I?ve been around her, she?s been a delightfully pleasant person.

That said, Herring is a polarizing and politicized figure. In many ways, she is the embodiment of the pro-life movement in Mississippi and the banner-carrier for the effort to shut down the state?s only abortion clinic. You can love her or hate her, but you cannot deny that she is politically charged.

That?s one thing we don?t need on boards like the Board of Health.

If Bryant wants a pro-life member appointed to the board, then he should have no problem finding one. I know a number of pro-life doctors, nurses, hospital employees, attorneys and business leaders who would be terrific choices without introducing a polarizing presence into the board of health.

Understand that I?m not saying Herring has a polarizing personality or that she cannot be a professional participant. However, given the role she has chosen for herself, Bryant should choose someone different for the role on the Board of Health.

His choice here is clearly more about political pandering than it is about choosing a qualified, pro-life candidate to help oversee health care in Mississippi.

Source: http://blogs.clarionledger.com/samrhall/2013/03/28/terri-herring-releases-statement-on-her-nomination-to-mississippi-board-of-health/

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Sand From Fracking Could Pose Lung Disease Risk To Workers

A worker stands on top of a storage bin on July 27, 2011, at a drilling operation in Claysville, Pa. The dust is from powder mixed with water for hydraulic fracturing.

Keith Srakocic/AP

A worker stands on top of a storage bin on July 27, 2011, at a drilling operation in Claysville, Pa. The dust is from powder mixed with water for hydraulic fracturing.

Keith Srakocic/AP

When workplace safety expert Eric Esswein got a chance to see fracking in action not too long ago, what he noticed was all the dust.

It was coming off big machines used to haul around huge loads of sand. The sand is a critical part of the hydraulic fracturing method of oil and gas extraction. After workers drill down into rock, they create fractures in that rock by pumping in a mixture of water, chemicals and sand. The sand keeps the cracks propped open so that oil and gas are released.

But sand is basically silica ? and breathing in silica is one of the oldest known workplace dangers. Inside the lungs, exposure to the tiny particles has been shown to sometimes lead to serious diseases like silicosis and cancer.

Traditionally, silica exposure has been associated with jobs like mining, manufacturing and construction. But, as Esswein, a researcher with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and other safety experts have started to realize, some workers in the newly burgeoning fracking industry may be at risk, too, because of their exposure to silica dust.

"When sand was handled ? that is, when it was transported by machines on site, or whenever these machines that move sand were refilled ? dust, visible dust was created," Esswein says.

Dust blows off a pile of fracking sand at a mine near Chippewa Falls, Wis., on Dec. 15, 2011. Some of the air samples the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health experts collected at fracking sites had such high levels of silica that the respirators typically worn by workers wouldn't offer enough protection, according to NIOSH standards.

Steve Karnowski/AP

Dust blows off a pile of fracking sand at a mine near Chippewa Falls, Wis., on Dec. 15, 2011. Some of the air samples the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health experts collected at fracking sites had such high levels of silica that the respirators typically worn by workers wouldn't offer enough protection, according to NIOSH standards.

Steve Karnowski/AP

He was visiting fracking sites because he wanted to study the potential chemical hazards for oil and gas workers, and he initially figured he and his colleagues would probably assess workers' exposures to chemicals like drilling fluids. But when he saw the plumes of dust coming off the sand-handling machines and surrounding workers, he realized it could be a real hazard. The government has long set limits on how much workers can inhale.

"Knowing what I know about silica and respirable dust, that was the particular chemical that we chose to look at," Esswein says.

He and his colleagues visited 11 fracking sites in five states: Arkansas, Colorado, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Texas. At every site, the researchers found high levels of silica in the air. It turned out that 79 percent of the collected samples exceeded the recommended exposure limit set by Esswein's agency.

There were some controls in place, says Esswein, who notes that "at every site that we went to, workers wore respirators."

But about one-third of the air samples they collected had such high levels of silica, the type of respirators typically worn wouldn't offer enough protection.

These unexpected findings have come just as federal safety officials are trying to set stricter controls on silica for all industries. Some proposed new rules have been under review at the White House Office of Management and Budget for more than two years.

Peg Seminario, director of safety and health with the AFL-CIO, a group of unions that has been pushing for stronger silica regulation, says the situation with fracking is a wake-up call.

"Hopefully it will give some impetus for the need for the silica regulation ? that there is a whole other population at risk and those numbers are potentially growing," says Seminario.

A local contractor closes the valve on his tanker truck on July 27, 2011, after watering the roads to help keep down dust at a hydraulic fracturing operation in Claysville, Pa.

Keith Srakocic/AP

A local contractor closes the valve on his tanker truck on July 27, 2011, after watering the roads to help keep down dust at a hydraulic fracturing operation in Claysville, Pa.

Keith Srakocic/AP

Workplace inspectors with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration wouldn't have been aware of this potential risk for fracking workers before this recent study because, unless they receive a complaint or there's an accident, they generally don't see the process of hydraulic fracturing. That part of setting up a well happens quickly ? and once a well is up and running, contractors move on to the next one.

Government officials and the fracking industry say they're now working together to reduce workers' exposures. They started with quick fixes, like putting up warning signs and simply closing hatches on sand-moving machines.

Some oil and gas companies are also testing new technologies. Tim Hicks, a safety expert with Encana Corp., says they've been trying vacuum systems that attach to sand-moving machines and suck up the dust.

The results so far are encouraging, Hicks says, but his company is still testing to see how much of a reduction in airborne silica is reasonably achievable.

"We'd like to envision a site that, you know, we could handle sand and sequester it all, and perhaps someday not need to use respirators," says Hicks.

He says he's not sure whether that goal is possible, or how long it would take to get to that point. "But I can say that at the rate we're going," Hicks says, "we're much more likely to hit that [target] than we were prior to this issue being recognized."

Hicks says he has only been working in this part of the oil and gas business for a few years and couldn't speculate as to why the industry didn't recognize this potential health risk earlier. People, he says, seemed to think the dust was basically just dirt.

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/03/28/175042708/Sand-From-Fracking-Operations-Poses-Silicosis-Risk?ft=1&f=1007

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Old House Guy: Homeowners Finally Discover Replacement ...

?

Window replacement contractors have stated on home improvement forums that 80% of their current window business is replacing replacement windows.?

They said that most windows being replaced are only 15-20 years old!

All those homeowners that fell for the ?window scheme? and removed their original 50, 100, 150 year old wood windows for these new replacement windows, now have the expense of doing it again and again.? It just goes to show you how easy a homeowner can fall for a sales pitch!

So tough luck for those homeowners.? It?s not that there was no information available about preserving? old windows.? It?s not that they were unaware that wood needs to be maintained.? If the condition of their old window was beyond repair - that is demolition by neglect!? If you neglect something then you have a bigger expense and that goes for anything.

What many homeowners view as bad or beyond repair is usually wrong and just a lazy excuse.? It?s easier to give up than asking a carpenter about repair.

I do feel bad for their neighbors.? They have to look at the house with shiny bright plastic windows.

Now these toxic vinyl windows will go into the landfill.? There should be a tax accessed for doing this.

I recently came upon this article on Vinyl Windows and ordinances.? It?s not only about protecting your old wood windows from the dumps, but protecting the homeowner from making a decision based on mass media and what everyone else is doing.?

YOU found the information on this blog and website and are now able to make a more informed decision, but what about the people down the street that just received a great offer by a smooth savvy window salesman?

Read about the city of Rochester?s plans to deter the use of vinyl windows and experiences of homeowners who already replaced their original wood windows with vinyl. (pdf)

Then, if you haven?t read the Old House Guy website information yet, go to www.oldhouseguy.com/windows.?? If you know someone that is considering replacement windows print this out and stuff it in their mailbox.

Do you need your windows repaired or restored??
If you?re looking for a window restorer in your area check out the Old House Guy Window Listing here.

Related articles:

How You Can Help Save Our Old Windows (with detailed instructions)

Evaluating the Energy Performance of Window Retrofit & Replacement

DIY? Video - Repair & Restoration of Old Windows

?

Keep up with our posts through social network sites, email or both!

Source: http://oldehouseguy.blogspot.com/2013/03/closing-door-on-vinyl-windows.html

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Ten years and 10,000 fewer premature deaths later

By Jonathan Allen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg marked the tenth anniversary on Wednesday of his ban on smoking in bars and restaurants with a report saying the ban and subsequent anti-smoking measures had prevented 10,000 premature deaths.

"Ten years ago when New York City prohibited smoking in restaurants and bars, many predicted the end of the hospitality, restaurant and tourism industries," Bloomberg said in a statement.

"Yet ten years later, fewer New Yorkers are smoking, we are living longer, our industries are thriving and nobody longs for a return to smoke-filled bars and restaurants."

Critics of the move feared banning smoking would hurt the restaurant and bar business, but the Health Department report said there are now some 6,000 more restaurants and bars in the city than there were a decade ago.

The city's Smoke-Free Air Act came into effect a little over a year into Bloomberg's first term as mayor in 2003 and prohibited smoking inside bars, restaurants and most workplaces.

The following year, the city began providing free nicotine replacement therapy to smokers trying to quit and in 2011 expanded the smoking ban to the city's parks and beaches.

According to the report released on Wednesday, the proportion of adult smokers dropped by about a third to 15 percent in 2011 from 21.5 percent in 2002. The report, released by the city's Health Department, also said the proportion of youths under age 18 who smoke dropped by about half to 8.5 percent.

Bloomberg's tenure, which will end this year, has been marked by his efforts to improve New Yorkers' health by trying to induce them to eat less salt, trans fats and calories in general, among other measures.

Bloomberg has been criticized by some as paternalistic but his efforts have coincided with an increase in New Yorkers' life expectancy, including a decline in tobacco-related deaths.

Bloomberg's attempt to limit the size of sugary drinks sold in the city was derailed this month only hours before the new rules were to take effect when a judge ruled that they were "arbitrary and capricious". The city is appealing that decision.

A week later, Bloomberg announced his plan to require shops to hide cigarettes and tobacco products from public view, arguing that would shield young people from marketing efforts.

Some shop owners and cigarette manufacturers have criticized the plan as unnecessary extra regulation that would infringe the free speech provision of the U.S. Constitution.

Bloomberg also proposed a minimum price of $10.50 for a pack of cigarettes, in the hope that some smokers would find the habit too expensive to maintain. The two bills are now before the city council.

Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of premature death in the city, according to the Health Department.

Ronald Bayer, a professor of public health at Columbia University, called Bloomberg's health initiatives a "major achievement" and said his efforts to make smoking less socially acceptable were an effective and legitimate use of his office.

He said it remains an open question how much further government could go to discourage smokers to quit.

(Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst)

(In next-to-last paragraph, this story corrects spelling of professor's name to Bayer, not Beyer)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/york-city-marks-tenth-anniversary-smoking-ban-192916192.html

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'Modern Family' Season 4 Episode 18: ?The Wow Factor? | Who Got ...

In tonight?s Modern Family season 4 episode 15, ?The Wow Factor,? Claire and Cam are entrenched in the house flip, but when they hit an impasse on a big landscaping decision, a ?neutral? third party is brought in ? Pam (guest star Wendi McLendon-Covey), the lesbian mom from Lily?s school. Meanwhile, Phil decides to teach the kids basic fix-it skills around the house; Gloria spends some quality one-on-one time with Manny, leaving Jay alone with baby Joe; and Mitch helps Lily deal with a schoolyard bully.

The series is based on a Dutch filmmaker which records the lives of three families, including one he stayed with as an exchange student. In one household, the dad works and the mom stays at home with their kids; in another, a gay couple experiences first-time fatherhood with the Vietnamese child they just adopted; and in the third home a 60-year old man becomes an instant father when he marries a thirtysomething Latina mother. Shot documentary-style. Modern Family won six Emmy Awards, including the one for Outstanding Comedy Series. It also brought home a Peabody Award, Writers Guild Award, Directors Guilds Award and Television Critics Award.

Modern Family stars Ed O?Neill as Jay, Julie Bowen as Claire, Ty Burrell as Phil, Sof?a Vergara as Gloria, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell, Eric Stonestreet as Cameron, Sarah Hyland as Haley, Nolan Gould as Luke, Ariel Winter as Alex, Rico Rodriguez as Manny and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons as Lily.

Modern Family ?The Wow Factor,? airs Wednesday, March 26, 9:00ET on ABC. Spoiler pictures below:

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Source: http://www.whogottherole.com/tv-news/modern-family-season-4-episode-18-the-wow-factor-34377

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Arkansas Senate votes to override veto of voter ID bill

By Suzi Parker

LITTLE ROCK, Ark (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled Arkansas Senate voted 21-12 on Wednesday to override a veto by the state's Democrat governor of a bill that would require voters to show photo identification.

The measure would become law if the Republican-controlled state House of Representatives also votes to override Governor Mike Beebe's veto.

In Arkansas, lawmakers can override a veto by a simple majority in each chamber. This year, state lawmakers have overridden two vetoes of bills that restrict abortion.

The House voted 51-44 to pass the voter identification measure, but it was not clear on Wednesday if there would be sufficient votes to override the veto.

In his veto letter on Monday, Beebe said he "believes that the bill will unnecessarily cost taxpayers money, grow bureaucracy and risk disenfranchisement of voters.

"I cannot approve such an unnecessary measure that would negatively impact one of our most precious rights as citizens," Beebe added.

Supporters of the proposal say it would prevent voter fraud.

"We are pleased that the Arkansas Senate has taken this commonsense measure to ensure the fairness and integrity of our elections in Arkansas," said David Ray, spokesman for the Republican Party of Arkansas.

Should the bill become law, Arkansas would join the nearly three dozen U.S. states that have similar voter ID measures, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Legal challenges to voter ID laws are pending in several U.S. states.

Under current Arkansas law, poll workers can request identifying documents, but voters are not required to show them.

Under the proposed law, photo ID cards would be made by county clerks at no cost for registered voters who do not have other valid forms of identification. The state Bureau of Legislative Research has reported it would cost the state an additional $300,000.

Voters without an ID could still cast a provisional ballot, which would be counted if the voter returned with photo identification.

(Reporting by Suzi Parker; Editing by Corrie MacLaggan, Bob Burgdorfer and Andre Grenon)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/arkansas-senate-votes-override-veto-voter-id-bill-205348845.html

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Boeing 787 faces new risk: limits on extended range: sources

By Andrea Shalal-Esa and Mari Saito

WASHINGTON/TOKYO (Reuters) - As Boeing works to regain permission for its 787 Dreamliner to resume flights, the company faces what could be a costly new challenge: a temporary ban on some of the long-distance, trans-ocean journeys that the jet was intended to fly.

Aviation experts and government officials say the Federal Aviation Administration may shorten the permitted flying time of the 787 on certain routes when it approves a revamped battery system. The plane was grounded worldwide two months ago after lithium-ion batteries overheated on two separate aircraft.

Losing extended operations, or ETOPS, would deal a blow to Boeing and its airline customers by limiting use of the fuel-saving jet, designed to lower costs on long-distance routes that don't require the capacity of the larger Boeing 777. Such a loss could even lead to cancellation of some routes.

"If the FAA approves (only) over-land operations it would be a very damaging blow to the 787 program," said Scott Hamilton, an aviation analyst with Leeham Co in Seattle.

"Depending on how long that restriction remains in place, it would completely undermine the business case for the airplane, which was to be able to do these long, thin intercontinental routes" over water, he said.

Grounding the 787 already has cost Boeing an estimated $450 million in lost income and compensation payments to airlines. Further restrictions on the 787's range could send the airlines' claims - and Boeing's costs - higher.

Until it was grounded on January 16, the 787 was permitted to fly routes that ranged as much as three hours away from an airport. Boeing has asked the FAA to extend that range to 5-1/2 hours. That change would enable airlines to fly many more routes across remote areas such as the North Pole.

Now the jet faces the potential temporary loss of its ETOPS approval or a roll-back to two hours, according to government officials and aviation experts.

"It is completely within expectations for FAA to limit ETOPS for the 787," one regulatory source in Japan told Reuters. He said that reducing the range to two hours would force Japanese airlines to fly more circuitous routes, burning up more fuel and cutting efficiency.

A former senior U.S. government official said there was "a distinct possibility" that Boeing could win the battle over FAA flight certification for the battery only to lose permission for extended operations - at least temporarily.

An FAA spokesperson said it was too early to discuss ETOPS approval since Boeing's battery fix was still being tested.

"It's really premature to talk about what ETOPS certification we would give them right now," said the spokesperson. "We'll be in a better position to answer questions like that after we get through all this battery testing."

Boeing referred questions to the FAA. During a recent news conference in Japan, Boeing executives said there had not been any conversations with regulators about extended range operations. They said the proposed certification plan did not foresee further limitations once the plane was allowed to resume flight operations.

The issue is heating up as Boeing nears the end of testing the new battery system, designed to prevent the meltdowns that occurred in January. Boeing executives say the FAA could approve the new battery system within weeks. The first flight test of the system took place Monday, and a second, final test flight is expected in coming days, Boeing spokesman Marc Birtel said.

Analysts and industry executives say any decision to limit the flying time of the new aircraft would have serious consequences.

The change would not rule out all international routes, but some specific routes, such as Japan Airlines Co's Tokyo-to-Boston flight, might have to be canceled, said the Japanese regulatory source.

The 787's biggest customers so far include All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines , which fly extended routes to the United States and Europe, and Qatar Airways. In the U.S., United Airlines is the only carrier to have taken delivery of 787s. The airlines declined requests for comment on how loss of ETOPS could affect operations.

A step-by-step return to full, extended flight would give regulators more time to study the effectiveness of Boeing's battery fix, and could help the Obama administration prove that it was making good on Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's promise to ensure the plane was "1,000-percent" safe, some experts said.

It would also address concerns voiced by Japanese aviation regulatory authorities in recent weeks.

Nor is it without precedent. Until the late 1980s, the FAA required airlines to fly a certain number of hours over land before it approved extended-range operations over water or remote areas. It started granting permission for those flights in tandem with flight certification when engine safety improved.

But the highly electrical nature of the 787 has raised new questions, said another former U.S. official, noting that the importance of the lithium-ion batteries for the plane's operation made it a bigger risk factor than past batteries.

"In the past, if you lost a battery, or a battery malfunctioned, it wasn't that big of a deal," said that former U.S. official.

"But if Boeing's battery is needed to start the engine - and that battery is susceptible to fire - isn't that a turn back condition? Isn't that something you have to go land at an airport to address? That's the question."

(Additional reporting by Tim Kelly in Tokyo and Tim Hepher in Paris.; Editing by Alwyn Scott and Steve Orlofsky)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/boeing-787-faces-risk-limits-extended-range-sources-000633878--finance.html

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Justin Timberlake to Host the Oscars?

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/03/justin-timberlake-to-host-the-oscars/

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Suspected Tacoma, Washington gunman in custody after standoff

Ed Troyer / Pierce County Sheriff via AP

Deputies take Mike McBee into custody in Tacoma, Wash. Tuesday, after he allegedly walked down the street firing guns at houses and then barricaded himself in his home. This photo was provided by the Pierce County Sheriff's Dept.

By M. Alex Johnson, staff writer, NBC News

A man who reportedly walked through a Tacoma, Wash., neighborhood spraying gunfire was taken into police custody after a standoff at his residence, Seattle TV station KING 5 reported.

Police had surrounded the home Tuesday afternoon, where the man with at least four high-powered weapons was holed up, a sheriff's official told NBC News.

Pierce County Sheriff's Department told KING that the suspect was 67-year-old Mike McBee, a Vietnam veteran.

No injuries were reported, but Pierce County sheriff's Detective Ed Troyer said several homes were hit by bullets in the neighborhood in Tacoma, about 30 miles of Seattle.

Troyer, speaking before the suspected was named, said the gunman was known to have "mental health issues" and was believed to have been drinking.

Police began firing tear gas into the house early Tuesday evening, KING reported.

KING reported that numerous residents of the neighborhood had been evacuated and that those who remained were asked to stay inside.

Troyer told KING that the suspect had substance abuse issues.

NBC News' Denise Ono and Ian Johnston contributed to this report.

This story was originally published on Tue Mar 26, 2013 9:36 PM EDT

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Docomo Inks Deal With China Mobile To Take Its 'D Game' Gaming ...

NTT Docomo, the largest carrier in Japan, is taking one more step into China today. The company announced that it will offer a localized version of its new ?d game? gaming service on China Mobile. This will be the first time that d game is being exported to any market outside of Japan. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The service will go live on March 26, initially with 20 titles.

As Japan is one of the most mobile-saturated and mature markets for content anywhere in the world, China has huge potential as an emerging, neighboring market for NTT Docomo. Specifically, China Mobile is the world?s biggest operator with 700 million subscribers, so it makes sense that Docomo is increasingly forging partnerships and porting its products across the border.

The move follows other developments for Docomo in China, and specifically with China Mobile. At the end of February, the two carriers, along with KT, agreed on an international NFC roaming service ? meaning that NFC readers in devices sold by each company would work in the other markets, and on specific NFC-based services developed locally. At the same time they also agreed on a WiFi roaming deal.

What?s not clear is whether this latest development to export d game is connected in any way with Docomo?s JV with Baidu, created last year when Docomo invested $22.5 million in the operation to create mobile content for the Chinese market. Instead, this deal is being carried out by D2C China, a subsidiary of D2C, a joint venture between Docomo and advertising giant Dentsu.

The first rush of content will feature some 20 titles, including games but also non-game content including wallpapers and covering well-known publishers such as Capcom, Konami, Tecmo Koei, Square Enix and MTI. More content is coming down the line, Docomo notes. ?Going forward, DOCOMO intends to grow its global content business with a variety of content originally distributed through the company?s dmarket? portal in Japan, providing overseas customers with opportunities to enjoy high-quality mobile content from Japan,? Docomo writes in its statement.

NTT Docomo is Japan???s leading mobile communications company. The number of customers exceeds 50 million in Japan. docomo mainly provides phone, web (i-mode for mobile phones), and mail (i-mode mails, Short Mails, and SMS) services. Docomo???s parent company is NTT, Japan???s biggest telecommunications companies. In a strategic decision to put more emphasis on mobile phone operations, docomo was spun off in 1991 as a wholly self-owned subsidiary. The Japanese government is the top shareholder.

? Learn more

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/25/docomo-extends-reach-in-china-with-d-game-gaming-portal-deal-on-china-mobile/

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Einstein study reveals new approach for stopping herpes infections

Public release date: 25-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Kim Newman
sciencenews@einstein.yu.edu
718-430-3101
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

March 25, 2013 (BRONX, NY) Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have discovered a novel strategy for preventing infections due to the highly common herpes simplex viruses, the microbes responsible for causing genital herpes (herpes simplex virus 2) and cold sores (herpes simplex virus 1). The finding, published online by The FASEB Journal, could lead to new drugs for treating or suppressing herpes virus infections.

"We've essentially identified the molecular "key" that herpes viruses use to penetrate cell membranes and infect cells of the human body," said Betsy Herold, M.D., professor of pediatrics (infectious diseases), of microbiology & immunology and of obstetrics & gynecology and women's health at Einstein and attending physician of pediatrics, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore.

Herpes viruses are known to infect skin cells as well as cells lining the cervix and the genital tract. A 2006 JAMA study estimates that nearly 60 percent of U.S. men and women between the ages of 14 and 49 carry the HSV-1 virus. The CDC estimates that about 1 in 6 Americans (16.2 percent) between 14 and 49 are infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), according to a 2010 national health survey. HSV-2 is a lifelong and incurable infection that can cause recurrent and painful genital sores and can make those infected with the virus two-to-three times more likely to acquire HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Dr. Herold and her colleagues had previously shown that infection by the herpes viruses depends on calcium released within the cells. In this study, they found that calcium release occurs because the viruses activate a critical cell-signaling molecule called Akt at the cell membrane.

As part of their investigation of Akt's role in herpes infections, the researchers took laboratory cultures of those human cell types and mixed them for 15 minutes with four different drugs known to inhibit Akt. The cells were then exposed for one hour to herpes simplex virus 2. All four drugs significantly inhibited herpes virus infection in each of the cell types. By contrast, cells not pretreated with the Akt inhibitors were readily infected on exposure to the virus.

"For people infected with herpes, the drug acyclovir helps prevent herpes outbreaks from recurring and lowers the risk of transmitting the infection to others," said Dr. Herold. "But some people have herpes infections that don't respond to acyclovir, and unfortunately there is no effective vaccine. So new approaches for suppressing and treating herpes infections are badly needed, and our findings indicate that inhibiting Akt should be a useful therapeutic strategy to pursue."

###

The paper "HSV activates Akt to trigger calcium release and promote viral entry: novel candidate target for treatment and suppression" was published online by The FASEB Journal. In addition to Dr. Herold, other authors of the paper (all of them at Einstein) were lead author Natalia Cheshenko, Ph.D., Janie B. Trepanier, Ph.D., Martha Stefanidou, Niall Buckley, Pablo Gonzalez and William Jacobs, Jr., Ph.D. The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (AI-061679) and the Center for AIDS Research at Einstein and Montefiore Medical Center (AI-51519).

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. In 2012, Einstein received over $160 million in awards from the NIH for major research centers at Einstein in diabetes, cancer, liver disease, and AIDS, as well as other areas. Through its affiliation with Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital for Einstein, and six other hospital systems, the College of Medicine runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.einstein.yu.edu and follow us on Twitter @EinsteinMed.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Public release date: 25-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Kim Newman
sciencenews@einstein.yu.edu
718-430-3101
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

March 25, 2013 (BRONX, NY) Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have discovered a novel strategy for preventing infections due to the highly common herpes simplex viruses, the microbes responsible for causing genital herpes (herpes simplex virus 2) and cold sores (herpes simplex virus 1). The finding, published online by The FASEB Journal, could lead to new drugs for treating or suppressing herpes virus infections.

"We've essentially identified the molecular "key" that herpes viruses use to penetrate cell membranes and infect cells of the human body," said Betsy Herold, M.D., professor of pediatrics (infectious diseases), of microbiology & immunology and of obstetrics & gynecology and women's health at Einstein and attending physician of pediatrics, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore.

Herpes viruses are known to infect skin cells as well as cells lining the cervix and the genital tract. A 2006 JAMA study estimates that nearly 60 percent of U.S. men and women between the ages of 14 and 49 carry the HSV-1 virus. The CDC estimates that about 1 in 6 Americans (16.2 percent) between 14 and 49 are infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), according to a 2010 national health survey. HSV-2 is a lifelong and incurable infection that can cause recurrent and painful genital sores and can make those infected with the virus two-to-three times more likely to acquire HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Dr. Herold and her colleagues had previously shown that infection by the herpes viruses depends on calcium released within the cells. In this study, they found that calcium release occurs because the viruses activate a critical cell-signaling molecule called Akt at the cell membrane.

As part of their investigation of Akt's role in herpes infections, the researchers took laboratory cultures of those human cell types and mixed them for 15 minutes with four different drugs known to inhibit Akt. The cells were then exposed for one hour to herpes simplex virus 2. All four drugs significantly inhibited herpes virus infection in each of the cell types. By contrast, cells not pretreated with the Akt inhibitors were readily infected on exposure to the virus.

"For people infected with herpes, the drug acyclovir helps prevent herpes outbreaks from recurring and lowers the risk of transmitting the infection to others," said Dr. Herold. "But some people have herpes infections that don't respond to acyclovir, and unfortunately there is no effective vaccine. So new approaches for suppressing and treating herpes infections are badly needed, and our findings indicate that inhibiting Akt should be a useful therapeutic strategy to pursue."

###

The paper "HSV activates Akt to trigger calcium release and promote viral entry: novel candidate target for treatment and suppression" was published online by The FASEB Journal. In addition to Dr. Herold, other authors of the paper (all of them at Einstein) were lead author Natalia Cheshenko, Ph.D., Janie B. Trepanier, Ph.D., Martha Stefanidou, Niall Buckley, Pablo Gonzalez and William Jacobs, Jr., Ph.D. The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (AI-061679) and the Center for AIDS Research at Einstein and Montefiore Medical Center (AI-51519).

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. In 2012, Einstein received over $160 million in awards from the NIH for major research centers at Einstein in diabetes, cancer, liver disease, and AIDS, as well as other areas. Through its affiliation with Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital for Einstein, and six other hospital systems, the College of Medicine runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.einstein.yu.edu and follow us on Twitter @EinsteinMed.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/aeco-esr032513.php

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RolePlayGateway is proudly powered by obscene amounts of caffeine, duct tape, and support from people like you. It operates under a "don't like it, suggest an improvement" platform, and we gladly take suggestions for improvements or changes.

The custom-built "roleplay" system was designed and implemented by Eric Martindale as of July 2009. All attempts to replicate or otherwise emulate this system and its method of organizing roleplay are strictly prohibited without his express written and contractual permission; violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

? RolePlayGateway, LLC | with the support of LocalSense

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/7iBtdA8j6P4/viewtopic.php

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Mississippi lawmaker found dead of apparent gunshot wound

AP / File

Rep. Jessica Upshaw was found dead from a gunshot wound Sunday afternoon.

By Daniel Arkin, Staff Writer, NBC News

Mississippi officials are investigating the?death of state legislator who was found?at the home of a former colleague Sunday afternoon, according to local reports.

State Rep. Jessica Upshaw, 53, appeared to have died of a gunshot wound, Simpson County Sheriff Kenneth Lewis told NBC station WLBT in Jackson, Miss.

?It appeared she had a gunshot wound to her head. It appeared to be self-inflicted,? Lewis told WLBT.

Upshaw, a Republican who had served in the state legislature since 2004 representing District 95, was discovered at the private residence of former state lawmaker Clint Rotenberry, in Mendenhall, Miss., according to The Clarion-Ledger.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R) released a statement Sunday evening praising the late lawmaker.

"I have known Jessica for many years as an unselfish and dedicated public servant. This is a tragic loss for her family and all Mississippians, and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family during this difficult time," Bryant said.

Upshaw, a former attorney, was chairwoman of the Conservation and Natural Resources Committee in the Mississippi House of Representatives.

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RolePlayGateway?

Im looking to start a Medieval/Fantasy role-play that will follow the exploits of a small group of around 5-8 people. They will be brought together for various personal agendas but share a overall goal. This wont be a dungeon crawl or free form rp, but more of an interactive narrative with the role-players writing the story. I know plenty of people do this, so I know that plenty of you can easily pull off this type of rp with little effort.

---

Things I Want To See
1. Since our cast will more than likely be small i want to see very well fleshed out characters. Think of habits and mannerisms, anything that will make your character truly one of a kind. The main problem that i have seen about characters is the lack of flaws. People tend to make their characters powerful and accomplished to begin with. While its fine to do this it doesn't leave any room for character growth, and no one wants to see a character that stays the same through the whole story. The key way to avoid this is not making young inexperienced characters, but to give your character flaws. Maybe they have insomnia and cant sleep because their dreams are plagued by sights from their past, or maybe they are a mage that is slowly losing their power. Its your choice, just dont make hugo-naught characters.

2. I want to see some powerful emotion within the group, and not the normal "Im a Knight and your a Rouge I hate you." sort of emotion, but true blue feelings. I wanna see conflicting interests and jealously, the group being divided at times and unsure of how to progress. Start a love triangle that pitts two people against each other and forces the one being fought over to choose one or neither. Maybe your character has a hidden agenda at the beginning but slowly begins to care for his companions. Dont treat this like a game but as if it were real, in reality how would you act or feel if it happened to you.

3. I would like to see some good character development as well. People change, and so should our characters. They make and loss friends, fall in and out of love, or change who they are altogether. Your character should at his/her core be mortal and as a mortal they will never be perfect. When your character is tested they dont always have to persevere, maybe they break under the pressure and they doubt who they are. Force them to re-evaluate who they are, giving them a mental dilemma that can make them stronger or change them. You should never be the same at the end as you were in the beginning.

---

Setting
It took me a while to decide on the setting but i finally managed to come up with one that offered a good starting foundation but also flexibility for the role-play.

The rp will take place in the Kingdom of Renaria which was once great and prosperous, but is now on a political and economical decline. To maintain its alliances and keep itself from a depression Renaria has sold its border territories and has offered fiefs to foreign dignitaries. Due to this many of its own noble houses have succumbed to poverty and hold a grudge towards the royalty. Also due to the lack of gold in the coffers Renaria has disbanded its standing military and reduced the number of guards in its cities. Because of the lack of protection and military presence most towns and wealthy citizens have turned to hiring private security forces and mercenaries.

Renaria was also a prime advocate of peaceful relations between Human, Elf, and Dwarf society. Because of this many cities grew a large population of Non-Human citizens, as well as pure Elf or Dwarf settlements. However without the presence of the military to deter those that would do them harm, many that detest the Non-Human have spoken out against them, sometimes leading to violent riots.

---

If anyone is interested, or if you have suggestions, please let me know.

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/RolePlayGateway

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'Iron Man 3' Unveils Gwyneth Paltrow-Filled Trailer: Watch Now!

The upcoming Marvel movie unleashes loads of new footage, including a new look for Paltrow.
By Brett White

Gwyneth Paltrow in "Iron Man 3"
Photo: Marvel

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1704249/iron-man-3-trailer-gwyneth-paltrow.jhtml

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Report: Dell likely to receive more takeover bids

Michael Dell may face some competition in his effort to take over the computer maker he founded.

The Wall Street Journal reported on its web site Saturday that buyout specialist Blackstone Group and activist investor Carl Icahn have both notified a special committee of Dell Inc.'s board that they are working on bids for the company.

Michael Dell and a group of investors announced their bid, valued at $24.4 billion, in early February. The Round Rock, Texas, company's board then set a 45-day period to allow for offers that might top that bid. That period expired Friday.

The Journal, citing unnamed sources, reported that the notification will allow Blackstone and Icahn four more days to develop their offers.

A Dell representative declined comment on the report. Blackstone and Icahn representatives did not immediately return calls from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Icahn and other investors have criticized the $13.65 a share offer from the Michael Dell group as being too low. Several buyout scenarios tying Blackstone to Dell have been leaked to the media this week. Dell shares closed Friday at $14.14, an indication that investors expected to see a higher bid. Some analysts have predicted Dell ultimately will be sold for $15 to $16 per share.

Southeastern Asset Management, Dell's second largest shareholder after Michael Dell, has asserted the company is worth closer to $24 per share.

For its part, the four-member board committee maintains it's selling Dell at a fair price, one that reflects the dimming prospects for the PC industry as more technology spending shifts to smartphones and tablet computers.

Dell, the world's third-largest PC maker, has said Friday's deadline for competing offers could be extended if its board believes other suitors would benefit from more time to examine Dell's books and hash out other details.

The company has promised to provide extensive details about the sales process in regulatory documents that are supposed to be filed next week.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/report-dell-likely-receive-more-takeover-bids-173004450--finance.html

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Has Obama's Mideast trip changed the game on the ground?

President Obama wrapped up his four-day visit to the Middle East after helping Israel and Turkey end a three-year diplomatic dispute. That, in turn, will help the region deal with the civil war in Syria. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.

By Martin Fletcher, Correspondent, NBC News

News analysis

TEL AVIV ? The verdict among Israeli pundits was unanimous: if President Barack Obama was an Israeli politician, he'd be a shoo-in to lead the liberal left.

His call for the Israeli government to halt Jewish settlement building in the West Bank, for a Palestinian state, his recognition of Israel's historical claim to the land and his demand for a secure Israel, is all straight out of the playbook of what remains of Israel's left.

---

His speech to Israeli students Thursday, who were carefully vetted to make sure they were in political agreement with him, was greeted numerous times by applause and a few standing ovations. And while many Israelis may have disagreed with the content of the speech, Obama's sincerity was felt by all.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

US President Barack Obama, left, listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their visit to the Children's Memorial at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, Israel, on Friday.

Obama drew a clear parallel between the Passover story of Jewish slaves fleeing Egypt and fighting for their rights, and the African-American struggle out of slavery and fight for their rights. That bond of shared experience, and the genuineness of his feelings, really came through.

So when Obama insisted that "all options are on the table" to stop Iran's nuclear program, he sounded convincing. And when he moved on to demand that Israel stop building settlements and make tough decisions to reach peace with the Palestinians, his words met with a more receptive audience.

For many Israelis, Obama won their hearts and their minds, but as one said to this reporter: "What now?"

Any closer to peace talks?
Are Israel and the Palestinians closer to peace talks than they were before Obama came? Did the fine words add up to momentum?

That will be up to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to discover when he returns to Jerusalem Saturday to try, as so many have before him, to kick-start the peace process.?

President Obama spoke to an audience of more than 2,000 Israeli citizens at the Jerusalem Convention Center and stressed the necessity of peace between Israel and Palestine.

Overall, Obama's message had something for everyone.

The first half of Obama's speech, in which he confirmed Israel's right to the land, pleased Israel's right wing. The second half, in which he called for compromise with the Palestinians and a Palestinian state, pleased the left wing.

When he said this is a Jewish democratic state, Jews were thrilled and Palestinians were furious.

When he said Israel will not survive as a Jewish democratic state with settlements on Palestinian land, Palestinians were thrilled and many Israelis were furious.

But after trying to be all things to all people, Obama departed leaving behind a question: What just happened? Was there any American commitment to get started with the talks?

Israelis charmed, Palestinians insulted
The answer is: no. The message was: we are here to help, but first you have to do the work. In other words, nothing changed, beyond people?s impression of Obama as a leader.

Israelis were encouraged that Obama really does like them; Operation Charm worked.

But Palestinians were left fuming, and many say they were insulted.

President Obama, alongside and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, says the U.S. remains "deeply committed" to the creation of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine.

They complained that he mentioned a Jewish rocket victim by name, but didn?t mention any of the many Palestinian victims, or the approximately 4,500 prisoners in Israeli jails. He visited the grave of two Israeli icons, Theodor Herzl and Yitzhak Rabin, but refused even to walk by the shrine to Yasser Arafat. He did not repeat the Palestinian demand that Israel stop building settlements as a condition for peace talks.

In short, Palestinians got very little, and Israel got a bit more.

At least, that's what the public saw.

Big brother still calling the shots
There was at least one big surprise from the backroom talks between Obama and Netanyahu that should go a long way toward improving frayed ties between two important U.S. allies in the region.?

After three years of refusing to do so, Netanyahu called his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan Friday to apologize for "any error" that may have led to the deaths of nine Turkish activists during a 2010 raid on a boat off the Gaza Strip.

The two agreed to normalize relations ? a major breakthrough. It means the two big U.S. allies can now resume military cooperation, which should help to contain the spillover of the Syrian civil war in the region ? and lessen Israel's isolation in the volatile region.

What isn't known yet is what was agreed to behind closed doors about how to deal with the twin threats of Iran and Syria.

In the press conference that followed their discussions, both sides seemed satisfied with the current degree of military and intelligence cooperation on both subjects.

But did Obama leave with the certainty that Israel would not interfere with the American timetable for dealing with the Iranian threat?

We don?t know more than we knew before, which is that impatient little Israel can't do much without their more patient bigger brother.?

But at least, after this visit by the American president, the brotherly relationship appears more credible than before.

?

Related:

Israel's Netanyahu apologizes to Turkey over deadly flotilla raid

Photo Blog: Obama wraps up Holy Land visit at Bethlehem church after Holocaust tribute

Obama visits a Bethlehem in midst of change, Islamization

Obama appeals to Israelis: Give justice to the Palestinians

Iran threatens to destroy Tel Aviv, Haifa if Israel attacks

Obama: 'Still time' for diplomatic solution to Iran nuke dispute

?

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