Minnesota takes down No. 1 Indiana 77-73

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ? Retaining that No. 1 national ranking has been elusive throughout this wild season in college basketball, and Indiana was the latest to lose at the top ? again.

Most important and maybe more challenging for the Hoosiers, however, is holding on to first place in the tough-as-ever Big Ten.

Trevor Mbakwe had 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting and 12 rebounds to help Minnesota take down top-ranked Indiana 77-73 on Tuesday night, the seventh time the No. 1 team in the Associated Press poll has lost this season. Three of those losses were by the Hoosiers, who were No. 1 when they fell to Butler and Wisconsin earlier this season. All three opponents were unranked at the time.

Indiana (24-4, 12-3) has held the No. 1 ranking for 10 of the 17 polls by the AP this season, including the last four, and that will likely change next week. But fending off Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin is what's on the minds of the Hoosiers, who'll take a one-game lead in the conference race into Saturday's game against Iowa.

"Winning the Big Ten was going to be tough whether we won today or lost," said star guard Victor Oladipo, who had 16 points. "We knew it was going to be tough from the jump. Now it's even tougher. But I think my team is ready for it. We just have to go back and see what we did wrong and correct it."

Andre Hollins added 16 points for the Gophers (19-9, 7-8), who outrebounded Cody Zeller and the Hoosiers by a whopping 44-30 and solidified their slipping NCAA tournament hopes with an emphatic performance against the conference leader. The fired-up fans swarmed the court as the last seconds ticked off, the first time that's happened here since a 2002 win over Indiana.

"There were just too many times when that first shot went up and they were there before we were because we didn't get into their bodies," Hoosiers coach Tom Crean said. "We weren't physical enough on the glass. That's the bottom line."

Zeller, the second-leading shooter in the Big Ten, went 2 for 9. He had nine points with four turnovers. Minnesota had 40 points in the paint to Indiana's 22.

Mbakwe, a sixth-year senior, had a lot to do with that. While positing his conference-leading seventh double-double of the season, the 24-year-old Mbakwe was a man among boys in many ways in this game, dominating both ends of the court when the Gophers needed him most. He grabbed six of Minnesota's 23 offensive rebounds, two of them to keep a key possession alive. His off-balance put-back drew contact for a three-point play with 7:22 left that gave the Gophers a 55-52 lead.

Mbakwe was called for a loudly questioned blocking foul, his fourth, with 4:39 remaining on Zeller's fast-break layup and free throw that put the Hoosiers up 59-58. But Austin Hollins answered with a pump-fake layup that drew a foul for a three-point play and a two-point advantage for the Gophers.

The Hoosiers didn't lead again, and Joe Coleman's fast-break dunk with 2:35 left gave Minnesota a 68-61 cushion that helped it withstand a couple of 3-pointers by Christian Watford and one by Jordan Hulls in the closing minutes. That was the only basket Hulls made after halftime. He had 17 points.

"Just the way we bounced back is unbelievable. We showed that we can beat one of the best teams in the country. Now we have to build off this," said Mbakwe, whose team lost eight of its previous 11 games starting with an 88-81 loss at Indiana on Jan. 12. The Gophers were ranked eighth then. They didn't even receive a vote in the current poll. That could change next week.

The Hoosiers are still in position for their first outright Big Ten regular-season championship since 1993. With another home game against Ohio State on March 5, Indiana could still clinch the title before the finale at Michigan on March 10.

For now, though, the Hoosiers have to regroup and re-establish their inside game after the trampling in the post they endured here.

"They were relentless on the glass. We just didn't do a great job of boxing them out," Oladipo said.

___

Follow Dave Campbell on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DaveCampbellAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/minnesota-takes-down-no-1-indiana-77-73-082806126--spt.html

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Star Trek Trumps Mythology in Naming Pluto's New Moon

Due to popular demand, one of Pluto's recently discovered moons is to be named Vulcan, after the fictional home of Star Trek's Spock. And that makes no kind of sense. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/wuJJTDf8s7o/star-trek-trumps-mythology-in-naming-plutos-new-moon

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Network Effect: SingTel-Owned Amobee Expands Mobile Ad Platform To Cover Its Globe, Optus And Telkomsel Holdings

When the pan-Asian mobile carrier SingTel paid $321 million to acquire mobile ad platform SingTel in May last year, the thinking was that the Singapore-based SingTel could use Amobee to serve targeted ads to its 480-million mobile subscriber base across the region. Some eight months after the deal has closed, that network effect is coming into play: today Amobee is announcing that it will take over all mobile ads for SingTel, as well as Globe in the Philippines, Optus in Australia and New Zealand and and Telkomsel in Indonesia. The deal is exclusive and will mean that all four carriers will be served ads through Amobee’s PULSE mobile ad platform — which was initially developed by Amobee in California but has since been integrated into SingTel’s servers in the Asia-Pacific region. Initially, this deal will cover 200 million users, Amobee says, but will be extended out to eventually cover all of SingTel’s 480 million subscribers. Overall, SingTel is active in 20 countries. Amobee continues to work with other carriers that are not part of the SingTel group. These include AT&T and Sprint in the U.S., Vodafone and Telefonica, as well as others across Europe and the Middle East. But the Asia-Pacific portion of its business is now growing. Whereas last year it made up 10% of Amobee’s revenues, this year that rise to at least one-third. The idea is for SingTel to gain better control over ads across its network of operations, and offer publishers a more attractive, targeted advertising option than going with one of the other established players — such as Google, the king of the mobile advertising hill. “Instead of competing against Google, it?s about doing something different,” noted Mark Strecker, COO for Amobee, in an interview with TechCrunch. “A lot of carriers are looking for alternatives to Google.” That strategy, of course, will take on a new twist for SingTel in the coming years. SingTel is one of the 18 carriers that has signed on to work with Mozilla in the development of the Firefox OS for mobile (and the two partner on investments to boost that ecosystem, too, such as this $25 million investment in mobile search startup Everything.me). One of the promises of the new HTML5-friendly platform is that it will give carriers a bigger say in how mobile services are localized for their respective customer bases. That will include what ads get delivered,

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/XUF48RG_5zg/

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Protecting fish from antidepressants by using new wastewater treatment technique

Feb. 26, 2013 ? Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm have developed a new technique to prevent pharmaceutical residues from entering waterways and harming wildlife.

The new water treatment technology -- called membrane distallation -- separates drug residues from sewage with the help of district heating, says Andrew Martin, a professor at KTH's Institute of Energy Technology who worked on the development project with IVL and Scarab Development AB.

Martin says that water vapor passes through a thin, hydrophobic membrane of material similar to Goretex, and through an air gap, where it condensed onto a cold surface. Drug residues collect on one side of the membrane and pure water on the other.

"There is currently no technology capable of doing this cleaning process on a large scale," Martin says. "And for the membrane distillation process to work, the water temperature does not need to be very high, which is good."

Pharmaceutical residues in wastewater have been found to alter fish behavior and could even affect the growth of algae. A recent study at Sweden's Ume? University shows even low levels of Oxazepam detected in the Fyris River, in central Sweden, caused perch to become more antisocial, risk prone and active, making them an easier target for predators such as pike. The study measured levels of Oxazepam found in the perch, which were six times higher than in the water itself.

The study also indicated that the release of anti-anxiety drugs can affect entire ecosystems in a waterway, possibly contributing to an increases or decreases in the incidence of algae.

In a test of the membrane distillation technique at Hammarby Sj?stadsverket in Sweden, researchers found a level of 282 nanograms of Oxazepam per litre of wastewater. After ordinary treatment, that level of pharmaceuticals would essentially remain unchanged when the water is returned to the local waterway. But when treated with the membrane distillation system, the concentration was reduced to less than 2 nanograms per litre.

"Of all the 20th century-tested drugs, it is only the remains of the antidepressant Sertraline that we failed to clear 100 percent," Martin says. "We have some theories, but cannot yet explain why."

Martin and his colleagues are now awaiting results from the next step in the evolution of the technique. They are testing membrane distillation with drug residue levels that are nearly 10 times higher. "These samples are out for analysis right now," he says.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/fs6za3HLe-8/130226081157.htm

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Religious NGO Jamiyyathul Salaf recommends ... - Minivan News

Religious NGO Jamiyyathul Salaf has called on Attorney General (AG) Azima Shukoor to amend the government?s draft bill on the implementation of death penalty, urging that convicts be beheaded or shot instead of given lethal injection.

In letter to the AG proposing its?recommendations for the bill, Salaf?explained that by beheading the convicted murderer, the pain he endured would be reduced while the heirs of the victim would still receive satisfaction.

Salaf argued that Islamic history had precedents for this form of execution, while the purpose of Qisas ? an Islamic legal term for equal retaliation which follows the principle of Lex talionis (?an eye for an eye?) ? would be achieved if it acted as a deterrent to others from committing such crimes.

Salaf also expressed support for the execution of convicts through firing squad, noting that scholars of Islamic jurisprudence had spoken in favour of the method.

The Attorney General in 2012 announced that the government had?drafted a bill on implementing the death penalty through lethal injection, and presented it to the public for comment.

Salaf disputed the reliability of this method, contending that such injections have been proved ineffective in executing a convict within a single needle.

The NGO argued that due to the West?s opposing stance towards death penalty, the Maldives could face difficulties and restrictions in receiving stocks of lethal injections, which would be a ?perfect excuse for any president who does not wish to enforce the death penalty?.

?If that is the case, it is a huge injustice to society. It is very dangerous that the current draft paves way for one government to execute it while another can make excuses to not execute it. It is unacceptable. Even today, convicts in several countries are still un-executed because of the non-availability of such injections,? Salaf said.

Salaf also proposed several other recommendations including barring intoxication as a legal defence for the crime of murder, meaning that even involuntary intoxication would not commute a convict from facing the death penalty. Salaf argued that if intoxication could be considered a defense, the purpose of implementing death penalty would be undermined as an accused could always misuse the defense of intoxication to avoid execution.

The current draft bill stipulates that the death penalty should be given to a convict who has murdered someone while in possession of his senses and conscience. In theory, a murder committed while under the influence of a substance will therefore not attract the death penalty.

Salaf also recommended that the current position of the bill on minors should be abolished and that even minors should face execution as soon as the final verdict is made.

Currently the bill stipulates that should a convict who is a minor, pregnant or in a critical medical condition be found guilty of murder, the execution shall be delayed.

Among other recommendations, Salaf proposed amendments to the number of judges that should hear a case concerning death penalty.

Salaf proposed that at a lower court level, the case should be heard by a panel of three judges, while a four member panel should hear such a case at the High Court and a five member panel at Supreme Court level.

Salaf also urged that such cases concerning the death penalty must be heard by male judges only. The NGO also recommended that a clause be included in which before the execution the convict should be given the opportunity to repent and carry out a short prayer.

According to current stipulations in the bill, a suspect found guilty of murder should also be provided with the opportunity to meet his family on the day of execution and say their last farewell.

Salaf in its recommendations called upon the attorney general to remove the clause in the draft bill giving the President the power to commute any death penalty sentence to a life imprisonment sentence, claiming that such a clause defeated the overall purpose of the bill.

Meanwhile, the attorney general?s office has said that it has looked to procedures followed by Egypt, Malaysia and the US in carrying?out the death sentence, while also obtaining the opinions of religious scholars and lawyers.

Push for the death penalty

In October last year, the government announced its intention to introduce a bill in the People?s Majlis to guide and govern the implementation of the death penalty in the country.

?It is currently a punishment passed by the judiciary and a form of punishment available within the penal system of the Maldives,? said Home Minister Dr Mohamed Jameel at the time.

?But for full guidance and matters governing the matter, legislation is required,? he added.

The last person to be judicially executed in the Maldives was Hakim Didi, who was executed by firing squad in 1953 after being found guilty of conspiracy to murder using black magic.

Statistics show that from January 2001 to December 2010, a total of 14 people were sentenced to death by Maldivian courts.

However, in all cases, the president at the time has commuted these verdicts to life sentences.

Speaking to Minivan News, President of Jamiyyathul Salaf Abdulla Mohamed stated that the current bill by the attorney general was ?incomplete? as it had only focused on death penalty, and said that the principle of Qiasas was much broader.

?For instance, the bill does not give a remedy to the victims who are subjected to assault and other bodily harm. They should also get a legal remedy. However the bill is more focused on death penalty,? he said.

Asked if the NGO was of the view that victims could get a fair trial, given the present concerns raised over the impartiality and competency of the Maldivian judiciary, Abdulla Mohamed said the NGO had proposed recommendations to the judiciary on the issue.

?We have previously sent recommendations to the authorities concerning the state of judiciary. We have clearly highlighted the necessary qualifications and standards that a judge should have,? he said.

However, he rejected claims made by critics of judiciary that the judiciary was unprepared to implement death penalty, stating that it was just a ?mere excuse? to avoid the laws of Allah prescribed in Sharia? law.

?There are other laws passed such as the law against the abuse of women and several other laws where the authorities make efforts to ensure they are enforced and that justice is delivered. Why can?t it be the same in a law that lays down the principles of Islamic Sharia??? he questioned.

He further said that Islamic Criminal Law was very broad and very detailed, such that there are several conditions and requirements that have to be fulfilled before giving a punishment.

?The purpose of death penalty in Islam is to ensure that the orders of Allah are followed. It is an obligation to all of us as Muslims. Secondly, Islam greatly values a human being?s right to life. No one has the right to take the other person?s life. If he does so, he has to be punished,? he stated.

However the death penalty does not always mean one has to be executed, he explained. There are alternatives, as if even one heir decides to forgive the convict, he cannot be executed. Similarly, it is up to the heirs to demand blood money instead of the death penalty, and that even blood money can be forgiven if the heirs wish to do so.

Speaking to Minivan News previously, former Foreign Minister and UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran Dr Ahmed Shaheed has identified the ?pathetic state of the [Maldives] judiciary? as one of the key human rights concerns he believed needed to be addressed in the country.

?[The judiciary] is not only corrupt, but also coming under the influence of radical Islam, even to the extent of violating codified laws of the Maldives and clear international obligations,? Dr Shaheed claimed.

?Disregard for rule of law has also meant that a culture of impunity is deeply entrenched, rendering many of the human rights of the people meaningless.?

Source: http://minivannews.com/society/religious-ngo-jamiyyathul-salaf-recommends-beheading-firing-squad-over-lethal-injection-53689

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Samsung Confirms the Galaxy IV's Coming March 14th

There have been rumors that Samsung's new flagship Galaxy phone was not one for Mobile World Congress, but would instead have its own gala on March 14th. We'd heard reports earlier today confirming the date, but now Samsung has made it social media official. Get ready. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/vLekJlsBcIM/samsung-confirms-the-galaxy-ivs-coming-march-14th

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Egypt's vote won't calm turbulent streets

FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 file photo, Egyptian Ultras, hard-core soccer fans, chant anti-president Mohammed Morsi slogans while attending a rally in front of the provincial government headquarters, unseen, in Port Said, Egypt. Egypt's streets have turned into a daily forum for airing a range of social discontents from labor conditions to fuel shortages and the casualties of myriad clashes over the past two years. Newly called parliamentary elections hold out little hope for plucking the country out of the turmoil and if anything, are likely to just fuel unrest and push it toward economic collapse. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)

FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 file photo, Egyptian Ultras, hard-core soccer fans, chant anti-president Mohammed Morsi slogans while attending a rally in front of the provincial government headquarters, unseen, in Port Said, Egypt. Egypt's streets have turned into a daily forum for airing a range of social discontents from labor conditions to fuel shortages and the casualties of myriad clashes over the past two years. Newly called parliamentary elections hold out little hope for plucking the country out of the turmoil and if anything, are likely to just fuel unrest and push it toward economic collapse. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 file photo, an Egyptian Ultras activist chants anti-President Mohammed Morsi slogans while leading a rally during the fifth day of a general strike, in Port Said, Egypt. Egypt's streets have turned into a daily forum for airing a range of social discontents from labor conditions to fuel shortages and the casualties of myriad clashes over the past two years. Newly called parliamentary elections hold out little hope for plucking the country out of the turmoil and if anything, are likely to just fuel unrest and push it toward economic collapse. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 file photo, Egyptian men inspect posters of slain men with their pictures and Arabic that reads their names, "Ahmed el-Syyed, Mohammed Ali Ibrahim, Islam, Osama el-Sherbiny, Ahmed el-Shahat," at a protest camp in front of the provincial government headquarters, unseen, during the fifth day of a general strike, in Port Said, Egypt. Egypt's streets have turned into a daily forum for airing a range of social discontents from labor conditions to fuel shortages and the casualties of myriad clashes over the past two years. Newly called parliamentary elections hold out little hope for plucking the country out of the turmoil and if anything, are likely to just fuel unrest and push it toward economic collapse. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)

FILE - In this July 13, 2012 file photo, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi speaks to reporters at the Presidential palace in Cairo. Egypt's streets have turned into a daily forum for airing a range of social discontents from labor conditions to fuel shortages and the casualties of myriad clashes over the past two years. Newly called parliamentary elections hold out little hope for plucking the country out of the turmoil and if anything, are likely to just fuel unrest and push it toward economic collapse. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)

FILE - In this Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 file photo, Egyptian protesters chant anti-President Mohammed Morsi slogans and carry posters with pictures of victims of recent violence and their names in Port Said, Egypt. Egypt's streets have turned into a daily forum for airing a range of social discontents from labor conditions to fuel shortages and the casualties of myriad clashes over the past two years. Newly called parliamentary elections hold out little hope for plucking the country out of the turmoil and if anything, are likely to just fuel unrest and push it toward economic collapse. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)

CAIRO (AP) ? Egypt's streets are turning into a daily forum for airing a range of social discontents from labor conditions to fuel shortages and the casualties of myriad clashes over the past two years.

Parliamentary elections called over the weekend by the Islamist president hold out little hope for plucking the country out of the turmoil. If anything, the race is likely to fuel more unrest and push Egypt closer to economic collapse.

"The street has a life of its own and it has little to do with elections. It is about people wanting to make a living or make ends meet," said Emad Gad, a prominent analyst and a former lawmaker.

Islamist President Mohammed Morsi called for parliamentary elections to start in late April and be held over four stages ending in June. He was obliged under the constitution to set the date for the vote by Saturday.

His decree brought a sharp reaction from Egypt's key opposition leader, Nobel Peace Laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, who said they would be a "recipe for disaster" given the polarization of the country and eroding state authority.

On Saturday, ElBaradei dropped a bombshell when he called for a boycott of the vote. An effective boycott by the opposition or widespread fraud would call the election's legitimacy into question.

But in all likelihood, Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and its ultraconservative Salafi allies will fare well in the vote. The Brotherhood has dominated every election in the two years since the 2011 uprising that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

The mostly secular and liberal opposition will likely trail as they did in the last election for parliament's lawmaking, lower house in late 2011 and early 2012 ? a pattern consistent with every nationwide election post-Mubarak.

President Morsi's Brotherhood-dominated administration has been unable to curb the street protests, strikes and crime that have defined Egypt in the two years since the uprising.

In fact, the unrest has only grown more intense, more effective and has spread around the country in the nearly eight months that Morsi has been in office.

On any given day, a diverse variety of protesters across much of the troubled nation press demands of all sorts or voice opposition to Morsi and the Brotherhood.

Sunday was a case in point.

Thousands of brick workers blocked railroad tracks from a city south of Cairo for a second successive day to protest rising prices of industrial fuel oil, crippling transportation around the country of 85 million.

The rise resulted from the government's decision last week to lift subsidies on some fuel prices. It is part of a reform program aimed at securing a $4.8 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund.

Meanwhile there are ample signs that Egypt's economy is deteriorating steadily.

Foreign reserves have dropped by nearly two thirds since Mubarak's departure, the key tourism sector is in a deep slump and the local currency has fallen nearly 10 percent against the dollar in the last two months.

Khaled el-Hawari, a marketing executive in one of the brick factories, said industrial fuel oil prices increased by 50 percent, threatening the business and the livelihoods of hundreds of workers who could be laid off.

"No one is listening to us or responding," he said. "We plan to protest outside the Cabinet next."

In the Nile Delta province of Kafr el-Sheikh, hundreds of quarry workers stormed the local government building, forcing staff to flee. The workers are demanding permanent employment in the factory. They chanted against the recently appointed local governor, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

In the coastal city of Port Said, a general strike entered its second week on Sunday. The city has practically come to a halt as thousands of workers from the main industrial area joined the strike.

Calls for a civil strike in line with the one in Port Said have spread around Egypt. A group of protesters blocked the entrance to a major administrative building in Cairo's Tahrir Square, stopping citizens from entering and prompting small scuffles.

But Port Said is emerging as a prime example of how the popular discontent is evolving into sustained anti-government action. There are even calls in Port Said for secession which, while not realistic, indicate the depth of anger.

Activists there are demanding retribution for more than 40 residents killed there last month, allegedly by police.

The killings took place amid a wave of anger that swept the city after a Cairo court passed death sentences against 21 people, mostly from Port Said, for their part in Egypt's worst soccer disaster on Feb. 1 2012.

Morsi's supporters say that delaying elections, protesting and boycotting are affecting Egypt's ability to lure foreign investors and tourists again as the economy deteriorates.

Lack of confidence in law enforcement has reached a point where villagers sometimes hunt down alleged killers, lynch them and burn their bodies with police unable or unwilling to intervene.

With violent crime on the rise, rights groups accuse police under Morsi of falling back to the brutal methods and impunity of the Mubarak days.

The opposition, which led the uprising against Mubarak, is showing signs of disarray.

Another emphatic Islamist victory, especially if enough opposition groups do not heed ElBardei's boycott call, is likely to deal a body blow to the National Salvation Front ? the main opposition coalition.

In short, there is no end in sight to the growing popular discontent with Morsi's rule and the Brotherhood, who are accused by opponents of monopolizing power.

Already, ElBaradei's call for a boycott has sown divisions with his movement, with some of its leading figures saying the former director of the U.N. nuclear agency spoke prematurely and without sufficient consultation with other leaders. Others said they would heed the boycott call.

Ahmed Maher, the leader of the opposition April 6 youth group, said if the entire opposition does not join the boycott, it would be a "gift" to the Brotherhood and would accord legitimacy to a Brotherhood-dominated parliament. A successful boycott, he added in a statement, must be accompanied with a "parallel" parliament and a shadow government for it to be effective.

Significantly, some activists say that with international monitoring of the upcoming elections to prevent widespread fraud, the Brotherhood and their Salafi allies may not get the comfortable win they are hoping for.

"Entire cities and provinces have turned against the Brotherhood," said activist Ahmed Badawi. "This is a good time to defeat the Brotherhood because the economic crisis is hurting people's lives and they are angry."

But Gad, the former lawmaker, pointed out that staggering the elections over a two-month period would only benefit the Brotherhood, which had gained valuable election expertise when it had for years under Mubarak fielded candidates in parliamentary elections as independents.

"They have their election pros who will now be put to work in all four stages to ensure their supporters go out and vote while orchestrating soft fraud which, if widespread, can alter the results," said Gad.

The Brotherhood has been repeatedly accused of influencing voters at polling centers, campaigning on voting day in violation of the law and taking advantage of the relatively high percentage of illiteracy among voters. Some also accuse the Brotherhood of buying votes, exploiting the country's widespread poverty.

The Brotherhood denies the charges and counters them by boasting of its superior organizational skills. The group said it has the legitimacy of its consistent victories at the ballot box and accuses its opponent of trying to overthrow a democratically elected government.

___

Associated Press reporter Mamdouh Thabet contributed to this report from Assiut, Egypt.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-02-24-Egypt/id-06ba68a6de2f470eb0bd38da0140976a

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Iterations: Inception, Courtesy of Public Relations

"FOR every reporter employed in America, around six people work in public relations: a few too many, some might think." So began The Economist's obituary for Daniel Edelman in January 2013, a sharp eulogy commemorating the life of a public relations giant. For decades, Edelman, in addition to founding and running the firm that bears his name today, successfully convinced legions of companies and brands to work with him to win the "air game" of public relations.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/4tS5B-6vg0M/

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Huge explosion rattles Syrian capital

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem attends a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, unseen, in Moscow on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem attends a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, unseen, in Moscow on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, welcomes Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, left, in Moscow, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)

A Syrian drives his motor bike past a house destroyed from a government airstrike, at Jabal al-Zaweya village of Sarjeh, in Idlib, Syria, Monday Feb. 25, 2013. Syria is ready to hold talks with the armed opposition trying to topple President Bashar Assad, the country's foreign minister said Monday, in the government's most advanced offer yet to try to resolve the 2-year-old civil war through negotiations. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Free Syrian Army fighters pray inside a cave at Jabal al-Zaweya in Idlib, Syria, Sunday Feb. 24, 2013. Syrian rebels used captured tanks to launch a fresh offensive on a government complex housing a police academy near Aleppo and clashed with government troops protecting the strategic installation on Sunday. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

A Free Syrian army fighter films homes that were destroyed from a government airstrike, at Jabal al-Zaweya village of Sarjeh, in Idlib, Syria, Monday Feb. 25, 2013. Syria is ready to hold talks with the armed opposition trying to topple President Bashar Assad, the country's foreign minister said Monday, in the government's most advanced offer yet to try to resolve the 2-year-old civil war through negotiations. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) ? Damascus residents and state-run TV say a huge explosion has shaken the city.

The blast followed by heavy gunfire caused panic in the capital, where a massive car bombing on Thursday near the ruling Baath party headquarters killed at least 53 people.

It was not immediately clear what the target of Monday's explosion was and whether there were casualties.

State-run TV reported a "terrorist" explosion at the entrance to the northeastern neighborhood of Qaboun.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-02-25-Syria/id-8018ae7c8b7b4503adeefeca03fb169b

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Pope Benedict assures faithful he?s not abandoning church

Pope Benedict XVI gave his pontificate?s final Sunday blessing from his studio window to the cheers of tens of thousands of people packing St. Peter?s Square, but sought to reassure the faithful that he wasn?t abandoning the church by retiring to spend his final years in prayer.

The 85-year-old Benedict is stepping down on Thursday evening, the first pope to do so in 600 years, after saying he no longer has the mental or physical strength to lead the world?s 1.2 billion Catholics.

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But while he has lately looked tired and frail, the crowd filling the cobblestone square seemed to energize him, and he spoke in a clear, strong voice, repeatedly thanking the faithful for their closeness and affection as they interrupted him, again and again, with applause and cheers. Police estimated some 100,000 people turned out.

Benedict told the crowd that God is calling him to dedicate himself ?even more to prayer and meditation,? which he will do in a secluded monastery being renovated for him on the grounds behind Vatican City?s ancient walls.

?But this doesn?t mean abandoning the church,? he said, as many in the crowd looked sad at his departure from regular view. ?On the contrary, if God asks me, this is because I can continue to serve it [the church] with the same dedication and the same love which I have tried to do so until now, but in a way more suitable to my age and to my strength.?

The phrase ?tried to? was the pope?s adlibbed addition to his prepared text.

Benedict has one more public appearance, a Wednesday general audience in St. Peter?s Square.

Benedict smiled at the crowd after an aide parted the white curtain at his window, telling the people, ?thank you for your affection.?

Heavy rain had been forecast for Rome, and some drizzle dampened the square earlier in the morning. But when Benedict appeared, to the peal of church bells as the clock struck noon, blue sky crept through the clouds.

?We thank God for the sun he has given us,? the pope said, sounding cheerful.

As cheers continued in the crowd, the pontiff simply turned away from the window and stepped back down into apartment, which he will leave on Thursday, taking a helicopter to the Vatican summer residence in the hills outside Rome while he waits for the monastery to be ready.

A child in the crowd held up a sign on a yellow placard, written in Italian, ?You are not alone, I?m with you.? Other admirers held homemade signs, saying ?Grazie.?

No date has yet been set for the start of the conclave of cardinals, who will vote in secret to elect Benedict?s successor.

One Italian in the crowd seemed to be doing a little campaigning, hoisting a sign which mentioned the name of two Italian cardinals considered by observers to be potential contenders in the selection of the next pontiff.

Flags in the crowd represented many nations, with a large number from Brazil.

The cardinals in the conclave will have to decide whether it?s time to look outside of Europe for a pope.

Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/pope-benedict-assures-faithful-hes-not-abandoning-church/article9008681/?cmpid=rss1

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Grief besets family of Pistorius' slain girlfriend

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, right, and his sister Aimee, left, are driven to a relatives home in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Pistorius was released on bail and will return to court June, 4, 2013 to face charge a charge of pre-meditated murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. (AP Photo/Nelius Rademan-FOTO24-Beeld) SOUTH AFRICA OUT NO SALES. NO ARCHIVE, ONLINE OUT MAGAZINES OUT INTERNET OUT TV OUT

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, right, and his sister Aimee, left, are driven to a relatives home in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Pistorius was released on bail and will return to court June, 4, 2013 to face charge a charge of pre-meditated murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. (AP Photo/Nelius Rademan-FOTO24-Beeld) SOUTH AFRICA OUT NO SALES. NO ARCHIVE, ONLINE OUT MAGAZINES OUT INTERNET OUT TV OUT

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius' uncle, Arnold Pistorius, speaks to journalists at the end of the bail hearing at the magistrate court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Oscar Pistorius was granted bail in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Friday and will return to court June, 4, 2013 to face a charge of pre-meditated murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius' sister Aimee Pistorius looks on during his bail hearing at the magistrate court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Pistorius was granted bail in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Friday. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

El atleta Oscar Pistorius aparece parado en el tribunal durante la audiencia de fianza por el asesinato de su novia Reeva Steenkamp el viernes, 22 de febrero de 2013, en Pretoria, Sud?frica. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Mike Steenkamp, the uncle of Reeva Steenkamp, centre, speaks to an unidentified man, holding a photo of Reeva, after her funeral in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius is charged with the premeditated murder of Steenkamp on Valentine's Day. The defense lawyer says it was an accidental shooting. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? Far from the courtroom drama that has gripped South Africa, the family of Oscar Pistorius' slain girlfriend has struggled with its own private deluge of grief, frustration and bewilderment.

The victim's relatives also harbor misgivings about efforts by the Olympian's family to reach out to them with condolences.

Pistorius, meanwhile, spent Saturday at his uncle's home in an affluent suburb of Pretoria, the South African capital, after a judge released him on bail following days of testimony that transfixed South Africa and much of the world. He was charged with premeditated murder in the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day, but the athlete says he killed her accidentally, opening fire after mistaking her for an intruder in his home.

"We are extremely thankful that Oscar is now home," his uncle, Arnold Pistorius, said in a statement that also acknowledged the law must run its course. "What happened has changed our lives irrevocably."

Mike Steenkamp, Reeva's uncle, told The Associated Press that the family of the double-amputee athlete initially did not send condolences or try to contact the bereaved parents, but had since sought to reach out in what he described as a poorly timed way. After Pistorius was released on bail in what amounted to a victory for the defense, Arnold Pistorius said the athlete's family was relieved but also in mourning "with the family" of Reeva Steenkamp.

"Everybody wants to jump up with joy," Mike Steenkamp said, speculating on the mood of Pistorius' family after the judge's decision. "I think it was just done in the wrong context, completely."

A South African newspaper, the Afrikaans-language Beeld, quoted the mother of Reeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, law school graduate and participant in a television reality show, as saying the family had received a bouquet of flowers and a card from the Pistorius family.

"Yes, but what does it mean? Nothing," June Steenkamp said, according to the Saturday edition of Beeld. She also said Pistorius' family, including sister Aimee, a somber presence on the bench behind the Olympian during his court hearings in the past week, must be "devastated" and had done nothing wrong.

"They are not to blame," June Steenkamp said. According to Beeld, she said she had hoped to plan a wedding for her daughter one day.

In an affidavit, 26-year-old Oscar Pistorius said he was "absolutely mortified" by the death of "my beloved Reeva," and he frequently sobbed in court during the several days during which his bail application was considered. However, prosecutor Gerrie Nel, suggested in a scathing criticism that Pistorius was actually distraught because his vaunted career was now in peril and he was in grave trouble with the law.

"It doesn't matter how much money he has and how good his legal team is, he will have to live with his conscience if he allows his legal team to lie for him," Barry Steenkamp, Reeva's father, told Beeld .

"But if he is telling the truth, then perhaps I can forgive him one day," the father said. "If it didn't happen the way he said it did, he must suffer, and he will suffer ... only he knows."

Barry Steenkamp suffered "heavy trauma" at the loss of his daughter and his remarks to the newspaper partly reflect how he is working through it, said his brother, Mike Steenkamp.

Steenkamp was cremated in a funeral ceremony on Feb. 19 in her family's hometown of Port Elizabeth on South Africa's southern coast. Mike Steenkamp delivered a statement about the family's grief to television cameras, at one point breaking down in tears.

The three-story house where Pistorius is staying with his aunt and uncle lies on a hill with a view of Pretoria. It has a large swimming pool and an immaculate garden.

Pistorius was born without fibula bones due to a congenital defect and had his legs amputated at 11 months. He has run on carbon-fiber blades and was originally banned from competing against able-bodied peers because many argued that his blades gave him an unfair advantage. He was later cleared to compete. He is multiple Paralympic medalist, but he failed to win a medal at the London Olympics, where he ran in the 400 meters and on South Africa's 4x400 relay team.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-02-23-Pistorius-Shooting/id-77a2c546ba9a46baa2e62fbb099b132f

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Fragments of continents hidden under lava in Indian Ocean: New micro-continent detected under Reunion and Mauritius

Feb. 22, 2013 ? The islands Reunion and Mauritius, both well-known tourist destinations, are hiding a micro-continent, which has now been discovered. The continent fragment known as Mauritia detached about 60 million years ago while Madagascar and India drifted apart, and had been hidden under huge masses of lava.

Such micro-continents in the oceans seem to occur more frequently than previously thought, says a study in the latest issue of Nature Geoscience.

The break-up of continents is often associated with mantle plumes: These giant bubbles of hot rock rise from the deep mantle and soften the tectonic plates from below, until the plates break apart at the hotspots. This is how Eastern Gondwana broke apart about 170 million years ago. At first, one part was separated, which in turn fragmented into Madagascar, India, Australia and Antarctica, which then migrated to their present position.

Plumes currently situated underneath the islands Marion and Reunion appear to have played a role in the emergence of the Indian Ocean. If the zone of the rupture lies at the edge of a land mass (in this case Madagascar / India), fragments of this land mass may be separated off. The Seychelles are a well-known example of such a continental fragment.

A group of geoscientists from Norway, South Africa, Britain and Germany have now published a study that suggests, based on the study of lava sand grains from the beach of Mauritius, the existence of further fragments. The sand grains contain semi-precious zircons aged between 660 and 1970 million years, which is explained by the fact that the zircons were carried by the lava as it pushed through subjacent continental crust of this age.

This dating method was supplemented by a recalculation of plate tectonics, which explains exactly how and where the fragments ended up in the Indian Ocean. Dr. Bernhard Steinberger of the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and Dr. Pavel Doubrovine of Oslo University calculated the hotspot trail: "On the one hand, it shows the position of the plates relative to the two hotspots at the time of the rupture, which points towards a causal relation," says Steinberger. "On the other hand, we were able to show that the continent fragments continued to wander almost exactly over the Reunion plume, which explains how they were covered by volcanic rock." So what was previously interpreted only as the trail of the Reunion hotspot, are continental fragments which were previously not recognized as such because they were covered by the volcanic rocks of the Reunion plume. It therefore appears that such micro-continents in the ocean occur more frequently than previously thought.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Trond H. Torsvik, Hans Amundsen, Ebbe H. Hartz, Fernando Corfu, Nick Kusznir, Carmen Gaina, Pavel V. Doubrovine, Bernhard Steinberger, Lewis D. Ashwal, Bj?rn Jamtveit. A Precambrian microcontinent in the Indian Ocean. Nature Geoscience, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/NGEO1736

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/OaIWm9jLxY4/130224142725.htm

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Samsung?s Galaxy Note 8.0 Will Make Its International Debut In Q2, We Go Hands-On

That Samsung was tinkering with a slightly smaller Galaxy Note tablet shouldn?t come as a surprise, but consider this the final word if you still weren't a believer. Samsung has just officially revealed that the Galaxy Note 8.0 is indeed a real product, and that it?s planning on rolling the tab out across the globe starting in Q2 2013. Though the company didn?t have anything firm to share when it came to release dates or pricing, it did have plenty to talk about in terms of hardware. The Note 8.0 tablet runs a TouchWiz?d version of Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, and sports a quad-core 1.6GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, and (you guessed it!) an 8-inch TFT LCD display running at 1280 x 800. Perhaps it's not the most surprising spec sheet we?ll see here at MWC, but it?s certainly plenty of horsepower for a tablet this size and it shows (more on that later).

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

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HP's stock soars to biggest 1-day gain since 2008

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Hewlett-Packard Co.'s stock surged to its biggest one-day gain since 2008 after the company's latest quarterly earnings report indicated the ailing personal computer and printer maker isn't quite as sick as many investors feared.

THE SPARK: Chalk up Friday's 12 percent gain to a quintessential relief rally. After the stock market closed Thursday, HP released quarterly earnings and revenue that topped the projections of the company's management and analysts.

Although the results showed that HP's PC business and other key operations are still slumping, the numbers were a soothing contrast to the company's ghastly performance during much of last year. In the previous two quarters alone, HP had registered losses totaling $15.3 billion, reflecting the costs of two major acquisitions that had gone awry. In the January quarter, it posted a $1.2 billion profit.

THE BIG PICTURE: Now that HP did better than expected in its fiscal first quarter, which ended in January, it's raised hopes that HP CEO Meg Whitman might be able to engineer a turnaround ahead of schedule. Whitman has consistently described her plan as a "multi-year journey."

HP, which is based in Palo, Alto, Calif., fed the optimism by predicting that its earnings for the current quarter will be slightly better than analysts' projections. Even so, Whitman cautioned in a Thursday conference call with analysts that HP still faces plenty of challenges. Among other things, the downturn in PC sales could still get even worse, according to HP. In the most recent quarter, revenue in HP's PC division fell 8 percent from the previous year.

Like most other PC makers, HP is scrambling to adapt to a technological shift that is driving more spending on smartphones and tablet computers instead of desktop and laptop machines.

Plenty of investors still have their doubts about HP's ability to evolve while it also tries to expand into more profitable technology niches such as business software, data-analysis tools and consulting services. Even after Friday's big boost, the shares are about 15 percent below where they stood when Whitman became CEO in September 2011. Over the past three years, shares have lost about 60 percent of their value.

ANALYST'S TAKE: Many analysts seem to think the market may have overreacted to HP's latest earnings report. One, Sterene Agee's Shaw Wu, said in a Friday research note that he didn't expect big future stock-market gains.

SHARE ACTION: HP's stock climbed $2.10, or 12 percent, to close at $19.20. That marked the company's biggest one-day gain since a 14.5 percent increase in November 2008 and left the shares at its highest closing price in six months.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2013-02-22-US-Hewlett-Packard-Stock/id-3933dc4c7dc44e65bff3baf1a51cdd61

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Winter storm rakes Midwest with snow, freezing rain

Record snowfall in Wichita, Kansas, creates havoc at the airport where crews had to dig out a plane stuck on the tarmac. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.

By Erin McClam, Staff Writer, NBC News

A winter storm raked the Great Lakes states Friday, contributing to dozens of car crashes, and headed for the Northeast, which braced for its third straight weekend of significant snow.

The Weather Channel said parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan would end up with as much as 6 inches of snow.

In Minnesota alone, the State Patrol said there were 124 crashes during the morning commute, killing one driver and injuring 23, NBC affiliate KARE in Minneapolis reported.

Ice complicated travel in Ohio. In Cleveland, a United Airlines 737 skidded off the runway into grass and snow after landing from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. There were no reported injuries, and the passengers were taken by bus to the terminal.

The runway was in good condition at the time of the landing, said Jacqueline Mayo, a spokeswoman for the Cleveland airport. Freezing rain had just moved out of the area.

The winter storm is expected to move into the Northeast and deliver a third straight weekend of significant snow. Interior sections of New England could get as much as a foot.

Crews in Massachusetts, which has already exhausted its $45 million storm budget, readied piles of salt and sand and thousands of pieces of equipment, NBC affiliate WHDH in Boston reported.

Full coverage from weather.com

On Thursday, as the storm hammered the Plains, a United regional jet from Denver got stuck in the snow after landing at the airport in Wichita, Kan. Workers tried to clear a path so that buses could collect the passengers, but the tarmac was too slick, and the plane was stuck for about two hours.

Passengers said that flight attendants passed out cookies and that passengers and crew stayed upbeat.

?By far the most entertaining delay I?ve ever had in my life,? passenger Joshua Locke said. ?This has just been laughable to me.?

Wichita reported 14.2 inches of snow, the second-largest total on record there. More remote parts of Kansas got 18 inches. Omaha, Neb., reported 8 inches and Sioux City, Iowa, 10 inches.

On Friday, O?Hare airport in Chicago reported delays of an hour and a half, and Cincinnati reported more than 45 minutes. The airport in Kansas City, shut down earlier this week in heavy snow, reopened, but most morning flights were delayed.

In Cincinnati, a semi lost control on an icy overpass, leaving one wheel dangling over the edge. No one was hurt, but part of Interstate 71 was closed for a time, and the truck was leaking fuel, NBC affiliate WLWT in Cincinnati reported.

Earlier this week, the storm forced road closures in California and delays in a pro golf tournament in Arizona, where it dusted cactus-tops with snow.

PhotoBlog: Winter whiteout slams central US

The storm was blamed for at least two other deaths Wednesday. A 19-year-old Nebraska woman was killed in a two-car collision, and an 18-year-old man in Oklahoma died when his truck slid into a tractor-trailer on a slushy highway.

And the next storm was already on the way: Forecasters said it would sweep through the Rockies over the weekend, delivering up to a foot of snow to Colorado and up to 6 inches in Wyoming and Utah.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Much of the Midwest is covered in a blanket of white as a massive winter storm has covered parts of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas with over a foot of snow. NBC's John Yang reports.

This story was originally published on Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:32 AM EST

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/22/17056288-winter-storm-rakes-the-midwest-new-england-headed-for-3rd-straight-weekend-of-snow?lite

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Celebrity Body Insurance: Stars Who Insured Their Body Parts (PHOTOS)

Heidi Klum's legs, or America Ferrera's smile? Bruce Springsteen's pipes, or Michael Flatley's legs? While talent runs rampant in Hollywood, only a few qualify as having some of the most expensive body parts in town, thanks to the insurance they've taken out to protect their most valuable assets.

Check out the celebrities in our slideshow below who have taken no risks when it comes to their money makers.

• Heidi Klum

  The "Project Runway" host had her legs insured for $2 million in 2004, but who knew that they were unevenly valued? "Basically, I was in London, and I had to go to this place where they check out your legs. They would look at them and I had one scar here from when I fell on a glass, so this [left leg] isn't as pricey as this [right] one," <a href="http://www.showbizspy.com/article/237860/heidi-klums-legs-insured-for-2-million.html">she said</a>.

• Tina Turner

  The "Simply the Best" singer reportedly got her famously shapely legs insured for a cool $3.2 million by Lloyd's of London.

• Bruce Springsteen

  The Boss isn't taking any chances here: He's insured his vocal cords for a whopping $6 million.

• Dolly Parton

  "I look at my boobs like they're show horses or show dogs. You've got to keep them groomed," Dolly Parton has said about her size 40DD breasts, which she insures for $300,000 each.

• Michael Flatley

  Get ready to gasp: The "Lord of the Dance" creator and dancer had his famous legs covered for the princely sum of $40 million (or ?25 million).

• Rihanna

  The "Diamonds" singer was given a $1 million coverage for her legs by razor company Gillette.

• America Ferrara

  She may have worn braces on "Ugly Betty," but America Ferrara had the last laugh when Aquafresh insured the actress' smile for a whopping $10 million at Lloyd's of London.

• Keith Richards

  How's this for an in-your-face statement: The Rolling Stone reportedly has his middle finger on his left hand insured for $1.6 million.

• Holly Madison

  "I've heard about people getting body parts insured and I thought, why not? Because if anything happened to my boobs, I'd be out for a few months and I'd probably be out a million dollars," the former Playboy star said on getting a <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20532523,00.html">$1 million insurance policy on her breasts</a>. "I thought I'd cover my assets."

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/21/celebrity-body-insurance-parts_n_2721783.html

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2013 NFL Draft: Top 5 QBs to Watch For

With the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine just days away, people have been anticipating their respective teams to watch for positions of need, and albeit this isn?t a very strong class, there will be plenty of teams watching the QBs work out at Lucas Oil Stadium. Now, within that sentence is the fact that this QB draft class is not a very deep one, easily the weakest in recent years. That doesn?t mean there won?t be top 5 talent in this position, but as you?re about to see, it?s virtually one player, than everybody else. So, to kick off our countdown, the 1st QB to watch for, is:

Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia ? He?s been a force in the collegiate ranks these past 2 seasons, earning himself a few mentions of Heisman Trophy candidate from time to time. What we have in this player, is a larger, more accurate version of Michael Vick, who once upon a time was the top overall draft pick for the Atlanta Falcons. Smith has a fairly strong arm that can squeeze the ball into tight spaces, which is key in the NFL. What he also has, is speed, a lot of speed and mobility. The NFL is experiencing an evolution?at the QB position, where teams are coveting athletic QBs that can turn a busted play into a highlight play, with recent as well as somewhat?comparable examples being Cam Newton (Panthers) and RG3 (Redskins). What I do find concerning, though, is when he played the tougher teams on his rather easy schedule, such as Texas Tech and Kansas State, he simply wasn?t as special as he normally would be against other teams. But, he certainly played like a legend at other times, most notably his historic performance against Baylor, where he went 45-of-51 for 656 yards and 8 TDs, with 0 ints. Overall, he?s perhaps the most gifted QB in this draft class, and he?s receiving very high grades from around the league. This, is your top overall pick candidate from the QB class of 2013.

Matt Barkley, QB, USC ? Prior to this season, this Trojan alumni was widely considered to be the best QB in this year?s draft class. After this season, he?s second if not third best depending on who you ask or believe. He simply did not have a good season, and is a classic example of what could happen to your draft stock if you receive a top overall grade during your junior year, and decide to stay for your senior season (which I respect). He was under consistent pressure as the OL was resemblant to a car wreck. They really missed their former?LT Matt Kahlil, who?s now developing quite nicely with the Minnesota Vikings. Now, with all the negatives brought first, comes the positives. First off, he?s not a QB who?s exceptionally gifted with athleticism unlike a lot of his counterparts, instead, he knows how to play the position from the pocket in an NFL style of offense, which is huge for an inbound rookie. He?s also shown good throwing mechanics, and has shown patience as well as good timing in his throws. His greatest strength, is his overall decision making. Yes, he did again have a very rough senior season, where one will be quick to point out his decision making as a flaw, but I instead look at his overall body of work, where he simply played like a QB who?s ready for the NFL. He may not be top 5 or even top 10 this year, yet make no mistake, he?s got the potential.

Mike Glennon, QB, N.C. State ? His stock is on the rise, as he comes in with a reportedly big size (6?6? 220 lbs) and has an absolute rocket for an arm. His pocket presence is also one that?s admirable, where he is able to move the pocket and avoid potential sacks, which was demonstrated before a large audience in his upset win over the FSU Seminoles. Of course, with the positives, comes the negatives, and his footwork will be heavily critiqued and criticized by a ton of draftniks everywhere. His inconsistency is a serious red flag, as when he would play like a top 5 overall pick at times, he would play like a scrub at others. He can not afford to rely on the large windows in college to pick defenses apart. When you have bad footwork, topped with inconsistency, then you have accuracy problems. It?s not like he?s never been on the money, he just needs to get more consistent with his decisions as well as throws. He?s a work in progress, but in the right environment, he could shine.

Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse ? This player has already received some pretty high marks by a few NFL teams needing QBs, most notably this nugget I found while researching into QB prospects. He played with poise, intelligence, and accuracy while playing for the Orange. He also did most of this on his own, where he did not have a really dependable supporting cast to aid him during key moments of the game. What I like best about him, is that he?s the least rattled QB under pressure in this group of QBs. He?ll take a nasty shot, only to get up, and play as cool as a cucumber the very next series of plays. If there could be anything that has managed to lower his draft grade, it?s supposedly his throwing motion. Something I discovered while looking around, was there is a perception of him having a strange ?hitch? in his overall motion. I hardly noticed it when I watched a few of his games, but then again I?m not an NFL scout. Also, he didn?t have a particularly strong performance during the Senior Bowl, which always hurts a player?s stock prior to the draft. He of course could skyrocket up the boards if he has an incredibly strong combine, but as of right now, he?s my 4th player on this list. But, he?s definitely earned the right to be considered a sleeper as well.

Tyler?Wilson, QB, Arkansas ? Good Lord, the past season for the Razorbacks could not have gone any worse in 2012, where everything seemed to go so wrong after such a promising performance the season prior to this disappointing year. To top it off,?Tyler Wilson was playing injured this past season, where he missed the game against the eventual champion Alabama Crimson Tide. Yet, there was some light this past season, and most of it shined when?Tyler Wilson stepped onto the field. He turned in a few good games after his injury, and before last season, he showed an enormous amount of potential as a QB destined for the NFL. I?m not ready to compare him to Ryan Mallett, but he?s definitely someone I?d expect a QB needy team to eyeball after the 1st round, if they haven?t already chosen a QB prior to the second or third round. His arm strength is not something to brag about, though, although that?s expected to be a result of a collarbone injury. Speaking of which, that is a significant reason why he may not see himself chosen in the 1st round, as collarbone injuries are not easy to come back from while playing as a QB. His smallish hands were brought up from time to time, which is supposedly a reason why Sam Bradford fumbles the ball a lot, but I?m not really convinced that ?small hands? warrants a real hit on his resume. What does warrant a hit, though, is he was a real brash?risk taker, that would make poor choices at the absolute worst time. Again, considering the circumstances he was playing under, it?s not a real surprise as to why he took so many risks, he simply went out and played ball. If you want to see a first round calibre player picked up in the mid rounds of the draft, and see him able to compete from day one, then here he is.

I am certain there will be other players that?fans wanted to see included in this top 5, including but not limited to E.J. Manuel, Tyler Bray, Landry Jones, and even Collin Klein among others, and as always, feel free to comment on who you think deserves to be in this list. Bottom line, in this weak draft class, I believe these are the best 5 players available in the most important position to play in the NFL.

Topics: Geno Smith, Matt Barkley, Mike Glennon, NFL Draft, Ryan Nassib, Tyler Wilson

Source: http://nflspinzone.com/2013/02/21/2013-nfl-draft-top-5-qbs-to-watch-for/

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Water tested after body found in LA hotel tank

A man, left, leaves the Cecil Hotel with belongings as Michael and Sabina Baugh, both 27, of Plymouth, England, wait for transportation as they leave the hotel in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013. Early Tuesday, police discovered the body of a Canadian woman at the bottom of the historic hotel's water tank, weeks after she was reported missing. The Baughs, on a 14-day tour package, had been there eight days and had showered in and drank the water. The couple's tour operator was less than cooperative in finding them other accommodations. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

A man, left, leaves the Cecil Hotel with belongings as Michael and Sabina Baugh, both 27, of Plymouth, England, wait for transportation as they leave the hotel in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013. Early Tuesday, police discovered the body of a Canadian woman at the bottom of the historic hotel's water tank, weeks after she was reported missing. The Baughs, on a 14-day tour package, had been there eight days and had showered in and drank the water. The couple's tour operator was less than cooperative in finding them other accommodations. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

FILE - This file photo released by the Los Angeles Police Department shows Elisa Lam of Vancouver, B.C. Los Angeles police say a body has been found on the roof of the Cecil Hotel where Lam, a Canadian tourist, was last seen last month. (AP Photo/Los Angeles Police Department, File)

Water tanks seen on the roof of the hotel Cecil on Wednesday Feb. 20,2013 where police say the body of a woman found wedged in one of the water tanks on the roof was that of a missing Canadian guest. Investigators used body markings to identify 21-year-old Elisa Lam, police spokeswoman Officer Diana Figueroa said late Tuesday. A maintenance worker at the Cecil Hotel found the body earlier in the day after guests complained of low water pressure. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

A visitor arrives at the hotel Cecil on Wednesday Feb. 20,2013 where police say the body of a woman was found wedged in one of the water tanks on the roof was that of a missing Canadian guest. Investigators used body markings to identify 21-year-old Elisa Lam, police spokeswoman Officer Diana Figueroa said late Tuesday. A maintenance worker at the Cecil Hotel found the body earlier in the day after guests complained of low water pressure. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Hotel Cecil in Los Angeles is seen in a Wednesday Feb. 20,2013 photo. Police say the body of a woman found Tuesday wedged in a water tank on the roof of the Hotel Cecill is that of a missing Canadian guest. Investigators used body markings to identify 21-year-old Elisa Lam, police spokeswoman Officer Diana Figueroa said late Tuesday. A maintenance worker at the Cecil Hotel found the body earlier in the day after guests complained of low water pressure. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? British tourist Michael Baugh and his wife said water had only trickled for days as they brushed their teeth, showered and drank from the taps at the Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, but they could not have imagined the disturbing reason.

The body of a Canadian woman was later discovered at the bottom of one of four cisterns on the roof of the historic hotel near Skid Row. The tanks provide water for hotel taps and would have been used by guests for washing and drinking.

"The moment we found out, we felt a bit sick to the stomach, quite literally," Baugh said.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials were expected to release the results of tests on the water on Thursday.

When the body was discovered on Tuesday, they issued a do-not-drink order while a lab analyzes the water, said Terrance Powell, a director coordinating the department's response. The disclosure contradicts a previous police statement that the water had been deemed safe.

Powell said the water was also used for cooking in the hotel; a coffee shop in the hotel would remain closed and has been instructed to sanitize its food equipment before reopening.

"Our biggest concern is going to be fecal contamination because of the body in the water," Powell said. He said the likelihood of contamination is "minimal" given the large amount of water the body was found in, but the department is being extra cautious.

Powell said the hotel hired a water treatment specialist after the department required it to do so to disinfect its plumbing lines.

A call to the hotel was not returned.

The remains of Elisa Lam, 21, were found by a maintenance worker at the 600-room hotel that charges $65 a night after guests complained about the low water pressure.

Police detectives were working to determine if her death was the result of foul play or an accident.

LAPD Sgt. Rudy Lopez called it suspicious and said a coroner's investigation will determine Lam's cause of death.

Before she died, hotel surveillance footage showed Lam inside an elevator pushing buttons and sticking her head out the doors, looking in both directions. She was later found in the water tank.

Lam, of Vancouver, British Columbia, traveled alone to Los Angeles on Jan. 26 and was last seen five days later by workers at the hotel.

Lopez said the hotel has four cisterns on its roof that are each about 10 feet tall, 4.5 feet wide and hold at least 1,000 gallons of water pumped up from city pipes.

Lam's body was found Tuesday morning at the bottom of one cistern that was about three-quarters full of water, Lopez said.

The opening at the top of the cistern is too small to accommodate firefighters and equipment, so they had to cut a hole in the storage tank to recover Lam's body.

The cisterns are on a platform at least 10 feet above the roof.

To get to the tanks, someone would have to go to the top floor then take a staircase with a locked door and emergency alarm preventing roof access.

Another ladder would have to be taken to the platform and a person would have to climb the side of the tank.

Lopez said there are no security cameras on the roof.

Lam intended to travel to Santa Cruz, about 350 miles north of Los Angeles. Officials said she tended to use public transportation and had been in touch with her family daily until she disappeared.

The Cecil Hotel was built in the 1920s and refurbished several years ago. The hotel is on Main Street in a part of downtown where efforts at gentrification often conflicts with homelessness and crime. It had once been the occasional home of infamous serial killers such as Richard Ramirez, known as the Night Stalker, and Austrian prison author Jack Unterweger, who was convicted of murdering nine prostitutes in Europe and the U.S., the Los Angeles Times reported.

By noon Wednesday, the Cecil Hotel had relocated 27 rooms used by guests to another hotel, but 11 rooms remained filled, Powell said. Those who chose to remain in the hotel were required to sign a waiver in which they acknowledged being informed of the health risks and were being provided bottled water, Powell said.

Baugh and his wife, who were on their first trip to the U.S., had planned to go to SeaWorld on Wednesday. Instead, they were trying to find a new hotel. Their tour agency placed them in another downtown hotel with a less than sterling reputation, from what they heard.

"We're just going from one dodgy place to another," Baugh said, resigned, "but at least there's water."

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Tami Abdollah can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/latams. Shaya Tayefe Mohajer contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-21-Hotel%20Roof%20Body/id-ff88bfe2aca6423484136c586f89575f

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