Immortal Apocalypse

Hello, everyone. Thanks in advance for checking out my role play/appeal.

I started this role play and at first (like most role plays, I think) it generated a lot if interest and people. I do have a plot/ story line that I'm following for it. But two of the more plot-based characters have quit posting, which is making it difficult to move on with the story. What I really need is two role players who can be dedicated and get into this plot and do their best to not fall off of the face of the earth. If being in a position of "power" isn't really your thing, that's okay, I need "citizen" types as well- and don't be fooled by my terminology, the story line will integrate *everyone*, whether you're in a position of power or not.

Here is the link where you can read about the setting and plot: roleplay/immortal-apocalypse-part-i-lindville/

Should you choose to join, PM me or post a comment (bumps are much much appreciated as well) and I will chat with you, give you a basic summary of what's happened so far if you don't want to read all of the current posts, and any other information you'll need to know/ answer any questions you have.

The more the merrier! Thank you!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/NvYSF3JdUSM/viewtopic.php

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ARM boosts profits by 45 percent, strengthens grip on the universe

The British chip designer continued last year's growth streak with a 45 percent surge in quarterly normalized pre-tax profits compared to Q4 2010. Revenues also rose by 21 percent to £137.8 million ($217 million) -- not bad for a company that started out with twelve engineers in a barn. There's nothing complicated about CEO Warren East's explanation of the results -- he simply says that his company sold more designs to "more new customers" and also raked in more royalties from existing deals. Unless the global economies suffers badly in 2012, ARM says it expects to meet market expectations, targeting an annual profit of $860 million this year.

ARM boosts profits by 45 percent, strengthens grip on the universe originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/arm-boosts-profits-by-45-percent-strengthens-grip-on-the-univer/

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Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, anyone?

Well, I have the dream of having a GIANT Hogwarts role-play. I underlined it because the Boy-Who-Lived, didn't. When Voldemort cast the killing curse enough to perform the killing curse on Harry, his Mother's love still repelled the spell so that Voldemort's body was destroyed, but as Harry was not allowed Toffee that day, he was temperamental that day. Harry didn't live long past a week.
Well, that's my theory anyways. For one reason or another, Harry didn't survive the attack from Voldemort, so now it?s up to us to stop He-Who-Must-Not-B-Named.

I need to fill the positions of the teachers and headmaster first, and as this is an alternate timeline, you may make up your own teacher. The focus will be a group of first years as we grow up, so the first year subjects are the ones needed to be filled. If you want to play all the NPC (only characters exempt from 100 rule) contact me. You can have two characters, but you have to prove that you can wright decently for both characters.
(If you want to be headmaster or main villain pm me)
The word minimum is 100 per character.

Interested, hmmmmm?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/EsW8HVY01O8/viewtopic.php

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Djokovic wins Australian Open in longest final (AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia ? Novak Djokovic ripped off his shirt and let out a primal scream, flexing his torso the way a prize fighter would after a desperate, last-round knockout.

This was the final act in Djokovic's 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 victory over Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final ? a sweat-drenched, sneaker-squeaking 5 hour, 53-minute endurance contest that ended at 1:37 a.m. Monday morning in Melbourne.

Djokovic overcame a break in the fifth set to win his fifth Grand Slam tournament and third in a row. None, though, quite like this. This one involved tears, sweat and, yes, even a little blood. It was the longest Grand Slam singles final in the history of pro tennis and it came against Nadal, the player who built a career on his tenacity ? on outlasting opponents in matches like these.

"It was obvious on the court for everybody who has watched the match that both of us, physically, we took the last drop of energy that we had from our bodies," Djokovic said. "We made history tonight and unfortunately there couldn't be two winners."

When the drama was finally over at Rod Laver Arena, the 24-year-old Djokovic joined Laver, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Nadal as the only men who have won three consecutive majors since the Open Era began in 1968. Nadal was his vanquished opponent in all three.

Djokovic will go for the "Nole Slam" at Roland Garros in May.

As the players waited for the trophy presentation, Nadal leaned on the net, while Djokovic sat on his haunches. Eventually, a nearby official took pity and they were given chairs and bottles of water.

Nadal held his composure during the formalities, and even opened his speech with a lighthearted one-liner.

"Good morning, everybody," he said.

A few minutes earlier, after hugging Nadal at the net, Djokovic tore off his sweat-soaked black shirt and headed toward his players' box, pumping his arms repeatedly as he roared. He walked over to his girlfriend, his coach and the rest of his support team and banged on the advertising signs at the side of the court.

"I think it was just the matter of maybe luck in some moments and matter of wanting this more than maybe other player in the certain point," Djokovic said. "It's just incredible effort. You're in pain, you're suffer(ing). You're trying to activate your legs. You're going through so much suffering your toes are bleeding. Everything is just outrageous, but you're still enjoying that pain."

The match was full of long rallies and amazing gets. Djokovic finished with 57 winners, along with 69 unforced errors. Nadal had 44 winners against 71 unforced errors.

Laver was part of the 15,000-strong crowd when the players walked on at 7:30 p.m. Sunday to flip the coin and start the warmup. He was still there, along with most of the crowd, after 2 a.m. for the trophy presentations.

Djokovic called it the most special of his five Grand Slam wins.

"This one I think comes out on the top because just the fact that we played almost six hours is incredible, incredible," he said. "I think it's probably the longest finals in the history of all Grand Slams, and just to hear that fact is making me cry, really.

"I'm very proud just to be part of this history."

It went so long because Nadal refused to yield. He was trying to avoid becoming the first man to lose three consecutive Grand Slam finals ? and seeing his losing streak in finals stretch to seven against Djokovic, who beat him for the Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles and took his No. 1 ranking last year.

After a grueling four-set loss to Djokovic at Flushing Meadows last year, Nadal said that, indeed, he may have found a slight opening ? a glimmer of hope for next time against the player who dominated the 2011 season and had dismantled him time and again over the year.

This one was, in fact, closer, though not necessarily because of any strategic changes, but rather, because Rafa summoned up the heart to take this one the distance.

Nadal stayed in the contest for almost every point, sprinting from one side of the court to the other, chasing down balls and making Djokovic work extra time for the victory. But in the end, the same man was holding the trophy.

Nadal thought his win in the 2008 final against Federer was the best match he's played, but gave Sunday's match a top place in his personal rankings nonetheless.

"This one was very special," he said. "But I really understand that was a really special match, and probably a match that's going to be in my mind not because I lost, no, because the way that we played."

Djokovic had his off moments during this two-week tournament Down Under. He appeared to struggle for breath in his quarterfinal win over No. 5 David Ferrer and again during his five-set semifinal win over No. 4 Andy Murray. He blamed it on allergies, and he managed to control it better against Nadal.

Yet, at times in the final, he looked as if he couldn't go on.

When Nadal fended off three break points at 4-4 in the fourth set to win the game, spectators jumped to their feet and chanted "Rafa, Rafa, Rafa, Rafa!" Djokovic had lost the momentum. Play was stopped moments later when rain started to fall and a suddenly animated Nadal threw his arms up in disbelief and walked slowly back to his chair. The stadium roof was then closed.

Djokovic picked up his game after a 10-minute break and his pockets of supporters waved their Serbian flags again and started their own competing chant of "Nole, Nole, Nole" ? inserting Djokovic's nickname where "Ole" belongs in the tune and rhythm of the Spanish soccer chant.

It wasn't enough to get him through the tiebreaker in the fourth set, though, when Nadal won the last four points to finish it in 88 minutes. Nadal dropped to his knees on the baseline and pumped his arms at that point, celebrating as if he'd won the final. All he'd done was prolong it. This pair had never gone to five sets.

Just as he did during the first set, Djokovic took off a white shirt and replaced it with a black one.

It didn't seem to help immediately as he went down a break and a defeat loomed.

The match clock hit 5 hours with the score 2-2 in the fifth. Nadal won the next point and Djokovic started to stumble slightly, unsteady on his feet.

Nadal held that game without losing a point and then broke Djokovic for a 4-2 lead.

The turning point came in the next game, when Nadal had an open court but knocked a backhand volley wide down the line. He challenged the call, but the ball was clearly out. Instead of being up 40-15 and one point from a 5-2 lead, the game score became 30-30.

Djokovic found energy again and got a break point with a backhand that forced an error from Nadal. He pounced on a Nadal second serve to convert the break as the match clock ticked to 5:15, confirming it as the longest match in the history of the Australian Open. Nadal had that record, at 5:14, in his five-set semifinal win over fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in 2009.

This match had already long surpassed Mats Wilander's win over Ivan Lendl at the 1988 U.S. Open, in 4:54, as the longest final in the terms of duration.

Djokovic started to look better physically and Nadal started to make some unforced errors, giving the Serbian some extra seconds between points to get his heavy breathing under control. After getting back on serve at 4-4, Djokovic kissed the crucifix around his neck twice.

With Nadal serving, the pair engaged in a 31-shot rally that Nadal finally won when Djokovic committed a backhand error. The Serb fell flat on his back on the court, fully stretched out, arms over his head, while Nadal doubled over on his side of the court, hands perched on his knees.

It appeared Djokovic was ready to throw in the towel, but he said he never thought about staying down.

"At that point I was just thinking of getting some air and trying to recover for next point," he said. "Thousand thoughts going through the mind. Trying to separate the right from wrong. Trying to prioritize the next point. I'm playing against one of the best players ever ? the player that is so mentally strong. He was going for everything or nothing."

When Djokovic got the break to go up 5-4, the Serbian fans jumped up with their flags and screamed while the rest of the crowd sat in stony silence.

After kissing the crucifix around his neck repeatedly in the later games, Djokovic openly prayed out loud and looked upward as he got within points of sealing his victory.

"I was trying find every possible help and energy that I possibly can," he said. "It paid off I guess."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120129/ap_on_sp_te_ga_su/ten_australian_open

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College presidents wary of Obama cost-control plan (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Illinois State University President Al Bowman says President Barack Obama's proposal to tie federal support to tuition controls is a product of "fuzzy math." His counterpart at the University of Washington calls it little more than "political theater."

Obama's plan to force colleges and universities to contain tuition or face losing federal dollars, spelled out Friday during a speech at the University of Michigan, concerned education leaders worried about the threat of government overreach. From presidents of public universities frustrated with ever-increasing state budget cuts affecting their schools' bottom line, it brought some particularly sharp words.

The reality, says Bowman, is that deficits in many public schools can't be easily overcome with simple modifications. He says he was happy to hear Obama call for state-level support of public universities, but given the decreases in state aid, tying federal support to tuition prices is a product of fuzzy math.

Illinois has decreased public support for higher education by about a third over the past decade when adjusted for inflation. Illinois State University, with 21,000 students, has raised tuition almost 47 percent since 2007 ? from $6,150 a year for an in-state undergraduate student to $9,030.

"Most people, including the president, assume if universities were simply more efficient they would be able to operate with much smaller state subsidies, and I believe there are certainly efficiency gains that can be realized," Bowman said. "But they pale in comparison to the loss in state support."

Bowman said the undergraduate experience can be made cheaper, but there are trade-offs.

"You could hire mostly part-time, adjunct faculty. You could teach in much larger lecture halls, but the things that would allow you achieve the greatest levels of efficiency would dilute the product and would make it something I wouldn't be willing to be part of," he said.

University of Washington President Mike Young said Obama showed he did not understand how the budgets of public universities work.

Young said the total cost to educate college students in Washington state, which is paid for by both tuition and state government dollars, has actually gone down because of efficiencies on campus. While universities are tightening costs, the state is cutting their subsidies and authorizing tuition increases to make up for the loss.

"They really should know better," Young said. "This really is political theater of the worst sort."

Obama's plan must be approved by Congress, where it could face a tough road to passage among gridlocked lawmakers.

Earlier in the week, during his State of the Union address, Obama described meeting with university presidents who told of ways some universities were curtailing costs through technology and redesigning courses to help students finish more quickly. He said more schools need to take such steps.

On Friday, Obama said higher education has become an imperative for success in America, but the cost has grown unrealistic for too many families and the debt burden unbearable. He said states should also properly fund colleges and universities.

"We are putting colleges on notice," Obama told an arena packed with cheering students. "You can't assume that you'll just jack up tuition every single year. If you can't stop tuition from going up, then the funding you get from taxpayers each year will go down."

Obama is targeting only a small part of the financial aid picture ? the $3 billion known as campus-based aid that flows through college administrators to students. He is proposing to increase that amount to $10 billion and change how it is distributed to reward schools that hold down costs and ensure that more poor students complete their education.

The bulk of the more than $140 billion in federal grants and loans goes directly to students and would not be affected.

The average in-state tuition and fees at four-year public colleges this school year rose 8.3 percent and with room and board now exceed $17,000 a year, according to the College Board.

Rising tuition costs have been attributed to a variety of factors, among them a decline in state dollars and competition for the best facilities and professors. Critics say some higher education institutions are attempting to wait out the economic downturn and have been too reluctant to make large-scale changes that would cut costs such as offering three-year degree programs.

Washington's leverage to take on the rising cost of college is limited because American higher education is decentralized, with most student aid following the student.

The response to Obama's plan wasn't all negative. Many university presidents said they welcome a conversation about making college more affordable and efficient.

In Missouri, where Gov. Jay Nixon has proposed a 12.5 percent funding cut for higher education in the coming fiscal year, Obama's proposal could put even more pressure on public colleges and universities to limit tuition increases. By state law, schools must limit such increases to the annual inflation rate unless they receive permission for larger hikes. Nixon has warned schools that he doesn't want to see a tuition increase of more than 3 percent, the latest Consumer Price Index increase.

"The president's message isn't inconsistent with the agenda that we've been pursuing here in Missouri," said Paul Wagner, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Higher Education. "It's good to see him put the focus on the same things."

Obama also wants to create a "Race to the Top" competition in higher education similar to the one his administration used on lower grades. He wants to encourage states to make better use of higher education dollars in exchange for $1 billion in prize money.

Obama is also pushing for more tools to help students determine which colleges and universities have the best value.

___

Associated Press writers Ben Feller and Julie Pace in Washington, Jim Kuhnhenn and David Runk in Ann Arbor, Mich., David Mercer in Champaign, Ill., Alan Zagier in Columbia, Mo., Alex Dominguez in Baltimore, Dorie Turner in Atlanta, and Donna Gordon Blankinship in Seattle contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/education/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120128/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_college_costs

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Family, friends gather for Etta James' funeral (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? Hundreds of Etta James' friends, fans and family gathered Saturday at a Los Angeles-area church to remember the legendary rhythm and blues singer, who died this month.

Mourners at James' funeral included entertainment luminaries, with both Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera performing. Aguilera sang the song that James made famous, "At Last," while Wonder performed with the church's choir.

The Rev. Al Sharpton was to deliver the eulogy.

James died Jan. 20 at age 73 after battling leukemia and other ailments. She was most famous for her rendition of "At Last," and in her decades-long career, she became revered for her passionate, soulful singing voice. Her version of the song has become an enduring anthem for weddings and commercials.

Perhaps most famously, President Barack Obama and the first lady danced to a version of the song at his inauguration ball.

"Etta James was a pioneer. Her ever-changing sound has influenced rock and roll, rhythm and blues, pop, soul and jazz artists, marking her place as one of the most important female artists of our time," Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President and CEO Terry Stewart said after her death.

James won four Grammy Awards, including a lifetime achievement honor and was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

She scored her first hit when she was just a teenager with the suggestive "Roll With Me, Henry," which had to be changed to "The Wallflower" in order to get airplay. Her 1967 album, "Tell Mama," became one of the most highly regarded soul albums of all time, a mix of rock and gospel music.

Over her lifetime, James battled adversity, including a turbulent upbringing and drug addiction.

She rebounded from a heroin addiction to see her career surge after performing the national anthem at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. She won her first Grammy Award a decade later, and two more in 2003 and 2004.

She is also an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

James is survived by her husband and two sons.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/celebrity/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120128/ap_en_ce/us_etta_james_funeral

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Scorsese, Hazanavicius lead Directors Guild rolls (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? Directors Guild of America Awards regular Martin Scorsese and first-timer Michel Hazanavicius are the favorites as Hollywood's top filmmaker group prepares to hand out prizes.

Past winner Scorsese is nominated again for the guild's feature-film honor for his Paris adventure "Hugo," while Hazanavicius scored his first nomination for his silent-movie "The Artist."

Also in the running are Woody Allen for his romantic fantasy "Midnight in Paris"; David Fincher for his thriller "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"; and Alexander Payne for his family drama "The Descendants."

The Directors Guild Awards are one of Hollywood's most accurate forecasts for who will win at the industry's top honors, the Academy Awards, which will be handed out Feb. 26. Only six times in the 63-year history of the guild awards has the winner failed to take home the Oscar for best director, and more often than not, the film winning the best director Oscar is voted best picture.

Fincher had been the favorite going into the Directors Guild ceremony last year for "The Social Network," but Tom Hooper came away the winner for "The King's Speech." Hooper went on to win the Oscar, too, and his film also earned best picture.

This time, Fincher's the odd man out at the Directors Guild show. The other four guild nominees made the best-director cut at Tuesday's Oscar nominations, but Fincher missed out. The fifth Oscar slot went to Terrence Malick for the family chronicle "The Tree of Life."

French filmmaker Hazanavicius, whose credits include the spy spoofs "OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies" and "OSS 117: Lost in Rio," had been a virtual unknown in Hollywood until "The Artist," his black-and-white throwback to early cinema that has been a favorite at earlier film honors.

"The Artist" won the Golden Globe for best musical or comedy and is considered a best-picture front-runner for the Oscars.

But Scorsese won the Globes' singular directing prize over Hazanavicius.

Unlike Hazanavicius, the other nominees all have competed for Directors Guild honors before. Scorsese earned his ninth and 10th guild nominations this season; besides feature-film, he's nominated for documentary directing for "George Harrison: Living in the Material World."

Scorsese is a past feature-film winner for 2006's "The Departed," as well as a TV drama winner a year ago for an episode of "Boardwalk Empire." The family film "Hugo" was a departure for Scorsese, known for dark crime tales, and the movie also was his first shot in 3-D.

Allen has been nominated five times and won for 1977's "Annie Hall." He had not been nominated since his 1989 "Crimes and Misdemeanors" but has been on a critical and commercial resurgence for "Midnight in Paris," his biggest hit in decades.

This was the third nomination for Fincher. Payne was nominated one time previously, for 2004's "Sideways."

Kelsey Grammer is the host for the guild ceremony, which is not televised. Awards presenters include Oscar nominees George Clooney ("The Descendants"), Michelle Williams ("My Week with Marilyn"), Gary Oldman ("Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"), Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo ("The Artist"), and Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain ("The Help").

___

Online:

http://www.dga.org

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120128/ap_en_ot/us_directors_awards

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Judge bars Archie Comics CEO from office

By Marisa Taylor

In a strange twist for a purveyor of clean-cut comic books, a co-CEO of Archie Comics has been temporarily barred from the company?s Mamaroneck, N.Y.-based offices for violating an order to reduce her role at the company.

Yes, one of the owners of the red-headed Archie Andrews character.

A federal judge on Tuesday placed a temporary restraining order against Archie Comics co-CEO Nancy Silberkleit to keep her from entering the company?s offices or playing any role at the company, reported The New York Post, after Archie Comics filed a suit in Manhattan Supreme Court accusing Silberkleit of violating a previous court order to limit her role there.

Archie Comics had filed a previous suit against Silberkleit alleging that she harassed and intimidated employees, according to court documents.

Silberkleit circulated a press release last week in which she referred to herself as ?the seasoned anti-bullying and literacy advocate,? and called for entries to a student essay contest about bullying that would accompany a non-profit comic book about the topic.

But on Tuesday, the restraining order was filed as part of a contempt hearing about whether Silberkleit violated a previous order to limit her involvement in company business until the original case was closed, reported The New York Daily News.

According to court documents, employee complaints about Silberkleit's behavior at the office in 2011 led to the contracting of a human resource consulting firm to investigate the matter, and the firm found that ?there is a serious problem in the company? and recommended that Silberkleit ?should have no further contact with the company?s employees and vendors.?

The filing said: ?Several employees mentioned being scared of Nancy. They believe?that her behavior is erratic and they are fearful of what could happen. Other employees feel concerned that Nancy could threaten their well-being, jobs and even physically (sic)?.

Among employees? complaints were that Silberkleit referred to male staff members as ?penises,? accused two employees of having an affair, and alluded that a female staffer was liked by other employees solely based on the size of her breasts.

Neither Silberkleit?s nor the plaintiff's attorneys would respond to requests for comment, but an attorney representing co-CEO Jon Goldwater? recently told The Daily News that Silberkleit had also visited the Archie offices last December accompanied by a former player for the NFL?s Baltimore Colts team.

But at Tuesday's hearing, Silberkleit reportedly told the judge that she was the victim of a "smear campaign" by Goldwater and other Archie staffers, reported The Post.

Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/26/10244654-judge-bars-archie-comics-ceo-from-office

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NZ court bails two associates of Megaupload founder (Reuters)

WELLINGTON (Reuters) ? A New Zealand court granted bail on Thursday to two associates of the founder of online file-sharing website Megaupload, accused of being involved in a scheme that allegedly made more than $175 million from Internet piracy and illegal file sharing.

Dutchman Bram van der Kolk, 29, and Finn Batato, a 38-year-old German, who were arrested last Friday along with Megaupload's founder, Kim Dotcom, were freed on bail. A decision on another accused, Mathias Ortman, was put off until Friday pending further submissions on his bail application.

"I am satisfied that the risk of flight here is minimal and such risk as remains can be met by the imposition of strict bail conditions including electronic monitoring," Judge David McNaughton said in a written judgment.

A lawyer for the men had argued their role in the company was different from that of Dotcom, and they did not have secret sources of funds or multiple identities.

The United States wants to extradite all four on charges of Internet piracy, copyright infringement, racketeering and money laundering.

Dotcom, 38, was refused bail on Wednesday because the judge believed there was a significant risk he could try to flee New Zealand. He will reappear in court on February 22. His lawyer is preparing to appeal that decision, maintaining that Dotcom does not have the means to leave the country.

The defendants have said they are innocent of the piracy and other charges, asserting the company simply offered online storage.

An extradition application must be lodged within 45 days of an arrest, and the U.S. must show the alleged offences would be crimes in New Zealand punishable by at least 12 months in jail.

Legal experts have said the extradition process is likely to be long and complex.

(Reporting by Gyles Beckford; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/internet/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120126/wr_nm/us_internet_piracy_megaupload_bail

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Video: Grief may be characterized as a disorder

>>> we are back with a controversial question tonight. can you be diagnosed with grief? more than that, should you be given a pill for it? scientists are debating whether to classify the pain we feel after a loved one dies as a disorder, and something that could be treated with medication. this as anti-depressant use in the u.s. has jumped almost 400% in the last three-year period. our report from nbc's anne thompson .

>> reporter: death is an inevitable part of life, and so is the pain that follows, but is it a disorder? grief would be labeled a mental disorder under a proposed change in the diagnostic mark mancun ul for the american psychiatric association .

>> the reason to do that is so clinicians can consider the possibility of whether to treat a major depression in someone who's recently bereaved.

>> reporter: critics say it would stigmatize what is part of the normal human condition .

>> we are, in fact, making it so unhappiness seems to be something wrong with you rather than a signal that you should do better in your life or retool your life somehow.

>> reporter: andrea and keith have known that gut-wrenching pain for almost three years after losing their 22-year-old daughter stephanie to colon cancer .

>> i miss her contagiousless.

>> reporter: they say they reclaimed their lives.

>> your mind doesn't allow you to fully accept the impact.

>> reporter: many fear the new label would lead to a dramatic increase in the use of anti-depressants, already taken by 1-10 americans, an $11 billion a year business.

>> if you classify grief as a disorder, it becomes a target for treatment and for especially medication.

>> reporter: supporters say drug therapy should not be an obstacle or the only answer.

>> it's not an essential, but one of the tools in our tool box for depression. there are very good psychotherapies for depression.

>> reporter: a difficult subject for the pain we will all feel, and the doctors who want to help. anne thompson , nbc news, new york.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/46139462/

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Money talk dominating Romney, Gingrich contest (AP)

TAMPA, Fla. ? Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich's fight for Florida and the states beyond stayed at a high boil Tuesday as Romney released tax returns showing annual income topping $20 million ? including a now-closed Swiss bank account ? and Gingrich insisted his high-paid consulting work for a mortgage giant that contributed to the housing crisis didn't include lobbying.

After a night of mutual sniping in a debate, the two leading GOP presidential candidates tried to turn the arguments over their various business dealings to his own advantage. Romney's release of two years' worth of tax documents, showing him at an elite level even among the nation's richest 1 percent, kept the focus on the two men's money and how they earned it.

Romney's income put him in the top 0.006 percent of Americans, according to Internal Revenue Service data from 2009, the most recent year available. His net worth has been estimated as high as $250 million.

As the former Massachusetts governor relented to pressure and released more than 500 pages of tax documents, Gingrich kept up the heat, saying Romney was "outrageously dishonest" for accusing him of influence peddling for government-backed mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

"I don't own any Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stock. He does, so presumably he was getting richer," Gingrich told Fox News on Tuesday.

The specter of well-off Gingrich and wealthier Romney feuding over money matters pleased Rick Santorum, who lags in polls for next Tuesday's Florida primary but hopes to benefit from the dust-up as the race moves on. He told MSNBC: "The other two candidates have some severe flaws."

Striking out in two directions, Romney planned to offer advance criticism of President Barack Obama's Tuesday night State of the Union address, then focus on Florida's housing woes in an event sure to again highlight Gingrich's $25,000 monthly retainer from Freddie Mac.

The former House speaker said Romney's charges were ironic, given that it was revealed after Monday's debate that Romney himself was an investor in both Freddie Mac and its sister entity, Fannie Mae.

Gingrich, a candidate once left for dead, stood before thousands in a U.S. flag-draped airport hangar in Sarasota brimming with confidence about his chances of winning the GOP nomination. He barely mentioned Romney in two events, though he went hard at Obama as the president prepared for his big speech.

Gingrich said Obama should stop blaming his Republican predecessor for the country's economic woes.

"This is the fourth year of his presidency. He needs to get over it," Gingrich said. "A friend of mine says, `He has shifted from Yes We Can to Why We Couldn't.'"

Gingrich's campaign also announced it had pulled in $2 million, mostly online, since winning the South Carolina primary on Saturday. Gingrich planned to pad his campaign account with a series of fundraisers this week.

Records released by Romney's campaign show he closed a bank account in Switzerland in 2010, as he was entering the presidential race. He also kept money in the Cayman Islands, another spot popular with investors sheltering their income from U.S. taxes. But Benjamin Ginsberg, the Romney campaign's legal counsel, said Romney didn't use any aggressive tax strategies to help reduce or defer his tax income.

"Gov. Romney has paid 100 percent of what he owes," Ginsberg said Tuesday.

Romney paid about $3 million on nearly $22 million in income in 2010 and indicated his 2011 taxes would be about the same, $3.2 million on nearly $21 million in income.

During the debate, Romney predicted his tax information would generate chatter but not any surprises, saying what he paid was "entirely legal and fair."

Romney had declined to disclose any tax releases until he came under mounting criticism from his rivals.

In 2010, he donated a combined $3 million to the Mormon Church and other charitable causes. His effective tax rate was about 14 percent, the records showed. For 2011, he'll pay an effective tax rate of about 15.4 percent, a level far lower than standard rates for high-income earners, reflecting the lower rate for long-term capital gains.

The tax records may silence Gingrich and others who argued that Republican voters should know the details of Romney's wealth before they select their presidential nominee and not after. But it also could open up new lines of attack.

After Gingrich's overwhelming victory in South Carolina, Romney can ill afford to lose Florida's Jan. 31 primary, and he showcased a new aggression from the opening moments of the debate. He said Gingrich had "resigned in disgrace" from Congress after four years as speaker and then had spent the next 15 years "working as an influence peddler."

In particular, he referred to the contract Gingrich's consulting firm had with Freddie Mac, a government-backed mortgage giant that Romney said "did a lot of bad for a lot of people and you were working there."

"I have never, ever gone and done any lobbying," Gingrich retorted emphatically, adding that his firm had hired an expert to explain to employees "the bright line between what you can do as a citizen and what you do as a lobbyist."

Rep. Ron Paul, who's bypassing Florida in favor of smaller, less expensive states, returned to Texas after Monday's debate. Santorum will appeal to the tea party to help revive his candidacy, appearing at two tea party events.

___

Associated Press writers Kasie Hunt and Brian Bakst in Florida and Connie Cass, Jack Gillum, Stephen Braun and Stephen Ohlemacher in Washington contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120124/ap_on_el_pr/us_gop_campaign

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Kazakhstan's Glorious Brand New Metro Is the Only Clean Subway You'll See [Subway]

Kazakhstan isn't the first country I'd associate with modernism and gleaming infrastructure, but according to photos from English Russia, I'm dead wrong: the Almaty Metro is gorgeous. And, shocking to any urbanite, gorgeously clean, like Star Trek with more maids. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/AA1cmTePuDs/

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Video: The Bathtub Mystery, Part 7

Dateline NBC

'Dateline NBC,' the signature broadcast for NBC News in primetime, premiered in 1992. Since then, it has been pioneering a new approach to primetime news programming. The multi-night franchise, supplemented by frequent specials, allows NBC to consistently and comprehensively present the highest-quality reporting, investigative features, breaking news coverage and newsmaker profiles.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/vp/46105202#46105202

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Gingrich: Only I can go 'toe to toe' with Obama (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Newt Gingrich says his hardline conservative views and sharp debate skills will be needed by Republicans to take back the White House.

The former House speaker is dismissing rival Mitt Romney as a moderate whose record on health care and other issues are too close to President Barack Obama's to invigorate GOP voters.

Coming off a big victory in Saturday's South Carolina primary, Gingrich says he can go "toe to toe with President Obama on big things."

Gingrich says his views on lower taxes, less government regulation and foreign policy put him in stark contrast to Obama and that the dynamics of a Gingrich-Obama fight are much more alluring to voters.

Gingrich tells CNN's "State of the Union" that he represents "the largest amount of change of any candidate."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120122/ap_on_el_pr/us_gingrich

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Dear Prudence: Vacation House of Horrors

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

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Which Romney will show up after defeat? (Washington Post)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/189338041?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Gingrich Wins the South Carolina Primary (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | The results were overwhelming for Newt Gingrich in the South Carolina primary, according to the New York Times. The people of South Carolina rallied around the American flag, showing they wanted to take America back to a direction of patriotism that our forefathers once dreamed it could be, not toward a socialized nation like the Europeans have, that just is not America. Gingrich won 40 percent of the votes and Mitt Romney received 27 percent, while Rick Santorum came in third with 17 percent and Ron Paul with 10 percent.

Some in the media said, with an ex-wife coming out against the former speaker, he never stood a chance with women voters. He received a whopping 58 percent in favor when a poll where women were asked if they let a past infidelity change their decision about the former Speaker of the House. Gingrich showed America that he stands for America, and it shows on every face of every American who voted for the man.

Many in the media are also saying Romney stumbled when he was flip-flopping on his tax issues. When asked when he will release his tax statement for 2010, he said he did not know or he will or he won't. People are suspect when they think someone has something to hide. All politicians should be an open book or else, they will fall by the wayside fast.

The people of South Carolina have spoken. Many said they did not care about problems that happened with candidates years ago, they are concerned with now. The voters polled at various precincts were not concerned with domestic rhetoric with politicians personal lives or financial concerns, but were concerned with the direction of this country.

The voter turnout was higher than 2008 by at least 100,000 votes, which is a wonderful thing. It shows Americans are doing their civic duty and using their rights as Americans. The feeling this time was a patriotic one by most of the voters.

The amount of cheering and flag waving I have seen is addictive as patriotism is alive and well in the South. It is off to the Sunshine State in 10 days to see who comes out ahead. We have a long way to go in this, but the infectious pride of being American is spreading thanks to the final four.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120122/pl_ac/10866015_gingrich_wins_the_south_carolina_primary

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Automotive News ? All You Need To Know About Cars | New Cars ...

Posted on 21 January 2012. Tags: car, horrible earthquake, information, new car launches

Automobile manufacturers all over the world constantly maintain positive sale performances this year regardless of rising oil prices. Not even the horrible earthquake in Japan which happened earlier this year could slow down the pace of the automotive industry. People?s interest on this subject is very high. On the other hand, the industry is ever changing. Many car owners and enthusiasts feel the need to keep up with the latest automotive trends such as new car launches, events, car modification tips, technical guides and race reviews. There is where automotive news comes in.

Besides car aficionados, mechanics and workshop owners can also benefit from the latest automotive news. Vehicles and machines are constantly evolving. More recent models may have newer technologies and more sophisticated features or parts. As mechanics always deal with machines, they need to upgrade their knowledge from time to time, to keep up with the changing trends. They can get the latest updates from automotive news or from attending car exhibitions or motor shows.

Besides going to exhibitions, people can also get the latest information from automotive magazines. There are still many people today who buy physical copies of magazines to add to their collection. With the advancement of technology, the internet has changed the way we live. The internet gives us unlimited access to any kind of information. Now it is possible to get the latest news about the automotive industry online. People can access them anywhere, anytime, and free of charge.

Car reviews and car launch dates are two topics that are often searched by car enthusiasts online. We can also find many online automotive magazines that provide the latest news, trends and tips on the web as well. People can easily access information on new car launches, car modifications, as well as car parts and accessories.

There are thousands of weblogs on the internet that also provide free, comprehensive automotive news. Each of them contains different types of information. Well-established blogs usually provides in-depth news and reviews. Today, potential car buyers can check reviews available on these online journals before deciding on a car to buy.

Automotive forums have become a communication media between aficionados. There, people can post articles, open discussions and interact with other members. Car mechanics are encouraged to use online forums, so that they can get the latest scoop and share their technical know-how as well as experiences to others.

Source: http://www.fatherfigures.org/automotive-news-all-you-need-to-know-about-cars.html

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Costa CEO says captain misled company, crew

In this undated underwater photo released by Carabinieri (Italian paramilitary police) Friday, Jan. 20, 2012 two Carabinieri scuba divers swim next to the Costa Concordia cruise ship's bell, off the tiny Giglio island, Italy. The $450 million Costa Concordia was carrying more than 4,200 passengers and crew when it slammed into well-marked rocks off the island of Giglio after the captain made an unauthorized diversion from his programmed route. The ship then keeled over on its side. (AP Photo/Carabinieri)

In this undated underwater photo released by Carabinieri (Italian paramilitary police) Friday, Jan. 20, 2012 two Carabinieri scuba divers swim next to the Costa Concordia cruise ship's bell, off the tiny Giglio island, Italy. The $450 million Costa Concordia was carrying more than 4,200 passengers and crew when it slammed into well-marked rocks off the island of Giglio after the captain made an unauthorized diversion from his programmed route. The ship then keeled over on its side. (AP Photo/Carabinieri)

Rescuers approach the grounded Costa Concordia cruise ship off the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. The cruise ship grounded off Tuscany shifted again on its rocky perch Friday, forcing the suspension of diving search operations for the 21 people still missing and raising concerns about the stability of the ship's resting place. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

People take photographs of the grounded Costa Concordia cruise ship off the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. The cruise ship grounded off Tuscany shifted again on its rocky perch Friday, forcing the suspension of diving search operations for the 21 people still missing and raising concerns about the stability of the ship's resting place. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

People watch the Costa Concordia cruise liner off the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. The cruise ship grounded off Tuscany shifted again on its rocky perch Friday, forcing the suspension of diving search operations for the 21 people still missing and raising concerns about the stability of the ship's resting place. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

People look out toward the Costa Concordia cruise liner off the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. The cruise ship grounded off Tuscany shifted again on its rocky perch Friday, forcing the supension of diving search operations for the 21 people still missing and raising concerns about the stability of the ship's resting place. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

ROME (AP) ? The cruise captain who grounded the Costa Concordia off the Tuscan coast with 4,200 people on board did not relay correct information either to the company or crew after the ship hit rocks, the cruise ship owner's CEO said Friday as the search resumed for 21 missing passengers.

CEO Pierluigi Foschi told Italian state TV that the company spoke to the captain at 10:05 p.m. (2105 GMT; 4:05 p.m. EST), some 20 minutes after the ship ran aground on Jan. 13, but could not offer proper assistance because the captain's description "did not correspond to the truth."

Capt. Francesco Schettino said only that he had "problems" on board but did not mention hitting a reef.

Likewise, Foschi said crew members were not informed of the gravity of the situation.

Passenger video shown on Italian TV indicates crew members telling passengers to go to their cabins as late as 10:25 p.m. (2125 GMT; 4:25 p.m. EST). The abandon ship alarm sounded just before 11:00 p.m. (2200 GMT; 5:00 p.m. EST).

"That's because they also did not receive correct information on the gravity of the situation," Foschi said.

The $450 million Costa Concordia was carrying more than 4,200 passengers and crew when it slammed into well-charted rocks off the island of Giglio a week ago. Eleven people have been confirmed dead.

The Concordia shifted again on its rocky perch Friday, forcing the suspension of diving search operations for the 21 people still missing and raising concerns about the stability of the ship's resting place. But the search in areas above the waterline resumed in the evening after the ship was deemed stable.

The remarks by Costa CEO Foschi are the latest to indicate a lack of proper communication with authorities on land as the emergency unfolded.

An audiotape of the Concordia's first contact with maritime authorities has a Concordia office repeatedly replying that the ship had experienced a blackout, even though it had hit the reef more than half an hour earlier.

Italian media reported the officer on the call was Schettino, but that could not be independently confirmed.

Costa Crociere SpA, which offered support to the captain in the hours after the emergency, has now turned its back on the man who is under investigation for manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning his ship. Schettino, who was jailed after he left the ship, is under house arrest near Naples.

Costa in recent days has suspended Schettino, announced it is no longer paying his legal fees and has signed on as a civil party in the prosecution, a move that positions it as an injured party and would allow it to seek damages in the case of a guilty verdict.

Coast Guard spokesman Cmdr. Cosimo Nicastro said crews will evaluate the ship's stability Saturday morning to see if the diving operation can resume, focusing on an area where passengers would have sought lifeboats, Nicastro said.

It was not clear if the slight movements registered by sensors placed on board the Costa Concordia were just vibrations as the ship settles on the rocks off the Tuscan island of Giglio or if the massive ocean liner is slowly slipping off the reef. Salvage experts suggest it could be because of pockets of air gradually escaping.

The sensors detected that the ship's bow was moving about 15 millimeters (half an inch) an hour and the stern about 7 millimeters (one-quarter inch) an hour, said Nicola Casagli of the University of Florence, who was called in by Italian authorities to monitor the ship's stability.

The Concordia's movements are being watched since any significant shift could be dangerous for divers trying to locate those missing since the Concordia ran aground Jan. 13. An additional fear is that movement could damage tanks holding a 500,000 gallons of fuel oil and lead to leaks.

The sea floor drops off sharply a few meters (yards) from where the ship is resting, and Italy's environment minister has warned it risks sinking.

On Friday, relatives of some of the 21 missing were at Giglio's port getting briefings from rescue teams.

Casagli told Sky TG24 that some movement in the Concordia was only natural given the immense weight of the steel-hulled ship, which is being held in place by two huge rocks at bow and stern.

But the latest movements indicate it isn't stable, he said. "These are small, regular movements that are being monitored because they're going in the same direction," he told Sky.

Late Thursday, Carnival Corp., the U.S.-based company that owns Costa, announced it was conducting a comprehensive audit of all 10 of its cruise lines to review safety and emergency response procedures in the wake of the Costa disaster. The evacuation was chaotic and the alarm to abandon the ship was sounded after the Concordia had capsized too much to get many life boats down.

___

Colleen Barry reported from Milan. Andrea Foa contributed from Giglio, Italy.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-01-20-EU-Italy-Cruise-Aground/id-ec11b1be1b36493b80662e2a5a1c5608

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Adult in Ohio Craigslist case charged with murder (AP)

AKRON, Ohio ? A self-styled chaplain suspected in a deadly scheme to rob people who replied to a Craigslist job ad has been charged with multiple counts of aggravated murder, kidnapping and robbery and could face the death penalty if convicted, according to an indictment announced Friday.

The charges against Richard Beasley accuse him of killing three men and wounding a fourth in August, October and November.

Beasley, 52, of Akron, who has been jailed in Akron on unrelated prostitution and drug charges, has denied involvement in the Craigslist slayings. He was arrested in November after authorities linked him to the alleged plot.

Prosecutors would not speculate on a motive but Attorney General Mike DeWine, who joined in announcing the charges, said investigators are looking at "serial killings."

"Are there more bodies? We frankly do not know," DeWine said, appealing to people with any information about missing persons to come forward.

Also Friday, a judge determined that the case of a juvenile suspect mentored by Beasley will be moved out of the county where two slaying victims were found and another was shot but survived.

The decision to transfer the case of Brogan Rafferty to Summit County came after a hearing Friday afternoon, said Tonda Brown, Noble County Court Assignment Commissioner. She said the gag order in the case has also been lifted.

Messages were left with the Noble County prosecutor and Rafferty's attorney in Noble County. The Summit County Prosecutor's Office could not immediately comment, said spokeswoman April Wiesner.

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said the case of Beasley, with the nature of the crimes and the multitude of charges, was made for the death penalty.

"This case we view as to be one of the worst of the worst when it comes to horrible murder cases," Walsh said.

The 28-count indictment against Beasley also included theft, weapons and identity theft charges. Beasley received the indictment Friday, and a decision will be made next week about his representation, said Rhonda Kotnik, an attorney who has been representing Beasley on the non-Craigslist charges.

An acquaintance of Beasley, 16-year-old Brogan Rafferty, of nearby of Stow, could face similar charges after being transferred to adult court late last year. His case is pending in Noble County where two of the slayings happened.

Authorities say the scheme targeted older and single out-of-work men with backgrounds that made it unlikely their disappearances would be noted right away.

The first victim, Ralph Geiger, 55, of Akron, was killed Aug. 9, the day after he left a homeless shelter saying he was taking a farm job. His body wasn't found until Nov. 25.

Geiger's brother, Mark Geiger, said Friday he's happy with the way prosecutors are handling the case. He said he's long wondered about other victims. He said he's not a death penalty advocate but wouldn't oppose it, although life in prison for Beasley would also satisfy him.

"As long as Beasley never has the opportunity to interact with the outside world again, that's what I feel would be appropriate," said Geiger, a telecommunications executive in Atlanta.

The plot's second victim, David Pauley, 51, of Norfolk, Va., came to Ohio in mid-October after answering the Craigslist ad. A friend has said Pauley was desperate for work and eager to return to Ohio.

Police say he was killed Oct. 23, and his body was found Nov. 15. Family members had contacted police concerned they hadn't heard from him.

The third victim, Timothy Kern, 47, of Massillon, whose body was buried near an Akron shopping mall, answered the ad and was last seen Nov. 13, authorities said. His body was also found Nov. 25. Kern told his family he was taking the job to help support his three sons.

A surviving victim, Scott Davis, 48, of South Carolina, also answered the ad and was shot Nov. 6 before escaping, police say.

Beasley was a Texas parolee when he returned to Ohio in 2004 after serving several years in prison on a burglary conviction. He was released from an Akron jail July 12 after a judge mistakenly allowed him to post bond on a drug-trafficking charge.

He was arrested two days later following a traffic stop but again mistakenly released. An investigation by Ohio's prisons system found that Beasley should not have been released on bond but said confusion over interstate prisoner-transfer rules and "ambiguity" in messages from Texas to Akron jail officials contributed to the error.

In a four-page handwritten letter to the Akron Beacon Journal, Beasley has said he has been miscast as a con man when he really helped feed, house and counsel scores of needy families, alcoholics, drug addicts, the mentally ill and crime suspects for years.

"To call me a con man when I sacrificed for others is wrong," wrote Beasley, who didn't mention the Craigslist investigation or Rafferty. "To turn their back on me is not following Christ's example. I gave three full years of my life to that ministry and what I got out of it was the satisfaction of doing the right thing. There was no `con' to it."

__

Andrew Welsh-Huggins, who contributed to this report from Columbus, can be reached at http://twitter.com/awhcolumbus.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/crime/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120121/ap_on_re_us/us_craigslist_jobseekers_killed_charges

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After 6 months of famine Somali men return to farm

An unidentified man wounded during an explosion inside an IDP camp in Mogadishu, Somalia, rests Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. A bomb exploded in a crowded refugee camp in Somalia's capital on Thursday, only minutes after a group of U.N. officials and international journalists left the site. The blast killed two Somalis. Yasmin Ali, the camp organizer, said one refugee and one Somali soldier died. At least three people were wounded. Journalists from international agencies were on a one-day trip to Mogadishu on Thursday, one day before the six-month mark of the U.N.'s famine declaration in this Horn of Africa country. The blast happened about 20 minutes after the journalists left the camp. There were no senior U.N. personnel on the trip. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sheikh Nor)

An unidentified man wounded during an explosion inside an IDP camp in Mogadishu, Somalia, rests Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. A bomb exploded in a crowded refugee camp in Somalia's capital on Thursday, only minutes after a group of U.N. officials and international journalists left the site. The blast killed two Somalis. Yasmin Ali, the camp organizer, said one refugee and one Somali soldier died. At least three people were wounded. Journalists from international agencies were on a one-day trip to Mogadishu on Thursday, one day before the six-month mark of the U.N.'s famine declaration in this Horn of Africa country. The blast happened about 20 minutes after the journalists left the camp. There were no senior U.N. personnel on the trip. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sheikh Nor)

A relative helps a man wounded during an explosion inside an IDP camp in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. A bomb exploded in a crowded refugee camp in Somalia's capital on Thursday, only minutes after a group of U.N. officials and international journalists left the site. The blast killed two Somalis. Yasmin Ali, the camp organizer, said one refugee and one Somali soldier died. At least three people were wounded. Journalists from international agencies were on a one-day trip to Mogadishu on Thursday, one day before the six-month mark of the U.N.'s famine declaration in this Horn of Africa country. The blast happened about 20 minutes after the journalists left the camp. There were no senior U.N. personnel on the trip. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sheikh Nor)

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) ? Six months after the U.N. declared Somalia's capital a famine zone, the number of refugees in the capital is dwindling, as most of the men have gone home to try to revive devastated herds and withered crops.

The women ? and the kids ? would like to join them, but many don't have enough money. That means fewer hands on the farm and a smaller harvest.

At a sprawling Mogadishu refugee camp that holds 2,700 stick huts, one woman said she was grateful for a plastic sheet over her ramshackle stick hut that keeps her children dry. For another woman, it's a daily cup of porridge for everyone in her family. A third woman says there are fewer problems than there used to be.

But hardship ? and danger ? remain. U.N. security personnel say there have been six improvised explosive devices found or detonated in Mogadishu the last two days, including a blast Thursday at a police checkpoint near a refugee camp that exploded shortly after U.N. personnel and international journalists visited a nearby feeding site. Two police and four refugees were killed in the blast, which did not appear to be aimed at the visiting delegation.

Somali police forces have been fighting each other at a key intersection, and Somali government soldiers in a highly contested Mogadishu neighborhood have abandoned their posts because they have not been paid.

But one promising sign is a lack of men in the refugee camps. Many have gone home to plant crops and try to resurrect herds devastated by a crippling drought. The drought in the parts of Somalia controlled by al-Shabab militants ? who allow few aid groups in ? turned into famine. Seasonal rains have fallen in drought areas in recent weeks, raising hopes that the situation will improve.

"The situation is getting better now because our farms are growing again. We can go back and feed ourselves without depending on anybody," said Halima Mohammed Abdulla, a mother of five who has been living in a Mogadishu refugee camp for five months.

Like many other women here, she said she would like to go home but doesn't have enough money to pay for transportation. Another woman, Halima Haji Mohammed Omar, said her husband was planting fewer crops, because the family's children were not around to help, a trend that could result in an overall smaller harvest.

After months without rainfall across the region, the U.N. on July 20 declared several parts of Somalia a famine zone. Exhausted, rail-thin women were stumbling into refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia with dead babies and bleeding feet.

The journeys sometimes took weeks, and weaker family members ? children and the elderly ? were left behind on the way to die alone. The U.N. expanded Somalia's famine zone a couple weeks later, defined as when two adults or four children per 10,000 people die of hunger each day and a third of children are acutely malnourished.

Aid groups quickly sent in planes and boats full of food, though a critical report written by two prominent aid agencies that was released this week said government and aid groups were much too slow to respond despite early warnings of impending disaster. The crisis was the worse since 1991-92, when hundreds of thousands of Somalis starved to death.

This time around, the British government estimates that between 50,000 and 100,000 people died, most of them children. Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti were all badly affected, but the famine hit hardest in areas of Somalia suffering from a toxic mixture of drought, war, high taxes levied by armed groups, and rising food prices. Aid groups said up to 13 million people needed aid at one point.

Parched land suffering from the worst drought in 60 years refused to grow crops, and vast herds of goats, sheep and camel died. That's when families began the perilous journey to refugee camps. Many women faced the prospect of sexual assault along the way.

In a sign of improving farm life, thousands of Somali men are now returning home. Abdinur Haji said he is almost ready to harvest crops he planted with a few hundred dollars given to him by aid groups.

"Our children can eat well again and fill their stomachs with food," Haji said by phone.

Elmi Addow, a farmer in the Hiran region, said: "My farm is in the final stages before harvesting the crops. It's a good return out of the drought."

Pastoralists ? communities who roam the land with goats, camels and sheep ? are trying to revive their herds.

"Our livestock have been grazing well as the ground is covered with grass and there is plenty of ponds around the village," said Sabriye Amin, a resident in the town of Jilib.

Though things are improving, World Food Program spokeswoman Challis McDonough said that in many cases it will take three rainy seasons for Somalis to rebuild their herds.

"People sort of assume that because the rains have started that the crisis is over because things have started to grow, but crops haven't been harvested yet," she said.

Thursday's blast at a refugee camp underscored the dangers refugees face. African Union and Somali forces for the most part have forced militants from the al-Shabab militant group out of Mogadishu, but pockets of resistance remain and the militants continue to carry out strikes like suicide attacks and roadside bombs.

"I never thought refugee camps would be targeted," said Abdi Warsame, a blast victim, as he lay in a Mogadishu hospital. "It was an intentional attack. Not no much can be done against those men," he said, referring to al-Shabab, "because they penetrated the camp, so no one can stop them. May Allah bring a power that can stop them."

The aid group Doctors Without Borders said Thursday it is closing its two largest medical centers in Mogadishu after the shooting deaths of two staffers in late December. The group, which is also known by its French acronym of MSF, said the two 120-bed medical facilities treat malnutrition, measles and cholera. Other MSF projects will remain open.

Dangers remain in the Somali countryside as well. One refugee woman in Mogadishu, Halima Haji Mohammed Omar, said she does not want to return home because of the presence of militants. Omar said al-Shabab tried to conscript her 20-year-old son.

"How can I go back? There is no reason to back when there is still a war," said Omar, whose husband has returned to plant crops. "They beat us, they conscripted our children."

___

Associated Press reporter Jason Straziuso in Nairobi, Kenya contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2012-01-19-AF-Somalia/id-14ca89ab7c264961b3dd3fc681c6bd47

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Economy trumps all in South Carolina

NBC News

NBC's Tom Brokaw interviews Sen. Lindsey Graham.

By Tom Brokaw
NBC News

There are only two days left until South Carolina?s Republican presidential primary and a new NBC News/Marist poll shows former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is gaining ground. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has a 10-point lead over Gingrich, but Gingrich now has the support of 24 percent of likely Republican primary voters in the state ? and the support of the latest candidate to drop-out, Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

I spent two?full days in South Carolina, from Greenville-Spartanburg to Columbia and many stops between, including the old mill towns of Laurens and Newberry.?The Palmetto?State has so many parts?--?the coastal areas, the midlands, the western front -- and they're all distinct in?their geography and culture.?But?whatever their interests, they all agreed that this year the economy trumps all in South Carolina, a deeply religious state where social issues such as abortion and gay rights have played larger roles in the past.

Ernie Segars,?the county administrator in Laurens, S.C., said although religious issues are ?very important? to voters, ?jobs and the economy are the major issues right now.?

?I think when the economy?s better and things are improved, and certainly the social issues are important and will have a role,? Segars said.

Watch Tom Brokaw tonight on ?Nightly News? as he connects with voters in the political battleground of South Carolina, the second in a series of reports called ?Main Street, USA.?

Gov. Nikki Haley, a Tea Party darling who has struggled with her ratings her first year in office,?echoed that sentiment.

?We?re looking for a president that understands it?s all about jobs,? she said. ??The hardest part about my job has been the Obama administration ? The people of South Carolina saw that we passed by the will of the people legal immigration reform and the Department of Justice stopped it ? The people have experienced the mandates and the stops of the federal government and they?re frustrated with it. And so they?re looking for someone that can go in day one and say, ?Lay off the states, let them do their jobs and let?s get people back to work.??

South Carolina's unemployment rate has hovered close to?10?percent, even with a new BMW plant and the arrival of some support industries.???

I also spoke with?the state?s U.S.?Sen. Lindsey Graham,?a Republican?who is being criticized by?his?own party and a variety of other party activists.

?The question for the Republican party, would we put raising revenue on the table to solve our entitlement problem?? he asked.??Will our Democratic friends put on the table working longer and reducing benefits? And every time you put these ideas on the table, people come at you pretty hard.?

After two days spent talking with dozens of people, I encountered the most passionate opinions at?a Ron Paul debate party at Bailey?s sports bar in Greenville: all working class and mostly young, many of whom had not been involved in politics before.

I asked Sandy Monroe what she found so appealing about Ron Paul.

?He challenged my ideas,? she said. ??He sent me back to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and to the Founding Fathers ? He could win if the people understood what he stood for.? If people like me would actually go study what he says, it makes sense.? And it?s our freedom that he?s talking about.?

But for Robert Whitney, ?it?s a trust issue.?

?Everything that Romney says, he?s flip-flopped too much,? Whitney said. ?When there?s big government people saying that Ron Paul has integrity, that he?s a man that stands by his word, then I mean, I think that?s all the proof you need.?

Tune in to ?Nightly News? tonight for more of Tom Brokaw?s reporting from South Carolina and join the conversation on the ?Nightly News? Facebook page.

Source: http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/19/10191957-economy-trumps-all-in-south-carolina

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