UFC 155: Dos Santos vs. Velasquez II ? Main Card Results & Commentary

(What a crazy year it?s been. Just think, four weeks ago that bald guy in the middle was actually homeless. / Photo courtesy of Esther Lin?s UFC 155 weigh-in set on MMAFighting.com)

UFC 155 might not be as epic as some of the UFC?s previous end-of-year cards (you can blame the injury curse for that), but any time the Heavyweight Championship of the World is at stake, it?s must-see TV.

Tonight, defending champ Junior Dos Santos will try to keep the train a-rollin? in a rematch with his old pal?Cain Velasquez.?Meanwhile in the co-main event, lightweights Joe Lauzon and Jim Miller will gobble up as many performance bonuses as they can get their little hands on. Plus, six middleweight contenders ? including Tim Boetsch, Alan Belcher, and Chris Leben ? will swing their ham-hock fists at each other, in the hopes that the most popular kid in school might notice them. Lotsa luck, ladies.

Running our final liveblog of the year (!) will be none other than Elias Cepeda, who will be updating you with round-by-round results after the jump starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest, and please share your New Year?s resolutions in the comments section.

Chris Leben vs. Derek Brunson

Brunson rocking the classic private entrance song on the headphones walk to the cage. Leben using the Red Hot Chili Peppers to get amped as he walks to the UFC Octagon for the twentieth time.

?Rd 1

Brunson leads with left kicks that miss. Leben catches another, tries but fails to get a sweep take down. Brunson counters with his own take down slam.

They work from Leben?s full guard. Brunson stands and tries to pass the guard but is sucked back into the full guard. Leben working an arm bar, Brunson defends. Leben switches to a triangle choke attempt, then another arm bar and Brunson slams his way out of the hold.

Brunson works to the half guard of Leben but the Cat Smasher recovers his full guard. brunson standing and throwing short elbows to the head of Leben. Leben trying to control the wrists and head of Brunson. Brunson stands and passes Leben?s guard, then works into the mount and an arm triangle choke attempt.

Leben rolls and gets a weak half guard back. Brunson lands a big elbow from on top of Leben in his half guard. Minute and a half left. Brunson staying low, trying to keep pressure on Leben. The wrestler begins to get off pot shots again. Leben recomposes to full guard and shoots for an arm bar that is easily defended by Brunson.

Leben is backed up against the cage and tries to stand back up with under a minute left. Leben up to his feet with under thirty seconds left, Brunson briefly takes his back then presses Leben up against the cage. The two separate and the bell ends with them in the center of the ring.

Rd 2

Brunson leads with another high kick. Leben catches it and throws a straight right down the pipe that lands on Brunson?s chin. Brunson wobbled but steadies himself. He shoots in and drives Leben backwards into the fence.

Leben defends the take down attempt well as well as Brunson?s follow up attempts from the double under hooks. Brunson gets tagged on the feet but Brunson shoots in again and scores the take down.

Leben working little hammer shots from the bottom in his full guard. Leben throws up a weak arm bar attempt and Brunson stands up to try striking. Leben cage walks and gets back to his feet. Brunson tries a guillotine choke but Leben easily defends.

Leben lands a big uppercut but Brunson returns fire and stuns Leben with punches of his own. Both men are tired but Leben moves forward. Leben is beginning to score with the round house kick to the leg. Brunson with a one-two punch combination that lands.

Brunson with another straight shot down the pipe to Leben?s head. Leben lands a jab then another leg kick. Brunson closes the distance off of a Leben leg kick and presses Leben backwards against the cage.

Leben frees himself and they are back in the center of the ring. Leben is stalking Brunson and throwing more punches. Brunson looks unsteady on his feet. Leben with another leg kick. Brunson attempts another take down. Leben defends the shot but is working with his back to the cage. Leben circles away from the cage once more and goes back to walking down Brunson. Leben fires a wide looping left hook that misses and the horn sounds.

Rd 3

Brunson lands a glancing lead punch. Brunson lands the double leg take down and presses Leben against the cage. Leben cage walks and returns to his feet. Leben lands another leg kick. Brunson land another big straight punch, shoots for a take down and gets stuffed. Leben throws and misses a big upper cut.

Leben wading in on a tiring Brunson but doesn?t land much. He does land a left that appears to knock mouth guard out. brunson takes Leben down but stands back up after a few moments. Ten seconds left and Leben and Brunson are both swinging big.

The horn sounds and Brunson lets out a celebratory scream instead of accepting a hand shake offer from Leben. Brunson apparently believes that he?s down enough with take downs to win the fight.

Decision time coming up next.

Judges score the fight 29-28 for Derek Burnson. Brunson beats Chris Leben in his UFC debut.

Alan Belcher vs. Yushin Okami II

Belcher is back to avenge his father?s death against former title challenger Yushin Okami. Tough one to call. Belcher insists that Okami is scared of standing and banging with him, bro. Okami says that he?s improved more than Belcher has and that he?ll walk away with another win over the Southern boy.

Rd 1

Belcher?s horrible Johnny Cash tattoo is really distracting from this writer?s play by play blogging, not for nothing. Lots of feinting and big swings from Belcher. Belcher slips and falls after he kicks and Okami lands a jab.

Yushin presses Belcher against the cage, looking for a take down. Okami lands a knee ot the body of Belcher, then tries to land a knee to the head. Belcher doing a good job of defending, then all but asks the ref to separate them. Belcher lands a trip and ends up on top of Okami. He then pulls a guillotine choke and guard on Okami.

The Japanese fighter defends and is inside of Belcher?s guard. Okami presses Belcher against the cage and works for the pass but runs out of real estate as the cage stops him. Okami eventually does pass to side control and looks to have very heavy pressure with his shoudler on Belcher?s neck.

Belcher gets his heels close to his butt and tries to bridge out and escape but Okami?s pressure is too much. Belcher does get to his knees and then tries to get to his feet. Okami locks on a front head lock then transitions to Belcher?s back as the horn sounds.

Rd 2

Okami swings and misses with a big left straight. Okami then presses Belcher against the cage, Belcher lands another take down but then pulls guard working for another failed guillotine attempt. Okami working strikes from on top of Belcher from inside of The Talent?s half guard. Belcher works for a deep half guard sweep but there?s nothing there as Okami?s base is too strong.

Okami now in cross side and the referee makes a malpractice-level decision by standing them up. Horrible. The Nevada State Athletic Commission needs to reconsider the referee?s competence.

Okami quickly brings Belcher back down to the ground, working from on top in half guard again against the cage. Half a minute left with Okami in control from on top on the ground, despite the referee?s attempt to dictate the fight.

The referee stands them up again with twenty seconds left. Okami?s right eye is swollen. the horn sounds.

Rd 3

Okami rushes in looking to clinch right away. Belcher defends and then drops Okami with a big punch following the sage advice of his coach, kick boxing great Duke Roufus. Okami has his legs back under him, stalking Belcher and then rushing him and pressing him against the cage.

For a third time, Belcher gets the better of an Okami take down attempt and lands in mount. Belcher transitions to his back. Okami defends the choke, stands and then frees himself and shoots for another takedown against the cage.

Belcher grabs Okami?s neck and goes for another guillotine choke. Belcher pulls guard and loses the choke. Okami in Belcher?s half guard against the cage with two and a half minutes left. Okami moves to mount but is choosing pressure over being very busy with strikes.

Okami, having established his mount positions, begins to rain down unanswered punches down on Belcher. Belcher turns and gives up his back. Okami gets both hooks in on Belcher, who is face down, and the horn sounds with Okami landing punch after punch from the back.

Decision time coming up.

All three judges score it 30-27 for Okami. Belcher?s four fight win streak is snapped and Okami gets his second straight.

Costa Philippou vs. Tim Boetsch

Rd 1

Few moments of feinting before Boetsch works for a take down. After about thirty seconds of work against the cage, Tim gets the take down. Costa quickly gets back to his feet but Tim stays connected, landing big knees to the body. Costa lands his own and separates.

They are back in teh center of the ring. Tim with a nice rear push kick. Nice inside leg kick from Boetsch. Costa witha left to the body, right to the head, punch combo. Boetsch pushing the pace, lands another leg kick. Tim pushes Costa against the fence but Costa catches Tim with a big upper cut counter.

Tim gets another take down and is inside of Costa?s full guard. Costa controlling Tim?s posture and referee Kim Winslow continues the embarassing pattern of the night with a quick stand up.

Costa takes advantage and lands a nasty body-head punch combo, flush to Tim. Boetsch, unfazed, lands a nasty front kick to the face of Costa. The round ends.

Rd 3

Rogan points out that he has heard?Tim?s corner man Matt Hume?talking about?some injury that the fighter has sustained. As the round begins and Tim shakes out his hand, it appears that he may have broken his hand. Tim lands a big knee to the head of Costa from the clinch.

Tim is cut from an accidental?head butt on his forehead. It looks like his right hand is the hurt one. Boetsch looks for and misses a take down.?Tim lands another front kick to the body. Tim gets an accidental eye poke.

Jon Anik correctly?points out that?it has been a rough few minutes for Boetsch. Goodness gracious,?ain?t that true.

Boetsch gets right back in with minimal rest time. Tim misses with a front kick. Tim now shooting in with minimal set-up and gets stuffed by Costa. Now Costa is on top from the half guard.?Tim continues to bleed. Vosta throwing punches and elbows from on top. Costa throwing more strikes, then stands and walks away at the horn.

Rd 3

Tim tells his coach Matt Hume that he can?t see. Hume asks him if he wants to stop. ?Fuck no,? is Tim?s reply. They get things started for the final round.

Tim with another shot from Kansas. He?s shooting from too far away with no set ups because of his hand and his blurred vision, it appears. Tim may have gotten another cut. Boetsch is butt scooting, then forced to stand up. Tim tries another failed take down and is again in half guard with three and a half minutes.

Boetsch is hurt and cannot see. He is back on his feet. Tim shoots in again, gets stuffed and is back in his own half guard. Tim eats some big shots and the ref steps in and calls the fight off.

Costa Philppou gets the win and stops Tim Boetsch?s frate trane run. Both men are impressive in their own ways in this one. Nasty fight. Good fight.

Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller

Both men come out swinging hard with punches in spurts. Miller tries to set up a big upper cut but misses. Miller with a hard leg kick and a hard shot to the body of Lauzon. Miller with another hard body knee that hurts Joe.

Miller follows up with punches. Lauzon gets free then eats a high kick. Miller landing big with more punches to the body and head then another big knee. Lauzon lands his own then gets free. Miller with another buckling leg kick.

Miller with nasty dirty boxing and elbows from the clinch. Miller tries a standing arm triangle hold, Joe defends and frees himself. Lauzon is cut badly and referee Yves Lavigne stops the fight for him to be checked out by the doctor. The cut is over the right eye.

The fight continues with two minutes and fifteen seconds left. Miller lands a head kick and now more short punches and elbows from Miller. Lauzon returns fire with an upper cut. Miller with an upper cut. Lauzon lands a big knee to the head of Miller. Miller follows up with another left short cross.

Both men fall after a kick from Miller. Lauzon with a straight jab but he?s bleeding badly. Under a minute left. Miller misses with a big over hand left. Lauzon with a right hand, Miller lands a one, two and another inside leg kick. Miller backs Lauzon up against the cage again. Lauzon returns with a jab. Ten seconds left. Miller lands a body kick. Lauzon ends the round with a flying knee to the body.

Rd 2

Source: http://www.cagepotato.com/ufc-155-dos-santos-vs-velasquez-ii-%E2%80%94-main-card-results-commentary/

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Former chairperson of the University of Kelaniya student union Suranjith Bandara...

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Source: http://www.facebook.com/srilankanewsnet/posts/560888590607237

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Lawmakers Push To Close Legal Loophole In Leandra's Law ? CBS ...

Leandra?s Law News Conference Dec. 30, 2012 (credit: Monica Miller/WCBS 880)

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) ? Ahead of the New Year?s holiday, lawmakers and advocates on Long Island are calling for Albany to close a loophole in Leandra?s Law.

Officials called on state lawmakers to swiftly vote to in favor of an amendment to prevent convicted drunk drivers from avoiding the mandatory ignition interlock requirement under the statewide anti-drunk driving measure.

WCBS 880?s Monica Miller reports

?Leandra?s Law is a good and important piece of legislation but now that we are about a year and a half into the passage of that law, we see and we know that there are loopholes that need to be fixed,? Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice told reporters including WCBS 880?s Monica Miller.??Up to 70 percent of those required to install ignition interlock devices in their cars don?t do it.?

The six-month ignition interlock requires convicted drunk drivers to blow into a device that measures the driver?s blood alcohol level before the car can be started.

?They lie to the court about owning a vehicle, they change vehicle registrations to family members or to friends,? Rice said.

Leandra?s Law was named for 11-year-old Leandra Rosado who was killed in a 2009?DWI crash. The measure, signed on Nov. 18, 2009, makes it a felony to drive drunk with a child in the car.

Leandra was in a car with her friend?s mother when the car flipped.

Carmen Huertas? vehicle after crashing on the Henry Hudson Parkway ? New York, NY ? Oct 11, 2009 (credit: CBS 2)

Leandra?s father Lenny joined lawmakers at the news conference.

Ahead of one of the biggest drinking nights of the year, advocates again urged those who will be out celebrating to select a designated driver or use cabs or mass transit to get around.

?I guarantee you as sure as we are standing here today, people are going to die at the hands of drunk drivers in 2013. I?ve been doing this for over 20 years and there isn?t one year that Long Island families, New York families haven?t been devastated by drunk drivers. It?s time it stops,? said Marge Lee, president of the group Dedicatedd.

Lee?s family was in an accident caused by a drunk driver. Her son was killed and she now walks with a cane.

?Annoy your assemblyman, annoy your senator. Tell them it?s a no-brainer,?

State Sen. Charles Fuschillo and Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg were also at the news conference calling for a stronger Leandra?s Law.

?You?re not going to get around not having an ignition interlock system or some sort of alcohol monitoring device,? Fuschillo said.

Leandra was killed in October 2009 on the Henry Hudson Parkway, in a car driven by Carmen Huertas, the mother of her best friend. Huertas flipped the car carrying herself and six children, and was convicted under Leandra?s Law for driving while intoxicated. She?s now serving 12 years in prison.

Please share your comments below?

Source: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/12/30/lawmakers-push-to-close-legal-loophole-in-leandras-law/

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Budget struggle raising anxiety for health care

President Barack Obama speaks to reporters in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington after meeting with Congressional leaders regarding the fiscal cliff, Friday, Dec. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Barack Obama speaks to reporters in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington after meeting with Congressional leaders regarding the fiscal cliff, Friday, Dec. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Confused about the federal budget struggle? So are doctors, hospital administrators and other medical professionals who serve the 100 million Americans covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

Rarely has the government sent so many conflicting signals in so short a time about the bottom line for the health care industry.

Cuts are coming, says Washington, and some could be really big. Yet more government spending is also being promised as President Barack Obama's health care overhaul advances and millions of uninsured people move closer to getting government-subsidized coverage.

"Imagine a person being told they are going to get a raise, but their taxes are also going to go up and they are going to be paying more for gas," said Thornton Kirby, president of the South Carolina Hospital Association. "They don't know if they are going to be taking home more or less. That's the uncertainty when there are so many variables in play."

Real money is at stake for big hospitals and small medical practices alike. Government at all levels pays nearly half the nation's health care tab, with federal funds accounting for most of that.

It's widely assumed that a budget deal will mean cuts for Medicare service providers. But which ones? How much? And will Medicaid and subsidies to help people get coverage under the health care law also be cut?

As House Speaker John Boehner famously said: "God only knows." The Ohio Republican was referring to the overall chances of getting a budget deal, but the same can be said of how health care ? one-sixth of the economy ? will fare.

"There is no political consensus to do anything significant," said Dan Mendelson, president of Avalere Health, a market analysis firm. "There is a collective walking away from things that matter. All the stuff on the lists of options becomes impossible, because there is no give-and-take."

As if things weren't complicated enough, doctors keep facing their own recurring fiscal cliff, separate from the bigger budget battle but embroiled in it nonetheless.

Come Jan. 1, doctors and certain other medical professionals face a 26.5 percent cut in their Medicare payments, the consequence of a 1990s deficit-reduction law gone awry. Lawmakers failed to repeal or replace that law even after it became obvious that it wasn't working. Instead, Congress usually passes a "doc fix" each year to waive the cuts.

This year, the fix got hung up in larger budget politics. Although a reprieve is expected sooner or later, doctors don't like being told to sit in the congressional waiting room.

"It seems like there is a presumption that physicians and patients can basically tolerate this kind of uncertainty while the Congress goes through whatever political machinations they are going through," said Dr. Jeremy Lazarus, president of the American Medical Association. "Our concern is that physician uncertainty and anxiety about being able to pay the bills will have an impact on taking care of patients."

A recent government survey indicates that Medicare beneficiaries are having more problems when trying to find a new primary care doctor, and Lazarus said that will only get worse.

Adding to their unease, doctors also face an additional reduction if automatic spending cuts go through. Those would be triggered if Obama and congressional leaders are unable to bridge partisan differences and strike a deal. They are part of the combination of tax increases and spending cuts dubbed the "fiscal cliff."

Medicare service providers would get hit with a 2 percent across-the-board cut, but Medicaid and subsidies for the uninsured under Obama's health care overhaul would be spared. The Medicare cut adds up to about $120 billion over ten years, with 40 percent falling on hospitals, according to Avalare's analysis. Nursing homes, Medicare Advantage plans and home health agencies also get hit.

The American Hospital Association says that would lead to the loss of hundreds of thousands of hospital jobs in a labor intensive industry that also generates employment for other businesses in local communities.

"It's very difficult to believe hospitals can absorb the kinds of numbers they are talking about without reducing service or workforce," said Kirby, the hospital association head. "You may decide that a service a hospital provides is not affordable ? for example, obstetrics in a rural community ? if you're making a little bit of money or losing a little bit of money by continuing to deliver babies in a rural community."

Independent analysts like Mendelson doubt that a 2 percent Medicare cut to hospitals would be catastrophic, but say it will cost jobs somewhere.

Even if there is a budget deal, the squeeze will be on.

The administration has proposed $400 billion in health care cuts so far in the budget talks, coming mainly from Medicare spending. That's only a starting point as far as Republicans are concerned. They also want to pare back Medicaid and Obama's health care law, and have also sought an increase in the eligibility age for Medicare.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-12-29-Fiscal%20Cliff-Health%20Care/id-7e658fd32b404ad4ad4e1f27a4ef044d

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Newtown residents ready to step out of media glare

Reporters from around the world converged on Newtown following the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. (Eric??

NEWTOWN, Conn.--It's time to go home.

That's what many residents here have been saying about the media since Monday, when funerals began for more than two dozen adults and children killed in last week's massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

"There are people who should be able to get to these funerals," Janice Butler of Newtown told Yahoo News on Wednesday, standing a few hundred yards from the entrance to the school where Friday's shootings took place. "But some of them can't because you all are here."

At the Newtown General Store, when a member of the media thanked a store employee for a breakfast sandwich, she replied, smiling, "Thank you for leaving."

In the first days after the tragedy, most reporters here were respectful of the town's 27,000 residents, sharing in their shock and grief while trying to cover it. And most residents and shop owners seemed to understand that it was a major news story of deep interest to many readers and viewers.

Figs Restaurant welcomed TV host Geraldo Rivera for two meals late Saturday afternoon. By Tuesday, though, the restaurant had stationed one of the cooks in the parking lot, barring media from parking there.

[Related: Harsh reality of reporting tragedies]

Also Saturday, a Newtown teacher offered use of his bathroom and WiFi to several reporters. And the back dining room of the Iron Bridge bar in Sandy Hook became an ABC News bureau on Sunday, where network staff watched President Barack Obama's speech at the interfaith vigil at Newtown High School.

But on Monday, the Newtown Bee posted a note on its Facebook page, imploring its colleagues and journalists in the media to leave families of the dead alone. "PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THE VICTIMS," the note said.

"We acknowledge it is your right to try and make contact," the paper added on Facebook, "But we beg you to do what is right and let them grieve and ready their funeral plans in peace."

Several local residents visited the page, adding their voices to the chorus of criticism.

"We want our town, our lives back," Dennis Brinkmann wrote. "You did your job, now leave us be."

"Journalists should be reporters not voyeurs," wrote another.

A sign at the entrance of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Dec. 18, 2012. (Dylan Stableford/Yah??

"We did turn to you when it was unfolding, because we needed to know what was going on, but now leave," Dorene Doran wrote. "We need to give these families time to themselves. Don't worry they will seek you out if they want to talk to you."

"As I drove down Main Street today I was upset at the number of cameras just aimed at the door to the funeral home," Gail Lovorn wrote, suggesting the community erect a screen to block the view. "The last thing these families need is to see their family and friends in these tender moments broadcast for the world to see."

On Tuesday night, a man walking up Church Hill Road carried a sign that read: "Dear Media, GTFO!"

There are signs that the media swarm is beginning to ease.

CNN?s Wolf Blitzer, who arrived Saturday, left Newtown after his broadcast on Tuesday night. Most of the satellite trucks that lined the center of Sandy Hook, steps from a makeshift memorial and less than a half mile from Sandy Hook Elementary, were gone on Wednesday. The parking lot at Treadwell Park, where nearly close to 100 satellite trucks were parked on Saturday, sat empty, too.

The Starbucks next to Saint Rose of Lima Church on Church Hill Road served as a makeshift international media center since the funerals began. On Wednesday, it was filled with residents heading to services for 7-year-old victim Daniel Barden--no media in sight.

But not everyone in Newtown wants to see the media gone.

"Please, please don't leave," a Sandy Hook resident named Dennis told Connecticut Public Radio's Colin McEnroe on Wednesday. "Because I know that people on the outside are feeling the same thing that the people on the inside are feeling. And it's ... it's just helplessness. So the more information they can get--as long as it's correct information--it might help them a little bit. It might, you know?"

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/newtown-residents-ready-step-media-glare-100627069.html

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On-demand synaptic electronics: Circuits that learn and forget

Dec. 20, 2012 ? Researchers in Japan and the US propose a nanoionic device with a range of neuromorphic and electrical multifunctions that may allow the fabrication of on-demand configurable circuits, analog memories and digital-neural fused networks in one device architecture.

Synaptic devices that mimic the learning and memory processes in living organisms are attracting avid interest as an alternative to standard computing elements that may help extend Moore's law beyond current physical limits.

However so far artificial synaptic systems have been hampered by complex fabrication requirements and limitations in the learning and memory functions they mimic. Now Rui Yang, Kazuya Terabe and colleagues at the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan and the University of California, Los Angeles, in the US have developed two-, three-terminal WO3-x-based nanoionic devices capable of a broad range of neuromorphic and electrical functions.

In its initial pristine condition the system has very high resistance values. Sweeping both negative and positive voltages across the system decreases this resistance nonlinearly, but it soon returns to its original state indicating a volatile state. Applying either positive or negative pulses at the top electrode introduces a soft-breakdown, after which sweeping both negative and positive voltages leads to non-volatile states that exhibit bipolar resistance and rectification for longer periods of time.

The researchers draw similarities between the device properties -- volatile and non-volatile states and the current fading process following positive voltage pulses -- with models for neural behaviour -- that is, short- and long-term memory and forgetting processes. They explain the behaviour as the result of oxygen ions migrating within the device in response to the voltage sweeps. Accumulation of the oxygen ions at the electrode leads to Schottky-like potential barriers and the resulting changes in resistance and rectifying characteristics. The stable bipolar switching behaviour at the Pt/WO3-x interface is attributed to the formation of the electric conductive filament and oxygen absorbability of the Pt electrode.

As the researchers conclude, "These capabilities open a new avenue for circuits, analog memories, and artificially fused digital neural networks using on-demand programming by input pulse polarity, magnitude, and repetition history."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), via ResearchSEA.

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. Rui Yang, Kazuya Terabe, Guangqiang Liu, Tohru Tsuruoka, Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, James K. Gimzewski, Masakazu Aono. On-Demand Nanodevice with Electrical and Neuromorphic Multifunction Realized by Local Ion Migration. ACS Nano, 2012; 6 (11): 9515 DOI: 10.1021/nn302510e

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/most_popular/~3/LkxkRQGtx0U/121220161427.htm

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Gift Guide: ThinkGeek iCade 8-Bitty Wireless Game Controller

ThinkGeek's iCade 8-Bitty wireless gaming controller is pretty adorable, though limited. It has a retro feel, eliciting nostalgia for Super Nintendo, and hooks up easily with both iOS and Android devices. The games, however, are limited to various emulators like Atari's Greatest Hits and Pac Man. These are great games and appeal to just about anyone, but the retro controller supports exactly what you'd expect: old games, not new ones.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/PtOWcKw9Vpw/

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No progress in "fiscal cliff" talks as new poll hits Republicans

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sharp differences remained on Wednesday between congressional Republicans and the White House in talks to avert the "fiscal cliff" of steep tax hikes and budget cuts, and negotiators warned the showdown could drag on past Christmas.

A Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll released late on Wednesday, however, held the potential to shake up the stalemate. Three-quarters of those surveyed, including 61 percent of Republicans, said they would accept raising taxes on the wealthy to avoid the so-called cliff, as Democratic President Barack Obama is demanding.

With Republicans in Congress already divided, that rejection by their own supporters of the core demand of Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner could further weaken his position.

Both sides refused to give any ground in public, one day after what Boehner described as a "frank" conversation with President Barack Obama about the remaining hurdles to a deal.

Boehner said Obama's latest proposal for $1.4 trillion in new tax revenues did not fulfill his promise for a balanced approach to taming the federal deficit and could not pass Congress.

"I remain the most optimistic person in this town, but we've got some serious differences," Boehner told reporters after a meeting with House Republicans where he warned members the negotiations could run through the holidays and up to the end-of-year deadline.

If a deal is not reached, taxes will go up for almost all working Americans at the start of the New Year and steep government spending cuts will kick in.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama would not relent on his demand that Republicans drop their opposition to raising new revenue by increasing the tax rates for the wealthiest 2 percent of all Americans.

"There is no way to do this without rates going up on the top earners," Carney said. The Republican stance that sufficient revenue could be gained by closing tax loopholes and limiting deductions was "just not plausible economic policy," he said.

In what has now become a daily battle of sound bites and political stagecraft, a group of Republican congressmen posed in the cold outside the Capitol with a few dozen small children to illustrate their argument that Obama's budget proposals would bury the next generation in unsustainable debt.

"We are going to relegate these kids, our grandkids, to a lower standard of living," Republican Representative Sean Duffy of Wisconsin said. "We are going to leave them with higher tax rates. This is unacceptable."

Obama and Boehner each have proposed cutting deficits by more than $4 trillion in the next 10 years as part of a deal to avert the cliff, but they differ on how to get there. Economists have warned that failure to strike a deal could send the economy back into recession.

On Tuesday, Boehner rejected a White House proposal to shrink the amount of deficit reduction that comes from revenue to $1.4 trillion from $1.6 trillion over 10 years. Boehner has called for $800 billion in revenue through tax reform.

'A PRETTY FRANK CONVERSATION'

Boehner said Obama's plan did not do enough to reduce the federal deficit. "The president and I had a pretty frank conversation about just how far apart we are," he said of their Tuesday phone talk.

Carney ridiculed the Republican argument that sufficient revenue could be raised by closing tax loopholes or capping deductions. "Those magic beans are just beans, and that fairy dust is just dust," he said. "It is not serious."

Boehner has repeatedly offered gloomy assessments of the state of the talks in public, even as signs of progress have sprouted on Capitol Hill. The pace of staff-level talks has quickened in recent days as the two sides exchanged counter-offers that neither side said was sufficiently detailed.

The stubborn differences have dampened hopes of a potential deal before the Christmas holiday. "Keep your Christmas decorations up and make no plans" to leave Washington, was Boehner's advice in the closed-door meeting with Republicans, Representative John Shimkus of Illinois told reporters.

In exchange for more tax revenues, Republicans have demanded deep spending cuts in politically popular social entitlement programs like the government-funded Medicare and Medicaid healthcare plans.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said that House Democrats objected to Republican efforts to raise the age when seniors become eligible for Medicare, which now stands at 65, as a way to cut government spending.

"Raising the retirement age does not get you that much money, so you're doing a bad thing when it comes to seniors, and you're not achieving your goal," she told CBS.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said on Wednesday that Boehner and Republicans needed to make concessions on taxes. "To this point there hasn't been a lot of progress, and I'm very, very disappointed," he said on the Senate floor.

Financial markets have watched the negotiations with interest. JPMorgan Chase & Co CEO Jamie Dimon said the United States could have a "booming economy" in a couple of months if lawmakers in Washington reach agreement.

A budget deal could mean 4 percent economic growth and a drop in unemployment, Dimon said at a New York Times conference in New York. A deal would need to link any tax increases with spending cuts, he said.

"The table is set very well right now," Dimon said.

The stock market was closely following an announcement by the Federal Reserve of a new stimulus plan but the fiscal cliff was not far from investors' minds.

"This was expected, and the market is waiting for the year-end 'fiscal cliff' issue to be solved, so what we have to do is have confidence our political system can actually make a functional decision," said Troy Logan, managing director and senior economist at Warren Financial Service, in Exton, Pennsylvania.

(Additional reporting by Jeff Mason, Richard Cowan, Rachelle Younglai, Mark Felsenthal; Writing by John Whitesides; Editing by Alistair Bell and Christopher Wilson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/serious-differences-remain-fiscal-cliff-talks-drag-004519947--sector.html

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Researcher finds gender differences in seasonal auditory changes

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Auditory systems differ between sexes in sparrows depending on the season, a Georgia State University neuroscientist has found. The work adds to our knowledge of how the parts of the nervous system, including that of humans, are able to change.

Megan Gall, a post-doctoral researcher with Georgia State's Neuroscience Institute, tested the peripheral auditory systems of male and female house sparrows, comparing the hearing of each gender during non-breeding seasons and breeding seasons.

Gall measured frequency selectivity ? the ability to tell sounds that are close in frequency apart, and temporal resolution, the ability to tell sounds apart that are very close together in time.

"We found that males have the same frequency selectivity and temporal resolution across breeding seasons," Gall said. "In the fall, males and females aren't different. But in the breeding season, females had better frequency selectivity, but this came at the expense of worse temporal resolution."

The study was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, a British scientific journal.

The difference shows "plasticity," the ability to change, she said. Plasticity is an important concept in neuroscience, as scientists have increasingly been able to show that neurological systems have the ability to change.

Gall said the work shows, for the first time, that there's seasonal plasticity in these properties in the periphery of the auditory system, the ear and the auditory nerve, not just inside the parts of the brain that control auditory function.

Similar changes happen in humans, she said. Women show different auditory sensitivities during the course of a menstrual cycle.

"I always like to say that if your husband says he can't hear you, it may be that he can't. His auditory system is different than yours," Gall said.

The changes might have evolved over time for different reasons, she said, with one reason being that it is harder for the body to maintain a certain kind of tissues involved in hearing.

"In the ear, there are huge electrical gradients between the hair cells and the fluid that's bathing the hair cells in the ear, and that's expensive to maintain," she said. "Another possible reason is that there are other stimuli that you are concerned about during the non-breeding season.

"These birds live in an environment where it gets cold, it's hard to find food and they make calls that tell other individuals where that food is. So everybody wants to hear the call in the same way so that they all respond to that signal."

Alarm calls, warnings that a predator or predators are coming, might also require different kinds of auditory processing.

###

The study is "Songbird frequency selectivity and temporal resolution vary with sex and season," Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Gall, M.D., Salameh, T.S. and Lucas, J.R., 2003, http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.2296.

Georgia State University: http://www.gsu.edu

Thanks to Georgia State University for this article.

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

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/125852/Researcher_finds_gender_differences_in_seasonal_auditory_changes

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The Braggers | INSANITY OF MOTHERHOOD motherhood midlife ...

The winter holidays have arrived.? I have always?liked this time of the year enjoying beautiful Christmas decorations?and ?celebrating with friends.?? As a child I remember happy?times at Christmas.? Decorating a big tree, ice skating on my neighbor?s front lawn (very cool) and Christmas caroling with friends are things that come to mind.? I recall my sisters baking cookies (something they still do) and displaying the Christmas cards around our front entrance way mirror.

I have always loved cards, especially Christmas cards.? The beautiful illustrations and a few nice words from friends or family?is what?I enjoy. ?So far I have received two Christmas cards.? Both?are photo cards.

I don?t have a problem with sending a photo card for the holidays.? It?s nice to see how friends kids have grown and how everyone is doing.? What I do have a problem with is when people use the card to brag about their life.

I was happy when?our first holiday?card arrived until I found out who it was from.

?Look, Honey.? Our first Christmas card.? ? Me

?Yeah.? Look at that.? Wait a minute?it?s from the Braggers.? ? Husband

?Oh no.? The Braggers.? ? Me

I look forward to getting holiday cards from everyone, but the Braggers.? Once a year I hear from a former school friend.? Each year it is the same thing.? She sends a?holiday card?boasting about ?her life with her husband and three children.? The card always features various places she and her family have traveled during the year.? She sends a photo card now, but for many years she would send a full two-page letter bragging about her fabulous life.

The first time I?received a?holiday card from the Braggers I was a single gal.? My friend married young and had children young too.? Each year a brag letter was inclosed in the?card.?? The letter was filled with business accomplishments for her husband,? academic and social advancements about her children and extensive details about the many travel adventures they went on.? Being single reading about their fabulous life used to always make me feel down.? My life as a single, working gal with no prospects of being married seemed?bland by comparison.

Each year it?s the same thing.??The Braggers?send a card and?report about their life.? Not once in the twenty years I have received their cards have I heard one hint of bad news.? Not that a?holiday card is the place to write that kind of stuff, but still.? Last year feeling frustrated with the situation I tried to keep contact with the Braggers for more than once a year.? Turns out they were not interested in having contact.? When a social event came in which the Braggers would be able to reconnect with old friends I invited them for the fun.? No response.

The thing is the Braggers do have things to brag about.? The couple is successful at their careers, have a huge house filled with all sorts of fun stuff (motorcycles, motor home, boat and snowmobiles), the children are?have all?graduated from school and working, and they have been married for over twenty-five years.? And I must not forget they have traveled all over the stinking world.

When their card arrives it?s always the first one.? The brag letter has been replaced with brag photos with a few words about their many adventures.? Everyone?is always smiling and laughing in the photos.? The envelope?has preprinted labels for both the address and return address.??There is no signature or even a licking of the stamp.? It?s the most impersonal card I receive every year.

Their card is the exact opposite of what I think a holiday card should be.? I always purchase paper greeting cards.? I know it?s not great for the environment, but I try to find cards that are beautifully?illustrated or contribute to a charity.? I also hand write a personal message to each person I send a card to.? I enclose a photo of the family to let those who are not on Facebook or reading my blog (GASP!) how much the boys have grown.? I don?t send?holiday cards to every single person I know however, for those who do receive a card I want it to have meaning.

Sending a holiday card once a year to brag about you and your families? accomplishments doesn?t seem much in the holiday spirit.??The?reason to?celebrate the season is to show gratitude for our??blessings?and to be especially conscious of the poor and less fortunate.? Maybe I will write that message on the Braggers holiday card this year.?? Not sure if they will be home from vacation in time to read my card though.? Oh well.? There will?always next year.

Honestly, what is so great about dipping your toes in warm waters?of Tahiti anyway?

Source: http://insanityofmotherhood.com/2012/12/08/the-braggers/

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High Hopes for Boise State, Washington in Vegas Bowl

LAS VEGAS (AP) ? Beyond the common goal of notching another win, No. 20 Boise State and Washington see different opportunities in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Boise State coach Chris Petersen said the Dec. 22 game is a chance to show organizers of other bowls how many fans the Broncos can lure.

"It's a big part of what bowls you are going to go to; they look at who carries the fans. If you bring a lot of fans, those bowls are going to want you," he said following a news conference Thursday at New York-New York casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said the bowl could be a "springboard" that will help his young team earn wider recognition.

"It's the only game on that day on national television, so for Husky nation, it's an opportunity to get on that national stage," he said.

Boise State (10-2) is playing in the Vegas Bowl for the third straight year, having beat Arizona State last year and Utah in 2010.

During the news conference, Petersen gestured to the bikini-clad women behind him and said, "I think we might be coming here too much when I continue to recognize the showgirls."

Washington (7-5) is enjoying its third consecutive bowl game and making its first appearance at the Las Vegas Bowl, which is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN at 12:30 p.m. PST. It's the first Vegas Bowl game scheduled during the day since 2002.

The two Northwest teams are scheduled to meet again next year to kick off the 2013 season in the Huskies' renovated stadium. Sarkisian said he is looking forward to the development of a mini-rivalry.

The two teams have only met one other time, with Washington beating Boise State 24-10 in 2007 in Seattle.

Source: http://www.kboi2.com/sports/High-Hopes-for-Boise-State-Washington-in-Vegas-Bowl-182481411.html

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Esmark, Union Agree To Contract

YORKVILLE - The Upper Ohio Valley's economy got a little boost Thursday when union steelworkers voted 194-24 to accept a contract from Esmark Inc. in hopes of getting the Yorkville plant going early next year.

"This is the only one of the RG plants that was sold to an operator. In that, we feel fortunate to have a chance to make this work," United Steelworkers Local 1223 President Jerry Conners said.

Esmark acquired the former RG Steel Yorkville cold-rolled finishing mill during a bankruptcy court-supervised auction in August, along with RG Steel's 50 percent interest in the nearby Ohio Coatings Co.'s tin plate production facility. The name of the Yorkville facility - long part of the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. business - is now the Ohio Cold Rolling Co.

Article Photos

File Photo
Esmark Inc., which purchased the RG Steel Yorkville plant for about $4.7 million and rebranded it the Ohio Cold Rolling Co., has a new deal with the United Steelworkers on a deal that could restart the facility next year.

"Ohio Cold Rolling Co.'s focus will be on serving the light gauge and narrow width coil niche in the marketplace, and together with our Ohio Coatings Co. subsidiary we expect to be a premier supplier of both cold-rolled and tin plate products," said Tom Modrowski, chief executive officer of Esmark Steel Group, the steel operating subsidiary of Esmark Inc.

Modrowski said a restart of the Yorkville facility will contribute to Esmark's long-term strategy to offer its U.S. customers a broader range of steel products and value-added services.

James P. Bouchard, chairman and chief executive officer of Esmark, applauded the ratification vote.

"We're very pleased that after months of negotiations, the union members found the contract offer to provide for a strong wage, benefits and profit sharing package," he said.

As Conners said, RG sold the Mingo Junction, Steubenville, Martins Ferry and Beech Bottom plants to companies that are either looking to scrap the mills or sell them to someone else to operate.

Esmark previously owned all the former Wheeling-Pitt facilities before selling them to Russian steelmaker OAO Severstal for $1.23 billion in July 2008. Severstal, after idling the Steubenville and Mingo plants in 2009, later sold these plants to RG, which liquidated the assets this year.

Modrowski said some of the key economic provisions of the collective bargaining agreement call for wage increases over the term of the four-year agreement, comprehensive health care for workers and their families, financial contributions to the Steelworker Pension Fund and participation in a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association Trust to provide health care benefits for retired union workers.

Even though Conners agrees the contract has incentives and provisions for wage increases, based on how productive the plant is, he admitted the average worker wage is taking a hit in the short term. He said the average worker wage in the Esmark deal is $21.64 per hour, down from about $26 per hour under the last RG agreement.

"No one is pleased to go backwards on their wages, but we are pleased to have a job," Conners said.

Conners said a very limited crew is at work in the plant now, as he said Esmark is installing some new equipment.

"We are hoping and believing we can start in the first quarter," he added.

Source: http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/578283.html

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Defense Audit Readiness News ? December 2012 ? American ...

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Source: http://www.asmconline.org/2012/12/defense-audit-readiness-news-december-2012/

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And I said what about ?Breakfast at Tiffany?s?? (Unqualified Offerings)

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

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Bankruptcy Tips And Advice From The Experts | Siben & Siben Long ...

TIP! Filing for bankruptcy does not mean that you lose all of your assets. When you file for bankruptcy, you are allowed to keep personal property.

Repossessions, late fees and legal action due to financial hardships can be difficult to bear. You can stop calls from debt collectors and resolve your financial issues if you consider filing for bankruptcy. This article has tips that can help you through this complicated journey.

TIP! When you have decided that bankruptcy is the right route for you to take, you need to act relatively quickly. Your debt will only continue to mount as you waiver on the decision, difficult as it might be.

Be sure to take care in choosing a lawyer to handle your personal bankruptcy case. Interview your prospective attorney regarding education and experience. It is important that the attorney you pick is experienced and has the proper licenses. If you want to check for a proper lawyer, you can use the Internet, ask your friends, or look for a popular lawyer via the Yellow Pages. The idea is that you want to ensure your lawyer?s competency on the issue.

TIP! Be aware that getting unsecured credit is going to be tough once you?ve gone through bankruptcy. This being the case, look at secured card options.

Include your entire financial information when you file for bankruptcy. Failing to list these could cause the dismissal or delay of your bankruptcy petition. No matter how insignificant a sum seems, include it in the documentation. Don?t forget about side jobs, loans you?ve taken out or vehicles that might count as assets.

TIP! A key tip for those filing a personal bankruptcy petition is to always be completely honest in all documentation. Not hiding any assets or income is essential for avoiding possible penalties and your ability to re-file at some point in the future.

Going through bankruptcy is tough and can be mentally and emotionally draining. Be certain that you hire a competent lawyer to minimize the stress and anxiety you are under. When choosing an attorney, cost isn?t the only thing to look at. You do need someone who is costly, just someone who is good at what they do. You can get good information about attorneys from friends,the internet and free consultations that most attorneys provide. Try attending a hearing to find out how bankruptcy attorneys handle the situation.

TIP! Before you decide to file bankruptcy proceedings, determine which assets will be safe. The Bankruptcy Code provides a listing of the various asset types that are not included in the bankruptcy process.

If you start a new or second job, that doesn?t mean you should stop filing for bankruptcy! Filing still might be the best thing to do. The timing of your filing is also going to be important. If you can file for bankruptcy before receiving additional income, this extra money won?t count against you.

TIP! If you have filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you will still be allowed to apply for and receive a mortgage or car loan. It is just tougher.

Do not get sizable cash advances from credit cards before filing for bankruptcy because you think the debt from the cards will be erased., That is considered fraudulent behavior, and you can still have to pay the credit card back, bankruptcy or no.

TIP! Filing bankruptcy doesn?t mean that you won?t have any more bills to pay at all, so make sure that you?re always keeping up with the payments. Many folks make only the minimum payment because it?s comfortable, but that can leave them in debt for years longer than necessary.

If you?re continuously making delinquent payments and are constantly missing payments, filing for bankruptcy might just be a kinder, gentler solution for you. It is true that a bankruptcy stays on your credit record for ten years, but you are freed to start improving your credit immediately. A major benefit of the bankruptcy process is the ability to essentially start over.

TIP! Be sure you know the bankruptcy laws before you think about filing. For instance, you are not allowed to move assets from your name to someone else?s for a year before you file.

Seek a less serious option prior to filing for bankruptcy. For example, there are credit counseling services that can help you to deal with smaller amounts of debt. Also, if you just contact your creditors and speak to them plainly and truthfully, the odds are good that you can negotiate a better payment structure that you can afford.

TIP! When you are on the road to filing for bankruptcy, you are likely to have more than a few conversations with your creditors. Always ensure you are getting agreements in writing if you make a deal with your creditors.

Don?t fear reminding your attorney of any specific details of your case. Just because you have told him something of importance that he will remember it. All information submitted to the court with your signature needs to be double checked.

TIP! Be sure to be transparent with your bankruptcy attorney in regards to the number of creditors you have and who these creditors are. This obviously includes information on your credit card debts, medical bills, and other outstanding debts, but you should keep in mind that it also includes any loans that you have taken from relatives or friends.

Filing bankruptcy should only be considered after the other options have been exhausted. Keep in mind that services that promise debt consolidation are usually scams that make your financial problems worse. Keep the tips you read here close by and refer to them as you figure out your financial situation.

Source: http://www.sibensiben.com/long-island-injury-lawyer-blog/long-island-bankruptcy-lawyer/bankruptcy-tips-and-advice-from-the-experts-6

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Source: http://crawfordkenneth57.typepad.com/blog/2012/12/bankruptcy-tips-and-advice-from-the-experts-siben-siben-long.html

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2012 D*S GIFT GUIDE: For Pets and Pet Lovers | Design*Sponge

If you follow my Human/House/Harvey column here on D*S, or my personal dog+ design blog, House of Harvey, you know that I have a ?thing? for well-designed pet products. ?I think that the chew toys and dog beds of yesteryear have made strides in innovative and stylish design, and some may say, have become pieces of artwork in their own right. (Most probably won?t say that, but I do!)

As one who appreciates great pet product design, I thought I would round up a gift guide of some of what I consider to be the best in the pet world. ?There is SO much (too much) great design out there these days, so I hope this little roundup inspires you to seek out even more. ?I think it is always an extra special gift when you can find something beautiful and functional all in one, and I know that any of the pet lovers, pet owners and pets on your list would appreciate these items (I even included a couple things for the fish-lovers in your life)! ?Happy Bow/Meow-lidays! ?Stephanie

1. Scratching post and cove, $65 | 2. Ikat dog bed, $39-$50?| 3.?Fringed dog bed, $100 |4. Mountain fish bowl, $170 | 5. Igloo bed, $227?|??6.?Milk carton house

1. Rope Ball Toy, $9 | 2. Catnip fish, $6 | 3. Squirrel cat toy, $20.50 | 4. Push Pin Toy, $10 | 5. Puppy Biscuit Block Toy, $8

See the full guide after the jump?

1.?Diamond geo bowl, $54-$102 | 2.?Fish and meow bowl, $22.50 | 3.?Clear?Dog Bowl | 4.?Dipper bowl, $16-$20??|?5.?Metal stand bowls, $34

1.?Red?pattern leash, $26 |?2.?Metallic silver leash, $145?| 3.?Yellow stick leash, $18 |?4.?Contrast color leash, $32?| 5.?Rope dog leash, $30

1.?Tartan fleece carrier, $290 | 2.?Prep school dog duffel, $100 | 3.?Willow cat carrier, $47 |?4.?Brown + black leather carrier, $140

1.?Tan leather collar, $36 | 2.?Voyage brown leather collar, $90-$95 | 3.?Dachshund?bandana, $24?| 4.?Blue leather cat collar, $41?| ?5.?Dress shirt collar, $20 |?6.?Cranberry striped collar, $68

1.?Pop art kitty poster, $30 | 2.?Fish bowl, $98 |??| 3. Cat loafers, $595?| 4.?Boston Terrier scarf, $144 | 5.?Cat lamp shade, $56?|?6.?Pink cat sweater, $135?| 7.?Bulldog sweatshirt, $36?|?8.?Dog book ends, $21.99

Source: http://www.designsponge.com/2012/12/2012-ds-gift-guide-for-pets-and-pet-lovers.html

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Samsung opens their first 'Mobile Store' in Paris, France

Samsung has continued their seemingly endless quest for Global domination with this, the opening of their first "Samsung Mobile Store" in Paris, France. The concept of a brand store isn't totally new to Samsung, London has one for example, but unlike the British store this one is concentrated solely on Samsung's mobile products. That doesn't just mean Android either, lest we forget the ATIV range of Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 devices. 

The store itself looks like a pretty nice place to shop. It doesn't look much like an Apple Store -- thankfully -- but similar service can be expected. Samsung will have a number of 'consultants' on hand to guide consumers through everything Samsung Mobile. 

It's not all just about the adults though. The store has a dedicated childrens area where the young ones get to experience their own hands on with Samsung's mobile devices, but in a less boring, more kid friendly kind of way with drawing and writing games to keep them amused. 

The store has already opened to the public, and can be found at 5 Boulevard Malesherbes in Paris. If you happen to stop by whilst in the neighborhood be sure to hit us up in the comments and tell us how you found it. Visit the source link below for more images of the store. 

Source: Samsung Tomorrow

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/51FH2gSZIys/story01.htm

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Tech gifts for your significant other

1 hr.

Suzanne Kantra, Techlicious.com

Surprise your significant other with a thoughtful tech gift that combines style and functionality. Need ideas? We?ve rounded up a selection of sure hits.

Cambridge Soundworks Oontz
Most affordable, portable Bluetooth speakers aren?t much better than your smartphone?s speaker. Not the case with the Cambridge Soundworks Oontz. This tiny speaker, which can easily rest on the palm of your hand, has great dynamic range and enough volume to fill an average bedroom. The secret sauce? High-quality drivers and a passive radiator to produce surprisingly good bass.

Price: $69.99 on amazon.com, $69.99 on cambridgesoundworks.com

Pear Pro
Whether your significant other is a couch potato looking to start a walk-to-run fitness plan or gearing up for a half marathon, he will benefit from a heart-rate based fitness plan and virtual coach to keep him in line. The Pear Pro monitors his heart rate, pace and distance and delivers audible prompts to guide him through each workout.?

Most plans are free, but you can also purchase one that?s customized just for him (starting at $160 for an 8-week program). The Pear Pro is a stand-alone unit that can also work with an iPod shuffle for those that like to run to music. It comes with a heart rate monitor, a good set of headphones and a foot pod to measure distance and pace.

Price: Pear Mobile, $149.99 on pearsports.com; Pear Pro, $249.99 on pearsports.com

Lenovo Yoga IdeaPad 13.3-inch ultrabook
If your gift recipient is frequently working on the go, they?ll love the versatility of the new Lenovo Yoga IdeaPad ultrabook 13.3-inch?touchscreen laptop.

The hinge lets you fold the screen all the way back, so you can use the Yoga as a laptop, a tablet or put it in ?tent? mode for watching movies. And it?s powerful enough to handle most tasks???for work or fun???with ease.

Price: $999.99 on bestbuy.com

Moshi iGlaze+ Versacover
The Moshi Versacover folds in multiple directions to support the iPad 3rd and 4th generation horizontally, vertically or in typing mode, and also has a clear plastic back to protect the iPad's back from scratches.

Like the Apple Smart cover, the Versacover has built-in magnets to automatically power on and off the display. But, the Versacover goes one step further with a magnet mount on the back to keep the front cover from flopping around when open.

Price: $59.95 on amazon.com, $60 on moshimonde.com

RHA SA 950i headphones
Great sound doesn?t have to come at a high price with the RHA SA950i headphones. These over-ear style cans are incredibly lightweight at 3.7 ounces.

?Nice touches include a fabric braided cable to combat tangling and in-line mic and audio controls.

Price: $59.95 on amazon.com

Liquid Image APEX HD+ Snow Goggles
If your significant other likes sharing his or her time on the slopes, they?ll love these goggle equipped with a built-in camera for live streaming using your phone?s Wi-Fi hotspot. The Liquid Image APEX HD+?s camera takes Full HD 1080p video and 12MP stills. The 135-degree wide-angle camera tilts 30 degrees to adjust the shot.

Price:?$399.99 on?liquidimageco.com

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 camera
The Sony RX100 packs more image quality and features into its tiny body than most larger cameras. Its 1-inch 20.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor and fast f/1.8 3.6x optical zoom lens take impressive?low-light photos.

?It can also capture images at up to 10 frames per second and acquire focus in as little as 0.13 seconds, ensuring your loved one will always get the shot.

Price: $648?on?amazon.com, $649.99 on?sony.com

Upper Street Bespoke shoes
If the woman in your life loves shoes, a gift card to Upper Street to design her own shoes is a very special gift. On Upper Street, she can choose from eight styles, including ballet flat, platform peep toe, and sandal and a variety of materials to design the perfect pair.?

There are leathers, patent, suede, Italian satins, snakeskin and calf in a variety of colors, including metallics. Shoes take about six weeks for delivery. All alterations are free and if she?s unhappy, she can return the pair or have them remade.

Prices:?Shoes start at $320, gift cards can be bought for any amount on upperstreet.com

Gear4 Renew Sleep Clock
Give the gift of ?waking up feeling refreshed? with the Gear4 Renew Sleep Clock. Even when you?ve clocked enough hours, you can still wake up groggy if the alarm pulls you out of a deep sleep cycle.?

The Gear4 Renew Sleep Clock works with iOS devices to monitor your significant other?s sleep cycles?without a wearable sensor?waking him or her up during the lightest sleep.

Price: $129.99 on gear4.com

Nespresso U
If your significant other loves an espresso in the morning, the Nespresso U makes a perfect cup every time. There are a variety of single-serve pods in different strengths and flavors to choose from, including seasonal specials?hazelnut, macadamia nut and coconut this holiday season. Choose the bundle with the Aeroccino Plus Automatic Milk Frother for cappuccinos and lattes.

Price: $149.25/$186.75 with Aeroccino, on amazon.com, $149.96/$187.46 with the Aeroccino on williams-sonoma.com

More from Techlicious:

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/tech-gifts-your-significant-other-1C7403330

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"Desperate" Assad could resort to chemical weapons: Clinton

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The United States is worried that an increasingly desperate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could resort to the use of chemical weapons, or lose control of them, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday.

After a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at which the Western military alliance agreed to send Patriot anti-missile batteries to Syria's neighbor, Turkey, Clinton said Washington had made clear to Syria that use of chemical weapons would be a "red line" for the United States.

"Our concerns are that an increasingly desperate Assad regime might turn to chemical weapons, or might lose control of them to one of the many groups that are now operating within Syria," Clinton told a news conference.

"And so as part of the absolute unity that we all have on this issue we have sent an unmistakable message that this would cross a red line and those responsible would be held to account."

Saying a political transition in Syria needed to start as soon as possible, Clinton said the United States would do what it could to support the Syrian opposition, now that a new opposition coalition has been formed.

The United States and other countries would discuss at a meeting of the Friends of Syria group in Marrakech next week what more they could do to try to bring the Syrian conflict to an end, she said.

"But that will require the Assad regime making the decision to participate in a political transition (and) ending the violence against its own people ... We hope that they do so because we believe ... that their fall is inevitable. It is just a question of how many people will die until that date occurs," she said.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Adrian Croft)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/desperate-assad-could-resort-chemical-weapons-clinton-141427405.html

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Oregon Zoo's Baby Elephant Owned By Entertainment Company

All the fanfare surrounding the birth of a baby elephant at the Oregon Zoo last week soon turned to peanut-throwing at zoo officials, after it emerged the calf would become the property of an elephant rental company when it turns 30 days old.

Looking to quell worry, executive director of the Oregon Zoo, Kim Smith, said today the elephant was always intended to remain at the zoo and that they were in talks to negotiate the ownership of the unnamed calf.

"Ownership doesn't really mean anything," Smith said. "It's not something that bares where this animal lives. This animal lives here."

The zoo said it had previously entered into a breeding loan agreement with Have Trunk Will Travel, a group that rents elephants to the entertainment industry. Under the rules of the contract, the 2nd, 4th and 6th offspring of the Have Trunk Will Travel's male elephant, Tusko, would become the property of the group.

The new calf, which was born on Friday, is the second offspring.

Smith said Have Trunk Will Travel has always been committed to keeping the calf at the zoo, where she can bond with her mother, however she stopped short of saying that was guaranteed.

"There has never been a question of where she was going to go, not once, not ever," Smith said of the elephant.

The discovery of the contract, which was first reported by the Seattle Times, prompted outrage among animal lovers.

"It would be very sad if the Portland Zoo gave up the baby elephant especailly [sic] to such a traveling side show! Separating it from her mother is bad enough," Jerry Loos wrote on the zoo's Facebook page.

Another poster, Rachel Davis, said if the claims were true, she would never visit the Oregon Zoo again.

"These regal creatures are among the most intelligent and sentient on the planet! I hope to high heaven that this isn't true," she wrote.

Have Trunk, Will Travel did not immediately return a request for comment.

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/oregon-zoos-baby-elephant-owned-entertainment-company-211753316--abc-news-topstories.html

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