Woman accused of Arizona lover's death sent flowers after killing

PHOENIX (Reuters) - A woman charged with capital murder in Arizona testified on Monday that she sent flowers to her former boyfriend's grandmother days after killing him, which prosecutors said showed the lengths to which she went to cover her tracks.

Jodi Arias, 32, could face the death penalty if convicted of murdering 30-year-old Travis Alexander, whose body was found in the shower of his Phoenix area home in June 2008. He was shot in the face, stabbed 27 times and had his throat slit.

In graphic testimony about her relationship with Alexander, Arias has admitted to killing him but said it was in self defense after he attacked her when she dropped his camera while taking pictures of him in the shower. The prosecution has said she killed him in a jealous rage.

Prosecutor Juan Martinez told an Arizona court on Monday how, several days after the killing, Arias sent 20 white irises to Alexander's grandmother, who had helped to raise him in southern California.

"You went out of your way to contact Mr. Alexander's family, didn't you?" Martinez asked Arias. "You actually sent ... her irises ... and in addition to that you attached a note, right?" he added, saying the note indicated the grandmother was in her prayers.

"Yes," Arias replied, before Martinez shot back that she lied about feeling sympathy for Alexander's grandmother as "just a way to assuage your guilt."

"That wasn't my thought," Arias replied.

The testimony came on the second day of cross examination by the prosecution during which Martinez sought to depict Arias as a jealous schemer who tried to cover her tracks by lying to friends, family and police after killing Alexander.

CONTRADICTORY TESTIMONY

The court heard on Monday how, after Arias was arrested in July 2008, she gave a contradictory story to a detective investigating the killing, telling him that she was not present at Alexander's home on the day of his death.

Martinez confronted Arias with how she subsequently changed her story a day later after learning that her fingerprints and a photograph retrieved from Alexander's camera placed her at the scene of her lover's killing.

"You changed your story to comport with the forensic evidence that he was telling you about. ... You did not want any consequences regarding the killing of Travis Alexander, right?"

Arias said she was not "concerned about consequences."

Martinez also cast doubt on previous testimony in which Arias said that, after she told Alexander she was moving away from the Phoenix valley, he struck her with the back of his hand while they sat in a car.

He went over a journal entry Arias had written for that day in which she called Alexander her "best friend in the whole world" and noted that the couple had shared three "very tender kisses" before parting that day.

"This entry does not corroborate what you told us happened in the car ... does it?" he said. Arias agreed that it did not. She admitted there were no photographs, medical or police reports to back up her claim that Alexander struck her.

During aggressive cross examination, Martinez also questioned Arias about an alleged attempt she had made to kill herself with a razor in jail, following her arrest, in which she stopped after she "nicked" herself.

"You stopped because it stung. Can you imagine how much it must have hurt Mr. Alexander when you stuck that knife right into his chest, that really must have hurt right?"

Arias' attorney objected. Her eyes brimmed with tears, although she did not respond.

(Reporting by Tim Gaynor; Editing by Cynthia Johnston, Richard Chang and Lisa Shumaker)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/woman-accused-arizona-lovers-death-sent-flowers-killing-010331544.html

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Maintenance Of The Plumbing And Swimming Pool | Home ...

Children?s pool plumbing accounts for the running of all of the departments of the pools, for instance pool filtration, pool cleaning, chlorination systems, waterfalls, pool/spa heating, spa jets/air, skimmers, aerators, auto water-levelers, drains/returns. You may refer to http://www.plumbin.co.nz/ for more services.

Children?s pool Plumbing mainly includes the flitting of pumps, plumbing runs, auto water levelers, filters, gas heaters, and chlorinators. Your pumps include the way to obtain water for ones pools. The length of your pools is the ingredient that determines the right horsepower from the pumps. You should pumps exactly according the dimensions the length of your plumbing runs, other wise you can be paying higher monthly electricity bills.

Your plumbing runs cost depend on the length of your plumbing runs; more the space, more you will end up paying. Your pool run substructures offer the main type in receiving the best pools. So, these really need to create the perfect ways to get effective results. The automobile Water Levelers (AWLs) of this pools are utilized the hoses that happen to be helpful to fill your pools. Usually, 3/4? PVC hookups are widely-used to link up AWLs. Auto Water Levelers include the devices that monitor water amount of your pools and automatically refill your pools if your level dips below the specific level.

You may put your heaters the locations best suiting for your pools, your heaters must be at least four feet in the property line. Good U.S. state codes, the exhaust vent of the heater unit need to be 4 feet in the property line. The unit itself could be from the 4 foot boundary, but is not the exhaust vent. Choose the right plumber to help you.

Skimmers can also be chosen in line with the sizes of this pools. Skimmers skim off/suck the leaves along with other debris floating within the top of the water of this pools. Skimmers are installed right with the water lines to ensure at normal levels, the pool water is about halfway up their mouths. Other debris settles because of the base where your pool vacs can suck it up. The main drains are linked with the base of the skimmers.

The drains are generally accustomed to provide enough water from the pool for filtration. Usually 2? PVC are employed to all skimmer plumbing. Like for example, the runs from your equipment to the skimmers and from your skimmers to your main drains. The pipes that return filtered water back in the pool are known as returns. Water ?sucked? with the pool through the pool vac and/or the skimmer/main drains undergoes the filter and returns the pool distributed through these return pipes. Nowadays, looped returns are run by a lot of pool plumbers to give even water flow distribution; this is called an Anti-Vortex drain. You can always visit http://www.plumbin.co.nz/location/Albany.html for more details.

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Source: http://www.23cdk.com/maintenance-of-the-plumbing-and-swimming-pool/

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Aereo branches out to the 19 million people in greater New York and PA

Aereo's fledgling broadcast streaming service is getting a huge boost today with the news that it's now available to the 19 or so million residents in the New York "designated market area." In short, that means that it can now be used in New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania as well as within the five boroughs. Aereo's still intending to reach a further 22 cities later this year, and you'll soon be able to see adverts for the service popping up all over NYC -- so if your luddite colleagues suddenly start talking about "this Aereo TV thingy," you know why.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/P5m3ghXusbw/

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Jeter about 2 weeks away from games

New York Yankees' Derek Jeter takes batting practice during a workout at baseball spring training, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Yankees' Derek Jeter takes batting practice during a workout at baseball spring training, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Yankees' Derek Jeter fields a grounder during a workout at baseball spring training, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Yankees' Derek Jeter smiles while talking with the media during a workout at baseball spring training, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) ? Yankees captain Derek Jeter is about two weeks away from playing in a game for the first time since breaking his ankle last fall.

New York general manager Brian Cashman said on Sunday that the shortstop should be ready to play in spring training games around March 10.

"Physically, he's capable of doing everything," Cashman said. "We're being very cautious."

Also, Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson left in the first inning of Sunday's split-squad game against Toronto he got hit near the hand by J.A. Happ's pitch. New York said Granderson had a bruised right forearm and was taken for X-rays.

Jeter practiced on-field running and agility drills for the second straight day Sunday. He expects to be ready for opening day against Boston on April 1. The 38-year-old broke his left ankle lunging for a grounder in the AL championship series opener against Detroit on Oct. 13 and had surgery a week later.

"When I first got here, I was a couple weeks behind what everyone was doing anyway, so on that schedule, I don't see any reason why not," Jeter said.

Jeter also continued hitting and fielding grounders before the Yankees' second exhibition game.

Cashman said the timetable for the possible return of third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who had hip surgery, is still in July. A-Rod is doing rehab work in New York.

"We're told that he's going to be back at the All-Star break, and that's what we believe," Cashman said. "His rehab is going well."

Yankees ace CC Sabathia (left elbow bone spur surgery) is scheduled to throw batting practice for the first time Monday. Closer Mariano Rivera (knee surgery) is set to have his second BP session.

NOTES: RHP Phil Hughes (bulging disk) is set to start three to five days of working out in a pool. ... LHP Andy Pettitte had a 30-pitch bullpen session and will throw batting practice in a few days. ... RHP Hiroki Kuroda threw BP split into segments.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-02-24-BBA-Yankees-Jeter/id-ad614aa534324b848dfca64f6d5feda3

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Syria opposition spurns U.S., Russia invitations

Muzaffar Salman / REUTERS

Demonstrators hold a giant opposition flag during a protest against Syria's President Bashar Assad in Bustan al-Qasr district in Aleppo, Feb. 22, 2013. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman

The main Syrian opposition grouping has said it turned down invitations to visit Washington and Moscow to protest what it described as international silence over destruction of the ancient city of Aleppo by Syrian missile strikes.

A statement late on Friday by the Syrian National Coalition, an umbrella group of opposition political forces, said it also had suspended participation in a Friends of Syria conference of international powers due in Rome next month to protest the attacks it said have caused many civilian casualties.

"Hundreds or civilians have been killed by Scud missile strikes. Aleppo, the city and the civilization, is being destroyed systematically," the statement said.

---

"The Russian leadership especially bears moral and political responsibility for supplying the regime with weapons," it added, referring to Moscow's status as a leading ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

"In protest of this shameful international stand, the coalition has decided to suspend its participation in the Rome conference for the Friends of Syria and decline the invitations to visit Russia and the United States."

The invitations had been extended to opposition coalition leader Mouaz Alkhatib after he met the Russian and U.S. foreign ministers in Munich this month.

The invitations were made shortly after Alkhatib offered to negotiate Assad's departure with members of the Syrian government who were not tainted by having participated in the crackdown on the 23-month-long revolt.

Rocket attacks on eastern districts of Aleppo, Syria's industrial and commercial hub, killed at least 29 people on Friday and trapped a family of 10 in the ruins of their home, opposition activists in the city said.

On Tuesday activists said at least 20 people were killed when a large missile hit the rebel-held district of Jabal Badro, also in the east of the contested city.

Reuters

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/23/17071508-syria-opposition-spurns-us-russia-invitations?lite

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State may brand illegal immigrants' driver's licenses

North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles via WCNC

The new North Carolina license declares to everyone that the bearer has "no lawful status."

By The Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. ? A new North Carolina driver's license set to be issued to some illegal immigrants has a bright pink stripe and the bold words "NO LAWFUL STATUS," raising concerns about whether the design will brand those who show it.

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles announced last week that it would begin issuing the licenses March 25 following a lengthy legal review. The Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program grants valid federal work permits to qualified applicants brought to the U.S. as children without legal authorization.

---

Some Republican lawmakers in the state have balked at the idea, filing a bill Thursday to bar the DMV from granting the licenses until at least June.

Cinthia Marroquin, 22, of Raleigh, ?head organizer for NC DREAM Team, an immigrant rights group, is?awaiting approval for a DACA permit. She said the longer the license issue is delayed, the longer it will take for her to get a job and drive herself to work. Even if she is able to get one, she is worried about presenting a license declaring she has "NO LAWFUL STATUS" at a police roadblock or while writing a check at the grocery store.

"A lot of us are just scared," said Marroquin, who came to the U.S. from Mexico when she was 15. "We just want to be able to get a job and drive to work. Having that license is just going to show everybody you're here illegally, just buying a beer or writing a check. You don't know how people might react."

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina also takes issue with the designation.

"North Carolina should not be making it harder for aspiring citizens to integrate and contribute to our communities by branding them with a second-class driver's license," said ACLU attorney Raul Pinto. "There is simply no reason for officials to stigmatize people who are in the U.S. legally with an unnecessary marker that could lead to harassment, confusion, and racial profiling."

Almost from the moment President Barack Obama announced the program in June, states across the country grappled with how and whether to issue driver's licenses to those granted legal presence.

Watch US News videos on NBCNews.com

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said it is up to officials in each state to make their own determination about what to do. Many states, including Oregon and Georgia, have announced that they will grant driving privileges to those eligible.

In Arizona, where Republican Gov. Jan Brewer has pledged that DACA youths will not get driver's licenses, the state's DMV still lists federal work permits among the documents making people eligible for one.

The issue is especially politically charged in North Carolina, where current state law ordains a driver's license will be issued to anyone who holds valid federal documentation of their "legal presence" in the United States.

The office of the state's Democratic attorney general in an opinion last month said that under federal law, DACA participants have a "legal presence," even if they do not have "lawful status." Therefore, state law requires that DACA participants be granted licenses. Republican Gov. Pat McCrory's administration agreed, announcing last week the DMV would begin issuing the licenses.

That has upset many conservatives in McCrory's own party, including Rep. Mark Brody, R-Union. He is one of four freshmen legislators who introduced a bill Thursday to bar the DMV from issuing licenses to DACA participants before June 15, potentially giving time to craft a permanent change to state law.

Brody said he believes strongly that the DACA program violated the U.S. Constitution because it was implemented without congressional approval. Obama said last year he was forced to take executive action by the decades-long failure of Congress to consider meaningful immigration reform.

"We need a time out," said Brody, a construction contractor. "We don't need to have the federal government dictating to us how we are supposed to issue licenses in this state. We do it, and that's a privilege we have under our Constitution."

Among the concerns raised by Brody and other bill sponsors is that illegal immigrants might use their new licenses to access social programs or register to vote, despite the bright pink markings. An extensive 2011 review of the state's 6.4 million registered voters by the N.C. Board of Elections found 12 instances where a non-citizen successfully cast a ballot.

Jose Rico, a 23-year-old Raleigh resident from Mexico who has already been issued DACA work permit, said he plans to be in line at the DMV on March 25 to get a license, even if it's pink. He will be extremely disappointed if state legislators pass a bill delaying or a denying his ability to do so.

"I don't know what's wrong with these people, why they're so afraid of people like me," said Rico, who has lived in the U.S. since he was 13. "It's so frustrating. I passed a federal background check, done everything right by the book. I'm paying taxes. I mean, we're just kids trying to go to school."

Associated Press writer Gosia Wozniacka contributed from Fresno, Calif.

Related:
Majority of citizens believe illegal immigrants should be deported

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

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/22/17061005-pink-stripe-on-illegal-immigrants-drivers-licenses-considered-in-nc?lite

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FixYa: iPhone 5 is most reliable smartphone by far

?

Apple's handsets three times less problem-prone than competition

A new study by mobile device repair company FixYa examined a key factor in cell phone usage rarely able to be judged by buyers at the time of sale, but one of the most important in ongoing loyalty and value: reliability. From almost three quarters of a million problem reports, Apple's smartphones overall (and the iPhone 5 in particular) were found to be nearly three times more reliable than its nearest competition, Samsung. Google-owned Motorola's phones scored the worst of the four major brands examined.

Data from 772,558 FixYa reports was compiled to prepare the survey, which listed pros and cons of each major brand and on each company's flagship phone models. One of the most telling figures is that Apple, despite having an estimated 26 percent of the overall phone market share, had less than 10 percent of the problem reports. By comparison, Samsung had about the same market share, but generated 150 percent more complaints. Nokia, with third-place marketshare overall (22.15 percent) had by far the worst track record of the three, generating twice as many complaints as Samsung and around 45 percent of all the problem reports FixYa documented.

If complaints are weighted against marketshare, however, Motorola comes off even worse -- despite having a scant two percent of the handset market, it generated just as many complaints as Samsung, which has 22.7 percent. Proportionally, this means that Motorola phones were 10 times more likely to have a problem than Samsung phones.

Each brand was rated with customer comments that listed both pros and cons associated with the overall complaints. Notably, the main "cons" of owning an Apple phone had nothing to do with its hardware or software reliability, instead focusing on areas such as lack of customization, a lack of some of the latest new features, and battery life (the latter being a common issue across many phone models).

Motorola's phones, for all their other problems, won praise from owners for its great battery life (the Samsung S III phone in particular was also singled out for this feature). Other "pros" for Motorola phones included much-improved design changes with recent models, focusing on how the phone feels in a user's hand. Complaints about Motorola phones centered around their poor-quality cameras and speakers, touchscreen malfunctions (particularly for the Atrix and Droid models) and most commonly the inability to remove preinstalled apps (usually foisted on users by the carrier, in cooperation with Motorola). Verizon's preinstalled apps were singled out as the most obnoxious.

Nokia phones (both smartphone and feature phones) got dinged for its generally larger size for its models, poor battery life and excessive heat. Users also complained about a lack of available apps and poor "ecosystem," but reserved their biggest gripes for the tendency of the phones to provide a "laggy" response to gestures and button presses -- though this could be more of an issue with Windows Phone and Symbian, the two main OSes Nokia uses.

Unlike Motorola phones, Nokia customers were generally very pleased with the durability and quality of the touchscreen -- FixYa reported nearly zero issues with the touchscreen performance, even after damage had been sustained (the latest Nokia models use Gorilla Glass, like the iPhone). Another point of praise was the Windows 8 Phone homescreen, rated as very customizable and fresh-looking.

Samsung's phone models were widely praised for the display, with very few reports of dead pixels or other issues. The company's skinning of Android with its own TouchWiz UI also won compliments for the way it makes Android less cumbersome to use and generally improves the overall user experience. The Galaxy S III enjoys all these benefits as well as recently-improved battery life, making it the top-rated model of Samsung's lineup.

However, the company was also slammed for poor battery life on the Galaxy Nexus line, and dinged for multiple microphone and speaker issues across the entire range of Samsung offerings. Users reported that sound-quality and reliability issues significantly degraded the portion of the phone experience that is most crucial: the actual phone usage.

Apple's iPhones, while garnering a staggering 3.47 out of 4 reliability score overall -- the full rankings were Samsung with 1.21, Nokia with 0.68 and Motorola with 0.13 -- were not immune from criticism, which mostly centered around battery life. Apple has struggled with the issue, often seeing battery life go down following new versions of iOS, only to crawl back up at least somewhat as further updates refined energy-saving techniques. As previously mentioned, the other major complaints didn't relate to reliability, focusing instead on customization and quick adoption of new features -- neither of which has been a priority for the iPhone or iOS.

What won the iPhone line its incredibly high score was that iPhone owners experienced very few issues with the phone not of their own making. Barring accidents such as submergence in liquid or obvious user abuse, Apple owners had the fewest complaints of any other brand.

Even when problems arose, they were generally fixed simply with techniques such as restarting and were not persistent issues like Samsung's microphone and speaker problems. Customers also praised iOS's "dead simple" user interface that was described as "sleek," "simple" and not confusing. The overall ecosystem of the iPhone's integration with the App Store and its interoperability with other Apple products also won over users in FixYa's report.

By Electronista Staff

Source: http://feeds.macnn.com/click.phdo?i=597ebbb4e9da7f09ee1d71b0a7d30423

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Spanish king's son-in-law makes court appearance

PALMA DE MALLORCA, Spain (AP) ? Protesters jeered the Spanish king's son-in-law before he was questioned Saturday by a judge about allegations he and a partner funneled away millions of euros through fraudulent deals.

The investigation has deeply embarrassed the monarchy in a country hard hit by a financial crisis and sky-high unemployment. The scandal ranks among the worst public relations mishaps the royal household has experienced in the 37-year reign of King Juan Carlos.

Inaki Urdangarin, who has not been charged with a crime, made his way into a courthouse in Palma de Mallorca amid tense street scenes where a contingent of around 170 police kept noisy protesters away from the building. Urdangarin, married to the 75-year-old king's second daughter, Princess Cristina, has denied any wrongdoing.

Urdangarin, facing his second appearance in court, did not stop to say anything, but wished about 100 journalists accredited to cover the event a curt "good morning" as he walked in, accompanied by his lawyer Mario Pascual Vives.

The Duke of Palma, the title held by Urdangarin, had been called to answer questions at a courthouse on this Mediterranean island about whether he used his high-profile status to secure lucrative deals for a nonprofit foundation he ran and then fraudulently diverted money for personal gain.

But the conservative government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has moved to try and shield the king from potential collateral damage inflicted by the Urdangarin case, emphasizing Juan Carlos' value to the nation.

Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria defended the king's role three times during a news conference following Friday's Cabinet meeting, highlighting how the monarch had worked "for stability and democracy" in Spain.

Judge Jose Castro will question Urdangarin about three alleged offenses against the Treasury, including corporate tax fraud related to his foundation and matters linked to his personal income tax returns.

As stated in the writ of summons, the judge also intends to ask about alleged bank accounts in tax havens such as Andorra, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Carlos Garcia Revenga, Cristina's personal secretary, was also scheduled to answer questions Saturday.

A week ago, Urdangarin's former partner, Diego Torres, faced detailed questioning by Castro and it is reported many potentially damaging documents were handed over to the judge. Urdangarin was summoned by Castro to the same court last February when the duke was quizzed over large contracts he secured from regional governments for his foundation.

He is suspected of then subcontracting the work to private companies he also oversaw, sometimes charging the public purse unrealistically inflated prices and syphoning some of the income to offshore tax havens.

Newspapers have reported that the revenues Urdangarin and associates are suspected of having handled may have exceeded ?6 million ($8 million).

The duke's alleged misdeeds took place in 2004-2006. Urdangarin, the princess and their four children moved to Washington in 2009 as the investigation began to heat up. They returned to Spain in August.

The case exploded in the media late 2011 as Spain was buffeted by Europe's debt crisis, its economic growth grinding to a halt and already huge jobless numbers swelling.

Under Spanish law, the court will decide whether the prosecution has adequate evidence to file charges against the duke.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/spanish-kings-son-law-makes-court-appearance-123656782.html

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Stocks continue slide on weak economic data

Stocks continued their two-day slide on Wall Street Thursday as weak economic reports pushed stocks down.

By Daniel Wagner,?AP Business Writer / February 21, 2013

Specialist trader Paul Cosentino (L) gives a price just before the opening bell on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Thursday.

Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Enlarge

U.S.?stocks?continued a two-day slide Thursday on weak economic data and concern about the Federal Reserve's resolve to keep juicing the economy.

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Signaling that the U.S. labor market remains in slow recovery mode, the government said more people applied for unemployment benefits last week. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, rose to the highest in six weeks.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 46.92 points, or 0.3 percent, at 13,880.62.

The S&P 500 index dropped 9.53, or 0.6 percent, to 1,502.42. The S&P is headed for its first weekly loss of the year. The Nasdaq composite index lost 32.92, or 1 percent, to 3,131.49.

In Europe, markets closed sharply lower after a monthly survey of European executives showed that business activity in the European Union slowed in February, a strong signal that a downturn that began last year will continue into 2013. Benchmark indexes lost 2.3 percent in France, 1.9 percent in Germany, and 1.6 percent in Britain.

U.S. indexes have soared this year to the highest levels since the financial crisis but may be ready to fall back to earth, said Kim Caughey Forrest, senior analyst with Fort Pitt Capital Group, a portfolio management firm in Pittsburgh.

"I think the market has gotten ahead of itself," she said. She said fourth-quarter earnings have generally met expectations, but only after those expectations were reduced because companies made dire projections in November and December.

Wal-Mart Stores rose after beating analysts' profit forecasts in the fourth quarter. However, the biggest retailer warned of a slow start to the year. It gained $1.05, or 1.5 percent, to $70.26.

After a strong start to the holiday season, Wal-Mart said, the first three weeks of December were weak, and business has been volatile since then. The company attributed some of the weakness to a delay in tax refund checks that have left people strapped for cash. Wal-Mart's customers also have less money to spend because a temporary payroll tax cut expired in December.

"Everybody's gotten a 2 percent pay cut, and people who file their taxes early are not getting a refund back in a timely manner," Forrest said.

Supermarket chain Safeway was the biggest gainer in the S&P 500, rising $2.84, or 14.1 percent, to $22.97 after saying its net income jumped 13 percent in the fourth quarter, helped by higher gift and prepaid card revenue.

Electric car company Tesla Motors plunged a day after reporting that its fourth-quarter net loss grew 10 percent on costs related to production of its new Model S. The?stock?fell $3.38, or 8.8 percent, to $35.16.

Earlier, Asian?stocks?had closed sharply lower. The sell-off began Wednesday afternoon in New York after the release of minutes from the Fed's latest meeting. The meeting notes showed that some policymakers want to wind down bond purchases and other measures aimed at boosting the economy.

The minutes revealed new divisions over the Fed's low-interest rate policies. There is no sign of inflation, yet there was more evidence that some Fed officials are ready to ease off the stimulus programs before the economy has fully recovered.

The Fed's bond-buying has been boosting markets by reducing the cost of borrowing for companies and investors, Forrest explained. When interest rates are lower, it's possible to do business cheaper even if a company isn't growing, she said.

"Thinking maybe interest rates will creep higher, this is a very chilling scenario" for the market, she said.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.98 percent from 2.05 percent early Wednesday as demand increased for ultra-safe assets.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/EuKfYWKhPcE/Stocks-continue-slide-on-weak-economic-data

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Lindsay Lohan Gets Nothing In 'Everything' Lawsuit Against Pitbull

Judge drops actresses' lawsuit against rapper over lyrics from his song 'Give Me Everything.'

Lindsay Lohan
Photo: Jason LaVeris/ FilmMagic

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1702397/lindsay-lohan-pitbull-lawsuit-end.jhtml

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In the News: Nike, Volkswagen, Google and more

brand news

Posted by Dale Buss on February 22, 2013 08:58 AM

Nike?quickly?backs away?from Oscar Pistorius.

Volkswagen?putting?plug-in hybrid?into production.

Google?unveils?touch-screen laptop.

Apple sees hedge-fund manager press his case against it.

Avon weighs exits from more countries.

Billabong posts record loss.

Boeing CEO stays in background to work on Dreamliner problem.

Citigroup toughens rules for executive bonuses.

Facebook COO bombs glass ceiling with new book.

Ford boosts domestic production of EcoBoost engines.

H-P tries to put the worst behind it as profit falls.

Lego shrugs off toy-market blues.

Lockheed Martin makes flawed F-35 fighter a defense project too big to kill.

Nielsen plans to expand ratings from TV to broadband views.

Nissan to introduce Datsun brand to South African market.

Oscars raises profile as important advertising platform and seeks young audience via host Seth MacFarlane.

Prada handbag business booms.

Samsung copies BlackBerry playbook to pursue business clients.

Vodafone leaves options open on Verizon.

Volvo purges more vestiges of Ford ownership and plans to cut jobs.

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Obama Solicits Stories of ?Gun Violence? (Powerlineblog)

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Ireland is an animation nation

Competitive Edge Maura Kelly

?There are a lot of exciting companies in Ireland quietly innovating and they fly under the radar screen,? said Michael Pryce, Director at National Australia Bank after attending the Business of Animation panel in Manhattan recently.

Michael wasn?t the only one surprised to learn that millions of kids in the U.S. watch rich 2D and 3D animation produced by Irish companies on a daily basis. Participant, Cathal Gaffney, CEO of Brown Bag Films, backed up the fact and explained how his company ended up producing ?Doc McStuffins? for Disney. The hit show is now the number one rated show in the U.S. for pre-school children. Other recognizable Irish-made programs for U.S. broadcasters include: ?Olivia,? ?Amazing World of Gumball,? ?Skunk Fu? and ?Horrible Histories.?

Throughout the evening , which was sponsored by the Irish International Business Network, the panelists highlighted the economic growth of Irish animation sector, and screened clips of projects in development. Collectively they demonstrated why they were nominated for every major worldwide award, such as, Oscars, BAFTAs and International Emmys.

?The evening was a unique combination of technology meets entertainment and commerce meets arts,? stated Peter Ryan, Irish Deputy Consul General, who, along with Consul General of Ireland in New York, Noel Kilkenny, greeted the guests and business leaders at the Irish Consulate on Park Avenue.

?I think there was a definite wow factor, said Noel Kilkenny.

?Many of the Irish entertainment companies are not well known in Ireland or in Irish America, so the global success of these indigenous animation companies is news tonight for many.?

According to Andrew Kavanagh, CEO of Kavaleer Productions, this is because most of the work they create is for export.

?We sell at the big entertainment marketplaces like Cannes, France and South by Southwest in Austin and we partner with countries who are big animation producers like the U.S., Canada, and France. That would certainly explain why the sector continued to grow despite Ireland?s economics woes.

According to Paul Young, CEO, Cartoon Saloon, ?There is no unique Irish style of animation but we are well regarded for our ability to tell a story and for visual art.?

Siobhan N? Ghadhra, COO of Telegael, echoed the sentiment and stressed that Irish people are natural born collaborators because they have to be.

?We know that to get these entertainment projects produced we need to collaborate with companies for financing. Irish tax incentives like Section 481 are also a major factor. This scheme offers generous tax relief to producers investing in Irish-made films and television,? she explained.

Barry O?Neill, CEO of Story Toys, reviewed the gaming and app sector in Ireland and stressed that more collaboration between gaming and animation could increase Ireland?s competitive position.

When asked about YouTube and other platforms eroding the TV viewing space, Cathal Gaffney responded positively: ?There will be more changes in TV over the next five years than in the past 50 years. People will be watching on all size screens and that is a great opportunity for our homegrown content companies.

Globally, animation is a 250 billion dollar industry and Irish companies employ thousands of people in the creative economy in Ireland.

According to the panel at the consulate event there is plenty of room for growth and they are only getting stronger.

Go to Animation Ireland for more information http://www.animationireland.com and for the IIBN go to http://www.iibn.com

Connect with Maura Kelly on Twitter @maurakellymedia.

From 4 July 2012, the Irish Echo will be available online in digital edition form from 10pm EST each Tuesday evening. To ensure you have access to this digital copy, subscribe now. Articles which appear in the Irish Echo will not be posted online until five days after publication in order to sustain the digital edition. We offer the most comprehensive review of Irish American news nationwide every week in the Irish Echo; support Irish American journalism by subscribing to our feature-rich digital edition now. M?irt?n ? Muilleoir, President Irish Echo

Source: http://irishecho.com/?p=74739

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Pilot Parade: Will Arnett Casting Signals Grim Fate For Up All Night

Thursday, February 21st, 2013 at 1:45pm

While most pilot-casting announcements are full of good news for both the actor hired and the new project, this first one from TVLine signals bad things for an existing show.

The site reports Will Arnett has signed on to star in Greg Garcia?s still-untitled CBS sitcom. Why?s this bad news? Well, Arnett?s NBC series Up All Night hasn?t officially been canceled, but this move might be what finally yanks the faltering sitcom off of life support. Anyway, this new project by the creator of Raising Hope and My Name is Earl features Arnett as a divorcee whose parents are going through their own marital troubles. Garcia has another pilot in the works at CBS called Super Clyde, starring Harry Potter?s Rupert Grint.

Meanwhile, ABC?s Killer Women has found its leading man in Marc Blucas (Buffy, Necessary Roughness). The Hollywood Reporter got the scoop not long after Battlestar Galactica alum Tricia Helfer?s starring role in the series was announced. Blucas is set to play DEA agent Dan who has a sexual, though strictly physical, relationship with Helfer?s Molly Parker.

From action to comedy, TVLine reports that Tim Meadows has joined the Fox sitcom The Gabriels. Created by Justin Hurwitz (The League) and Andre Gurland the series focuses on the buttoned-up title family of a Wisconsin town filled with busy bodies. Meadows will play ?straight-laced? Principal Tom.

According to THR the network sussed out the female lead for ABC?s Spy, a remake of Simeon Goulden?s British series. Goulden has written the US pilot version which will now star Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds) as Rob Corddry?s ex-wife and Mason Cook?s mother. Brewster?s Erica Elliot is a cold neurotic, basically the polar opposite of Corddry?s warm and loving father.

ABC also nailed down Steve Zahn (That Thing You Do, Treme) for Awake creator Kyle Killen?s next pilot Influence, according to TVLine. Zahn plays bi-polar Clark, one of two brothers ?who head a unique agency designed to attack their clients? problems using the real science of human motivation and manipulation.?

Tags: ABC, Andre Gurland, CBS, Fox, Greg Garcia, Influence, Justin Hurwitz, Killer Women, Kyle Killen, Marc Blucas, Paget Brewster, Simeon Goulden, Spy, Steve Zahn, The Gabriels, Tim Meadows, will arnett

Source: http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2013/02/21/pilot-parade-will-arnett-casting-signals-grim-fate-for-up-all-night/

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Amber Rose Exits Twitter To Prepare For Baby WizBud

It?s almost time! Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa revealed on the red carpet at the Grammys that their little WizBud is due the 24th, but with that date being just 10 days away?he can arrive at any time! Amber took to Twitter last night to announce that she?d be taking a hiatus, so as to prepare for the little one through meditation and focus. This is so exciting! Check her tweet in the gallery and some of her cutest baby bump pictures. I can?t wait to see what this little guy looks like!

Marisa Mendez

Source: http://www.inflexwetrust.com/2013/02/14/amber-rose-exits-twitter-to-prepare-for-baby-wizbud/

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Mitchell 2013 Ford Explorer New SUV near Sioux Falls, SD Brookings, SD Vern Eide Ford Lincoln for $37,378

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*The advertised price does not include sales tax, vehicle registration fees, finance charges, documentation charges, and any other fees required by law. We attempt to update this inventory on a regular basis. However, there can be lag time between the sale of a vehicle and the update of the inventory.

EPA mileage estimates are for newly manufactured vehicles only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

Before purchasing this vehicle, it is your responsibility to address any and all differences between information on this website and the actual vehicle specifications and/or any warranties offered prior to the sale of this vehicle. Vehicle data on this website is compiled from publicly available sources believed by the publisher to be reliable. Vehicle data is subject to change without notice. The publisher assumes no responsibility for errors and/or omissions in this data the compilation of this data and makes no representations express or implied to any actual or prospective purchaser of the vehicle as to the condition of the vehicle, vehicle specifications, ownership, vehicle history, equipment/accessories, price or warranties. 2013 Ford Sioux Falls, SD 2013 Ford Mitchell, SD 2013 Ford Albert Lea, MN

Source: http://www.verneide.com/2013-Ford-Explorer-Mitchell/vd/13464542

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Sony patent application reveals multi-sensor control surface called EyePad, of all things

Patents, we love 'em. When else do we get to peek directly into the idea-pantry of big companies like Sony. On the shelf today is this application for an "Input device, system and method," which as mundane as that sounds, actually appears quite the contrary. The flat, tablet-like illustration is described as having six-axis motion sensors, joystick controls, and illuminated edges that "provide a similar functionality to that of the illuminated ball of the Playstation move." So, this would work not only as a physical surface (it has touch sensors too), but also as a motion tracking device in conjunction with the EyeToy. That's not all, though, as there are plenty of references to a pair of stereoscopic cameras "of a type typically found in mobile phones and other compact devices" at each end of the touch surface -- allowing it to create depth maps. The result described in the application is an area above the "EyePad" where objects can be recognised, and perhaps incorporated into a game. We're not making that leap, either, as it's Sony itself which refers to existing controllers of "systems or entertainment devices such as the PlayStation 3." Of course it would be a leap to connect it to, say, a forthcoming announcement. While this all sounds really exciting, we can't help feeling like we've heard that product name somewhere before..?

Filed under: Gaming, Sony

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/ZDRLXrZl2dY/

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Pistorius' girlfriend was a model, law graduate

This is an undated portfolio photo supplied by Ice Model Management in Johannesburg of Reeva Steenkamp, during a photo shoot. Paralympic superstar Oscar Pistorius was charged Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, with the murder of his girlfriend who was shot inside his home in South Africa, a stunning development in the life of a national hero known as the Blade Runner for his high-tech artificial legs. Reeva Steenkamp, a model who spoke out on Twitter against rape and abuse of women, was shot four times in the predawn hours in the home, in a gated community in the capital, Pretoria, police said. (AP Photo/Ice Model Management) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY

This is an undated portfolio photo supplied by Ice Model Management in Johannesburg of Reeva Steenkamp, during a photo shoot. Paralympic superstar Oscar Pistorius was charged Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, with the murder of his girlfriend who was shot inside his home in South Africa, a stunning development in the life of a national hero known as the Blade Runner for his high-tech artificial legs. Reeva Steenkamp, a model who spoke out on Twitter against rape and abuse of women, was shot four times in the predawn hours in the home, in a gated community in the capital, Pretoria, police said. (AP Photo/Ice Model Management) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY

CORRECTS THE SPELLING OF REEVA This is an undated portfolio photo supplied by Ice Model Management in Johannesburg of Reeva Steenkamp, during a photo shoot. Paralympic superstar Oscar Pistorius was charged Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, with the murder of his girlfriend who was shot inside his home in South Africa, a stunning development in the life of a national hero known as the Blade Runner for his high-tech artificial legs. Reeva Steenkamp, a model who spoke out on Twitter against rape and abuse of women, was shot four times in the predawn hours in the home, in a gated community in the capital, Pretoria, police said. (AP Photo/Ice Model Management) EDITORIAL PURPOSE ONLY

In this Nov. 4, 2012 photo, South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp, believed to be his girlfriend, at an awards ceremony, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius was taken into custody and was expected to appear in court Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, after a 30-year-old woman who was believed to be his girlfriend was shot dead at his home in South Africa's capital, Pretoria. (AP Photo/Lucky Nxumalo-Citypress) SOUTH AFRICA OUT

CORRECTS THE SPELLING OF REEVA This is an undated portfolio photo supplied by Ice Model Management in Johannesburg of Reeva Steenkamp, during a photo shoot. Paralympic superstar Oscar Pistorius was charged Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, with the murder of his girlfriend who was shot inside his home in South Africa, a stunning development in the life of a national hero known as the Blade Runner for his high-tech artificial legs. Reeva Steenkamp, a model who spoke out on Twitter against rape and abuse of women, was shot four times in the predawn hours in the home, in a gated community in the capital, Pretoria, police said. (AP Photo/Ice Model Management) EDITORIAL PURPOSE ONLY

CORRECTS THE SPELLING OF REEVA This is an undated portfolio photo supplied by Ice Model Management in Johannesburg of Reeva Steenkamp, during a photo shoot. Paralympic superstar Oscar Pistorius was charged Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, with the murder of his girlfriend who was shot inside his home in South Africa, a stunning development in the life of a national hero known as the Blade Runner for his high-tech artificial legs. Reeva Steenkamp, a model who spoke out on Twitter against rape and abuse of women, was shot four times in the predawn hours in the home, in a gated community in the capital, Pretoria, police said. (AP Photo/Ice Model Management) EDITORIAL PURPOSE ONLY

JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? The leggy blonde model tweeted that Valentine's Day should be "a day of love for everyone."

Instead Reeva Steenkamp was shot dead in the home of her boyfriend, paralympian superstar Oscar Pistorius, who was charged with her murder.

Steenkamp, South African model with a law degree, campaigned against rape and violence against women. Thursday morning, Reeva Steenkamp was to give an inspirational talk at a Johannesburg school. The next day she was going to wear black to protest the brutal rape and mutilation of a 17-year-old.

But the glamorous South African celebrity was found dead in the early hours from four bullet wounds in the Pretoria home of Pistorius. The two had been dating for only a few months.

She was one of FHM magazine's 100 Sexiest Women in the World for the past two years, appeared in international and South African advertisements and was to make her debut next week as a celebrity contestant on the reality TV show "Tropika Island of Treasure" filmed in Jamaica. She was also the South African face of Avon cosmetics. Police said the model was 30.

The freckled blonde who appeared in scanty bikinis on magazine covers and sashayed down fashion ramps was "continuously breaking the model stereotype," said her publicist Sarit Tomlinson.

Steenkamp was "the sweetest, kindest, just angelic soul" and at the same time "a very inspiring individual, very passionate about speaking about women and empowerment."

Scores of tributes were posted online. Fellow model Mashadi Motsogi tweeted: "You will be missed my sister. I can't hold the tears back. Love you always. RIP."

Thursday morning, Steenkamp had been scheduled to give a motivational speech to school students in Johannesburg. "It was about empowerment and inspiration and what inspires you and how to follow your dreams," said Tomlinson, who had Steenkamp's notes for the speech.

Steenkamp was born in Cape Town then moved with her family as a child to Port Elizabeth. There she attended the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, graduating with a Bachelor of Law degree.

"She had a fantastic character and we all were very fond of her," said Hilda Fisher, secretary to the dean of law.

Six years ago, Steenkamp moved to Johannesburg, South Africa's commercial capital, after she won the contract to represent Avon.

On Twitter, Steenkamp tweeted messages urging women to stand up against rape as well as her excitement about Valentine's Day.

"What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow?" she tweeted. "It should be a day of love for everyone."

Her last tweet was an enthusiastic acceptance of a friend's invite to celebrate the day with chocolate cupcakes topped with red hearts.

She also used her Twitter account to encourage her thousands of followers to fight sexual abuse.

"WEAR BLACK THIS FRIDAY IN SUPPORT AGAINST (hash)RAPE," she re-tweeted just hours before she was killed.

Steenkamp urged followers to stand up against violence against women, tweeting four days ago as South Africa was outraged by the particularly brutal rape and murder of a 17-year-old: "I woke up in a happy safe home this morning. Not everyone did. Speak out against the rape of individuals in SA (South Africa). RIP Anene Booysen (hash)rape (hash)crime (hash)sayNO."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-02-14-South%20Africa-Pistorius-Girlfriend/id-099e8cbb756d447b9e162b537cc312e3

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Moderate GOP Sen. Collins says she'll oppose Hagel, as Reid sets up final vote

WASHINGTON ? ?A moderate Republican senator said Wednesday she'll oppose the confirmation of Chuck Hagel to become President Barack Obama's secretary of defense, while other GOP senators signaled they may delay a floor vote on the nomination unless the White House provides more information about the deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, had been viewed as a possible supporter of Hagel, but she said Wednesday that his views on the most critical threats facing the United States are "unsettling."

In a four-page statement, Collins said Hagel was unwilling to ask the European Union to designate Hezbollah a terrorist organization in 2006, and he has been hesitant to back the use of all non-military options, such as unilateral sanctions, to pressure Iran into ceasing its nuclear program.

As Collins voiced her opposition, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., set the stage on Wednesday for a full Senate vote on Hagel's nomination. Reid filed a motion to limit debate and force a vote, which is expected to be held on Friday. Democrats hold a 55-45 edge in the Senate and have the numbers to confirm Hagel on a majority vote, but would need the support of five Republicans to clear the way for an up-or-down vote on Hagel.

A bitterly divided Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday voted to approve Hagel by a 14-11 vote, with all the panel's Democrats backing him to succeed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. The committee's Republicans were unified in their opposition to their onetime colleague, a former two-term Republican senator from Nebraska and twice-wounded Vietnam combat veteran.

"I am unable to support Senator Hagel to be the next secretary of defense because I do not believe his past positions, votes, and statements match the challenges of our time, and his presentations at his (confirmation) hearing did nothing to ease my doubts," Collins said. "I regret having to reach that conclusion given our personal relationship and my admiration for Senator Hagel's military service. But I have concluded that he is not well-suited for the tremendous challenges our country faces during this dangerous era in our history."

Collins said she would not join in a filibuster to block a final vote.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Wednesday that he would vote against ending debate on Hagel's nomination to be defense secretary because he wants more information on Obama's actions on the night of the Sept. 11 raid on the mission in Benghazi. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans died in the Sept. 11 raid.

Graham, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., wrote to Obama on Tuesday and asked whether he spoke to any Libyan government official during the assault.

"There seems to not be much interest to hold this president accountable for a national security breakdown that led to the first ambassador being killed in the line of duty in over 30 years," Graham said. "No, the debate on Chuck Hagel is not over. It has not been serious. We don't have the information we need. And I'm going to fight the idea of jamming somebody through until we get answers about what the president did personally when it came to the Benghazi debacle."

McCain declined to say Wednesday whether he would try to filibuster or delay Hagel's confirmation if Obama did not provide an answer. "My position right now is I want an answer to the question," he said.

After the committee vote, McCain said he did not want a filibuster of Hagel's nomination. "We have not filibustered a Cabinet appointee in the past and I believe that we should move forward with his nomination, bring it to the floor and vote up or down," he said.

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said he's confident the White House will supply the information and that Hagel will be confirmed.

Source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/politics/~3/SWkd96pTRVQ/

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Birth order linked to increased risk of diabetes, metabolic disorders

Feb. 12, 2013 ? Long a source of sibling rivalry, birth order may raise the risk of first-born children developing diabetes or high blood pressure, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

First-born children have greater difficulty absorbing sugars into the body and have higher daytime blood pressure than children who have older siblings, according to the study conducted at the University of Auckland's Liggins Institute in New Zealand. The study was the first to document a 21 percent drop in insulin sensitivity among first-born children.

"Although birth order alone is not a predictor of metabolic or cardiovascular disease, being the first-born child in a family can contribute to a person's overall risk," said Wayne Cutfield, MBChB, DCH, FRACP, of the University of Auckland.

With family size shrinking in many countries, a larger proportion of the population is made up of first-born children who could develop conditions like type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke and hypertension. The research findings may have significant public health implications for nations like China, where the one-child policy has led to a greater segment of the population being composed of first-born children.

The study measured fasting lipid and hormonal profiles, height, weight and body composition in 85 healthy children between the ages of 4 and 11. The 32 first-born children who participated in the study had a 21 percent reduction in insulin sensitivity and a 4 mmHg increase in blood pressure.

The good news for oldest and only children? The study found they tended to be taller and slimmer than their later-born counterparts, even after the height and body mass index of their parents was taken into account.

The metabolic differences in younger siblings might be caused by physical changes in the mother's uterus during her first pregnancy. As a result of the changes, nutrient flow to the fetus tends to increase during subsequent pregnancies.

For this study, researchers focused on children because puberty and adult lifestyle can affect insulin sensitivity.

"Our results indicate first-born children have these risk factors, but more research is needed to determine how that translates into adult cases of diabetes, hypertension and other conditions," Cutfield said.

Other researchers working on the study include: A. Ayyavoo, T. Savage, J. Derraik and P. Hofman of the University of Auckland.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Endocrine Society, via Newswise.

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Journal Reference:

1. A. Ayyavoo, T. Savage, J. G. B. Derraik, P. L. Hofman, W. S. Cutfield. First-born Children Have Reduced Insulin Sensitivity and Higher Daytime Blood Pressure Compared to Later-Born Children. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2013; DOI: 10.1210/jc.2012-3531

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/living_well/~3/_RuJPmCRj2o/130212075115.htm

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A decade after 'ER,' Edwards back on TV

This TV image released by ABC shows Anthony Edwards in a scene from "Zero Hour." Edwards plays Hank Galliston, a magazine publisher who descends into an historical mystery after his wife is kidnapped. "Zero Hour," premieres Feb. 14, 2013 on ABC. (AP Photo/ABC, Phillippe Bosse)

This TV image released by ABC shows Anthony Edwards in a scene from "Zero Hour." Edwards plays Hank Galliston, a magazine publisher who descends into an historical mystery after his wife is kidnapped. "Zero Hour," premieres Feb. 14, 2013 on ABC. (AP Photo/ABC, Phillippe Bosse)

This TV image released by ABC shows Anthony Edwards, left, Addison Timlin and Scott Michael Foster in a scene from "Zero Hour." Edwards plays Hank Galliston, a magazine publisher who descends into an historical mystery after his wife is kidnapped. "Zero Hour," premieres Feb. 14, 2013 on ABC. (AP Photo/ABC, Phillippe Bosse)

NEW YORK (AP) ? A decade after Dr. Mark Greene hung up his white lab coat for good on "ER," Anthony Edwards is back as the star of a new television series.

He plays Hank Galliston, a magazine publisher wrapped up in an historical mystery after his wife is kidnapped on ABC's "Zero Hour," which premieres Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. EST. The action thriller requires an audience to concentrate as the story unfolds layer by layer.

The road back to series television took Edwards many miles to travel ? literally thousands upon thousands.

Edwards' character Greene was the heart of what was then television's most popular drama before the actor bowed out after eight years. Upon leaving, "I didn't really have a plan other than I knew I wasn't going to jump into a series again and I knew that I was really tired and burnt out," he said.

Professionally, maybe. Personally, Edwards had a clear strategy. The California native moved his wife and four children to New York. He was going to spend time raising his kids and give his artist wife time to establish her career, before they took off on a dream adventure.

While fellow actors George Clooney and Julianna Margulies left "ER" quickly to try other things, Edwards committed himself to a four-year contract. At the time, the commitment seemed huge ? four years seems a lot longer at age 36 than it does now, when he's 50 ? but the decision set him up financially for life.

He bought a plane and took the family (and two teachers) on a 310-day trip around the world, through Africa, India, Southeast Asia and just about every exotic place you could imagine.

"It sounds like 'Howdy Doody,'" Edwards said. "But I've never met the older man who wishes he had spent less time with his kids while they were young. You don't meet anybody who says, 'God, I wish I had worked harder and was gone more.'"

He had an opportunity that few people have.

"I've always been able to pay for what I needed and always done what I've wanted," he said. "It got crazy when it was, yeah, we can buy a plane and go around the world, but that wasn't the goal. That was no more excessive than when I was 20 and I could buy a $150 pair of boots because I wanted them. It feels extravagant in the same way."

He didn't leave the business. Edwards was always comfortable behind the scenes, and had been close to leaving acting for directing before getting the "ER" job. He has his own production company, Grand Central Entertainment, and was an executive producer of HBO's "Temple Grandin." He did some film acting, in "Zodiac" and the memorable flop "Motherhood."

Showtime's loss proved ABC's gain. Grand Central developed a series about a high-end public relations firm that Edwards had planned to act in and when Showtime passed, he found himself with free time. Edwards started looking at other scripts and found "Zero Hour" to be "a total page-turner."

Zack Estrin, one of the show's four executive producers, couldn't believe his luck.

"It's an honor when somebody who could have his choice of shows chooses yours," he said. "It's like, the prom queen chooses you to have a dance."

Having a well-known actor attach himself to your project has its obvious benefits, and Estrin hopes some viewers try out "Zero Hour" just to see what Edwards is doing. The danger is that television has its cases of actors being so defined by an overwhelmingly successful role that viewers have a hard time seeing them do something else. Edwards believes the characters he has chosen guard against that.

"My career has never been based on the fact that I was an action hero or a specific kind of comedian," Edwards said. "What's fun about it is it appears a little bit boring, but for me the subtleties of what is going on is what makes it fun."

In many ways, Mark Greene was designed to be a person that viewers can relate to. Same thing with Galliston. The show needs a character to steady the boat, Estrin said.

"That's what Anthony is," he said. "He's somebody who's solid and dependable, somebody the audience can trust. On a show where you don't know who you can trust and who you can believe, it's important to have somebody at the center you know you can."

Keep your eyes open for an inside joke. In one episode where Galliston is depicted escaping from pursuers he puts on a lab coat and walks through a medical facility. Mark Greene lives!

The young actor who once learned by example from Hal Holbrook and Sean Penn is now leading the same way himself, demonstrating to younger cast members the importance of showing up on time and knowing your lines. Edwards enjoys the comfort of being back on a television set.

"I understand how a day on a set is supposed to go and it makes perfect sense," he said. "It's my playground. A question from a 12-year-old? That's when it gets tough. Raising kids is hard."

___

EDITOR'S NOTE ? David Bauder can be reached at dbauder"at"ap.org or on Twitter (at)dbauder.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-02-11-TV-Anthony%20Edwards/id-747dd100461d458bac2094517eb50917

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