Rethinking equilibrium: In nature, large energy fluctuations may rile even 'relaxed' systems

Rethinking equilibrium: In nature, large energy fluctuations may rile even 'relaxed' systems

Monday, October 31, 2011

An international research team led by the University at Buffalo has shown that large energy fluctuations can rile even a "relaxed" system, raising questions about how energy might travel through structures ranging from the ocean to DNA.

The research appeared online Oct. 21 in Physical Review E.

In their study, the scientists used computer simulations to model the behavior of a closed, granular system comprising a chain of equal-sized spheres that touch one another and are sandwiched between two walls. Energy travels through this system as solitary waves, also known as non-dispersive energy bundles.

When the system was disturbed by multiple energy perturbations -- imagine someone tapping on each of the walls -- the energy spread unevenly through the system.

Distinct hot and cold spots with an energy much higher and lower than the average energy per sphere persisted over short periods of time, and some regions remained cold over extended times. This held true even in simulations that lasted for several days, demonstrating that the system's eventual state was something very different from what is traditionally thought of as equilibrium.

Like many systems in nature, the system the scientists simulated is subject to strong, nonlinear forces, which vary sharply as a system evolves.

"This work shows that the concept of equilibrium should be broadened," said Surajit Sen, PhD, the UB physics professor who led the study. "When you have strongly nonlinear forces in finite systems, as you do in the granular system, the energy may not be equitably distributed.

"Nature may be capable of showing far greater energy fluctuations even in the equilibrium/tranquil state than we might ordinarily expect," Sen continued. "We know that in the open ocean, there are large, rogue waves that can cause ships to go down. Where do these enormous, rogue waves come from? Another question is whether external stimulations that lead to these kinds of large fluctuations can arise in confined, biological systems, such as DNA, and subsequently affect their properties."

Sen's collaborators on the project included Edgar Avalos of Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan; Diankang Sun, a postdoctoral fellow at New Mexico Resonance; and Robert L. Doney, a physical scientist at the U.S. Army Research Labs at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Avalos is a former UB Fulbright Fellow. Sun and Doney studied at UB as PhD candidates working with Sen.

In their simulations, the researchers modeled a granular system that was lossless, meaning that the system continuously retained all of the energy added to it through perturbations. While all real-world mechanical systems inevitably lose energy over time, an effectively lossless system may be realized as a nonlinear circuit.

In addition to identifying persistent hot and cold spots in the granular system, Sen and his colleagues confirmed the findings of a group of researchers who described how solitary waves can grow their energy content when passing through each other in such a system.

###

University at Buffalo: http://www.buffalo.edu

Thanks to University at Buffalo for this article.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/114771/Rethinking_equilibrium__In_nature__large_energy_fluctuations_may_rile_even__relaxed__systems

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Jared Sullinger tops AP preseason All-America team (AP)

Jordan Taylor is in a class by himself on The Associated Press' preseason All-America team.

The guard from Wisconsin was the only senior on the team Monday. He was joined by four sophomores, including Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, a unanimous pick of the 65-member national media panel.

Harrison Barnes of North Carolina, Terrence Jones of Kentucky and Jeremy Lamb of Connecticut were the other sophomores.

The 6-foot-1 Taylor averaged 18.1 points and 4.7 assists last season in leading the Badgers to a 25-9 record, third place in the Big Ten and their 13th straight NCAA tournament appearance. He received 51 votes.

"I just hope he doesn't think he has to score 40 a game this year," coach Bo Ryan said. "I think we're going to be in trouble if he does. He doesn't. He wants to be even more consistent. He wants to be more inclusive with his teammates, maybe in transition. There are different things we're looking at in trying to get done with a different-sized team maybe on the floor."

The 6-9 Sullinger was one of the players who decided to pass on the NBA draft. His coach said an impending lockout had nothing to do with him returning.

"He knew what he was going to do from the time he got to Ohio State in the summer," Buckeyes coach Thad Matta said. "When he told me he was coming back, I said, 'Are you sure? Let's talk about this.' I want what's best for our players. He said, 'No, there's no need to do it, I'm coming back.'"

His return has Ohio State at No. 3 in the AP preseason Top 25, behind two schools also featuring the return of a star.

North Carolina was a runaway choice for No. 1, and Barnes was second to Sullinger in the voting with 63. The Tar Heels' entire front line is back after thinking about entering the draft.

The 6-8 Barnes was the first freshman selected to the preseason team, which started before the 1986-87 season. Many felt there was too much pressure on Barnes as the season started, and he did start to play more consistently once conference play began.

"Coming into last year, there was a lot of expectations, but we didn't know what to expect and we didn't know how things went," said Barnes, who averaged 15.7 points and 5.8 rebounds for an inexperienced North Carolina team. "There wasn't really anybody we could talk to on the team who had been through that. ... I think this year we kind of know what to expect. We're not looking at it as championship or bust. We're looking at it as go out and play the best basketball we can."

Jones, who received 33 votes, also thought about leaving for the NBA but he will be back for the Wildcats, who were No. 2 in the preseason Top 25. The 6-9 forward averaged 15.7 points and 8.8 rebounds last season as Kentucky reached the Final Four.

Lamb asserted himself as the season went on and became a key player in the Huskies' 11-game run to their third national championship. The 6-5 guard, who received 25 votes, averaged 11.1 points and 4.5 rebounds last season.

The last unanimous pick to the preseason All-America team was North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough before the 2008-09 season.

Besides Barnes, the other members of last season's preseason team were Jimmer Fredette of BYU, who went on to become national player of the year; JaJuan Johnson of Purdue, a first-team selection; Jacob Pullen of Kansas State, a third-team pick; and Kyle Singler of Duke, an honorable mention.

The other members of the postseason first team were Nolan Smith of Duke and Kemba Walker of Connecticut.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111031/ap_on_sp_co_ne/bkc_preseason_all_america

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No. 6 Clemson stumbles in 31-17 loss to Ga. Tech (AP)

ATLANTA ? The Clemson players straggled off the field, trying to avoid thousands of Georgia Tech students who hopped out of the stands to celebrate.

The Tigers' unbeaten season was over.

In all likelihood, so were their national title hopes.

Tevin Washington rushed for 176 yards ? the most ever by a Georgia Tech quarterback ? and broke the two longest runs of his career, leading a 31-17 upset of No. 6 Clemson on Saturday night.

Clemson, which had scored 115 points in its two previous games, turned it over four times. Tajh Boyd threw for 295 yards, and freshman Sammy Watkins had 10 catches for 159 yards and a touchdown. But starting back Andre Ellington didn't play because of a sprained ankle, and his replacements ? freshmen D.J. Howard and Mike Bellamy ? each had a fumble.

"We kind of self-destructed," said Boyd, who had two interceptions. "We did have a shot to make a run to do something that hasn't been done here in a long time. We've got to keep building from it."

Indeed, the Tigers (8-1, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) have to adjust their goals. They still lead their division. They still have the inside track to play in the ACC championship game. No wonder coach Dabo Swinney told his players afterward, "Get your heads up. We're an 8-1 football team."

The Yellow Jackets (7-2, 4-2) raced to a 24-3 halftime lead and made it hold up. So much for Clemson's best start since 2000 (which, in an interesting twist, also ended with a loss to Georgia Tech). So much for climbing to fifth in the BCS standings. The Tigers figure to take a tumble and are unlikely to have enough games left to re-enter the national race.

"It's a very disappointed locker room. I'm disappointed in the turnovers in particular," Swinney said.

The Yellow Jackets snapped a two-game losing streak behind their junior quarterback, who had runs of 46 and 56 yards and touchdown among his 27 carries. He broke the school quarterback mark of 151 yards rushing, set by Joshua Nesbitt in 2008. Overall, Georgia Tech finished with 383 yards on the ground, compared to 95 for Clemson.

"I had some real big holes," Washington said. "Anybody could've run through 'em. I'm just lucky to have my number called."

No one could've seen this coming. These were teams headed in opposite directions.

Georgia Tech got off to a dynamic start, winning the first six games for its best start since 1966. But Washington slumped and the triple-option bogged down badly, leading to losses at Virginia and Miami.

"We know what we can do as a team," Washington said. "It's not about falling down. It's about getting back up."

Clemson got off to a sluggish start with lackluster wins against Troy and Wofford. But a victory over defending national champion Auburn seemed to ignite the Tigers, who took command of the ACC race and arrived in Atlanta having put up more than 50 points the two previous weeks in wins over Maryland and North Carolina.

More of the same on the first possession, when Clemson drove right down the field before settling for Chandler Catanzaro's 34-yard field goal.

It was all Georgia Tech the rest of the first half.

The tide swung toward the Yellow Jackets when Howard caught a pass out of the backfield, but lost the ball just before he hit the ground. The officials initially ruled him down, but changed the call after a video review. Rod Sweeting was credited with a recovery at the Clemson 19, and Orwin Smith scored the first of his two TDs on a fourth-down run from the 1.

Washington broke off the 46-yard run down the sideline ? the longest of his career, though that mark wouldn't last long ? to set up Justin Moore's 23-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead. The Yellow Jackets followed by going 80 yards in 10 plays, making it 17-3 on Smith's 3-yard TD.

Stephen Hill, who had earlier dropped a long pass that might've gone for a touchdown, made up for it ? and then some. The 6-foot-5 receiver stretched out with both arms to make a diving catch, pulling the ball into his body with the left hand before slamming into the turf. He rolled over and did a little dance with his arms, celebrating the 44-yard completion.

Two plays later, Washington ran it in from the 3 to push the lead to 24-3 with just 37 seconds left in the half.

The Tigers have been a great second-half team, and they came out of the locker room looking to pull off their biggest comeback yet. They took the kickoff and needed only four plays to reach the end zone for the first time. Boyd hooked up with Watkins on a 48-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-10.

But Georgia Tech quickly answered. Again, it was Washington with the big run. With Georgia Tech facing third-and-6 and the Clemson defense waving their arms to rev up a sizable contingent of orange-clad fans, the quarterback spotted a hole up the middle and took off for the 56-yard gain.

David Sims finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run, restoring Georgia Tech's 21-point lead.

After Clemson's second fumble of the game, this one by Bellamy, the Yellow Jackets were on the verge of putting the game away. They drove to a first down at the Tigers 1 and were back there on third down after a delay of game. Then, a break for the visiting team.

Defensive tackle Rennie Moore shot through a gap ahead of the snap, appearing on the replay to be clearly offsides. But the officials didn't catch it, and Moore snatched the ball away from Washington just as he was taking the snap. It was ruled a fumble, and Clemson took over at the 3.

The Tigers took advantage of their good fortune, driving 97 yards in 10 plays. Boyd tried to sneak it over, fumbled in the pile of bodies and 300-pound Brandon Thomas fell on it for the first touchdown by a Clemson offensive lineman since 1966, cutting the deficit to 31-17.

Clemson had one more chance to make a game of it. Washington made his only big mistake of the night, throwing a pass down the middle that was picked off by Rashard Hall and returned to the Georgia Tech 9 with about 10 1/2 minutes to go. But Clemson gave it right back when Boyd threw a fade route, only to have Watkins pull up short. Jemea Thomas made an uncontested pick in the corner of the end zone.

The Tigers were done.

___

Follow AP Sports Writer Paul Newberry on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111030/ap_on_sp_co_ga_su/fbc_t25_clemson

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Queen Elizabeth II ends Aussie visit with barbecue (AP)

PERTH, Australia ? Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip have ended their Australian visit after tens of thousands of fans bid them farewell at a riverside barbecue.

The 85-year-old British monarch told the huge lunchtime crowd on the Swan River bank in the western coastal city of Perth on Saturday that she will return to London with "fond memories" of her 16th visit to Australia since 1954.

She later took off in a chartered airliner for the 18-hour flight home.

The queen made the 10-day visit to open the biennial meeting of Commonwealth government leaders in Perth on Friday. The 53 countries represented are mostly former colonies of the British empire.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/oceania/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111029/ap_on_re_as/as_australia_royals

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Mexico nabs drug cartel financial operator (AP)

MONTERREY, Mexico ? Mexican authorities said Thursday they have detained a woman who allegedly worked as a top financial operator for the Zetas drug cartel, and collared two Americans with $950,000 in cash in a separate bust.

Mexican marines captured alleged Zetas "accountant" Carmen del Consuelo Saenz two days earlier in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, along 10 other alleged Zetas members.

Saenz, 29, was allegedly in charge of receiving proceeds from drug sales, pirated goods, kidnappings and extortions in five southern states of Mexico, navy spokesman Jose Luis Vergara said.

Saenz used the illicit proceeds to bribe authorities and meet the drug gang's payroll, Vergara said.

The Zetas are a hyper-violent drug cartel that is based along Mexico's Gulf coast, but who have recently expanded further into the interior of the country.

In a separate bust at an airport just west of Mexico City, Mexican federal police said Thursday they had detained two U.S. men for attempting to fly out of Mexico with $950,000 in undeclared cash in a suitcase.

The men's luggage was searched Monday at an airport in Toluca, just outside of Mexico City, as they prepared to board a private jet to the United States. Police said the men appeared nervous when questioned, and background checks revealed one of the men had served a prison sentence for drug-related offenses.

Federal police said the men could not prove the licit origin of the money, and were turned over to prosecutors pending possible charges.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City did not immediately respond to requests to confirm the men's' nationality, names or hometowns.

Also Thursday, the U.S. Treasury Department announced it is imposing sanctions on the owner of a Mexican racetrack and car dealership for alleged involvement with the Sinaloa drug cartel.

The Treasury Department said it has designated Martin Guadencio Avendano and his two brothers as foreign drug traffickers under the Kingpin Act. That prohibits people in the U.S. from conducting businesses with them and freezes their U.S. assets.

The department said the 42-year-old Avendano launders money for the cartel's co-leader, Ismael Zambada. The other leader is Joaquin Guzman, known as "El Chapo." Both are fugitive.

Treasury says Avendano has a car dealership in Ensenada and a racetrack in Culiacan. There was no response to an e-mail sent to the track.

State prosecutors in the western state of Michoacan reported Thursday they had found the bullet-ridden body of Javier Luis Mejia, the police chief of the small Michoacan town of Aporo. He had been reported missing since Monday.

So far in 2011, six municipal police chiefs have been killed in Michoacan, a state dominated by the Knights Templar cartel.

Also Thursday, the mayor of an upscale suburb of the northern city of Monterrey said he was going to keep the municipal police chief and the director of the municipal police monitoring center in their jobs, even though they had failed to pass background and security tests.

Mayor Mauricio Fernandez Garza of the suburb of San Pedro Garza Garcia said he will ask federal authorities to allow the two to take the tests again, in hopes they can pass.

"The progress San Pedro is making in public safety is extraordinary ... the people who I have in charge are doing a good job," Fernandez Garza said.

Federal authorities have said that all those who fail the vetting process should be fired, but left open the possibility that some might be reassigned.

On Wednesday, Mexico's National Public Safety System reported that almost one-third of 63,436 low-ranking Mexican police officers tested so far have failed background and security checks.

Almost one-quarter of the police chiefs and top commanders tested so far have also failed, as had about 10 percent of midlevel police commanders and officers.

On Thursday, the Defense Department said soldiers in the northern state of San Luis Potosi detained two local police officers from the city of Cardenas with 39 doses of cocaine in their possession; a dose in Mexico is usually measured as a gram.

The soldiers then detained the city's police chief and a police commander, who allegedly gave orders to the police officers to commit illegal acts; documents linking them to a drug cartel were found in the raid, the army reported.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111028/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_drug_war_mexico

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Mayor Booker leading from the front armed with his Blackberry

Written by: James Murray on October 29, 2011.

THUNDER BAY ? Newark, New Jersey is struggling with the impact of a major early season snow storm today. Mayor Cory Booker is proving once again that modern progressive leadership means leading from the front-lines. Mayor Booker leading from the front armed with his Blackberry.

To the 1,103,371 people who follow Mayor Booker on Twitter, tonight they are receiving a steady stream of information, and help directly from this dynamic leader.

Using UberSocial for Blackberry, Booker is out in his community helping people in his community. twitter.com/#!/CoryBooker allows this modern Mayor the opportunity to get out from behind his desk and get things done. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey.

Think of the impact that Mayor Booker can have, his Twitter following is almost three times larger than the population of his community. Does open and constant communication make a difference?

The Mayor is sharing images, information, helping people all from his Tweets. Booker is even doing it with a sense of humour which is likely something needed in his city.

?Snow in Oct, Earthquake, Hurricane, I think New Jersey needs 2 appease the weather Gods & sacrifice the TV show Jersey Shore. Cancel it!? is a recent tweet during the height of the storm.

Booker made news when on December 31, 2010, a constituent used Twitter to ask the mayor to send someone to her father?s house to shovel his driveway because her father, who was 65 years old, was going to attempt to do it himself. Booker responded by tweeting; ?I will do it myself; where does he live?? Other people volunteered, including one person who offered his help on Twitter and 20 minutes later the mayor and some volunteers showed up and shoveled the man?s driveway.[40] In 2010, Samepoint released a study that measured the social media influence of mayors around the country, and ranking the top 100 most social mayors. San Francisco?s Mayor Gavin Newsom was named the Most Social Mayor in America according to the Samepoint study. Newark, New Jersey Cory Booker was the second most social mayor, according to the Samepoint study. (Source: Wikipedia)

Booker is dedicated to his city, and it shows.

?Stand in Newark and you see and feel the dynamic change, the power and potential, you see that the future of America is happening here. We are not the Big Apple or Atlanta?s Georgia Peach. We are America?s Brick City ? and this isn?t about our architecture. We?re Brick City because we?re tough, we?re resilient, we?re strong, we?re enduring and, most important, when we come together there?s nothing we can?t create,? stated the Mayor.

Booker was reportedly offered a role in the Obama Administration, but turned it down citing a dedication to Newark.

Tonight, as an early winter storm is trying to blow down Newark?s ?brick house? its Mayor is demonstrating how leadership can make a real difference.

James Murray
Chief Content Officer

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NetNewsLedger/~3/2g-mvwKeto4/

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Oakland protesters hold late-night march

OAKLAND, Calif.?? Anti-Wall Street protesters filled a street with a late-night march Wednesday and Oakland's police chief pledged a vigorous investigation into an earlier clash between police and protesters that left an Iraq War veteran in critical condition with a fractured skull.

Police Chief Howard Jordan spoke as tensions grew over demonstration encampment in the Bay area.

"It's unfortunate it happened. I wish that it didn't happen. Our goal, obviously, isn't to cause injury to anyone," the chief said at an afternoon press conference.

Scott Olsen, 24, suffered a fractured skull Tuesday in a march with other protesters toward City Hall, said Dottie Guy, of the Iraq Veterans Against the War. The demonstrators had been making an attempt to re-establish a presence in the area of a disbanded protesters' camp when they were met by officers in riot gear.

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It's not known exactly what type of object struck Olsen or who might have thrown it, though Guy's group said it was lodged by officers. Several small skirmishes had broken out in the night with police clearing the area by firing tear gas and protesters throwing rocks and bottles at them.

An Oakland hospital spokesman said Olsen, a network administrator in Daly City, was in critical condition Wednesday.

"The irony is not lost on anyone here that this is someone who survived two tours in Iraq and is now seriously injured by the Oakland police force," his friend, Adele Carpenter, 29, alleged in a phone interview with Reuters from the hospital waiting room.

Video: Quiet in Oakland after police, ?Occupy? protesters clash (on this page)

Earlier, Oakland officials allowed protesters back into the plaza outside City Hall where their 15-day-old encampment had been raided the day before, but said people would be prohibiting from spending the night.

About 1,000 people quickly filled the plaza, but later many of them filed out and began marching down nearby streets.

'A sad day'
A reporter at the scene says police erected wooden barricades to block the march, but the protesters veered off as a group and continued down another street.

There were no signs of clashes between the two sides.

It wasn't immediately clear how many people were left in the plaza, where some had vowed to spend the night.

Story: Income of top 1 percent far outgrew others: report

"I'm going to stay here tonight," said Jhalid Shakur, 43, of Oakland. "I don't have a tent, but I'll sleep on a bench if there's space."

"We're about to build our city back," he said.

Mayor Jean Quan said Oakland supports the protesters' goals but had to act Tuesday when a small number of them threw rocks, paint and bottles at the police.

"We had, on one hand, demonstrators who tried to rush banks, other demonstrators saying don't do that, and we had police officers, for the most part, 99 percent, who took a lot of abuse," the mayor said. "So yesterday was a sad day for us."

Feeding the movement: How Occupy protesters are eating

Jordan, the police chief, said an internal review board and local prosecutors have been asked to determine if officers on the scene used excessive force. He asked witnesses with recordings of violent interactions between civilians and the officers who came from several Bay Area agencies to submit them to investigators.

The clash Tuesday evening came as officials complained about what they described as deteriorating safety, sanitation and health issues at the dismantled camp.

Plea for peace
Oakland City Administrator Deana Santana said protesters would be allowed to assemble in the plaza outside City Hall from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. She pleaded with those who planned to make another stand there to refrain from smashing windows, lighting fires and attempting to stay overnight.

Story: Oakland police action unnerves some protesters

"If we could have these simple, reasonable requests, we think we can assure safety in the streets tonight," Santana said.

At 10 p.m. there was only one tent on the plaza, SFGate.com reported.

The same concerns were being raised by San Francisco officials who warned protesters Wednesday that they could face arrest if they continue camping in a city plaza. In a letter, Police Chief Greg Suhr said the protesters could be arrested for violating a variety of city laws against camping, cooking, urinating and littering in public parks.

"Existing and ongoing violations make you subject to arrest," Suhr wrote in the notice, but didn't say if or when arrests would occur.

Police have taken down a previous Occupy San Francisco camp in the Justin Herman Plaza and also cleared another camp outside the Federal Reserve Bank downtown.

Late Wednesday some of the San Francisco protesters, estimated to be about 200 people, had their arms locked and were practicing trying to keep police from entering the perimeter of their encampment.

In Portland, Oregon, a crowd estimated to number at least 1,000 joined in a march organized by the AFL-CIO labor federation in support of the anti-Wall Street movement.

Demonstrators also rallied peacefully in San Francisco, and Twitter buzz suggested turnouts may have gotten a boost from outrage generated by news of the injured Oakland veteran.

Supporters in New York voted on Wednesday to send $20,000 and 100 tents to their peers in Oakland, according to a Twitter message from a protester identified as J.A. Myerson and re-tweeted by the Occupy Wall Street group.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45057545/ns/us_news-life/

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Police nab US mob boss in clinic

ROME (AP) ? A top boss from the Gambino crime clan convicted in the U.S. of selling heroin was rearrested in a Rome clinic Thursday after he checked in for medical tests, police said.

Rosario Gambino, 69 ? convicted by U.S. courts in a Pizza Connection heroin probe and sentenced to 45 years in prison in 1984 ? was deported two years ago to Italy so he could serve a 20-year sentence in a separate drug case.

Italian news reports said an Italian tribunal earlier in the week had ordered him released while his lawyers pursue an appeal with the Court of Cassation, Italy's top criminal court. However, police said they moved to arrest him Thursday after an appeals tribunal in Palermo, Sicily, issued a fresh warrant.

Gambino "was surprised inside a clinic in the capital, where he had sought some tests" for an undisclosed medical problem, Rome police headquarters said in a statement. "He has a long career in the ranks of the Italian-Sicilian Mafia on his resume."

Police who carried out the arrest could not be reached for details Thursday night.

Court officers were closed, but the Italian news agency ANSA said that the Palermo court deemed Gambino a flight risk.

Gambino, an Italian-born New Jersey resident, was considered a top figure in the New York-based crime family led by his late cousin Carlo Gambino.

In 1984, Rosario Gambino was convicted in a multi-million-dollar conspiracy to sell heroin in southern New Jersey and sentenced to 45 years in jail. He was linked to a Pizza Connection case involving a then $1.6-billion heroin and cocaine smuggling operation that used pizzerias as fronts in the 1970s and early 80s.

He was released in 2007 and transferred to an immigrant detention center in California to await expulsion. Gambino was wanted in Italy since 1980 in a drug trafficking probe. When he was deported to Italy two years ago, he was served the 1980 warrant signed by Giovanni Falcone, the Sicilian prosecutor who was killed by the Sicilian Mafia in a 1992 bombing.

Police said Gambino was convicted by an Italian court in 1983 of criminal association for drug trafficking and sentenced to 20 years.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-10-27-EU-Italy-US-Mafia/id-5a5581a2870948a8a341dcf87cd9fc49

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Jacqueline Laurita: Hiding Stripper Past, Debt-Ridden Present?

Jacqueline Laurita did not show up at last Sunday's Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion special, and now we know why.

Correction: now a supermarket tabloid has quoted anonymous sources who claims to know why, and it's not because Teresa Giudice is scum.

According to the latest issue of In Touch Weekly, Laurita worked as an exotic dancer in Las Vegas back in the day and was afraid this information would be leaked on the episode... by Danielle Staub?!?

“She feared that Danielle Staub would make a surprise appearance and tell all about Jacqueline’s stripping past," a source tells the magazine. "She didn’t want to face the truth. At the time, she was a single mom who needed to dance at a club in order to pay her bills. She has confirmed her stripper past to multiple friends who are covering up for her - she is telling everyone to deny it!”

And that's not the only secret Jacqueline is allegedly hiding.

Husband Chris’ company, Signature Apparel Group, is apparently facing significant debt. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009 and owed about $25 million at the time.

“She doesn’t want any of this coming out,” says the insider.

She might wanna rethink this whole reality TV thing if that's actually the case.

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/10/jacqueline-laurita-hiding-stripper-past-debt-ridden-present/

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Amy Winehouse Died With 5 Times the Legal Alcohol Limit In Her ...

Amy Winehouse Died With 5 Times the Legal Alcohol Limit In Her System...

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Initial reports said Amy Winehouse died without any drugs in her system. But that depends on what you call 'drugs'. According to a coroner's report issued Wednesday, Winehouse died with 5 times the legal alcohol limit in her system, an amount simply?unthinkable to most. ?The legal limit is most commonly associated with tests for drunk driving. ? ?

Winehouse had quite the pick of poisons, but basic booze dealt the final blow. And this was a gruesome example of acute alcohol poisoning, or "death by misadventure" according to official papers. "The unintended consequence of such potentially fatal levels [of alcohol] was her sudden and unexpected death," coroner?Suzanne Greenaway relayed.

Which is stunning, considering how difficult it is to actually kill yourself with alcohol - at least without some external incident. Winehouse died in the early hours of July 23rd in her London flat, and police found vodka bottles scattered about. ?But Winehouse was apparently trying to kick the habit, and even taking medication to manage abstinence withdrawals. ?The autopsy showed that this medication - called 'librium' - played no role in the death.

?

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Source: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/102611alcohol

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Flood defence funding gap 'huge'

27 October 2011 Last updated at 19:01 ET

The one in six properties in England that are flood-prone are being put at risk by funding cuts and a lack of technical expertise, a report has said.

Public Accounts Committee chairman Margaret Hodge said a huge funding gap was opening up between flood defence maintenance costs and government cash.

A National Audit Office report says the Environment Agency needs another ?20m each year to protect against flooding.

The government said under a new funding system, the private sector could help.

The NAO's report suggests the Environment Agency, which manages flood risk, would need 9% more of its budget from the government to deal with flood protection in the wake of climate change and ageing defences.

Yet that funding has been cut by 10% over the current Spending Review period from 2011-2015, compared to the previous four years, the report says.

Without an increase from 2015, communities would increasingly have to rely on locally-secured money, it adds.

Under the government's new funding system, local authorities have more responsibility for managing flood risks and raising money for flood defence schemes.

Some schemes to tackle flooding are expected to be part-funded by local bodies or the private sector - an example being Gatwick Airport's owners contributing to local flood defences.

However, the report says town halls have raised concerns about securing sufficient funds in the current economic climate and finding people with enough technical expertise.

Continue reading the main story

?Start Quote

By cutting too far too fast, the government will leave communities blighted, with homeowners unable to insure, mortgage or sell their homes after 2013?

End Quote Mary Creagh Shadow environment secretary

Fewer than a third of councils told the NAO they felt they had the expertise to manage local flood risks.

Labour's Mrs Hodge said currently the private sector contributed on average less than ?3m each year.

If they were to fill the gap, this would have to increase dramatically, she said.

"We will want to ask the department how this funding gap will be closed and seek assurance that greater local discretion will not come at the expense of national value for money," she said.

An environment department spokesman said: "We've reformed the funding system to allow the number of flood defence schemes to be increased and give local people greater choice and control over protecting their community from flooding.

"Under the new partnership funding system, the most at-risk and deprived areas can receive more money for flood defence schemes with funding from the private sector whenever possible."

Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh said ministers were playing Russian roulette with people's homes and businesses.

"By cutting too far too fast, the government will leave communities blighted, with homeowners unable to insure, mortgage or sell their homes after 2013, when Labour's deal with the insurance industry runs out."

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-politics-15484109

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Pakistan denies BBC report on Taliban links (Reuters)

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (Reuters) ? Pakistan strongly denied Thursday a BBC report that alleged the Pakistani military, along with its intelligence arm, supplied and protected the Afghan Taliban and al Qaeda.

A number of middle-ranking Taliban commanders detailed what they said was extensive Pakistani support in interviews for a BBC documentary series, the first part of which was broadcast Wednesday.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik, on a visit to Britain, criticized the program, telling a London news conference that the Taliban were trying to create a wedge between their adversaries by making such allegations.

"We are victims, victims of war, we have lost over 35,000 innocent people, including senior officers, policemen, and normal foot soldiers. I think doubting us is really heartbreaking ... We have stood in the front line," Malik said, referring to Pakistan's fight against militant groups.

"We are facing daily these suicide bombers. If they had been trained by us, we should not be getting ourselves killed," he said.

A former Afghan intelligence head also told the BBC that Afghanistan gave former Pakistani president General Pervez Musharraf information in 2006 that Osama bin Laden was hiding in northern Pakistan, but the intelligence was not acted on. The al Qaeda leader was killed in the same area by U.S. special forces in May this year.

Pakistan's military denied the BBC report.

"We consider that this report is highly biased, it is one-sided, it doesn't have the version of the side which is badly hit or affected by this report," Major General Athar Abbas, spokesman for the Pakistani military, told Reuters.

"So therefore, other than that, it's factually incorrect."

CREDIBILITY QUESTIONED

One Taliban commander, Mullah Qaseem, told the BBC that Pakistan had played a significant role in providing supplies and a hiding place for Afghan Taliban fighters.

Abbas denied this, questioning Qaseem's credibility.

He said the head of Pakistan's spy agency, the Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), had already said "not a single bullet or financial support" had been given to groups named in the BBC report.

The United States has long suspected Pakistan, or elements within the ISI, of supporting militant groups in order to increase its influence in Afghanistan, particularly after NATO combats troops leave in 2014.

In September, Admiral Mike Mullen, then the top U.S. military officer, accused Pakistani intelligence of backing violence against U.S. targets including the U.S. embassy in Kabul. He said the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network, blamed for a September 13 embassy attack, was a "veritable arm" of the ISI.

Pakistan denies the U.S. allegations.

Malik said that "if Pakistan has recruited some people for intelligence purposes," that did not mean it supported them.

He suggested the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and Britain's security service also had connections with the Haqqani group or other militants because they were hunting for intelligence and recruiting sources.

Pakistan supported the Afghan Taliban before the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. It was one of only three countries to have diplomatic relations with the Islamist group.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111027/wl_nm/us_pakistan_taliban_bbc

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Catholic order pays for Mexican priest's sex abuse (Reuters)

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) ? The Legionaries of Christ will pay more than $20,000 apiece to at least four victims sexually abused by the order's Mexican founder, Father Marcial Maciel, three years after his death, a spokesman said on Thursday.

Maciel was an influential figure in the Roman Catholic Church who had the ear of the late Pope John Paul II.

But he died in 2008 at the age of 87, disgraced by allegations he sexually abused men and young boys, including a man who said he was Maciel's son.

The Maciel scandal is just one in a series of revelations about priest sex abuse to rock the Catholic Church.

Founded by Maciel when he was in his early 20s, the Legion is a priestly order that runs private Catholic schools and charitable organizations in 22 countries via its network of 800 priests and 2,600 seminarians.

Accusations that Maciel lived a disturbing double-life, fathered children and was addicted to morphine-like drugs, have weakened the powerful order that boasted members of some of Mexico's wealthiest families.

Despite years of allegations, Maciel was spared official condemnation until 2006 when Pope Benedict obliged him to retire to a life of "prayer and penitence."

The payments of between $21,000 and $28,000 will be given to four or five victims and more compensation could follow, said Andreas Schoggl, a spokesman for the Legionaries of Christ in Vatican City.

"It's a way to repair damage and hopefully it's a way of healing," Schoggl said.

The compensation payments are a result of a commission set up in 2010 by the Vatican to probe abuses by Maciel. The sums are modest compared to million-dollar payouts awarded to victims of priest abuse in the United States.

In the largest settlement of its kind, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 2007 agreed to pay $660 million to 500 victims of sexual abuse dating as far back as the 1940s. The U.S. church has paid $2 billion to victims since 1992.

Schoggl declined to provide details on how many people the commission has interviewed but said at least one of Maciel's victims is from Mexico.

(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mexico/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111027/wl_nm/us_mexico_priest

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Video: Eurozone in Crisis

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Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/45029345#45029345

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10 Halloween Safety Tips for Pets | Care2 Healthy Living

Halloween can be a festive and fun time for children and families. But for pets? Let?s face it, it can be a downright nightmare. Forgo the stress and dangers this year by following these 10 easy tips.

1. Candy Isn?t for Pets

All forms of chocolate ? especially baking or dark chocolate ? can be dangerous, even lethal, for dogs and cats. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning may include vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate and seizures. Halloween candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and subsequent loss of coordination and seizures. And while xylitol toxicity in cats has yet to be established, it?s better to be safe than sorry.

See Also: Best and Worst ?People? Food for Dogs and Cats

Source: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-halloween-safety-tips-for-pets.html

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Halloween a spooky time for your pets, too. | Children Health Wizard

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Veterinarian Lorraine Corriveau has worked for 10 years as part of the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine.

As a wellness clinician, she is on the front line of animal care. She works with Steve Thompson, director of the Pet Wellness Clinic.

Her focus this month is on safety for pets on Halloween.

?Our pets can truly be spooked by all of the noises and costumes at Halloween,? she said. ?Constant visitors to the door, as well as the scary sights and sounds, may cause some pets to become fearful. ?These pets could run away and become injured in a variety of ways.?

Corriveau says owners should consider allowing their dog to spend Halloween in a quiet place inside the house with special treats ? safe and secure from the goblins.

Even if the dog owner has a fenced yard, don?t let the pooch outside without supervision and restraint on Halloween, she said.

Here are few questions for Corriveau:

Question: What does a wellness veterinarian do at Purdue?

Answer: We see sick animals. Our goal is to keep animals healthy. We work through problems.

I?m a primary care veterinarian. We see puppies to geriatric dogs. I have an interest in exotic animals ? snakes, birds, turtles. I?ve seen them all. That keeps me on my toes.

Q: What is the most unusual patient you?ve treated?

A: I?ve treated fancy gold fish. That gets everybody?s attention.

I did see a piece of coral that had parasites. We had to debug it.

Somebody brought in a wallaroo and unfortunately, it had a severe jaw infection, and we to put it out of its suffering. (Note: A wallaroo is a member of the kangaroo family that is in between the size of a wallabie and a kangaroo.)

Q: What would you tell somebody considering the purchase of an exotic animal?

A: If you want an exotic animal, do your research and do things right. Contact a professional. I will help them.

Q: What are other risks to pets at Halloween?

A: It might be wise to keep all cats indoors. If you can?t keep your cat indoors, consider a boarding facility or your family veterinarian.

Wagging tails and curious cats can create a fire hazard, especially around candles in jack-o?-lanterns and other decorative displays.

Keep pets away from Halloween candy. Chewy candy and gums can potentially choke pets or cause intestinal obstructions. Lollipop or popsicle sticks and foil wrappers also can become lodged in pets? throats or digestive tracts.

Q: Is chocolate deadly for dogs and cats?

A: Chocolate, in particular, is toxic to pets, and even small amounts can cause heart problems and vomiting. It takes only 8 ounces of milk chocolate and 1.5 ounces of unsweetened chocolate to cause toxicity in a 10-pound dog. For cats, the toxic doses are even lower.

If your pet consumes chocolate, contact your veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Article source: http://www.jconline.com/article/20111024/NEWS/110240310/Halloween-spooky-time-your-pets-too-

Source: http://www.childrenhealthwizard.com/halloween-a-spooky-time-for-your-pets-too

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month Items ? Style News - StyleWatch ...

Courtesy Photos

October may be winding down, but finding a cure for breast cancer is always at the forefront of our minds. With this being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we?ve rounded up some of our favorite pink products to share ? and proceeds from all of them help support the cause.

Tiny Prints

The stationery company teamed up with breast cancer survivor Christina Applegate and her charity, Right Action for Women, to create a limited-edition collection of greeting cards (top left) designed by the Up All Night star. All of the cards are easily customizable, and proceeds from sales benefit RAW. Prices vary at tinyprints.com

Eleni?s
The ever-popular cookie shop is offering the ?Think Pink? box (bottom left) through the end of October; for every box sold, the company will donate $5 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. $28.50 at elenis.com

Georgetown Cupcake
Sink your teeth into this: for each ?Pink Ribbon? cupcake sold at the famed Georgetown Cupcake, the bakery will donate 100 percent of the purchase price to Susan G. Komen for the Cure ? with a guaranteed minimum payment of $50,000. Choose Valrhona chocolate or Madagascar Bourbon vanilla cake topped with vanilla buttercream frosting and a Susan G. Komen pink ribbon logo fondant decoration. Prices vary at georgetowncupcake.com

Mackage
When Mackage designer Elisa Dahan was just 8 years old, she lost her mother to breast cancer. So now, she creates these sleek leather gloves (bottom left) ? and throughout October, donates 100 percent of the proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. $95 at mackage.com

Mama Mio and Butter Lane
Want more sweet treats? Mama Mio has partnered with Butter Lane cupcakes to create the limited-edition B-Cup9cake). For every treat sold, Mama Mio will donate $1 to Look Good ? Feel Better, a cancer support charity that helps women manage the visible side effects of cancer treatments. $48 per dozen at butterlane.com

Diptyque
Smells like ? sweet charity! Diptyque?s mini pink rose candle (bottom right), which smells of ?an armful of roses,? is just as lovely as the difference you?ll make; for each one sold, the company will donate 20 perfect of profits to The Pink Agenda. $32 at diptyqueparis.com

Courtesy Photos

Source: http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2011/10/24/breast-cancer-awareness-month-products/

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Panel: Boys should get HPV vaccine given to girls

FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 28, 2006 file photo, a doctor holds the human papillomavirus vaccine Gardiasil in his hand at his Chicago office. The controversial HPV shot given to girls should also be given to boys, in part to help prevent the spread of the virus through sex, a government medical panel said Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 28, 2006 file photo, a doctor holds the human papillomavirus vaccine Gardiasil in his hand at his Chicago office. The controversial HPV shot given to girls should also be given to boys, in part to help prevent the spread of the virus through sex, a government medical panel said Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

ATLANTA (AP) ? A vaccine against cervical cancer hasn't been all that popular for girls. It may be even a harder sell for boys now that it's been recommended for them too.

A government advisory panel on Tuesday decided that the vaccine should also be given to boys, in part to help prevent the cancer-causing virus through sex.

Public health officials have tried since 2006 to get parents to have their daughters vaccinated against the human papillomavirus, or HPV, which causes most of the cervical cancer in women.

They have had limited success, hitting a number of hurdles. Some parents distrust the safety of vaccines, especially newer products. Others don't want to think about their daughters having sex one day, or worry that the vaccine essentially promotes promiscuous behavior.

Tuesday's vote by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' was the first to strongly recommend routine vaccination for boys since the vaccine was first approved for them two years ago. Officials acknowledged the low rate in girls encouraged them to take a new, hard look.

Experts say a key benefit of routinely vaccinating boys could be preventing the spread of the virus to others through sex ? making up somewhat for the disappointing vaccination rate in girls. But the recommendation is being framed as an important new measure against cancer in males.

"Today is another milestone in the nation's battle against cancer," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention administrator who oversees the agency's immunization programs.

Federal health officials usually adopt the panel's recommendations and ask doctors and patients to follow them.

The vaccine has been advised for girls since 2006. Just 49 percent of adolescent girls have gotten at least the first of the three HPV shots. Only a third had gotten all three doses by last year.

"Pretty terrible," Schuchat said.

Schuchat attributed the low rates for girls to confusion or misunderstanding by parents that they can wait until their daughter becomes sexually active. It works best if the shots are given before a girl or boy begins having sex.

Some conservatives argue the vaccine could promote promiscuous behavior. It has come up in the GOP presidential campaign. Texas Gov. Rick Perry came under attack for a 2007 executive order requiring adolescent girls to get the vaccine (with an opt-out clause). When conservative lawmakers rebelled, he backed down.

An estimated 75 to 80 percent of men and women are infected with HPV during their life, but most don't develop symptoms or get sick, according to the CDC. Some infections lead to genital warts, cervical cancer and other cancers, including of the head and neck.

The HPV vaccine is approved for use in males and females ages 9 to 26; it is usually given to 11- and 12-year olds when they get other vaccines. The committee also recommended that males 13 to 21 years get vaccinated.

Tuesday's vote follows recent studies that show the vaccine prevents anal cancer in males, and may work against a type of throat cancer. A study that focused on gay men found it to be 75 percent effective against anal cancer.

While anal cancer has been increasing, it's still fairly rare. Only about 7,000 U.S. cases in men each year are tied to the strains targeted in the HPV vaccine. In contrast, about 15,000 vaccine-preventable cervical cancers in women occur annually.

Preventing a cancer that's primarily associated with gay men may not be much of a selling point, said Dr. Ranit Mishori, a family practice doctor in Washington, D.C. and an assistant professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine.

Some parents may say "'Why are you vaccinating my son against anal cancer? He's not gay! He's not ever going to be gay!' I can see that will come up," said Mishori, who supports the panel's recommendation.

Schuchat indicated the CDC is ready for that kind of argument: "There's no data suggesting that offering a vaccine against HPV will change people's subsequent sexual behavior," she said.

So far, the threat of genital warts hasn't been persuasive: Some data suggest that less than 1.5 percent of adolescent males have gotten the vaccine over the past two years.

Meanwhile, some feel it's unlikely that most parents will agree to get their sons vaccinated primarily to protect girls. A survey of 600 pediatricians last year found that nearly 70 percent of doctors thought families would deem vaccination of their boys as unnecessary.

Experts at the committee meeting noted an earlier analysis that showed vaccinating boys would not be cost-effective if the female vaccination were high.

"If you do reach high coverage of females, will you stop vaccinating males?" asked Dr. David Salisbury, director immunization for the United Kingdom's Department of Health.

There are two vaccines against HPV, but Tuesday's vote applies only to Merck & Co.'s Gardasil, which costs $130 a dose. The other vaccine wasn't tested for males.

The committee's recommendation ? and the greater insurance coverage of the vaccine that is expected to follow ? will make it easier for more boys to get the shots, said Dr. Mark Feinberg, chief public health and science officer for Merck Vaccines.

Merck officials bristled at the idea that males would see the vaccine as mainly meant for gay men, noting that HPV-caused anal cancers can occur in heterosexual men.

Maura Robbins of Chicago said she's likely to have her 12-year-old son, Cole, vaccinated against HPV ? but probably not until he's a little older. "I would just like to see some long-term testing and long-term results," she said.

___

AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner in Chicago contributed to this report.

___

Online:

HPV info: http://www.cdc.gov/hpv/

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-10-25-HPV%20Vaccine-Boys/id-a7559886a7e3408098116a515eb9ebb9

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Grenada fears Taiwan's effort to collect $28M debt

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (AP) ? The government of Grenada is warning that Taiwan's aggressive effort to collect a $28 million judgment will hurt the tourism-dependent economy of the Caribbean island.

Cruise lines and airlines may halt operations in Grenada after receiving legal papers filed by American lawyers working for Taiwan in the United States compelling them to turn over any money they owe Grenada in fees or other payments, Finance Minister Nazim Burke said.

Already one cruise line has threatened to cancel its 20 stops in 2011-12 in Grenada as a result of the effort to seize port fees, Burke said in an interview Monday.

"If this was to happen, we stand to lose millions," he said.

The dispute centers around loans provided by Taiwan's Export-Import Bank for a variety of infrastructure projects in Grenada in the 1990s.

Grenada officials have said they could no longer pay the loans because of a number of shocks to its economy, including the devastation from Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and the drop in tourism following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.

Officials in the Caribbean nation have said Taiwanese officials refused to renegotiate the loans because Grenada had severed diplomatic relations in favor of rival China. Taiwan filed suit in a U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and won a summary judgment in 2007 that has grown to about $28 million with interest and penalties. That's a huge sum for Grenada, nearly the total value of its exports of goods in 2009.

Grenada has not paid any of the of the principal or interest on the judgment, according to Paul Summit, a lawyer for the Export-Import Bank.

Summit, based in Boston, Massachusetts, declined to discuss efforts to collect the judgment except to say "we are pursuing a number of lawful avenues to achieve collection."

Burke said the law firm has contacted a number of U.S. and European companies, including Princess Cruises and American Airlines. He said they have been informed that "any monies you have for Grenada, we are going to seize it."

The finance minister said they will challenge the effort in court, arguing that it is a violation of their national sovereignty. Officials have previously argued that the previous government took out the loans and decided to stop paying on them so it should be given more leeway to work out a payment plan.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-10-25-CB-Grenada-Taiwan-Debt/id-3693720d57614874a0642aa9e8a77444

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Strange Video of Dancing Cloud Explained By Electric Discharge

That's an interesting way to define natural.

If the flock of chickens in my yard happen to stand such that they clearly spell out the word "unique", is that unnatural or just chance? What if they make a pattern that doesn't happen to be significant, but that we can't expect them ever to make again?

If there's only one universe, is it unnatural?

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/TfOKVQbZTRk/strange-video-of-dancing-cloud-explained-by-electric-discharge

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EPA Issues Final Air Permit for Shell Arctic Drilling Exploration (ContributorNetwork)

The Environmental Protection Agency (officially issued the final air permit to Shell Offshore on Friday so the company can drill in the Arctic for natural gas and oil.

* The air permit authorizes Shell to emit air pollutants during their oil and natural gas exploration ventures.

* The permits cover Shell's Kulluk drilling rig, a support fleet of icebreakers, supply ships and oil spill response ships for up to 120 days each year during operations.

* Under the details of the permit, specifically the Outer Continental Shelf minor source/Title V air operating permit, Shell must emit fewer than 250 tons of air pollutants each year.

* The agency's final permit drastically reduces the amount of air pollution Shell can emit during drilling and exploration operations and strictly protects the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

* The limits were significantly dropped by the EPA, including reducing sulfur dioxide emissions from 833 to 200 tons per year and greenhouse gases from 141,487 to 80,000 tons per year.

* To meet these requirements, Shell will have to use low-sulfur fuel in every engine, as well as implement selective catalytic reduction units in some of the fleet's engines.

* The announcement follows the EPA's announcement in September in which the agency issued two major source Prevention of Significant Deterioration air permits.

* According to Yahoo! News, the EPA and Shell reached an agreement on the company's arctic drilling permits earlier this year after hitting several legal roadblocks.

* As of May, Shell had invested $2 billion on drilling leases alone and an additional $4 billion in developing exploration plans.

* Shell's Arctic drilling ventures will occur offshore in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, which lie just north of Alaska.

* ConocoPhillips recently withdrew its permit application for the Outer Continental Shelf Title V air permit but is expected to reapply in December.

*KTUU reported the EPA permit approval is one of the last steps that will allow Shell to begin drilling in 2012.

* The EPA's Environmental Appeals Board is also allowing the public to appeal the issuing of the permit no later than Nov. 28, which could ultimately slow Shell from drilling in the Arctic for oil and gas as soon as next year.

Rachel Krech provides an in-depth look at current environmental issues and local Chicago news stories. As a college student from the Chicago suburbs pursuing two science degrees, she applies her knowledge and passion to both topics to garner further public awareness.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/environment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111023/us_ac/10267489_epa_issues_final_air_permit_for_shell_arctic_drilling_exploration

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Margaret Paul, Ph.D.: Are You Making These 4 Life Mistakes? (Huffington post)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/152266710?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Tibetan's failed suicide captured in amateur video (AP)

BEIJING ? Exiled Tibetans have released amateur video that they say shows the failed suicide bid of a Tibetan monk in southwest China last month.

The monk is one of at least 10 Tibetans in their late teens and 20s who have set themselves on fire since March to protest China's rule over Tibet, with five or more of them dying from their injuries. The man in the video is believed to have survived.

The individuals who shared the video did so on condition of anonymity for fear the videographer and those who helped get the video out of China could be punished by the Chinese government.

They said the man in the video is Lobsang Konchok, a teenage monk who tried to set himself on fire Sept. 26 at Kirti Monastery in Sichuan province's Aba prefecture, where tensions between monks and the authorities have been high for months.

The shaky 34-second video, which was released Sunday by The Associated Press, shows a partially clothed man lying face down on a street, his feet and lower calves black and smoking. A woman screaming in Tibetan can be heard in the background, and a police car and several uniformed People's Armed Police officers are visible behind the man. One of the officers approaches the camera at the end of the video and says "No filming" in Chinese.

Chinese state media confirmed at the time that Lobsang and a second monk both tried to self-immolate but were rescued by police after suffering superficial burns and were in stable condition after the incident.

Aba has been the scene of numerous protests over the past several years against the Chinese government. Most are led by monks who are fiercely loyal to Tibet's exiled Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama, who fled the Himalayan region in 1959 amid an abortive anti-Beijing uprising and is reviled by China's communist government.

China's Foreign Ministry has condemned the immolations and accused the Dalai Lama's supporters of encouraging them. Last week, ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu called such alleged support "violence and terrorism in disguise."

Thupten Samphal, spokesman for the Tibetan government-in-exile, denied Saturday that the Dalai Lama had encouraged Tibetans to burn themselves, and said the spiritual leader considers suicide a form of violence.

"What the Tibetans in Tibet are trying to do by burning themselves is to try to attempt to draw international attention to the really grim situation in Tibet," he said. "There has been increased repression in all the monasteries in Tibet."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/china/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111023/ap_on_re_as/as_china_tibet

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