L.A. tries to save Verdugo Hills Golf Course

Los Angeles this week began a process that could end up protecting Verdugo Hills Golf Course from controversial plans to build hundreds of homes after the City Council voted unanimously to review the site of a former internment camp for possible status as a historical monument.

L.A. Councilman Richard Alarcon, whose district includes the golf course, put forward the motion on Monday, sending the matter to the Cultural Heritage Commission, which will review the site and come back with a recommendation on whether to designate the site a Historic-Cultural Monument.

Alarcon issued a statement Tuesday acclaiming the City Council?s decision, which he said came at a critical juncture for opposing the threat posed by the development.

?I strongly believe that a housing development would be inconsistent with our goal to preserve the legacy of the Tuna Canyon Detention Station site,? Alarcon said, adding that the designation ?would allow us to protect this important piece of our history.?

During World War II, the federal government converted the former Civilian Conservation Corps camp ? where the golf course is now located ? into the Tuna Canyon Detention Station.

The camp was ?a gateway to internment,? for civilians of Japanese, Japanese-Peruvian, Italian and German descent taken into custody after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, according to Alarcon's office.

Residents and several local officials have been trying for years to keep the golf course from being developed. The proposed development by Snowball West Investments would include 229 single-family homes, to be located on about 28 acres of the 58-acre golf course, with the rest of the land being converted to open space, according to the draft environmental impact report filed with the city of Los Angeles in 2009.

If the golf course were to be designated a historic site, demolition or alteration would require permits from the Cultural Heritage Commission.

At Tuesday?s meeting, attorney Fred Gaines, representing Snowball West, told the council that because the developer was already undertaking an environmental impact report, further review was unnecessary.

?This motion and this case is a complete waste of time,? he said. ?You can have all of this process and waste all of this time and the city?s resources, [Snowball West?s] resources, to get to the same place you?re already at.?

Residents have previously tried to prevent development through failed attempts to rezone or buy the land outright with grants and government funding.

?This space must be preserved, documented and protected,? Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council representative Krystee Clark told the L.A. City Council. ?It is important for the stories and the memories of the men who were detained here to be remembered.?

--

Follow Daniel Siegal on Google+ and on Twitter: @Daniel_Siegal.

Source: http://www.burbankleader.com/the818now/tn-gnp-0217-la-tries-to-save-verdugo-hills-golf-course,0,1014110.story?track=rss

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Which Mindless Behavior Member Snores The Loudest? Watch Here!

Boy band reveals who forgets the lyrics onstage and more secrets.
By Christina Garibaldi

Christina Garibaldi, Princeton and Roc Royal on "Valentine's Day Live With Mindless Behavior"
Photo: Michele Crowe/ MTV.com

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1702107/mindless-behavior-secrets.jhtml

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Facebook says it was a target of sophisticated hacking

(Reuters) - Facebook Inc said on Friday it had been the target of an unidentified hacker group, but it found no evidence that user data was compromised.

"Last month, Facebook security discovered that our systems had been targeted in a sophisticated attack," the company said in a blog post posted on Friday afternoon, just before the three-day Presidents Day weekend. "The attack occurred when a handful of employees visited a mobile developer website that was compromised."

The social network, which says it has more than one billion active users worldwide, also said: "Facebook was not alone in this attack. It is clear that others were attacked and infiltrated recently as well."

Facebook declined to comment on the motive or origin of the attack.

A security expert at another company with knowledge of the matter said he was told the Facebook attack appeared to have originated in China.

The FBI declined to comment, while the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Facebook's announcement follows recent cyber attacks on other prominent websites. Twitter, the microblogging social network, said earlier this month it had been hacked and that about 250,000 user accounts were potentially compromised, with attackers gaining access to information, including user names and email addresses.

Newspaper websites, including those of The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, have also been infiltrated. Those attacks were attributed by the news organizations to Chinese hackers targeting coverage of China.

While Facebook said no user data was compromised, the incident could raise consumer concerns about privacy and the vulnerability of personal information stored within the social network.

Facebook has made several privacy missteps over the years because of the way it handled user data and it settled a privacy investigation with federal regulators in 2011.

Facebook said it spotted a suspicious file and traced it back to an employee's laptop. After conducting a forensic examination of the laptop, Facebook said it identified a malicious file, then searched company-wide and identified "several other compromised employee laptops."

Another person briefed on the matter said the first Facebook employee had been infected via a website where coding strategies were discussed.

The company also said it identified a previously unseen attempt to bypass its built-in cyber defenses and that new protections were added on February 1.

Because the attack used a third-party website, it might have been an early-stage attempt to penetrate as many companies as possible.

If they followed established patterns, the attackers would learn about the people and computer networks at all the infected companies. They could then use that data in more targeted attacks to steal source code and other intellectual property.

In its statement, Facebook said the attack was launched using a "zero-day," or previously unknown flaw in its software that exploited its Java built-in protections.

"Zero-day" attacks are rarely discovered and even more rarely disclosed. They are costly to launch and often suggest government sponsorship.

In January 2010, Google reported it had been penetrated via a "zero-day" flaw in an older version of the Internet Explorer Web browser. The attackers were seeking source code and were also interested in Chinese dissidents, and Google reduced its operations in the country as a result.

Attention to cyber security has ratcheted up since then and this week President Barack Obama issued an executive order seeking higher safety standards for critical infrastructure.

Other companies stand to benefit more from comprehensive legislation, which has stalled in Congress. Republicans have opposed additional regulations that would come with mandatory security standards.

(Reporting by Tim Reid.; Editing by Gary Hill, G Crosse and Andre Grenon)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/facebook-says-target-sophisticated-hacking-002959399.html

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Rwanda aid cuts to reduce 2013 growth to 7.1 pct: c.bank

KIGALI (Reuters) - Rwanda's economy is set to grow 7.1 percent in 2013, lower than previously thought after donors suspended aid over Rwanda's alleged support for rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, its central banker forecast.

Donors froze aid worth $240 million in the second half of 2012 - roughly 11 percent of the country's budget, the government has said.

The central bank had previously forecast close to 8 percent growth in 2013.

"Because of this aid cut...the economy is likely to be impacted to come down to 7.1 percent for this year," Bank of Rwanda Governor Claver Gatete told a news conference on Friday.

Last December, Finance Minister John Rwangombwa said economic growth could slow to as low as 6 percent this year as a result of the aid freeze.

On Thursday, Rwangombwa revised upwards its national budget after accounting for expected proceeds from a sovereign bond which offset a decline in the suspended aid.

The African Development Bank and World Bank have still not said whether they will disperse outstanding aid contributions worth a combined $165 million. The World Bank board will meet to discuss aid to Rwanda on February 19.

Rwanda has repeatedly rejected allegations made by U.N. experts that senior Kigali officials have created, equipped, trained and directly commanded the M23 rebel movement which last month briefly seized the eastern Congolese city of Goma.

Germany earlier this month said it was unblocking 7 million euros in frozen aid. Other donors including the European Union and United Kingdom have not yet followed suit.

Gatete said Rwandan franc lost more than 4 percent against the dollar as a result of the aid suspension.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rwanda-aid-cuts-reduce-2013-growth-7-1-152614110--business.html

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American Airlines-US Airways: What it means for you

A. Pawlowski , NBC News contributor ? ? ? 20 hrs.

Now that the long-rumored merger between American Airlines and US Airways is finally a reality, travelers may be nervous about what?s next -- and rightly so.

?There will be winners and losers,? said Tim Winship, editor and publisher of FrequentFlier.com.

Here are some of the consequences you can expect with the creation of the world?s newest mega-carrier.

Airfares won?t immediately shoot higher
Fliers planning a trip on either carrier don?t need to worry that tickets will suddenly become more expensive overnight. Nothing will probably change in the very near term, said George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com.

?It?s going to take them quite a while before these two airlines are actually one airline,? he predicted.

But airfares will eventually increase
When the merger is finally consummated and the combined airline starts cutting or combining routes, fares will go up, especially for business travelers who do same-day round trips, don?t stay over Saturday night or don?t have an advance purchase, Hobica said.

Routes that will be most affected are those that American and US Airways both flew non-stop, such as Charlotte, N.C., to Miami; and Dallas to Philadelphia, he added.

?We?ve seen this happen time and time again in previous mergers,? Hobica said.

Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare.com, noted that competition is the main driver of cheaper airline ticket prices, so with fewer carriers competing for your business, there?s less incentive to cut fares.

?The only good news is that if airlines get too frisky with higher prices, consumers will let them know quickly by cutting back on air travel,? Seaney said. ?With so few domestic airlines ... consumers? wallet size will be the last line of defense.?

The transition will be a pain for travelers
There?s no doubt about it: Fliers will likely have to endure some computer glitches, reservation snafus and system hiccups when the two airlines begin to integrate their operations.

Typically, there are problems during mergers, Hobica said, though he pointed out that the marriage between Delta Air Lines and Northwest went smoothly.

But just look at United Airlines, which experienced several major computer problems last year as it tried to combine systems after its merger with Continental. In some cases, passengers were stranded for hours.

?I would be very surprised if there were no glitches,? Winship said. ?At the end of the day, the new company will be the world?s largest airline ... that won?t happen without a lot of pain.?

He recommended that frequent fliers check their accounts carefully just to make sure all of their miles show up correctly after the two carriers become one.

Elite-status fliers expecting an upgrade may be in for a surprise
When the two airlines? frequent flier programs merge, there will suddenly be an overabundance of elite-status members competing for perks, particularly upgrades, Winship noted.

?There are only so many upgrades to go around,? he said. ?At least in the first year, it?s going to be very difficult ? especially for lower-level elites ? (to get upgraded) because they have the lowest priority ... it?s going to be a serious problem for people who have made it a priority to earn elite status.?

Longer term, the sudden glut of elites may ease somewhat because fliers will have to requalify to get their status for the following year, Winship said.

Still, airlines industry-wide have been cutting back on benefits for lower-level elites so that carriers have more to offer for their most profitable customers, he added.

Hobica thinks the combined airline will follow the Delta model, which will reward passengers who spend the most money on tickets, not just fly the most miles.

The new airline will be stronger
This is the good news about the marriage of American Airlines and US Airways, experts said. The new carrier is poised to deliver a better product and become a bigger player on a global scale.

?(The merger) is likely to make the combined entities stronger in the long run ? thus more profitable,? Seaney said.

?With financial stability airlines can improve their woefully neglected product. Consumers will be much more likely to board their next flight on a plane built this century and in many cases even this decade.?

Hobica noted that international carriers, such as Turkish Airlines, are starting to add routes from U.S. airports, hoping to siphon off lucrative international travelers, especially those flying in international business class. The merger will help the new airline compete with those carriers, Hobica said.

?It will definitely be stronger,? he added.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/travelkit/5-things-american-airlines-us-airways-merger-means-you-1C8346370

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Snapshot: Time Warner could split with Time + Olympian Pistorius charged with murder + Thomson Reuters to cut 2,500 jobs

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Amniocentesis: Is This Process Safe? | Business Networking, Solo ...

Amniocentesis is a treatment that is used to diagnose childbirth flaws and various other genetic traits during pregnancy. You could likewise be scheduled for amniocentesis if your medical professional needs another tool to help with a medical diagnosis in the case of a health care concern with the child.Over times, people have actually been concerned over the process of amniocentesis. Is there a danger to the infant? Permit?s review what takes place throughout an amniocentesis and just what it is made use of for.Background.When you get expecting, the baby begins to expand within your body, starting as one solitary cell and becoming a zygote and ultimately an unborn child. As the child grows, it is cushioned in your uterus by amniotic liquid. This fluid has the cells of the child. Early on, these cells are relocating around and positioning themselves where they will eventually wind up in the physique. As undifferentiated cells, they could give climb to several parts of the physique during progression relying on where they come to rest.Throughout this procedure, the mother is given a local anesthetic. The region of the abdominal areas is swabbed with an antiseptic. The physician will certainly place a needle affixeded to a syringe with the abdominal wall structure and into the womb. A small quantity of liquid is required for the test. The liquid consists of fetal cells that are then checked out.Indicators for Amniocentesis.Certain hereditary abnormalities may take place prenatal. Any pregnancy has the possibility for different points to take place based on hereditary history of the mom and father. We are not discussing blue eyes versus green eyes or brown hair versus black hair.On a wireless degree, coming youngsters could create conditions such as: Down?s disorder, Trisomy 13, spina bifida, infections or Rh-compatibility concerns. Amniocentesis is one method to diagnose these problems prenatal.Parents who have had genetic testing and found that they carry certain genes for genetic conditions may be worried concerning their child?s genetic profile. This is where amniocentesis may be of help to them.Yet another indicator is females that have actually had duplicated losing the unborn babies. There could be a hereditary explanation that can easily be established through this treatment.Risks.As with all procedures there are risks included. Amniocentesis is performed early in maternity, around week 20.The opportunities are slim that this will happen. Ultrasound examination is used to lead the physician as they place the needle and taken out the liquid.Amniocentesis may give moms and dads satisfaction worrying their coming child. Past peace of mind, amniocentesis could diagnose problems that, when attended to early, have life sparing outcomes. Because of this, some parents believe that any type of advantages they get from having the amniocentesis procedure done far exceed the small dangers of the treatment itself.

Amniocentesis is an operation that is used to identify birth defects and other hereditary qualities throughout maternity. You might also be scheduled for amniocentesis if your doctor needs an additional device to aid with a diagnosis in the instance of a clinical concern with the baby. Amniocentesis is carried out early in pregnancy, around week 20. Amniocentesis can easily provide parents tranquility of mind worrying their coming kid. For this explanation, some moms and dads think that any conveniences they receive from having the amniocentesis operation done far over-shadow the small dangers of the procedure itself.

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Source: http://beverly.ezhostingx.com/amniocentesis-is-this-process-safe/

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Does Congress even have the power to ban guns?

Gun control has become one of the preeminent battles of 2013. During a press conference last month, in which he was surrounded by children, President Obama urged Congress to ban ?assault? (automatic) weapons, limit magazines to 10 bullets, and introduce universal background checks for all firearm buyers. And last night, Mr. Obama again called for this regulation in his State of the Union address. Naming those affected by gun violence, he asserted to a cheering, standing crowd: "They deserve a vote."

Across the country, Americans are debating the effectiveness of Obama's gun-control proposals. Commentators on the left argue that automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines aren?t necessary for home defense or hunting. On the right, the president?s critics say limiting guns won?t end violence and point out that no matter what laws Congress passes, criminals will still find ways to be well armed. The proposed legislation, they contend, simply would put law-abiding citizens at a disadvantage.

Both sides are missing the larger question in this debate: Does Congress even have the right to regulate or ban guns? Where does Congress derive the power to prohibit ownership or manufacture of certain weapons or magazines? It seems that many gun-rights advocates and opponents have forgotten their basic civics in assuming that Congress can act as long as 51 percent of the members agree.

ANOTHER VIEW: 6 reasons why President Obama will defeat the NRA and win universal background checks

The Second Amendment of the Constitution clearly states: ?A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.? And as James Madison wrote in Federalist Paper No. 45, ?The powers delegated...to the Federal Government are few and defined.? Those essays were written to promote ratification of the Constitution and assure states of its limits on federal power.

Madison further explained that these powers would ?be exercised principally on external objects such as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce.? The states, he assured his readers, retained ?numerous and indefinite? powers extending to ?the lives, liberties, and properties of the people,? including ?internal order.? The Supreme Court has consistently upheld the individual?s right to bear arms over several decades and court cases.

Such history lessons are usually dismissed by modern politicians.

Of course, Congress has passed laws that ban guns in the past, and many experts feel the courts have upheld the legality of some regulation and restriction of gun ownership. The 1994 ?assault weapon ban,? which expired in 2004, is a prime example. But the fact that the federal government has taken an action in the past does not itself answer the question about the authority for, or legitimacy of, the action. In 1942, more than 100,000 Japanese Americans were placed in internment camps. Few would argue that this was constitutional or sets a valid precedent for a similar measure today.

In the landmark case District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Supreme Court recognized an individual right to bear arms, but also opined in dicta that certain ?longstanding prohibitions? and regulations remained good law. The Court specifically mentioned laws prohibiting felons or the mentally ill from carrying weapons.

The Heller majority, however, failed to explain the fount of federal authority for these prohibitions. Undoubtedly, the common law as received from Britain at the time of the ratification of the US Constitution recognized and permitted such reasonable restrictions on the right to bear arms. Such a historical understanding could support some modern circumscribing of the right to bear arms as constitutionally valid.

But nothing in the common law of the time supports an outright ban on certain weapons possessed by sane, law-abiding citizens as urged by Obama.

If anyone were asking, Congress and the president would likely point to the Commerce Clause as the source of constitutional authority for the current gun-control proposals. But the original purpose of the Commerce Clause is far removed from the sale and purchase of guns ? and has little to do with today's debate over gun control.

Under the Constitution, Congress may ?regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States.? Dictionaries in use during the Founding period defined commerce as ?intercourse, exchange of one thing for another, interchange of anything; trade; traffick.?

From the ratification debates on the Constitution, we further glean that the Founders wanted the states to be united in the face of European protectionism. Britain, France, and other countries placed many restrictions on American trade, depriving the newly independent United States of America of lucrative markets. Because Congress did not have a commerce power under the Articles of Confederation, it could not effectively negotiate trade pacts or retaliate when European countries restricted American trade.

Moreover, states without deep-water ports were forced to import through states that had such ports. New York, for instance, placed high duties on items that consumers elsewhere ultimately would be forced to pay. This caused tension between the states. The Framers believed that a uniform system of commercial regulation would create a national free trade zone and remove the ability for certain states to exploit their neighbors.

With the Commerce Clause, Congress was given the power to make trade (i.e., trafficking) regular among the states and with foreign powers. It?s hard to find anything in the record that indicates anyone ever contemplated that the Commerce Clause would encompass national laws that regulate manufacturing or ownership of guns ? or anything else.

How the commerce power has been transformed is a long story. But in essence, Congress now claims the power to regulate any matter that affects the national economy. Such a reading of the Commerce Clause swallows up the Framers? careful enumeration of powers, making the federal government omnipotent.

OPINION: Curbing gun violence after Newtown: Let's arm teachers

Unfortunately, many lawmakers are now bent on enacting national gun-control laws, and too many of their opponents are debating the merits of these laws when they should be questioning their constitutionality. They will continue to do so unless the American public asks them the fundamental questions about the source of their authority and demand a reasoned response.

William J. Watkins, Jr. is a research fellow with The Independent Institute and author of the book, ?Reclaiming the American Revolution.?

ALSO BY THIS WRITER: Obamacare, the Constitution, and the original meaning of the Commerce Clause

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/debate-gun-control-ask-whether-congress-power-regulate-165053730--politics.html

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What's next for North Korea's nuclear program?

After Tuesday's nuclear test, questions arose as to whether or not North Korea has advanced to the point where they could reach the continental U.S. with a missile.

By James Oberg, Space Analyst, NBC News

This week's North Korean nuclear test raises the crucial question of how close Pyongyang is to "weaponizing" its nuclear devices and rockets. It's difficult to tell, due to the country?s trademark secretiveness, but the progress to date suggests that North Korea is committed to a long-term, trial-and-error campaign to put all the pieces together.

The country's two rocket launches over the past year serve as an apt illustration: Last April, an NBC News team spent 10 days in North Korea to observe the preparations and launching of a "peaceful" Earth-observing satellite. The trip turned into a P.R. debacle for the North Koreans. They held back the key evidence that could have demonstrated peaceful intent, and their rocket failed after a covert blastoff.

---

In December, North Korea finally launched a satellite into orbit, but again failed the "openness" test by concealing what the rest of the world soon found out anyway: that the satellite was dead on arrival, a drifting derelict.

So what's next? If North Korea?s secret plan is to develop a system capable of menacing the United States, an intercontinental launch and re-entry system is the key part of the puzzle. Last year, U.S. intelligence sources told NBC News that North Korea already may have up to a "few dozen" nuclear weapons that could be fitted on ballistic missiles.

Based on historical precedents from the original U.S.-Soviet missile race, more than half a century ago, two technological challenges stand out:

• Providing a heat shield for a re-entry vehicle carrying a nuclear warhead: One option would be to use an "ablative" shield that absorbs the tremendous heat of atmospheric re-entry by burning away layers of material. For all we know, testing of such materials has already started.
• Fabricating components rugged enough to weather the stresses of a rocket ascent: It's conceivable that the satellite failure in December was due to inadequate robustness of the satellite's systems.

Too rough of a ride?
One of the lessons from April's visit was that the North Koreans prided themselves on working things out for themselves. They seemed almost to boast about how they didn't need to learn from any other country's experiences. After April's failure, North Korean statements reflected a more cautious approach to the challenges. News reports told how the rocket team had vowed to increase the quality and care of their own work. The Koreans accepted responsibility for the failure, rather than blaming foreign enemies for sabotage.

December's launch attempt marked a success for the rocket, but an apparent failure for the satellite. Post-launch reports from U.S. intelligence sources as well as the global satellite-watching community confirmed that the spacecraft never emitted a single beep. To this day, it continues to tumble end over end in orbit.

Such a failure would have a direct bearing on the construction of a reliable nuclear warhead for a long-range missile, since an intercontinental nuclear strike would use the same type of rocket that launched the satellite. True, a warhead and a satellite are different devices ? but they would share critical control components, including electronics as well as rocket thrusters.

The plans announced by North Korea call for launching two more Earth-observing satellites ??which would provide at least two more opportunities to test the ruggedness of onboard systems.

How to test a heat shield
Meanwhile, the North Koreans would also need to test the heat shielding for re-entry vehicle, either for purportedly peaceful purposes or for nuclear warheads. Ground laboratories can simulate some of the heat flow, but flight tests with actual deceleration stresses are also required.

Historically, even Nazi Germany's short-range V-2 missiles experienced enough heating to detonate their explosives. This required adding layers of plywood as makeshift heat shielding.

By the time long-range missiles appeared in the mid-1950s, rocket designers had run into a "wall" of severe heating. It took years for the Soviets and the Americans to develop adequate heat shields and the means for testing them. For the United States, the creation of the Jupiter-C rocket, later upgraded and renamed the Juno-1, marked the key advance. That rocket successfully pushed a test warhead back into the atmosphere at speeds equivalent to long-range flights ??and soon afterward, it launched the first U.S. satellite, Explorer 1.

This underscores a contemporary issue: A rocket built to test warhead heat shields would be virtually identical to a rocket for launching small satellites, because the desired speeds are similar.

North Korea could conduct such test flights at any time, either as overt missile tests, or disguised as a satellite mission. Theoretically, the rocket wouldn?t even have to fly very far across Earth's surface to its full range. It could pop up into space and then, with its upper stages still firing, turn back down into the atmosphere to attain the speeds equivalent to a full-range firing.

KCNA / NBC News

December's launch of North Korea's Unha-3 rocket is displayed on an array of screens at the country's satellite control center.

In that profile, outside observers would see a shorter-range flight. It might be harder to determine what was actually being tested. Seeing recovery ships in an impact zone ??say, 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) off the North Korean coast ??might be one clue. The test payload need only relay a brief radio burst confirming its survival before splashing into the ocean and sinking out of sight.

Such a payload could piggyback on a satellite launch ??which raises the possibility that the North Koreans could have conducted heat-shield tests during last year?s launches. Despite repeated promises, our hosts never showed us what was under the rocket's aero shroud last April. So there was no way to rule out the possibility of a hidden test.

Although the North Koreans have the home-field advantage, by virtue of their status as the most closed society on the planet, the outsiders who are trying to figure them out have a greater advantage: The reality of rocket science is the ultimate judge, rewarding and punishing the same traits in all space programs. Where Pyongyang leaves blanks and shadows, experienced rocketeers can often fill in the gaps with reasonable implications and deductions from other national projects.

That's why our April "road trip" to North Korea was a success for those trying to understand North Korea?s rocket program ? and a failure for those trying to distort it.

More about North Korea's nuclear intentions:

---

NBC News space analyst James Oberg spent 22 years at NASA's Johnson Space Center as a Mission Control operator and an orbital designer. He was part of the NBC team that visited North Korea last April.

Source: http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/12/16941504-history-provides-clues-to-next-steps-in-north-koreas-nuclear-program?lite

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Being There: Scientists Enlist Inuit for Long-Term Observations of Arctic Wildlife [Slide Show]

During the summer in Qaanaaq, Greenland, an Inuit hunter paddling next to a resting narwhal observed a thin gauzelike layer coming off the narwhal's body and dissipating into the water. The event lasted only a few seconds, but Connecticut-based dentist Martin Nweeia, a Harvard University and Smithsonian Institution researcher who studies narwhal tusks as his passion, immediately saw the scientific significance of the hunter's observation. Whereas the beluga, the narwhal's nearest relative, is known to enter warmer estuarine waters in the summer to molt, this skin-renewal process had never been scientifically documented for narwhal, in part because no scientist has ever spent sufficient time in remote Arctic locations to record such an event. "One voice from an Inuit hunter can be more significant than 100 scientists," says Nweeia, who presented his findings at the 18th Inuit Studies Conference in Washington, D.C. Nweeia, a professor at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, has obtained many more scientific insights from the Inuit elders and hunters who have lived close to the narwhal for thousands of years. Taking a cue from the Inuit who indicated that narwhal tusking was not a sign of aggression, he discovered that the unicornlike tusk was a sensory organ, capable of detecting changes in the ocean environment. Narwhals gently rubbing their tusks together are not dueling, as previously believed, but engaged in a type of ritualistic behavior, Nweeia argues. He also learned that the tusk could bend at least 30 centimeters in any direction without breaking, an observation that he did not believe until more scientific tests demonstrated the tusk?s unusual strength and flexibility. View a slide show of scientific collaboration around narwhals. More scientists now collaborate with indigenous peoples to learn about rare and elusive wildlife. ?The biologists are starting to understand that hunters have good eyes, they know what they are looking for, and it can really help them,? says Gabriel Nirlungayuk, director of wildlife and environment for Nunavut Tunngavik, Inc. Nirlungayuk has collaborated with scientists on different research projects. Reliance on aboriginal insights is particularly crucial in the Arctic, where climate change creates an urgent need to understand local dynamics. ?The Arctic is changing rapidly, and often it is just too fast for scientists to keep up with all the details or implications,? says Henry Huntington, science director for the Arctic program at the Pew Environment Group in Alaska. Changing environmental conditions open unprecedented opportunities for industrial development that has the potential to compromise wildlife habitat. In Nunavut one of the biggest resource extraction efforts ever proposed for the eastern Arctic, the Mary River iron ore project, could have impacts on various species including caribou, bowhead whale, narwhal, beluga and walrus. Scientists and locals combine forces to tackle those major conservation issues. ?We have to try our best to work together in a cooperative way so that we all know as much as we can about how fragile these populations can be,? says Jack Orr, project lead for the Arctic Research Division at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Orr captures narwhals and fits them with satellite transmitters to understand the whales' diving behaviors and migration routes. Inuit hunters provide information about weather conditions, best timing and locations for accessing the whales. Local Arctic residents are traveling, hunting, boating and observing wildlife on the land and ocean throughout the year whereas scientists only conduct field studies for a limited time during the summer. ?We might get a piece of the puzzle, but we are never going to see the puzzle,? Nweeia says. For example, in Barrow, Alaska, Saint Lawrence Island Yupik whalers helped improve census methods for bowhead whales, telling scientists they could not see all the whales from the edge of the ice, along with sharing insights on bowheads? ability to swim through the ice where they cannot be seen. Biologists also built on I?upiaq observations to learn that bowheads possess a sense of smell, unlike most other whales. In contrast to scientists who seek to isolate and study one variable in the environment, traditional knowledge?holders look for relationships within the whole environment, which helps science explore new territory. Huntington learned from I?upiaq and Yupik elders that beavers damned streams where fish spawned, hence impacting belugas? food source in Alaska. ?I have yet to meet a biologist telling me with a straight face that he would have anticipated a connection between beavers and beluga,? he says. Scientific research in remote Arctic regions is expensive and logistically challenging, particularly for species like orcas ( killer whales) that cover large areas and cannot be easily surveyed through standard methods. Climate change and the resulting loss of sea ice during the summer have opened new hunting territory for the killer whales in the eastern Canadian Arctic, but scientists knew very little about these animals until they tapped into the traditional knowledge of Inuit hunters who shared unique firsthand descriptions of orca hunting tactics. ?It gives us a real jump start in knowing what to be looking for,? says Steve Ferguson, a research scientist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada who led a survey of traditional knowledge on killer whales in Nunavut waters. Learning from Inuit hunters that killer whales use specific methods to hunt bowheads, beluga, narwhal and seals, Ferguson discovered at least two different killer whale groups based on prey preferences. Sometimes the locals share qualitative, subtle information that challenges scientific minds. Orr recalls that an Inuit hunter once told him that narwhals get cold when holes are made through their backs to fit satellite tags. ?I may not necessarily believe that, but I can?t say he is wrong, either,? Orr says. He since then improved the tag design to minimize impacts on the whales. When Nweeia learned about narwhal molting for the first time, he knew that he had to part with the traditional scientific approach that validates facts through large sample sizes. ?These hunters spent their whole lives around narwhal, and the reason why their knowledge is valid and should not be questioned as much is because their lives depend on it.? Follow Scientific American on Twitter @SciAm and @SciamBlogs. Visit ScientificAmerican.com for the latest in science, health and technology news.
? 2013 ScientificAmerican.com. All rights reserved.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/being-scientists-enlist-inuit-long-term-observations-arctic-203100862.html

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Areas/posting Guide

(Rebooted and Recruiting)The game of chess has never been seen this way. Which side will come victorious in this century's soulchess.

Owner:

Game Masters:

This topic is an Out Of Character part of the roleplay, ?Soulchess: Revival?. Anything posted here will also show up there.

Topic Tags:

Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.
--Gardenia City--
A modern society who really doesn't know the magic behind their own city. It is very mysterious. During the day time, everything seems nearly normal and most destruction caused at night is blamed on natural disaster... at night it's nearly the same thing except destruction occurs by those taking part in this chess game. Those who witness the battles may remember until they fall asleep... thus is the magic that occurs in this city... Any fighting that happens during the day time is often remembered until the night as well.. Normal Gardenians may be curious of the castle but awkwardly avoid it or if they become brave they walk onto the territory only to find themselves walking back out without knowing what they were doing before.

--Seramel Castle--
The base in which members of Seramel sometimes retreat to. (Plenoran cannot enter the area unless through Roleplay and know No one starts here. Your character must physically go into the area)

The outside of this castle is a garden with a marble walkway towards the entrance. The inside the castle has rooms for all of its members. As you walk through this hall your character will see the dining hall, Quarters for all the characters. Lounge, and Inner castle gardens. The King and Queen's hall and rooms are upon the highest quarters as the rest are below them. There are maids and normal knights who are to serve and defend the castle but will remain for no other task.

--Plenoran Castle--
The base in which members of Plenoran sometimes retreat to. (Seramel cannot enter the area unless through Roleplay and know, No one starts here. Your character must physically go into the area)

Expect the dark feeling of this castle. Unlike the opposite side, this castle indeed does give a short road, with a dark lake nearby. Although do not take the black side of being evil but it could attract those with a darker side. It doesn't look so bad during the day. Inside the black castle Is nearly the same layout as the Seramels. Inside there rooms for all of its members. As you walk through the halls your character will see the dining hall, Quarters for all the characters. Lounge, and Inner castle gardens even if outside may be foggy. The King and Queen's hall and rooms are upon the highest quarters as the rest are below them. There are maids and normal knights who are to serve and defend the castle but will remain for no other

--POSTING--

Guys as i said before try to post every day or two. If you can't post for a while, be sure to at least tell us or PM me, and make sure your character is not going to stall others. (Making them wait for the remaining time you're away).

Try to type three good/decent paragraphs with detail. (Dialogue has its exceptions)

By exception for dialogue, I know it gets frustrating trying to reply to someone through dialogue and asking yourself how to work up three paragraphs for a easy question. Don't worry i understand that but at least be descriptive in your answers. Thats the least i can ask for when it comes to such answers but there are ways to length out your paragraph and thats by giving good visuals and inside thoughts.

When posting be sure to use the code

Code: Select all

[center][b]NAME[/b][/center]
[center][u]Area[/u][/center]


At the beginning of the post, then continue your post as normal. When stating area you can be general or place a sub area to be more specific in case people wont automatically assume they're close to you which shouldn't happen.

When describing someone your character may not know and you want to just describe the person as your character may see them to be. Please put the character your describing in paranthesis.

Ex. Medusa notices a small boy who held a lollipop in his mouth across the street (Kon). (Kon is someone i made up).

Another example is if your character is in thought. Just follow the same process. You should know if your character is thinking it, there should be " ".

When your in battle and say your beginning a ability. Be sure to describe how your character is doing the ability, the sounds one may hear if near, the environment effect it may have, etc.

Ex. Goku, begins screaming while crinching his fist. The pressure of wind increases around him as his aura intensifies. The earth begins to partially rise as his energy grow. Suddenly, his hair begins to brighten changing into a blonde color and his eyes go green. Suddenly his a explosions occurs and goku stands in anger looking towards Frieza (Super Saiyan).

(Wow... idk i feel like i explained that ok -- Goku's Supa Saiyan xD)

OK last thing I want to explain is changing areas. Know your character can't be in 2-3 different areas at once. Your character can only be in one area at a time. If through RP your character enters the Plenoran Castle. State it please.

So say you got done with your full text. At the end put (Has left to Plenoran)

this way people will know that your character no longer on this field.

Remember guys, if you have question do ask and i'll try to clear it up.

Sonicx00

Member for 1 years

---

---

Post a reply

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PST: PSG tops Valencia? |? Ibrahimovic red carded

It?s rare that you see the word ?escaped? applied to a 2-1 road victory, but by the end of Paris Saint-Garmain?s Tuesday trip to Valencia?s Mestalla, the Parisians would be right to feel like the final whistle cam at just the right moment. A late Adil Rami goal had halved their lead before a stunning late red card for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. PSG were left to see out the match?s final moments packed into their own end before being awarded a valuable road victory, 2-1.

The win was the result of two isolated moments in a match that was otherwise controlled by?Los Che. In the 10th minute, a one-two between Ezequiel Lavezzi and fellow Argentine Javier Pastore allowed the duo to crack the left side of Valencia?s defense, putting the Parisians up 1-0. Just before halftime, Pastore?s quick shot off a Lucas Moura cross beat Vicente Guaita between the legs, the goalkeeper?s left foot the last touch on what would prove the game-winning goal.

That early edge, along with stalwart defensive play from PSG?s midfield, allowed the visitors to give Valencia control of the game, something that nearly proved fruitless. Then a late foul from substitute Sylvain Armand allowed Tino Costa to drop a 90th minute restart behind the Parisian line. An unmarked Adil Rami gave Valencia their hope-restoring goal.

But the story coming out of today?s match will the Zlatan Ibrahimovic?s red card. After a good if unspectacular game, Ibrahimovic was dismissed after a stoppage time challenge on Andres Guardado saw the Swede go over the top of the ball and stomp on his opponent?s right foot. He?ll miss the return leg in Paris.

(MORE OFFSHORE: Juventus three up on Celtic.)

Man of the Match:?PSG?s defensive effort was the difference in this match, and that effort was led by midfielder Blaise Matuidi, one of the team?s two best players this season. Because he exists in a world defined by Ibrahimovic, the French international doesn?t get the attention he deserves, but on Tuesday people saw why the 25-year-old has become crucial to his team?s success.

At the tip if a defense tasked with disrupting a team that held 65 percent of the game?s possession, Matuidi had a game-high five interceptions. His presence in the middle (along with Marco Veratti?s) helped take Ever Banega out of the match, while his forays forward to put pressure on Costa contributed to some of the Argentine?s early struggles.

Threesome of Knowledge: What We Learned

PSG is ready to compete for Champions League -?Nobody?s going to confuse Valencia for title contenders, but getting results on the road in Champions League ? particularly at this point in the competition ? is difficult. Some teams don?t even try to win road matches, content to take stalemates into their home legs.

Not so for PSG. They scored early, took advantage of a breakdown before halftime, and despite a late wobble, took a win and two away goals out of Spain. In the process, they dispelled the notion that the group?s lack of Champions League experience would be a hinderance.

Sure, the team has individuals who?ve played in Champions League. Ibrahimovic is in this competition every year, and Thiago Silva came from Milan. But as a collective, this team has never tried to navigate these waters before.

One year after Borussia Dortmund, Lille, and Manchester City fell flat in Champions League, it was reasonable to ask whether PSG?s uptake would be as slow. Now, we can disregard that notion.

Ancelotti?s got his midfield working -?Matuidi wasn?t the only PSG midfielder putting forth an effort. Marco Veratti has come a long way since the beginning of the season, his game-high seven tackles showing he no longer needs to be protected in the middle. Out wide, Lucas Moura and Javier Pastore ? two players known for their work in other facets of the game ? proved they can fulfill wide midfielders? responsibilities in a 4-4-2.

Six months ago, none of those names projected as players who could provide this kind of defensive. A team with Valencia?s skill would?have?exploited them. But Carlo Ancelotti brought something new out of the trio. As a result, PSG looks a good bet to go through.

Tino Costa as a metaphor for the match -?In the first half, when the game was in doubt, Valencia couldn?t take advantage of the possession they were given. They couldn?t even mount any meaningful chances on Salvatore Sirigu. PSG looked set to deflect Valencia?s attacks through full time and take a cleansheet back to Paris.

A big part of that was Tino Costa.?The Valencia?regista was off early on, spraying balls across the field that were more speculative than surgical. His short passing was being disrupted by Matuidi. Costa was not only undermining Valencia attacks, he was giving PSG opportunities to counter.

As Costa came into the match, Valencia became more effective. Near the 30 minute-mark, when the Argentine started improving, Valencia was finally able to threaten down the flanks. As Valencia drew more fouls, they were able to bring Costa?s dead ball service into play, service which eventually let to?Los Che?s only goal.

With midfield partner Daniel Parejo a non-factor through most of the day?s match, Valencia?s output ended up reflecting what Costa was able to accomplish. When Costa came on late, his team was able to score. But until that point, they couldn?t crack PSG?s defense.

Packaged for takeaway

Source: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/12/uefa-champions-league-results-valencia-vs-psg/related/

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Rangers 4, Bruins 3 (SO): Ryan Callahan scored as the final participant in the shootout for the win - NHL News | FOX Sports on MSN

Twice already in this young and lockout-shortened season the New York Rangers have blown multigoal leads to Boston.

Rangers at a glance ? Looking for the latest on the Rangers? Get the inside slant, stats, scores, schedules and more scoops right here . ?

Twice they have been lucky to come away with a win.

Ryan Callahan scored on the fourth shootout attempt and the Rangers recovered after blowing a three-goal, third-period lead to beat the Bruins 4-3.

"We have to learn from it," Callahan said. "But at the same time we showed some character in not giving up and not folding the tent in overtime."

Henrik Lundqvist stopped 37 shots, plus three of the four attempts in the shootout to give the Rangers their fourth win in five games. Carl Hagelin scored for the second consecutive game, and Derek Stepan and Anton Stralman each added an unassisted goal for the Rangers.

"I think we played a great game," said Rick Nash , who had an assist to set up Hagelin's goal and scored in the shootout. "There was a little 12-minute stretch there where we kind of sat back, but you've got to give credit to them: They played desperate. They came out hard, and their chances paid off, but we got the two points and that's what we're happy with."

Tuukka Rask made 26 saves for the Bruins, who have three losses this season and two of them are to the Rangers. On Jan. 23, New York beat Boston 4-3 in overtime after blowing a 2-0 lead.

Bruins at a glance ? Looking for the latest on the Bruins? Get the inside slant, stats, scores, schedules and more scoops right here . ?

David Krejci made it 3-1 with 11 minutes left. With Rask off for an extra skated, Nathan Horton and Brad Marchand scored in the final 91 seconds to send the game into overtime.

"We kind of dug ourselves a hole of our own doing, but at the same time you have to appreciate that we never gave up," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "I don't think we're going to get carried away thinking this was a great situation."

The Rangers broke a scoreless tie midway through the first period when Rick Nash stickhandled through two defensemen and slid the puck over to Hagelin, who had an empty half of a net to shoot at. Stepan stole the puck at center ice and snapped a shot past Rask to make it 2-0 in the second.

The Rangers started the third period with a two-goal lead and a two-man advantage. Boston killed off the penalties, but a minute later Stralman floated a seemingly harmless shot toward Rask that got through the goalie's pads and trickled into the net.

STAR GAZING Even hot celebs love cool NHL games .

Krejci put back a rebound to make it 3-1. Horton scored with 1:31 left in regulation to make it a one-goal game and awaken the sold-out building. Just 48 seconds later, with 43 seconds left in regulation and Rask off for an extra skater, Marchand found the top of the net to tie it.

Lundqvist stopped Tyler Seguin and Patrice Bergeron in the shootout, and Rask stopped Marian Gaborik before Nash went right and then left to slide the puck into the net. Marchand scored for Boston to tie it, and Brad Richards missed for New York before Krejci went wide.

Callahan put in a long wrist shot to end it.

Notes

Hagelin had two goals and an assist in the Rangers' previous game. ... The Bruins were 0-4 on the power play, making them 4 for 43 on the season. ... The Bruins signed F Jay Pandolfo , a former Boston University star, to a two-way contract. ... The Rangers were called for their sixth too-many-men penalty of the season, in the second period. ... Milan Lucic and Dennis Seidenberg each had a pair of assists for Boston.

Source: http://msn.foxsports.com/topics/device/mobile/t/70890936/rangers-4-bruins-3-so-ryan-callahan-scored-as-the-final-participant-in-the-shootout-for-the-win-nhl-news-fox-sports-on-msn.htm

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Wall Street ends slightly higher, Dow near a record

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks closed modestly higher on Tuesday, putting the Dow within striking distance of an all-time high, as investors looked ahead to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address.

Investors will be listening to Obama's speech for any clues on a deal with Republicans to avert automatic spending cuts due to take effect March 1. The tone of the speech will also be scrutinized, with any sign of compromise likely to be warmly received.

The S&P 500 has risen for the past six weeks, putting it up 6.5 percent so far this year, while the Dow is about 1 percent away from its all-time closing record of 14,164.53, reached in October 2007.

But gains have been harder to come by since the S&P hit a five-year high on February 1. Daily moves have been small and trading volume light as investors search for new reasons to drive stocks higher.

About 5.73 billion shares changed hands on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq and NYSE MKT on Tuesday, below the daily average so far this year of about 6.48 billion shares.

"We're likely to settle in for a period and digest the gains we've had, though there's still a bias towards positive momentum," said Eric Teal, chief investment officer at First Citizens Bancshares in Raleigh, North Carolina.

"Questions over government spending are the big overhang, and we're looking for Obama to inspire some confidence over that tonight."

The White House has signaled Obama will urge investment in infrastructure and clean energy, suggesting companies in those sectors may be volatile in Wednesday's session.

"Gun makers could also see a reaction if Obama talks about anything with respect to gun control," said Teal, who helps oversee $5 billion. Shares of Smith & Wesson fell 2 cents to $9.11 while Sturm Ruger was up 0.4 percent at $53.91.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.dji> was up 47.46 points, or 0.34 percent, at 14,018.70. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.spx> was up 2.42 points, or 0.16 percent, at 1,519.43. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.ixic> was down 5.51 points, or 0.17 percent, at 3,186.49.

Housing shares were among the strongest of the day, led by a 12.5 percent jump in Masco Corp to $20.02 after the home improvement product maker said it expects new home construction to show strong growth in 2013. The PHLX housing sector index <.hgx> rose 3.7 percent.

Avon Products Inc surged 20 percent to $20.79 as the S&P 500's top percentage gainer after the cosmetics company reversed sales declines and cut costs.

On the downside, Coca-Cola Co fell 2.7 percent to $37.56 and was the biggest drag on the Dow after reporting revenue below estimates, hurt by a weaker-than-expected performance in Europe.

Michael Kors Holdings shares jumped 8.8 percent to $62.04 after the fashion company handily beat Wall Street's estimates and raised its full-year outlook.

With earnings season starting to wind down, Thomson Reuters data through Tuesday morning shows of the 353 companies in the S&P 500 that have reported results, 70.3 percent have exceeded analysts' expectations, above a 62 percent average since 1994 and 65 percent over the past four quarters.

Fourth-quarter earnings for S&P 500 companies are estimated to have risen 5.3 percent, according to the data, above a 1.9 percent forecast at the start of the earnings season.

About 62 percent of stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange closed higher while 59 percent of Nasdaq-listed shares closed in positive territory.

(Editing by Nick Zieminski)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/stock-futures-dip-obama-speech-coca-cola-shares-133311554--sector.html

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Frank Lampard signs deal ? to write ?Frankie?s Magic Football? books for children

Frank Lampard will write a series of books with characters based on his team-mates (Picture: Getty)

Frank Lampard has taken the first steps to proving there could be life after Chelsea, as the 34-year-old signed a deal with a publisher to write his own series of children?s books.

The midfielder, whose contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of the season, has finally been asked to put pen to paper ? writing a series of books called ?Frankie?s Magic Football? aimed at youngsters aged five and over.

?I first had the idea of Frankie and his Magic Football when reading stories to my own children,? said Lampard.

Frank Lampard has had an offer from book publishers and is now just waiting on an offer from Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

?Sport and reading are two essentials for us at home, so I decided to make up my own football stories and adventures.

?The characters are loosely based on friends and team mates I?ve played with over the years. I am delighted that Little Brown liked the stories as much as my children and will be publishing the Frankie?s Magic Football series.?

Given the age group Lampard?s books will be targeted at, Metro Sport presume one of his characters is unlikely to be based on John Terry and his numerous adventures, although an evil Mr Abramovich may feature.

Source: http://metro.co.uk/2013/02/12/frank-lampard-signs-deal-to-write-frankies-magic-football-books-for-children-3455302/

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Inside Sony Music?s Post Grammy Party

Source: http://www.coloradobucketlist.com/2013-culinary-escapades-at-devils-thumb-ranch/

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