People have long wondered about the purpose of dreams. But scientists say they now know: they sooth the sting out of troubling memories. And when dreams don?t do their job, horrific memories can take over a person?s life, as they do with PTSD, a new study suggests.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/vp/45483810#45483810
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BAGHDAD?? Vice President Joe Biden arrived on a surprise visit to Iraq late Tuesday in a trip designed to chart a new relationship between the two countries after all American forces have left the country in just over a month.
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After nearly nine years of war, the U.S. now must navigate a future without American troops in Iraq. But Iraq's vast oil resources, the massive U.S. Embassy presence here and Iraq's strategic location in the Middle East ? next to Iran ? ensure American interest will remain high in Iraq even after the troops are gone.
"We're in an historic period for American engagement in Iraq," Ambassador James F. Jeffrey told reporters earlier this week.
Baghdad and Washington failed earlier this year to come to an agreement on keeping a small American military presence in Iraq next year, meaning all U.S. forces must be out of the country by Dec. 31. Some 13,000 U.S. troops remain, down from a one-time high of about 170,000.
The issue of what type of military relationship Iraq and the U.S. will have next year and into the future is expected to dominate Biden's visit. His trip will also lay the groundwork for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dec. 12 visit to Washington. Biden also will take part in a ceremony commemorating the sacrifices of U.S. and Iraqi troops.
Iraqi leaders have said they want U.S. military training help for their nascent security forces but have been unable to agree on what type of help they'd like or what protections they would be willing to give the American military trainers.
The U.S. ambassador told reporters that the U.S. is trying to assess how "we can support Iraq, particularly to develop their conventional capabilities, and to continue the fight against terror."
"This is a very, very important joint priority of ours. The al-Qaida in Iraq organization is still active particularly in the north but they strike throughout the country," he said.
In the week leading up to Biden's visit, Iraq has seen an uptick in violence that has renewed concerns about the abilities of the country's security forces.
A suicide bomber slammed a car packed with explosives into the gate of a prison north of Baghdad on Monday, killing at least 19 people. On Saturday a string of explosions killed 15 people. Three days earlier, a triple bombing in the southern city of Basra killed 19 people.
Many U.S. and Iraqi officials are concerned insurgents may use the transition period when American troops depart to launch more attacks in a bid to regain their former prominence and destabilize the country.
The U.S. Embassy will have 157 American military personnel in charge of facilitating weapons sales to Iraq, and then about 700 civilian contractors around the country helping train Iraqis on the weapons they've purchased. U.S. Marines will also guard the embassy, which is the largest American embassy in the world.
Biden's visit also will likely touch on Syria and Iraqi concerns over the turbulence that has engulfed Iraq's western neighbor. While Washington has harshly criticized Syrian President Bashar Assad's bloody crackdown that has killed more than 3,500 people, Baghdad has taken a more conservative approach.
Iraq was one of only two countries to abstain from Sunday's vote by the Arab League imposing sanctions on Syria. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said in an interview with The Associated Press Monday that Iraq was not acting out of pressure from neighboring Iran, with which Iraq has close ties.
"We took that decision out of the national interest of Iraq. So this doesn't mean that we condone the regime's actions against its civilians or demonstrators or that we don't care about the freedom of the Syrian people," Zebari said. "But there are certain self interests here for Iraq."
Zebari noted the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees living in Syria, as well as the long-standing economic ties along the countries' extensive border.
Iraq leaders are also deeply worried about what type of government might replace Assad. A conservative Sunni-led regime with ties to Saudi Arabia could be a disaster for Iraq, which is still wrestling with Sunni-Shiite problems of its own.
The U.S. vice president and Iraqi leaders will also likely discuss the fate of Ali Mussa Daqduq, a Lebanese Hezbollah commander linked to the death of four American troops in Karbala in 2007.
Last week, the U.S. handed over all the remaining detainees in its custody to the Iraqi government as required by the 2008 agreement with the exception of Daqduq. U.S. officials are worried that if he is transferred to Iraqi custody, he could escape or simply be allowed to walk free.
The Obama administration has been weighing whether to transfer Daqduq to the United States but that would require the approval of the Iraqi government.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45477578/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/
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All Critics (116) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (112) | Rotten (4)
I have seen the future of 3-D moviemaking, and it belongs to Martin Scorsese, unlikely as that may sound.
It's a fairy tale for mature viewers, but the airy exterior hides emotional depth.
One of the most magical viewing experiences of the decade so far.
Aside from being one of Scorsese's most personal films, it's also one of the least cynical films of this or any other year.
Hugo is a mixed bag but one well worth rummaging through.
For all my cavils, this is one of those wonders of the world you need to see.
Scorsese uses 3D to submerge viewers into a glittering storybook world, but all of Hugo's beauty can't make up for the sidetracking of the tale of the orphaned boy living in the train station in favor of a film preservation PSA.
If however, you are not a film scholar or a fan of the period, Scorsese will skillfully turn you into one without you even knowing it.
Scorcese does not mess around. This is a magnificent film.
The movie itself runs a bit long at 127 minutes, but "Hugo" is worth every minute for the visual feast it provides.
Hugo is a love affair -- palpable and personal -- between director Marty Scorsese and cinema. It sputters, floats, and soars.
An infectious ode to the early days of cinema. Scorsese's use of 3D is inspired, although it might be more interesting for parents than their children.
A powerful reminder of the magic of cinema and Martin Scorsese's astounding versatility...
"Hugo" is a movie that children will enjoy, adults will admire and film buffs will cheer. It is a movie that will surprise and delight you with its wonder and awe.
Exquisite - Definitely Oscar Worthy
... a phantasmagorical fusion of 'Oliver Twist' and 'Edward Scissorhands' ... but in the end it feels pedantic and, like M?li?s' robot, proves a wondrous contraption motorized by a spring-driven heart.
Hugo is a work steeped in cinema lore, drunk on the fumes of a bygone era yet canny enough to channel its nostalgia through modern innovations.
Please, please, please don't think you need to be a child to see this incredible movie. Indeed, "Hugo," a smart, classy film that deserves to be watched on the big screen in 3-D, will find a special place with grownups who love movie art and history.
A deeply felt, hugely personal, glorious and heart-swelling ode to the magic of cinema and stories: the way they bring us together, allow us to understand each other, allow us to see our dreams come true.
Probably the first kids film in history to double as a propaganda film for the cause of classic film preservation. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
It has its sluggish moments, but Hugo is mostly a delightful tribute to the magic of early cinema, and boasts excellent use of 3-D.
Martin Scorsese's affecting, gorgeously rendered 3-D debut is one of the best films of this year and any other year.
...the best children's movie of the century so far
Believe it or not, the director of Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and The Departed has made family adventure for the ages.
More Critic ReviewsSource: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hugo/
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@sk8er02 is ruining my Christmas by telling me I can't leave xmas lights on daily because they aren't energy efficient. #scrooge 
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ARLINGTON, Va. ? Tuned out by his players, coach Bruce Boudreau was fired by the Washington Capitals on Monday after winning 200 games faster than any coach in modern NHL history but stumbling regularly in the playoffs despite a talent-laden lineup featuring two-time league MVP Alex Ovechkin.
Boudreau was replaced by former Capitals captain Dale Hunter, who was greeted by loud cheers from more than 100 fans when he skated onto the ice at Monday's practice. Hunter, never before a coach in the NHL, will make his debut behind the bench Tuesday night when Washington hosts the St. Louis Blues to begin a three-game homestand.
"This was simply a case of the players were no longer responding to Bruce. When you see that, as much as you don't want to make a change, you have to make a change," general manager George McPhee said.
"Bruce came in here and emptied the tank. He gave it everything he could and did a really good job, but the tank was empty," McPhee added. "When that happens, you get a new coach, where the tank is full and see if it makes a difference."
Hired four years ago on Thanksgiving Day, Boudreau went 201-88-40 in the regular season but 17-20 in the playoffs ? exiting in the first or second round each time. This season he tried a new approach, emphasizing accountability and the willingness to bench his star players ? team captain Ovechkin included ? as punishment for subpar performances.
The Capitals started 7-0 ? a franchise record for consecutive wins to begin a season ? but have since slumped badly. They have dropped six of their past eight games, including a 5-1 loss Saturday night to a Buffalo Sabres team missing nine regular players.
Ovechkin has only one goal in the last eight games.
"I don't think this has anything to do with Alex Ovechkin," said McPhee, noting that the team's highest-paid player will remain its captain. "I think it's got everything to do with this team not playing well."
The 51-year-old Hunter played for the Capitals from 1987-99, the last five seasons as captain, and is one of four players to have his jersey number retired by the franchise. A banner with Hunter wearing his red No. 32 hangs on a wall behind one end of the ice where the Capitals practice. He stood in a nearby corner of the rink for one part of Monday's session.
"Obviously Dale was an intelligent player. He had talent and he was tough," McPhee said. "And he was downright mean sometimes."
Hunter played 19 NHL seasons and is the only player in league history with 1,000 points and 3,000 penalty minutes. His career total of 3,563 penalty minutes ranks second all-time.
Hunter has coached the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League for 11 seasons, compiling a 451-189-23-24 record. He became the fastest coach in OHL history to reach 300 and 400 career wins. Like Boudreau, who was promoted from Washington's minor league affiliate in the AHL to replace Glen Hanlon, Hunter is getting his first NHL coaching job in Washington.
"Coaching's coaching, and he's been coaching at a good level and at a high level," McPhee said. "The same questions were asked of Bruce when he came here, and he had an outstanding record."
Boudreau turned around a moribund franchise when he was hired in 2007, leading the Capitals to the first of four consecutive Southeast Division titles and winning the league's coach of the year award in 2008. Nicknamed "Gabby" for his gift of gab, he bought an offensive philosophy that meshed well with Ovechkin and the team's other "young guns" such as Alexander Semin and Mike Green, but he was never able to get Washington deep into the playoffs.
Boudreau had the team adopt a more defensive mindset during a losing streak last season, but it failed to pay dividends in the spring. The Capitals were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round of the postseason.
Boudreau's assistant coaches ? Dean Evason, Bob Woods and Blaine Forsythe ? will remain in their posts under Hunter.
McPhee said he began talking to Hunter a week ago about the possibility of returning to the Capitals. On Monday morning at 6:15 a.m., McPhee met with Boudreau and delivered the news. Now the team hopes its play will improve.
"Sometimes it's like having the same teacher for five years. How would you have liked to do that in high school? It's hard sometimes," McPhee said. "So you make the change and hope that a new voice and a new way of doing things and a new focus gets the best out of these players."
___
AP Sports Writer Joseph White contributed to this report.
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Samsung draws in developers with S-pen SDK for Galaxy Note originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Public release date: 28-Nov-2011
Share ] Contact: Jeff Haskins
254-729-871-422
jhaskins@burnesscommunications.com
International Network for Bamboo and Rattan
On Friday, Dec. 2, media are invited to attend an official UNFCCC side-event to showcase successful green-growth interventions in forestry and agriculture -- from bamboo charcoal as an alternative source of energy to business opportunities for sustainable construction materials -- created by emerging and developing economies, particularly in Africa and Asia. Panelists will highlight the policies and investments needed in Africa and globally to accelerate green growth and south-south collaboration.
Key speakers include:
###
About the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR)
INBAR is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to reducing poverty, conserving the environment and creating fairer trade using bamboo and rattan. INBAR was established in 1997 and represents a growing number of member countries all over the world. Headquarters are in China and there are regional offices in Ghana, Ethiopia, India and Ecuador. INBAR connects a global network of governmental, non-governmental, corporate and community partners in over 50 countries. For more information, go to www.inbar.int
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Public release date: 28-Nov-2011 Share ] Contact: Jeff Haskins
254-729-871-422
jhaskins@burnesscommunications.com
International Network for Bamboo and Rattan
On Friday, Dec. 2, media are invited to attend an official UNFCCC side-event to showcase successful green-growth interventions in forestry and agriculture -- from bamboo charcoal as an alternative source of energy to business opportunities for sustainable construction materials -- created by emerging and developing economies, particularly in Africa and Asia. Panelists will highlight the policies and investments needed in Africa and globally to accelerate green growth and south-south collaboration.
Key speakers include:
###
About the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR)
INBAR is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to reducing poverty, conserving the environment and creating fairer trade using bamboo and rattan. INBAR was established in 1997 and represents a growing number of member countries all over the world. Headquarters are in China and there are regional offices in Ghana, Ethiopia, India and Ecuador. INBAR connects a global network of governmental, non-governmental, corporate and community partners in over 50 countries. For more information, go to www.inbar.int
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-11/bc-gso112811.php
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New York ? In this week's TIME cover story, Alice Park explores the upside of what makes us anxious ? and how we can channel fear to bring out the best in ourselves
A little anxiety isn't necessarily a bad thing, says Alice Park in TIME. That on-edge feeling can actually help us function at our best. "Philosophers and poets, from their perch on the cutting edge of reason, have always seen the advantage of anxiety," she says (subscription required). T.S. Eliot called it the "handmaiden of creativity"; novelist Angela Carter referred to it as "the beginning of conscience." And for everyone from firefighters to professional athletes to neurotic comedians, anxiety isn't a crippling fear ? it's a "critical ingredient" in the recipe for peak performance. The key, Park says, isn't fighting off anxiety or numb ourselves with Xanax or Valium, but to learn how to manage the sensation ? "metabolic jujitsu," if you will ? and use it as an asset has. Here, an excerpt:
For all the suffering anxiety causes, the fact is, the species would not be better off without it ? and we might not be here at all. At its core, anxiety is a reaction, an arousal to a stimulus that we perceive as dangerous or threatening. The fabled saber-toothed tiger springs at the primitive human, and the human reacts with a biological red alert, bypassing the relatively time consuming thinking centers in the brain in favor of a shortcut directly to the deeper-seated hypothalamus. This awakens the nervous system to release hormones that instantly rev up heart rate and respiration, feeding fresh blood and oxygen to the muscles, which need the boost to carry the human as quickly and as far away from danger as possible? It's a nifty response, one that produced a lot of people who would live to see another day, and, more important, sire new generations of babies who would inherit their hair-trigger reflexes.
In fact, it's this dual face of anxiety that has made it such a permanent part of the evolutionary recipe for the human species.
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LOS ANGELES ? The latest "Twilight" movie has plenty of daylight left with a second-straight win at the weekend box office.
"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 1" took in $42 million domestically over the three-day weekend and $62.3 million in the five-day Thanksgiving boom time from Wednesday to Sunday. That raised its domestic total to $221.3 million, while it added $71.5 million overseas, lifting its worldwide total to $489.3 million.
Debuting at No. 2 was the family flick "The Muppets," with $29.5 million for the three-day weekend and $42 million over the five-day holiday haul.
Three other family films rounded out the top-five for the three-day weekend: "Happy Feet Two" at 3 with $13.4 million; "Arthur Christmas" at No. 4 with $12.7 million; and "Hugo" at No. 5 with $11.4 million.
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NEW YORK ? The way Americans are chomping Big Macs, lacing up pricey sneakers and gulping peppermint mochas in this economy, you'd think they're taking advantage of big holiday discounts.
The truth is they're paying more.
McDonald's, Nike, Starbucks and other companies initially worried that customers would run the other way when they started raising prices to offset their higher costs for ingredients, fuel and packaging. But so far, cash-strapped Americans largely have swallowed the price spikes. And they're continuing to do so during this holiday shopping season.
On a recent weekday, five full floors of shoppers in a Nike store in New York didn't seem to mind paying more for their favorite kicks, including the almost $200 sneakers named for NBA star LeBron James. At a McDonald's across town, people munched on Big Macs and fries that cost a dime or two more than last year. Customers also piled into a Starbucks down the street, where cappuccinos and many other specialty drinks now top $5.
Timothy and Katrin Sullivan, a San Diego couple, estimate that together they spend about $100 a month on skinny caramel macchiatos and pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks, where prices on some drinks have risen in some regions this year. As parents of five children, they worry about the economy and have cut back on travel and ball games, but so far their morning cup of joe has survived the chopping block despite the rising price.
"It's cheaper than therapy," says Katrin Sullivan, 39.
The prices Americans pay for food, travel and other things have steadily risen this year, according to government data. Prices went up 3.5 percent in October compared with the same month a year ago. At the same time, every month for the past year except one, spending grew 2 percent or more compared with the same month a year ago. That's given retailers some cautious optimism as they try to gauge just how much more consumers are willing to pay.
Pete Bensen, McDonald's chief financial officer told analysts during the company's earnings call that the question boils down to this: "Is the consumer in a place that we're comfortable we can continue to add price increases?"
Companies of all stripes have been asking that question a lot. In the past year, they've been paying more for materials like beef, corn and fuel that they use to make, package and transport their goods. A combination of poor crop yields in some parts of the world, unrest in the Middle East and greater demand from countries like Brazil and China have sent those costs up.
Many costs have come down after spiking in the spring. A pound of coffee, for example, is trading at about $2.30, down from $3 in the spring. But that's up from $2 a year ago.
As a result, Starbucks Corp. this year raised the price of the packaged coffee in its stores by 17 percent. The company declines to say whether prices on brewed drinks have risen or fallen overall in the past year, since those price decisions vary by region. But generally, the Seattle chain says the prices of specialty drinks like lattes and macchiatos are more likely to have risen this year than simpler drinks.
The price of a 16-ounce grande cappuccino at Starbucks costs about $4.25, up about 23 percent from $3.45 a year ago, research firm Technomic estimates. Meanwhile, a bagel went up from $1 a year ago to $1.25.
That hasn't stopped Starbucks customers from getting their coffee fix, though. Store traffic rose 6 percent in the most recent fiscal year, which ended in October. Revenue at stores open at least a year ? an indicator of a retailer's health ? rose 8 percent.
"We think we are in a very good spot right now," Jeff Hansberry, who runs Starbucks' consumer products division, said in a call with analysts this month.
At Nike Inc., sales rose almost 18 percent in the three-month period through August, even though it raised prices on certain styles this year. Nike hasn't detailed the price increases, but according to research firm SportsOneSource Group, the suggested price of a pair of this year's version of LeBron James' sneakers is about $170, up from about $160 last year. Nike said it expects to raise prices more broadly in the spring.
"We have not seen any big price resistance at all," Charles Denson, president of the Nike Brand, said in a call with analysts.
Likewise, traffic and sales grew after McDonald's raised prices an average of 1 percent in March and another 1.4 percent in May. In the third quarter, guest count increased 2.6 percent. Revenue at stores open at least a year rose 5 percent. (The revenue figure is a snapshot of money spent on food at both company-owned and franchised restaurants. It does not reflect corporate revenue.)
McDonald's won't give details on which items it raised prices on, but Technomic estimates that a Big Mac costs an average of $3.39, up from $3.19 a year ago. A large order of fries is about $1.89, up from $1.79.
And the company signaled that there may be more increases to come. "We will continue to evaluate additional price increases," said Bensen, McDonald's CFO, during a call last month. "As we look into 2012, we expect commodity cost increases in the U.S. to be similar to this year's."
Even if the costs for some raw materials decline, companies are still expected to continue to raise prices during this holiday shopping season. That's because costs for materials are uncertain, so companies will try to raise prices whenever they think customers will tolerate them. Still, they have to tread lightly or risk losing customers.
To be sure, families have trimmed their budgets as the economy plummets. But Americans continue to spend for myriad reasons, even though prices have risen on everything from Coca-Cola soda to Huggies diapers to Ben & Jerry's ice cream.
Some are stomaching the higher prices only on products they need. Others who've cut back on bigger frills are willing to splurge on brands they trust or things they see as small indulgences. Still others are apathetic to the increases because "everybody's doing it."
The weak economy has forced Kenya Leach, a New York actress, to cut back on eating out and trips to the movies and to reconsider her plans to return to school for an anthropology degree. Still, she keeps buying beauty products from Origins, which sells $35 moisturizer and $25 face wash, even though she's noticed those prices edge up by about a dollar per product, by her calculations.
Estee Lauder, the high-end cosmetics company that owns Origins, did not detail its price increases. But CEO Fabrizio Freda said recently during an analyst call that customers have been "resilient" as the company has raised prices and rolled out more expensive products.
Leach, for one, figures it's OK to spend a little more on Origins products because she is cutting out so many other things. "Treating yourself sends off those happy pheromones," says Leach, 25. "When I get really crabby and upset, I'll buy a new lipstick and I'll feel 10 times better."
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NEW YORK (AP) ? The voters in The Associated Press college football poll are clear on which two teams they believe are the best in the country.
LSU is the unanimous No. 1 for a third consecutive week and Alabama received all the second-place votes for a second straight week.
The SEC West powers are on course for a rematch in the BCS championship game on Jan. 9 in New Orleans.
Oklahoma State moves up to No. 3 on an off week, taking advantage of Arkansas' tumble from No. 3 to No. 6 after the Razorbacks lost 41-17 at LSU on Friday.
Stanford is No. 4, just five points behind Oklahoma State. Virginia Tech is No. 5.
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M.I.A. and Minaj will appear on Madge's next album, due in 2012.
By Jocelyn Vena
M.I.A.
Photo: Getty Images
Madonna fans have something to be thankful for. After much speculation, rapper M.I.A. has confirmed that she, along with Nicki Minaj, will work with Madonna on the Queen of Pop's new album. The rapper took to Twitter over the Thanksgiving holiday to confirm the rumors.
"Summond to NYC by bitchesses > MADONNA and NICKIMINAJ," M.I.A. tweeted on Saturday. "cofffffiiiiiiieeeeeeeeee it iz a good day to get me tho trustttt bitches."
Rumors of M.I.A. and Nicki's involvement on Madonna's album first surfaced last month on a Madonna fan site.
The track they reportedly will all appear on, "Give Me All Your Love," leaked earlier this month. The sample featured Nicki but not M.I.A., leading fans to wonder if the rumors that she would appear on Madge's album were true.
The leak may have pleased fans, but it left Madonna and her camp pretty unhappy. Shortly after the track hit the Web, Madonna's manager, Guy Oseary, took to Twitter to address the leak. "The plan was for new music to come out in the new year," he said. "I'm very happy with the positive reaction to the demo, but we are very upset with whoever leaked the song!!!!!!!! we are asking that the fans please help us police any more leaks. we have a lot in store for you. but please respect the process."
Madonna, via Oseary, also expressed her feelings about the leak. "Madonna told me this morning 'my true fans wouldn't do this,' " he wrote. "Whoever is responsible for this leak, we ask that you please stop!"
The as-yet-untitled new album is expected to drop in the spring of 2012 and will feature production from Ray of Light producer William Orbit. Madonna will also perform at the Super Bowl in February, which coincides with the release of her film "W.E."
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674958/madonna-nicki-minaj-mia-collaboration.jhtml
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Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. are collaborating in the development of communications-linked next-generation vehicles. A part of this collaboration is their joint exhibition of a communications-linked electric commuter concept and an electrically power assisted bicycle concept at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show 2011.
The objectives of this collaboration between TMC and Yamaha Motor are threefold:
To build a comprehensive information infrastructure early on, in which vehicles made by both TMC and Yamaha Motor can share the same charging infrastructure and integration with the Toyota Smart Center.
To establish new transportation systems, including those to aid vehicle sharing systems.
To reduce development costs for IT services.
The two companies plan to start verification tests in the near future, with an eye toward commercialization of communications-linked products and IT services.
Vehicle navigation and telematics services that use smartphones and Wi-Fi communications will be made available to certain Yamaha Motor-produced vehicles to provide information such as charging-station location, charging-station availability and charging-completion notification. The two companies will also work toward expanding charging infrastructure, such as the G-Station charging station to be provided by Toyota Media Service Corporation for use with EVs and PHVs, that can be shared by both two-wheeled vehicles and automobiles.
In addition, various types of communications-linked services will be offered, including distribution of vehicle-sharing information (reservations, charging status/authentication, and payment) and uploading of diagnostic information to be used for vehicle maintenance.
Since the joint-development of the Toyota 2000GT launched in 1967, TMC and Yamaha Motor have collaborated in a wide range of fields, such as the development and production of high-performance engines and automotive components.
Source: http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/tmcym-20111128.html
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KINSHASA (Reuters) ? Police in Congo blocked President Joseph Kabila's main rival at an airport in Kinshasa on Saturday to stop him staging an election rally after at least two died in violence across the central African state's capital city.
Two days before presidential and parliamentary elections, rival factions hurled rocks at each other and gunfire was heard across town.
A Reuters reporter saw one lifeless body on the road to the airport while a U.N. source reported another death elsewhere in town.
The eruption of violence was the latest sign of tension in the run-up to Congo's second election since a 1998-2003 war, a poll which has been marked by opposition allegations of irregularities and concerns about inadequate preparations.
In a stand-off that began just after midday, police stopped opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi and his entourage from leaving Kinshasa's N'djili airport after his party said it would defy a ban on political rallies imposed earlier on Saturday.
"I'll call the population of Kinshasa to come here," Tshisekedi, 78, sitting in a red Hummer surrounded by police at the exit gate of the airport, told reporters.
"We are already dying in our thousands, we are not going to let a few injuries stop us fighting now," he said, a reference to his accusations that Kabila's government has saddled Congo's population with insecurity and poverty.
Tens of thousands of Congolese were walking toward the airport by early evening, most of them identifiable as Tshisekedi supporters. Some chanted his name while many billboards for Kabila and his allies had been torn down.
Kabila, Tshisekedi and the other main challenger, Vital Kamerhe, had all been due to hold rallies within several hundred metres of each other in central Kinshasa on Saturday.
Kamerhe told Reuters that four people had been killed, including one of his supporters, but it was not immediately possible to confirm that toll.
POLL DELAY?
Under constitutional amendments signed off by Kabila this year, the presidential vote will be decided in a single round, meaning the winner can claim victory with a simple majority. Analysts say that favours Kabila against the split opposition.
Despite a logistics operation supported by helicopters from South Africa and Angola, some observers doubt whether all the ballot slips will have reached the 60,000 voting stations by Monday in a country two-thirds the size of the European Union.
However national election commission president Daniel Ngoy Mulunda said he did not expect to postpone polls, saying that materials were 90 percent deployed in the provinces.
"No, I am not expecting any change. We have today, the whole night, tomorrow day and night to finalize (preparations)," Mulunda told a news conference in Kinshasa.
"We had some delays with weather but we know it will work - on Monday it won't rain."
Earlier, Tshisekedi said he could accept a delay but only if Mulunda, whom he accused of having political ties to Kabila and turning a blind eye to alleged irregularities, was sacked.
"I would agree (to a delay) if that meant a more credible, democratic and transparent process," he told French RFI radio.
"But one thing is clear: if we say there will be a delay, it is clear that the election commission cannot be led by Daniel Ngoy Mulunda," he said, accusing him of having been a founding member of Kabila's PPRD political party.
Mulunda, who will have the deciding vote if his commission is split on any election dispute, said this week he did not deny having been a member of the delegation that accompanies Kabila on foreign trips, but said he was not a founding PPRD member.
Kabila's rivals allege the existence on paper of fake polling stations to allow vote-rigging, a claim authorities have denied. They also accuse Kabila of using state media and transport assets for his campaign.
Kamerhe said the Congolese would not accept a rigged poll.
"They want free and fair elections that allow them to take their destiny in their own hands. People will refuse cheating wherever it takes place," he told Reuters, surrounded by chanting and dancing supporters at his party headquarters.
For many Congolese, there was a last-minute scramble to find out where they should be voting. Gervis Ilunga, a 44-year-old security guard, said he registered in one Kinshasa district but ultimately found his name elsewhere.
"In 2006, things were at least organised," he said of the first post-war poll largely organised under the auspices of the United Nations. "It is not like that this time ... There will be too many challenges this time."
(Additional reporting by Finbarr O'Reilly; Writing by Mark John; Editing by Sophie Hares and David Cowell)
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If you're feeling lethargic after an extended holiday weekend, let The Rolling Stones motivate you into your work week with a little Start Me Up. Apart from being an upbeat kickstart to the week, it also holds the honor in many of our minds as the Windows 95 song. Good times!
Spotify | Rdio | Amazon | iTunes | Android Market
Work Sounds is a twice-a-week post that highlights good music to enhance your 'getting stuff done'. On Mondays, we focus on a piece of music to help motivate you for the week ahead; on Wednesdays we feature distraction-free, headphones-on, head-down work tunes. Have a suggestion on a song or album we should feature for Work Sounds? Share it with us here.
Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/L9-LzxhOftM/start-me-up
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Source: http://www.rssmicro.com/rss.web?q=Microsoft
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A young Egyptian man holds a national flag while standing on a rooftop between Tahrir Square and the Interior Ministry in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2011. Egyptian medical officials say that one demonstrator has been killed outside the country's Cabinet building, where protesters have camped overnight to prevent the entrance of the country's newly-appointed prime minister. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)
A young Egyptian man holds a national flag while standing on a rooftop between Tahrir Square and the Interior Ministry in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2011. Egyptian medical officials say that one demonstrator has been killed outside the country's Cabinet building, where protesters have camped overnight to prevent the entrance of the country's newly-appointed prime minister. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)
Egyptian soldiers stand behind a barbed wire fence while guarding the Cabinet building near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011. Egyptian medical officials say that one demonstrator has been killed outside the country's Cabinet building, where protesters have camped overnight to prevent the entrance of the country's newly-appointed prime minister. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)
An injured protester is aided by others during clashes with Egyptian security forces, not pictured, near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011. Egyptian medical officials say that one demonstrator has been killed outside the country's Cabinet building, where protesters have camped overnight to prevent the entrance of the country's newly-appointed prime minister. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
The sculpture of a lion on the Qasr el-Nil bridge wears an eye patch symbolizing protesters wounded in clashes with security forces, near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011. Egyptian medical officials say that one demonstrator has been killed outside the country's Cabinet building, where protesters have camped overnight to prevent the entrance of the country's newly-appointed prime minister.(AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
CAIRO (AP) ? Egyptian security forces clashed with protesters camped outside the Cabinet building Saturday, leaving one man dead, as tensions rose two days ahead of parliamentary elections being held despite mass demonstrations against military rule.
The violence occurred as a wave of protests against military rule was given extra impetus by the Egyptian military's decision on Friday to appoint a prime minister who served under deposed President Hosni Mubarak.
The Obama administration has increased pressure on Egypt's military rulers, who took over from Mubarak, to transfer power to civilian leaders throwing its support behind tens of thousands of protesters massed on Cairo's central Tahrir for more than a week.
Hundreds also had gathered outside the Cabinet building, a few blocks away, to prevent newly appointed Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri from entering to take up his new post. They clashed with security forces who allegedly tried to disperse them.
An Associated Press cameraman saw three police troop carriers and an armored vehicle firing tear gas as they were being chased from the site by rock-throwing protesters.
The man who was killed was run over by one of the vehicles, but there were conflicting accounts about the circumstances surrounding the death.
The Interior Ministry expressed regret for the death of the protester, identified as Ahmed Serour, and said it was an accident.
Police didn't intend to storm the sit-in but were merely heading to the Interior Ministry headquarters, located behind the Cabinet building, when they came under attack by angry protesters throwing firebombs, it said in a statement. The ministry claimed security forces were injured and the driver of one of the vehicles panicked and ran over the protester.
One of the protesters, Mohammed Zaghloul, 21, said he saw six security vehicles heading to their site.
"It became very tense, rock throwing started and the police cars were driving like crazy," he said. "Police threw one tear gas canister and all of a sudden we saw our people carrying the body of a man who was bleeding really badly."
Video clips posted on social networking sites also showed protesters rushing to rescue a heavily bleeding man they said was killed when a police vehicle ran over him.
Officials say more than 40 people have been killed across the country since Nov. 19, when the unrest began after a small sit-in by protesters injured during the 18-day uprising that ousted Mubarak was violently broken up by security forces. That led to days of clashes, which ended with a truce on Thursday. It wasn't clear if the melee on Saturday was an isolated incident or part of new violence by security forces trying to clear the way for the new prime minister, and protesters frustrated by what they believe are the military's efforts to perpetuate the old regime.
The military's appointment of el-Ganzouri, its apology for the death of protesters and a series of partial concessions in the past two days suggest that the generals are struggling to overcome the most serious challenge to their nine-month rule, with fewer options now available to them.
The latest crisis has overshadowed Monday's start of Egypt's first parliamentary elections since Mubarak was replaced by Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi. The vote, which the generals say will be held on schedule despite the unrest, is now seen by many activists and protesters to be serving the military's efforts to project an image of itself as the nation's saviors and true democrats.
The next parliament is expected to be dominated by the country's most organized Muslim Brotherhood group, who decided to boycott the ongoing protests to keep from doing anything that could derail the election. However, the outcome of the vote is likely to be seen as flawed given the growing unrest and the suspension by many candidates of their campaigns in solidarity with the protesters.
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