Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/274160803?client_source=feed&format=rss
kevin love think like a man world peace world peace lakers colorectal cancer metta kashi
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Costa Phillippou gets big win as Tim Boetsch deals with rough night at UFC 155
Costa Philippou wasn't even supposed to be fighting at UFC 155. It was supposed to be Chris Weidman, Philippou's teammate, taking on Tim Boetsch. It was supposed to be a fight that decided a potential contender for Anderson Silva's bout. But in MMA, things don't always work out like they are supposed to, and Philippou walked away with a win at UFC 155.
Philippou stepped in to fight Boetsch after Weidman was injured in training camp. Boetsch took an early lead with clinch work and takedowns in the first round, but between rounds he talked about an injury that was bothering him. It got worse for Boetsch in the second round, as a large cut opened in his forehead and he was poked in the eye.
[Complete UFC 155 recap: Cain Velasquez mauls Junior dos Santos]
With his eye swelling and blood covering his face, Boetsch tried to deal with Philippou's striking. Boetsch attempted takedowns, but couldn't hold off Philippou, who finished the fight at 2:11 in the third round.
After the fight, Philippou sent this tweet that said it all.
They know me now.
? Costas Philippou (@Philippou185UFC) December 30, 2012
Though he's now 12-2 and has five straight wins in the UFC, Philippou has flown under the radar among middleweights. It will be hard to ignore him after he took advantage of this opportunity at UFC 155.
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? Five NFL coaches most likely to be fired
? Slideshow: Athletes to watch out for in 2013
? The Miami Heat say Dwyane Wade didn't deserve suspension
? Y! Finance: The worst product flops of 2012
whitney houston funeral live stream kevin costner whitney houston whitney houston funeral live pat buchanan slither slither naacp
Obama boasts support of American people in ?fiscal cliff? fight
As Congress races to pass legislation before the Jan. 1 "fiscal cliff" deadline, President Barack Obama in an interview which aired Sunday publicly touted the support of the American people for the plan he offered to Republicans.
"We have put forward not only a sensible deal, but one that has the support of the majority of the American people including close to half of Republicans," the president told NBC "Meet the Press" host David Gregory in a taped interview.
The president said the American people support raising taxes on the wealthiest earners-- something the Republicans have staunchly opposed as a means to generate revenue and reduce the nation's deficit.
"At a certain point, if folks can?t say 'yes' to good offers, than I also have an obligation to the American people to make sure that the entire burden of deficit reduction doesn't fall on seniors who are relying on Medicare... families who rely on Medicaid to take care of a disabled child" and middle class families, he said. "There is a basic fairness that is at stake in this whole thing."
Obama held firm to his demands Sunday, blaming congressional Republicans for the failure to reach a deal to avoid the automatic spending cuts and tax increases set to go into effect Jan. 1.
The president conceded that markets will be adversely affected if America "goes over" the fiscal cliff, as Gregory phrased it.
"Businesses and investors are going to feel more negative about the economy," the president said, adding that employment will also "tick down." ?"But what?s been holding us back has been the dysfunction here in Washington."
Obama took no responsibility for that dysfunction in the interview, and repeated his argument that Republican leaders have difficulty "saying yes" to the president and are rejecting the desires of the American public.
Republicans say their "biggest priority" is the nation's debt, the president said, "but the way they?re behaving is that their only priority is making sure that tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are protected."
The president announced Friday that he had tasked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell this weekend?with producing a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff before the Jan. 1 deadline.
The president remained optimistic that in the short term, congressional leaders can pass legislation to prevent tax increases on the middle class ahead of the Jan. 1 deadline. "That's something we all can agree on," he said.
Passing legislation to protect middle class tax rates will "take a big bite out of the fiscal cliff," the president said, leaving Congress to deal with the remainder of deficit reduction, spending and tax issues in the future.
Pivoting to his future final term in office, the president reconfirmed his commitment to gun control and other legislative action to prevent shooting tragedies such as the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn.
"I?d like to get it done in the first year," he said.
When asked, Obama expressed doubt about the National Rifle Association's proposal to place armed security in every school in America to protect students and teachers.
"I?m not going to pre-judge recommendations given to me," Obama said. "But I'm skeptical that the only answer is putting more guns in schools."
The president also conceded that the circumstances surrounding the Sept. 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya weren't ideal.
?There was just some sloppiness" in how we secure some embassies, he said and pledged to follow recommendations offered by the review board.
"We're not going to pretend that this was not a problem. This was a huge problem. And we're going to implement every single recommendation that's been put forward," he said.
nurse jackie peeps nhl playoffs masters 2012 masters the borgias shroud of turin
The Sports Den's Weekly NCAA Basketball Picks - 12/29
The Sports Den had a decent?week with last week's picks going 3-2.?Here are The Sports Den's picks for
Saturday Dec. 29. Odds are from Sportsbook.
Saturday Dec. 29. Odds are from Sportsbook.
?????????????????????? Saturday Dec. 29, 2012
???????????? Game???????????????????????????????? Pick
UNLV @ North Carolina???????????????? N. Carolina?? -2.5
Kentucky @ Louisville?????????????????????Kentucky???+7.5
Butler?@?Vanderbilt???????????????????????? Butler??? -6
LaSalle?@ Siena????????????????????????????? LaSalle?? -10
Washington?@ Connecticut????????????? Washington????+7??
Last Week:? 3-2
Season:? 8-7
emma roberts north korea news north korea news giuliana and bill giuliana and bill bill rancic nflx
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Most Desirable Anti Virus Application Evaluations ? Anti Spyware ...
Like countless other Laptop consumers, you may find it on your own a necessity to uninstall Web Protector AntiVirus 2010 through the desktop computer. Wabbits.Be reliable: had you at any time even observed of wabbits in the past (outside of Warner Bros. A malware or destructive computer software may be a code or even a software application system that makes an attempt to enter your laptop or computer scheme lacking your consent, aided by the intention of making harm or stealing content. A person these types of associated risk is exposure to malware this sort of as viruses or Trojans that may be fitted upon browsing the positioning. Then, find the AV AntiVirus Suite throughout the showing at the moment put in packages listing. Anti virus computer software is often made use of on most desktops but various varieties of malevolent systems are troublesome to detect considering they seem so innocent. As soon as you feel that you wish increased unique advice on any within the high 10 then just head around towards service web-site or sort (name of applications) ?computer virus security reviews? into your search motor of choice. The swap utilizes this table to find out where exactly to ship all potential frames that it receives. A lot of the often known malware installations embody Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom. This is often essential but does little to boost the soundness of your network or prevent abuse. Two widespread different types of malware (malicious software applications) are adware and spyware. Happily, you will find a method Personal computer customers can hire to take out Anti-Malware Lab. The verification of unique parts is really near to the above brought up Self-protection. Firewall software program could possibly be worthless if it is not accordingly configured. By not looking at or realizing the phrases contained within the EULA, the person could be unintentionally agreeing to acquire spyware and adware mounted. While intending to have protection software systems, you must acquire some general awareness. Most worryingly, the report exposed that 80% of abuse webpages recognized in 2007 have been however lively while in the report?s homework period of time at the close of 2008, suggesting that manufacturer holders will need to take a far more ambitious stance versus on line brand name abusers. Most just lately on CNN there was a tale of Jeanson James Ancheta, who was granted a fifty seven month prison expression for designing ?bots?. It will be effortless to become certain of security threats and acquire up Antivirus Platform 2011 on its present to support, but sadly, it only relieves you of cash, not security dangers. Some are merely important purposes some others will be more advanced however, they all have one thing in ordinary these are specially designed to restrict the entry your personal machine has got to the world wide web also to limit the entry the online world has got to your computer. Norton antivirus is among the greatest among 289 products and solutions, which was produced by Symantec Corporation. These are generally an additional form of viruses that can make over a particular event this sort of as being the system?s date, or distant activation plan etcetera. In minutes of the scan using put, they will see just how truly serious most of the threats on the distinct homepage are. If you decide to dismiss these updates, your are consciously settling on to leave holes inside your wall. Albeit on-line technological know-how can join people young and old very fast and easily, the world wide web technological innovation also makes it potential in transferring some terrible matters this type of as virus and malware from an individual desktop computer towards the other considering the fact that the computer systems are related with the web-based technology. How am i able to eradicate a pc virus hint variety one. Will it deliver the usual Microsoft escalating pains or will this be the lean mean operating device that it is expected to become? The virus is extensively viewed as being the for starters considerable scale computer virus inside wild. You?ll find The web viruses that affects your critical files and you have to get rid of most of the essential data which you experienced with the certain infected file. A registry cleaner is regarded as a software systems instrument built to scan from the ?registry? within your Computer system and maintenance any belonging to the weakened options / documents that can be inside it. There are certainly the majority of alternate options in existence ? for example threatening ?rogue? anti-malware computer software titles, so consider very carefully. In excess of the very last several years the phrase ?malware? have been used in conjunction with WordPress sites which have been compromised (hacked) thru one in every of these protection holes. Change the settings of your Windows Firewall using the enable of the ?Windows Firewall with State-of-the-art Security? tab by employing the ?Inbound Rules? and ?Outbound Rules? around the firewall. When you?ve got at last made a decision to get yourself an antivirus protection, you will need to indulge your self in appropriate antivirus comparison. Likewise a clear put in will likely to be the most suitable choice if it it can be utilized for dwelling banking.
Standards to Pick the Most Suitable Antivirus Method For Your Expectations can give you greatest info for Standards To Help You You Compare A Variety Of Anti-virus Software System. Please have a look at the article for additional facts!
mia super bowl tom coughlin wes welker eli manning eli manning kelly clarkson national anthem halftime show
A feather in the cap | Sand Prints
India has developed one of the largest domestic communication satellite system, known as Indian National Satellite or INSAT system, in the Asia Pacific region over last 2 or 3 decades. This system, established in 1983, presently comprises of 8 satellites namely INSAT-3A, INSAT-3C, INSAT-3E, INSAT-4A, INSAT-4B, INSAT-4CR, GSAT-8 and GSAT-12. This system at present provides 168 transponders, (A transponder is a wireless communications device that picks up and automatically responds to an incoming signal. The term is formed by combination of two words, transmitter and responder.) for various applications like phone and Internet broadband connections, public and private telephone and television transmissions and GPS or Geo positioning system applications. This capacity is proving to be totally inadequate as India is forced to lease additional 95 foreign transponders to just meet the domestic demand.
Work was taken up by Indian Space and research organization, to fill up this demand supply gap to the extent possible by building the heaviest satellite named as GSAT 10. This satellite weighing 3.4 tons or 3400 Kg would carry as many as 30 transponders, besides 2 transponders that would augment the GPS system.
The useful part pf the electro-magnetic waves spectrum, used by all radio communication devices, actually extends from few hundred meters wavelength at one end to Ultra Violet waves at the other end. Beyond this, we have the X rays and the Gamma rays. The radio waves at the lower end of the spectrum, move along the surface of earth and require large sized antenna for reception and transmission of radio signals, making them suitable for direct radio broadcasts. The higher end waves, require small sized antennas and can be used only for line of sight communications. The entire radio waves spectrum is divided in what is called as bands. For radio transmission we have medium and short waves bands. As we go towards lower and lower wave lengths, we have bands denoted as High Frequency or HF band followed by Very High Frequency VHF and Ultra High frequency or UHF bands used mainly for terrestrial TV transmissions or for cable TV transmissions. Further down the wavelength spectrum, shorter waves, usually called as microwaves, are grouped in bands denoted as L,S,C,X, Ku, K, Ka, Q bands. Out of these microwave bands, S, C and Ku bands are being used at present for satellite communications. All early satellites, used S band but this requires a larger dish antenna for reception of signals and is not being used now. The Ku band is now used by all DTH TV operators and thousands of VSAT operators who provide phone and Internet broadband connections. Public and private telephone and television providers now use the C band.
Considering the needs of the users, GSAT 10 satellite provides 12 Ku band transponders, 12 C band transponders and 6 extended C band transponders. ISRO says that the Ku band transponders would have a foot print over Indian mainland and Andaman-Nicobar islands, whereas C band transponders would have a foot print over Indian mainland and west Asia. All transponders would have 36 MHz bandwidth.
As I mentioned above, the radio waves in the microwave region, only travel along line of sight, or in other words, the sender and receiver must always see each other. It becomes necessary for a communication satellite like GSAT 10 to be in the visibility of the foot print area all the time. This is achieved by keeping the satellite in what is called as Geosynchronous Orbit. To place a satellite in such an orbit, all we need to do, is to raise it to an altitude of 35786 Km from the ground. At this altitude, a satellite moves in a orbit around the earth at the same velocity as earth?s rotational velocity. This makes the satellite permanently visible in the foot print area.
GSAT 10 was launched on 28 September 2012 in an elliptic Geosynchronous transfer orbit. In the next few days its orbit would be raised from the elliptical orbit into a circular orbit with 24-hour rotation around the Earth and fixed at 83 degrees east slot over the Indian region at approximately 36,000 km above ground in the company of two other Indian satellites INSAT 4 and GSAT 12 .
Fabricating a satellite of such complexity, is no doubt a great achievement and ISRO must be rightfully proud of its achievement.
Like this:
Be the first to like this.
Source: http://chandrashekharasandprints.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/a-feather-in-the-cap/
albert pujols the shining mariano rivera mariano rivera jobs report tiger woods masters 2012 nikki haley
desserts with coconut- 40 delicious dessert recipes | crafts hobbies ...
?
?
This day I?ll introduce you about Desserts With Coconut- 40 Delicious Dessert Recipes Feature Details . Are you someone who loves the sweet taste of coconut? Does it make you feel happy when you bite into a dessert and find that it contains coconut? If you enjoy coconut with lime, coconut with chocolate, or just coconut plain and simple, you will find many recipes in this book that you will love.
I love coconut myself and like nothing better than to create recipes that include coconut and figure out how to add coconut into some of our family favourites. Many friends enjoyed taste-testing the recipes that went into this book, as well as my husband and kids!
Here are some of the delicious coconut desserts you will find:
Coconut Caramel Cake With Orange Glaze
Coconut Cupcakes With Key Lime Filling
Dark Chocolate Coconut Truffles
Coconut-Mango Macarons
Pina Colada Ice Cream
Chocolate, Coconut, and Macadamia Nut Brownie Pudding Cake
Coconut-Pistachio Blondies
Raspberry Coconut Cheesecake
Coconut-Lime Shortbread Cookies
Coconut Rum Bundt Cake With Lime Glaze
And more?
I hope that you enjoy them as much as we all do! More Information?
?
Tag : Best Offer Desserts With Coconut- 40 Delicious Dessert Recipes, Desserts With Coconut- 40 Delicious Dessert Recipes For SALE, Desserts With Coconut- 40 Delicious Dessert Recipes For SALE, Only on this site the scret price for Desserts With Coconut- 40 Delicious Dessert Recipes Today.
?
?
?
desserts with coconut- 40 delicious dessert recipes
Source: http://craftshobbieshome.bestseller4u.x10.mx/desserts-with-coconut-40-delicious-dessert-recipes
supreme court health care joe oliver joba chamberlain new york mega millions jetblue jetblue michelle malkin
Celebrities' Baby Announcements: How Jessica Simpson And Others Announced They Were Pregnant
Earlier this week, we learned that Jessica Simpson was pregnant when she tweeted a photo of daughter Maxwell with the words "Big Sis" written in the sand. Of course, Simpson's announcement that she was pregnant with her first child was equally creative.
What are some of the other unusual ways in which stars have announced they were expecting a bundle of joy in recent years? Click though our gallery to find out.
Also on HuffPost:
"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });avatar the last airbender david wright cory booker cubs cj wilson ellsbury brad pitt and angelina jolie
Friday, December 28, 2012
An Evolutionary Whodunit: How Did Humans Develop Lactose Tolerance?
Thousands of years ago, a mutation in the human genome allowed many adults to digest lactose and drink milk.
iStockphoto.comThousands of years ago, a mutation in the human genome allowed many adults to digest lactose and drink milk.
iStockphoto.comGot milk? Ancient European farmers who made cheese thousands of years ago certainly had it. But at that time, they lacked a genetic mutation that would have allowed them to digest raw milk's dominant sugar, lactose, after childhood.
Today, however, 35 percent of the global population ? mostly people with European ancestry ? can digest lactose in adulthood without a hitch.
So, how we did we transition from milk-a-phobics to milk-a-holics? "The first and most correct answer is, we don't know," says Mark Thomas, an evolutionary geneticist at University College London in the UK.
Most babies can digest milk without getting an upset stomach thanks to an enzyme called lactase. Up until several thousand years ago, that enzyme turned off once a person grew into adulthood ? meaning most adults were lactose intolerant (or "lactase non-persistent" as scientists call it).
But now that doesn't happen for most people of Northern and Central European descent and in certain African and Middle Eastern populations. This development of lactose tolerance took only about 20,000 years ? the evolutionary equivalent of a hot minute ? but it would have required extremely strong selective pressure.
"Something happened when we started drinking milk that reduced mortality," says Loren Cordain, an exercise physiologist at Colorado State University and an expert on Paleolithic nutrition. That something, though, is a bit of a mystery.
The Clues
Milk, no surprise, is pretty nutritious. It's got protein, a bunch of micronutrients, lots of calcium, and plenty of carbohydrates. For the ancient Neolithic farmer, it was like a superfood, says Thomas.
Even lactose-intolerant adults could have benefited from milk. Chemical evidence from ancient pots shows that these long-ago farmers learned to process the milk into cheese or yogurt, which removes some of the lactose.
But around 8,000 years ago in what's now Turkey ? just when humans were starting to milk newly domesticated cows, goats, and sheep ? mutations near the gene that produces the lactase enzyme started becoming more frequent. And around the same time, adult lactose tolerance developed. The mutation responsible for that may be between 2,000 and 20,000 years old; estimates vary.
But in order for that new trait to have persisted over many generations, something unique must have given milk drinkers an evolutionary edge.
A Tale of Famine and Deadly Diarrhea
Thomas thinks a combination of two reasons may explain the persistence of the lactase mutation in Northern Europe.
First, the farmers that settled there came from the Fertile Crescent, and they brought crops native to that region ? like wheat and barley. But with Northern Europe's shorter growing season, these crops were more likely to fail, causing famine.
Additionally, the colder Northern European climate lent itself to natural refrigeration. "If you're a farmer in Southern Europe, and you milk a cow in the morning and you leave the milk out, it will be yogurt by noon. But if you do the same thing in Germany, it'll still be milk," says Thomas. A healthy lactose-intolerant person who drank that still-fresh milk would get a bad case of diarrhea. "But if you're malnourished, then you'll die," Thomas says.
In times of famine, milk drinking probably increased. And the very people who shouldn't have been consuming high-lactose dairy products ? the hungry and malnourished ? would be the ones more likely to drink fresh milk. So, with milk's deadly effects for the lactose intolerant, individuals with the lactase mutation would have been more likely to survive and pass on that gene.
The combination of famine and longer processing time for milk is "kind of like a double whammy," says Thomas, who has yet to publish his theory. Under his scenario, the lactose tolerant wouldn't always have had an evolutionary advantage, but for short periods of time, having that genetic mutation would have helped. "Over a long run it's modest, but over short periods of time, it's extremely high selection" for the lactose tolerant, says Thomas.
Scientists may never discover the reason why adult lactose tolerance evolved so quickly. Other researchers have suggested that fresh milk provided a more pure fluid alternative to contaminated water sources in arid environments, that milk fat gave people a fertility advantage, or that milk drinking might have been associated with social prestige. Cordain argues that milk gave humans an advantage against malaria in Africa and Southern Europe, and rickets in Northern Europe.
"Whatever constellation of factors was involved, they're going to be different in different regions," says Thomas. "But, the selection pressure might have been equally strong in East Africa and Northern Europe, for example."
It's hard to tell how prevalent lactose tolerance has been over time. But so far scientists have found evidence of adult lactase persistence in ancient skeletons in Northern Europe, Scandinavia, southern France, and elsewhere. Thomas and his colleague Oddn? Sverrisd?ttir of Uppsala University in Sweden recently discovered lactase persistence in Spanish remains from about 5,000 years ago and hope to publish their research next year.
Thomas thinks that as genetic and archaeological technology continues to develop, modern science may someday reveal the culprit. But, it might take a while because the research ? like our genes ? is still evolving.
nhl all star draft seal team 6 touch nitrous oxide rihanna thug life tattoo arizona governor patrick witt
Norman Schwarzkopf, U.S. commander in Gulf War, dies at 78
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., the hard-charging U.S. Army general whose forces smashed the Iraqi army in the 1991 Gulf War, has died at the age of 78, a U.S. official said on Thursday.
The highly decorated four-star general died at 2:22 p.m. EST (1922 GMT) at his home in Tampa, Florida, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The cause of death was not immediately known.
Schwarzkopf, a burly Vietnam War veteran known to his troops as Stormin' Norman, commanded more than 540,000 U.S. troops and 200,000 allied forces in a six-week war that routed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's army from Kuwait in 1991, capping his 34-year military career.
Some experts hailed Schwarzkopf's plan to trick and outflank Hussein's forces with a sweeping armored movement as one of the great accomplishments in military history. The maneuver ended the ground war in only 100 hours.
Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, who built the international coalition against Iraq after the invasion of Kuwait, said he and his wife "mourn the loss of a true American patriot and one of the great military leaders of his generation," according to a statement released by his spokesman.
Bush has been hospitalized in Houston since late November.
In a statement, the White House called Schwarzkopf "an American original" whose "legacy will endure in a nation that is more secure because of his patriotic service."
PHYSICAL PRESENCE
Schwarzkopf was a familiar sight on international television during the war, clad in camouflage fatigues and a cap. He conducted fast-paced briefings and reviewed his troops with a purposeful stride and a physical presence of the sort that clears bar rooms.
Little known before Iraqi forces invaded neighboring Kuwait, Schwarzkopf made a splash with quotable comments. At one briefing he addressed Saddam's military reputation.
"As far as Saddam Hussein being a great military strategist," he said, "he is neither a strategist, nor is he schooled in the operational arts, nor is he a tactician, nor is he a general, nor is he a soldier. Other than that, he's a great military man, I want you to know that."
Schwarzkopf returned from the war a hero and there was talk of him running for public office. Instead, he wrote an autobiography - "It Doesn't Take a Hero" - and served as a military analyst.
He also acted as a spokesman for the fight against prostate cancer, with which he was diagnosed in 1993.
Schwarzkopf was born August 22, 1934, in Trenton, New Jersey, the son of Colonel H. Norman Schwarzkopf Sr., the head of the New Jersey State Police. At the time, the older Schwarzkopf was leading the investigation of the kidnapping and murder of aviator Charles Lindbergh's infant son, one of the most infamous crimes of the 20th century.
The younger Schwarzkopf graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1956. He earned a masters degree in guided-missile engineering from the University of Southern California and later taught engineering at West Point.
Schwarzkopf saw combat twice - in Vietnam and Grenada - in a career that included command of units from platoon to theater size, training as a paratrooper and stints at Army staff colleges.
CHESTFUL OF MEDALS
He led his men in firefights in two tours of Vietnam and commanded all U.S. ground forces in the 1983 Grenada invasion. His chestful of medals included three Silver and three Bronze Stars for valor and two Purple Hearts for Vietnam wounds.
In Vietnam, he won a reputation as an officer who would put his life on the line to protect his troops. In one particularly deadly fight on the Batangan Peninsula, Schwarzkopf led his men through a minefield, in part by having the mines marked with shaving cream.
In 1988, Schwarzkopf was put in charge of the U.S. Central Command in Tampa, with responsibility for the Horn of Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. In that role, he prepared a plan to protect the Gulf's oil fields from a hypothetical invasion by Iraq. Within months, the plan was in use.
A soldier's soldier in an era of polished, politically conscious military technocrats, Schwarzkopf's mouth sometimes got him in trouble. In one interview, he said he had recommended to Bush that allied forces destroy Iraq's military instead of stopping the war after a clear victory.
Schwarzkopf later apologized after both Bush and Defense Secretary Dick Cheney fired back that there was no contradiction among military leaders to Bush's decision to leave some of Saddam's military intact.
After retirement, Schwarzkopf spoke his mind on military matters. In 2003, when the United States was on the verge of invading Iraq under President George W. Bush, Schwarzkopf said he was unsure whether there was sufficient evidence that Iraq had nuclear weapons.
He also criticized Donald Rumsfeld, the secretary of defense at the time, telling the Washington Post that during war-time television appearances "he almost sometimes seems to be enjoying it."
Schwarzkopf and his wife, Brenda, who he married in 1968, had two daughters and one son.
In a statement, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta praised Schwarzkopf as "one of the great military giants of the 20th century."
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he "embodied the warrior spirit," and called the victory over Hussein's forces the hallmark of his career.
(Reporting by David Alexander, Ian Simpson and Roberta Rampton; Writing by Bill Trott; Editing by Stacey Joyce and Todd Eastham)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/famed-gulf-war-u-general-schwarzkopf-dies-former-012253521.html
vernon davis starship troopers starship troopers cruise ship italy patriots broncos game saints willis mcgahee
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Lack of low-end BlackBerry 10 phone could be a serious stumbling block in RIM comeback bid
RIMSouth Africa is one of Research In Motion?s (RIMM) top five markets in the world, and it is a decent proxy for the entire African market. Leading regional carrier Vodacom?s November smartphone statistics illustrate exactly why BlackBerry 10 cannot arrive soon enough? and why RIM badly needs a cheap new BlackBerry 10 model by spring.
[More from BGR: Apple CEO Tim Cook sees pay drop 99% in 2012]
Vodacom holds more than 50% of the South African handset market and South Africa is the largest mobile phone market in the continent.
[More from BGR: Microsoft Surface trampled at the bottom of the tablet pile this Christmas]
On November 12th, Vodacom announced that it had 2.7 million BlackBerry users on its South African network, a number that increased by 300,000 in three months. The number of Android users grew by 200,000 to 700,000 subscribers. The number of iPhone users grew by 250,000 to 500,000.
Of course, there are many ways at looking at these trends but it?s striking that the growth of the BlackBerry user base has slowed down to 12% in a quarter while Android growth is now at 40% and iPhone growth is 100%. Even though the pool of BlackBerry users is still expanding in the most important African market, we are now close to the tip-off point where the absolute number of both Android and iPhone users added each quarter is going to be larger than the number of new BlackBerry subs.
RIM announced last week that its global customer base has finally started shrinking?? the BlackBerry subscriber pool dropped from 80 million to 79 million between the August and November quarters.
During the August quarter, RIM still managed to add 2 million BlackBerry subscribers. The non-U.S. BlackBerry subscriber base is still growing, but too slowly to offset the U.S. erosion. This is the trend that the Vodacom November numbers also reflect. In Africa and Asia, that BlackBerry growth slowdown is unlikely to reverse until RIM launches a cheap, sub-$250 model with the new BlackBerry 10 OS.
In South Africa, affluent buyers are now flocking under the iPhone banner, while Samsung (005930) and Chinese vendors are mopping up middle class consumers with cheap Android models. New high-end phones in the $600 range are not going to change this equation.
RIM must?strike hard in the low-end market to regain its African momentum. By Easter, Android and iPhone camps will have pulled ahead of RIM in new subscriber additions at Vodacom. Next spring, South Africa could well be the most important global bellwether of RIM?s struggle to recapture subscriber growth.
This article was originally published by BGR
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lack-low-end-blackberry-10-phone-could-serious-143013531.html
washington redskins north country brian mcknight sbux nfldraft asante samuel salton sea
Evidence contradicts idea that starvation caused saber-tooth cat extinction
Dec. 26, 2012 ? In the period just before they went extinct, the American lions and saber-toothed cats that roamed North America in the late Pleistocene were living well off the fat of the land.
That is the conclusion of the latest study of the microscopic wear patterns on the teeth of these great cats recovered from the La Brea tar pits in southern California. Contrary to previous studies, the analysis did not find any indications that the giant carnivores were having increased trouble finding prey in the period before they went extinct 12,000 years ago.
The results, published on Dec. 26 in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, contradicts previous dental studies and presents a problem for the most popular explanations for the Megafaunal (or Quaternary) extinction when the great cats, mammoths and a number of the largest mammals that existed around the world disappeared.
"The popular theory for the Megafaunal extinction is that either the changing climate at the end of the last Ice Age or human activity -- or some combination of the two -- killed off most of the large mammals," said Larisa DeSantis, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences at Vanderbilt, who headed the study. "In the case of the great cats, we expect that it would have been increasingly difficult for them to find prey, especially if had to compete with humans. We know that when food becomes scarce, carnivores like the great cats tend to consume more of the carcasses they kill. If they spent more time chomping on bones, it should cause detectable changes in the wear patterns on their teeth."
In 1993, Blaire Van Valkenburgh at UCLA published a paper on tooth breakage in large carnivores in the late Pleistocene. Analyzing teeth of American lions, saber-tooth cats, dire wolves and coyotes from La Brea, she found that they had approximately three times the number of broken teeth of contemporary predators and concluded, ." ..these findings suggest that these species utilized carcasses more fully and likely competed more intensely for food than present-day large carnivores."
The latest study uses a new technique, called dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA), developed by co-author Peter Ungar at the University of Arkansas. It uses a confocal microscope to produce a three-dimensional image of the surface of a tooth. The image is then analyzed for microscopic wear patterns. Chowing down on red meat produces small parallel scratches. Chomping on bones adds larger, deeper pits. Previous methods of dental wear analysis relied on researchers to identify and count these different types of features. DMTA relies on automated software and is considered more accurate because it reduces the possibility of observer bias.
DeSantis and Ungar, with the assistance of Blaine Schubert from East Tennessee State University and Jessica Scott from the University of Arkansas, applied DMTA to the fossil teeth of 15 American lions (Panthera atrox) and 15 saber-tooth cats (Smilodon fatalis) recovered from the La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles.
Their analysis revealed that the wear pattern on the teeth of the American lion most closely resembled those of the present-day cheetah, which actively avoids bones when it feeds. Similarly, the saber-tooth cat's wear pattern most closely resembled those of the present-day African lion, which indulges in some bone crushing when it eats. (This differs from a previous microwear study using a different technique that concluded saber-tooth cats avoided bone to a far greater extent.)
The researchers examined how these patterns changed over time by selecting specimens from tar pits of different ages, ranging from about 35,000 to 11,500 years ago. They did not find any evidence that the two carnivores increased their "utilization" of carcasses throughout this period. If anything, their analysis suggests that the proportion of the carcasses that both kinds of cats consumed actually declined toward the end.
The researchers acknowledge the high rate of tooth breakage reported in the previous study, but they argue that it is more likely the result of increased breakage when taking down prey instead of when feeding.
"Teeth can break from the stress of chewing bone but they can also break when the carnivores take down prey," DeSantis pointed out. Species like hyenas that regularly chew and crack bones of their kills are as likely to break the rear teeth they use for chewing as their front canines. Species like the cheetah, however, which avoid bones during feeding are twice as likely to break canines than rear teeth. This suggests that they are more likely to break canines when pulling down prey.
The researchers report that previous examinations of the jaws of the American lions and saber-tooth cats from this period found that they have more than three times as many broken canines and interpret this as additional evidence that supports their conclusion that most of the excess tooth breakage occurred during capture instead of feeding.
In addition, the researchers argue that the large size of the extinct carnivores and their prey can help explain the large number of broken teeth. The saber-toothed cats were about the size of today's African lion and the American lion was about 25 percent larger. The animals that they preyed upon likely included mammoths, four-ton giant ground sloths and 3,500-pound bison.
Larger teeth break more easily than smaller teeth. So larger carnivores are likely to break more canine teeth when attempting to take down larger prey, the researchers argue. They cite a study that modeled the strength of canine teeth that found the canines of a predator the size of fox can support more than seven times its weight before breaking while a predator the size of lion can only support about four times its weight and the curved teeth of the saber-toothed cats can only support about twice its weight.
"The net result of our study is to raise questions about the reigning hypothesis that "tough times" during the late Pleistocene contributed to the gradual extinction of large carnivores," DeSantis summarized. "While we can not determine the exact cause of their demise, it is unlikely that the extinction of these cats was a result of gradually declining prey (due either to changing climates or human competition) because their teeth tell us that these cats were not desperately consuming entire carcasses, as we had expected, and instead seemed to be living the 'good life' during the late Pleistocene, at least up until the very end."
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Vanderbilt University, via Newswise.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Larisa R. G. DeSantis, Blaine W. Schubert, Jessica R. Scott, Peter S. Ungar. Implications of Diet for the Extinction of Saber-Toothed Cats and American Lions. PLoS ONE, 2012; 7 (12): e52453 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052453
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/CRGv66wn-sA/121226222838.htm
Rich Kids of Instagram felix hernandez julia child Ron Palillo Texas A&m katy perry Chad Johnson Twitter
Join Wordtracker as our Marketing Manager | InfoBiz.cc
Posted on 27 December 2012.
Author (displayed on the page):?
We are looking for a smart online Marketing Manager to work in our London office. You?ll have a passion for all areas of online marketing, including social media, SEO, PPC and media buys.
You?ll be responsible for driving the company?s online marketing strategy. The main aim of the role is to significantly grow the business by increasing brand awareness and promoting the company?s products to existing and potential customers ? with a consistent message.
You will be self motivated, commercially minded and experienced with good communication and writing skills. You are likely to have gained this in a digital/media agency, SEO agency or major product e-commerce site over a number of years. You will have that essential blend of being innovative and forward thinking combined with strong organisation skills and excellent attention to detail.
The ideal candidate will:
- Understand and have a passion for direct response marketing.
- Get what market positioning is and why it?s important.
- Have a good knowledge of online marketing and social media.
- Have at least three years industry experience.
- Be able to deliver projects and results within agreed timescales.
- Have a proven track record of managing and reporting on PPC, SEO, lead generation and online marketing campaigns.
- Have a good eye for detail: you?re into commas as well as numbers.
- Ideally, have managed a web based business.
- Ideally (but not necessary) have experience of running a newsletter (online or offline) and understand publishing and writing. Note: if you don?t have these particular publishing and writing skills, don?t let that put you off applying.
Responsibilities include:
- Manage and develop Wordtracker?s marketing channels including: SEO, PPC, social media, affiliate marketing, video, email and display.
- Manage a content manager who writes for the Wordtracker newsletter.
- Measure and monitor performance of the website and provide weekly and monthly progress reports for all marketing activities.
- Seek new advertising and link-building opportunities to drive people and conversions to the website.
- Seek out influencers in the industry and promote our own content more widely.
- Manage external trainers for our quarterly training courses (SEO, social etc).
At Wordtracker, company culture is important to us. You will be based in a modern open-plan office ? with lots of space and plenty of natural light ? in north London (Kentish Town, about five minutes walk from the tube), England.
We work 5 days in the office but it?s a pretty casual environment ? though the pressure is on when it?s needed. The working day starts at 9.30am. Our lunch on Fridays is provided from a local organic cafe. Of course, there?s always plenty of fruit and snacks in the office, a holiday allowance of 23 days a year and a contributory pension scheme.
Good salary (dependent on experience).
If you are looking for a role that will give you variety, responsibility and plenty of scope to develop your talents, and you have what it takes to make this role a success, please upload your CV along with a covering letter explaining why you are interested to our jobs board.
Wordtracker Blog
Source: http://www.infobiz.cc/2163/join-wordtracker-as-our-marketing-manager/
tornadoes in dallas anchorman 2 kentucky basketball oaksterdam the fray national anthem dallas tornado ncaa basketball
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Stuff You Can Buy On Christmas to Enjoy on Christmas
Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/2V8KK3DsUt4/
black and tan dwight howard trade ncaa bracket 2012 2012 ncaa bracket john carlson greg smith catamount
LG 'Hecto' laser TV projector to debut at CES 2013, promises a 100-inch screen from 22-inches away
As LG continues its slew of CES 2013 pre-announcements, the latest is a new display technology it's bringing to the projection arena, an ultra short throw laser projector. Capable of creating a 100-inch screen from just 22 inches (56cm) away, the "Hecto" Laser TV a 1080p shooter that can change the way owners design their home theater. If you'd like to use it as an all-in-one home theater to go (the screen is included, picture after the break), it also has a digital tuner and 10w speakers built-in, with three HDMI inputs, an RS-232 port and Smart TV capabilities controlled by LG's Magic Remote. As you can see above, it follows LG's "Dynamic Arc Design" with a max height of just 5.7-inches. It carries a 1,000,000 to 1 contrast ratio with WiDi and Miracast compatibility and LG claims the laser system will run for up to 25,000 hours without replacement. There's no word on pricing or release date, although it likely won't be value priced. We expect to get a few more details when we see it in Las Vegas, check the press release after the break for all the information currently available.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/7wJeA2k0CMo/
Charles Durning Mcdonalds Restaurants Open on Christmas Day iTunes kobe bryant fandango netflix
Syria envoy seeks peace as clashes rage
BEIRUT (Reuters) - International envoy Lakhdar Brahimi pursued mediation efforts in Damascus on Tuesday, but there was no pause in the bloodletting as Syrian Christians marked a bleak Christmas Day with prayers for peace.
"We are here in a cave that symbolizes Syria right now," said a priest standing beside a nativity scene in a grotto.
"It is cold here but the door is open to all refugees," he told Syrian state TV. "Amid the hunger, cold and deprivation, we still have hope for peace and love for our country."
More than 44,000 Syrians have been killed since a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad erupted 21 months ago, igniting an increasingly sectarian conflict that broadly pits a Sunni Muslim majority against Assad's Alawite minority.
Christians, many of whom have been reluctant to join what they see as an Islamist-tinged insurgency, feel threatened.
Bishop John Kawak, speaking on state TV, said the Christmas holiday was "a symbol for the rebirth of the nation". He condemned "terrorism", the government's term for the rebellion.
Brahimi met some dissidents who are tolerated by Assad but rejected by the mainstream opposition and by rebels fighting to oust him, a day after he held talks with the Syrian president.
There was no word on any progress in the U.N.-Arab League' envoy's drive to end violence that has intensified in recent months as Assad uses airpower and artillery against rebel gains.
Raja Naser, secretary general of the National Coordination Body, said after meeting Brahimi that the envoy planned a week of meetings in Damascus and would stay until Sunday.
"There is still a lot of concern but there is also great hope that these meetings with other Syrian officials will result in some agreements or positive developments," he said.
But most opposition groups appear frustrated with Brahimi's quest for a deal on a transitional government. He has not clarified any role for Assad, whose foes say he must simply go, arguing that too much blood has been shed for any other outcome.
GULF PLEA
Gulf Arab leaders, who have long called for Assad's removal and some of whom have helped the rebels with guns and money, urged swift world action to halt the "massacres" and violations of international law in Syria.
The pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported clashes and government shelling in hotspots across the country, including towns on the eastern outskirts of Damascus.
Abu Nidal, a spokesman for the Rebel Military Council in Damascus, said fighters had killed the head of a local security branch in the capital's suburb of Jaramana, home to a large Christian and Druze population.
In his Christmas message to the world on Tuesday, Pope Benedict encouraged Syrians not to lose hope for peace.
"May peace spring up for the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by a conflict which does not spare even the defenseless and reaps innocent victims," he said.
"I appeal for an end to the bloodshed, easier access for the relief of refugees and the displaced, and dialogue in the pursuit of a political solution to the conflict."
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have fled abroad to escape the daily violence. Those who remain face severe shortages of food, fuel and other essentials as winter weather takes a grip.
Syrian activists offered a message of solidarity with Christians despite rising tensions in central Hama province, where rebels have demanded that Christian villages let them enter to force out the army and pro-Assad "shabbiha" militias.
"We say to the Christians, you are our brothers and our beloved, and your holiday is our holiday," said Abu Faisal, a Hama activist who posted a Christmas message on the Internet.
"The rebels are surrounding (the Christian town) Muhardeh to get rid of Assad's soldiers and shabbiha, but we have not forgotten your honorable stance when you took care of our refugees when the army entered Hama," he said.
"We will not accept that you are targeted by hatred, you are our brothers and our friends."
(Additional reporting by Philip Pullela in Vatican City and Asma Alsharif in Manama)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syria-envoy-seeks-peace-clashes-rage-101206393.html
sassafras mardi gras 2012 the secret world of arrietty cee lo allen iverson jr smith chris anderson
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Kids Want iPads, Not Toys For Christmas - Business Insider
Toymakers are likely to see their Christmas sales squeezed this year, as children ditch traditional dolls and board games for Kindles and hand-me-down tablet computers, according to analysts.
Mattel, the world's largest toymaker by revenues, makes toys including Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels cars. However, a source told the Financial Times that its top selling product this Christmas was a mobile phone case.
While tablet sales continue to rise, some analysts have slashed fourth-quarter revenue forecasts for the world's largest toymakers.
"The top two guys, Mattel and Hasbro, they are terrified," Sean McGowan at investment bank Needham & Company told the paper.
Hasbro, which makes Action Man and Play-Doh, is also concerned about the rise in popularity of tablet computers among children, who are spending more and more time on electronic devices.
"Clearly, young people have an aptitude for an expectation with digital platforms that we need to recognise," said John Frascotti, Hasbro's chief marketing officer.
Mattel almost went bankrupt in 1983 when it posted a $394m loss following an ill-advised venture into video games. The company got back on track in 1987 when it decided to focus on core brands.
Apple sold 14m iPads in the three months to the end of September, while Google's Nexus 7 tablet is selling close to one million units a month.
According to retailer Toys R Us, the most popular toys this Christmas will include Lalaloopsy Silly Hair dolls, LeapPad Explorer tablets and Lego Ninjago sets.
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/kids-want-ipads-not-toys-for-christmas-2012-12
house of representatives paul ryan michele bachmann donald trump Election 2012 map Election Results Map Early voting results
Pilgrims mark Christmas in Bethlehem
At midnight mass in the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, the cradle of Christianity, the message was of peace, love and goodwill to all mankind. NBC's Martin Fletcher reports.
By The Associated Press
Pilgrims and locals celebrated Christmas Day on Tuesday in the ancient Bethlehem church where tradition holds Jesus was born, candles illuminating the sacred site and the joyous sound of prayer filling its overflowing halls.
Overcast skies and a cold wind didn't dampen the spirits of worshippers who came dressed in holiday finery and the traditional attire of foreign lands to mark the holy day in this biblical West Bank town. Bells pealed and long lines formed inside the fourth-century Church of the Nativity complex as Christian faithful waited eagerly to see the grotto that is Jesus' traditional birthplace.
Duncan Hardock, 24, a writer from MacLean, Va., traveled to Bethlehem from the republic of Georgia, where he had been teaching English. After passing through the separation barrier Israel built to ward off West Bank attackers, he walked to Bethlehem's Manger Square where the church stands.
"I feel we got to see both sides of Bethlehem in a really short period of time," Hardock said. "On our walk from the wall, we got to see the lonesome, closed side of Bethlehem ... But the moment we got into town, we're suddenly in the middle of the party."
Bethlehem lies 6 miles south of Jerusalem. Entry to the city is controlled by Israel, which occupied the West Bank in 1967.
Hardock's girlfriend, 22-year-old Jennifer Gemmell of Longmont, Colorado, compared the festive spirit in Manger Square on Christmas Eve, saying "it's like being at Times Square at New Year's."
Boy's Christmas wish: Adoption of little brother caught in US-Russia spat
The cavernous church was unable to hold all the worshippers who had hoped to celebrate Christmas Day Mass inside. A loudspeaker outside the church broadcast the service to the hundreds in the square who could not pack inside.
Paul J. Richards / AFP - Getty Images
In churches and bus stations, on water skis and bicycles, people from the Middle East to middle America celebrate Christmas.
Pope's prayer for peace
Tourists in the square posed for pictures as vendors hawked olive wood rosaries, nativity scenes, corn on the cob, roasted nuts, tea and coffee.
An official from the Palestinian tourism ministry predicted 10,000 foreigners would visit Bethlehem on Christmas Day and said 15,000 visited on Christmas Eve ? up 20 percent from a year earlier. The official, Rula Maia'a, attributed the rise in part to the Church of the Nativity's classification earlier this year as a U.N. World Heritage Site.
Christians from Israel ? Arab citizens and others ? also boosted the number of visitors.
Germany's latest big export: Christmas markets
On Christmas Eve, thousands of Christians from all over the world packed the square, which was awash in light, resplendent with decorations and adorned by a lavishly decorated, 55-foot fir tree. Their Palestinian hosts, who welcome this holiday as the high point of their city's year, were especially joyous this season, proud of the United Nations' recognition of an independent state of Palestine just last month.
On Monday evening, Pope Benedict XVI prayed that Israelis and Palestinians live in peace and freedom, and asked the faithful to pray for strife-torn Syria as well as Lebanon and Iraq.
He urged people to reflect upon what they find time for in their busy, technology-driven lives.
A family's Christmas wish: Healthy heart for girl
"The great moral question of our attitude toward the homeless, toward refugees and migrants takes on a deeper dimension: Do we really have room for God when he seeks to enter under our roof? Do we have time and space for him?" the pope said.
"The faster we can move, the more efficient our time-saving appliances become, the less time we have. And God? The question of God never seems urgent," Benedict lamented.
Later Tuesday, the world's Christmas focus will shift to Vatican City, where the pope will deliver his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" speech ? Latin for "to the city and the world" ? from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to thousands of pilgrims, tourists and Romans gathered in the piazza below.
More world stories from NBC News:
Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
?
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
staff sgt. robert bales jason russell norfolk state st patrick s day parade duke invisible children garbage pail kids
Real estate profile, Dec. 25, 2012 - seattlepi.com
Magnolia is one of Seattle's most unique neighborhoods: close to downtown, but set apart, with great views in several directions. Here are some homes listed there for around $600,000, starting with 2608 W. Galer St. The 2,670-square-foot house, built in 1940, has three bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, French doors, two fireplaces, a rec room and two decks on a 4,900-square-foot lot. It's listed for $589,000.
Photo: Aaron Leitz /Courtesy Virginia And Whitney Mason/Coldwell Banker Bain
/ SL
Photo: Aaron Leitz /Courtesy Virginia And Whitney Mason/Coldwell Banker Bain
/ SL
Magnolia is one of Seattle's most unique neighborhoods: close to...
Source: http://www.seattlepi.com/realestate/article/Real-estate-profile-Dec-25-2012-4139291.php
att wireless Mother Jones cars Bacon Number Kate Middleton photos Chi Magazine Kate Middleton Nude Photos
South Africa: World watches Mandela's struggle
Police enter the home of former president Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Mandela will probably spend Christmas Day in a hospital because his doctors want to be satisfied his health has improved satisfactorily before sending him home, a South African media outlet reported Sunday. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
Police enter the home of former president Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Mandela will probably spend Christmas Day in a hospital because his doctors want to be satisfied his health has improved satisfactorily before sending him home, a South African media outlet reported Sunday. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
FILE This May 16, 2011 file photo supplied by the South African Government Communications and Information Services, GCIS, shows former South African President Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel after they cast an early ballot in upcoming local elections at his home in Johannesburg, South Africa. South Africa's president has visited former leader Nelson Mandela in a hospital, and the presidency says Mandela continues to respond to treatment. The office of President Jacob Zuma says he saw Mandela on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, in Pretoria, the capital, and assured the anti-apartheid icon that he has the support of all South Africans and the world. Mandela, who is 94, has been hospitalized since Dec. 8. He was diagnosed with a lung infection and also had gallstone surgery. (AP Photo/Elmond Jiyane-GCIS, File)
Unidentified man takes a photo of a giant statue of former South African President Nelson Mandela on Naval Hill, overlooking the city of Bloemfontein, South Africa, on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. The 94-year old anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela is spending a twelfth day in a South African hospital after being diagnosed with a lung infection and undergoing gallstone surgery.(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? A chipped street mural in South Africa's Soweto township depicts stations in the life of Nelson Mandela, each matched by a portrait of the global icon as he advanced from robust youth to old age. Now this infirm giant of history faces a struggle with mortality, its duration unknown but its outcome certain.
There may be no living figure so revered around the world as a symbol of sacrifice and reconciliation, his legacy forged in the fight against apartheid, the system of white minority rule that imprisoned him for 27 years.
As an idea, Mandela is monumental. As a 94-year-old man, he is frail and vulnerable, in hospital since Dec. 8, shielded from outside scrutiny by protective relatives and the South African government and military.
"He's sick. What can we do? He's sick," said Beauty Sedunedi, a Soweto resident who described Mandela as a hero. "People are crying, 'Oh, he mustn't die, he mustn't...' If God says 'come,' he'll come."
The former president would probably agree with that down-to-earth sentiment, as a man who is said to have been uncomfortable with his iconic status. The narrative of what he endured and what he contributed in the name of all South Africans tends to eclipse any personal failings, or shortcomings as a president when he took office for a five-year term after the country's first democratic elections in 1994. The country today struggles with poverty and inequality, but Mandela is widely credited with helping to avert race-driven chaos as South Africa emerged from apartheid.
He was diagnosed with a lung infection and had a procedure to remove gallstones after being admitted to a Pretoria hospital, and the South African presidency said Monday that Mandela would spend Christmas Day there. The physical decline of Mandela, who boxed in his youth and exercised regularly in prison, could be anyone's story; an ordinary man would make this wistful journey alone, or within the cocoon of family intimacy.
In the case of a man-turned-myth, however, the media, the government and the nation are passengers on what has become an awkward ride, defined by tension between the right to medical privacy and the public's interest.
"They were very secretive about his health," Sebastian Moloi, another resident of the Johannesburg township of Soweto, said of the government's initial, sometimes contradictory pronouncements about Mandela's condition. "They shouldn't keep it away from the public."
Moloi spoke outside Regina Mundi, a Catholic church that was a center of protests and funeral services for activists during the apartheid years. He said Mandela was the "godfather" of South Africa, but objected to extreme discretion about Mandela's hospital stay, saying: "He gets enough privacy in his home."
Officials have reported that Mandela has steadily improved, but warn the situation is inherently uncertain because of his age. The media has urged the government to provide regular updates or briefings with doctors. Dire rumors have swirled on social media, angering Mac Maharaj, the presidency's spokesman.
"Why are there no voices raised in our society against the human depravity manifested in such rumors?" Eyewitness News, a South African media outlet, quoted Maharaj as saying. "It has become a matter of concern. Is it not time for all of us to look at ourselves in the mirror?"
In fact, Mandela's public image has been closely managed for a long time. He has not been seen on a major stage since South Africa hosted the World Cup football tournament in 2010, and his meetings have become increasingly rare.
In August, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Mandela at his home in the village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province. An Associated Press photographer who accompanied Clinton said the former leader appeared "fragile although also happy," and seemed pleased to see his visitor.
"After some deliberation, at the last moment, I was allowed inside to photograph them together. While I was in the room I never heard him say a word or hardly even move," photographer Jacquelyn Martin wrote in an email. She described how aides encouraged Mandela to smile for the camera and remarked fondly to him on what a beautiful smile he had. They called him "Madiba," which is Mandela's clan name, a term of affection.
"He scarcely moved and was a whisper of the legend," Martin wrote. She said Mandela was seated in a corner with a blanket over his legs and a newspaper in his lap. His wife, Graca Machel, was also there.
In 2009, British journalist David James Smith met the Nobel laureate while working on "Young Mandela," a book that sought, in part, to humanize the man by examining reports about his often conflicted family life.
In an email, Smith said he was required to sign a document promising he would not ask "direct questions," take photos or ask Mandela to endorse any products.
"He was sitting in his huge office behind a massive desk and seemed slightly shrivelled and sparrow-like in comparison with the sharp-suited giant of the 1950s I had come to know so well from my research," Smith wrote.
"He apologized for not getting up to greet me. 'My knees will not allow it.' I struggled to get a conversation going for a few minutes until I told him I had been to Qunu and met his 'brother' Sitsheketshe, who had been brought up with Mandela as his brother after his own parents had died."
Smith recounted: "'Ah, Sitsheketshe!' he boomed. 'Do you know the story of how he came to live with my family?' I did but said I didn't and off he went ... He seemed mortal and ordinary and that I think is one of the reasons why, though not a saint, he is a very great human being."
Sitsheketshe Morris Mandela, Nelson's cousin, died this year at the age of 80.
History offers rough parallels for Mandela and the movement to safeguard his legacy as he approaches the end of his life. Men of his stature ? American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. and Indian independence leader Mohandas K. Gandhi ? were assassinated while actively engaged in their callings. Tragedy elevated their reputations.
The Soweto mural marks Mandela's birth in 1918; the Rivonia trial that led to his conviction for sabotage in 1964; the 1990 release from prison; the 1993 awarding of the Nobel peace prize to Mandela and the last white ruler, F.W. de Klerk; Mandela's 1994 election as South Africa's first black president; and his 90th birthday in 2008.
Truly, a momentous life. Yet Mandela, whose image adorns South African banknotes and statues and whose name was bestowed on buildings and squares, found ambiguity in it. In a passage described as part of an unpublished sequel to his autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom," he wrote:
"One issue that deeply worried me in prison was the false image that I unwittingly projected to the outside world; of being regarded as a saint. I never was one, even on the basis of an earthly definition of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying."
Reflecting on his 2009 meeting, Smith said in an interview that Mandela still retained his spark of charisma, "the glint of mischief that he had that people were so charmed by, presidents and paupers."
But he added: "You can imagine that must be almost gone now."
Associated Pressvin scully petrino fired george zimmerman charged big sean sherri shepherd sherri shepherd arkansas razorbacks
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)