albertkimxy: December 2011

Saturday 31 December 2011

US calls Chavez cancer comment horrific

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Argentina News.Net
Friday 30th December, 2011 (IANS)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's comment that Washington may have been involved in the cancers of South American leaders are 'horrific and reprehensible', the US State Department said Friday.

Chavez, who is known for his anti-US rhetoric, told a ceremony for the Venezuelan Army Wednesday that the US could have developed 'technology to induce cancer without anyone knowing about it', reported RIA Novosti.

Chavez, who had been suffered from cancer, voiced his suspicions after Argentine leader Cristina Kirchner announced this week that she had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as well as the incumbent, Dilma Rousseff, and Paraguay's leader, Fernando Lugo, have all been diagnosed with cancer in recent years.

Source: http://www.argentinanews.net/story/202247564

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Friday 30 December 2011

On the Scene with Ron Paul (talking-points-memo)

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97% The Artist

Ever since it charmed audiences at the Cannes Film Festival, The Artist has been one hot commodity. The Weinstein Company snapped up the film rights though they have a bit of a hard sell. The movie takes place in the era of silent movies and it also happens to be a silent movie itself. Ignoring Mel Brooks' unsung efforts, asking paying customers to sit through 100 minutes of silence, albeit accompanied by a musical score, may be a risky financial bet. That's where the appeal of being an award-winner comes into play. The Artist has been racking up awards since Cannes and has been tagged by many as the favorite to take home a Best Picture Oscar. This celebration of the Hollywood of old is a nostalgic trip through the ages, but I'm doubtful that the film is deserving of the gushing admiration. I think this would have been better had it been one of them new-fangled talkies. In 1927, the biggest star in Hollywood is George Valentin (Jean Dujardin). His latest spy caper is knocking them dead. He's prancing before a sea of photographers when he bumps into Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo). He graciously brings her into the act and the two pose for pictures. "Who's the new girl?" demands the newspaper headlines. Peppy is given her big break as George's co-star in his spy series. Peppy is a natural and over the course of two years she becomes a bona fide star. Also over those two years Hollywood has undergone a drastic makeover. New "talkies" are all the rage with the public, who now demand to hear their favorite actors speak. George is adamant that talking pictures are only a fad and he plunks his personal fortune to bankroll his directorial debut. The movie is a flop. George is viewed as a has-been; yet Peppy has been keeping a watchful eye on her old friend and waiting for the time to reveal her love for the fallen star. The Artist is a completely silent movie except for two key sequences; one of them a nightmare where George hears objects make noise. The film is an unabashed love letter to old Hollywood, and writer/director Michel Hazanavicius makes witty use of the storytelling techniques of the silent era. Much relies on editing and reactions for shaping the narrative. The story, therefore, is broken down to its simplest incarnation. Peppy Miller's star rises, as George's grows fainter. Still, The Artist has many recognizable pieces for fans of the silent era. George even has a trusted Jack Russell Terrier at his side, a clever pooch with keen mimicking abilities. There's a cute moment where Peppy slips her arm into George's coat hanging on a coat rack and pretends to caress her self as him. It's a small yet slyly tender moment. It's not a prerequisite to be well versed on silent cinema, though it helps. While a French film (a foreign designation seems superfluous when it's silent), the movie was shot in Los Angeles and is stocked with English stars like John Goodman (TV's Treme) as a film director, James Cromwell (Babe) as George's dutiful butler, Penelope Ann Miller (Flipped) as George's unhappy wife, Missi Pyle (Big Fish) as a silent film co-star, Beth Grant (Donnie Darko) as a maid, Ken Davitian (Borat) as a pawnbroker, and Malcolm McDowell (Halloween II) as a dismissive old man in a chair (the role he was bon to play). It almost becomes a side game of cameos. It's a sprightly, charming, sometimes enchanting little experiment, but in the end an experiment is all the movie turns out to be. The Artist is no great story; in fact it's pretty much the 80th rendition of A Star is Born. The transition between silent films and talkies is a subject rife with drama, and a lead character who sees his fame and fortune crumble by being left behind in a changing society, well that should be interesting. What's surprising to me the most about this film is how little you invest with it. I don't know if it's the silent gimmick or just the idle characterization, but I found myself never really engaging with the movie, always a step removed. The characters were nice but I neither celebrated their triumphs nor bemoaned their hardships. The entire affair has such a slight feel to it; the movie is a confection, a sweet treat that melts away instantly after viewing. If you strip away all the old Hollywood nostalgia, there is very little substance here. Praise Hazanavicius for his dedication to silent filmmaking techniques, but let's be reasonable here because The Artist is a pleasant experiment but nothing more. The characters and story do not bear scrutiny. This story would have been more interesting had the movie been a traditional talky. Alas, we are limited to a handful of title cards with single lines of dialogue and extreme amounts of pantomiming. If you took away the central gimmick, would anyone be interested in this movie? I wanted to be swept away by The Artist after reading all the fawning accolades, but I wasn't. The commitment of the artists on screen is commendable, but the finished product is little more than an amusing trifle of a movie. Dujardin (OSS: Lost in Rio) and Bejo (Modern Love) look like they stepped off the screen from an old Hollywood movie, al la Purple Rose of Cairo. Dujardin is a suave presence with great comedic physicality at his disposal. There's a poignant moment where George, broken down and washed up, looks into a tuxedo store window, seeing his reflection appear above the neck of the tuxedo. He gingerly smiles, wistful of times gone by, and in that sad, face crinkling little moment, Dujardin reveals more about the man behind the flashbulbs than the script ever will. Even without a word spoken, you can tell that Dujardin and Bejo have great chemistry. Bejo, the wife of the director by the way, matches Dujardin note for note in terms of star wattage. She's got a terrific smile and one of those classic faces for an Age When They Had Faces. It's a shame that the characters don't have more interaction. The Artist is a fine film but ultimately disappointing given the hype. The saddest part about my reaction to The Artist is how little I find myself having to say about this much-ballyhooed silent film. It's an exercise in nostalgic back-patting, but if you strip away the silent movie gimmick I feel like there's so little at heart here. I walked away liking the movie, being charmed by the actors but feeling unengaged and mildly indifferent. The threadbare story is too familiar, the characterization is slight, and the movie ultimately becomes light, airy, and insubstantial. The novelty eventually does wear off and you may find yourself adding a mental commentary to the film to fill in the blanks. You'd have to be a Scrooge to resist the film's whimsy and the talents of the charismatic performers, but I'm scratching my head at the adulation give to The Artist. In a year heavy with reminiscence, The Artist overdoses on feel-good Hollywood nostalgia, and in a down year at the movies, perhaps that's enough when it comes time for awards. Nate's Grade: B

December 28, 2011

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_artist/

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Councilman Little pries agreement from mayor to at least consider his projects

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Source: http://calhouncounty.myfoxal.com/news/people/103080-councilman-little-pries-agreement-mayor-least-consider-his-projects

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Preventive care: It's free, except when it's not

In this photo taken Dec. 2, 2011, Bill Dunphy poses for a photo in Phoenix. Dunphy, a 61-year-old small business owner, thought his colonoscopy would be free under the nation's year-old health care law. But when the doctor removed two non-cancerous polyps, turning a preventive screening into a diagnostic procedure, it allowed his insurance company to bill him $1,100. "That's bait and switch," Dunphy said. "If it isn't fraud, it's immoral." (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

CHICAGO (AP) ? Bill Dunphy thought his colonoscopy would be free.

His insurance company told him it would be covered 100 percent, with no copayment from him and no charge against his deductible. The nation's 1-year-old health law requires most insurance plans to cover all costs for preventive care including colon cancer screening. So Dunphy had the procedure in April.

Then the bill arrived: $1,100.

Dunphy, a 61-year-old Phoenix small business owner, angrily paid it out of his own pocket because of what some prevention advocates call a loophole. His doctor removed two noncancerous polyps during the colonoscopy. So while Dunphy was sedated, his preventive screening turned into a diagnostic procedure. That allowed his insurance company to bill him.

Like many Americans, Dunphy has a high-deductible insurance plan. He hadn't spent his deductible yet. So, on top of his $400 monthly premium, he had to pay the bill.

"That's bait and switch," Dunphy said. "If it isn't fraud, it's immoral."

President Barack Obama's health overhaul encourages prevention by requiring most insurance plans to pay for preventive care. On the plus side, more than 22 million Medicare patients and many more Americans with private insurance have received one or more free covered preventive services this year. From cancer screenings to flu shots, many services no longer cost patients money.

But there are confusing exceptions. As Dunphy found out, colonoscopies can go from free to pricey while the patient is under anesthesia.

Breast cancer screenings can cause confusion too. In Florida, Tampa Bay-area small business owner Dawn Thomas, 50, went for a screening mammogram. But she was told by hospital staff that her mammogram would be a diagnostic test ? not preventive screening ? because a previous mammogram had found something suspicious. (It turned out to be nothing.)

Knowing that would cost her $700, and knowing her doctor had ordered a screening mammogram, Thomas stood her ground.

"Either I get a screening today or I'm putting my clothes back on and I'm leaving," she remembers telling the hospital staff. It worked. Her mammogram was counted as preventive and she got it for free.

"A lot of women ... are getting labeled with that diagnostic code and having to pay year after year for that," Thomas said. "It's a loophole so insurance companies don't have to pay for it."

For parents with several children, costs can pile up with unexpected copays for kids needing shots. Even when copays are inexpensive, they can blemish a patient-doctor relationship. Robin Brassner of Jersey City, N.J., expected her doctor visit to be free. All she wanted was a flu shot. But the doctor charged her a $20 copay.

"He said no one really comes in for just a flu shot. They inevitably mention another ailment, so he charges," Brassner said. As a new patient, she didn't want to start the relationship by complaining, but she left feeling irritated. "Next time, I'll be a little more assertive about it," she said.

How confused are doctors?

"Extremely," said Cheryl Gregg Fahrenholz, an Ohio consultant who works with physicians. It's common for doctors to deal with 200 different insurance plans. And some older plans are exempt.

Should insurance now pay for aspirin? Aspirin to prevent heart disease and stroke is one of the covered services for older patients. But it's unclear whether insurers are supposed to pay only for doctors to tell older patients about aspirin ? or whether they're supposed to pay for the aspirin itself, said Dr. Jason Spangler, chief medical officer for the nonpartisan Partnership for Prevention.

Stop-smoking interventions are also supposed to be free. "But what does that mean?" Spangler asked. "Does it mean counseling? Nicotine replacement therapy? What about drugs (that can help smokers quit) like Wellbutrin or Chantix? That hasn't been clearly laid out."

But the greatest source of confusion is colonoscopies, a test for the nation's second leading cancer killer. Doctors use a thin, flexible tube to scan the colon and they can remove precancerous growths called polyps at the same time. The test gets credit for lowering colorectal cancer rates. It's one of several colon cancer screening methods highly recommended for adults ages 50 to 75.

But when a doctor screens and treats at the same time, the patient could get a surprise bill.

"It erodes a trust relationship the patients may have had with their doctors," said Dr. Joel Brill of the American Gastroenterological Association. "We get blamed. And it's not our fault,"

Cindy Holtzman, an insurance agent in Marietta, Ga., is telling clients to check with their insurance plans before a colonoscopy so they know what to expect.

"You could wake up with a $2,000 bill because they find that little bitty polyp," Holtzman said.

Doctors and prevention advocates are asking Congress to revise the law to waive patient costs ? including Medicare copays, which can run up to $230 ? for a screening colonoscopy where polyps are removed. The American Gastroenterological Association and the American Cancer Society are pushing Congress fix the problem because of the confusion it's causing for patients and doctors.

At least one state is taking action. After complaints piled up in Oregon, insurance regulators now are working with doctors and insurers to make sure patients aren't getting surprise charges when polyps are removed.

Florida's consumer services office also reports complaints about colonoscopies and other preventive care. California insurance broker Bonnie Milani said she's lost count of the complaints she's had about bills clients have received for preventive services.

"'Confusion' is not the word I'd apply to the medical offices producing the bills," Milani said. "The word that comes to mind for me ain't nearly so nice."

When it's working as intended, the new health law encourages more patients to get preventive care. Dr. Yul Ejnes, a Rhode Island physician, said he's personally told patients with high deductible plans about the benefit. They weren't planning to schedule a colonoscopy until they heard it would be free, Ejnes said.

If too many patients get surprise bills, however, that advantage could be lost, said Stephen Finan of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. He said it will take federal or state legislation to fix the colonoscopy loophole.

Dunphy, the Phoenix businessman, recalled how he felt when he got his colonoscopy bill, like something "underhanded" was going on.

"It's the intent of the law is to cover this stuff," Dunphy said. "It really made me angry."

___

AP Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/CarlaKJohnson

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-12-28-Preventive%20Care%20Confusion/id-d6422fd2695c4d31887f97373f292a1b

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Thursday 29 December 2011

Library Of Congress Film Registry: 'Forrest Gump,' 'Silence Of The Lambs,' And Bambi To Be Added

WASHINGTON ? Forrest Gump's oft-imitated line, "My momma always said, `Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get' " will be immortalized among the nation's treasures in the world's largest archive of film, TV and sound recordings.

The Library of Congress on Wednesday announced that 1994's smash hit "Forrest Gump" starring Tom Hanks was one of 25 films chosen to be included this year in the National Film Registry.

The oldest reels are silent films both from 1912. "The Cry of the Children" is about the pre-World War I child labor reform movement and "A Cure for Pokeritis" features the industry's earliest comic superstar John Bunny.

Also from that silent era is Charlie Chaplin's first full-length feature, "The Kid," from 1921.

Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, each year the Librarian of Congress names 25 films that are "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant. This year, 2,228 films were nominated.

"These films are selected because of their enduring significance to American culture," Librarian of Congress James H. Billington said in a statement. "Our film heritage must be protected because these cinematic treasures document our history and culture and reflect our hopes and dreams."

For each title, the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation works to ensure that the film is preserved for future generations. That comes either by the Library's massive motion-picture preservation program or through collaborating with other archives, motion-picture studios and independent filmmakers.

The most recent film chosen is "Forrest Gump," which won six Academy Awards including for Best Picture.

Also starring in that movie about an everyman who ended up being part of the most iconic events of the 1960s and 1970s was Sally Field. Her perhaps most famous role playing "Norma Rae" in the movie of the same name from 1979 also made the list. She won an Academy Award for her portrayal of a poorly educated single mother who fought successfully to make her Southern textile mill a union shop.

Making the list is the animated Disney classic, "Bambi," made in 1942 about a deer's life in the forest, "The Big Heat" from 1953, a post-war noir film, and 1991's disturbing, "The Silence of the Lambs," which won Oscars for stars Jody Foster and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins plays cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the psychological and violent thriller.

The original "War of the Worlds" from 1953 also will be preserved along with "Porgy and Bess," "Stand and Deliver" and John Ford's epic Western, "The Iron Horse," from 1924.

Lesser known films were chosen for their significance to the art.

"A Computer Animated Hand" from 1972 is by Pixar Animation Studios co-founder Ed Catmull. The one-minute film that is one of the earliest examples of 3D computer animation displays the hand turning, opening and closing, pointing at the viewer and flexing its fingers.

Making the list were notable documentaries as well.

"Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment," focuses on Gov. George Wallace's attempt to prevent two African-American students from enrolling in the University of Alabama and the response of President John F. Kennedy. "Growing Up Female" from 1971 was one of the first films to come from the women's liberation movement.

Also included was "The Negro Soldier," produced by Frank Capra. It showed the heroism of blacks in the nation's wars and became mandatory viewing for all soldiers from spring 1944 until World War II's end.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/28/loc-film-registry-forrest-gump-bambi_n_1172118.html

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Wednesday 28 December 2011

[OOC] Reserved Slots for ATMT

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Please post all "Players Wanted" threads in the Roleplayers Wanted forum!

This topic is an Out Of Character part of the roleplay, ?A Tale of Modern Thieves?. Anything posted here will also show up there.

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Forum for completely Out of Character (OOC) discussion, based around whatever is happening In Character (IC). Discuss plans, storylines, and events; Recruit for your roleplaying game, or find a GM for your playergroup.

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This is just a list of reserved spots. Mostly for my reference. Names will be eliminated based on characters I receive. (When the person gets the part)

JustQuit - Assault + (other)
McDevious - Support
~~Irondude1994 - Off-scene tech~~ Accepted!

"Those who make peaceful protest impossible will make violent protest inevitable."

John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States of America

Xinbane: Member for 2 years

Yo! Can I reserve the on-tech person? This is an awesome idea. ^^

AthenaUndying: Member for 0 years

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Liza_Harding: @theUKtoday is it any wonder people can't get out of debt - if I had the nerve and didn't have kids I'd be a prostitute by now! :-(

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@theUKtoday is it any wonder people can't get out of debt - if I had the nerve and didn't have kids I'd be a prostitute by now! :-( Il y a environ 3 heures via Twitter for iPhone from Trafford, Trafford?? en r?ponse ? theUKtoday

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Tuesday 27 December 2011

Utility customers purchase over 1 million energy efficient CFL bulbs

SCE&G?s ENERGY STAR? Lighting Program continues to provide energy efficient savings as more than 1 million compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) have been purchased in 2011. The program is currently offering consumers instant discounts of up to $3 per bulb at participating retailers throughout SCE&G?s service territory.

?It?s great to see more residential customers switch to CFL bulbs,? said Nakeeah Garland, ENERGY STAR? lighting incentives program manager at SCE&G. ?This simple switch is an easy ? and effective ? way for customers to save money and energy year round.?

CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and can last up to 10 times longer. On average, a single CFL bulb can save more than $40 in electricity costs over its lifetime.

?Using CFLs instead of standard incandescent bulbs can add up to real savings for customers,? said Garland. ?Given that the average household has approximately 40 light fixtures, CFLs can save customers as much as $1,600 over the lifetime of the bulbs.?

Available for lighting options throughout the home, including recessed can lights, bathroom vanities and three way lamps, CFLs come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Many retailers and other entities provide recycling stations for CFLs, making the option to switch and save easier than ever before.

The ENERGY STAR? Lighting Program is just one of SCE&G?s EnergyWise programs that provide rebates and incentives, as well as tips and ideas on ways in which customers can be energy wise year round. To learn more, including how to properly recycle CFLs, visit www.sceg.com/energywise. ???

Source: http://fortjackson.wistv.com/news/business/50863-utility-customers-purchase-over-1-million-energy-efficient-cfl-bulbs

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Monday 26 December 2011

Sadrists call for new elections in Iraq (AP)

BAGHDAD ? The political party loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called Monday for the dissolution of Iraq's parliament and new elections in another move that could escalate the country's growing sectarian crisis.

The anti-American Sadrist bloc is a partner in the Shiite-dominated government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Bahaa al-Aaraji, the head of the Sadrists' bloc in parliament, said the elections are needed because of instability in the country and problems that threaten Iraq's sovereignty.

"The political partners cannot find solutions for the problems that threaten to divide Iraq," he said.

Iraq plunged into a new sectarian crisis last week, just days after the last American troops withdrew at the end of a nearly nine-year war.

Al-Maliki is in a political showdown with the country's top Sunni political figure, Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, after the government issued an arrest warrant for al-Hashemi on allegations his bodyguards ran hit squads targeting government officials.

The prime minister threatened to form a government without al-Hashemi's Sunni-backed political party, Iraqiya, which is boycotting parliament and mulling whether to pull out of the ruling coalition.

Iraq was dominated by the minority Sunnis under Saddam Hussein until the U.S.-led war that began in 2003 ousted him. Majority Shiites have dominated the government ever since, though Americans pushed hard for the inclusion of Sunnis with a meaningful role in the current governing coalition.

Bitter sectarian rivalries played out in 2006-2007 in violence that took Iraq to the brink of civil war and the latest tensions have raised fears of a resurgence of Shiite-Sunni violence.

The political crisis taps into resentments that are still raw despite years of efforts to overcome them. The Sunnis fear the Shiite majority is squeezing them out of their already limited political role. Shiites suspect Sunnis of links to militants and of plotting to topple the Shiite leadership.

The Sadrists have played an important role in maintaining Shiite domination over government ? their support last year catapulted al-Maliki back to the prime minister's office for a second term.

For the proposal to dissolve parliament to gain traction, it would take the consent of at least 1/3 of parliament, the president and the prime minister or a simple majority of lawmakers. Al-Maliki, who only secured his position after nearly nine months of political wrangling after the last elections, would likely be loathe to go through the process again and risk an unfavorable outcome.

Al-Aaraji said the proposal first needs approval of the larger coalition between the Sadrists and al-Maliki's alliance, the two most powerful Shiite parties.

A Shiite lawmaker loyal to al-Maliki, Kamal al-Saiedi, said the proposal should be studied.

"Forming the current government was not an easy issue, therefore going back in the direction of new elections would be more difficult," he said.

A Sunni lawmaker with Iraqiya, the Sunni-backed bloc of the wanted vice president, said new elections would not bring security and stability. He pointed to the prolonged negotiations that were needed to agree on the government in place now, and said a new election would only bring the same people to office.

"We need to sit around the same negotiating table and that is the only path to salvation from this current crisis," said Kamil al-Dulaimi.

The new political crisis has been accompanied by a new wave of attacks on the Iraqi capital by suspected Sunni insurgents linked to al-Qaida.

A suicide bomber set off a car bomb Monday at a checkpoint leading to the Interior Ministry, killing seven people and injuring 32, officials said. Police and hospital officials said the bomber struck during morning rush hour, hitting one of many security barriers set up around the ministry's building.

Also Monday, a roadside bomb hit a passing army patrol in the Abu Ghraib area west of Baghdad, killing two soldiers and injuring two, a police officer and a doctor said.

Al-Maliki's adviser for National Reconciliation Amer al-Khuzaie, said leaders of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, one of the top Shiite militant groups, had decided to lay down their weapons and join the political system.

Asaib Ahl al-Haq, or Band of the People of Righteousness, was a splinter group from the Mahdi Army, also headed by al-Sadr. They, along with the Mahdi Army, were two of three Shiite militant groups active in Iraq that were dedicated to fighting the U.S. military presence.

Al-Khuzaie said the group had signed an agreement in recent days renouncing violence. He said they would change their name and join the political process. He said he had been negotiating for months with the group, who said they would join the political process after the U.S. military left Iraq. All American troops departed on Dec. 18.

Officials from the group were not available to confirm the decision.

U.S. officials have warned that these Shiite militant groups could turn against the Iraqi government after the American military has gone. A key test to whether Asaib Ahl al-Haq, an Iranian-funded group, is committed to becoming a peaceful part of the political process is whether they actually turn in their weapons, especially the more powerful and sophisticated weapons they're believed to get from Iran.

Associated Press writers Mazin Yahya, Sinan Salaheddin and Qassim Abdul-Zahra contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111226/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq

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In Somalia, fears over US wire transfer block

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) ? Somali officials said Friday they are pleading with U.S. authorities to persuade banks to reconsider a decision to block money transfers from Minnesota's Somali community to relatives in this Horn of Africa nation, where anarchy has given safe haven to an al-Qaida linked terror group.

A bank that handles the majority of money transfers from Minnesota to Somalia ? Sunrise Community Banks ? has said it will discontinue the service at the end of December over fears it could be at risk of violating government rules intended to clamp down on the financing of terror groups. Minnesota political leaders Rep. Keith Ellison and Sen. Al Franken, both Democrats, are seeking solutions.

Omar Jamal, first secretary of the Somali Mission to the United Nations, said in an email on Friday that he is working with U.S. politicians on the issue and is "close" to finding a resolution.

"To cut off the lifeline to millions of Somali refugees will lead to a colossal humanitarian crisis in Somalia," Jamal wrote.

An untold number of Somalis depend on small remittances ? perhaps $50 to $200 a month ? sent from family members in the U.S. Even that small amount of money goes a long way in Somalia, and can make the difference between a dignified life and homeless poverty.

"Adopting that decision will be catastrophe to the lives of millions of who depends on remittances," Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, Somalia's prime minister, said earlier this week.

Halima Osman, a mother of five in Somalia's impoverished capital, is among many worried about an even bleaker economic future. The 50-year-old Osman typically receives $150 a month from her son in Minneapolis, who is the family's only breadwinner.

"Without remittances we shall lead a new life of poverty and famine because there is no other alternative to get money from abroad," said Osman, who lives in a dilapidated five-room villa in Mogadishu.

Jamal said he is urging money transfer companies ? known as hawalas ? to make sure "money doesn't fall into the wrong hands."

The decision to end Somali remittances came weeks after two Minnesota women were convicted in October of conspiracy to provide support to al-Shabab, the most dangerous insurgent group in East Africa.

Evidence showed the women, who claimed they were sending money to charity, used the hawalas to send more than $8,600 to the terror group, which has ties to al-Qaida. In another case, a Somali refugee in San Diego admitted this month that she sent money to the group.

Joe Witt, president and chief executive officer of the Minnesota Bankers Association, said banks are required to monitor their customers and report on certain types of activity. If they make a mistake or report something wrong, they face huge penalties.

"It's an incredible framework of rules and regulations, and if you do it wrong, it's absolutely a nightmare for the banks," Witt said.

Meanwhile, he said, money service businesses that wire funds internationally ? especially to places that might be unstable ? have been tagged as businesses that involve heightened security and compliance measures. While that doesn't mean every hawala is risky, he said a lot of banks have "made a determination that it's not a type of business they are comfortable in conducting."

Adan Hassan, spokesman for the Somali American Moneywiring Association and a manager at Kaah Express, a Minnesota-based hawala with locations in six other states, said the hawalas are subject to federal and state regulations, and he understands the regulations are necessary for national security and the well-being of the community. The hawalas must comply in order to keep their licenses.

Federal regulations require that hawalas ask for identification from anyone submitting over $3,000, Hassan said, though some companies require IDs for lower amounts as well. The hawalas collect the name, location, and phone number of the beneficiary, and the sender gives the hawala cash or a check or money order. The money is processed and the sender receives a receipt.

The recipient must present an ID to pick up the money on the other end, Hassan said.

Transfers to Somalia are not the only ones affected. Hassan said Kaah Express sends most of its transmissions to Kenya, which has the largest number of Somali refugees. Kaah Express also works with a well-established Ethiopian bank. He said those accounts are all affected, regardless of the destination of the money.

Humanitarian aid in a region beset by war and famine could be harmed by the banking decision, said a statement from Oxfam American and the American Refugee Committee. The group said Somalia's famine this year would have been far worse without remittances from the Somali community abroad.

"It is estimated that $100 million in remittances goes to Somalia from the U.S. every year. This is the worst time for this service to stop. Any gaps with remittance flows in the middle of the famine could be disastrous," Shannon Scribner, Oxfam America's Humanitarian Policy Manager, said. "The U.S. government should give assurances to the bank that there will be no legal ramifications of providing this service to Somalis in need."

If the new banking rules are put in place, Somalis in Minnesota say they will find other ways to send money. One way is to send the remittances to another country, such as Kenya or Britain, and then have a third party pick up the money and re-wire it to Somalia.

Ali, the Somali prime minister, said his government is working to make sure the link between American banks and the Somalia hawala system continues.

"We have sent a memo to the U.S. authorities to call off that decision because that will cause Somalis to economical crisis," he said. "The monies sent from abroad are backbone for the lives of thousands."

___

Forliti contributed from Minneapolis.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-12-23-AF-Somalia-US-Money-Transfers/id-ec33d84eb58e4a908f17fd03091e8194

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Saturday 24 December 2011

The best mobile games of 2011 for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices (Appolicious)

You do not need a console, Mac or personal computer to tap into the best games of 2011.

Increasingly, mobile games developed for smartphones and tablet computers offer comparable graphics, gameplay and entertainment value as those found on less portable devices. The best can also be insanely addictive.

Here are the best games of the year developed for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

Jetpack Joyride (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch: $0.99)

Jetpack Joyride appeals to hardcore and casual gamers alike. The one-touch running game slaps a jetpack on your back and has you dodging things in your path by flying up and down on the screen. All the while you have coins to grab and objectives to meet. Jetpack Joyride is filled with some very funny and fun-to-use power-ups and is addictive in all the best ways. The art style and effects are simply gorgeous. It also full of tongue-in-cheek humor and references to other iOS titles, including main character Barry Steakfires who was introduced in last year?s shooter game Monster Dash. Jetpack Joyride is one of those games that you just have to keep playing ?just one more time,? over and over.

Check out the video review.

Dead Space (iPhone, iPod Touch: $0.99, iPad: $9.99, Android: $6.99)

Dead Space is a prequel story to Dead Space 2, a console video game release from earlier this year. The title, which arrived to Android devices in December, is just as good as its Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 counterpart when played on mobile devices. Dead Space puts you in control of an operative named Vandal, charged with a secret mission aboard the huge mining space station known as the Sprawl. But it isn?t long before horrific monsters are tearing through the station and its human inhabitants, leaving you to fight them off with one of the four mining tools at your disposal.The third-person shooter game is a pretty gory survival-horror title, so it?s not for kids. But if you?re into scary games with decent controls and state-of-the-art graphics and soundtrack, this is the one for you.

See more on our video review, if you dare!

The sequel to what was probably one of the best iOS games of 2010, Infinity Blade II takes everything that was great about the original and adds to it. The one-on-one sword-fighting gameplay that made the original so fun has been amped-up with better touch controls and new weapons that require different strategies. The whole game has been lengthened beyond the original, with more world to explore and a fleshed-out story to go with it. What?s more, like its predecessor, Infinity Blade II sets the bar for graphics, especially on the iPhone 4S and iPad 2.

See why Infinity Blade II makes the cut in our video review.

Another mobile game that first became a hit on PCs, World of Goo reworks its mouse-based puzzle gameplay for touchscreen controls. It works great. The game is all about building structures with gooey little characters, allowing you to create bridges, towers and other buildings. The goal is to make your structures reach a pipe at some remote point in the level to suck up any extra goo balls. Hit the minimum quota, and you win the level. World of Goo has a delightful art style and a haunting bit of story going on in the background, but it?s really the well-designed puzzle levels and tight controls that make it a blast to play.

Watch a video review of the Android version, which was finally released in December.

While there are many different flavors of racing games to be found in the App Store, Real Racing 2 HD is the best of the best. The game really makes use of the iPad 2?s hardware and high definition screen to bring us all a comprehensive racing experience equivalent to many console titles. Packed with various cars, tracks, and game modes, there is plenty of content to enjoy here. The cars and the realistic world they inhabit are detailed and colorful, and the top-of-the-line production values leave the competition in the dust. This already-great game was one of the first to feature the inclusion of AirPlay, courtesy of iOS 5, letting us enjoy iOS gaming in whole new ways. While Real Racing 2 HD is optimized for the iPad 2, you can still play it on Apple?s original tablet computer. Fans can also play the 2010 edition of Real Racing 2 on the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Indie darling Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery creates a singular adventure experience on the iOS platform. Mixing beautiful graphics, a compelling and quirky writing style and haunting music, Sword & Sworcery has players taking on the role of an adventurer questing for a legendary book. You?ll wander through dream worlds and fight eternal monsters in a place where music and visuals are tightly interwoven. Sword & Sworcery is the sort of title that tries to blur the line between game and art, and it mostly succeeds while being pretty beautiful along the way.

See for yourself in our video review.

Cut the Rope debuted on iOS devices in 2010 before making its way to Android this year. From the people who brought you Angry Birds, Cut the Rope features simple swipe-based rope cutting, candy, and the infinitely adorable monster known as Om Nom. The physics/puzzle combination also has interesting mechanics that consistently keep things engaging, and the developers released several new level packs completely for free which have more than doubled the size of the game. In addition to its debut on Android in 2011, the Cut the Rope: Experiments sequel hit the iTunes App Store this year.

Here?s a video review of the Android version.

Tiny Wings (iPhone, iPod Touch: $0.99)

In addition to being the game that officially dethroned Angry Birds as the No. 1 paid app in the iTunes App Store, Tiny Wings is a simple and addictive arcade game that is well worth the 99-cent download cost. Your goal is to see just how far you can fly until the sun goes down. To do this, you use the hills to help launch your bird in the air. Tapping the screen will fold your bird's wings and help you down, while letting go will flap your wings to fly.

See more in our video review.

Game developer Zynga is great at taking classic titles and putting social, mobile twists on them. Hanging with Friends, available as free and 99-cent versions on the iPhone and iPad (also free on Android) is an update to the classic Hangman game. The game allows you to bring in your Facebook and Twitter friends, and will allow you to search for friends based on username if they don?t belong to either network.

See more in our video review.

Gameloft?s take on the very popular PC strategy title StarCraft II is StarFront: Collision, a touch-based real-time strategy title that gets players sending marines, tanks, robots and all kinds of other units to fight off the armies of their enemies. The game includes a decent-size single-player campaign in which you get to play the roles of three different alien races all warring for resources across various planets. StarFront?s best feature is its robust online multiplayer mode that lets you take on as many as three other players in a big battle royale, or team up in a two-on-two skirmish.

Appolicious Advisors Phil Hornshaw and Andrew Koziara contributed to this article. See more of the best games of 2011 for iOS and Android devices.

Best iPhone Games 2011

Best iPad Games 2011

Best Android Smartphone Games of 2011

Best Android Tablet Games of 2011

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/applecomputer/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/appolicious_rss/rss_appolicious_tc/http___www_appolicious_com_articles10561_the_best_mobile_games_of_2011_for_the_iphone_ipad_and_android_devices/43983589/SIG=13n885jm6/*http%3A//www.appolicious.com/games/articles/10561-the-best-mobile-games-of-2011-for-the-iphone-ipad-and-android-devices

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Friday 23 December 2011

Politics trump hunger in N.Korea

Damir Sagolj / Reuters, file

A North Korean child suffering from malnutrition rests in a bed in a hospital in Haeju, September 30, 2011

By Kari Huus, msnbc.com

Months before the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il, an array of UN food experts and nonprofit groups urged immediate food aid for the isolated north Asian nation. Three groups that investigated conditions in the country described the urgent need for food, reporting ?acute malnutrition? among North Korean children, ?widespread consumption of grass? and elderly people on ?knife edge.?

Despite these dire assessments, and warnings that conditions are worsening, the Obama administration has balked on a decision over food aid for the isolated Asian nation. This week, just as promising talks were under way in Beijing between U.S. and North Korean envoys, the news broke that Kim had died. That change put the question of aid on the back burner again.

?We need to see where (the North Koreans) are and where they go as they move through their transition period,? said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland addressing questions about food aid on Tuesday. ?We will obviously need to reengage at the right moment, but? we haven?t made any internal decisions here.?

Some provisions of a food aid deal that was purportedly being discussed in Beijing surfaced in South Korean press reports. The United States would provide 240,000 tons of high-protein biscuits and vitamins ? 20,000 tons a month for a year, the reports said ? targeting North Korea?s most vulnerable people ? pregnant and lactating women, children, and hospital patients. Nuland would not confirm these reports.

The terms that were under discussion, she said, were related to monitoring to ensure the food reached its intended recipients, and ?the kinds of food aid that we would consider if the conditions were right and if the right decisions were made.?

Eating bark, grass
Meanwhile, there is substantial evidence of a growing food crisis for millions who live in the countryside, beyond the relative comfort of Pyongyang, researchers and humanitarian groups say.

?What we saw? was extensive chronic malnutrition and cases of acute malnutrition, which is where the person is basically dying,? said David Austin, director of the North Korea program for Mercy Corps., one of five nonprofits dispatched to investigate the situation in February.

?More than 50 percent of people who are reliant on (state-provided grain) were out seeking out alternative food?things like bark, wild grass, and leaves?and mixing it in with food. We found there was no protein or fat in people?s diets.?

The mission was undertaken at the request of the federal government?s humanitarian aid agency, USAID after North Korea called for international food aid in January. Their report and a strong recommendation to proceed with the food aid went to USAID in April. ?

When Austin returned to North Korea in September, he says he learned that government grain rations had been cut by more than half to about 150 grams per day.

?That?s basically (the equivalent of) one potato,? he said.

In addition to the report by the U.S. group of nonprofits, two other groups?one made up of UN agencies and a group representing five European nonprofits?came to the same conclusions.

Marcus Noland, senior fellow and Asia expert at Peterson Institute for International Economics, said data support the eye witness reports.

?The price (of grain) is rising rapidly. That?s bad news,? said Noland. ?Normally after the fall harvest, there?s plenty of food, so the price goes down, and then it starts spiking in the late spring -- the so-called ?lean season.? This year the prices have basically continued rising right through the harvest? because there isn?t enough food in the country.?

The price is also rising on corn, and coal, which used by many North Koreans to heat their homes, he said.

Since last spring, humanitarian groups have been pressing the U.S. government to step in, as it has before, as a major contributor to North Korean aid needs. The last U.S. food handouts ended in March 2009, when North Korea expelled U.S. aid groups that were monitoring the distribution. Shortly afterwards, the North conducted long-range rocket and nuclear tests that prompted tough international sanctions.

Even though Pyongyong politics are opaque and in flux, not everyone agrees with U.S. ?wait and see? posture on food.

?As far as we understand, the North Koreans have not withdrawn their request for food aid,? said Austin. ?But the U.S. government has continued to delay its decision. We think there is a humanitarian need that must be answered. Children are dying.?

And some observers argue that the transition may present an opportunity to test the waters with Pyongyang?s newly named leader, 27-year-old Kim Jong Un.

?The fiscal price tag for 240,000 tons is not that big, so it seems to me as a conciliatory gesture at the beginning of this new leadership, you have more to gain than lose,? said Noland of the Peterson Institute. ?This guy could turn out to be even crazier or more brutal than his father or grandfather?. But it strikes me that given the circumstances the downside risk of moving forward is very low, compared to the ill will from backtracking.?

What officials are not making explicit is how the food aid is linked to concessions from Pyongyang, such as promise to halt its uranium enrichment program or to resume six-party nuclear disarmament talks, which ground to a halt three years ago.

Food for nukes?
From the point of view of humanitarian groups, aid should completely independent of politics.

?We don?t want to see the humanitarian principals linked to things such as giving up nuclear weapons,? said Austin of Mercy Corps. ?It undermines the moral authority of both.?

The State Department maintains that U.S. humanitarian assistance should not be politicized, but merely compliment U.S. foreign policy.

So, coincidentally ? or not -- when U.S. humanitarian envoys were discussing food aid with the North Koreans in Beijing over the weekend, the U.S. nuclear nonproliferation envoy was also holding talks in the Chinese capital. According to the AP report, sources close to negotiations said the food aid talks with North Korean officials in Beijing ?yielded a breakthrough on uranium enrichment.?

Food aid that is dependent on nuclear concessions is not fated to go far in Pyongyang during a leadership transition. North Korea watchers say that the anointed leader, who lacks the stature of his father or grandfather, is likely under immense pressure to prove his bravado to the military establishment, not compromise on defense issues.

The Obama administration has its own politics considerations. Without securing progress on nuclear disarmament, providing aid to North Korea may become bludgeon for Republicans to use against him in an election year. ?

?If you were the Obama administration and looking at this situation with the North Koreans," Noland said, "are you going to expend any political capital on these guys? You?ve got other issues... Do you want to take on dealing with North Korea in Congress? The answer is no.?

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click here to follow Kari Huus on Facebook.

Related coverage:

Source: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/21/9597663-politics-trump-hunger-in-north-korea

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Study finds evidence of sperm whale culture

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Differences in the patterned clicks that sperm whales use to communicate with each other seem to be down to culture and not genetics, say researchers.

The finding could influence conservation efforts; instead of focussing solely on where the animals live, protection should also consider which dialect they use.

All sperm whales in a pod use the same small selection of patterned clicks. Scientists think they use the sounds to show other whales that they're part of the same gang.

But in the Pacific, scientists have discovered that the whales belong to one of five clans, with each clan using a different dialect. Each dialect is made up of a different handful of similar Morse code-like patterned clicks called codas. The whales may use the clicks to communicate that they belong to a particular pod, and to maintain social bonds.

Luke Rendell from the University of St Andrews and his colleagues wondered if maybe the difference between clans was down to genetics.

'It's an obvious question to ask. What are the genetics of these populations? Are these dialects culturally transmitted or genetic?' says Rendell.

To find out, Rendell and colleagues from the US and Canada extracted DNA from the whales' sloughed skin to see if they could see any genetic differences between the clans. In total, they analysed DNA from 194 sperm whales belonging to 30 different social groups from three of the vocal clans across the Pacific Ocean.

If the whales' dialects were biologically determined, those that share the same dialect would have similar genes too. But this isn't what the researchers found.

Instead, they found that whales with different repertoires of codas are often genetically similar. This suggests that the genetic differences don't explain clan differences, and that dialects must be passed down through the generations. It turns out that the clans don't just have different dialects; they also have different hunting patterns, parenting habits, and reproductive rates.

'All the evidence for culture relies on methods of exclusion. It's very difficult to actually prove cultural transmission,' says Rendell. 'But our finding isn't consistent with anything other than cultural dialects.'

Sperm whale pods are made up of females ? with a few young ? and average around 12 individuals. Male sperm whales leave the pod when they're juveniles and join all-male pods for a few years, before beginning a solitary life roaming the oceans.

This latest study, published in Behaviour Genetics suggests that sperm whale groups are made up of individuals that use the same dialect, rather than those that come from a similar area of the Pacific.

The creatures hold a range of records: they're the deepest diving mammal, the largest toothed whale and have the biggest brain on Earth. But they don't have the sharpest eyesight or sense of smell. So they communicate using codas, which can be incredibly loud. The sounds are very different to the sounds made by other marine mammals like humpback whales, which sing haunting songs to each other, or dolphins which whistle.

The whales make the sounds in the 'big tub of oil at the front of their huge heads', explains Rendell. Along with air sacs in the whales' heads, the structure produces multiple pulses, just fractions of a second apart.

'We hope our finding will get people thinking about conservation, and the idea that behaviour in marine mammals is culturally-determined,' Rendell says.

###

Luke Rendell, Sarah L. Mesnick, Merel L. Dalebout, Jessica Burtenshaw and Hal Whitehead, Can Genetic Differences Explain Vocal Dialect Variation in Sperm Whales, Physeter macrocephalus?, Behavior Genetics, published 21 October 2011, DOI: 10.1007/s10519-011-9513-y

Natural Environment Research Council: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/

Thanks to Natural Environment Research Council for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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