University of Leicester researchers lead on new autism study published today

Public release date: 31-Jan-2012
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Contact: Professor Terry (Traolach) Brugha
tsb@le.ac.uk
University of Leicester

Britain's first adult autism survey reveals previously 'invisible' group with autism

New research on autism in adults has shown that adults with a more severe learning disability have a greater likelihood of having autism.

This group, mostly living in private households, was previously 'invisible' in estimates of autism.

Dr Terry Brugha, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Leicester, led research on behalf of the University for the report Estimating the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Conditions in Adults: Extending the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, which has today been published by the NHS Information Centre.

The report involved a survey of adults from learning disability registers in Leicestershire, Lambeth and Sheffield between August 2010 and April 2011.

Today's report presents findings from a new study based on a sample of people with learning disabilities living in private households and communal care establishments. The findings are combined with information from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) 2007, previously published by the NHS Information Centre, which included research on autism also led by Dr Brugha.

Dr Brugha, also a consultant psychiatrist working in the NHS with the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: "We were surprised by how many adults with moderate to profound learning disability had autism because previous estimates pointed to lower rates in this group. Because they form a very small part of the adult population, when we added these new findings to the rate we had previously found in adults living in private households, and able to take part in our national survey in 2007, the overall percentage of adults in England with autism did not increase significantly over our 2007 estimate of 1%."

"Our finding that about 60% of men with profound learning disabilities and 43% of women with profound learning disabilities have autism has never been shown previously. It may also seem surprising how many live at home with parents or carers who provide 24 hour care and shoulder a considerable burden: 42% of men and 29% of women with severe learning disabilities living with family members and in other private households have autism. Taken together with the 2007 survey findings this means that most adults with autism live in private households, and before these two surveys they remained largely invisible".

Dr Brugha added "This new information will be of particular importance for those who plan and provide services to support those with learning disabilities. In March 2010, the Government published a national strategy for autism and guidance for the condition, with the view to improving the quality of services provided to adults with autism in England. Such improvements can only be achieved if the number of people with recognised and unrecognised autism is quantified. The strategy gave special emphasis to the need to train staff who have responsibility for identifying people with autism and their care. It will be vital to repeat such studies in future years in order to make sure that the national strategy is working effectively."

Sally-Ann Cooper, Professor of Learning Disabilities at the University of Glasgow, who also contributed to the latest study commented: "Until now routine statistics have not been gathered on the numbers of people with learning disabilities who also have autism leaving this as a hidden problem. Our study clearly shows that the more severe to profound an adult's learning disability is, the more likely they will be found to have autism if actually assessed."

###

Today's report is at: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/autism11

The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) 2007 is at: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/asdpsychiatricmorbidity07

Further information has appeared in the Archives of General Psychiatry (2011 May;68(5):459-65).

NOTE TO NEWSDESK

The new study was carried out for the NHS Information Centre for Health and Social care by the University of Leicester, in collaboration with the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, NatCen Social Research (NatCen), and the University of Glasgow.

The study was funded by the NHS Information Centre on behalf of the Department of Health, England. The NHS Information Centre is England's authoritative, independent source of health and social care information. It works with a range of health and social care providers nationwide to provide the facts and figures that help the NHS and social services run effectively. Its role is to collect data, analyse it and convert it into useful information which helps providers improve their services and supports academics, researchers, regulators and policymakers in their work. The NHS Information Centre also produces a wide range of statistical publications each year across a number of areas including: primary care, health and lifestyles, screening, hospital care, population and geography, social care and workforce and pay statistics. For more information, contact the press office on 0845-257-6990 or mediaenquiries@ic.nhs.uk.

For more information contact:

University of Leicester Press Desk:
Tel: 44-116-252-2415 or 0116-252-3335
Mobile 07711 927821
pressoffice@le.ac.uk

Or:

Terry (Traolach) Brugha
Professor of Psychiatry
Department of Health Sciences
College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology
University of Leicester
Email: tsb@le.ac.uk

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 31-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Professor Terry (Traolach) Brugha
tsb@le.ac.uk
University of Leicester

Britain's first adult autism survey reveals previously 'invisible' group with autism

New research on autism in adults has shown that adults with a more severe learning disability have a greater likelihood of having autism.

This group, mostly living in private households, was previously 'invisible' in estimates of autism.

Dr Terry Brugha, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Leicester, led research on behalf of the University for the report Estimating the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Conditions in Adults: Extending the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, which has today been published by the NHS Information Centre.

The report involved a survey of adults from learning disability registers in Leicestershire, Lambeth and Sheffield between August 2010 and April 2011.

Today's report presents findings from a new study based on a sample of people with learning disabilities living in private households and communal care establishments. The findings are combined with information from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) 2007, previously published by the NHS Information Centre, which included research on autism also led by Dr Brugha.

Dr Brugha, also a consultant psychiatrist working in the NHS with the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: "We were surprised by how many adults with moderate to profound learning disability had autism because previous estimates pointed to lower rates in this group. Because they form a very small part of the adult population, when we added these new findings to the rate we had previously found in adults living in private households, and able to take part in our national survey in 2007, the overall percentage of adults in England with autism did not increase significantly over our 2007 estimate of 1%."

"Our finding that about 60% of men with profound learning disabilities and 43% of women with profound learning disabilities have autism has never been shown previously. It may also seem surprising how many live at home with parents or carers who provide 24 hour care and shoulder a considerable burden: 42% of men and 29% of women with severe learning disabilities living with family members and in other private households have autism. Taken together with the 2007 survey findings this means that most adults with autism live in private households, and before these two surveys they remained largely invisible".

Dr Brugha added "This new information will be of particular importance for those who plan and provide services to support those with learning disabilities. In March 2010, the Government published a national strategy for autism and guidance for the condition, with the view to improving the quality of services provided to adults with autism in England. Such improvements can only be achieved if the number of people with recognised and unrecognised autism is quantified. The strategy gave special emphasis to the need to train staff who have responsibility for identifying people with autism and their care. It will be vital to repeat such studies in future years in order to make sure that the national strategy is working effectively."

Sally-Ann Cooper, Professor of Learning Disabilities at the University of Glasgow, who also contributed to the latest study commented: "Until now routine statistics have not been gathered on the numbers of people with learning disabilities who also have autism leaving this as a hidden problem. Our study clearly shows that the more severe to profound an adult's learning disability is, the more likely they will be found to have autism if actually assessed."

###

Today's report is at: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/autism11

The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) 2007 is at: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/asdpsychiatricmorbidity07

Further information has appeared in the Archives of General Psychiatry (2011 May;68(5):459-65).

NOTE TO NEWSDESK

The new study was carried out for the NHS Information Centre for Health and Social care by the University of Leicester, in collaboration with the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, NatCen Social Research (NatCen), and the University of Glasgow.

The study was funded by the NHS Information Centre on behalf of the Department of Health, England. The NHS Information Centre is England's authoritative, independent source of health and social care information. It works with a range of health and social care providers nationwide to provide the facts and figures that help the NHS and social services run effectively. Its role is to collect data, analyse it and convert it into useful information which helps providers improve their services and supports academics, researchers, regulators and policymakers in their work. The NHS Information Centre also produces a wide range of statistical publications each year across a number of areas including: primary care, health and lifestyles, screening, hospital care, population and geography, social care and workforce and pay statistics. For more information, contact the press office on 0845-257-6990 or mediaenquiries@ic.nhs.uk.

For more information contact:

University of Leicester Press Desk:
Tel: 44-116-252-2415 or 0116-252-3335
Mobile 07711 927821
pressoffice@le.ac.uk

Or:

Terry (Traolach) Brugha
Professor of Psychiatry
Department of Health Sciences
College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology
University of Leicester
Email: tsb@le.ac.uk

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/uol-uol013112.php

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Why Was 'Glee's' Michael Jackson Tribute Episode 'Traumatic' For Chris Colfer? (omg!)

The kids of William McKinley High will pay tribute to the late King of Pop on this week's "Glee," but for Chris Colfer (who plays Kurt Hummel on the hit show), performing MJ's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was a bit rough.

"I was in a leather one-suit - like, a leather jumpsuit," Chris told Access Hollywood's Shaun Robinson at the 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. "The dance was fine, but just the fact that I was in a leather onesie was a little traumatic!"

PLAY IT NOW: 2012 FOX TCAs: The Cast Of ?Glee? Talks Michael Jackson Tribute Episode & Upcoming Guest Stars

Chris said the embarrassing get-up was reminiscent of a Bond bad guy, combined with a certain feline femme fatale.

"Very Catwoman-ish, [but] I would say more James Bond villain than Catwoman," he told Shaun. "I wish it was Catwoman flattering! But no, it was James Bond villain."

VIEW THE PHOTOS: ?Glee? Cutie Chris Colfer

While the entire "Glee" cast enjoyed performing MJ's iconic songs, Chris said Kevin McHale (Artie Abrams) was, by far, the most thrilled.

"Kevin McHale, without question," Chris said, when asked which castmember was most excited about the episode. "He's been idolizing him since he was a wee, wee lad."

Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Back To McKinley High: ?Glee? Season 3!

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_why_glees_michael_jackson_tribute_episode_traumatic_chris053125241/44350804/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/why-glees-michael-jackson-tribute-episode-traumatic-chris-053125241.html

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Signs point to strong Jan. finish for stocks

NEW YORK?? January has turned out strong for equities with just two trading days to go. If you're afraid to miss the ride, there's still time to jump in. You just might want to wear a neck brace.

The new year lured buyers into growth-related sectors, the ones that were more beaten down last year. The economy is getting better, but not dramatically. Earnings are beating expectations, but at a lower rate than in recent quarters. Nothing too bad is coming out of Europe's debt crisis ? and nothing good, either ? at least not yet.

"No one item is a major positive, but collectively, it's been enough to tilt it towards net buying," said John Schlitz, chief market technician at Instinet in New York.

Still, relatively weak volume and a six-month high hit this week make some doubt that the gains are sustainable.

But then there's the golden cross.

Many market skeptics take notice when this technical indicator, a holy grail of sorts for many technicians, shows up on the horizon.

As early as Monday, the rising 50-day moving average of the S&P 500 could tick above its rising 200-day moving average. This occurrence ? known as a golden cross ? means the medium-term momentum is increasingly bullish. You have a good chance of making money in the next six months if you put it to work in large-cap stocks.

In the last 50 years, according to data compiled by Birinyi Associates, a golden cross on the S&P 500 has augured further gains six months ahead in eight out of 10 times. The average gain has been 6.6 percent.

That means the benchmark is on solid footing to not only hold onto the 14 percent advance over the last nine weeks, but to flirt with 1,400, a level it hasn't hit since mid-2008.

The gains, as expected, would not be in a straight line. But any weakness could be used by long-term investors as buying opportunities.

"The cross is an intermediate bullish event," Schlitz said. "You have to interpret it as constructive, but I caution people to take a bullish stance, if they have a short-term horizon ."

Less than halfway into the earnings season and with Greek debt talks over the weekend, payrolls data next week and the S&P 500 near its highest since July, there's plenty of room for something to go wrong. If that happens, the market could easily give back some of its recent advance.

But the benchmark's recent rally and momentum shift allow for a pullback before the technical picture deteriorates.

"We bounced off 1,325, which is resistance. We're testing 1,310, which should be support. We are stuck in that range," said Ken Polcari, managing director at ICAP Equities in New York.

"If over the weekend, Greece comes out with another big nothing, then you will see further weakness next week," he said. "A 1 (percent) or 2 percent pullback isn't out of the question or out of line."

On Friday, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite closed their fourth consecutive week of gains, while the Dow Jones industrial average dipped and capped three weeks of gains. For the day, the Dow dropped 74.17 points, or 0.58 percent, to close at 12,660.46. The S&P 500 fell 2.10 points, or 0.16 percent, to 1,316.33. But the Nasdaq gained 11.27 points, or 0.40 percent, to end at 2,816.55.

For the week, the Dow slipped 0.47 percent, while the S&P 500 inched up 0.07 percent and the Nasdaq jumped 1.07 percent.

Next week is filled with heavy-hitting data on the housing, manufacturing and employment sectors.

Personal income and consumption on Monday will be followed by the S&P/Case-Shiller home prices index, consumer confidence and the Chicago PMI ? all on Tuesday.

Wednesday will bring the Institute for Supply Management index on U.S. manufacturing and the first of three key readings on the labor market ? namely, the ADP private-sector employment report. Jobless claims on Thursday will give way on Friday to the U.S. government's non-farm payrolls report. The forecast calls for a net gain of 150,000 jobs in January, according to economists polled by Reuters.

Another hectic earnings week will kick into gear with almost a fifth of the S&P 500 components posting quarterly results. Exxon Mobil, Amazon, UPS, Pfizer, Kellogg and MasterCard are among the names most likely to grab the headlines.

With almost 200 companies' reports in so far, about 59 percent have beaten earnings expectations ? down from about 70 percent in recent quarters.

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46181761/ns/business-us_business/

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Scoreboard comment 'unfortunate,' Harbaugh says

?

It was clear at Friday?s press conference that Ravens coach John Harbaugh isn?t happy with Randy Brown, the team?s kicking consultant, who generated headlines across the Internet earlier this week by raising doubts, albeit jokingly, about the New England Patriots? possible intentions in the final seconds of the AFC Championship Game last Sunday.

?I just think it was unfortunate,? Harbaugh said of Brown?s comments.

Much has been made of the fact that Gillette Stadium?s Jumbotron board showed the incorrect down throughout the Ravens? final series, leading some to speculate there was sideline confusion that may have impacted Billy Cundiff?s ill-fated 32-yard field goal attempt.

In an interview on a Philadelphia radio station several days after the game, Brown tacitly raised doubts about the intentions of the Patriots, who controlled the scoreboard.

?I don?t think you can rule anything out in New England, can you?? Brown said.
That was a reference to a 2007 incident known as ?Spygate,? in which the Patriots were caught filming the New York Jets? defensive coaches? signals from a sideline location ? a violation of league rules that led to New England coach Bill Belichick being fined a half-million dollars.

Brown?s comments about the Patriots ?were unfortunate comments for sure,? Harbaugh said Friday. ?I?ve known Randy for a long time. Randy is a very good person. If you listen to the interview, you get a very clear indication that it was in jest. He?s known those guys for a long time. He?s a Philly guy, he?s been on that radio station a bunch, and they were going back and forth, and there was a lot of laughing going on.

?It wasn?t meant in a serious way, but it doesn?t come out that way in print. Randy should understand that, and he feels really bad about it right now. We in no way at all think that (the Patriots were up to something), and we?ve said that already.?

Harbaugh conceded it was possibly the scoreboard mistake may have confused Cundiff.

?I never looked at the scoreboard, personally. I never do,? Harbaugh said. ?The scoreboard is not what we use to calculate where we?re at down-and-distance-wise. We knew where we were at. Cam called the plays accordingly, and we called the field goal team on the field, and the field goal team headed out. Sometimes the kicker is in back, he?s on his own, he?s at the net, and they get themselves in that place to kick a field goal. He might be looking at the scoreboard ? but he?s also in communication with Randy. Those guys knew, or should have known, what the down and distance was.?

In any case, there was no excuse for missing the field goal, Harbaugh said.

?That?s what Billy said. He?s got to make that kick, no matter what,? Harbaugh said. ?So no matter what happened with that, yeah the scoreboard was behind, but it didn?t affect us in any way, what we were doing. That kick should get made.?

Source: http://www.csnbaltimore.com/01/27/12/Harbaugh-Scoreboard-comment-unfortunate/landing.html?blockID=639854&feedID=6876

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Jon Rubinstein leaves Hewlett-Packard

Former Palm chief Jon Rubinstein has left Hewlett-Packard, having completed the 24-month commitment period he agreed to when HP acquired Palm. An HP spokesperson has confirmed the story, first reported by AllThingsD, in a brief statement: "Jon has fulfilled his commitment and we wish him well."

Rubinstein rose to fame as a hardware guru at NeXT, ultimately joining Apple after the company acquired NeXT in 1996. He was instrumental in developing the iMac and PowerMac desktops before spearheading the iPod project that would herald the company's business dominance. After retiring in 2006, he joined Palm to revitalize the flagging device maker's fortunes, developing the Palm Pre and WebOS software before being crowned as its CEO in 2009. A year later, Hewlett-Packard purchased the company for $1.2 billion: but just a year later, pulled the shutters down as Rubinstein was shifted (or "dumped") to a "product innovation role" within HP, where he saw out the last of his retention period before departing. In a terse comment to The Verge, the man himself has said that he's "going to take some well deserved time off," and after the last twelve months, we wouldn't blame him.

Jon Rubinstein leaves Hewlett-Packard originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/cR9VUx9M7s4/

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GOP seeks limits on new Colo. child-care rules (AP)

DENVER ? Talk about red tape: Colorado's Department of Human Services last year proposed regulating child care businesses down to the number of crayons per box and the color of dolls kids can play with.

Also included: How many books child care centers should have, limits on computer and TV time, and bans on "googly eyes" and cotton balls, considered potential choking hazards.

Republicans in the Legislature say it highlights out-of-control government ? and they are introducing a bill Friday limiting how far the state can go when it comes to regulating child care.

"This one is at the top of my list because it seems so contrary to what the governor has been saying he wants the state agencies to do," said GOP Sen. Kevin Lundberg. "I expected the governor, when he found about it, to say, `Whoa, hold on a minute ? this isn't what I had in mind ? and to pull the plug. But he hasn't.'"

The state says it's backing off some of the more controversial proposals but is still in the process of drafting dozens of pages of new rules for more than 1,300 licensed child care centers and more than 800 licensed preschools.

"We continue to support the Department of Human Services as it works through a public process on the proposed regulations," Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper's office said in a statement.

Some child-care providers say they worry excessive rules will put them out of business. And Lundberg, who is sponsoring the legislation, said he wants to ensure that the state only regulates health and safety matters.

Department spokeswoman Liz McDonough said new rules are needed because child-care has evolved and is not just about putting kids in front of the television for eight hours.

Reggie Bicha, the executive director for Human Services, told a committee of lawmakers this week that quality child care helps children's long-term success.

"I don't think that we need to trade lowering standards to keep mediocre child care providers in business," he said, according to The Pueblo Chieftain.

Julie Krow, director of the Office of Children, Youth and Families, said businesses are contributing to the rules being crafted. At the earliest, it's possible a draft will be completed late this year, she said.

"We know that investing in early quality childhood education is an investment that saves money later," Krow said.

McDonough said guidelines on the "race" of dolls and classroom materials, such as having a minimum of 10 crayons per box, have been dropped. Officials said the proposal for crayons was based on national quality suggestions for a rich educational experience.

Sandy Bright, who directs three child-care centers in Weld County, is taking a wait and see attitude.

Bright said existing regulations have compelled her to pull her college transcripts from the early `70s as part of her child-care recertification. Employees are required to take classes with titles like "infant-toddler theory."

"Which is kind of interesting because if you don't take infants or toddlers, you're still required to take that course," Bright said.

Bright recently sought assurances from Hickenlooper at a luncheon for the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry during which the governor reiterated his commitment to eliminating red tape.

"If these go through ? four colors of dolls per classroom, numbers of crayons and numbers of everything. I've been in business for 40 years. I'm very concerned about where this is headed," she said.

Hickenlooper responded that his administration is aware of the child-care industry's concerns.

"I guarantee you no one's going to tell you how many crayons you have to have in your crayon box," he said.

___

Follow Ivan Moreno on Twitter: http://twitter.com/IvanJournalist

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/gop/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120127/ap_on_re_us/us_day_care_too_much_oversight

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The Wonder of Wuggle Pets

As Seen on TV, ?Wuggle Pets? are a fun way for a child to make their very own friend they will cherish for years to come!

Wuggle Pets are easy and fun to make. They are collectable and tradable and each Wuggle has its own mark, so that the purchaser can be sure that they have the original and not a fake.

The idea with this stuffed animal is that as the child fills it with stuffing it seems to come to life.? The child can then name it with the adoption certificate, and give it a personality with the choice of 12 personality charms.? In addition, a magic voice box is available for purchase in addition to the set.

When a child makes his own stuffed animal, there is a sense of pride and ownership that does not come with a purchased pre-stuffed, stuffed animal. Also there is the fun of getting to make a stuffed animal and make it as fluffy as is individually preferred.?? One thing that raises confusion is that the magic voice box feature which is optional and additional, it is hard to figure out where to get this or how much it costs.? A special feature like this should be easy to find, one would think.? There were even questions regarding this on the site, but nobody had answered the question, so it remains a mystery.

You can buy Wuggle Pets in a two pack, which comes with Playful Puppy and Magical Unicorn. Each animal comes with a clip so a child can attach it to their backpack, suitcase or anywhere they want to travel with them.?? This is considered the starter pack and comes with the two characters named, two birth certificates, 1 fun filled factory, two bags of stuffing fluff, 12 charms, two bags of magic dust, and one zipper-up tool. And you can make them talk with the optional voice box.? With the two birth certificates, a child can name his or her own Wuggle Pets!

The Wuggle Pets, party pack is made especially for a child?s party or if a child wants to collect them all.? The Party Pack comes with Cuddle Puppy, Magical Unicorn, Funny Monkey, Sunny Bunny, Earful Elephant, Playful Pony, Clever Raccoon, and Bashful Bear. Each animal comes with a clip so the child can clip it to their backpack, suitcase, belt, purse or anywhere they want to travel with them. All eight pets in the Party Pack come with their own adoption papers for personalization, fluff, 12 charms per animal, magic dust, and two zipper-up tools.? Only one fun fill factory comes with this set of eight. If a person decides to purchase the Party Pack, there is a discount in price, which could make this an ideal craft for a slumber party or as a pastime for children.

And you can follow along with Wuggle Pets via Twitter, Facebook, or see them on You Tube. This toy is meant for children ages 4 and up.

Source: http://sequelnews.com/the-wonder-of-wuggle-pets/

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Castro: GOP race is 'idiocy' (Politico)

The Republican presidential race is ?the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been,? former Cuban president Fidel Castro wrote in an opinion piece on Wednesday.

Castro made his comments in his latest column of ?reflections? on a Cuban government website, attacking the Republican candidates two days after their debate in Florida.

Continue Reading

?The selection of a Republican candidate for the presidency of this globalized and expansive empire is ? and I mean this seriously ? the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been,? he wrote, according to The Associated Press.

During the debate, Mitt Romney responded to a question of how he would react to a 3 a.m. announcement of Castro?s death by referencing the Jan. 19 death of Cuban prisoner Wilman Villar.

?We just had, with Wilman Villar, his life was just lost in a hunger strike fighting for democracy,? Romney said.

Castro wrote that Villar was a common criminal and not a political dissident, the AP reported.

Castro did not reference the comments that Romney and Newt Gingrich made about what they would do if he died, the AP wrote. Romney said he would ?thank heavens? Castro had ?returned to his maker,? while Gingrich said, ?I don?t think Fidel?s going to meet his maker. I think he?s going to go to the other place.?

The former Cuban president wrote he was too busy to spend any additional time evaluating the Republican field.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/politico_rss/rss_politico_mostpop/http___www_politico_com_news_stories0112_71955_html/44303549/SIG=11mj6sdqk/*http%3A//www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71955.html

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As Israeli-Palestinian talks sink, fringe ideas gain traction

As time passes and a two-state solution looks less feasible, Israelis and Palestinians are more seriously considering ideas like a binational state.

As another round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks faltered on Wednesday, a growing number of Israelis and Palestinians say that the status quo?is rapidly approaching a point at which establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel is impossible or unrealistic.?

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"I still believe that two-state solution is the only solution and is possible," says Ron Pundak, an Israeli academic who started the informal peace talks with Palestinians that led to the Oslo Accords. "But I am afraid we will lead ourselves to a situation where the two-state solution is not viable, or people will think it?s not viable, which is almost as bad."

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas reportedly told Jordan?s King Abdullah that a series of Amman meetings between negotiating envoys had run their course and that the Palestinians would seek the advice of the Arab League on the next step in their pursuit of statehood.

But several factors are expected to make it increasingly difficult for Israel to extract itself from the West Bank to create a Palestinian state: the rising number of Jewish settlers, eroding political will to order a painful and expensive withdrawal, and a drop in public support for a compromise.

What will come in place of the two-state solution? Suggestions range from a new Palestinian uprising, to a binational state, to a continuation of the status quo.???

The key number regarding settler evacuation is not the more than 300,000 Israelis who live in the West Bank but the 80,000 to 100,000 of them who reside in isolated settlements far away from the future border. Though uprooting them?is?feasible for the Israeli government, it is unclear if there are leaders willing to clash with the settlers powerful political constituency.

"The question is not what is happening in the settlements, it?s what is happening in Israeli society in general," says Dror Etkes, a human rights activist and settlement monitor who sees Israel growing more conservative. "It's not a physical question, it?s a political question."

To be sure, a recent joint poll showed that a clear majority of Israelis and about half of Palestinians still support the outline of the two-state compromise proposed by former President Bill Clinton 11 years ago.

But they are becoming increasingly queasy about taking the risks for such a deal, and most public opinion surveys indicate that if elections were held today the new parliament would likely be run by a coalition of parties opposed to such a compromise.

"To get to a two-state solution, Israelis know exactly what kind of costs they will have to pay," says Dahlia Scheindlin, a Tel Aviv-based public opinion expert. "They don?t see the benefits outweighing the costs. They are realists. In general, Israelis fear that everything around them is turning into a radical Islamic takeover" because of Islamist electoral victories in the wake of the Arab revolutions.

Palestinians are similarly gloomy: 78 percent oppose a resuming peace talks without a freeze in settlement construction and only 17 percent believe that Israel intends to withdraw from the West Bank, according to a survey from the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/cOScnQrDhKs/As-Israeli-Palestinian-talks-sink-fringe-ideas-gain-traction

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Greece hopes for debt swap deal by end of week (AP)

ATHENS ? Greece says it is aiming to complete negotiations on its debt swap deal by the end of the week, and that the chief negotiator representing private creditors is to return to Athens in a day.

Government spokesman Pantelis Kapsis said Wednesday that Institute of International Finance head Charles Dallara was returning to Greece Thursday, and that "the target is to conclude the ... agreement even within this week."

The deal, known as the Private Sector Involvement, or PSI, aims to reduce the face value of Greek bonds by 50 percent and shave euro100 billion ($130 billion) off the country's debt. Talks stalled over the weekend over what interest rates the new bonds would have.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BRUSSELS (AP) ? Representatives of Greece's private sector bondholders will meet Wednesday to discuss how and whether to continue talks on a bond swap after the EU toughened its demands, a person close to the investors said.

The so-called steering committee of the Institute of International Finance will gather in Paris for an "important meeting ... to really take stock" of the talks, the person said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The committee represents banks and other investment funds that hold a large part of Greece's debt and are being asked to swap their existing bonds with new ones of a reduced value, longer maturity and lower interest rate.

Eurozone finance ministers decided this week to cap the average interest rate on those new bonds at well below 4 percent. In their last offer, the bondholders said the average interest rate should be above 4 percent.

The finance ministers are pushing for a lower rate because whatever debt relief Greece doesn't get from the investors will have to come from them and the International Monetary Fund, the country's bailout rescuers.

The eurozone and the IMF, however, have made clear that they would not increase their loans for Greece above the euro130 billion ($169 billion) tentatively agreed in October.

The person close to the private bondholders said the meeting was called for Wednesday because some eurozone officials wanted the deal to be ready for a summit of EU leaders on Monday.

The bond swap is crucial to cut Greece's debt by some euro100 billion ($130 billion) and bring it back to a sustainable level. The plan is to have private investors exchange their old Greek bonds for ones with half the face value and to push repayments 20 to 30 years into the future.

A higher interest rate could help buffer losses for investors, but the eurozone and the IMF say it will prevent Greece's debt from falling to 120 percent of gross domestic product by 2020 ? the maximum level they see as sustainable. Without the debt swap, Greece's debt would approach 200 percent of GDP by the end of this year.

So far, all sides in the negotiations have been trying to make the bond swap a voluntary deal.

If the investors decide against moving voluntarily accepting the eurozone ministers' tougher terms, the eurozone would face a stark choice between a forced default by Greece or new, bigger aid payments to Athens.

In a forced default, bondholders would likely stand to lose an even bigger part of their investments, though some of them would get payments from bond insurance, the credit default swaps, or CDS.

The eurozone has so far worked hard to prevent a payout of CDS, since the CDS market is obscure ? without a clear picture of who owes what to whom ? and they worry that it could create uncertainty and panic on financial markets. The private investors also argue that a forced default would make investors more reluctant to lend to Greece and other vulnerable euro countries.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120125/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_europe_financial_crisis

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New federal map for what to plant reflects warming (AP)

WASHINGTON ? The government's official map of colorful planting zones is being updated for a warmer 21st century.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture guide for 80 million gardeners reflects a new reality: The coldest day of the year isn't as cold as it used to be. So some plants that once seemed too vulnerable to the cold now survive further north.

It's the first time the government map has been updated since 1990 and much has changed. Nearly entire states, such as Ohio, Nebraska and Texas, are in warmer zones now.

Wednesday's new guide also reflects better weather data and more interactive technology.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/science/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120125/ap_on_sc/us_sci_planting_zone_map

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Segel is Harvard Hasty Pudding Man of the Year (AP)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. ? Actor Jason Segel can add a Hasty Pudding pot award to his career highlights.

Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals on Monday named Segel its Man of Year.

The student group is the nation's oldest undergraduate drama troupe. It'll host a parade and roast for Segel on Feb. 3.

Segel got his start in the short-lived but critically acclaimed television series "Freaks and Geeks."

He later wrote and starred in the 2008 movie "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," which earned more than $100 million worldwide. And he co-wrote and starred in last year's "The Muppets."

He plays Marshall Eriksen on the CBS comedy "How I Met Your Mother."

Last year, Jay Leno won the Hasty Pudding award, which recognizes outstanding entertainers.

Actress Claire Danes has been named this year's Woman of the Year.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tv/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120124/ap_en_tv/us_people_hasty_pudding_segel

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Gabrielle Giffords resigning to focus on recovery (reuters)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/190075205?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Forecast: Seattle weather could stay eventful in next three months

Forecasters looking at temperature and precipitation trends are calling for cooler and wetter conditions than normal in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle weather this week has consisted of snow and ice storms.

If this week's snow and ice storms have left you sleepless in Seattle, break out the waders, if not the snowshoes.

Skip to next paragraph

Federal forecasters looking at temperature and precipitation trends over the next three months are calling for cooler and wetter conditions than normal in the Pacific Northwest.

Indeed, over the next 14 days, the western United States is expected to be the country's ground zero for a range of hazardous conditions ? from heavy snow in the northern Rockies to high winds throughout most of the region to heavy rains for the Pacific Coast, from just north of San Luis Obispo, Calif., to Seattle and beyond.

For the rest of the country, up to two-thirds of the Lower 48, from Arizona to the East Coast, is expected to be warmer than normal. Much of the Upper Midwest and Ohio River Valley is in the wetter-then-normal zone, while drier than normal remains the order of the season for the southern tier ? already experiencing severe, prolonged drought.

Does this have a vaguely familiar ring to it? It's a general pattern the country experienced last winter, as La Ni?a also made its presence felt. La Ni?a is the cool half of a periodic swing in ocean-surface temperatures across the tropical Pacific.

While the effects of La Ni?a, and its warm alter ego El Ni?o, are most acute in the tropics, these changes affect atmospheric circulation patterns at higher latitudes as well.

La Ni?a tends to force the average track that storms take across North America farther north than usual, drying out the southern US while dumping rain and snow across the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, and Northeast.

Currently, forecast models indicate La Ni?a will weaken "as we get into the middle of spring," notes Ed O'Lenic, who heads the operations branch at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center in Camp Springs, Md.

Those forecasts came as NOAA unveiled its initial weather-and-climate year in review for 2011.

Record tornado outbreaks last spring; searing summer temperatures and withering drought in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Louisiana; and torrential downpours from hurricane Irene and tropical storm Lee helped rack up more than $55 billion in damage in 2011.

"2011 was an extraordinary year," said Kathryn Sullivan, assistant secretary of Commerce for environmental prediction, at a briefing Thursday. Moreover, tropical storm Lee and a severe-weather outbreak in July in the Rockies and Upper Plains have only recently been added to the list of events that inflicted more than $1 billion in damage last year.

Officials are looking at last Halloween's snowstorm in the Northeast to see if it also needs to be added, she said.

While NOAA officials are reluctant to attribute the various outbreaks of severe weather in 2011 to global warming, longer-term temperature patterns are emerging that they say are consistent with model projections of a warming climate as carbon-dioxide emissions from human industrial activities and land-use changes increase.

Last year marked the 15th consecutive year with a national average temperature for the year above normal, with much of the warmth coming from increases in nighttime low temperatures.

"That's consistent with the increase in temperatures" globally, said Thomas Karl, who heads NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, N.C.

The data also show that the proportion of the country affected either by extremely dry or extremely wet conditions in a given year has expanded.

Since a 20th-century low of about 3 percent in 1970, the extent of the country affected each year by either of these two conditions has climbed unsteadily to a record 58 percent last year. The average for the 20th century is just over 20 percent.

Globally, 2011 tied 2008 as the second coolest year so far this century, which still boasts nine of the 10 warmest years on record ? including the warmest (2005 and 2010). But measured against the 20th-century records, 2011 would find itself in a tie as the second-warmest year on record. It ties for the 11th warmest since 1880.

Climate researchers have noted that a generally warming climate will still have its natural swings, such as the El Ni?o and La Ni?a cycles. But their effects would be superimposed over the longer-term warming trend.

That pattern emerges in NOAA's data tracking temperatures during El Ni?o and La Ni?a years, as well as during what Deke Arndt, who heads the NCDC's climate monitoring branch, dubs the "La Nada" years, when conditions are neutral.

Since the 1980s, El Ni?o years have undergone their own warming trend, as have La Ni?a years.

As the US heads into midwinter, at least one climate factor has kept last year's deep chill from the Deep South again. The Arctic Oscillation, another kind of natural climate swing, has been in a strong positive phase so far ? generating pole-circling winds strong enough to keep cold arctic air from plunging deep into the continental interior.

For now, forecasters expect the Arctic Oscillation to remain positive, bringing temperatures a bit warmer than normal to the north-central US, says Mr. O'Lenic.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/x68TYIQqgnI/Forecast-Seattle-weather-could-stay-eventful-in-next-three-months

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Is Camille leaving 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'?

Tibrina Hobson / Getty Images

According to Radar, Camille Grammer might not be back on "RHOBH."

By Anna Chan

Fans of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" have watched Camille Grammer go through some trying times on the hit?Bravo reality show. And now, Radar Online is reporting that the reality personality may not return next season.

"Producers are asking Lisa Vanderpump, Adrienne Maloof and Kyle Richards if any of their wealthy female friends would be interested in appearing on the show," a network insider reportedly told the website. "It's an open secret that Camille most likely won't be back for a third season."

A source close to the show told us that casting decisions have not yet?been made.

Bravo had no comment on Camille's rumored exit on Friday.

Would you miss Camille if she left? Who do you think should leave the show? Take our poll, and share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

{"contentId":"10201860","totalVotes":"4658"}

If one person had to leave 'RHOBH,' who should it be?

?

Related content:

Dana Wilkey	? 31.1% (1,447 votes)
Kim Richards	? 25.7% (1,197 votes)
Taylor Armstrong	? 18.9% (879 votes)
Brandi Glanville	? 14.8% (690 votes)
No one should leave. The cast is great!	? 4.2% (195 votes)
Camille Grammer	? 2.3% (107 votes)
Kyle Richards	? 1.6% (73 votes)
Adrienne Maloof	? 0.9% (40 votes)
Lisa Vanderpump	? 0.6% (30 votes)

Source: http://theclicker.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/20/10201860-is-camille-leaving-real-housewives-of-beverly-hills

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Schoolkids Name Moon Orbiters

60-Second Science | Space

GRAIL A and B, the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory lunar moon satellites, are now Ebb and Flow, courtesy of Montana students. Cynthia Graber reports.

January 20, 2012

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Two washing-machine-sized satellites recently went into orbit around the moon. In March, they?ll start to gather detailed data about the quirks of the moon?s gravity. The working names for the satellites have been GRAIL A and B, for Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory. But they just got new names?courtesy of fourth graders from Bozeman, Montana.

NASA invited U.S. students to submit essays with suggested names. The Bozeman entry was picked out of more than 900 schools representing 11,000 students. The winners impressed the judges with their careful research about the goal of the mission. Because the moon?s gravity gives us our tides, the kids suggested GRAIL A and B?s new handles: Ebb and Flow.

The mission is NASA?s first with instruments aboard entirely dedicated to education. Each satellite has a small camera that middle school students can request be aimed at target areas on the moon for study.

The winning essay writers said that what are now called Ebb and Flow are on a journey, just as the moon is on a journey around the Earth. And as the students have begun their own journey, of scientific exploration.

?Cynthia Graber

[The above text is a transcript of this podcast]?

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=811c1a9ccbae289008963e3b1acb5577

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SOPA Debate Part II: Viacom & CDT Square Off Over ?Due Process?

Before SOPA was?pulled?from the House yesterday, opponents of the bill argued (among other things) that sites accused of making copyrighted material available could be shut down without being given full, adverserial, due process.?Was this an accurate assessment? Viacom?s General Counsel and EVP?Michael Fricklas and?David Sohn, General Counsel and Director of the?Center for Democracy and Technology?defend their respective positions in part II of TCTV's SOPA/PIPA debate.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/prlb4FsiEug/

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Fiery debate tops bizarre GOP campaign day in SC (AP)

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. ? The race for the Republican presidential nomination took a turn toward the South Carolina surreal Thursday as Rick Perry dropped out, Newt Gingrich faced stunning allegations from an ex-wife and Mitt Romney struggled to maintain a shaky front-runner's standing.

An aggressive evening debate capped the bewildering day.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum played aggressor for much of the night, trying to inject himself into what seemed increasingly like a two-way race with little more than a day remaining until the South Carolina polls open on Saturday. He accused Gingrich and Romney of "playing footsies with the left" when it came to health care. Both men rejected the allegations.

The debate began a few hours after first word that Romney had been stripped of his Iowa caucus victory, only to be stung a few hours later by Perry's withdrawal and endorsement of Gingrich.

Gingrich, in turn, was accused by an ex-wife of seeking an open marriage so he could keep his mistress.

"Newt's not perfect, but who among us is," said Perry, abruptly quitting the race just before the first-in-the-South primary.

His decision to end a once-promising candidacy left Romney, Gingrich, Santorum and Texas Rep. Ron Paul the remaining contenders in the race to pick a Republican to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama this fall.

Nine hours after Perry exited one stage, the four remaining contenders walked onto another for a final pre-primary debate.

Gingrich angrily denounced the news media for putting his ex-wife front and center in the final days of the race. "Let me be clear, the story is false," he said. Santorum, Romney and Paul steered well clear of the controversy. "Let's get onto the real issues, that's all I've got to say," said Romney, although he pointed out that he and his wife, Ann, have been married for 42 years.

The audience gave Gingrich a standing ovation when he assailed the media, a reaction he can only hope is reflected in voter sentiment on Saturday.

All four remaining GOP candidates lustily attacked Obama, while Santorum in particular sought to raise his own profile.

Introduced to the audience at the outset, he mentioned his change of fortunes in Iowa, where an evident eight-vote defeat in caucuses on Jan 3 was belated transformed into a 34-vote advantage ? though the Iowa Republican Party did not declare a winner.

Santorum jabbed at both Gingrich and Romney, but seemed to focus more attention on the former. If Gingrich is the party nominee, he said, "you sort of have that worrisome moment that something's going to pop. And we can't afford that in a nominee."

In a reflection of the complex political dynamics of the race, first Gingrich and then Santorum challenged Romney over his well-documented switch of position on abortion. Once a supporter of a woman's life to choose, he now says he is "pro-life."

Gingrich didn't exactly question Romney's change in position, but he didn't embrace it, either, saying, "He had an experience in a lab and became pro-life."

Romney bristled. "I'm not questioned on character or integrity very often. I don't feel like standing here for that."

Recent polls, coupled with Perry's endorsement, suggested Gingrich was the candidate with the momentum and Romney the one struggling to validate his standing as front-runner. Whatever else the impact, the day's events reduced the number of contenders vying to emerge as Romney's principal conservative alternative.

The former Massachusetts governor had other challenges in a state where unemployment approaches 10 percent. He adamantly refused to explain why some of his millions were invested in the Cayman Islands, how much was there or whether any other funds were held offshore.

Under pressure from his rivals to release his income tax returns before the weekend ? a demand first made by Perry in a debate on Monday ? he told reporters it wouldn't happen. "You'll hear more about that. April," he said, a position he renewed during the debate to jeers from the audience.

Gingrich pursued an approach Perry used in the earlier debate.

"If there's anything that's in there that's going to help us lose the election, we should know before the election. If there's not, why not release it?" he said.

Gingrich released his own tax return during the day, reporting that he paid the IRS $613,517 in taxes on more than $3.1 million in income. He also donated about 2 percent of his income to charity.

His effective tax rate, roughly 31.6 percent of his adjusted income, was about double what Romney told reporters earlier this week he had paid.

Gingrich grappled with problems of a different, possibly even more crippling sort in a state where more than half the Republican electorate is evangelical.

In an interview scheduled to air on ABC News, Marianne Gingrich said her ex-husband had wanted an "open marriage" so he could have both a wife and a mistress. She said Gingrich conducted an affair with Callista Bistek ? his current wife ? "in my bedroom in our apartment in Washington" while she was elsewhere.

"He was asking to have an open marriage and I refused. That is not a marriage," she said in excerpts released by the network in advance of the program.

He said his two daughters from the first of his three marriages ? the ex-wife making the accusations was the second of three ? had sent a letter to ABC "complaining about this as tawdry and inappropriate."

In fact, the letter made no such accusations. Instead, Kathy Lubbers and Jackie Cushman wrote ABC that anyone who has endured a failed marriage "understands it is a personal tragedy filled with regrets, and sometimes differing memories of events."

Those weren't the only political events in the run-up to the Saturday primary. Television commercials for the remaining candidates and their allies ran virtually without letup, generally designed to diminish each other's support.

According to information made available to The Associated Press, targeted viewers in most regions of the state were watching an average of about six commercials a day paid for by Romney's campaign and Restore Our Future, a group supporting him. Gingrich, Paul, Santorum and their backers raised the total higher.

Santorum ran commercials likening Romney to Obama; Gingrich's cast the former speaker as the only candidate who could defeat the president this fall. In a sign of the shifting campaign, Restore Our Future stopped attacking Santorum so it could concentrate its fire on Gingrich.

Santorum, whose fortunes have ebbed since what appeared to be a narrow loss in Iowa, pronounced himself the winner there after all when state party officials in Des Moines announced he had finished 34 votes ahead of Romney instead of eight behind.

"There have been two contests. We won one," he said, and he proceeded to ridicule Romney and Gingrich as weak challengers to Obama. "How can you differentiate ourselves on the major issues of the day if we nominate tweedledum and tweedledee instead of someone who stood up and said, `No'?" he said to one audience, referring to his opposition to a requirement to purchase health care coverage.

Iowa Republican chairman Matt Strawn said the party would not name an official winner because the results were so close and some votes couldn't be counted. Results from eight of the state's 1,774 precincts were not certified to the state party by Wednesday's 5 p.m. deadline.

It was Strawn who had stepped before a microphone shortly before 2 a.m. in Des Moines on Jan. 4 to declare Romney the victor.

That announcement propelled the former Massachusetts governor into New Hampshire, where he breezed to victory in the opening primary of the campaign a week later.

He arrived in South Carolina the following day, front-runner then for sure, now more shakily so.

Perry's withdrawal mimicked one earlier in the week by former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman in that they both quit a few hours before a debate.

The similarities ended there, though. Huntsman endorsed Romney.

Perry had other thoughts, calling Gingrich a "conservative visionary who can transform our country."

Echoing words Huntsman said of Romney, Perry said he and Gingrich had their differences.

And in saying the former speaker was not perfect, he sought to provide political cover of a type that might reassure South Carolina voters for whom religious values are important.

"The fact is, there is forgiveness for those who seek God and I believe in the power of redemption, for it is a central tenet of my own Christian faith," Perry said.

His decision to withdraw set off a scramble among the remaining contenders for the allegiance of his supporters and donors, both in the state and nationally.

State Rep. Chip Limehouse of Charleston said he was expecting to speak by phone with both Romney and Gingrich later in the day before making up his mind.

"I'm looking and I really do think tonight's debate will determine the next president of the United States. That's how important it is," Peeler said.

Perry's exit marked the end of a campaign that began with soaring expectations but quickly faded. He shot to the head of the public opinion polls when he announced his candidacy last summer, but a string of poor debate performances soon led to a decline in support.

His defining moment came at one debate when he unaccountably could not recall the third of three federal agencies he has promised to abolish. He joked about it afterward but never recovered from the fumble.

In his farewell appearance as a candidate, he said he was bowing out of the 2012 campaign, seemingly a hint he would run again in four years if Republicans fail to win the White House this time.

An aide, Ray Sullivan was more explicit, telling reporters Perry hasn't ruled out running for governor again or for the White House in 2016 if Obama is re-elected.

___

Associated Press writers Thomas Beaumont, Beth Fouhy, Philip Elliott, Kasie Hunt and Shannon McCaffrey in South Carolina contributed to this story.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120120/ap_on_el_ge/us_gop_campaign

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Twitter: More than 2.4 million SOPA tweets

Twitter

Twitter's post about SOPA tweets

By Athima Chansanchai

If there's one thing that makes people tweet, it's a cause. And yesterday, the SOPA blackout proved that millions will rally to counter any kind of Internet censorship. Twitter reported that more than 2.4 million SOPA-related tweets flooded onto the microblogging site on Jan. 18, including Mark Zuckerberg's first tweet since 2009.

Wikipedia also found that, "At one point,#wikipediablackout constituted 1% of all tweets, and?SOPA accounted for a quarter-million tweets hourly during the blackout."

We used Storify to find some under the #SOPAblackout hashtag. As you can see, there was some creativity about the redactions people felt would come with the SOPA/PIPA muzzle. ?

Those who commented on the frustrating similarity between #SOPA and #SOAP also decided to have some good, clean fun with it.

And then there was the pro-SOPA/PIPA Recording Industry Association of America's Jonathan Lamy, who couldn't help but throw a sucker punch at Wikipedia?? a major opponent of SOPA/PIPA that blacked out the content on its English site and still saw 162 million views on its home page?? referring to the online encyclopedia as the go-to place for students who need help on their papers. (We notice that the tweet has since been excised, so thanks Gizmodo for capturing it while it was alive!)

Twitter

(Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and Comcast/NBC Universal. Microsoft publicly opposes SOPA in its current form, while?Comcast/NBC Universal is listed as a supporter of SOPA?on the House Judiciary Committee website.)

More stories:

Check out Technolog on?Facebook, and on Twitter, follow?Athima Chansanchai, who is also trying to keep her head above water in the?Google+?stream.

Source: http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/19/10190155-twitter-more-than-24-million-sopa-tweets

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Ericsson, ZTE shake hands, drop patent infringement lawsuits

Back in April, Ericsson and ZTE filed patent infringement lawsuits against each other, with each party claiming that its 4G / WCDMA / GSM technology had been illegally appropriated. Today, though, the two have apparently decided to bury the hatchet, and withdraw their lawsuits. In a statement issued yesterday, ZTE said the two firms arrived at the decision after "extensive discussion and consultation," adding that the move will bring an end to "the patent infringement lawsuits filed by Ericsson against ZTE in the U.K., Germany and Italy, as well as the patent infringement lawsuit filed by ZTE against Ericsson." The company went on to deny earlier reports that it was forced to pay €500 million (about $647 million) to Ericsson, though Ericsson has yet to offer any comment on the matter.

Ericsson, ZTE shake hands, drop patent infringement lawsuits originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/bbLCzokVnD8/

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Silent film "The Artist" leads BAFTA nominations (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) ? Silent movie "The Artist" made itself heard on the awards circuit on Tuesday, leading the field with 12 BAFTA nominations.

The French black-and-white comedy, a homage to the "pre-talkie" era set in 1920s and 1930s Hollywood, was shortlisted for best film, actor, actress, director and original screenplay by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

It maintains its momentum a week before the Oscar nominations are announced and after last weekend's triumph at the Golden Globes when it scooped three prizes.

The BAFTA record for predicting Academy Awards is patchy, but it is Britain's top film honor and the most closely watched outside the United States.

The Artist, about a silent movie star whose career collapses with the advent of sound, was one ahead of Cold War-era spy movie "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" which garnered 11 nominations.

The adaptation of John Le Carre's classic espionage thriller was up for best film, director, adapted screenplay and actor, enjoying more success in Britain than it has so far in the U.S. awards calendar.

"Hugo," Martin Scorsese's family adventure, scored nine BAFTA nominations followed by "My Week With Marilyn" with six, and five each for "The Help" and "War Horse."

STREEP EYES THE PRIZE

As expected, Meryl Streep made it on to the shortlist for best actress for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady." She is heavily favored to land an Academy Award for the performance.

Streep is up against Berenice Bejo (The Artist), Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn), Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin) and Viola Davis (The Help).

The best actor category is made up of Brad Pitt (Moneyball), Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), George Clooney (The Descendants), Jean Dujardin (The Artist) and Michael Fassbender (Shame).

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who presented the nominations on Tuesday, was not shy about declaring his personal favorite for the acting prize.

"I'd love Gary Oldman to get one for 'Tinker Tailor', because he's fantastic and it's a great film," he said.

The best picture award will either go to The Artist, The Descendants, Drive, The Help or Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Film critics said this year's competition was more open than 2011, when the hot favorites were "The King's Speech," which went on to win seven BAFTAs and four Oscars, and "The Social Network."

"That's a really interesting field," critic Mark Kermode said of the best picture lineup.

"Remember last year when it was very much 'The King's Speech' year ... I think it's great to see a year in which it really shows the diversity of film."

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2," the last of eight instalments in the record-breaking boy wizard franchise, garnered four nominations -- make up & hair, production design, sound and special visual effects.

Supporters of the films have long complained that the hugely successful adventures are overlooked in major award categories, and Tuesday's announcement was unlikely to appease them.

The BAFTA awards, sponsored by mobile phone operator Orange, will be handed out on February 12 at London's Royal Opera House.

Scorsese will receive a BAFTA Fellowship celebrating his life in cinema, and is also nominated as best director for Hugo and for his documentary "George Harrison: Living in the Material World."

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120117/film_nm/us_baftas_nominations

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