Teachers head: Don't link tests to evaluations yet

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The head of the American Federation of Teachers says governments should hold off on plans to link standardized test results with schools' evaluations until everyone is on the same page.

AFT President Randi Weingarten on Tuesday called for a moratorium on penalties associated with tests during a speech in New York. She especially is singling out national standards, called Common Core benchmarks, which 45 states and the District of Columbia are adopting.

Weingarten says she supports accountability. But she says it is ridiculous to have something count against schools before teachers can make it work.

States often see test scores drop when schools start using those new standards. Weingarten says no one should be punished until everyone is familiar with the system.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/teachers-head-dont-tests-evaluations-yet-123637946.html

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New methods to explore astrocyte effects on brain function

Public release date: 29-Apr-2013
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Contact: Rita Sullivan King
news@rupress.org
212-327-8603
Rockefeller University Press

A study in The Journal of General Physiology presents new methods to evaluate how astrocytes contribute to brain function, paving the way for future exploration of these important brain cells at unprecedented levels of detail.

Astrocytesthe most abundant cell type in the human brainplay crucial roles in brain physiology, which may include modulating synaptic activity and regulating local blood flow. Existing research tools can be used to monitor calcium signals associated with interactions between astrocytes and neurons or blood vessels. Until now, however, astrocytic calcium signals have been investigated mainly in their somata (cell bodies) and large processes, rather than in distal fine processes close to neuronal synapses or the endfeet that surround blood vessels. Previous studies have also mainly investigated immature specimens rather than mature brain cells.

Now, a team of California researchers provides detailed methods to visualize calcium signals throughout entire astrocytes in hippocampal slices from adult mice. The team observed numerous spontaneous localized calcium signals throughout the entire astrocyte, including the branchlets and endfeet. Their results indicated that calcium signals in endfeet were independent of those in somata and occurred more frequently. In addition to the specific findings, their methods can be used in future studies to advance our understanding of the physiology of astrocytes and their interactions with neurons and the microvasculature of the brain.

###

About The Journal of General Physiology

Founded in 1918, The Journal of General Physiology (JGP) is published by The Rockefeller University Press. All editorial decisions on manuscripts submitted are made by active scientists in conjunction with our in-house scientific editor. JGP content is posted to PubMed Central, where it is available to the public for free six months after publication. Authors retain copyright of their published works and third parties may reuse the content for non-commercial purposes under a creative commons license. For more information, please visit http://www.jgp.org.

Shigetomi, E., et al. 2013. J. Gen. Physiol. doi:10.1085/jgp.201210949. Adler, E. 2013. J. Gen. Physiol. doi:10.1085/jgp.201311002.

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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: 29-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rita Sullivan King
news@rupress.org
212-327-8603
Rockefeller University Press

A study in The Journal of General Physiology presents new methods to evaluate how astrocytes contribute to brain function, paving the way for future exploration of these important brain cells at unprecedented levels of detail.

Astrocytesthe most abundant cell type in the human brainplay crucial roles in brain physiology, which may include modulating synaptic activity and regulating local blood flow. Existing research tools can be used to monitor calcium signals associated with interactions between astrocytes and neurons or blood vessels. Until now, however, astrocytic calcium signals have been investigated mainly in their somata (cell bodies) and large processes, rather than in distal fine processes close to neuronal synapses or the endfeet that surround blood vessels. Previous studies have also mainly investigated immature specimens rather than mature brain cells.

Now, a team of California researchers provides detailed methods to visualize calcium signals throughout entire astrocytes in hippocampal slices from adult mice. The team observed numerous spontaneous localized calcium signals throughout the entire astrocyte, including the branchlets and endfeet. Their results indicated that calcium signals in endfeet were independent of those in somata and occurred more frequently. In addition to the specific findings, their methods can be used in future studies to advance our understanding of the physiology of astrocytes and their interactions with neurons and the microvasculature of the brain.

###

About The Journal of General Physiology

Founded in 1918, The Journal of General Physiology (JGP) is published by The Rockefeller University Press. All editorial decisions on manuscripts submitted are made by active scientists in conjunction with our in-house scientific editor. JGP content is posted to PubMed Central, where it is available to the public for free six months after publication. Authors retain copyright of their published works and third parties may reuse the content for non-commercial purposes under a creative commons license. For more information, please visit http://www.jgp.org.

Shigetomi, E., et al. 2013. J. Gen. Physiol. doi:10.1085/jgp.201210949. Adler, E. 2013. J. Gen. Physiol. doi:10.1085/jgp.201311002.

---

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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.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/rup-nmt042913.php

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Mars Opportunity rover in standby as commanding moratorium ends

Apr. 30, 2013 ? During a moratorium on commanding this month while Mars passed nearly behind the sun -- a phase called solar conjunction -- NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity entered a type of standby mode.

Mission controllers learned of the changed status on April 27 when they first heard from Opportunity after the period of minimized communication during the solar conjunction. They prepared fresh commands today (April 29) for sending to the rover to resume operations.

Initial indications suggest the rover sensed something amiss while doing a routine camera check of the clarity of the atmosphere on April 22.

"Our current suspicion is that Opportunity rebooted its flight software, possibly while the cameras on the mast were imaging the sun," said Mars Exploration Rover Project Manager John Callas of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "We found the rover in a standby state called automode, in which it maintains power balance and communication schedules, but waits for instructions from the ground. We crafted our solar conjunction plan to be resilient to this kind of rover reset, if it were to occur."

Opportunity has been working on Mars for more than nine years. NASA's other Mars rover, Curiosity, which landed last year, is also nearing the end of its solar conjunction moratorium on commanding. Curiosity has reported coming through the conjunction in full health. Controllers plan to send Curiosity's first set of post-conjunction commands on May 1.

JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages both rover projects for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. For more information about Opportunity, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rovers and http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov . You can follow the project on Twitter and on Facebook at: http://twitter.com/MarsRovers and http://www.facebook.com/mars.rovers .

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/astronomy/~3/s1ptzXD8_uo/130430102706.htm

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Miley Cyrus Spills On Why She 'Committed' To Liam Hemsworth

Singer opens up about her engagement to 'Hunger Games' actor in Elle U.K.
By Jocelyn Vena

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1706466/miley-cyrus-liam-hemsworth-engagement.jhtml

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Beastie Boys memoir scheduled for 2015

NEW YORK (AP) ? The Beastie Boys want it all on the record.

The iconic hip-hop group has a deal with Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of Random House Inc., for an illustrated oral history. The currently untitled book is scheduled for fall 2015. Spiegel & Grau says the book will track the band's rise from its high school years in New York City to its induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. The publisher says "world-famous writers and cultural figures" will be interviewed for the project.

The book will be organized by surviving band members Michael Diamond (Mike D) and Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) with the help of hip-hop writer and editor Sacha Jenkins. Adam Yauch (MCA) died last year.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-04-29-Books-Beastie%20Boys/id-69ed657320cf473f8a86544820c4e3ec

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The Relationship Between Tigers And Their Habitat

Many of those who, following their dream to see a wild Tiger, travel to the Indian subcontinent, are wowed not only by the wildlife but also the landscapes. The two are intricately linked, and certain features of the landscape are key to the animal's activities. Read on to learn more about the relationship between the Bengal Tiger and various features of its environment.

Forests and Trees

The way Tigers interact with forest environments changes; Bengal Tigers are often depicted as fierce, solitary and serious animals, and they can be all of these things, but they are also adventurous and playful especially when young. In early life, the world in which cubs find themselves is full of things to investigate and explore, and doing so on outings with their mother allows them to gain a sense of the environment that will provide their home and hunting grounds throughout their lives. It may be for this reason that, although when fully grown they rarely climb trees, cubs are keen climbers not only is this a skill that can be used to hunt during their early life, it also leaves them with a more complete knowledge of their surroundings. Thus, although for the Tiger, travel along the ground is more common, climbing is a skill they can call on if necessary. In adult life, however, trees play another role for them, as posts that they can mark by scratching or by scent to define the boundaries of their territory.

Water

It is a well-documented fact that these are water-loving cats, with rivers providing little obstacle to a fully-grown Tiger. Travel, for the species, is mostly done on foot, but they will also swim when necessary. Strong swimmers, they are capable of crossing rivers of up to eight kilometres, while in parts of southern India they spend a lot of their time in the waters of their coastal mangrove habitat.

Their love of water serves a practical purpose, as it helps to keep them cool during the heat of the day they will often soak themselves in a river or pool for an hour, and then allow themselves to dry off, which also produces a cooling effect as the water evaporates, before returning to the water to start the cycle again. Unlike the instinct to explore, however, this behaviour must be taught by a mother, and cubs are often reluctant until their mother has enticed them or, in some cases, simply picked them up and dunked them into the water several times. Once they are used to this, she begins teaching them to swim. Once a cub grows into a mature Tiger, travel across Indias varied terrain is an easy task, and they will be able to roam and hunt with ease both on land and in water.

Marissa Ellis-Snow is a freelance nature writer. If youre looking for Tiger travel, Naturetrek specialises in expert-led natural history and wildlife tours worldwide. Naturetrek brings over 25 years of experience to to wildlife tours to some of the most spectacular regions on Earth.

Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/The-Relationship-Between-Tigers-And-Their-Habitat/4580789

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What's in the Internet videos posted by Tamerlan Tsarnaev?

The videos do not show ties to any specific group, but do hint at a deeper yearning in the alleged Boston Marathon bomber for a heroic jihadi persona.

By John Thorne,?Correspondent / April 28, 2013

Among the videos?Tamerlan Tsarnaev?apparently posted on YouTube is a one-minute and 39-second clip of a chameleon on a tabletop, described by a tagline in Russian as ?one of the signs of Allah.?

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As an Islamic supplication to God is sung in Arabic, hands place different pairs of sunglasses beside the chameleon to make it change color. ?There is no God but you, and we have not worshiped you as we should!? The chameleon turns pink. ?Praise to God, alone in your sovereignty!? It turns aquamarine.

It?s unclear what drove Mr. Tsarnaev allegedly to bomb the Boston marathon with his younger brother, Dzhokhar, and it?s too late to ask him; he was killed in a shootout with police. But investigators hope his Internet habits might shed light on who he was ? and who he became.

The YouTube channel under his name is a puzzle. Popular songs in Russian and dance-trance music are interspersed with videos about Chechnya ? where his family origins lie ? Islam, and the concept of?jihad?as Islamic holy war. But rather than indicate direct links to a specific group, the videos seem to hint at a deeper yearning for a heroic?jihadi?persona.

That would fit with reports that the Tsarnaevs followed the teachings of Anwar al-Awlaki, an American Al Qaeda propagandist who was killed in Yemen by a US drone strike in 2011, say analysts. Mr. Awlaki specialized in simple rhetoric and avoided ideological hair-splitting to focus on armed struggle.

Jihadi crooner

Tamerlan Tsarnaev grew up in Kyrgyzstan and the Russian?republic?of Dagestan. But the family feared the repercussions of fighting in neighboring Chechnya and moved to the US, seeking asylum. Tamerlan arrived in 2004.?He was reportedly unhappy in the US and recently became more religious.

Nothing indicates the marathon bombing was linked to Chechnya?s?jihad-tinged campaign for independence. But interest in Chechnya may have?exposed?Tsarnaev to jihadist thinking, says Dr. Gary Bunt, a specialist in online Islam at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

?Chechen Islamic radical groups have always had a strong presence online,? he says. ?I?m not suggesting that?s part of the cause. But radical language and ideas could have been engendered by looking at some of that content.?

The YouTube channel suggests that kind of cross-pollination. One video is a song about jihad by Timur Mucuraev, a popular Chechen singer. Two videos posted under the heading ?Terrorism? have been removed ? it?s not clear by whom ? but according to The Washington Post they concerned a Dagestani?jihadi?named Gadzhimurad Dolgatov who was killed in December.

English and Russian videos?

Tamerlan?s Internet surfing apparently went beyond Chechnya. The YouTube channel has Russian and English-language videos, plus a few in Arabic with Russian subtitles, that address questions of Islamic piety from a conservative perspective.

One video condemns Sufism, or Islamic mysticism. Another trumpets female modesty. As a slideshow plays of women in gowns and face-veils, a man?s voice speaking English with an American accent gives context:

?Woman in the street look in the mirror, she looking to be sure she has the best style, she looks good, she can attract a man,? the voice says. But a Muslim woman uses the mirror to ?make sure she?s dressed appropriately ? that she?s covered to please Allah [the glorious and exalted].?

Then there?s Sheikh Feiz?Muhammad, an Australian preacher. In a video elsewhere on the net he attacks Harry Potter. In this one he lectures an audience on the importance of following not only the Quran, but the?sunnah, or personal example of the prophet Mohamed.

Those who disregard the?sunnah??are not Muslims, even though they claim to be Muslims,? he warns. His argument is the kind of argument often used by extremists to justify attacks in Muslim countries. For most Muslims, by contrast, questioning another?s faith is strictly forbidden.

Sheikh Feiz?s video appears under the heading ?Likes.? So does ?The Ultimate Muhamed Al-Luhaidan Video,? which shows men praying in a mosque while English text cites the Battle of Uhud in 625 AD to illustrate the value of martyrdom.?The prophet Mohammed led his followers from Mecca, his home city, to Medina. But a Meccan army?pursued them there?and nearly wiped them out ? a test of their faith, says the video.

?Think not of those killed in the way of Allah as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision,"?say?the video captions.

Similarly, the English language-video ?The Emergence of Prophecy: the Black flags from Khorasan? depicts a prophetic tradition of an unstoppable Muslim army surging out of central Asia.

?The prophet said, ?When you see the black flags coming from the direction of Khorasan, you will join their army?,? begins the narration, to scenes of horsemen pounding over desert. Next the men are holding AK-47?s over their heads as they ford a stream. ?That army has already started its march.?

Awlaki's discourse

Those scenes of struggle and solidarity align with Awlaki?s discourse, say analysts. As a recruiter for Al Qaeda, his goal was broad appeal. And as a native English-speaker, he was well-suited to reaching a global audience.

Awlaki ?didn?t focus on the sectarian dimension of belief,? says Rashad Ali, a researcher with CENTRI, a counter-terrorism consultancy in London, and former member of the international Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir. ?Rather, he sought a middle ground to frame his ideology without drawing attention to the heresy presented by terrorism, which goes against tradition.?

Awlaki?influenced?Maj. Nidal Hasan, a US Army officer who shot dead 13 fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, in Texas, in 2009. Faisal Shahzad, who tried to set off a car bomb in New York?s Times Square in 2010, also cited Awlaki as an inspiration. ?

Awlaki?s message apparently reached the Tsarnaevs, too. Dzhokhar told FBI investigators they were influenced by?his teachings?and learned to make pressure-cooker bombs from?Inspire, an Al Qaeda magazine Awlaki was involved with, according to ABC News.

?His material, his sermons, are still obtainable online,? says Dr. Bunt. ?The same is true of?Inspire?magazine.?

Trance and dance

The YouTube channel could offer a glimpse into Tsarnaev?s state of?mind. But it also presents oddities, incongruencies, and unanswered questions.

Alongside Timur Mucuraev?s song about?jihad?are ?Vocal Trance Pure Essence V. 13? and ?Trance and Dance Mix 2012.? There are also two goofy songs by Russian singer Vasya Oblomov; one video shows him drinking vodka, the other shows Russian police in awkward situations.

So far everything suggests the Tsarnaevs acted alone. But while ideas and information can be found online, most?jihadis??have some sort of guidance, be it tactical, organizational, or simply moral support,? says Mr. Ali, citing his own observations and the 2011 book ?The Al Qaeda Factor.?

The YouTube channel was created last August, and only 15?different?videos appear to have been uploaded and seven ?liked.? But why an aspiring bomber might have left even a few digital footprints is a mystery.

Moreover, ?if he only started this account last year, he must have been active online before then,? says Bunt. ?If there?s a digital footprint out there it?s going to be on laptops and servers.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/vqu4Op03aQQ/What-s-in-the-Internet-videos-posted-by-Tamerlan-Tsarnaev

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6 Amazing Social Media Statistics For Brands And Businesses ...

Did you know that almost three-quarters (71 percent) of internet users are more likely to purchase from a brand that they are following on a social networking site such as Twitter or Facebook?

Indeed, social media now accounts for almost one-quarter (22.5 percent) of all time that U.S. citizens spend online, and this weight of activity transcends down to all levels ? an incredible 91 percent of searchers say that they use Facebook to find local businesses online.

These, and other amazing social media statistics, can be seen in the infographic below.

(Source: Balihoo.)

Source: http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/social-media-facts_b40978

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NYC Angels Grab Market Share

Looking forward to this week’s Disrupt NY 2013, we used the CrunchBase dataset to surface regional trends in US angel funding. ?Not surprisingly, we found?relatively few metros with a substantial number of angel funded?companies and?the San Francisco Bay Area continues to be a formidable presence. ?But take a look at NYC (in red) – they’ve gone from 12% of the angel deals in 2008 to 20% in 2013. ?In fact, NYC appears to the only region with growing market share. What’s more surprising about NYC’s angel activity is that it is not reflected in its general share of venture rounds. ?When we looked at non-angel investments we found NYC’s share of activity to be relatively flat since 2008. ?It’s not clear to us what’s driving this, but we suspect others will have some good theories and that bring’s us to the data behind the graphs. To avoid our own?Reinhart and Rogoff debacle, we’re publishing all of the data behind these charts. ?In fact, we’re publishing a significant portion of the CrunchBase dataset in Excel for everyone to slice and dice. ?You can?download the file from the CrunchBase blog where you will also find some instructions and caveats. ?By publishing this data, we hope to continue a trend we started with our?Mining of the Series A Crunch.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/0tjlSmpws1Q/

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'The Client List': Riley's Guilty Conscience Gets The Best Of Her In Church (VIDEO)

"666 Park Avenue"

<strong>"666 Park Ave.," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Canceled <strong>Why</strong>: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/16/666-park-avenue-canceled_n_2147290.html">ABC pulled the plug</a> on this supernatural drama earlier in the season.

"The Bachelor"

<strong>"The Bachelor," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: While ratings may have dropped, "The Bachelor" will likely see another season on ABC as tabloids and viewers still care about the comings and goings of contestants.

"Body of Proof"

<strong>"Body of Proof," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: On the bubble <strong>Why</strong>: ABC is keen on this Dana Delany drama, but the ratings for this upcoming third season will be the true test.

"Castle"

<strong>"Castle," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed. <strong>Why</strong>: Strong ratings and a dedicated viewership will keep "Castle" on the schedule.

"Dancing With the Stars"

<strong>"Dancing With the Stars," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: The series is hurting in the ratings ... by "DWTS" standards. It's still a strong player for ABC, but the new season hasn't premiered yet.

"Don't Trust The B---- In Apt. 23"

<strong>"Don't Trust The B---- In Apt. 23," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Canceled <strong>Why</strong>: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/22/apartment-23-canceled-dont-trust-the-b_n_2528858.html">ABC pulled the low-rated comedy</a> from it schedule and the stars took to Twitter to announce the cancellation.

"Family Tools"

<strong>"Family Tools," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Too soon to tell <strong>Why</strong>: This ABC comedy has yet to debut, but a May 1 premiere date doesn't look great.

"Grey's Anatomy"

<strong>"Grey's Anatomy," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: America still loves McDreamy and the goings on at Seattle Grace. Expect "Grey's" to return.

"Happy Endings"

<strong>"Happy Endings," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: On the bubble <strong>Why</strong>: Always the bubble show, never the surefire renewal hit. "Happy Endings" has suffered from many ratings ailments, including bad scheduling (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/14/happy-endings-friday-abc_n_2683091.html">it's moving to Friday night</a>) and lack of promo. But this ahmahzing show has some serious fans that could keep it afloat for another season ... maybe on another network (a la "Cougar Town.")

"How To Live With Your Parents (For The Rest Of Your Life)"

<strong>"How To Live With Your Parents (For The Rest Of Your Life)," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Too soon to tell <strong>Why</strong>: The ABC comedy starring Sarah Chalke has yet to debut, but its late season bow doesn't exactly bode well for its future.

"Last Man Standing"

<strong>"Last Man Standing," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: Viewers still love Tim Allen! Paired with "Malibu Country," "Last Man Standing" has been performing well on Friday nights and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/14/jonathan-taylor-thomas-last-man-standing-home-improvement_n_2686307.html">will soon see Allen's "Home Improvement" co-star Jonathan Tyler Thomas</a>.

"Last Resort"

<strong>"Last Resort," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Canceled <strong>Why</strong>: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/16/last-resort-canceled-abc_n_2147316.html">ABC killed the Shawn Ryan drama</a> in late 2012.

"Malibu Country"

<strong>"Malibu Country," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: "Malibu Country" has been performing well on Friday nights. Lesson: Never underestimate the star power of Reba.

"The Middle"

<strong>"The Middle," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: Now in its fourth season, "The Middle" is still pulling in more than 8 million viewers an episode as the anchor of ABC's Wednesday comedies.

"Mistresses"

<strong>"Mistresses," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Too soon to tell <strong>Why</strong>: The drama, which is based on the UK series of the same name, just got a Monday, May 27 premiere date. Though the scheduling struggle doesn't bode well, the ABC drama does have Alyssa Milano and "Lost" alum Yunjin Kim leading the foursome.

"Modern Family"

<strong>"Modern Family," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: A fan favorite and Emmy darling, "Modern Family" will be back and will make ABC lots of money in syndication.

"Nashville"

<strong>"Nashville," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: On the bubble <strong>Why</strong>: Critical acclaim doesn't always equate to rating success. The show has stabilized in Nielsen ratings, but its future really depends on the strength of ABC's drama pilots.

"The Neighbors"

<strong>"The Neighbors," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: One of the few "hits" of the season, "The Neighbors" has found an audience and kept it pretty steadily week after week (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/11/abc-shows-fall-tv-2012-2013_n_1581796.html">much to our dismay</a>).

"Once Upon a Time"

<strong>"Once Upon a Time," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: A ratings hit in its second season, "Once Upon a Time" is almost sure to be back for a third season full of fairytale adventures.

"Private Practice"

<strong>"Private Practice," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Ended <strong>Why</strong>: The "Grey's Anatomy" spinoff said goodbye in January 2013.

"Red Widow"

<strong>"Red Widow," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Too soon to tell <strong>Why</strong>: The show has a late February debut on ABC.

"Revenge"

<strong>"Revenge," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: On the bubble <strong>Why</strong>: "Revenge" has fallen out of critical favor and seen lower ratings in its new Sunday night home. But none of ABC's freshman dramas are doing well, so that works in the show's favor.

"Rookie Blue"

<strong>"Rookie Blue," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: The Canadian co-production will return for a fourth season on ABC during the summer of 2013.

"Scandal"

<strong>"Scandal," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: Shonda Rhimes has another hit on her hands. Now in its second season, "Scandal" has benefited from word-of-mouth and has been rising in the ratings (even recently beating out its lead in "Grey's Anatomy"). A likable star -- Kerry Washington -- and continued buzz will keep "Scandal" on the schedule.

"Suburgatory"

<strong>"Suburgatory," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: On the bubble <strong>Why</strong>: The series started Season 2 off strong in the ratings, but its audience has slowly eroded. Its not the worst-performing ABC sitcom, but its buzziness has died down as well.

"Zero Hour"

<strong>"Zero Hour," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Canceled <strong>Why</strong>: The Anthony Edwards vehicle debuted to 6.3 million viewers with a 1.3 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, making it <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/15/zero-hour-ratings_n_2695800.html">the least-watched premiere for a scripted series in ABC's history</a>. Things only got worse from there.

"2 Broke Girls"

<strong>"2 Broke Girls," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: CBS renewed "2 Broke Girls" in March of 2013.

"The Amazing Race"

<strong>"The Amazing Race," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: As an Emmy and fan favorite, "The Amazing Race" has been a strong player for CBS.

"The Big Bang Theory"

<strong>"The Big Bang Theory," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: Now in its sixth season, "Big Bang" is reaching series-high ratings. Even up against reality powerhouse "American Idol," "The Big Bang Theory" has been delivering with crazy high numbers in the 18-49 demographic, beating out what was once Fox's juggernaut.

"Blue Bloods"

<strong>"Blue Bloods," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: The Tom Selleck-fronted police drama is a strong ratings performer for CBS on Fridays.

"Criminal Minds"

<strong>"Criminal Minds," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: As one of CBS's strong procedural players, the series has been steady in the ratings and will likely be renewed to help anchor a night and launch a new drama.

"CSI"

<strong>"CSI," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: Of the two "CSI" shows on the air, "CSI" is the stronger player in the TV landscape. The show is nowhere near its earlier ratings, but Ted Danson signed on for more and the show will be back.

"CSI: NY"

<strong>"CSI: NY," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: On the bubble <strong>Why</strong>: The spinoff series will be entering Season 10 in the 2013-2014 season. The ratings have faded over the years, but they're still pretty stable, especially for Fridays. It's a toss up, depending on how well CBS's development slate goes.

"Elementary"

<strong>"Elementary," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: One of the very few freshman series hits during the 2012-2013 TV season, CBS is very keen on this modern-day take on Sherlock Holmes. The audience has been steady and the network even gave it the post-Super Bowl timeslot.

"Golden Boy"

<strong>"Golden Boy," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Too soon to tell <strong>Why</strong>: CBS certainly has a handsome star at the front of this cop drama, but its late season entry and Friday timeslot could be a hint toward CBS's confidence in the show.

"The Good Wife"

<strong>"The Good Wife," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: A former ratings champ, "The Good Wife" has slipped to series low ratings on Sunday nights. Blame football overrun, fan-detested storylines or too many guest stars, but "The Good Wife" has star power and critical praise, plus its nearing a good syndication sweet spot.

"Hawaii Five-0"

<strong>"Hawaii Five-0," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: In March, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/27/the-good-wife-renewed-season-5_n_2965829.html" target="_hplink">CBS announced "Hawaii Five-0" received an early renewal along with several of its other popular programs</a>.

"How I Met Your Mother"

<strong>"How I Met Your Mother," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: CBS handed out a ninth and final season to this comedy with the entire cast returning. Expect to meet the mother, finally.

"Made In Jersey"

<strong>"Made In Jersey," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Canceled <strong>Why</strong>: CBS pulled the plug on this legal drama very early on in the season because of low ratings.

"The Mentalist"

<strong>"The Mentalist," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: "The Mentalist" has fallen to mediocre ratings -- by CBS standards -- but it was nonetheless renewed in March of 2013.

"Mike & Molly"

<strong>"Mike & Molly," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: The ratings are down a little bit from last year, but Melissa McCarthy's star continues to rise.

"NCIS"

<strong>"NCIS," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: CBS reached a deal with series star Mark Harmon in early 2013, keeping the No. 1 show in America around for a Season 11.

"NCIS: LA"

<strong>"NCIS: LA," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: Viewers love their "NCIS," in any form. The ratings have been strong and the network is producing a backdoor spinoff pilot for this spinoff show. A full night of "NCIS" could be in CBS's future.

"Partners"

<strong>"Partners," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Canceled <strong>Why</strong>: Low ratings and unfavorable reviews led to the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/16/partners-canceled-cbs_n_2145832.html">early demise</a> of this CBS comedy.

"Person of Interest"

<strong>"Person of Interest," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: The series has developed a nice-sized audience, bigger than its first season.

"Rules of Engagement"

<strong>"Rules of Engagement," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Honestly, who knows <strong>Why</strong>: This comedy has been on the bubble since it premiered ... yet is now in its seventh season. It's too soon to look at the numbers for this season, but the show has been a midseason success for CBS in the past. However, series co-star <a href="http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/02/07/cbs-orders-comedy-pilot-starring-patrick-warburton/">Patrick Warburton is attached to star in a new pilot</a> ... for CBS.

"Survivor"

<strong>"Survivor," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: A strong player for the last 13 years, "Survivor" will be back. But due to its <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/14/survivor-ratings-lowest-premiere-ever_n_2687591.html">most recent premiere ratings</a>, we might not see it during the fall season, though a midseason or summer return -- with some new gimmick -- is definitely in the cards for the reality series.

"Two and a Half Men"

<strong>"Two and a Half Men," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: CBS wants another season of this bawdy hit, it's just a matter of getting its stars to sign back on.

"Undercover Boss"

<strong>"Undercover Boss," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: The show is enjoying life in syndication and its Season 4 numbers are better than most of its third season.

"Unforgettable"

<strong>"Unforgettable," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Uncanceled <strong>Why</strong>: CBS canceled the Poppy Montgomery drama last season ... and then revived it! Season 2 premieres Sunday, July 28.

"Vegas"

<strong>"Vegas," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: On the bubble <strong>Why</strong>: Despite star power, the series hasn't been a breakout hit in the ratings. CBS previously canceled "Unforgettable" (then uncanceled it) last season when it was doing about the same as "Vegas."

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/the-client-list-guilt-church-video_n_3176649.html

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Plants moderate climate warming

Apr. 28, 2013 ? As temperatures warm, plants release gases that help form clouds and cool the atmosphere, according to research from IIASA and the University of Helsinki.

The new study, published in Nature Geoscience, identified a negative feedback loop in which higher temperatures lead to an increase in concentrations of natural aerosols that have a cooling effect on the atmosphere.

"Plants, by reacting to changes in temperature, also moderate these changes," says IIASA and University of Helsinki researcher Pauli Paasonen, who led the study.

Scientists had known that some aerosols -- particles that float in the atmosphere -- cool the climate as they reflect sunlight and form cloud droplets, which reflect sunlight efficiently. Aerosol particles come from many sources, including human emissions. But the effect of so-called biogenic aerosol -- particulate matter that originates from plants -- had been less well understood. Plants release gases that, after atmospheric oxidation, tend to stick to aerosol particles, growing them into the larger-sized particles that reflect sunlight and also serve as the basis for cloud droplets. The new study showed that as temperatures warm and plants consequently release more of these gases, the concentrations of particles active in cloud formation increase.

"Everyone knows the scent of the forest," says Ari Asmi, University of Helsinki researcher who also worked on the study. "That scent is made up of these gases." While previous research had predicted the feedback effect, until now nobody had been able to prove its existence except for case studies limited to single sites and short time periods. The new study showed that the effect occurs over the long-term in continental size scales.

The effect of enhanced plant gas emissions on climate is small on a global scale -- only countering approximately 1 percent of climate warming, the study suggested. "This does not save us from climate warming," says Paasonen. However, he says, "Aerosol effects on climate are one of the main uncertainties in climate models. Understanding this mechanism could help us reduce those uncertainties and make the models better."

The study also showed that the effect was much larger on a regional scale, counteracting possibly up to 30% of warming in more rural, forested areas where anthropogenic emissions of aerosols were much lower in comparison to the natural aerosols. That means that especially in places like Finland, Siberia, and Canada this feedback loop may reduce warming substantially.

The researchers collected data at 11 different sites around the world, measuring the concentrations of aerosol particles in the atmosphere, along with the concentrations of plant gases, the temperature, and reanalysis estimates for the height of the boundary layer, which turned out to be a key variable. The boundary layer refers to the layer of air closest to the Earth, in which gases and particles mix effectively. The height of that layer changes with weather. Paasonen says, "One of the reasons that this phenomenon was not discovered earlier was because these estimates for boundary layer height are very difficult to do. Only recently have the reanalysis estimates been improved to where they can be taken as representative of reality."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Pauli Paasonen, Ari Asmi, Tuukka Pet?j?, Maija K. Kajos, Mikko ?ij?l?, Heikki Junninen, Thomas Holst, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Almut Arneth, Wolfram Birmili, Hugo Denier van der Gon, Amar Hamed, Andr?s Hoffer, Lauri Laakso, Ari Laaksonen, W. Richard Leaitch, Christian Plass-D?lmer, Sara C. Pryor, Petri R?is?nen, Erik Swietlicki, Alfred Wiedensohler, Douglas R. Worsnop, Veli-Matti Kerminen, Markku Kulmala. Warming-induced increase in aerosol number concentration likely to moderate climate change. Nature Geoscience, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/NGEO1800

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/dddfaVbmvBk/130428144921.htm

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93% Lore

All Critics (88) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (82) | Rotten (6)

It's a harrowing walk through the heart of darkness.

Saskia Rosendahl gives an impressively poised performance as the beautiful teenager, whose determination to protect her remaining family coincides with her growing revulsion toward her parents.

"Lore" is not a pretty story, but it is a good and sadly believable one.

"Lore" is not a love story, nor the story of a friendship. Rather, it's a story of healing and of how breaking, sometimes painfully, is often necessary before that process can begin.

A fiercely poetic portrait of a young woman staggering beyond innocence and denial, it's about the wars that rage within after the wars outside are lost.

Full of surprises, the movie draws a thin line between pity and revulsion - how would you feel if you had discovered your whole life had been based on lies?

Proves that there is always room for another [World War II] story if it can be presented in an original and unexpected fashion.

Texture and detail embellish a provocative story

Child of Nazi parents faces an uncertain future

[Director Cate] Shortland directs with an almost hypnotic focus, favoring Lore's immediate experience over the big picture.

Rosendahl's performance is raw and compelling, as Lore fights for her siblings' survival and grows up in a hurry.

Lore and her siblings make a harrowing journey across Germany

Worthwhile, but so subtle that it's frustrating.

The Australian-German co-production takes an unconventional tale and turns it into a challenging, visually stunning and emotionally turbulent film experience.

Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house we go. Except this ain't no fairy tale... unless it is, perhaps, a hint of the beginnings of a new mythology of ... scary childhood and even scarier adolescence...

With a child's perspective on war, "Lore" deserves comparisons with "Empire of the Sun" and "Hope and Glory," and with a feisty female protagonist it stands virtually alone.

Rosendahl...provides both narrative and emotional continuity to a film whose deliberate pace and fragmented presentation of reality might otherwise prove exasperating.

A burning portrait of consciousness and endurance, gracefully acted and strikingly realized, producing an honest sense of emotional disruption, while concluding on a powerful note of cultural and familial rejection.

Although there are moments that push the story a bit beyond credulity, Shortland has created something remarkable by forcing us to find within ourselves sympathy for this would-be Aryan princess.

Stunning, admirable and indelible - truthfully chronicling the triumph of the human spirit - in a class with Michael Haneke's 'The White Ribbon.'

Can we spare some sympathy or hope for the children of villains, even if they too show signs of their parents' evil? Lore provides no easy answers.

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

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As It Focuses On Content ID And Monetization, ZEFR Signs UMG, Sony Music, Ultra Music, And NASCAR

It?s been about nine months since Movieclips rebranded as ZEFR to provide content ID and monetization tools to publishers distributing or claiming their content on YouTube. Today, the startup is announcing its first big customers, signing up big-name music labels like UMG, Sony Music, and Ultra Music, as well as NASCAR.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/OQLVFOWXD80/

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This Week's Top Comedy Video: Christopher Nolan Coffee Commercials

Christopher Nolan is a great movie director but how would his genius and uh, love for darkness, translate into something like commercials? It'd probably be hilarious! Though let's be honest, if I saw a coffee commercial like Inception, Memento or The Dark Knight, I'd go out to the store and buy their coffee immediately. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/RSxsm9PkfEU/this-weeks-top-comedy-video-christopher-nolan-coffee-commercials

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The Problem With How We Treat Bipolar Disorder

[unable to retrieve full-text content]The doctors could address my symptoms. But they didn?t much care about my vanishing sense of self.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/magazine/the-problem-with-how-we-treat-bipolar-disorder.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Battling Obesity ... with a Brain Implant?

The brain may not seem like an obvious place to look for possible treatments for obesity, but researchers say implanting a device that stimulates a specific region of the brain may help curb the compulsion to overeat.

The new study on obese mice found that deep brain stimulation (DBS), which involves implanting a device that sends electrical impulses to precise targets in the brain, may reduce binge eating and other obesity-related behaviors.

"Once replicated in human clinical trials, DBS could rapidly become a treatment for people with obesity due to the extensive groundwork already established in other disease areas," lead author Casey Halpern, a resident in the department of neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, said in a statement. [8 Reasons Our Waistlines Are Expanding]

Farfetched idea?

At first, the idea of using brain implants to treat obesity seemed farfetched, said Tracy Bale, an associate professor of neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine, and one of the senior authors of the study.

"We had a long discussion about it, and my initial thought was: who on Earth is going to get brain surgery for obesity?" Bale told LiveScience.

But, the researchers were interested in targeting a part of the brain called the nucleus accumbens, which is a small structure in the brain's reward center that is already known to play a part in addictive behaviors, such as binge eating.

"The things that drive people to overeat are part of the reward system," Bale explained. "So, for example, if someone is under a lot of stress, or if they had a bad day, they might reward themselves with food. And bingeing is a component strongly linked with obesity."

Since binge eating and other obesity-related behaviors have been linked to deficits of a chemical called dopamine, the researchers used deep brain stimulation to activate the dopamine type-2 receptor in the? nucleus accumbens of mice.

"Mice are just like humans ? they love high-fat food," Bale said.

Binge-eating mice

In the experiment, mice were given unlimited access to low-calorie fare, but for one hour each day, they were offered food that was high in fat.

"Within two days, they learned that we take that food away, so they gorged themselves and ate as much as they could," Bale said.

After undergoing deep brain stimulation, however, the mice ate significantly less of the high-fat food, compared with mice that received no such treatment; the treated mice also didn't compensate for the loss of calories by eating more food.

After several days of constant stimulation, the devices were turned off, and the mice resumed their binge-eating behavior.

If deep brain stimulation is eventually used to treat people with obesity, the devices could be switched on constantly, and the strength of the electrical impulses could be adjusted, depending on the individual patient's needs, Bale said. This type of treatment may also be an alternative to risky bariatric surgery, and may be more effective than available pharmaceutical options, Bale said.

"It sounds intimidating, but for this type of surgery, the morbidity rate is much less," she said. "And this could be something for patients who don't respond to drugs. Many drug companies are trying to target obesity by getting people to not feel hungry, but that doesn't work. People aren't overeating because they're hungry. They're eating because it tastes good, or makes them feel better. This treatment taps directly into that reward system."

Deep brain stimulation is already used as a way to help reduce tremors in patients with Parkinson's disease, and scientists are investigating its therapeutic benefits for obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression.

Follow Denise Chow on Twitter @denisechow. Follow LiveScience @livescience, Facebook?& Google+. Original article on?LiveScience.com.

Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/battling-obesity-brain-implant-131825711.html

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Man in NM 'Good Samaritan' death in plea deal (Providence Journal)

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Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/301668793?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Uber's back in Gotham: NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission approves cab-hailing app

Car service Uber and New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) have had a rocky relationship, as the Commission banned Uber from Gotham's taxicabs last year. Susequently, the TLC greenlit a trial to test cab hailing apps and after a brief legal delay, the pilot program is back in action, and Valleywag reports that Uber is the first app approved to participate in it. Uber's co-founder Travis Kalanick is, quite naturally, excited to be back in NYC taxis with the commission's tacit explicit approval, and stated that the app will be ready for use across the city "monetarily." So, it's official, good people of Gotham, you can now legally go forth and get your Uber on.

Filed under: Transportation, Software, Mobile

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Via: The Verge

Source: Valleywag

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/26/uber-taxi-app-approved-nyc-tlc/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Wall Street dips after GDP data; Chevron lifts Dow

By Ryan Vlastelica

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks mostly slipped on Friday as the latest round of economic data indicated that growth fell short of expectations in the latest quarter.

Amazon.com Inc tumbled after results, pressuring both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, though gains at Hewlett-Packard Co and Chevron Corp kept the Dow in modestly positive territory. Despite the day's decline, major indexes were on track for a week of solid gains.

Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.5 percent rate in the first quarter, below estimates for growth of 3 percent but above the 0.4 percent rate in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The data could raise doubts about the ability of the economy to absorb government spending cuts and higher taxes, and may fuel speculation on the possibility of more Federal Reserve measures to boost growth, or at least keep its current stimulus plans in place.

"The moderate move to the downside isn't out of line with the GDP data as light as it was," said Steve Sosnick, equity-risk manager at Timber Hill/Interactive Brokers Group in Greenwich, Connecticut. "It wasn't so great, but not bad enough to derail the freight train the market has been on."

The S&P is 1.7 percent higher on the week while the Dow is up 1.2 percent and the Nasdaq is up 2.3 percent.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's final reading on the overall index on consumer sentiment fell to 76.4 from 78.6 in March, although it topped economists' expectations for 73.2 and improved upon the preliminary April reading of 72.3.

Amazon shed 7.1 percent to $255.25 and was the biggest drag on both the S&P and Nasdaq 100 <.ndx> after revenue growth slowed in the first quarter as the world's largest Internet retailer struggled overseas, even as margins jumped on lower shipping expenses.

Chevron rose 1.1 percent to $119.78 after the energy giant posted earnings that beat expectations, helped by foreign currency gains.

"In general, earnings haven't been blockbusters, but the fact that we've had a sharp rally through the season tells you the market is relatively sanguine about what has come out," Sosnick said.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.dji> was up 15.39 points, or 0.10 percent, at 14,716.19. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.spx> was down 3.70 points, or 0.23 percent, at 1,581.46. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.ixic> was down 13.35 points, or 0.41 percent, at 3,276.64.

Hewlett-Packard gained 3.2 percent to $20.21, helping to keep the Dow in the green.

Shares of Starbucks Corp , the world's biggest coffee chain, slipped 1 percent to $59.85 after it reported a quarterly profit that matched Wall Street estimates, although revenue was slightly below expectations.

The PHLX housing sector index <.hgx> gained 1.2 percent and was on track for its sixth consecutive advance, getting a lift from D.R. Horton Inc and Weyerhaeuser Co after the No. 1 U.S. homebuilder and forest products company reported earnings.

D.R. Horton shares jumped 7.3 percent to $26.31 though Weyerhaeuser slipped 0.8 percent to $31.12.

With 51 percent of the S&P having reported, 69 percent have beaten earnings expectations, above the 63 percent average since 1994 and slightly over the 67 percent beat rate over the past four quarters.

However, revenue has been lackluster, with only 42 percent topping analyst forecasts, well below the 62 percent average since 2002 and the 52 percent beat rate for the last four quarters.

Analysts now see earnings growth of 3.6 percent this quarter, up from expectations of 1.5 percent at the start of the month.

(Editing by James Dalgleish)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wall-st-opens-lower-gdp-data-133821627.html

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5 presidents appear at Bush library dedication

DALLAS (AP) ? The five living U.S. presidents are appearing together at the dedication ceremony for the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

Bush and President Barack Obama, along with former Presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush's father, George H.W. Bush, were introduced to the gathering, along with their wives.

Obama along with the former presidents are all expected to give remarks on the stage flanked by American flags in front of the entrance to the library.

The center on the campus of Southern Methodist University includes the presidential library and museum along with the 43rd president's policy institute. The center opens to the public May 1.

A crowd of about 10,000 was gathered for the outdoor ceremony under clear blue skies with morning temperatures in the 50s.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/5-presidents-appear-bush-library-dedication-151544494.html

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Ubuntu 13.04 available Thursday, brings a streamlined footprint to the forefront

From an end user's perspective, it's always nice to see developers take a step back and focus on streamlining their code, rather than simply piling on new features. Apple used the strategy to great success with Snow Leopard, and now Canonical is set to follow suit with Raring Ringtail, also known as Ubuntu 13.04. The latest version of the popular Linux distro is set for general availability tomorrow, which follows a beta release and a controversial amount of secrecy. Raring Ringtail is characterized as "the fastest and most visually polished Ubuntu experience to date," with a particular emphasis on a smaller memory footprint and greater responsiveness. Much of the streamlining effort was in preparation for Ubuntu's future life in mobile, and to coincide with that effort, developers will find a preview SDK for app development and the ability to test apps within the MIR display server. The release is now a mere hours away, and yes, it'll be a good day.

[Image credit: WebUpd8]

Filed under: Software

Comments

Source: Ubuntu

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/24/ubuntu-13-04-raring-ringtail-available/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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