'Following' cast withholds finale spoilers

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Even before the season finale of "The Following" had finished airing in Eastern and Central time zones Monday night, followers of the popular weekly television thriller were serving up spoilers galore on the Internet.

"I was just reading all the tweets, because it's on right now," commented "Following" executive producer Marcos Siega. "And I'm sitting there going, 'Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. They're saying everything.'"

The problem, he explained, was that the show had yet to be broadcast in the Pacific time zone or internationally.

"The Following" spins around a former FBI agent who is forced to recapture a serial killer who has escaped from prison. But this time it's a different cat-and-mouse game: While in jail, the killer has become a cult leader, with hundreds of followers to run interference.

Executive producer Siega, show creator Kevin Williamson, and the series' cast, headed by Kevin Bacon, walked the press gauntlet before a special screening of the season's final episode followed by a Q&A, held at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

In interviews, cast members avoided plot specifics.

"I think the finale is going to be really shocking to everybody," said actress Valorie Curry, who plays cult follower Emma Hill. "It's the same thing I've been saying all season, which is 'Never get comfortable. Never think you know who is safe and who is not.'"

Spoiler revelation has proven dangerous even to star Bacon, who recently re-tweeted a key "Following" development after the show's stateside airing, only get blasted by both domestic and international fans who'd yet to see the episode. He later issued apologies.

"Yeah, you know, I actually meant to send (a tweet) out today, asking, 'How soon is too soon?'" noted actress Natalie Zea, who portrays Bacon's one-time lover and the killer's ex-wife, Claire Matthews. "I think the U.K. is a day behind. And I think Argentina is a month behind. So, I'm always really confused as to what the etiquette is, what's OK, after what just happened to Kevin."

Of all the actors in attendance, only Bacon would confirm his character, former federal agent Ryan Hardy, was returning for the series' second season. Bacon said he and creator Williamson have been kicking ideas around.

"Well, one thing that we've talked about is that we might jump time a little bit," Bacon revealed.

"You might see a character (a Ryan Hardy) who is in a slightly different headspace than where he has been. When you meet my character at the beginning of this season, I'm drinking too much, I'm depressed, I'm a wreck. I don't know if that's going to be where I'm going to start. Who knows?"

___

? www.fox.com/the-following/

Follow Michael Cidoni Lennox at http://www.twitter.com/MikeCLennox

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-04-30-TV-Following%20Finale/id-d13cece2753b457c8d2ac0e72b6058b0

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Complete These Health and fitness Tips About To Relatives And ...

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What Japanese wish Japanese overseas shouldn?t do

By Ken Y-N ( April 28, 2013 at 22:39) ? Filed under Polls, Rankings

goo Ranking published a survey on what behaviour by Japanese people abroad that they have seen and thought ?I really shouldn?t do that sort of thing myself??.

Demographics

Over the 6th and 7th of March 2013 1,083 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 56.7% of the sample were female, 11.6% in their teens, 15.0% in their twenties, 24.9% in their thirties, 24.7% in their forties, 12.7% in their fifties, and 11.1% aged sixty or older. Note that the score in the results refers to the relative number of votes for each option, not a percentage of the total sample.

As pictured above, as a foreigner who has participated in Japanese tours abroad, that sort of group photo behaviour is quite embarrassing from my point of view. Another behaviour that I witnessed that I would certainly never think of trying myself was when our tour was waiting by our bus, which happened to be a brightly-painted old-fashioned bus, when a young couple came along and asked one of our party if they could take their photo. After this was done, four of the middle-aged ladies in the group one after another asked if they could get their photo taken with the boyfriend, handing their camera to the girlfriend to make sure she was out of the picture.

Ranking results

Q1: What actions by Japanese overseas have you seen and thought you should ensure not to emulate? (Sample size=1,083)

Rank	?	Score
1	Letting children be noisy in public places and not checking them	100
2	Buying up lots and lots of brand items	96.4
3	Leaving bags on seats to book them	80.6
4	Slurping food, drink in restaurants	78.9
5	Not experiencing the sights directly, but instead seeing through a camera, video lens	73.1
6	Letting it all hang out too much and going out in underwear-like clothes	71.3
7	Getting ripped-off by high-pressure sales	69.9
8	Never tipping	66.3
9	Wandering around the hotel in slippers	65.2
10	Opening luggage in the hotel lobby, airport, etc	60.6
11	Fixing make-up in a public place	53.4
12	Gathering in the hotel lobby as a group and chatting	53.0
13	Seeing parents in a fix with their children but not helping	52.0
14	Taking kids to a posh restaurant	45.2
15	Using a parasol in busy locations	43.0
16	Taking shoes off in a public place	39.4
17	Staring at a guide book when walking around and bumping into people	38.7
18	Going round all the stores where celebrities shop	38.4
19	At the cash register, converting prices to yen on a calculator to decide whether to buy or not	36.2
20	Replying with ?No English!? when someone tries to talk to them in English	35.8

Read more on: goo ranking,travel

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WhatJapanThinks/~3/qg820b4Q9C8/

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Do you fear you are missing out?

Apr. 29, 2013 ? Does checking Twitter and Facebook to see what your friends are up to make you feel like you are missing out on all the fun? Researchers have come up with a way of measuring the modern day concept of the "fear of missing out" (FoMO).

The rise in social media, where we can keep up-to-date with each other's every movements like never before, has led to the hidden curse of the "fear of missing out."

A relatively new concept, FoMO is a concern people have that others may be having more fun and rewarding experiences than them and is characterised as the desire to stay continually connected with what others are doing.

Now, researchers at the University of Essex have devised a way of measuring FoMO for the first time, providing a reliable measure of what people are experiencing.

The research, to be published in the July issue of the journal Computers in Human Behavior, is the first study to delve deeper into the fear of missing out phenomenon, which only came to light about three years ago as social media become ever-more accessible with the increase in smart phones.

As lead researcher and psychologist Dr Andy Przybylski explained, the fear of missing out is not new, but the rise is social media offers a window into other people's lives like never before. The problem for people with a high level of FoMO is they may become so involved is seeing what their friends are doing and they are not, they often ignore what they are actually enjoying themselves.

"I find Facebook rewarding to use, but how we are using social media is changing," explained Dr Przybylski. "It is no longer something we have to sit at a computer and log into as we have access all the time on our phones. It is easier to get into the rhythm of other people's lives that ever before as we get alerts and texts.

"We have to learn new skills to control our usage and enjoy social media in moderation. Until we do, it creates a double-edged sword aspect to social media."

The research team, which included academics from the University of California and University of Rochester in the United States, devised a way of measuring an individual's level of FoMO. Take a version of the test yourself to see what your level of FoMO is compared to the people taking part in the study at www.ratemyfomo.com.

The research found that people aged under 30 were more affected than others from the fear of missing out. This group saw social media as an important tool for them and they were more dependent on social media as part of their social development.

Dr Przybylski explained that social factors are also important. The research also found if people's "psychological needs were deprived" they were more likely to seek out social media and FoMO bridged that gap, explaining why people were using social media more than others.

To see what effect FoMO had on people's lives, the researchers found that those with a high level of fear of missing out were more likely to give into the temptation of composing and checking text messages and e-mails whilst driving, were more likely to get distracted by social media during university lectures, and had more mixed feelings about their social media use.

The researchers hope this will study will prompt more investigation into the fear of missing out and how it affects on people's wellbeing.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Essex, via AlphaGalileo.

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. Andrew K. Przybylski, Kou Murayama, Cody R. DeHaan, Valerie Gladwell. Motivational, emotional, and behavioral correlates of fear of missing out. Computers in Human Behavior, 2013; 29 (4): 1841 DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2013.02.014

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/6ffp7vV7Vxc/130429094949.htm

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Comparing proteins at a glance: Technique for easy comparisons of proteins in solution

Apr. 29, 2013 ? A revolutionary X-ray analytical technique that enables researchers at a glance to identify structural similarities and differences between multiple proteins under a variety of conditions has been developed by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). As a demonstration, the researchers used this technique to gain valuable new insight into a protein that is a prime target for cancer chemotherapy.

"Proteins and other biological macromolecules are moving machines whose power is often derived from how their structural conformations change in response to their environment," says Greg Hura, a scientist with Berkeley Lab's Physical Biosciences Division. "Knowing what makes a protein change has incredible value, much like knowing that stepping on a gas pedal makes the wheels of a car spin."

Hura led the development of what is being called a structural comparison map for use with small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), an imaging technique for obtaining structural information about proteins and protein complexes in solution. Cynthia McMurray, a biologist with Berkeley Lab's Life Sciences Division, provided the cancer-relevant protein used to test the new SAXS structural comparison map.

Says McMurray, "In biology, the first step in correcting a problem, such as the formation of a cancerous lesion, is understanding the conditions under which the problem arose. With the SAXS structural comparison map, we can compare multiple protein structures en masse and quickly identify areas of interest."

Greg Hura, Helen Budworth and Cynthia McMurray, shown here at the Advanced Light Source, developed a structural comparison map for SAXS imaging and tested it on a chemotherapeutic target protein. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt, Berkeley Lab)

Hura is the lead author and McMurray one of two corresponding authors of a paper in the journal Nature Methods that describes this research. The paper is titled "Comprehensive objective maps of macromolecular conformations by quantitative SAXS analysis." Also a corresponding author is John Tainer, who holds joint appointments with Berkeley Lab's Life Sciences Division and the Scripps Research Institute. The other authors are Helen Budworth, Kevin Dyer, Robert Rambo and Michal Hammel.

In perhaps no other area of science does the maxim "function follows form" hold more true than for proteins and protein complexes. The structural conformations created by the folding, twisting and turning of a protein's amino acid chain can allow or prevent the protein from doing what it's supposed to do and this can mean the difference between a healthy and an unhealthy cell. A protein can assume multiple distinct conformational states as it undergoes various chemical processes such as phosphorylation, nucleotide or ligand binding, ATP hydrolysis or the formation of complexes.

The most widely used technique for determining a protein's structure remains crystallography, but many proteins and protein complexes can't be crystalized. Furthermore, though precise, crystallography is a low-throughput process that can only capture one conformational state at a time. Enter SAXS, a high-throughput technique that can image any protein or protein complex in solution under any condition, and provide nanoscale resolution for distinguishing and characterizing the different conformational states that flexible biological macromolecules such as proteins can assume.

"With SAXS, there are relatively few restraints on conditions, construction, concentration or solution chemistry," Hura says. "However, analytical methods have not kept pace with the hardware. While there are many factors that may induce a protein to undergo structural changes, these factors are difficult to predict. Our structural comparison map technique gives us a high-throughput screening capability. The combination of SAXS and our maps allows us to highlight those factors that make the biggest difference in structural conformations. We're also able to track trends and identify intermediate states and other factors that shift equilibrium from one structure to another."

The data in a structural comparison map is presented in the form of a color-coded checkerboard with similarity scores displayed as gradients moving from red, indicating high, to white, indicating low, and various shades of orange and yellow in between.

"With structural comparison maps, I can immediately see which structures under which conditions are the same and which are not," says McMurray. "The maps provide both structural and chemical information and enable us to identify those conformations we should be looking at."

To test the structural conformation map technique, co-author Budworth, a member of McMurray's research group, prepared samples of a protein known as MutS?, an inviting chemotherapeutic target because of its ability to remove problematic DNA that can lead to cancer and other genetic mutations.

"MutS? is a heterodimer whose two macromolecules undergo an ordered series of nucleotide-dependent steps to initiate DNA repair," Budworth says. "Each discrete nucleotide-bound state is a conformational state decision point that primes the next pathway step. A mechanistic understanding of these steps is crucial to learning how cells avoid mutation."

Says McMurray, "Initially this was a very big puzzle because MutS? had no crystal structure, nor could we take a look at any one conformational state and say this is good or this is bad. The structural conformation maps allowed us to characterize the different conformational states individually and then compare them to one another. We discovered that DNA has surprisingly little impact on MutS? conformational structures, a fact that was not evident from biochemical measurements, but obvious when examining the maps."

From the SAXS imaging and structural conformation map analysis, McMurray and her group believe that DNA is sculpted to the protein conformation and that nucleotide-binding drives MutS? conformational changes. This, they say, holds implications for future cancer therapies.

The MutS? samples were subjected to SAXS at the SIBYLS beamline of Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source, a synchrotron that generates premier beams of X-ray and ultraviolet light for scientific research. The acronym SIBYLS stands for Structurally Integrated Biology for Life Sciences. The beamline is maintained by Berkeley Lab's Life Sciences Division under the direction of corresponding author Tainer.

Says Tainer, "The structural comparison map technique is a big step forward in the development of tools that will help biologists use the full potential of the awesome throughput we expect to achieve with the next generation of light sources."

This research was supported by funds from the DOE Office of Science and from the National Institutes of Health.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

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. Greg L Hura, Helen Budworth, Kevin N Dyer, Robert P Rambo, Michal Hammel, Cynthia T McMurray, John A Tainer. Comprehensive macromolecular conformations mapped by quantitative SAXS analyses. Nature Methods, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.2453

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/_XQpz2Ub8Bw/130429130545.htm

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Algeria's Bouteflika 'responding well' after stroke | Morocco World ...

ALGIERS, April 28, 2013 (AFP)

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is ?responding well? after he suffered a stroke and there was no irreversible damage, a doctor told the national news agency APS on Sunday.

The president, 76, ?did not suffer irreversible damage?, said Rachid Bougherbal, director of Algeria?s National Sports Medicine Centre, explaining that ?no sensory function was impaired?.

Bouteflika, who has been in power since 1999, on Saturday suffered a ?transient ischaemia?, or temporary blockage of blood flow, which ?did not last long?, said Bougherbal, adding that the veteran leader?s condition was ?reversible?.

The stroke ?fortunately? did not lead to any bleeding, he said.

Bouteflika has ?complete? balance and is ?recovering some of the fatigue caused by the ailment,? Bougherbal said.

Soon after the stroke Bouteflika was transferred to Paris for additional tests following recommendation by his doctors.

Bougherbal previously said that ?an initial investigation has already been opened and his excellency the president of the republic must observe a period of rest to undergo exams.?

He insisted there was no cause for ?any anxiety?.

Source: http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/04/88824/algerias-bouteflika-responding-well-after-stroke/

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PFT: SEC accounts for 63 picks ? a quarter of the draft

AP

After analyzing the?draft needs of all 32 teams, PFT will review how well each team addressed those needs. Up next: The New York Jets.

What they needed: Quarterback, pass rusher, wide receiver, tight end, safety, offensive line

Who they got:
Round 1 (9): Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
Round 1 (13): Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
Round 2 (39): Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
Round 3 (72): Brian Winters, G, Kent State
Round 5 (141): Oday Aboushi, OL, Virginia
Round 6 (178): William Campbell, G, Michigan
Round 7 (215): Tommy Bohanon, FB, Wake Forest

Where they hit:?Nick Saban won?t like that I?m writing this, but Milliner fills the hole (on paper, anyway) opened by the trade of Darrelle Revis. Winters, Aboushi and Campbell definitely help an offensive line that badly needed younger bodies to increase the talent level and competition for jobs during offseason work. Bohanon fills the need for a player who could conceivably be called ?T-Bo? if and when the Jets finally say goodbye to Tim Tebow.

The mess the Jets have made at quarterback obscures it a bit, but it was worth the shot on?Smith at the 39th pick. He may not wind up being the long-term answer for the Jets, but acquiring him allows the Jets to move on from Mark Sanchez and that?s a win for the team right now. It?s easier to let Smith learn from the bench if David Garrard is the guy taking snaps than it would be if Sanchez were getting booed off the field every week, if only because it sells the idea that there are no quick fixes for a team that needs a total overhaul.

Where they missed: Where are the pass rushers? Richardson is a good player and Rex Ryan will put him to good use, but there?s still no one who scares you coming off the edge. Maybe Quinton Coples gets more time in that role with Richardson on board, but it wasn?t an area they addressed directly.

Where are the receivers? Another reason to resist starting Smith would be the total absence of new offensive weapons added over the three days of the draft. The Jets had their eyes on Tavon Austin, but no one else tempted them once he went to St. Louis and the receiver situation with the Jets is still an ugly one.?No safety either, as the Jets left several of their biggest needs unattended.

Impact rookies: Milliner will be expected to start from day one, which means he?s got to take as much time as he needs to be fully healthy after surgery to repair a torn labrum. He won?t be Revis, but the Jets will be strong at corner all the same if he?s ready for the NFL. Richardson is going to play a lot, although his exact role will be defined once the Jets start working as a team. Winters will probably challenge Stephen Peterman for a starting spot at guard. He and Aboushi can also play right tackle, where Austin Howard is hardly irreplaceable.

Long-term prospects: With Ryan?s future beyond this year up in the air, it?s hard to know what to make of the Smith pick. Is he going to have to learn two offenses in two seasons while playing under a coach who doesn?t want him? Or does picking a quarterback who most believe needs some time and the two defensive pieces in the first round signal a desire to stick with Ryan beyond this season? The other picks are guys who can work under any system, more or less, but the quarterback will certainly be impacted one way or another. And the quarterback will ultimately decide how things look in the long term for all involved.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/28/with-63-draft-picks-sec-produces-a-quarter-of-the-nfls-talent/related/

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NATO: 4 service members killed in place crash

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? A plane crashed in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, killing four international service members, NATO said.

Initial reporting indicated there was no enemy activity in the area at the time, but coalition personnel secured the site and the cause of the crash was being investigated, NATO said.

The brief statement did not identify the nationalities of the victims, or say where the plane went down.

However, Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar, deputy governor of the southern province of Zabul, said an aircraft belonging to foreign forces crashed Saturday afternoon in Shah Joy district. He said the site had been surrounded by international forces.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nato-4-members-killed-place-crash-165245206.html

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5 of the Best Shopping Apps for Android - Android Apps - Best ...

Shopping online has become the way to go these days, and shopping from your Android phone or tablet is about as simple as it gets. Our list of the Best Shopping Apps gives you 5 Free Android Apps that can make your life much easier by letting you browse, buy, and save money while you?re on the go.

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1. Amazon Mobile

Amazon is as great place to buy electronics, and there are thousands of digital goods to browse through. They also sell everything under the sun from laundry detergent to fish tanks and furniture. You?ll also get access to Gold Box Deals, and can use the barcode scanner to compare prices while you?re on the go. The Amazon Mobile App lets you access it all, and it?s by far one of the best shopping apps around. Amazon Mobile and Amazon Mobile for Tablets are both free to download on Google Play.

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2. eBay

Amazon may have a ton of new merchandise, but they can?t hold a candle to eBay when it comes to variety. eBay is the place where you can find almost anything, and the official eBay app lets you browse, bid, and shop ?til you drop. The app is constantly updated with new features, and it?s the only app you?ll ever need if you want to shop on eBay. You can download the official eBay app for free on Google Play.

---

3. RetailMeNot Coupons

If you?re a coupon clipper that wants to leave a pocketful of paper behind then you?ll want to check out RatailMeNot Coupons. This handy little app lets you save while you?re on the go with offering up hundreds of thousands of coupons from all the best stores. You can redeem in-store coupons directly from your favorite Android device, save them or even share deals with friends. It will definitely save you some money, and it?s a sure-fire lock for any list of the best shopping apps. RetailMeNot Coupons is free to download on Google Play, and we highly advise you to check it out.

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4. RedLaser Barcode & QR Scanner

This one was tough as there are several great Barcode scanners out there, but RedLaser is a favorite of ours and has been one of the most consistent one?s we?ve tried. RedLaser lets you scan products to find the best deals around, and it will even let you buy products straight from select retailers. You can create shopping lists, get product reviews, and even make your own personalized QR code. It will scan and read almost anything you throw at it, and it?s free to download on Google Play.

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5. CLapp ? Craigslist for Android

If you still want to wheel and deal online, but like to keep things local then Craigslist is the thing for you. Browsing the site can be a pain, but CLapp from Trixiesoft makes things easy with it?s simple to use interface. The app won?t let you post, but you can search the site easily to find deals locally or abroad. If you?re looking for a great way to browse Craigslist for deals, CLapp is the way to go and it?s free to download.

Source: http://android-apps.com/articles/5-of-the-best-shopping-apps-for-android/

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Gunmen surround foreign ministry in Libya capital | Morocco World ...

TRIPOLI, April 28, 2013 (AFP)

Gunmen surrounded Libya?s foreign ministry on Sunday demanding it be ?cleansed of agents? and ambassadors of ousted
dictator Moamer Kadhafi, an official said.

The group prevented staff from entering the building in Tripoli, said the ministry official who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.

Around 30 vehicles, some mounted with anti-aircraft guns, and dozens of armed men surrounded the office, an AFP photographer at the scene reported.

The official criticised the group?s ?extremely offensive? behaviour, even if their demands were ?legitimate?, saying this did not justify ?paralysing the whole work of a ministry?.

The General National Congress, Libya?s highest political authority, is studying proposals for a law to exclude former Kadhafi regime officials from top government and political posts.

The proposed law could affect several senior figures in the government, and has caused waves in the country?s political class.

In March, demonstrators encircled the assembly, trapping members in the building for several hours as they called for the adoption of the law.

After the siege was lifted, gunmen targeted Congress chief Mohammed Megaryef?s motorcade without causing any casualties.

Libya?s government is struggling to assert its influence across the country, where Megaryef?s militias who fought Kadhafi in the 2011 uprising still countrol much territory.

Source: http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/04/88813/gunmen-surround-foreign-ministry-in-libya-capital/

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Dropping in from the Sky

Er, not really... Sorry, I lied. I'm a fully-grounded, bi-pedal human being that probably wouldn't be able to survive a fall from that high up. But I wish I could pull off a nice dramatic entrance like that. Ha-ha.

It's my first time forum RPing, but I've done a little bit of RPing using other tools and I hope to have a lot of fun here! :) Oh, I also like to do a bit of writing as a hobby. I'm not too picky about genre, and I hope to sample as many different ones as I can. The more the merrier!

Let's see what else might be good to say... Oh! Silly me:

Nice to meet you all! :D

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/EVwfqCpUfTU/viewtopic.php

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New drug stimulates immune system to kill infected cells in animal model of hepatitis B infection

Apr. 26, 2013 ? A novel drug developed by Gilead Sciences and tested in an animal model at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio suppresses hepatitis B virus infection by stimulating the immune system and inducing loss of infected cells.

In a study conducted at Texas Biomed's Southwest National Primate Research Center, researchers found that the immune modulator GS-9620, which targets a receptor on immune cells, reduced both the virus levels and the number of infected liver cells in chimpanzees chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Chimpanzees are the only species other than humans that can be infected by HBV. Therefore, the results from this study were critical in moving the drug forward to human clinical trials which are now in progress.

The new report, co-authored by scientists from Texas Biomed and Gilead Sciences, appears in the May issue of Gastroenterology. Gilead researchers had previously demonstrated that the same therapy could induce a cure of hepatitis infection in woodchucks that were chronically infected with a virus similar to human HBV.

"This is an important proof-of-concept study demonstrating that the therapy stimulates the immune system to suppress the virus and eliminate infected liver cells," said co-author Robert E. Lanford, Ph.D., of Texas Biomed. "One of the key observations was that the therapy continued to suppress virus levels for months after therapy was stopped.

The current therapy for HBV infection targets the virus and works very well at suppressing viral replication and delaying progression of liver disease, but it is a lifelong therapy that does not provide a cure.

"This GS-9620 therapy represents the first conceptually new treatment for HBV in more than a decade, and combining it with the existing antiviral therapy could be transformative in dealing with this disease," stated Lanford.

The Gilead drug binds a receptor called Toll-Like Receptor 7 that is present in immune cells. The receptor normally recognizes invading viruses and triggers the immune system to suppress viral replication by the innate immune response and kill infected cells by the adaptive immune response, thus orchestrating both arms of the immune system.

HBV damages the liver, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the third most common cause of cancer death. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 1.4 million Americans are chronically infected with HBV.

The World Health Organization estimates that two billion people have been infected with the hepatitis B virus, resulting in more than 240 million people with chronic infections and 620,000 deaths every year.

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---

Journal Reference:

1. Robert E. Lanford, Bernadette Guerra, Deborah Chavez, Luis Giavedoni, Vida L. Hodara, Kathleen M. Brasky, Abigail Fosdick, Christian R. Frey, Jim Zheng, Grushenka Wolfgang, Randall L. Halcomb, Daniel B. Tumas. GS-9620, an Oral Agonist of Toll-Like Receptor-7, Induces Prolonged Suppression of Hepatitis B Virus in Chronically Infected Chimpanzees. Gastroenterology, 2013; DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2013.02.003

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/ww9ov1VhtEA/130426152556.htm

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Abusive parents still meeting children - timesofmalta.com

Photo: Reuters

Decisions being taken by a government advisory board on children in care, not to allow abusive parents to meet children during supervised access visits, are sometimes ignored, according to a social worker.

There were occasions when the Children and Young Persons Advisory Board recommended that a child who was living in foster care, for example, did not meet his or her abusive parent during family access time.

However, the abusive parents still turned up for the visit leaving the child traumatised.

This was recounted by social worker Daniella Zerafa during a conference entitled The Rights of the Child in Foster Care.

Ms Zerafa, who also lectures at the University of Malta, presented the case study of a fostered child, who she referred to as Katya.

The true story highlighted shortcomings in the system such as delays in deciding whether to issue a care order to remove a child from an abusive family.

Another problem highlighted was the fact that although Maltese law technically allowed the Government to strip parents of parental rights, in cases of abuse, this was not done in practice.

As a result, children were not being allowed to be adopted and live in a stable home.

During the conference Family Minister Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said that her Government put the rights of children at the centre of its policies. She will work to ensure that children are given a stronger voice and that children in care are freed up for adoption. She said that there were about 600 children who lived in out of home care of which some 230 were being fostered.

Nationalist Party spokesman for the Family Chris Said also spoke about the need to strengthen legislation in the best interest of children. ?

Source: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130426/local/abusive-parents-still-meeting-children.467202

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FBI director faces criticism of bureau again

By Susan Cornwell and Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As he nears the end of a dozen years as director of the FBI, Robert Mueller finds himself defending the agency over its handling of two high-profile cases. It is a familiar spot for the low-key ex-Marine.

At the request of President Barack Obama, Mueller stayed on for two years beyond the job's 10-year term to help stabilize law enforcement's fight against domestic and international threats to U.S. security. Recent events - the bombing at the Boston Marathon and ricin-laced letters sent to Obama and a U.S. senator - have left Mueller dealing with suggestions that agency missteps may have added to the damage.

Mueller, 68, who is scheduled to leave office in early September, has endured many congressional attacks against his agency's performance. While he is not universally praised on Capitol Hill, he has won enough bipartisan support to be considered a success.

Tellingly, it was a target of the 2001 anthrax letters - Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont - who told Mueller at a 2008 hearing that he seriously doubted the findings of the FBI's long and complicated anthrax investigation. But three years later, Leahy as Senate Judiciary Committee chairman helped Mueller win a two-year extension of his term.

The FBI chief gets far milder treatment than some other prominent members of the 0bama administration, such as U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice. She came under heavy fire from Republicans for remarks she made after the September 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. Mission in Benghazi in which four Americans were killed, including Ambassador Chris Stevens.

In Washington, where making enemies is easy, Mueller wins high scores from members of Congress for his competence, even as he guided a vast expansion of FBI powers since the hijacked plane attacks of September 11, 2001.

"I believe he is well liked, even though I find fault with a lot of his policies, or how he does things," Senator Charles Grassley, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said in an interview. "I think he's well intentioned ... it's kind of difficult for me to criticize him even when there is a screw-up," Grassley added.

This month, the FBI has faced fresh assaults over its failure to spot the potential danger from Tamerlan Tsarnaev, a suspect in the April 15 Boston Marathon bombings, after Russia asked the bureau to investigate him two years ago. Tamerlan Tsarnaev died in a police shootout and his brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, has been charged in the bombings that killed three people and injured more than 200.

Two senior Republican lawmakers complained Tamerlan Tsarnaev was yet another in a series of cases in which a person investigated by the agency had later taken part in attacks.

Soon after the Boston bombings, the FBI accused an Elvis impersonator of sending letters containing ricin to Obama and other officials, only to quickly drop the charges for a lack of evidence.

Mueller and his leadership team have briefed members of Congress about the cases, but further inquiries are likely.

"I think he is ready to go home. He has had 12 years," said Dutch Ruppersberger, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee. He praised Mueller, who was first nominated to the job by a Republican president, George W. Bush.

"He has had some major issues to confront, including 9/11, then Russian and China threats, cyber threats," he said.

Some lawmakers say that despite the Boston blasts, the FBI thwarted other plots in recent years, including one to bomb New York's subway system. They also note that there was an arrest within days of the Boston bombing.

"I thought they (the FBI) did fabulous in getting to the bottom of the Boston bombing, but as great as that was, it was embarrassing to bring in a guy who had nothing to do with the ricin mailings," said Representative Louie Gohmert, a Texas Republican who serves on the Judiciary Committee, which has oversight of the FBI.

Mueller's office did not comment, although Mueller has praised the work of the FBI and other law enforcement agencies for the arrest of the Boston bombing suspect.

LOW PROFILE?

Some think Mueller's secret to success has been keeping a low profile in a town where many people are constantly angling to get attention. Mueller, while doing a lot of closed-door briefings for leaders, does not talk much to the media.

"I think he has been successful because he hasn't been a press hog," Grassley said.

Mueller, a former Justice Department official, was nominated for the top FBI job in 2001 and took office days before the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

When Obama asked Mueller to stay on, some Senate Republicans initially balked. One, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, came around after Mueller met with him to discuss the bureau's handling of a Kentucky case.

Mueller fielded heavy criticism from his earliest days in office.

After the 9/11 attacks, politicians from both parties questioned how the FBI had missed several warning signs of the hijackings, such as a memo from a Phoenix agent about Middle Eastern men taking flight lessons.

The anthrax case led to criticism because the bureau focused for so long on the wrong man, a mistake that ultimately cost the government millions of dollars in settling a lawsuit.

The FBI finally concluded that Army scientist Bruce Ivans was responsible for the anthrax attacks, but he killed himself before charges were brought.

In 2008, Leahy, then the Democratic chairman of the Judiciary Committee, told Mueller he did not believe the FBI finding that Ivans was solely responsible. Leahy said he thought others had to be involved.

Mueller reorganized the FBI to expand its analytical capability and improve its intelligence collection. He also beefed up its bioterrorism capabilities.

He has been praised for resisting some parts of the expansion of domestic surveillance under Bush.

Grassley said Mueller had not always been as responsive as possible to the senator's letters or "as protective of whistleblowers as he should be."

But he said there should not be another extension as director for Mueller, no matter how well liked he may be.

The purpose of the law limiting the director's term "is to make sure we don't get into this J. Edgar Hoover syndrome, that one guy is so indispensable," Grassley said, referring to the former FBI director of almost four decades. "We don't want to get caught in that syndrome again."

(Reporting By Susan Cornwell; Editing by Marilyn W. Thompson and Peter Cooney)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fbis-longtime-director-faces-criticism-bureau-again-122025633.html

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"Community's" Jim Rash Talks Writing 'Freaky Friday' Episode, Getting Revenge on Joel McHale

(Note: Strong language in para 8)

By Jethro Nededog

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Jim Rash hasn't let his Oscar for co-writing "The Descendants" go to his head.

"Oscar or no Oscar, it doesn't matter," Rash told TheWrap.

"It's like, 'You did that, great. Now, do it again' or 'Let's see if you got what it takes.' The pressure is always going to be there no matter what," he continued. "So I feed off that pressure, because obviously I want to do the best job as I can. But, it really doesn't mean anything. You can still write a piece of crap next time around."

He certainly didn't take the easy route when writing Thursday's episode of NBC's "Community," which features a body-switching "Freaky Friday" theme that throws the study group for a loop.

"Just randomly the nugget of 'Freaky Friday' was something that was in my head, like the idea," he explained. "Not surprisingly in the world of 'Community,' the writers were like, 'Oh my God, we talked about a body switching thing at some point.' Then we realized sort of in talking out loud this was a great opportunity to use that device to do the real emotional part of the story, which is obviously Troy and Britta and Abed will be sucked into that."

On the episode, titled "Basic Human Anatomy," Danny Pudi and Donald Glover play each other's characters. "They know each other so well as friends on and off-screen, they were actually recording their parts for each other. So, they were really giving each other homework basically. They really did study up."

And although it's only his first time writing for the comedy in its almost four seasons on-air, Rash made sure to include an acting challenge for himself, which doubled as revenge on co-star Joel McHale. Rash's Dean Pelton gets to switch bodies with Jeff (McHale) - kind of - and the actor proves he can do a pretty good impersonation of his co-star.

"I just like to give Joel s--t in general," the alum of L.A.'s Groundings Improv group said. "It was fun for me just to even do it. It's sort of like payback for me, because when we did the documentary episode and he got to 'play me' -- an exaggerated, horrible version of me for the video - I was always partly offended."

That's a writer's perk, but not all that Rash got out from the experience of writing the episode.

"It's hard, but it's a great ride," he said. "It was a dream come true. It's very simple, I wanted to do right by our writers and by. I hope I did. They were so supportive, it's really a team effort too. At the end of the day, it's people loving a show and doing their best to keep it going. All very good."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/communitys-jim-rash-talks-writing-freaky-friday-episode-115131507.html

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Israel fears end to 40-year peace on Syrian front

In this photo taken Wednesday, April 24, 2013, Gal Hirsch, a reserve Israeli General, stands at an army outpost overlooking Syria and Jordan in the Golan Heights. Against a breathtaking vista of green fields and a snowcapped mountain range, all is silent but for a strong gust of wind whipping across the landscape. The tranquility is suddenly interrupted by a burst of gunfire from beyond a newly built fortified fence: Jihadi rebels are battling with Bashar Assad's battered troops in a nearby Syrian village. Watching it all unfold are Israeli soldiers atop tanks - a sight unseen here in a generation - and the sounds of explosions from a large-scale Israeli drill are distinctly heard in the background. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

In this photo taken Wednesday, April 24, 2013, Gal Hirsch, a reserve Israeli General, stands at an army outpost overlooking Syria and Jordan in the Golan Heights. Against a breathtaking vista of green fields and a snowcapped mountain range, all is silent but for a strong gust of wind whipping across the landscape. The tranquility is suddenly interrupted by a burst of gunfire from beyond a newly built fortified fence: Jihadi rebels are battling with Bashar Assad's battered troops in a nearby Syrian village. Watching it all unfold are Israeli soldiers atop tanks - a sight unseen here in a generation - and the sounds of explosions from a large-scale Israeli drill are distinctly heard in the background. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

In this photo taken Wednesday, April 24, 2013, a worker builds a security fence along the border between Israel and Syrian on the Golan Heights. Against a breathtaking vista of green fields and a snowcapped mountain range, all is silent but for a strong gust of wind whipping across the landscape. The tranquility is suddenly interrupted by a burst of gunfire from beyond a newly built fortified fence: Jihadi rebels are battling with Bashar Assad's battered troops in a nearby Syrian village. Watching it all unfold are Israeli soldiers atop tanks - a sight unseen here in a generation - and the sounds of explosions from a large-scale Israeli drill are distinctly heard in the background. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

In this photo taken Wednesday, April 24, 2013, an Israeli soldier looks through binoculars at a Syrian village from an army post on the border between Israel and Syrian on the Golan Heights. Against a breathtaking vista of green fields and a snowcapped mountain range, all is silent but for a strong gust of wind whipping across the landscape. The tranquility is suddenly interrupted by a burst of gunfire from beyond a newly built fortified fence: Jihadi rebels are battling with Bashar Assad's battered troops in a nearby Syrian village. Watching it all unfold are Israeli soldiers atop tanks - a sight unseen here in a generation - and the sounds of explosions from a large-scale Israeli drill are distinctly heard in the background. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

In this photo taken Wednesday, April 24, 2013, Israeli soldiers stand next to a metal placard in the shape of an Israeli soldier, at an observation point on Mt. Bental in the Golan Heights, Against a breathtaking vista of green fields and a snowcapped mountain range, all is silent but for a strong gust of wind whipping across the landscape. The tranquility is suddenly interrupted by a burst of gunfire from beyond a newly built fortified fence: Jihadi rebels are battling with Bashar Assad's battered troops in a nearby Syrian village. Watching it all unfold are Israeli soldiers atop tanks - a sight unseen here in a generation - and the sounds of explosions from a large-scale Israeli drill are distinctly heard in the background. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

ALONEI HABASHAN, Golan Heights (AP) ? Against a vista of green fields and snowcapped mountains, all is silent but for a gusting wind. Then comes a burst of gunfire from the Syrian civil war raging next door, where jihadist rebels are battling Bashar Assad's troops in a village.

Watching it all unfold from a few kilometers (miles) away are Israeli soldiers atop tanks behind a newly fortified fence, while a large-scale Israeli drill sends off its own explosions in the background.

This is the new reality on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, for 40 years the quietest of Israel's front lines, a place of hiking trails, bird-watching, skiing and winery tour. The military predicts all that will soon change as it prepares for the worst ? a power vacuum in Syria in which rogue groups could get their hands of the country's large stockpile of chemical weapons.

In many ways, a new era has already begun. The Syrian villages along the border change hands between military and rebel strongholds in daily battles. Their mortar shells and bullets frequently land on the Israeli side, including in some cases narrowly missing soldiers and civilians. A Syrian army tank shell landed in the border community of Alonei Habashan in February.

Though Israel believes these have mostly been cases of errant fire, it has responded with firepower of its own on several occasions in the first round of hostilities since a long-term armistice took hold after the 1973 Mideast war.

"This area became a huge ungoverned area and inside an ungoverned area many, many players want to be inside and want to play their own role and to work for their own interests," said Gal Hirsch, a reserve Israeli brigadier general who is involved in the military's strategic planning and operations. "Syria became a place that we see as a big threat to Israel and that is why we started to work in the last two years on a strong obstacle, on our infrastructure, in order to make sure that we will be ready for the future. And the future is here already."

Officials say the military's present deployment on the plateau is its most robust since 1973, and its most obvious manifestation is the brand new border fence, 6 meters (20 feet) tall, topped with barbed wire and bristling with sophisticated anti-infiltration devices. The previous rundown fence was largely untested until it was trampled over last year by Syrians protesting on behalf of Palestinians.

The military would not detail other measures it is taking, but stressed it was actively defining the new border arrangement now, before it could be too late.

On the other side of the frontier, the village of Bir Ajam is in rebel hands and Israeli troops report watching them successfully deflect Syrian military pre-dawn raids almost daily. In a village nearby, Syrian intelligence and commando forces are based in concrete, windowless structures.

At the triangle where the borders of Israel, Syria and Jordan meet along the Yarmouk River, a lone jeep is seen crossing uninterrupted from Jordan into Syria. In March, rebels kidnapped 21 Filipino U.N peacekeepers nearby. Thousands of refugees have used the route to flee the carnage into Jordan.

A few injured refugees have trickled into the Golan, and the military runs a field clinic to treat them. But there's no guarantee the trickle won't become a flood if Jordan in the south or Turkey in the north become unreachable.

"Syria right now is a kind of self-evolving system," Hirsch said. "No one can control or predict everything."

Israel, which borders southwestern Syria, has thus far been careful to stay on the sidelines of a civil war that has already claimed the lives of more than 70,000.

Assad is a bitter enemy, an ally of Iran and a major backer of Lebanese Hezbollah guerilla attacks against Israel. But like his father whom he succeeded as president, he has faithfully observed U.S.-brokered accords that ended the 1973 war. Israel worries that whoever comes out on top in the civil war will be a much more dangerous adversary.

Chief among Israeli concerns is that Assad's advanced weaponry could reach the hands of either his ally, the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, or Islamic extremist groups among the rebels trying to oust him.

"Syria is not a regular place ... it is the biggest warehouse for weapons on earth," Hirsch warned.

In an interview with BBC TV last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the rebel groups among "the worst Islamist radicals in the world."

"So obviously we are concerned that weapons that are ground-breaking, that can change the balance of power in the Middle East, would fall into the hands of these terrorists," he said.

This week, a senior Israeli military intelligence official said Assad used chemical weapons last month. After initial denials, American and British officials confirmed the assessment of Brig. Gen. Itai Brun, the head of research and analysis in Israeli military intelligence, that the lethal nerve agent sarin was probably used. U.S. President Barack Obama has warned that the introduction of chemical weapons by Assad would be a "game changer" that could usher in greater foreign intervention in the civil war.

For Israel, the specter of peace with Syria disintegrating adds to a growing sense of siege. It saw the Gaza Strip fall to the militant Hamas movement in an election in 2006. And Egypt, the most populous Arab country and the first to make peace with Israel, is now ruled by the fiercely anti-Israeli Muslim Brotherhood. All this against the backdrop of the Iranian nuclear program and its threats to destroy the Jewish state.

Israel has all but admitted that its warplanes destroyed a shipment of anti-aircraft missiles believed to be headed from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon in January, and on Thursday it shot down a drone which it said it suspects was operated by Hezbollah. Hezbollah denied launching it.

Hirsch, who commanded an Israeli division in a monthlong war with Hezbollah in 2006, said war regional roles have since then been reversed. While once Syria used Hezbollah in Lebanon as a proxy against Israel, Hezbollah is now deterred from acting on Lebanese soil for fear of Israeli retribution and is preparing to use the instability in Syria as its future staging ground.

"The fighting in Syria gives them an opportunity to open a new front against Israel," said Hirsch. "We must be ready for turbulence. We must be ready for the Iranian involvement inside Syria. We must be ready to be able to fight against radical fundamentalist activities that will come from Syria, and that is what we are doing here."

___

Follow Heller on Twitter (at)aronhellerap

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-04-26-Israel-On%20Syria's%20Doorstep/id-cdaa5de61c694d4a960e6cafe8b54aba

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Commercial Real Estate: Helpful Tips For You - Maynas Eric

Unless you already know where to start, locating the right kind of commercial property for your new business can be hard. Take the time to read this article.

If you?re a buyer or if you?re a seller, it?s important that you negotiate. Be heard and fight to get a fair property price.

You will need to have all of your financial information if you want to procure a commercial real estate loan. Not having your own financial statements in order will make a poor impression on the bank, possibly making them turn down your loan application.

TIP! Be sure to negotiate on the fact of what you are, the seller or buyer. Be certain your needs are met, your concerns are heard, and you champion a fair, honest price for the real estate.

Select your financing before you do anything else. Loan products and commercial lenders are different from home loans. They can actually be better in some ways. Commercial properties require huge down payments, but regulations make it possible to avoid responsibility if things go bad. Additionally, banks aren?t as picky about how you come up with the down payment.

Compile a number of people to partner with financially. These can be professional lenders, friends and family. This will allow you to ascertain cash flow. Come up with a contract where you have to pay back the loans either with a fixed rate of interest, or via a certain percentage of the property income.

A commercial loan usually requires a higher down payment when compared to a residential loan. It is in your best interest to search for the most trustworthy lenders and locate the best possible investments.

TIP! When dealing with commercial properties location is everything. When investing in a property, consider what type of neighborhood it is located in.

Square Footage

Be clearheaded about what amount of square footage is really usable. In commercial real estate, square footage can be reported in usable square footage only, or the total square footage which would include walls and unusable space as well. In order to make the whole transaction much more clear, it is important to know both square footage totals.

In the earliest stages of negotiating your lease, it is in your best interest to ensure that only a few conditions are capable of constituting acceptable means of default. This will greatly lessen the likelihood that the tenant might default. This is a bad thing, so do what you can to minimize the chance of it happening.

TIP! Before you sign a lease, find out about pest control. This is especially important when an area is known to have pest and rodent problems.

Real Estate

You should consult with a reputable lawyer before closing on any commercial real estate property transaction. If a complication arises relating to your real estate transaction, you should be represented by the best person in order to set everything straight.

All of your property buying ventures should include feng shui in their decor. Two fundamentals of feng shui are the removal of clutter and having a lot of open space. Both of these will also be attractive to prospective buyers.

TIP! Check the company?s reputation for customer service before you deal with them. If you don?t do your research and end up in bed with wolves, you will be the one to suffer.

Know your business goals before starting the search for commercial property! Know exactly what kind of office space you will be using. If you?re interested in eventually expanding your business, buy more office space than you currently need. This saves money in the long run because prices may be higher by the time you?re ready for more office space.

As you comb through possible brokers, search for those who have extensive experience in commercial markets. For better results they should specialize in the specific area that you want to buy or sell in. Allow the broker to acknowledge your wish for an exclusive agreement between the two of you.

Get your commercial property inspected before you try to sell it. If they flag issues that need to be fixed, repair them before you list the property for sale.

TIP! Tour any properties you are considering for purchase. Think about having a contractor as a companion to help evaluate the property.

Advertising your property to parties locally and abroad is important to ensure you get the best price possible. Many people only think locals will buy their property, and that?s a mistake. Many investors will consider purchasing a property outside their own region if the price is right.

If you are new to commercial real estate investing, you should investigate any tax benefits that you could be eligible for. Investors receive interest deductions on top of depreciation benefits. There is also ?phantom income?, which is taxed by the government although not received by the investor as cash. You need to be aware of this type of income before investing.

With the information you just acquired from this article you should have learned good tips you can apply when it comes to selling or buying commercial property. Take what you?ve learned here to heart, and continue to learn as much as you can about the real estate market.

TIP! It is a far lengthier, and more complicated, process to purchase a commercial property than a residential one. Understand, however, that the intensity and duration of the process is necessary to achieve the higher return on your investment.

Source: http://www.maynaseric.com/commercial-real-estate-helpful-tips-for-you-5

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US economy likely rebounded in first quarter

WASHINGTON (AP) ? U.S. economic growth likely accelerated from January through March from a near-stall at the end of 2012, propelled by a revival in housing, steady consumer spending and increased stockpiling by businesses.

But the faster growth isn't expected to last. Broad government spending cuts and higher taxes have begun to weigh on the economy, making some consumers and businesses cautious and slowing growth.

Economists predict that the overall economy grew at an annual rate of 3.1 percent in the January-March quarter, according to a survey by FactSet. That would be a significant improvement from the anemic 0.4 percent growth rate reported for the October-December quarter.

A 3.1 percent growth rate would match the robust pace of the July-September quarter last year. Anything stronger than 3.1 percent would be the economy's fastest quarterly growth since late 2011.

The Commerce Department will release the report at 8:30 a.m. EDT Friday.

Many economists say they think growth as measured by the gross domestic product is slowing in the April-June quarter to an annual rate of just 2 percent. Most foresee growth remaining weak before picking up in the fourth quarter.

GDP is the broadest gauge of the economy's health. It measures the total output of goods and services produced in the United States, from haircuts and hamburgers to airplanes and automobiles.

The economy began the year with a big push from the private sector. Steady job gains kept consumers spending. Residential construction rose at the fastest annual pace in nearly five years. And healthy auto sales kept factories bustling.

But now two big decisions in Washington are threatening to slow the economy's momentum.

In March, lawmakers allowed deep across-the-board spending cuts to begin taking effect. The cuts have forced government agencies to furlough workers, reduced spending on key public projects and made businesses more nervous about investing and hiring this year.

The cuts came two months after President Barack Obama and Congress allowed a Social Security tax cut to expire. That left a person earning $50,000 a year with about $1,000 less to spend this year. A household with two high-paid workers has up to $4,500 less.

Consumers' take-home pay is crucial to the economy because their spending drives roughly 70 percent of growth.

Americans appeared to shrug off the tax increase at the start of the year. They boosted spending in January and February, helped by a stronger job market. In part, that's why growth is expected to be solid in the first quarter.

But hiring slowed sharply in March. And consumers cut back their spending at retail businesses, a sign that many were starting to feel the tax increase. Economists expect spending to stay weak in the second quarter as consumers adjust to their smaller paychecks.

Ben Herzon, an economist at Macroeconomics Advisers, said the tax increases could shave roughly 1 percentage point from growth this year. He also expects the government spending cuts to reduce growth by about 0.6 percentage point.

One area where consumers are feeling some relief is at the gas pump. The national average price for a gallon of gas has fallen by 28 cents since Feb. 27, to $3.51. Analysts say prices could fall 20 cents more over the next two months.

Cheaper gas helps the economy because it makes goods less expensive to transport and gives consumers more money to spend on other things. Over the course of a year, a decline of 10 cents a gallon translates to roughly $13 billion in savings at the pump.

Herzon said cheaper gas is helping blunt some of the effect of the Social Security tax increase.

"If not for the recent decline in gas prices, the outlook for the economy would be even worse," Herzon said.

Another bright spot for the economy this year is the housing recovery. Residential construction is expected to add to growth in 2013 for a second straight year.

In March, U.S. builders started work on a seasonally adjusted annual rate of more than 1 million homes. It was the first time it had crossed that threshold in nearly five years.

Sales of newly built and previously occupied homes are up from last year. And prices are rising, a trend that makes homeowners feel wealthier and more likely to spend.

Some of the bounce in first-quarter growth is expected to come from a rebound in defense spending and restocking. Both areas were weak in the fourth quarter and had combined to shave 2.8 percentage points from growth.

But defense spending is likely to languish later this year because of the government cuts. And business stockpiling is expected to weaken again in the April-June quarter, as companies react to slower consumer spending.

Despite the decline, economists say they think consumers will help bolster growth later this year.

Brian Bethune, an economics professor at Gordon College in Massachusetts, said stock market gains and higher home prices are making Americans feel more confident in the economy. And cheaper gas should also help support consumer spending.

"I don't think the drop in gas prices will fully offset the payroll tax increase, but it will buffer it considerably," Bethune said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-economy-likely-rebounded-first-quarter-101452696--finance.html

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EPL appoints Fry as chairman? |? Tebas in Spain

Associated Press Sports

updated 5:34 a.m. ET April 26, 2013

LONDON (AP) -The English Premier League has appointed Anthony Fry as its third chairman in its 21-year history.

The 57-year-old Fry, chairman of the finance committee of the BBC Trust, was the unanimous choice of the chairmen of the 20 teams as the replacement for Dave Richards. He will start his new role on June 1.

The Premier League says Fry has held "numerous chairmanships and board positions across a range of business, public, charitable and academic bodies" and is a "passionate sportsman."

Fry says on Friday he is "looking forward immensely to helping the clubs and the executive improve on what is already an incredibly successful competition and business."

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Donovan agrees with Klinsmann

PST: One thing Landon Donovan has always been is humble. The U.S. winger proved that again on Thursday when he agreed with comments made about him by Jurgen Klinsmann.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/51672946/ns/sports-soccer/

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U.S. suspects Syria used chemical weapons, wants proof

By Phil Stewart and David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Thursday the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad had probably used chemical weapons on a small scale in the country's civil war, but insisted that President Barack Obama needed definitive proof before he would take action.

The disclosure created a quandary for Obama, who has set the use of chemical weapons as a "red line" that Assad must not cross. It triggered calls from some hawkish Washington lawmakers for a U.S. military response, which the president has resisted.

In a shift from a White House assessment just days earlier, U.S. officials said the intelligence community believed with "varying degrees of confidence" that the chemical nerve agent sarin was used by Assad's forces against rebel fighters. But it noted that "the chain of custody is not clear."

While Obama has declared that the deployment of chemical weapons would be a game-changer and has threatened unspecified consequences if it happened, his administration is moving carefully - saying it is mindful of the lessons of the start of the Iraq war more than a decade ago.

Then, the George W. Bush administration used inaccurate intelligence to justify the invasion of Iraq in pursuit of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons that turned out not to exist.

"Given the stakes involved and what we have learned from our own recent experiences, intelligence assessments alone are not sufficient - only credible and corroborated facts that provide us with some degree of certainty will guide our decision-making," Miguel Rodriguez, White House director of the office of legislative affairs, said in a letter to lawmakers.

One senior U.S. defense official told reporters, "We have seen very bad movies before," where intelligence was perceived to have driven policy decisions that later, in the cold light of day, were proven wrong.

The term "varying degrees of confidence" used to describe the assessment of possible chemical weapons use in Syria usually suggests debate within the U.S. intelligence community about the conclusion, the defense official noted.

The White House said the evaluation that Syria probably used chemical weapons was based in part on "physiological" samples. But a White House official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, repeatedly declined to say what that evidence was. Nor is it clear who supplied it.

Chemical weapons experts say sarin, a nerve agent, can be detected in human tissue, blood, urine and hair samples, or in nearby soil or even leaves. But the chemical can dissipate within days or weeks, depending on ambient heat, wind and other factors.

Iraq is said to have used sarin 25 years ago in an attack on the Kurdish city of Halabja during the Iran-Iraq war. More recently, the agent was used in the 1994 attack by a religious cult on riders of the Tokyo subway system.

In Syria, U.S. officials said the scale of the use of sarin appeared limited. Nobody is "seeing any mass casualties" from the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria, one U.S. intelligence official noted.

The United States has resisted being dragged militarily into Syria's conflict and is providing only non-lethal aid to rebels trying to overthrow Assad. Washington is worried that weapons supplied to the rebels could end up in the hands of al Qaeda-linked fighters.

But acknowledgement of the U.S. intelligence assessment appeared to move the United States closer - at least rhetorically - to some sort of action in Syria, military or otherwise.

A White House official told reporters that "all options are on the table in terms of our response" and said the United States, which has been criticized for not doing enough to halt the bloodshed, would consult with its allies.

The official said the U.S. military was preparing for a range of "different contingencies," but declined to give specifics. Options available to Obama could include everything from air strikes to commando raids to setting up a Libya-style "no-fly" zone, either unilaterally or in cooperation with allies.

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But Obama appeared intent on deflecting pressure for swift action by stressing the need for a comprehensive U.N. investigation on the ground in Syria - something Assad has blocked from going forward.

Syria's deputy foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, in an interview with Reuters, dismissed Western and Israeli claims that government forces had used chemical weapons and said it was a "big lie" that Syria was preventing the U.N. probe.

Assad has clung to power despite repeated U.S. calls for him to step down. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the revolt against his family's decades-long autocratic rule. A military stalemate has set in, but Assad has still been able to rely on support from Russia and Iran.

"The reality is that as a country we can't declare red lines and then do nothing when they are crossed. Eventually we have to do something," said Ariel Ratner, a former Middle East adviser in the State Department and now a fellow at the Truman National Security Project.

The Obama administration's sudden disclosure caught many off guard. It came just two days after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and other U.S. officials appeared to play down an Israeli assessment that there had been repeated use of chemical weapons in Syria.

France and Britain have also concluded that evidence suggests chemical arms have been used in Syria's conflict.

"The intelligence community has been assessing information for some time on this issue and the decision to reach this conclusion was made within the past 24 hours," Hagel said.

The White House said it wanted to provide a "prompt response" to a query on Wednesday from lawmakers about whether Syria had used chemical weapons. The legislators' letter to Obama cited the assessments by Israel, France and Britain.

Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, one of the leading advocates of deeper U.S. involvement in the Syrian conflict, said the intelligence assessment demanded a response.

"The president of the United States said that if Bashar Assad used chemical weapons, it would be a game-changer, that it would cross a red line," he said. "I think it's pretty obvious that red line has been crossed."

Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, voiced concern that the public acknowledgement of the U.S. intelligence assessment could embolden Assad and may prompt him to calculate "he has nothing more to lose."

"Syria has the ability to kill tens of thousands with its chemical weapons. The world must come together to prevent this by unified action," she said.

In Brussels, the NATO alliance was "concerned by reports of the possible use of chemical weapons," an official said.

"As NATO has said in the past, any use of these weapons would be completely unacceptable and a clear breach of international law, and if any side uses these weapons we would expect a reaction from the international community," the official said.

Patriot missile interceptors that NATO has sent to Turkey, a member of the alliance which borders Syria, would "help ensure the protection of Turkey against any missile attack, whether the missiles carry chemical weapons or not," the official added.

(Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick, Roberta Rampton, Patricia Zengerle and Tabassum Zakaria; Editing by Warren Strobel and Peter Cooney)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-suspects-syria-used-chemical-weapons-wants-proof-034431157.html

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