Moroccan Cheaters' Got Talent | Morocco World News

By Youssef Sourgo

Morocco World News

Casablanca, February 26, 2013

Subsequent to the bitter reality that has recently been unveiled by the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, in which the latter disclosed the number of Moroccan baccalaureate students who were spotted cheating during the national exam taken in 2012, Moroccans are now questioning the effectuality of the Moroccan educational system more than ever before.

According to the list that has recently been made public by the Ministry of National Education, 3112 is the number of students found cheating during the national exam of last year. The list also exposes the methods whereby each student attempted to cheat, and even featured the disciplinary board?s decisions towards each student found cheating.

The ministry has made its motif behind the exposure of such deplorable truth crystal-clear, which is to bring what is going on in the soberest corners of Moroccan schools to the forefront of the public opinion, including parents, educators, researchers in the arena of education and pedagogy, politicians, and Moroccan at large.

Furthermore, the list unveiled by the ministry featured a colon entitled ?cheating methods,? thus rationalizing the sort of decision taken towards the student in concern. Having a glance at the myriad of methods that the students recurred to in their attempts to cheat, I feel more like reading the list of contestants participating in a talent show, wherein each of them strives to do it ?the most creative way possible.?

Some of the cheating students found it more practical to stick to traditional methods of cheating, or traditional ?talents,? as might be perceived from their angle. Those in this category resorted to mainstream methods ranging from asking the help of the student sitting the closest to them, to taking out a couple ?7jabat? (minimized versions of texts or summaries of lessons) prepared prior to the day of the exam?perhaps weeks earlier, to exchanging exam papers with other students in the room.

Those who wanted to ?step their game up? resorted to new technologies and other unusual methods of cheating, for they thought teachers might not anticipate having students recur to such methods to cheat during the national exam. Though becoming stepwise a tool that will soon join the list of traditional methods of cheating, the phone figures as one of the methods to which Moroccan cheating students resort the most. Be it via Bluetooth earplugs, or ordinary earplugs (with wires), those students did not mind adding their flavor of creativity to those technologies. The most peculiar, yet creative, of them is putting a skin-color make-up (by both boys and girls) on the top of the earplug wires that find their way along their necks all the way to their ears.

Multitudinous are other alternatives that students recur to in their cheating process that the list unveiled by the ministry did not feature, a thing that can be interpreted as a ?success story? for those students who ?could get away with it?. Now ?where do you think you?re going, dear cheater?? is the question I?d ask anyone of them if I happen to come across him/her. All right, hats off! You managed to successfully pass the baccalaureate exam ?like-a-boss?, but what now! Are you going to cheat in university, if you ever get the chance to enroll in it? Are you going to cheat to make your boss happy with your work, if you ever consider working after you obtain your unmerited certificate? Where do you think you?re going?

Those who resort to cheating under the pretext that the test they are exposed to signals a turning point in their lives, and thus legitimizes their use of unethical methods to pass it, might be partially right in this regard. However, what seems the hardest test today, will look like ?a piece of cake? when one comes across a more challenging one in the future. You all have tremendous talents, dear cheaters, talents that you sadly deploy there where you render them anything but something you can be proud of! What would you tell your kids years later to encourage them to work harder for their exams?something like, ?Work hard dear son/daughter! Do like me when I was your age!? How would you feel when cheating clings to you longer than you ever think?

Dear talented cheaters, if you want a standing ovation at the end of a performance, make sure you sweat enough and put your heart in it. If it had worked on a stage (baccalaureate) once, it doesn?t forcibly mean that it is going to work all across the board. One day, this is in case you maintain cheating your main performance, you will either realize that the theatre is empty at the end of your show, or wind up being the target of trash thrown at you by an audience that has for so long believed in the genuineness of your talent. Think about it!

The views expressed in this article are the author?s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News? editorial policy

? Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed

Source: http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/02/80112/moroccan-cheaters-got-talent/

nascar nba trade deadline diane lane Argo american idol bonnaroo robin roberts

Android application using facebook

Today, 06:41 PM ? #1 (permalink)

New Member

Thread Author (OP)

?

Join Date: Feb 2013

Posts: 1

?

Device(s):

Carrier: Not Provided

Thanks: 0

Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

Android application using facebook

---

Hi,

I'm interesting in develop android application with this format:
- Log in with facebook acount.
- Every user can save kind of data
- Every user can retrive the saved data of all his facebook friends which uses
the application

I want to know what is the best and the easier way to do this?
to use a sql server which save all the facebook users id and all the data they saved, and the application will connect this data base?

There is any other recommended way to this?

Thanks,
Gal

?

Source: http://androidforums.com/application-development/692266-android-application-using-facebook.html

Dana Vollmer phillies phillies Ryan Dempster Phelps NBC Olympics Live Olympic medal count

Mali radicals recruited child soldiers at schools

In this photo taken Monday, Feb. 18, 2013, children attend a class in a madrassa in Gao, northern Mali. Nearly a month after the al-Qaida-linked militants were driven out of Gao and into the surrounding villages, students are now returning to the city's Quranic schools. Many classrooms, though, are still half full, as tens of thousands of people fled the fighting and strict Islamic rule imposed by the extremists. However, other pupils left Gao not with their families but with the Islamic fighters when they retreated, say human rights activists and local officials. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

In this photo taken Monday, Feb. 18, 2013, children attend a class in a madrassa in Gao, northern Mali. Nearly a month after the al-Qaida-linked militants were driven out of Gao and into the surrounding villages, students are now returning to the city's Quranic schools. Many classrooms, though, are still half full, as tens of thousands of people fled the fighting and strict Islamic rule imposed by the extremists. However, other pupils left Gao not with their families but with the Islamic fighters when they retreated, say human rights activists and local officials. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

In this picture taken Monday Feb. 18, 2013, children gather at the door of Mohamed Salia's madrassa in Gao, northern Mali. Nearly a month after the al-Qaida-linked militants were driven out of Gao and into the surrounding villages, students are now returning to the city's Quranic schools. Many classrooms, though, are still half full, as tens of thousands of people fled the fighting and strict Islamic rule imposed by the extremists. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

In this photo taken Monday, Feb. 18, 2013, Mohamed Salia teaches in his Madrassa in Gao, northern Mali. Nearly a month after the al-Qaida-linked militants were driven out of Gao and into the surrounding villages, students are now returning to the city's Quranic schools. Many classrooms, though, are still half full, as tens of thousands of people fled the fighting and strict Islamic rule imposed by the extremists. However, other pupils left Gao not with their families but with the Islamic fighters when they retreated, say human rights activists and local officials. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

A Malian schoolgirl listens to her teacher as schools reopen in Gao, northern Mali, Monday Feb. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

A Malian schoolgirl stands at the blackboard as schools reopen in Gao, northern Mali, Monday Feb. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

GAO, Mali (AP) ? The radical Islamic fighters showed up at Mohamed Salia's Quranic school, armed with weapons and demanding to address his students.

The leader, named Hamadi, entered one of the classrooms, took a piece of chalk and scrawled his message on the blackboard.

"How to wage holy war," he wrote in Arabic. "How to terrorize the enemy in combat," the lesson plan continued.

Then his mobile phone rang, and he stepped away to answer. Salia urged his students to pose some questions of their own when he returned: Where had he come from and what did he want with a bunch of young people?

Hamadi told the students that people didn't ask questions like that where he was from. Islam knows no nationality, he replied and then left ? and did not return before the French-led military operation ousted him and his fighters from power last month.

"I told my students to be careful: that these men may be well-versed in the Quran but their Islamic point of view is not the same as ours," the teacher recalled.

Nearly a month after the al-Qaida-linked militants were driven out of Gao and into the surrounding villages, students are now returning to the city's Quranic schools.

Many classrooms, though, are still half full, as tens of thousands of people fled the fighting and strict Islamic rule the extremists.

However, other pupils left Gao not with their families but with the Islamic fighters when they retreated, say human rights activists and local officials.

The experience of the Gao schools illustrates how the extremists used madrassas in northern Mali to indoctrinate young people and to recruit child soldiers.

The Islamic radicals attacked Gao several times this week, their second assault on the strategic city since they retreated in the face of French and Malian military, and their young recruits appear to be part of the strategy of MUJAO, or Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa.

"MUJAO took many of the students from the Quranic schools because they speak Arabic and are easier to convert and manipulate," Gao Mayor Sadou Diallo told The Associated Press. "Between 200 and 300 children have disappeared with the jihadists."

"The schools were all complicit. They didn't have a choice ? if you didn't collaborate with MUJAO you died," Diallo said.

An untold number of children are believed to have been killed in the January fighting in central Mali, he said, and when jihadist strongholds were bombed in Gao during the military intervention last month.

Dozens of child soldiers were believed to be living in a government customs building that was later bombed during the military offensive, residents say. The Islamic fighters took away their wounded before it could be determined how many casualties there were at the site.

The rubble of the building is littered with tiny children's shoes, and notebooks and pieces of wood on which the children copied Quranic verses. The children's writing in pen on notebook paper depicts verses seeking protection from evil.

Imams and directors of the Quranic schools in Gao say it was here that the youths were radicalized, while the existing schools continued their regular curriculum.

Students who were plucked from classrooms in Gao and the surrounding communities came to the customs building to study and prepare for war.

At the Adadatou Alislamiatou madrassa in Gao, pupils are now back in class after the disruptions caused by the fighting and a Feb. 10 attack when the militants re-invaded the city in a show of force before being forced back into the bush by French and Malian forces.

As the afternoon sun bakes the ground outside the classroom hut, 10-year-old Abdoulaye Ousmane leads his classmates in reciting Quranic verses while their teacher attends prayers at the nearby mosque.

Sporting a soccer jersey and flip-flops, Abdoulaye sings out the words as he traces the Arabic script in chalk with his pointer, and an exuberant group of nearly 50 other children loudly sing back to him loudly.

They sit cross-legged on mats on the sand floor of the thatched hut ? the girls on one side all wearing headscarves with some carrying Hannah Montana backpacks, too.

As these students return to school after the MUAO occupation, their teachers say many have been traumatized by the gunfire and fighting. Religious instructors are also confronted with how best to guide their students who have been exposed to the extremist ideology of al-Qaida-linked militants.

During the reign of the MUJAO, the Islamic fighters amputated hands of suspected thieves in public squares. Billboards displayed around town ordered women to cover themselves in public.

The Islamic militants capitalized on the city's poverty, offering sign-on bonuses and monthly salaries to those who joined their cause, imams said.

Abdourhamane Maiga, assistant director of the Adadatou Alislamiatou madrassa, recalls one student who dropped out of school after being asked to repeat a grade.

The next time Maiga saw the pupil, he was wielding a firearm with the Islamic fighters at their police headquarters downtown.

"They didn't come here to practice Islam," he says of the extremists. "The prophet never would have accepted a child of 10 years old waging jihad and taking up arms."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-02-23-Mali-Child%20Soldiers/id-971030a2938543578605d5ce6fda298d

emily maynard kola boof burmese python ferris bueller god bless america earned income credit florida primary 2012

Update - Microsoft Security Essentials v4.2.223.1

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.snapfiles.com/php/rsslink.php?i=111998&x=7117738&feed=2

wall street journal us map Electoral Map concede Obama Acceptance Speech Prop 30 Election 2012

Dreamwork JAM (with a monkey!) at Macworld|iWorld 2013

AutoTune technology good enough to make you sound like the next Britney Spears? Check! Monkey on the Macworld|iWorld 2013 show floor? Double check! All that's left is for Dreamwork's Sam Ludeman to tell us how JAM makes it all possible. Check. Check. Check.

If you can't sing but want to send a friend or loved on a song, JAM can help. Just use that power responsibly, okay?

• Free - Download now

More: JAM

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/Nk6r2tD1R38/story01.htm

Inaugural Ball julio jones j crew san francisco 49ers san francisco 49ers stan musial Mega

Apple's Chinese Manufacturer Foxconn Introduces Nationwide Hiring Freeze

According to the Financial Times, the world?s biggest contract electronics manufacturer and one of Apple, Inc.?s main suppliers will suspend hiring new employees due to the lowered demand for Apple products. The last time Foxconn had a countrywide hiring freeze was in 2009, because the global financial crisis affected demand. Now, an independent recruiter in Shandong province said that Foxconn new hires are as low as they were during the 2009 economic crisis.

The recruitment freeze comes during the peak hiring season in China, after the Spring Festival holiday, and human resources officials at the company are saying they do not plan on hiring again until the end of March at the earliest.

Independent recruiters for a facility in Zhengzhou, Foxconn?s second largest factory, are seeing the drastic hiring changes take place. ?Last year at this time, the workers were busy all day and night and had to recruit more than 4,000 new people,? a staff member of a local employment center said to Chinese business paper First Financial Daily. Now, recruiters are not seeing any job listings from the electronic manufacturer. ?

Liu Kun, a spokesperson at one of Foxconn?s largest facilities, a factory located in the southern city of Shenzhen that currently has more than 200,000 workers, told the Financial Times that ?currently, none of the plants in mainland China have hiring plans.? Though some factories will be hiring some technicians, workers on production lines for the iPhone and iPad are not needed. Both of Foxconn?s biggest plants and iPhone suppliers in China in Shenzhen and Zhengzhou, each with roughly 200,000 employees, are all putting a freeze on hiring.

Another factory in Taiyuan, which has an estimated 79,000 employees, has seen significantly fewer employees after the holiday season. According to the Global Times, this year, a significant portion of migrant workers did not return to their factory jobs because they were able to find work in their hometowns. Foxconn?s hiring freeze will not replace the jobs that have been vacated, reducing a significant part of the workforce.?

The slowed production is a direct effect of the disappointing iPhone 5 sales in China at the end of last year.?

?Apple?s flagship store in Beijing?s upscale Sanlitun shopping district began selling the iPhone 5 for the first time on Friday in what was arguably the least eventful launch of an Apple device in the company?s four-year history in the Chinese capital,? the Wall Street Journal reported.

But other reports are suggesting that the hiring freeze is also in part due to a shift in mechanical production lines at Foxconn factories. China?s online news site NetEase.com said that insider sources say that in addition to adjusting production lines, the hiring freeze will also allow for more mechanized production to occur.

?This also indicates that Foxconn is preparing to rebalance the distribution of manual line production with mechanical production,? the NetEase report said.

In the past Foxconn has endured many labor-related woes as international media, labor rights groups and the general public all criticized the company for intolerable work conditions. And though Foxconn has made efforts to improve work-life balance, hours, compensation and benefits, a shift toward mechanized production could help prevent future labor-related scandals.?

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/apples-chinese-manufacturer-foxconn-introduces-nationwide-hiring-freeze-1097718

jessica chastain jessica chastain hugh jackman Amy Poehler Australian Open Girls Hbo Golden Globes

Rumors claim Google will launch its own retail stores, maybe by the holidays

On Friday, a report surfaced on 9to5Google that Google was making serious plans to open permanent retail locations, and it's been followed up today by the Wall Street Journal indicating the same thing. Both cite unnamed sources, who claim that the company wants to provide space for customers to try out its Nexus devices, software like the Chrome browser and unnamed upcoming products. The rumors differ slightly on potential timeframe, with the initial one suggesting we could see shops open by the holidays this year, while the WSJ indicates a wider timeframe with the possibility that stores may not launch this year at all. Google's already opened a few pop-up shop temporary locations at airports and in other stores, like the one pictured above in the UK.

As Google moves further into hardware the potential of Apple-style branded physical stores grows, whether just to sell the phones and tablets we've seen so far or alongside more secretive projects like that rumored "X Phone." Also, once moonshot attempts like Project Glass and self-driving cars hit, having trained retail staff for hands-on demos may be just what the doctor ordered for skeptics. There's no word on where these stores may appear of course, but if you spot any darkened storefronts in your local mall please drop a line in our tips inbox, along with its distance from the nearest Sbarro -- we hear Googlers loves Sbarro.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google

Comments

Source: 9to5Google, Wall Street Journal

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/X_ylUxzE7j4/

hopkins dear john derrick rose torn acl pacers undrafted free agents braveheart earthquake california

Sony NEX-3N and Alpha A58 unveiled, heading to Europe this spring

Sony's Alpha A58 and NEX-3N broke cover just a few days ago in rogue press shots, and now the firm's European branch has made the duo official. With a 16.1-megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, the NEX-3N picks up the banner as the outfit's entry level mirrorless camera and packs a 3-inch LCD screen that can tilt up to 180 degrees. According to Sony, the NEX-3N is the smallest and lightest interchangeable lens camera with an APS-C sized sensor, gently tipping the scales at 269 grams. The shooter sports a pop-up flash, has its ISO notched up 16000, a revamped Bionz processor for noise reduction and even packs support for Sony's Triluminos display tech. A price tag for the NEX-3N is still MIA, but it's slated to hit Europe in March.

As for the translucent mirror-toting A58, it features a 20.1-megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor and a 2.6-inch, 460k-dot LCD with an adjustable angle. If you'd rather not compose shots with the LCD screen, however, the A58 also has an OLED viewfinder. When it comes to video, the device can record 1920×1080 footage in AVCHD. Hirai and Co.'s refreshed Bionz image processing engine makes an appearance in the camera as well. Come April, the A58 will be available in Europe with an as-of-yet unspecified price tag.

Itching for new lenses? Sony's just dished out details on a trio of new A-mount glass and accessories (with some E-mount peripherals as well) that are headed for a March debut in Europe. For the complete lowdown on the cams, lenses and accessories, hit the jump for the press releases and galleries.

Gallery: Sony NEX-3N

Gallery: Sony A58

Gallery: Sony A-Mount lenses, A-mount and E-mount accessories

Show full PR text

Easy to handle, easy to use: the new NEX-3N by Sony puts pro-quality images in everyone's reach 20 February 2013

Super-compact interchangeable lens APS-C camera weighs just 210g

• No-fuss self-portraits with 180° tiltable LCD screen and zoom lever
• Large Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor with 16.1 effective megapixels and high sensitivity, for detail-packed, low noise photos and Full HD video
• Beautiful compositions made easy with new Auto Object Framing
• Light, compact body with pop-up flash
• Moving up from your fixed lens camera? Travel light with the compact, easy to use NEX-3N E-mount camera with built-in flash - an exciting introduction to the world of interchangeable lens photography by Sony.

Self-portraits have never been simpler with the NEX-3N, thanks to the camera's easy-to-hold textured grip that fits reassuringly in the hand. The crisp, bright 7.5cm (3.0-type) LCD screen instantly flips through 180 degrees for fuss-free arm's-length compositions. What's more, a newly-added zoom lever on the camera body allows smooth, fingertip control of focal length with compatible lenses like the slim, light SELP1650 power zoom. Great for one-handed portrait framing, the zoom lever also adjusts digital zoom if you're not using a powered lens.

All serious photographers know that great photos start with a great composition. Brand new Auto Object Framing helps you get better-looking, more professional results without effort. The camera judges what's in the scene - one person, two people or even macro and moving objects - automatically cropping the shot to create more powerful, professionally-framed compositions.

Weighing approximately 210g, the NEX-3N is the world's smallest, lightest interchangeable-lens camera with a large APS-C sized sensor*. Grabbing more light than the sensor in ordinary compact cameras, it's the big sensor that's key to exquisitely detailed photos and sparkling Full HD movies that stand out from the crowd. What's more, it's easy to create pro-style background blur effects with your collection of interchangeable E-mount lenses... just like you'd achieve with a bigger, bulkier DSLR camera.

The camera's large sensor also boosts maximum sensitivity to ISO 16000. It's complemented by an evolved BIONZ processor that uses the same area-specific noise reduction techniques featured on the acclaimed full-frame α99. Levels of noise reduction and sharpness are individually adjusted for different image areas. Even if you're shooting in dim light, you'll enjoy crisp, ultra-low noise handheld shots without needing flash.

The NEX-3N is also the first NEX interchangeable lens camera from Sony that offers support for new "TRILUMINOS Colour". You'll experience a dramatically expanded palette of vivid, ultra-realistic colours when videos and still images are played back on any BRAVIA TV with support for "TRILUMINOS Display".

There's now a range of thirteen high-quality E-mount lenses to realise the immense creative potential of the NEX-3N. Choose from telephoto, zoom, wide angle, macro lenses by Sony and Carl Zeiss to suit any shooting situation. Every model blends superb optical performance with elegant looks to complement your E-mount camera. There's also a full range of coordinating accessories by Sony, from style-matching carry cases and straps to spare batteries.

The light, compact new NEX-3N interchangeable lens camera from Sony is available in Europe from March 2013.

* Among interchangeable-lens cameras with an APS-C sensor and pop-up flash, as of Feb 2013.

Never miss the moment: the new α58 from Sony

Digital SLT camera with Translucent Mirror Technology

• Capture fine detail with new 20.1 effective megapixels Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor
• Grab fast-moving action with speedy 8fps* shooting and new Lock-on Autofocus
• Shoot and view with confidence through new OLED Tru-Finder
• Compose like a pro with new Auto Object Framing

* In Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE mode

For life's spontaneous moments - catch all the split-second excitement with the new α58 interchangeable lens camera from Sony. With Translucent Mirror technology for speedy shooting with fast, accurate autofocus, it's the must-have choice for grabbing those once-in-a-lifetime picture opportunities. Even if you're new to interchangeable lens photography, you'll enjoy image quality that effortlessly exceeds your point-and-shoot compact camera, plus features you'd expect from a far higher-priced DSLR.

At the heart of the α58 is a brand new Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor with an extremely high resolution of (approx.) 20.1 effective megapixels. It's teamed with an improved BIONZ image processing engine for exceptionally detailed, low-noise stills and Full HD video, plus an extra-wide sensitivity range of ISO 100 to 16000.

Pick from the choice of 35 interchangeable A-mount lenses (including two tele-converters) and experience flawless images in virtually any lighting conditions, from dimly-lit interiors to atmospheric twilight scenes. Even if you're shooting handheld, SteadyShot INSIDE keeps pictures crisp and stable, letting you shoot with confidence at slower shutter speeds or higher zoom settings where wobbles are often a worry.

Unlike ordinary DSLR cameras, SLT cameras by Sony use Translucent Mirror technology that directs light onto the main image sensor as well as a separate autofocus sensor. This means that subjects stay sharply focused at all times as you compose scenes with the tilt-angle LCD or through the high-resolution, high-contrast OLED Tru-Finder. And with no moving mirror to slow you down, you'll enjoy non-stop live image preview during speedy burst shooting or while you're recording Full HD video.

The α58 is your ideal partner for grabbing the action as it happens - like sports, wildlife or spur-of-the-moment fun with friends and family. Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE mode brings that decisive moment closer with a high-speed burst of sharp images at 8 frames per second. The high-performance 15-point AF system now features Lock-on Autofocus with speedier, more accurate subject tracking. So now you can capture the athletic grace of a gymnast or animals in the wild with a burst of crisply-focused images, even if your subject's moving.

Featured on previous models, Auto Portrait Framing has now evolved into even more versatile Auto Object Framing - helping you get better-looking, more professional results without effort. The α58 judges what's in the scene - one person, two people, even moving objects or macro subjects - tracking, framing and cropping the shot to create powerful, professionally-framed compositions. Thanks to Pixel Super Resolution Technology by Sony, cropped images preserve the same resolution as the original exposure.

Instantly selectable from the mode dial, Picture Effect lets you pick from a palette of 15 artistic 'in-camera' treatments, like Toy Camera, Mono and Partial Colour.

Framing, focusing and viewing your shots is a pleasure through the new OLED Tru-Finder. This bright, high resolution electronic viewfinder accurately shows the results of adjusting camera settings in real time. Instantly see the result of adjusting exposure compensation, aperture, ISO, white balance, Picture Effect and other parameters before you shoot... not after. It's a great way to compose the perfect shot with confidence.

The α58 is the first-ever A-mount interchangeable lens camera from Sony that offers support for new 'TRILUMINOS Colour'. You'll experience a dramatically expanded palette of vivid, ultra-realistic colours when videos and still images are played back on any BRAVIA TV with support for 'TRILUMINOS Display'.

The new α58 interchangeable lens camera from Sony with Translucent Mirror technology is available from April 2013.

Sony adds three A-mount lenses, new A-mount and E-mount accessories

Full-frame G Lens 70-400mm telephoto zoom; Full-frame Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm F1.4; DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 standard zoom; compact add-on flash and remote commander

• New-generation 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II telephoto zoom - with 4x faster autofocus and improved optical performance
• Full-frame, wide-aperture, single-focal-length Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM - high-end image quality with renowned resolving power and contrast
• Light, compact, newly-styled DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II standard 3x zoom lens - designed for APS-C cameras
• HVL-F20M flash - space-saving design with wireless control and bounce flash
• RM-VPR1 wired remote - easily control shutter release, video start/stop and zoom
• Sony extends the range of A-mount interchangeable lenses with three new models to satisfy the most demanding enthusiasts and photo professionals.
• The 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II and Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM lenses complement the impressive imaging capabilities of Sony's full-frame α99 SLT (Translucent Mirror) camera. The DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II is a light, compact 3x zoom that's an ideal partner for A-mount cameras with APS-C sensors.

They're joined by a compact new on-camera flash and a wired remote that's ideal for advanced shooting.

"70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II" telephoto zoom

Sony's G lens line-up is strengthened for 2013 with the revised 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II. Ideal for capturing wildlife and action-packed sports, the upgraded super-telephoto zoom builds further on the premium performance of its predecessor with enhanced optics and faster, more responsive autofocus. Thanks to a new LSI drive circuit, autofocus speed of the SSM (Super Sonic Wave Motor) is around four times quicker than before. Teamed with enhanced tracking AF, the upgraded lens is now even more suitable for capturing stills and Full HD video of fast-moving subjects.

While its optical design is carried over from the previous-generation model, the new-generation lens features Sony's proprietary Nano AR Coating on optical surfaces. Offering around five times the efficiency of conventional anti-reflection coatings, this advanced technology reduces flare and ghosting for exceptionally high-contrast images.

Carl Zeiss "Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM"

The new Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM joins the existing Distagon 24mm, Planar 85mm and Sonnar 135mm in the A-mount range of prime length optics by Carl Zeiss. Offering a fixed 50mm focal length and extra-bright F1.4 aperture, the premium lens is an ideal choice for quality-critical portraiture and low-light shooting.

Featuring 8 elements in 5 groups with two aspherical elements, the brand new optical design is optimised for superb results with Sony's full-frame α99. Exceptional resolving power and contrast at all apertures are teamed with smooth, quiet autofocusing and a rear-focus system that maintains the same lens body length during AF. The dust- and moisture-resistant design extends the appeal of the new lens to a wide range of outdoor shooting applications.

"DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II" zoom

Boasting second-generation styling, this new lens succeeds the popular DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM that was introduced in 2011. The light, compact 3x zoom lens covers a frequently-used range of focal lengths from wide-angle 18mm to standard 55mm (35mm camera equivalent range: 27-82.5mm). While retaining the same smooth AF motor (SAM) as its predecessor, newly-designed rear lens elements suppresses flare and ghost, while mechanical elements have been upgraded for more positive, comfortable operation.

New accessories for Sony cameras and camcorders

The HVL-F20M is a space-saving, easy to carry new flash for Multi Interface Shoe mounted cameras, that's ideal for brightening up portraits, interiors and dimly-lit scenes. Despite its compact size, it's packed with pro-style features like wireless control for fuss-free multi flash set-ups, simple bounce operation and Auto White Balance compensation for more accurate, natural-looking white balance. It's refreshingly easy to use: just raise the flash head to switch on... then turn off again by lowering when the flash isn't needed.

Compatible with a growing range of 'α' A-mount and E-mount, Cyber-shot[TM] and Handycam(R) models that feature the versatile Multi Terminal interface, the RM-VPR1 wired remote commander features handy controls for zoom and video recording start/stop. It also includes a shutter lock function that's ideal for long-exposure 'bulb' shooting with 'α' cameras. The remote comes supplied with two cables. One is for use with Multi Terminal-equipped cameras/camcorders, while the other allows simple shutter release with 'α' A-mount cameras that only include a REMOTE terminal.

Please see http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/lenses for full details on new lens and accessories.

The new lenses and accessories will start to become available in Europe from March 2013.

Filed under: Cameras, Sony

Comments

Source: Sony (1), (2)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/19/sony-nex-3n-alpha-a58-official/

camilla belle instagram Robert Bork mark sanchez christina aguilera Mayan End Of The World Olivia Black

Plano Senior High School's football team does the "Harlem Shake":

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/outbursts/2013/feb/19/plano-senior-football-harlem-shake/

cnbc dexter dexter ny times paul mccartney Sandy Hook Victims new york times

Video: Meteor fragments could fetch thousands apiece

>>> we awoke last friday to the meteor streaking across the russian sky and then we saw the video. thousands of them. and now there are a lot of new questions about whether we're doing enough to be on the lookout for another direct hit with the planet earth . while on the ground, pieces of that space rock are going for a hefty price. the story tonight from nbc's stephanie gosk.

>> reporter: after the meteor smashed through the atmosphere, shattering windows in russia, and nerves around the world, it broke into pieces, meteorites. most landed near this frozen lake. the largest piece may still be under water. the search to find them is on. there are reports that residents are trying to sell the meteorites for as much as $10,000. a lot of money for a rock. but things from outer space can fetch a good price. from collectors like dave keys willing.

>> i would love to house a piece of this in my collection and every collector on the planet would. no question about it.

>> the famous peek skill meteor was auctioned off for more than $60 to you, caught on camera before it took out the taillight of a chevy malibu . fascination in meteorites and fear has piqued since friday. two triggered a flood of anxious calls to authorities. even though those types of sightings are common. the new vigilance after the meteor in russia is a good thing, says former astro inaudible, ed lou.

>> you can think of this as a giant game of roulette with the whole earth.

>> reporter: lou has started an organization looking to build the first-ever, privately funded, deep case telescope to track meteors. he believes people don't truly appreciate the danger. there's only ever been one recorded fatality from a meteorite. 1972 in a farm in venezuela, a meteor streaks through the sky and kills a cow. scientists say the poor thing never stood a chance. today at new york's natural history museum , there wasn't a lot of concern. just curiosity.

>> whenever i hear about meteorite falling, i get all excited and stuff.

>> reporter: the rocks can tell us a lot says the museum's expert.

>> they tell us about the formation of planets. and most importantly and subtly, they tell us about the dynamic history of the solar system .

>> reporter: a dynamic history that continues to unfold. sometimes dangerously close. stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/50851327/

atomic clock daylight savings time john mccain game changer selection sunday corned beef recipe time change

Chinese Military Linked to Extensive Cyber Espionage Campaign

Security researchers have traced a prolific group of computer hackers to a government-backed, military building in Shanghai, China.

According to a new report from Mandiant, the People's Liberation Army Unit 61398 is located "in precisely the same area" as a section of APT1, an advanced persistent threat (APT) group that has stolen hundreds of terabytes of data from at least 141 organizations worldwide. "Mandiant has traced APT1's activity to four large networks in Shanghai, two of which serve the Pudong New Area where Unit 61398 is based," the company said.

PLA Unit 61398 has hundreds of staffers, Mandiant said, all of whom are trained in computer security and computer network operations and are required to know English.

"Our analysis has led us to conclude that APT1 is likely government-sponsored and one of the most persistent of China's cyber threat actors," Mandiant concluded. "We believe that APT1 is able to wage such a long-running and extensive cyber espionage campaign in large part because it receives direct government support."

APT1 is linked to at least 141 company hacks since 2006, Mandiant said. The group uses "a well-defined attack methodology, honed over years and designed to steal large volumes of valuable intellectual property." The attacks are not a one-shot deal; APT1 often returns over months or years to "steal broad categories of intellectual property, including technology blueprints, proprietary manufacturing processes, test results, business plans, pricing documents, partnership agreements, and emails and contact lists from victim organizations' leadership."

On average, APT1 stays connected to networks for about a year, but the longest time it maintained access was four years and 10 months.

"Among other large-scale thefts of intellectual property, we have observed APT1 stealing 6.5 terabytes of compressed data from a single organization over a ten-month time period," Mandiant said. "In the first month of 2011, APT1 successfully compromised at least 17 new victims operating in 10 different industries."

About 87 percent of the targeted companies are located in English-speaking countries.

Mandiant identified three of the more prolific individuals, or handles, associated with APT1 that date back to 2004: UglyGorilla, DOTA, and SuperHard.

"The sheer scale and duration of sustained attacks against such a wide set of industries from a singularly identified group based in China leaves little doubt about the organization behind APT1. We believe the totality of the evidence we provide in this document bolsters the claim that APT1 is Unit 61398," Mandiant.

Another possibility, though very unlikely, Mandiant said, is that "a secret, resourced organization full of mainland Chinese speakers with direct access to Shanghai-based telecommunications infrastructure is engaged in a multi-year, enterprise scale computer espionage campaign right outside of Unit 61398's gates, performing tasks similar to Unit 61398's known mission."

Mandiant acknowledged that it might face backlash for exposing APT1, but "it is time to acknowledge the threat is originating in China, and we wanted to do our part to arm and prepare security professionals to combat that threat effectively," the group said.

Mandiant was hired by the New York Times recently when it was discovered that the paper had been hacked. That breach was also traced to Chinese hackers, but the paper said it does not appear to be the work of APT1.

Chinese officials denied any wrongdoing and told the Times in a statement that the accusations were "unprofessional."

For more from Chloe, follow her on Twitter @ChloeAlbanesius.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2415562,00.asp?kc=PCRSS05079TX1K0000992

earthquake california roy orbison the third man 2012 nfl draft order mohamed sanu chris polk chicago bulls

Caffeine linked to low birth weight babies

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Maternal nutrition is important to a developing embryo and to the health of the child later in life. Supplementing the diet with specific vitamins is known to increase health of the foetus for example folic acid (vitamin B9) reduces the risk of spina bifida. However not everything an adult might consume is beneficial to a developing baby. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine shows that caffeine is linked to low birth weight babies and that caffeine from coffee in linked to increasing length of pregnancy.

Along with nutrients and oxygen, caffeine feely passes the placental barrier, but the developing embryo does not express the enzymes required to inactivate it efficiently. The WHO currently suggests a limit of 300mg per day during pregnancy but some countries recommend a limit of 200mg, which can be less than a single cup of coffee from some high street cafes.

To investigate the impact of maternal caffeine during pregnancy on babies, a research team from the Norwegian Institute for Public Health used information about mother's diet and birth details collected over ten years. After excluding women with medical and pregnancy-related conditions almost 60,000 pregnancies were included in the study. All sources of caffeine were monitored in the study: coffee, tea, fizzy drinks, as well as food including cocoa-containing cakes and deserts and chocolate.

Explaining their results, Dr Verena Sengpiel, from Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden, who led the project said, "Although caffeine consumption is strongly correlated with smoking which is known to increase the risk for both preterm delivery and the baby being small for gestational age at birth (SGA). In this study we found no association between either total caffeine or coffee caffeine and preterm delivery but we did find an association between caffeine and SGA. This association remained even when we looked only at non-smoking mothers which implies that the caffeine itself is also having an effect on birth weight."

In fact they found that caffeine from all sources reduced birth weight. For a child of expected average weight (3.6kg) this equates to 21-28g lost per 100mg caffeine per day. But it was not just caffeine, but the source of caffeine, which affected pregnancy outcomes. Caffeine from all sources increased the length of the pregnancy by 5hr per 100mg caffeine per day, but caffeine intake from coffee was associated with an even longer gestational length - 8hr extra for every 100mg caffeine per day.

This association means that it is not just the caffeine in coffee which increases gestational length but either there must be a substance in coffee which is responsible for the extra time or there is a behaviour associated with coffee drinking not present in women who drink only tea (for example). SGA babies are at higher risk of both short term and lifelong health problems and it seems from these results that since even 200-300mg caffeine per day can increase the risk of SGA by almost a third these recommendations need to be re-evaluated.

###

BioMed Central: http://www.biomedcentral.com

Thanks to BioMed Central for this article.

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

This press release has been viewed 56 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126872/Caffeine_linked_to_low_birth_weight_babies

marshawn lynch earthquake bay area clear channel drexel dale george will obama birth certificate

Christina aguilera sells beverly hills home - AOL Real Estate

By Erika Riggs

When Christina Aguilera redecorated her home, she went big with bold colors -- from bright green in the library to black and yellow in the kitchen -- whimsical furnishings and over-the-top glam. But what may have attracted the pop diva may not have appealed to buyers across the board. Aguilera's home -- for which the listing has now been taken down -- stayed on the housing market for two years, before "pending" showed up on the listing over the weekend. (AOL Real Estate called it a couple weeks ago: When Aguilera's ex-husband, Jordan Bratman, suddenly moved the rest of his things out of the house, we just had a feeling something was up.)

According to property records, Aguilera and former husband Jordan Bratman purchased the home from Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne in 2007 for $11.5 million. The home was previously the setting for MTV reality show "The Osbournes." When Aguilera and Bratman filed for divorce, the home hit the market in early 2011 for $13.5 million. Usually when a home has been on the market for more than a year, the listing price gets a chop or two. Not in the case of Aguilera's colorful home: The price remained steady at $13.5 million. However, when sale records are released, it may be revealed that the buyer was able to talk the price down a few notches.

The price of $13 million or so is relatively fair for a 10,000-square-foot celebrity estate in Beverly Hills. Aguilera's Mediterranean-style estate is a six-bedroom, nine-bath property situated on a gated, half-acre-plus lot. Beyond the creative decor, the home has high ceilings, a grand foyer and staircase, a master suite with his-and-her baths and closets, a fireplace and lounge area. Other celeb-worthy amenities include a gym, game room, gift-wrapping area, movie room and beauty salon. The grounds feature a detached guesthouse with a recording studio, swimming pool with a water slide, grotto and barbecue area.

Find homes for sale in Beverly Hills, or search listings in your area.

See more on Zillow:
Jessica Simpson Makes Room for Baby in Osbournes Estate
Sacha Baron Cohen's L.A. Home Listed
Jason Bateman Buys Ernest Borgnine Home

Source: http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2013/02/18/christina-aguilera-sells-beverly-hills-home/

etta james songs east west shrine game underworld awakening haywire dog the bounty hunter tacoma narrows bridge open marriage

93% Amour

All Critics (166) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (154) | Rotten (12)

Trintignant perfectly captures the resolve that eventually borders on obsession, as the woman he loves gradually, maddeningly, disappears before his eyes, and he does whatever he can to prevent it, though he knows it's impossible.

Many viewers will find echoes of their grandparents, parents, or even themselves in these characters.

A movie that is utterly worthy of its all-encompassing title.

The resulting interplay of ruthless restraint and unavoidable passion, plus the film's refusal to shrink from depicting the inevitable horrors of physical deterioration, is devastating.

In many ways it's the best horror film I've ever seen. At the same time, it's hard to recommend; I believe I will be struggling to forget this film as long as I live. I doubt I'll succeed.

As remarkable as Haneke's films are, not a one has been as transcendently generous as Amour, which is nominated for five Academy Awards, including best picture, best director and best foreign-language film.

Haneke's startling film stands in stark contrast with other recent, comedic fare that seemingly addresses similar issues.

My review is categorized as 'favourable' not because I enjoyed the film (that's not Michael Haneke's intent) but because I recognise what he is trying to say and that he says it with a unique cinematic voice

Debilitation and loss of control is a harsh topic, yet Haneke's film is surprisingly gentle, exploring the constraints and options faced, as old age delivers its ultimate blow - the loss of self and ability to function with dignity

Amour is a pure depiction of love, in all its many forms.

The furthest thing from sweet sorrow imaginable, Amour gets real about the pain of parting in every sense of the word.

This subject matter is ripe for sentimentalization, but Haneke resists it at every turn, opting instead for unflinching honesty. It is the economy of theme paired with the subtle richness of character that make Amour so powerful.

Clearly, Amour, Michael Haneke and Emmanuelle Riva don't really need me to additionally sing their praises (although praise is indeed all I have), so let's discuss Jean-Louis Trintignant for a moment.

All is presented in Haneke's exacting style, one that I find controlling and a bit, well, smothering.

An insightful, memorable film about what it means to love.

A tale about love at its most terribly, backbreakingly difficult.

In many ways, it's a horror film, as the woman descends into helplessness, and - like the audience - the man can only watch. It's a potent piece of filmmaking.

The superb Trintignant and the Oscar-nominated Riva -- who would win, in a just world -- embody once-vigorous people in inevitable decline.

For Haneke, love is just another curious human trait to be dissected and used as a tool to disquiet his audience.

A poignant tale of undying love!

Beautifully acted and unflinching, Amour goes where few movies have the courage to

Riva's performance is undeniably magnificent, as she must chart every step of Anne's physical and mental deteriorating with exacting precision.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/771307454/

hilary duff michigan state michigan state andrew luck pro day josh johnson kim kardashian flour matt forte

Chinese defense economy takes off

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.chinesedefence.com/forums/chinese-defence-industry/5108-chinese-defense-economy-takes-off.html

lsu football lsu football Jessie Andrews bloomberg bloomberg Daily Caller Staten Island

Buy Tickets 2/18/2013 -- London, ENG -- Apollo Victoria Theatre -- 7:30 pm

Use of this site is subject to express
terms of use,
which prohibit commercial use of this site. By continuing past this page, you agree to abide by these terms.

Coast To Coast Tickets LLC provides an online ticket marketplace offering premium event tickets for sale on the secondary market. Prices reflected on this site are determined by the buyers and sellers and may be substantially higher than the face value printed on the ticket. CoastToCoastTickets.com contains event and concert tour dates, as well as team information and game schedules for every sport. We are not affiliated with any box office, venue, sponsor, team, performer, Ticketmaster.com, or other organization. Any trademarked terms that appear on this page are used for descriptive purposes only.

Source: http://www.coasttocoasttickets.com/buy/wicked_tickets.htm?pid=1888100

Rich Kids of Instagram felix hernandez julia child Ron Palillo Chad Johnson Twitter Helen Gurley Brown Kathi Goertzen

Discovery bets on 2 dope series about pot growers

NEW YORK (AP) ? Cupcake makers, pawnbrokers and storage container raiders have all had their moments in reality television's spotlight. Now the time may be right for marijuana growers ? and the people who chase them.

The Discovery network debuts a six-episode series, "Weed Country," at 10 p.m. Wednesday and will replace it with "Pot Cops" in April. Both examine the marijuana trade in northern California.

It fits Discovery's efforts to introduce interesting subcultures to viewers, said Nancy Daniels, the network's executive vice president for production and development on the West Coast. Discovery tried a series about a medical marijuana dispensary in Oakland two years ago, "Weed Wars," and is sticking with dope even though the show didn't do very well in the ratings.

"We still think it's an interesting world and maybe we didn't tap into the right part of it," Daniels said.

Based on its first episode, "Weed Country" is a nuanced effort at giving equal time to both sides of the issue. Producers find colorful growers who use science to make the best product possible. They don't believe what they are doing is wrong. "We're flying the flag of civil disobedience," one grower said.

The growers may be trying to dodge the law, but don't hesitate to open up different facets of their business to television cameras.

At the same time, "Weed Country" shows the challenges faced by law enforcement. It follows one group's careful training for backwoods missions to find farms guarded by growers who are armed and intent upon protecting their crops.

"It surprised me with how deep and complex it was," Daniels said.

The show does have some distracting reality TV contrivances. Before one commercial break, a grower making a late-night delivery to a customer becomes suspicious of a van that ominously pulls out behind him on a dark road. After the break, the van drives innocently by. At another point, producers lead you to believe the grower is about to be pulled over by police when, after a commercial, it becomes clear the officer is going after someone else.

The "Pot Cops" series will be told from the point of view of law enforcement, after producers reached an agreement for access to officers hunting down marijuana farms in California's Humboldt County.

Discovery had planned to air the two programs back-to-back on the same night and promote it as "Weed Wednesday" on the network. But those plans were dropped because unrelated programming expected to be available this spring had fallen through and Discovery needed "Pot Cops" to fill a hole on its schedule in April.

The change had nothing to do with feeling cold feet about a "Weed Wednesday" promotion, Daniels said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/discovery-bets-2-dope-series-pot-growers-172720461.html

aurora borealis gcb mary j blige dionne warwick patricia heaton arsenic and old lace leslie

Barney Frank, Clint Eastwood vs. the military budget

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/636581/s/28a2ed7b/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cezra0Eklein0Cpost0Cbarney0Efrank0Eclint0Eeastwood0Evs0Ethe0Emilitary0Ebudget0C20A130C0A20C160Cef94dbe20E78740E11e20Eb10A20E9489290A30Ae640Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Fr

matt flynn denver news frozen planet creighton new smyrna beach st. joseph puerto rico primary

Anti-Land grabbing cell - Police Commisoner - Indian Real Estate ...

15 Hours Ago ? #1

New Member

?

Join Date: Apr 2010

Posts: 2

---

We bought land in Kadirvedu back in 2002 and price has appreciated well right now. About 3 months back a local guy has started construction on our land. We panicked and our lawyer has registered a complaint with the Police commisoners office - the anti-land grabbing cell. We have been affected by this contruction along with 2 others who own adjoining pieces of land. The other 2 parties have also joined in the complaint.

Can someone provide any experience regarding the effectiveness of this recently formed anti-land grabbing cell?

What else do you thing we need to be doing? Any other suggestions?

?

Source: http://www.indianrealestateforum.com/chennai/t-anti-land-grabbing-cell-police-commisoner-51381.html

brandon phillips summerfest summerfest fidel castro rick santorum ozzie guillen castro comments phish

Karzai says Afghan forces can't request airstrikes

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Saturday that he will issue a decree banning Afghan security forces from asking international troops to carry out airstrikes under "any circumstances."

The announcement came amid anger over a joint Afghan-NATO operation this week that Afghan officials said killed 10 civilians, including women and children, in northeast Kunar province.

"I will issue a decree tomorrow that no Afghan security forces, in any circumstances, in any circumstances can ask for the foreigners' planes for carrying out operations on our homes and villages," Karzai said in a speech at the Afghan National Military Academy in Kabul.

Civilian deaths at the hands of foreign forces, in particular airstrikes, have been among the most divisive issues of the 11-year-old war, although the U.S.-led coalition has implemented measures to mitigate them. But the Afghan military also relies heavily on air support to gain advantage in the fight against Taliban militants and other insurgents.

Many have expressed concern that the impending withdrawal of international combat forces by the end of 2014 will deprive government security forces of that crucial weapon. President Barack Obama has announced that he will withdraw about half of the 66,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan within a year.

According to Gen. John Allen, the former top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, the coalition can provide air support to troops on the ground anywhere in Afghanistan within 12 minutes of a request. He said Afghan forces would have to get used to not having the same abilities in the future.

Jamie Graybeal, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, declined to comment on Karzai's remarks because alliance officials have not yet seen the decree.

Karzai said Allen's successor, U.S. Gen. Joseph Dunford, told him that Afghanistan's intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security, had requested the airstrike late Tuesday in Kunar's Shigal district, which borders Pakistan. When Dunford met with Karzai two days later, the coalition said the general expressed "his personal condolences for any civilians who may have died or been injured as a result of the operation" and said investigators were trying to assess what happened.

Karzai said Afghan forces were ready to take over their own security despite concerns about persistent violence that have cast doubt on their capabilities.

"We are happy that foreign forces are withdrawing from our country," he said. "We are happy for all their help and assistance so far, but we don't need foreign forces to defend our country. We want our Afghan forces to defend their homeland."

However, former Afghan Gen. Amrullah Aman was surprised by the remarks, saying international air power is essential since one of Afghanistan's main weaknesses in defending itself is the lack of a fully developed air force.

"In a country like Afghanistan where you don't have heavy artillery and you don't have air forces to support soldiers on the ground, how will it be possible to defeat an enemy that knows the area well and can hide anywhere?" he asked.

"There must be air support to help all those ground forces on the battlefield."

The U.N. has said the number of civilian deaths and injuries attributed to foreign and Afghan forces, including airstrikes, has declined as both groups strengthened policies to protect civilians, but it also expressed concern there could be an uptick as the summer fighting season approaches.

Local Afghan officials claim five boys, four women and one man were killed in the bombardment. Four insurgents also were reported killed, but Karzai said that did not justify the loss of so many civilian lives. He said the public had complained not only about foreign forces but about Afghans as well.

'The people must not be afraid of you," Karzai told the military audience. "They must feel safe when they see you in their areas and villages."

___

Associated Press writer Kim Gamel in Kabul contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/karzai-says-afghan-forces-cant-request-airstrikes-114448369.html

detroit lions Thanksgiving Day cooking a turkey toysrus how to carve a turkey ipad 2 wal mart

KY Senate bill to protect military votes

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers filed legislation Friday to ensure Kentucky soldiers deployed overseas can cast ballots back home.

The bill was given the designation "Senate Bill 1," signifying it is the Senate's top priority in the current legislative session.

Secretary of State Alison Grimes has been pushing for the bill. She said 121 soldiers from Kentucky didn't have their ballots counted in last year's election because they didn't arrive back in the state by Election Day.

The bill allows or electronic transmission of ballots, instead of relying on traditional mail.

Grimes visited soldiers and reviewed military voting during a trip to the Middle East in September. She said she concluded that the current system was falling short.

------

The legislation is Senate Bill 1.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.kypost.com/dpps/shared/kentucky-senate-president-robert-stivers-files-bill-to-protect-military-voting_8254233

indonesia quake stephen strasburg shabazz legion baby found alive in morgue rockies second degree murders