Hostage drama drags on after Alabama school bus shooting

MIDLAND CITY, Alabama (Reuters) - A gunman suspected of fatally shooting an Alabama school bus driver before holing up in an underground bunker with a young child is a Vietnam veteran with anti-government views, authorities and an organization that tracks hate groups said on Wednesday.

Law enforcement officials from multiple agencies were bivouacked near the bunker in Midland City but offered few details about a standoff with the shooter that stretched into its second day on Wednesday.

Authorities said driver Charles Albert Poland Jr., 66, was killed after the gunman boarded a bus ferrying more than 20 children home from school on Tuesday.

The suspect demanded the driver let a student off the bus, Alabama media reported. When Poland refused, the man boarded the bus and shot the driver before taking a 6-year-old kindergarten student and fleeing the scene.

The shooting and subsequent hostage drama came as a national debate rages over gun violence, especially in schools, after a gunman shot dead 20 students and six staff members at a Connecticut elementary school last month.

In Alabama on Wednesday night, the suspected gunman remained holed up with the boy in the underground bunker on his property down a dirt road. Any efforts to negotiate with the man, or to stage a hostage rescue operation, were shrouded in secrecy with authorities declining to comment.

Television images showed security force officers, clad in camouflage uniforms and brandishing assault rifles, patrolling the area.

An Alabama legislator, Representative Steve Clouse, told reporters the hostage suffered from Asperger's Syndrome and ADHD but had apparently been able to receive his medication while held captive. The Dale County Sheriff's Department said the child was not believed to have been harmed.

Schools in the area of the Alabama shooting were closed on Wednesday and will remain shuttered for the rest of the week.

DRIVER HAILED AS HERO

Dale County Superintendent Donny Bynum lauded Poland as "a hero ... who gave his life to protect 21 students who are now home safely with their families."

The superintendent's assistant said the young boy still being held by the gunman appeared to have been chosen at random.

"Emotions are high, and it's a struggle for us all to make sense of something so senseless, but let us keep this young student, his family and Mr. Poland's family in our thoughts and prayers," Bynum said in a statement.

The Southern Poverty Law Center reported on its Hatewatch blog that a chief investigator with the Dale County Sheriff's Office identified the gunman as 65-year-old Jimmy Lee Dykes, although Reuters could not independently verify the gunman's identity.

Investigator Tim Byrd said Dykes' friends and neighbors described him as a "survivalist" who did not trust the government, according to the law center blog.

"He was standoffish, didn't socialize or have any contact with anybody," Byrd told Hatewatch.

Dykes had not been on the law center's radar before the shooting and standoff, and there was nothing to suggest he was a member of any hate group, said senior fellow Mark Potok.

"What it looks like is that he's some kind of anti-government radical and survivalist," Potok told Reuters. "And exactly what that means, we don't know."

Court records show Dykes had been due to appear for a bench trial on Wednesday following his arrest last month on a menacing charge.

James Edward Davis, a neighbor of Dykes, told CNN the arrest stemmed from an incident on December 10 when Dykes pulled a gun on him and his young daughter. According to Davis, Dykes was upset because he believed Davis had driven onto his property. Dykes fired two gunshots as Davis sped off in his car, he said.

"This man has been an accident waiting to happen. He's been a ticking time bomb," Ronda Wilbur, another neighbor of Dykes, told CNN, complaining he had killed her family dog by beating it with a lead pipe and then bragged about it to her husband.

"He got increasingly more bizarre. He spent most of the last two years moving concrete blocks around and digging, constantly digging and moving dirt," she said of Dykes.

Wilbur and other neighbors said Dykes had moved into the area about two years ago and kept mostly to himself.

(Reporting by Kaija Wilkinson in Mobile, Alabama; Additional reporting and writing by Colleen Jenkins; Editing by Tom Brown, Andrew Hay and Lisa Shumaker)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hostage-drama-drags-alabama-school-bus-shooting-031902593.html

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Giant leap in race to replace space shuttle? Dream Chaser gets big boost.

Sierra Nevada Corp., which is designing a mini space shuttle called the Dream Chaser, announced that it's joining forces with Lockheed Martin ? heavy-hitter in aerospace.

By Pete Spotts,?Staff writer / January 30, 2013

This artist's rendering shows the Dream Chaser spacecraft docking with the International Space Station. Dream Chaser's developer, Sierra Nevada Corp., is partnering with Lockheed Martin.

Sierra Nevada Space Systems/AP/File

Enlarge

One of three companies vying to ferry US astronauts to and from the International Space Station has inked a multimillion dollar deal with aerospace giant Lockheed Martin in a move aimed at preparing a craft dubbed Dream Chaser for the task.

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The move by Sierra Nevada Corp. highlights the pace at which the company's plans are morphing from plans on paper to hardware on the shop floor.?"We're moving from concept to the next phase of the program, probably faster than most people realize," said?Mark Sirangelo, who heads the company's space-systems division.?

Through Lockheed Martin, Sierra Nevada will have access to expertise in using composite materials that Dream Chaser needs, as well as to large manufacturing facilities required to assemble several craft. In addition, Lockheed developed the Atlas V rocket, which is a likely launch vehicle for Dream Chaser, and has experience working with NASA to certify spacecraft for human spaceflight.

It appears to be a significant step forward for the aerospace company, which has been around for 25 years, but has previously focused on smaller ventures. The company has produced small satellites, components for projects such as the Mars Science Laboratory, and rocket motors, including motors for Burt Rutan's Spaceship One and its tourist version for Virgin Galactic, Spaceship Two.

The goal of the NASA commercial crew-transportation program is to free up NASA resources to focus on human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. That means turning to private companies to build a spacecraft to service the space station, which also should help lay the foundation for a broader commercial human-spaceflight industry, advocates of commercialization say.

Last July, the agency divvied up contracts worth a combined $1.1 billion among three companies working on designs ? Boeing, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), and Sierra Nevada Corp. In December, NASA parceled another $29.6 million among the companies for parallel efforts that focus on meeting its performance and safety requirements.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/VtHIuuFphqA/Giant-leap-in-race-to-replace-space-shuttle-Dream-Chaser-gets-big-boost

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Occupy Wall Street Actually Not At All Representative Of The 99 Percent, Report Finds

The Occupy Wall Street movement captured public attention while speaking for the so-called 99 percent, but those who actively participated were drawn from a much narrower, more elite slice of American society, according to a new survey.

Those who described themselves as ?actively involved? in the Occupy movement were overwhelmingly white, highly educated and employed, according to a new report from the Joseph F. Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies at the City University of New York.

?When people are saying, ?Occupy Wall Street is a white, middle-class thing,? I can?t really fight them because it?s not true, but then, it?s not necessarily false either,? Michele Crentsil, a 23-year-old African-American Occupy participant said in the report.

The report surveyed the participants at a joint Occupy-labor movement May Day rally in New York City and found that two-thirds of those who described themselves as ?actively involved? in Occupy Wall Street were white, while 80 percent had a bachelor?s degree or higher.

Those demographics aren?t representative of New York City as a whole. Only one-third of New York City residents are white, according to the report, and about 34 percent have a bachelor?s degree or higher.

?It confirmed our sense that the people who were doing the occupations were doing it out of self-interest as much as out of a kind of general political awareness,? Penny Lewis, an assistant professor at the Murphy Institute and co-author of the report, told The Huffington Post.

Many of these activists claiming to represent the 99 percent were drawn to the Occupy movement after the financial crisis left them underemployed and burdened with student loan debt. The survey found that while 80 percent of respondents said they had a job, about one-third said their employment was ?precarious,? Lewis said. More than half of respondents under 30 were carrying over $1,000 in student debt, the report found.

?People who are entering the middle class or coming out of the middle class, and looking to college to put themselves forward, are actually graduating with excessive amounts debt,? Lewis said.

Lewis noted that since the survey was taken at a rally with labor protesters, the sample likely skewed more towards long-term activists and educational professionals than the Occupy gatherings in Zuccotti Park. Still, actively-involved protesters who the researchers interviewed for the report said the perception of Occupy as a largely white, middle-class movement wasn?t entirely wrong.

The group?s demographics also dictated in part the issues on which the movement chose to focus. Only 5.4 percent of actively involved participants said they joined Occupy Wall Street to deal with racism or race-related issues, while 19 percent cited student debt and access to education, according to the report.

Occupy Wall Street?s largely white, highly-educated makeup also affected the way the movement was organized, the report said. The presence of many homeless people in Zuccotti Park and at the movement?s General Assembly (GA) gatherings presented ?daunting? organizational challenges to the group, the report said. And though the movement had no official leaders, those who represented Occupy Wall Street in the public sphere were often white, male and highly educated, one protester interviewed for the report noted.

?We ended up recreating a lot of racist, sexist, classist structures,? Crentsil wrote in the report. ?The people who you would see on TV or as the quote-unquote 'leaders' who are either facilitating the GA or being front and center in any other way shape or form were often white, male and highly educated.?

But Occupy Wall Street still took a nontraditional approach to activism, Lewis said. Forty percent of those actively involved in the movement were under 30, and they applied the same "get-your-hands-dirty" millennial attitude they used in brewing their own beer or growing their own food to their political activism.

?There?s been for years this kind of focus within millennial culture towards this do-it-yourself world,? Lewis said. ?What to me is amazing is to see that same kind of ethos of direct action oriented in a political direction.?

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/29/occupy-wall-street-report_n_2574788.html

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Deal of the Day: Qmadix Vibe Flex-Gel Cover for HTC EVO 4G LTE

The Jan. 29 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Qmadix Vibe Flex-Gel Cover for HTC EVO 4G LTE. The Flex-Gel Cover accentuates your style and personality in vibrant color while protecting your device from the elements. This sporty, rugged cover is made from durable, abrasion-resistant TPU and offers the ultimate choice in style and protection. There's access to the screen, camera, ports and kickstand--available in black, red, and white color options.

The Qmadix Vibe Flex-Gel Cover is available for just $15.00, 50% off today only. Grab yours while supplies last!

Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/1kShPz7P9oI/story01.htm

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Dominica Calypso Association President adds his voice to Hunter controversy

Kelvin ?Ras Kelly? Williams

Having the the lyrics of a song written on the palms of a calypsonian?s hand during a perforamance is not an offense President of the Dominica Calypso Association, Kelvin ?Rass Kelly? Williams, has said.

He was responding to allegations that Hunter had written some of the lyrics of his song on the palm of his hands and had read them during a performance at the Calypso semi finals recently.

It is a charge that Hunter has stoutely denied.

According to Williams, a calypsonian himself, the video of the performance has to be reviewed in order to ascertain whether the allegations are true or not. ?We have to look at the complete tape because me having a song on the palm of hand, that is not an offense,? he said. ?You have to probably read it and if I have it on the palm of my hand, well probably with the intention ?but during the song I probably never got the chance or the need to, I just cannot say, hey those allegations are true ?we will have to look at it.?

He said if Hunter was found to be reading from his palm, it would be left to him to deal with it. ?If we notice that the Hunter is reading from his hand, of course it would be left to him, we would let him sit and he and his conscience to deal with it,? Williams noted.

Williams blamed the politics in calypso and the lack of objectivity for the entire brouhaha. ?Because we have access to the radio we blow everything out even before we know what went on,? he remarked. ?Its unfortunate if at all it happened ?I would be hurt a bit if at all that?s what went on??

He pointed out that in all competitions performers try to bend the rules but insisted the complete tape must be reviewed and examined.

He also told DNO that the DCA would be view the original footage sometime today to ascertain the facts and determine whether Hunter had in fact cheated.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Source: http://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/culture/carnival/rass-kelly-adds-voice-to-hunter-controversy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rass-kelly-adds-voice-to-hunter-controversy

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Emma & Rikard | DIY Summer Wedding in Sweden

Escape the winter blues with this breezy summer wedding from Nordica Photography!

The groom designed all of the printed items, including invitations and ceremony program fans. The bride bought fabric at IKEA which she cut into ribbons to hang from the tree at their ceremony.

Instead of a photo booth, guests were encouraged to take snapshots with a Fuji Instax purchased by the bride and groom.

Why did you choose this location for your wedding? ?Rikard proposed in Monet?s garden in Giverny, France so Monet?s garden was what we had in mind when we were looking for a wedding location. Plus we always dreamt about having the reception outside, so it made the choice very simple when we found the green house.

What inspired you when you were planning your wedding? ?Nature and flowers. The inspiration for our stationary came from an old floral book called ?Nordic flora.?

What was your favorite moment or part of the day?? From Emma: The ceremony! Walking down the hill with my father, seeing Rikard and all our family and friends was an amazing feeling. We put a lot of effort into choosing the right music for the ceremony and having the band play really made the feeling extra special. From Rikard: When Emma said ?I do,? when I got to lift her up in the greenhouse during dinner, when she came walking down the hill with her father, when we danced together all night long.. The whole day was like magic and I was forced to pinch my arm every now and then to make sure I was not dreaming!

What was the best advice you received as a bride? ?The best advice I got was to pick a comfortable dress that you?r actually able to walk in without three people lifting your skirt. And to wear flats all day! Also, dance, dance, dance! If you want your guests to dance, you have to be dancing!

?

See more of this outdoor Swedish summer wedding in the gallery!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SnippetInkDailyWeddingInspiration/~3/YWDS-xaud-Q/

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Singapore wants to boost population to 6.9 million by 2030

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Asian financial center Singapore, which is already more densely populated than rival Hong Kong, wants to raise its population by as much as 30 percent in the next two decades to ensure its economy remains dynamic, the government said on Tuesday.

The growth in the population to between 6.5 and 6.9 million by 2030 - from 5.3 million now - would involve persuading citizens to have more babies and handing out citizenship to more foreign-born professionals, the government said in a white paper.

"Many Asian cities are modernising rapidly, and catching up on us," the government said.

"Singapore must continue to develop and upgrade to remain a key node in the network of global cities, a vibrant place where jobs and opportunities are created."

The publication of the white paper comes just days after Singapore's long-ruling People's Action Party (PAP) lost heavily in a by-election amid growing public unhappiness about high property prices and competition for jobs which they blamed on the government's liberal immigration policies.

Singapore has a land area of just 714 square kilometres, which is less than half the size of London, and a population of 5.3 million people. Foreigners account for just less than 40 percent of the population, up from about 25 percent in 2000.

Hong Kong has a population of 7.1 million and a land area of 1,104 square kilometres, according to figures a government web site.

(Reporting by Kevin Lim; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/singapore-wants-boost-population-6-9-million-2030-052921442--business.html

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Canon EOS 6D

Prior to the announcement of the Canon EOS 6D ($2,099 direct, body only) and the Nikon D600, shooters who wanted a full-frame camera?one with an image sensor the same size as a 35mm film frame?were faced with a small number of choices at $3,000 and up. Both companies cut about $1,000 off the price of entry to full-frame with new models that sacrifice some features that pro shooters are used to, but are packaged in smaller bodies that are similar in design to the top-end APS-C cameras. The 20-megapixel 6D also adds some enthusiast-friendly features?notably an integrated GPS receiver and Wi-Fi capability?which, along with fantastic image quality, earn it an almost-perfect rating and our Editors' Choice award. The $6,000 full-frame Nikon D4 is still a better choice for anyone who relies on photography to put food on the table, but most folks simply don't need that much camera in their bag.

Design and Features
While it's bigger than entry-level cameras with smaller APS-C image sensors, the 6D is compact for a full-frame D-SLR. It measures 4.4 by 5.7 by 2.8 inches (HWD) and weighs just under 1.7 pounds without a lens. Compare this with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, a more traditional full-frame camera that measures 4.6 by 6 by 3 inches and weighs about 2.1 pounds. If you currently shoot with an APS-C Canon camera like the EOS Rebel T4i or EOS 7D and are considering an upgrade to full-frame be aware that while you can mount any EF lens to any Canon D-SLR, Canon's line of EF-S lenses are designed only for use with APS-C cameras and can't be used with the 6D, 5D Mark III, or EOS-1D X cameras. This is in contrast to Nikon's approach, which allows its APS-C DX lens lineup to be used on the D600, the D800, and D4 in a special crop mode. Like Canon's other full-frame offerings there is no flash built into the 6D?you'll need to use an external one. This isn't atypical for a full-frame camera?Nikon does include a pop-up flash on the D600 and D800, but omits it on the D4, and Sony does not include a flash in its full-frame bodies.

The control layout is familiar to anyone who has handled a Canon SLR before. There's a standard mode dial on top left side with an integrated On/Off lever. To the right of the viewfinder you'll find a control wheel, the shutter release, and buttons to adjust the AF Mode, Drive Mode, ISO, Metering Mode, and to activate the backlight on the monochrome information LCD, also located on the top of the camera. The rear controls are compressed when compared with the 5D Mark III, but you'll still have access to a rear control wheel with an integrated four-way controller, an Info button that controls what is displayed on the rear LCD, the Menu button, a control switch to activate Live View and movie recording, image playback controls, and buttons to engage the autofocus system, activate Exposure Lock, and select the active autofocus point. There's also a physical lock switch that prevents the rear control from adjusting settings when turned?that wheel controls exposure compensation in most shooting modes.

First seen on the Rebel series of APS-C cameras, the Q button allows you to change settings via the rear LCD. Hit it and you'll be able to adjust lens aperture, ISO, Exposure Compensation, Flash Compensation, JPG output, White Balance, and other common shooting settings?the rear control pad is used to navigate from item to item and the control wheel scrolls through the available settings.

The camera's large optical viewfinder trumps even the best APS-C models in terms of size and brightness?but it doesn't offer a full 100 percent field of view. Instead Canon opted to include a 97 percent viewfinder?the camera will capture a little bit of extra information around the edges of the frame, and the slightly smaller viewfinder makes it possible to change the focus screen?a feature that was omitted from the higher-end 5D Mark III. This is a boon to Canon shooters who use the rare manual focus Canon lens like the TS-E 90mm f/2.8, or any of the manual focus Carl Zeiss lenses available for Canon cameras like the Makro-Planar T* 2/100, as Canon's EG-S focus screen is ideally suited for accurate manual focus with faster lenses.

The resolution of the 3-inch rear LCD tops one million dots. It's extremely sharp, allowing you to confirm critical focus when reviewing shots or shooting in Live View mode. It's fixed?the Sony Alpha 99 is the only full-frame D-SLR with an articulating display?and isn't quite as large as the 3.2-inch screen on Nikon's D600, but it is sharper.

The 6D is the first SLR with integrated Wi-Fi connectivity, and overall, it's a good implementation. There are a number of ways to use the wireless features, and some are more useful than others. Canon gives you the ability to share photos directly with another Canon Wi-Fi camera and to print directly to a Wi-Fi-enabled printer. So you'll have to be out shooting with a partner who also has a Wi-Fi-equipped Canon camera to take advantage of the former, and the latter assumes that you'll be printing your photos without cropping, retouching, or other post-production work. You also have the option of viewing your photos on a DLNA device, like a Wi-Fi HDTV or set-top box.

The more useful functions involve sharing your photos online, and taking control of the 6D via your smartphone. You can send photos and videos directly to Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube via the Canon Image Gateway service. To set this up you'll need to install the EOS Utility application on your PC or Mac and create an account on the Canon Image Gateway service. From there you can link your social networking accounts. Connecting the 6D to your computer pairs it with your Canon account, and will let you send JPG images and videos directly to the service of your choice. You'll need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network, and the EOS 6D can store the SSID and login information for up to three networks at a time.

Photos and videos can also be directly sent to your iOS or Android device. You can connect to a phone when it, and the 6D, are on the same Wi-Fi network. Or the 6D can act as a hotspot for direct connection?and you can save presets for either configuration in one of the five slots dedicated to this mode. Once connected, you can transfer images and videos directly to your phone via the EOS Remote app; it's available for free in both the Apple and Android app stores. Raw transfer is supported?because photos are sized down to 2-megapixel JPG images in order to speed up transfers. You can also use your phone to control the camera wirelessly. A live feed of the camera's Live View mode shows up on your phone's screen, and you can select a focus point via touch, change shooting settings, and fire the shutter. There's noticeable lag in the video feed?it's not as speedy as the USB tethered computer connection that is possible via the included EOS Utility software for Mac or Windows?but it's useable in the field, whereas traditional tethered shooting is more useful in a studio setting.

You also get integrated GPS. It's a powerful receiver?it only took about 40 seconds to lock on to my location on initial setup?and you can adjust how often it polls for a new location. By default it checks for your location every 15 seconds, but you can go as fast as once a second or as slow as every five minutes. Using the GPS definitely puts a strain on the camera's battery. I was out shooting on a cold morning and went from a full charge to two battery bars in only a few hours. And the GPS will continue to check for your location even when the camera is turned off. The photos I took were, without exception, accurately geotagged, appearing on Lightroom's map at the exact locations from which I shot them. If you want to add location data to your photos, you'll likely want to set the camera to check with the GPS satellites less often to extend the battery life, and disable the GPS before you turn the camera off. If that's an unacceptable compromise, tote an extra battery. There is an optional battery grip available?it plugs into the bottom of the camera and holds two cells, doubling the operation time.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/yR8DYE19DMM/0,2817,2414619,00.asp

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Obama's About to Make Immigration Reform a New Front in the Gay Rights Battle

The gay community gasped in unison on Monday afternoon, when the Senate revealed an immigration plan that did not include same sex couples. Don't worry gay community. Barack Obama's got you covered. At least according to several of BuzzFeed's sources, he does.

RELATED: Pundits Agree: It's The Wrong Time for Immigration Reform

On Monday night, BuzzFeed's Chris Geidner and Zeke Miller reported that Obama would indeed include same sex couples in his immigration reform package. In their own words: "A Democratic source said, 'Same-sex couples will be part of his proposal.' A second source confirmed that, unlike the Senate framework released Monday, same-sex bi-national couples -- those with one American and one foreign partner -- will be included in the White House principles." This means that, if Obama does make the change and if the proposal makes it through Congress, same-sex couples would have equal rights as heterosexual couples on crucial issues like green cards.

RELATED: Governor Martinez: Illegal Immigration Okay for Me, Not for You

This would be a very presidential move for the president -- decisive, direct and somewhat demanding. After all, the folks on Capitol Hill have so far been super ambivalent about the issue. It was not included in the final proposal, but lawmakers had discussed including same sex couples in the new set of laws. However, when asked why the initial proposal lacked LGBT provision. Sen. John McCain, one of four Republicans working on the proposal simply said, "We'll be working out those details."?Rep. Jerrold Nadler was a little more opinionated about the issue, calling it "madness" that same sex couples were left out, a "major omission."

RELATED: North Carolina (Quietly) Moves to Ban Gay Marriage Forever

No matter what happens from here on out, it's becoming apparent that the gay rights movement is about to latch on to the push for immigration reform. And why shouldn't they? The point of reform is to fix things that are broken, and as the country moves towards greater equality for people of all sexual orientations, why should same sex couples be left out? Well, it could get tricky. If the conversation turns too sharply in the direction of gay rights, the larger immigration reform process could get bogged down or even stuck in the mud completely. Let's leave the ifs alone for now, though, and see what the president actually does.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obamas-immigration-reform-front-gay-rights-battle-041633557.html

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How to Stage Your Own Home for Sale

The Spring market is starting early this year and it?s looking to be a strong market. The inventory is low at the moment, there?s pent up demand and there are plenty of buyers out there looking. It?s still a buyer?s market, but it?s starting to shift now. Soon, more and more homes will be on the market and those trying to sell will need to stay ahead of the competition. One of the best ways to do so is to make your home look its very best. A home staging expert can be a home seller?s greatest ally as they can best tell you how to best maximize your assets.

What is a home stager?

?A home stager is someone who comes in to show your home in its best light. It?s a process of making your home look better for the buyers who are looking at it,? explains Stephanie Barnes a Realtor with ?Fingelly Real Estate, Southport, Connecticut. ?It became popular to hire a stager when the market started its downturn and homes were having a hard time selling. People were looking for ways to compete in the marketplace.? Barnes continues to tell us that home staging is still very popular and is a model that should be continued to be followed whether in an up or down-market. Your real estate company can help you locate a stager or you can do so on your own. A few agencies will provide one for you for an additional fee.

What can I expect when a home stager comes to my house?

A home stager will come to your home for a consult, take an inventory of your home and everything in it. Some charge for that consult and some don?t. With the information gathered the home stager will meet with you, the home owner, and go over the findings. The home owner can then hire the stager to make all the necessary changes, or do so on his own. In this market many people would like to, but do not have the luxury of hiring a home stager. The following suggestions from Barnes will help you, the seller, stage your own home so that you can best represent all the wonderful characteristics of your own home.

Staging our living areas.

According to Barnes, there?s one general rule you should apply to each room. ?You want to show it?s mainstream functionality. If you have an awkward or small space and want to show more functionality than what?s there, you may want to consider turning a dining room into an office.? Something like that, Barnes states, shows really well. ?In a living room you want to show off the size. ?People think more is more when it comes to living rooms,? says Barnes. ? You also want to bring in the most light, you want to pull couches and drapes from windows and you want to show flow in a room.

Artwork should be displayed in a way that is tasteful but not too revealing of your life and lifestyle.? Again, she stresses the idea is to appeal to the masses. You want to create an almost generic, clean and appealing Pottery Barn-like appearance. You do not want buyers glued to your Picasso or family pictures. This is distracting and when the tour is over, the potential buyer ends up fixated on the Picasso or the family photos and remembers nothing about your home. ?Whether your home is formal or casual?it needs to be able to be set up in a way where people can imagine themselves, their family, their friends, clients, bosses? You want to picture where people will be sitting and entertaining.?

People have moved away from wanting to fix up houses. More and more want homes that are turn key and ready to move in. This is why the Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware-like decor works so well. They?re very neural and they appeal to the masses. What?s more is that they can always be added upon and enhanced.

Staging our dining rooms.

?Dining rooms are great as they offer one place for people to sit and eat, yet they are often not a highly utilized room in a house so to show it you need to get in the mindset of what the masses are looking for,? says Barnes. It?s a lifestyle choice and decision. ?Generally for each room, you want to stay as mainstream as possible because most people have a very hard time visualizing.? We need to think about those who cannot see past the clutter to appreciate the wide expanse of windows, the particularly nice crown moulding and the little details that might go unnoticed. Barnes best compares it to a retail shop.

?Whoever puts out the best displays moves their inventory fastest. It?s no different when it comes to selling your home.? When you stage your home for selling, you are, to a certain extent, undecorating from the way you live. When you live in your home, you want your home to best represent you, but when you?re looking to sell your home, you need to re-dcorate, or un-decorate, to allow someone else to envision living in your space. This is where stagers come in handy, explains Barnes. ?They have the ability to represent your home and to know what will work and won?t work for show.?

Other ideas for showing dining rooms include converting them into offices, playrooms, or ?a quiet living area off of the noisiness of the room that?s being utilized with the big couch and the TV.? Barnes suggests to ?think outside the box a little bit with the dining space ? ?depending on how you?re marketing it,? she reaffirms how important it is to ?know your crowd.? A young couple looking for their starter home might welcome the dining room for entertaining purposes while a family with young children may welcome a playroom or second living space.

Staging our master bedrooms.

According to Barnes ?a master bedroom with a bathroom, with both a tub and shower is what everybody wants,? but decor absolutely comes into play here. Barnes suggests removing anything loud and jazzy and going with white. ?White is clean and simple and what?s what buyers are looking for.? She reitterates that ?it?s not about your tastes and your style. The idea of staging your bedroom is to do it in such a way that others can imagine themselves in that space too, a highly private and personal space.?

She then suggests to ?white it out. Realtors will tell you this constantly.? She suggests switching to white duvets and white towels and to make the space seem more hotel-like than private. If the bedroom has carpeting, Barnes strongly advises getting it steam cleaned. Cleanliness is most important. Remove heavy curtains and drapes. If you have no privacy issues, leave the windows empty, otherwise Barnes suggests hanging some bamboo shades.

Staging our guest rooms.

Guest rooms can be touted as guest rooms and can even be combined with an office. If you use your guest room and are planning on using the guest room as one of the features of your home, you can showcase it much in the same way you would the master bedroom. Barnes mentions the throw pillows and white bedding once more. By showing the room as a combined office/bedroom, you are then maximizing the space in your home. Barnes states that ?once again this depends on the house and the size of the house, and as with the other rooms you need to scale it to your demographic. You need to create the space for people in your price-range.?

Staging our children?s rooms.

Children?s bedrooms should be staged much like the rest of the house. The rooms should be as clean and as clutter-free as possible. This may mean tucking some dolls, stuffed animals or toys into some neat bins or other storage area. Barnes believes that like the other rooms in the home, children?s rooms too should be neutral, ?Colors are subjective,? she adds, ?and should really be repainted if they are very bright.? She adds that ?these may be the rooms to paint first, should a home need repainting, noting that smaller rooms are easier and less expensive to paint.?

Staging bathrooms.

The bathrooms should all be as clean and tidy as possible. All personal products such as hair brushes, razors, toothbrushes should be put away and out of sight. Pretty soaps can be placed by the sink and the linens, suggests Barnes, ?should all be white.? Barnes also likes the idea of creating a ?spa-like environment.?

Don?t forget to stage the outside of your home too!

?The outside of your home and curb appeal is staging? says Barnes. ?It?s the first impression someone gets when they are coming to your house. They take in whatever is on the curb and they start looking very carefully once they come through the front door.? Make sure hedges are trimmed and tidy.

Make sure leaves have been swept up and put away. Make sure you?ve done your fall clean up or your spring clean up. ?You want your house to show the best it possibly can and if you can?t hire a home stager, your realtors, at this point, have heard enough feedback to know how to help you,? but Barnes believes that stagers are a ?great idea because you?re bringing in a third party who is objective. Often realtors won?t want to say anything you may find insulting.We?re not trying to tell you that you?re doing it wrong or that your taste is bad. No one is trying to criticize you. Realtors know what you need to do, but want to keep their relationship with you.?

Once you?ve heard your stager?s advice it needs to be implemented. A staged home is a home that wants to be sold. It?s sending a message that the sellers are ready and eager to do business, whereas a home that has not been properly staged suggests that the sellers are not ready and could by chance be very difficult. ?A staged home sends a very loud message,? concludes Barnes.

A special thank you to Stephanie Barnes of?Fingelly Real Estate, Southport CT, for her expertise and wisdom.

Source: http://freshome.com/2013/01/28/how-to-stage-your-own-home-for-sale/

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Climate change projected to alter Indiana bat maternity range

Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Susan Loeb
sloeb@fs.fed.us
864-656-4865
USDA Forest Service ? Southern Research Station

Research by US Forest Service scientists forecasts profound changes over the next 50 years in the summer range of the endangered Indiana bat. In an article published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, Forest Service Southern Research Station researchers Susan Loeb and Eric Winters discuss the findings of one of the first studies designed to forecast the responses of a temperate zone bat species to climate change.

The researchers modeled the current maternity distribution of Indiana bats and then modeled future distributions based on four different climate change scenarios. "We found that due to projected changes in temperature, the most suitable summer range for Indiana bats would decline and become concentrated in the northeastern United States and the Appalachian Mountains," says SRS research ecologist Loeb. "The western part of the range (Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio)currently considered the heart of Indiana bat maternity rangewould become unsuitable under most climates that we modeled. This has important implications for managers in the Northeast and the Appalachian Mountains as these areas will most likely serve as climatic refuges for these animals when other parts of the range become too warm."

In general, bat species in temperate zones such as Indiana bats may be more sensitive than many other groups of mammals to climate change because their reproductive cycles, hibernation patterns, and migration are closely tied to temperature. Indiana bat populations were in decline for decades due to multiple factors, including the destruction of winter hibernation sites and loss of summer maternity habitat.

Due to conservation efforts, researchers saw an increase in Indiana bat populations in 2000 to 2005, but with the onset of white-nose syndrome populations are declining again, with the number of Indiana bats reported hibernating in the northeastern United States down by 72 percent in 2011. The study predicts even more declines due to temperature rises from climate change, with much of the western portion of the current range forecast to be unsuitable for maternity habitat by 2060.

"Our model suggests that once average summer (May through August) maximum temperatures reach 27.4C (81.3F), the climatic suitability of the area for Indiana bat maternity colonies declines," says Loeb. "Once they reach 29.9C (85.8F), the area is forecast to become completely unsuitable. Initially, Indiana bat maternity colonies may respond to warming temperatures by choosing roosts that have more shade than the roosts that they currently use. Eventually, it is likely that they will have to find more suitable climates."

The models the researchers produced provide resource managers guidance on areas that are likely to contain maternity colonies now and in the future, depending on the availability of suitable habitat in those areas. "Managers in the western parts of the range should be aware of the potential changes in summer distributions due to climate change and not assume that declines are due to habitat loss or degradation," says Loeb. "Management actions that foster high reproductive success and survival will be critical for the conservation and recovery of the species."

###

Access the full text of the article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.440/abstract

Headquartered in Asheville, NC, the Southern Research Station comprises more than 120 scientists and several hundred support staff who conduct natural resource research in 20 locations across 13 southern states (Virginia to Texas). The Station's mission is "to create the science and technology needed to sustain and enhance southern forest ecosystems and the benefits they provide." Learn more about the Southern Research Station at: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/.

---

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?

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

Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Susan Loeb
sloeb@fs.fed.us
864-656-4865
USDA Forest Service ? Southern Research Station

Research by US Forest Service scientists forecasts profound changes over the next 50 years in the summer range of the endangered Indiana bat. In an article published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, Forest Service Southern Research Station researchers Susan Loeb and Eric Winters discuss the findings of one of the first studies designed to forecast the responses of a temperate zone bat species to climate change.

The researchers modeled the current maternity distribution of Indiana bats and then modeled future distributions based on four different climate change scenarios. "We found that due to projected changes in temperature, the most suitable summer range for Indiana bats would decline and become concentrated in the northeastern United States and the Appalachian Mountains," says SRS research ecologist Loeb. "The western part of the range (Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio)currently considered the heart of Indiana bat maternity rangewould become unsuitable under most climates that we modeled. This has important implications for managers in the Northeast and the Appalachian Mountains as these areas will most likely serve as climatic refuges for these animals when other parts of the range become too warm."

In general, bat species in temperate zones such as Indiana bats may be more sensitive than many other groups of mammals to climate change because their reproductive cycles, hibernation patterns, and migration are closely tied to temperature. Indiana bat populations were in decline for decades due to multiple factors, including the destruction of winter hibernation sites and loss of summer maternity habitat.

Due to conservation efforts, researchers saw an increase in Indiana bat populations in 2000 to 2005, but with the onset of white-nose syndrome populations are declining again, with the number of Indiana bats reported hibernating in the northeastern United States down by 72 percent in 2011. The study predicts even more declines due to temperature rises from climate change, with much of the western portion of the current range forecast to be unsuitable for maternity habitat by 2060.

"Our model suggests that once average summer (May through August) maximum temperatures reach 27.4C (81.3F), the climatic suitability of the area for Indiana bat maternity colonies declines," says Loeb. "Once they reach 29.9C (85.8F), the area is forecast to become completely unsuitable. Initially, Indiana bat maternity colonies may respond to warming temperatures by choosing roosts that have more shade than the roosts that they currently use. Eventually, it is likely that they will have to find more suitable climates."

The models the researchers produced provide resource managers guidance on areas that are likely to contain maternity colonies now and in the future, depending on the availability of suitable habitat in those areas. "Managers in the western parts of the range should be aware of the potential changes in summer distributions due to climate change and not assume that declines are due to habitat loss or degradation," says Loeb. "Management actions that foster high reproductive success and survival will be critical for the conservation and recovery of the species."

###

Access the full text of the article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.440/abstract

Headquartered in Asheville, NC, the Southern Research Station comprises more than 120 scientists and several hundred support staff who conduct natural resource research in 20 locations across 13 southern states (Virginia to Texas). The Station's mission is "to create the science and technology needed to sustain and enhance southern forest ecosystems and the benefits they provide." Learn more about the Southern Research Station at: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/ufs-ccp012813.php

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New online, open access journal focuses on microbial genome announcements

Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Sliwa
jsliwa@asmusa.org
202-942-9297
American Society for Microbiology

The American Society for Microbiology has published the first issue of its new online-only, open access journal, Genome AnnouncementsTM, focusing exclusively on reports of microbial genome sequences.

Genome Announcements features short manuscripts announcing the availability of recently sequenced genomes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes and viruses in public databases. These announcements inform readers of the availability of new genome sequences and provide the rationale for sequencing a particular organism, as well as details of the methodologies and protocols used in assembly of the genome sequence.

Although genome sequence data typically are deposited in GenBank or other shared databases, the rationale for sequencing a particular organism and the detailed methodologies and protocols used often are not readily available. In the past, several ASM journals published Genome Announcement article types, brief reports stating that the genome of a particular organism has been sequenced and deposited which provide a citable record of the corresponding GenBank submission. Over the years submissions for Genome Announcements have increased where they warrant a dedicated journal.

"The exponential increase in submissions and the usage of Genome Announcements has confirmed the value and service they bring to the scientific community. As a result, ASM will now publish all Genome Announcements in a single, dedicated, online-only, open-access journal starting January 2013," says Phil Matsumura of the University of Illinois at Chicago, editor of the new journal.

Manuscripts submitted to Genome Announcements must include an abstract, an acknowledgments section indicating the source of support for the work, and a nucleotide sequence accession number and are limited to 500 words (exclusive of the abstract and acknowledgments). Sequences must be made publicly available before a submission will be considered for publication, and the nucleotide sequence accession number(s) must be provided in a separate paragraph at the end of the text. Manuscripts may not include figures, tables, or supplemental material used to present data or analysis. However, multiple related sequences and their accompanying accession numbers and URL may be presented in tabular form. Publication of Sequence Read Archives (SRAs) is not permitted.

Genome Announcements manuscripts do not require peer review, but may be reviewed at the editor's discretion. Publication of an article in Genome Announcements does not preclude a later publication (e.g., a full comparative analysis) on the same organism in another ASM journal. Genome Announcements articles will be published continuously and will be collected into bimonthly issues throughout the year.

###

More information on the journal, including the first issue, can be found online at http://genomea.asm.org.

The American Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society, composed of over 39,000 scientists and health professionals. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences as a vehicle for understanding life processes and to apply and communicate this knowledge for the improvement of health and environmental and economic well-being worldwide.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Sliwa
jsliwa@asmusa.org
202-942-9297
American Society for Microbiology

The American Society for Microbiology has published the first issue of its new online-only, open access journal, Genome AnnouncementsTM, focusing exclusively on reports of microbial genome sequences.

Genome Announcements features short manuscripts announcing the availability of recently sequenced genomes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes and viruses in public databases. These announcements inform readers of the availability of new genome sequences and provide the rationale for sequencing a particular organism, as well as details of the methodologies and protocols used in assembly of the genome sequence.

Although genome sequence data typically are deposited in GenBank or other shared databases, the rationale for sequencing a particular organism and the detailed methodologies and protocols used often are not readily available. In the past, several ASM journals published Genome Announcement article types, brief reports stating that the genome of a particular organism has been sequenced and deposited which provide a citable record of the corresponding GenBank submission. Over the years submissions for Genome Announcements have increased where they warrant a dedicated journal.

"The exponential increase in submissions and the usage of Genome Announcements has confirmed the value and service they bring to the scientific community. As a result, ASM will now publish all Genome Announcements in a single, dedicated, online-only, open-access journal starting January 2013," says Phil Matsumura of the University of Illinois at Chicago, editor of the new journal.

Manuscripts submitted to Genome Announcements must include an abstract, an acknowledgments section indicating the source of support for the work, and a nucleotide sequence accession number and are limited to 500 words (exclusive of the abstract and acknowledgments). Sequences must be made publicly available before a submission will be considered for publication, and the nucleotide sequence accession number(s) must be provided in a separate paragraph at the end of the text. Manuscripts may not include figures, tables, or supplemental material used to present data or analysis. However, multiple related sequences and their accompanying accession numbers and URL may be presented in tabular form. Publication of Sequence Read Archives (SRAs) is not permitted.

Genome Announcements manuscripts do not require peer review, but may be reviewed at the editor's discretion. Publication of an article in Genome Announcements does not preclude a later publication (e.g., a full comparative analysis) on the same organism in another ASM journal. Genome Announcements articles will be published continuously and will be collected into bimonthly issues throughout the year.

###

More information on the journal, including the first issue, can be found online at http://genomea.asm.org.

The American Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society, composed of over 39,000 scientists and health professionals. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences as a vehicle for understanding life processes and to apply and communicate this knowledge for the improvement of health and environmental and economic well-being worldwide.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/asfm-noo012813.php

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Harbaugh parents could become Super Bowl TV stars

NEW YORK (AP) ? Jack and Jackie Harbaugh would do well to practice their impassive faces in front of a mirror before the Super Bowl.

The parents of Baltimore Ravens coach John and the San Francisco 49ers' Jim Harbaugh will be watched closely during Sunday's Super Bowl ? if anybody finds them ? for any visual evidence that mommy and daddy really do love one boy or the other best.

It promises to be a fascinating sidebar to CBS' coverage of the game because, as Lynn and Rick Raisman can attest, parent cams are valuable in sports coverage. NBC's clip of the Raismans watching daughter Aly perform on the uneven bars during last summer's Olympics in London went viral, with stage parents everywhere relating to their murmurs and facial contortions.

"I had no idea it was going to be so great," said David Michaels, senior producer at NBC Sports, who often produces and directs coverage of gymnastics and figure skating, events where parental involvement can be particularly intense.

Michaels makes it a point to know where parents are sitting during competitions, tracking them through spotters or sometimes sports governing bodies that know where parent seats have been assigned. Or where they are not sitting: Sometimes a dad who retreats to a concession stand because he can't bear to watch an offspring compete is a good story, too.

Michaels said he tries not to overdo it, sticking with parents who he knows are interesting and very involved in their children's competitive undertakings.

"It has certainly gotten more ubiquitous," he said. "Sometimes it's fantastic and sometimes it's just too gratuitous."

Jack, a former college and high school football coach, and his wife will be attending the Super Bowl. On a conference call last week, the parents said they did not know where they would be sitting. Even if they did, they'd be unlikely to inform a horde of reporters about their seat locations.

The senior Harbaugh was a college head coach at Western Michigan and Western Kentucky and an assistant at several places, including Michigan, Pittsburgh and Stanford. His son-in-law, Tom Crean, is the Indiana University men's basketball coach. It doesn't seem like a family that would want to watch a game casually while piling their plates with nachos.

The couple had a practice run to see what it would be like to watch their sons coach against each other on Thanksgiving 2011, when older brother John's Ravens beat the 49ers 16-6.

During that game, the couple watched in an office. Jack said his wife's face looked "nearly comatose" throughout the contest.

"She just stared at the screen," he said. "Not a word was spoken. And at the end of the game, it was just over."

They'll experience the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat ? all at once. A 75-yard touchdown pass that would be reason to stand up and cheer for one son is another son's horrible defensive lapse.

"I am going to be neutral in the game," Jackie Harbaugh said. "I know one is going to win and one is going to lose, but I would really like to end in a tie. Can the NFL do that?"

CBS Sports President Sean McManus said there will be a pregame feature about the familial battle. It would be hard to argue otherwise; no matter how much the brothers want to downplay it, it's a unique situation. But McManus said CBS would try not to let it dominate its coverage of the game.

Given the need for the coaches' parents to stay neutral, longtime TV critic David Bianculli said he wondered how much of a story it will be visually for CBS. If they really maintain impassive faces, how much will viewers want to see them on the screen?

"I would advise them to pay attention to the field, more than anything else," said Bianculli, who teaches about television for Rowan University.

A stone face is a story, too, Michaels said. The only question is how much a producer should go back to the shot.

He said he can't imagine CBS not knowing where the couple is. If they're out in public, the network will likely keep a close eye on their reactions.

"As a producer or a director in this kind of a situation, it's incumbent upon you to know where every element of the story is because you never know how it's going to evolve," Michaels said.

Finding the right approach ultimately shouldn't be much of a problem for CBS, he said.

"It's a little bit of a distraction at times," he said. "But they'll figure out the best way to deal with it. The pictures won't lie."

___

AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/harbaugh-parents-could-become-super-bowl-tv-stars-161126834--nfl.html

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Partial list of winners at 19th annual SAG Awards

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? MOVIES:

Supporting actor: Tommy Lee Jones, "Lincoln"

Supporting actress: Anne Hathaway, "Les Miserables"

Stunt ensemble: "Skyfall"

___

TELEVISION:

Actor in a movie or miniseries: Kevin Costner "Hatfields & McCoys"

Actress in a movie or miniseries: Julianne Moore, "Game Change"

Actor in a comedy series: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"

Actress in a comedy series: Tina Fey, "30 Rock"

Comedy series cast: "Modern Family"

Stunt ensemble: "Game of Thrones"

___

Life Achievement: Dick Van Dyke

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/partial-list-winners-19th-annual-sag-awards-021225006.html

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Film Review: Parker ? ColumbusUnderground.com

Historically Jason Statham films have been released on a pretty stable schedule. Almost without fail his film?s are released in two periods of the year; January through April and August through October. Other than that the calendar is otherwise pretty much Statham free. That?s why when you see a Jason Statham film being released during what is normally considered a theatrical dead zone you shouldn?t necessarily think it?s because it?s a crummy movie, it?s because the studio follows a specific formula (Statham + Off Season Release Date = Cash).

After pulling a daring heist, a career criminal is betrayed by his co-conspirators and left for dead. Instead of moving on with his life he decides to get revenge by hatching a daring plan to get what is owed to him.

Most Jason Statham characters have a lot in common with each other; they?re charming, physically gifted, have a unique moral code, a beautiful and understanding girlfriend, an older father figure that taught them the ropes, and have some kind of military or criminal past that they?re trying to escape so he and the aforementioned girlfriend can live out the rest of their lives in quiet luxury. Parker is not an exception to that rule, in fact it?s further proof that he?s been playing the same character for almost a decade. What sets Parker apart is the fact that it?s the best Statham headlined film since 2008?s The Bank Job.

It may be business as usual on screen for Statham, but nevertheless Parker might be one of the most balanced films in Statham?s career thanks large in part to the direction of Taylor Hackford. Best known for his work on An Officer and a Gentleman, Dolores Claiborne, and the Ray Charles biopic Ray, Hackford brings a lot of maturity to Parker while still remaining entertaining. It?s no surprise that two of Statham?s best recent performances have come at the hands of seasoned directors like that of Roger Donaldson on The Bank Job.

The script, by Black Swan writer John J. McLaughlin, effectively takes author Donald E. Westlake?s Parker character and adapts him to fit Statham?s strengths. Hackford and McLauglin make the right decisions on how much humor, action, and drama they inject into the film and time it appropriately. Rarely did Parker take itself too seriously, there are plenty of opportunities for humor but it never becomes too tongue-in-cheek.

Despite Statham?s limited range he?s enjoyable to watch. Most of the supporting cast is made up of strong ensemble players; some are household names like Michael Chiklis, Nick Nolte, and Clifton Collins Jr. Others like Emma Booth and Micah Hauptman aren?t as well known but still deliver enjoyable performances. Parker?s weakest link is Jennifer Lopez; she just felt completely wrong for the film from top to bottom. Her presence in Parker reeks of desperation to be seen in something other than a romantic comedy. Lopez and Statham have no chemistry together; their platonic relationship adds about as much excitement to the story as her character?s car repossession storyline? in other words, none. Women and Latinos may be more interested in checking out Parker with her name attached to the project, but the film itself doesn?t benefit from her inclusion.

It doesn?t feature non-stop action, but Parker is no slouch either. Statham is a more human hero than in many of his previous films; he?s not the invincible Superman type action star we?ve seen so many times before. If there?s an area where the action suffers however it?s in the form of some questionable CGI. More than once there are some jarringly cheap looking special effects that look absolutely ridiculous by 2013 standards, even for a modestly budgeted action film.

Parker doesn?t re-invent the action film, but I doubt many people expected it to. If you enjoy a well produced action film or Jason Statham films in general than it?s a pretty safe bet that Parker is going to suit your needs. Taylor Hackford?s direction is a pleasant surprise, Statham continues show that he?s this generations Arnold or Sly, and overall Parker is a fun film that hits most of the right notes.

Check out other recent reviews of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Broken City, Mama, and The Last Stand at MoviesHateYouToo.com.

Source: http://www.columbusunderground.com/film-review-parker

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Karrueche Tran: Nude in Rolling Out!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/01/karrueche-tran-nude-in-rolling-out/

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Las Vegas Is One Bright Hole Straight to Hell

Paris may be the City of Light, but the City of Sin is looking to give it a run for its money. This pair of shots was tumblr'd (tumbled?) and tweeted by Colonel Chris Hadfield, who's currently up on the ISS. At night, the city looks like some pool of molten metal, scalding the desert's surface, burning a hole straight to hell. And maybe that's not too far from the truth. [Col. Chris Hadfeild] More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Ys5Q_YGTI2k/las-vegas-is-one-bright-hole-straight-to-hell

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