magicked alight: May 2013

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Crazy ants vs. Fire ants: Who's winning? (+video)

Crazy ants are taking over areas once occupied by fire ants in the South. The sting of Crazy ants isn't as painful and migrate slowly. But Crazy ants multiply faster.

By Douglas Main,?LiveScience / May 18, 2013

Invasive fire ants have been a thorn in the sides of Southerners for years. But another invasive species, the so-called "crazy" ant ? that many describe as being worse ? has arrived and is displacing fire ants in several places.

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"When you talk to folks who live in the invaded areas, they tell you they want their fire ants back," said Edward LeBrun, a researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, in a statement from the school. "Fire ants are in many ways very polite. They live in your yard. They form mounds and stay there, and they only interact with you if you step on their mound."

Crazy ants, on the other hand, "go everywhere," invading homes and nesting in walls and crawlspaces, even damaging electrical equipment by swarming inside appliances. [Image Gallery: Ants of the World]

A study published in the April issue of the journal Biological Invasions found that in areas infested with crazy ants, few to no fire ants were present. Exactly how they are able to outcompete fire ants is so far unknown. In areas with crazy ants, the researchers also found greatly diminished numbers of native ant species, according to the study.

Fire ants are known for their painful stings and have spread through the Southeast since arriving from South America in the 1930s. Crazy ants were first discovered in Houston in 2002, and they have already spread to coastal areas from Texas to Florida, according to the researchers. Although the "crazies" don't have as painful a sting as fire ants, they multiply in even greater numbers. They are also difficult to control since they don't eat the same poison baits as fire ants do, the statement noted.

Last year, the crazy ant species was identified as Nylanderia fulva, which hails from northern Argentina and southern Brazil, according to a 2012 study in PLOS ONE. It's also known as the tawny crazy ant and was previously named the Rasberry crazy ant after the exterminator Tom Rasberry, who first discovered it. The "crazy" moniker comes from the ant's quick, seemingly random movements.

Luckily, the crazy ant doesn't spread as quickly as the fire ant, advancing only 650 feet (200 meters) per year on its own, the release noted. Therefore, it's vital that people don't accidentally transport the ant, the prime method by which it has spread, according to the release.

Email?Douglas Main?or follow him on?Twitter?or?Google+. Follow us @livescience, ?Facebook?or ?Google+. Article originally on LiveScience.com.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/3FwH4s3kfNU/Crazy-ants-vs.-Fire-ants-Who-s-winning-video

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EA shows first Xbox One games: FIFA, NBA Live, Madden and UFC (video)

EA teased hours ago that FIFA 14 would be one of the first Xbox One games, but it just used Microsoft's event to unveil a considerably wider slate. FIFA 14, NBA Live 14, Madden 25 and EA Sports UFC are all coming to the new console within the next 12 months. All of them are using a new engine, EA Sports Ignite, that has 10 times the animation detail, smarter artificial intelligence, 3D crowds, "living" sidelines and a daily dose of new content through Xbox Live. EA and Microsoft are getting cozier with the deal, too -- FIFA 14 Ultimate Team will be an Xbox exclusive. We'll have to wait for more detail about that game later this year, but it's safe to say that Microsoft won't be lacking for major sports titles during the Xbox One's vital first year.

Filed under: Gaming, Software, Microsoft

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/21/ea-shows-first-xbox-one-games-fifa-nba-live-madden-and-ufc/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Only Republicans Think They're Scandals (Taegan Goddard's Political Wire)

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House Republicans Say They Can Legislate and Investigate at the Same Time

House Republicans are pushing back against a prominent conservative group?s suggestion that congressional leaders should avoid scheduling potentially divisive votes which could shift the media spotlight away from the White House?s recent woes.

Heritage Action, an influential group that works closely with the Republican Study Committee and its conservative members, wrote a letter Thursday to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., urging them not to bring two bills to the floor.

Both pieces of legislation?the Marketplace Fairness Act and the farm bill?are opposed by the group. In the letter, Heritage Action CEO Michael Needham warns Boehner and Cantor that voting on these bills ?would give the press a reason to shift their attention away from the failures of the Obama administration to write another ?circular firing squad? article.?

But the notion that House Republicans should steer clear of any potentially discordant votes did not sit well with some lawmakers.

?This is the House of Representatives,? said Rep. David Schweikert of Arizona, a conservative RSC member who said he normally supports Heritage Action?s efforts. ?We need to step up and do our work.?

At the opposite end of the GOP?s ideological spectrum, Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., a moderate who sometimes refers to himself as an independent, scoffed at the suggestion. Coffman said there?s no reason the House, which is playing a part in the investigations of the IRS and Justice Department, can?t simultaneously tend to its legislative duties.

?We?ve got two things occurring at the same time: committees doing oversight work, and committees doing legislative work,? he said. ?I don?t see the legislative agenda being changed at all?and that?s how it should be.?

According to a senior House leadership aide, Heritage Action isn?t concerned with the harmony of the House Republican Conference. Rather, the group wrote to leadership with the sole purpose of preventing legislation they?ve fought against from coming to the floor. ?Are they opposed to the farm bill because of timing, or are they just opposed to the farm bill?? the aide said. ?It?s not a serious argument.?

House Republicans realize the damage being done to the Obama administration and aren?t eager to distract the media with another internecine battle on the House floor. Still, members say, they have a job to do.

?Speaker Boehner is well-known for saying, ?When your opponent is committing suicide, don?t shoot him,? ? said Rep. John Kline, R-Minn. ?The White House is dealing with these scandals, but our job includes more than just watching to see whether this provides a political edge. Our job is to take part in governance, and enact policies that are good for the country.?

The leadership aide was quick to point out that neither of the bills mentioned in the Heritage Action letter is scheduled to come up next week. The Marketplace Fairness Act, which is being considered in the Ways and Means Committee, is not scheduled for a vote in the near future. And the farm bill, which just cleared the Agriculture Committee, isn?t likely to reach the House floor until June, after members return from Memorial Day recess.

Even if both bills were to come to the House floor next week, it?s not clear that House conservatives share Heritage Action?s concerns. Consideration of these bills may not splinter the conference at all. Either way, as Schweikert pointed out, this past week showed that House conservatives have no intention of easing up on the Obama administration anytime soon.

?They don?t have to worry,? Schweikert said of Heritage Action, smiling. ?My brothers and sisters here are focusing plenty on the IRS and the Department of Justice.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/house-republicans-legislate-investigate-same-time-073930038.html

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Monday, May 20, 2013

Deal of the Day ? 2013 model 24? Dell UltraSharp U2413 1920 X 1200 24? IPS monitor

Monday’s LogicBUY Deal is the 2013 model 24″ Dell?UltraSharp U2413 monitor for?$499.99. ?Features: 1920 X 1200 resolution wide-gamut IPS panel 6ms response time,?400 nits brightness Built-in 4-port USB 3.0 hub Inputs: HDMI, DisplayPort 1.2, DVI-D, mini DisplayPort 3-Year Advanced Exchange Service and Premium Panel Guarantee $599.99 – $100 instant savings?= $499.99 with free shipping. This [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/05/20/deal-of-the-day-2013-model-24-dell-ultrasharp-u2413-1920-x-1200-24-ips-monitor/

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Friday, May 17, 2013

Welcome to whitenoise!

Welcome old friends and lost travelers! One way or another you have found your way to whitenoise! But what is this place? And what can be your role here? Good questions! The shortest, easiest answer to both question is: Just about whatever you want it to be.

To the best of my knowledge, whitenoise was formed back in 2009. It's Gizmodo's side blog that more or less serves as an open thread anyone to talk about anything. Each of the Gawker sites have such a place. Naturally, the subject matter on whitenoise leaned towards technology and attracted a tech savy crowd. Over time the conversation evolved to practically everything under the sun*. Cat gifs? Bring em on. Have an issue with an editor? We'll listen to you. This was always meant to be a safe place. Have a question about your phone? Ask and you might get a great answer. We're here for each other.

From about 2009-2011 whitenoise grew to be a very popular hangout. I would guess there were well more than 50 regular folk in here and hundreds of people passed through daily. Without getting into details, whitenoise has been in a bit of a lull since they hay days of yesteryear but, I think that Kinja's recent release makes this a time ripe for a resurgence. If things work out here like they did on Jalopnik, post something really neat and the editors may notice and report you to the front page. You could be famous! No promises though.

For a while, I was posting a morning post under the heading "Roll Call!". I got a bit sidetracked there but perhaps I'll take it up again soon. If so, I encourage you to stop by at any time of the day and make a comment -any comment. It's a neat way to watch the place grow again. I tend to build these a few days out and schedule them to publish at 7am EST. Oh, some of you may be wondering "Who the hell are you anyway?" Just some guy who'd like to see whitenoise come back to life again. I'm not an employee of Gawker or attached to them in any official manner. I'm just another one of you folks.

So here's the important question: How do YOU contribute? Well, start by leaving a comment below and let me know you want in. There are a few of us around who can grant you authorship rights -and take them away if you get too unruly. I'd like to see as many of you submitting threads as possible. So switch on and be heard.

*Please use common sense house rules related NSFW, hate speech and so on. Otherwise, the Terms of Use and Content Guidelines which are linked from the bottom of each page governs all of Gawker Media and every Kinja site, and there will be no tolerance for spam.

Source: http://whitenoise.gizmodo.com/welcome-to-whitenoise-478286112

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Debbie Rowe to Wade Robson: YOU LIE!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/05/debbie-rowe-to-wade-robson-you-lie/

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Atmospheric CO2 at highest levels in 3 million years (Americablog)

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Self-Defense ? Most Popular Stun Guns Under Twenty Bucks ...

Related eBooks

Because of technological advancements and brutal price competition you can get a wide variety of stun guns for less than $20. For many people price is the most important element in making a purchase. In this article we will discuss the most popular stun guns under $20. Read on to learn more.

Source:Self-Defense ? Most Popular Stun Guns Under Twenty Bucks

MRI scans could make baby autopsies more acceptable

By Kate Kelland

LONDON (Reuters) - Bereaved parents who do not want to see their dead babies go through a conventional autopsy could in future be offered a less invasive option which uses magnetic resonance imaging and blood tests to establish the cause of death.

Scientists who investigated using a combination of full body scans and sample tests found this so-called minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) was as effective in determining the cause of death as a conventional procedure, which involves an open dissection of the baby's body to examine the organs.

Since the vast majority of parents whose babies die during or soon after birth currently refuse any autopsy, the researchers suggested the MIA could both improve rates of uptake and reduce parents' distress while offering clear answers.

"Autopsies not only help us to establish the cause of death, but they often play an important role in advancing medical research and knowledge," said Andrew Taylor, a consultant radiologist at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College Hospital who co-led the study.

"If we can find ways to continue to carry them out using less invasive methods, such as post-mortem MRI, we can boost our understanding of the many ways in which the body can go wrong."

In a study published in the journal the Lancet, Taylor and colleague Sudhin Thayyil, a consultant neonatologist, compared the accuracy of a standard autopsy with that of whole-body, post-mortem MRI with or without other minimally invasive tests.

These included blood samples taken by needle, visual examination of the body and genetic and metabolic tests.

The study involved 400 cases foetuses, babies and children under 16 years old.

For foetuses and babies younger than a year, the MIA identified the same cause of death as the full autopsy for 92 percent of the cases studied, while in children aged one to 16, the MIA techniques were less accurate, with 54 percent of the two types of autopsies agreeing on cause of death.

The researchers said the difference in accuracy was probably because MRI was good at picking up abnormalities in organ structure or function, which are more likely to be causes of death in young babies, but unable to detect infections, which are more likely to be a cause of death in older children.

Experts say that currently in Britain, some 80 percent parents whose baby dies shortly after birth refuse consent for a post mortem. This is despite evidence that autopsies find new and useful information in the majority of cases.

In the United States, Thayyil said, rates of autopsy in babies are even lower.

"In a state of shock and grief, parents are asked if they will consent, and while they desperately want answers about why their baby died, many simply cannot contemplate what a post mortem entails," said Charlotte Bevan of Sands, a charity that campaigns for more research into stillbirth and neonatal death.

"Giving parents the option to have a less invasive but equally informative investigation will not only make the decision easier ... but could lead to an increase in post mortem up-take and vastly improved research into why so many babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth."

(Editing by Alison Williams)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mri-scans-could-baby-autopsies-more-acceptable-231624626.html

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Thursday, May 16, 2013

Markets remain subdued after soft US data

LONDON (AP) ? Financial markets were subdued Thursday despite encouraging growth figures out of Japan, as investors digested a mixed batch a U.S. economic data a day after Wall Street indexes hit record highs.

One of the reasons why stocks have been buoyant for most of this year has been optimism over the U.S. economy. But a 32,000 rise in weekly jobless claims to 360,000 and a fairly downbeat manufacturing survey from the Philadelphia Fed raised questions about the underlying health of the world's largest economy.

The impact on the markets was muted, however, given that a 0.4 percent fall in monthly consumer prices, which took the annual rate down to a two and a half year low of 1.1 percent, suggested that the Federal Reserve won't be in a rush to end its super-easy monetary policy soon. The Fed's monetary injections over the past few years have lain behind the recovery in stock markets since 2009.

"Optimism abounds, and with inflation concerns starting to ignite concern for more rather than less bond buying ahead, it does not seem rational to sell stocks on the view that the economy may be slowing," said Andrew Wilkinson, chief economic strategist at Miller Tabak & Co.

In Europe, Germany's DAX rose less than 0.1 percent to close at 8,369.87 while the CAC-40 in France fell 0.1 percent to 3,979.07. The FTSE 100 of leading British shares also ended 0.1 percent lower at 6,687.80.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 0.1 percent at 15,285.19 while the broader S&P 500 index was flat at 1,658.85.

Japan was in focus earlier after figures fueled hopes of an economic turnaround in the country. A day after the latest set of data showed that the eurozone ? the 17 European Union countries that use the euro ? was in its longest recession since the currency was launched in 1999, Japanese data impressed on the upside.

Stronger consumer spending and public works investment coupled with aggressive monetary easing gave some oomph to the recovery. Japan's economy grew by a stronger-than-expected 3.5 percent in annual terms and by 0.9 percent on a quarterly basis, according to figures reported by the Cabinet Office on Thursday.

The forecast-busting data provides the first tangible evidence that the economic policy of the new government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is working.

Abe promised aggressive steps to restart the country's postwar boom, which effectively ground to a halt in the early 1990s. As part of that effort, the Bank of Japan plans to double the amount of cash circulating in the Japanese economy and held as bank reserves.

One of the offshoots of the policies has been a dramatic fall in the value of the yen, and that's boosted the export prospects of the country's businesses, lifting the Nikkei 40 percent this year.

The Nikkei didn't extend those gains Thursday, losing 0.4 percent to close at 15,037.24 as investors used the release as an opportunity to book some gains.

"If you're looking for a clear example of the markets currently moving in a way that is unrelated to the quality of the data, then look no further than the movement in the Nikkei," said Craig Erlam, market analyst at Alpari.

Despite the modest retreat in Tokyo, most other Asian markets advanced. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.2 percent to 23,082.68. while South Korea's Kospi added 0.8 percent to 1,986.81. China's main index in Shanghai ended 1.2 percent higher at 2,356.80.

Currencies were steady, with the euro up 0.1 percent at $1.2898 and the dollar flat against the Japanese yen, at 102.22 yen.

Oil prices eked out some gains, with the benchmark New York rate up 99 cents to $95.29 per barrel.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/markets-remain-subdued-soft-us-data-144141647.html

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Why Eric Holder's Excuse for Spying on Reporters Isn't Enough (Atlantic Politics Channel)

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NVIDIA's $349 Handheld Shield Gaming System Will Ship In June, Pre-Orders Start Today

Remember NVIDIA's kooky Project SHIELD tablet? The one it unveiled to an unsuspecting public at back CES? Well, it's officially not just a "project" anymore -- it's a full-fledged product, and NVIDIA is aiming to get the SHIELD out the door this June complete with a $349 price tag. To help manage demand for the curious gaming portable, NVIDIA is also preparing to take pre-orders. If you've been eagerly devouring what Shield details you could and have subscribed to the Shield newsletter, you'll be able to lock down your unit starting today -- the rest will have to wait until next Monday to get their pre-orders in.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/3ek-eCLdd-I/

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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Comparing Senate and House farm bills

The Senate Agriculture Committee approved a farm bill Tuesday and the House Agriculture Committee considers its version Wednesday. A look at some similarities and differences between the Senate and House versions of the legislation:

OVERALL COST: Both five-year bills would cost almost $100 billion annually, with almost $80 billion of that annual total going to domestic food aid. The Senate bill would save about $2.4 billion yearly from current spending, and the House bill would save almost $4 billion, including about $600 million saved in each bill due to across-the-board spending cuts that kicked in earlier this year.

FOOD STAMPS: Food stamps, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, have for decades been part of the farm bill in an effort to garner urban lawmakers' votes for rural programs. The Senate farm bill would cut about $400 million from the $80 billion annual total by targeting states that give people who don't have heating bills very small amounts of heating assistance so they can automatically qualify for higher food stamp benefits. The House bill would cut $2 billion yearly by making similar changes and eliminating "broad-based categorical eligibility," or automatic food stamp benefits when people are signed up for certain other programs.

DIRECT PAYMENTS: Direct payments, which cost the government around $5 billion annually, would be phased out in both bills, with the savings split between other subsidy programs and deficit reduction. Those subsidies have been controversial because they are paid out every year regardless of crop prices or crop yield. The Senate bill would eliminate the program immediately, while the House bill would phase it out over the next two years for cotton farmers who rely on the program.

CROP INSURANCE: Both bills would increase subsidies for federally subsidized crop insurance and create a new crop insurance program that covers smaller revenue losses on planted crops. This revenue protection program favors Midwestern corn and soybean farmers and would be more generous in the Senate bill.

PRICE PROTECTION: Both bills would raise "target prices" for some crops. Certain subsidies kick in if prices drop to those targets, meaning farmers will only receive them if prices are low. While many of these programs haven't been used for the last several years because crop prices have been at unprecedented highs, these subsidies exist as a safety net. Both the House and Senate bills would raise target prices for rice and peanuts, since those also often depend on direct payments that would be eliminated. The House bill would raise those target prices higher than the Senate bill would, making it easier for the subsidies to kick in.

FOOD AID: Neither bill includes an Obama administration proposal to shift the way food aid is sent abroad. Much of the food aid program now includes U.S.-grown food overseas, but the Obama budget last month proposed shifting the aid to more flexible accounts, which would allow cash purchases abroad or from U.S. farmers, saying such a move would be more efficient. Both House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., have sided with farm groups against the proposal.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/comparing-senate-house-farm-bills-073903783.html

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Great Expectations: A Family for All Occasions Falls Short of ...

Jeffrey DeMunn in ?A Family for All Occasions.? (Photo by Joan Marcus)

The set for A Family for All Occasions, a new play from the small Labyrinth Theater Company, is a wonder. In the tiny Bank Street Theater, where Bob Glaudini?s darkly comic drama opened Sunday night, David Meyer has built a finely detailed, deeply lived-in re-creation of a working-class family?s front room?dining table and chairs, lounger, workbench in a corner, books and tchotchkes on the shelves?in what the program tells us is a midsize Northeastern city. But the remarkable moments come, in this cramped and low-ceilinged room, when first a side wall and then, later, a back one slide away to reveal other rooms of the home. They?re unexpected discoveries, these additional spaces, and impressive, enjoyable flourishes.

Unfortunately Mr. Glaudini?s play, a sometimes intriguing but more often opaque portrait of a deeply dysfunctional family, is less revelatory than that set, and not so enjoyably fulfilling.

Howard (Jeffrey DeMunn) is a retired electrician who earns extra money repairing lamps for a local shop. He?s kindly and optimistic and always sees the best in his gruff wife and wayward kids. That wife, May (Deirdre O?Connell), a supervisor at a box factory, is perpetually tired and cranky. Howard?s two adult children from his first marriage?his wife fled the family when the kids were young?live at home and maintain sullen, aimless existences. Sam (Charlie Saxton), whom we meet first, is a schlubby tech guru who can?t or won?t get a job; instead he stays shut in his room, working on the coding project that he believes will get him a scholarship to college and fulminating about the old crappy computer he?s forced to try to do it on.

Sue (Justine Lupe), Sam?s older sister, is a party girl whom we meet after breakfast, when she comes home from a night out. She announces to Sam that a man she met the previous night might be stopping by, and then she heads for the bathtub. Soon enough, Oz (William Jackson Harper) arrives, and if it?s unclear why a man who seems to be so kind, calm, respectful and well-spoken?he ?eschews? drugs, he tells Sue?would be so smitten with this aimless clubgoer, or why he would agree to a date that begins at 9 or 10 in the morning, his character at least serves an important dramaturgical purpose as the catalyst that will knock this family out of its depressive stasis.

The play is directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, a Labyrinth stalwart, and he gives it a deeply naturalistic feel reminiscent of his acting: gritty, authentic, not at all showy. You hear murmurs of conversations happening just off set, you watch characters eat?and slurp?cereal. It?s an approach that lends visceral immediacy to the proceedings, as do the generally subtle and affecting performances. But it also diminishes the comedy of what could be played as a satire and instead gives A Family for All Occasions a gravitas that the material cannot quite support.

Oz, who reports that he also ?eschews? alcohol, turns out to be a boon companion for the lonely older man, and the two bond over a shared love of words and books. Oz has access to wholesale electronics?never explored is how, or whether it?s entirely legal?and he soon worms his way into the family with gifts: a new computer for Sam, an iPod for the music-loving Howard, a foot massager for exhausted May. Sue?s gift is a child, apparently conceived after an odd onstage seduction. Oz?s background and motivations remain opaque, but soon enough he?s stuck in this same small house, raising a child.

The play?s climax?an entirely uncharacteristic burst of violence from Howard?feels contrived, but it also shows how a man who spends so much time trying to be positive amid unhappy circumstances must eventually release his frustration. The denouement is fitting, and sad: Sue has fled, like her mother; Sam is finally off at college; Howard and May, who is now also in retirement, are reconnecting. Oz is left to raise the baby, a new version of Howard.

The point, I suppose, is about the inevitability and repetition of life, and it could be a bracing one. Instead, A Family for All Occasions is a little like Howard: nice, well-intentioned and disappointingly ineffectual.

Bunty Berman Presents?, a new musical at the New Group, has a different ambition?to be a big, boisterous, Golden Age of Bollywood extravaganza?and it?s more of a disappointment.

Set in 1957, when Bombay moviemaking was like studio-era Hollywood, it starts off promisingly, as the opening number??Bombay Opening,? an exuberant and silly paean to the glories of the Indian filmmaking capital?reveals bouncy music, a charmingly hammy cast and goofy, clever choreography (by Josh Prince). There are also bold, colorful, clever costumes and sets (by William Ivey Long and Derek McLane).

Soon enough, the stock characters and convolutedly mechanical plot?aping the style of 1950s Hindi films?are introduced: there?s Bunty (Ayub Khan Din), a paternal studio chief lately down on his luck and short of financing; his secretary, Dolly (Gayton Scott), secretly in love with him; his beloved, over-the-hill star, Raj (Sorab Wadia); Shambervi (Lipica Shah), the young female star with a secret past; Saleem (Nick Choksi), the tea boy in love with her; Shankar Dass (Alok Tewari), the local gangster offering a financial resource; and on and on. There are twists, turns, misunderstandings and dance numbers, and eventually everything turns out as it should.

Would that the same were true of this play, which opened last week at Theatre Row. The music, by Ayub Khan Din, the star, and Paul Bogaev, is entertaining and upbeat, more Big Band jazzy than Eastern. But Mr. Din?s book and lyrics, as directed by New Group artistic director Scott Elliott, don?t match the upbeat enthusiasm of that first number. There are a few outright groaners, like the lyric about chutzpah that prompts this exchange: ?I?m Jewish.? ?A Jew?? ?Gesundheit.? But the larger problem is a wholesale lack of wit, pep and excitement. It?s a lugubrious farce, a sodden flight of fancy. Bunty Berman Presents? should be a luxurious immersion in the lovable excesses of Bollywood; instead, it?s just a brisk walk through Curry Hill.

editorial@observer.com

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Source: http://observer.com/2013/05/great-expectations-a-family-for-all-occasions-falls-short-of-poignancy/

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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Engadget Giveaway: win a Samsung Galaxy S 4 on AT&T, courtesy of Otterbox!

See that package above? That phone-and-case combo could find a home in your hand, thanks to Otterbox. The company, which is well-known for its durable cases, has an AT&T-branded Samsung Galaxy S 4 to hand out to one of our lucky readers! Additionally, the grand prize winner -- along with a runner-up winner -- will receive one Defender case (valued at $50) and one Commuter case (valued at $35) specifically designed for the GS4. The phone is locked and doesn't come with service, so those of you who aren't AT&T fans may need to get creative with it. Hit up the Rafflecopter widget below to enter, and good luck!

Note: Because the GS4 is locked to a US carrier, this week's giveaway is unfortunately limited to our US readers. We should have some Canadian and UK giveaways coming up in the near future, however, so stay tuned!

Filed under: Announcements, Mobile, Samsung

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/14/engadget-giveaway-otterbox/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Sunday, May 12, 2013

Watch NASA's Emergency ISS Spacewalk Live Right Now

Two days ago, astronauts on the ISS discovered some little white flakes suspiciously floating away from the station. And now, they're already floating outside in zero gravity to fix it. From planning to go-time, this has been the most impromptu spacewalk in NASA history, and you can tune in below.

Neil Patrick Harris Joines A Million Ways to Die in the West

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/05/neil-patrick-harris-joines-a-million-ways-to-die-in-the-west/

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This Sleek Briefcase Hides an Easy To Clean Portable Pet Potty

In what will surely lead to some wacky mixups at the office, Modko's upcoming Shake looks like a stark white briefcase, though it's actually a portable place for your pet to potty. But before you get completely disgusted, it seems like the folks at Modko have thought this one out.

The worst part about your pet pottying anywhere is having to clean it up afterwards. So to make the process slightly less awful, the Shake forms a tight seal when closed, allowing it to be filled with water and then just vigorously shaken clean?hence the name. A spigot releases the contents so the Shake can be drained in a toilet afterwards, saving you from ever having to touch anything gross?at least in theory.

Modko claims the Shake will be available sometime in September, so in the meantime we suggest training your dog with an old attache or suitcase so they're ready to go when it eventually arrives. [Modko via Chip Chick]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-sleek-briefcase-hides-an-easy-to-clean-portable-pe-500089860

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Saturday, May 11, 2013

Hyundai Motor mulls fourth China plant: vice chairman

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co is considering building a fourth car plant in China, its vice chairman said on Friday, as it seeks to increase production overseas to counter the effect of a firm local currency coupled with a falling yen as well as labor issues.

The comments from Hsueh Yung-hsing might a indicate change in the group's attitude toward capacity expansion, but it is not clear whether group chairman Chung Mong-koo will approve the move because of his disciplined capacity approach, said a person familiar with the matter.

"We expect our capacity in China to become constrained by 2015 and 2016...and are considering a plant with a capacity of 300,000," Hsueh Yung-hsing told reporters, adding western China is a candidate location for the new plant.

Hsueh, who is in charge of the China operations for Hyundai and its affiliate, Kia Motors Corp , said a new plant is needed for the South Korean duo to maintain their Chinese market share of around 10 percent in 2015-2016 when the world's biggest auto market is expected to grow to 20 million vehicles a year.

He also said the construction of a third China auto plant by Kia Motors would be brought forward by two months and would be completed in February 2014, which will lead to a total manufacturing capacity of 1.8 million vehicles in China for Hyundai and Kia.

Hyundai and Kia officials still assume the effective ban Chung placed on a new factory globally will remain intact at least for a while, a person close to the matter told Reuters on Friday.

Shares in Hyundai ended down 2.3 percent and Kia Motors fell 3.3 percent on Friday after the U.S. dollar broke through 100 yen, fueling concerns about competitive disadvantage to South Korean automakers.

U.S. EXPANSION ON HOLD

While Hyundai and Kia have been adding capacity in recent years in China - Hyundai started production at its third China plant last year - the South Korean duo is very cautious in building a new factory in the United States.

"Because of currency risks, we have been considering plants in the U.S, South America, Southeast Asia and elsewhere," a top group executive told Reuters on Friday. "We have been long considering a U.S. plant in Alabama or Georgia, but we are taking a wait-and-see attitude. It's fair to say the possible plant is on hold," he said.

He cited rising competition and uncertain market outlook as reasons for a measured growth policy in a key market where the duo has achieved fast growth in recent years.

"Salespeople are calling for us to expand U.S. capacity, but it costs lots of money to build a single factory and if the market goes wrong, it will be big trouble. So we have no choice but to be careful," the executive said.

Chung also said on Monday that Hyundai and Kia do not immediately plan to build a new car factory in the United States, downplaying speculation that the South Korean automaker would soon announce production facilities there.

(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Additional reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu in BEIJING; Writing by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Paul Tait and Matt Driskill)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hyundai-motor-mulls-fourth-china-plant-vice-chairman-063408793.html

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Garcia goes 1 up on Tiger at Players Championship

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) ? Sergio Garcia must have been inspired once he saw Tiger Woods in the lead at The Players Championship.

Garcia ran off five straight birdies Friday, then added a 40-foot birdie putt on the par-3 eighth hole for a 7-under 65. That gave him a one-shot lead over Woods among the early starters at TPC Sawgrass. He was at 11-under 133.

Woods played right behind Garcia. He tied for the lead with a 20-foot eagle putt at No. 2, and took the outright lead ? just briefly ? with a short birdie on the fourth hole. Woods made a birdie on his final hole for a second straight 67. That's six shots better than his previous best start at Sawgrass.

Roberto Castro, who opened with a 63, played in the afternoon.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/garcia-goes-1-tiger-players-championship-175341195.html

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Dr. Jamie Turndorf Reveals 5 Step Guide To Long Distance ...

Because her HLN TV appearance on long distance love was so well received, Dr. Jamie Turndorf is devoting an entire Ask Dr. Love radio show to ?How To Make Your Long Distance Relationship Go the Distance.?

In this week?s show, Dr. Turndorf shares tips for helping long distance love make it to the finish line. She will more fully discuss daily maintenance to keep romance alive, how to avoiding texting no nos, and even how to have sex from afar, covering all the bases to insure that people know how to make their long distance love affairs hit a homerun!

Tune in to find out how to keep your long distance love alive and thriving!

Dr. Jamie Turndorf is a popular relationship expert, author, and radio show host known to millions around the world as the creator of AskDrLove.com, the Web's first free relationship advice site since 1996. AskDrLove.com now offers thousands of advice articles on every imaginable love, relationship, marriage, or dating advice question.

Hosted on TalkZone.com every Tuesday at 1pm EST, Ask Dr. Love is a live one hour Internet radio talk show focusing on love and relationships. Listeners can also call-in to the show and ask Dr. Turndorf for advice on any of their personal issues and get heartfelt yet professional advice. All shows are available on TalkZone.com, BlogTalkradio.com, AskDrLove.com, YouTube, and iTunes. Follow Dr. Turndorf on Facebook and on Twitter @askdrlove.

Source: http://ask-dr-love-with-dr-jamie-turndorf.pressdoc.com/45659-dr-jamie-turndorf-reveals-5-step-guide-to-long-distance-relationships

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Friday, May 10, 2013

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West: Is This the End?

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/05/kim-kardashian-and-kanye-west-is-this-the-end/

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Video: Abercrombie's PR Problem

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Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/cnbc/51820737/

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Thursday, May 9, 2013

President to tout Obamacare benefits for women

By Susan Guyett INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - The daughter of Ariel Castro, the chief suspect in the Cleveland abduction of three women freed on Monday, is serving time in an Indiana prison for attempted murder after she slashed her baby's throat four times with a knife, court documents show. Emily Castro, 25, was sentenced to 25 years and is at the Rockville, Indiana, Correctional Facility. She was found guilty in Allen County Superior Court of attempting to murder her 11-month-old daughter, according to a decision by the Court of Appeals of Indiana on November 5, 2008. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/president-tout-obamacare-benefits-women-republican-plan-repeal-000434072.html

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Tuesday, May 7, 2013

New device can extract human DNA with full genetic data in minutes

May 6, 2013 ? Take a swab of saliva from your mouth and within minutes your DNA could be ready for analysis and genome sequencing with the help of a new device.

University of Washington engineers and NanoFacture (http://nano-facture.com/), a Bellevue, Wash., company, have created a device that can extract human DNA from fluid samples in a simpler, more efficient and environmentally friendly way than conventional methods.

The device will give hospitals and research labs a much easier way to separate DNA from human fluid samples, which will help with genome sequencing, disease diagnosis and forensic investigations.

"It's very complex to extract DNA," said Jae-Hyun Chung, a UW associate professor of mechanical engineering who led the research. "When you think of the current procedure, the equivalent is like collecting human hairs using a construction crane."

This technology aims to clear those hurdles. The small, box-shaped kit now is ready for manufacturing, then eventual distribution to hospitals and clinics. NanoFacture, a UW spinout company, signed a contract with Korean manufacturer KNR Systems last month at a ceremony in Olympia, Wash.

The UW, led by Chung, spearheaded the research and invention of the technology, and still manages the intellectual property.

Separating DNA from bodily fluids is a cumbersome process that's become a bottleneck as scientists make advances in genome sequencing, particularly for disease prevention and treatment. The market for DNA preparation alone is about $3 billion each year.

Conventional methods use a centrifuge to spin and separate DNA molecules or strain them from a fluid sample with a micro-filter, but these processes take 20 to 30 minutes to complete and can require excessive toxic chemicals.

UW engineers designed microscopic probes that dip into a fluid sample -- saliva, sputum or blood -- and apply an electric field within the liquid. That draws particles to concentrate around the surface of the tiny probe. Larger particles hit the tip and swerve away, but DNA-sized molecules stick to the probe and are trapped on the surface. It takes two or three minutes to separate and purify DNA using this technology.

"This simple process removes all the steps of conventional methods," Chung said.

The hand-held device can clean four separate human fluid samples at once, but the technology can be scaled up to prepare 96 samples at a time, which is standard for large-scale handling.

The tiny probes, called microtips and nanotips, were designed and built at the UW in a micro-fabrication facility where a technician can make up to 1 million tips in a year, which is key in proving that large-scale production is feasible, Chung said.

Engineers in Chung's lab also have designed a pencil-sized device using the same probe technology that could be sent home with patients or distributed to those serving in the military overseas. Patients could swab their cheeks, collect a saliva sample, then process their DNA on the spot to send back to hospitals and labs for analysis. This could be useful as efforts ramp up toward sequencing each person's genome for disease prevention and treatment, Chung said.

The market for this device isn't developed yet, but Chung's team will be ready when it is. Meanwhile, the larger device is ready for commercialization, and its creators have started working with distributors.

A UW Center for Commercialization grant of $50,000 seeded initial research in 2008, and since then researchers have received about $2 million in funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Sang-gyeun Ahn, a UW assistant professor of industrial design, crafted the prototype.

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/h-_EnMAFYVk/130506132100.htm

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The World?s First Entirely 3D-Printed Gun Fires Its First Shot

Just days after revealing that he was working on a 100-per-cent 3D-printed weapon, Cody Wilson appears to have successfully test-fired the Liberator pistol, a gun made entirely out of plastic. Great.

The Liberator is a fairly wonky-looking pistol, constructed entirely out of plastic ? the only metal working component is the firing pin, which is a repurposed nail. It appears to fire .22 rimfire rounds, which are very small but still quite lethal when fired into a squishy human being.

Although the Liberator hasn?t exactly been stress-tested yet ? Wilson only fired one round between the cut-shots of WWII era bombers ? it does appear to work, which essentially means that yes, 3D-printed guns, are now a reality. But hey, according to Mr Wilson: ?Yeah, they might be used [to kill people], but that?s not a reason not to make them?. And if one law student says so, there?s no reason to be worried, right? [Defence Distributed via BBC]

Our newest offspring Gizmodo UK is gobbling up the news in a different timezone, so check them out if you need another Giz fix.

Source: http://gizmodo.com/the-world-s-first-entirely-3d-printed-gun-fires-its-fir-493093467

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Leopards found extinct in Taiwan as public begins to growl

A team of zoologists have been looking for the Formosan clouded leopard, indigenous to Taiwan, for 13 years. Last week they announced it was extinct.

By Ralph Jennings,?Correspondent / May 6, 2013

The news that the clouded leopards that once prowled the lowlands of Taiwan have become extinct here has prompted expressions of concern among an increasingly conservationist public.

Skip to next paragraph Ralph Jennings

Taiwan Correspondent

Ralph Jennings has covered news in China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia for the past 14 years. He lives in Taipei and holds a degree in mass communication from the University of California in Berkeley.?

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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