Nuclear-capable stealth bombers sent to S. Korea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) ? The U.S military says two nuclear-capable B-2 bombers have completed a training mission in South Korea amid threats from North Korea that include nuclear strikes on Washington and Seoul.

The statement Thursday by U.S. Forces Korea is an unusual confirmation. It follows an earlier U.S. announcement that nuclear-capable B-52 bombers participated in ongoing U.S.-South Korean military drills.

The U.S. says the B-2 stealth bombers flew from a U.S. air base and dropped munitions on a South Korean island range before returning home.

The announcement will likely draw a strong response from Pyongyang. North Korea sees the military drills as part of a U.S. plot to invade and becomes particularly upset about U.S. nuclear activities in the region.

Washington and Seoul say they the annual drills are routine and defensive.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/us-sends-nuclear-capable-b-2-bombers-skorea-112309292.html

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Today's Poll: Should same sex marriage be legal? | The Batavian

This is a comment on the poll, not the others who have commented so far.

I think Republicans, as they currently present themselves as candidates or in elected leadership, have a dilemma on the issue of marriage. Is it:

1. Get government off our backs

or

2. Have government oversee our most intimate relationships.

I'm not saying that Republicans are the only ones with this dilemma, or that all Republicans think alike, but it is the Republican nominees to the Supreme Court who have been vested by their party with the mantle of "defending" opposite gender marriage. So in Citizens United, for example, SCOTUS chose #1. With DOMA, will SCOTUS choose #2 ... or #1?

It appears to me that the logjam of #1 and #2 is beginning to break apart, and that there is movement away from #2. The poll, so far, in this Republican-dominated region, seems to be demonstrating that.

The New York Times had an interesting "538" article yesterday analyzing the "flip" trend on this issue: is it because people are changing their minds, or that opponents to homosexuality are gradually dying off, and their younger "replacements" care less about the issue? In any event, the various polls, including this unscientific one in the Batavian, show movement.

Source: http://thebatavian.com/howard-owens/todays-poll-should-same-sex-marriage-be-legal/36682

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The Duggars Are Considering Adoption - How Many Kids Is Too ...

Michelle Duggar says she and husband Jim Bob Duggar would consider adopting a child.

Great, you say. Get kids out of orphanages and foster care. Give kids a loving family and home to call their own. No more children lost in the system.

Then you remember: Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are already parents to nineteen children. And you remember all the questions, judgments, and accusations surrounding their?fecundity.

From?Newsday.com

From Hollywoodlife.com

And from Twitter, where complex ethical deliberations, moral judgments, and political debate can be condensed to the handy-dandy 140 character size.

Or maybe not.

In any case, I?m on the side of Michelle Duggar on this one.

No, I don?t agree with all the teachings of her faith. I think some of those teachings are bigoted, and that?s me being polite. But disagreement is a problem I have with plenty of religious teachings- teachings which are used to justify everything from assault on women to discrimination against gays to out-and-out war.

But are we going to start dealing out Permission To Procreate cards only to the people who we think should have them based upon our agreement with their beliefs ?- whether that?s ?belief? in a particular God or political philosophy or that family?s dedication to successful economic fortitude or environmental righteousness? Personally, I?m not sure how many Uterus Is GO! cards I could hand over based my perfect approval. Maybe I?d give one to Brangelina. I?d still have to think on that one. ?I have questions about their number of plane flights per year.

And speaking of environmental asceticism, I do question the impact of large families on the overall environment. There?s a heck-a-lot of resources needed to keep a family that size up and running each day. Here?s what Michelle Duggar has to say about over population:

Ehhrrrm. Okay, hold up there, Michelle. I?m on your side here with buying used and repairing instead of replacing, but your opening volley of ?the entire population of the world?could fit in the city limits of Jacksonville,? misses the point of sustainability.

Zero Population advocates recommend a replacement rate of population growth, i.e. number of folks dying equals the number of people born. That?s simplifying, but in developed countries, ?zero population growth? means 2 kids per woman (well?2.1 kids per woman. I always wonder how that .1 kid figures in when calculating half-time soccer snacks.)

In other words, I have three kids. One of them needs to get shipped off to Denmark or Japan where low birth rate is too low?say experts, and the diminishing workforce will have scary negative economic consequences. However, the Duggars recently returned from a trip to China and Japan, so who knows. Maybe one or two of the kids accidentally got left behind. Population redistribution solved.

The Duggars back when there were only 17 kids. Or what they?d look like today with two Duggars helping out the needed population boom in Denmark.

But remember, we?re not talking about Michelle and Jim Bob popping out another bio-kid. We?re talking about the Duggars putting their money where someone else?s mouth is and adopting a child who doesn?t currently have a family home. We?re talking about an established family of loving parents and healthy, seemingly happy kids taking a homeless child under their roof.

Yeah, I know?don?t Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have too many kids already? How can they ever give another kid ?the attention he or she needs with so many other kids demanding love and attention?

It?s hard not to think of my own struggle with New Mommy Guilt, even when I went off to work and the ?babysitter? I was leaving my newborn with was my own husband. I later did a lot of needless psychological and emotional gymnastics to convince myself that leaving my firstborn with an experienced and caring professional childcare expert wasn?t neglect.

With my second child, I wondered where I?d find the time to pay attention to all the needs of another little human.

By my third child, the question had been answered: I?m the parent and no one can replace me. Quality time and quantity time were both important. But seeing my son born into a family of two older, loving siblings who were also capable of teaching and being playmates and guardians was only a good thing. The overall love was multiplied, ?not diminished.

Agree or disagree with Michelle Duggar?s religion or politics or philosophies as you will. It?s hard to deny that a child adopted into that home would be brought into a home filled with a lot of love and caring and good things. Whether the good things outweigh someone?s definition of bad? I?m uncomfortable with making that judgment.

Read More Do You Watch Too Much TLC?

source, source

Source: http://www.mamapop.com/2013/03/the-duggars-are-considering-adoption.html

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Imaging methodology reveals nano details not seen before: Understanding nanoparticles at atomic scale in 3-D could improve materials

Mar. 27, 2013 ? A team of scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Northwestern University has produced 3-D images and videos of a tiny platinum nanoparticle at atomic resolution that reveal new details of defects in nanomaterials that have not been seen before.

Prior to this work, scientists only had flat, two-dimensional images with which to view the arrangement of atoms. The new imaging methodology developed at UCLA and Northwestern will enable researchers to learn more about a material and its properties by viewing atoms from different angles and seeing how they are arranged in three dimensions.

The study will be published March 27 by the journal Nature.

The authors describe being able to see how the atoms of a platinum nanoparticle -- only 10 namometers in diameter -- are arranged in three dimensions. They also identify how the atoms are arranged around defects in the platinum nanoparticle.

Similar to how CT scans of the brain and body are done in a hospital, the scientists took images of a platinum nanoparticle from many different directions and then pieced the images together using a new method that improved the quality of the images.

This novel method is a combination of three techniques: scanning transmission electron microscopy, equally sloped tomography (EST) and three-dimensional Fourier filtering. Compared to conventional CT, the combined method produces much higher quality 3-D images and allows the direct visualization of atoms inside the platinum nanoparticle in three dimensions.

"Visualizing the arrangement of atoms in materials has played an important role in the evolution of modern science and technology," said Jianwei (John) Miao, who led the work. He is a professor of physics and astronomy at UCLA and a researcher with the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA.

"Our method allows the 3-D imaging of the local structures in materials at atomic resolution, and it is expected to find application in materials sciences, nanoscience, solid state physics and chemistry," he said.

"It turns out that there are details we can only see when we can look at materials in three dimensions," said co-author Laurence D. Marks, a professor of materials science and engineering at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.

"We have had suspicions for a long time that there was more going on than we could see from the flat images we had," Marks said. "This work is the first demonstration that this is true at the atomic scale."

Nanotechnology expert Pulickel M. Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor of Engineering at Rice University complimented the research.

"This is the first instance where the three-dimensional structure of dislocations in nanoparticles has been directly revealed at atomic resolution," Ajayan said. "The elegant work demonstrates the power of electron tomography and leads to possibilities of directly correlating the structure of nanoparticles to properties, all in full 3-D view."

Defects can influence many properties of materials, and a technique for visualizing these structures at atomic resolution could lead to new insights beneficial to researchers in a wide range of fields.

"Much of what we know about how materials work, whether it is a catalyst in an automobile exhaust system or the display on a smartphone, has come from electron microscope images of how the atoms are arranged," Marks said. "This new imaging method will open up the atomic world of nanoparticles."

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Chien-Chun Chen, Chun Zhu, Edward R. White, Chin-Yi Chiu, M. C. Scott, B. C. Regan, Laurence D. Marks, Yu Huang, Jianwei Miao. Three-dimensional imaging of dislocations in a nanoparticle at atomic resolution. Nature, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/nature12009

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_technology/~3/KCt2vVQ9aYc/130327144122.htm

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Petraeus apologizes for affair that led to CIA resignation

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

Former CIA director and retired four-star general General David Petraeus makes his first public speech since resigning as CIA director at University of Southern California dinner for students Veterans and ROTC students on March 26.

By Andrew Rafferty, Staff Writer, NBC News

David Petraeus apologized Tuesday for the extramarital affair that led to his resignation?as the head of the Central Intelligence Agency last November in his first public speech since then.

Petraeus was invited a year ago -- before the scandal broke -- to be the keynote speaker before 600 guests at the University of Southern California annual ROTC dinner.

The retired four-star general has remained out of the public eye since the revelations of the affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, but decided to keep this appointment.

??It truly is a privilege to be here with you this evening -- all the more so given my personal journey over the past five months,? he said. ?I join you keenly aware that I am regarded in a different light now than I was a year ago ? I'm also keenly aware that the reason for my recent journey was my own doing,? he said Tuesday night.

?So please allow me to begin my remarks this evening by reiterating how deeply I regret and apologize for the circumstances that led to my resignation from the CIA and caused such pain for my family, friends and supporters,? he added.

Petraeus then stressed that the evening was ?not about me,? but the cadets, active duty military and veterans from USC and efforts to support them.

ISAF via Reuters file

Meet the people who have been pulled into the scandal that caused Gen. David Petraeus to resign.

He said that the post 9/11 generation of veterans deserved to be known as America?s greatest generation. More could and should be done to help veterans, particularly those with physical injuries and mental health problems, he argued.

'Instructive' to others who stumble
The general said that hanging up the uniform and leaving comrades behind was difficult, and returned to the reasons for his departure at the end of his speech.

?As I close, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you as well to those who provided words of encouragement to my family and me in recent months. That support meant a great deal as we sought to look forward rather than backward,? Petraeus said.

?This has obviously been a very difficult episode for us. But perhaps my experience can be instructive to others who stumble or indeed fall as far as I did. One learns, after all, that life doesn't stop with such a mistake. It can, and must, go on,? he said.

?And the effort to move forward over the rocky path of one's making is vital, inescapable, and ultimately worth it,? he added. ?I know that I can never fully assuage the pain that I inflicted on those closest to me and a number of others. I can, however, try to move forward in a manner that is consistent with the values to which I subscribed before slipping my moorings, and as best possible to make amends to those I have hurt and let down, and that is what I will strive to do.?

The discovery of Petraeus? affair came after another woman, Florida socialite Jill Kelley, complained to the FBI that she was receiving harassing emails from Broadwell.

The ensuing bureau investigation revealed a string of emails indicating an affair between Petraeus and Broadwell.

In a letter to the CIA workforce announcing his decision to step down last fall, Petraeus acknowledged "extremely poor judgment" and said, "such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours."

Days after the high-profile resignation, President Barack Obama announced there was no reason to believe the ex-CIA director compromised national security or divulged classified information to Broadwell, who had unprecedented access to the general while writing his biography.

And supporters like Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., maintained that the personal transgression should not have led to Petraeus' departure.

With the former high-profile military leader's resignation came the end of a nearly four-decade career in the military and intelligence.

As a commander in the U.S. Army, Petraeus was largely credited with salvaging the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and helping develop U.S. counterinsurgency strategy.

He was one of the most popular military commanders in modern history, and was talk about as a future presidential candidate.

Tuesday's speech may mark the beginning of attempts by the 60-year-old Petraeus to rebuild his image. His appearance in front of former and future members of the armed services made for a friendly audience.

USC president C. L. Max Nikias praised Petraeus ahead of his appearance at the university.?

?In our post 9/11 world, Gen. Petraeus? influence on our military is unmatched, and his contributions to the CIA are far-reaching,? Nikias said.

?Gen. Petraeus is arguably the most effective military commander since Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower,? he added.

NBC News' Denise Ono and Ian Johnston contributed to this report.

Related:

David Petraeus: Battlefield 'hero' and savvy Washington insider

'I screwed up royally,' Petraeus writes to old Army chum

Jill Kelley speaks out: 'I knew I was being stalked'

This story was originally published on Wed Mar 27, 2013 1:25 AM EDT

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653381/s/2a0830ca/l/0Lusnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A30C270C174776420Epetraeus0Eapologizes0Efor0Eaffair0Ethat0Eled0Eto0Ecia0Eresignation0Dlite/story01.htm

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The Weirdest Thing on the Internet Tonight: Heart to Mouth

An expression of love can take many forms—be it a heartfelt letter, a thoughtful gesture, or, in this case, two women stroking each other's latex balloon heads. "I want to create a tension between the body and material-almost as though they become one," says Bart Hess, the Dutch artist behind this sapphic short film. [Nowness] More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/QML0i672kz4/the-weirdest-thing-on-the-internet-tonight-heart-to-mouth

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Catalyst in a teacup: New approach to chemical reduction

Mar. 24, 2013 ? Taking their inspiration from nature, scientists at the University of New South Wales have developed a new method for carrying out chemical reduction -- an industrial process used to produce fuels and chemicals that are vital for modern society.

Their catalyst-based approach has the big advantages that it uses cheap, replenishable reagents and it works well at room temperature and in air -- so much so, it can even be carried out safely in a teacup.

The research, by a team led by Associate Professor Stephen Colbran, of the UNSW School of Chemistry, has been published as the cover of the journal, Angewandte Chemie.

The catalyst they designed mimics the activity of naturally occurring enzymes that catalyse reduction, such as alcohol dehydrogenase in yeast, that helps produce alcohol from sugar.

"Industrial chemical reduction processes underpin human existence, but are unsustainable because they irreversibly consume reagents that are made at prohibitively high energy cost," Dr Colbran says.

"We believe our new biomimetic design may have wide applications in chemical reduction."

Chemical reduction involves the addition of electrons to a substance, and is the basis of making many fuels, including the sugars that plants produce during photosynthesis.

In industry, molecular hydrogen and reactive reagents such as sodium borohydride are used as reducing agents during the production of pharmaceuticals, agrichemicals and ammonia for fertiliser.

"Manufacture of these substances is energy costly, leads to the release of carbon dioxide and they are difficult to handle and store," Dr Colbran says. "So we decided to look at nature to see how nature does it."

The team combined a transition metal complex containing rhodium with a Hantzsch dihydropyridine -- an organic donor of a hydride ion similar to biological nicotinamides -- to produce the new bio-inspired catalyst. They tested it on a common process -- reduction of imines -- and were surprised to find it worked in ambient conditions with more than 90 per cent efficiency in most cases.

Dr Colbran even tested it out in a teacup. "I thought it would be a bit of fun. And it makes a serious point -- our catalyst system is very easy to use."

By coincidence, the research comes exactly a century after Alfred Werner won a Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his work on the structures of transition metal complexes. As well, his PhD supervisor, Arthur Hantzsch, discovered the way to synthesise dihydropyridines.

"It has only taken 100 years to combine the work of doctoral adviser and student into one molecule," Dr Colbran says.

A future aim is to try to convert the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, into the renewable fuel, methanol, much more efficiently.

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Journal Reference:

1. Alex McSkimming, Mohan M. Bhadbhade, Stephen B. Colbran. Cover Picture: Bio-Inspired Catalytic Imine Reduction by Rhodium Complexes with Tethered Hantzsch Pyridinium Groups: Evidence for Direct Hydride Transfer from Dihydropyridine to Metal-Activated Substrate (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 12/2013). Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2013; 52 (12): 3283 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201301157

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/sapSPw1VCVg/130325111214.htm

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NYC art museum accused of duping visitors on fees

In this Tuesday, March 19, 2013 photo visitors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York wait in line to buy admission tickets. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

In this Tuesday, March 19, 2013 photo visitors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York wait in line to buy admission tickets. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

In this Tuesday, March 19, 2013 photo the exterior of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is photographed. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

In this Tuesday, March 19, 2013 photo visitors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York congregate in the main lobby. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

In this Tuesday, March 19, 2013 photo, the board at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York displays admission fees, which are recommended but not mandatory. Many visitors to the museum, especially foreign tourists, don?t realize that the fees listed on the sign are merely suggestions. Confusion over what?s required to enter the Met, which draws more than 6 million visitors a year, is at the heart of a class-action lawsuit this month accusing it of an illegal ?scheme? to defraud the public into believing the fees are required. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NEW YORK (AP) ? A lawyer is suing New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art, claiming the institution is purposely misleading people about how much they have to pay to get in.

Like other museums in the city, the Met has what it calls a recommended admissions charge. It's $25 for adults.

But people don't actually have to pay that much to get in if they don't like. They can legally enter the museum for a donation as low as one penny.

The lawsuit says the museum fails to make this clear to visitors. It says the signs and the cashiers make people think they must pay the full $25.

Met spokesman Harold Holzer denies any deception was in place. He called the lawsuit a "nuisance."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-03-25-Museum%20Admissions/id-af2c75497d874ce9aab9d6766a7252d1

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SpaceX dragon spacecraft carrying NASA cargo ready for return to Earth

Mar. 24, 2013 ? More than three weeks after arriving at the International Space Station, the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) Dragon spacecraft is ready for the trip back to Earth, now scheduled for Tuesday, March 26.

Dragon's originally scheduled March 25 return date was postponed due to inclement weather developing near its targeted splashdown site in the Pacific Ocean. The additional day spent attached to the orbiting laboratory will not affect science samples scheduled to return aboard the spacecraft.

NASA Television will provide coverage of Dragon's departure beginning at 4 a.m. EDT.

Dragon is scheduled to be detached from the Earth-facing side of the station's Harmony module and unberthed by Expedition 35 Flight Engineer and NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn. Expedition 35 Commander Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency will back-up Marshburn and monitor Dragon's systems during the activity.

Marshburn, working from the robotic work station in the space station's cupola, will maneuver the station's robotic arm for the release of the spacecraft at 7:06 a.m. Dragon will execute three thruster firings to move away from the station to a safe distance for its deorbit burn at 11:40 a.m. Dragon will splash down around 12:36 p.m. in the Pacific Ocean west of Baja California.

Dragon is the only space station resupply spacecraft able to return to Earth intact. It will return about 2,668 pounds (1,210 kilograms) of science samples from human research, biology and biotechnology studies, physical science investigations and education activities.

Experiment samples coming back to Earth will help researchers continue to assess the impact of long-duration spaceflight on the human body. Returning plant samples will aid in food production during future long-duration space missions and enhance crop production on Earth. Crystals grown aboard and returning from the station could help in the development of more efficient solar cells and semiconductor-based electronics.

For NASA TV schedule and video streaming information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about SpaceX, including ways to connect on social media, visit: http://www.spacex.com

For more information about the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/nasa/~3/o-65ort_o7o/130324195409.htm

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Science of Relationships - | - What's Wrong With My Internet Dating ...

I just read about DateSim.net^TM, a service that is co-founded by Dr. Jennifer Harman that uses dating? simulations to give objective feedback on dating skills. I think it sounds like a great idea, but the $500 fee is outside of my budget.

How about reviewing existing profiles on a dating website and giving suggestions? I've been on the same dating site for 4 years and have only been contacted 3 times - twice by obvious scammers and once by someone whose picture alone scared me to death, not to mention his inability to write a complete sentence. I remain on that website because it's free. (I know, I know.)

Maybe I should mention I'm 55 yrs old, divorced 12 years after a 24 yr marriage, and have yet to have a first date. I'm not a ravishing beauty but I don't scare dogs or small children. I'm 5' 6" 140 lbs, so I'm not bigger than most women my age. I'm self-sufficient and own my own home. It seems that the men in my age group, 50-65, are looking for young sexy starlets. Does a woman my age have any chance at all of having a date?

Great question. The way we present ourselves on the dating market, particularly on-line dating services like Match.com and Plenty of Fish, is tricky business. These on-line sites are not technically matchmaking services...they are essentially tools that you can use to market yourself to show how desirable you are. ?

Your profile needs to be attractive enough to capture and hold someone?s attention, because competition can be fierce due to the sheer number of people using on-line dating sites. Research has demonstrated time and again that the greater quality of alternatives, the less invested and committed people become.¹ When there are so many alternative mates on the website, then your prospective date?s commitment to initiating and maintaining contact with you is lower. Add to that the fact that you are using a free dating site?members are even less invested than they would be if they paid a monthly fee. Therefore, success in these venues will not just come knocking on your door; you will need to work at it. To some degree, you get what you pay for.

Without seeing your profile, I cannot give you specific feedback about what you could improve to maximize your chances of breaking your first-date dry spell. However, here are a few things that I look for when I provide constructive feedback about internet profiles on my DateSim.net^TM service.

• People often use search terms to narrow down the overwhelming number of profiles that appear on internet dating sites. Unfortunately, the more search options (age, hobbies, gender, income, etc.) that on-line dating sites offer, the more people search and make poor choices. In other words, when people have the option to search for a large number of specific traits, they look around more, spend less time reading profiles, and make profile selections that are further from their desired traits than when they do not have so many choices.² Therefore, when someone specifies a narrow list of preferences or hobbies, you may not show up in a ?hunter?s? search results. But, if you do, they may not spend much time reading your profile unless it really stands out (more on that later). My advice here would be to indicate not only your favorite hobbies, but also list those that you are interested in trying and doing with others. Put simply, you want to optimize the identification of your profile in the dating site search engine.

• Pictures are crucial. Indeed, heterosexual men rate the actual content of women?s profiles as half as important as the pictures women provide. Women rate photographs of men as equally important as what men have to say about themselves.³ You don?t have to be a model or exceptionally dashing to attract mates on-line. However, posting photographs that accentuate your positive features and minimize your more undesirable ones will help tremendously. For example, faces that are perceived as ?average? are most attractive because they feel familiar to the perceiver, and symmetrical faces add to attractiveness ratings above and beyond averageness.⁴ Have someone take a bunch of photographs of you at different angles, part your hair different ways, etc. Then, select photographs that best present an average and symmetrical face. I also suggest polling your friends about your selections, as their judgment may be more objective than yours. The goal is to look your best, but be sure to select photographs that represent an honest, true portrayal of you. The last thing you want is to get to that first date and have your date think you look nothing like your picture. I wrote about profile photographs a few months ago in my Adventures in Dating column, and you can revisit that here.

• Make the content of your profile informative, concise, and entertaining. Remember that prospective dates sort through hundreds of profiles. Writing thousands of words in 1 rambling paragraph will make someone lose interest fast. Writing only 2 or 3 sentences will not give the reader a sense of who you are. Take the time to carefully craft a witty profile about who you are and what you are looking for. The personality traits you emphasize here can really help make you appear more attractive and appealing as well. Emphasize traits such as warmth and honesty, as these are traits that most people look for in prospective mates.⁵ You are self-sufficient and own your own home?great?I would write about that in a way that emphasizes your independence but also highlight ways that you are a generous person. (Unless you?ve adopted a lot of stray cats. Leave that out for now).

Finally, you raised an interesting question about age and partner preferences. Research has consistently shown that men prefer partners who are slightly younger than themselves, and rate physical attractiveness as one of the most important qualities men look for in a partner. What is important to consider here is that the desirability of a partner is associated not only with physical attractiveness but also with the likelihood of that person going out with you.⁶ So while a 55 year old man may want a sexy young 20-something starlet, his likelihood of landing her is not likely to be great. He may find women his own age much more desirable for a number of reasons, such as maturity, similarities in life experience, etc. Older women are also more selective than men and have a smaller dating pool; however, older men and women are likely to travel more than younger people to meet potential dates.⁷ So while the dating experience for older men and women is a little different than for younger folks, it is not impossible to manage. Different strategies just need to be utilized in order to increase your success rate, but that is a topic for another post entirely!

If you still have some specific questions about your personal profile or other dating issues, DateSim.net^TM Club is a discussion forum where you can get almost real-time feedback from me, coaches, and other members. Membership is free!

Interested in learning more about relationships? Click?here for?other topics?on?Science of Relationships.?Like us on?Facebook?or follow us on?Twitter?to get our articles delivered directly to your NewsFeed.

¹Rusbult, C. E. (1980).Commitment and satisfaction in romantic associations: A test of the investment model. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 16, 172-186.

²Wu, P., & Chiou,W. (2009). More options lead to more searching and worse choices in finding partners for romantic relationships online: An experimental study. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 12, 315-318.

³de Vries, J. M. A. (2010). Impact of self-descriptions and photographs on mediated dating interest. Marriage & Family Review, 46, 538-562.

⁴Jones, B. C., DeBruine, L. M., & Little, A. C. (2007). The role of symmetry in attraction to average faces. Perception and Psychophysics, 69, 1273-1277.

⁵Fletcher, G. J. O., & Simpson, J. A. (2000). Ideal standards in close relationships: Their structure and functions. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9, 102-105.

⁶Bredow, C. A., Cate, R. M., & Huston, T. L. (2008). Have we met before? A conceptual model of first romantic encounters. ?In S. Sprecher, A. Wezel, & J. Harvey (Eds.), Handbook of Relationship Initiation, (pp. 3-28). New York: Taylor & Francis Group.

⁷McIntosh, W. D., Locker, L. Jr., Briley, K., Ryan, R., & Scott A. J. (2011). What do older adults seek in their potential romantic partners? Evidence from online personal ads. The International Journal of Aging & Human Development, 72, 67-82.

Dr. Jennifer Harman -?Adventures in Dating...?|?Science of Relationships?articles?|?Website/CV
Dr. ?Harman's research examines relationship behaviors that put people at-risk for physical and psychological health problems, such as how feelings and beliefs about risk (e.g., sexual risk taking) can be biased when in a relationship. She also studies the role of power on relationship commitment.

image source: oprah.com

Source: http://www.scienceofrelationships.com/home/2013/3/25/whats-wrong-with-my-internet-dating-profile.html

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Central African Republic suspended from African Union, says official

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - The African Union has suspended the Central African Republic after rebels seized power in the country and has imposed travel bans and asset freezes on insurgent leaders, a senior AU official said on Monday.

The power grab by the Seleka rebel coalition, the latest in a series of coups and rebellions since the mineral-rich nation won independence from France in 1960, has already been condemned by the African Union and United Nations.

"The (Peace and Security) Council has decided to suspend with immediate effect the Central African Republic from all the African Union's activities," the AU's Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ramtane Lamamra, told reporters in Addis Ababa, where the African organization is based.

The United States, France and regional powerbroker Chad have called on Seleka leader Michel Djotodia to respect a January power-sharing deal signed in the Gabonese capital Libreville. A rebel leader has pledged to name a power-sharing government.

The Libreville agreement had created a government drawn from rebel leaders, the civilian opposition and loyalists of former president Francois Bozize. It was led by Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye, a former lawyer and member of the civilian opposition.

Seleka, a loose coalition of five rebel groups whose name means 'alliance' in the Songo language, had accused Bozize of breaking the January agreement by failing to integrate their fighters into the army.

(Reporting by Aaron Maasho; Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/central-african-republic-suspended-african-union-says-official-131219253.html

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The MLM Launch Formula System: Is It Good For Your Internet MLM ...

Here, I will make a review about internet MLM promoted by two experts, Jonathan Budd and Mike Dillard, who have compiled one of the most handy webinars ever to be seen in a long while.

These 2 most successful people in the internet MLM industry today give away so much useful information for nothing; it?s ludicrous!

Jonathan Budd shares info on his MLM Launch Formula System that?ll be made public only to those people who act fast.

This innovative system, MLM Launch Formula, will change the way successful people do business in the future.

You can see by watching the 6 videos by Budd and Mark Hoverson, that this system will be quickly creating big and successful internet MLM businesses with people clamoring to join downlines.

Nothing like this has ever been seen before in the internet MLM business.

MLM Launch Formula contains some amazing ideas and also up to the moment techniques. The 6 videos are long, and contain huge amounts of information and proven ideas.

Mike Dillard is a well known part of the network marketing / MLM world and even he said that this system was a dazzling concept; even if you have never heard about or never knew of Jonathan Budd or Mark Hoverson before.

When Mike Dillard starts talking about Jonathan Budd?s MLM Launch Formula system, it?s got to be good.

How did Mike discover Jonathan Budd? Mike ran a challenge and MLM Launch Formula beat out the rest. Jonathan won Mike?s $150,000 Audi R8.

MLM Launch Formula is fundamentally a system of selling techniques that may be applied to almost any kind of business, product, or service.

It?ll give good experience of the psychology of buying. It also gives beneficial team-building info and will help you to become a very effective internet MLM marketer if you follow all his information.

It also teaches the way to reach prospects to give them an experience that may make them wish to be buyers for life, needing everything you have got to offer!

It is going beyond sponsoring down lines and selling your goods and services, it also shows you the correct way to think like a businessman. If you study Jonathan?s MLM Launch Formula you will soon know how he built up many multi-million dollars corporations of his own.

Today, home-run social marketers have the best chances of success, and making fantastic amounts. This wasn?t possible before the internet.

In the days before the internet, the only way to make substantial amounts of money was to work hard at your business for a life-time, rob a bank, or win the lottery.

It?s increasingly simple for today?s social marketers to create multiple streams of income, and if they follow the systems in MLM Launch Formula, they will be well on their way to success.

To get you moving, MLM Launch Formula offers 6 totally free video tutorials to tickle your taste buds.

If you don?t come away convinced that this is one of the finest systems out there, you either do not want to earn income or you were not watching!

This is a reasonable coaching program for your internet MLM business ; MLM Launch Formula will pay for itself quickly if you follow the strategies within.

You need to use MLM Launch Formula to create your successful launches however you wish to promote your business. It can also help with the launch of information products, promotions for associate products and can help with coaching programs too.

MLM Launch Formula is a training programme that?ll help you understand what you need to build a prosperous business. And when you are done with the programme, you may still need to put the work in to reaching success, build a gigantic lead generation system and get on with paving your road to fortune.

What?s the bottom line in internet MLM? The truth is it is sponsoring and inducting, and that means getting leads. Getting leads is crucial in MLM ? lots and lots of leads. You can leave your name and email address below for more information about MLM and lead generation techniques. You may also click on THIS LINK here for a great MLM business opportunity online!

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Source: http://kevinklau.com/internet-mlm/

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College Free Agents to Watch (Part 2)

Its that time of year. The NCAA hockey season has come to a close and conference tournaments are in full swing. NHL teams are now salivating at the chance to sign the top undrafted college free agents as their teams play their final games of the season.

These prospects don?t always have an impact at the NHL level, but the chances of finding a diamond in the rough ala players like Matt Read, Chris Kunitz, Andy McDonald, Dustin Penner, Tyler Bozak, Matt Gilroy, Cory Conacher, Jason Garrison, Ben Scrivens, and others who have been uncovered in recent years is always a chance that NHL teams seem willing to take. At worst they give out an Entry Level contract, pay a player to play for their minor league club for a couple years, and then let them go. At best they get a player who can contribute at the NHL level, for a relatively low cap hit, without using a draft pick, or trading other assets. These players are low risk/big reward and so the competition to sign them will be fierce.

Last week, I took a look at my seven top college free agents available.? You can find that report by clicking here.?? Due to popular demand, and questions posted in our comments, and asked of me on twitter and various message boards, I?ve decided to do a follow up piece.? The next six top college free agents available.? I?ve listed them in alphabetical order by last name for ease of reference.

Greg Carey, Junior, Left Wing, St. Lawrence University, (5?11, 195 lbs):
The Hamilton, Ontario native has been a consistent point producer for three straight years at St. Lawrence University.? He had 40 points in 40 games as a freshman.? 37 points in 36 games in his sophomore season.? And now with 28 goals and 51 points in his junior season, has become one of the leading scorers in all of NCAA Hockey.? He is a skilled sniper with a great wrist shot, and tremendous release that often sees the puck in the back of the net before a goaltender can react.? He also has a knack for finding open space on the ice and unleashing a fantastic one timer.? Carey also brings a lunch bucket mentality to the game as he is willing to get his nose dirty in front of the net, and his low centre of gravity makes him very good in battles along the boards.? He could use some work in the defensive end of the ice at the AHL level, but his natural offensive instincts can not be taught, as such look for him to produce points immediately in the AHL, and he has a good chance of one day cracking an NHL roster.? A worthy project.

Austin Czarnik, Sophomore, Centre/Right Wing, Miami (Ohio) University (5?9?, 160 lbs):
With 37 points in 40 games as a Freshman, and 38 points in 40 games as a Sophomore, all while playing for Miami in the competitive CCHA conference, there is little doubt that Czarnik has offensive skills. However, generously listed at 5?9? and 160 lbs, size has always been a concern for him, and is the main reason he has gone undrafted, as his offensive skills were apparent with both the US National Team Development Program, and the the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL during his junior career. Czarnik has the skating ability, the hands, and the shooting ability to put up points. However what really sets him apart is his outstanding playmaking ability and vision. With another undersized college free agent in Cory Conacher lighting things up in Tampa Bay, there may be a team willing to give Czarnik a chance to see if his big time talent can overcome his lack of size at the AHL level to start (and possibly the NHL level down the road).

Eric Hartzell, Senior, Goaltender, Quinnipac University (6?4?, 188 lbs):
Hartzell is this year?s top goaltending prospect.? He has great size, and is part of the new breed of big goaltender that NHL teams seem to love in recent years.? He plays the traditional butterfly style, and his long legs and quick movements take away the bottom of the net from shooters.? He has great mobility in the net, tracking the puck well, and moving from side to side effortlessly.?? He is also very quick to come out and does a great job of cutting down angles, while also being able to back up quickly and stop a shooter who may try to deke around him.? His technique is advanced and rebound control good at the college level.?? He should be an intriguing prospect and is ready to jump right in to the AHL, where he will need a little more seasoning before being a big league goalie.

Alex Krushelnyski, Junior, Left Wing, Colorado College (5?11?, 170 lbs):
The son of former NHLer Mike Krushelnyski, Alex is a chip off the old block. He is a hard working, grinding winger, who gets his nose dirty, wins board battles and is not afraid of physical play. He is a good two way player, who understands his defensive responsibilities and takes them to heart. With 43 points in 42 games for Colorado College this year, he?s also shown off his offensive skill set in what has been a breakthrough campaign fro Krushelnyski. He doesn?t score the prettiest of goals, but gets his points from going to the front of the net, and persistent hard work. One thing I will say about Krushelnyski is that he seems to be improving all the time, playing better on each subsequent viewing I had of him. The skill set here screams potential third line grinder, with a little bit of scoring potential at the NHL level, again following in his father?s footsteps.

Drew Leblanc, Senior, Centre, St. Cloud State (6?0?, 185 lbs):
After a broken leg cost Leblanc much of his junior season (limiting him to just 10 games), he came back strong in his senior campaign with 13 goals and 50 points in 39 games.? Leblanc has great hands, and excellent stick handling, and puck protection skills.? He extends plays with his quick feints giving his teammates time to get open and then he hits them with an excellent pass to create scoring opportunities.? Blessed with great hockey sense, Leblanc almost always seems to make the smart play, and to be in the right place in the offensive zone.? Leblanc also has a very good wrist shot, however he doesn?t use it enough.? He does need some work on his skating, as this is the one area that holds him back from being a sure fire NHLer.? Some AHL time will be needed, but if he can become slightly quicker on his feet, he could be a top 6 centre in the NHL in time.

Nate Schmidt, Junior, Defence, University of Minnesota (6?0? 195 lbs):
Last season, as a sophomore, Schmidt?s offensive production exploded, with 41 points in 43 games, and helping the Golden Gophers to a final four appearance. This season, his overall production was a little down, but he still has 31 points in 39 games. However he has improved in two key areas. His slapshot and one timer are much more effective leading to him scoring 8 goals instead of 5 in 2011-12. Meanwhile, his defensive game has improved by leaps and bounds, as he is now much more effective in his own end of the ice, blocking shots, taking his man out of the play, and learning when to throw a big hit without taking himself out of the play. Oh yes, Schmidt brings a big time physical presence and forwards must be careful if they come down his end of the rink with their heads down. Schmidt is an extremely good skater, and his mobility allows him to join the play offensively, while his great vision and playmaking skill makes him a natural powerplay quarterback, and helps him to start the rush with a great first pass. The big decision here is whether or not Schmidt will leave Minnesota and forgo his senior season. If he does, he?ll be highly sought after.

And so there you have it.? My top 13 available college free agents (done in two parts).? Thanks for reading and as always feel free to comment below.

You can follow me on twitter @lastwordBKerr. Give the rest of the hockey department a follow while you?re at it ? @BigMick99, @IswearGaa and @LastWordOnNHL, and follow the site @lastwordonsport.

Interested in writing for LastWordOnSports? Find more info at our ?Join Our Team? page.

Source: http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/03/24/college-free-agents-to-watch-part-2/

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Organizations remind adults to get screened during colorectal ...

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GREENSBORO ? March is colorectal cancer awareness month and many organizations are using this time to remind adults to get screened.

Doctors say colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the country.

Tammie Hine has stage four colon cancer and says she's turned to her faith, family and friends for support during treatment.

"It was really hard at first, but then I accepted it and said, 'it is what it is, and I have to fight this,'" said Hine. "And I'm ready for the fight."

Like many, Hine finds refuge in retail therapy. "I think shopping has been my release!" said Hine.

That's why she teamed up with Splurges Boutique to raise money for the cause. The store is donating 10 percent of all full-priced purchases to research. Shoppers will also receive a free gift with a $25 purchase and a reminder to get screened.

"Don't wait, listen to your body and do what you need to do to take care of yourself," said Hine.

Dr. Brian Smith of Piedmont Gastroenterology Specialists says adults should get screened at age 50 and earlier, if it runs in your family.

He says as invasive as many people think the screening is, adults should not let false impressions put them at risk.

"Like anything,medical advancements has made it much easier," said Smith. "Really, it's a painless and easy procedure that can save someone's life."

As for Hine, she says she's glad she can help educate others.

"And I'm glad for the friends and angels that have come into my life," said Hine.

The CDC says if everyone aged 50 or older had regular screenings then at least 60 percent of deaths from colon cancer could be avoided.

To donate to Colon Cancer Research: http://fightcolorectalcancer.org/research/lisa-fund

For more on the promotions that Splurges Boutique is holding to benefit : www.splurgesboutique.com

Additional information on colon screenings or to make an appointment: http://piedmontgispecialists.com/

The 2013 "Get Your Rear in Gear" race is March 23: 'http://www.getyourrearingear.com/events/

Source: http://triad.news14.com/content/top_stories/692119/organizations-remind-adults-to-get-screened-during-colorectal-cancer-awareness-month

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State of emergency declared in Myanmar town

MEIKHTILA, Myanmar (AP) ? Mobs set fire to Muslim homes and mosques in frenzied sectarian rioting in a town in central Myanmar, leaving at least 20 people dead and more than 6,000 homeless amid growing fears Friday that the latest bout of Muslim-Buddhist bloodshed could spread.

In an acknowledgement of the seriousness of the situation, President Thein Sein declared a state of emergency in Meikhtila in an announcement broadcast on state television Friday afternoon. The declaration allows the military to take over administrative functions in and around the town.

The government's struggle to contain the unrest is proving another major challenge for Thein Sein's reformist administration as it attempts to chart a path to democracy after nearly half a century of military rule that once crushed all dissent.

The scenes in Meikhtila, where homes and at least five mosques have been torched by angry mobs, were reminiscent of sectarian violence between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya that shook western Rakhine state last year, killing hundreds of people and driving more than 100,000 from their homes.

The clashes in Meikhtila ? which was tense but calm Friday ? are the first reported in central Myanmar since then.

Troubles began Wednesday after an argument broke out between a Muslim gold shop owner and his Buddhist customers. A Buddhist monk was among the first killed, inflaming tensions that led a Buddhist mob to rampage through a Muslim neighborhood.

Violence continued Thursday, and by Friday, Win Htein, a local lawmaker from the opposition National League for Democracy, said he had counted at least 20 bodies. He said 1,200 Muslim families ? at least 6,000 people ? have fled their homes and taken refuge at a stadium and a police station.

On Friday, police seized knives, swords, hammers and sticks from young men in the streets and detained scores of looters.

Fires set to Muslim homes continued to burn, but angry Buddhist residents and monks prevented authorities from putting out the blazes.

It was difficult to determine the extent of destruction in the town because residents were too afraid to walk the streets and were sheltering in monasteries or other locations away from the violence.

"We don't feel safe and we have now moved inside a monastery," said Sein Shwe, a shop owner. "The situation is unpredictable and dangerous."

Some monks accosted and threatened journalists trying to cover the unrest, at one point trying to drag a group of several out of a van. One monk, whose faced was covered, shoved a foot-long dagger at the neck of an Associated Press photographer and demanded his camera. The photographer defused the situation by handing over his camera's memory card.

The group of nine journalists took refuge in a monastery and stayed there until a police unit was able to escort them to safety.

The U.N. secretary-general's special adviser to Myanmar, Vijay Nambiar, issued a statement expressing "deep sorrow at the tragic loss of lives and destruction."

He said religious and community leaders to must "publicly call on their followers to abjure violence, respect the law and promote peace."

The U.S. ambassador to Myanmar, Derek Mitchell, also said he was "deeply concerned about reports of violence and widespread property damage in Meikhtila."

Meikhtila is about 550 kilometers (340 miles) north of the main city of Yangon with a population of about 100,000 people, of which about a third are Muslims, Win Htein said. He said before this week's violence there were 17 mosques.

There was no apparent direct connection between the Meikhtila violence and that last year in Rakhine state. Rakhine Buddhists allege that Rohingya are mostly illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh. The Muslim population of Meikhtila is believed to be mostly of Indian origin, and although religious tensions are longstanding, the incident sparking the violence seemed to be a small and isolated dispute.

Occasional isolated violence involving Myanmar's majority Buddhist and minority Muslim communities has occurred for decades.

Under the military governments that ruled Myanmar from 1962 until 2011, ethnic and religious unrest was typically hushed up, an approach made easier in pre-Internet days, when there was a state monopoly on daily newspapers, radio and television, backed by tough censorship of other media.

But since an elected, though still military-backed, government took power in 2011, people have been using the Internet and social media in increasing numbers, and the press has been unshackled, with censorship mostly dropped and privately owned daily newspapers expected to hit the streets in the next few months.

The government of Thein Sein is constrained from using open force to quell unrest because it needs foreign approval in order to woo aid and investment. The previous military junta had no such compunctions about using force, and was ostracized by the international community for its human rights abuses.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/state-emergency-declared-myanmar-town-101831449.html

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Darden 3Q profit falls but tops Street's view

NEW YORK (AP) ? Darden Restaurants' third-quarter net income dropped 18 percent, as it dealt with soft sales at Red Lobster but the performance still beat Wall Street's expectations.

The Orlando, Fla., company said Friday that sales at its Olive Garden, Red Lobster and LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants open at least a year fell a combined 4.6 percent.

This figure is a key gauge of a restaurant operator's performance because it excludes results at store recently opened or closed.

Darden Restaurants Inc. has been struggling to make its brands relevant again as diners increasingly head to chains like Chipotle and Panera, where they feel they're getting restaurant-quality food without paying as much. As it looks for ways to catch up to shifting trends, Red Lobster this week started testing a "pay-at-the-counter" concept at two location near the its headquarters.

For the three months ended Feb. 24, Darden earned $134.4 million, or $1.02 per share. That's down from $164.1 million, or $1.25 per share, a year earlier.

Analysts polled by FactSet expected earnings of $1.01 per share.

Revenue rose 5 percent to $2.26 billion from $2.16 billion, matching Wall Street's view.

Revenue for the specialty restaurant group surged 61 percent, buoyed by the addition of some Yard House restaurants, as well as new restaurants for The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52.

Revenue at Red Lobster dropped 6 percent as it contended with higher expenses and weaker sales at its locations in the U.S. open at least a year. Olive Garden revenue edged up slightly and revenue for LongHorn Steakhouse climbed 6.9 percent as both chains took in money from new restaurants.

Darden said that bad winter weather hurt sales at some of its restaurants. Sales at Red Lobster restaurants open in the U.S. at least a year declined 6.6 percent in the quarter. The figure fell 4.1 percent for Olive Garden locations in the U.S. and dropped 1.6 percent for LongHorn Steakhouse.

The company reaffirmed its fiscal 2013 earnings forecast of $3.06 to $3.22 per share. Analysts predict earnings of $3.17 per share.

It still anticipates revenue will climb 6 percent to 7 percent. Based on the prior year's revenue of $8 billion, this implies about $8.48 billion to $8.56 billion.

Wall Street expects revenue of $8.52 billion.

Darden's board also declared a quarterly dividend of 50 cents per share. The dividend will be paid on May 1 to shareholders of record on April 10.

Darden Restaurants shares rose 66 cents, or 1.4 percent, to close at $49.62 Friday. They have traded in a 52-week range of $44.11 to $57.93.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/darden-3q-profit-falls-tops-streets-view-112607050--finance.html

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Tom Lipscomb: ?How do you know they?ll print it?? (Powerlineblog)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/293601875?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Senate gun bill would expand background checks

Elvin Daniel, right, whose sister Zina was killed by her husband last October at a Brookfield spa, said the tragedy could have been avoided if the law required background checks for private transactions of guns during a news conference with law enforcement officials and some Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Jon Richards, left, Thursday, March 21, in Madison, Wis. Democrats have a new proposal that would make it illegal to purchase or transfer guns without running background checks. (AP Photo/Kevin Wang)

Elvin Daniel, right, whose sister Zina was killed by her husband last October at a Brookfield spa, said the tragedy could have been avoided if the law required background checks for private transactions of guns during a news conference with law enforcement officials and some Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Jon Richards, left, Thursday, March 21, in Madison, Wis. Democrats have a new proposal that would make it illegal to purchase or transfer guns without running background checks. (AP Photo/Kevin Wang)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Gun control legislation the Senate debates next month will include an expansion of federal background checks for firearms buyers, Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday in a victory for advocates of gun restrictions.

The announcement underscores that Democrats intend to take an aggressive approach in the effort to broaden the checks, currently required for transactions involving federally licensed firearms dealers but not private sales at gun shows or online.

President Barack Obama and many supporters of curbing guns consider an expansion of the system to private gun sales to be the most effective response lawmakers could take in the wake of December's elementary school massacre in Newtown, Conn. The system is designed to keep guns from criminals, people with serious mental problems and others considered potentially dangerous.

The overall gun measure will also include legislation boosting penalties for illegal gun trafficking and modestly expanding a grant program for school security, said Reid, D-Nev. Its fate remains uncertain, and it will all but certainly need Republican support to survive.

Reid said that during Congress' upcoming two-week break, he hopes senators will strike a bipartisan compromise on broadening background checks. Without a deal, he indicated the gun bill would include a stricter version approved this month by the Senate Judiciary Committee and authored by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., expanding the system to virtually all private gun transactions with few exceptions.

"I want to be clear: In order to be effective, any bill that passes the Senate must include background checks," Reid said in a written statement.

Opponents including the National Rifle Association say background checks are easily sidestepped by criminals and threaten creation of a government file on gun owners ? which is illegal under federal law.

"We remain as committed as we have been to opposing gun bans. History shows us that gun bans don't work to reduce crimes," said Andrew Arulanandam, an NRA spokesman. He declined to comment on a potential compromise but said if the Senate considers Schumer's version of background checks, "We will do whatever we can to defeat it."

The NRA wants Congress to fund more armed guards at schools, step up prosecutions of people who file false gun applications and increase the background check system's access to state records of people with serious mental illness and other problems.

Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said of Reid's announcement, "I don't know how the leader expects members to vote on an ever-changing piece of legislation that has yet to gain bipartisan support."

If not included in the overall gun bill, an expansion of background checks could have been offered as an amendment. But that would have likely meant it would have needed support from 60 of the 100 senators to prevail ? a difficult hurdle for Democrats.

Including expanded checks in the gun legislation signals either of two courses by Democrats: A feeling that they can win bipartisan support for the measure, or a willingness to essentially challenge Republicans to reject the entire gun-control package and face the political consequences in next year's elections.

It also pleases gun control backers who have said that in response to the Newtown killings, they expect Congress to do more than toughen gun trafficking penalties and boost school safety aid.

"Senator Reid's announcement is a tremendous step and we recognize there is still a tough road ahead," said Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, adding that his group would activate supporters to contact lawmakers.

"The majority leader's been a pretty steady guide throughout, and this a good example," said Mark Glaze, director of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg helps lead.

Reid said during next months' debate, he will allow votes on amendments including an assault weapons ban, curbs on high-capacity ammunition magazines and mental health. There is wide-ranging agreement that many states poorly report mental health records to the federal background check system.

Days ago, supporters of gun restrictions suffered a blow when Reid decided to exclude a proposed assault weapons ban from the gun bill the Senate will debate.

Reid said the ban lacked the 60 votes it would need and including it would risk defeat of the entire package. The ban's sponsor, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., plans to offer the provision as an amendment that seems certain to lose.

In a hint of possible movement, Schumer and two other senators who have spent weeks searching for a bipartisan deal are considering several options, including requiring background checks and record keeping for private sales at gun shows and commercial sales online. It would exclude in-person, non-commercial transactions between people who know each other. The idea was described by a lobbyist and Senate aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private talks.

Other exclusions could include gun transactions between relatives and acquisitions by people with state-issued concealed carry permits, and there would be an online background check system for people in remote areas. Veterans officially determined to have some psychological problems would be given a way to appeal that decision, which would otherwise bar them from getting firearms.

Besides Schumer, the Senate's No. 2 Democratic leader, other senators involved are moderate Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has an NRA A-rating for his votes, and moderate Republican Mark Kirk of Illinois.

Schumer has been insisting on record keeping for all private gun sales, saying the files are needed to keep the system effective. That led to stalemated talks with conservative leader Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., who says the data would lead to federal records on gun owners.

On Thursday, Bloomberg stepped up pressure on Congress to expand background checks, saying it would save lives and win broad public support.

"The only question is whether Congress will have the courage to do the right thing, or whether they will allow more innocent people, including innocent children, to be gunned down," he said at a New York news conference.

"It's time for the political establishment to show the courage your daughter showed," said Vice President Joe Biden, standing beside Bloomberg and motioning to the nearby family of a substitute teacher among 26 first-graders and educators killed at Newtown.

Biden later sent a Tweet thanking Reid for his decision.

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Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz in New York contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-21-Gun%20Control/id-25f1155489ce4486a8ab78c1d2c070bb

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