শনিবার, ৩১ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১১

Stocks close lower on last trading day of 2011

By Msnbc.com staff and wire

With little to trade on, thinly staffed trading floors?and exhaustion after a wild 2011, Wall Street investors let stocks sink under the weight of end-of-year malaise Friday.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 15 points just before midday. The S&P 500, which is?up just 0.3 percent for 2011, was down less than a point. The Nasdaq fell?almost a half point. It was that kind of day.?

McDonald's Corp. is shaping up to be the biggest winner in the Dow Jones industrial average this year with a gain of 31 percent. Bank of America Corp. was the worst performing stock in the Dow, down 59 percent.

For the year, utilities stocks rose the most of the ten sectors in the S&P 500. They were up 16 percent. Other winning groups were consumer staples and health care companies, both up 11 percent in 2011.

In Europe, many of the biggest markets ended down in 2011.

There were no major economic reports scheduled for Friday. Trading has been quiet this week with many investors away on vacation. Volume on the New York Stock Exchange has been about half of its daily average.

Better news on the job market and home sales lifted stocks Thursday, pushing the Dow up 135 points. On Friday Ford reported that its sales topped 2 million this year for the first time since 2007. Ford rose 0.5 percent.

Markets will be closed Monday in observance of New Year's Day.

In other corporate news:

? Sears Holdings Corp. fell 0.5 percent to $32.77 after Fitch Ratings downgraded the company's credit rating to "junk." Sears has plunged 30 percent this week after disclosing that it would close more than 100 Sears and Kmart stores because of weak holiday sales.

? Diamond Foods Inc. jumped 7 percent to $33.62. Rumors have been circulating that the hedge fund manager David Einhorn has acquired a stake in the food company that makes Emerald Nuts.

? AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines, fell 19 cents to 33 cents. The company filed for bankruptcy protection last month. Late Thursday the company said its stock would be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange next week.

Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/30/9830123-stocks-slip-slightly-on-2011s-last-trading-day

the brothers grimm the brothers grimm penn state football weather boston grimm fairy tales grimm fairy tales gold rush

Michele Bachmann Limping To Finish Line Of Iowa Caucus 2012

NEVADA, Iowa -- Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann is limping toward Tuesday's Iowa presidential caucuses.

She's losing staff. She's faced calls for her to abandon her bid. And she has no money.

Yet, the Minnesota congresswoman, at the back of the pack in polls, is vowing to soldier on, even if that means her candidacy will split the vote of pivotal conservatives in Iowa and allow for victories by a candidate who isn't seen as adhering as strongly to GOP orthodoxy ? like Mitt Romney or Ron Paul.

"Nobody's working harder," Bachmann says, declaring her campaign "strong" and suggesting that sheer hustle will carry her to victory.

Regarded as a tea party heroine, the only woman in the Republican race has struggled to revive her campaign since her standing dropped shortly after she won a statewide test vote in Iowa. That turned out to be the high point of her campaign.

She's spent the final week before Iowa's caucuses on a bus tour of the state's 99 counties. On Thursday, she passed around pieces of cake to diners in the town of Nevada to mark the end of the tour that had her cramming in 10 or more meet-and-greets a day in cafes, bowling alleys and pizza shops. Sometimes the crowds barely registered double digits; in other places they spilled out the doors.

But instead of ending the exhausting sprint on a high note, Bachmann found herself facing a new reality: Rick Santorum was the conservative candidate whose standing was rising ahead of the caucuses, not her.

She also found herself feuding with high-level advisers, only the latest to abandon her.

Two top Iowa advisers left the campaign on successive days this week, with her state chairman, Kent Sorenson, quitting and then going so far as to endorse Paul within hours of campaigning with her. A day later, Wes Enos said he was leaving his job as Bachmann's political director.

Furious, Bachmann spent much of Thursday accusing Sorenson of switching allegiances for money. He denied it. But the candidate found herself in a daylong spat rather than hammering home her closing message to voters.

To some, it was another sign of a campaign in free-fall.

"If you can't get your campaign on one page, it's really hard to think you're going to get a country on one page. The timing is horrible," said veteran Iowa Republican strategist David Roederer, who is unaffiliated in this year's race but held top Iowa posts in John McCain's 2008 campaign and George W. Bush's 2000 bid.

It didn't help that the departures came on top of calls by some Iowa pastors that either she or Santorum leave the race so evangelical voters can consolidate their support and block a victory by Romney or Paul. She quickly rejected the plea.

Brad Cranston, a pastor from Burlington who originally liked the idea of a merged campaign, said he's given up on that prospect and will stick with Bachmann. So will Pastor Bill Tvedt of Oskaloosa, even if he knows her chances of winning have taken a hit.

"Maybe she is out of the running at this point," Tvedt said. "I think she can come back. To bail out on the basis of electability is self-defeating to the process."

But even if she stays in the race through Tuesday, it's doubtful she could sustain a campaign beyond that.

Despite her reputation as a prolific fundraiser, she's virtually out of money. Bachmann didn't air a single TV ad in December and won't broadcast one until the day before the caucuses.

Instead, she's rolling out Internet videos, like the one she filmed this week that cast her as the "Iron Lady" of the 21st century.

And she's urging Republicans on the fence to ignore her stagnant or slipping poll numbers ? and Santorum's rise.

It's unclear whether she's having any luck.

Recent college graduate Adam Fischer sized up Bachmann in central Iowa and liked her solidly conservative voting record, but he said he may still opt for Santorum.

"I don't want to become subject to that poll mentality because that's what gets us weak candidates," Fischer said. Then he acknowledged that the one with the head of steam come Tuesday will probably get his vote.

Also on HuffPost:

'; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/30/michele-bachmann-iowa-caucus-2012_n_1176074.html

jim jones matt barnes diplo hcm extremely loud and incredibly close mary tyler moore loretta lynn

End-of-the-year iPad 3 rumors: two versions, better battery, new display tech (Appolicious)

Wait, wait! There?s still roughly 36 hours left before it?s 2012 ? we can definitely slip in one last iPad 3 rumor round-up.

The latest two rumors suggest Apple is working on upgraded components for the next version of its super-popular iPad, which is expected to show up on shelves next spring, in keeping with Apple?s yearly device refreshes. The new rumors come from DigiTimes, the Asian publication that gets its information from up-stream supply chain manufacturers that Apple uses to produce the parts for its devices. All of the sources are anonymous, as usual, so it?s impossible to tell if DigiTimes information will actually prove to be close to the truth or altogether hogwash.

The first rumor claims that Apple is working on a better battery life for the next iPad, which would increase its charge capacity from the currently used 6,500 milliampere-hour to 14,000mAH. DigiTimes cites ?industry sources? for the lead, but states that Apple?s battery manufacturers, Symplo Tech and Dynapack, refused to comment about their client Apple or its devices.

This one might have some truth behind it. When it comes to Apple?s mobile devices, the company will often sacrifice power or cutting-edge hardware if building those things into its devices would cut too deeply into battery life. Apple prides itself on its devices being useful for a long time, so if the Cupertino tech giant is doing things to the iPad like adding a high-definition Retina display, as we?ve heard over and over, it might need a stronger battery to keep the device going.

DigiTimes? sources also told the publication that we should expect two versions of the iPad 3 when it?s released in 2012: a high-end version and a mid-range version. It?s the high-end version that will be seeing the bigger, better battery.

And speaking of displays, we have one more rumor to throw down. Another DigiTimes report claims that Apple might be going with a new kind of display for next year?s tablet. The rumor says Apple is switching from IPS, or in-plane switching, display panels it uses currently on the iPad 2 to indium gallium zinc oxide flat panels. Those new panels will reportedly be produced by Sharp, and are necessary to get the iPad 3 up to true HD levels, according to DigiTimes? sources.

This one makes some sense, too. As GigaOM points out, we?ve heard before that Apple wants to get a high-definition Retina display into its next iPad. As was speculated by Jeffries analyst Peter Misek, using IGZO displays would allow Apple to get up to a resolution of 330 pixels-per-inch. That?s slightly better than the iPhone 4?s 326 ppi, which Apple calls its ?Retina? display. It might not hurt also that Sharp is reportedly the manufacturer providing the displays, and not Samsung, with whom Apple is currently embroiled in tons of patent disputes.

DigiTimes has been wrong before (plenty of times), but its rumors do sometimes provide insights into what?s going on with the technical side of Apple?s mobile operations. Some of these rumors make some degree of sense, but of course, we?ll be well into 2012 before we find out for sure. Still, it?s fun to try to guess what the next iPad will be like months before it?s out. Happy New Year!

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/applecomputer/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/appolicious_rss/rss_appolicious_tc/http___www_appolicious_com_articles10635_end_of_the_year_ipad_3_rumors_two_versions_better_battery_new_display_tech/44037197/SIG=13rh3strh/*http%3A//www.appolicious.com/tech/articles/10635-end-of-the-year-ipad-3-rumors-two-versions-better-battery-new-display-tech

election results 2011 election results 2011 board of elections board of elections senate bill 5 senate bill 5 joe paterno press conference

Likes Long Walks on the Beach and Literate RP Partners...

Hi, BC here, and I'm interested what you might have up your sleeves! :D

I am literate and I usually write at least two paragraphs though I definitely can write more if I'm given more to work with and my characters are usually female though I can play males if necessary. I have nothing against any type of pairing though I'm usually really rubbish at actually writing anything but hetero in the romance section (I can try but I can't promise it'll be any kind of pretty). I am open for any genre and if I haven't done it before I'm always up for trying something before passing judgement. I'm in school (though on break for now) and I work (or will, by the middle of January) so hours won't always be too open but I can commit to at east one post/reply a day if needed and never less than twice a week.

I personally don't have any plots floating around but I would love to help with fleshing out an idea or help develop one if needed. I RP in PM, thread, tab and MSN (though I like threads the most I am not adverse to any of the others.)

I'm good with basically any type of setting as long as I'm told some background if I'm not already familiar with it. I also don't mind (understatement) helping to flesh out some designs or develop an idea though I myself don't have any plots lying around, unfortunately.

Honestly, I'm open for just about anything- private RP, group, any setting, any pairing...

Some ideas though:
Asylum - haven't done one of these in a while and last time I did I played Johnathon Crane, aka Scarecrow...
Fantasy - Modern, Dark, Medieval, etc
Sci-fi - Like 'Mass Effect' and such
Romance- I usually like this a a subplot but I don't mind it as the entire story
Realism
Mythological
MMORPG based - taking part in both 'real life' and in the game.
Fandoms - There is a lot so just ask :3
Urban Fantasy - faeries, vampires, werewolves in the city... all of that is good ^.^
Roommates
Vampire HunterxVampire
University TeacherxStudent
Step siblings
-Witchhunter - though never really done one before
High School
Boarding School

My Only Real Rules/Requests:
-No oneliners
-No txt speak
-Respond to me at least twice a week. If you're going to be gone for longer than a few days, please tell me in advance if you can.
-No instaromance, unless it is a pre-existing relationship
-If the story has stalled and seems to be going nowhere, talk to me about it. Communication is key!
-If you want to quit, tell me, don't worry about it. If I don't like it I will certainly tell you.
-Be blunt if you don't like something I do or where I take the story, I will fix it or rewrite it so we're both happy.
-I will not write anything graphic, sexually, just not what I do. If you want that, you'll just have to look elsewhere, sorry.
-As I said before, I'm not good at writing same-sex couples (for whatever reason it just comes out crap) and of the two I'm even worse at writing the female variety. I apologize in advance, I will try if the plot revolves around it and I like it, but I can't promise a whole lot D: so sorry!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/YBwXjSI-tCY/viewtopic.php

black friday sales 2011 black friday sales 2011 whitney duncan bradley cooper elisabeth hasselbeck roger craig roger craig

'Bridesmaids' star Chris O'Dowd is engaged

Tis the season for engagements!

"Bridesmaids" actor Chris O'Dowd -- who wooed Kristen Wiig as lovable Irish cop Nathan Rhodes in the 2011 flick -- will soon tie the knot with his girlfriend, British TV personality Dawn Porter.

PHOTOS: Celebs who got engaged in 2011

Proposing the day after Christmas during the couple's vacation in Guernsey, an island in the English Channel, O'Dowd, 32, took to Twitter to confirm the happy news Thursday.

  1. More Entertainment stories
    1. As year closes, open your eyes to 5 standouts

      While some people spent 2011 "winning," GTL-ing and marrying (and quickly divorcing), there were events in pop culture hap...

    2. Rancic on double mastectomy: 'It was hell'
    3. Movies to look forward to in 2012
    4. Say what? Funniest movie lines of 2011
    5. Roaches take over on 'Hoarding: Buried Alive'

"I'm so bored of all this happiness and sex. I'm getting married," he wrote. Added his 32-year-old fiancee, via Twitter : "I guess he liked it, coz he put a ring on it. #engaged."

PHOTOS: How A-listers celebrated the holidays

That ring, Porter tells the local Guernsey Press, is not the traditional engagement diamond, but an emerald.

PHOTOS: Stars' blingy engagement rings

"The ring is gorgeous -- an emerald, as he is Irish, and green to replace a green ring of my mum's that I have worn on that hand since I was 16," the bride-to-be told the paper.

According to Porter, the couple is considering a summer 2012 wedding.

Copyright 2011 Us Weekly

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45826344/ns/today-entertainment/

yule log ham recipes adrian peterson darlene love free kindle books roasted potatoes turkey recipes

GUITAR DUO BLUES: Larry Carlton and Robben Ford

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

Source: http://astuteblogger.blogspot.com/2011/12/guitar-duo-blues-larry-carlton-and.html

jessica sutta houston astros sexiest man alive 2011 ruben studdard ruben studdard black friday sales 2011 black friday sales 2011

Balflearspgc: Dos galgos grandes y fieles abandonados en el parque de al lado de mi casa... que asco me dan las personas que hacen eso

  • Passer la navigation
  • Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
  • Passer cette ?tape
  • Connexion
Loader Twitter.com
  • Connexion
Dos galgos grandes y fieles abandonados en el parque de al lado de mi casa... que asco me dan las personas que hacen eso Balflearspgc

Jose Guerrero

Pied de page

Source: http://twitter.com/Balflearspgc/statuses/152779104524050432

icam patrice o neal. joran van der sloot osteopathy osteopathy diphtheria diphtheria

Gameloft sale prices Android games at $0.99 starting Thursday (Digital Trends)

gameloftAndroid gamers, you?re getting some post-Christmas attention from Gameloft. The French game developer says it will be knocking down the price of all its games to a paltry .99 cents.

So that means that those of you stuck with poorly planned New Years Eve events can download some decent distractions. The deal begins December 29 at 10:00AM Pacific time, and lasts until January 5 of the new year.

All of their games, which typically average at $5, are .99 cents; this includes Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation and most likely the popular Gangstar, 9mm, Order & Chaos, N.O.V.A and the Oregon Trail remake. The developer also has a few free games if you?re in the neighborhood already, as well as a current contest for a free Modern Combat 3 copy.

The massive discount extends the love already bestowed upon the iOS users as well as the Amazon Appstore earlier this month. The Amazon sale was Christmas oriented, and ended on Monday of this week.

The Android Market generosity extends to those across the pond as well. UK dwellers will actually be getting it for a little more than us according to Recombu, Gameloft Android games will be going for 69p. However, it?s not clear if all the games will be available at 69p for those in the UK.

Gameloft is in the habit of creating console-like experiences for mobile users. The company?s iOS activity has been significant, reaching a 200 million download milestone from the App Store back in July. Gameloft was also connected to the Sony Tablet S and the Tablet P to create an interesting lineup of games. Android and iOS gaming in general has been growing tremendously, recently beating out the revenue of traditional gaming companies like Sony and Nintendo.

Via Gameloft tweet

?

This article was originally posted on Digital Trends

More from Digital Trends

This week in apps: Thanksgiving edition

Samsung upgrades up its new Galaxy lineup with the Galaxy S II LTE

The Android-iPhone battle, mapped state by state

WSJ: Amazon tablet due in October

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/personaltech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/digitaltrends/20111228/tc_digitaltrends/gameloftsalepricesandroidgamesat099startingthursday

heavy d dead alaska weather alaska weather election results gop debate live gop debate live nome alaska

Iran's threats over Strait of Hormuz? Understandable, but not easy

Iran has issued two threats that it could close the Strait of Hormuz, reminding the world how it could spike oil prices if the US or Israel attacks. But it wouldn't be easy.?

The boasting from an Iranian admiral today that it would be "easy" to close the Strait of Hormuz ? the Red Sea chokepoint for much of the world's oil tankers ? should be treated as just that.

Skip to next paragraph

"Closing the Strait of Hormuz is very easy for Iranian naval forces," Iran's navy chief Habibollah Sayyari told state-run propaganda channel Press TV. "Iran has comprehensive control over the strategic waterway." His comments followed similar words from Vice President Reza Rohimi yesterday, and an announcement a few weeks ago that the Iranian navy would be conducting military exercises to simulate shutting the Strait of Hormuz, through which 40 percent of world's sea-borne oil passes.?

How serious is this? Sure, the price of oil jumped (traders love the market action, and you have to wonder if the Iranian government had bought oil futures before their state media started hyping this story). But prices are settling back as fear and panic are being replaced with reasoned reflection: A threat to do something isn't a promise that it will happen. A threat is often, as in this case, a way to send a strategic message. Iran is responding to the bellicose rhetoric that's emanated from the US and Israel in recent weeks by saying "we can make you suffer if provoked."

Could they? Sure. Iranian moves to close the Strait, perhaps by sinking a tanker, would cause oil prices to skyrocket, increase the threat of a broader regional war, and create weeks of uncertainty. It's one of the reasons that a war between the US and Iran, started by either party, seems unlikely. Both economies would be badly damaged.

But if it comes to war could they "close" the Strait? Not for very long.

The US 5th Fleet would stand opposed, as would a number of European powers, whose own faltering economies would topple into outright depression were flows of Gulf oil to the Mediterranean stopped.?

Easy? No. "Comprehensive control?" No. Iran spends about $8 billion a year on its military, or about an 80th of US spending. Even European military spending dwarfs Iran's. If France, Germany, and the UK's military expenditures are combined, they spend about 20 times what Iran does. While the publics of the US and Europe may be war-weary, closing the Strait of Hormuz would be an economic catastrophe that would see a massive amount of naval force brought to bear on Iran ? and probably consideration of missile attacks on political and military leaders ashore. Iran's leaders know all this, whatever bluster to the contrary.?

During the so-called Tanker War between the Iranians and Iraqis during the 1980s, shipping in the Strait was severely threatened by both sides. Both countries sought to deprive the other of oil revenue, and attacked the boats of neutral parties as well as their direct enemies. All of that drove up the price of oil and shipping insurance, but didn't ever close the Strait of Hormuz. Eventually, the US Navy began escorting ships through the Strait, concerned about the global price of oil.

None of this is to say that all the war talk on both sides isn't frightening, or a reason for concern. And it's not to say that Iran couldn't do substantial damage to tanker traffic through the Strait if it comes to war. But the Islamic Republic simply does not have its hands on the spigot for 40 percent of the world's tanker oil, no matter how much it wishes that it did.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/DaU5rxkTr0Y/Iran-s-threats-over-Strait-of-Hormuz-Understandable-but-not-easy

x factor winner footlocker julia gillard julia gillard pecan pie the hobbit trailer prometheus trailer

Nigerian Christmas bomb death toll rises to 37 (Reuters)

ABUJA (Reuters) ? The death toll from a bomb attack on a church just outside Nigeria's capital Abuja on Christmas Day has risen to 37, with 57 people wounded, a source at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said on Friday.

The bombing at St. Theresa's Catholic church in Madalla on Abuja's outskirts during a packed Christmas mass was the deadliest of a series of Christmas attacks on Nigerian churches and other targets by the militant Islamist sect Boko Haram.

"As of just now, the latest death toll from the bombing of St. Theresa's church is at 37. Wounded, we have 57," a senior NEMA official said. The initial death toll had been 27.

The official asked not to be identified because the victims were now in the hands of hospitals and morgues.

President Goodluck Jonathan's office put out a statement late on Friday pledging that "the government will fight Boko Haram, the group of evil-minded people who want to cause anarchy, to the end."

Jonathan held talks on Friday with Mohame Bazoum, Deputy Prime Minister of Niger. Security officials suspect the countries' porous common border is a gathering point for militants, and that Boko Haram may have made contact there with al Qaeda's north African wing.

"The perpetrators pass through borders at will and we have to ensure that there are no safe havens for them in the sub-region," Jonathan said.

He had summoned his security chiefs for an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the growing Islamist militant threat and how to deal with it.

National Security Adviser General Owoye Andrew Azazi told Reuters that Nigerian security services were considering making contact with moderate members of Boko Haram via "back channels," even though explicit talks are officially ruled out.

EXPLOSIONS, SHOOTINGS IN NORTHEAST

This year was the second in a row that Boko Haram has attacked churches at Christmas. Its strikes are becoming deadlier and more sophisticated, and suggest that it is trying to ignite sectarian strife in a country historically prone to conflicts between a largely Muslim north and Christian south.

Three explosions struck the northeastern city of Maiduguri shortly after Muslim Friday prayers, but caused no casualties, the military said. In a separate incident, gunmen shot dead three members of a cleric's family.

Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is sinful" in the northern Hausa language, has been blamed for a campaign of shootings and bombings against security forces and authorities in the north.

Attacks in and around the capital - including one on the U.N. headquarters in August that killed at least 24 people - suggest the group is trying to raise its profile and radiate out from its heartland in the northeast.

On Tuesday night, unidentified attackers threw a homemade bomb into an Islamic school in the southern Delta state, an apparent sectarian reprisal that wounded seven people, six of them young children.

On Wednesday night, an explosion in a local bar in the northern city of Gombe wounded one person, police said.

(Reporting by Tim Cocks)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/religion/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111230/wl_nm/us_nigeria_violence

cleveland browns fred thompson fred thompson los angeles angels los angeles angels lindsay lohan’s playboy cover leaked online lindsay lohan’s playboy cover leaked online

শুক্রবার, ৩০ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১১

Newton Community Calendar

Dec. 31

New Year?s Eve Service Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m., Loves and Hugs Christian Tabernacle Inc., 1701 Klondike Road, Conyers, the church hosts a New Year?s Eve service.

Watch Night Service Dec. 31 at 7 p.m., Rock Temple AME Church, 1021 Bryant St., the church hosts a Watch Night Service, the Rev. Alfred Vaughn speaking, 770-922-5707.

New Year?s Eve Service Dec. 31 at 10:30 p.m., Victorious LIfe Church, 1615 Old McDonough Highway, Conyers, the church hosts a New Year?s Eve service, 770-602-0960.

Watch Night Service Dec. 31 at 7 p.m., Trail to Christ Worship Center, 132 South Cherokee St., Social Circle, the church hosts a Watch Night service, the Rev. Eugene Inscore preaching, 770-385-3380.

Jan. 1

New Year?s Day Service Jan. 1 at 9 a.m., Rock Temple AME Church, 1021 Bryant St., Conyers, the church hosts a New Year?s Day service, 770-922-5707.

Jan. 2

Special Event Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m., Loves and Hugs Christian Tabernacle Inc., 1701 Klondike Road, Conyers, the church hosts a special event titled ?Royal Love Monday?.

Newton BOE Jan. 2 at 9 a.m., Newton County Board of Education, the Newton BOE holds a special called meeting.

Jan. 4

NHS Class of 1961 Jan. 4 at 11:30 a.m., Mama Maria?s Italian Grill, Covington, the Newton County High School Class of 1961 meeting and lunch, 770-267-4259 or visit: www.newtonocountyhighschool1961.com.

Jan. 6

Public Forum Jan. 6 at 3:30 p.m., Alcovy High School, Auditorium, Covington, ?School Board on Your Corner? Public Forum ?School Law Updates, Bullying and College Readiness,? e-mail: jeffrey.meadors@gmail.com.

Jan. 12

Rockdale BOE Jan. 12 at 7 p.m., Central Office Board Room, 954 N. Main St., the Rockdale County Board of Education holds its annual meeting.

Jan. 29

Gospel Singing Jan. 29 at 6 p.m., Newton Baptist Church, 720 Jack Neely Road, Covington, the church hosts a Gospel singing featuring the ?Tribute Quartet,? 770-788-7868.

Dave Ramsey Class Jan. 29 at 6 p.m., Covington First United Methodist Church, the church hosts a Dave Ramsey class, visit: www.covingtonfirst.org or 770-786-7305.

The Community Calendar is a forum for announcing meetings and events of nonprofit organizations of Rockdale and Newton counties. To submit information, visit our website at www.newtoncitizen.com, call 770-483-7108, ext. 252, fax the information c/o Julie Wells at 770-483-5797.

Source: http://www.newtoncitizen.com/news/2011/dec/27/1216_newton-community-calendar/

cyber monday deals war eagle war eagle pawn stars restrepo nba news nba news

Federal judge blocks Calif. low-carbon fuels rule (AP)

FRESNO, Calif. ? A federal judge blocked California from enforcing its first-in-the-nation mandate for cleaner, low-carbon fuels on Thursday, saying the rules favor biofuels produced in the state.

The lawsuit challenging the state regulations, which were adopted as part of California's landmark 2006 global warming law, was filed in federal court last year by a coalition that includes the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association and the Consumer Energy Alliance.

Fresno-based U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence O'Neill's written ruling Thursday said the low-carbon fuel rules violated the U.S. Constitution's commerce clause by discriminating against crude oil and biofuels producers located outside California.

Out-of-state fuels producers hailed the decision as a win for California drivers.

"Today's decision ... struck down a misguided policy that would have resulted in even higher fuel costs for Californian consumers while increasing the cost of business throughout the state," Consumer Energy Alliance Executive Vice President Michael Whatley said.

The California Air Resources Board plans to ask the judge to stay the ruling, and appeal if necessary to the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, spokesman Dave Clegern said.

The rule is "an evenhanded standard that encourages the use of cleaner low carbon fuels by regulating fuel-providers in California," Clegern said, adding that it "does not discriminate against any fuels on the basis of geography."

Beginning this year, the standard has required petroleum refiners, companies that blend fuel and distributors to gradually increase the cleanliness of the fuel they sell in California.

The board previously had said the low-carbon mandate will reduce California's dependence on petroleum by 20 percent and account for one-tenth of the state's goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

The regulation does not mandate specific alternative fuels. Rather, it assigns a so-called carbon-intensity score to various fuels. By 2020 all vehicles fuels, on average, must be 10 percent less carbon-intensive than gasoline is now.

The Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, the California Dairy Campaign, the Renewable Fuels Associations and other groups filed a similar lawsuit in the same court in 2009. Their complaint said the regulation conflicted with the federal Renewable Fuel Standard and would close California's borders to corn ethanol made in other states.

The fuel standard "discriminates against out-of-state and foreign crude oil while giving an economic advantage to in-state crude oil," O'Neil wrote Thursday.

The nonprofit legal organization Earthjustice, which was not party to the suit but works on climate-related issues, said the state's clean energy programs are consistent with federal law.

"California is leading the way on cleaner fuels and a cleaner power grid," Earthjustice President Trip Van Noppen said. "It is not surprising that the oil industry is attacking these programs, but like previous attacks in the courts and at the ballot box, we expect this one ultimately to fail."

_____

Associated Press writer Jason Dearen contributed to this report.

Associated Press writer Jason Dearen contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/science/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111230/ap_on_re_us/us_low_carbon_fuels

giants vs saints suh suh school closings lindsey vonn lindsey vonn josef stalin

Heat Beat Celtics 115-107: Norris Cole Comes Up Big (VIDEO)

MIAMI -- Norris Cole stepped to the foul line with 9.3 seconds left, set to clinch the game as cries of "M-V-P! M-V-P" rained down upon him from the sold-out stands.

No, this wasn't a scene from his days at Cleveland State.

Taking over in just his second NBA game ? and with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all on the floor, no less ? Cole scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including three huge jumpers down the stretch to save the Heat in a 115-107 win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.

"You grow up and live for moments like that," Cole said.

James scored 26 points, Wade had 24 points, eight assists and four blocks, and Bosh scored 18 for the Heat, which led by 20 points midway through the third quarter before having its lead twice sliced to three points in the final minutes. And both times, Cole took passes from James and knocked down jumpers, keeping short-handed Boston at bay.

"He's got savvy," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Great pickup."

Ray Allen scored 28 points on 8 for 12 shooting for the Celtics, while Rajon Rondo finished with 22 points and 12 assists and Keyon Dooling scored 18 off the Boston bench.

Through two games, Miami (2-0) has trailed only once ? by two points, for all of 14 seconds. Boston turned the ball over 24 times, and Miami turned those into 33 points.

"Any team you turn the ball over that much they're going to score on you," Allen said. "We just have to settle in on both ends of the floor. Whether you score or not, they're going to run down your throats."

Cole's jumper with 3:01 left gave Miami a 108-98 lead, most of which disappeared in the next 59 seconds, thanks to Dooling ? a former Heat guard. He scored seven straight points, including a 3-pointer with 2:02 remaining, cutting the Heat's lead to three. And when Boston got a stop on the next Miami trip, the Celtics looked for Dooling again.

But Wade stepped in front of a pass intended for Dooling, starting a play where James found Cole for another jumper, and Miami's cushion was back to 110-105 with 1:31 to play. A half-minute later, Cole struck again to restore the five-point edge, and Miami had the win.

"He's earned their respect," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Even though it's been a short period of time, about three weeks, because he's pure, he's all about the team. He's mature ... and he gets them the ball. You're always a popular guy when you find people when they're open."

Boston was again without forward Paul Pierce (bruised right heel), who worked out both Monday and Tuesday and is getting closer to a return. It won't come on Wednesday, however ? the Celtics have already ruled him out of that game in New Orleans, but there is some hope of Pierce being in the lineup when Boston makes its home debut against Detroit on Friday.

Maybe spurred by the new Eastern Conference championship banner hanging from the rafters, Miami came out flying.

A short bank shot by Wade made it 26-15 at barely the midpoint of the first quarter, setting the tone for an offensive bonanza the likes of which Boston typically doesn't allow. After a late flurry ? James setting up Wade for a lob, Wade missing at the rim but James trailing for a tip-in being perhaps the most impressive of Miami's highlight reel to close the second quarter ? the Heat took a 69-54 lead into the locker room.

That represented the most first-half points allowed by the Celtics since Feb. 8, 2005, according to STATS LLC.

Six straight points by James made it 85-65 midway through the third, and Miami was well on its way to a blowout. But then everything changed ? Boston went to a zone, and Miami's offense stopped in its tracks.

Feasting on Miami's second unit, with James being the only starter on the floor, the Celtics closed the third on an 18-6 run to make it 91-83 entering the fourth. The Heat missed their last eight shots of the quarter ? after having missed 14, total, in the first 32 minutes of the game.

Boston never got the lead down the stretch, though, thanks to Cole.

"We have confidence in whoever's on the floor at that time," James said. "For him to make those shots and come up big in a game like that, give credit to him."

NOTES: After two games, the Heat have 131 points in first halves this season. After three games last season, Miami had 130 first-half points. ... Celtics F Chris Wilcox didn't play in the second half because of a bruised left shoulder. X-rays were negative. ... The Heat said the luster of the matchup wasn't hurt by Pierce not being available. "We play the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back," Wade said. ... Celebrity sightings included Miami Dolphins RB Reggie Bush, rapper Rick Ross and retired tennis star Boris Becker.

'; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/28/heat-celtics-115-107-norris-cole_n_1172346.html

john lackey john lackey ed lee ed lee garmin nuvi 1450 amzn tommy john surgery

Mexico's Up And Coming Music Genre - Drug Ballads?

To Our Loyal Subscribers,

It is the Holiday season again as yet another year comes to a close. It has been a good year, even though the world economy and by extension, the entertainment industry still faces continued challenges.

This will be the final publication of Encore for the year and as is our custom, we like to take a look back at some of the key events that shaped our industry.

After only a year, the post-merger Live Nation climbed into the black, despite a lean summer touring season while Irving Azoff consolidated his position at the company.

U2 wound up their 360 tour, and it was one for the record books after playing to more than 7.2 million fans and grossing $736 million in the final tally.

Digital music continued to make strides, even as physical product sales continued to dwindle. Digital players such as iTunes and Spotify made headlines while both Warner and EMI were sold on Wall Street.

Stage collapses at several high profile festivals, including Bluesfest, Pukkelpop and the Indiana State Fair left numerous concert-goers injured or killed and have drawn yet answered questions about safety standards for outdoor event staging.

British retro singer Adele continued to take the charts and the music world by storm, but is waiting for recovery from vocal cord surgery before she graces the stage again.

The untimely passing of Amy Winehouse took many by surprise, though her music continues to be as popular as ever.

Phillip Anschutz and AEG made great strides in realizing their goal of constructing a new NFL stadium in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.

Music and creativity lost a 'genius' with the death of Apple's Steve Jobs. The company's new CEO Tim Cook will lead Apple into 2012, succeeding the iPhone 4S and 'Siri' with the possibility and hope of new flavors of the fruit.

Finally, as the year draws to a close, we wish to thank all of you for your continued support. We wish you and your family a very happy holiday and a prosperous new year. We look forward to continuing to work with you for many years to come.

Peter Denholtz & Marc Gentilella

Date Artist Venue Promoter Shows/
Sellouts
Gross Tickets Sold Total Capacity Percent Sold Ticket Price(s)
11/25/11Dolly Parton Brisbane Entertainment Centre - Brisbane, Chugg Entertainment 3/0 3,787,570 21,691 27,564 78.7% $290.88
$96.31
12/06/11Elton John Rod Laver Arena - Melbourne, Chugg Entertainment 2/0 3,684,280 22,233 22,466 99% $232.73
$103.73
11/24/11Cold Chisel, You Am I, The Detonators, Dave Larkin Band Rod Laver Arena - Melbourne, Ringside Pty Ltd. 3/0 2,693,460 31,549 32,239 97.9% $82.74
12/04/11Andrea Bocelli St. Pete Times Forum - Tampa, FL Frank J. Russo/Gelb Promotions 1/0 2,109,295 12,560 12,900 97.4% $350.00
$275.00
$195.00
$75.00
11/18/11Pearl Jam, X Estadio Universidad San Marcos - Lima, T4F-Time For Fun 1/0 2,026,110 23,635 45,886 51.5% $119.45
$32.58
Powered by CelebrityAccess and Billboard View More Box Office Scores
Submit Box Office Results
Industry Events Calendar
Click each link for more information
01/06 - 01/10 Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) New York, NY
01/08 - 01/13 Voices of the Swan Perth, Australia
01/10 - 01/13 International CES Las Vegas, NV
01/17 - 01/19 INTIX Annual Conference & Exhibition San Antonio, TX
01/18 - 01/20 Ticket Summit New York, NY
01/24 - 01/27 Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA) Annual Conference & Expo Kansas Citty, MO
01/27 - 01/28 Driven Music Conference Hollywood, FL
02/01 - 02/02 Event Live Expo Los Angeles, CA
02/01 - 02/03 Pollstar Live! Los Angeles, CA
02/10 - 02/14 Performing Arts Managers Conference (PAMC) New York, NY
02/13 - 02/13 SF MusicTech Summit San Francisco, CA
02/16 - 02/18 OMEA Professional Development Conference Columbus, OH
02/16 - 02/19 ISIM Conference Wayne, NJ
02/17 - 02/19 CINESONIKA Vancouver, BC, Canada
02/22 - 02/24 ad:tech New Dehli Dehli, India
02/23 - 02/26 Annual Folk Alliance Conference Memphis, TN
02/25 - 02/29 NACA National Convention Charlotte, NC
03/01 - 03/04 Applications of Time-Frequency Processing in Audio (AES) Helsinki, Finland
03/02 - 03/03 Nashville Recording Workshop + Expo (AES) Nashville, TN
03/09 - 03/11 International Live Music Conference (ILMC) London, UK
Click here to view the complete Events Calendar

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

PROMOTE YOUR ARTIST!
...with CelebrityAccess and the Encore Digital Weekly Magazine.

TOUR DATES:
Submit Tour Dates to be listed on CelebrityAccess, Billboard, Musictoday, MTV, VH1, CMT and many other prominent tour date sites. Use our online form, or fax us at 860-371-3699.
ARTIST AVAILS:
Submit Artist Avails that may appear on the CelebrityAccess website and/or the Encore Digital Weekly Magazine and Daily Password email. Use our online form, or fax us at 860-536-5700.
INDUSTRY NEWS:
Submit News including company personnel changes, roster changes, press releases and all worthy news items. Use our online form, email us at infomanager@celebrityaccess.com, fax us at 860-536-5700 or call our data acquisition office at 860-536-5700.

CelebrityAccess is the leading entertainment industry provider of real-time access to over 30,000 Entertainers, Speakers, Celebrities, and their representatives. The database provides extensive contact information on musicians, comedians, lecturers, agents, managers, record companies, talent buyers and venues.

Information such as touring status, performance fees, production requirements, direct phone numbers, fax numbers, direct e-mail addresses, biographies, musical genres, industry news, and web site links - are all available through CelebrityAccess. CelebrityAccess also provides unparalleled, detailed information on over 7,000 venues and their personnel throughout the United States, as well as, over 1,000 Talent Buying companies and their staff.

With over 4,000 active CelebrityAccess members, and over 100,000 ENCORE recipients, CelebrityAccess is recognized as the industry's most accurate, timely and extensive information resource. Thousands of performance industry professionals access the site daily to research booking opportunities, read industry news, review box office results, search for venues, and contact managers, agents and talent buyers.

If you are interested in learning more about CelebrityAccess and would like a free trial of our service, please contact us at (860) 536-5700 or visit us on the web at www.celebrityaccess.com.

ENCORE is published weekly by CelebrityAccess. This document may not be copied, in whole or in part, without the expressed written consent of CelebrityAccess. Various information contained in the ENCORE newsletter has been reproduced from the CelebrityAccess website.

Source: http://encore.celebrityaccess.com?encoreId=334&articleId=41282

the firm sleep no more cyber monday deals war eagle war eagle pawn stars restrepo

Seven hurt as bomb hits madrassa in Nigeria (Reuters)

PORT HARCOURT/JOS (Reuters) ? Assailants threw a homemade bomb into a madrassa in southern Nigeria's Delta state, police said, wounding seven people and escalating tensions between Muslims and Christians after a spate of church bombings across the nation.

Six of the wounded were children younger than nine learning the Koran at the Islamic seminary, or madrassa.

In a separate incident, armed Fulani herdsmen shot dead three members of a family in the ethnically and religiously mixed Plateau state on Wednesday, witnesses and officials said.

The school attack on Tuesday night came two days after Christmas Day bombings of churches and other targets by Islamist militant group Boko Haram killed 32 people in a coordinated strike that seemed aimed at igniting sectarian strife.

"Some men driving in a Camry car threw a low-capacity explosive into a building where an Arabic class was taking place," police spokesman Charles Muka said.

"Children aged between four and nine were taking a lesson. Six children were injured and one adult," he said.

He said police suspected a local vigilante group.

Boko Haram, a sect which aims to impose Islamic sharia law across Nigeria, claimed responsibility for the December 25 attacks, the second Christmas in a row it has caused carnage.

The worst attack killed at least 27 people in the St Theresa Catholic church in Madalla, a town on the edge of the capital Abuja, and devastated surrounding buildings and cars as worshippers poured out of the church after Christmas mass.

The attacks risk reviving sectarian violence between the mostly Muslim north and Christian south, which has killed thousands of people in the past decade.

"DECLARATION OF WAR"

Speaking at a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday, Ayo Oritsejafor, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), an umbrella group for all denominations, said Christians had become victims of "Islamic Jihad."

"It is considered as a declaration of war on Christians and Nigeria," Oritsejafor said. "CAN has found the responses of ... Islamic bodies on this matter to be unacceptable and an abdication of their responsibilities."

"The Christian Community is fast losing confidence in government's ability to protect our rights."

Jonathan promised to do more to tackle the threat of Islamists and hinted at a reshuffle in his security services.

"We will restructure ... and make sure we get a team that will meet with the challenge we are facing today," he said. "I will plead with religious leaders, both Muslim and Christian leaders, to work together."

Nigerian Christians fear the Christmas Day bombings could lead to a religious war in Africa's most populous country.

There was no suggestion the killings in Plateau had any link to Sunday's church bombings, as the victims were Christians.

The state is a tinderbox of ethnic and religious rivalries over land and power between local people and migrants from other areas that often take the form of sectarian strife between the state's Christian and Muslim communities.

Women wept and wailed in anguish over the bodies of a husband and wife in their thirties and their baby child, all of which were riddled with bullet holes.

"When the Fulani herdsmen came around late in the night, I managed to escape through the window before they killed my son, daughter-in-law and grand-daughter with guns," said Mary Pam, the mother of Philip Francis, one of the victims.

(Additional reporting by Felix Onuah in Abuja and Anamesere Igboeroteonwu in Onitsha; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Myra MacDonald and Matthew Jones)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/education/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111228/ts_nm/us_nigeria_school_bomb

hazing colton harris moore hurd hurd christopher hitchens ron paul 2012 zynga stock

বৃহস্পতিবার, ২৯ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১১

PFT: Brees passes Marino? |? Falcons irked

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees celebrates after his team defeated the Atlanta Falcons in New OrleansReuters

The Saints can still improve their playoff position by one spot, if they beat the Panthers and the 49ers somehow lose to the Rams in St. Louis.? (In the same way that the Saints, you know, somehow lost in St. Louis.)? Both games will be played at the same time, which could prompt Saints coach Sean Payton to do some scoreboard-watching, given that two of his key players ? cornerback Malcolm Jenkins and tight end Jimmy Graham ? suffered injuries in a meaningless regular-season finale in 2010.

The fact that quarterback Drew Brees sits only 190 yards ahead of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady raises the stakes.? Since the Pats need to beat the Bills to claim the No. 1 seed (the other contenders, the Ravens and Steelers, play at 4:15 p.m. ET), Brady will likely play most if not all of the game, and he could easily swipe the record if Brees plays less than 60 minutes.

On Tuesday, Payton addressed the situation, ultimately explaining that he?ll make a decision later in the week.? He dropped no specific hints as to the direction in which he?s leaning, but the bulk of his comments suggests that Brees and the rest of the regulars will play.

?I know I am twice shy when the ball comes near me on the sidelines,? Payton told the local media as to the possibility of getting gets injured in a meaningless game.? ?I have been bitten.? I think we just have to be smart.? We are playing well, with some momentum.? Each year is different.? We will look at that closely.?

Payton said he doesn?t know whether he?ll have someone keep an eye on the 49ers-Rams game.? ?Last year, we tried to go that route of paying attention to the game,? Payton said.? ?One of the challenges always is your roster to begin with.? You guys know that.? We sat players before.? It?s always hard because you don?t really have enough.? It?s not the preseason where you have 80, you only have 53.? We will try to do what is best for the team.?

But is it best for the team to have Brees hold off Brady?? Payton has a strong sense of history, but whether Brees holds the single-season passing yardage record for six days or 60 years has zero relevance to the team?s goals.

?I?m not really aware of the space between the two,? Payton said.? ?I am probably better off not knowing.? That being said, what we have to do is keep playing.? The playoffs are close.? How do we put ourselves in the best position to play well and put ourselves in an opportunity to win a championship?? That?s not always what is popular.? Two years ago in 2009, a lot of people in this room criticized us for resting players at Carolina.? It was what we needed to do as a team.? You make decisions.? They are not always right.? You try to make them with the right things to help your team.? Last night was one of those situations.? This upcoming game will be one of those situations.? It?s part of what we do.? It?s part of coaching.? It?s part of sport.?

Setting ? and holding ? records is part of what they do, too.? If Payton didn?t know the space between the two players, he likely will.? Even if he doesn?t know the number, he surely senses that it?s close enough to compel Brees to play a full game.

And so I?d be shocked if Brees and the rest of the starters don?t play a full game.? With Brees unlikely to wrest the MVP award from Aaron Rodgers, setting ? and keeping ? that record arguably becomes more important to Brees, to Payton, and to the rest of the franchise.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/26/brees-breaks-marinos-record-but-bradys-not-far-behind/related

gifts for mom gifts for mom pepper spray storage auctions storage auctions les miles les miles

Was at Freedom Park to cover pro-Anna protests.Very few people compared to thousands last time round.Organisers say due to college holidays

Maya Sharma wrote a status message :

Maya Sharma

Was at Freedom Park to cover pro-Anna protests.Very few people compared to thousands last time round.Organisers say due to college holidays 5 hours ago

Like (0) Share on : Facebook Twitter Google Buzz Post a Comment

vijay mohan valluri valluri : 46 minutes ago
Ma'am actually many of us are BORED. It's table tennis going on eternally. Plus there seems to ...more ARUN SHISHOO : 4 hours ago
his movement draws support of corrupt govt.employees,poor paid jobless people of up and students who wan ...more milind : 4 hours ago
All Indians are not fool.People who have knowledge of constitution cant support such agitation.Anna has ...more

Source: http://social.ndtv.com/mayasharma/permalink/67732

emma stone texas longhorns texas longhorns julia child bill maher francesca woodman extremely loud and incredibly close