BANGKOK (AP) ? World stock markets drifted Monday as investors awaited the release of key data this week for a clearer picture of the strength of the U.S. economic recovery.
European stocks barely budged in early trading. Britain's FTSE 100 nudged less than 2 points higher at 6,258.88. Germany's DAX fell 0.1 percent to 7,853.55. France's CAC-40 also slipped about 0.1 percent to 3,775.14.
Wall Street appeared headed for a day of trade without drama. Dow Jones industrial futures rose less than 0.1 percent to 13,818. S&P 500 futures were nearly unchanged at 1,495.80.
Asian stock markets posted slight gains Monday after strong U.S. earnings pushed Wall Street indexes to multi-year highs on Friday, though Japan's Nikkei dipped amid profit-taking.
The U.S. is due to report durable goods and pending home sales for December later in the day, but the numbers would have to sharply disappoint to dampen enthusiasm for stocks, analysts said. Fourth quarter growth data is due later in the week.
"The heavy slate of U.S. data releases this week will keep markets busy but overall we see little to dent the positive tone to risk assets over coming sessions," Mitul Kotecha of Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong wrote in a market commentary.
The Nikkei in Tokyo opened higher but then slipped 0.9 percent to close at 10,824.31 as investors cashed in shares following strong gains. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.4 percent to 23,671.88. Mainland Chinese shares ended higher, with the Shanghai Composite Index jumping 2.4 percent to 2,346.51. The smaller Shenzhen Composite Index gained 2.5 percent to 932.61.
Benchmarks in Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines also rose.
South Korea's Kospi fell 0.4 percent to 1,939.71, dragged down by Samsung Electronics, the world's No. 1 smartphone maker, which plunged 3.2 percent after Friday saying the strong won would hurt earnings this year. Steelmaker POSCO lost 3 percent.
Australian markets were closed for a public holiday.
On Friday, the Standard and Poor's 500 index closed above 1,500 for the first time in more than five years after good earnings reports from Starbucks and Procter & Gamble, the world's largest consumer products maker.
"Wall Street performed pretty well, that has helped overall sentiment," said Jackson Wong, vice president of Tanrich Securities in Hong Kong.
Banking stocks did well on the back of a European Central Bank statement Friday that banks in the region were expected to pay back emergency loans faster than previously expected, increasing confidence that Europe's debt crisis is easing.
Hong Kong-listed Bank of China Ltd. rose 0.8 percent. South Korea's Shinhan Financial Group gained 4.1 percent.
Benchmark oil for March delivery was down 1 cent to $95.87 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 7 cents to close at $95.88 in trading on the Nymex. It ended the week with a gain of 32 cents.
In currencies, the euro slipped to $1.3430 from $1.3467 late Friday in New York. The dollar fell to 90.61 yen from 90.98 yen. The euro rose to an 11-month high against the dollar Friday after the ECB announcement.
__
Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson
From dog yoga to ?pet resorts,? local pooches, kittens and other furry friends can have it all.
By Melissa Rayworth
(page 1 of 4)
It always comes back to those pesky carbs. ?I?m not a fan of commercial pet food for a number of reasons,? says holistic animal-care expert Dr. Doug Knueven of Beaver Animal Clinic. ?It?s made from ingredients that animals in the wild and the ancestors of our pets are never exposed to ? for example, lots of carbohydrates. A lot of the problems cats run into come from [consuming] too many carbs,? and dogs don?t benefit from a carb-heavy diet either.
The ideal choice, Dr. Knueven says, would be ?pre-made raw diets? found at specialty pet stores; they have the right balance of nutrients (not just meat, but also veggies and finely ground bones for calcium). Local independent pet shops (such as Animal Nature in Regent Square and Petagogy in Shadyside) stock raw pet food, which is better than the raw food you have at home.
?The meat we buy at the grocery store can be really contaminated with disease-causing bacteria,? Dr. Knueven says, but raw pet-food makers ?are very aware of pathogenic bacteria and have ways of mitigating that.?
Prefer to cook for your pet? Offer a fully balanced diet, and skip the fatty or carb-laden table scraps. Pizza crust? Nope. Bits of gristle from that steak you just finished? Don?t do it. Keep it healthy, and change up your pet?s diet periodically.
I?ll Have What He?s Having
The top-selling items at Pittsburgh?s pet-centric bakeries could make any human hungry. At Woof Stop Barkery, peanut butter-honey and pumpkin-cinnamon treats (soy-, gluten- and grain-free) have been a hit. And the new Bag O? Bones (6-inch bone-shaped baked goodies), Bag O? Bites (3.5-inch) and Bag O? Minis (2-inch) are also popular.
While Woof Stop doesn?t have a storefront, goods are available at local stores (see the full list at woofstop.com) or by mail (free delivery to Cranberry Township, Seven Fields and Mars).
At Bone Appetite Barkery, customers ?usually purchase treats that ?they would eat,? says owner Julie Smith. Her pumpkin, turkey-sweet potato and cranberry-sweet potato products were a hit for the holidays. For 2013, she introduced freeze-dried treats in convenient snack containers, including ?Tail Mix? (with banana, mango, peach, Fiji apple, strawberry, blueberry and other fruits).
And for special occasions, you can?t beat the freshly baked 10-inch pawprint birthday cake, or even the mini ?pupcakes,? from Doggie Delights.
Spa treatments, swimming pools, sprawling gardens ? Pittsburgh?s pet-boarding businesses aren?t exaggerating when they call themselves ?pet resorts.? At Lucky Paws Pet Resort, a day of swimming and romping outdoors can wind down with a blueberry facial and ?fur butter deep-hair conditioning.?
Sound appealing? Stop by for a guided tour to see the luxury suites for dogs (complete with heated floors, cable TV, sound system), the multilevel cat condo (there?s even a fish tank in the ?living room?!) and sprawling indoor and outdoor dog parks (open to non-boarders, too).
Misty Pines also offers a large outdoor area and a swimming pool, plus doggie yoga classes, spa treatments and obedience training. Specialty sessions include agility class and ?dock diving? (advanced swim lessons); overnight guests enjoy elevated beds (though the floors are heated) and 24-hour access to an outdoor dog run.
Over at Camp Bow Wow, dutiful pet owners can keep an eye on their dog or cat in real-time via live streaming webcam. Open for day-care or overnight stays, the camp?s ?tasty campfire treats? and ?spacious cabins? with comfy cots will ensure that your pet will leave with fond memories.
Paws Here A While is open to all pets who love romping in the sunshine, swimming and making new friends. But staffers keep groups small in order to focus on ?special-needs vacationers,? who may need more patience or emotional support.
And the exclusively indoor K9 Kingdom offers a huge play space and lots of socializing, while keeping a close watch on conflict to ensure safety of pets big and small. ?After a day of treadmill workouts and loving attention from the staff, overnight guests are treated to a frozen peanut butter KONG at bedtime.
? Lucky Paws Pet Resort: 724/728-1484, luckypawsresort.com
? Misty Pines: 412/364-4122, mistypinesdogpark.com
? Camp Bow Wow: 412/931-9247, campbowwow.com
? Paws Here A While: 724/573-4665, pawshereawhile.com
? K9 Kingdom: 724/935-DOGS, k9kingdom.com
The Lowdown on Chocolate
Chocolate has a chemical in it called theobromine, a central nervous system stimulant that is toxic to dogs. The higher the cacao content, the more theobromine you?ll find, making dark chocolate especially dangerous. Since dark chocolate is becoming increasingly popular, thanks to its health benefits for humans, we need to make sure our chocolate stash is hidden in a dog-proof place.
Dining With Doggie
There you are, enjoying a relaxing lunch or dinner on the patio of a terrific restaurant. But what about your poor pup? Left at home. With a bowl. On the floor. And you call yourself a best friend?! Next time, bring him or her along to one of these spots, all of which welcome furry companions.
Atria?s Restaurant & Tavern
In the shadow of PNC Park, Atria?s offers spacious outdoor dining to people and pets, just steps away from the North Shore Riverfront Park & Trail. Order the pot-roast nachos and something little for your pooch.
Big Dog Caf?
Big Dog serves outstanding coffee and light food, welcoming pets to its outdoor patio.
Bruster?sReal Ice Cream
It's the sweetest stop in town for dogs, offering free ?doggie sundaes? topped with crushed dog bones.
Cappy?s Restaurant
If you snag a sidewalk table, you and Fido will be treated to people-watching at its best ? and great food, too.
Coca Caf?
This spot's known for innovative breakfast, lunch and small-plate dinners, but also for giving water bowls to its outdoor doggie guests.
Redfin Blues
From April 1 to Oct. 1, you and your dog can enjoy lunch, dinner, a breeze and the view of downtown by the docks.
Square Caf?
With sidewalk seating, this is a perfect spot for people-watching ? and for some of the best breakfast and lunch in Pittsburgh.
Tazza D?Oro Cafe & Espresso Bar
Stop in for gourmet coffee and espresso with fresh pastries and light fare made with local ingredients. ? Jonathan Wander
Is rawhide really so terrible? The once-popular snack for dogs, originally used as both a treat and a chew toy, now gets a bad rap from pet experts. The problem isn?t nutritional ? slobbering on and chewing a piece of rawhide won?t make your pet sick. The trouble comes if and when the chunk of rawhide splinters into jagged pieces.
?The concern is that [dogs] could swallow pieces that can get stuck,? in their throat or elsewhere in their digestive system, says Dr. Doug Knueven. Want to get your pooch something similar to rawhide? Consider buying a sturdy rubber KONG toy with a hollow center, where you can stash a healthy treat; your dog can wrestle with and gnaw on the toy (and eventually earn the tasty prize) ? all without the risk of being harmed by rawhide shards.
A Pet?s Other Best Friend
Heather Long, co-owner of the local pet-sitting service Au Purr, LLC, is quick to give one essential bit of advice to pet lovers in search of a walker or sitter: ?Interviews and meeting with your prospective sitter are imperative! You would never hire a babysitter for your child pointblank, and furry ?children? are no different.?
She says it?s vital to hire a licensed, bonded and professional service instead of the neighborhood kid trying to make a few extra bucks. Looking for a reliable sitter near you? Start with Fetch! Pet Care, a nationwide network that hires only the best of the best. ? Sean Collier
Google's Chrome Security team has taking the wraps of its its latest Pwnium competition. This time out, the target is Chrome OS on a Samsung Series 5 550, and as ever, the company's putting its money (and nerd cred) where its mouth is, offering up a $Pi million in rewards (that's a lofty $3.14159 million) for the third round of the competition. Amongst the payouts are $110,000 for a "browser or system level compromise in guest mode or as a logged-in user, delivered via a web page" and $150,000 for a "compromise with device persistence -- guest to guest with interim reboot, delivered via a web page." The company is also putting some weight behind the upcoming Pwn2Own competition, which goes down at CanSecWest in Vancouver in March. More info on both can be found at the source link below.
China is considering lifting a 12-year-plus long ban on games consoles, according to a report in the China Daily newspaper (via Reuters). The speculation sent shares of Nintendo and?PlayStation-maker Sony surging, with?Nintendo gaining more than 3.5 per cent on the?Nikkei?index and?Sony shares trading 8 per cent higher, according to Reuters.
The China Daily quoted an unnamed source from?the Ministry of Culture saying the console ban was under review. ?We are reviewing the policy and have conducted some surveys and held discussions with other ministries on the possibility of opening up the game console market.?However, since the ban was issued by seven ministries more than a decade ago, we will need approval from all parties to lift it,? the unnamed source is quoted as saying.
But when contacted by Reuters a ministry official denied the report, saying:??The ministry is not considering lifting the ban.?
The Chinese government imposed the games console ban in 2000 ? saying it wanted to safeguard children?s mental and physical wellbeing. Despite the ban on dedicated games consoles, mobile and online games are very popular in China but games makers have to ensure games comply with stringent government requirements or risk their game being banned. Games are typically required to include anti-addiction features which monitor how long a gamer has been playing and warns them to take breaks for health reasons. Gamers are also required to verify their identity and age by using their real name and an ID number that is checked against a government database.
Reuters notes that in November, Sony?s PlayStation 3 received a quality certification from a Chinese safety standards body ? which prompted speculation that the government was planning to lift the ban. Another sign of a possible policy shift:?Chinese electronics maker Lenovo was able to launch a motion-sensing device similar in concept to Microsoft?s Kinect Xbox gaming peripheral last year. The Eedoo CT510 was?marketed as an ?exercise and entertainment machine?.
In February 2011, a Chinese man was reported to have died after spending three days playing an online game at an internet cafe in Beijing.
I Learn Something New at ActiveRain Every Day and It's Time I Showed You. ?January 20 to January 26, 2013.
I learn something new every day at ActiveRain! ?With this series I try to highlight one post per day that gave me that ?lightbulb? moment. ?It could be something techie, about Real Estate, about a place or person!
January 20: ??Patricia Feager ???Life is Good-Giving Back. I love the water and fishing even more. ?I learned from Patricia that impacting our environment isn?t just done by those who litter or pollute with chemicals. ?Just touching the water, placing things in it that aren?t natural to it can affect the water. ?I?m thinking of all of those plastic worms and strange looking lures we?ve used. ?Please read what Patricia is doing to help.
January 21: ??Jeanne Kozak ???Do You Know What the Sticker on Your Produce Tells You? I really had no clue on this one but it certainly is helpful information. ?We go to a local farmer?s market and I usually just grab, sniff, and drop it in my basket. ?
January 22: ?Scott Nowling ?? Why ActiveRain? ?AR Members Join Realtor Hangout & Share Their Story. I?ve never been to a Hangout on Google+ but I may be missing something. Scott had on last Sunday and the topic was ActiveRain. ?See what some faces you?ll recognize have to say. ?Oh yes, be sure to head over to welcome him to ActiveRain.
January 23: ??Praful Thakkar ???How to Capture Scrolling Screen. I use Jing for screen capture all of the time but I?m always looking for something new. ? Here?s one from the Google store. ?Praful offers an easy to follow tutorial.
January 24: Toni Weidman ??Hugging is Good For Your Health But Only If You Hug Someone You Know. I have a friend who is a strong hugger... another who is an almost hugger... and a few who just aren?t huggers. ?Are you a hugger? ?Read Toni?s post to learn more about hugging and why it?s good for you.
January 25: ?Roy Kelley ??Snowy Day Project: Decorate a Wildlife Tree I grew up in the South so our little winged friends were pretty well fed. ??I never knew about decorating our trees to help feed our birds. ?Take a look at his photos and please make sure to keep our birds fed this winter.
January 26: Frank Laisch ??The Safest Way to Drive Your Pet Around. Please read Frank?s post about the best way to chauffeur your pets around. ?I was unaware that forcing cold air into their lungs could cause illnesses. ?I?ve had 2 dogs that became blind as a result of an autoimmune disease but all of the vets I consulted (yes, doogie opthamologist as well as a doggie neurologist) said that we shouldn?t let our pets ride with their heads out of the window. ?
Thank you for letting me do what I love to do each day... learn something new!
Please join me for a free, LIVE Platform University Q&A Teleseminar on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 8:00 pm Eastern Time (7:00 pm Central, 6:00 pm Mountain, 5:00 pm Pacific).
As you may have heard, last week we opened the doors to Platform University. So far, almost one thousand people have joined. The level of engagement has been incredible.
One of the monthly features is a live Q&A call for our members. I am opening this first teleseminar up to everyone?member or not?so you can sample Platform University for yourself.
During the call, I?ll share briefly what a platform is, why you need one if you are going to get your product, service, or brand noticed in today?s noisy world, and how to take your platform to the next level.
I?ll spend the bulk of our time together answering questions LIVE?a perfect opportunity for you to ask me anything about platform-building. But you must register to participate.
What You?ll Learn
During this teleseminar, I?ll share:
The three components of my social media framework. If you feel overwhelmed, this model will help you prioritize your time and focus your efforts.
A list of my favorite platform-building tools, including the ones I use day-in and day-out. They will save you hours every week!
How you can find time to build a platform, even if you have a full-time job and a crazy-busy life.
The pros and cons of building a personal brand vs. corporate brand. I, too, struggled with this at the beginning.
The one thing you must do to succeed. If you don?t do this, you will fail. If you do this, you can survive any mistake you make.
And, as I mentioned, I will also answer your questions. The call will last one hour.
How to Register
This call is FREE. You can access it LIVE by phone or a streaming web audio player.
Please note: I only have room for 3,000 people on this teleseminar. (That?s the limit imposed by our hosting company.) Therefore, you must register now to participate.
Register for the FREE Platform University Q&A Teleseminar
I am really excited about this online event. I want to help you take your platform to the next level and sample what we have to offer at Platform University. I know personally what this can mean for your future.
If you still have questions, read the FAQs below.
FAQs
Q: What is a teleseminar?
A: Think of it as a giant conference call. You dial in (or listen via streaming web audio), along with others and listen while I share and answer questions.
Q: How much does this cost?
A: It?s free. If you choose to access the LIVE call via phone, you may incur standard long-distance charges if you choose a dial-in number that is not local to you (there are multiple dial-in number options). Other than that, no fee at all.
Q: What is the date and time?
A: The LIVE call will take place on Tuesday, January 29th, 2013, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time (7:00 pm Central, 6:00 pm Mountain, 5:00 pm Pacific).
Q: How can I access the LIVE call?
A: You?ll have two options. Our call capacity is 3,000 total. Five hundred can access the call via phone, the rest via streaming web audio (listening via your computer). Access is on a first-come, first-served based on registration and which access option you chose. We will notify you prior to the call with the specific phone number and web address.
Q: I can?t make the LIVE call. Will there be a recording?
A: Yes, I will make the recording available after the LIVE call. You?ll have the option to listen to the replay online or download an MP3 file.
Q: How do I ask a question for you to answer during the call?
A: When you register there will be an option for you to submit a question. I?ll do my best to answer as many questions as possible during the LIVE call. However, I will likely not get to all of them. I?ll try to make sure I address common themes.
Q: Do I need any special equipment?
A: No, you won?t need anything special. You won?t need to download anything to access the call. If you use the dial-in access then you simply make a phone call. If you use the streaming web access then you simply open a web browser, click play, and listen. I will send the instructions to you via email.
Q: When do I get access information after I register?
A: I will send you access information via email tomorrow (Tuesday).
We're just a few short days away from the official debut of BlackBerry 10 -- RIM's effort to remain relevant in a market it helped pioneer. With the move to a next-gen platform, it also became clear that media would need to be added to marketplace offerings. When it launches, the revamped BlackBerry World will feature DRM-free music, as well as TV shows and movies available for purchase or rent. While prices aren't set in stone, you can expect them to to fall in line with industry norms. Best of all, most movies should be available the same day as their DVD release and TV shows the day after airing. And, lest you think RIM was going to half-ass the content part of the equation with nothing more than a few CTV and Japandroids offerings (we'd get tired of watching Degrassi: TNG eventually), the slew of partners is pretty impressive. Record labels signed on include 4AD, Matador, Warner and Sony and will be available in 18 countries at launch, while the BBC, Fox, CBC, ABC, CBS, NBC and Warner Bros. are among those offering TV shows in the US, UK and Canada. For a complete list of partners and countries check out the PR after the break.
Show full PR text
New BlackBerry World for BlackBerry 10 to Include Extensive Catalogue of Songs, Latest Movies and TV Shows
January 28, 2013
Unified Multimedia Storefront Will Carry Music and Video Content from All Major Studios, Labels and Broadcasters
Waterloo, ON - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX:RIM) today announced that the new BlackBerry(R) World[TM] storefront (formally BlackBerry App World[TM]) for BlackBerry 10 will offer one of the most robust music and video catalogs in mobile today. The new BlackBerry World will include an extensive catalog of songs as well as movies and TV shows, with most movies coming to the store the same day they are released on DVD, and next day availability of many current TV series. The competitive offering will feature content from all major studios, music labels and top local broadcast networks. Customers will be able to preview tracks and access the content using multiple payment options.*
"Music and video content is an integral part of a rich mobile experience. People want easy and convenient access to their favorite music, movies and TV shows wherever they are," said Frank Boulben, Chief Marketing Officer at Research In Motion. "RIM is committed to working with content providers to bring the best, most up-to-date content to our customers with BlackBerry 10, and to make it easy for them to get what they want."
The video download and rental section in BlackBerry World will initially be available in the US, UK and Canada. Varying by region and distributor, customers will have access to movies from the following studios and independents: 20th Century Fox, Entertainment One (eOne), Lionsgate, MGM, National Film Board of Canada, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (US), Starz Digital Media, STUDIOCANAL, The Walt Disney Studios, Universal Pictures (UK), Warner Bros. Customers will also have access to TV shows from the following broadcasters and studios: ABC Studios, BBC Worldwide, CBC/Radio-Canada, CBS, DHX Media, ITV, National Geographic, NBCUniversal (UK), Nelvana, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (US), Starz Digital Media, Twentieth Century Fox Television, Univision Communications Inc, and Warner Bros. The BlackBerry World storefront's DRM-free music download section will feature an extensive catalog from all major and independent labels including: 4AD Records, Domino Recording Company, finetunes, Matador Records, [PIAS] Entertainment Group, Rough Trade Records, Sony Music Entertainment, The Orchard, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, XL Recordings and Zebralution. The music section will initially be available in 18 countries: Canada, USA, UK, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Australia, India, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore.
Useful Links
BlackBerry World http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/
BlackBerry 10 Sign Up Page http://global.blackberry.com/blackberry-10.html
* BlackBerry(R) ID required. For more information please visit http://www.blackberry.com/bbid/
Archaeologists have unearthed a trove of skulls in Mexico that may have once belonged to human sacrifice victims. The skulls, which date between A.D. 600 and 850, may also shatter existing notions about the ancient culture of the area.
The find, described in the January issue of the journal Latin American Antiquity, was located in an otherwise empty field that once held a vast lake, but was miles from the nearest major city of the day, said study co-author Christopher Morehart, an archaeologist at Georgia State University.
"It's absolutely remarkable to think about this little nothing on the landscape having potentially evidence of the largest mass human sacrifice in ancient Meso-America," Morehart said.
Middle of nowhere
Morehart and his colleagues were using satellite imagery to map ancient canals, irrigation channels and lakes that used to surround the kingdom of Teotihuacan (home to the Pyramid of the Sun), about 30 miles (50 kilometers) from Mexico City. The vast ancient kingdom flourished from around A.D 200 to 650, though who built it remains a mystery. [In Photos: Amazing Ruins of the Ancient World]
In a now drained lake called Lake Xaltocan, around which was essentially rural farmland at the time, Morehart stumbled upon a site with evidence of looting.
When the team investigated, they discovered lines of human skulls with just one or two vertebra attached. To date, more than 150 skulls have been discovered there. The site also contained a shrine with incense burners, water-deity figurines and agricultural pottery, such as corncob depictions, suggesting a ritual purpose tied to local farming. [See images from the grisly excavation ]
Carbon dating suggested that the skulls were at least 1,100 years old, and the few dozen analyzed so far are mostly from men, Morehart told LiveScience. The researchers did not release photos of the skulls because the sacrifice victims may have historic ties to modern-day indigenous cultures.
The findings shake up existing notions of the culture of the day, because the site is not associated with Teotihuacan or other regional powers, said Destiny Crider, an archaeologist at Luther College in Iowa, who was not involved in the study.
Human sacrifice was practiced throughout the region, both at Teotihuacan and in the later Aztec Empire, but most of those rituals happened at great pyramids within cities and were tied to state powers.
By contrast, "this one is a big event in a little place," Crider said.
The shrines and the fact that sacrifice victims were mostly male suggest they were carefully chosen, not simply the result of indiscriminate slaughter of a whole village, Crider told LiveScience.
Many researchers believe that massive drought caused the fall of Teotihuacan and ushered in a period of warfare and political infighting as smaller regional powers sprang up, Morehart said.
Those tumultuous times could have spurred innovative ? and bloody ? practices, Crider said.
"Maybe they needed to intensify their activities because everything was changing," she said. "When things are uncertain you try new strategies."
Follow LiveScience on Twitter @livescience. We're also on Facebook?& Google+.?
Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama is a big football fan with two daughters, but if he had a son, he says he'd "have to think long and hard" before letting him play because of the physical toll the game takes.
"I think that those of us who love the sport are going to have to wrestle with the fact that it will probably change gradually to try to reduce some of the violence," Obama tells The New Republic.
"In some cases, that may make it a little bit less exciting, but it will be a whole lot better for the players, and those of us who are fans maybe won't have to examine our consciences quite as much."
In an interview in the magazine's Feb. 11 issue, Obama said he worries more about college players than he does about those in the NFL.
"The NFL players have a union, they're grown men, they can make some of these decisions on their own, and most of them are well-compensated for the violence they do to their bodies," Obama said. "You read some of these stories about college players who undergo some of these same problems with concussions and so forth and then have nothing to fall back on. That's something that I'd like to see the NCAA think about."
This year at CES, two names largely unknown to consumers made a sort of public debut. Huawei and Hisense, Chinese manufacturers that have for a long time focused on making devices for other companies or on the Chinese mainland market, have decided that they want to be the next Samsung or Sony. It's not as audacious as it sounds.
Many countries in East Asia figure prominently in electronics, of course, and have for decades. Precision Japanese engineering made itself felt in home audio and TV sets as far back as the 1950s ? Yamaha, Denon?and of course, Sony competed fiercely for decades with American brands like RCA Victor and Zenith. More recently, it's Korean companies like LG and Samsung that have been expanding their reach.
But China was also always there, albeit in the background. While they manufactured billions of items, from electronics to textiles and toys, the only hint you had that it was made in China was a sticker saying so on the bottom.
With China's growing presence on the global stage and a new capacity for high-quality manufacturing, that's set to change, and companies like Huawei and Hisense, formerly content to play bit parts, are looking to get a bit more front and center.
* * *
At CES in the past, most Chinese-branded devices were relegated to the International Pavilion, a sort of cordoned-off area stuffed full of cable makers, tchotchkes?and copycat devices?? much like what you might find in a real Asian electronics manufacturing?district. But in the last few years, brands known in China have been inching onto the show floor proper. And this year, Huawei and Hisense, finally even scheduled press conferences.
Like all CES press conferences, Huawei's was a bit stilted. But the message was clear: We're big and we're here.
"We're the second biggest telecoms supplier in the world,"?Richard Yu, Huawei's chief device strategy & marketing officer, explained on stage Monday. "We are using more advanced manufacturing technology than the iPhone." And indeed, the Huawei-branded devices being announced felt as solid and original as any high-end phone?? not the plasticky,?budget-rate stuff people have associated for years with Chinese products.
Shao Yang, the company's chief marketing officer, explained in an interview that Huawei decided only recently to really take on the global market:?"In the past we have focused on infrastructure?? and we've been quite successful." But the success of Apple and others changed the game, and Huawi's partners (Chinese telecoms operators) begged them to make not the "cheap and similar" phones of the past,?but something new and powerful.
This led to lessening the number of phones the company?manufactures, from nearly 150 in 2010 to just 23 now. By focusing on more recognizable and higher-quality?phones (but still variety?? "People like to use a different phone from others," Yang said), Huawei thinks it?can compete head-on with giants like Apple or Samsung.
Hisense is also is on the main show floor for the first time. The company's decision to pursue its own brand and go global with it has met with great success. More than half the products it sells internationally are now Hisense-branded, instead of being rebadged by other companies?? up from just 10 percent a few years ago.
At its Monday press conference (another CES first for Hisense), execs described how they're going from a local white-label manufacturer to global brand of their own.
* * *
To see why big manufacturers were beginning to enter the consumer market, I talked with Ross Rubin, founder of analytics firm Reticle Research.
"it continues a pattern we've seen many times in the industry, of companies moving from OEM (original equipment manufacturer) to consumer brands," he said. "HTC was another good example, even Samsung many years ago.?More of the value that consumers place on devices is in the operating system."
Rubin pointed to prepaid carriers like US Cellular and Virgin Mobile as big opportunities for companies like Huawei.?
"Android's maturity and support for a wide range of components allow a lower bill of materials," he explained, meaning cheaper phones and no need for subsidy by carriers?? which means monthly bills can be lower as well.?
Of course, a few years ago,?the last big push from Chinese manufacturers didn't really pan out: Netbooks. Companies like MSI and Asus, previously known for making computer components, turned out these cheap devices by the millions?? and while people snapped them up initially, the momentum ran out and these days they're hardly being made at all. Could the same thing happen to this new generation of phone manufacturers?
When I asked Huawei's Shao Yang about this, and who would be its?biggest competition, he demurred: "The industry is quite crowded, but our biggest competition has to be ourselves.?If we focus on the iPhone or Galaxy or HTC, it will lead us the wrong way." It's hard to argue with the wisdom of self-reliance, and indeed this decision to strike out on their own does seem to have led to success so far.
Other Chinese brands???ZTE, BenQ and many more?? continue to make their own push, be it in displays, phones?or cameras. But the emergence of China not just as a great place to have your gadgets built, but as a serious competitor in software and design is only beginning.
The end result can only be good for consumers, as competition in the tech industry tends to breed research and innovation???not to mention lower prices. It may not be long before your high-end devices aren't just made in China?? they'll be conceived there as well.
Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. His personal website is coldewey.cc.
Wildfire smoke rises from hills behind the village of Numeralla in New South Wales state on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013. Wildfires raged across much of southeast Australia. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)
Wildfire smoke rises from hills behind the village of Numeralla in New South Wales state on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013. Wildfires raged across much of southeast Australia. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)
Wildfire smoke rises from hills near the village of Numeralla in New South Wales state on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013. Wildfires raged across much of southeast Australia. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)
In this photo provided by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, plumes of smoke rise from a fire near Cooma, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013. Temperatures across much of New South Wales state are expected to reach 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) causing extreme conditions. (AP Photo/New South Wales Rural Fire Service) EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Wildfire smoke rises from hills behind the village of Numeralla in New South Wales state on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013. Wildfires raged across much of southeast Australia. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)
In this photo provided by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, plumes of smoke rise from a fire near Deniliquin, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013. Firefighters are battling scores of wildfires raging across southeast Australia as authorities evacuated national parks and warned that blistering temperatures and high winds had led to "catastrophic" conditions in some areas. (AP Photo/New South Wales Rural Fire Service) EDITORIAL USE ONLY
COOMA, Australia (AP) ? Firefighters battled scores of wildfires Tuesday in southeastern Australia as authorities evacuated national parks and warned that hot, dry and windy conditions were combining to raise the threat to its highest alert level.
Temperatures soared to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas.
No deaths have been reported, although officials in Tasmania were still trying to find about 100 people who have been missing since last week when a fire tore through the small town of Dunalley, east of the state capital of Hobart, destroying around 90 homes. On Tuesday, police found no bodies during preliminary checks of the ruined houses.
"You don't get conditions worse than this," New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said. "We are at the catastrophic level and clearly in those areas leaving early is your safest option."
Catastrophic threat level is the most severe rating.
Wildfires are common during the Australian summer. The combination of soaring temperatures and dry, windy conditions since Friday have sparked fires that burned 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of forests and farmland across southern Tasmania.
In New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, the fires scorched more than 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres). All state forests and national parks were closed as a precaution and total fire bans were in place.
In Victoria state, where fires in February 2009 killed 173 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes, officials said two people were treated for minor burns and four were treated for smoke inhalation.
Up to 20 properties in the town of Chepstowe west of Melbourne reportedly were hit by a fire, although it was too early to know the extent of the damage, a Victoria Country Fire Authority spokeswoman said.
More than 130 fires were blazing across New South Wales, though only a few dozen houses were threatened as night fell. One home was destroyed in the village of Jugiong, northwest of the capital of Canberra, fire officials said.
A fire was burning near about 30 homes near the small town of Cooma, south of Canberra. Cooma-Monaro shire Mayor Dean Lynch told Australia's Sky News some residents had evacuated to the nearby town of Nimmitabel.
Wind gusts of more than 100 kilometers an hour (62 mph) were recorded in some parts of the state, although a cool front moving across the region late Tuesday brought some relief and raised hopes that New South Wales might avoid major damage.
"If we get through today without loss of life and loss of property, we'll have had a remarkable escape from what could have been," New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell told the Seven Network.
Many residents in the town of Tarcutta, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of Canberra, took shelter at a community center. Eva Toth, owner of the Tarcutta Halfway Motor Inn, opted instead to hunker down inside the office for a sleepless night next to her motel. She was ready to jump in her car if word came that the flames were close.
"The wind is just unbelievable. It just suddenly comes like a whirly, twirly tornado," she said by telephone. "To live this is really frightening. When you walk into my place, you can smell the smoke even in my house."
One volunteer firefighter suffered severe burns to his hands and face while fighting a grass fire near Gundaroo village, about 220 kilometers (138 miles) southwest of Sydney, on Monday. He was flown to a hospital in Sydney for treatment.
Fitzsimmons, the fire commissioner, said the firefighter's condition had improved Tuesday and he should be released from the hospital in the next few days.
___
Associated Press writer Kristen Gelineau in Sydney contributed to this report.
The preliminary hearing into the shooting attack in Aurora, Colo., last summer that left 12 people dead and 58 wounded opened Monday, offering a week-long window into details of the mass shooting at a midnight screening of ?The Dark Knight Rises.?
Most intriguingly, testimony at the hearing could shed light on the mindset of the alleged shooter, James Holmes, the former neuroscience graduate student whose hair was colored the same orange as that of the Batman movie villain the Joker.
Until now, most key documents in the case have been kept locked up, with very few released to the public, most heavily edited. Three days after the shooting on July 20 in the Denver suburb, District Judge William Sylvester ordered attorneys and investigators to refrain from speaking about the case publicly.
The purpose of the preliminary hearing in Centennial, Colo., is for Judge Sylvester to decide whether or not there is probable cause for a trial down the road. The hearing will feature testimony by witnesses who will be questioned by both the prosecution and defense. There will be no jury.
In the very first session Monday, a police officer, Jason Oviatt, described finding Mr. Holmes outside the theater in the moments after the shooting, saying the suspect was ?very relaxed,? without ?normal emotional responses to anything,? The New York Times reported.
But beyond making details of the attack public for the first time in the hearing, the procedure will serve several other functions, perhaps none more poignant than creating a potential emotional outlet for victims and their families who will have the chance to testify.
[Recommended: Second Amendment Quiz]
Doug Godfrey, professor of law from Chicago Kent, says he will be watching for how many eyewitnesses are put on the stand, as opposed to police. He says the amount of time given to the hearing ? five days, which is very rare ? is indicative of motivations that go beyond fact and legal findings.
?There has been a huge movement in criminal law toward giving victims a voice in what happens ? which provides both some solace and closure,? he says.
The hearing could also allow prosecutors and defense lawyers to assess the other?s strengths and weaknesses, potentially providing the backdrop for Holmes to negotiate and accept a plea agreement before trial that could see him avoid the death penalty.
?The evidence is overwhelming in this case, so it might be just the opportunity Holmes needs to strike a deal that could spare his life,? says Robert Pugsley, professor of law at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles.
Legal analysts say they are keen to find out how the defense will proceed.
?It's difficult to say whether a theory of defense will be articulated, although one likely theory might be mental and/or emotional incompetence,? says Bernard Gershman, law professor at Pace University in New York. ?The evidence of guilt is so powerful that I don?t think Holmes has any possible chance of prevailing on the merits.?
For both sides, preliminary hearings can be useful as a way to freeze a witness's testimony, analysts say.
?If they change their story later, they can be challenged on it. Especially in a case like this, which will undoubtedly take a very long time to get to verdict, it will be useful to have people commit on the record, under oath, to what they remember,? says Joel Jacobsen, an assistant attorney general in the criminal appeals division for New Mexico. ?What they remember three years from now, after telling the story a million times to their friends, could well be different.?
What is clear is that the court has its work cut out for it, say analysts.
Holmes is charged with 160 counts, including attempted murder and murder. Officials say he was wearing body armor and a gas mask when he threw two canisters of gas and began shooting at the midnight showing of the movie, a much-anticipated conclusion of the latest Batman movie series.
?The judge's job will be to keep track of a lot of detail, roughly four to six elements for more than 160 crimes, which is a lot,? says Jacobsen. ?Essentially the prosecution has to touch each and every one of those bases. So the legal questions will be detailed, but the answers to each question will be simple: yes or no.?
Holmes?s attorneys reportedly have told the judge that Holmes is mentally ill but have not divulged whether or not they intend to use the insanity defense. They say he was seeing a university psychiatrist and that he tried to call that psychiatrist, just minutes before the shooting began.
But according to Mr. Jacobsen, the insanity defense is hard to win.
?Among other things, it requires a person to admit that they committed the crime, so it precludes any defense that the police might have erred ? and takes as its starting point that the defendant has done something wrong, or in this case monstrously, inconceivably horrible.?
He says the percentage of cases in which the insanity defense leads to a not guilty verdict is something close to 5 percent.
Jan. 7, 2013 ? New research suggests that racial stereotypes and creativity have more in common than we might think.
In an article published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, researcher Carmit Tadmor of Tel Aviv University and colleagues find that racial stereotyping and creative stagnation share a common mechanism: categorical thinking.
"Although these two concepts concern very different outcomes, they both occur when people fixate on existing category information and conventional mindsets," Tadmor and her colleagues write.
The researchers examined whether there might be a causal relationship between racial essentialism -- the view that racial groups possess underlying essences that represent deep-rooted, unalterable traits and abilities -- and creativity.
They hypothesized that, once activated, an essentialist mindset would lead to a reluctance to consider alternative perspectives, resulting in a generalized closed-mindedness.
The researchers manipulated participants' beliefs about racial essentialism by having them read one of three articles: one that described fictitious scientific research supporting racial essentialist beliefs, one that described fictitious research supporting racial nonessentialist beliefs, or one about the scientific properties of water.
The participants then took a commonly used test of creativity called the Remote Associates Test. The participants were given three distinct words and they had to identify a single target word that linked the three words together. So, for example, given the words "manners," "round," and "tennis," the correct answer would be "table."
The researchers found that participants primed with an essentialist viewpoint were less creative, solving significantly fewer of the word problems correctly than participants in the other two groups.
Results from a follow-up study showed that the link between racial essentialism and decreased creativity could be explained, at least in part, by an increase in closed-mindedness.
Together, these studies suggest that essentialism exerts its negative effects on creativity by changing how people think, as opposed to changing what they think. This finding fits with previous research on information processing and creativity.
The research also suggests that essentialist beliefs are fairly malleable. While there are many different aspects that still need to be explored, Tadmor and colleagues speculate that it might be possible to use these findings to devise an intervention program that reduces racial essentialist beliefs, thereby leading participants not only to become more socially tolerant but also to unleash their creative potential in the process.
Co-authors on this research include Melody M. Chao of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Ying-yi Hong of Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University and Beijing Normal University; and Jeffrey T. Polzer of Harvard University.
This research was partially supported by grants from the European Union Marie Curie International Reintegration Program; the Henry Crown Institute of Business Research in Israel; the Research Grants Council in Hong Kong; and the Ministry of Education, Singapore.
Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Association for Psychological Science.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
C. T. Tadmor, M. M. Chao, Y.-y. Hong, J. T. Polzer. Not Just for Stereotyping Anymore: Racial Essentialism Reduces Domain-General Creativity. Psychological Science, 2012; DOI: 10.1177/0956797612452570
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
James Holmes, the suspect in the Aurora movie theater massacre, appeared at the second day of a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
By Tracy Connor, NBC News
James Holmes used a thermos, frying pan, remote-control car and volatile chemicals to booby-trap his apartment to blow up after the Aurora theater massacre, an FBI agent testified Tuesday.
On the stand for a preliminary hearing, bomb technician Garret Gumbinner described the diabolical contraptions authorities found when they went to the grad-school dropout?s Colorado apartment.
There was a trip-wire leading from the door to a thermos filled with glycerine that was perched over a frying pan filled with potassium permanganate, Gumbinner said.
On top of the fridge was a remote-controlled ?pyrotechnic? box filled with 6-inch fireworks shells. Holmes left the remote for it outside, in a trash bag with a toy car and a boom box set to start playing music in 49 minutes, the agent said.
His hope was that someone would hear the music, open the bag, decide to play with the car, fiddle with the remote and detonate the explosives, Gumbinner said.
"He said he rigged his apartment to explode or catch fire in order to divert police resources to his apartment,? Gumbinner said, recounting his interview with Holmes.
In all, there were more than a dozen explosive devices in his apartment loaded with napalm, smokeless powder and live ammunition. Carpets were soaked with oil and gasoline, presumably to fuel any blast.
His computer was set to play loud music at a designated time. He was hoping ?someone would call the police and that the police would respond to his apartment,? Gumbinner said.
Instead, when Holmes was arrested outside the theater, he quickly told police about the trap he set and the bomb squad sent in a robot to investigate.
Between May and July, had Holmes purchased four guns ? two handguns, a shotgun and a rifle ? and 6,200 rounds of ammunition, an agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms testified.
A defense lawyer asked the agent if there is any process in place to prevent a ?severely mentally ill person? from buying guns and ammo ? another sign that Holmes may eventually plead not guilty by reason of insanity.
The details were revealed during the second day of a hearing that will determine if there is enough evidence to try Holmes for the July 20 massacre at a midnight screening of the Batman movie ?The Dark Knight Rises.?
Victims? families were emotional as they heard two 911 calls from the theater as the chaos unfolded ? including one in which 33 shots could be heard in 27 seconds.
The second was a 4-minute call by a 13-year-old cousin of Veronica Moser-Sullivan, the 6-year-old girl killed during the rampage.
?Who?s been shot?? the dispatcher asked.
?My two cousins,? the teen said, referring to Veronica and her mother, Ashley Moser, who survived but is paralyzed. ?On the floor?not breathing.?
The 911 operator tried to talk her through CPR, but it was too loud in the theater for her to follow.
?Help me!? she shouted a few times.
As the recording was played, Veronica?s father, Ian Sullivan, wept with his eyes closed.
Courtesy the family via KUSA
Veronica Moser-Sullivan, in an undated family photo.
On Monday, police revealed that Holmes bought his ticket to the opening-night show 12 days before he showed up in body armor with rifles and tear-gas canisters.
Officers also testified about the carnage they found after the attack and their desperate efforts to save victims.
"I didn't want anyone else to die," Officer Justin Grizzle said of the four trips he made to the hospital, which left his patrol car awash in blood.
Officers also testified about Holmes' bizarre demeanor when they grabbed him next to a car in the theater parking lot.
?He seemed very detached from it all,? Officer Jason Oviatt of the Aurora, Colo., Police Department said.?
?Very, very relaxed.?
More than 100 victims' relatives and survivors packed the courtroom and overflow rooms in Centennial, Colo., where a hearing was held Monday to hear details of the case against accused Aurora shooter James Holmes. NBC's Mike Taibbi reports.
NBC News? Mike Taibbi and KUSA's Blair Shiff contributed to this report.
More content from NBCNews.com:
Follow US news from NBCNews.com on?Twitter?and?Facebook
FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2007 file photo, then-Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., speaks during an appearance at Bellevue University, in Bellevue, Neb. The nomination of Hagel as the next U.S. secretary of defense is causing jitters in Israel, where the former Nebraska senator is viewed in some circles as unsympathetic and even hostile. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2007 file photo, then-Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., speaks during an appearance at Bellevue University, in Bellevue, Neb. The nomination of Hagel as the next U.S. secretary of defense is causing jitters in Israel, where the former Nebraska senator is viewed in some circles as unsympathetic and even hostile. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
JERUSALEM (AP) ? President Barack Obama's nomination of Chuck Hagel as the next U.S. secretary of defense is causing jitters in Israel, where some circles view the former Nebraska senator as unsympathetic or even hostile.
Hagel's positions on Israel's two most pressing foreign policy issues ? Iran's nuclear program and relations with the Palestinians ? appear to be at odds with the Israeli government, and critics here fear the appointment could increase pressure on the Jewish state to make unwanted concessions. The appointment could also signal further strains in what is already a cool relationship between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to win re-election later this month.
"Because of his statements in the past, and his stance toward Israel, we are worried," Reuven Rivlin, the speaker of the Israeli parliament and a member of Netanyahu's Likud Party, told The Associated Press. But, he added, the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Israel is strong and "one person doesn't determine policy."
Netanyahu's office refused to comment on the appointment, as did officials in the Israeli foreign and defense ministries. But Rivlin's comments reflected what has been a common sentiment among analysts and commentators here in recent days. In their evening news broadcasts, Israel's three main TV stations on Monday all portrayed Hagel as cool toward Israel.
Known as a maverick in the Senate, Hagel has raised eyebrows in Israel with a series of comments and actions over the years that some here have deemed insufficiently supportive of the Jewish state.
Hagel once said "the Jewish lobby (in the United States) intimidates a lot of people here" and does some "dumb things" that aren't "smart for Israel." He also said that "I'm not an Israeli senator. I'm a United States senator."
"I support Israel, but my first interest is I take an oath of office to the Constitution of the United States, not to a president, not to a party, not to Israel," he said.
Six years ago, he refused to sign a letter pressing the European Union to declare the Lebanese Hezbollah guerrilla group a terrorist organization.
Hagel's call in a bipartisan letter in 2009 for a 'pragmatic' approach toward Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that rules the Gaza Strip, has also drawn criticism. The letter called for engaging Hamas to moderate its behavior, though it said direct U.S. engagement "may not now be practical." Critics, pointing to the letter, have accused Hagel of supporting dialogue with Hamas.
The 66-year-old Hagel, who faces a tough confirmation battle in the Senate, also has criticized discussion of a potential military strike by either the U.S. or Israel against Iran, and has backed efforts to bring Tehran to the table for future peace talks in Afghanistan.
While Hagel's positions on these issues are shared by many in Israel itself, including Netanyahu's own critics, they run counter to those of the Israeli prime minister and could antagonize him if, as polls forecast, he wins a new term in Israel's Jan. 22 elections.
Netanyahu has identified the Iranian nuclear program as his top priority. Convinced that the Islamic Republic is trying to develop a nuclear bomb, a view shared in many capitals around the world, Netanyahu says Tehran must be stopped. Iran says its program is only for peaceful purposes.
While voicing hope that international diplomatic pressure will halt the Iranian program, Netanyahu has said that the use of force must be seriously considered as well. Netanyahu has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran, unilaterally if necessary, if he concludes that diplomacy has failed.
Israel also considers Hamas and Hezbollah to be terrorist groups, although it has held indirect cease-fire talks with both organizations. Israel refuses any direct talks with Hamas, which recently battled Israel during eight days of fighting in November, unless the group renounces violence and explicitly recognizes Israel's right to exist.
Ahead of Hagel's appointment, White House officials tried to play down such differences, saying his positions on Israel and Iran have been misrepresented and that he will be "completely in line with the president." They said that in the Senate, he voted in favor of billions of dollars of military assistance to Israel and supported multilateral sanctions on Tehran.
Despite such promises, the Hagel appointment is likely to fuel the common perception in Israel that Obama does not share the warmth toward Israel held by his predecessors.
In part, that impression stems from the relationship between Obama and Netanyahu. The two leaders took office just months apart in early 2009, and from the beginning, have appeared to be at odds both on the personal level and on key policy issues.
The men have sparred over Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, the borders of a future Palestinian state and the Iranian nuclear program. Last year, Obama rebuffed Netanyahu's calls to set "red lines" that would trigger an attack on Iran. The perception here that Netanyahu favored Mitt Romney in the U.S. presidential election ? an allegation denied by Netanyahu ? has further strained ties.
The U.S. is Israel's closest and most important ally, and the relationship is critical for Israel. Further cracks in the ties could make for a stormy second term for Netanyahu.
The one area where relations have remained strong is in security ties. The Israeli and American defense establishments cooperate closely in monitoring the Iranians, military training and weapons development. Israel's new "Iron Dome" rocket-defense system, which performed well during the recent fighting in Gaza, was developed with American financial aid.
Speaking at an event for mostly North American Jews in Jerusalem on Monday, Netanyahu thanked the U.S. for its support.
While he did not mention Hagel directly in his speech, Netanyahu he did warn of dangers ahead ? including Iran's nuclear program ? and said "it is time for many who don't see these dangers to wake up to them."
Eytan Gilboa, a specialist on U.S.-Israel relations at Israel's Bar-Ilan University, said he thinks if Hagel "will be a total disaster for Israel."
He said Obama's choice for CIA director, John Brennan, is considered good for Israel and could be a "stabilizing factor" on U.S. policy toward Israel. But overall, he said Obama's foreign policy team creates a "potential recipe for many problems with Israel."
"Obama is sending a message to Israel that rough times are ahead and if it doesn't accommodate U.S interests, there will be tense relations," he said.
But Dov Weisglass, who served as a top adviser to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon a decade ago and was involved in sensitive dealings with the Americans, said concerns about Hagel are overblown.
"Ties between countries are not decided by this person or that. The ties between Israel and the U.S. are so important and complex that I don't see any reason why they should change,' Weisglass said, predicting that in his new role, Hagel would, generally speaking, revise his outlook on things.
What's more, "ultimately, he is not the only decision-maker," he said.
___
Associated Press writer Daniel Estrin contributed to this report.
The pain puzzle: Uncovering how morphine increases pain in some peoplePublic release date: 6-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jean-Franois Hupp jean-francois.huppe@dc.ulaval.ca 418-656-7785 Universit Laval
Researchers discover new pathway to reduce paradoxical pain
Quebec City & Toronto, January 6, 2013For individuals with agonizing pain, it is a cruel blow when the gold-standard medication actually causes more pain. Adults and children whose pain gets worse when treated with morphine may be closer to a solution, based on research published in the January 6 on-line edition of Nature Neuroscience.
"Our research identifies a molecular pathway by which morphine can increase pain, and suggests potential new ways to make morphine effective for more patients," says senior author Dr. Yves De Koninck, Professor at Universit Laval in Quebec City. The team included researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, the Institut universitaire en sant mentale de Qubec, the US and Italy.
New pathway in pain management
The research not only identifies a target pathway to suppress morphine-induced pain but teases apart the pain hypersensitivity caused by morphine from tolerance to morphine, two phenomena previously considered to be caused by the same mechanisms.
"When morphine doesn't reduce pain adequately the tendency is to increase the dosage. If a higher dosage produces pain relief, this is the classic picture of morphine tolerance, which is very well known. But sometimes increasing the morphine can, paradoxically, makes the pain worse," explains co-author Dr. Michael Salter. Dr. Salter is Senior Scientist and Head of Neurosciences & Mental Health at SickKids, Professor of Physiology at University of Toronto, and Canada Research Chair in Neuroplasticity and Pain.
"Pain experts have thought tolerance and hypersensitivity (or hyperalgesia) are simply different reflections of the same response," says Dr. De Koninck, "but we discovered that cellular and signalling processes for morphine tolerance are very different from those of morphine-induced pain."
Dr. Salter adds, "We identified specialized cells known as microglia in the spinal cord as the culprit behind morphine-induced pain hypersensitivity. When morphine acts on certain receptors in microglia, it triggers the cascade of events that ultimately increase, rather than decrease, activity of the pain-transmitting nerve cells."
The researchers also identified the molecule responsible for this side effect of morphine. "It's a protein called KCC2, which regulates the transport of chloride ions and the proper control of sensory signals to the brain," explains Dr. De Koninck. "Morphine inhibits the activity of this protein, causing abnormal pain perception. By restoring normal KCC2 activity we could potentially prevent pain hypersensitivity." Dr. De Koninck and researchers at Universit Laval are testing new molecules capable of preserving KCC2 functions and thus preventing hyperalgesia.
The KCC2 pathway appears to apply to short-term as well as to long-term morphine administration, says Dr. De Koninck. "Thus, we have the foundation for new strategies to improve the treatment of post-operative as well as chronic pain."
Dr. Salter adds, "Our discovery could have a major impact on individuals with various types of intractable pain, such as that associated with cancer or nerve damage, who have stopped morphine or other opiate medications because of pain hypersensitivity."
Cost of pain
Pain has been labelled the silent health crisis, afflicting tens of millions of people worldwide. Pain has a profound negative effect on the quality of human life. Pain affects nearly all aspects of human existence, with untreated or under-treated pain being the most common cause of disability. The Canadian Pain Society estimates that chronic pain affects at least one in five Canadians and costs Canada $55-60 billion per year, including health care expenses and lost productivity.
"People with incapacitating pain may be left with no alternatives when our most powerful medications intensify their suffering," says Dr. De Koninck, who is also Director of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience at Institut universitaire en sant mentale de Qubec.
Dr. Salter adds, "Pain interferes with many aspects of an individual's life. Too often, patients with chronic pain feel abandoned and stigmatized. Among the many burdens on individuals and their families, chronic pain is linked to increased risk of suicide. The burden of chronic pain affects children and teens as well as adults." These risks affect individuals with many types of pain, ranging from migraine and carpel-tunnel syndrome to cancer, AIDS, diabetes, traumatic injuries, Parkinson's disease and dozens of other conditions.
###
Canadian funding for this international research included Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Krembil Foundation, Ontario Research Fund Research Excellence Program, Fonds de la recherche en sant du Qubec, Canada Research Chair funding, The Anne and Max Tanenbaum Chair Program, SickKids Foundation, and Universit Laval.
About Universit Laval
Located in Quebec City, the province's historic capital and a World Heritage City, Universit Laval is the first French-language university in North America. It is one of Canada's leading research universities, ranking 7th among the country's 94 university-level institutions in terms of research funding with $300 million devoted to research last year. Universit Laval's 1,500 professors-researchers share their knowledge with 45,000 students, 10,000 of whom are enrolled in graduate-level programs. For more information, please visit www.ulaval.ca.
About the Institut universitaire en sant mentale de Qubec
The Research Centre of the Institut universitaire en sant mentale de Qubec (IUSMQ) is one of Canada's leading and fastest growing institutions dedicated to understanding the causes of neurological and psychiatric diseases in children, adults and the elderly and to improving their treatment. Founded more than 25 years ago in Quebec City and affiliated with Universit Laval, the Research Centre brings together some 400 researchers, trainees and research professionals in uniquely trans-disciplinary efforts to solve the mysteries of the healthy and diseased brain and to further the development of novel therapeutics.
About The Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is recognized as one of the world's foremost paediatric health-care institutions and is Canada's leading centre dedicated to advancing children's health through the integration of patient care, research and education. Founded in 1875 and affiliated with the University of Toronto, SickKids is one of Canada's most research-intensive hospitals and has generated discoveries that have helped children globally. Its mission is to provide the best in complex and specialized family-centred care; pioneer scientific and clinical advancements; share expertise; foster an academic environment that nurtures health-care professionals; and champion an accessible, comprehensive and sustainable child health system. SickKids is proud of its vision for Healthier Children. A Better World. For more information, please visit www.sickkids.ca.
About SickKids Centre for Research and Learning
The SickKids Centre for Research and Learning will bring together researchers from different scientific disciplines and a variety of clinical perspectives, to accelerate discoveries, new knowledge and their application to child health a different concept from traditional research building designs. The facility will physically connect SickKids science, discovery and learning activities to its clinical operations. Designed by award-winning architects Diamond + Schmitt Inc. and HDR Inc. with a goal to achieve LEED Gold Certification for sustainable design, the Centre will create an architectural landmark as the eastern gateway to Toronto's Discovery District. The SickKids Centre for Research and Learning is funded by a grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Government of Ontario, philanthropist Peter Gilgan and community support for the ongoing fundraising campaign. For more information, please visit www.sickkidsfoundation.com/bepartofit.
Information:
Yves De Koninck
Faculty of Medicine
Universit Laval
Quebec City, Canada
Yves.DeKoninck@crulrg.ulaval.ca
Polly Thompson
The Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Canada
(416) 813-7654, ext. 2059
polly.thompson@sickkids.ca
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
The pain puzzle: Uncovering how morphine increases pain in some peoplePublic release date: 6-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jean-Franois Hupp jean-francois.huppe@dc.ulaval.ca 418-656-7785 Universit Laval
Researchers discover new pathway to reduce paradoxical pain
Quebec City & Toronto, January 6, 2013For individuals with agonizing pain, it is a cruel blow when the gold-standard medication actually causes more pain. Adults and children whose pain gets worse when treated with morphine may be closer to a solution, based on research published in the January 6 on-line edition of Nature Neuroscience.
"Our research identifies a molecular pathway by which morphine can increase pain, and suggests potential new ways to make morphine effective for more patients," says senior author Dr. Yves De Koninck, Professor at Universit Laval in Quebec City. The team included researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, the Institut universitaire en sant mentale de Qubec, the US and Italy.
New pathway in pain management
The research not only identifies a target pathway to suppress morphine-induced pain but teases apart the pain hypersensitivity caused by morphine from tolerance to morphine, two phenomena previously considered to be caused by the same mechanisms.
"When morphine doesn't reduce pain adequately the tendency is to increase the dosage. If a higher dosage produces pain relief, this is the classic picture of morphine tolerance, which is very well known. But sometimes increasing the morphine can, paradoxically, makes the pain worse," explains co-author Dr. Michael Salter. Dr. Salter is Senior Scientist and Head of Neurosciences & Mental Health at SickKids, Professor of Physiology at University of Toronto, and Canada Research Chair in Neuroplasticity and Pain.
"Pain experts have thought tolerance and hypersensitivity (or hyperalgesia) are simply different reflections of the same response," says Dr. De Koninck, "but we discovered that cellular and signalling processes for morphine tolerance are very different from those of morphine-induced pain."
Dr. Salter adds, "We identified specialized cells known as microglia in the spinal cord as the culprit behind morphine-induced pain hypersensitivity. When morphine acts on certain receptors in microglia, it triggers the cascade of events that ultimately increase, rather than decrease, activity of the pain-transmitting nerve cells."
The researchers also identified the molecule responsible for this side effect of morphine. "It's a protein called KCC2, which regulates the transport of chloride ions and the proper control of sensory signals to the brain," explains Dr. De Koninck. "Morphine inhibits the activity of this protein, causing abnormal pain perception. By restoring normal KCC2 activity we could potentially prevent pain hypersensitivity." Dr. De Koninck and researchers at Universit Laval are testing new molecules capable of preserving KCC2 functions and thus preventing hyperalgesia.
The KCC2 pathway appears to apply to short-term as well as to long-term morphine administration, says Dr. De Koninck. "Thus, we have the foundation for new strategies to improve the treatment of post-operative as well as chronic pain."
Dr. Salter adds, "Our discovery could have a major impact on individuals with various types of intractable pain, such as that associated with cancer or nerve damage, who have stopped morphine or other opiate medications because of pain hypersensitivity."
Cost of pain
Pain has been labelled the silent health crisis, afflicting tens of millions of people worldwide. Pain has a profound negative effect on the quality of human life. Pain affects nearly all aspects of human existence, with untreated or under-treated pain being the most common cause of disability. The Canadian Pain Society estimates that chronic pain affects at least one in five Canadians and costs Canada $55-60 billion per year, including health care expenses and lost productivity.
"People with incapacitating pain may be left with no alternatives when our most powerful medications intensify their suffering," says Dr. De Koninck, who is also Director of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience at Institut universitaire en sant mentale de Qubec.
Dr. Salter adds, "Pain interferes with many aspects of an individual's life. Too often, patients with chronic pain feel abandoned and stigmatized. Among the many burdens on individuals and their families, chronic pain is linked to increased risk of suicide. The burden of chronic pain affects children and teens as well as adults." These risks affect individuals with many types of pain, ranging from migraine and carpel-tunnel syndrome to cancer, AIDS, diabetes, traumatic injuries, Parkinson's disease and dozens of other conditions.
###
Canadian funding for this international research included Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Krembil Foundation, Ontario Research Fund Research Excellence Program, Fonds de la recherche en sant du Qubec, Canada Research Chair funding, The Anne and Max Tanenbaum Chair Program, SickKids Foundation, and Universit Laval.
About Universit Laval
Located in Quebec City, the province's historic capital and a World Heritage City, Universit Laval is the first French-language university in North America. It is one of Canada's leading research universities, ranking 7th among the country's 94 university-level institutions in terms of research funding with $300 million devoted to research last year. Universit Laval's 1,500 professors-researchers share their knowledge with 45,000 students, 10,000 of whom are enrolled in graduate-level programs. For more information, please visit www.ulaval.ca.
About the Institut universitaire en sant mentale de Qubec
The Research Centre of the Institut universitaire en sant mentale de Qubec (IUSMQ) is one of Canada's leading and fastest growing institutions dedicated to understanding the causes of neurological and psychiatric diseases in children, adults and the elderly and to improving their treatment. Founded more than 25 years ago in Quebec City and affiliated with Universit Laval, the Research Centre brings together some 400 researchers, trainees and research professionals in uniquely trans-disciplinary efforts to solve the mysteries of the healthy and diseased brain and to further the development of novel therapeutics.
About The Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is recognized as one of the world's foremost paediatric health-care institutions and is Canada's leading centre dedicated to advancing children's health through the integration of patient care, research and education. Founded in 1875 and affiliated with the University of Toronto, SickKids is one of Canada's most research-intensive hospitals and has generated discoveries that have helped children globally. Its mission is to provide the best in complex and specialized family-centred care; pioneer scientific and clinical advancements; share expertise; foster an academic environment that nurtures health-care professionals; and champion an accessible, comprehensive and sustainable child health system. SickKids is proud of its vision for Healthier Children. A Better World. For more information, please visit www.sickkids.ca.
About SickKids Centre for Research and Learning
The SickKids Centre for Research and Learning will bring together researchers from different scientific disciplines and a variety of clinical perspectives, to accelerate discoveries, new knowledge and their application to child health a different concept from traditional research building designs. The facility will physically connect SickKids science, discovery and learning activities to its clinical operations. Designed by award-winning architects Diamond + Schmitt Inc. and HDR Inc. with a goal to achieve LEED Gold Certification for sustainable design, the Centre will create an architectural landmark as the eastern gateway to Toronto's Discovery District. The SickKids Centre for Research and Learning is funded by a grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Government of Ontario, philanthropist Peter Gilgan and community support for the ongoing fundraising campaign. For more information, please visit www.sickkidsfoundation.com/bepartofit.
Information:
Yves De Koninck
Faculty of Medicine
Universit Laval
Quebec City, Canada
Yves.DeKoninck@crulrg.ulaval.ca
Polly Thompson
The Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Canada
(416) 813-7654, ext. 2059
polly.thompson@sickkids.ca
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
January 20: ??Patricia Feager ???Life is Good-Giving Back.
January 21: ??Jeanne Kozak ???Do You Know What the Sticker on Your Produce Tells You?
January 22: ?Scott Nowling ?? Why ActiveRain? ?AR Members Join Realtor Hangout & Share Their Story.
January 23: ??Praful Thakkar ???How to Capture Scrolling Screen.
January 24: Toni Weidman ??Hugging is Good For Your Health But Only If You Hug Someone You Know.
January 25: ?Roy Kelley ??Snowy Day Project: Decorate a Wildlife Tree
January 26: Frank Laisch ??The Safest Way to Drive Your Pet Around.
?
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
Public release date: 6-Jan-2013
Share ]