Marilu Henner Books 'Two And A Half Men' Role As Ashton Kutcher's Love Interest

"666 Park Avenue"

<strong>"666 Park Ave.," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Canceled <strong>Why</strong>: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/16/666-park-avenue-canceled_n_2147290.html">ABC pulled the plug</a> on this supernatural drama earlier in the season.

"The Bachelor"

<strong>"The Bachelor," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: While ratings may have dropped, "The Bachelor" will likely see another season on ABC as tabloids and viewers still care about the comings and goings of contestants.

"Body of Proof"

<strong>"Body of Proof," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: On the bubble <strong>Why</strong>: ABC is keen on this Dana Delany drama, but the ratings for this upcoming third season will be the true test.

"Castle"

<strong>"Castle," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed. <strong>Why</strong>: Strong ratings and a dedicated viewership will keep "Castle" on the schedule.

"Dancing With the Stars"

<strong>"Dancing With the Stars," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: The series is hurting in the ratings ... by "DWTS" standards. It's still a strong player for ABC, but the new season hasn't premiered yet.

"Don't Trust The B---- In Apt. 23"

<strong>"Don't Trust The B---- In Apt. 23," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Canceled <strong>Why</strong>: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/22/apartment-23-canceled-dont-trust-the-b_n_2528858.html">ABC pulled the low-rated comedy</a> from it schedule and the stars took to Twitter to announce the cancellation.

"Family Tools"

<strong>"Family Tools," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Too soon to tell <strong>Why</strong>: This ABC comedy has yet to debut, but a May 1 premiere date doesn't look great.

"Grey's Anatomy"

<strong>"Grey's Anatomy," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: America still loves McDreamy and the goings on at Seattle Grace. Expect "Grey's" to return.

"Happy Endings"

<strong>"Happy Endings," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: On the bubble <strong>Why</strong>: Always the bubble show, never the surefire renewal hit. "Happy Endings" has suffered from many ratings ailments, including bad scheduling (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/14/happy-endings-friday-abc_n_2683091.html">it's moving to Friday night</a>) and lack of promo. But this ahmahzing show has some serious fans that could keep it afloat for another season ... maybe on another network (a la "Cougar Town.")

"How To Live With Your Parents (For The Rest Of Your Life)"

<strong>"How To Live With Your Parents (For The Rest Of Your Life)," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Too soon to tell <strong>Why</strong>: The ABC comedy starring Sarah Chalke has yet to debut, but its late season bow doesn't exactly bode well for its future.

"Last Man Standing"

<strong>"Last Man Standing," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: Viewers still love Tim Allen! Paired with "Malibu Country," "Last Man Standing" has been performing well on Friday nights and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/14/jonathan-taylor-thomas-last-man-standing-home-improvement_n_2686307.html">will soon see Allen's "Home Improvement" co-star Jonathan Tyler Thomas</a>.

"Last Resort"

<strong>"Last Resort," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Canceled <strong>Why</strong>: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/16/last-resort-canceled-abc_n_2147316.html">ABC killed the Shawn Ryan drama</a> in late 2012.

"Malibu Country"

<strong>"Malibu Country," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: "Malibu Country" has been performing well on Friday nights. Lesson: Never underestimate the star power of Reba.

"The Middle"

<strong>"The Middle," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: Now in its fourth season, "The Middle" is still pulling in more than 8 million viewers an episode as the anchor of ABC's Wednesday comedies.

"Mistresses"

<strong>"Mistresses," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Too soon to tell <strong>Why</strong>: The drama, which is based on the UK series of the same name, just got a Monday, May 27 premiere date. Though the scheduling struggle doesn't bode well, the ABC drama does have Alyssa Milano and "Lost" alum Yunjin Kim leading the foursome.

"Modern Family"

<strong>"Modern Family," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: A fan favorite and Emmy darling, "Modern Family" will be back and will make ABC lots of money in syndication.

"Nashville"

<strong>"Nashville," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: On the bubble <strong>Why</strong>: Critical acclaim doesn't always equate to rating success. The show has stabilized in Nielsen ratings, but its future really depends on the strength of ABC's drama pilots.

"The Neighbors"

<strong>"The Neighbors," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: One of the few "hits" of the season, "The Neighbors" has found an audience and kept it pretty steadily week after week (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/11/abc-shows-fall-tv-2012-2013_n_1581796.html">much to our dismay</a>).

"Once Upon a Time"

<strong>"Once Upon a Time," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: A ratings hit in its second season, "Once Upon a Time" is almost sure to be back for a third season full of fairytale adventures.

"Private Practice"

<strong>"Private Practice," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Ended <strong>Why</strong>: The "Grey's Anatomy" spinoff said goodbye in January 2013.

"Red Widow"

<strong>"Red Widow," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Too soon to tell <strong>Why</strong>: The show has a late February debut on ABC.

"Revenge"

<strong>"Revenge," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: On the bubble <strong>Why</strong>: "Revenge" has fallen out of critical favor and seen lower ratings in its new Sunday night home. But none of ABC's freshman dramas are doing well, so that works in the show's favor.

"Rookie Blue"

<strong>"Rookie Blue," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: The Canadian co-production will return for a fourth season on ABC during the summer of 2013.

"Scandal"

<strong>"Scandal," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: Shonda Rhimes has another hit on her hands. Now in its second season, "Scandal" has benefited from word-of-mouth and has been rising in the ratings (even recently beating out its lead in "Grey's Anatomy"). A likable star -- Kerry Washington -- and continued buzz will keep "Scandal" on the schedule.

"Suburgatory"

<strong>"Suburgatory," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: On the bubble <strong>Why</strong>: The series started Season 2 off strong in the ratings, but its audience has slowly eroded. Its not the worst-performing ABC sitcom, but its buzziness has died down as well.

"Zero Hour"

<strong>"Zero Hour," ABC</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Canceled <strong>Why</strong>: The Anthony Edwards vehicle debuted to 6.3 million viewers with a 1.3 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, making it <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/15/zero-hour-ratings_n_2695800.html">the least-watched premiere for a scripted series in ABC's history</a>. Things only got worse from there.

"2 Broke Girls"

<strong>"2 Broke Girls," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: CBS renewed "2 Broke Girls" in March of 2013.

"The Amazing Race"

<strong>"The Amazing Race," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: As an Emmy and fan favorite, "The Amazing Race" has been a strong player for CBS.

"The Big Bang Theory"

<strong>"The Big Bang Theory," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: Now in its sixth season, "Big Bang" is reaching series-high ratings. Even up against reality powerhouse "American Idol," "The Big Bang Theory" has been delivering with crazy high numbers in the 18-49 demographic, beating out what was once Fox's juggernaut.

"Blue Bloods"

<strong>"Blue Bloods," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: The Tom Selleck-fronted police drama is a strong ratings performer for CBS on Fridays.

"Criminal Minds"

<strong>"Criminal Minds," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: As one of CBS's strong procedural players, the series has been steady in the ratings and will likely be renewed to help anchor a night and launch a new drama.

"CSI"

<strong>"CSI," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: Of the two "CSI" shows on the air, "CSI" is the stronger player in the TV landscape. The show is nowhere near its earlier ratings, but Ted Danson signed on for more and the show will be back.

"CSI: NY"

<strong>"CSI: NY," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: On the bubble <strong>Why</strong>: The spinoff series will be entering Season 10 in the 2013-2014 season. The ratings have faded over the years, but they're still pretty stable, especially for Fridays. It's a toss up, depending on how well CBS's development slate goes.

"Elementary"

<strong>"Elementary," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: One of the very few freshman series hits during the 2012-2013 TV season, CBS is very keen on this modern-day take on Sherlock Holmes. The audience has been steady and the network even gave it the post-Super Bowl timeslot.

"Golden Boy"

<strong>"Golden Boy," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Too soon to tell <strong>Why</strong>: CBS certainly has a handsome star at the front of this cop drama, but its late season entry and Friday timeslot could be a hint toward CBS's confidence in the show.

"The Good Wife"

<strong>"The Good Wife," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: A former ratings champ, "The Good Wife" has slipped to series low ratings on Sunday nights. Blame football overrun, fan-detested storylines or too many guest stars, but "The Good Wife" has star power and critical praise, plus its nearing a good syndication sweet spot.

"Hawaii Five-0"

<strong>"Hawaii Five-0," CBS

"How I Met Your Mother"

<strong>"How I Met Your Mother," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: CBS handed out a ninth and final season to this comedy with the entire cast returning. Expect to meet the mother, finally.

"Made In Jersey"

<strong>"Made In Jersey," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Canceled <strong>Why</strong>: CBS pulled the plug on this legal drama very early on in the season because of low ratings.

"The Mentalist"

<strong>"The Mentalist," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: "The Mentalist" has fallen to mediocre ratings -- by CBS standards -- but it was nonetheless renewed in March of 2013.

"Mike & Molly"

<strong>"Mike & Molly," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: The ratings are down a little bit from last year, but Melissa McCarthy's star continues to rise.

"NCIS"

<strong>"NCIS," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: CBS reached a deal with series star Mark Harmon in early 2013, keeping the No. 1 show in America around for a Season 11.

"NCIS: LA"

<strong>"NCIS: LA," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: Viewers love their "NCIS," in any form. The ratings have been strong and the network is producing a backdoor spinoff pilot for this spinoff show. A full night of "NCIS" could be in CBS's future.

"Partners"

<strong>"Partners," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Canceled <strong>Why</strong>: Low ratings and unfavorable reviews led to the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/16/partners-canceled-cbs_n_2145832.html">early demise</a> of this CBS comedy.

"Person of Interest"

<strong>"Person of Interest," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: The series has developed a nice-sized audience, bigger than its first season.

"Rules of Engagement"

<strong>"Rules of Engagement," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Honestly, who knows <strong>Why</strong>: This comedy has been on the bubble since it premiered ... yet is now in its seventh season. It's too soon to look at the numbers for this season, but the show has been a midseason success for CBS in the past. However, series co-star <a href="http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/02/07/cbs-orders-comedy-pilot-starring-patrick-warburton/">Patrick Warburton is attached to star in a new pilot</a> ... for CBS.

"Survivor"

<strong>"Survivor," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: A strong player for the last 13 years, "Survivor" will be back. But due to its <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/14/survivor-ratings-lowest-premiere-ever_n_2687591.html">most recent premiere ratings</a>, we might not see it during the fall season, though a midseason or summer return -- with some new gimmick -- is definitely in the cards for the reality series.

"Two and a Half Men"

<strong>"Two and a Half Men," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Likely to be renewed <strong>Why</strong>: CBS wants another season of this bawdy hit, it's just a matter of getting its stars to sign back on.

"Undercover Boss"

<strong>"Undercover Boss," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Renewed <strong>Why</strong>: The show is enjoying life in syndication and its Season 4 numbers are better than most of its third season.

"Unforgettable"

<strong>"Unforgettable," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: Uncanceled <strong>Why</strong>: CBS canceled the Poppy Montgomery drama last season ... and then revived it! Season 2 premieres Sunday, July 28.

"Vegas"

<strong>"Vegas," CBS</strong> <strong>Status</strong>: On the bubble <strong>Why</strong>: Despite star power, the series hasn't been a breakout hit in the ratings. CBS previously canceled "Unforgettable" (then uncanceled it) last season when it was doing about the same as "Vegas."

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/31/marilu-henner-two-and-a-half-men_n_2989289.html

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Look out squirrels: Leopards are new backyard wildlife

Friday, March 29, 2013

A new study led by WCS-India scientist Vidya Athreaya finds that certain landscapes of western India completely devoid of wilderness and with high human populations are crawling with a different kind of backyard wildlife: leopards.

The study found as many as five adult large carnivores, including leopards and striped hyenas, per 100 square kilometers (38 square miles), a density never before reported in a human-dominated landscape.

The study, called "Big Cats in Our Backyards," appeared in the March 6 edition of the journal PLoS One. Authors include: Vidya Athreya and Ullas Karanth of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Centre for Wildlife Studies in Bangalore; Morten Odden of Hedmark University College; John D. C. Linnell of the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research; and Jagdish Krishnaswamy of Asoka Trust for Research of Ecology in the Environment.

Using camera traps, the authors founds that leopards often ranged close to houses at night though remained largely undetected by the public. Despite this close proximity between leopards and people, there are few instances of attacks in this region. The authors also photographed rusty spotted cat, small Indian civet, Indian fox, jungle cat, jackal, mongoose ? and a variety of people from the local communities. The research took place in western Maharashtra, India.

"Human attacks by leopards were rare despite a potentially volatile situation considering that the leopard has been involved in serious conflict, including human deaths in adjoining areas," said big cat expert Ullas Karanth of WCS. "The results of our work push the frontiers of our understanding of the adaptability of both humans and wildlife to each other's presence."

The authors say that the findings show that conservationists must look outside of protected areas for a more holistic approach to safeguarding wildlife in a variety of landscapes.

###

Wildlife Conservation Society: http://www.wcs.org

Thanks to Wildlife Conservation Society for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127521/Look_out_squirrels__Leopards_are_new_backyard_wildlife

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Buzz with an edge: Marquette tops Miami 71-61

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Buzz Williams has never been this far in the NCAA tournament before, so it might take a while for him to deal with it.

The Marquette coach was just as irritable in victory as he might have been in defeat Thursday night after his Golden Eagles beat Miami 71-61 to put the school in the Elite Eight for the first time in a decade.

Williams relished the Golden Eagles' underdog status after come-from-behind wins in the subregional. But this was a dominant win over the champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference, so why the dour demeanor?

"That's a good question," he answered.

Williams then spoke of the pride and love he has in his players, how they've matured and all the works his staff does. Then the coach who doggedly worked his way up from his days as a student assistant at Navarro College got to the point.

"Because of my path to this point, I do have an edge," he said. "And I probably need to have better wisdom in how I handle that edge. But it's really delicate, because our edge is why we win."

"I'm really not good postgame," he added. "Actually, I'm really not good at all day of the game to you (reporters), my wife, my kids, because I do want to win, and I don't want to win for the outcome, I want to make sure that I and our team learn the lessons from what the day is going to give us."

Williams and the third-seeded Golden Eagles (26-8) will face No. 4 seed Syracuse in the East Regional final on Saturday, aiming for a spot in the Final Foul for the first time since the 2003 team lead by Dwyane Wade.

Marquette was knocked out in the round of 16 the past two years, and the team appeared headed for an earlier exit this year before pulling off the rallies that beat Davidson by one point and Butler by two.

This game was nothing like that. The Golden Eagles were never threatened after taking a double-digit lead in the first half. It's a good thing Vander Blue made his buzzer-beater before halftime. This time, Marquette didn't need one at the end of the game.

"It's fantastic. It feels good not to have to worry about, are you going to lose on a last-second shot or are you going to win on a last-second shot?" said Jamil Wilson, who had 16 points and eight rebounds. "To have a cushion like that, these guys played with tremendous heart, and we did it all game."

It was simple to decipher how the game was won. Marquette could shoot; Miami couldn't. The Hurricanes (29-7) had sentiment on their side, returning to the arena where coach Jim Larranaga led mid-major George Mason to the Final Four seven years ago, but they made only 35 percent of their field goals and missed 18 of 26 3-pointers.

"You ever have days where you're just out of sync or things just don't run along smoothly?" Larranaga said. "Almost like our trip over here. Our hotel is a mile and a half, it took us 45 minutes to get here. We had to go on nine different streets, weaving our way in and out of traffic and everything. And that's the way it seemed on the court. We were trying to find our way and never could. Never could get in rhythm offensively, and defensively. I don't think we communicated like we have been doing all season long."

Shane Larkin scored 14 points to lead the No. 2 seed Hurricanes, whose NCAA run to the round of 16 matched the best in school history.

"I think what we did this year was lay a foundation of what the program could be like," Larranaga said. "We're not anywhere near where I would like to be."

Marquette, meanwhile, shot 54 percent, a stark turnaround from its 38 percent rate from the first two games in the tournament. Davante Gardner added 14 points, with 12 coming in the second half when the Golden Eagles were comfortably ahead.

Blue finished with 14 points. He wasn't Marquette's leading scorer, but his offensive and defensive energy pushed the Golden Eagles to a big lead early.

He got going when he picked off a pass and converted the steal into a one-handed jam to give Marquette an 8-4 lead. His running one-hander made it 12-4. He and Junior Cadougan forced a steal, getting Larkin to commit his second foul in the process.

Blue ended the half with an exclamation point, hitting the step-back 15-footer just before the horn to give Marquette a 29-16 lead at the break. He drained the shot, strutted backward downcourt, cocked his right arm and gave Wilson a chest bump.

"We're so used to people not giving us credit. ... That fuels our fire," Blue said.

The Hurricanes couldn't sink anything. They started 2 for 12, including 0 for 6 from 3-point range, and Larkin's 3-pointer more than 11 minutes into the game was the first Hurricanes field goal scored by anyone other than Kenny Kadji.

In the second half, Blue's basket with 10:03 to play gave Marquette a 51-30 lead. The Hurricanes, who by then had started to press full court, then put together their best sequence of the night, a 7-0 run that cut the lead to 14 with 8? minutes left.

But Wilson's dunk and Gardner's inside basket stretched the lead back to 18. Gardner became the scene-stealer late, thumping his chest to the Marquette fans after a dunk in the final four minutes.

The Hurricanes played without backup center Reggie Johnson, who had surgery Tuesday for a minor knee injury. Johnson was averaging seven rebounds, but he would have helped only if he could've put the ball in the basket.

"There are only two things you have to do in basketball: One, put the ball in the basket. Two, stop the other team from putting the ball in the basket," Larranaga said. "We weren't able to do either."

___

Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/buzz-edge-marquette-tops-miami-71-61-074058527--spt.html

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Man City beats Newcastle 4-0 in Premier League

Associated Press Sports

updated 2:01 p.m. ET March 30, 2013

MANCHESTER, England (AP) -Manchester City scored two goals in each half to cruise to a 4-0 win over Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday and maintain its slim hopes of catching rival Manchester United for the title.

Carlos Tevez and David Silva both netted late in the first half to put City firmly in control and Vincent Kompany marked his return from an eight-game absence by netting the third in the 56th.

James Perch's own goal in the 69th capped the scoring for a dominant City, which strengthened its grip on second place but remained 15 points behind United with eight games to play.

Tevez slid in to turn Gael Clichy's cross at the far post in the 41st minute for his seventh goal in six games and 17th overall this season. Newcastle never had a chance to recover, as Clichy and Edin Dzeko both forced saves from Rob Elliott over the next few minutes before Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri combined to set Silva up for the second.

Kompany then scored his first goal for City in nearly a year, flicking home Gareth Barry's off-target shot to put the result beyond doubt. Kompany missed the previouse eight games with a calf injury, but played for Belgium during the international break.

The fourth came after Toure strode through Newcastle's defense and beat Elliot at his near post with a shot that deflected off Perch.

City will face United in a Manchester derby at Old Trafford next weekend, when it can further delay its rivals title celebrations.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Late equalizer boosts LA

PST: Teenager Jose Villarreal hit a spectacular bicycle kick in stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw for the Galaxy in Toronto.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45367483/ns/sports-soccer/

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'Facebook phone' likely to put social network at front of Android

Rosa Golijan , NBC News ? ? ? 17 hrs.

"Come See Our New Home on Android," the invitation sent to members of the press on Thursday declared. Does this mean the long-rumored Facebook phone is about to become official? What is the social network's next move? And does it stand a chance?

Facebook is intending to introduce a modified version of Google's Android operating system, according to sourcing from TechCrunch's Josh Constine, the New York Times' Nick Bilton and Brian X. Chen, and the Wall Street Journal's Evelyn M. Rusli and Amir Efrati. This version of Android will put Facebook front and center and "will debut on a handset made by HTC, according to a Facebook employee and another person who were briefed on the announcement," Chen and Bilton explain.

"Imagine Facebook?s integration with iOS 6, but on steroids, and built by Facebook itself," Constine adds. "It could have a heavy reliance on Facebook?s native apps like Messenger, easy social sharing from anywhere on the phone, and more."

?It?s putting Facebook first,? a person familiar with the matter emphasized to Wall Street Journal reporters. But unlike competitors such as Amazon and Google, it is not putting Facebook itself into the hardware game.

"With Amazon, it's pretty clear," mobile industry consultant Chetan Sharma told NBC News. "They want to sell their content and services. They're building their own devices, which is different from what Facebook is doing."

However, the idea of a modified version of Android may be viewed as an act of hostility directed at Facebook's frenemy, Google.

"The reaction from Google will be interesting to see," Sharma pointed out. "There's obviously overlap ... It seems to Google that it's underpinning their Google+ efforts. Longer term, I don't see them letting it go and letting other people do their work."

But even if Google lets Facebook's plans fly, there are other issues to consider, Sharma says. "If it's just a phone that's going to be pushed by HTC, its chances are going to be limited," he explains. "[HTC] doesn't have the marketing powers." To truly stand a shot, Facebook needs to join hands with carriers.

Of course, some might wonder whether any carriers would be game. After all, Facebook's VoIP efforts and its baked-in Messenger service might conflict with carriers' business agendas, right?

Not necessarily so, says Sharma. "In certain markets [VoIP and Messenger] would be challenging," he elaborates. "In markets where unlimited voice and messaging is already bundled in ? in those scenarios operators have less resistance to the idea. They already make money on voice and messaging and they'll also make money on the data used by Facebook."

Initial whispers don't suggest that "Facebook Home," as the social network's device/software combo is expected to be named, is going to be pitched by any carriers, so we'll have to see how things fare with merely HTC. (Of course, that's assuming all these rumors and reports pan out.)

Things will be official on Thursday, April 4, and we'll be in Menlo Park, Calif., to report live.

Want more tech news or interesting links? You'll get plenty of both if you keep up with Rosa Golijan, the writer of this post, by following her on Twitter, subscribing to her Facebook posts, or circling her on Google+.

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Pope Francis changes up Holy Thursday tradition

ROME (AP) ? Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of a dozen inmates at a juvenile detention center in a Holy Thursday ritual that he celebrated for years as archbishop and is continuing now that he is pope. Two of the 12 were young women, a remarkable choice given that the church's current liturgical law says only men should participate.

The Mass was held in the Casal del Marmo facility in Rome, where 46 young men and women currently are detained. Many of them are Gypsies or North African migrants, and the 12 selected for the foot-washing rite included Orthodox and Muslim detainees, news reports said.

Because the inmates were mostly minors ? the facility houses inmates aged 14-to-21 ? the Vatican and Italian Justice Ministry limited media access inside. But Vatican Radio carried the Mass live, and Francis told the detainees that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion in a gesture of love and service.

"This is a symbol, it is a sign ? washing your feet means I am at your service," Francis told the youngsters. "Help one another. This is what Jesus teaches us. This is what I do. And I do it with my heart. I do this with my heart because it is my duty, as a priest and bishop I must be at your service."

Later, the Vatican released a limited video of the ritual, showing Francis washing black feet, white feet, male feet, female feet and even a foot with tattoos. Kneeling on the stone floor as the 12 youngsters sat above him, the 76-year-old Francis poured water from a silver chalice over each foot, dried it with a simple cotton towel and then bent over to kiss each one.

As archbishop of Buenos Aires, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio would celebrate the ritual foot-washing in jails, hospitals or hospices ? part of his ministry to the poorest and most marginalized of society. It's a message that he is continuing now that he is pope, saying he wants a church "for the poor."

Previous popes would carry out the foot-washing ritual on Holy Thursday in Rome's grand St. John Lateran basilica. The 12 people chosen for the ritual would always be priests to represent Christ's 12 apostles.

That Francis would include women in this re-enactment is remarkable given current liturgical rules that restrict the ritual to men.

Canon lawyer Edward Peters, who is an adviser to the Holy See's top court, noted in a blog that the Congregation for Divine Worship in 1988 said in a letter to bishops that "The washing of the feet of chosen men ... represents the service and charity of Christ who came 'not to be served, but to serve.'"

Peters noted that bishops over the years have successfully petitioned Rome for an exemption to allow women to participate, but that the law on the issue is clear.

"By disregarding his own law in this matter, Francis violates, of course, no divine directive," Peters wrote Thursday. "What he does do, I fear, is set a questionable example."

Others welcomed the example he set.

"The pope's washing the feet of women is hugely significant because including women in this part of the Holy Thursday Mass has been frowned on ? and even banned ? in some dioceses," said the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and author of "The Jesuit Guide."

"It shows the all-embracing love of Christ, who ministered to all he met: man or woman, slave or free, Jew or Gentile," he said.

After the Mass, Francis greeted each of the inmates and gave each one an Easter egg.

"Don't lose hope," he said. "Understand? With hope you can always go on."

One of the inmates then asked him why he had come to visit them. Francis said it was to "help me to be humble, as a bishop should be." He said he wanted to come "from my heart. Things from the heart don't have an explanation," he said.

Italian Justice Minister Paola Severino, who has made easing Italy's woefully overcrowded prisons a priority, attended the Mass.

___

Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-washes-feet-young-detainees-ritual-173757747.html

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Stocks, euro rise after Cyprus banks reopen

By Ellen Freilich

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The benchmark S&P 500 stock index set a record closing high while the euro rose from a four-month low as banks in Cyprus reopened to relative calm on Thursday after the island's controversial bailout that taxed large depositors.

Stocks rose on Wall Street, the S&P closing at 1,569.19, surpassing the previous record high on October 9, 2007.

The market for riskier assets got a lift when the mass panic some feared would ensue when banks reopened in Cyprus after a forced closure lasting nearly two weeks did not occur. The banks opened with tight capital controls in place to keep depositors from withdrawing all their money.

"Banks had a fairly orderly opening in Cyprus and German consumer spending was positived," said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial in Newark, with more than $1 trillion in assets under management. "That set the tone that allowed European markets to climb which set the stage for the S&P 500 to climb to a new high in intraday trading, despite the fact that much of the U.S. economic data that came out today was below consensus expectations."

The euro rebounded from a recent four-month low against the dollar as month- and quarter-end flows had investors covering bets against the euro. But the euro lost ground during the quarter and analysts saw Thursday's move up as tenuous.

Analysts worry the Cyprus crisis and political concerns in Italy could encourage anxious investors to sell euro zone assets and seek the safety of the U.S. dollar.

While investors "breathed a sigh of relief that the world didn't end when Cyprus reopened its banks, the concern is we are five years into the euro zone crisis and still lurching from crisis to crisis," said Patrick Chovanec, chief strategist at Silvercrest Asset Management Group in New York, which has $11.5 billion in assets under management. "These economies need to grow their way out of debt and the question is where will the growth come from?"

Cyprus's 10 billion euro rescue deal with its European partners at the weekend is the first euro zone bailout to impose losses on bank depositors and has raised the prospect of savers withdrawing money from banks.

The decision to include senior debt holders and large depositors in the Cyprus bailout could have a "lasting effect" on the way investors perceive weaker euro area banks, said Barclays analysts Rajiv Setia and Laurent Fransolet in a research note.

European Central Bank data showed that some customers began to take money out of their accounts in February on the possibility that depositors would take a haircut in a bailout deal. The relative calm as bank employees returned to work helped settle early market jitters.

The euro, which has dropped around 2.0 percent over the last couple of weeks, rose above $1.28 on Thursday, up from a four-month low against the U.S. dollar and a one-month low against the yen

TREASURIES PARADOX

Uncertainty has been amplified by an unexpected rise in German unemployment in March and the lack of a government in Italy following inconclusive elections. Germany's unemployment rise was countered by stronger retail sales and a surprise rebound in Italian business confidence.

European stock markets shrugged off early nerves though as the calm in Cyprus was reported. With benchmark stock indexes in London, Frankfurt and Paris all higher, the FTSEurofirst 300 rose 0.4 percent.

Most U.S. Treasuries and German government bonds - assets that investors turn to for safety - slipped.

Benchmark 10-year Treasury notes were steady in late trade, yielding 1.85 percent. The Treasury's $29 billion sale of seven-year Treasury notes got a fairly weak reception.

"This is the end of the month," Krosby noted. "Although most of the window dressing has taken place, you probably had a bit of window dressing from portfolio managers and especially hedge funds today."

Typically, however, when stocks rise, Treasuries might beat a more decided retreat. Instead, they were only narrowly lower.

Some analysts are perplexed as to why the 10-year Treasury note price has fallen back in the face of the upward move in stocks, Krosby said.

"People wonder what the Treasury market sees that the equity market doesn't," she said. "With the S&P 500 stock index hitting new highs, you'd think the 10-year would match that confidence in the equity market by selling off. But it hasn't."

Treasuries stayed in negative territory after the U.S. government raised its reading on U.S. economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2012, while reporting a bigger-than-expected rise in weekly jobless claims in the latest week.

Gold slipped below $1,600 an ounce on Thursday, as banks reopened in Cyprus without panic, sapping demand for low-risk assets.

Gold hit a one-month high of $1,616.36 last week on concerns the $10 billion euro rescue deal for Cyprus, which will leave big depositors and private bondholders with huge losses, could become a template for future bank bailouts in the euro zone.

Gold slipped below $1,600 as banks reopened in Cyprus, priced at $1,596.31 an ounce by 1945 GMT. Spot prices were still set for a one percent gain in March, their first monthly rise in six months. U.S. gold futures dropped 0.64 percent to $1,596.00 an ounce.

U.S. crude futures hovered above $96 a barrel. NYMEX crude for May delivery was up 51 cents at $97.09 a barrel by 1950 GMT.

London Brent crude for May delivery rose 28 cents to $109.97 a barrel, but posted a loss of $1.09, or 0.9 percent, for the quarter.

(Additional reporting by Julie Haviv and Robert Gibbons in New York, Clara Denina in London; editing by Clive McKeef, Andre Grenon and Andrew Hay)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asian-shares-ease-italy-cyprus-worries-003035311--finance.html

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&#39;Rebuilding Together&#39; helps make one family&#39;s home more handicap ...

Rebuilding Together North Central Florida celebrated the completion of a community project in Alachua County to assist a local family with their handicapped son.

The project was dedicated to renovating the family home of Doris Tellado, Jose Jimenez and their two children Alejandro and Gabriel, who relies on a wheelchair for mobility.

RD Bonner, executive director of Rebuilding Together, said the organization focuses on repairing anything keeping a family from being safe or healthy in their home.

The family struggled to provide accessibility needs for their son and through this project those needs were addressed, he said. Tight corners and narrow doorways were widened, Bonner said, helping not only the son but the rest of the family.

Rebuilding Together partnered with Charles Perry Partners, Inc. to work on the project, which took about a year to complete, Bonner said.

A complete addition was built onto the family?s house, including a wheelchair-friendly bathroom and wheel tracks throughout the house for wheelchair accessibility.

?Through Charles Perry they were able to install a track system that has totally changed the lives of this family,? Bonner said. ?Gabriel can now get everywhere he needs to be safely, and we just feel great about that.?

Bonner said the project is part of a year0round effort to fill the need for home repair in North Central Florida, including several projects that are lined up for April. Community residents wanting to get involved are encouraged to visit Rebuilding Together?s website.

Rebekah Geier edited this story online.

Source: http://www.wuft.org/news/2013/03/29/rebuilding-together-helps-make-one-familys-home-more-handicap-friendly/

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Razer Edge Pro review: can a tablet double as a gaming PC?

Portable gaming isn't what it once was. Sure, you can still snag a handheld device from Sony or Nintendo, but today's video game industry is far more diverse. Gamers on the go have no shortage of hardware to pick from: tablets, smartphones, gaming laptops and purpose-built handhelds are redefining what a mobile gaming platform is. Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan must have felt the winds of change blowing his way when he cooked up Project Fiona, now known as the Razer Edge. The company's marketing material frames the curious device as an all-in-one gaming arsenal; it's a tablet, says the product page, as well as a PC and console. Above all, it's modular, a souped-up tablet with a small collection of docks and cradles designed to scratch your gaming itch from all angles. All told, Razer calls it the most powerful tablet in the world. Kitted out with the specs of a mid-range gaming laptop, it may very well be that -- but we couldn't let the proclamation pass without giving it the once-over ourselves.

Hardware

At first glance, the Edge looks strikingly familiar, with its 10.1-inch screen and thick, generic bezel. With the exception of two indentations centered on the device's north and south edges, Razer took almost no liberties with the dull standard of tablet design. The result is boring, but functional. Thankfully, the Edge's aluminum backside shows a little more personality, borrowing a subtly ridged design profile from the Razer Blade laptop. A pair of tiny humps line the port and starboard sides of the backplate's horizontal expanse, endowing the system with a tactile anchor point and some much-needed visual flare. Decorated with a backlit Razer logo, the plate gently curves into the device's outer frame, smoothly fitting the user's palm without digging in.

The Edge chassis' forgiving shape may leave your hands unmarred, but fatigue is a real issue -- there are limits to how long one can hold a 2.1-pound tablet aloft. Shoppers pitting Razer's slate against the Surface Pro should note that it's larger all around, at 10.9 x 7 x 0.8 inches. Heavy, to be sure, but at least its specs match or best the Surface at every turn: 4GB to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, up to 256GB of solid-stage storage, an Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU and discrete NVIDIA graphics. The only area where Microsoft still reigns supreme is in display quality: the Edge maxes out at 1,366 x 768, while the Pro comes stocked with a 1,920 x 1,080 panel. More on that shortly, but for now, let's finish our hardware tour.

The tablet's bottom edge features a 40-pin connector flanked by stereo speakers and two peg holes, used to lock the Edge into its dock and controller accessories. These pegs are mirrored by a pair of divots on the device's top edge, accompanied by a Razer-green USB 3.0 port, a 3.5mm audio jack, volume controls and an LED-equipped power button. There's also a pair of keys to lock automatic screen rotation and activate Windows 8's software keyboard. The latter came in extremely handy, as we found that that some games routinely activate the Windows 8 virtual keyboard by mistake. The Edge's backplate features two large vents north of the company logo, while the front is decorated with only a Windows button, a pair of array microphones and a 2MP camera. All in all, a very well-built piece of hardware, if a bit on the heavy side.

Etc.

Unfortunately, this review is missing a major component to the Edge's family of products: the keyboard dock. It's odd to think that the Edge is launching without the kind of accessory sold with every other Windows 8 tablet, but here we are. Razer says the keyboard is due out sometime in Q3, for an undetermined price. We can't say how it will fare when it arrives, or guess at how much it might cost, but we can say we sorely miss it now. All other things considered, the Razer Edge is very much a PC, and installing games, managing data and working from the device without a proper keyboard was a troublesome, uncomfortable affair. Without this missing accessory, the Edge felt incomplete. We look forward to revisiting the device once it's fully equipped.

Display, sound and camera

Earlier, we pinned the Edge's 1,366 x 768 IPS display as one of its technical shortcomings, particularly compared to the Surface Pro. As dazzling as the Surface Pro's 1,920 x 1,080 display may have looked, though, its resolution outpaced its panel size, forcing us to bounce between two different text-scaling configurations depending on how we were using the tablet. The Edge's smaller panel offers no such frustrations, retaining a 1:1 pixel ratio in its default configuration. No scaling, no tweaking, no trouble. It's also possible that the lower-fidelity display was selected to limit the demand on the GPU and improve game performance. Either way, the smaller panel seems to be working in the device's favor, and it looks quite good, with strong colors, pure whites and deep blacks. Not amazing, but good. We'd go as far as to say that it's Razer's best display, though, outperforming the Razer Blade's higher-resolution panel in both contrast and color quality. At worst, the screen's viewing angles are spoiled a little by the screen's glossy finish -- it doesn't matter how crisp an image is if it's surrounded by unwanted reflections.

We don't expect a lot out of tablet speakers -- just loud, clear and undistorted noise of our choosing. Luckily, the Edge sounds just about right. The tablet's stereo speakers may reside on its bottom ridge, but the sound they produce resonates throughout the entire device, pouring out of its air vents as if by design. It may not be the highest-fidelity sound, but it's balanced with very little distortion. The Edge's speakers are well-suited to a single user, or even a small group crowding around the screen. Gamers craving a more robust audio experience will have to find a suitable headset, or else pipe audio out through the tablet's docking station, which supports Dolby Home Theater 7.1.

The pinhole, 2MP webcam is good enough for Skype, but little else. It produces grainy, muddled images, and video captured using Windows 8's camera app stutters and lags, regardless of resolution (from 320 x 240 to 1,920 x 1,200). Third-party programs fared better, but still failed to capture smooth video at higher resolutions. Anything above 640 x 480 was a jittery mess.

Gamepad

We typically judge gaming machines by their performance -- framerates, benchmarks and the like. Razer's Edge sidesteps our usual approach, as it eschews traditional input methods. No keyboard, no trackpad and no easy way to save the proverbial princess -- at least not with the Edge alone. Most PC games demand more input than mere touch, although there are exceptions. Civilization V, for instance, offers a control scheme built specifically for touchscreens, and point-and-click adventure titles like Back to the Future: The Game flawlessly bend to the will of a well-placed finger. Unfortunately, not all cursor-controlled games are equal: The Sims 3 and XCOM: Enemy Unknown can both be managed with the Edge's touchscreen, but the experience is awkward, frustrating and generally not worth the effort. As a standalone tablet, the Edge is powerful -- but it's not a capable gaming device.

To be fair, the Edge was never meant to stand on its own -- the product's first public prototype, Project Fiona, featured two handlebar controllers grafted directly onto its frame. Cost concerns and customer demand eventually pried the gnarly gamepad from the tablet's chassis, creating a modular powerhouse with the option of becoming a gaming rig. Gamers who take that road will find it tough on the wallet: Razer's gamepad attachment costs a staggering $250, a full one-fourth of the base tablet's purchase price. Shocked? You shouldn't be. Razer's made a habit of offering expensive toys. It promises its customers an excellent experience, not fantastic savings. If your bank balance can take the hit, you'll find the Edge's controller accessory does at least live up to such claims.

The Edge fits snugly into the gamepad's milled-aluminum frame, secured by a spring-loaded mechanism on the accessory's bottom ridge. A pass-through data port sits below the spring and the two flanking release tabs. On the top, two plastic portals grant access to the device's USB and audio ports. The tablet's native power, volume, keyboard and lock toggles are replicated here too, ensuring that no manner of control is lost by switching the slate into "game mode." Behind the tablet, two rubberized springs push off of the cradle's backplate, providing a cushion for the Edge's aluminum back and presumably preventing installation scuffs, too. So it's expensive, yes, but clearly well-thought-out.

The attention to detail carries over to the game controls, too. Shooting off the tablet's sides like a pair of PlayStation Move wands, the gamepad's handlebars tout the standard array of console toggles: a d-pad on the left and X, Y, A and B buttons on the right. Each button channels Razer's experience building Xbox 360 controllers; firm, but with enough spring to respond with a satisfying pop. The directional buttons are top-notch as well, aping the design aesthetics of Razer's Sabertooth gamepad while giving the PS3's island-style d-pad a run for its money. Each grip also has a thumbstick, two shoulder buttons, a start / select toggle and a trigger, which bests the standard gamepad layout by two buttons overall. Finally, the controller is home to the Edge's extended battery pack, which promises users an extra eight hours of casual use and up to two hours of gameplay.

The oversized cradle aims to lend the Edge the countenance of a mobile game console, and once the setup is finally put together and a game is running, it does a passable job. The tablet feels like it belongs in the accessory, which in turn feels right in the user's hand. The quality of the hardware sells the experience, and it's a good experience. Like everything though, the gamepad has its faults. Weighing in at almost two pounds, it nearly doubles the heft of the device, adding to our earlier fatigue concerns. It's fairly large, too, making it unwieldy when not in use. We pity the fool who elects to take all this on a cross-country flight -- carry-on space is limited as is.

Docking station

Despite PC gamers' tendency to lord their rigs' graphical superiority over console users, it's hard to deny the simple joy of slouching lazily in front of a massive HDTV. Sadly, dragging PC rigs out to the living room is no easy proposition -- even if you manage to rustle up the right cables and find an unobtrusive place in your entertainment center for a PC tower, the couch is no place for a keyboard and mouse. The solution? The Edge -- or at least that's what Razer would have you believe. The tablet's docking station is the cornerstone of what the company refers to as "home console mode," which boils down to the combined efforts of an HDMI-equipped cradle and the Edge's Razer Launcher software. Physically, the $100 dock is pretty simple: a groove for the tablet on the front, and a line of connectivity options in the back. Three USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI-out plug, audio out, audio in and a power connector race across the cradle's rear, running left to right. Simply add power, TV out and your favorite Xinput compatible gamepad, and you're ready to go.

Dropping the tablet into the dock is one of the easiest PC-to-TV setups we've ever used. The cradle automatically configures the new display as the Edge's primary, avoiding the fuss of manually tweaking the display settings in Windows. Activating the Razer Launcher software completes the experience, replacing the tablet's regular desktop with a gamepad-friendly user interface.

It's from here that Razer hopes you'll launch your PC games, potentially sidestepping the typical headache of playing computer games on the TV. It puts forth a valiant effort, offering to automatically launch when Windows boots, and giving the users the option to immediately return to the launcher after closing a game. Give it the ideal conditions, and you're in pseudo-console heaven: DRM-free games with excellent gamepad support launch with nary a complaint, and immediately drop the user right back into Razer's fake ecosystem after termination. Unfortunately, pop-up dialogs, game-specific launchers, Steam notifications and Origin's browser-based matchmaking system (Battlefield 3) left us reaching for our mouse far more often than we would have liked. Worse still, the launcher would occasionally butt heads with other programs, kicking us back into the Razer Launcher before our game of choice finished booting. Sometimes, the launcher dropped us on the Windows desktop, waiting endlessly for a game that would never start.

Frustrated, we turned our attention to Steam's Big Picture mode, which we had configured to be launchable via Razer's setup. Here, we fared a little better -- Valve's 10-foot UI faced less adversity launching games from its own well-policed ecosystem. The experience benefits from Valve's history as a content provider and a game developer, enjoying an attention to detail that goes deeper than the Big Picture front-end. Team Fortress 2, for instance, took notice of the situation, prompting us for preferences. "I noticed you are running under Big Picture," it says. "Would you like to enable game controller support?" Yes, absolutely. Sadly, not even the polished potential of Valve's Steambox interface could overcome the invasive nature of Windows errors, DRM and game-specific launchers. "GSGameExe.exe has stopped working," protested one gamepad-arresting dialog. Sigh. Where's that mouse again?

The limited input you'll get on a traditional console gamepad simply fails to meet the needs of a PC, no matter how hard it tries to emulate a console. In the Edge's pseudo-portable mode, the odd game launcher or errant virtual keyboard could be dismissed with a quick tap of the touchscreen, but managing these missteps in "console mode," is a less trivial matter. The ease with which the Edge connects to the home theater is a huge step in the right direction, but it won't free you from the necessity of a mouse and keyboard. That said, there's plenty of room on the dock's backside for the essentials. A wireless keyboard, a couch mouse and our gamepad left us well prepared to handle the occasional stutter.

Performance and battery life

So you've picked your accessories, tussled with Razer's launcher and convinced yourself you're too tough to suffer from tablet-arm fatigue. That leaves just one question: what can you actually play? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Razer's top-of-the line Edge Pro (the model we tested) features a 1.9GHz (2.0GHz with Turbo boost) Intel Core i7-2517U processor, 8GB of DDR3 RAM and an NVIDIA GT640M LE GPU. In game, that translated to playable framerates at medium to high settings, at least for most titles. The two exceptions weren't at all surprising: both Crysis 3 and the The Witcher 2 have reputations for pushing hardware to its limits, and neither ran particularly well on the Edge.

At the tablet's native 1,366 x 768 resolution, these games eked out a middling 25 fps, failing to maintain an average above 30 until they were scaled down to 1,280 x 600. Crysis 3 bore the resolution hit well enough, but the loss of fidelity turned The Witcher 2 into a muddled mess. The rest of our library fared better: Skyrim and Black Ops II each bounced between 30 and 60 fps on high settings, depending on how much action was on screen, and both Battlefield 3 and Far Cry 3 managed respectable framerates on medium settings. Some games didn't require tweaking at all. Dishonored scored a firm 60 fps on high, and Team Fortress 2 averaged 65, regularly pushing 100 fps in enclosed spaces, Then again, TF2 runs well on everything. The Edge struggled with a few high-end games, but there wasn't a single title we threw at it that wouldn't play smoothly with reasonable adjustment.

	PCMark7	PCMark Vantage	3DMark06	3DMark11	ATTO (top disk speeds)
Razer Edge Pro (1.9GHz Core i7-3517U, NVIDIA GT640M LE 2GB)	4,949	13,536	10,260	E2507 / P1576	409 MB/s (reads); 496 MB/s (writes)
Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 (1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U, NVIDIA GeForce GT640M LE 1GB)	N/A	7,395	9,821	N/A	N/A
Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 (1.7GHz Intel Core i7 2637M, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M 1GB)	N/A	11,545	2,763	N/A	N/A
Dell XPS 12 (1.7GHz Core i5-3317U, Intel HD 4000)	4,673	N/A	4,520	N/A	516 MB/s (reads); 263 MB/s (writes)
Acer Iconia W700 (1.7GHz Core i5-3317U, Intel HD 4000)	4,580	N/A	3,548	E518 / P506	542 MB/s (reads); 524 MB/s (writes)
Microsoft Surface Pro (1.7GHz Core i5-3317U, Intel HD 4000)	4,673	N/A	3,811	E1,019 / P552	526 MB/s (reads); 201 MB/s (writes)

The Edge doesn't slouch as a standard Windows 8 tablet, either. We flicked our way through Microsoft's collection of Modern UI apps at breakneck speeds, enjoying every bit of processing power that Intel's Ivy Bridge chipset affords. The Windows desktop shrugged off our attempts to make it stutter as well, though managing the traditional computing environment was a bit off-putting without the benefit of a companion keyboard dock.

A slew of synthetic tests confirmed our first impressions: the Edge handily beat its contemporaries by several hundred points in PCMark 7, and crushed the competition in various 3D benchmarks, thanks in no small part to that dedicated GPU. Its 3DMark 06 and 11 scores fall more in line with a gaming laptop than a typical Windows tablet, but it won't outgun a proper gaming rig. The original Razer Blade still has it beat by about 1,200 points. The only component outclassed by other Windows 8 tablets appears to be the Edge's 256GB SSD, which fell short of the Acer Iconia W700's ATTO benchmarks. In practice, it seemed more than speedy enough to us, booting up in five to seven seconds, and waking from sleep in less than four. The Edge was never too hot to hold when using regular applications, but did heat up when playing high-end games. Still, we didn't get burned, and the gamepad accessory kept this heat an an arm's length.

	Battery Life
Razer Edge Pro	3:40 / 6:30 (extended battery)
Acer Iconia W700	7:13
Samsung Series 9 (13-inch, 2012)	7:02
MacBook Air (13-inch, 2012)	6:34 (OS X) / 4:28 (Windows)
Dell XPS 14	6:18
Sony VAIO T13	5:39
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13	5:32
Dell XPS 12	5:30
Samsung Series 5 UltraTouch	5:23
ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A Touch	5:15
ASUS Zenbook Prime UX51Vz	5:15
Toshiba Satellite U845W	5:13
Toshiba Satellite U845	5:12
Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3	5:11
Toshiba Satellite U925t	5:10
Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro	5:07
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon	5:07
Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5	5:05
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch	5:00
Sony VAIO Duo 11	4:47
Acer Aspire S5	4:35
ASUS Zenbook Prime UX21A	4:19
Acer Aspire S7 (13-inch)	4:18
Acer Aspire S3	4:11
Lenovo ThinkPad Twist	4:09
HP Spectre XT TouchSmart	4:00
Vizio Thin + Light (14-inch, 2012)	3:57
ASUS TAICHI 21	3:54
Microsoft Surface Pro	3:46

Ever since Razer announced the Fiona project, battery life has been a subject of avoidance. We can see why. Engadget's standard battery test ran the Edge to exhaustion in three hours and 40 minutes. This roughly matches the Surface Pro, but it still ranks far behind the Iconia W700, which houses a similar processor and a smaller battery. Worse still, the self-proclaimed gaming tablet only survived one hour and seven minutes of untethered gameplay before calling it quits. We gave the device another chance at our benchmarks after installing an extended battery pack (sold separately for $69), and indeed, it lasted through six and a half hours of video playback. Still, we found only limited improvement on the gaming front: it managed just one hour and 46 minutes of high-performance gameplay.

Software

Although Razer's still new to the PC business, it knows better than to install any bloatware. Razer PCs come with no pre-installed software, no anti-virus trials and no unnecessary garbage to slow the system down. Really, it's a thing of beauty, and we couldn't be more pleased to see the Edge continue the trend. That said, there is one new piece of code lurking on the tablet's solid-state drive: the aforementioned Razer Launcher. Although the program's primary purpose is to uphold the Edge's console facade, it also offers a small selection of capture tools, allowing users to record video, snap screenshots and view in-game framerates with the tap of a hotkey. It also features a "game boost" processes manger, which promises to disable select (and unnecessary) Windows processes to bolster game performance. As we mentioned above, it has its hiccups and quirks, but with a few updates, it could prove to be a very useful launcher indeed.

Configuration options and the competition

If you're truly looking for a Windows 8 tablet that also happens to be a capable gaming machine, your journey starts and ends with the Edge.

The Razer Edge is offered with two base configurations, the 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U Razer Edge and the 1.9GHz Intel Core i7-3517U Razer Edge Pro. Buyers interested in the lower-end model are looking at a single build: 4GB of DDR3 RAM and a 64GB SSD priced at a cool $999. No fuss, no muss, no options. The Razer Pro, on the other hand, comes with either 128 or 256GB of storage, which ring up at $1,300 and $1,450, respectively. The rest of the tablet's specifications are nearly identical: the same screen, the same 5,600mAh battery and the same terrible webcam. Look carefully, however, and you might find a small, but notable difference: while both units boast NVIDIA's GT 640M LE as their graphical powerhouse, the Pro model's GPU packs twice as much video RAM. Performance-minded gamers should consider their investments carefully.

Sizing up the competition is a little more challenging. If you're truly looking for a Windows 8 tablet that also happens to be a capable gaming machine, your journey starts and ends with the Edge, at least for now. If you're in the market for a top-of-the-line slab with a powerful processor, however, you've got options. Power junkies dead set on that Core i7 CPU can find the same chip in the Dell XPS 12 and Sony VAIO Duo 11, though we wouldn't recommend the latter. You'd likely be better off targeting the Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro or Microsoft's own Surface, both handily matching the i5 Edge in specification (save GPU) while offering a leg up for the productivity-minded. We're also intrigued by Lenovo's ThinkPad Helix, which promises i7 internals and quite a bit more longevity than Razer's kit -- up to 10 hours. Of course, if you've already taken Razer's gaming bait, these hooks simply won't hold.

Wrap-up

All told, Razer can get away with calling the Edge the world's most powerful tablet, at least for now. The company's claim to a mobile and home gaming console, however, falls flat. With only two hours of usable battery life in a best-case scenario, the Edge fails to meet the needs of a mobile gaming device, and the inherent problems of using Windows 8 on a television screen keep it from stealing the console crown. Gamers looking for the perfect Steambox will likely want to wait for something a bit smoother, but PC enthusiasts looking for a well-built and intriguing toy will find the Edge an enjoyable, if expensive, distraction. As for us? We're hoping Razer takes the tablet down the same road as its Blade line of laptops: regular updates with significant price and spec improvements. Here's to the next generation of Windows 8 gaming tablets.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/28/razer-edge-review/

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Make Better Eye Contact and Remember People's Names with One Simple Trick

If you find yourself stumbling over conversations with other people, reader whyalways shares a tip for making better eye contact and remembering people's names all at once.

Remembering names and making eye contact are important. I had trouble with both. After reading this series at the Art of Manliness, I realized I needed to get better at them. What I've started to do is: as soon as I meet someone new I pair their name with their eye color. How do I find out their eye color? By making good eye contact. To learn someone's eye color you have to look them in the eye. Its a specific thing to do instead of something more general like "make good eye contact."

How does this help me remember their name? Because their eye color/eyes act as a tethering image in my memory so that their name is attached to something very specific instead of just floating around to get lost/misplaced. Simple and immediate, but has helped me enough that I felt I should share it.

It may not be foolproof for everyone, but it's just one more thing to add to your bag of tricks for remembering people's names and making good eye contact.

Every week, we receive tons of reader tips, often in response to tips we've posted. Our Tip of the Week showcases our favorite tip from you that improves upon something else we've shared, shows us another way to do something, or otherwise deserves more attention than our regular tips roundups. Got a tip to share? Post it over at our tips forum or send it to us at tips@lifehacker.com.

Photo by Chris McClanahan.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/DX99xvVLP2M/make-better-eye-contact-and-remember-peoples-names-with-one-simple-trick

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Sicily revokes permission for military satellite station

PALERMO, Italy (Reuters) - The Sicilian regional government in Italy has revoked permission for the United States to build a military satellite station on the island, its governor said on Friday, after protests by residents who said it could pose a health risk.

The planned ground station is part of the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), an ultra high-frequency satellite network aimed at significantly boosting communications capacity for the U.S. military and its allies.

Concerns about the effect the station's electromagnetic waves could have on the health of residents around the town of Niscemi, including fears that the waves could cause cancer, have provoked protests on the island.

A U.S. military official said the United States hoped to allay any health concerns and would try to reach an agreement with the Italian government to get permission to build the facility.

The regional government of the semi-autonomous island last month delayed construction and called for an independent study into its health and environmental impact.

The Italian government said this month the demonstrations risked compromising operations at Sigonella, a U.S. naval base in Sicily.

"Through the relevant department, permission for the construction of MUOS has been definitively withdrawn," Sicilian Governor Rosario Crocetta told reporters in the island's capital of Palermo on Friday.

He did not say whether the decision to revoke permission for the site was related to the study or to health concerns.

Crocetta's remarks came a day before a planned protest expected to draw several thousand in Niscemi, which local groups of the governor's own Democratic Party were due to attend.

Lieutenant Colonel Monica Matoush, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Defense Department, said the U.S. military was confident that studies of the satellite system would show it was safe.

"We are committed to working with Italian health authorities to address health concerns raised by the local population," she said in emailed comments to Reuters.

The satellite network also has stations in the United States and Australia.

In a visit to Italy in January, then-U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he understood the concerns of residents but that U.S. studies had concluded there would be no health risk.

(Reporting by Vladimiro Pantaleone and Naomi O'Leary; Editing by Pravin Char)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sicily-revokes-permission-military-satellite-station-195712896--finance.html

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eBay&#39;s Sell it Forward splits auction proceeds with Goodwill

eBay's latest initiative is a little different from its more recent efforts that have focused mostly on re-branding and expanding the reach of PayPal. Sell it Forward encourages users to sell their used clothes and donate half the proceeds to Goodwill. The pilot program is currently only available in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin, though the company is going out of its way to make the process as painless as possible for those in eligible areas. Instead of creating listings for each item, wannabe auctioneers need only fill the pre-paid mailing bag (provided by eBay) with the clothes and accessories they wish to sell. Everything else will be taken care of for them. Employees will decide if your wares are in decent enough condition to sell, create a listing and, if the item is sold within 14 days, split the proceeds between the "seller" and Goodwill. If the item remains unsold for 14 days it becomes a straight donation to the charity. If you're in one of the trial areas and want to give Sell it Forward a go yourself, hit up the source link.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/27/ebays-sell-it-forward/

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Wastewater injection spurred biggest earthquake yet, says study

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

A new study in the journal Geology is the latest to tie a string of unusual earthquakes, in this case, in central Oklahoma, to the injection of wastewater deep underground. Researchers now say that the magnitude 5.7 earthquake near Prague, Okla., on Nov. 6, 2011, may also be the largest ever linked to wastewater injection. Felt as far off as Milwaukee, more than 800 miles away, the quake?the biggest ever recorded in Oklahoma--destroyed 14 homes, buckled a federal highway and left two people injured. Small earthquakes continue to be recorded in the area. The study appeared today in the journal's early online edition.

The recent boom in U.S. energy production has produced massive amounts of wastewater. The water is used both in hydrofracking, which cracks open rocks to release natural gas, and in coaxing petroleum out of conventional oil wells. In both cases, the brine and chemical-laced water has to be disposed of, often by injecting it back underground elsewhere, where it has the potential to trigger earthquakes. The water linked to the Prague quakes was a byproduct of oil extraction at one set of oil wells, and was pumped into another set of depleted oil wells targeted for waste storage.

Scientists have linked a rising number of quakes in normally calm parts of Arkansas, Texas, Ohio and Colorado to below-ground injection. In the last four years, the number of quakes in the middle of the United States jumped 11-fold from the three decades prior, the authors of the Geology study estimate. Last year, a group at the U.S. Geological Survey also attributed a remarkable rise in small- to mid-size quakes in the region to humans. The risk is serious enough that the National Academy of Sciences, in a report last year called for further research to "understand, limit and respond" to induced seismic events. Despite these studies, wastewater injection continues near the Oklahoma earthquakes.

The magnitude 5.7 quake near Prague was preceded by a 5.0 shock and followed by thousands of aftershocks. What made the swarm unusual is that wastewater had been pumped into abandoned oil wells nearby for 17 years without incident. In the study, researchers hypothesize that as wastewater replenished compartments once filled with oil, the pressure to keep the fluid going down had to be ratcheted up. As pressure built up, a known fault?known to geologists as the Wilzetta fault--jumped. "When you overpressure the fault, you reduce the stress that's pinning the fault into place and that's when earthquakes happen," said study coauthor Heather Savage, a geophysicist at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

The amount of wastewater injected into the well was relatively small, yet it triggered a cascading series of tremors that led to the main shock, said study co-author Geoffrey Abers, also a seismologist at Lamont-Doherty. "There's something important about getting unexpectedly large earthquakes out of small systems that we have discovered here," he said. The observations mean that "the risk of humans inducing large earthquakes from even small injection activities is probably higher" than previously thought, he said.

Hours after the first magnitude 5.0 quake on Nov. 5, 2011, University of Oklahoma seismologist Katie Keranen rushed to install the first three of several dozen seismographs to record aftershocks. That night, on Nov. 6, the magnitude 5.7 main shock hit and Keranen watched as her house began to shake for what she said felt like 20 seconds. "It was clearly a significant event," said Keranen, the Geology study's lead author. "I gathered more equipment, more students, and headed to the field the next morning to deploy more stations."

Keranen's recordings of the magnitude 5.7 quake, and the aftershocks that followed, showed that the first Wilzetta fault rupture was no more than 650 feet from active injection wells and perhaps much closer, in the same sedimentary rocks, the study says. Further, wellhead records showed that after 13 years of pumping at zero to low pressure, injection pressure rose more than 10-fold from 2001 to 2006, the study says.

The Oklahoma Geological Survey has yet to issue an official account of the sequence, and wastewater injection at the site continues. In a statement responding to the paper, Survey seismologist Austin Holland said the study showed the earthquake sequence could have been triggered by the injections. But, he said, "it is still the opinion of those at the Oklahoma Geological Survey that these earthquakes could be naturally occurring. There remain many open questions, and more scientific investigations are underway on this sequence of earthquakes and many others within the state of Oklahoma."

The risk of setting off earthquakes by injecting fluid underground has been known since at least the 1960s, when injection at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal near Denver was suspended after a quake estimated at magnitude 4.8 or greater struck nearby?the largest tied to wastewater disposal until the one near Prague, Okla. A series of similar incidents have emerged recently. University of Memphis seismologist Stephen Horton in a study last year linked a rise in earthquakes in north-central Arkansas to nearby injection wells. University of Texas, Austin, seismologist Cliff Frohlich in a 2011 study tied earthquake swarms at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport to a brine disposal well a third of a mile away. In Ohio, Lamont-Doherty seismologists Won-Young Kim and John Armbruster traced a series of 2011 earthquakes near Youngstown to a nearby disposal well. That well has since been shut down, and Ohio has tightened its waste-injection rules.

Wastewater injection is not the only way that people can touch off quakes. Evidence suggests that geothermal drilling, impoundment of water behind dams, enhanced oil recovery, solution salt mining and rock quarrying also can trigger seismic events. (Hydrofracking itself is not implicated in significant earthquakes; the amount of water used is usually not enough to produce substantial shaking.) The largest known earthquakes attributed to humans may be the two magnitude 7.0 events that shook the Gazli gas fields of Soviet Uzbekistan in 1976, followed by a third magnitude 7.0 quake eight years later. In a 1985 study in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, Lamont-Doherty researchers David Simpson and William Leith hypothesized that the quakes were human-induced but noted that a lack of information prevented them from linking the events to gas production or other triggers. In 2009, a geothermal energy project in Basel, Switzerland, was canceled after development activities apparently led to a series of quakes of up to magnitude 3.4 that caused some $8 million in damage to surrounding properties.

In many of the wastewater injection cases documented so far, earthquakes followed within days or months of fluid injection starting. In contrast, the Oklahoma swarm happened years after injection began, similar to swarms at the Cogdell oil field in West Texas and the Fort St. John area of British Columbia.

The Wilzetta fault system remains under stress, the study's authors say, yet regulators continue to allow injection into nearby wells. Ideally, injection should be kept away from known faults and companies should be required to provide detailed records of how much fluid they are pumping underground and at what pressure, said Keranen. The study authors also recommend sub-surface monitoring of fluid pressure for earthquake warning signs. Further research is needed but at a minimum, "there should be careful monitoring in regions where you have injection wells and protocols for stopping pumping even when small earthquakes are detected," said Abers. In a recent op-ed in the Albany (N.Y.) Times Union, Abers argued that New York should consider the risk of induced earthquakes from fluid injection in weighing whether to allow hydraulic fracturing to extract the state's shale gas reserves.

###

The Earth Institute at Columbia University: http://www.earth.columbia.edu

Thanks to The Earth Institute at Columbia University for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127474/Wastewater_injection_spurred_biggest_earthquake_yet__says_study

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