Mob Wives: "Loose Lips" Sneak Peek Ep 407

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPxhPe3lxd89lRHN4UvjYNy1i8DwrZuQPubcVabFLM-hfxrCDfa7_dh6Z-0Q-HGZrWTXp6tObXBt7ZcdMXPVpBuzmuCs__zWFMrC1SdxGEEWBRiIlXufXYsQ5vf32lKqR_bsybpY8IH4/s1600/shocked+drita.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPxhPe3lxd89lRHN4UvjYNy1i8DwrZuQPubcVabFLM-hfxrCDfa7_dh6Z-0Q-HGZrWTXp6tObXBt7ZcdMXPVpBuzmuCs__zWFMrC1SdxGEEWBRiIlXufXYsQ5vf32lKqR_bsybpY8IH4/s1600/shocked+drita.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">"What the f*ck is this Ang?"</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>asks Drita, when she sees the picture of her and Alicia in Vegas.</b></div><br />Will the real media informant please stand up? So here is the sneak peek I have been waiting days to see and blog. Ang and Drita find Alicia and Drita's picture, taken in Vegas, in the papers and are in shock! Total SHOCK! How could this happen? Alicia is out on bail! So did Alicia LIE to the judge in order go to Vegas? Big Ang, who has been there, done that, knows that when you are out on bail you have to ask the judge for permission to travel. Ang adds if you don't ask and get caught, you go directly to jail. Hmmm, very interesting. So let me see if I got this right...I made up a list in the form of a multiple choice question for all fans:<br /><br /><b>So far we have heard which of the following about <a href="http://www.mobwives.blogspot.com/2014/01/mob-wives-whats-problem-with-vegas-pics.html"><span style="color: red;">Alicia's trip to Vegas</span></a>?</b><br /><br />a. Alicia says she is under travel restriction and cannot leave tri-state area.<br /><br />b. Alicia lied to the judge about going to West Virginia, and then made a detour to Vegas.<br /><br />c. Alicia's lawyer said Alicia is allowed to go anywhere in the US, including Vegas.<br /><br />d. Alicia's lawyer said he thought she was home in New Jersey, when asked if she was in Vegas.<br /><br />e. Alicia tweeted and instagramed pictures of herself and cast in Vegas.<br /><br />f. All of the above.<br /><br />g. I wouldn't believe Alicia if her tongue came notarized.<br /><br />h. f & g<br /><br />I chose f & g. We have heard or read all of the above lies/excuses over the Alicia pictures and trip to Vegas, which of them is true is anyone's guess. And this is supposed to be reality? Pah-lease!<br /><br /><br /><div style="background-color: black; width: 520px;"><div style="padding: 4px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="288" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/embed/mgid:uma:video:vh1.com:994225/cp~channelId%3D3%26id%3D1720495%26vid%3D994225%26instance%3Dvh1%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Avh1.com%3A994225" width="512"></iframe></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 4px; padding: 4px; text-align: left;">Get More: <a href="http://www.vh1.com/shows/mob_wives/season_4/series.jhtml" style="color: #439cd8;" target="_blank">Mob Wives (Season 4)</a></div></div></div>

Mob Wives: "Loose Lips" Sneak Peek Ep 407

"What the f*ck is this Ang?" asks Drita, when she sees the picture of her and Alicia in Vegas. Will the real media informant pleas...

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iPhone 6 Touch ID sensors reportedly enter production in Q2 (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw158__R0SG2VAN_lxCv9U9qqvafUUffMx17l3jNk9QI1K1L0tTOWyExgyYzbppRmP93JcAAsK31bPHa1gBBj8dMT_-srTsDx2N804JvG4e1ghdX-flh26Rc7hbL_Eq3n6hq_aM5CSyHs/s1600/iphone-5s-touch-id.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw158__R0SG2VAN_lxCv9U9qqvafUUffMx17l3jNk9QI1K1L0tTOWyExgyYzbppRmP93JcAAsK31bPHa1gBBj8dMT_-srTsDx2N804JvG4e1ghdX-flh26Rc7hbL_Eq3n6hq_aM5CSyHs/s1600/iphone-5s-touch-id.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_6189" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">A recent report suggested that <a data-rapid_p="9" href="http://bgr.com/tag/apple" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Apple</a> may be<a data-rapid_p="10" href="http://bgr.com/2014/01/06/iphone-phablet-release-date-iphone-6-launch/" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_7103" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">planning to debut a new iPhone phablet as soon as this coming May</a> ahead of its <a data-rapid_p="11" href="http://bgr.com/tag/iphone-6" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_6198" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">iPhone 6</a> launch in September or October. While it seems increasingly likely that Apple is indeed working on more than one new iPhone model following <a data-rapid_p="12" href="http://bgr.com/2013/11/11/iphone-6-specs-curved-screens/" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_7113" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">a number of solid reports to that effect</a>, the odds of one of the new iPhones launching in May were just severely decreased.<span id="more-2766441"></span></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_5793" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">According to a new report from <em>Digitimes</em> that cites unnamed industry sources, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has just landed a contract with Apple that will see the chip fabricator begin producing Touch ID sensors for Apple’s next-generation iPhones in the second quarter this year. Unless Apple is having its fingerprint scanners for the iPhone phablet produced elsewhere, it is almost certainly not planning to launch the device in May.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">TSMC also produced Touch ID sensors for Apple’s <a data-rapid_p="13" href="http://bgr.com/tag/iphone-5s" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">iPhone 5s</a> handset, which debuted last year.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_7186" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The report states that TSMC will handle the fingerprint scanners as well as the backend wafer level-chip scale packaging process. That process had been outsourced to third parties for the iPhone 5s Touch ID sensors according to the report, but TSMC will handle it in-house this time around in order to ensure that it can meet Apple’s demands for production volume.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_7186" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">BGR</div></div>

iPhone 6 Touch ID sensors reportedly enter production in Q2 (BLOG)

A recent report suggested that  Apple  may be planning to debut a new iPhone phablet as soon as this coming May  ahead of its  iPhone 6  lau...

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Continents on Alien Worlds Could Hint at Extraterrestrial Life (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIei1wNzS2nm2Ugi6-izs04YEKKOvsHvDFT1bjWBFy6ESmqmkQs7FF7r1757zL7nppS6IEZISgf4q2TeRuHSfMyOF56tvKpGknbUXZeamBkKXuWXeyelyVTC_98oGUjAHv5qmUeh-C2R0/s1600/Continents_on_Alien_Worlds_Could-88f46d69e286aec75b3cf05fbd7ca4a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIei1wNzS2nm2Ugi6-izs04YEKKOvsHvDFT1bjWBFy6ESmqmkQs7FF7r1757zL7nppS6IEZISgf4q2TeRuHSfMyOF56tvKpGknbUXZeamBkKXuWXeyelyVTC_98oGUjAHv5qmUeh-C2R0/s1600/Continents_on_Alien_Worlds_Could-88f46d69e286aec75b3cf05fbd7ca4a1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_1823" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">If not for life, Earth may not have possessed the continents it does now, instead becoming a planet covered nearly entirely in ocean, researchers say.</div><div class="body-slot-mod" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em 10px; max-width: 300px;"><div class="yom-remote"><div class="" id="mediacontentrelatedstory_container"><section class="yom-mod " data-ylk="mid:mediacontentrelatedstory;mpos:1;elm:hdln;elmt:ct;cat:Related Stories;rspns:nav;t1:a3;itc:0;sec:lst-ct;" id="mediacontentrelatedstory" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></section></div></div></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_2597" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">These new findings suggest that any continents astronomers may one day see on alien worlds may potentially be signs of <a data-rapid_p="8" href="http://www.space.com/search-for-life/" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">extraterrestrial life</a>, scientists added.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_2602" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Earth is currently the only known planet in the universe that has liquid water on its surface. There is life virtually wherever there is liquid water on Earth, so one main focus of the search for extraterrestrial life as we know it is the region around a star where it is neither too hot nor too cold for liquid water to exist on a planet, an area known as the star's habitable zone. </div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Although water covers most of Earth's surface, nearly 30 percent of the planet is covered by land, sustaining a dazzling variety of life. Scientists might one day be capable of telling if distant planets are similarly <a data-rapid_p="10" href="http://www.space.com/6777-technique-reveal-exoplanets-water.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">covered by land, oceans and clouds</a> by looking for reddish, bluish or grayish tints in the color of those worlds. Researchers have already developed <a data-rapid_p="11" href="http://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/5720/patchy-clouds-on-an-exotic-world" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">maps of clouds on a giant planet</a> orbiting a distant star.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Now researchers suggest Earth would have been a water world with very few continents, if any at all, without the presence of life.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">A great deal of research has shown that life has had a major impact on the evolution of Earth's atmosphere and oceans. Plants and other <a data-rapid_p="12" href="http://www.astrobio.net/exclusive/135/the-driest-place-on-earth" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">photosynthetic life</a> generate oxygen, giving Earth the only known atmosphere in the universe with significant levels of oxygen. Life also greatly influences how much carbon is in the atmosphere and oceans in the form of carbon dioxide and methane. These greenhouse gases trap heat and can dramatically affect Earth's climate, which in turn has an effect on how much of Earth's water is frozen as ice. Oxygen can also indirectly cool Earth's climate by removing methane from the atmosphere — in fact, the dramatic rise of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere about 2.4 billion years ago, known as the Great Oxidation Event, may have cooled the planet enough to for it become a frozen "<a data-rapid_p="13" href="http://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/5362/new-information-about-snowball-earth-period" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Snowball Earth</a>."</div><div class="body-related" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; position: relative;"><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp landscape onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="14" data-uuid="413ac2b8-38fa-31da-877b-6298d41208f2" href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/continents-alien-worlds-could-hint-extraterrestrial-life-photo-170305634.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="Continents on Alien Worlds Could Hint at Extraterrestrial&nbsp;&hellip;"><div class="img-wrap" style="position: relative;"><div class="cta-overlay" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.24s linear; font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: background-color 0.24s linear; width: 300px;"><span class="clearfix title cta-text medium" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; color: white; font-size: 16px; left: 5px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 5px; transition: opacity 0.24s linear; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 270px; zoom: 1;"></span><span class="cta-text xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; bottom: 5px; color: white; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 42px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; transition: opacity 0.24s linear;">View gallery</span><span class="icon-slideshow icon-white-slideshow-xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.16s linear; background-color: #324fe1; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: cover; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; bottom: 5px; cursor: pointer; height: 23px; left: 5px; line-height: 0; opacity: 0; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: -1000em; transition: opacity 0.16s linear; width: 32px; z-index: 1;"></span></div><img alt="Continents on Alien Worlds Could Hint at Extraterrestrial&nbsp;&hellip;" class="body-related-thumb" data-src-2x="" height="200" src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/QQrBEzoDXFSpGX8V07QyNA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTIwMDtxPTc1O3c9MzAw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/News/SPACE.com/Continents_on_Alien_Worlds_Could-f6bbfff752227e067797901e0500f6b5" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible !important;" width="300" /></div></a><div class="body-related-title photo-caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: grey; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 5px 5px 0px 0px; position: relative; width: 300px;">A Sun glint on Earth is captured (center of the black circle) in this image taken by NASA's Deep …</div></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_2604" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"However, much less is known about whether life has had any effects on the deeper interior of Earth," said study author Tilman Spohn, a planetary scientist at the German Aerospace Center's Institute of Planetary Research in Berlin. </div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Past research noted the oldest signs of life found so far are roughly 3.5 billion years old, about the same time continents began growing, and suggested a potential link between these events. The scientists then explored whether or not the evolution of life on Earth could have influenced the evolution of the planet.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The investigators focused on biological weathering, by which life breaks down rock. This crumbled rock gets blown and washed away by wind and water, sediment that eventually makes its way to subduction zones, the areas where one tectonic plate of the Earth's crust dives or subducts under another.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"Lichens that cover rocks provide constant moisture that can weaken rock, while acid from bacteria can dissolve rock," Spohn said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"></div><div class="body-related" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; position: relative;"><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp landscape onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="16" data-uuid="4ca7d44d-cc5a-388b-9209-b0c4f44b2433" href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/continents-alien-worlds-could-hint-extraterrestrial-life-photo-170305793.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="Continents on Alien Worlds Could Hint at Extraterrestrial&nbsp;&hellip;"><div class="img-wrap" style="position: relative;"><div class="cta-overlay" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.24s linear; font-size: 13px; height: 200px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: background-color 0.24s linear; width: 300px;"><span class="clearfix title cta-text medium" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; color: white; font-size: 16px; left: 5px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 5px; transition: opacity 0.24s linear; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 270px; zoom: 1;"></span><span class="cta-text xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; bottom: 5px; color: white; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 42px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; transition: opacity 0.24s linear;">View gallery</span><span class="icon-slideshow icon-white-slideshow-xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.16s linear; background-color: #324fe1; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: cover; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; bottom: 5px; cursor: pointer; height: 23px; left: 5px; line-height: 0; opacity: 0; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: -1000em; transition: opacity 0.16s linear; width: 32px; z-index: 1;"></span></div><img alt="Continents on Alien Worlds Could Hint at Extraterrestrial&nbsp;&hellip;" class="body-related-thumb" data-src-2x="" height="200" src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/yPxbAz90k0ynm1WsgF8WlA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTIwMDtxPTc1O3c9MzAw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/News/SPACE.com/Continents_on_Alien_Worlds_Could-84db9d1e70ef1c4894465abc1c92c435" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible !important;" width="300" /></div></a><div class="body-related-title photo-caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: grey; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 5px 5px 0px 0px; position: relative; width: 300px;">Scientists might one day be capable of discerning land, oceans and clouds on distant planets by look …</div></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">These sediments are up to 40 percent water by weight. This means sediment that gets subducted can ferry huge amounts of water into the mantle layer that lies between the <a data-rapid_p="17" href="http://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/109/did-tectonics-get-an-early-start" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Earth's crust and core</a>. Once this sediment reaches the pressure and heat found at depths of about 60 miles (100 kilometers), it releases its water, reducing the melting temperature of the surrounding rock. This leads more rock to melt and rise, eventually bursting from volcanoes as lava that helps add to continental mass. In other words, although life helps wear continents down, it also helps build continents up.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"When the Earth's surface is recycled in subduction zones, it affects processes in the deep interior," said study lead author Dennis Höning, a planetary scientist at the German Aerospace Center's Institute of Planetary Research in Berlin.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The magnitude of the effects biological weathering have on continental erosion globally are currently under debate, with estimates varying quite widely. To see what these effects might be, Spohn and his colleagues developed models of continent production and erosion that assumed that a world with no life had some fraction of the continental erosion rates currently estimated for Earth.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">When the scientists ran their model of Earth with present-day continental erosion rates, it simulated a planet with a wet mantle that, after roughly 4 billion years, had a surface that was covered about 40 percent by continents, roughly similar to the real Earth. However, when the investigators ran their model with continental erosion rates 60 percent or less of present-day values, which one might see on a lifeless Earth, it simulated a planet with a dry mantle that, after some 4 billion years, "had continents covering only about 5 percent of its surface," Spohn said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"The biggest surprise for me was the pronounced difference we saw," Spohn said. "We hoped to see a difference, but we didn't expect to see such a big difference." Höning, Spohn and their colleagues Hendrik Hansen-Goos and Alessandro Airo detailed their findings online Oct. 25 in the journal Planetary and Space Science.</div><div class="body-related" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; position: relative;"><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp landscape onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="18" data-uuid="63ab7560-a259-3ef0-835c-658a455100a3" href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/continents-alien-worlds-could-hint-extraterrestrial-life-photo-170305100.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="Continents on Alien Worlds Could Hint at Extraterrestrial&nbsp;&hellip;"><div class="img-wrap" style="position: relative;"><div class="cta-overlay" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.24s linear; font-size: 13px; height: 194px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: background-color 0.24s linear; width: 300px;"><span class="clearfix title cta-text medium" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; color: white; font-size: 16px; left: 5px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 5px; transition: opacity 0.24s linear; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 270px; zoom: 1;"></span><span class="cta-text xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; bottom: 5px; color: white; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 42px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; transition: opacity 0.24s linear;">View gallery</span><span class="icon-slideshow icon-white-slideshow-xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.16s linear; background-color: #324fe1; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: cover; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; bottom: 5px; cursor: pointer; height: 23px; left: 5px; line-height: 0; opacity: 0; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: -1000em; transition: opacity 0.16s linear; width: 32px; z-index: 1;"></span></div><img alt="Continents on Alien Worlds Could Hint at Extraterrestrial&nbsp;&hellip;" class="body-related-thumb" data-src-2x="" height="194" src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/JDtzaJPVtIJ7hSYfpDSvTw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTE5NDtxPTc1O3c9MzAw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_US/News/SPACE.com/Continents_on_Alien_Worlds_Could-40bb47c8a90754e37373ad0d4ba4f7e0" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible !important;" width="300" /></div></a><div class="body-related-title photo-caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: grey; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 5px 5px 0px 0px; position: relative; width: 300px;">Kepler-7b (left), which is 1.5 times the radius of Jupiter (right), is the first exoplanet to have i …</div></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The evolution of photosynthesis starting at least 3.4 billion years ago may have had an especially large impact on <a data-rapid_p="19" href="http://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/5695/the-birth-of-earths-continents" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Earth's continents</a>.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"The invention of photosynthesis allowed life to be much more productive, allowed the biosphere to rely on a much larger energy source then before and grow very rapidly in mass, which would have increased the effect of biological weathering," Spohn said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Spohn added that if the mantle was dry, one might not see plate tectonics, which drives the motions of the tectonic plates that make up the surface of the planet and underlies tectonic activity such as earthquakes and volcanoes. "Plate tectonics needs water to operate," Spohn said. </div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Geophysicist Norman Sleep at Stanford University in California, who did not take part in this research, noted that biology could have other effects on Earth's interior. For instance, past laboratory experiments have shown that microbial activity can help transform the soft clay mineral smectite to much stronger and denser illite. Since illite is less permeable to water than smectite, <a data-rapid_p="21" href="http://www.astrobio.net/exclusive/91/glass-munchers-under-the-sea" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">microbial activity</a> could make water more available at greater depths. Preliminary experiments that Spohn and his team conducted suggest this effect could enhance the difference between a life-filled and a lifeless Earth even more.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">These findings suggest "if we find a planet somewhere in the universe with a continental coverage similar to the Earth, it may be a good place to search for life,” Höning said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Still, Höning cautioned that larger planets, such as super-Earth worlds up to 10 times Earth's mass, evolve in a strongly different way than Earth has, so these findings might not apply. Moreover, an <a data-rapid_p="22" href="http://www.space.com/17738-exoplanets.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">exoplanet</a> with a hot surface, a thick atmosphere or strong winds might also experience large erosion rates even without life.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"All these factors have to be taken into account when we try to model continental growth on other planets," Höning said.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_2765" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Future research can examine the tendency of cracks to form in sediment in subduction zones and the effects this may have on activity in Earth's interior, Sleep said. It can also investigate if volcanic activity at subduction zones varies with levels of sediment flow, Sleep added — with lava from volcanoes eventually building new land.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_2716" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"><em id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_2754">This story was provided by <a data-rapid_p="23" href="http://www.astrobio.net/" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Astrobiology Magazine</a>, a web-based publication sponsored by the <a data-rapid_p="24" href="http://www.astrobiology.arc.nasa.gov/" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">NASA astrobiology program</a>. </em><em>Follow us</em> <a data-rapid_p="25" href="http://twitter.com/spacedotcom" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><em>@Spacedotcom</em></a><em>,</em> <a data-rapid_p="26" href="https://www.facebook.com/spacecom" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><em>Facebook</em></a> <em id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_2725">and</em> <a data-rapid_p="27" href="https://plus.google.com/+SPACEcom/posts" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_2735" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><em id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_2734">Google+</em></a><em id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389764135599_2744">. </em></div></div>

Continents on Alien Worlds Could Hint at Extraterrestrial Life (BLOG)

If not for life, Earth may not have possessed the continents it does now, instead becoming a planet covered nearly entirely in ocean, resear...

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Today's archidose #727

Here are some photos of the Noain City Hall (2009) in Navarra, Spain, by <a href="http://www.zon-e.com/">Zon-e Arquitectos</a>, photographed by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/">Ximo Michavila</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/11893355516/" title="Zon-e. Noain city hall #1 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Zon-e. Noain city hall #1" height="399" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7444/11893355516_02374996bb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/11916165624/" title="Zon-e. Noain city hall #6 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Zon-e. Noain city hall #6" height="444" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5486/11916165624_bc89a38241_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/11936234173/" title="Zon-e. Noain city hall #9 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Zon-e. Noain city hall #9" height="449" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3746/11936234173_552b4baea5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/11893353446/" title="Zon-e. Noain city hall #3 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Zon-e. Noain city hall #3" height="800" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3741/11893353446_e706f459bc_c.jpg" width="546" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/11935958585/" title="Zon-e. Noain city hall #8 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Zon-e. Noain city hall #8" height="800" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2837/11935958585_cf0465d4cf_c.jpg" width="548" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/11915715305/" title="Zon-e. Noain city hall #4 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Zon-e. Noain city hall #4" height="440" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3759/11915715305_06638fd300_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/11915712075/" title="Zon-e. Noain city hall #5 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Zon-e. Noain city hall #5" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5535/11915712075_0b49333365_z.jpg" width="639" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ximo_michavila/11936410164/" title="Zon-e. Noain city hall #7 by Ximo Michavila, on Flickr"><img alt="Zon-e. Noain city hall #7" height="800" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3747/11936410164_43696537bc_c.jpg" width="551" /></a><br /><br />To contribute your Flickr images for consideration, just:<br /><blockquote>:: Join and add photos to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/archi-dose/">archidose pool</a>, and/or<br />:: Tag your photos <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/archidose/">archidose</a></span></blockquote>

Today's archidose #727

Here are some photos of the Noain City Hall (2009) in Navarra, Spain, by Zon-e Arquitectos , photographed by Ximo Michavila . To contribute ...

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Lions hire ex-Colts coach Jim Caldwell (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHurjwDmDcGeN35b8wnPlFbn6wx55RslSWqUCBN0v5nh3G15WZa1u1Tjxwtpau30T_8RDivWdYIzVmiaTXgQ0faHxoo6YZEhHwlWeFbsrJs7woG9HzuvidLgTY2xOHOlSZmha8xIcaYkE/s1600/201401141227448233964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHurjwDmDcGeN35b8wnPlFbn6wx55RslSWqUCBN0v5nh3G15WZa1u1Tjxwtpau30T_8RDivWdYIzVmiaTXgQ0faHxoo6YZEhHwlWeFbsrJs7woG9HzuvidLgTY2xOHOlSZmha8xIcaYkE/s320/201401141227448233964.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389763404569_3973" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">DETROIT (AP) -- Jim Caldwell got a ringing endorsement from one of his mentors when <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_team" data-rapid_p="8" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/det" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Detroit Lions</a> general manager Martin Mayhew was doing his homework.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389763404569_3991" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px;">''Martin called me and said we're looking for a leader who can help turn our locker room into a winning one and to help us get the most out of our investment in</span><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px;"> </span><a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_player" data-rapid_p="9" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/9265" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; text-decoration: none;">Matthew Stafford</a><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px;">,'' Dungy recalled in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. ''I told Martin that Jim Caldwell is exactly what you're looking for. He'll lead by making people accountable and by being a role model on and off the field. And with his attention to detail and history of developing quarterbacks, Stafford is going to flourish just like</span><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px;"> </span><a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_player" data-rapid_p="10" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4256" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; text-decoration: none;">Peyton Manning</a><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px;">did with us in Indianapolis.''</span>The Lions hired Caldwell on Tuesday to replace fired coach Jim Schwartz, ending a search that included a phone conversation between Mayhew and Tony Dungy.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Detroit wanted to replace Schwartz with someone with experience as a head coach, ideally with a track record of tutoring quarterbacks.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Caldwell helped the <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_team" data-rapid_p="11" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/ind" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Indianapolis Colts</a> reach the Super Bowl after his debut season in 2009, but was fired two years later after a 2-14 season while Manning was injured, dropping his three-year mark to 26-22.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Before Caldwell was hired by the Dungy-led Colts in 2002 to be their quarterbacks coach, he had the same job for Dungy with the <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_team" data-rapid_p="12" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/tam" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a>.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Caldwell was hired by Baltimore two years ago to be their quarterbacks coach and was promoted to offensive coordinator late in the 2012 season. The Ravens went on to win the last Super Bowl.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The Lions will introduce Caldwell as their coach Wednesday during a news conference at Ford Field.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">''We believe Jim is the right man to lead our team and deliver a championship to our fans,'' Lions owner William Clay Ford said in a statement.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The Ravens struggled on offense in 2013 and might've replaced Caldwell if he didn't get another job. Baltimore ranked 29th on offense overall - 30th rushing and 18th passing - last season with Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Still, Caldwell's body of work was enough to also make him a candidate to lead the <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_team" data-rapid_p="13" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/was" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Washington Redskins</a>and Titans. Former Tennessee coach Mike Munchak and ex-Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak were also considered by the Lions.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">''I'm excited because he has worked with some good coaches and he did a good job with the Colts,'' Lions offensive guard Rob Sims said in a telephone interview. ''Players seem to like him, so I'm looking forward to being a part of the next chapter of Detroit Lions football with him leading us.''</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Caldwell won his first 14 games with the Colts in 2009 before losing the final two games of the regular season while resting Manning and most of the other starters. The Colts lost to the <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_team" data-rapid_p="14" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/nor" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">New Orleans Saints</a> in the Super Bowl. Indy was 10-6 the following season and won another AFC South title, then lost to the <a class="yom-entity-link yom-entity-sports_team" data-rapid_p="15" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/nyj" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">New York Jets</a> in a wild-card game. With Manning out for all of Caldwell's third season, the Colts lost 14 games and Caldwell lost his job.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389763404569_4005" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">In Baltimore, Caldwell replaced offensive coordinator Cam Cameron toward the end of the 2012 regular season and he seemed to give the offense a boost as it went on to win the Super Bowl against San Francisco.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389763404569_4020" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Helping the Lions win one playoff game would be a relative feat: Detroit has only one playoff victory - more than two decades ago - since winning the 1957 NFL title.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389763404569_4030" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Caldwell, who won two playoff games in his first season with the Colts, will be counted on to use his experience with quarterbacks to make Matthew Stafford better. Detroit drafted Stafford No. 1 overall in 2009 and after two injury-shortened seasons, he has been spectacular at times and shaky at others.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389763404569_4040" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">When the Lions needed him most, he was at his worst last season. He had an NFL-high 14 turnovers from Week 11-16 as Detroit dropped five of six games, plummeting out of first place in the NFC North and wasting an opportunity to win a division title for the first time since 1993.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Caldwell's first job as a head coach was at Wake Forest, which fired him in 2000 with a 26-63 record over eight seasons. Caldwell, who is from Beloit, Wis., played defensive back for Iowa and began his coaching career in 1977 as a graduate assistant with the Hawkeyes.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Caldwell later went on to coach quarterbacks, wide receivers and outside linebackers from 1982-84 for Bill McCartney at Colorado.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">''He's one of the finest people I've ever met,'' McCartney said in a telephone interview. ''He has tremendous character. If he says something, you can take it to the bank and hang your hat on it. His players will trust them and they'll rally for him. He's ready for this.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">''Every home, every business and every NFL team rises or falls because of leadership. And, the Lions have a leader now.''</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389763404569_4132" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">---</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389763404569_4122" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">AP Sports Writer Noah Trister in Allen Park, Mich. contributed to this report.</div></div>

Lions hire ex-Colts coach Jim Caldwell (BLOG)

DETROIT (AP) -- Jim Caldwell got a ringing endorsement from one of his mentors when  Detroit Lions  general manager Martin Mayhew was doing ...

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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Lite Gets Price at Online Retailers (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1-0TNFiCrS3zThKNjFChQkC_9YR_VIKkJX6kxifAoCyt6_EboAmIbPlUbuRVXCL0DVwXmw2Y1CcIlwhKOCyKy8YXJD8z7BtMDhXUPCHNexV1jUNgq2Sl0OBYd_TfQQDLbKWFXTcajSQ/s1600/5944fdefc1f56ec0ccf019c6b0ceeb9c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1-0TNFiCrS3zThKNjFChQkC_9YR_VIKkJX6kxifAoCyt6_EboAmIbPlUbuRVXCL0DVwXmw2Y1CcIlwhKOCyKy8YXJD8z7BtMDhXUPCHNexV1jUNgq2Sl0OBYd_TfQQDLbKWFXTcajSQ/s1600/5944fdefc1f56ec0ccf019c6b0ceeb9c.jpg" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_25864" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The Galaxy Note 3 Lite is expected to be a less expensive alternative to Samsungs flagship phablet, but that may not be the case if rumors hold up to be true. Some international retailers have reportedly begun listing the Galaxy Note 3 Neo, aka the Note 3 Lite, on their websites for a sky high 560 euros.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_25887" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Dutch website Nieuwemobiel.nl reports that the Galaxy Note 3 Lite is already being listed for a price that equates to roughly $765. This seems unlikely given that the off-contract listed price for the Galaxy Note 3 is around $700. The website also says that the Note 3 Lite should be available on Feb. 3, while previous rumors have suggested the device will be revealed at Mobile World Congress toward the end of February. The premature product listing shows a white Galaxy Note 3 Lite available for sale, but theres no spec info listed.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Its unclear whether or not Samsung will actually launch a scaled-down version of its newest phablet, but the company certainly has a tendency to release multiple product versions. The Korea-based electronics giant now sells five versions of the Galaxy S4, including the standard version, the Galaxy S4 Mini, the Galaxy S4 Zoom, the Galaxy S4 Active and the LTE Advanced version. The newly unveiled Galaxy Note Pro also comes in 8, 10 and 12 inch sizes.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_26032" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The Note 3 Lite, or Neo as its been codenamed, is expected to launch with a 720p display, an 8-megapixel main camera, a 3,100 mAh battery and a hexa-core ARM processor, although this hasnt been confirmed.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_26020" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"><em>via</em> SamMobile</div></div>

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Lite Gets Price at Online Retailers (BLOG)

The Galaxy Note 3 Lite is expected to be a less expensive alternative to Samsungs flagship phablet, but that may not be the case if rumors h...

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Girl 3 million Ksenia Sobchak sue publisher

<br />Famous Russian socialite and TV presenter <b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/search/label/Ksenia%20Sobchak" target="_blank">Ksenia Sobchak</a></b> wants a court to collect 3 million rubles publishing Jauza Press. Star is furious that her picture graced book Alexei Chelnokova "prodigal daughter Kremlin. Xenia Obshchak. " Xenia wishes to receive from the publisher 1,000,000 for copyright infringement, but the payment from the sale of books Sobchak estimated at 2 million<br /><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-8441125172513237"; /* video */ google_ad_slot = "9278264705"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; //--></script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></center><br /><br />The author of books such the bag considers excessive, because the book was not as successful as expected. In his defense, he said that the information in the book is authentic, as taken from reliable sources. However, the book readers was not popular with readers, because nothing new about Sobchak she says.<br /><br /> Xenia itself likely does not want to earn as much as to punish the ruble publishing to discourage others were.<br />  <br />Recall that Sobchak recently criticized homophobic statements Ohlobystina assuming that the famous actor "crisis of the genre."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDiPnaFj6nTEcwggjkYdCTj29iQ2r2qZcre-70IjgWpqK7BlrXmP8ruwPs4UQ8Uat3cX1BDz7doWZzSQ62VfhGFUV5G8pGc-6hl8qn8RJeLM3bOvmbfis77fATa4vfFGkuaxEu9Kt/s1600/Girl+3+million+Ksenia+Sobchak+sue+publisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDiPnaFj6nTEcwggjkYdCTj29iQ2r2qZcre-70IjgWpqK7BlrXmP8ruwPs4UQ8Uat3cX1BDz7doWZzSQ62VfhGFUV5G8pGc-6hl8qn8RJeLM3bOvmbfis77fATa4vfFGkuaxEu9Kt/s1600/Girl+3+million+Ksenia+Sobchak+sue+publisher.jpg" /></a></div><br /><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- boton --><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:90px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8441125172513237" data-ad-slot="4392536701"></ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br />

Girl 3 million Ksenia Sobchak sue publisher

Famous Russian socialite and TV presenter Ksenia Sobchak wants a court to collect 3 million rubles publishing Jauza Press. Star is furious...

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PR director Zhanna Friske denies rumors of illness singer

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9ZzbhdF-p4HyAxXfJpOncmhpR3wgu_eACGvuayNyKf9_W31Ddjjhj9iXlfnfhlrX6XkrZQK8v2kCHoh6-YxZHU4Po1Vu0J3mGtozjHSbitPEYPbXCyt4Snhj1EJ2ioJZpldvM6yg/s1600/PR+director+Jeanne+Friske+denies+rumors+of+illness+singer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9ZzbhdF-p4HyAxXfJpOncmhpR3wgu_eACGvuayNyKf9_W31Ddjjhj9iXlfnfhlrX6XkrZQK8v2kCHoh6-YxZHU4Po1Vu0J3mGtozjHSbitPEYPbXCyt4Snhj1EJ2ioJZpldvM6yg/s1600/PR+director+Jeanne+Friske+denies+rumors+of+illness+singer.jpg" /></a></div><br />Today the network has information that Zhanna Friske seriously ill and sent to Germany for treatment. Became the primary source portal Lifenews. In addition, journalists argue that the singer Tatiana Tereshina confirmed disease Jeanne. <br /> <br /><script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- biner3 --><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:468px;height:60px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-8441125172513237" data-ad-slot="7346003106"></ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> According to the publication, Frisco allegedly seen in the infirmary Sheremetyevo Airport, where she was taken to a medical gurney. The singer was accompanied by common-law husband Dmitry Shepelev. Couple checked on a flight to Germany. <br /> <br /> PR director Anisa singer Ashiq contrast, denied the rumors in an interview with RIA Novosti news agency, saying that Friske completely healthy and lives in Miami. <br /> <br /> Nikolai Uskov comments in Twitter: <br /> <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"> Sad news about Jeanne Friske. Write that seriously ill. Bright, cheerful person. Forces her! </blockquote><br /> He later added: <br /> <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"> If true about Jeanne Friske - say it's a good omen. Thank God! </blockquote><br /> Tatiana Tereshina also does not believe in the disease Jeanne: <br /> <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"> short, friends and well-wishers Jeanne Friske. We all hope that what you have written about it - not true. She learned from layfnyuz and upset.<br /> <br /> Nothing more I do not know! I hope that this is a lie of journalists, which I naively kupilas. May God bless all health and even those who invents it. </blockquote><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-8441125172513237"; /* biner3 */ google_ad_slot = "7346003106"; google_ad_width = 468; google_ad_height = 60; //--></script><script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yn3VHpKQyFoXKd_hjd-YNEHmQzwUkfqvihiv_VjBwZUi-RVqdgMHb0gvqjFqsSuWeBqEUMGIPcCAAdfpDBTJpktg4jQpCt2RPz1WJSdebnoPiGW7GAiN5eMtUAm-l9c3QSXy0WGM/s1600/Zhanna+Friske.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yn3VHpKQyFoXKd_hjd-YNEHmQzwUkfqvihiv_VjBwZUi-RVqdgMHb0gvqjFqsSuWeBqEUMGIPcCAAdfpDBTJpktg4jQpCt2RPz1WJSdebnoPiGW7GAiN5eMtUAm-l9c3QSXy0WGM/s1600/Zhanna+Friske.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zhanna Friske</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bvXR72sP8B-h4P5C_aqVlIxCyx2XYrSupLo10aKLOG5QWbYHEWSgoWZP9lH1gVyp9I2HCThOKk0A00zmakucGEqYNyHR5jgiH_OmV-4ejdiRty-oNenzFV4X536fn406uVKdR8yI/s1600/Zhanna+Friske+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bvXR72sP8B-h4P5C_aqVlIxCyx2XYrSupLo10aKLOG5QWbYHEWSgoWZP9lH1gVyp9I2HCThOKk0A00zmakucGEqYNyHR5jgiH_OmV-4ejdiRty-oNenzFV4X536fn406uVKdR8yI/s1600/Zhanna+Friske+1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-8441125172513237"; /* boton */ google_ad_slot = "4392536701"; google_ad_width = 200; google_ad_height = 90; //--></script><script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br />

PR director Zhanna Friske denies rumors of illness singer

Today the network has information that Zhanna Friske seriously ill and sent to Germany for treatment. Became the primary source portal Lif...

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Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky waiting twins

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxn791b2l8xnDjes1bIYnMM89mbDyNZmS1dPX_S4WUoONRTL_pwsG4yoZOqklZKIlNhhXO8jndIu9tJGhrUKQn9s9HLtv-QUtLdaQ7lAzdGUFXxR5lvzH0AlbS_XIQ-9keYX26qpc/s1600/Chris+Hemsworth+and+Elsa+Pataky+waiting+twins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxn791b2l8xnDjes1bIYnMM89mbDyNZmS1dPX_S4WUoONRTL_pwsG4yoZOqklZKIlNhhXO8jndIu9tJGhrUKQn9s9HLtv-QUtLdaQ7lAzdGUFXxR5lvzH0AlbS_XIQ-9keYX26qpc/s1600/Chris+Hemsworth+and+Elsa+Pataky+waiting+twins.jpg" /></a></div><br />Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth waiting twins year-old daughter of actors from India Rose coming soon siblings (the sex of their children is not yet known). 37-year-old Spanish actress is likely to give birth in the spring. <br /> <br /><center><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-8441125172513237"; /* video */ google_ad_slot = "9278264705"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; //--></script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script></center><br /><br /> Pair appeared on the red carpet of the "Golden Globe" on January 12, which was the first public output Pataki after news of the pregnancy. The actress was wearing an elegant black dress from Paule Ka and glowed with happiness, posing next to the 30-year-old Hemsworth. Chris touching stroking belly favorite. <br /> <br /> Recall tomorrow is Chris Hemsworth will announce the nominees for the "Oscar 2014."<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqe0CLZYiKaBYAAl_otWRQ4VVZkTwgBn59LWIS4xTGQNZ1qfOCzAyD2OppG-tXj7OXpZ3xqXGWY5gvpHgKQXCR689vUTD-sXXa3N8FhYWGSFIRkYJAHamDJMjVvCDQ1GAU81eKU1Wz/s1600/Elsa+Pataky+and+Chris+Hemsworth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqe0CLZYiKaBYAAl_otWRQ4VVZkTwgBn59LWIS4xTGQNZ1qfOCzAyD2OppG-tXj7OXpZ3xqXGWY5gvpHgKQXCR689vUTD-sXXa3N8FhYWGSFIRkYJAHamDJMjVvCDQ1GAU81eKU1Wz/s1600/Elsa+Pataky+and+Chris+Hemsworth.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPRuGP808P2DjIFciqecEHqks47rCPWH6OtSnYDyCcOKL2YlRblVqPwi9WaC8TEmdQpO8gPAG-9cXfpnnTWxutsThu04-rJP6BSZsBaguj9Ny1zYjLp1VRGLYtMIrosexKTmeEmH2/s1600/Elsa+Pataky+and+Chris+Hemsworth+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPRuGP808P2DjIFciqecEHqks47rCPWH6OtSnYDyCcOKL2YlRblVqPwi9WaC8TEmdQpO8gPAG-9cXfpnnTWxutsThu04-rJP6BSZsBaguj9Ny1zYjLp1VRGLYtMIrosexKTmeEmH2/s1600/Elsa+Pataky+and+Chris+Hemsworth+2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-8441125172513237"; /* boton */ google_ad_slot = "4392536701"; google_ad_width = 200; google_ad_height = 90; //--></script><script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br />

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky waiting twins

Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth waiting twins year-old daughter of actors from India Rose coming soon siblings (the sex of their children ...

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Jennifer Lopez is not sure that will marry Casper Smart

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yFVDNmoqaNfAgJQqFie9BcOCBSMhJcNposU_qLsdN0OYpgOZykNw7KTAvuVkuwAp4HsPj98LhWpLvEnc5yVRUyBRWux8VvX6iCvB2Fvpp1kAKVdCYG3O8p-eIdCNYu_ibmtKKwJg/s1600/Jennifer+Lopez+is+not+sure+that+will+marry+Casper+Smart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yFVDNmoqaNfAgJQqFie9BcOCBSMhJcNposU_qLsdN0OYpgOZykNw7KTAvuVkuwAp4HsPj98LhWpLvEnc5yVRUyBRWux8VvX6iCvB2Fvpp1kAKVdCYG3O8p-eIdCNYu_ibmtKKwJg/s1600/Jennifer+Lopez+is+not+sure+that+will+marry+Casper+Smart.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/search/label/Jennifer%20Lopez" target="_blank">Jennifer Lopez</a></b> admitted that she is not sure whether will marry her current boyfriend <b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/search/label/Casper%20Smart" target="_blank">Casper Smart</a></b>. During the recently held a press conference in support of the new season of American Idol show 44-year-old star has responded to a question about possible marriage evasively: <br /> <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"> I do not know, look, do not know yet. You know, I've always believed in the institution of marriage and now believe in it, but it's a complicated question. I had a negative experience, but at the same time I believe in our love, and this is important. </blockquote><br /> Earlier Lopez was married three times: in 1997 she was married to waiter Ojani Noa, but broke up with him after year. From 2001 to 2003, was the wife of a star dancer Chris Judd. And finally, in 2004, she married Mark Anthony and bore him twins, but this union did not last too long: between spouses still lasts divorce process. <br /> <br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-8441125172513237"; /* biner3 */ google_ad_slot = "7346003106"; google_ad_width = 468; google_ad_height = 60; //--></script><script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /><br /> J.Lo admits that 26-year-old Smart, whose journalists was referred to as toy boy, helped her in the difficult period after breaking up with Anthony. How to tell the singer, Casper is having her help in educating children, Max and Emmy, and moral support: <br /> <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"> It was a difficult year, it changed me in many ways. But I was surrounded by loving family and was able to really grow. After all, my goal was not just to survive after a divorce, but also to grow as a person and as an artist. I think I got it. I learned a lot. </blockquote><br /> Yesterday Lopez, who will soon present a new video, posed for photographers during the presentation of the 13th season of American Idol, held in Los Angeles.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgtXCWW6pdwjfokztkTYywiZnasQcvKhIBYo1ui1aVywEFus6Tu9BQ1eO3zJlwkbE9rARONh23RfIeARkTqqyUnfKpx2mT-0NoXeXo3EZpGO5BqzAYdzyQ1yfSC248IleOy9bGqlz/s1600/Jennifer+Lopez+at+the+launch+of+the+new+season+of+American+Idol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgtXCWW6pdwjfokztkTYywiZnasQcvKhIBYo1ui1aVywEFus6Tu9BQ1eO3zJlwkbE9rARONh23RfIeARkTqqyUnfKpx2mT-0NoXeXo3EZpGO5BqzAYdzyQ1yfSC248IleOy9bGqlz/s1600/Jennifer+Lopez+at+the+launch+of+the+new+season+of+American+Idol.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkbdfrEkEZCxZkew5el60x63os3CSTDTWEZID0b04cEXUlWonF1A1I7mYxKcnBL4-8dLrI2kmTB1QFirpEnzl59i5qEh6uLXPJwxpp3Pw2hC3vFzOPNCo4wQIx8Rb4UYjP_nIsgGc/s1600/Jennifer+Lopez+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkbdfrEkEZCxZkew5el60x63os3CSTDTWEZID0b04cEXUlWonF1A1I7mYxKcnBL4-8dLrI2kmTB1QFirpEnzl59i5qEh6uLXPJwxpp3Pw2hC3vFzOPNCo4wQIx8Rb4UYjP_nIsgGc/s1600/Jennifer+Lopez+1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb7bkuvHvcPw-hcoO3Sl3KfhuWY6jH_XGR2ZJDC8-mWoZoD1JOGY0QvdgZIKQSD4hjkYKU0ikelIr7J2b3GwBEEtKm9TzsdIGb7Q9B4H8iS-20BlQOLlXw6P9lW64JkDlapwzUqP4/s1600/Jennifer+Lopez+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb7bkuvHvcPw-hcoO3Sl3KfhuWY6jH_XGR2ZJDC8-mWoZoD1JOGY0QvdgZIKQSD4hjkYKU0ikelIr7J2b3GwBEEtKm9TzsdIGb7Q9B4H8iS-20BlQOLlXw6P9lW64JkDlapwzUqP4/s1600/Jennifer+Lopez+2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaug3hgJuyXOLwGFzHucboqPFKrqCdKTKphAN8UnRr2USLxUrvcFQlQjSnS5UD_W2ajiXCm-fY39kDpb2r79Z5L1hPNASEwegBr1KgNXYiujLOdsUpRo1iUzW8RUtGe2-RwWV6nFj/s1600/Jennifer+Lopez+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaug3hgJuyXOLwGFzHucboqPFKrqCdKTKphAN8UnRr2USLxUrvcFQlQjSnS5UD_W2ajiXCm-fY39kDpb2r79Z5L1hPNASEwegBr1KgNXYiujLOdsUpRo1iUzW8RUtGe2-RwWV6nFj/s1600/Jennifer+Lopez+3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBhr6ZNry3MnKymyvH5-RzLZtAuYlHsLzzzZ_I__1x00ulxa_9h4gxuhyTrjbMwsIR6i0HM9fAUKszxm1ztUZKVXtp5-ZKVi5lyUvT3rKl94zaPrPhDXTu91knOReilsu2Q427yTH/s1600/Jennifer+Lopez+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgBhr6ZNry3MnKymyvH5-RzLZtAuYlHsLzzzZ_I__1x00ulxa_9h4gxuhyTrjbMwsIR6i0HM9fAUKszxm1ztUZKVXtp5-ZKVi5lyUvT3rKl94zaPrPhDXTu91knOReilsu2Q427yTH/s1600/Jennifer+Lopez+4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-8441125172513237"; /* boton */ google_ad_slot = "4392536701"; google_ad_width = 200; google_ad_height = 90; //--></script><script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><br /><br />

Jennifer Lopez is not sure that will marry Casper Smart

Jennifer Lopez admitted that she is not sure whether will marry her current boyfriend Casper Smart . During the recently held a press con...

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T-Mobile is scaring Wall Street for all the right reasons (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PthxwA8-M24TMp55DYayPU0X1cUysouzqiqIwJErJrlvhCVrZ_EhatpfjJJRL_C-G0LdGad6bxXesDTSWUjpAxrHKi2_66AA5EaT-KPjWo2EsXFVkBcv3P2u6x6Cf-z7cQyB1m1U4ao/s1600/john-legere-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PthxwA8-M24TMp55DYayPU0X1cUysouzqiqIwJErJrlvhCVrZ_EhatpfjJJRL_C-G0LdGad6bxXesDTSWUjpAxrHKi2_66AA5EaT-KPjWo2EsXFVkBcv3P2u6x6Cf-z7cQyB1m1U4ao/s320/john-legere-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_21582" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Here’s how you know that <a data-rapid_p="9" href="http://bgr.com/tag/t-mobile" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">T-Mobile</a> is onto something: It’s making Wall Street very nervous for all the right reasons.<em id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_21592">Reuters</em> recently talked with several financial analysts who all expressed fear that T-Mobile was sparking a pricing war in the wireless industry and that carriers were starting to actually compete with one another for our business. Or as <em>Reuters</em>puts it, “the intensifying competition is a new challenge to a U.S. industry long used to imposing its will on consumers, and analysts fear it could result in the loss of billions of dollars of revenue.”<span id="more-2765025"></span></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_21063" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Jefferies analyst Michael McCormack, for one, told <em>Reuters</em>that he found it “most disappointing” that <a data-rapid_p="10" href="http://bgr.com/tag/att" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">AT&T</a> has been reacting to T-Mobile’s “Uncarrier” moves by offering special offers of its own. After all, it’s harder to <a data-rapid_p="11" href="http://bgr.com/2013/10/23/att-q3-2013-earnings/" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">maintain sky-high margins</a> when you’re <a data-rapid_p="12" href="http://bgr.com/2014/01/03/att-t-mobile-450-dollar-offer/" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">offering T-Mobile subscribers an extra $200 bonus</a> to switch.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_21609" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Roe Equity Research analyst Kevin Roe, meanwhile, said that T-Mobile’s moves have created an “unhealthy market dynamic” that “will continue until AT&T has market-share stability,” which likely won’t be until it fights many more bloody battles with T-Mobile over wireless subscribers. And New Street Research analyst Felix Wai told <em>Reuters</em> that he feared the added competition would force carriers to spend more on marketing, a move that would once again eat into their margins.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_21621" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Of course, the average customer should cheer all this Wall Street hand-wringing: To use some Econ 101 terminology, the loss of carrier margins will mean an increase in consumer surplus in the form of lower prices. Or put another way, what’s bad for big wireless carriers might just be good for everyone else.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_21621" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"><br /></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_21621" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">-BGR</div></div>

T-Mobile is scaring Wall Street for all the right reasons (BLOG)

Here’s how you know that  T-Mobile  is onto something: It’s making Wall Street very nervous for all the right reasons. Reuters  recently tal...

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Hot cars at the Detroit auto show (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tl-H_8SUzsmfn1KhhgA9tg6VLMtAVOw-s5MB4-2WtmXra-MGlWX2wXc5k03ZpOrnHZS_WhWlEO-APBK3aYVhSyZnwitpz2YZTMHZuEyFkz4ANGxIOeBoBjh04HP1VjmzVWeoAa5XMnE/s1600/59ec93bd-382e-45bb-a914-3e216e14b02a_AP157134102627_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tl-H_8SUzsmfn1KhhgA9tg6VLMtAVOw-s5MB4-2WtmXra-MGlWX2wXc5k03ZpOrnHZS_WhWlEO-APBK3aYVhSyZnwitpz2YZTMHZuEyFkz4ANGxIOeBoBjh04HP1VjmzVWeoAa5XMnE/s320/59ec93bd-382e-45bb-a914-3e216e14b02a_AP157134102627_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_17491" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">DETROIT - The North American International Auto Show begins this week in Detroit with media and industry previews. It opens to the public Jan. 18.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_17516" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Here are some of the new cars and experimental concept vehicles unveiled at the show:</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_17526" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">— CADILLAC ATS COUPE: General Motors' Cadillac brand gets another tool to go after the Germans with the sleek new 2015 ATS Coupe. Aimed at the BMW 4-Series and Audi A5, the ATS coupe offers the same engines, transmissions and most of the same features as the sedan. But the coupe gets its own roof, doors, front fascia and fenders to accommodate a wider track than the sedan. The coupe, unveiled Tuesday at the Detroit auto show, is expected to arrive in showrooms during the summer. The car will likely cost more than the current sedan, which starts at $33,065 excluding shipping.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">— KIA GT4 STINGER CONCEPT: Kia's latest concept car forgoes an audio system, with the idea that the sound from under the hood and the exhaust will be music to the driver's ears. The four-seat GT4 Stinger made its debut in Detroit and features a version of Kia's 2.0-litre turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder engine, with a six-speed manual transmission that packs 315 horsepower. Designers gave the sports car what they described as a shrink-wrapped appearance with a bright, orange-yellow hue. Kia Motors America notes that it often ends up making vehicles that closely resemble concept versions.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">— LEXUS RC F COUPE: Lexus is marking its 25th anniversary with some power. The RC F coupe is based on the RC coupe unveiled in November at the Tokyo Motor Show, but it's produced for high performance. The hood on the RC F is higher to accommodate a 5.0-litre, V8 engine that produces more than 450 horsepower. The automaker said the rear-wheel drive RC F also features a speed-sensitive, active rear spoiler that deploys at about 50 mph and retracts below 25 mph. The wing helps maintain traction and stability at higher speeds. Lexus expects the RC F to go on sale in early fall. Pricing hasn't been announced.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_17534" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">— VOLVO XC90: Volvo teased its new XC90 seven-passenger SUV, slated to hit the market later this year. The XC Concept Coupe has design elements that will be on Volvo cars going forward, including an oval grille with Volvo's distinctive logo, daytime running lights shaped like a narrow, sideways "T'' and a band of taillights curling down from the roof. A first-time plug-in hybrid version gets an estimated 400 horsepower. The two-door concept doesn't exactly mimic the future XC90, which will have four doors.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_17549" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">— SUBARU WRX STI: The 2015 WRX STI features a four-cylinder, 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with a 6-speed manual transmission that puts out 305 horsepower. The four-door, all-wheel drive STI version of the WRX aims to offer top-of-the-line performance along with comfort. Starting in April, Subaru plans to offer a WRX STI Launch Edition for three months, limited to 1,000 units and featuring special blue paint and gold-colour forged alloy wheels. Pricing will be announced later.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_17559" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">— ACURA TLX: The Honda luxury brand plans to beef up its sedan line-up with a mid-season enhancement. Acura unveiled its 2015 TLX prototype, which it describes as a "performance luxury sedan," to join its ILX compact and RLX performance models. The sporty side comes through with a low and wide stance, rigid and lightweight body, and shortened front and rear overhangs. The car will come with a new 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine or more powerful 3.5-litre V6. The carmaker says that high performance won't compromise luxury, with the TLX offering "vault-like quietness" in all driving conditions. The TLX was designed and developed in the U.S., where it will also be produced.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_17559" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">YahooNews</div></div>

Hot cars at the Detroit auto show (BLOG)

DETROIT - The North American International Auto Show begins this week in Detroit with media and industry previews. It opens to the public Ja...

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Israeli defense chief comments spark spat with US (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTQPBp-aByr6cTiajhB96GkmhfCnd3I0c77MudwyEAN8VusnvSEe7An7M00lKS4iTUkTT3Pdlct3hYKRgu7kS72u-1E_hfIFze8EfCIpaCj2LPeCGYK7Daz6M_HIZxw1lp9itJd45zq4/s1600/e65851fcfc76e901480f6a7067007a98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTQPBp-aByr6cTiajhB96GkmhfCnd3I0c77MudwyEAN8VusnvSEe7An7M00lKS4iTUkTT3Pdlct3hYKRgu7kS72u-1E_hfIFze8EfCIpaCj2LPeCGYK7Daz6M_HIZxw1lp9itJd45zq4/s320/e65851fcfc76e901480f6a7067007a98.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_13617" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's defense minister was quoted Tuesday as deriding U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's Mideast peace efforts as naive and foolhardy, triggering an angry response from Washington and rekindling simmering tensions with Israel's closest and most important ally.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_13643" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">In the comments published by the Yediot Ahronot daily, Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon called Kerry "obsessive" and "messianic" and dismissed Kerry's security plan as worthless.The quotes appeared ahead of another visit by Kerry, who is expected in the region in the coming weeks to deliver his ideas on a framework for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Kerry has already submitted to Israel a series of proposals for ensuring Israel's security as part of a future peace deal.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"The only thing that might save us is if John Kerry wins the Nobel Prize and leaves us be," Yaalon was quoted as saying.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Yaalon is a former military chief of staff and close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Since becoming defense minister last year, a position of great influence in Israel, he has been a vocal skeptic of Kerry's peace efforts. In his public statements, he has said Israel has "no partner" for peace and questioned the Palestinian commitment to resolving years of conflict.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Asked about the report, Yaalon issued a statement saying that relations with the U.S. are "intimate and meaningful" for Israel.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"The United States is our greatest friend and our strongest ally and when there are differences they are resolved behind closed doors, including with Secretary Kerry with whom I have many conversations about the future of Israel. I will continue to determinedly, responsibly and thoughtfully protect the security of the people of Israel," Yaalon said. His office would neither confirm nor deny the comments in Yediot, and repeated requests for additional comment were not answered.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Late Tuesday, Yaalon's office issued a second statement in which the defense minister expressed appreciation for Kerry' peace efforts.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"The defense minister had no intention to cause any offense to the secretary, and he apologizes if the secretary was offended by words attributed to the minister," the statement read.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders scrambled to distance themselves from Yaalon, while the U.S. condemned the reported comments as "offensive and inappropriate."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The U.S. Embassy in Israel has complained about the reported comments to the Israeli government, said a senior State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to discuss the matter on the record.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Under heavy American pressure, Israel and the Palestinians resumed substantive peace talks last July for the first time in nearly five years. So far, there have been no signs of progress, and the talks have been marred by finger pointing by both sides.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">With an April target date for an agreement approaching, Kerry has said he will soon return with bridging proposals for a framework deal. In recent weeks, both sides appear to have hardened their positions. During a visit to Israel this week, Vice President Joe Biden said both sides have "difficult decisions" to make.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The Palestinians seek the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, territories captured by Israel in 1967, for an independent state. Netanyahu wants to keep parts of the West Bank and says he will not share control of east Jerusalem, home to sensitive Muslim, Jewish and Christian religious sites. He has also insisted that the Palestinians recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland, a condition they say would undermine the rights of Palestinian refugees and Israel's own Arab minority.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">In Tuesday's report, Yaalon said there have not been any direct talks with the Palestinians in months, and that the only communications have been through American mediators. He also expressed deep skepticism about Palestinian intentions, saying peace could only be reached if the Palestinians accept Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">But his harshest comments were on Kerry's security proposals for the West Bank, which were drawn up by his security adviser, former Gen. John Allen, and dozens of other experts.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"The American plan for security arrangements that was shown to us isn't worth the paper it was written on," Yaalon is quoted as saying. "Secretary of State John Kerry — who arrived here determined, and who operates from an incomprehensible obsession and a sense of messianism — can't teach me anything about the conflict with the Palestinians."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The U.S. plan includes a limited Israeli presence in the West Bank, but relies heavily on sensors, satellites and drones, according to Palestinian officials. Israel has demanded it be allowed to retain an on-the-ground presence along the eastern border with Jordan to prevent weapons smuggling or potential invasion by Arab armies.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_13647" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The report quoted Yaalon as telling Kerry that technology was no substitute for ground troops when confronting militants.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"What are you talking about?" the defense minister was quoted as saying. "You presented us with a plan that is based on sophisticated technology, on satellites, sensors, war rooms with television screens —without a presence of our troops on the ground. And I ask you_how will technology respond when a Salafist or Islamic Jihad cell tries to commit a terror attack against Israeli targets? ... Which satellites will handle the rocket industry developing today ... that will be fired at Tel Aviv and central Israel?"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"Relations between the United State and Israel are intimate and important to us. The United States is our greatest friend and most important ally, and when there are disagreements we air them inside the (discussion) room, including with Secretary of State Kerry, with whom I have held many discussions about the future of Israel," Yaalon said in a statement to the media.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">In Washington, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Yaalon's comments, if accurate, were "offensive and inappropriate," given everything the U.S. is doing to support Mideast peace efforts. He said Kerry and his team have been working nonstop because the U.S. is deeply concerned about and committed to Israel's future.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"To question Secretary Kerry's motives and distort his proposals is not something we would expect from the defense minister of a close ally," Carney said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">It was the latest twist in what has frequently been a strained relationship between Netanyahu and the Obama White House. The two leaders have appeared uncomfortable together and often disagreed over issues like Israeli settlement construction on lands claimed by the Palestinians and American positions on the peace talks with the Palestinians. During one recent visit, Kerry said settlement construction raises questions about Israel's commitment to peace in comments broadcast on national TV.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Netanyahu has also been an outspoken critic of the U.S.-led efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program, saying they don't go far enough.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">In a speech at parliament marking the body's 65th anniversary Monday, Netanyahu appeared to distance himself from his defense minister. "The United States is our great ally," he said. "Even when we have disagreements there are always related to an issue, not a person."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">President Shimon Peres also devoted his comments at the ceremony to the strong bond with the U.S. "The unusual determination of Secretary of State Kerry to reach peace reflects and serves Israel's deep desire for peace and a chance to mutual understanding," he said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">But dovish leaders took harsh aim at Yaalon, saying he had caused damage to the country's most important relationship. Isaac Herzog invoked the name of Yitzhak Rabin, the former prime minister who was assassinated in 1995 by an ultranationalist Jew opposed to his peace efforts with the Palestinians.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"We will always remember the strong bond with the United States that Yitzhak Rabin believed in. He knew to give respect to our friends and supporters overseas and never call them messianic, strange and obsessive or any other offensive names," he said.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_13685" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">___</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_13675" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Associated Press writers Josh Lederman and Deb Riechmann in Washington and Lara Jakes in Rome contributed to this report.</div></div>

Israeli defense chief comments spark spat with US (BLOG)

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's defense minister was quoted Tuesday as deriding U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's Mideast peace efforts...

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Obama: Won't wait for legislation to advance 2014 priorities (BLOG)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIf-90yeAbhwdOrYZ7IlxCHb2lsjnRWKHxOB0N0JPddipX2-CswS6NFy58QcK8puXJ9DX0nkyqPi_g1yQSuUK0UPQlAaRpWlwBta2EM_Xj5UIOUjeMAL4ItYWtrl14sQRvbpSWksDQ_g/s1600/2014-01-14T203858Z_3_CBREA0D19J500_RTROPTP_2_OBAMA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIf-90yeAbhwdOrYZ7IlxCHb2lsjnRWKHxOB0N0JPddipX2-CswS6NFy58QcK8puXJ9DX0nkyqPi_g1yQSuUK0UPQlAaRpWlwBta2EM_Xj5UIOUjeMAL4ItYWtrl14sQRvbpSWksDQ_g/s320/2014-01-14T203858Z_3_CBREA0D19J500_RTROPTP_2_OBAMA.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_9674" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">By Jeff Mason</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_9629" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Obama, speaking to reporters during a cabinet meeting at the White House, foreshadowed his upcoming State of the Union address and what appeared to be a new messaging strategy by emphasizing his ability to take executive actions without approval from lawmakers.WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he would not wait for Congress to pass legislation to advance his policy priorities this year and said he was "getting close" to finishing a review of U.S. surveillance practices - to be unveiled on Friday.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_9736" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"We are not just going to be waiting for legislation in order to make sure that we're providing Americans the kind of help that they need," he said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"I've got a pen, and I've got a phone. And I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions ... and I've got a phone that allows me to convene Americans from every walk of life," he said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Obama began last year with high hopes of making progress on gun control, immigration reform, and other issues after giving an inaugural address that rallied his base and set an aggressive tone for his second term.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">But the year concluded with few legislative achievements. His gun control efforts largely failed and an immigration reform bill passed in the Senate but stalled in the House of Representatives.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">White House officials, while referring to 2014 as a "year of action," have already played down the prospect of getting a lot of laws passed and told reporters that they would not measure the year's success by the administration's list of legislative victories.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Obama again listed immigration reform as a priority for the year. He will need Congress to turn his goals on that issue into law. The president also emphasized his goal of getting the U.S. economy to recover faster.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"The message to my cabinet - and that will be amplified in our State of the Union - is that we need all hands on deck to build on the recovery that we're already seeing. The economy is improving, but it could be improving even faster," Obama said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"And I am absolutely confident that in 2014, if we're all working in the same direction and not worrying so much about political points but worrying much more about getting the job done, that we can see a lot of improvement this year," he said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Republican speaker of the House John Boehner, whose support Obama will need for the administration's legislative priorities, said the president had lost focus on the economy.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_9774" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"If the president's serious about wanting to improve the prospects for our economy - and higher wages and better jobs - all he has to do is pick up the phone and call Democrat leaders in the Senate and ask them to move one of these dozens of bills that we've sent over there that would help put Americans back to work," Boehner said.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_9789" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">On a separate issue, Obama is scheduled to make a speech on Friday outlining his decisions on how to reform controversial surveillance activities by the National Security Agency that were made public through revelations by former U.S. contractor Edward Snowden.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_9799" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Asked if he had finished his NSA review, Obama said: "It's getting close."</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389762497738_9809" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">(additional reporting by Roberta Rampton; editing by Gunna Dickson)</div></div>

Obama: Won't wait for legislation to advance 2014 priorities (BLOG)

By Jeff Mason Obama, speaking to reporters during a cabinet meeting at the White House, foreshadowed his upcoming State of the Union address...

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