Regulators See Value in Bitcoin, and Investors Hasten to Agree

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- 3 --><br /><ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-4973891917352186" data-ad-slot="2995338919" style="display: inline-block; height: 250px; width: 300px;"></ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><div><h1 class="entry-title" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 33px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.05; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 8px;">Regulators See Value in Bitcoin, and Investors Hasten to Agree</h1></div><div><a href="http://dealbook.nytimes.com/">http://dealbook.nytimes.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="Jennifer Shasky Calvery, left, with Mythili Raman and Edward Lowery on Monday at a hearing in Washington." src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/11/19/business/Bitcoinjp/Bitcoinjp-tmagArticle.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">The virtual currency bitcoin took a big step toward the mainstream on Monday as federal authorities signaled their willingness to accept it as a legitimate payment alternative.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">A number of federal officials told a Senate hearing that such financial networks offered real benefits for the financial system even as they acknowledged that new forms of digital money had provided avenues for money laundering and illegal activity.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">There are plenty of opportunities for digital currencies to operate within existing laws and regulations,” said Edward Lowery, a special agent with the Secret Service, which is tasked with protecting the integrity of the dollar.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">Signs that the government would not stand in the way of bitcoin’s development, even as it has been cracking down on criminal networks that use the digital money, stoked a strong rally in the price of the crypto-currency.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">By Monday evening, the value of a bitcoin unit soared past $700 on some exchanges. The total outstanding pool of bitcoin — which is created by a network of users who solve complex mathematical problems — is now worth more than $7 billion.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">The Senate hearing Monday afternoon was the clearest indication yet of the government’s desire to grapple with the consequences of this growth, and the recognition that bitcoin and other similar networks could become more lasting and significant parts of the financial landscape.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">“The decision to bring virtual currency within the scope of our regulatory framework should be viewed by those who respect and obey the basic rule of law as a positive development for this sector,” said Jennifer Shasky Calvery, the director of the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. “It recognizes the innovation virtual currencies provide, and the benefits they might offer.”</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">Ms. Shasky Calvery and the other officials at the hearing did say that basic questions still had to be answered about virtual currencies, including whether they can actually be considered currencies or whether they are more properly categorized as commodities or securities. The distinction will determine which agencies regulate the networks and how they are treated under tax law.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">Ms. Shasky Calvery said that the <a class="tickerized" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/i/internal_revenue_service/index.html?inline=nyt-org" style="color: #48709a; text-decoration: none;" title="More articles about the Internal Revenue Service.">Internal Revenue Service</a> was “actively working” on its own rules for bitcoin.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">The hearing followed other less visible steps taken by regulators and lawmakers to bring digital money into the mainstream.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">New York State’s top financial regulator, Benjamin M. Lawsky, said last week that he would hold a hearing to consider the creation of a BitLicense to provide more oversight for transactions. Earlier, the <a class="tickerized" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/f/federal_election_commission/index.html?inline=nyt-org" style="color: #48709a; text-decoration: none;" title="More articles about Federal Election Commission, U.S.">Federal Election Commission</a> put out an advisory indicating that bitcoin could be legally accepted as political donations.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">The general counsel of the Bitcoin Foundation, a nonprofit advocating the currency, said in his testimony on Monday that he was receiving a much more friendly response from both government and the financial industry.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">“We have recently perceived a marked improvement in the tone and tenor taken by both state officials and bank executives,” the general counsel, Patrick Murck, said.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">Bitcoin has experienced a remarkable ascent since it was created in 2009 by an anonymous programmer or collective known as Satoshi Nakamoto. The money, which is not tied to any national currency, has been popular with technophiles who are skeptical of the world’s central banks. Only a finite amount of bitcoin will ever be created — 21 million units. Users have bid up the price on Internet exchanges, betting that the currency will be more widely used in the future.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">There are significant questions about the wisdom of the digital money as an investment, given that bitcoin has no intrinsic value and has proved to be vulnerable to hackers. Many money managers have recommended that unsophisticated investors stay away.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">Recently, though, bitcoin has been catching fire around the world, with exchanges in China particularly active. A growing number of prominent American investors have also bought stakes, including Michael Novogratz, a principal at the <a class="tickerized" href="http://dealbook.nytimes.com/category/main-topics/private-equity/?inline=nyt-classifier" style="color: #48709a; text-decoration: none;" title="More articles about private equity.">private equity</a>and hedge fund giant <a class="tickerized" href="http://dealbook.on.nytimes.com/public/overview?symbol=FIG&inline=nyt-org" style="color: #48709a; text-decoration: none;" title="More information about Fortress Investment Group L.L.C">Fortress Investment Group</a>, as well as the Winklevoss twins, Cameron and Tyler.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">The increasingly widespread ownership of bitcoin has shifted attention away from the criminal enterprises that have used digital money, but it was a focus at the Senate hearing.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">Last month, the online marketplace Silk Road, where bitcoin was the primary form of payment, was shut down and its founder arrested after authorities accused it of being used to buy and sell drugs, weapons and pornography. The chairman of the Senate committee, Thomas R. Carper, Democrat of Delaware, said that a few days after the arrest, a similar site sprang up.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">It can be harder to track criminals who use bitcoin, law enforcement officials said at the hearing, because they operate across international borders and often do not use established financial institutions that report transactions.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">But Mythili Raman, an assistant attorney general at the Justice Department, also said that because every bitcoin transaction was recorded on a public ledger, it was possible for investigators to trace the movement of money between accounts.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">“It is not in fact anonymous. It is not immune from investigation,” Ms. Raman said.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">All the officials at the hearing said that crime had been an issue during the early days of credit cards and online payment systems like PayPal, and should not be a reason to limit innovation.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">“It is our duty as law enforcement to stay vigilant while recognizing that there are many legitimate users of those services,” Ms. Raman said.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">The bitcoin supporters who testified at the hearing said bitcoin could bring major changes to the financial system by cutting out the middle men needed to move money around the world.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">“I am here to testify because I believe that global digital currency represents one of the most important technical and economic innovations of our time,” said Jeremy Allaire, the chief executive of Circle Internet Financial, which is seeking to promote more widespread use of the currency.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">Given bitcoin’s appeal to skeptics of government, many aficionados have been wary of involvement by Washington. But advocates at the hearing said that the increasing cooperation with regulators could lay the groundwork for further growth.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">“As this technology moves from early adopters into mainstream acceptance, it is critical in my view that federal and state governments establish policies surrounding digital currency,” Mr. Allaire said.</div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>

and Investors Hasten to Agree Regulators See Value in Bitcoin Regulators See Value in Bitcoin, and Investors Hasten to Agree

Regulators See Value in Bitcoin, and Investors Hasten to Agree http://dealbook.nytimes.com The virtual currency bitcoin took a big step towa...

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19-Nov-2013 17:18

Is Walmart's request of associates to help provide Thanksgiving dinner for co ... - Plain Dealer :: <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/11/is_walmarts_request_of_associa.html">http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/11/is_walmarts_request_of_associa.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Fla. officials: George Zimmerman arrested after deputies respond to disturbance ... - Seattle Post Intelligencer :: <a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/news/crime/article/Fla-officials-George-Zimmerman-arrested-after-4991247.php">http://www.seattlepi.com/news/crime/article/Fla-officials-George-Zimmerman-arrested-after-4991247.php</a><br /><br><br /><br>Storm, floods destroy Sardinia, at least 17 people killed - RT :: <a href="http://rt.com/in-motion/sardinia-floods-collapse-storm-956/">http://rt.com/in-motion/sardinia-floods-collapse-storm-956/</a><br /><br><br /><br>War-Ready Toronto Mayor Eschews Resignation After Scandal - Bloomberg :: <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/toronto-mayor-stripped-of-power-vows-to-run-again.html">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/toronto-mayor-stripped-of-power-vows-to-run-again.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>President Obama's approval rating plummet amid ACA rollout debacle - Examiner.com :: <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/president-obama-s-approval-rating-plummet-amid-aca-rollout-debacle">http://www.examiner.com/article/president-obama-s-approval-rating-plummet-amid-aca-rollout-debacle</a><br /><br><br /><br>Beirut Blasts Near Iranian Embassy Kill 23 - Wall Street Journal :: <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303985504579207231789127174.html">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303985504579207231789127174.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Tesla shares rebound despite fire probe - USA TODAY :: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/11/19/tesla-stock-federal-probe-fires/3638047/">http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/11/19/tesla-stock-federal-probe-fires/3638047/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Obama on defensive over health care - USA TODAY :: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/11/19/obama-fred-upton-house-and-energy-commerce-committee-cnn/3638085/">http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/11/19/obama-fred-upton-house-and-energy-commerce-committee-cnn/3638085/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Gettysburg address: US marks 1863 Lincoln speech - BBC News :: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25005802">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25005802</a><br /><br><br /><br>Virginia state Sen. Creigh Deeds assaulted inside home, police say - Fox News :: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/19/virginia-state-sen-creigh-deeds-assaulted-inside-home-police-say/">http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/19/virginia-state-sen-creigh-deeds-assaulted-inside-home-police-say/</a>

19-Nov-2013 17:18

Is Walmart's request of associates to help provide Thanksgiving dinner for co ... - Plain Dealer :: http://www.cleveland.com/business/i...

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Cam Newton, Panthers top Patriots after controversial ending

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><!-- 3 --><br /><ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-4973891917352186" data-ad-slot="2995338919" style="display: inline-block; height: 250px; width: 300px;"></ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><div><h1 itemprop="headline" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 32px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px; padding: 20px 0px 0px 70px;">Cam Newton, Panthers top Patriots after controversial ending</h1></div><div><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/">http://www.usatoday.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">CHARLOTTE — Tom Brady's pass intended for tight end Rob Gronkowski on the final play of regulation was intercepted by Carolina Panthers safety Robert Lester in the end zone. But a flag for pass interference lay in the back of the end zone.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">The New England Patriots momentarily thought they were going to have an untimed down from the 1-yard line. The officials, however, picked up the flag, ruling the foul was irrelevant since Lester picked off the pass before it reached the area where Gronkowski was and that the Patriots tight end was not in a position to compete for the ball.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b>BOX SCORE: </b><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/game/boxscore/l.nfl.com-2013-e.4266/" style="color: #1990e5; text-decoration: none;" title="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/nfl/game/boxscore/l.nfl.com-2013-e.4266/">Panthers 24, Patriots 20</a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b>CONTROVERSY: </b><a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/11/tom-brady-patriots-pass-interference/" style="color: #1990e5; text-decoration: none;" title="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/11/tom-brady-patriots-pass-interference/">Tom Brady confronts officials</a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">But the final play that left many fans confused and the Patriots angry shouldn't take away from the dramatic fourth-quarter touchdown drive led by quarterback Cam Newton in the Panthers' 24-20 victory.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Newton trumped comeback master Brady at his specialty as the Carolina quarterback engineered the defining, last-minute comeback win of his three-year career.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Sure, it was Week 11 before a Monday night audience rather than on a Super Bowl stage.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">But when Newton hit Ted Ginn, Jr. for a 25-yard touchdown that capped a 13-play, 83-yard drive and the defense stopped Brady on the final play, Newton and his 7-3 team announced their arrival as <a href="http://q.usatoday.com/2013/11/18/monday-night-football-takeaways-panthers-patriots/" style="color: #1990e5; text-decoration: none;" title="http://q.usatoday.com/2013/11/18/monday-night-football-takeaways-panthers-patriots/">a legitimate Super Bowl contender</a>.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"The outside world will look at us different now," tight end Greg Olsen said. "It's as good a win as you can get right there on that stage against that team. To play the way Cam did in the clutch, that's big-time football.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b>TAKEAWAYS: </b><a href="http://q.usatoday.com/2013/11/18/monday-night-football-takeaways-panthers-patriots/" style="color: #1990e5; text-decoration: none;" title="http://q.usatoday.com/2013/11/18/monday-night-football-takeaways-panthers-patriots/">Cam Newton and the Panthers are for real</a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><b>HEAD GAMES: </b><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/11/19/steve-smith-panthers-gets-better-of-aqib-talib-buccaneers/3637041/" style="color: #1990e5; text-decoration: none;" title="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/11/19/steve-smith-panthers-gets-better-of-aqib-talib-buccaneers/3637041/">Feisty Steve Smith gets better of Aqib Talib</a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"That's what makes him special. He played quarterback tonight. He didn't play magician, except for a couple of magic plays."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">And what magic Newton provided, three times converting third-down situations with wild scrambles, including a 14-yarder in the third quarter that made five defenders miss and a 15-yard scramble on the winning drive.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"I hear all about the statistics about the game-winning drives of other quarterbacks, but now Cam has his against a worthy opponent," said receiver Steve Smith. "I just saw that young, 24-year-old Cam Newton shine through.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"This is just special."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">How special?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Smith described the electric, playoff-like Bank of America Stadium atmosphere as addictive, prompting the Panthers, winners of six in a row to crave more big games.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Last Sunday's 10-9 road win against the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers proved to the Panthers they were capable of beating anyone, including Brady and his 7-3 Patriots.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"We made a statement as a team that we're for real," safety Mike Mitchell said. "This is two weeks in a row we've beaten good teams.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"It really solidified to the league, we aren't the same Panthers.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"This is a new day."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">It looked like they might have left too much time for Brady to orchestrate his 39th career comeback when he got the football at his own 20-yard line with 59 seconds left.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">When Brady hit tight end Gronkowski on a seam pass for 23 yards, it appeared another vintage comeback for the three-time Super Bowl winner was on. But on second-and-3 from the Carolina 18-yard line, Lester intercepted Brady's last-second pass intended for Gronkowski in the back of the end zone.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">For a moment, the outcome was in doubt when back judge Greg Meyer threw a flag for pass interference against linebacker Luke Kuechly for not turning to defend the ball while blanketing Gronkowski. The Patriots momentarily thought they were going to have an untimed down from the 1-yard line. But the officials picked up the flag.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Referee Clete Blakeman told a pool reporter the flag was deemed irrelevant since Lester picked off the pass before it reached the area where Gronkowski was. Blakeman said Gronkowski was not in a position to compete for Brady's underthrown pass.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"I wish it wouldn't have come down to that," said Brady, who completed 29-of-40 passes for 296 yards with one touchdown and an interception. "I think there are plenty of plays we could have made.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"We can play better than that."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Newton might have played his finest game as a Panther, given the national stage and the opponent. The 2011 first overall pick out of Auburn finished with three passing touchdowns, threw for 209 yards and ran for 62 more yards on seven carries.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"It's not about me," Newton said. "People want to keep making it about myself and the plays that I made. I couldn't have done it without the guys who gave me the opportunities to make the plays.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"It's not a one-man show. Steve Smith made some catches. Ted Ginn made a play at the end. Our running backs kept blocking and kept running.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"All I have to do is give guys a chance and you see what happened."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Asked if it was the most satisfying win of his three-season career, Newton said, "The thing I'm most satisfied with right now is that we're 7-3."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Brady was one of Newton's quarterback idols growing up in College Park, Ga., where he had posters of Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and then-Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick on his bedroom wall.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">So when Brady got the ball back he was nervous.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"I said it jokingly in the locker room, 'I've seen this story before. I've read this book before,' " Newton said. "Watching Tom Brady, the type of quarterback he is, methodical and being extremely deadly and battling all the way until the last play of the game was a very close call.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"It was a great win as a team.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"But we're just 7-3. We're not No. 1. That's the ultimate goal."</div><br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;"><br /></div></div></div>

Cam Newton Panthers top Patriots after controversial ending Cam Newton, Panthers top Patriots after controversial ending

Cam Newton, Panthers top Patriots after controversial ending http://www.usatoday.com CHARLOTTE — Tom Brady's pass intended for tight en...

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Travel Industry News & International Travel News [ BeritaTerkini ]

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Travel Industry News & International Travel News [ BeritaTerkini ]

404 Oh no! We were unable to find a pulse. We can’t imagine what you’re going through right now. You must be feeling an extreme sense ...

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Apple releases iOS 7.1 to developers

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img src="http://www.theinquirer.net/IMG/807/271807/ios-7-iphone-5-iphone-5c-270x167.png?1380885413" width="600"/><br /><p><strong>SOFTWARE DEVELOPER</strong> Apple has released iOS 7.1 to developers, adding a bunch of minor changes to its mobile operating system.</p><br /><p>iOS 7.1, build number 11D5099e, is available for registered iOS developers to download from Apple's Developer Center, with a full rollout likely before the end of 2013.</p><br /><p>Cult of Mac has highlighed all of the main changes in Apple's iOS 7.1, and there's nothing included that is likely to change your life. However, there are some subtle tweaks that might be welcomed by iPhone and iPad users.</p><br /><p>Among these updates is a new toggle for the 'dark keyboard' in the accessibility settings, allowing users to permanantely switch to Apple's redesigned keyboard layout. iOS 7.1 also brings improved contrasts to the accessibility menu, a switch that darkens the entire interface, adding darker backgrounds to folders, and deepening the background on the dock.</p><br /><p>A new high dynamic range (HDR) Auto mode is also included in the iOS 7.1 beta, a feature that automatically chooses the best photo from your HDR image, alongside the ability to save Burst Mode images to Photo Stream and a redesigned Flickr logo that matches the overall 'flat' look of iOS 7.</p><br /><p>Notifications is the final aspect of the software to get a refresh in iOS 7.1, with Apple reportedly making it easier to clear notifications and updating the menu dialog.</p><br /><p>Beyond that, there's not much to report yet, other than the usual improvements and bug fixes.</p><br /><p>If speculation is to be believed, iOS 7.1 will arrive on your iPhone or iPad in time for Christmas. Apple has yet to confirm this. µ</p><br /></div>

Technology Apple releases iOS 7.1 to developers

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Apple has released iOS 7.1 to developers, adding a bunch of minor changes to its mobile operating system. iOS 7.1, build...

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Governor Bob McDonnell offers prayers to Creigh Deeds family

Statement from Governor Bob McDonnell on today's events involving State Senator Creigh Deeds:<br /><blockquote><span class="null">“In this tough and sad time, our thoughts and prayers are with the Deeds family. The news from this morning is utterly heartbreaking. Creigh Deeds is an exceptional and committed public servant who has always done what he believes is best for Virginia and who gives his all to public service. He cares deeply about Virginia, and the people of Virginia care deeply for him. I urge all Virginians today to join me in praying for a full and complete recovery for Creigh and for many more years of his public service to the Commonwealth. At this moment, our state unites in prayer for Creigh Deeds and his family.”</span></blockquote>

Bob McDonnell Creigh Deeds Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell offers prayers to Creigh Deeds family

Statement from Governor Bob McDonnell on today's events involving State Senator Creigh Deeds: “In this tough and sad time, our thoughts ...

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Steve Smith calls Aqib Talib 'another notch in the bed post'

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img src="http://cbssports.com/images/blogs/Steve_Smith_Aqib_Talib_Another_Notch_Bedpost_Ice_Up_Son.jpg" width="600"/>Steve Smith and Aqib Talib went at it Monday. (USATSI)<br /><p>How is Steve Smith not your favorite football player? He should be your favorite player. And the Panthers wide receiver proved why again on Monday night, when he repeatedly targeted -- and frustrated -- Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib and then followed it all up by going after him in postgame interviews.</p><br /><p>Smith was approached by reporters on Talib and called him 'another notch in the bedpost,' which is the same level of respect he offered to Janoris Jenkins a few weeks ago.</p><br /><p>But the defining moment of Smith's postgame came in an interview with NFL Network's Albert Breer as he left the field. Asked about Talib, Smith coined the phrase 'Ice up, son' while shredding the cornerback.</p><br /><p>'I don't know,' Smith said. 'You gonna ask him, because he didn't finish the game. Ice up, son. Ice up!'</p><br /><p>Smith and Talib were going at it all night -- after Smith beat Talib deep early, he reeled in a massive third-down catch, at which point in time Talib decided to snuggle his leg for a few extra seconds. The result was a near brawl in the game.</p><br /><img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3593533/patspanthers_medium.gif" width="600"/><br /><p>They would end up having some near football fisticuffs later in the game as well. (It was so awkward/intense that my wife, who doesn't even particularly care for football, found herself enthralled with their fights.)</p><br /><img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3593557/smithtalib_medium.gif" width="600"/><br /><p>The end result was Talib got frustrated and Smith ended up having bragging rights.</p><br /><p>89. Bottom line.</p><br /></div>

SPORTS Steve Smith calls Aqib Talib 'another notch in the bed post'

Steve Smith and Aqib Talib went at it Monday. (USATSI) How is Steve Smith not your favorite football player? He should be your favorite play...

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Va Senator Creigh Deeds stabbed, in critical condition; son dead -- UPDATED

In a heartbreaking turn of events, news is breaking all over social media that Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds was stabbed this morning and his son is dead from a gunshot wound at their home.<br /><br />From the <i>Richmond Times-Dispatch:</i><br /><blockquote>Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, is in critical condition after being stabbed in his home and his son Gus is dead from a gunshot wound, law enforcement sources told the Richmond Times-Dispatch this morning.<br /><br />Deeds is being treated at the University of Virginia Medical Center.</blockquote>Reporter Julie Carey has reported on Twitter:<br /><blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23VA&src=hash">#VA</a> State Police say after stabbing his father, St. Sen. Deeds' son killed himself in Bath County. Deeds listed in serious condition 2/2<br />— Julie Carey (@JulieCareyNBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/JulieCareyNBC/statuses/402813772706119681">November 19, 2013</a></blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></blockquote>Creigh Deeds is a long-time representative for citizens in western Virginia and at one time was delegate for western Augusta County before the 20th House District was added in 2001.<br /><br />In 2005 Deeds ran for attorney generation as the Democratic candidate against Republican Bob McDonnell in a contest that ended in a recount. McDonnell won with just over 300 votes.<br /><br />Four years later Deeds again ran against McDonnell for governor. McDonnell won in a landslide and swept the top three.<br /><br />Prayers go to Senator Deeds and his family at this tragic time.<br /><br /><b>3:30 p.m.</b> <i><a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/source-deeds-son-had-mental-health-evaluation-monday/article_431e61ca-5128-11e3-944a-001a4bcf6878.html" target="_blank">Richmond Times-Dispatch</a></i> has an updated article about the tragedy.

Bath County Creigh Deeds Julie Carey Richmond Times-Dispatch Twitter UVA Hospital Va Senator Creigh Deeds stabbed, in critical condition; son dead -- UPDATED

In a heartbreaking turn of events, news is breaking all over social media that Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds was stabbed this morning ...

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A non

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>How the Yankees can compete in 2014 without re-signing Robinson Cano</p><br /><p><cite>By Paul Swydan | ESPN Insider</cite> </p><br /><img src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0506/mlb_g_choo02jr_576.jpg" width="600"/><br /><p><cite>Andy Lyons/Getty Images</cite> Shin-Soo Choo could shore up the Yankees' outfield -- but he'll be expensive.</p><br /><p>The New York Yankees have a lot to do this winter. General manager Brian Cashman has already said he needs to find '400 innings,' the team has to wait on and then possibly react to how Alex Rodriguez's situation plays out, and they must find a way to improve an offense that was by some measures one of the five worst in all of baseball last season.</p><br /><p>Oh, and they need to re-sign star second baseman Robinson Cano. But, what if Cano decides to sign elsewhere?</p><br /><p>Surely the Yankees wouldn't collectively run into the corner and cry and punt the 2014 season, but they will need a plan. While most have focused on the Yankees' 'need' to re-sign Cano, the All-Star second baseman is not their only path to contention in 2014. In fact, if they take that money and spread it around elsewhere, there is a way they can win next year even without Cano.</p><br /><p><img src="http://a.espncdn.com/i/insider/preview/scoreboard_arrow.gif" width="600"/> To see how the Yankees can win without Cano, become an Insider today.</p><br /></div>

SPORTS A non

How the Yankees can compete in 2014 without re-signing Robinson Cano By Paul Swydan | ESPN Insider Andy Lyons/Getty Images Shin-Soo Choo c...

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Yellow Dogs Benefit Concert Features Nada Surf, Kyp Malone and More [ BeritaTerkini ]

<h2>Musicians pay tribute to slain members of Iranian band at Brooklyn Bowl</h2> <div class="body"> <p>“Usually I have too much to say, and now I don’t have enough,” said Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws last night at the Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg. There, a host of local musicians held a benefit for the Yellow Dogs, an Iranian-American dance-punk band that lost two of its members and a frequent collaborator and close friend in a tragic shooting last week. It was a fitting statement for an evening that felt more like a memorial service than a fundraiser, one in which the most important sentiments were expressed through music rather than words. “Moments like this make you realize how hollow words are,” added Johnny Azari, an Iranian-born musician, poet and activist who opened the evening with the solemn “Freedom Glory Be Our Name,” a song he had written with one of the slain musicians, singer-songwriter Ali Eskandarian. </p> <p></p> <p>The Yellow Dogs Open Up About Their Nightmare in Brooklyn</p> <p></p> <p>The night began with a candlelit vigil walk from Cameo Gallery, where the Yellow Dogs played their first show in Brooklyn earlier this year, to Brooklyn Bowl, where they played their last. Members of the processional carried pink roses, daisies and white chrysanthemums, which they gave to concert attendees as they entered the Bowl. Inside, memorial boards had been set up for the dead – Yellow Dogs drummer Arash Farazmand, guitarist Soroush Farazmand and Eskandarian – plastered with photographs of the band with family and friends (and a few cats) and accompanied by tea candles from the walk and black Sharpies for the audience, who wrote messages like “Thank you for inspiring us with your life” and “I wish I had half your courage” (not to mention some unfinished business: “I still have your scarf”). A giant screen overhead projected more pictures of the band and clips from music videos for the frenetic, angular “This City” and  jittery “Dance Floor.” </p> <div class="assetContainer imageStandard floatLt"> <div class="image-holder"><img alt="Habibi perform during the Yellow Dogs Benefit at Brooklyn Bowl in New York City." src="http://assets-s3.rollingstone.com/assets/images/embedded/1000x600/habibi-600x400-1384866942.jpg" width="600"></div> <div class="imageCaption" style="width: 598px;">Habibi perform during the Yellow Dogs Benefit at Brooklyn Bowl in New York City.</div> <div class="imageCredit" style="width: 584px;">Caitlin McCann</div> </div> <p></p> <p>Onstage, the music swung from Ecuadorean synth-smith Helado Negro’s softly meditative quaver, accompanied by just an upright bass, to the raging rock & roll of local punk outfit Dirty Beaches and singer Mitra Sumara’s stirring pop and funk from pre-revolutionary Iran. “It’s an honor to have such an incredible cast of bands and artists,” said Rahill Jamalifard, singer for the five-piece Habibi, who also curated the night’s lineup. Even David Byrne made a cameo of sorts: though he couldn’t attend, the idiosyncratic musician gave a note New York-based Iranian visual artist Shirin Neshat, who read it during a short speech before Here We Go Magic frontman Luke Temple’s understated electric solo set. “It can’t be easy to go on,” Byrne wrote. “I have absolutely no idea what you’re going through, but if you can keep making great music, we will be all so grateful.” </p> <p></p> <p>TV On the Radio’s Kyp Malone, no stranger to loss himself (two years ago, TVOTR bassist Gerard Smith died after a battle with lung cancer), gave one of the most moving performances of the night. The vocalist audibly choked up onstage before he started playing, and once he did, the wrenching walls of guitar feedback sounded as anguished as he must have felt. By the time Nada Surf took the stage to end the night and landed on the gentle chorus of <em>Let Go</em> track “Blonde on Blonde,” more than a few members of the crowd had clustered into group hugs, holding hands and kissing foreheads. But before anyone could get too down, Caws pulled a switch the Yellow Dogs probably would have approved of, closing with “The Blankest Year” – “Fuck it, I’m having a party” – celebrating the lives that were lost instead of mourning death. </p> </div> //<!--[CDATA[ jQuery(".gmframe").load(function (){jQuery(this).remove();}); //]]--> <br><br>

Yellow Dogs Benefit Concert Features Nada Surf, Kyp Malone and More [ BeritaTerkini ]

Musicians pay tribute to slain members of Iranian band at Brooklyn Bowl “Usually I have too much to say, and now I don’t have enough,” s...

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19-Nov-2013 16:17

Storm Brings Flooding and Destruction to Sardinia - New York Times :: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/20/world/europe/storm-brings-flooding-and-destruction-to-sardinia.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/20/world/europe/storm-brings-flooding-and-destruction-to-sardinia.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Feds open formal probe into Tesla electric car fires - USA TODAY :: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/11/19/elon-musk-tesla-fire-changes/3637187/">http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/11/19/elon-musk-tesla-fire-changes/3637187/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Iranian FM invokes American values to state case on nuclear rights - Jerusalem Post :: <a href="http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Iranian-FM-invokes-American-values-to-state-case-on-nuclear-rights-332257">http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Iranian-FM-invokes-American-values-to-state-case-on-nuclear-rights-332257</a><br /><br><br /><br>Support for Obama, health law plummets in new polls - Fox News :: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/19/support-for-obama-health-law-plummets-in-new-polls/">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/19/support-for-obama-health-law-plummets-in-new-polls/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Ex-NC Sen. John Edwards sets up new law firm - Seattle Post Intelligencer :: <a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/Ex-NC-Sen-John-Edwards-sets-up-new-law-firm-4993004.php">http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/Ex-NC-Sen-John-Edwards-sets-up-new-law-firm-4993004.php</a><br /><br><br /><br>Not right the first time, Lincoln wrote this Gettysburg Address twice - Los Angeles Times :: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-gettysburg-address-cornell-20131118,0,6858318.story">http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-gettysburg-address-cornell-20131118,0,6858318.story</a><br /><br><br /><br>War-Ready Toronto Mayor Eschews Resignation After Scandal - Bloomberg :: <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/toronto-mayor-stripped-of-power-vows-to-run-again.html">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/toronto-mayor-stripped-of-power-vows-to-run-again.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Zimmerman accused of pointing shotgun at girlfriend - USA TODAY :: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/18/zimmerman-trayvon-arrested/3628591/">http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/18/zimmerman-trayvon-arrested/3628591/</a><br /><br><br /><br>A report warned in March that Healthcare.gov was heading for trouble - TIME :: <a href="http://swampland.time.com/2013/11/19/white-house-was-warned-about-obamacare-website-problems/">http://swampland.time.com/2013/11/19/white-house-was-warned-about-obamacare-website-problems/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Lebanon blasts hit Iran's embassy in Beirut - BBC News :: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24997876">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24997876</a>

19-Nov-2013 16:17

Storm Brings Flooding and Destruction to Sardinia - New York Times :: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/20/world/europe/storm-brings-flooding-...

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David Tennant Joins Jo Whiley On BBC Radio 2

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H5Yy44DNJoURgWZUBp3WkcHLJDyqyULxfq-GOVmy9YRCTjUqJlolpLfYdjZkEvmwgsHU_NiVNKs3ynP2Wm-_Ddu3C9CCoHsNrYZ61FJskgAm7yIj5qFe5gtalGIw8L5BFCv8Ki2uiz_y/s1600/DT-JW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H5Yy44DNJoURgWZUBp3WkcHLJDyqyULxfq-GOVmy9YRCTjUqJlolpLfYdjZkEvmwgsHU_NiVNKs3ynP2Wm-_Ddu3C9CCoHsNrYZ61FJskgAm7yIj5qFe5gtalGIw8L5BFCv8Ki2uiz_y/s1600/DT-JW.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David Tennant will be joining Jo Whiley on her BBC Radio 2 show on Tuesday 26th November from 8pm GMT</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An Evening In with David Tennant<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tuesday 26 November 2013</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jo spends an Evening in With David Tennant as the actor talks music and Dr Who's 50th. Expect thrilling tales from his days as the Time Lord and others from his impressive career.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_two">Listen in worldwide via this link</a></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

BBC Radio 2 David Tennant Jo Whiley David Tennant Joins Jo Whiley On BBC Radio 2

David Tennant will be joining Jo Whiley on her BBC Radio 2 show on Tuesday 26th November from 8pm GMT An Evening In with David Tennant Tuesd...

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Home Depot Profit Tops Estimates as Gains Encourage Remodels (1)

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>Bloomberg News</p><br /><img src="http://www.bloomberg.com/image/irnpEtetzc7w.jpg" width="600"/><br /><p>, the largest U.S. home-improvement retailer, posted third-quarter profit that topped analysts' estimates and boosted its earnings forecast as rising home prices spurred homeowners to splurge on renovations.</p><br /><p>Net income in the three months ended Nov. 3 rose 43 percent to $1.35 billion, or 95 cents a share, from $947 million, or 63 cents, a year earlier, the Atlanta-based company said today in a statement. The average of 23 analysts' estimates was 90 cents, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.</p><br /><p>The one-and-a-half year gain in the U.S. housing market is giving consumers the confidence they need to remodel kitchens and bathrooms. The number of transactions in the quarter increased 4 percent to 344.3 million while the average purchase climbed 3.2 percent to $56.27, Home Depot said today.</p><br /><p>There has been 'a greater willingness on the part of consumers to fund large and small projects,' Alan Rifkin, an analyst at Barclays Plc in New York, said in a note Nov. 14. He rates Home Depot overweight, the equivalent of a buy, and said higher demand by shoppers is 'likely to remain intact despite concerns about macro events such as higher interest rates.'</p><br /><p>Profit per share in the fiscal year through January will be $3.72, Home Depot said today. That's up from a previous forecast of $3.60 and is higher than analysts' average estimate of $3.70.</p><br /><p>Home Depot rose 2.6 percent to $81.75 at 6:10 a.m. in New York. The advanced 29 percent this year through yesterday, compared with a 26 percent gain for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.</p><br />'Steady Improvement'<br /><p>Chief Executive Officer Frank Blake said in September that rising home prices would lift renovation spending even as higher mortgage rates pressured the housing market. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage climbed to 4.35 percent last week, a full percentage point higher than at the end of last year, according to Freddie Mac, the government-owned mortgage insurer.</p><br /><p>The housing market will improve 'not at a blistering pace but a steady, steady improvement,' Blake, 64, said in an interview at Bloomberg's New York headquarters on Sept. 5.</p><br /><p>Prices for single-family homes climbed in 88 percent of U.S. cities in the third quarter as buyers competed for limited inventories that included fewer discounted foreclosures, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors earlier this month.</p><br /><p>The nationwide median price for an existing single-family home rose 12.5 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier to $207,300, the group said.</p><br /><p>Home Depot's third-quarter revenue increased 7.4 percent to $19.5 billion, topping analysts' $19.2 billion average estimate. Sales at stores open longer than 12 months rose 7.4 percent, including an 8.2 percent gain at U.S. locations. Comparable-store sales may rise 7 percent this year, the company said today. That's up from a previous forecast for a gain of as much as 6 percent.</p><br /><p>To contact the reporter on this story: Kevin Orland in Chicago at korland@bloomberg.net</p><br /><p>To contact the editor responsible for this story: Robin Ajello at rajello@bloomberg.net</p><br /></div>

Business Home Depot Profit Tops Estimates as Gains Encourage Remodels (1)

Bloomberg News , the largest U.S. home-improvement retailer, posted third-quarter profit that topped analysts' estimates and boosted its...

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New rules: 87 coming to golf in '14

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>A new decision to the Rules of Golf that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2014 very likely would have spared Tiger Woods a two-shot penalty at the BMW Championship in September -- and perhaps a good bit of the fallout that ensued concerning his rules issues in 2013.</p><br /><img src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/1107/pga_g_woods_d1_288x162.jpg" width="600"/><br /><p>But it stops short of limiting the timeframe in which various infractions can be brought to the attention of rules officials, which can lead to disqualification due to an incorrect scorecard.</p><br /><p>The United States Golf Association and R&A -- the game's rules-making bodies -- announced Tuesday some 87 changes or additions to its decisions, the most prominent of which is new Decision 18/4, which addresses the use of high-definition or slow-motion video to detect whether a ball has left its position and come to rest in another location.</p><br /><p>'The ball will not be deemed to have moved if that movement was not reasonably discernible to the naked eye at the time,'' according to the new decision.</p><br /><p>During the second round of the BMW Championship in September, Woods was deemed to have caused his ball to move when he removed a loose impediment behind the first green during the second round.</p><br /><p>A possible violation was only detected due to a video crew which required slow motion and high definition to show that the ball barely moved. Woods maintained that the ball 'oscillated'' and did not change positions; PGA Tour rules official Slugger White disagreed and Woods was assessed a two-stroke penalty.</p><br /><p>According to a joint USGA/R&A release: 'The Decision ensures that a player is not penalized under Rule 18-2 in circumstances where the fact that the ball had changed location could not reasonably have been seen without the use of enhanced technology.''</p><br /><p>Asked specifically about the Woods situation, Thomas Pagel, the USGA's senior director of rules, said in an email: 'If a situation similar to the one involving Tiger at the BMW Championship were to occur after January 1, 2014, the additional considerations for committees that are outlined in new Decision 18/4 would be used in determining a ruling.</p><br /><p>'As to whether these new considerations would have changed the ruling that was made at the BMW Championship, our answer is that it is difficult to speculate on what the outcome of the ruling would have been because they only issue addressed by the committee at the time was whether the ball had moved.''</p><br /><p>Given the circumstances, however, it is reasonable to assume that Woods would have escaped without a penalty. He maintained afterward that 'I felt like nothing happened; I felt like the ball oscillated and that was it.'' Only on the video was it apparent the ball had moved. Woods was unavailable for comment Tuesday.</p><br /><p>In the aftermath of the BMW decision, Woods' four-high profile rules issues in 2013 came under scrutiny. Three times this year he suffered two stroke penalties; another time at the Players Championship, Woods' drop after hitting his ball into a hazard was questioned, despite getting guidance from a playing partner.</p><br /><p>Both Woods and PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem had expressed a desire to see some sort of time limit placed on rules violations called in by spectators.</p><br /><p>'There needs to be a discussion obviously where is that time limit?' Woods said at the Tour Championship. 'Where is that line of demarcation? You've got to start with disqualification and then work our way back from there.</p><br /><p>'I'm sure there's going to be a lot of discussion over it. What's going to happen over the course of time, is every player going to be mandated to have a camera follow them around everywhere they go, all 156 players (in a regular tour event) for every shot? Or is there a certain time limit when we're going to have to do it. Is it going to change in the digital age? These are all questions and answers that need to be resolved in the near future.''</p><br /><p>For now, the rules-making bodies are not going beyond the 'naked eye' test as it relates to video and called-in violations.</p><br /><p>'In many other sports, there are good and understandable reasons for imposing a strict time limit on the review and correction of rules decisions,'' the USGA and R&A said in a statement. 'In golf, however, even at the elite level, players often apply the Rules to themselves without the assistance of a referee and, in stroke play, are responsible for the correctness of the score recorded for each hole. Moreover, competitions are often played over more than one day and, in stroke play, the outcome typically is based on total score, making it possible to correct errors significantly after the fact and, indeed, at any time before the competition is closed by virtue of the result being officially announced.</p><br /><p>'For these reasons, disregarding relevant evidence of a breach of the Rules, obtained before the competition has ended, could lead to uncertainty and to unhealthy debate and disagreement about the fairness of a result that was influenced by an incorrect set of facts and failure to apply the Rules properly. If a player has breached a Rule, but this is not discovered until a later time, whether through video evidence or otherwise, such evidence must be considered so that the correct ruling can be applied and the player's score can be recorded accurately.''</p><br /><p>Among the changes for 2014-15, the USGA/R&A deemed three other decisions particularly noteworthy.</p><br /><p>* New Decision 14-3/18 confirms that players can access reports on weather conditions on a smartphone during a round without breaching the Rules. Importantly, this new Decision also clarifies that players are permitted to access information on the threat of an impending storm in order to protect their own safety.</p><br /><p>* Revised Decision 25-2/0.5 helps to clarify when a golf ball is considered to be embedded in the ground through the use of illustrations.</p><br /><p>* Revised Decision 27-2a/1.5 allows a player to go forward up to approximately 50 yards without forfeiting his or her right to go back and play a provisional ball.</p><br /><img src="http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2fi%2fcolumnists%2fharig_bob_m.jpg&w=35&h=48" width="600"/><br /><p>Golf Writer, ESPN.com</p><br /></div>

SPORTS New rules: 87 coming to golf in '14

A new decision to the Rules of Golf that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2014 very likely would have spared Tiger Woods a two-shot penalty at...

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Ryan: NASCAR missed its most mischievous in 2013

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>A close points race can't replace the personalities that make the Sprint Cup circus spin in a delightfully bizarre and enthralling way</p><br /><p>The champion reclaimed the throne Sunday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and it briefly seemed as if equilibrium was restored after this most erratic and eccentric of Sprint Cup seasons.</p><br /><p>He cracked jokes with team owners about delivering beatdowns. He strutted like an overstuffed peacock (with a cane) and sported a familiar paunch paired with an alluring and charming smile. He proudly showed off scars on his right leg.</p><br /><p>Wait, Jimmie Johnson?</p><br /><p>Nope, not that champion.</p><br /><p>Yes, Johnson rightfully ascended the throne with a sixth title whose worthiness was beyond reproach.</p><br />JOHNSON: Relishes moment, wows peers with title No. 6<br /><p>But it was the presence of Tony Stewart at the championship celebration that reminded why much of 2013 lacked a certain panache and pizzazz.</p><br /><p>'It gets pretty stale without me,' Stewart joked after the Ford EcoBoost 400 in an interview on SiriusXM Satellite Radio's NASCAR channel.</p><br />PHOTOS: Top shots from the Sprint Cup finale at Homestead<br /><p>The absence of 'Smoke' was only partly why this year never seemed to catch fire.</p><br /><p>The slow leak in NASCAR's storylines started when Denny Hamlin missed four races after a broken back in late March, and the air really hissed out of the balloon when Stewart was sidelined for the last 15 races with a broken leg in August.</p><br />KESELOWSKI: Title reign ends on quieter note<br /><p>When Brad Keselowksi lost an opportunity to defend his championship by missing the Chase for the Sprint Cup a few weeks later, it completed a trifecta of absent stars that sucked the drama from a sport fueled as much by fiery emotions and unpredictable behavior as it is by 98 octane.</p><br /><p>And it was magnified on NASCAR's greatest stage.</p><br />LOOK BACK: What NASCAR taught us in 2013<br /><p>Until Matt Kenseth's team suffered an inexplicable collapse in the penultimate race at Phoenix International Raceway, this year's Chase was the first tied with two races remaining and among the tightest ever.</p><br /><p>It also seemed among the least compelling.</p><br /><p>As Johnson and Kenseth matched each other with methodical excellence, there was a lack of the gripping moments often supplied by Stewart, Keselowski and Hamlin, who were major factors in each of the 2010-12 championship battles that rank among NASCAR's best.</p><br /><p>The lesson is that a close points race can't replace the personalities that make the Sprint Cup circus spin in a delightfully bizarre and enthralling way.</p><br /><p>This isn't intended as a knock on Johnson and Kenseth, who are among the two classiest and professional champions in stock-car history. They have waged battles for victory (see: Texas Motor Speedway, 2007) that rank among the greatest of the past decade, and their adherence to sportsmanship and emphasis on family life make them among Cup's most qualified ambassadors and role models.</p><br /><p>But they can't carry the show on their own.</p><br /><p>The essence of their greatness is the antithesis of the uncontrollable episodes that make NASCAR fun.</p><br />HAMLIN: Finally finds victory lane after tough year<br /><p><img src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/a867193b7444e4a80c2501f339d8f259bce78ad6/c=1554-0-3096-2056&r=183&c=0-0-180-238/local/-/media/USATODAY/test/2013/11/18//1384817050000-11-18-13-denny-hamlin.jpg" width="600"/> </p><br /><p>Denny Hamlin earned his lone victory of 2013 Sunday at the Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.(Photo: Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)</p><br /><p>Johnson and Kenseth are the most even-keeled drivers in Cup, and they skirt controversy at every turn with their calm and cool demeanors because they believe (correctly) that it often detracts from performance.</p><br /><p>But from the moment Hamlin entered the Homestead media center with a wide-eyed and free-wheeling exuberance of a freshly minted winner, it stirred reminders of why Johnson and Kenseth are well served by competing against swashbuckling foils who are wired differently.</p><br /><p>It's telling that the best trash talk of the '13 Chase - and crew chief Chad Knaus still denies it was an intentional insult when he backhandedly dismissed Keselowski as being less controlled and matured - revolved around something that happened in last year's 10-race championship run.</p><br /><p>The most intriguing Chase involving Johnson happened last year, when the iconoclast Keselowski and his upstart team became the first to force the No. 48 into mistakes that cost it the title.</p><br /><i>Follow Ryan on Twitter @nateryan</i> PHOTOS: Final 2013 Chase for the Sprint Cup points<br /><p>The two Chases prior to that also brought indelible memories. In 2010, it was Hamlin's collapse after a career season in which he confidently predicted a rebound from midseason ACL surgery and backed it up. In 2011, it was Stewart's brash and breathtaking march to the championship while winning half the Chase.</p><br /><p>It's easy to spot the common denominator.</p><br /><p>NASCAR needs its pit disturbers.</p><br /><p>Here's to all of them causing a ruckus again in 2014.</p><br /></div>

SPORTS Ryan: NASCAR missed its most mischievous in 2013

A close points race can't replace the personalities that make the Sprint Cup circus spin in a delightfully bizarre and enthralling way T...

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19-Nov-2013 15:16

Toronto Mayor Ford Stripped of Power Vows to Run Again - Bloomberg :: <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/toronto-mayor-stripped-of-power-vows-to-run-again.html">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/toronto-mayor-stripped-of-power-vows-to-run-again.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>Woman dies after being struck, dragged in Wrentham - My Fox Boston :: <a href="http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/24007067/woman-dies-after-being-struck-dragged-in-wrentham">http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/24007067/woman-dies-after-being-struck-dragged-in-wrentham</a><br /><br><br /><br>White House had 6-month warning about HealthCare.gov, consultant report says - CBS News :: <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57612910/white-house-had-6-month-warning-about-healthcare.gov-consultant-report-says/">http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57612910/white-house-had-6-month-warning-about-healthcare.gov-consultant-report-says/</a><br /><br><br /><br>Sardinia: Cyclone Cleopatra death toll reaches 17 as state of emergency is ... - The Independent :: <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/sardinia-cyclone-deadly-storm-kills-14-8948603.html">http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/sardinia-cyclone-deadly-storm-kills-14-8948603.html</a><br /><br><br /><br>'Devastation is just unbelievable' from historic tornadoes - Chicago Tribune :: <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-illinois-tornadoes-met-1119-20131119,0,1894733.story">http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-illinois-tornadoes-met-1119-20131119,0,1894733.story</a><br /><br><br /><br>NSA repeatedly broke, vowed to obey surveillance rules - CBS News :: <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57612906/nsa-repeatedly-broke-vowed-to-obey-surveillance-rules-court-records-show/">http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57612906/nsa-repeatedly-broke-vowed-to-obey-surveillance-rules-court-records-show/</a><br /><br><br /><br>5 Unanswered Questions About The Gettysburg Address - Forbes :: <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanraab/2013/11/19/5-unanswered-questions-about-the-gettysburg-address/">http://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanraab/2013/11/19/5-unanswered-questions-about-the-gettysburg-address/</a><br /><br><br /><br>George Zimmerman 'pointed a shotgun at his girlfriend' - BBC News :: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24995459">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24995459</a><br /><br><br /><br>Al Qaeda-linked group claims responsibility for Beirut bombings that killed 23 - CTV News :: <a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/al-qaeda-linked-group-claims-responsibility-for-beirut-bombings-that-killed-23-1.1549695">http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/al-qaeda-linked-group-claims-responsibility-for-beirut-bombings-that-killed-23-1.1549695</a><br /><br><br /><br>Support for Obama, health law plummets in new polls - Fox News :: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/19/support-for-obama-health-law-plummets-in-new-polls/">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/19/support-for-obama-health-law-plummets-in-new-polls/</a>

19-Nov-2013 15:16

Toronto Mayor Ford Stripped of Power Vows to Run Again - Bloomberg :: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-19/toronto-mayor-stripped-of-po...

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Which is the cheapest budget airline? [ BeritaTerkini ]

<div id="main-content-picture"> <img alt="Pegasus airlines" height="276" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Travel/Pix/pictures/2013/11/19/1384863280327/Pegasus-airlines-006.jpg" width="460"><p>Pegasus airlines offers an average one-way ticket price, including fees, of €63.19. Photograph: Alamy</p> </div> <div id="article-body-blocks"> <p>A cheap flight is rarely as cheap as you think it’s going to be – once the various fees have been added – but some budget airlines are cheaper than others.</p> <p>According to a recent report by flight comparison website WhichAirline, the cheapest lowcost carrier in Europe is Pegasus, a relatively unknown Turkish airline. After comparing 20 airlines, Pegasus came out top with an average total price of €63.19 one-way (including 20kg baggage allowance and a transaction fee). The airline flies to 31 destinations within Turkey and 45 in the rest of the world, including London Gatwick and Stansted, through Turkish hubs.</p> <p>In second and third place were Hungarian Wizz Air at €75,74, which flies from Luton and Liverpool to various European destinations, and BlueAir which flies from Luton to Romania, at €82.45. Average prices of all flights within Europe were calculated by surveying more than 300,000 prices in October/November 2013.</p> <p>Ryanair, which is cheapest on basic fares, drops down to fourth place when fees are factored in, with an average price of €83.45.</p> <p>The report says: “Low-cost airlines make a lot of money on the various fees, and their creativity seems to be endless. For example, when booking your flights with Ryanair, be very careful in every step of the booking procedure. Ryanair hides some of the fees very smartly (eg travel insurance). When adding checked baggage to your booking, think twice before you choose whether you want to carry 15kg or 20kg. If you buy the smaller one and bring five excess kilos to the airport, it will cost you €100! And of course, do not forget to print out and bring your boarding pass, otherwise you will have to pay €70 boarding card re-issue fee.”</p> <p>EasyJet which has just posted a 50% surge in profits and announced 10 new routes for summer 2014, is in fifth place at an average of €89.97 while the most expensive is FlyThomasCook at €206.76.</p> <p>Pegasus Airlines: 63.19<br> Wizz Air: 75.74<br> Blue Air: 82.45<br> Ryanair: 83.45<br> easyJet: 89.97<br> Air One: 91.00<br> Eurolot: 97.05<br> Volotea: 103.75<br> Vueling: 108.01<br> flybe: 111.84<br> Meridiana: 121.27<br> germanwings: 123.68<br> Transavia: 132.05<br> airBaltic: 140.23<br> HOP!: 140.62<br> Norwegian Air Shuttle: 142.70<br> Monarch Airlines: 159.48<br> Jet2: 165.45<br> WOW air: 189.39<br> FlyThomasCook: 206.76</p> </div> //<!--[CDATA[ jQuery(".gmframe").load(function (){jQuery(this).remove();}); //]]--> <br><br>

Which is the cheapest budget airline? [ BeritaTerkini ]

Pegasus airlines offers an average one-way ticket price, including fees, of €63.19. Photograph: Alamy A cheap flight is rarely as ch...

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US labor costs point to still

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img src="http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20131119&t=2&i=813176114&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=CBRE9AI11RK00" width="600"/><br /><p>Credit: Reuters/Eric Thayer</p><br /><p>A worker labors at a romaine lettuce farm outside San Luis, Arizona November 9, 2010.</p><br /><p>The Employment Cost Index, the broadest measure of labor costs, increased 0.4 percent after advancing 0.5 percent in the second quarter, the Labor Department said on Tuesday.</p><br /><p>Economists polled by Reuters had expected labor costs to increase 0.5 percent. In the 12 months through September, compensation costs rose 1.9 percent for a fifth straight quarter.</p><br /><p>During periods of strong economic growth, the U.S. central bank closely monitors the index for signs of wage inflation.</p><br /><p>High unemployment amid a tepid economic recovery is keeping a lid on wage pressures.</p><br /><p>Some Fed officials have expressed concerns about inflation being too low. That makes it unlikely the central bank will scale back its monthly $85 billion bond-buying program this year.</p><br /><p>The monthly purchases are intended to boost demand by keeping longer-term borrowing costs low.</p><br /><p>Wages and salaries, which account for 70 percent of employment costs, rose 0.3 percent in the third quarter after gaining 0.4 percent in the prior period.</p><br /><p>They were up 1.6 percent in the 12 months through September, slightly down from 1.7 percent in the same period in 2012.</p><br /><p>Benefit costs increased 0.7 percent in the July-September quarter, the largest gain in more than a year, after rising 0.4 percent in the second quarter.</p><br /><p>Benefit costs rose 2.2 percent in the 12 months through September after advancing 2.4 percent in the period through September 2012.</p><br /><p>(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci)</p><br /></div>

Business US labor costs point to still

Credit: Reuters/Eric Thayer A worker labors at a romaine lettuce farm outside San Luis, Arizona November 9, 2010. The Employment Cost Index,...

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Apple releases iOS 7.1 to developers

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img src="http://www.theinquirer.net/IMG/807/271807/ios-7-iphone-5-iphone-5c-270x167.png?1380885413" width="600"/><br /><p><strong>SOFTWARE DEVELOPER</strong> Apple has released iOS 7.1 to developers, adding a bunch of minor changes to its mobile operating system.</p><br /><p>iOS 7.1, build number 11D5099e, is available for registered iOS developers to download from Apple's Developer Center, with a full rollout likely before the end of 2013.</p><br /><p>Cult of Mac has highlighed all of the main changes in Apple's iOS 7.1, and there's nothing included that is likely to change your life. However, there are some subtle tweaks that might be welcomed by iPhone and iPad users.</p><br /><p>Among these updates is a new toggle for the 'dark keyboard' in the accessibility settings, allowing users to permanantely switch to Apple's redesigned keyboard layout. iOS 7.1 also brings improved contrasts to the accessibility menu, a switch that darkens the entire interface, adding darker backgrounds to folders, and deepening the background on the dock.</p><br /><p>A new high dynamic range (HDR) Auto mode is also included in the iOS 7.1 beta, a feature that automatically chooses the best photo from your HDR image, alongside the ability to save Burst Mode images to Photo Stream and a redesigned Flickr logo that matches the overall 'flat' look of iOS 7.</p><br /><p>Notifications is the final aspect of the software to get a refresh in iOS 7.1, with Apple reportedly making it easier to clear notifications and updating the menu dialog.</p><br /><p>Beyond that, there's not much to report yet, other than the usual improvements and bug fixes.</p><br /><p>If speculation is to be believed, iOS 7.1 will arrive on your iPhone or iPad in time for Christmas. Apple has yet to confirm this. µ</p><br /></div>

Technology Apple releases iOS 7.1 to developers

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Apple has released iOS 7.1 to developers, adding a bunch of minor changes to its mobile operating system. iOS 7.1, build...

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Wife of jailed Chinese Nobel Laureate appeals for his retrial [ BeritaTerkini ]

<div id="yom-ad-LREC" class="yom-ad yom-ad-LREC"> <center> <div id="yom-ad-LREC-iframe" class="yom-ad"></div> </center> </div> <p><br></p> <p>By Sui-Lee Wee</p> <div class="body-slot-mod"> <div class="yom-remote"> <div class="yom-loading" id="mediacontentrelatedstory_container"></div> </div> </div> <p>BEIJING (Reuters) – The wife of jailed Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo has filed an extraordinary appeal for his retrial, his lawyer said on Tuesday, in a move that could renew the focus on China’s human rights record.</p> <p>The news comes two weeks ahead of a visit to China by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, during which human rights will likely be raised amid a broader crackdown on dissent and freedom of speech and assembly.</p> <p>Liu, a veteran dissident involved in the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests crushed by the Chinese army, was jailed in 2009 for 11 years, on subversion charges for organizing a petition urging the overthrow of one-party rule.</p> <p>He was the organizer of “Charter 08″, a manifesto for political reform.</p> <p>His wife Liu Xia, who has been under effective house arrest since he won the Nobel Prize in 2010, met Liu in October in prison in northeastern Liaoning province and got his approval for the appeal, prominent human rights lawyer Mo Shaoping told Reuters.</p> <p>“Whether Liu Xiaobo’s viewpoints in his articles are correct or wrong, whether he drafted “Charter 08″ and whether those views are wrong or right, this is a citizen’s right to freedom of speech and expression,” Mo said.</p> <p>“This is the constitutional right granted to every citizen and does not constitute a crime, so we are requesting that the courts hear this case again and find Liu Xiaobo not guilty.”</p> <p>Liu Xiaobo’s imprisonment has drawn the condemnation of Western governments and fellow Nobel Laureates, who have been lobbying for his release.</p> <p>Mo said his colleague, Shang Baojun, another prominent human rights lawyer, traveled last week to Jinzhou prison, where Liu Xiaobo is jailed, to request a meeting with him.</p> <p>Prison officials said they could not decide in such an “extremely sensitive” case, and would consult with higher-ranked leaders, Mo said, but he has not heard back from authorities.</p> <p>Prison officials at Jinzhou could not be reached for comment.</p> <p>Mo said Liu Xia chose to file the appeal at this time because of the treatment suffered by her brother, Liu Hui, whose appeal was rejected in August by a Chinese court that upheld his 11-year sentence on fraud charges. The case is seen as another example of official retribution inflicted on the Liu family.</p> <p>China has denounced the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo, calling it a “political farce” that did not represent the majority of the world, and especially not developing nations.</p> <p>China called the award an “obscenity” that should not have gone to a man it calls a criminal, and exerted diplomatic pressure on countries not to attend the award ceremony in Oslo.</p> <p>Liu Xia is rarely allowed out of her home, except for occasional visits to her husband and family, and is almost never permitted visitors. She has not been convicted of any crime.</p> <p>(Reporting by Sui-Lee Wee; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)</p> <ul id="topics" class="hidden"> <li>Human Rights</li> <li>Politics & Government</li> <li>Liu Xiaobo</li> <li>Nobel Peace Prize</li> <li>Nobel Prize</li> </ul><p></p> //<!--[CDATA[ jQuery(".gmframe").load(function (){jQuery(this).remove();}); //]]--> <br><br>

Wife of jailed Chinese Nobel Laureate appeals for his retrial [ BeritaTerkini ]

By Sui-Lee Wee BEIJING (Reuters) – The wife of jailed Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo has filed an extraordina...

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