Bin Hammam wants evidence in public domain

Posted July 25, 2011 18:32:52

Former Asia soccer chief Mohamed Bin Hammam wants the evidence presented to FIFA that led to his life ban from football to be placed in the public domain, the Qatari said in a blog post on Monday.

The 62-year-old was banned by football's ruling body on Saturday after a two-day hearing into allegations he had tried to buy votes in the run-up last month's FIFA presidential election, in which he had challenged Sepp Blatter.

In Monday's statement posted on his website, the former president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) again denied that he had used cash to obtain votes and reiterated his intention to appeal the suspension.

"If you wish to hear the evidence presented for and against at the hearing in an impartial way, then my lawyers have already said and requested that the transcript should be made available to the media by FIFA so that you can judge the evidence and testimony for yourself," he said.

"I have nothing to hide and I hope FIFA will not use confidentiality as an excuse.

"After all, FIFA's record towards revealing confidential information to the media during these proceedings speaks for itself.

"Nonetheless, I am the affected party and I assure FIFA that I will never sue them for releasing the transcript of the proceedings."

Bin Hammam also said that, contrary to reports, he had appeared in person in front of the FIFA ethics committee that heard the allegations but again called into question its independence.

"This is the most serious of issues for anyone to ever have to face," he added.

"My entire reputation and history are on the line. Given how the panel is appointed, does anyone really expect them to take any decision against FIFA? That is not justice. I need justice."

AFC president since 2002, Bin Hammam pulled out of the FIFA presidential race on May 29, leaving Blatter to be re-elected unopposed for a fourth term three days later.

Bin Hammam must wait several weeks for a full report of the ethics committee's sentence before he can start his appeal.

He will first have to go to FIFA's appeals committee and can then take his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Reuters

Topics: soccer, sport, switzerland, qatar

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-25/bin-hammam-wants-evidence-made-public/2809704

science technology news sport world

UFC 112 Invincible: Anderson Silva vs Demian Maia

UFC 112 will culminate with a fight between Anderson Silva and Demian Maia. This is a fight I thought should have happened back before Maia's loss to Nate Marquardt, but I think it actually makes more sense now.

The lessons Maia learned in the Marquardt fight will clearly help him. According to the UFC countdown show, Maia went from training muay thai one day a week to five days a week. I don't think this means he stands with Anderson Silva, but at least his reactions will be automatic instead of calculated.

Clearly Maia has to get this fight to the ground. The complicated part is that he has to be careful enough not to get knocked out without looking as though he is avoiding contact. We all remember what happened in the Thales Leites fight.

I would love to see this fight reach the ground, but I just can't picture how Maia gets this done. I think Anderson Silva wins this by knockout in the second round.

Source: http://mmafeed.com/posts/view/231

mma fight cage computer processor

UFC 109 Shaping up Nicely

After looking at the UFC 109 card again, I believe this will be a quality event. Not only does the card include name brand fighters like Couture, Coleman, Marquardt, Swick, Maia, Serra and Trigg but also some quality match ups. The headline fight features two UFC hall-of-famers. At first, I thought this fight didn't make sense but now it does for two reasons. First, after a little research, this match should have happened years ago when the fighters were both first making a name for themselves. Second, this is a fan-favorite match up that people want to see.

So what else does this card have to offer? I am probably most excited to see how some fighters react to recent losses...

• Mike Swicks loss to Dan Hardy
• Demian Maia loss to Nate Marquardt
• Matt Serra - Matt Hughes
• Frank Trigg loss to Josh Koscheck

Only time will tell, but I putting my money on this turning out to be a memorable event.

Source: http://mmafeed.com/posts/view/209

canada australia politics bush obama

UFC 112 Invincible: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar

Another title defense for BJ Penn and this time, it's Frankie Edgar that gets a chance to be remembered as the guy that took the title from Penn. Clearly, most people don't think Edgar will be the one. I agree, but Edgar is still a dangerous fighter that Penn shouldn't take lightly.

Edgar has been fairly dominant in the UFC lightweight division having won 6 out of his 7 fights. This includes notable wins over fighters such as Tyson Griffn, Seah Sherk, and Spencer Fisher. His only loss was to Gray Maynard.

Still, Penn is crazy good with his stand up and take down defense. Edgar needs to use his conditioning to get this fight into the later rounds without taking too much damage. He needs to also take chances and be unpredictable. If Penn knows a fighters intentions, the fight is already over.

I like Penn to retain his belt and wins in the second round via choke.

Source: http://mmafeed.com/posts/view/230

profile soccer football science technology

Snake left in threat to policeman

Updated July 28, 2011 10:16:56

A deadly snake has been left left in a box on the driveway of a police officer's house on the far south coast of New South Wales.

The off-duty officer found the death adder on his back lawn, and a box with derogatory words written on it was discovered on the driveway soon afterwards.

A forensic examination confirmed the snake had been in the box.

Detective Inspector Kevin McNeil says the discovery is considered extremely serious.

"The incident is considered a direct threat to the officer and his young family, who were all home at the time the snake was found," Inspector McNeil said in a statement.

"It is concerning any person would go to such a level to intimidate an officer."

The incident happened in April, but has been kept secret by police since for operational reasons.

Police are also refusing to name the town where the officer lives because of fears it could compromise investigations.

They have asked for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Topics: police, crime, law-crime-and-justice, animals, nsw, batemans-bay-2536

First posted July 28, 2011 08:29:09

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-28/snake-left-in-threat-to-policeman/2813680

computer processor anger profile soccer

Snake left in threat to policeman

Updated July 28, 2011 10:16:56

A deadly snake has been left left in a box on the driveway of a police officer's house on the far south coast of New South Wales.

The off-duty officer found the death adder on his back lawn, and a box with derogatory words written on it was discovered on the driveway soon afterwards.

A forensic examination confirmed the snake had been in the box.

Detective Inspector Kevin McNeil says the discovery is considered extremely serious.

"The incident is considered a direct threat to the officer and his young family, who were all home at the time the snake was found," Inspector McNeil said in a statement.

"It is concerning any person would go to such a level to intimidate an officer."

The incident happened in April, but has been kept secret by police since for operational reasons.

Police are also refusing to name the town where the officer lives because of fears it could compromise investigations.

They have asked for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Topics: police, crime, law-crime-and-justice, animals, nsw, batemans-bay-2536

First posted July 28, 2011 08:29:09

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-28/snake-left-in-threat-to-policeman/2813680

canada australia politics bush obama

UFC 112 Invincible: Anderson Silva vs Demian Maia

UFC 112 will culminate with a fight between Anderson Silva and Demian Maia. This is a fight I thought should have happened back before Maia's loss to Nate Marquardt, but I think it actually makes more sense now.

The lessons Maia learned in the Marquardt fight will clearly help him. According to the UFC countdown show, Maia went from training muay thai one day a week to five days a week. I don't think this means he stands with Anderson Silva, but at least his reactions will be automatic instead of calculated.

Clearly Maia has to get this fight to the ground. The complicated part is that he has to be careful enough not to get knocked out without looking as though he is avoiding contact. We all remember what happened in the Thales Leites fight.

I would love to see this fight reach the ground, but I just can't picture how Maia gets this done. I think Anderson Silva wins this by knockout in the second round.

Source: http://mmafeed.com/posts/view/231

justin scitech health mma fight

UFC 111: Frank Mir vs Shane Carwin

I am not exactly sure how to best�summarize�my thoughts on this fight, so let's just jump into it. Since his loss to Brock Lesnar, Frank Mir has been on a mission. He started a weight lifting program and if I remember right he put on about 20-30 pounds of muscle. The new found motivation for training has also�prompted him to say stupid things like he wanted Brock Lesnar to die in the Octagon. My point is this, the guy is obviously motivated and that is a dangerous thing.

Speaking of dangerous things, Shane Carwin is an�anomaly�in the UFC�heavyweight�division. Let me lay the stats down for you, the guy has a perfect record (11-0) with four of those victories coming in the UFC. OK, that is pretty good but add the fact that no fighter has made it past the first round and you start to understand how good this guy is.

What makes Carwin so dangerous is that he is an elite wrestler with the punching power to put anybody to sleep. Mir has good hands, but Carwin has already shown that he has a good chin. I say advantage Carwin.

The key for Mir will be to extend the length of the fight, the longer it goes the better for Mir.�The odds makers have Mir as their favorite, but I like Carwin in this fight. Expect some heavy hands to end this fight early.

Source: http://mmafeed.com/posts/view/226

fight cage computer processor anger

US Republicans hope for debt deal

30 July 2011 Last updated at 10:25 ET

Mr Reid (R) is trying to avoid delays to a vote on the new plan

The Democrat-controlled US Senate is seeking a vote on its plan to raise the nation's $14.3tn (�8.7tn) debt limit, which could determine whether a deal to avoid government default is possible.

Senate leaders want a prompt vote so the plan can be passed on Sunday.

The debate comes a day after the Senate rejected a rival Republican bill passed in the House of Representatives.

President Obama urged Congress to get its house in order. The US risks default without a deal by 2 August.

The president backs Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's proposal, which would cut $2.2tn from deficits and raise the debt ceiling by $2.7tn.

The Senate plan envisages raising the debt ceiling until after the 2012 elections. Republicans have sought a plan which raises the ceiling for just a few months.

Correspondents say the best hope to avoid default is for the Senate to pass an amended bill on Sunday which can be put to the House on Monday ahead of the deadline.

'Heading for disaster'

Democrat leaders in the Senate are said to be seeking agreement with Republicans to avoid procedural obstacles which could delay the Senate vote until Monday.

Mr Reid accused the Republicans of seeking to filibuster, or delay, proceedings.

"Unless there is a compromise, or they accept my bill, we're heading for economic disaster," he said.

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell accused the Democrats of stirring up opposition, but said he eagerly awaited Mr Reid's plan.

In a weekly radio address, Mr Obama reiterated that any solution on a default had to be bipartisan.

"There are multiple ways to resolve this problem," he said.

"Congress must find common ground on a plan that can get support from both parties in the House and in the Senate. And it has to be a plan that I can sign by Tuesday."

John Boehner: ''I stuck my neck out a mile to get an agreement with the president"

The House of Representatives passed its own plan on Friday evening by 218-210, with 22 Republicans and every Democrat voting against.

The plan, drawn up Speaker John Boehner, includes some $900bn of spending cuts and would raise the debt ceiling by a similar amount.

However it would require another vote during mid-2012 and includes language in support of a so-called "balanced budget amendment" to the US constitution - both rejected by the White House and the Senate leadership.

Shortly after the House passed its bill, the Democratic-led Senate voted to reject the Boehner plan.

The US government will start running out of money to pay all its bills unless a $14.3tn (�8.79tn) borrowing limit is increased by Tuesday.

Democrats say the Republican bill as passed would cause immeasurable damage to the economy because it would force Congress to vote on another extension of the debt ceiling early in 2012, a time when presidential election campaigns will be in full swing.

Analysts predict a last-minute scramble for a compromise and razor-edge votes in both chambers, with the high-stakes game of legislative brinkmanship expected to continue all weekend.

The Boehner and Reid plans overlap in key ways, such as trimming spending over 10 years and shunning President Obama's call for tax increases on the wealthy and corporations.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-us-canada-14354088

computer processor anger profile soccer

US debt ceiling debate drags on

North America correspondent Jane Cowan

Updated July 28, 2011 10:36:33

Efforts to reach a deal to avert a calamitous debt default by the US have hit yet another snag, just five days before the deadline.

The Democrats and Republicans are struggling to come up with a compromise to cut the deficit and raise the debt ceiling.

Now the Republican plan is in disarray, dogged by an accounting error and dissent within conservative ranks.

In the halls of power, politicians on both sides of the aisle are resorting to unconventional methods to prompt a resolution.

"Listen, I've been praying over this for three days," said one politician.

"You know magic things can happen here in Congress," said US senator Harry Reid.

So far there is no magic but plenty of political circus, as a divided Congress gropes for a bipartisan deal to cut the deficit, raise the debt ceiling and avert a default.

With time already short, Republican leader John Boehner has had to postpone a vote on his plan until tomorrow after the independent Congressional Budget Office crunched the numbers and found the proposal fell about $150 billion short of the $1.2 trillion worth of spending cuts Republicans said it contained.

Democrats such as Chuck Schumer, who are proposing their own plan to raise the debt limit, leapt on it.

"The speaker's plan is on life support and it's time for him to pull the plug," he said.

The accounting error marks another embarrassment for the Republican leader, with John Boehner already struggling to muster enough support from his own rank-and-file, and right wing groups denouncing his plan as too weak.

"Well at first they want more and, my goodness, I want more too," said Chuck Schumer.

He says the speaker needs to lead.

"Every day he spends twisting arms in his caucus we careen closer to catastrophic default," Mr Schumer added.

"How many times does he have to throw red meat to the extreme right in his caucus to please them? Enough already. Let's get moving and get something real done."

However, staging a rally on Capitol Hill, the ultraconservative Tea Party movement is now openly threatening to run out of office those same Republicans it swept to power in last year's mid-terms if they do not maintain a conservative line.

"We are watching you and we are paying attention, and we are not going away. We're not taking it any more," said one Tea Party politician.

At the White House, press secretary Jay Carney played down suggestions there is some wiggle room on the deadline after which the US would go into default.

"While at midnight on August 2 we don't all turn into pumpkins, we do, as a country, lose our borrowing authority for the first time in our history," he said.

"There is no escaping that. There are no off-ramps. People keep looking for off-ramps. They don't exist."

And, so far, neither does a compromise.

Topics: business-economics-and-finance, economic-trends, international-financial-crisis, united-states

First posted July 28, 2011 10:13:46

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-28/us-debt-ceiling-debate/2813918

justin scitech health mma fight

Brain waves 'are the best brakes'

29 July 2011 Last updated at 04:44 ET By Judith Burns Science reporter, BBC News

Volunteers wearing EEG caps used a driving simulator

Tapping into drivers' brain signals can cut braking distances and avoid car crashes, according to scientists.

Researchers at the Berlin Institute for Technology attached electrodes to the scalps of volunteers inside a driving simulator.

The system detected the intention to brake, and cut more than 3m (10ft) off stopping distances, the team report in the Journal of Neural Engineering.

The team's next aim is to check the system in a series of road tests.

The 18 volunteers were asked to keep 20m (66ft) behind the simulated car in front, which braked sharply at random intervals.

Scientists used a technique called electroencephalograhy (EEG) to analyse the drivers' brain signals.

The system was able to pinpoint the intention to brake 13 hundredths of a second before the driver applied pressure to the brakes.

The team reported that at a speed of 100km/h (65m/h) the braking distance was reduced by 3.66 meters (12 feet).

Computer scientist Stefan Haufe told BBC News: "We know that any intention is generated in the brain. So it's no wonder that such things are visible in the brain.

"We were surprised it is so predictive. That is the thing!"

Lead investigator Benjamin Blankertz added: "It's quite easily explained by the fact that we can tap the driver's intention at the source of the build up of intention in the brain.

"It's a longer process, from the very first upcoming cognitive processes and intention building, until finally the muscles start the movement."

The volunteers also had the muscle tension in their lower legs analysed to detect the first signs of leg motion before they released the accelerator and pushed the brake pedal.

This data enabled the scientists to analyse the EEG information to determine which parts of the brain are key to braking. They improved the detection system accordingly.

'Point of no return'

The Institute of Physics says this is the first time that EEG has been used to assist in braking.

The technique is, however, already used to help paralysed people control computers, prosthetic limbs and wheelchairs.

The researchers are planning to conduct road trials of their system to test its viability out of the lab.

But Benjamin Blankertz stressed that he suspects there may be some way to go before EEG can be used as a safety aid in real driving situations, not least because it requires the driver to wear a plastic cap with 64 electrodes covered in conductive gel.

The technology uses an EEG cap and 64 electrodes

This is uncomfortable, takes up to half an hour to fit, and the wearers have to wash the gel out of their hair afterwards. Smaller, more lightweight versions are in development.

The paper also mentions that wearers of EEG caps have to keep fairly still which is not always possible while driving, particularly when executing an emergency stop.

Dr Blankertz also said more work needs to be done on avoiding false alarms - to avoid the possibility that the machine could misread a drivers' brain signals and brake unnecessarily.

He said: "We need to investigate intention-building and decision-taking and self-initiated movement.

"Some recent research suggests that the outcome of free choices can be predicted from brain activity before the experimental subject is consciously aware of their intention.

"A technology that would make possible real time prediction of future decisions could be used to investigate how this relates to the so-called point of no return.

The team ultimately hopes to work with the automotive industry to combine their EEG technique with radar and laser systems that are used in some commercially available crash-avoidance systems, which detect obstacles such as walls, traffic signals and other vehicles.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/science-environment-14329748

soccer football science technology news

UFC Live Vera vs Jones Card Results

The fist ever UFC even on VERSUS turned out to be an OK event. I thought the card had intriguing matchups, but failed to deliver any great fights. Here is my take on the main card.

• Jon Jones defeats Brandon Vera via TKO -Going into this one, I didn't know what to expect from Vera. I am actually puzzled as to why the UFC would feature him in the main event. The only thing I can think of is that the UFC wanted to feature Jones without him facing a top 10 contender. In any case, the fight took place primary on the ground with Jones controlling the action. Then, with one swift strike Jones landed a crushing elbow that sent Vera into a frenzy to protect himself. After a few more quick blows, the ref had stopped the fight declaring Jones the victor. The light heavyweight division should take note, Jones is for real.
• Junior Dos Santos defeats Gabriel Gonzaga via KO - About what I expected, Santos landed a huge cross that absolutely floored Gonzaga. This fight definitely boosts Dos Santos into the lime light, I would think he is only one more victory away from a title shot.
• Cheick Kongo defeats Paul Buentello via tapout due to strikes- Another fight that almost ended early. Buentello dislocated a�pinkie finger early in the fight, but the doctor was able to put it back in place. Kongo dominated this fight taking Buentello down early and often. Buentello had to be surprised at Kongo's takedown game plan, but it worked to perfection. Eventually, Buentello taps due to the relentless strikes from Kongo. Good fight for Kongo, puts him back in good standing with the UFC. Also, the fight shows Kongo has been working at least some on his ground game.
• Alessio Sakara defeats James Irvin via TKO - This fight was a real disappointment as it ended early due to a strike to the eye of James Irvin. Sakara's left cross almost looked like a finger poke, but the slow motion replay showed the knuckle of Sakara hitting Irvin's eye. I think a rematch is in order.

Source: http://mmafeed.com/posts/view/224

technology news sport world us

UFC 109 Shaping up Nicely

After looking at the UFC 109 card again, I believe this will be a quality event. Not only does the card include name brand fighters like Couture, Coleman, Marquardt, Swick, Maia, Serra and Trigg but also some quality match ups. The headline fight features two UFC hall-of-famers. At first, I thought this fight didn't make sense but now it does for two reasons. First, after a little research, this match should have happened years ago when the fighters were both first making a name for themselves. Second, this is a fan-favorite match up that people want to see.

So what else does this card have to offer? I am probably most excited to see how some fighters react to recent losses...

• Mike Swicks loss to Dan Hardy
• Demian Maia loss to Nate Marquardt
• Matt Serra - Matt Hughes
• Frank Trigg loss to Josh Koscheck

Only time will tell, but I putting my money on this turning out to be a memorable event.

Source: http://mmafeed.com/posts/view/209

science technology news sport world

Top Libya rebel 'shot by Islamist militia'

30 July 2011 Last updated at 05:44 ET

Younes was buried in the rebel capital, Banghazi

Continue reading the main story

• Libyan rebel divisions exposed
• Distrusted rebel chief
• The story so far
• Rebels' advance

An Islamist militia was behind the killing of Libyan rebel commander Gen Abdel Fattah Younes, who was shot dead on Thursday, a rebel minister has said.

Ali Tarhouni said Gen Younes was killed by members of the Obaida Ibn Jarrah Brigade, a group linked to the rebels.

Gen Younes defected to the rebels in February after serving in the Libyan leadership since the 1969 coup which brought Col Muammar Gaddafi to power.

Meanwhile Nato says it bombed Libyan state TV transmitters overnight.

The alliance said it disabled three satellite transmission dishes in the capital, Tripoli, through a "precision air strike".

It said the operation was intended to stop "inflammatory broadcasts" by Col Gaddafi's government.

Nato said the strike would "reduce the regime's ability to oppress civilians" but also "preserve television broadcast infrastructure that will be needed after the conflict".

Libyan state TV was still on air following the Nato statement.

'Slap in the face'

Oil minister Tarhouni told reporters in Benghazi a leader of the militia had provided information on the circumstances of Younes' death.

Mr Tarhouni said Younes and two of his aides were killed after being recalled to the rebel stronghold for questioning.

Younes' shot and burned body, and the bodies of his aides, were found on the edge of Benghazi on Friday.

Continue reading the main story

Abdel Fattah Younes

• Helped Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi take power in the 1969 coup that ousted King Idris
• Close advisor to the Libyan leader for four decades, rising to the post of general and training Col Gaddafi's special forces
• Appointed interior minister
• Quit the government on 22 February 2011 and defected to the rebels - one of the earliest such moves by a senior official
• Appointed as the opposition's military chief in April, but faced mistrust due to his past ties to Col Gaddafi

"His lieutenants did it," Mr Tarhouni said, adding that the killers were still at large, Reuters news agency reported.

The minister did not provide a motive for the killing, which he said was still being investigated.

Col Gaddafi's government said the killing was proof that the rebels were not capable of ruling Libya.

Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said: "It is a nice slap [in] the face of the British that the [rebel National Transitional] council that they recognised could not protect its own commander of the army."

Mr Ibrahim also said Younes was killed by al-Qaeda, repeating a claim that the group is the strongest force within the rebel movement.

"By this act, al-Qaeda wanted to mark out its presence and its influence in this region," he said.

"The other members of the National Transitional Council knew about it but could not react because they are terrified of al-Qaeda," he added.

Middle East analyst Shashank Joshi said the concern that emerges most sharply from the incident is not so much that the National Transitional Council will splinter before Tripoli falls, but that it might do so afterwards.

The general - Col Gaddafi's former interior minister - joined the rebels at the beginning of the Libyan uprising in February.

The BBC's Ian Pannell in the rebel-held city of Misrata says the death will feed international suspicions that the rebels cannot be trusted.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-africa-14352662

world us canada australia politics

Search under way for jubilee wood

29 July 2011 Last updated at 21:33 ET

The ambitious 500-acre woodland would take three or four years to complete

The Woodland Trust is searching for a 500-acre site to plant half-a-million trees in a flagship woodland that will celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The ideal location would be an accessible location near a large population, a spokeswoman said.

The team hoped to begin planting trees on the chosen site in the autumn.

As well as planting the jubilee wood, the trust is also looking for volunteer hosts for a further 59 60-acre "diamond woods" across the UK.

"While the jubilee wood is going to be a national, living monument to the Queen, we also want it to be used and enjoyed by people," explained Georgina Mcleod, the trust's head of jubilee woods.

She added that apart from the site being near to people, accessible and suitable for woodland creation, there was very little criteria.

"As we will be buying this site, we do not mind who we buy it from - a local authority, private landowner, whoever - as long as we can afford it," Ms Mcleod told BBC News.

The 500-acre (200ha) project is earmarked to cost in the region of �5m, she estimated.

"This includes buying the land, planting the trees and other logistics too, such as putting in footpaths and engaging the local community.

"The total will also pay for some sort of jubilee interpretation; how do we make this site really, really special? How do we make it somewhere that people want to visit and will be a memorable legacy to the Queen."

An estimated 500,000 trees will be planted over a three-to-four year period. They will be primarily native broadleaf species, such as ash, oak, rowan, birch and hornbeam.

60-60 vision

The Woodland Trust is also looking to establish a further 59 smaller woodlands to complement the large, flagship one.

"This is where there might be local authorities or landowners who would want to host one of these. We are going to create the huge 500-acre one, and we want 59 other locations to create a 60-acre (24ha) woodland each," Ms Mcleod explained.

She said that they had about 20 sites confirmed and were still looking for more offers.

On a smaller scale still, Ms Mcleod explained that the trust would be giving away free tree planting packs to local communities that wanted to establish a wooded area to commemorate the jubilee. In total, the project was looking to plant six million trees.

The project is thought to be the first of its kind. However, a committee was established to oversee tree-planting to mark the coronation of King George VI in 1936.

A 642-page book was published in 1939 that listed the location and species of every single tree that was planted, not just in the UK but in other parts of the British Empire.

Ms Mcleod explained that the Queen Mother was the patron of the 1936 campaign, and that Princess Anne had agreed to follow in her grandmother's footsteps and be the patron of the 2012 jubilee project.

The tree-planting is expected to get under way from November, when this year's planting season would normally start.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/science-environment-14327232

technology news sport world us

Eating More Fiber Means Less Breast Cancer

A fresh look at the medical evidence shows women who eat more fiber are less likely to get breast cancer

Source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/health/~3/Xdg_Y9c2ECc/

mma fight cage computer processor

Vets With PTSD, Government Reach Settlement

More than a thousand Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder would be given lifetime disability retirement benefits such as military health insurance under the terms of a settlement reached between the government and the veterans

Source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/health/~3/aimzRyFowX4/

computer processor anger profile soccer

Does NASA Data Show Global Warming Lost in Space?

Has a central tenant of global warming just collapsed?

Climate change forecasts have for years predicted that carbon dioxide would trap heat on Earth, and increases in the gas would lead to a planetwide rise in temperatures, with devastating consequences for the environment.

But long-term data from NASA satellites seems to contradict the predictions dramatically, according to a new study.

?There is a huge discrepancy between the data and the forecasts that is especially big over the oceans,? said Dr. Roy Spencer, a research scientist at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and U.S. science team leader for the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer -- basically a big thermometer flying on NASA?s Aqua satellite.

?The satellite observations suggest there is much more energy lost to space during and after warming than the climate models show,? he said. The planet isn't heating up, in other words.

James Taylor, a senior fellow for environment policy at conservative think-tank The Heartland Institute, wrote at Forbes that the meaning of the new research is clear -- and it compromises what he called a "central premise of alarmist global warming theory."

"Real-world measurements ? show far less heat is being trapped in the Earth's atmosphere than the alarmist computer models predict, and far more heat is escaping into space than the alarmist computer models predict," Taylor wrote.

But with any story on the science of climate change, scientific truths are never so simple.

Andrew Dessler, a professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University, called Spencer a "controversial figure" within the climate research community. He argued that Spencer's paper is neither new nor correct.

"He's taken an incorrect model, he's tweaked it to match observations, but the conclusions you get from that are not correct," Dessler told LiveScience.com.

Many scientists believe that as the planet warms, more water vapor moves into the atmosphere. This water vapor exists as clouds, which trap more heat, creating a vicious loop.

Spencer sees it differently. He thinks that the whole cycle starts with the clouds. In other words, random increases in cloud cover cause climate warming. The cloud changes are caused by "chaos in the climate system," Spencer told LiveScience.

The truth of climate change remains murky, as always -- something even Spencer notes in his new paper.

"Atmospheric feedback diagnosis of the climate system remains an unsolved problem," he noted.

Related Stories

Polar Bear Researcher Suspended, Under Investigation for 'Integrity Issues'

Even U.N. Admits That Going Green Will Cost $76 Trillion

Changing Tides: Research Center Under Fire for 'Adjusted' Sea-Level Data

Scientists Predict More Arizona-Scale Wildfires in Future

Source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/scitech/~3/VI12lxfCW-M/

soccer football science technology news

Mouthwashing Moms Less Likely to Have a Preemie

Expectant mothers who have gum disease are less likely to deliver their babies prematurely if they use mouthwash throughout their pregnancy, a new study suggests

Source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/health/~3/h0VjWWwIt8s/

politics bush obama justin scitech

Digital Nipples Used to Fake Sex Scene

Actress Olivia Wilde has a nude scene in her upcoming film -- but what you'll really see are her ones and zeroes.

In an interview on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show Wednesday evening, the lovely actress revealed that she wasn't actually nude in the upcoming sex scene: Her nipples were digitally added after the fact.

"I appeared to be naked ... because they CGI'd me naked," she told host Kimmel.

The actress said the pasties she wore to cover her nipples and preserver her modesty were clearly visible in the scene, due to a staging glitch -- and to preserve the scene's authenticity, the producers digitally overwrote them with artificial ones.

"In that scene Ryan Reynolds is supposed to be covering them and he moved and so the pasties were in the movie and so they had to paint in nipples using CGI," Wilde said. "And I got to approve the nipples! They sent me an email saying, 'Please review nipple cover shot one through seven and decide which one is most like the original.'"

Wilde was interviewed about her role in the upcoming film "Cowboys and Aliens," but said that the scene was from the comedy "The Change Up."

"I don't know what [the producer] was using as source material... but I think it's pretty close," Wilde said.

Source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/scitech/~3/1qHSk1St7JQ/

cage computer processor anger profile

Jay Z album deal irks retailers

29 July 2011 Last updated at 05:05 ET

Watch the Throne is due for release on iTunes on 8 August

Scores of independent US music stores have written an open letter to Jay-Z and Kanye West over exclusive release deals for their upcoming album.

Watch The Throne will be released first on iTunes before the Best Buy chain's exclusive deal to sell the album nearly two weeks ahead of other music retailers.

The letter says the deal will do "great damage" to more than 1,700 record stores and calls for equal access.

Jay-Z's spokesman had no comment.

Posted by the organisers of Record Store Day, the letter has been signed by shops across the US and calls the release plan a "short-sighted strategy".

"We know that you are busy, and that you put most of your energies into creating great music, but we are writing to you in the hope that you will hear us and take the time to rectify this matter," the letter states.

"As representatives of the independent record store music community, we are asking you to allow record stores and music fans equal access to your new album."

'Disastrous'

Some of the letter's signatories have also threatened to pull current and previous releases by the two artists from their shelves.

Others in the music retail industry have also criticised the move.

"A two-week window will be disastrous for music retailers," said Eric Levin, owner of Criminal Records and the head of the Alliance of Independent Media Stores.

According to Billboard, between the two exclusive iTunes and Best Buy release windows, 75% of the demand for the album is expected to be satisfied within 10 days.

Exclusive release deals are now common for top acts.

Recent examples include AC/DC's Black Ice given to Wal-Mart, while Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy and the Rolling Stones Biggest Bang DVD package, were also sold through Best Buy.

Record Store Day was created in 2007 to celebrate independently owned record stores in response to counter media coverage about the demise of record shops.

However, independent stores have suffered a decline over the last decade due to digital music sales.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/entertainment-arts-14338806

bush obama justin scitech health

UFC Live Vera vs Jones Card Results

The fist ever UFC even on VERSUS turned out to be an OK event. I thought the card had intriguing matchups, but failed to deliver any great fights. Here is my take on the main card.

• Jon Jones defeats Brandon Vera via TKO -Going into this one, I didn't know what to expect from Vera. I am actually puzzled as to why the UFC would feature him in the main event. The only thing I can think of is that the UFC wanted to feature Jones without him facing a top 10 contender. In any case, the fight took place primary on the ground with Jones controlling the action. Then, with one swift strike Jones landed a crushing elbow that sent Vera into a frenzy to protect himself. After a few more quick blows, the ref had stopped the fight declaring Jones the victor. The light heavyweight division should take note, Jones is for real.
• Junior Dos Santos defeats Gabriel Gonzaga via KO - About what I expected, Santos landed a huge cross that absolutely floored Gonzaga. This fight definitely boosts Dos Santos into the lime light, I would think he is only one more victory away from a title shot.
• Cheick Kongo defeats Paul Buentello via tapout due to strikes- Another fight that almost ended early. Buentello dislocated a�pinkie finger early in the fight, but the doctor was able to put it back in place. Kongo dominated this fight taking Buentello down early and often. Buentello had to be surprised at Kongo's takedown game plan, but it worked to perfection. Eventually, Buentello taps due to the relentless strikes from Kongo. Good fight for Kongo, puts him back in good standing with the UFC. Also, the fight shows Kongo has been working at least some on his ground game.
• Alessio Sakara defeats James Irvin via TKO - This fight was a real disappointment as it ended early due to a strike to the eye of James Irvin. Sakara's left cross almost looked like a finger poke, but the slow motion replay showed the knuckle of Sakara hitting Irvin's eye. I think a rematch is in order.

Source: http://mmafeed.com/posts/view/224

news sport world us canada

French soldier kills Afghan civilians

Afghanistan correspondent Sally Sara, wires

Posted July 28, 2011 10:17:10

A French soldier has opened fire on a civilian vehicle in Afghanistan, killing three people including a woman and child.

The French military says the soldier started shooting when a driver failed to stop near an army convoy.

Three civilians were also wounded in the incident.

The shooting happened on Tuesday night (local time) in the province of Kapisa, north of the capital.

Afghan president Hamid Karzai has repeatedly warned international troops to take greater care and reduce the number of civilian casualties.

The French ambassador has visited the presidential palace in Kabul to formally apologise for the incident.

French defence minister Gerard Longuet said the soldier acted in self-defence when he opened fire on the car, and voiced "deep sorrow" over the deaths.

"It was a car that refused to stop at a checkpoint in spite of repeated warnings, and was in effect the target of a defensive shooting, as is the rule," Mr Longuet said on a visit to Rome.

A suicide attack in the Tagab valley of Kapisa killed five French soldiers on July 13.

ABC/AFP

Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, afghanistan, france

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-28/afghan-french-soldier/2813704

profile soccer football science

Homebuyers shut out until 2020

Updated July 28, 2011 10:07:32

House prices in capital cities are forecast to stay severely unaffordable for at least a decade.

A study by the University of Canberra and AMP found that median house prices jumped nearly 150 per cent between 2001 and 2011.

Sydney remains the most expensive place to buy a house with a median house price of $510,000, while Hobart is the cheapest.

Ben Phillips from the University of Canberra is the lead author of the report by the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) and AMP, which looked at housing affordability from 2001 to 2011.

The report used prices from RP Data which monitors the price of homes.

While median house prices nearly tripled over the past 10 years, median incomes grew by just half.

Mr Phillips says housing in Australia has become severely unaffordable and will remain so for at least the next 10 years.

He says house prices in Sydney only increased 83 per cent, citing that a lot of their price increases happened in the 1990s.

"It depends which region you're in but across the country we saw house price increases of 150 per cent. Somewhere like Perth there was actually increases that were more than tripling - 221 per cent," Mr Phillips said.

People are increasingly being priced out of regional areas as well.

One of the most surprising figures to come out of the report was how unaffordable houses in places such as Newcastle and Wollongong were.

"It's now the case that these cities are actually just as unaffordable as somewhere like Sydney or Melbourne and the reason for this is because whilst their house prices are a little bit lower, their incomes are significantly lower than a city like Sydney," Mr Phillips said.

Annual after-tax income needed to buy a house jumped from nearly five times annual income in 2001 to more than seven times annual earnings now.

Mr Phillips says that has increased housing stress, especially for single people and single parents.

"I guess the distinction in this report though is we've sort of split it up into the housing haves and the housing have-nots, and the affordability report looks very much at those trying to get into the market as opposed to those who are already in the market," he said.

While prices surged over the last decade, the latest report from Australian property monitors has found the median house price dropped by 0.6 of a per cent in the June quarter.

Topics: housing-industry, university-of-canberra-2617

First posted July 28, 2011 10:01:02

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-28/capital-city-house-prices-to-stay-unaffordable/2813688

mma fight cage computer processor

US debt ceiling debate drags on

North America correspondent Jane Cowan

Updated July 28, 2011 10:36:33

Efforts to reach a deal to avert a calamitous debt default by the US have hit yet another snag, just five days before the deadline.

The Democrats and Republicans are struggling to come up with a compromise to cut the deficit and raise the debt ceiling.

Now the Republican plan is in disarray, dogged by an accounting error and dissent within conservative ranks.

In the halls of power, politicians on both sides of the aisle are resorting to unconventional methods to prompt a resolution.

"Listen, I've been praying over this for three days," said one politician.

"You know magic things can happen here in Congress," said US senator Harry Reid.

So far there is no magic but plenty of political circus, as a divided Congress gropes for a bipartisan deal to cut the deficit, raise the debt ceiling and avert a default.

With time already short, Republican leader John Boehner has had to postpone a vote on his plan until tomorrow after the independent Congressional Budget Office crunched the numbers and found the proposal fell about $150 billion short of the $1.2 trillion worth of spending cuts Republicans said it contained.

Democrats such as Chuck Schumer, who are proposing their own plan to raise the debt limit, leapt on it.

"The speaker's plan is on life support and it's time for him to pull the plug," he said.

The accounting error marks another embarrassment for the Republican leader, with John Boehner already struggling to muster enough support from his own rank-and-file, and right wing groups denouncing his plan as too weak.

"Well at first they want more and, my goodness, I want more too," said Chuck Schumer.

He says the speaker needs to lead.

"Every day he spends twisting arms in his caucus we careen closer to catastrophic default," Mr Schumer added.

"How many times does he have to throw red meat to the extreme right in his caucus to please them? Enough already. Let's get moving and get something real done."

However, staging a rally on Capitol Hill, the ultraconservative Tea Party movement is now openly threatening to run out of office those same Republicans it swept to power in last year's mid-terms if they do not maintain a conservative line.

"We are watching you and we are paying attention, and we are not going away. We're not taking it any more," said one Tea Party politician.

At the White House, press secretary Jay Carney played down suggestions there is some wiggle room on the deadline after which the US would go into default.

"While at midnight on August 2 we don't all turn into pumpkins, we do, as a country, lose our borrowing authority for the first time in our history," he said.

"There is no escaping that. There are no off-ramps. People keep looking for off-ramps. They don't exist."

And, so far, neither does a compromise.

Topics: business-economics-and-finance, economic-trends, international-financial-crisis, united-states

First posted July 28, 2011 10:13:46

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-28/us-debt-ceiling-debate/2813918

bush obama justin scitech health

Netflix vs. Vudu vs. Amazon and More: A Consumer Guide to Streaming Video

Unlimited channels and everything's on?

No wonder Americans streamed more than 15 billion videos online in May, according to new numbers from Nielsen. It's also no surprise given the dramatic increase in services available. With retail giants like Wal-Mart and Blockbuster joining popular online services from Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, consumers have never had more streaming video options.

In fact, there are so many that the market may seem confusing. Here's a quick guide.

Amazon Prime ($79 per year):

Amazon's new Prime streaming service just announced access to NBC videos, in addition to the new CBS library, bringing the total number of videos available to more than 9,000. The service costs $79 annually for unlimited access to all those shows and movies, and has gotten decent reviews. Don't let the price scare you.

"Ultimately Prime Instant Videos is actually quite good," wrote Engadget in a February review -- while noting that the quality isn't as good as that from Netflix. If that's too much, the Amazon Instant Video service lets you rent individual movies at reasonable prices ($1 to $4 for SD; $2 to $5 for HD), with access to more than 90,000 videos --� a whopping selection.

BestBuy / CinemaNow ($1.99 - $3.99 per video)

BestBuy bought the CinemaNow streaming service in 2009 to offer up the 14,000 available titles. The company offers no monthly subscription , but those many movies and TV shows are available for as little as $1.99 -- though add a buck for high definition.

The site has fallen by the wayside however, while Hulu, Netflix and others have soared in popularity. If the company's plans to embed the service in DVD players and TVs takes off, it could make a comeback.

Blockbuster on Demand ($2.99 - $3.99 per video):

Netflix customers are fuming over recent price hikes, and Blockbuster has the solution -- free 30-day accounts for irate users looking for something new. The service offers more than 10,000 video titles at $2.99 to $3.99, as well access to video games for all the major platforms.�

Blockbuster says it will have several new releases well ahead of Netflix and Redbox, and the service has received generally favorable reviews -- though �there's one big caveat: No HD, at least not yet. But if you're into video games, the option to rent those as well is compelling.

Hulu Plus ($7.99 per month):

Offering a wealth of TV shows, including full seasons and full series, as well as access to movies, the Hulu streaming service is wildly popular among TV fans -- probably because it's free. Hulu Plus offers a deeper catalog of videos and content at a higher resolution, 720p format for $7.99 a month.

Subscriptions aren't publicly available to the newly released service yet, and paying subscribers�have to deal with just as many ads as everyone else. The experience is great on an iPhone, PCMag.com recently noted -- but "if deep content is your main concern, however, Netflix gives you a better variety of content ? for a dollar less without commercials," the site noted.

Netflix ($8 per month):

The granddaddy of streaming video may have turned off as many as 2.5 million users with the recent news that prices would go up as much as 60%. Netflix plans to charge $16 a month for services that used to cost $10 a month when bundled together, for example. It's still charging $8 a month for streaming, which it launched late last year.

Price increases aside, Netflix is still the giant in the space, with 22.8 million subscribers in the U.S as of March -- that's more than cable giant Comcast. And it offers access to over 17,000 titles. But will it remain on top?

RedBox:

RedBox doesn't stream video -- yet. But the buzz is on that the video rental company -- you've probably seen one of the 27,000 kiosks the company keeps nationwide -- will offer a service soon. In April, the company sent out a survey to customers asking how interested they would be in a $3.95 monthly package that would provide unlimited video streaming as well as four free DVD rentals.

Vudu / Wal-Mart ($1 - $5.99 per video): �

Wal-Mart Stores bought video-streaming service Vudu.com 18 months ago and now offers 20,000 titles that can be viewed on almost any device with Internet access, from computers to televisions to Sony's PlayStation3 and other Blu-Ray disc players. The company claims it will offer movies the same day they come out on DVD, a big selling point if true.

Movies are available at Walmart.com to rent for $1 to $5.99 or to purchase for $4.99 and up. Wal-Mart is not offering subscriptions, making its service more similar to Apple's iTunes, which charges $3.99 to rent newly released movies and $14.99 to buy a movie.

Related Stories

Netflix Sags as Wal-Mart Video Streaming Service Debuts

Apple to Buy Hulu? Why I'm Not Buying the Rumors

Which Apps Consume the Most of Your Wireless Data?

Why Has Blu-ray Failed to Catch Hold?

Source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/scitech/~3/BjVjXhw5cEY/

cage computer processor anger profile

U.S. Health Tab Projected to Hit $4.6 Trillion in 2020

WASHINGTON -- The nation's health care tab is on track to hit $4.6 trillion in 2020, accounting for about $1 of every $5 in the economy, government number crunchers estimate in a report out Thursday.�

How much is that? Including government and private money, health care spending in 2020 will average $13,710 for every man, woman and child, says Medicare's Office of the Actuary.�

By comparison, U.S. health care spending this year is projected to top $2.7 trillion, or about $8,650 per capita, roughly $1 of $6 in the economy. Most of that spending is for care for the sickest people.�

The report from Medicare economists and statisticians is an annual barometer of a trend that many experts say is unsustainable but doesn't seem to be slowing down. A political compromise over the nation's debt and deficits might succeed in tapping the brakes on health care, but polarized lawmakers have been unable to deliver a deal.�

The analysis found that President Obama's health care overhaul would only be a modest contributor to growing costs, even though an additional 30 million people who would be otherwise uninsured stand to gain coverage.�

The main reasons that health care spending keeps growing faster than the economy are the high cost of medical innovations and an aging society that consumes increasing levels of service.�

Many of the newly insured people under the health care law will be younger and healthier. As a result, they are expected to use more doctor visits and prescription drugs and relatively less of pricey hospital care. Health care spending will jump by 8 percent in 2014, when the law's coverage expansion kicks in. But over the 2010-2020 period covered by the estimate, the average yearly growth in health care spending will be only 0.1 percentage point higher than without Obama's overhaul.�

Part of the reason for that optimistic prognosis is that cuts and cost controls in the health care law start to bite down late in the decade. However, the same nonpartisan Medicare experts who produced Thursday's estimate have previously questioned whether that austerity will be politically sustainable if hospitals and other providers start going out of business as a result. The actuary's office is responsible for long-range cost estimates.�

The report found that health care spending in 2010 grew at a historically low rate of 3.9 percent, partly because of the sluggish economy. That will change as the economy shakes off the lingering effects of the recession.�

Government, already the dominant player because of Medicare and Medicaid, will become even more important. By 2020, federal, state and local government health care spending will account for just under half the total tab, up from 45 percent currently. As the health care law's coverage expansion takes effect, "health care financing is anticipated to further shift toward governments," the report said.�

Estimates from previous years had projected that the government share would already be at the 50 percent mark, but the actuary's office changed its method for making the complex calculations. Under the previous approach, some private payments such as worker's compensation insurance had been counted in the government column. Technical accuracy -- not political pressure -- was behind that change, said Stephen Heffler, one of the experts who work on the estimates.�

Separately, another new report finds that the United States continues to spend far more on health care than other economically developed countries. The study by the Commonwealth Fund found that U.S. health care spending per person in 2008 was more than double the median -- or midpoint-- for other leading economies. Although survival rates for some cancers were higher in the U.S., the report found that quality of care overall was not markedly better.�

The Medicare actuary's estimates for health care spending are published in the journal Health Affairs.

Source: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/politics/~3/wCaLjHpD06Q/

world us canada australia politics