TiVo Premiere Elite

The TiVo Premiere Elite ($499.99 list) is the souped-up version of the TiVo Premiere DVR ($299.99, 3.5 stars), with a 300-hour HD video capacity and two more TV tuners for the ability to record four simultaneous programs. Like the TiVo Premiere XL, the Premiere Elite is THX certified and comes with an upgraded remote (but not the slide-out QWERTY model). It?s a definite upgrade for current TiVo users, but is it compelling enough to bring more TiVo users into the fold? The outlook isn't so good, compared to DVRs from cable companies, which continue to improve over time.

Design and Features
The TiVo Premiere Elite looks almost identical to the previous TiVo Premiere, built into the same style chassis as the previous model. There are a few differences from the previous version, though. There are four lights, which glow red to show that each of the four tuners are recording a program. You can record up to four programs simultaneously, which are decoded by the mutli-stream CableCARD the TiVo Premiere Elite now requires. Previous models allowed you to record over the air HDTV broadcasts in addition to digital cable, but the Premiere Elite is a strictly digital cable-only model; TiVo has removed the RF tuner and its connector to make room for the added digital tuners. Over-the-air HDTV viewers will want the regular Premiere or Premiere XL.

If you?ve set up a TiVo HD or previous TiVo Premiere before, you know the drill: Call your cable company to get a multi-stream CableCARD, either wait for the tech to show up or install the CableCARD yourself, and hope it pairs up successfully. Once activated in your TiVo Premiere Elite and once the DVR is hooked up to your home Internet connection, the DVR will download the program guide and take you through the rest of the setup. The TiVo Premiere Elite has an Ethernet port, but you?ll need to buy a TiVo WiFi adapter ($60-$90) if you don?t have a wired connection in your TV room. All the same features are here: TiVo Search; links to Netflix, Blockbuster, Hulu Plus, Pandora, You Tube, and Amazon Instant Video; and the trademark beeps and boops from the TiVo interface. Think of the current group of TiVo DVRs as a mash-up of a cable DVR and the sort of streaming media set top box like the Apple TV ?($99, 4 stars) or the Roku LT ($49, 4 stars).

The TiVo Premiere Elite comes with a 2TB hard drive, which is good for up to 300 hours of HD video, which is an increase from 45 hours for the TiVo Premiere, and 150 hours for the TiVo Premiere XL. Like the TiVo Premiere XL, the Premiere Elite comes with the TiVo Glo remote, not the keyboard-equipped TiVo Slide ($60). The TiVo Slide is a better fit for the DVR junkie who needs to search for programming with the on-screen interface. Truly hardcore TiVo users can download the free TiVo app for their handheld device like an iPad, iPhone, or Android phone: The app replicates the search and remote functions on your handheld, including managing the recorded programs list on your TiVo Premiere Elite. The touch-screen keyboard on your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S II will be handier than using the on-screen keyboard and TiVo Glo remote on your HDTV. However, you can?t view live TV or the recordings from your TiVo on your iPad/iPhone/Android device. You?ll still need to use a separate place-shifting device for remote viewing over WiFi or 3G.

Competitors From the Cable Company and Elsewhere
The cable companies have caught up to and some cases surpassed TiVo. TiVo?s interface now mostly takes advantage of the extra real estate and resolution of a HDTV screen, though there are still elements in standard definition. The user interface screens on digital cable DVRs like those from Verizon FIOS are fully HD optimized.

More pressing are features like FIOS? DVR apps and Cablevision/Time Warner?s viewing apps on devices like the iPad and Android smartphones. On the FIOS side, the DVR Manager app gives you listings of what?s scheduled and already recorded on your home DVRs, regardless if you?re home or on a 3G network. Need more room to record the next American Idol on your home DVR, but you?re in Des Moines? No problem with FIOS or the other cable companies, just delete those old episodes of Pan Am. In the TiVo app, you have to be physically in range of your home Wi-Fi network to see the recorded list and manage recordings, which means you can only schedule future recordings remotely, not delete existing programs. On the Time Warner and Cablevision side, things are even better when you consider that the TWC app and Optimum app allow you to view live TV as well as on-demand videos on your iPad on your home network. TiVo users need a place-shifting device like a Slingbox to do the same thing, even in your own home. Multi-room viewing was once unique to TiVo, but Cable DVRs now support multi-room viewing, letting you view programs recorded in the living room while you?re in the bedroom.? And with TiVo, there are issues with multi-room viewing and copy-protected content, which could apply to many of the programs you're recording.

Last I checked, most cable companies even let you exchange a broken DVR for free even if the DVR itself is 5 years old. Unfortunately, the TiVo DVR warranty only lasts one year for parts, 90 days for labor, with an option for 2-years parts/labor for $30 and 3 years for $40.? Last, but not least, you?ll still need to subscribe to TiVo, which added to the monthly rental for the CableCARD, equals or surpasses the monthly rental fee for a cable company DVR. TiVo curently charges $19.95 a month, so if you add the $2-5 monthly rate for the CabelCARD, you may pay less in fees on a cable company DVR. Sure, you can purchase a lifetime subscription for $499.99, but that's per TiVo DVR, and is subject to the continued good health of TiVo Inc. If you want Netflix or You Tube on your HDTV as well and your HDTV doesn't already support it, check if there?s a free HDMI port on your TV, then get an Apple TV or Roku; it?s less than $100, and you won?t need to pay a monthly fee to Apple.

The TiVo Premiere Elite is an improved device for an ultimately shrinking market: the hardcore TiVo user. It will give the TiVo fan a lot to crow about while recording 300 hours of HD on four channels simultaneously, but the DVR is unlikely to add brand new customers to the TiVo fold. It's so tied to digital cable that it is unlikely to sway the non-TiVo user from renting a much more convenient and similar HD DVR for much less money. Why buy a TiVo DVR when the cable company DVR is the same amount of money or less, and lets you better manage it with your smartphone or tablet? Five years ago, TiVo had a perceptibly insurmountable lead on the competition. Now that gap is bridgeable by a toddler in brand new shoes.

More Digital Video Recorder reviews:
??? TiVo Premiere Elite
??? TiVo (for iPad)
??? Monsoon Multimedia Vulkano
??? Dish Network ViP922 SlingLoaded DVR
??? TiVo Premiere
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/g2xpcMjtWhg/0,2817,2399349,00.asp

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Unreleased ABBA track on new album (AP)

STOCKHOLM ? Mamma Mia, here they go again.

ABBA fans will soon again be saying "Thank you for the music" with the release of a new track on a special edition of the disbanded 70's pop group's "The Visitors" album.

The record, including new track "From a Twinkling Star to a Passing Angel," is the first official new release by the Swedish group in 18 years.

Universal Music Group spokeswoman Mia Segolsson said Friday that the special edition of "The Visitors" ? originally released in 1981 ? will be available in stores from April 23.

ABBA ? Agnetha Faeltskog, Benny Andersson, Bjoern Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Lyngstad ? split in 1982. The band has never reunited.

Known for catchy hits in the 70s and 80s ? such as "Dancing Queen," and "Money, Money, Money" ? ABBA have sold 400 million records worldwide.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/music/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120127/ap_en_mu/eu_sweden_abba_new_music

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California passes new auto emission rules (AP)

SAN FRANCISCO ? Seeking to influence other states and Washington, California air regulators passed sweeping auto emission standards Friday that include a mandate to have 1.4 million electric and hybrid vehicles on state roads by 2025.

The California Air Resources Board unanimously approved the new rules that require that one in seven of the new cars sold in the state in 2025 be an electric or other zero-emission vehicle.

The plan also mandates a 75 percent reduction in smog-forming pollutants by 2025, and a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from today's standards.

Automakers worked with the board and federal regulators on the greenhouse gas mandates in an effort to create one national standard for those pollutants.

"Today's vote ... represents a new chapter for clean cars in California and in the nation as a whole," said Mary Nichols, the board's chairman. "Californians have always loved their cars. We buy a lot of them and drive them. Now we will have cleaner and more efficient cars to love."

California's auto emissions standards are influential and often more strict than federal rules. The state began passing regulations for cleaner cars in the 1960s to help ease some of the world's worst smog, and has since helped spur the auto industry's innovations in emissions-control technology.

Currently 14 other states ? including New York, Washington and Massachusetts ? have adopted California's smog emissions rules as their own.

California has also previously set zero-emissions vehicle mandates, which 10 other states have also currently adopted.

Companies including Ford Motor Corp., Chrysler Group LLC, General Motors Co., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and others submitted testimony Thursday supportive of the new standards.

Some of the companies protested the inclusion of a system that will give some automakers credit toward their zero-emission vehicle mandate for exceeding federal greenhouse gas emissions standards in other cars. These credits, which can be used to reduce the number of clean vehicles made, can be used from 2018-2021.

Some called it a loophole that will take hundreds of thousands of clean cars off the road, hurting the emerging market for these vehicles.

"This is a temporary way station," Nichols said about the credits. "But by 2021 all companies will be producing the full complement of zero-emission vehicles."

Trade groups representing auto dealers worried that the new regulations would increase the costs of vehicles for consumers and stifle the industry's growth.

The California New Car Dealers Association and other industry groups representing those who sell cars said the board is overestimating consumer demand for electric vehicles and other so-called "zero-emission vehicles."

Dealers are concerned that the regulations will lead to higher costs in all cars, and say consumers have been slow to warm to electric and other zero-emission vehicles.

Board member Sandra Berg, who said she drives the all-electric Nissan Leaf, said before the vote that regulators need to take consumer behavior and choice seriously in this equation.

She said a lot of work must be done to educate dealers to sell the new generation of cars.

"Early adopters (of electric cars) are willing to go without heat to save the miles they need to get to their destination, but that is not going to help grow the consumer base," Berg said, referring to the range issues with some current electric vehicles.

The board's research staff disputes the argument from dealers that the mandates for new technology will increase costs for cars. They point to steady increases in hybrid and other sales and argue that fuel cost savings will make up for any vehicle price increase.

"Our research shows a $1,400 to $1,900 car price increase. But over the life of the vehicles, the owners save $6,000 in reduced fuel and maintenance costs," board spokesman David Clegern said.

One of the nation's foremost consumer groups, the Consumers' Union, the policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports, supported the changes.

The rules will "protect consumers by encouraging the development of cleaner, more efficient cars that save families money, help reduce the American economy's vulnerability to oil price shocks and reduce harmful air pollution," according to a letter from the group.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/science/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120127/ap_on_re_us/us_california_clean_car_standards

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Tagged Begins Transformation Of Social Gaming Network hi5

Tagged first announced its acquisition of struggling social network hi5 in December. Now, the company says it's ready to talk about what's going to happen to the property. Basically, Tagged will continue operating hi5 as a separate site, but one that starts to look more and more like Tagged ? as vice president of sales and marketing Steve Sarner put it, it will become "a Tagged.com experience with a hi5 wrapper." Even though Sarner says hi5 won't actually change for another six to eight weeks, hi5 users should start getting emails later today notifying them about the plans.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/vtl7DwKHvTk/

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Art V Cancer, Illustrator Raid71 Sells Art Posters for Cancer Research

Hellnuts by Raid71

RCHOP by by Raid71

Cosmic Kiss by Raid71

Artist Chris Thornley (aka Raid71) was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and in response created a fundraising site called Art V Cancer that sells his art posters to benefit cancer research.

Art V Cancer is run by Chris Thornley (aka Raid71 the illustrator) & Julia Hall.

A couple of years ago our life, and our family?s lives were turned completely upside down when Chris was diagnosed with a very rare incurable non hodgkins lymphoma at the age of 37.

The first thing we thought of is death, cancer = death. But having lived for these years with cancer the first thing we can say is cancer doesn?t mean the inevitable; We soon discovered that there are over 200 differnt types of cancer and that most cancers are treatable, manageable and in some cases curable. More and more people can survive cancer but there is still a long way to go.

By buying a poster from Art V Cancer, we promise to donate all profits (only a small amount will be used to pay for posting and packaging etc.) to charities researching cancer cures and supporting those who are learning to survive cancer.

via OMG! Posters

Source: http://laughingsquid.com/art-v-cancer-illustrator-raid71-sells-art-posters-for-cancer-research/

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Children May Be Exposed to Higher Chemical Concentrations Than Their Mothers

Image: ? istockphoto/patrickheagney

Children living near DuPont?s plant in West Virginia are exposed to much higher concentrations of an industrial chemical than their mothers, according to a newly published study.

Children under 5, who are exposed from drinking water as well as their mothers? breast milk, had 44 percent more of the chemical in their blood than their moms. The study was undertaken by a court-approved panel of three scientists who have spent seven years trying to determine whether the DuPont chemical is making people sick in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

The chemical is perfluorooctanoate, or PFOA, also known as C8, and it is used in the manufacture of Teflon nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, food packaging and other products.

Nearly everyone worldwide has traces of perfluorinated chemical in their bodies. But people near the DuPont plant have extraordinary levels of PFOA -- about seven times more than the U.S. average ? because the compound, used at the plant since 1951, has contaminated drinking water supplies.

The scientists studied 4,943 child-mother pairs who drank water for at least one year in communities near the plant where water wells were known to contain PFOA.

??Children seemed to concentrate the chemical more than their mothers up to about age 12. This is probably due to exposure via drinking water as well as exposure in utero and via breast milk,? the team from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine wrote in the article, published online Monday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. The lead author was Tony Fletcher, who serves on the court-approved panel.

For a related chemical called PFOS, blood concentrations were 42 percent higher in children than their mothers, and it persisted until the children were 19.

The new finding about children and their moms comes at the same time that other scientists, studying children in the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic, linked perfluorinated compounds to reduced effectiveness of childhood vaccinations. That is a possible sign that the chemical suppresses the immune system.

Environmental health scientists say that fetuses, infants and young children are the most vulnerable to the toxic effects of industrial chemicals such as PFOA and PFOS because they might interfere with development of their brains, reproductive tracts and hormones.

The panel of scientists was created as part of a settlement after residents from West Virginia and Ohio communities filed a class action lawsuit against DuPont in 2001 alleging health damage from contaminated water.

The panel is scheduled to reach a conclusion this July about the probability of health effects from PFOA exposure. Under a settlement between DuPont and the plaintiffs, if the scientists conclude that a ?probable link? exists between the chemical and any diseases, DuPont will fund a medical monitoring program for the residents.

In previous research in the communities, the scientists have found associations between PFOA exposure and markers that suggest potential liver disease, changes in children?s thyroid hormones and increased risk of kidney cancer deaths. Last month, the panel also reported ?a probable link between C8 (PFOA) and pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia.? It found no link to birth defects, preterm births, low birth weight or pregnancy loss.

The chemical is ubiquitous and long-lasting in the environment, which led to an agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency and DuPont and other manufacturers to eliminate emissions by 2015.

In 2005, DuPont paid a $10.25 million fine for violating federal environmental statutes, which is the largest civil administrative penalty on record for the EPA, plus more than $6 million for environmental studies. The agency accused the company of hiding information on public health threats.

This article originally ran at Environmental Health News, a news source published by Environmental Health Sciences, a nonprofit media company.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=ee07f0e2414d4cfddbf431edcbca011b

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Dotcom: 'Come for coffee, don't forget the cocaine.'

COATESVILLE, New Zealand?? Kim Dotcom, the founder of file-sharing site Megaupload.com who faces a lengthy jail term in the United States if convicted of racketeering, money laundering and Internet piracy, seems to have a mischievous sense of humor.

Shortly after arriving in New Zealand in 2010 and moving into a sprawling luxury estate near Auckland, Dotcom emailed a neighbor who had raised questions about his character, having previously been convicted as a hacker in Germany.

The email was addressed to the local Neighborhood Watch, a community group aimed at stopping crime in the Coatesville area, a nouveau riche community of hobby farms and wealthy city workers.

"First of all, let me assure you that having a criminal neighbor like me comes with benefits," Dotcom, also known as Kim Schmitz, wrote in the email, which was sent to Reuters by neighbor France Komoroske.

"1. Our newly opened local money laundering facility can help you with your tax fraud optimization. 2. Our network of international insiders can provide you with valuable stock tips. 3. My close personal relations with other (far worse) criminals can help you whenever you have to deal with a nasty neighbor," Dotcom quipped in the email, which Reuters has not been able to corroborate.

Komoroske said the email startled her family.

But Dotcom did try to allay his neighbor's concerns.

"In all seriousness: My wife, two kids and myself love New Zealand and 'We come in peace'," he wrote.

"Fifteen years ago I was a hacker and 10 years ago I was convicted for insider trading. Hardly the kind of crimes you need to start a witch hunt for.

"Since then I have been a good boy, my criminal records have been cleared, and I created a successful Internet company that employs 100+ people," he added.

Dotcom then asked his neighbor to choose.

"Now you can make a choice: 1: Call Interpol, the CIA, and the Queen of England and try to get me on the next plane out of New Zealand. 2: Sit back, relax and give me a chance to do good for New Zealand and possibly the neighborhood."

Doctom then invited his neighbor over for coffee, adding "... and don't forget to bring the cocaine (joke). All the best, Kim."

Komoroske said she replied to Dotcom, saying, "We'd love to come over for coffee. How's tomorrow?"

But the invitation was never taken up, after Dotcom demanded Komoroske bring another neighbor, calling the two of them "leaders of the Coatesville Inquisition movement."

Reuters was unable to contact Dotcom, who is in custody, and an email to his lawyer was not answered.

Other neighbors spoken to by Reuters said Doctom lived almost a reclusive life in his rented 30-acre estate, occasionally seen driving on the local winding roads, but getting his entourage to organize any jobs on the property.

A New Zealand judge on Wednesday ordered Dotcom ? who stands 6-feeet, 6-inches tall and weighs more than 285 lbs ? to be held in custody for another month, saying the suspected Internet pirate posed a significant flight risk.

Dotcom, a German national also known as Kim Tim Jim Vestor, faces a February 22 hearing of an extradition application by the United States.

Prosecutors say Dotcom was the ringleader of a group that netted $175 million by copying and distributing music, movies and other copyrighted content without authorization.

His lawyers say his company, megaupload.com, simply offered online storage, and that he will fight extradition.

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46129325/ns/technology_and_science-security/

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Molecular structure and function of essential plant hormone could profoundly change our understanding of a key cell process

ScienceDaily (Jan. 23, 2012) ? A recent Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) study published in the journal Science investigating the molecular structure and function of an essential plant hormone could profoundly change our understanding of a key cell process, and might ultimately lead to the development of new drugs for a variety of diseases.

The study builds on earlier work by the same team of investigators at VARI that was published in the journal Nature in 2009. That study shed light on how plants respond when they are under stress from extreme temperatures, drought and other harsh environmental conditions and was later named by Science as one of the top scientific breakthroughs of 2009.

Understanding how cells talk

In signal transduction -- the basic process of intercellular and intracellular communication -- enzymes known as kinases and phosphatases serve as the opposing partners and key regulators of this process.

VARI scientists mapping the structure of the receptor for Abscisic acid (ABA), a plant hormone that controls growth, development and responses to environmental stress, discovered that ABA regulates the stress-response pathway by affecting an enzyme belonging to the phosphatase family -- which in turn binds to a kinase.

"This process has been little understood," said Karsten Melcher, Ph.D., Head of the VARI Laboratory of Structural Biology and Biochemistry and co-author of the study. "We believe that the activation mechanism may in many cases also be structural. Phosphatases inactivate the active site like a plug -- changing the shape of the kinase."

"The textbook assumption has been that enzymatic phosphatases inhibit kinases only by taking away phosphates from the kinases. There have been few recorded examples of non-enzymatic phosphatases inhibiting kinases."

Knowing that these enzymes mimic the structure of the opposing enzyme enables scientists to more accurately develop mechanisms to activate or inhibit intercellular and intracellular communication. Inhibiting or activating this process in plant cells could lead to plants that more readily survive drought or other conditions of stress.

Possible impact on the treatment of diseases

In mammalian cells the ability to impact communication has numerous and far-reaching implications. For example, applications that inhibit or activate cell communication in out-of-control metastasizing cancer cells have enormous potential to affect tumor growth.

Writing in the journal Science, where the study was published on January 6, Jeffrey Leung notes that "molecular mimicry might be a common mechanism in many biological processes involving kinase-phosphatase complexes?The structural studies on the core ABA signaling proteins establish a new paradigm for kinase-phosphatase co-regulation and coevolution."

The possibility of broader scientific implications is also noted by Melcher.

"The current studies take a step back from application and focus back on fundamental cellular mechanisms with a broad implication beyond ABA signaling," said Melcher.

In their 2009 study in Nature, Melcher and H. Eric Xu, Ph.D., used X-ray crystallography to detail precisely how ABA works at the molecular level. One of ABA's effects is to cause plant pores to close when plants are stressed so that they can retain as much water as possible.

In a follow-up 2010 study published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, the VARI team identified several synthetic compounds that fit well with ABA's many receptors to have the same effect. By finding compounds that can close these pores, researchers' findings could lead to sprays that use a plant's natural defenses to help it survive harsh environmental conditions. "This type of finding once again demonstrates the importance of identifying, mapping and understanding fundamental cellular and molecular processes because of the profound implications for human health," said Xu, Director of the VARI Center for Structural Biology and Drug Discovery and co-author of the current Science study.

"Proteins with similarities to plant ABA receptors are also found in humans and further studies in this area could reveal important implications for people with cellular stress disorders." The lead authors of the current Science study are Fen-Fen Soon, Ley-Moy Ng, and Edward Zhou. The project was carried out in conjunction and collaboration with scientists from the National University of Singapore, Purdue University, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Synchrotron Research Center of Northwestern University, and University of California at Riverside.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Van Andel Research Institute.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal References:

1. F.-F. Soon, L.-M. Ng, X. E. Zhou, G. M. West, A. Kovach, M. H. E. Tan, K. M. Suino-Powell, Y. He, Y. Xu, M. J. Chalmers, J. S. Brunzelle, H. Zhang, H. Yang, H. Jiang, J. Li, E.-L. Yong, S. Cutler, J.-K. Zhu, P. R. Griffin, K. Melcher, H. E. Xu. Molecular Mimicry Regulates ABA Signaling by SnRK2 Kinases and PP2C Phosphatases. Science, 2011; 335 (6064): 85 DOI: 10.1126/science.1215106
2. J. Leung. Controlling Hormone Action by Subversion and Deception. Science, 2012; 335 (6064): 46 DOI: 10.1126/science.1217667

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120123175705.htm

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Miley Cyrus Covers Bob Dylan: What Do You Think?

Bob Dylan is one of the most popular, respected, legitimate musicians in history.

Miley Cyrus, is, well... not.

But the 19-year old doesn't embarrass herself in the following new video, which features her covering Dylan's classic 1975 single “You’re Going to Make Me Lonesome When You Go.”

The track is off "Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International," an album whose proceeds go toward that helpful organization. Make a purchase, donate today and take a listen to Miley's version of this song below:

Miley Cyrus - "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go"

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/01/miley-cyrus-covers-bob-dylan-what-do-you-think/

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Obama's health overhaul lags in many states

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Here's a reality check for President Barack Obama's health overhaul: Three out of four uninsured Americans live in states that have yet to figure out how to deliver on its promise of affordable medical care.

This is the year that will make or break the health care law. States were supposed to be partners in carrying out the biggest safety net expansion since Medicare and Medicaid, and the White House claims they're making steady progress.

But an analysis by The Associated Press shows that states are moving in fits and starts. Combined with new insurance coverage estimates from the nonpartisan Urban Institute, it reveals a patchwork nation.

Such uneven progress could have real consequences.

If it continues, it will mean disparities and delays from state to state in carrying out an immense expansion of health insurance scheduled in the law for 2014. That could happen even if the Supreme Court upholds Obama's law, called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

"There will be something there, but if it doesn't mesh with the state's culture and if the state is not really supporting it, that certainly won't help it succeed," said Urban Institute senior researcher Matthew Buettgens.

The 13 states that have adopted a plan are home to only 1 in 4 of the uninsured. An additional 17 states are making headway, but it's not clear all will succeed. The 20 states lagging behind account for the biggest share of the uninsured, 42 percent.

Among the lagging states are four with arguably the most to gain. Texas, Florida, Georgia and Ohio together would add more than 7 million people to the insurance rolls, according to Urban Institute estimates, reducing the annual burden of charity care by $10.7 billion.

"It's not that we want something for free, but we want something we can afford," said Vicki McCuistion of Driftwood, Texas, who works two part-time jobs and is uninsured. With the nation's highest uninsured rate, her state has made little progress.

The Obama administration says McCuistion and others in the same predicament have nothing to fear. "The fact of states moving at different rates does not create disparities for a particular state's uninsured population," said Steve Larsen, director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight at the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

That's because the law says that if a state isn't ready, the federal government will step in. Larsen insists the government will be ready, but it's not as easy as handing out insurance cards.

Someone has to set up health insurance exchanges, new one-stop supermarkets with online and landline capabilities for those who buy coverage individually.

A secure infrastructure must be created to verify income, legal residency and other personal information, and smooth enrollment in private insurance plans or Medicaid. Many middle-class households will be eligible for tax credits to help pay premiums for private coverage. Separate exchanges must be created for small businesses.

"It's a very heavy lift," said California's health secretary, Diana Dooley, whose state was one of the first to approve a plan. "Coverage is certainly important, but it's not the only part. It is very complex."

California has nearly 7.5 million residents without coverage, more than half of the 12.7 million uninsured in the states with a plan. An estimated 2.9 million Californians would gain coverage, according to the Urban Institute's research, funded by the nonpartisan Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Democrats who wrote the overhaul law had hoped that most states would be willing partners, putting aside partisan differences to build the exchanges and help cover more than 30 million uninsured nationally. It's not turning out that way.

Some states, mainly those led by Democrats, are far along. Others, usually led by Republicans, have done little. Separately, about half the states are suing to overturn the law.

Time is running out for states, which must have their plans ready for a federal approval deadline of Jan. 1, 2013. Those not ready risk triggering the default requirement that Washington run their exchange.

Yet in states where Republican repudiation of the health care law has blocked exchanges, there's little incentive to advance before the Supreme Court rules. A decision is expected this summer, and many state legislatures aren't scheduled to meet past late spring.

The result if the law is upheld could be greater federal sway over health care in the states, the very outcome conservatives say they want to prevent.

"If you give states the opportunity to decide their own destiny, and some choose to ignore it for partisan reasons, they almost make the case against themselves for more federal intervention," said Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb.

A conservative, Nelson was on the winning side of a heated argument among Democrats over who should run exchanges, the feds or the states. Liberals lost their demand for a federal exchange, insulated from state politics.

"It's pretty hard to take care of the states when they don't take care of themselves," said Nelson, who regrets that the concession he fought for has been dismissed by so many states.

The AP's analysis divided states into four broad groups: those that have adopted a plan for exchanges, those that made substantial progress, those where the outlook is unclear, and those with no significant progress. AP statehouse reporters were consulted in cases of conflicting information.

Thirteen states, plus the District of Columbia, have adopted a plan.

By contrast, in 20 states either the outlook is unclear or there has been no significant progress. Those states include more than 21 million of the 50 million uninsured Americans.

Four have made no significant progress. They are Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana and New Hampshire. The last three returned planning money to the federal government. In Arkansas, Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe ran into immovable GOP opposition in the Legislature. Beebe acknowledges that the federal government will have to run the exchange, but is exploring a fallback option.

In the other 16 states, the outlook is unclear because of failure to advance legislation or paralyzing political disputes that often pit Republicans fervently trying to stop what they deride as "Obamacare" against fellow Republicans who are more pragmatic.

In Kansas, for example, Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger is pushing hard for a state exchange, but Gov. Sam Brownback returned a $31 million federal grant, saying the state would not act before the Supreme Court rules. Both officials are Republicans.

"It's just presidential politics," said Praeger, discussing the situation nationally. "It's less about whether exchanges make sense and more about trying to repeal the whole law." As a result, outlook is unclear for a state with 361,000 uninsured residents.

There is a bright spot for Obama and backers of the law.

An additional 17 states have made substantial progress, although that's no guarantee of success. Last week in Wisconsin, GOP Gov. Scott Walker abruptly halted planning and announced he will return $38 million in federal money.

The AP defined states making substantial progress as ones where governors or legislatures have made a significant commitment to set up exchanges. Another important factor was state acceptance of a federal exchange establishment grant.

That group accounts for just under one-third of the uninsured, about 16 million people.

It includes populous states such as New York, Illinois, North Carolina and New Jersey, which combined would add more than 3 million people to the insurance rolls.

Several are led by Republican governors, including Virginia and Indiana, which have declared their intent to establish insurance exchanges under certain conditions. Other states that have advanced under Republican governors include Arizona and New Mexico.

For uninsured people living in states that have done little, the situation is demoralizing.

Gov. Rick Perry's opposition to the law scuttled plans to advance an exchange bill in the Texas Legislature last year, when Perry was contemplating his presidential run. The Legislature doesn't meet this year, so the situation is unclear.

McCuistion and her husband, Dan, are among the nearly 6.7 million Texans who lack coverage. Dan is self-employed as the owner of a specialty tree service. Vicki works part time for two nonprofit organizations. The McCuistions have been uninsured throughout their 17-year marriage, although their three daughters now have coverage through the Children's Health Insurance Program. Dan McCuistion has been nursing a bad back for years, and it only seems to get worse.

"For me it almost feels like a ticking time bomb," his wife said.

Dan McCuistion says he doesn't believe Americans have a constitutional right to health care, but he would take advantage of affordable coverage if it was offered to him. He's exasperated with Perry and other Texas politicians. "They give a lot of rhetoric toward families, but their actions don't meet up with what they are saying," he said.

Perry's office says it's principle, not lack of compassion.

"Gov. Perry believes 'Obamacare' is unconstitutional, misguided and unsustainable, and Texas, along with other states, is taking legal action to end this massive government overreach," said spokeswoman Lucy Nashed. "There are no plans to implement an exchange."

___

Online:

AP interactive: http://hosted.ap.org/interactives/2011/healthcare

Urban Institute estimates: http://tinyurl.com/86py8nd

Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight: http://cciio.cms.gov

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-23-Health%20Overhaul-States/id-d2b90cc98829477d869329f722fa68d3

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Turks march in Paris to denounce genocide bill (AP)

PARIS ? Thousands of Turks have marched through Paris denouncing a bill that would make it a crime to deny that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks nearly a century ago was genocide.

Turks waving their country's red flag marched on Saturday to the Senate, where the bill will be debated on Monday after passage in December in the lower house.

They carried banners reading "No to Sarkozy Shame Law" and "History for Historians."

The measure would make it a crime to deny that mass killings of Armenians in 1915 by Ottoman Turks constitute genocide.

Critics claim its real aim is ensuring votes for President Nicolas Sarkozy from French Armenians in the two-round presidential elections in April and May.

Ankara, irate over the bill, has suspended military and economic cooperation with Paris.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120121/ap_on_re_eu/eu_france_turkey_genocide

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Reduced License Fees & ?Free Ride Home? for Licensed Pets in ...

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January 20, 2012

.

The City of Kansas City, Mo., Neighborhood and Community Services Department announces that

effective Sunday, Jan. 22, City pet licensing fees will be reduced in an effort to encourage residents

to license their pet dogs, cats and ferrets, as is required by Chapter 14 of the City?s Code of

Ordinances.

?The City?s Animal Shelter receives more than 5,000 lost or abandoned animals annually,? said

David Park, director of the Neighborhood and Community Services Department. ?Many of the

animals are owned pets, but without a license tag, there is no way to contact the owner.?

As of Jan. 22, the changes in City ordinance related to pet licensing will be:

? All one-year pet licenses are $10 (altered or unaltered pets).

? All three-year pet licenses are $27 (altered or unaltered pets).

? Free ride home program ? ?licensed? lost or stray pets will be taken home instead of to the shelter

one time per year. No ticket will be issued for pets that run at large.

? No shelter fees will be assessed if the owner is home when the pet is returned; half fees will be

assessed if the owner cannot be located, and the pet is reclaimed at the shelter.

? Amnesty will be granted on $25 late fees until May 1, 2012.

? All funds generated from license sales support improved care and treatment of animals at the

shelter.

Pet owners can license their pet at the City?s Animal Shelter at 4400 Raytown Road or electronically

at www.petdata.com. They may also contact their veterinarian, who may be able to sell pet licenses

directly.

The pet license fee changes were recommended by a pet licensing task force convened to identify

barriers to pet licensing and develop strategies to increase licensing compliance. In the upcoming

weeks, the task force will launch a new Pet Licensing Campaign: ?Lost Pets Can?t Call Home.? The

campaign will promote the benefits of licensing pets and provide information on how to license a

pet.

The City of Kansas City, Mo., Neighborhood and Community Services Department announces that?effective Sunday, Jan. 22, City pet licensing fees will be reduced in an effort to encourage residents?to license their pet dogs, cats and ferrets, as is required by Chapter 14 of the City?s Code of?Ordinances.

?The City?s Animal Shelter receives more than 5,000 lost or abandoned animals annually,? said?David Park, director of the Neighborhood and Community Services Department. ?Many of the?animals are owned pets, but without a license tag, there is no way to contact the owner.?

As of Jan. 22, the changes in City ordinance related to pet licensing will be:

• All one-year pet licenses are $10 (altered or unaltered pets).
• All three-year pet licenses are $27 (altered or unaltered pets).
• Free ride home program ? ?licensed? lost or stray pets will be taken home instead of to the shelter?one time per year. No ticket will be issued for pets that run at large.
• No shelter fees will be assessed if the owner is home when the pet is returned; half fees will be?assessed if the owner cannot be located, and the pet is reclaimed at the shelter.
• Amnesty will be granted on $25 late fees until May 1, 2012.
• All funds generated from license sales support improved care and treatment of animals at the?shelter.

Pet owners can license their pet at the City?s Animal Shelter at 4400 Raytown Road or electronically?at www.petdata.com. They may also contact their veterinarian, who may be able to sell pet licenses?directly.

The pet license fee changes were recommended by a pet licensing task force convened to identify?barriers to pet licensing and develop strategies to increase licensing compliance. In the upcoming?weeks, the task force will launch a new Pet Licensing Campaign: ?Lost Pets Can?t Call Home.? The?campaign will promote the benefits of licensing pets and provide information on how to license a?pet.

Tags: animal control, animal shelter, Free Ride Home, kansas city, pet licenses

Source: http://www.pawprintsthemagazine.com/?p=15176

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Engadget Distro Issue 24: CES Roundup, OK Go's Andy Ross and SOPA comic relief

We've spent the past week recuperating and reflecting, and while we're ready to put CES 2012 behind us, we're bring you this special roundup edition to cover all of our consumer electronics bases. In this issue, we'll dive deep into product categories that were overlooked in our previous CES editions, like audio, and flesh out those categories that dominated this year's coverage. Also in this issue, OK Go's Andy Ross takes on the Distro Q&A, we bring you a visual breakdown of Engadget's CES Vital Stats and Box Brown takes a comic look at the SOPA / PIPA debate. So join us in grabbing a cold one and get to downloading.

Update: Sounds like the latest issue hasn't hit the servers just yet. We're looking into it!

Distro Issue 24 PDF
Distro on the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Android Market
Distro APK (for sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter

Engadget Distro Issue 24: CES Roundup, OK Go's Andy Ross and SOPA comic relief originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  iTunes, Android Market  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/dnp-engadget-distro-issue-24-ces-roundup-ok-gos-andy-ross-and/

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TV covering high-profile Ohio trial with puppets

FOR USE FRIDAY, JAN. 20 AT 3 A.M. EST AND THERAFTER - Cameraman Dave Spangler, left, films puppets reenacting testimony in a county corruption trial at the WOIO-TV studios in Cleveland Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. The station uses the puppets performing as witnesses, reporters and jurors to detail the corruption trial against former Cuyahoga county commissioner Jimmy Dimora, which began last week in federal court in Akron. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

FOR USE FRIDAY, JAN. 20 AT 3 A.M. EST AND THERAFTER - Cameraman Dave Spangler, left, films puppets reenacting testimony in a county corruption trial at the WOIO-TV studios in Cleveland Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. The station uses the puppets performing as witnesses, reporters and jurors to detail the corruption trial against former Cuyahoga county commissioner Jimmy Dimora, which began last week in federal court in Akron. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

FOR USE FRIDAY, JAN. 20 AT 3 A.M. EST AND THERAFTER - Puppeteer Kirk Maynard, bottom left, works a puppet representing defense attorney Andrea Whitaker cross examining Ferris Kleem during taping at WOIO-TV in Cleveland Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. The station uses the puppets performing as witnesses, reporters and jurors to detail the corruption trial against former Cuyahoga county commissioner Jimmy Dimora, which began last week in federal court in Akron. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

FOR USE FRIDAY, JAN. 20 AT 3 A.M. EST AND THERAFTER - A puppet representing witness Ferris Kleem is shows during taping at WOIO-TV in Cleveland Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. The station uses the puppets performing as witnesses, reporters and jurors to detail the corruption trial against former Cuyahoga county commissioner Jimmy Dimora, which began last week in federal court in Akron. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

FOR USE FRIDAY, JAN. 20 AT 3 A.M. EST AND THERAFTER - A puppet reporter is shown turing taping at WOIO-TV in Cleveland Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. The station uses the puppets performing as witnesses, reporters and jurors to detail the corruption trial against former Cuyahoga county commissioner Jimmy Dimora, which began last week in federal court in Akron. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

FOR USE FRIDAY, JAN. 20 AT 3 A.M. EST AND THERAFTER - A puppet representing defense attorney Andrea Whitaker cross-examines a Ferris Kleem puppet during taping at WOIO-TV in Cleveland Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. The station uses the puppets performing as witnesses, reporters and jurors to detail the corruption trial against former Cuyahoga county commissioner Jimmy Dimora, which began last week in federal court in Akron. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

CLEVELAND (AP) ? The high-profile corruption trial of a longtime Democratic power broker in Cleveland has drawn some unusual TV coverage ? puppets playing the roles of courtroom figures and re-enacting alleged bribe deals.

"It's a satirical look at the trial and, again, I think we have it appropriately placed at the end of the newscast," WOIO news director Dan Salamone said Thursday.

He said the puppets are in addition to the station's regular coverage of the Akron federal trial of ex-Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora.

"It's not intended in any way to replace any of the serious coverage of the trial," Salamone said.

Dimora, a former county Democratic chairman in Cleveland, has pleaded not guilty to bribery and racketeering. He also faces another trial on a second indictment.

With cameras barred from court, the news media has relied on artist sketches of the proceedings inside and daily video of Dimora walking into court with his wife and his defense team.

The station uses the puppets repeating testimony and performing as witnesses, reporters and jurors to detail the case, which began last week and is expected to last three months. The trial has been a daily staple of front-page coverage in The Plain Dealer newspaper and often leads TV newscasts in town.

According to Salamone, the puppets are meant to lampoon the sometimes-steamy testimony, including details of a topless hot tub excursion in Las Vegas and taped phone calls with off-color and often unprintable comments.

The station is awaiting the arrival of an updated puppet that looks like the newly clean-shaven Dimora. For now, the station has been showing the back of a puppet's head that doesn't resemble Dimora, Salamone said.

And if Dimora grows his familiar salt-and-pepper beard back? "We've asked for some accessories in the event that he might decide to regrow his beard," Salamone said.

The puppets perform near the end of the late newscasts on WOIO and its sister station, WUAB. The stations started using them on Tuesday.

At that point in the newscast, Salamone said, "People are accustomed to seeing a lighter story, what is often called a 'kicker' story."

Salamone said viewers are in for another lookalike puppet debut when Dimora's longtime friend and political ally, former Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo, testifies for the prosecution. Russo has pleaded guilty to taking bribes and hopes his cooperation will trim his nearly 22-year sentence.

Karl Idsvoog, of Kent State University's School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said Thursday that the puppet show didn't work. "Why would anyone approve that to go on the air because it was dull and boring," he said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-01-20-Corruption%20Probe-Puppets/id-adff45ce24f740b6b7069c896d82f1aa

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Apple revamps iTunes U and intros dedicated app (video)

A facelift for iBooks wasn't the only change on Apple's agenda today, as the company's SVP Eddy Cue has just announced an overhaul of iTunes U. The service, mostly used as a means of delivering lectures to college students, has seen over 700 million downloads since its launch and is now gearing up to offer full online courses from the likes of Duke University, Yale, MIT, amongst others.

As an example of this new remote method of learning, the company demoed a Chemistry course at its event, showing an overview, syllabus, credits and even the professor's office hours. Tabs are placed along the right side of page with options for Info, Posts, Notes and Materials, allowing teachers to send updates direct to the app and students the ability to jot down important highlights. Wondering about integration? A simple tap on these pushed assignments will transport students direct to iBooks, where their specific coursework lies in wait and, once completed, can be crossed off on the provided task list.

The app can even be used for course registration, eliminating the frenzied rush typically associated with such events. It's all available to download on the App Store right now at no cost in 123 countries. So, if you're on Apple's participating list of schools and you're rocking an iPad, go ahead and get to virtually cracking those books.

Update: We've got our hands-on video up of the new iTunes U application!

Gallery: iTunes U app

Continue reading Apple revamps iTunes U and intros dedicated app (video)

Apple revamps iTunes U and intros dedicated app (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/19/apple-revamps-itunes-u-and-intros-dedicated-app/

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Rising factory output gives economy a lift

In this Dec. 14, 2011 photo, assembly line workers install dashboard air vents on a 2012 Ford Focus at the Ford Michigan Assembly plant in Wayne, Mich. U.S. factories roared to life in December, creating sharply more goods to meet strong demand for business equipment, materials, vehicles and energy. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

In this Dec. 14, 2011 photo, assembly line workers install dashboard air vents on a 2012 Ford Focus at the Ford Michigan Assembly plant in Wayne, Mich. U.S. factories roared to life in December, creating sharply more goods to meet strong demand for business equipment, materials, vehicles and energy. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

In this Dec. 14, 2011 photo, Ford Focus vehicles move on the assembly line at the Ford Michigan Assembly plant in Wayne, Mich. U.S. factories roared to life in December, creating sharply more goods to meet strong demand for business equipment, materials, vehicles and energy. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

In this Jan. 5, 2012 photo, a construction worker guides a rafter into position at a construction site, in Dayton, Ohio. U.S. homebuilders are growing less pessimistic about the housing market, despite tighter lending standards that have slowed home sales. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? U.S. factories are roaring back from the depths of the recession, cranking out more machinery, vehicles and energy.

Factory production has surged 15 percent above its lows of 2? years ago and is helping drive the economy's recovery.

A jump in manufacturing output last month coincided with other data suggesting that the economy began 2012 with renewed vigor. Wholesale prices are tame. Demand for U.S. Treasury debt should help keep borrowing costs low. Even homebuilders are more optimistic.

Signs "that manufacturing in the U.S. is gaining global market share appears to be growing, and this could be an important dynamic supporting growth in 2012," said John Ryding of RDQ Economics.

Manufacturing rose 0.9 percent from November to December, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday. It was the biggest gain since December 2010.

Overall output at the nation's factories, mines and utilities grew 0.4 percent. Warm weather dampened demand for energy produced by utilities.

Over the past year, factory output has risen 3.7 percent. Factories benefited in particular in the second half of 2011 from several trends: People bought more cars. Businesses spent more on industrial machinery and computers before a tax incentive expired. And companies restocked their supplies after cutting them last summer.

Many economists say manufacturing output should expand further this year, though some expect the pace to slow mainly because of Europe's debt crisis.

Dan Meckstroth, chief economist at MAPI, a manufacturing research group, said there's still plenty of pent-up consumer demand for cars. That demand should keep production of cars and auto parts growing.

And high prices for oil, copper and other metals should boost growth in mining and drilling. That would lead to greater demand for drill pipes, large trucks used in mining and other gear, in the United States and overseas.

Another contributor to growth could be construction, which is showing signs of life as builders put up more apartments, office buildings and factories. That means construction firms need more manufactured goods, such as drywall, steel beams, glass and copper wires.

Last year's growth has also fueled more hiring. Factories added 23,000 jobs in December, the most since July. That helped reduce the unemployment rate to 8.5 percent, the lowest level in nearly three years.

Among the manufacturers faring better is Steris Corp., which makes sterilization equipment and other medical supplies. Hospitals and drug companies are buying more of the company's products.

Steris, based near Cleveland, says it has added 250 employees in the past 18 months and is still hiring. It has more than 5,000 employees globally, about half of them in the United States.

Steve Norton, a spokesman, said Steris has benefited from being part of a regional cluster of biomedical firms and research facilities. Some manufacturers in the region that once focused on auto parts are now also making components for medical devices, he noted.

"The Midwest continues to be a manufacturing leader," Norton said.

Still, Europe's debt crisis has begun to dampen demand for American exports. That trend, should it continue, could slow manufacturing and threaten growth this year.

That hasn't happened yet.

December's gains suggest the industry "is still resistant to the apparent slowdown in growth elsewhere, particularly in Europe," said Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist with Capital Economics.

Businesses are starting to see some relief from high energy and food prices, which should benefit consumers later this year.

The producer price index declined 0.1 percent in December, the Labor Department said. The index measures price changes before they reach consumers.

"Core" wholesale prices, which exclude food and energy costs, rose more sharply in December ? 0.3 percent. But economists downplayed the increase. They cited temporary factors that had pushed auto prices down in October and November.

Overall, wholesale prices are trending lower. They rose 4.8 percent in December compared with the same month a year ago, reflecting in part higher oil and other commodity prices. Even so, that was the slowest year-over-year increase since January.

Falling prices for oil and agricultural commodities have lowered the cost of food and energy. Gas prices have turned upward in recent months, but economists don't expect that to worsen inflation this year. That's because prices will likely be lower than last winter and spring, when political turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East sent prices up.

Lower wholesale costs mean manufacturers and retailers face less pressure to raise prices for consumers to maintain profits. That could keep consumer price inflation in check. Lower inflation also gives the Federal Reserve leeway to keep short-term interest rates low and take other steps, if necessary, to boost the economy.

Borrowing costs are likely to stay low next year, especially if U.S. Treasury debt remains in strong demand around the globe. That's because high demand for Treasurys drives their yields down. Those lower yields, in turn, help keep interest rates down on other loans throughout the economy.

Foreign holdings of U.S. Treasurys rose in November to a record $4.75 trillion, the Treasury Department said. U.S. government debt is still considered among the safest investments. And it has been in high demand as worries about Europe's debt crisis have intensified.

The dollar has strengthened in recent weeks, particularly against the euro. A stronger dollar makes imports cheaper and helps keep inflation in check.

In addition, lower rates on long-term Treasury debt tend to drive down mortgage rates. So far, super-low home-loan rates haven't given much life to the housing market. But they have made U.S. homebuilders slightly less pessimistic.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index rose in January for the fourth straight month, to its highest level since June 2007.

The reading remains far below levels that would suggest builders are optimistic about a turnaround. Homebuilders appear to be drawing optimism from rising interest among would-be buyers ? interest that builders hope will lead to higher sales.

___

AP Economics Writers Martin Crutsinger and Derek Kravitz contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-01-18-Economy/id-573ec2f50b11481a9f53236c783e52af

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