Thursday, February 28, 2013

Thirty Seconds To Mars To Launch New Single ... Into Outer Space

Band will send the first copy of 'Up In The Air' into orbit on board a SpaceX rocket.
By James Montgomery


30 Seconds To Mars' cover for "Up In The Air"
Photo: Jared Leto

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1702763/thirty-seconds-to-mars-up-in-the-air-outer-space.jhtml

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Eating junk food while pregnant may make your child a junk food addict

Feb. 28, 2013 ? Here's another reason why a healthy diet during pregnancy is critical to the future health of your children: New research published in the March 2013 issue of The FASEB Journal, suggests that pregnant mothers who consume junk food actually cause changes in the development of the opioid signaling pathway in the brains of their unborn children. This change results in the babies being less sensitive to opioids, which are released upon consumption of foods that are high in fat and sugar. In turn, these children, born with a higher "tolerance" to junk food need to eat more of it to achieve a "feel good" response.

"The results of this research will ultimately allow us to better inform pregnant women about the lasting effect their diet has on the development of their child's lifelong good preferences and risk of metabolic disease," said Beverly Muhlhausler, Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the FOODplus Research Centre at the School of Agriculture Food and Wine at The University of Adelaide in Adelaide, Australia. "Hopefully, this will encourage mothers to make healthier diet choices which will lead to healthier children."

To make this discovery, Muhlausler and colleagues studied the pups of two groups of rats, one of which had been fed a normal rat food and the other which had been fed a range of human "junk foods" during pregnancy and lactation. After weaning, the pups were given daily injections of an opioid receptor blocker, which blocks opioid signaling. Blocking opioid signaling lowers the intake of fat and sugar by preventing the release of dopamine. Results showed that the opioid receptor blocker was less effective at reducing fat and sugar intake in the pups of the junk food fed mothers, suggesting that the opioid signaling pathway in these offspring is less sensitive than for pups whose mothers are eating a standard rat feed.

"This study shows that addiction to junk food is true addiction." said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. "Junk food engages the same body chemistry as opium, morphine or heroin. Sad to say, junk food during pregnancy turns the kids into junk food junkies."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. J. R. Gugusheff, Z. Y. Ong, B. S. Muhlhausler. A maternal "junk-food" diet reduces sensitivity to the opioid antagonist naloxone in offspring postweaning. The FASEB Journal, 2012; DOI: 10.1096/fj.12-217653

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://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/S6mErJcaknI/130228103443.htm

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Engadget Eurocast 017 - 02.28.13

Engadget Eurocast 017 - 02.28.13

In a week that plays host to one of Europe's biggest tech shows, as you can imagine, there's a fair amount to talk about. Someone should probably do a podcast that covers these sort of things! Who would be more qualified, then, than our very own tech-loving Europe shift? Fear not then, as everything from Nokia's colorful new line up, LG's curious acquisition, to ASUS' even more curious naming convention, gets the Engadget treatment. All just a click away. Disfrutad!

Hosts: Dan Cooper, James Trew, Jamie Rigg

Producer: James Trew

Hear the Podcast

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/28/engadget-eurocast-017-02-28-13/

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Kim Kardashian Sex Tape: Saved by Porn Giant!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/02/kim-kardashian-sex-tape-saved-by-porn-giant/

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Dell Wireless Dock Offers Untethered Docking Experience ...

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Dell Wireless Dock Offers Untethered Docking ExperienceThere is a new wireless dock in tow, which is known as the Dell Wireless Dock that is touted by Dell (of course) to deliver best-in-class untethered docking experience alongside the Dell Latitude 6430u Ultrabook for speedy, flexible connectivity between devices and peripherals. The WiGig standard is being championed by Dell and Wilocity, where it ushers in a new age of mainstream wireless connectivity by boasting speeds of up to 10 times faster compared to normal Wi-Fi, not to mention being able to transmit high quality video streams without missing a beat.

The Dell Wireless Dock intends to spearhead the docking solution market by offering the latest multi-gigabit tri-band Wi-Fi standard (WiGig) which will also be compatible with the award-winning Dell Latitude 6430u Ultrabook, making it the ideal connectivity solution in conference rooms and classrooms, helping usher the world into a new world of wireless connectivity. Expect to pick up the Dell Wireless Dock for $249. [Press Release]

Related articles:
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Source: http://www.ubergizmo.com/2013/02/dell-wireless-dock-offers-untethered-docking-experience/

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Thousands jam St. Peter's for pope's last audience

VATICAN CITY (AP) ? Pope Benedict XVI greeted the Catholic masses in St. Peter's Square Wednesday for the last time before retiring, making several rounds of the square as crowds cheered wildly and stopping to kiss a half-dozen children brought up to him by his secretary.

Tens of thousands of people toting banners saying "Grazie!" ? "thank you" ? jammed the piazza to bid farewell to the pope at his final general audience ? the appointment he has kept each week to teach the world about the Catholic faith.

Pilgrims and curiosity-seekers picked spots along the main boulevard leading to the square to watch Wednesday's event on giant TV screens. Some 50,000 tickets were requested for Benedict's final master class, but Italian media estimated the number of people actually attending could be double that.

"It's difficult ? the emotion is so big," said Jan Marie, a 53-year-old Roman in his first years as a seminarian. "We came to support the pope's decision."

With chants of "Benedetto" erupting every so often, the mood was far more buoyant than during the pope's final Sunday blessing and recalled the jubilant turnouts that often accompanied him at World Youth Days and events involving his predecessor, Pope John Paul II.

Benedict on Thursday will become the first pope in 600 years to resign, a decision he said he took after realizing that, at 85, he simply didn't have the strength of mind or body to carry on. He will meet Thursday morning with cardinals for a final time, then fly by helicopter to the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo south of Rome.

There, at 8 p.m., the doors of the palazzo will close and the Swiss Guards in attendance will go off duty, their service protecting the head of the Catholic Church over ? for now.

Many of the cardinals who will choose Benedict's successor were in St. Peter's Square for his final audience, including retired Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony, object of a grass-roots campaign in the U.S. to persuade him to recuse himself for having covered up for sexually abusive priests. Mahony has said he will vote.

Vatican officials say cardinals will begin meeting on Monday to decide when to set the date for the conclave to elect the next pope.

But the rank-and-file in the crowd on Wednesday weren't so concerned with the future; they wanted to savor the final moments with the pope they have known for eight years.

"I came to thank him for the testimony that he has given the church," said Maria Cristina Chiarini, a 52-year-old homemaker who traveled by train early Wednesday from Lugo, near Ravenna, with some 60 members of her parish. "There's nostalgia, human nostalgia, but also comfort, because as a Christian we have hope. The Lord won't leave us without a guide."

___

Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/thousands-jam-st-peters-popes-last-audience-083419834.html

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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Chromebook Pixel review: Touchscreen may justify Google's $1,299 laptop

There's something magical about the Chromebook Pixel's display. You're so drawn in by its crispness that you want to press your hand against it. And when you finally give in to that urge ... you discover it's a touchscreen.

Woah.

But does that moment ? that instant when you instinctively touch a screen and it reacts the way your smartphone-obsessed brain expects ? merit paying $1,299 for a laptop that doesn't run Windows or OS X and is essentially just a hyper-evolved Web browser?

I could certainly justify the purchase to myself, because I live my life online. The only moments I truly leave my browser on any given day involve 10 or so minutes inside a proprietary Windows-only application I have to use for work. Otherwise the browser is it for me ? I can even edit photos with Photoshop's online service. And that means Chrome OS, the operating system Google put on the Pixel suits me just fine.

I don't mind if my applications reside on the Web and my data lives in the cloud, but that doesn't work for everyone. Some need software that doesn't have a Web version, some are without data connectivity too often, and so on. The Pixel isn't for those folks ? they can stop reading right here.

Those who prefer swimming in the open Web need to know about the Chromebook Pixel though.

Have I mentioned the screen? There's no photo I can offer that could do justice to the Pixel's screen, but if you've tried a newer iPhone, iPad, or an Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display, you'll understand. There are 239 pixels per inch (ppi) on the Pixel's 12.85-inch display ? which works out to about 4.3 million pixels ? so many that your eyes can't easily differentiate the individual glowing dots. (For comparison, bear in mind that the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display offers 227 ppi, the latest iPad has 264 ppi and the iPhone 5 checks in at 326 ppi.)

A Retina display on a laptop makes sense, but do people really also want multi-touch? Apple's late co-founder said no.

"We've thought about this years ago. We've done tons of user testing on this and it turns out it doesn't work," Jobs explained while a mockup of a MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive display appeared on the screen during a press event on Oct. 20, 2010. "Touch surfaces don't want to be vertical."

"After a short period of time, you start to fatigue. And after an extended period of time, your arm wants to fall off." Jobs added. "It doesn't work. It's ergonomically terrible."

Jobs was right ? I tried using just the touchscreen, no trackpad, and I nearly apologized to my weary limbs ? but Jobs, with all due respect, was also wrong. Using the touchscreen in combination with the trackpad is a fairly pleasant experience. There are moments when touching the screen feels natural. Tapping through photos, scrolling through documents, scrubbing through video, and so on. Once you get acclimated to the fact that your laptop now responds to touch the way a phone or tablet might, you instinctively reach out at certain times. Otherwise, you just stick to the trackpad. It's a great balance.

Mind you, neither the Web nor the browser-based Chrome OS have become finger-friendly overnight. Buttons and links are still itty-bitty. It's a trackpad-and-mouse world and the Pixel just lives in it. I must admit that I have inadvertently scrolled or selected something while simply trying to point out an item on my screen to someone.

Thanks to my habit of alternating between lotions and hand sanitizer, every phone I handle is left with so many smudges on its screen that you'd think it was attacked by a sticky-handed toddler, but, strangely enough, the Pixel's screen seemed to be impervious to smudging during the time I used it.

Like a sneaky gray kitten, the Pixel runs so quietly that you might forget that it's there. And even more importantly: No matter how many tabs or windows are open, the laptop runs smoothly.

The keyboard will feel familiar to those who, like me, are used to Apple's. It is a bit firmer though, in the most satisfying of ways. (And yes, like other Chromebooks, the Pixel's Caps Lock key is replaced by a handy-dandy Search key.)

The Pixel's speakers are surprisingly loud and clear. You wouldn't expect the speakers on a laptop of this size to pack quite so much oomph. The rest of the laptop's body is equally impressive. The Pixel's got an anodized aluminium alloy body and it keeps vents, screws, and speakers as hidden as possible. No distractions ? just a slick, clean exterior hiding a dual-core 1.8GHz processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of solid state storage (64GB if you opt for the LTE-enabled model), a 720p webcam, and all the usual laptop guts.

"If you love the Pixel so much, why don't you just marry it? You could be Rosa Golijan-Pixel," someone out there is shouting at this point. Like I said, buddy, this laptop's certainly not for everyone. Are you able to live in the browser and cloud?

And if you are sold on the Chrome OS, does having a touchscreen with an high pixel-density valuable justify the Pixel's high price? After all, Acer's Chromebook, with its dated hardware and clunky exterior, sells for a budget-minded $199.

Starting at $1,299, the Chromebook Pixel is considerably more of an investment. And you can step up to an LTE-enabled model with 64GB of solid state memory for $1,449. Both models come with one terabyte of Google Drive cloud storage for three years and 12 free GoGo in-flight Internet passes. The LTE-enabled model also comes with a free 100MB of data through Verizon Wireless per month for two years.

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

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/chromebook-pixel-review-sweet-touchscreen-may-justify-googles-1-299-1C8531715

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Liberals Want the Government to Help You "Manage" Your 401(k ...

RUSH: Way, way back -- many, many moons ago -- I, El Rushbo, told you that the federal government might someday target your 401(k). It's a huge pile of money if you add everybody's 401(k) plans together. It's a huge pile of money. The government needs money, we're deeply in debt, and they could do any number of things. They could buy your 401(k) from you. In fact, there was a female professor at some school (I forget her name right now) who had this idea that the government take your IRA.

Because it really isn't fair. The government's losing money! There ought not be this pretax deduction that people get. You know, the way you fund your 401(k) is, off the top, you put so much in tax-free. That reduces your taxable income, so you get a tax cut. Yeah, Teresa Ghilarducci was her name. It was just not fair. It wasn't fair. The government should never have made that deal because they're really short-changing themselves on tax revenue.

So her plan, off the top of my head, was basically to commandeer your 401(k) and give you the current equivalent amount and then guarantee you a payout. She was from the New School in New York. They brought her up for hearings and testimony. They would commandeer your account and then give you the equivalent and then promise you 3% annual increases and so forth. But, bye-bye tax deduction and all of that. I remember George Miller, congressman from California, loved the idea.

Because, you know, it was just unfair that the government was not collecting that tax money, and it was a mistake they made. "It was a good idea when they started it," everybody said. "Oh, yeah, because we weren't saving enough, and this was an inspiration for people to save." You get to choose a certain amount of money up to a maximum from your salary/paycheck every week. That goes to your 401(k), and you don't pay any tax on it until it matures and then you start living off of it.

Unless you take it out earlier than you are contracted to, in which case you face penalties. Well, from Bloomberg News: "The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is weighing whether it should take on a role in helping Americans manage the $19.4 trillion they have put into retirement savings, a move that would be the agency's first foray into consumer investments. 'That's one of the things we've been exploring and are interested in in terms of whether and what authority we have,' bureau director Richard Cordray said in an interview.

"He didn't provide additional details. The bureau's core concern is that many Americans, notably those from the retiring Baby Boom generation, may fall prey to financial scams, according to three people briefed on the CFPB's deliberations who asked not to be named because the matter is still under discussion. The retirement savings business in the US is dominated by a group of companies that handle record-keeping and management of investments ... 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts.

"The group includes Fidelity Investments, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Charles Schwab Corp.," and it mentions the others. "The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Labor are the main regulators of US retirement savings vehicles and funds. However, the consumer bureau -- established by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act -- sees itself as a potential catalyst for promoting a coherent policy across the government, the people said." Now, I'm gonna tell you what this is a forerunner to.

This Consumer Bureau set up by Dodd-Frank wants to claim jurisdiction over 401(k)s. "The bureau could claim jurisdiction through its Office for Older Americans..." There actually is a bureaucracy called that, the Office for Older Americans, "which was established by Dodd-Frank with a mandate to improve financial literacy. It is run by Hubert H. Humphrey III," ranking member of the ruling class, "the former attorney general of Minnesota," and the son of the former Democrat presidential candidate.

So you add Teresa Ghilarducci of the New School and her plan for IRAs, and now 401(k)s -- and then you realize there's $19 trillion there, and we're running a national debt of $17 trillion. You add to that the fact that the government thinks that they screwed themselves when they created IRAs and 401(k)s in the first place, and you can see where this might be going. That money may not be yours at some point down the road, because the government screwed themselves and they shoulda never done this.

They need money, and this is not the first time this has come up. The Reverend Jackson, you know, has made a big push for pension money. "All that money could be used for repar -- uh, redistribution." So I'm telling you this if you have some money saved up in an IRA or a 401(k). There's nothing imminent here, but these are the telltale signs. They're right there on the horizon -- and, remember, this bunch is cash strapped.

We also have a regime who thinks that you don't know what to do with your money. We have a regime and a Democrat Party thinks you don't know what to do with your guns. You're not the best person to be in charge of your life. You're not really qualified to make the best decisions for you and your family, and they are. They are total statists. They believe in the government running everything. They believe in your incompetence to manage your own affairs.

Source: http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2013/02/25/liberals_want_the_government_to_help_you_manage_your_401_k

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Monday, February 25, 2013

Ranking the free agents

The Scouting Combine is all the rage right now, but it's just a steppingstone toward the late-April NFL draft. While forty times and vertical leaps are great fun, an NFL steppingstone that will impact draft results to a much greater extent than the Underwear Olympics is free agency. And it kicks off in just over two weeks.

Here is my ranking of this year's top-50 NFL Free Agents, with guesses on where each player will land, and for roughly how much.

1. Quarterback Joe Flacco -- The Ravens want it. Flacco wants it. And the amount of money is no longer a topic of debate. Flacco will average $20 million on his forthcoming extension, leaving only length and structure to be negotiated. A tag will be wielded if it comes to that, but look for Ozzie Newsome to wrap this thing up within the week, allowing the Ravens' offseason to move forward.

Free Agent Forecast: Ravens on a seven-year, $140 million contract.

2. Left tackle Ryan Clady -- VP of Football Operations John Elway has made it clear Clady isn't going anywhere. He'll be slapped with the franchise tag, and the Broncos will explore something more long term when Clady proves he's fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery.

Free Agent Forecast: Broncos via the franchise tag.

3. Defensive end Cliff Avril -- Avril projects to break the bank in free agency because he's the top natural pass rusher available, just about to turn 27, and offers scheme versatility. He'll appeal to 4-3 and 3-4 clubs alike. With 39.5 sacks, 13 pass breakups, and 16 forced fumbles over the past five seasons, Avril disrupts offenses in a variety of ways. Indy is flush with salary cap space, and Avril's versatility-athleticism combo would be put to great use in Chuck Pagano's hybrid defense.

Free Agent Forecast: Colts on a five-year, $64 million contract.

4. Cornerback Aqib Talib -- The Patriots are rolling the dice a bit with Talib, but they could emerge looking awfully smart. They'll let him hit the market, gambling that corner-needy teams will instead focus on players with cleaner off-field histories at free agency's deepest position. Expect Talib to be disappointed with offers elsewhere and ultimately re-up in Foxboro at a team-friendly rate.

Free Agent Forecast: Patriots on a four-year, $30 million contract.

5. Outside linebacker Paul Kruger -- Kruger's free agency buzz was red hot just ahead of and following Super Bowl 47, but it's come back to Earth the past few weeks. While Kruger is a good player and will command a pretty penny, he's a complementary as opposed to franchise pass rusher. He's Brian Robison, and he's going to get paid like Jared Allen. In Cleveland, Kruger could still complete a formidable rush 'backer duo with Jabaal Sheard in Ray Horton's new 3-4 defense.

Free Agent Forecast: Browns on a five-year, $60 million contract.

6. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe -- All signs out of Indianapolis point to Bowe getting a second straight franchise tag. Teams such as the Bills and Vikings would love to get their hands on a receiver like Bowe, but it's not happening. Look for the Chiefs to let Branden Albert walk, tag Bowe, and target a long-term extension worth roughly $11 million annually down the road. Alex Smith is going to be Kansas City?s quarterback, and an offensive tackle figures to be the No. 1 pick.

Free Agent Forecast: Chiefs via the franchise tag.

7. Wide receiver Mike Wallace -- Both the Miami Herald and South Florida Sun-Sentinel have reported that Wallace tops GM Jeff Ireland's free-agent wish list. "60 Minutes" would give Ryan Tannehill a playmaker on the perimeter capable of both catching bombs and attracting frequent double coverage. Signing Wallace could open up Miami's offense underneath.

Free Agent Forecast: Dolphins on a four-year, $50 million contract.

8. Safety Jairus Byrd -- Adept in center-field coverage and a hawk on the ball, Byrd has developed into perhaps the premier free safety in football, forcing 28 turnovers through four NFL seasons. The Bills could use the franchise tag as a steppingstone in long-term contract talks. Soon, Byrd will join Eric Berry, Troy Polamalu, and Eric Weddle as one of the NFL's highest paid safeties.

Free Agent Forecast: Bills via the franchise tag.

9. Defensive tackle Henry Melton -- The surest way to torpedo an opposing passing game is to attack it with interior pressure. Melton does that like a rolling ball of butcher knives from his three-technique tackle position, registering 13 sacks over the past two seasons and getting better every year. The 2013 franchise number for interior defensive linemen costs a reasonable $8.306 million.

Free Agent Forecast: Bears via the franchise tag.

10. Safety Dashon Goldson -- If Byrd is the top ballhawk in the game, Goldson might be the premier pure cover safety. Toward the end of the season, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio cost the Niners some leverage by publicly acknowledging Goldson was "right up there" with Ed Reed. Goldson wanted Eric Weddle money last offseason. He may get more after a career-best year.

Free Agent Forecast: 49ers on a five-year, $42 million contract.

11. Outside linebacker Anthony Spencer -- Sporting the Cowboys' franchise tag in 2012, Spencer delivered career bests in tackles (95) and sacks (11). Despite changing its defensive alignment from 3-4 to 4-3, Dallas has made no bones about wanting Spencer back. They could clear enough space to make it happen by signing Tony Romo to an extension, which they already plan to do.

Free Agent Forecast: Cowboys on a four-year, $44 million contract.

12. Tight end Tony Gonzalez -- Gonzalez seemed dead set on retirement late in the 2012 season, but ESPN's Ed Werder has since reported the future Hall of Famer is "wavering" and may return for one more Super Bowl run. Although he is 37 years old, Gonzo has plenty of good football left, coming off a 93-reception season. Expect the allure of a championship to bring Gonzalez back.

Free Agent Forecast: Falcons on a one-year, $7 million contract.

13. Defensive tackle Desmond Bryant -- Flying under the radar only because he played on a bad team, Bryant has highly impressive game tape and possesses scheme versatility at 6-foot-6, 300. With nine sacks, two forced fumbles, and productive starts at both tackle and end the past two seasons, 27-year-old Bryant was this year's sleeper for a white-hot market before last week's arrest. Pete Carroll's forgiving Seahawks aren't afraid to take chances on players, and they were looking for an interior pass rusher like this when they signed Jason Jones last spring.

Free Agent Forecast: Seahawks on a five-year, $25 million contract.

14. Left tackle Branden Albert -- At the Scouting Combine, coach Andy Reid greased the skids for Albert's departure by calling a 2012 back issue that only cost him three games "a fairly significant injury." Significant or not, the comments were telling. Bears GM Phil Emery's team is needy at tackle, and Albert was drafted by the Chiefs in Emery?s first year as Kansas City's college scouting director.

Free Agent Forecast: Bears on a five-year, $37 million contract.

15. Offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer -- Primarily a right tackle in New England, 28-year-old Vollmer's value is enhanced by his capability of adequately protecting the blind side. Lean and athletic at 6-foot-8, 315, Vollmer would be coveted on the market even after arthroscopic knee surgery. The Pats are unlikely to let him get there, prioritizing Vollmer over Talib and Wes Welker.

Free Agent Forecast: Patriots on a five-year, $36 million contract.

16. Defensive end Michael Johnson -- In a breakout contract year, Johnson amassed 11.5 sacks -- the same amount he totaled across his first three seasons in the league. The fact that Johnson was an underachiever before 2012 suggests the Bengals would be savvy to keep him in another contract year. They could do so with the franchise tag, worth $10.98 million at defensive end.

Free Agent Forecast: Bengals via the franchise tag.

17. Wide receiver Wes Welker -- Although they eventually leaned on him due to Aaron Hernandez and Julian Edelman's injuries, the Pats opened last season essentially phasing Welker out of their offense. It's probably a sign of things to come. Welker is 32 and not under consideration for New England's franchise tag. The Patriots simply don't value him as highly as it seems like they should.

Free Agent Forecast: Bears on a three-year, $27 million contract.

18. Running back Steven Jackson -- Jackson will void his $7 million player option for 2013, but the Rams still view him as a key component in their offense. The expectation here is that S-Jax signs a deal to finish his career in St. Louis. If he doesn't, the Falcons, Packers, Steelers, and Broncos would be sensible suitors. Jackson would surely look at playoff-contending teams first.

Free Agent Forecast: Rams on a three-year, $17.5 million contract.

19. Cornerback Sean Smith -- The Miami Herald is South Florida's most plugged-in paper and vehemently insists Smith won't be franchise tagged. Look for Smith to hit the market targeting $8 million per year. In Jacksonville, new coach Gus Bradley is in pursuit of big, physical corners.

Free Agent Forecast: Jaguars on a four-year, $32 million contract.

20. Right tackle Andre Smith -- Smith would be an interesting case in free agency. He has a worrisome history of weight issues, but played like the best right tackle in football last season. While the Bengals don't always pony up for free agents, they realize Smith is critical in their offense. They may let him reach the market initially, then re-sign him if bidding is lukewarm.

Free Agent Forecast: Bengals on a six-year, $39 million contract.

The Scouting Combine is all the rage right now, but it's just a steppingstone toward the late-April NFL draft. While forty times and vertical leaps are great fun, an NFL steppingstone that will impact draft results to a much greater extent than the Underwear Olympics is free agency. And it kicks off in just over two weeks.

Here is my ranking of this year's top-50 NFL Free Agents, with guesses on where each player will land, and for roughly how much.

1. Quarterback Joe Flacco -- The Ravens want it. Flacco wants it. And the amount of money is no longer a topic of debate. Flacco will average $20 million on his forthcoming extension, leaving only length and structure to be negotiated. A tag will be wielded if it comes to that, but look for Ozzie Newsome to wrap this thing up within the week, allowing the Ravens' offseason to move forward.

Free Agent Forecast: Ravens on a seven-year, $140 million contract.

2. Left tackle Ryan Clady -- VP of Football Operations John Elway has made it clear Clady isn't going anywhere. He'll be slapped with the franchise tag, and the Broncos will explore something more long term when Clady proves he's fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery.

Free Agent Forecast: Broncos via the franchise tag.

3. Defensive end Cliff Avril -- Avril projects to break the bank in free agency because he's the top natural pass rusher available, just about to turn 27, and offers scheme versatility. He'll appeal to 4-3 and 3-4 clubs alike. With 39.5 sacks, 13 pass breakups, and 16 forced fumbles over the past five seasons, Avril disrupts offenses in a variety of ways. Indy is flush with salary cap space, and Avril's versatility-athleticism combo would be put to great use in Chuck Pagano's hybrid defense.

Free Agent Forecast: Colts on a five-year, $64 million contract.

4. Cornerback Aqib Talib -- The Patriots are rolling the dice a bit with Talib, but they could emerge looking awfully smart. They'll let him hit the market, gambling that corner-needy teams will instead focus on players with cleaner off-field histories at free agency's deepest position. Expect Talib to be disappointed with offers elsewhere and ultimately re-up in Foxboro at a team-friendly rate.

Free Agent Forecast: Patriots on a four-year, $30 million contract.

5. Outside linebacker Paul Kruger -- Kruger's free agency buzz was red hot just ahead of and following Super Bowl 47, but it's come back to Earth the past few weeks. While Kruger is a good player and will command a pretty penny, he's a complementary as opposed to franchise pass rusher. He's Brian Robison, and he's going to get paid like Jared Allen. In Cleveland, Kruger could still complete a formidable rush 'backer duo with Jabaal Sheard in Ray Horton's new 3-4 defense.

Free Agent Forecast: Browns on a five-year, $60 million contract.

6. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe -- All signs out of Indianapolis point to Bowe getting a second straight franchise tag. Teams such as the Bills and Vikings would love to get their hands on a receiver like Bowe, but it's not happening. Look for the Chiefs to let Branden Albert walk, tag Bowe, and target a long-term extension worth roughly $11 million annually down the road. Alex Smith is going to be Kansas City?s quarterback, and an offensive tackle figures to be the No. 1 pick.

Free Agent Forecast: Chiefs via the franchise tag.

7. Wide receiver Mike Wallace -- Both the Miami Herald and South Florida Sun-Sentinel have reported that Wallace tops GM Jeff Ireland's free-agent wish list. "60 Minutes" would give Ryan Tannehill a playmaker on the perimeter capable of both catching bombs and attracting frequent double coverage. Signing Wallace could open up Miami's offense underneath.

Free Agent Forecast: Dolphins on a four-year, $50 million contract.

8. Safety Jairus Byrd -- Adept in center-field coverage and a hawk on the ball, Byrd has developed into perhaps the premier free safety in football, forcing 28 turnovers through four NFL seasons. The Bills could use the franchise tag as a steppingstone in long-term contract talks. Soon, Byrd will join Eric Berry, Troy Polamalu, and Eric Weddle as one of the NFL's highest paid safeties.

Free Agent Forecast: Bills via the franchise tag.

9. Defensive tackle Henry Melton -- The surest way to torpedo an opposing passing game is to attack it with interior pressure. Melton does that like a rolling ball of butcher knives from his three-technique tackle position, registering 13 sacks over the past two seasons and getting better every year. The 2013 franchise number for interior defensive linemen costs a reasonable $8.306 million.

Free Agent Forecast: Bears via the franchise tag.

10. Safety Dashon Goldson -- If Byrd is the top ballhawk in the game, Goldson might be the premier pure cover safety. Toward the end of the season, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio cost the Niners some leverage by publicly acknowledging Goldson was "right up there" with Ed Reed. Goldson wanted Eric Weddle money last offseason. He may get more after a career-best year.

Free Agent Forecast: 49ers on a five-year, $42 million contract.

11. Outside linebacker Anthony Spencer -- Sporting the Cowboys' franchise tag in 2012, Spencer delivered career bests in tackles (95) and sacks (11). Despite changing its defensive alignment from 3-4 to 4-3, Dallas has made no bones about wanting Spencer back. They could clear enough space to make it happen by signing Tony Romo to an extension, which they already plan to do.

Free Agent Forecast: Cowboys on a four-year, $44 million contract.

12. Tight end Tony Gonzalez -- Gonzalez seemed dead set on retirement late in the 2012 season, but ESPN's Ed Werder has since reported the future Hall of Famer is "wavering" and may return for one more Super Bowl run. Although he is 37 years old, Gonzo has plenty of good football left, coming off a 93-reception season. Expect the allure of a championship to bring Gonzalez back.

Free Agent Forecast: Falcons on a one-year, $7 million contract.

13. Defensive tackle Desmond Bryant -- Flying under the radar only because he played on a bad team, Bryant has highly impressive game tape and possesses scheme versatility at 6-foot-6, 300. With nine sacks, two forced fumbles, and productive starts at both tackle and end the past two seasons, 27-year-old Bryant was this year's sleeper for a white-hot market before last week's arrest. Pete Carroll's forgiving Seahawks aren't afraid to take chances on players, and they were looking for an interior pass rusher like this when they signed Jason Jones last spring.

Free Agent Forecast: Seahawks on a five-year, $25 million contract.

14. Left tackle Branden Albert -- At the Scouting Combine, coach Andy Reid greased the skids for Albert's departure by calling a 2012 back issue that only cost him three games "a fairly significant injury." Significant or not, the comments were telling. Bears GM Phil Emery's team is needy at tackle, and Albert was drafted by the Chiefs in Emery?s first year as Kansas City's college scouting director.

Free Agent Forecast: Bears on a five-year, $37 million contract.

15. Offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer -- Primarily a right tackle in New England, 28-year-old Vollmer's value is enhanced by his capability of adequately protecting the blind side. Lean and athletic at 6-foot-8, 315, Vollmer would be coveted on the market even after arthroscopic knee surgery. The Pats are unlikely to let him get there, prioritizing Vollmer over Talib and Wes Welker.

Free Agent Forecast: Patriots on a five-year, $36 million contract.

16. Defensive end Michael Johnson -- In a breakout contract year, Johnson amassed 11.5 sacks -- the same amount he totaled across his first three seasons in the league. The fact that Johnson was an underachiever before 2012 suggests the Bengals would be savvy to keep him in another contract year. They could do so with the franchise tag, worth $10.98 million at defensive end.

Free Agent Forecast: Bengals via the franchise tag.

17. Wide receiver Wes Welker -- Although they eventually leaned on him due to Aaron Hernandez and Julian Edelman's injuries, the Pats opened last season essentially phasing Welker out of their offense. It's probably a sign of things to come. Welker is 32 and not under consideration for New England's franchise tag. The Patriots simply don't value him as highly as it seems like they should.

Free Agent Forecast: Bears on a three-year, $27 million contract.

18. Running back Steven Jackson -- Jackson will void his $7 million player option for 2013, but the Rams still view him as a key component in their offense. The expectation here is that S-Jax signs a deal to finish his career in St. Louis. If he doesn't, the Falcons, Packers, Steelers, and Broncos would be sensible suitors. Jackson would surely look at playoff-contending teams first.

Free Agent Forecast: Rams on a three-year, $17.5 million contract.

19. Cornerback Sean Smith -- The Miami Herald is South Florida's most plugged-in paper and vehemently insists Smith won't be franchise tagged. Look for Smith to hit the market targeting $8 million per year. In Jacksonville, new coach Gus Bradley is in pursuit of big, physical corners.

Free Agent Forecast: Jaguars on a four-year, $32 million contract.

20. Right tackle Andre Smith -- Smith would be an interesting case in free agency. He has a worrisome history of weight issues, but played like the best right tackle in football last season. While the Bengals don't always pony up for free agents, they realize Smith is critical in their offense. They may let him reach the market initially, then re-sign him if bidding is lukewarm.

Free Agent Forecast: Bengals on a six-year, $39 million contract.


21. Left tackle Jake Long -- This year's free-agent tackle class is incredibly deep, and there are three top-ten left tackle picks in the draft. The result is a buyer's market, where veterans perhaps past their primes like Long will receive disappointing offers. Expect Long's price tag to drop after waiting a day or three in free agency, and the Dolphins to re-sign him at a club-friendly rate.

Free Agent Forecast: Dolphins on a five-year, $37.5 million contract.

22. Cornerback Brent Grimes -- Before Grimes tore his Achilles' early last September, he had quietly emerged as a top-five NFL corner. By all accounts, Grimes' recovery has gone smoothly and he's now performing strenuous workouts on land. Turning 30 this July, Grimes remains a red-light injury risk and will probably have to accept a short-term, incentive-laden deal. The Falcons know Grimes best and could clear enough cap space to re-sign him by cutting Dunta Robinson.

Free Agent Forecast: Falcons on a one-year, $7.5 million contract.

23. Guard Andy Levitre -- Levitre and Louis Vasquez are the cream of the crop in a top-heavy free-agent guard class, and Levitre is better than Vasquez. 27 in May, Levitre is young and versatile, capable of starting at any of the three interior line spots as well as tackle in a pinch. Ex-Bills offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins is now on the Lions' staff, and Detroit is needy at guard.

Free Agent Forecast: Lions on a six-year, $38 million contract.

24. Cornerback Derek Cox -- Despite his client's laundry list of durability woes, Cox's agent expects a "vigorous" market for the 26-year-old corner. Per the agent, Cox permitted a 69.0 passer rating last season, better than more heralded CBs Talib (98.7), Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (87.7), and Sean Smith (85.1). Cox and his agent may be slightly disappointed, but they'll get a solid deal. Broncos DC Jack Del Rio knows Cox well from their Jacksonville days.

Free Agent Forecast: Broncos on a four-year, $28 million contract.

25. Strong safety William Moore -- Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan made Moore a featured player in his first season with Atlanta. Moore responded with a breakout year, setting a career high in tackles (75) and intercepting four balls. While the Falcons seem unlikely to slap Moore with the franchise tag, re-signing him is an obvious priority and they are likely to get a deal done. At $6.65 million annually, Tyvon Branch's 2012 contract figures to be a starting point in negotiations.

Free Agent Forecast: Falcons on a five-year, $33.5 million contract.

26. Wide receiver Greg Jennings -- If Jennings truly believes he's worth $14 million annually -- as has been reported -- he'll be sorely disappointed. Going on age 30 with 11 missed games the past two seasons, Jennings would do well to surpass Reggie Wayne's three-year, $17.5 million deal. He probably will, but not by much. Minnesota is desperate for an established, playmaking receiver.

Free Agent Forecast: Vikings on a four-year, $25 million contract.

27. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora -- Still an effective situational pass rusher at age 31, Umenyiora registered six sacks and two forced fumbles last season while playing 61 percent of the Giants' defensive snaps. The Bucs are starving for an improved pass rush, and Osi is familiar with Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan from his five-year stint (2005-09) on the Giants' staff.

Free Agent Forecast: Buccaneers on a three-year, $20 million contract.

28. Defensive end Michael Bennett -- Bennett is a complementary-type pass rusher, but will be coveted by teams that run 4-3 defenses because he can affect the offense from both left end and tackle. At 6-foot-4, 274, he's like a poor man's Justin Tuck. 27-year-old Bennett is coming off career bests in tackles (41), sacks (9), and forced fumbles (3). The cap-rich Bucs not only need to re-sign Bennett, they need to add another outside-edge rusher to join him. (See Umenyiora.)

Free Agent Forecast: Buccaneers on a five-year, $36 million contract.

29. Left tackle Will Beatty -- Gifted athletically and 28 years old, Beatty graded out as a top-ten left tackle in Pro Football Focus' 2012 ratings and is in the midst of his prime. The Giants aren't willing to pay Beatty franchise-tag money, but do want to complete a long-term deal. Look for the G-Men to get Beatty re-signed without breaking the bank. About $6.5 million annually ought to get it done.

Free Agent Forecast: Giants on a five-year, $32.5 million contract.

30. Wide receiver Danny Amendola -- If Amendola hits the market, expect the Broncos and Patriots to show interest. More likely, the Rams will identify him as a core offensive player and make a competitive offer closer to the eve of free agency. Amendola is St. Louis' only reliable on-field receiver, and his 20 missed games over the past two seasons should bring down his price.

Free Agent Forecast: Rams on a three-year, $18.5 million contract.

31. Right tackle Phil Loadholt -- Vikings GM Rick Spielman realizes Loadholt's worth. Minnesota plays run-first offense, and Loadholt is a crucial puzzle piece as a 343-pound mauler. The sides have discussed an extension off and on since last fall. 27 and coming off a career-best season, Loadholt may use Doug Free's four-year, $32 million deal as a jump-off point in negotiations.

Free Agent Forecast: Vikings on a three-year, $27 million contract.

32. Free safety Ed Reed -- Reed played last season on a $7.2 million salary. If he really wants another Super Bowl ring, he'll have to take less. Going on 35 and entrenched in his decline phase, Reed may only have a year or two left. A mutual admirer of Pats coach Bill Belichick, Reed spoke of signing with New England in January and there's a good chance that dream will become reality.

Free Agent Forecast: Patriots on a one-year, $5.5 million contract.

33. Defensive tackle Randy Starks -- Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland conceded at the Combine that he's "likely" to wield the franchise tag ahead of next Monday's deadline. Sean Smith won't get it, and neither will Jake Long. At $8.306 million, the defensive tackle franchise number would be more cost effective than Smith and Long's positions, and a sensible way of retaining 29-year-old Starks.

Free Agent Forecast: Dolphins via the franchise tag.

34. Guard Louis Vasquez -- The Chargers made overtures to Vasquez at the Combine, identifying him as a priority to keep on an otherwise poorly-assembled offensive line. Expect the sides to hammer out a deal worth over $6 million annually. San Diego can't afford to let him get away.

Free Agent Forecast: Chargers on a seven-year, $44 million contract.

35. Tight end Martellus Bennett -- Bennett fit the Giants well in 2012, flashing Pro Bowl-caliber ability when he was healthy and the offense clicked. John Carlson's $25 million over five years should be a baseline in negotiations. Bennett is only 26 and could bet on himself in the short term.

Free Agent Forecast: Giants on a three-year, $16 million contract.

36. Wide receiver Brian Hartline -- Hartline falls into tier two of this year's receiver free-agency class; in the Danny Amendola group behind Bowe, Wallace, and Jennings. Teams around the league realize Hartline is only a competitive No. 2 receiver, but his $6 million-per-year target price is not unreasonable. The Dolphins want Hartline back, and they have ample money to keep him.

Free Agent Forecast: Dolphins on a three-year, $18 million contract.

37. Tight end Dustin Keller -- The Jets can't afford to retain Keller, and he's destined for the open market. Last year's injuries may depress Keller's value some, even if he'll be the premier seam-stretching tight end available with Jared Cook returning to Nashville on the franchise tag. Reunited with Brian Schottenheimer, the Rams could pair Keller with Lance Kendricks in two-tight end sets.

Free Agent Forecast: Rams on a four-year, $22 million contract.

38. Defensive end Dwight Freeney -- 33 and best suited for a specialist's role on limited snaps, Freeney can still bring heat on passing downs as a "wave" rusher. He could be a short-term fix for a Seattle team needing pass-rushing reinforcements as Chris Clemons recovers from a torn ACL.

Free Agent Forecast: Seahawks on a two-year, $10 million contract.

39. Running back Reggie Bush -- Although Bush didn't embarrass himself as the Dolphins' feature back the past two seasons, NFL teams still envision him as a "space" player who's at his best on limited touches, mostly in the pass game. The Lions badly need to add juice to their backfield, and Bush's fit would be ideal in the league's pass-heaviest offense. He's not going to break the bank.

Free Agent Forecast: Lions on a four-year, $16.5 million contract.

40. Left tackle Sam Baker -- Baker is coming off a career year, but past back issues will concern tackle-needy clubs, and his value will be further depressed by a rich market at his position. The Falcons would be smart to let Baker reach free agency unsigned, because he'd likely come back willing to take less money. It's safe to say the Sam Baker "sweepstakes" would not be fierce.

Free Agent Forecast: Falcons on a five-year, $27 million contract.

41. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie -- Rodgers-Cromartie is a maddeningly poor tackler and returning from an inconsistent year in coverage, but he oozes talent and is only 27 years old. "DRC" had the best season of his career in 2009 under then-Cardinals defensive coordinator Billy Davis. Davis just so happens to be running Chip Kelly's defense in Philly now.

Free Agent Forecast: Eagles on a three-year, $17 million contract.

42. Cornerback Keenan Lewis -- Lewis took off in 2012, playing physical and consistent coverage and tackling efficiently opposite Ike Taylor for the Steelers' top-ranked pass defense. Pittsburgh now lacks the financial means to retain Lewis, who entered the league when Ray Horton was the Steelers' defensive backs coach. Horton is now coordinating the division-rival Browns defense.

Free Agent Forecast: Browns on a five-year, $36 million contract.

43. Cornerback Chris Houston -- Much better suited as a No. 2 than No. 1 corner, Houston has nevertheless spent the past three seasons in the latter role with Detroit. Unfortunately for Houston, he's another middling option in a free-agent cornerback class full of No. 2s. Expect him to re-sign affordably with the Lions, and GM Martin Mayhew to target a future No. 1 in April's draft.

Free Agent Forecast: Lions on a two-year, $11.5 million contract.

44. Defensive tackle Jason Jones -- Jones never really found a home in Seattle's 2012 defense, playing under 30 percent of the defensive snaps and notching three sacks as an interior pocket pusher off the bench. If he's healthy, Jones is capable of injecting explosive rush ability into a defensive front seven. Old Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is now Jacksonville's head coach, and the Jaguars are desperate for pass rushers both inside and off the outside edge.

Free Agent Forecast: Jaguars on a three-year, $12 million contract.

45. Right tackle Gosder Cherilus -- Cherilus was arguably Detroit's best offensive lineman in 2012, but he's a right-tackle only with a long history of knee problems and no longer part of the Lions' long-term plans. Cherilus will likely be viewed on the open market as a short-term fix. The Texans make sense as a landing spot because their primary weakness up front is right tackle.

Free Agent Forecast: Texans on a two-year, $10.5 million contract.

46. Free safety Louis Delmas -- Delmas would be much higher on this list if not for persistent injuries. A difference maker when in the lineup, Delmas has missed 13 games the past two seasons due to knee and groin surgeries. Delmas hasn't yet turned 26, so he could pursue a one-year, prove-it deal to display durability before re-testing free agency in 2014. The Chiefs are needy at free safety across from Eric Berry and should be willing to give Delmas a shot.

Free Agent Forecast: Chiefs on a one-year, $5 million contract.

47. Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton -- Knighton never met expectations in Jacksonville, but he's a 340-pound 26-year-old long on run-clogging potential. A one-year, prove-it deal with the 2014 market in mind might serve Knighton best in the big picture. Denver needs an anchor for its defense, and coordinator Jack Del Rio was Knighton's head coach for three years with the Jags.

Free Agent Forecast: Broncos on a one-year, $4.75 million contract.

48. Linebacker Daryl Smith -- Smith is coming off a lost season due to injury, but should have quality football left at age 31. His "SAM" linebacker position is also critical in new coach Gus Bradley's 4-3. Look for the sides to reunite and career Jaguar Smith to finish things up in Jacksonville.

Free Agent Forecast: Jaguars on a three-year, $15 million contract.

49. Tight end Jared Cook -- Cook played roughly 60 percent of his 2012 snaps lined up in the slot or out wide. He wants to be franchise tagged at the wide receiver number of $10.5 million. The Titans prefer him at the tight end number ($5.962 million), and the sides figure to agree to meet somewhere in the middle. Tennessee's coaches and front office seem dead set on keeping Cook.

Free Agent Forecast: Titans via the franchise tag.

50. Cornerback Antoine Cason -- Although susceptible deep, 26-year-old Cason can make plays on the football and offers impressive corner size at 6-foot-1, 195. Indianapolis is rich on salary cap space and in the market for a bookend across from Vontae Davis. Cason is young, should be relatively affordable, and fits defensive-minded coach Chuck Pagano's press coverage scheme.

Free Agent Forecast: Colts on a three-year, $16.5 million contract.

Best of the Rest Free Agents: Kenny Phillips, Connor Barwin, Israel Idonije, Rashard Mendenhall, Bradley Fletcher, Glenn Dorsey, Jermon Bushrod, Bryant McKinnie, Cary Williams, Richard Seymour, Matt Moore, Fred Davis, Ahmad Bradshaw, Mike Jenkins, James Casey, Brandon Moore, Ronde Barber, Shaun Phillips, LaRon Landry, Leodis McKelvin, Pat Chung, Charles Woodson, Jerome Felton, Dannell Ellerbe, Jerraud Powers, Victor Butler, Glover Quin.

Source: http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/42620/309/top-50-free-agency-forecast

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Visa and Samsung ink worldwide NFC deal, practically guarantees payWave on your Galaxy S IV

Visa and Samsung ink worldwide NFC deal here comes the payWave bloatware

First, the good news. It appears that Visa and Samsung's Olympics trial went over so well, that it's expanding those mobile payment dreams to a global audience. Now, the rough news -- Visa has convinced Samsung to pre-load the payWave app onto every future Samsung smartphone with an NFC module. Granted, you'd be using that anyway for contactless payments... but only if you had a Visa card. At this point, it's practically a given that the impending Galaxy S IV will boast not only an NFC chip, but payWave integration from the factory.

The deal also gives banks the ability to load payment account information over-the-air to a secure chip embedded in Samsung devices (thanks, Mobile Provisioning Service), but neither company is coming clean on what devices in particular will be taking advantage. Unfortunately, this news may be even gloomier for non-Visa users -- it's unlikely Samsung's contract will allow it to announce similar deals with competing mobile payment services, but we suppose we'll see in time.

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Visa

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/25/visa-samsung-worldwide-nfc-partnership-payments/

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Oscars Tie: Best Sound Editing Has Two Winners, But It Isn't A First

On Sunday night, something unusual happened at the 85th Annual Academy Awards -- there was a tie.

The Oscars tie had two winners for Best Sound Editing -- "Zero Dark Thirty" and "Skyfall."

Although it is rare, Oscars ties have happened before.

In 1932, Frederic March won the Best Actor award for "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and tied with Wallace Beery for "The Champ" because Beery only beat him by one single vote, Slate notes. The rules allowed for a one-vote difference to be called a tie back then, but today it must be the exact same.

The Best Documentary Short award had a tie in 1949, according to ABC News. That category also had a tie in 1986.

"Franz Kafka?s It?s a Wonderful Life" and "Trevor" tied for Best Short Film (Live Action) in 1995, Moviefone notes.

Most famously, Barbara Streisand and Katherine Hepburn tied in the heavyweight category of Best Actress, according to Moviefone. Streisand was honored for playing Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl." Hepburn won for her performance as Queen Eleanor in "The Lion in Winter."

As for the category of Best Sound Editing, it might have been difficult for the Academy to choose just one winner of such an intricate craft.

"Zero Dark Thirty" sound editing supervisor Paul N. J. Ottosson previously explained the art of his job to Entertainment Weekly:

If you looked at that scene without any picture, you just listened to it, you would see how much sound work goes in to being a lot of sound, to almost nothing, to transforming to music, to transforming to a lot of sound effects again. And then, of course, this guy comes with bombs and blows himself up as well as everyone else there. The scene is strong by itself, but the work we did made it even stronger. That?s the goal for most scenes, and the movie itself: Find these peaks and valleys to give the story the room it needs to breathe or enhance the story that you have there.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/25/oscars-tie-best-sound-editing-two-winners_n_2756735.html

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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Port of Salalah holds union elections

Salalah: The Port of Salalah last week conducted the elections of the company's Union Administrative Authority (UAA) and the registration of General Assembly (union) members.

A total 875 employees at the Port of Salalah have registered with the union for the upcoming four-year period, of which approximately 85 per cent are Omani nationals and the remaining 15 per cent are expa-triates. These employees elected the leaders of the UAA from a group of 11 Omani candidates.

The Port of Salalah, currently the largest private sector employer in the Dhofar region with more than 2,200 employees, formed the first representative body in 2000. Following the amendment to Oman's Labour Law in 2006 to formalise the establishment of trade unions in Oman, the first official union body was elected at the port in 2009, which served its four-year term until 2012. The current round of elections lasted for two days, following staff members' enrolment and campaign.

The elections were supervised by Masoud bin Ali Jaaboub, head of the trade union organisations at the Dhofar governorate office for the Ministry of Manpower.
Masoud praised the administration's organising committee for maintaining transparency in its registration, nomination, and screening process.?

The newly elected UAA members include Salim Masoud Ali Bait Said, Zeyad Ahmed Salim Al Marhoon, Khalid Salim Ali Jaboob, Said Mahad Musallam Bait Said, Musallam Said Ahmed Tabook, Ali Salim Ali Al Jahfali, and Salim Said Musallam Al Kathiri.

Ahmed Akaak, Deputy CEO at the Port of Salalah, said, "At the Port of Salalah, we place a lot of emphasis on providing support to facilitate the work of the union authorities, and we praise all efforts made in this regard."

Hind Jumaan Hubais, the head of the election organising committee and member of the port's human resources department, said that the fact that the employees were fully exercising their electoral rights reflected the election's success and employee credibility.
Hubais also underlined the support offered by the members of the organising committee in this regard.

Former president of the port's UAA, Ahmed bin Salim Al Amri, pointed out that the new union authority was picking up from the previous union's success and the results that had been achieved in an era of strong dialogue and sound negotiations.

Al Amri also thanked the former members of the UAA for their hard work and offered his best wishes to the newly elected? members.

Source: http://www.timesofoman.com/News/Article-9216.aspx

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Human skulls found near Mexico City baffle archeologists - video

Archeologists are baffled by a large collection of skulls, found in a rural area close to Mexico City. Around 180 remains of human sacrifice were discovered, dating back approximately 1200 years. Researchers say most of the sacrificial victims are males aged between 18 and 30, suggesting they were carefully selected and not chosen at random. The reasons behind the sacrifice remain a mystery

  • Source: ITN
  • Length: 1min 31sec
  • Saturday 23 February 2013

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2013/feb/23/human-skulls-mexico-archeologists-video

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Washington's presidential library gets $10M gift

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Saturday, February 23, 2013

Following a Healthy Diet to Manage Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes If you?ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or are teetering on the brink, your doctor has no doubt counseled you to follow a healthy diet to maintain safe blood glucose levels. As a patient with adult-onset diabetes, however, chances are pretty good that not understanding the basics of a healthy diet is what got you here in the first place!

The key to healthy eating is to plan meals in advance and to always keep a supply of high fiber multi-grain snacks, fresh fruits and vegetables at the ready to avoid making poor choices when hunger strikes. Eating smaller meals and frequent healthy snacks will help you to maintain steady blood sugar levels throughout the day. Remember to eat before and after periods of exercise or exertion as you burn off more sugar and carbohydrates.

A well-balanced meal should include a lean protein like chicken or fish, a small portion of healthy starch or grain such as brown rice or beans, and a heaping portion of vegetables. Skip the fried foods and replace all fats and oils with olive oil as much as possible. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins and iron, olive oil contains mostly beneficial monounsaturated fat and has been shown to modestly increase HDL cholesterol without adversely affecting LDL cholesterol, and is considered a heart-healthy, diabetes-friendly fat.

Daily Portions of Meat and Fish

A recommended portion of meat is about the size of a deck of cards, and lean meats such as fish and poultry are the best bets. Cold-water fish like herring, salmon are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association recommends limiting meat consumption to no more than six ounces (two decks of cards) per day, i.e. one portion with lunch and one with dinner. Beans are also an excellent source of protein and contain no animal cholesterol unless prepared with some form of meat or lard. Foods to avoid are red meat, bacon, lard, processed foods, which may contain trans-fats and cholesterol, and high-fat dairy products such as whole milk and many types of cheese.

Healthy Fruits and Vegetables

While the term unhealthy fruits and vegetables would seem an oxymoron, there are a few fruits that are high in sugar and should be avoided such as grapes, watermelon, pineapple, apricots and raisins, which may cause unhealthy spikes in blood sugar levels.? Stick to fruits that are lower in sugar and high in antioxidants such as cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, grapefruit, cantaloupe and cherries.? All vegetables are good choices, but keep in mind, the richer in color they are the higher the vitamin content they possess.

Starches to Eat and to Avoid

While starches are readily converted to blood glucose, they are nonetheless an important part of a healthy diet because they provide valuable minerals, vitamins and fiber.? However, gluten and grains contribute great to diabetes, so the ideal complex carbohydrates to eat are fresh fruits and vegetables and occasionally brown rice.? Avoid oats and corn.? Also avoid snacks like potato chips, candy bars and other packaged snacks that have no real dietary value anyhow.

Dairy Products and the Diabetes Diet

Dairy products provide an important source of calcium and high-quality protein as well as Vitamin D. The best choices for dairy products are skim or 1% milk, non-fat or light yogurt with no added sugar and fortified, unflavored soymilk for the lactose intolerant. When considering carbs, one cup of milk or yogurt is equal to one small piece of fruit or one slice of bread.

Managing type 2 diabetes doesn?t have to mean completely giving up your favorite foods, merely limiting them to very small, infrequent portions, and learning to embrace healthy, whole grains and foods that are low in fat and high in vitamins and antioxidants. A healthy diabetes diet is a healthy diet for life, and will result in increased energy, improved digestion and a host of added benefits for health and longevity along with healthy blood glucose levels!

About the Author: Valerie Johnston is a health and fitness writer located in East Texas. With ambitions of one day running a marathon, writing for Healthline.com ensures she keeps up-to-date on all of the latest health and fitness news.

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Source: http://blog.ovitaminpro.com/?p=1175

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FDA approves new targeted breast cancer drug

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Food and Drug Administration has approved a first-of-a-kind breast cancer medication that targets tumor cells while sparing healthy ones.

The drug Kadcyla from Roche combines the established drug Herceptin with a powerful chemotherapy drug and a third chemical linking the medicines together. The chemical keeps the cocktail intact until it binds to a cancer cell, delivering a potent dose of anti-tumor poison.

Cancer researchers say the drug is an important step forward because it delivers more medication while reducing the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy.

"This antibody goes seeking out the tumor cells, gets internalized and then explodes them from within. So it's very kind and gentle on the patients ? there's no hair loss, no nausea, no vomiting," said Dr. Melody Cobleigh of Rush University Medical Center. "It's a revolutionary way of treating cancer."

Cobleigh helped conduct the key studies of the drug at the Chicago facility.

The FDA approved the new treatment for about 20 percent of breast cancer patients with a form of the disease that is typically more aggressive and less responsive to hormone therapy. These patients have tumors that overproduce a protein known as HER-2. Breast cancer is the second most deadly form of cancer in U.S. women, and is expected to kill more than 39,000 Americans this year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

The approval will help Roche's Genentech unit build on the blockbuster success of Herceptin, which has long dominated the breast cancer marketplace. The drug had sales of roughly $6 billion last year.

Genentech said Friday that Kadcyla will cost $9,800 per month, compared to $4,500 per month for regular Herceptin. The company estimates a full course of Kadcyla, about nine months of medicine, will cost $94,000.

FDA scientists said they approved the drug based on company studies showing Kadcyla delayed the progression of breast cancer by several months. Researchers reported last year that patients treated with the drug lived 9.6 months before death or the spread of their disease, compared with a little more than six months for patients treated with two other standard drugs, Tykerb and Xeloda.

Overall, patients taking Kadcyla lived about 2.6 years, compared with 2 years for patients taking the other drugs.

FDA specifically approved the drug for patients with advanced breast cancer who have already been treated with Herceptin and taxane, a widely used chemotherapy drug. Doctors are not required to follow FDA prescribing guidelines, and cancer researchers say the drug could have great potential in patients with earlier forms of breast cancer

Kadcyla will carry a boxed warning, the most severe type, alerting doctors and patients that the drug can cause liver toxicity, heart problems and potentially death. The drug can also cause severe birth defects and should not be used by pregnant women.

Kadcyla was developed by South San Francisco-based Genentech using drug-binding technology licensed from Waltham, Mass.-based ImmunoGen. The company developed the chemical that keeps the drug cocktail together and is scheduled to receive a $10.5 million payment from Genentech on the FDA decision. The company will also receive additional royalties on the drug's sales.

Shares of ImmunoGen Inc. rose 2 cents to $14.32 in afternoon trading. The stock has ttraded in a 52-wek range of $10.85 to $18.10.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fda-approves-targeted-breast-cancer-drug-151743675--finance.html

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Video: Al competes in South Beach barbecue cook-off

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Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50903497/

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Syrian opposition says Assad cannot be part of deal

CAIRO (Reuters) - The opposition Syrian National Coalition is willing to negotiate a peace deal to end the country's civil war but President Bashar al-Assad must step down and cannot be a party to any settlement, members agreed after debating a controversial initiative by their president.

The meeting of the 70-member Western, Arab and Turkish-backed coalition began on Thursday before Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem is due for talks in Moscow, one of Assad's last foreign allies, and as U.N. mediator Lakhdar Brahimi renews efforts for a deal.

After an angry late night session in which coalition president Moaz Alkhatib came under strong criticism from Islamist and liberal members alike for proposing talks with Assad's government without setting what they described as clear goals, the coalition adopted a political document that demands Assad's removal and trial for the bloodshed, members said.

A draft document seen by Reuters that was circulated for debate said Assad cannot be party to any political solution and has to be tried, but did not directly call for his removal.

"We have adopted the political document that sets the parameters for any talks. The main addition to the draft is a clause about the necessity of Assad stepping step down," said Abdelbasset Sida, a member of the coalition's 12 member politburo who has criticized Alkhatib for acting alone.

"We removed a clause about a need for Russian and U.S. involvement in any talks and added that the coalition's leadership has to be consulted before launching any future initiatives," he added.

Still, the agreement marked a softening of tone by the coalition because previously it had insisted that Assad must step down before any talks with his government could begin.

In an indication that Syria's strongman remains defiant, Brahimi said Assad had told him he will remain president until his term ends in 2014 and then run for re-election.

Brahimi told al-Arabiya television he wants to see a transitional government formed in Syria that would not answer to any higher authority and lasts until U.N.-supervised elections take place in the country.

"I am of the view that U.N. peacekeepers should come to Syria as happened in other countries," Brahimi said.

BOMB, AIR STRIKES

The opposition front convened in Cairo on a day when a car bomb jolted central Damascus, killing 53 people, wounding 200 and incinerating cars on a busy highway close to the Russian Embassy and offices of the ruling Baath Party.

Syrian state television blamed the suicide blast on "terrorists". Central Damascus has been relatively insulated from the 23-month conflict that has killed around 70,000 people, but the bloodshed has shattered suburbs around the capital.

In the southern city of Deraa near the border with Jordan, activists said warplanes bombed the old quarter for the first time since March 2011, when the town set in a wheat-growing plain rose up against Assad, starting a national revolt.

A rebel officer in the Tawheed al-Janoub brigade which led an offensive this week in Deraa said there were at least five air strikes on Thursday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 18 people were killed, including eight rebel fighters.

Coalition member Munther Makhos, who was forced into exile in the 1970s for his opposition to Assad's father, the late President Hafez al-Assad, said supplies from Iran and Russia were giving government forces an awesome firepower advantage.

"It would be surreal to imagine that a political solution is possible. Bashar al-Assad will not send his deputy to negotiate his removal. But we are keeping the door open," Makhos said.

Makhos is the only Alawite in the Islamist-dominated coalition. The Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam which accounts for about 10 percent of Syria's population but makes up most of the intelligence apparatus and dominates the army and the political system, has generally remained behind Assad.

With Alawites feeling increasingly threatened by a violent Sunni backlash, Alkhatib, a cleric from Damascus who played a role in the peaceful protest movement against Assad at the beginning of the uprising in 2011, has been calling on Alawites to join the revolution, saying their participation will help preserve the social fabric of the country.

Alkhatib's supporters say the initiative has popular support inside Syria from people who want to see a peaceful departure of Assad and a halt to the war that has increasingly pitted his fellow Alawites against Syria's Sunni Muslim majority.

But rebel fighters on the ground, over whom Alkhatib has little control, are generally against the proposal.

The Syrian Islamic Liberation Front, which represents armed brigades, said in a statement it was opposed to Alkhatib's initiative because it ignored the revolt's goal of "the downfall of the regime and all its symbols".

"We are demanding his accountability for the bloodshed and destruction he has wreaked. I think the message is clear enough," said veteran opposition campaigner Walid al-Bunni, who supports Alkhatib.

Alkhatib formulated the initiative in broad terms last month after talks with the Russian and Iranian foreign ministers in Munich but without consulting the coalition, catching the umbrella organization by surprise.

Among Alkhatib's critics is the Muslim Brotherhood, the only organized group in the political opposition.

A Brotherhood source said the group will not scuttle the proposal because it was confident Assad is not interested in a negotiated exit, which could help convince the international community to support the armed struggle for his removal.

"Russia is key," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We are showing the international community that we are willing to take criticism from the street but the problem is Assad and his inner circle. They do not want to leave."

PLAY FOR RUSSIA

Russia hopes Alkhatib will visit soon in search of a breakthrough. Bunni said Alkhatib would not go to Moscow without the coalition's approval and that he would not be there at the same time as Moualem.

"In my opinion Alkhatib should not go to Moscow until Russia stops sending arms shipments to the Assad regime," Bunni said.

Formal backing by the coalition for Alkhatib's initiative gives it more weight internationally and undermines Assad supporters' argument that the opposition is too divided to be considered a serious player, opposition sources said.

Coalition members and diplomats based in the region said Brahimi asked Alkhatib in Cairo last week to seek full coalition backing for his plan, which resembles the U.N. envoy's own ideas for a negotiated settlement.

One diplomat in contact with the opposition and the United Nations had said a coalition approval of Alkhatib's initiative could help change the position of Russia, which has blocked several United Nations Security Council resolutions on Syria.

The diplomat said only a U.N. resolution could force Assad to the negotiating table, and a U.N. "stabilization force" may still be needed to prevent an all-out slide into a civil war.

"Brahimi has little hope that Assad will agree to any serious talks," the diplomat said. "Differences are narrowing between the United States and Russia about Syria but Moscow remains the main obstacle for Security Council action."

(Editing by Paul Taylor and Mohammad Zargham)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-opposition-says-assad-cannot-part-deal-005344775.html

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