Steve Jones out as 'X Factor' host

By Shirley Halperin, The Hollywood Reporter

"X Factor's" inaugural host Steve Jones won't be back for season 2, he tweeted on the afternoon of Jan. 30.?

"I wont be hosting next seasons XFactor which is a shame but I cant [sic] complain as I've had a great time. Good luck to everyone on the show," wrote the 34-year-old Wales native.?

More from THR: Susan Sarandon joins 'The Big C'

The U.S. version of the show was a challenging task for Jones, who struggled during live episodes which were emotionally charged and often spontaneous. He also drew criticism for his handling of sensitive exits by the likes of Lakoda Rayne and Rachel Crow.?

In December, the Hollywood Reporter asked Jones whether he would be returning, to which he responded,??Fingers crossed, I?d love to come back.? Normal protocol, said the six-foot-plus host, ?is the show finishes and they assess. If they want me back, great. If they don't, I'll do something else, it?s as simple as that.?

More from THR: Mindy Kaling comedy gets pilot order

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Source: http://theclicker.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/30/10274047-steve-jones-wont-be-back-as-host-for-x-factor

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Santorum's Daughter Raises Questions About Trisomy 18 (ContributorNetwork)

The genetic condition Trisomy 18 made the news late Saturday when Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum had to cancel appearances in Florida ahead of the state's primary to be by his youngest daughter Bella's side as she was taken to the hospital. Bella is known to have the genetic condition, which kills 90 percent of the children afflicted with the chromosomal anomaly before or during birth, according to ABC News.

What is Trisomy 18?

Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome, is an anomaly in which a fetus has three full or partial copies of chromosome 18 present. In a typical pregnancy, a child would have only two of each chromosome. The condition occurs in 1 in 3,000 live births. It is usually fatal either before or during birth, although some children, like three-year old Bella Santorum, survive longer.

Only 5 percent to 10 percent of children born with this condition make it to their first birthday because the presence of the anomaly comes with severe physical and mental difficulties. According to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, few children make it to their teens and young adulthood with Trisomy 18, but that is extremely rare.

Two of the three types of Trisomy 18 are independently occurring anomalies, which means they are not hereditary and passed from parent to child. Approximately 95 percent of those children with Trisomy 18 have what is referred to as "full" Trisomy 18, which means that the third chromosome 18 exists throughout the entire body. Trisomy 18 is three times more likely to occur in females rather than males.

How is it different than Trisomy 21?

Trisomy 21 is the most common chromosomal anomaly in children. Otherwise known as Down's syndrome, Trisomy 21 does not present with the same severity of physical difficulties that are par for the course with Trisomy 18. At least half of the people with Down's Syndrome can now expect to live a more typical life span, where that is not the case with Trisomy 18, according to EmaxHealth.

What are the symptoms and difficulties of Trisomy 18?

Trisomy 18 interferes with a fetus' normal development. As such, it can cause a host of physical and mental problems. Physical issues include a small head, small jaw, malformed ears, unusually shaped chest, signs of congenital heart disease, malformed or malfunctioning kidneys, clenched hands, and feet with a rounded bottom, among other conditions, according to the National Institutes of Health's MedLine Plus. Mental deficiencies are also a hallmark of the condition.

Is there any way to prevent Trisomy 18?

Not at this time. A test can be done while the child is still in utero to determine whether or not the condition is present, but it cannot be halted or reversed if discovered.

Vanessa Evans is a musician and freelance writer based in Michigan, with a lifelong interest in health and nutrition issues.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/parenting/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120130/hl_ac/10901849_santorums_daughter_raises_questions_about_trisomy18

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Rough seas still delay work on grounded liner (AP)

GIGLIO, Italy ? Rough seas off the Tuscan coast have delayed for a second day the start of operations to remove half a million gallons of fuel from the grounded Costa Concordia.

Officials called off both the fuel removal and search operations Sunday after determining the ship had moved 4 centimeters (an inch and a half) over six hours.

University of Florence professor Riccardo Fanti said the movements could either be caused by the ship settling on its own weight, or slipping into the seabed.

Recovery operations Saturday yielded a 17th body, identified as Peruvian crew member Erika Soria Molina. Fifteen crew and passengers remain missing.

The Concordia, with 4,200 people aboard, ran aground on Jan. 13 after the captain deviated from his planned route and gashed the hull of the ship on a reef.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120129/ap_on_re_eu/eu_italy_ship_aground

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Cuba Communist Party eyes term limits at gathering (AP)

HAVANA ? Cuba's Communist Party has opened a two-day conference at which it will consider political term limits and internal matters.

President Raul Castro is presiding over the gathering. It kicked off Saturday morning at a convention center in Havana.

Government-run website Cubadebate says the 811 delegates will evaluate the Party's work and determine its future course.

According to a draft agenda that circulated last fall, the conference will consider a proposal to cap officeholders at two five-year terms among other issues.

Castro called for term limits last April at a summit that gave birth to a wide slate of economic reforms.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120128/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_cuba_communist_party_conference

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IMF chief: Some euro countries can boost growth (AP)

DAVOS, Switzerland ? The head of the International Monetary Fund said Saturday that some countries that use the euro have the flexibility to boost growth to help shore up the ailing eurozone economy, which is widely-expected to sink back into recession.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Christine Lagarde said the 17 nations that use the euro should not undertake dramatic spending cuts to reduce debts at the same pace or to the same degree.

"Some countries have to go full-speed ahead to do this fiscal consolidation, but other countries have space and room," said Lagarde.

Though conceding that there weren't many of them, Lagarde said it was important that those that have the headroom should explore how they can boost growth.

She carefully avoided naming any countries, but likely had in mind Germany, Europe's largest economy and a major world exporter. She didn't specify how to boost growth either or how one eurozone country could help others grow.

In addition, Lagarde said members of the eurozone should continue the drive to tie their economies closer together over the months and years ahead.

Lagarde also repeated her belief that the Washington, D.C.-based fund needs more resources if it is to help restore stability in the global economy. The IMF has said it needs around $500 billion more in financial firepower ? a request that has met with mixed response and notably resistance from the United States.

Britain's finance minister George Osborne said there was "a case" for boosting the IMF's resources.

Osborne said the eurozone had two things to do over the coming weeks to get a handle on its crisis: Greece's debt-reduction talks with private creditors had to be concluded soon; while the creation of a proper "firewall" of measures aimed at stopping the crisis from spreading was "key to unlocking further confidence."

Europe's debt crisis are a major concern of the business and political leaders gathered for the annual, invitation-only event at Davos.

Increasing numbers of people are questioning the purpose of the event as income inequalities grow worldwide. Protesters from the Occupy movement that started on Wall Street have camped out in igloos at Davos and are planning a demonstration later Saturday to call attention to the needs of the poor and unemployed.

Economist Nouriel Roubini, widely acknowledged to have predicted the crash of 2008, said the fallout from that crisis could last the rest of this decade and warned that without major policy changes things can still get much worse.

"We have to shift our investment from things that are less productive like the financial sector and housing and real estate to things that are more productive like our people, our human capital, our structure, our technology, our innovation," he said in an interview with The Associated Press.

"Once you have too much debt in the public and private sector, the painful process could last up to a decade, where economic growth remains weak and anemic and sub-par until we have cleaned up the balance sheet and invested in the things that make us more productive for the future," he said.

Also in Davos on Saturday, World Trade Organization chief Pascal Lamy is meeting with leading trade ministers to discuss the deadlocked Doha Round of trade talks.

___

Frank Jordans and Edith M. Lederer contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/eurobiz/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120128/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_davos_forum

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Mitch Daniels can?t save the Republican Party (Washington Post)

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AP Exclusive: Vatican rewrites money launder law (AP)

VATICAN CITY ? The Vatican has rewritten its 2010 anti-money laundering law after European inspectors found that it didn't fully meet their tough standards to combat the financing of terrorism.

The new law, a copy of which was obtained Friday by The Associated Press, requires the Vatican to create a list of terror organizations based on the one issued by the United Nations and requires the Vatican to enter into agreements with other countries to exchange financial information.

The Holy See has been working for years to comply with European Union norms on money-laundering and terror financing in a bid to shed its image as a secrecy-obsessed tax haven and join the so-called "white list" of countries that share tax information to crack down on tax cheats.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120127/ap_on_re_eu/eu_vatican_bank

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Egypt plans to send delegation to U.S. as NGO furor mounts (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) ? A Egyptian military team plans to visit the United States next week as Cairo's crackdown on pro-democracy organizations has called into question the future of U.S. aid to Egypt, American officials said on Friday.

The Egyptian delegation hopes to meet with officials at the State Department and the Pentagon. It will also hold talks on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers will soon consider a new request for aid to Egypt's military, which now runs about $1.3 billion per year, one official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Egyptian visit comes after Egypt's military-led authorities pounced on non-governmental organizations, including several funded by the U.S. government, and slapped travel bans on six American staffers including a son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a former congressman.

Political analysts say the crackdown, along with questions over Egypt's emergency law and security forces' treatment of women protesters, has clouded the outlook for Egypt's fledgling democracy following last year's overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said American officials were pressing Egyptian authorities the crackdown, which she described as "bizarre." The Americans have demanded that Egypt lift travel restrictions placed on a number of foreign NGO staffers.

"We do not have progress since yesterday, I am sorry to report," Nuland said.

The six U.S. citizens work with the National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute. Both receive U.S. public funding and are loosely affiliated with the two major political parties in Washington.

"The assertions of the Egyptian government in these cases are that they are subject to a judicial process which is not complete," Nuland said. "Our message back is, 'Complete these formalities and let our people travel as soon as possible.'"

HIGH TENSION

Officials said a detailed Washington schedule for the Egyptian visit was still being worked out, adding that it was a regular staff delegation that was coming at a moment of high tension in the U.S.-Egypt relationship.

Other political sources said the Egyptians were expected to discuss the NGO issue on Capitol Hill, where a number of senators have warned the Egyptians that U.S. aid was at stake if action against the NGOs continues.

"Continued restriction of their activities and harassment of international and Egyptian staff will be looked at with great concern, particularly in light of Egypt's considerable U.S. assistance," 11 senators said in a letter to Egyptian Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi dated January 18.

President Barack Obama spoke with Tantawi on January 20 and stressed the importance of the NGOs, as well as Egypt's deteriorating economic situation and its request for $3.2 billion in support from the International Monetary Fund.

The Obama administration is finalizing its budget for the 2013 fiscal year, which will be presented on February 13 and is expected to include continued assistance for Egypt's military.

Lawmakers imposed conditions on the U.S. assistance given in 2012, requiring Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to certify that the Egyptian government is supporting the transition to a civilian government. That includes holding free and fair elections and implementing policies to protect freedom of expression, association, and religion, and due process of law.

Clinton can waive this if it is in U.S. national security interests, but must notify Congress that she has done so.

"Those are decisions that are going to have to be made later on in the winter and spring," Nuland said. "These are points that we're obviously making clear to the Egyptians."

(Editing by Christopher Wilson)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120127/wl_nm/us_egypt_usa

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UK's tallest building adds drama to London's sky (AP)

LONDON ? Passengers stepping out of London Bridge tube station cannot help but crane their necks to gaze at the jagged tower under construction: The Shard is the tallest building in the European Union and looks like a slice of glass balanced on the edge of the financial district.

When the tower opens next year, visitors to the observation deck will see helicopters fly by at eye level and take in the metropolis all the way to the distant north Downs Hills. The structure designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano dwarfs nearby landmarks like Tower Bridge and St. Paul's Cathedral.

The ambitious project speaks of now faded boom times: 1.5 billion pound ($2.34 billion) price tag, fancy restaurants, corporate office space, posh hotel. But it is being completed as Britain and Europe totter on the brink of recession ? and the Shard will loom over a city in decline.

Neighbors are hoping the dramatic tower, visible from most parts of London, will bring big spenders to its south-of-the-river location, for centuries the less prosperous side of the Thames.

"I like the design, I like the promise. I think it's going to blast this neighborhood out of the water," said Cherille McNeil-Halward, 71, who runs a picture framing shop a few minutes away from the Shard. "This tower will bring people with money to spend here, and that's got to be a good thing."

There is no question that the Shard is a riveting addition to the traditionally low-rise London skyline. But some complain it dominates the view, obscuring sights such as St. Paul's impressive dome.

The developer Irvine Sellar sees the project as a symbol of London's status as a world city. The 310 meter (1,016 ft) building is designed by an Italian, financed by the Qatar government, and the Chinese hotel group Shangri-La were the first tenants to sign up.

"We want this building to be a building Londoners will feel ownership of," said Sellar. "You can eat there, you can work there, you can sleep there. And you can see the view from there."

The building's exterior will be finished in June but it is unlikely to open until early next year. It will open in a truly historic neighborhood, close to the Tower of London, Shakespeare's Globe, and Borough Market.

In fact, the ultra-modern Shard sits at the edge of ancient London. The first Roman settlement Londinium was nearby on the banks of the Thames. Charles Dickens' "Little Dorrit" was set in the streets behind the Shard.

The developers conceived the project more than 11 years ago when there was a financial appetite for building tall. But it generated almost immediate opposition from conservation groups who didn't want the fabric of the city changed.

English Heritage and other groups complained that the design did not fit in with the surrounding architecture, but were overruled.

Prince Charles, who has waged a passionate campaign against modern architecture, wryly referred to the Shard as "an enormous salt cellar" shortly after it won planning permission but has not formally tried to block the project.

Last year UNESCO said it is reviewing the status of the Tower of London as a World Heritage Site, partly because of the way the Shard and other buildings loom over its courtyard.

The future of the building is still not secure. Along with Shangri-La, some restaurants have signed leases, Sellar said, but most of the office space has not yet been rented at a time when many London-based businesses are striving to reduce costs.

A report by Barclays Capital published this month finds a correlation between the construction of skyscrapers and financial crises, concluding that ambitious building projects often open just as the economy declines.

It cites the economic and oil crises of the early 1970s, which coincided with the completion of the World Trade Center towers in New York and the Sears Tower in Chicago. In Malaysia the building of the Petronas Towers coincided with the Asian economic crisis on 1997. And in Dubai the Burj Khalifa ? the world's tallest building ? went up as the emirate almost went bust.

The Shard itself was hit by the credit crunch. Sellar secured funding from investment bank Credit Suisse in 2008, but the bank pulled out after Lehman Brothers crashed in September of that year. Eventually the central bank of Qatar stepped in to finance the project.

Other tall buildings have been built in recent years as London has become a more vertical city ? including Norman Foster's famous "Gherkin." But the Shard dominates them all, and is likely to become a prominent symbol of London.

"You are going to see this building from everywhere in the city," said Jonathan Glancey, architecture critic at The Guardian newspaper. "It is going be the building that says `this is London,' and the message it is going to send is that London is brash, shiny and pretty bling."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_britain_the_shard

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Costume designer Eiko Ishioka has died at 73 (AP)

NEW YORK ? Eiko Ishioka, an Oscar-winning designer recently recognized for creating the costumes for Broadway's "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" has died.

Her studio manager, Tracy Roberts, said Thursday that the 73-year-old designer died on Saturday in Tokyo. The cause was pancreatic cancer.

Ishioka, who also worked in advertising and other graphic arts, won the 1992 Academy Award for Best Costume Design for the film "Bram Stoker's `Dracula.'"

She won a Grammy Award in 1986 for her cover design of Miles Davis' album "Tutu." She was also the director of costume design for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Other Broadway stage work included the sets and costumes for David Henry Hwang's 1988 Tony Award-winning drama "M. Butterfly."

On Thursday, the producers of "Spider-Man" called Ishioka "a great woman and a great artist."

"Her work will continue to touch audiences for years to come," said Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris in a joint statement, adding that Thursday's performance would be dedicated to her memory.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obits/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120126/ap_on_en_ot/us_obit_ishioka

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Quotes from Famous State of the Union Addresses (ContributorNetwork)

President Barack Obama will deliver his third State of the Union address tonight. ABC News reports among guests of the president will be Mark Kelly, the husband Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who will resign her post shortly after the address. Giffords will be seated in the crowd of senators and representatives in a normal place for lawmakers. Obama's speech will likely run around 45 minutes.

Here are some quotes from famous State of the Union addresses.

* "The welfare of our country is the great object to which our cares and efforts ought to be directed. ... And I shall derive great satisfaction from a cooperation with you, in the pleasing though arduous task of ensuring to our fellow citizens the blessings which they have a right to expect, from a free and equal government." -- The last lines of George Washington's first State of the Union address on Jan. 8, 1790. Washington laid out the plan for the first Congress as to what the priorities of the new nation should be. Defense, common currency and the creation of infrastructure were foremost on Washington's agenda.

* "Looking forward with anxiety to future destinies, I trust that in their steady character, unshaken by difficulties, in their love of liberty, obedience to law, and support of the public authorities, I see a sure guaranty of the permanence of our Republic; and, retiring from the charge of their affairs, I carry with me the consolation of a firm persuasion that Heaven has in store for our beloved country long ages to come of prosperity and happiness." -- Thomas Jefferson's last lines of his final State of the Union address. He used this forum to formally say farewell to the public officials he had served with for eight years as president. The speech was delivered Nov. 8, 1808, months before James Madison became president.

* "The struggle of today is not altogether for today; it is for a vast future also. With a reliance on Providence all the more firm and earnest, let us proceed in the great task which events have devolved upon us." -- The conclusion of Abraham Lincoln's first State of the Union address on Dec. 3, 1861. A majority of Lincoln's speech was about the Civil War and how the rebellion was progressing. Lincoln was lamenting the coming violence and trying to prepare Congress for what lay ahead.

* "The nation takes great satisfaction and much strength from the things which have been done to make its people conscious of their individual stake in the preservation of democratic life in America. Those things have toughened the fiber of our people, have renewed their faith and strengthened their devotion to the institutions we make ready to protect." -- Part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's message to Congress and the people delivered Jan. 6, 1941. Roosevelt used most of his speech to prepare the U.S. for possible involvement in World War II. His speech was themed around "four freedoms" of the American people.

* "For only with complete dedication by us all to the national interest can we bring our country through the troubled years that lie ahead. Our problems are critical. The tide is unfavorable. The news will be worse before it is better. And while hoping and working for the best, we should prepare ourselves now for the worst." -- A portion of John F. Kennedy's first State of the Union address, made Jan. 30, 1961. Kennedy realized the threat of expanding influence from the Soviet Union.

William Browning is a research librarian.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120124/pl_ac/10879297_quotes_from_famous_state_of_the_union_addresses

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Video: Cramer's Mad Dash

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Gingrich's former company releases contract

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) ? Under pressure, Newt Gingrich arranged the release of a contract Monday night showing the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. paid his consulting firm a $25,000 monthly retainer fee in 2006, for a total of $300,000.

The agreement calls for "consulting and related services" but makes no mention of lobbying.

Gingrich has likened his work for the federally backed mortgage giant known as Freddie Mac to that of a historian, and later a strategic adviser. His top rival for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney, says he was lobbying.

Monday's disclosure touched off fireworks between the two contenders during a prime-time debate.

"This contract proves you were not a historian. You were a consultant," Romney said. "And you were hired by the chief lobbyist of Freddie Mac."

Gingrich chafed at the suggestion he was "influence peddling" and turned the issue back on his opponent.

"Gov. Romney has done consulting work for years," the former House speaker said. "I've never suggested his consulting work was lobbying."

Gingrich's work for Freddie Mac was disclosed long ago, but controversy has flared in the 48 hours since he trounced Romney in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary. The contract with Gingrich's former firm listed Freddie Mac's director of public policy ? jargon for lobbyist ? as the project executive.

Throughout the early voting states, Gingrich has faced questions from voters concerned about his work for Freddie Mac at town halls. A pro-Romney attacked him on the issue in Iowa. Reporters began asking if he would release the contracts in New Hampshire.

The next primary is set for Jan. 31 in Florida, a state particularly hard hit by the housing crisis of 2008, and one where Gingrich's connections with Freddie Mac may carry a political stigma.

The material was released by the Center for Health Transformation, which Gingrich helped create, and has since sold. The Center for Health Transformation and the Gingrich campaign share a lawyer, Stefan Passantino. He did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Its disclosure came about two hours before a campaign debate in Tampa, and the timing suggested Gingrich was hoping to blunt any attack Romney might make at the event.

Romney has been ramping up criticism for not making the details public sooner. Gingrich said it wasn't only up to him because he no longer controls the firm named in the contract and confidentiality clauses were at play.

The disclosure comes amid a volley between the Romney and Gingrich campaigns about who is hiding information voters may want. After facing pressure himself, Romney intends to release some tax records on Tuesday, about a week after Gingrich made his tax returns public.

Gingrich has said previously that firms he ran received about $1.6 million from Freddie Mac for consulting services over several years, and he personally pocketed $35,000 a year. Only the contract covering 2006 was released.

Romney's campaign said it wasn't satisfied with only the contract. "Speaker Gingrich should immediately make his Freddie Mac contract and work product available to the public," Gail Gitcho, Romney's communications director, said in a statement.

___

Associated Press writer Shannon McCaffrey contributed from Atlanta.

Associated Press

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These Android hotel apps will help you find a roof above your head (Appolicious)

While iPhone users have had quick access to Airbnb?s convenient room booking service for a while now, Android users can finally get in on the fun now that the Airbnb app has come to the Android Market.

Airbnb is a free app that serves as a hub for people to find and list their own homes for other strangers to stay in. The launch of the Android app brings with it some new features to the Airbnb model, including the ability for the guest and the owner to instant message quickly back and forth with one another should any problems arise. If you?re looking for something a little different in travel accommodations, Airbnb is a pretty cool place to start.

But there are plenty of other app options for Android users if they?re not sold on the Airbnb experience, too. On the opposite side of the spectrum from Airbnb, there is the more conventional Orbitz (free). With Orbitz you can book flights, hotels and rental cars in just a few quick taps. The Android app also includes a feature called Orbitz Mobile Steals that offers additional mobile-only discounts on room rentals.

If you find you?d like to look at vacation rentals while also keeping an eye on the apartment rental market, HotPads Rentals & Real Estate (free) does a good job providing a little bit of everything under the sun. The app offers listings based on location with listings shown either in list or map form. Potential renters can see detailed pictures, floor plans and price comparisons.

Those that want to keep their eye firmly focused on the vacation end of things can check out the free HomeAway app. HomeAway offers vacation rentals with full kitchens and all the convenience of an actual home while you?re still on vacation. The app boasts over 260,000 properties and you can use the app?s calendar to search by date of availability or by assorted other rental criteria like number of rooms and price.

For the serious comparison shopper, there?s RENTalo Vacation Lodgings (free). RENTalo lets users compare prices on various hotel and vacation rental deals. The app has photos and information on each of its listing and helps ensure that users aren?t being up-charged by one website over another when they go to book their stay.

Whichever app you eventually end up choosing, it seems like a safe bet that you should be able to find a reasonable and comfortable place to stay. Just remember not to bring your phone into the hotel pool with you.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/applecomputer/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/appolicious_rss/rss_appolicious_tc/http___www_androidapps_com_articles10842_these_android_hotel_apps_will_help_you_find_a_roof_above_your_head/44283713/SIG=13jufqs06/*http%3A//www.androidapps.com/tech/articles/10842-these-android-hotel-apps-will-help-you-find-a-roof-above-your-head

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Womack Releases Finance Reports | Arkansas News

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South Carolina Primary Election 2012: Newt Gingrich Wins Most Delegates

WASHINGTON ? Newt Gingrich won most of the delegates in South Carolina's Republican presidential primary Saturday, narrowing Mitt Romney's lead in the race for delegates to the party's national convention this summer.

Gingrich, the former House speaker, has won at least 19 delegates, with six left to be awarded.

These are the first delegates Gingrich has won in a primary or caucus. In all, Gingrich has 21 delegates, including endorsements from Republican National Committee members who will automatically attend the convention. Romney has a total of 33 delegates.

South Carolina Republicans award 11 delegates to the statewide winner and two delegates to the candidate who gets the most votes in each of the state's seven congressional districts. Gingrich was the statewide winner and he won at least four congressional districts.

The race for delegates is still in the early stages. Only 62 delegates were at stake in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, combined. It will take 1,144 delegates to win the GOP nomination.

Up next: Florida on Jan. 31. Florida Republicans will award all 50 of their delegates to the statewide winner.

The Associated Press calculates the number of national convention delegates won by candidates in each presidential primary or caucus, based on state and national party rules. Most primaries and some caucuses are binding, meaning delegates won by the candidates are pledged to support that candidate at the national convention this summer.

Political parties in some states, however, use local caucuses to elect delegates to state or congressional district conventions, where national delegates are selected. In these states, the AP uses the results from local caucuses to calculate the number of national delegates each candidate will win, if the candidates maintain the same level of support.

Related on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/21/south-carolina-primary-election-2012-newt-gingrich-delegates_n_1221388.html

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Lose a job, prepare for really long job search

Bureau of Labor Statistics

The median amount of time it's taking for unemployed people to find new jobs is about 21 weeks.

Here?s the good news: Employers are hiring more workers than they are firing these days, a welcome turnaround from the darkest days of the Great Recession.

Here?s the bad news: If you are among those unlucky enough to lose your job now, you'd better prepare for a long job search.

The median duration of unemployment was 21 weeks or about five months as of December. That means half of all unemployed workers had been without a job for more than five months.

That?s actually an improvement from mid-2010, when the median duration of unemployment peaked at 25 weeks. But it?s still nearly three times what it was before the recession began and much higher than in previous tough job markets.

The main problem: There just aren?t enough jobs to go around.

Last year the economy added an average of about 137,000 jobs a month. While that?s better than when the economy was shedding jobs, it wasn?t nearly enough to absorb the millions of unemployed and new workers entering the market, said Sylvia Allegretto, an economist with the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment at the University of California, Berkeley.

?That rate of job growth is simply not fast enough to really soak up all those who are unemployed and underemployed, and those who have left the labor market and will be coming back to the labor market,? Allegretto said.

?

Allegretto doesn?t expect the situation to improve?much soon for the long-term unemployed.

That?s partly because there are still 13 million people who are unemployed and seeking work. It?s also because there are many other Americans out there who may have stopped looking for a job because the market was so bad, and will start looking again if the market improves.

Those excruciatingly long job searches are an especially big problem for older workers. The median duration of unemployment for 20- to 24-year-olds was 16.3 weeks in December, compared with 31.4 weeks for 55- to 64-year-olds.

Related:

Many Americans still not prepared for a job loss?????
Five years without work: Labor department will now track it

{"contentId":"10192757","totalVotes":"5425"}

How long do you think it would take you to find a new job?

Source: http://lifeinc.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/20/10192757-lose-a-job-prepare-for-a-really-long-job-search

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Marriage, Cohabitation Provide Similar Health Benefit (LiveScience.com)

We've heard married people are happier, but that might not be a reason to rush to the altar, according to a new study.

In terms of health, self-esteem, and psychological well-being, marriage offers little benefit over simply living together without wedding rings, the study found.

It's the relationship itself, rather than its official status, that's key to its benefits, said study researcher Kelly Musick, an associate professor of policy analysis and management at Cornell University's College of Human Ecology.

"Being in a romantic relationship, irrespective of the legal form, does provide benefits over remaining single," Musick said.

Moreover, the findings suggest that for some, cohabitation may be the better option than marriage, Musick said. Participants who cohabited in the study were happier and had greater self-esteem than those who were married. This may be because cohabitation offers more room for independence and personal growth, which may be particularly important for some people at certain stages in life, Musick said.

The study is published in the February issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family.

Marriage vs. cohabitation

Many previous studies looking at the benefits of marriage have focused on comparing married couples with single people, or comparing married with cohabiting couples at one point in time.

The new study followed 2,737 single men and women over six years to see what happened when they entered a relationship or got married. The study data were drawn from national surveys given in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Participants rated their overall health and happiness, and were also asked questions to assess their self -esteem, depression and the strength of their ties to friends and family.

Over the study period, close to 900 participants married or began living with a romantic partner.

In general, both marriage and cohabitation came with an uptick in well being. Those who got married or started living with a partner experienced higher levels of happiness, and lower levels of depression, than those who remained single, although these advantages faded with time.

People who married did report better overall health compared with those who cohabited, which may be explained by the entitlements (such as health insurance for spouses) that come with marriage.

However, marriage and cohabitation also reduced contact with family and friends compared to being single, and this effect lasted over time.

The researchers noted it's been about 20 years since the surveys they used were performed, and the relative benefits of marriage versus cohabitation may have changed in recent years.

However, it's not clear whether their findings would be more or less true today, Musick said. On the one hand, the experiences of marriage and cohabitation have become increasingly similar. But on the other hand, marriage may still hold a greater social status than cohabitation in the United States, she said.

Better off married?

The new findings are extremely valuable because they provide a clearer picture of the advantages of marriage, and counter the view that "marriage is the solution to so many of our problems" said Gary Lee, professor and chair department of sociology at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, who was not involved in the study. "I think that?s an incredibly naive view," Lee said.

People who claim marriage brings great benefits to everyone "are kind of cherry-picking the research," Lee said.

In reality, the people who aren't getting married may not be doing so because it won?t make them any better off, Lee said. In today's economic environment, marriage does not bring the same financial benefits as it used it, he said.

The researchers emphasized that "we are certainly not saying that marriage is irrelevant for individual well-being," Musick said. For some, marriage may be a great source of happiness.

Still, the findings call into question the value of using limited resources on campaigns to promote marriage over other family forms, Musick said. ?More research is needed to better inform policy-makers about the advantages, or lack thereof, of such campaigns.

Pass it on: Cohabitation may be just as good as marriage in promoting happiness and well-being.

This story was provided by MyHealthNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience. Follow MyHealthNewsDaily staff writer Rachael Rettner on Twitter @RachaelRettner. Find us on Facebook.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/science/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20120120/sc_livescience/marriagecohabitationprovidesimilarhealthbenefit

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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) ? It's courtroom drama crossed with "Sesame Street," as a television station barred from using cameras during a high-profile corruption trial covers the highlights with a nightly puppet show. It stars a talking squirrel "reporter" who provides the play-by-play in an exaggerated, "you won't believe this" tone.

"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, the longtime Democratic power broker in Cleveland

"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-41c348f25ef641b5b26bb058630fab17

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Rosa spins the roulette wheel for Sin City SmackDown in Las Vegas

Hours before "Sin City SmackDown" got underway, SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long gave new WWE Tag Team Champions Primo & Epico and the beautiful Rosa Mendes an early crack at the roulette wheel. What match stipulation did Primo & Epico receive for their showdown with The Usos? Watch this exclusive WWE.com video to find out.

Source: http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/2012-01-13/smackdown-rosa-spins-wheel

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Is George Lucas really retiring? (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES, Jan 17 (TheWrap.com) ? "I'm retiring. I'm moving away from the business, from the company, from all this kind of stuff."

So said George Lucas to The New York Times in an interview published online Tuesday morning.

But should the director's supporters -- or detractors -- believe him?

According to the N.Y. Times article, Lucas is still leaving room for a possible fifth installment in the Indiana Jones franchise. He also said he might go back to his "THX 1138" roots and make experimental movies that would only be shown in art houses, if anywhere.

That's the kind of wiggle room that would make Steven Soderbergh proud. The director has stated in numerous interviews that he intends to retire from making movies to focus on painting full-time. But in addition to "Haywire," which hits theaters Friday, he also has "Magic Mike" due June 29, and "Behind the Candelabra" set for release next year.

Also, Lucas could be smarting from the treatment he allegedly got from Hollywood while trying to make the Lucasfilm-produced "Red Tails," which hits theaters Friday.

Last week, he talked about how difficult it was to sell studios on the project during a "Daily Show" appearance.

"It's because it's an all-black movie," he told Jon Stewart. "There's no major white roles at all. It's one of the first all-black action pictures ever made." Whether Lucas is disgruntled enough to break up with Hollywood remains to be seen. But at least one trusted associate believes Lucas really is exiting the business.

"Once is finished, he's done everything he's ever wanted to do," Rick McCallum, who has produced the last three "Star Wars" installments, told the Times. "He will have completed his task as a man and a filmmaker."

(Editing By Zorianna Kit)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/movies/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120118/film_nm/us_georgelucas

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Executive Pardon Power Needs to Be Restricted (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | Over the years, executive pardons have generated controversies at state and federal levels. The recent public outrage over Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's decision to pardon several convicted killers again brings attention to the abusive nature of pardon powers. Before this controversy, there were serious questions regarding clemencies granted by former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Should there be limits to this executive power?

The original intent of pardon power was to prevent miscarriages of justice. If a person was wrongly convicted or harshly sentenced, the president or governor will be able to correct the injustice. Unfortunately, many of the recent pardons drift from the law's true spirit. The clemencies recently granted by Barbour are perfect examples of this abuse.

In the case of the four convicted killers pardoned by the governor, there were never any reservations regarding the original convictions. Furthermore, popular support for these pardons is almost nonexistent. Barbour can't really claim he made these decisions for the public good.

The worst part about these pardons was the fact Barbour did not consult with or notify the families of the victims prior to making this decision. In an interview with Fox News, the governor defended his decision citing Christian values of forgiveness and compassion. Yet, he showed arrogance and insensitivity to the victims' families in his handling of the situation.

As the U.S. is a democracy, the idea one person holds the power to pardon any convicted criminal runs contrary to core democratic tenets. If jurors and not judges are tasked with deciding the fate of a defendant in court, why couldn't the legislative branch or the public have some say on pardoning decisions?

Since there are some merits to executive pardon powers, they should not be completely eliminated. But changes should be made to hold executive chiefs accountable for their pardons and commutations. Given that presidential pardon power is keenly protected by the U.S. constitution, any changes will have to take place at the state level. Hopefully, the recent controversy has raised enough public awareness on this important issue to empower corrective actions.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politicsopinion/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120117/cm_ac/10847857_executive_pardon_power_needs_to_be_restricted

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Sinead O'Connor to be Treated for Depression (omg!)

After her desperate Twitter plea for psychiatric help last week, Sinead O'Connor seems to have found the treatment she was looking for.

MORE: Sinead O'Connor's Desperate Twitter Plea for Help

"I'm going to [the] hospital," O'Connor tweeted. "Treatment for depression. Not at all well. But they will put me back together quick."

MORE: Sinead O'Connor Getting Married on Her Birthday

O'Connor estimates that her stint will only last about two weeks.

"Don't want anyone worrying," O'Connor reassured her fans. "Should only worry if a depressed person DOESN'T [to] go [the] hospital. All will be well. Just [a] little time."

MORE: Sinead O'Connor Ends Marriage After 18 Days

MORE: Say What?! Sinead O'Connor Back with Hubby?

O'Connor used Twitter last month to announce her Las Vegas wedding to boyfriend Barry Herridge, but then announced her plans to divorce him after just 16 days.

MORE: Sinead O'Connor on Why Her Marriage Failed

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_sinead_oconnor_treated_depression043000561/44213193/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/sinead-oconnor-treated-depression-043000561.html

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Newsmaker: Long trek from clerk to chairman of China's AgBank (Reuters)

SHANGHAI (Reuters) ? The new chief of Agricultural Bank of China (601288.SS) (1288.HK) brings no-nonsense flair and a strong track record in bank overhauls to the helm of the lumbering Chinese lender where he started out years ago as a filing clerk.

Jiang Chaoliang, President of China Development Bank (CHDB.UL) since 2008, is to become chairman of AgBank.

He returns to lead a company that was his first employer in banking, having worked his way up from a clerk distributing files and newspapers two decades ago to head its international business by the late 1990s.

During Jiang's three-year reign at China Development Bank, he transformed it from a lender that solely granted loans under government directives into a largely commercial bank, expanding into private equity businesses and with a series of international cooperation deals.

Jiang's efforts to revitalize CDB were capped late last year, when the bank launched its Hong Kong operations and signed a strategic partnership with private equity giants including TPG Capital (TPG.UL), KKR (KKR.UL) and Permira.

It is not the first time the 54-year-old drove changes at a state-owned bank.

During Jiang's four-year stint as Chairman of Bank of Communications (BoCom) (3328.HK) (601328.SS) from June 2004, he transformed China's fifth-biggest lender from a struggling operation laden with bad debts into a dual-listed company with HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA.L) as strategic investor and partner.

BoCom's successful reincarnation paved the way for the listings of China's "Big Four" state lenders, including AgBank, and built Jiang's reputation as a decisive man with superb negotiation skills.

"Jiang hardly conceals what he loves and hates," said a BoCom official who worked with Jiang but declined to be identified. "He wants things to be done quickly and neatly, and hates lengthy meetings that generate no results."

QUICK TURNAROUND

His drive has paid off. When Jiang landed at BoCom headquarters in Shanghai's Lujiazui financial district with Beijing's mandate to turn the company around, it was suffering from inefficiency and a bad debt ratio of nearly 13 percent.

Within months, Jiang helped seal a slew of state-backed restructuring deals that saw BoCom dispose of 53 billion yuan ($8.31 billion) of bad assets, slash its bad loan ratio to 3.4 percent and introduce new government shareholders.

Jiang, who is often seen at public occasions in a dark suit and a red tie, played a crucial role in striking the deal with HSBC, which paid $1.7 billion for a 19.9 percent stake in BoCom in the biggest foreign investment in a Chinese bank at the time.

At one point during the lengthy and arduous talks, HSBC, worried about some newly unveiled scandals at BoCom, decided to leave the negotiating table, according to "Two Decades of Reforms," a book about BoCom's history.

In a last-ditch effort that eventually saved the deal, Jiang invited then-HSBC CEO Stephen Green for a lunch in Beijing, during which he expressed a keen desire to cooperate with HSBC and painted a rosy picture of China's rapidly expanding economy, luring HSBC back to the table, according to the book.

STRUGGLE FROM POVERTY

Jiang is no stranger to hardship. Born in 1957 in a farmer's family in central Hunan province and the eldest of five children, he had to take care of other family members in his early years, according to local media reports.

Jiang dropped out of middle school to make money early, and as China resumed university education in 1977 after disruptions due to the Cultural Revolution, he pounced on the opportunity and was recruited by Hunan Finance Institute as a finance major student.

He later joined AgBank. After working his way to head of the international business there, Jiang developed an understanding of financial risk and crisis management experience during his stint from 1998-1999 at the Guangzhou branch of the People's Bank of China, successfully tackling financial bankruptcies in southern China amid the Asian financial crisis.

Jiang's crisis-management skills were honed several years later during the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, as vice governor of central Hubei province responsible for public sanitation.

AgBank, already listed, is unlikely to see major reforms in the short term. Its challenges lie with balancing its vast rural network against pressure to expand overseas to keep up with its rivals including Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (1398.HK) (601398.SS).

"Jiang is rich in resources and is good at driving some symbolic changes," said Jin Lin, analyst at Orient Securities Co in Shanghai.

(Additional reporting by Kelvin Soh; Editing by Brian Rhoads and Helen Massy-Beresford)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120116/bs_nm/us_china_agbank_jiang

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Steve Jobs doll abandoned after pressure from Apple lawyers and family (Digital Trends)

Apple lawyers are a busy bunch?if they?re not fighting patent-related battles in courts around the world, they?re working to prevent Steve Jobs dolls from being sold online to those who would want to have such an object adorning the shelves of their home.

Production of the doll, which an LA Times report accurately describes as ?eerily lifelike,? has been abandoned by its maker because it says it came under ?immense pressure? from Apple lawyers and Jobs? family.

It?s not clear how many Apple fans had ordered the $100 doll, which was due to start shipping next month, but maker In Icons promised full refunds to anyone who had done so.

In a statement on its website, the company apologized for having to abandon the project. ?We understand that this decision will cause many of the fans? disappointment,? the statement said, ?but please forgive us as there is no other alternative unless to have the blessing from Steve Jobs?s family.?

Had In Icons not bowed to pressure from Apple, purchasers would have received a 12-inch doll with the late tech guru dressed in his familiar black turtleneck and blue jeans. Movable joins meant the doll could be set in number of positions, such as the hand-to-chin pose familiar to those who?ve bought the recently released biography of the man, or with him tapping out a message on his iPhone with a pointed finger.

The doll also included three pairs of hands, two pairs of glasses and two apples, one of which had a bite taken out of it.

?I am still Steve?s fan,? the doll?s maker said in the statement. ?I fully respect Steve and his family, and it is definitely not my wish or intention that they may be upset.?

It?s not certain whether the figurine would have appealed more to Apple fans or doll collectors, but either way, it looks likely to spend the rest of its days locked away in a dark closet.

This article was originally posted on Digital Trends

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Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/applecomputer/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/digitaltrends/20120116/tc_digitaltrends/stevejobsdollabandonedafterpressurefromapplelawyersandfamily

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Ridiculous $1,500 Diamond Studded Business Cards [Luxury]

Business cards have become more of a hassle in a time when contact details can be shared electronically. But one company has chosen to ignore this obvious trend with a luxury card that tells people you're an arrogant ass. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/vgxfvtIlxko/ridiculous-1500-diamond-studded-business-cards

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China's growth ebbs in final quarter of 2011 (AP)

BEIJING ? China appears on track to avoid an abrupt economic slowdown with possible global repurcussions after growth eased to a still robust 8.9 percent in the last quarter of 2011.

The expansion in the world's second-largest economy was the slowest in 2 1/2 years but December retail sales and factory output accelerated, data showed Tuesday. Growth in the previous quarter was 9.1 percent.

"Today's outcome seems to confirm a `soft landing' scenario," said Frances Cheung of Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong.

China is one of the biggest importers and slower growth could have global repercussions if it cuts demand for iron ore, industrial components and other goods from Australia, Brazil, Southeast Asia and elsewhere.

Growth decelerated in 2011 as Beijing hiked interest rates and tightened investment curbs to prevent overheating and tame politically dangerous inflation. Communist leaders reversed course and started easing lending late in the year after plunging U.S. and European export demand raised the threat of job losses and unrest.

The slowdown was in line with government plans, said Ma Jiantang, commissioner of the National Bureau of Statistics. He said the "ideal situation" would be to keep growth between 8.5 percent and 9 percent, with inflation low.

In 2012, China faces "complexity and challenges" due to global malaise and pressure for prices to rise, Ma said at a news conference. Still, he said, "The fundamentals of China's longterm steady economic growth have not changed."

Growth in the three months ending in December was the slowest since the second quarter of 2009, when the economy expanded 7.9 percent.

Retail sales growth rebounded to 18.1 percent from November's 17.1 percent while factory output rose 12.8 percent, up from November's 12.4 percent.

"This all reaffirms our outlook on China for a soft landing," said Moody's Analytics economist Glenn Levine in a report. "Export demand has cooled, but domestic demand is still running strong."

Consumer inflation, a volatile element in a society where poor families spend up to half their incomes on food, edged down in December to 4.1 percent after hitting a 37-month high of 6.5 percent in July.

That could give Beijing leeway to stimulate the economy, helping small companies that have been hurt by plunging export demand and squeezed by lending curbs, forcing thousands out of business and wiping out jobs.

Analysts expect Beijing to try to stimulate growth with an interest rate cut, tax cuts or other measures. The central bank promised pro-growth measures this month to help entrepreneurs though it also pointed to inflation pressures and global uncertainties and said its monetary policy will stay "prudent."

Also in 2011, China's urban population exceeded the number of rural dwellers for the first time, rising to 51.3 percent of the nation's 1.3 billion people, the government reported.

Industry surveys show manufacturing and exports contracted in November and December, while a slowdown in real estate sales triggered by government efforts to stop speculation and cool surging housing prices has sparked concern about the impact on the overall economy. December import growth fell to 11.8 percent, barely half the previous month's 22.1 percent gain.

"The slowdown has yet to come to an end," said economist Zhang Xinfa at China Galaxy Securities in Beijing.

Analysts say Beijing still needs to boost consumer spending to reduce reliance on exports and investment to drive growth.

The communist government has pledged for years to reorient its economy but is only starting to make progress after its stimulus in response to the 2008 global crisis fueled a surge in construction spending.

Ma, the statistics official, pointed to the shift in population toward cities and said that might help to spur consumption growth.

"If we can rely more on domestic consumption," said Credit Agricole CIB's Cheung, "that will help the economy to sail through all these headwinds."

___

AP researcher Zhao Liang contributed.

___

National Bureau of Statistics (in Chinese): http://www.stats.gov.cn

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120117/ap_on_bi_ge/as_china_economy

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