String theory may limit space brain threat

LEGIONS of disembodied brains floating in deep space threaten to undermine our understanding of the universe. New mathematical modelling suggests string theory and its multiple universes may just provide our salvation ? and that could win the controversial theory a few more backers.

Physicists have dreamed up some bizarre ideas over the years, but a decade or so ago they outdid themselves with the concept of Boltzmann brains ? fully formed, conscious entities that form spontaneously in outer space.

It may seem impossible for a brain to blink into existence, but the laws of physics don't rule it out entirely. All it requires is a vast amount of time. Eventually, a random chunk of matter and energy will happen to come together in the form of a working mind. It's the same logic that says a million monkeys working on a million typewriters will replicate the complete works of Shakespeare, if you leave them long enough.

Most models of the future predict that the universe will expand exponentially forever. That will eventually spawn inconceivable numbers of Boltzmann brains, far outnumbering every human who has ever, or will ever, live.

This means that, over the entire history of the universe, it is the Boltzmann brains' experience of the universe and not ours that is typical. That's a problem, because the starting point for our understanding of the universe and its behaviour is that humans are typical observers. If we are not, our theories begin to look iffy.

"It has to be more likely to be an ordinary observer than a Boltzmann brain," says Claire Zukowski at the University of California, Berkeley.

A particular problem is that most Boltzmann brains will exist in the far future when the universe is no more than an inky void, with a past indistinguishable from the future. This would make our experience of time's arrow highly unusual.

However, if we can demonstrate that the universe has a finite lifespan, that would deny Boltzmann brains the infinite time they need to outnumber us. String theory might be able to help, says Zukowski, who has been studying the problem as part of her PhD research with Raphael Bousso, also at Berkeley.

According to string theory, there may be a large number of universes. All of these universes are believed to come into existence through a process called eternal inflation, in which at least one universe continually expands at an incredible rate, while others form and grow within it like bubbles. This pool of universes has been dubbed the multiverse.

Many of these other universes could be chock-full of conscious creatures early in their histories when, like the universe we see today, the past is distinct from the future. That could help make our point of view the standard one. But if these universes eventually become featureless and continue to linger, they will all accrue Boltzmann brains, tipping the balance away from us again.

Zukowski and Bousso's latest work suggests this won't happen. Universes are constantly budding off a parent universe in the multiverse, so the parental characteristics can determine what kinds of "baby" universes form within it ? and whether those universes will stick around long enough to be filled with Boltzmann brains or decay first.

Bousso and Zukowski performed a mathematical analysis of multiverses that start out in one of two different initial states: an older model first suggested by Stephen Hawking and his colleague James Hartle, and a newer model that has come out of mathematical treatments of the string multiverse. While the Hartle-Hawking model ended up overrun with Boltzmann brains, ordinary human-like consciousnesses prevailed in the newer model. That makes our view of the universe reassuringly normal in such a multiverse (Physical Review D, doi.org/mkj).

The very idea of string theory and the multiverse is still controversial. It is often attacked for being overly complicated and difficult to prove. If Bousso and Zukowski are correct, though, and it can help resolve the problem of Boltzmann brains, the theory may just win a few more backers.

"This is potentially an added experimental success for string theory and eternal inflation," says Daniel Harlow, a physicist at Princeton University. "We need to understand it better ? [but] the fact that it potentially explains something is motivation to understand it better."

This article appeared in print under the headline "String theory limits space brain threat"

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Did Obama help kill the same-sex partner amendment he actually supports? (Washington Bureau)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

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Google?s X Phone confirmed for Sprint

For two days John McCain and Ted Cruz have been fighting on the Senate floor over the rules for negotiating a budget, but, like so many fights, it's also about so much more. Cruz is being annoying about the budget, but worse, he just doesn't?get the Senate.?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/google-x-phone-confirmed-sprint-171534340.html

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Messiah College Students Slam Josh Ritter For Calling Christian School Anti-Gay

Musician Josh Ritter, who refused to perform again at a private Christian college because of the school's anti-gay beliefs, is now the target of backlash from students who say they and their school are not homophobic.

Ritter defended gay rights in a Facebook post criticizing Messiah College, a private school in Mechanicsburg, Pa., that embraces the "evangelical spirit rooted" in Christian traditions. In his May 4 post, Ritter blasted the school as anti-gay after discovering a school-wide document called the "Community Covenant."

Messiah College requires all students to sign a "Community Covenant" promising to, among other things, ?avoid such sinful practices as?homosexual behavior?.? This policy, which I see as exclusionary and bigoted, could not run more counter to my personal beliefs. If I had done my homework, and read about Messiah's policies ahead of time, I would never have agreed to play there.

Ritter -- who performed at the school on May 4 -- continued by saying he would not play at Messiah College again until the school welcomes all Christians, gay or straight. He plans to donate the fees he received for the performance to suicide-prevention group the Trevor Project.

Messiah students are now striking back at Ritter saying their school is actually an accepting place.

"[Y]ou have succeeded to put all of us Messiah students in a box, when in reality this characterization couldn't be further from the truth. The student body here is a diverse group, many of which are passionate for seeing change happen within the schools policies regarding homosexual behavior," wrote one Facebook user. "Your words are hurtful to many of us here who do not apply to the group you called out."

"I love Messiah, and I love my faith, but I also believe that everyone has the right to love who they love and to be with you makes them happy," wrote another. "If you ask around campus, there are many things that students generally disagree with in the Community Covenant."

Messiah has a copy of the "Community Covenant" available online. This document, subtitled "All of Life Under the Lordship of Christ," says that the teachings of the scriptures apply to all those in the school community. Students are asked to avoid: drunkenness, stealing, dishonesty, profanity, occult practices, sexual intercourse outside of marriage, homosexual behavior, and sexually exploitative or abusive behavior.

A spokeswoman for Messiah told Christian magazine World on Campus that she was surprised Ritter wasn't familiar with the school's stance on sexuality until now, even though he performed there in 2009.

"We are a Christian college, we would think it wouldn't be surprising that we hold a traditional Scriptural interpretation of sexuality," Beth Lorow said. "We feel disappointed that he opted to publicly express his disagreement with name-calling and labeling and passed on doing it in a more productive way."

She said Ritter refused to speak to school administrators about his differing opinions and accused him of "not extending the openness and tolerance he spoke about to religious freedoms."

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/11/messiah-college-josh-ritter-anti-gay_n_3254838.html

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Background noise in the operating room can impair surgical team communication

May 10, 2013 ? Ambient background noise -- whether it is the sound of loud surgical equipment, talkative team members, or music -- is a patient and surgical safety factor that can affect auditory processing among surgeons and the members of their team in the operating room (OR), according to a new study that appears in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The findings are the first to demonstrate that a surgeon's ability to understand spoken words in the OR is directly affected by noise in the environment.

"The operating room is a very fast-paced, high-demand, all senses running on all cylinders type of environment," said study coauthor Matthew Bush, MD, assistant professor of surgery at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington. "To minimize errors of communication, it is essential that we consider very carefully the listening environment we are promoting in the OR."

To assess the effects of ambient noise on communication in the OR, the researchers created a noise environment similar to that of an OR and tested 15 surgeons with one to 30 years of operating experience. The surgeons' ability to understand and repeat words was tested using the Speech In Noise Test-Revised (SPIN-R) under four different listening conditions typical of OR environments. These conditions included quiet, filtered noise through a surgical mask and background noise both with and without music. Subjects were tested in two situations: engaged in a specific surgical task and task free.

The study showed a significant decrease in speech comprehension with the presence of background noise when the words were unpredictable. In addition, the surgeons demonstrated considerably poorer speech comprehension in the presence of music compared with a quiet environment or one with OR noise present. However, the addition of music became a significant barrier to speech comprehension only when the surgeon was engaged in a task.

The researchers concluded that OR noise can cause a decrease in auditory processing, particularly in the presence of music. Further, the ability to understand what is being said becomes even more difficult when the conversations carry critical information that is unpredictable.

Currently, miscommunication is one of the most frequently cited causes of preventable medical errors. For this reason, there is a growing interest in identifying overlooked variables that can lead to communication breakdowns among health care professionals.

Therefore, these study results have important implications in the real world because surgical teams carry on critical conversations during surgical procedures that often include discussions about medications and dosing as well as the blood supply that should be on hand. Because some of these details might sound similar, clear communication is crucial to avoiding medical errors (ie: a request for the drug heparin might be heard as Hespan).

"Our main goal is to increase awareness that operating room noise does affect communication and that we should foster the best environment in which we can communicate better," Dr. Bush explained. "This effort means that the surgical team needs to work diligently to create the safest environment possible, and that step may mean either turning the music off or down, or limiting background conversations or other things in the environment that could lead to communication errors and medical mistakes."

In future studies, the researchers plan to look at a larger population of surgeons, especially those who are hearing impaired, as well as other operating team members such as anesthesiologists and nurses.

"I think it's important to demonstrate the effect of environmental operating noise on communication on a variety of different players in the operating room setting," Dr. Bush said. "Another step from here is to not only see how noise affects our understanding of speech, but how it affects our tasks, how it affects our ability to perform surgical procedures efficiently and effectively. That is a different stage and different study design completely, but these questions are all ahead of us as we investigate the effects of environmental sound on operating room communication."

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/6CS4nT0oZZY/130510124558.htm

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Seth MacFarlane reunites with Universal, 'Ted' studio to make his upcoming western

By Lucas Shaw

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Universal has come aboard to co-finance and distribute "A Million Ways to Die in the West," Seth MacFarlane's upcoming western, the studio announced on Friday. The studio will release the movie May 30, 2014 in North America.

MacFarlane will co-write, direct and produce the film, which will star the "Family Guy" creator as a sheep farmer named Albert. Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried, Sarah Silverman and Giovanni Ribisi will all star as well.

The movie reunites MacFarlane with Universal, which reaped the rewards of MacFarlane's first film, "Ted." This movie will be a reunion of sorts as "Ted" producers Scott Stuber and Jason Clark and co-writers Wellesley Wild and Alec Sulkin will all fill the same duties. Media Rights Capital, which is co-financing, also co-financed "Ted."

MacFarlane has long been one of the most successful writers and directors in television thanks to his hit animated comedies like "Family Guy" and "American Dad!" "Ted" then demonstrated that he had no problem crossing over to film, as that movie grossed $549 million worldwide.

The studio would like MacFarlane to make "Ted 2," but in case this comes first, Universal has snagged both of them.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/seth-macfarlane-reunites-universal-ted-studio-upcoming-western-002652428.html

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Syria war could push Lebanon, Jordan into slump

By Dominic Evans

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The economic devastation of Syria's war could drive the economies of neighboring Lebanon and Jordan into reverse, Syria's former deputy prime minister said on Thursday.

Pointing to the sharp slowdown in Lebanon's economic growth since the start of Syria's conflict in 2011, from 7 percent to barely 2 percent, Abdallah al-Dardari said there was a direct link to the ever-deepening economic collapse in Syria.

Jordan's economic growth had remained steadier, between 2 and 3 percent, but was still affected by the Syrian turmoil and was below the level needed to provide enough jobs for its fast-growing population, he said.

The Syrian conflict "has a very destabilizing effect," said Dardari, now chief economist for the regional United Nations body ESCWA. "It is in the interest of the whole region for Syria to regain peace and quiet, and start rebuilding."

Dardari said Syria's economy had already shrunk between 35 to 40 percent and would fall 60 percent from its level at the start of the uprising if the fighting continued.

Every one percentage point of economic slowdown in Syria produced a 0.2 percentage point slowdown in Lebanon, he said.

With Syria's economy still collapsing "we can speak about negative growth in Lebanon and Jordan if the situation in Syria continues as it is today for the next two years," he told Reuters in an interview at the U.N.'s central Beirut offices.

The former deputy prime minister for economic affairs was dismissed by President Bashar al-Assad in a cabinet reshuffle shortly after the uprising erupted. He has since been working at the U.N. on plans for Syria's post-conflict reconstruction.

SYRIA CRISIS HITS TOURISM, TRADE

Economists in Lebanon say domestic factors also played a part in the country's economic slowdown, including the political uncertainty when former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri's government was toppled in early 2011.

But Dardari said the Syrian crisis was hitting tourism, trade, development assistance from Gulf Arab oil states and even remittance levels from Lebanon's huge expatriate population, who worry about security in their homeland.

The flood of cheap Syrian labor into Lebanon could also drag down average salaries by 14 percent because of the increase in labor supply of hundreds of thousands of refugees and laborers arriving in a country of just 4 million.

Lebanon's Central Bank governor Riad Salameh, speaking at a conference in Beirut on Thursday, agreed that the Syrian conflict was weighing on Lebanon's performance but reiterated his forecast of 2 percent growth this year.

The impact on Jordan would be slightly less because its economy was less tied to Syria's, Dardari said. "However you can see in the last five to 10 years Syria and Jordan dramatically improved their trade relations and bilateral investments, and have tremendous plans for further integration."

"That has all stopped now".

Dardari's prediction was gloomier than the IMF, which said in March it expected Jordan's economic growth to accelerate above 3 percent, reflecting an increase in government capital spending, higher domestic consumption and a recovery in exports.

However Syria faced almost unimaginable challenges even if the fighting were to stop tomorrow, Dardari said. He put the economic cost at $70-$80 billion, including $28 billion to rebuild 1.2 million houses and provide them with infrastructure.

The country would need 30 million metric tons of cement a year - more than three times pre-crisis quantities - to repair damaged homes and keep up with the need for new housing, he said. "Thirty million metric tons of cement requires more than 1 billion cubic meters of water. We don't have that much water."

Sustained fighting on the other hand could only bring greater calamity, including staggering levels of unemployment and absolute poverty, he said.

"Over the next few years, if the fighting continues, we will have to look at it as a disaster zone rather than a normal economy functioning according to economics as we know it."

(Editing by Jon Hemming)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syria-war-could-push-lebanon-jordan-slump-152537019.html

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Judge in NYC refuses to suspend his Plan B ruling

NEW YORK (AP) ? A government appeal of a ruling giving women of all ages broad access to morning-after birth control is frivolous, a federal judge said Friday as he refused to suspend enforcement of his decision pending appeal.

U.S. District Judge Edward Korman in Brooklyn did agree to postpone implementation of his month-old decision until Monday to give the government time to appeal to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan.

"Indeed, in my view, the defendants' appeal is frivolous and is taken for the purpose of delay," Korman wrote.

A government spokeswoman had no immediate comment.

The government had warned that "substantial market confusion" could result if Korman's ruling was enforced while appeals are pending.

The judge had ruled that the Plan B One-Step morning-after pill could be sold to everyone without a prescription.

The Food and Drug Administration last week announced the contraception could be sold without a prescription to those 15 and older. Sales had previously been limited to those who were at least 17.

In court papers, attorneys for the Center for Reproductive Rights have said every day that the ruling does not get enforced is "life-altering" to some women.

They said a delay for the duration of appeals "will perpetuate ? for months, or years ? the unconscionable delays that have permeated the defendants' actions with regard to emergency contraception."

At a hearing earlier this week, Assistant U.S. Attorney Franklin Amanat defended the slow pace of the court case, saying: "Sometimes the people are better served when the government acts deliberately and incrementally."

In ordering that the contraceptive be made widely available, Korman last month criticized the government, saying its actions to limit sales of the drugs were "politically motivated, scientifically unjustified and contrary to agency precedent."

The FDA was preparing in 2011 to allow over-the-counter sale of the morning-after pill with no agency limits when Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled her own scientists in an unprecedented move.

In his Friday order, Korman said the "FDA is not the problem," placing the blame solely with Sebelius.

"She has not changed her position," he said. "A remand would thus be futile."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2013-05-10-US-Morning-After-Pill/id-94bb643dff9a4f12b241996db66958c2

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Writer's Headlines: Kudos, MoGo7000 Totals, & Last Call for Teen ...

By Vonda Skelton | May 9, 2013

Hello, writers. Well, it?s the 2nd Thursday and that means it?s a day to celebrate YOUR successes!

First, let?s give a big round of applause for all these writers who have been hard at work?and have the results to show for it.

1.? Edie Melson (SC): Edie has a new two-book contract with Thomas Nelson for books of prayer for military families, While My Husband Serves and While My Son Serves.

2. Jeanne Doyon (CT): I spent an incredible weekend with 90 women at http://www.singinghills.net/scrapbookingretreat.html sharing my message called, Battle Worn, Battle Weary: Finding Victory in Surrender. We discovered a B.A.T.T.L.E. PLAN for the everyday events that threaten to discourage and? defeat us.

3. La-Tan Roland Murphy (NC): La-Tan recently had a radio Interview with Living Joyfully Free. You can hear it in the archives here.

4. Barbara Parentini (NC): Christian Women?s Voice Magazine featured the story about my life-changing accident, ?At the Speed of Love,? in their May/June issue, along with coverage of my inspirational card line, Soaring Hearts. You can order a copy of the magazine at their site: http://christianwomensvoice.org/ And my story, ?Heavenly Starlight,? was accepted for a compilation being published by Dayton Christian Scribes in Ohio. Release date later in 2013.

5.? Tim Knopp (NC): I won the Splickety Magazine Susan May Warren flash fiction contest. I didn?t know it until I looked inside the magazine and saw my story in print. Quite a shock, and a blessing.

6.? Nan Jones (NC): I had the honor of speaking to the ladies of Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC on Saturday, May 4th. My topic was ?Don?t Wrestle; Just Nestle ~ Hiding Beneath the Shadow of His Wing.?

7.? Tracey Garrell (NC): It all started with a dare. I was sharing daily scripture verses on Facebook and my friend said, ?Why don?t you start blogging?? After much prayer, I decided to join the vast array of bloggers. Very simply, God speaks to my heart and I share His love and grace in hopes of encouraging others. If the blog helps one person draw closer to the Lord, renew their commitment to Christ or ponder His Word, it is
successful. Isn?t it amazing what the Lord will do when we submit to His calling on our lives? Here is the link: www.leapfrogfaith.wordpress.com.

8.? Megan Vance (PA): My first book, Sure Mercies: Help Inside for the Suffering, is under contract for publication. My blog is inchristalone-byhismercy.blogspot.com. Here?s the link to the publisher: http://www.4rvpublishing.com/

9.? Lori Hatcher (SC): I?m so excited to be able to share a few of the opportunities I?ve had to share God?s truth in the month of April. I had the privilege of leading the women of New Century Church in Roanoke, VA, into a deeper and more dynamic prayer life through my seminar, ?Praying with Power.? The ladies of Spring Valley Baptist in Columbia, SC, invited me to share the amazing faith stories of six women I?ve met through my work as the editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine in ?Everyone Has a Story; What?s Yours?? Finally, I was able to encourage the dedicated parents of the HERALD 5 support group with the message, ?10 Mistakes I?ve Made in Homeschooling.? http://lori-benotweary.blogspot.com/p/speaking-ministry-contact-me.html

10. Sandy Quandt (TX): My children?s story, Be Strong and Courageous, has been selected to appear in the September 2013 issue of Upper Room?s Pockets magazine.

11. Lisa Lickel (WI): Kathy Rouser, Paula Mowery, Teena Stewart, and I signed with Prism Book Group for a historical novella collection, Brave New Century. It?s Kathy?s first contract! Lisa?s Healing Grace: a novel, was re-realeased recently http://tinyurl.com/c59mpsq

And who MoGo?d this month?

We had TWO MoGo-ers for the month of April?

#9: Nan Trammel Jones ? 10,507 words

#10: Susan Baganz ? 68,000 words

Wow, ladies, you now have an entry (or ANOTHER entry) into the end-of-the-year drawing for $100! Hoo-wee!

Okay, gang, it?s not too late. It?s only May 9, and you have until the end of the month to write at least 7000 NEW words on a book project. If you complete that assignment, simply respond when I put the call out the first Thursday in June and let me know. Each month that you reach 7000 new words on a book project, you get another entry into the drawing.

Get the complete MoGo7000 Challenge guidelines here and then join in. It?s free!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gideon Interns 2011

Last call for Gideon Media Arts Conference & Film Festival Teen Intern applicants!

That?s right?the deadline to apply as a Teen Intern at the Gideon Media Arts Conference & Film Festival is next Wednesday, May 15, 2013.

Do you know any talented teens who are interested in learning and networking in filmmaking, directing, screenwriting, acting, singing, songwriting (and more!) from a Christian worldview? If so, we want to hear from them!

Just have them check out the Teen Intern Program here and then get in touch. The deadline is next week!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, that does it for another week of celebration. I hope you?re encouraged by seeing that others?just like you?are working, striving, learning, growing, and ultimately finding success.

Never give up!

Vonda

Source: http://www.vondaskelton.com/2013/05/09/writers-headlines-kudos-mogo7000-totals-last-call-for-teen-interns/

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Samsung Galaxy S4 comes to Staples

If you're in the market for a new Samsung Galaxy S4 and need to pick up some printer toner, a pack of ballpoint pens, and a new label maker, then you might just want to get yourself to your nearest... Staples. The office supply store is now carrying the Galaxy S4 for all major US carriers (that'd be AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon), with varying availability in stores and online depending on your carrier of choice.

The Galaxy S4 for Sprint from Staples is available online only in 'white frost' or 'black mist' for $199.99 on a two-year contract (or $715.99 off contract). Going for Verizon (again, white or black) will be $179.99 with the standard two-year contract or $715.99 without, though they're currently on preorder and not expected to arrive in stores and ship until May 30. T-Mobile currently only has the white Galaxy S4 available via the Staples website ($249.99 on contract, $715.99 off) and it's supposedly available now in stores. AT&T's the current laggard in Staples availability, with the S4 only to be available in stores, with no publicly projected date of availability.

So go grab yourself a ream of paper, get some business cards printed, and pick up a Samsung Galaxy S4 while you're at it. Especially if you're looking at Verizon - it's $20 cheaper on contract through Staples than the carrier.

Source: Business Wire

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/owYA2A_yOLA/story01.htm

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3-D gun blueprints downloaded more than 100K times

The Liberator (Michael Thad Carter/Forbes)

Blueprints for what's being called the world's first 3-D-printed handgun have been downloaded more than 100,000 times since the controversial files were published online earlier this week, developers say.

Defense Distributed, the company that produced the schematics, told Forbes that CAD files for the so-called "Liberator" hit the six-figure download mark within two days, with most of them coming from the United States. Users in Spain, Brazil, Germany and the U.K. have downloaded the files, too.

"This has definitely been our most well-received download,? Haroon Khalid, a Defense Distributed developer, told the magazine. ?I don?t think any of us predicted it would be this much.?

The company uploaded the files to Mega, the free New Zealand-based filesharing website, where users are able to access them via a link from Defcad.org.

[Related: ?World?s first 3-D printable handgun? under fire]

Cody Wilson, Defense Distributed's 25-year-old founder, announced plans to create the world's first entirely printable handgun last year. In March, the company obtained a federal license as a gun manufacturer.

Before the files were released, lawmakers expressed concerned that anyone with a 3-D printer and an Internet connection would be able to print an untraceable arsenal. New York Rep. Steve Israel called for a renewal of the Undetectable Firearms Act. and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, who called use of the technology ?stomach-churning.?

?Security checkpoints, background checks and gun regulations will do little good if criminals can print plastic firearms at home and bring those firearms through metal detectors," Israel said.

?This gun can fire regular bullets,? Schumer said. ?Now anyone, a terrorist, someone who is mentally ill, a spousal abuser, a felon, can essentially open a gun factory in their garage. It must be stopped.?

"The Wiki Weapon project," as it's described on Defense Distributed's website, is "a nonprofit effort to create freely available plans for 3D printable guns."

Late Thursday, Wilson told Forbes that the U.S. State Department had contacted the company demanding the files be taken down over possible "export control violations." Wilson said the company would comply, but the government may be too late. On Friday, copies of the blueprints were also available on Pirate Bay.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/3d-gun-download-liberator-200112720.html

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Wrigley Halts New Caffeinated Gum

A Food and Drug Administration investigation into the safety of caffeine-added foods has prompted Wrigley to take its new caffeinated gum off the market for the time being.

Wrigley said Wednesday that it will temporarily halt sales and marketing of Alert caffeinated gum after discussions with the FDA. President Casey Keller said the company made the move "out of respect" for the agency, which said it would investigate the health effects of added caffeine on children and adolescents just as Wrigley rolled out Alert late last month. A stick of the gum has an amount of caffeine equivalent to half a cup of coffee.

"After discussions with the FDA, we have a greater appreciation for its concern about the proliferation of caffeine in the nation's food supply," Keller said in a statement to The Associated Press. "There is a need for changes in the regulatory framework to better guide the consumers and the industry about the appropriate level and use of caffeinated products."

Keller said the company has paused production and sales of the gum to give the agency time to regulate the caffeine-added products.

Michael Taylor, the FDA's deputy commissioner of foods, said Wrigley's decision to stop production for now "demonstrates real leadership and commitment to the public health."

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"We hope others in the food industry will exercise similar restraint," Taylor said.

Food manufacturers have added caffeine to candy, nuts and other snack foods in recent years. Jelly Belly "Extreme Sport Beans," for example, have 50 milligrams of caffeine in each 100-calorie pack, while Arma Energy Snx markets trail mix, chips and other products that have caffeine.

The companies say they are marketing the products to adults, but critics say that's not enough when the caffeine is added to items like candy that are attractive to children. Many of the energy foods are promoted with social media campaigns, another way they could be targeted to young people.

Major medical associations have warned that too much caffeine can be dangerous for children, who have less ability to process the stimulant than adults. The American Academy of Pediatrics says it has been linked to harmful effects on young people's developing neurologic and cardiovascular systems.

Taylor said last week that the proliferation of new foods with caffeine added ? especially the gum, which he equated to "four cups of coffee in your pocket" ? may even prompt the FDA to look closer at the way all food ingredients are regulated. The agency is already investigating the safety of energy drinks and energy shots, prompted by consumer reports of illness and death.

The only time FDA has explicitly approved the added use of caffeine in a food or drink was in the 1950s for colas. Taylor said the current proliferation of caffeine added to foods is "beyond anything FDA envisioned."

The FDA said it would look at the potential impact these new and easy sources of caffeine will have on children's health and take action if necessary. Taylor said he and other FDA officials have held meetings with some of the large food companies that have ventured into caffeinated products, including Mars Inc., Wrigley's parent company.

???

Follow Mary Clare Jalonick on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mcjalonick

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/apnewsbreak-wrigley-halts-caffeinated-gum-19136864

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Guggenheim lands Barclays retail team as flight to boutiques continues

By Olivia Oran

(Reuters) - Guggenheim Partners has poached senior bankers from Barclays Plc's retail team as the $180 billion (115.85 billion pounds) asset manager looks to bolster its investment banking business.

The moves highlight a broader trend across Wall Street - senior bulge bracket bankers defecting to boutiques with less regulatory scrutiny and more favourable compensation structures.

New York and Chicago-based Guggenheim has hired former Barclays head of investment banking for retail companies and vice chairman Andrew Taussig as well as managing directors Spencer Hart, Matthew Pilla, Ken Harada and Ryan Mash, the firm said in a press release last week.

Prior to Barclays, Taussig, Hart, Pilla and Harada all worked together at Credit Suisse First Boston and Lehman Brothers.

Taussig, one of the most prominent retail bankers on Wall Street, has worked with large retail companies including Reebok International Ltd, Home Depot Inc , CVS Caremark Corp and Staples Inc .

The group joins Peter Comisar, a former Goldman Sachs banker, and now vice chairman and head of West Coast banking for Guggenheim who joined the firm in 2009 and has worked on retail deals including teen retailer Hot Topic Inc's recent sale to Sycamore Partners for about $600 million.

Guggenheim also announced on Wednesday it had advised Foot Locker Inc in its acquisition of German shoe store chain Runners Point Group for around $94 million.

Guggenheim is looking to build out its presence in investment banking, restructuring, real estate and digital media by hiring aggressively. Recent hires include former Jefferies banker Michael Henkin as co-head of its restructuring practice, former Apollo Global Management LLC executive Henry Silverman as global head of real estate and infrastructure and former Yahoo! executive Ross Levinsohn, who is heading up a new digital media unit at the firm.

In 2009, Guggenheim brought in former Bear Stearns CEO Alan Schwartz to help the firm expand.

Guggenheim's expansion comes at a time of tumult at Wall Street's bulge bracket banks. Bank consolidation as well as a focus on reducing leverage has caused mass layoffs.

At large banks, new regulations and corporate governance reforms are also pushing firms to place more pay in company stock and deferrals over a period of years. This has caused a dramatic shift in not just how much bankers are getting paid, but when they get paid.

At Morgan Stanley , for example, high earners are seeing 100 percent of their bonuses deferred over three years.

Boutique banks, meanwhile, typically aren't subject to the same compensation regulations as their larger peers and have enticed potential hires with all-cash bonuses, as Jefferies did in 2012.

Within the last several years, senior bankers have left large banks for boutiques like Guggenheim, Lazard Ltd , Evercore Partners Inc , Centerview Partners and Moelis.

"Many boutiques are growth companies with solid business models versus an unknown business model for a financial conglomerate where you've seen banking jobs eliminated," said Michael Wong, an analyst with Morningstar. "Boutiques have benefited from the exodus of people from these large banks."

(Reporting By Olivia Oran in New York, additional reporting by Jessica Toonkel; Editing by Chris Reese)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/guggenheim-lands-barclays-retail-team-flight-boutiques-continues-205828769.html

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Speaking of games with numbers (Unqualified Offerings)

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Live and learn: Most GenXers continue their education

May 7, 2013 ? More than one in every 10 members of Generation X are enrolled in classes to continue their formal educations, according to a new University of Michigan study released today. In addition, 48 percent of GenXers take continuing education courses, in-service training, and workshops required for professional licenses and certifications.

"This is an impressive level of engagement in lifelong learning," says Jon D. Miller, author of the latest issue of The Generation X Report. "It reflects the changing realities of a global economy, driven by science and technology.

Projected to the 80 million young adults in Generation X, Miller says the findings suggest that 1.8 million young adults are studying to earn associate degrees, 1.7 million are seeking baccalaureates, and nearly 2 million are taking courses to earn advanced degrees at the masters, doctoral, or professional level.

Miller directs the Longitudinal Study of American Youth (LSAY) at the U-M Institute for Social Research (ISR). The study has been funded by the National Science Foundation since 1986, and the current report includes responses from approximately 3,900 study participants who are in their late 30s.

According to Miller, slightly more than 40 percent of GenXers have earned a baccalaureate or higher degree, with those living in cities or suburbs more likely to have a degree than those living in small towns or rural areas.

The study also found that GenXers have earned graduate and professional degrees at a higher rate than any previous generation. By 2011, two decades after finishing high school, 22 percent of those surveyed had completed at least one advanced degree, and 10 percent had completed a doctorate or professional degree.

The report also examined informal sources of learning among Generation X, analyzing how they acquired information about three important contemporary events: influenza, the Fukushima nuclear reactor accident, and climate change.

"We found that Generation X adults use a mix of information sources, including traditional print and electronic media, as well as the internet and social media," says Miller.

"But for all three issues we examined, we found that talking with friends and family was cited as a source of information more frequently than traditional news media.

"While a high proportion of young adults are continuing their formal education, reflecting the changing demands of a global economy, many are also using the full resources of their personal networks and the electronic era to keep up with information on emerging issues."

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/living_well/~3/gigww2oo6g4/130507061141.htm

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Aereo seeks to block CBS from suing in additional markets

By Bernard Vaughan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Aereo Inc, the online television venture backed by Barry Diller, asked a federal court on Monday to block CBS Corp from suing it in new markets where it plans to expand.

The startup company brought the complaint in Manhattan federal court, seeking a ruling that it does not violate CBS's copyright.

Aereo said its complaint is a response to threats by CBS executives to sue the company in any jurisdiction where it makes its technology available to consumers. Aereo's service currently is available in the New York area, and the company announced plans in April to expand into Boston.

The complaint quotes CBS Chief Executive Les Moonves as saying that "we'll follow" Aereo and "we'll sue them again" in the different markets where it launches.

CBS spokesman Dana McClintock said in a statement, "These public relations and legal maneuvers do not change the fundamentally illegal nature of Aereo's supposed business."

McClintock said that "wherever Aereo attempts to operate, there will be vigorous challenges to its illegal business model."

The TV industry is concerned that Aereo, which allows subscribers to live-stream broadcasts of TV channels, could threaten its traditional business model. The service uses large numbers of TV antennas to capture broadcast signals for its subscribers.

Aereo does not pay licensing fees to broadcasters, while companies such as Comcast Corp and Time Warner Cable Inc pay billions in retransmission consent fees to broadcasters.

Last month, a U.S. appeals court in New York declined a request by broadcasters, including Walt Disney Co's ABC and Comcast's NBCUniversal, to force Aereo to discontinue its service until litigation between the companies is resolved.

Because CBS and other networks are already seeking a nationwide permanent injunction against Aereo, any further lawsuits would be duplicative, Aereo said in its complaint.

"The fact that CBS did not prevail in their efforts to enjoin Aereo in their existing federal lawsuit does not entitle them to a do-over in another jurisdiction," Virginia Lam, a spokeswoman for Aereo, said in a statement. "We are hopeful that any such efforts to commence duplicative lawsuits to try to seek a different outcome will be rejected by the courts."

The case is Aereo Inc v. CBS Broadcasting et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 13-3013.

(Additional reporting by Erin Geiger Smith; editing by Martha Graybow and John Wallace)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/aereo-seeks-block-cbs-suing-additional-jurisdictions-155714086.html

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Dish Anywhere for iPad updated with remote reset and Audio Only features

Dish rolled out a sizable update for its Anywhere iPad app today, allowing on the go socialites to share viewing habits with friends via Facebook and Twitter. Less socially-connected couch potatoes will see new features as well, like the ability to remotely reset their receiver whenever they find themselves in a pinch. Version 4.0.3 also ushers in an updated DVR schedule that includes Skipped and Conflicts, along with an Audio Only mode for Hopper users. Finally, Dish customers rocking unsupported satellite receivers now have access to On Demand programming. Looking for more information? Head on over to the source link below for all the details.

Filed under: Software, HD

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Source: iTunes

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/06/dish-anywhere-ipad-update/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Commands from the matrix: Cellular environment controls formation and activity of neuronal connections

May 6, 2013 ? Environment moulds behaviour -- and not just that of people in society, but also at the microscopic level. This is because, for their function, neurons are dependent on the cell environment, the so-termed extracellular matrix. Researchers at the Ruhr-Universit?t have found evidence that this complex network of molecules controls the formation and activity of the neuronal connections.

The team led by Dr. Maren Gei?ler und Prof. Andreas Faissner from the Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology reports in the Journal of Neuroscience in collaboration with the team of Dr. Ainhara Aguado, Prof. Christian Wetzel and Prof. Hanns Hatt from the Department of Cell Physiology.

Neurons and astrocytes in culture

In cooperation with Prof. Uwe Rauch from Lund University in Sweden, Bochum's biologists examined cells from the brains of two mouse species: a species with a normal extracellular matrix and a species which lacked four components of the extracellular matrix due to genetic manipulation, namely the molecules tenascin-C, tenascin-R, neurocan and brevican. They took the cells from the hippocampus, a brain structure that is crucial for the long-term memory. The team not only examined neurons but also astrocytes, which are in close contact with the neurons, support their function and secrete molecules for the extracellular matrix.

Formation, stability and activity of the neuronal connections depend on the matrix

The researchers cultivated the neurons and astrocytes together for four weeks with a specially developed culture strategy. Among other things, they observed how many connections, known as synapses, the neurons formed with each other and how stable these were over time. If either the astrocytes or the neurons in the culture dish derived from animals with a reduced extracellular matrix, these synapses proved to be less stable in the medium term, and their number was significantly reduced. Together with the Department of Cell Physiology at the RUB and the University of Regensburg, the team also showed that the neurons with a mutated matrix showed lower spontaneous activity than normal cells. The extracellular matrix thus regulates the formation, stability and activity of the neuronal connections. The researchers also examined a special structure of the extracellular matrix, the so-called perineuronal nets, which the Nobel laureate Camillo Golgi first described more than a century ago. They were significantly reduced in the environment of genetically modified cells.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Ruhr-Universitaet-Bochum.

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Journal Reference:

1. M. Geissler, C. Gottschling, A. Aguado, U. Rauch, C. H. Wetzel, H. Hatt, A. Faissner. Primary Hippocampal Neurons, Which Lack Four Crucial Extracellular Matrix Molecules, Display Abnormalities of Synaptic Structure and Function and Severe Deficits in Perineuronal Net Formation. Journal of Neuroscience, 2013; 33 (18): 7742 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3275-12.2013

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/~3/wiWyf_xhKbY/130506102928.htm

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Profile: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

Position: President of Venezuela

Incumbent: Nicolas Maduro

Date of Birth: November 23, 1962

Term: He became acting president on March 8, 2013, three days after the death of President Hugo Chavez from cancer. Maduro, the ruling Socialist Party's candidate, won the resulting April 14 presidential election and was sworn in five days later.

Key Facts:

- Maduro served six years as foreign minister before being named vice president in October 2012 and then Chavez's handpicked successor two months later. As Chavez's illness worsened, the burly, mustachioed Maduro became the South American nation's de facto leader.

- A former bus driver and union leader and self-declared "Chavista," Maduro is expected to continue Chavez's policies, including nationalizations, tight state control of the economy and financial support for allies such as communist-led Cuba.

- Maduro faced opposition leader Henrique Capriles, the centrist governor of Miranda state, in the April 14 vote. Maduro only narrowly won and Capriles refused to recognize the election result. He has alleged that there were thousands of voting irregularities.

- Like Chavez, Maduro has a penchant for extreme rhetoric. He has accused foes of plotting to assassinate him and suggested that "imperialist" enemies infected Chavez with cancer. In a March 13 speech, Maduro said that "far right" figures in the United States were plotting to kill Capriles.

- Maduro inherited an economy beset by high inflation and unemployment but buoyed by the OPEC member's oil reserves. He has said that private sector hoarding and "speculative attacks" on the bolivar currency were to blame for the economic problems.

- As foreign minister, Maduro had a relatively dull image and never diverted from Chavez's line. He traveled widely, denouncing U.S. foreign policy and cultivating allies in emerging markets such as Russia and China, which would become a key financier.

- In 1992, when Chavez was jailed for a failed coup that made him famous, Maduro took to the streets to demand his release and visited him in prison. Maduro was first elected to the National Assembly in 2000, later becoming its president.

- He was born in Caracas and attended high school in a working-class neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. He began his political career as a trade unionist representing the workers of the Caracas Metro system.

- He is married to Cilia Flores, a former leader of the National Assembly who now serves as the nation's attorney general, and the two have long been viewed as a "power couple" in the government. Maduro was raised a Roman Catholic, and he and his wife are supporters of the late Indian spiritual guru Sai Baba.

(Compiled by Caracas bureau and Washington MPG Desk; Editing by David Cutler and Paul Simao)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/profile-venezuelan-president-nicolas-maduro-194411818.html

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Genome sequencing provides unprecedented insight into causes of pneumococcal disease

May 5, 2013 ? A new study led by researchers from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in the UK has, for the first time, used genome sequencing technology to track the changes in a bacterial population following the introduction of a vaccine. The study follows how the population of pneumococcal bacteria changed following the introduction of the 'Prevnar' conjugate polysaccharide vaccine, which substantially reduced rates of pneumococcal disease across the U.S. The work demonstrates that the technology could be used in the future to monitor the effectiveness of vaccination or antibiotic use against different species of bacterial pathogens, and for characterizing new and emerging threats.

The study appears online May 5, 2013 in Nature Genetics.

"This gives an unprecedented insight into the bacteria living and transmitting among us," said co-author William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology at HSPH. "We can characterize these bugs to an almost unimaginable degree of detail, and in so doing understand better what helps them survive even in the presence of an effective vaccine."

Pneumococcal disease is caused by a type of bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is present in many people's noses and throats and is spread by coughing, sneezing, or other contact with respiratory secretions. The circumstances that cause it to become pathogenic are not fully understood. Rates of pneumococcal disease -- an infection that can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, and other illnesses -- dropped in young children following the introduction of a vaccine in 2000. However, strains of the bacteria that are not targeted by the vaccine rapidly increased and drug resistance appears to be on the rise.

The research, led by HSPH co-senior authors Hanage; Marc Lipsitch, professor of epidemiology; and Stephen Bentley, senior scientist at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, aimed to better understand the bacterial population's response to vaccination. Whole genome sequencing -- which reveals the DNA code for each bacterial strain to an unprecedented level of detail -- was used to study a sample of 616 pneumococci collected in Massachusetts communities from 2001 to 2007.

This study confirmed that the parts of the bacterial population targeted by the vaccine have almost disappeared, and, surprisingly, revealed that they have been replaced by pre-existing rare types of bacteria. The genetic composition of the new population is very similar to the original one, except for a few genes that were directly affected by the vaccine. This small genetic alteration appears to be responsible for the large reduction in the rates of pneumococcal disease.

"The widespread use of whole genome sequencing will allow better surveillance of bacterial populations -- even those that are genetically diverse -- and improve understanding of their evolution," said Lipsitch. "In this study, we were even able to see how quickly these bacteria transmit between different regions within Massachusetts and identify genes associated with bacteria in children of different ages."

"In the future, we will be able to monitor evolutionary changes in real-time. If we can more quickly and precisely trace the emergence of disease-causing bacteria, we may be able to better target interventions to limit the burden of disease," said Bentley.

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/top_news/top_health/~3/7IySghV-p38/130505145928.htm

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Calm, moist air aids fight against Calif. wildfire

Firefighters from Riverside, Calif. work to extinguish a brush fire at Point Mugu, Calif., Friday, May 3, 2013. A Southern California wildfire carving a path to the sea grew to more than 15 square miles and crews prepared Friday for another bad day of gusting winds and searing weather. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Firefighters from Riverside, Calif. work to extinguish a brush fire at Point Mugu, Calif., Friday, May 3, 2013. A Southern California wildfire carving a path to the sea grew to more than 15 square miles and crews prepared Friday for another bad day of gusting winds and searing weather. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

A firefighter keeps watch as the wildfire burns along a hillside in Point Mugu , Calif. Friday, May 3, 2013. Firefighters got a break as gusty winds turned into breezes, but temperatures remained high and humidity levels are expected to soar as cool air moved in from the ocean and the Santa Ana winds retreated. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Fire trucks keep an eye on a burned structure at the Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) at Point Mugu, Calif., Friday, May 3, 2013. The 15 1/2-square-mile blaze was only 10 percent contained on Friday, and the work of more than 900 firefighters, aided by air tankers, was just beginning. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

A firefighter carries tools down a burned hill after a wildfire in Point Mugu on Friday, May 3, 2013. A huge wildfire carved a path to the sea and burned on the beach Friday, but firefighters got a break as gusty winds turned into breezes. Temperatures remained high, but humidity levels were expected to soar as cool air moved in from the ocean and the Santa Ana winds retreated. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

A resident waters the burned area next to his home in Point Mugu, Calif., Friday, May 3, 2013. A huge wildfire carved a path to the sea and burned on the beach Friday, but firefighters got a break as gusty winds turned into breezes. Temperatures remained high, but humidity levels were expected to soar as cool air moved in from the ocean and the Santa Ana winds retreated. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) ? Moist, cool and calm weather is greatly helping Southern California firefighters battling a huge wildfire in coastal Ventura County.

Fire spokesman Tom Kruschke (KRUSH-kee) says containment of the blaze 50 miles west of Los Angeles has increased to 30 percent Saturday morning.

High winds and dry heat have been replaced by moist air from the ocean, and Kruschke says the fire is significantly laying down. The rugged Santa Monica Mountains are swathed in smoke but flames are no longer prominent.

The fire has burned more than 43 square miles since breaking out near Camarillo (kam-uh-REE-oh) Thursday morning. Flames have threatened thousands of homes since then but only 15 have been damaged.

Weather forecasters say there's a 20 percent chance of rain showers in the area by Sunday afternoon.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-05-04-California%20Wildfires/id-6017579fd1574a2a9e3a05205814fdcf

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Obama: US-Mexico stereotypes must be broken

US President Barack Obama greets guests before speaking at the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City, Friday, May 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

US President Barack Obama greets guests before speaking at the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City, Friday, May 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

President Barack Obama and Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto, right, leave after offering a joint news conference in Mexico City, Mexico, Thursday, May 2, 2013. Seeking to put a new spin on a long-standing partnership, Obama is promoting jobs and trade - not drug wars or border security - as the driving force behind the U.S.-Mexico relationship. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

A woman holds her child as she attends a protest outside the U.S. embassy before the arrival of President Barack Obama in Mexico City, Thursday, May 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

President Barack Obama answers questions during the news conference with Mexico?s President Enrique Pena Nieto, at the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City, Thursday, May 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

MEXICO CITY (AP) ? Calling for an end to "old stereotypes," President Barack Obama on Friday portrayed Mexico as an emerging nation that is remaking itself and said the U.S.-Mexico relationship should be defined by shared prosperity, not by threats that both countries face. "It's time to recognize new realities," he declared.

In a speech to a predominantly student audience, Obama conceded that the root of much violence in Mexico is the demand for drugs in the United States, and acknowledged that most guns used to commit crime in this country come from the U.S. But he said an improving economy is changing Mexico and improving its middle class.

"I see a Mexico that is deepening your democracy," he told several hundred people gathered on a cool, breezy morning in a covered, outdoor plaza at Mexico City's grand National Museum of Anthropology. "Citizens who are standing up and saying that violence and impunity is not acceptable."

Obama said he is optimistic that the U.S. will change its patchwork of immigration laws and says the current immigration system does not reflect U.S. values. With about 6 million Mexicans illegally in the United States, the issue resonates deeply in Mexico, which has also seen deportations of its citizens from the U.S. rise dramatically under Obama.

Underlying Obama's visit was his desire to convince the American public and U.S. lawmakers that Mexico no longer poses the illegal immigration threat it once did.

"The long-term solution to the challenge of illegal immigration is a growing, prosperous Mexico that creates more jobs and opportunity right here," he said.

To that end, he called for improving an already growing trade relationship between the two countries. Mexico is the second-largest export market for U.S. goods and services and the U.S. buys more Mexican exports than any other country.

Still, the reality of Mexico's economic surge is perhaps not as rosy as Obama portrayed it. While the Mexican economy has grown, it has yet to trickle down to average workers.

Obama spoke on the second day of his Mexico City visit, before traveling to Costa Rica. There, he planned to deliver a blunter message to Central American leaders struggling with weak economies and drug violence.

Obama was to meet with Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla before joining leaders from the Central American Integration system. The regional network also includes the leaders of Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

The U.S. view of the region is that its pervasive violence and security weaknesses are holding back economic growth, and that with fewer Mexicans crossing the border illegally, the rest of the region has become the main source of illegal immigration into the United States.

As a result, Obama is expected to call for stepped up security cooperation, regional economic integration and improvements in human rights and democratic reforms.

"We want to make sure that our hemisphere is more effectively integrated to improve the economy and security of all peoples," Obama said Thursday. "There is a whole range of opportunities, and that will be the purpose of this trip."

Friday's speech came as Obama's popularity in Mexico has risen in recent years and as views of the United States also improve. A Pew Research Center poll in March found that two-thirds of Mexicans have a favorable opinion of the U.S., compared with 44 percent in 2010. About half of Mexicans have confidence that Obama will do the right thing on world affairs, up from 38 percent in 2011.

Still, dozens of migrant families deported from the U.S. even though their children were born there rallied outside the U.S. Embassy before Obama's arrival Thursday. "Obama, don't deport my Mama," one sign said. So far, the Obama administration has deported more than 1.6 million people.

For all the attention to commerce and trade, the visit to Mexico ? less than two days long ? was not designed for major breakthroughs or new initiatives. Indeed, on one of the top economic pacts before them, the two presidents merely reaffirmed a goal to conclude negotiations this year on a Trans-Pacific Partnership, an Asia-Pacific trading bloc that is key to Obama's efforts to boost exports to Asia.

Both men, however, did announce a new partnership to build on the business relationship with closer cooperation between top officials in Mexico and the U.S., including Vice President Joe Biden.

At a joint news conference Thursday, Obama and Pena Nieto carefully sidestepped potential trouble spots. Obama steered clear of commenting on Pena Nieto's decision to end the broad access that U.S. security agencies have had in Mexico to combat drug trafficking, a decision that has alarmed some U.S. officials.

"President Pena Nieto and his team are organizing a vision about how they can most efficiently and effectively address these issues," Obama said. "And we will interact with them in ways that are appropriate, respecting that ultimately Mexico has to deal with its problems internally and we have to deal with ours as well."

For his part, Pena Nieto declined to get drawn into the current immigration debate in Washington, a top priority for Obama but one that is at a delicate stage in Congress. Asked to comment on the debate, the Mexican president merely said the Mexican government acknowledged the efforts under way in Congress.

"Mexico understands that this is a domestic affair for the U.S. and we wish you the best push that you're giving to immigration," he said.

Likewise, he demurred when asked to react to the failure in the U.S. Senate to pass gun control legislation, including an expanded background check for firearms buyers, even though many guns obtained illegally in the U.S. make their way into the hands of drug dealers in Mexico.

He said he agreed with Obama's campaign to stem gun violence, but added: "This is a domestic issue in the United States."

Obama vowed to keep pressing for gun legislation, saying: "We recognize we've got obligations when it comes to guns that are oftentimes being shipped down South and contributing to violence here in Mexico."

___

Follow Jim Kuhnhenn on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jkuhnhenn

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-05-03-LT-Obama/id-e229a944a96e4f0aa849b691a346e408

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