Jewell makes emotional pledge to Native Americans

RENO, Nev. (AP) ? In her first address to Indian Country as the 51st U.S. Interior Secretary, Sally Jewell made an emotional pledge Thursday to help right past wrongs against Native Americans and work together with tribes "nation-to-nation" to protect their sovereignty and develop their cultural and natural resources to become more economically self-reliant.

Jewell, who became secretary in April, fought back tears and paused to compose herself near the close of her remarks to about 300 delegates of the National Congress of American Indians in Reno. The casino-ballroom audience gave her a standing ovation.

In her speech, the former Seattle CEO of outdoor retailer Recreational Equipment Inc. told of childhood experiences with Native Americans growing up in and around the Puget Sound area of Washington state. She then recounted the "different view" she had when she first returned as secretary this spring to a favorite kayaking spot at an island near Olympia across from reservation land.

"I thought about my obligations to you," Jewell said. She paused, then added, "I'm going to get emotional here.

"The federal government does not have a proud legacy when it comes to upholding our promises," said Jewell, her voice cracking. "I can't reverse all of that in a four-year period of time, but I can make important progress."

Jewell said she will be an advocate for tribes in the federal government and try to help set them up for success for generations.

She noted President Barack Obama and former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar "opened a new chapter" in relations with Indian Country.

"I will keep that chapter open. I will take it to the next level if I'm allowed to do that with your help," she said.

Jewell touched on a variety of topics during her address, including the importance of exploiting opportunities to develop both traditional and renewable sources of energy on federal tribal lands. She repeated concerns she raised in her first appearance before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee last month about an "embarrassing" backlog of needed repairs at tribal schools.

"We know education is the opportunity that lifts Indian children from the current, into the future," Jewell said. "We've spent $2 billion since 2002 on schools, but they still are in poor conditions, many of them.'

She drew applause when she later advocated "culturally appropriate education that you direct."

"My North Star in supporting you will be promoting tribal self-governance and self-determination, recognizing the inherent right of tribal governments to make your own decisions," she said. "You know better than any of us do what you need in your tribes and in your communities."

Arlen Melendez, chairman of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and ex-member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, said Jewell's upbringing in the Pacific Northwest and her connection to the environment seemed to strike a chord with tribal leaders.

"I think a lot the tribes didn't really know who she was, but listening to her, I think they can be confident she's going to be really good for Indian Country," Melendez said in an interview after the speech.

"I think she sounds very sincere about her relationship with the tribes," he said. "What I'm hearing from other tribal leaders is they are very pleased so far with what she said."

Jefferson Keel, president of the National Congress of American Indians and lieutenant governor of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma, said he agreed that Jewell is well-positioned to build on better relations that began in Obama's first term.

"We believe that chapter ? and that door ? is wide open now and will lead to a new level of understanding in this nation-to-nation relationship," Keel said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/jewell-makes-emotional-pledge-native-americans-191859719.html

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Poppy, A Device That Turns Your Phone Into A 3-D Camera, Launches On Kickstarter

Poppy is the newest little device to go up on Kickstarter, offering up a new fun toy for anyone who likes to shoot or view 3-D video. And it'll be priced to sell -- at less than $50, Poppy is within reach for pretty much anyone who wants it, or who wants to give a cool little gift to friends and family.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/C0cybY-1BkY/

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Syrian al-Qaida branch claims suicide attacks

BEIRUT (AP) ? A Syrian branch of al-Qaida on Tuesday claimed responsibility for multiple suicide attacks on security compounds in Damascus that killed at least five people in a weekend assault on the center of the regime's power.

The claim by Jabhat al-Nusra ? its first in months ? came as the U.N.'s special representative trying to end Syria's civil war said hopes for convening a peace conference next month are fading.

Jabhat al-Nusra claimed responsibility for Sunday's attacks in a statement posted on a militant website, warning Assad that his "criminal regime" should know that its fighters "do not fear any confrontation with the enemies."

The group said it sent seven suicide bombers wearing Syrian military uniforms to break into a police station in northern Damascus and a security compound in a southern district of the capital.

It also posted pictures claiming to show the attackers. Their faces blurred, the men are seen wearing military uniforms and holding Kalashnikov rifles as they sit on the ground with black Jabhat al-Nusra banners hanging behind them.

The Nusra Front has emerged as the most effective rebel force fighting to oust President Bashar Assad.

The group has claimed responsibility for some of the deadliest suicide bombings against Syrian government institutions and military facilities but was silent about its activities for at least two months ? perhaps an indication that the group's success on the battlefield had become a source of friction with more moderate rebel groups as well as with al-Qaida leaders in neighboring Iraq.

The group's role in the Syrian conflict has been contentious within al-Qaida in the past months.

In April, the head of Iraq's al-Qaida arm announced a merger with the Syrian branch ? a claim the Nusra Front's leader quickly rebuffed. Earlier this month, al-Qaida's global leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, was quoted as trying to end the squabbling, insisting that the merger should be dissolved.

Tuesday's claim was signed by the Nusra Front ? a possible indication that it has resumed operations on the battlefield as an autonomous group.

The group's affiliation with al-Qaida has significantly contributed to the reluctance of the opposition's Western backers to arm the rebels with heavier weapons.

More than 93,000 people have been killed since the Syrian conflict began in March 2011. It started as peaceful protests against Assad's rule but turned into a civil war after some opposition members took up arms to fight the government's harsh crackdown on dissent.

Partly because of opposition disarray, even the most modest international efforts to end the Syrian conflict have failed.

In Switzerland, U.N.'s special envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, told reporters he still hopes international negotiations to find a political solution to the conflict can be convened in Geneva ? but not until later in the summer.

"Frankly now, I doubt whether the conference will take place in July," he said, noting that the Syrian opposition is not meeting until early July and probably would not be ready.

"Since our previous meeting here on the 5th of June, the situation on the ground in Syria has hardly improved. It is still relentless destruction, killing, more suffering, more injustice, and more uncertainty for the future of the Syrian people," Brahimi said.

Brahimi was mediating a meeting between the U.S. and Russia, which are at loggerheads over the conflict.

Russia supports the Assad regime and Washington has backed the opposition, which insists Assad should relinquish power. Assad has repeatedly dismissed demands to leave power and said he has the right to run for another term in next year's presidential elections.

In Saudi Arabia, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry insisted that an international conference be convened to end the bloody civil war.

"We believe that the best solution is a political solution," Kerry said after meetings with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal in the capital, Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is a key U.S. ally in the Middle East.

In violence Tuesday, government troops fought rebels in the Damascus suburb of Qaboun, residents and activists said, as the regime tries to push opposition forces further away from the capital, the seat of Assad's power.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there was also fighting in rebel-held districts of Eastern Ghouta near Damascus.

Also Tuesday, Assad approved a law to punish those entering Syria illegally with a prison sentence ranging from one to five years and a fine of five to 10 million Syrian pounds ($50,000 to $100,000) according to state-run SANA news agency. The decree appears aimed at cracking down on merchants and smugglers bringing goods over Syria's border with Turkey without paying customs.

Syria's border posts with Turkey have been under opposition's control since the rebels took much of the north in an offensive last summer.

_____

Associated Press writers John Heilprin in Geneva, Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-al-qaida-branch-claims-suicide-attacks-134527002.html

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Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman Returning for Independence Day 2

After seventeen years of rumors, speculation, and false starts, director Roland Emmerich appears to finally have some traction for the long-awaited Independence Day follow-up, tentatively titled?ID Forever. If all goes according to plan, the sequel will actually be comprised of two feature length films ? Part I and Part II ? with the first installment tentatively scheduled for?July 3rd, 2015. The filmmaker has been busy promoting his soon-to-be-released thriller White House Down, starring Channing Tatum and Jamie?Foxx, which sees a hostile force take control of the White House and put the President?s life in jeopardy (not to be confused with Olympus Has Fallen).

Unsurprisingly, ID Forever has been a regular topic of conversation for Emmerich on the White House Down press tour and today we?ve got good news for fans of patriotic speeches and outer space cigar smoking ? as the director has confirmed that both Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman are expected to return for the sequel(s).

Speaking to Movies.com?in a New York City Q&A, Emmerich asserted that the actors, who played fan-favorite cable guy/computer hacker, David Levinson, and fighter pilot/President, Thomas J. Whitmore, are two returning faces set for?ID Forever. As we?ve previously reported, the sequel?s cast is expected to be a mix of familiar franchise participants and entirely new characters ? roughly a 50/50 blend for the main cast. Previously,?Goldblum and Pullman have expressed interest in the project, but this is the first report suggesting that Emmerich has included them in his plans for the film ? and that he expects they?ll reprise the roles. That said, the director does not outright say the actors have signed contracts ? meaning that, until we hear official confirmations, it?s still possible one or both of the characters might not make it into the final film.

Regardless, the most notable omission to the ID Forever?crew will be Will Smith?s Captain Steven Hiller?- who is not expected to return. In the new interview, Emmerich asserts that they simply cannot afford the actor but the filmmaker was quick to clarify that Smith has not yet read the final script and that a Hiller cameo is still possible ? if for no other reason than to ?pass the torch? to new cast members.

Regardless of how viewers might feel about Smith these days (considering the amount of backlash aimed at?After Earth), Hiller was a fan-favorite character responsible for many of the best (and most memorable) moments in Independence Day. As a result, a cameo by the actor would be a nice way to close-out the Hiller storyline ? without requiring the production to front a huge salary.

That said, if Smith opts to pass on Emmerich?s cameo ideas, there are still plenty of ways for the filmmaker to explain Hiller?s absence?- especially since early plot details suggest the movie will take place in real time, 20-25 years after the original alien invasion. That time jump (made possible by complicated space travel/wormhole physics) should also help provide Goldblum and Pullman with fun material for their characters ? since they?ll be playing much older versions of Levinson and Whitmore.

Even at the most basic level, a story about people who survived the first alien attack and then spent the next 20 years (possibly) preparing for a second wave is intriguing ? even before you consider the continued personal stories that will be included. For example: President Whitmore should no longer be President and his young daughter, Patricia (played by Arrested Development?s Mae Whitman),?will be in her twenties. Similarly, will Emmerich bring back Margaret Colin to reprise her role as?Levinson?s wife, Constance Spano? If so, it?s likely the pair could have decided to have their own children in the subsequent two decades.

Until we know more, let?s all keep our fingers crossed that ? since Goldblum is back -?Levinson?s father, Julius (portrayed by Judd Hirsch), will also make an appearance.

The Movies.com interview also (casually) suggests that Emmerich is still interested in a Stargate sequel, and that it might be next on the filmmaker?s schedule after ID Forever Part I and II. However, that appears to only be speculation at this point ? as Emmerich collaborator Dean Devlin already mentioned they were interested in returning to the Stargate franchise in the future. As a result, Emmerich?s comment is merely confirmation that the pair could return to their other beloved sci-fi property at some point.

___

ID Forever: Part I?invades theaters on July 3rd, 2015.

Follow me on Twitter?@benkendrick?for more on?ID Forever as well as future movie, TV, and gaming news.

Source: Movies.com

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Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1927745/news/1927745/

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Book from Waterloo professor teaches how to build a brain

Public release date: 25-Jun-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Pamela Smyth
psmyth@uwaterloo.ca
519-888-4777
University of Waterloo

WATERLOO, Ont., (Tuesday, June 25, 2013) It sounds like science fiction, but a new book by a University of Waterloo professor is actually a step-by-step guide, teaching readers how they can build their own computer model of the human brain.

How To Build a Brain by Professor Chris Eliasmith details how and he and his team built Spaun, the world's largest functional brain model. The book gives hands-on tutorials that even newcomers to the field can undertake, quickly allowing them to construct a wide range of biologically realistic brain models.

"This book is aimed at anyone wishing to understand how large numbers of neurons form brain circuits that result in behavior, " said Professor Eliasmith, director of the Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience at Waterloo, Canada Research Chair in Theoretical Neuroscience, and professor in Waterloo's Department of Philosophy and Department of Systems Design Engineering. "The semantic, syntactical, control, learning, and memory models covered by the book and tutorials are the components that we used to create Spaun."

The Spaun project has received international acclaim ever since Eliasmith's findings were published in the journal Science in November. Spaun, which stands for Semantic Pointer Architecture Unified Network, consists of 2.5 million simulated neurons. The model is able to shift between diverse tasks from copying human handwriting to finding hidden patterns in a list of numbers using a detailed neural architecture.

Professor Eliasmith is one of the field's top researchers, and his book gives readers deep and practical insight into the leading ideas on how brains work. His project was inspired by brain research but is among the first to address cognitive phenomena, helping researchers in neuroscience, psychology, and artificial intelligence build theoretical models that are able to help explain the brain's flexibility, robustness and ability to adapt.

"The brain is a fascinating and inspiring structure. We still have much to learn about how it really works, and what makes a mind," said Professor Eliasmith. "Spaun is the first model of its kind. By sharing how we built it, we hope that others join us in exploring the brain and help us unlock more of its secrets."

How to Build a Brain provides detailed hands-on tutorials instructing readers how to build a model of the brain using Nengo, the free, open source software written by Professor Eliasmith's lab.

###

How to Build a Brain is published by Oxford University Press.

To watch a video on Spaun, please visit https://uwaterloo.ca/arts/news/spaun-chris-eliasmith-how-build-brain

About the University of Waterloo

In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada's technology hub, has become one of Canada's leading comprehensive universities with 35,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Waterloo, as home to the world's largest post-secondary co-operative education program, embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. In the next decade, the university is committed to building a better future for Canada and the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create solutions relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow. For more information about Waterloo, please visit http://www.uwaterloo.ca.

Media Contact:

Pamela Smyth
University of Waterloo
519.888.4777
psmyth@uwaterloo.ca
http://www.uwaterloo.ca/news
@uWaterlooNews

Attention broadcasters: Waterloo has facilities to provide broadcast quality audio and video feeds with a double-ender studio. Please contact Pamela Smyth for more information.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 25-Jun-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Pamela Smyth
psmyth@uwaterloo.ca
519-888-4777
University of Waterloo

WATERLOO, Ont., (Tuesday, June 25, 2013) It sounds like science fiction, but a new book by a University of Waterloo professor is actually a step-by-step guide, teaching readers how they can build their own computer model of the human brain.

How To Build a Brain by Professor Chris Eliasmith details how and he and his team built Spaun, the world's largest functional brain model. The book gives hands-on tutorials that even newcomers to the field can undertake, quickly allowing them to construct a wide range of biologically realistic brain models.

"This book is aimed at anyone wishing to understand how large numbers of neurons form brain circuits that result in behavior, " said Professor Eliasmith, director of the Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience at Waterloo, Canada Research Chair in Theoretical Neuroscience, and professor in Waterloo's Department of Philosophy and Department of Systems Design Engineering. "The semantic, syntactical, control, learning, and memory models covered by the book and tutorials are the components that we used to create Spaun."

The Spaun project has received international acclaim ever since Eliasmith's findings were published in the journal Science in November. Spaun, which stands for Semantic Pointer Architecture Unified Network, consists of 2.5 million simulated neurons. The model is able to shift between diverse tasks from copying human handwriting to finding hidden patterns in a list of numbers using a detailed neural architecture.

Professor Eliasmith is one of the field's top researchers, and his book gives readers deep and practical insight into the leading ideas on how brains work. His project was inspired by brain research but is among the first to address cognitive phenomena, helping researchers in neuroscience, psychology, and artificial intelligence build theoretical models that are able to help explain the brain's flexibility, robustness and ability to adapt.

"The brain is a fascinating and inspiring structure. We still have much to learn about how it really works, and what makes a mind," said Professor Eliasmith. "Spaun is the first model of its kind. By sharing how we built it, we hope that others join us in exploring the brain and help us unlock more of its secrets."

How to Build a Brain provides detailed hands-on tutorials instructing readers how to build a model of the brain using Nengo, the free, open source software written by Professor Eliasmith's lab.

###

How to Build a Brain is published by Oxford University Press.

To watch a video on Spaun, please visit https://uwaterloo.ca/arts/news/spaun-chris-eliasmith-how-build-brain

About the University of Waterloo

In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada's technology hub, has become one of Canada's leading comprehensive universities with 35,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Waterloo, as home to the world's largest post-secondary co-operative education program, embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. In the next decade, the university is committed to building a better future for Canada and the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create solutions relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow. For more information about Waterloo, please visit http://www.uwaterloo.ca.

Media Contact:

Pamela Smyth
University of Waterloo
519.888.4777
psmyth@uwaterloo.ca
http://www.uwaterloo.ca/news
@uWaterlooNews

Attention broadcasters: Waterloo has facilities to provide broadcast quality audio and video feeds with a double-ender studio. Please contact Pamela Smyth for more information.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-06/uow-bfw062413.php

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This Simple Math Puzzle Will Melt Your Brain

Adding and subtracting ones sounds simple, right? Not according to the old Italian mathematician Grandi?who showed that a simple addition of 1s and -1s can give three different answers.

Wait, what? If that sounds like it makes no sense that's because... well, it doesn't really. But better let Dr James Grime explain it to you rather than me. Prepare to scratch your head. [YouTube]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-simple-math-puzzle-will-melt-your-brain-582979205

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'Monsters' And Zombies Swarm The Weekend Box Office

FROM MTV NEWS Everyone in the world expected big things from "Monsters University," the latest effort from flawless box office champions Pixar, but it was the surprise success of Brad Pitt's zombie apocalypse tent pole "World War Z" that took this weekend's ticket receipts to another level. The "Monster Inc." sequel hauled in $82 million, [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2013/06/24/monsters-university-world-war-z-box-office/

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Blackhawks storm back to beat Bruins for Stanley Cup

The Chicago Blackhawks were down a goal to the Boston Bruins late in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. In the closing minutes, the Blackhawks scored twice to win their second NHL championship in four years.

By Pat Murphy,?Staff / June 25, 2013

Chicago Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the Boston Bruins 3-2 in Game 6 to win the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, Monday, June 24, 2013, in Boston.

Charles Krupa/AP

Enlarge

The Chicago Blackhawks came from behind with two goals less than 20 seconds apart late in the third period of Game 6 Monday night to defeat the Boston Bruins, 3-2, clinching the team's second Stanley Cup championship in four years.

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Going into the contest, Chicago held a three games to two series lead. The Bruins, on their home ice, had gamely and methodically built a 2-1 lead in the third period on the stick of bruising forward Milan Lucic.

Then, with the clock ticking down towards a Game 7 matchup Wednesday night in Chicago, the Blackhawks struck with a quickness reflected in the lightning that lit up the skies over the greater Boston area just before and during Game 6.

First, Chicago center and captain Jonathan Toews made a nifty pass to linemate Brad Bickell, who tied the score at 2 from in front of the Boston goal with 1:16 left in regulation. The Blackhawks had just lifted goalie Corey Crawford for an extra attacker as the scoring play developed.

Then, just 17.7 seconds later, Dave Bolland corralled a shot off the Boston net post by teammate Johnny Oduya and slipped the puck past Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask for the decisive score.

Now down a goal, the Bruins tried to get the equalizer by also pulling Rask for the extra skater. But Chicago's defense kept the puck away from the net and the final horn sounded.

"It's the greatest feeling in the world," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville told reporters after the game. "Once you win one, you can't wait to do it again, but it's a hard road. We had some great hurdles, some great ups and downs here, but what a finish. I'm so happy for the guys."

For Chicago fans, the improbable victory set off a raucous celebration Monday night that lasted into Tuesday morning when Blackhawk players brought the Stanley Cup to several establishments in the Windy City.

As for Bruins fans, it will be a summer of "what-ifs"as their team came up just short in their quest for a second Stanley Cup in three years. Granted, Chicago had a number of skaters playing hurt. But what if Boston centers Gregory Campbell and Patrice Bergeron were available at close to full strength? What if the Bruins had quicker defensemen as the Blackhawks buzzed around the Boston net? What if late-season acquisition Jaromir Jagr had been able to buy a goal in this last playoff series?

"It's a tough way to lose a game, tough way to lose a series," Bruins captain Zdeno Chara said afterwards.

All these Bruins questions and more will be digested over the summer as the Blackhawks and their fans celebrate winning the franchise's fifth Stanley Cup, emblematic of NHL supremacy.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/PDQV1U05yb4/Blackhawks-storm-back-to-beat-Bruins-for-Stanley-Cup

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George Lucas and Mellody Hobson: Married!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/06/george-lucas-and-mellody-hobson-married/

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Hostess: Twinkies to return to shelves July 15

This undated image provided by Hostess Brands LLC shows a box of Twinkies. Twinkies will be back on shelves by July 15, 2013, after its predecessor company went bankrupt after an acrimonious fight with unions last year. The brands have since been purchased y Metropoulos & Co. and Apollo Global Management. (AP Photo/Hostess Brands)

This undated image provided by Hostess Brands LLC shows a box of Twinkies. Twinkies will be back on shelves by July 15, 2013, after its predecessor company went bankrupt after an acrimonious fight with unions last year. The brands have since been purchased y Metropoulos & Co. and Apollo Global Management. (AP Photo/Hostess Brands)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Hostess is betting on a sweet comeback for Twinkies when they return to shelves next month.

The company that went bankrupt after an acrimonious fight with its unionized workers last year is back up and running under new owners and a leaner structure. It says it plans to have Twinkies and other snack cakes back on shelves starting July 15.

Based on the outpouring of nostalgia sparked by its demise, Hostess is expecting a blockbuster return next month for Twinkies and other sugary treats, such as CupCakes and Donettes. The company says the cakes will taste the same but that the boxes will now bare the tag line "The Sweetest Comeback In The History Of Ever."

"A lot of impostor products have come to the market while Hostess has been off the shelves," says Daren Metropoulos, a principal of the investment firm Metropoulos & Co., which teamed up with Apollo Global Management to buy a variety of Hostess snacks.

Hostess Brands Inc. was struggling for years before it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in early 2012. Workers blamed the troubles on years of mismanagement, as well as a failure of executives to invest in brands to keep up with changing tastes. The company said it was weighed down by higher pension and medical costs than its competitors, whose employees weren't unionized.

To steer it through its bankruptcy reorganization, Hostess hired restructuring expert Greg Rayburn as its CEO. But Rayburn ultimately failed to reach a contract agreement with its second largest union. In November, he blamed striking workers for crippling the company's ability to maintain normal production and announced that Hostess would liquidate.

The shuttering triggered a rush on Hostess snack cakes, with stores selling out of the most popular brands within hours.

About 15,000 unionized workers lost their jobs in the aftermath.

In unwinding its business, Hostess sold off its brands in chunks to different buyers. Its major bread brands including Wonder were sold to Flowers Foods, which makes Tastykakes. McKee Foods, which makes Little Debbie snack cakes, snapped up Drake's Cake, which includes Devil Dogs and Yodels.

Metropoulos & Co. and Apollo bought Twinkies and other Hostess cakes for $410 million.

Apollo Global Management, founded by Leon Black, is known for buying troubled brands then selling them for a profit; its investments include fast-food chains Carl's Jr. and Hardee's. Metropoulos & Co., which has revamped then sold off brands including Chef Boyardee and Bumble Bee, also owns Pabst Brewing Co.

That could mean some cross-promotional marketing is in store.

"There is certainly a natural association with the two," Metropoulos said. "There could be some opportunities for them to seen together."

The trimmed-down Hostess Brands LLC has a far less costly operating structure than the predecessor company. Some of the previous workers were hired back, but they're no longer unionized.

Hostess will also now deliver to warehouses that supply retailers, rather than delivering directly to stores, said Rich Seban, the president of Hostess who previously served as chief operating officer. That will greatly expand its reach, letting it deliver to dollar stores and nearly all convenience stores in the U.S.

Previously, he said Hostess was only able to reach about a third of the country's 150,000 convenience stores.

Production was also consolidated, from 11 bakery plants to four ? one each in Georgia, Kansas, Illinois and Indiana. The headquarters were moved from Texas to Kansas City, Mo., where Hostess was previously based and still had some accounting offices.

In the months since they vanished from shelves, the cakes have been getting a few touchups as well. For the CupCakes, the company is now using dark cocoa instead of milk chocolate to give them a richer, darker appearance.

Seban stressed that the changes were to improve the cakes, not to cut costs. Prices for the cakes will remain the same; a box of 10 Twinkies will cost $3.99.

Looking ahead, Seban sees Hostess expanding its product lineup. He noted that Hostess cakes are known for three basic textures: the spongy cake, the creamy filling and the thicker icing. But he said different textures ? such as crunchy ? could be introduced, as well as different flavors.

"We can have some fun with that mixture," he said.

He also said there are many trendy health attributes the company could tap into, such as gluten-free, added fiber, low sugar and low sodium.

During bankruptcy proceedings, Hostess had said that its overall sales had been declining, although the company didn't give a breakout on the performance of individual brands. But Seban is confident Twinkies will have staying power beyond its re-launch.

As for the literal shelf-life, Seban is quick to refute the snack cake's fabled indestructibility.

"Forty-five days ? that's it," he said. "They don't last forever."

___

Follow Candice Choi at www.twitter.com/candicehoi

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-06-23-Twinkies-Comeback/id-41f2c68d15804a1d9d6e6416a0d500c8

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The Board Game Family Castle Panic The Wizard's Tower ...

Small expansion with a lot more Panic stuffed inside!

Castle Panic is one of our favorite cooperative board games. The first time we played it, we knew we were hooked. Right from the start of the game, you can see why it?s named ?Panic? because monsters are very quickly closing in on your castle walls and you can sense the doom.

Everyone we?ve played it with has enjoyed it as well. Working together to fight off the marauding monsters is a lot of fun. And it does take a lot of teamwork to win the game.

So when the expansion Castle Panic The Wizard?s Tower came out, we were anxious to get a copy to add to the fun.

Love the Monster Draw Bag!

What the draw of The Wizard?s Tower?
The Wizard?s Tower expansion adds a ton of stuff. There are 10 new cards to add to the Castle card deck. There?s a whole new deck of cards ? the Wizard deck ? with 22 cards that all add special abilities. There are Flame tokens that can both damage monsters as well as weaken your castle walls and towers. There?s a Wizard?s Tower (how appropriate) that replaces one of the castle towers. And there are a ton of new monsters and new monster types that increase the Panic a ton.

And let?s not forget the Draw Bag!
Using a draw bag for the monster tokens is a whole lot nicer than having all the monster tokens face down on the table to draw from. And a black bag with beady eyes is the perfect addition to the game.

Does The Wizard?s Tower add to the fun?
If you like facing almost insurmountable odds, then yes, The Wizard?s Tower expansion adds a lot of fun to the game. The additional monsters and elements added to the game sure do increase the tension. It also increases the amount of things you need to keep track of.

Burning castle walls and the Wizard?s Tower.

When playing with The Wizard?s Tower expansion, we make sure to keep the added reference cards and rulebook handy because there are so many things that are added.

First the simple additions?

The Actual Wizard?s Tower
This is an easy addition to the game. Just replace one of the regular towers with the special Wizard?s Tower. As long as that tower is still standing, players can use the Wizard Deck to draw from. Once that tower is destroyed however, that deck of cards can?t be used (players can still use any wizard cards still in their hand).

The Wizard Deck and New Castle Cards
The cards in the Wizards Deck add some cool abilities like damaging a monster anywhere on the board, catching monsters on fire, all players drawing up to full hand, or even getting monsters to attack each other.

Plenty of cards to help in the battle ahead.

During the Discard and Draw phase, players can discard a card to draw a card from the Wizard deck. It?s tempting to get a lot of wizard cards because of their abilities, but to fight a balanced fight, players will need to keep a good stock of regular castle cards as well. A tricky balance.

Of course the 10 new castle cards are pretty cool to have at your disposal as well. Some of the new abilities include changing the color of a hit card, changing the range, adding a double strike, knocking monsters back, having another player play a hit card, and a appropriately named card ?Never Lose Hope? where you immediately discard as many cards as you want and draw that many castle cards.

Now on to the tough additions?

So many new types of monsters to be wary of.

The Dastardly Monsters
If you?ve thought the original game was too easy, then this will be what you?re looking for. Now there are a ton of new monster types to battle ? including monsters that can fly!

There are also 6 new Mega Boss Monsters that are very tough to take down. Mega Boss Monsters have abilities that are in effect as long as the monster is in play. And some have special movement and damage rules. Which would you like to go up against ? Basilisk, Chimera, Dragon, Hydra, Necromancer, or the Warlock? Oh, and you should know that the Dragon and Chimera breath fire ? watch out for ranged fireballs! (The only saving grace here is that only 3 are randomly selected at the start to be in the game.)

Mega Boss Monsters and their Harbinger tokens.

Because they?re so powerful, up to 5 hits to destroy, their monster token has more points on it. So instead of placing the monster token itself in the monster token draw bag, there are Harbinger tokens that have the standard 3-point shape. Each of the Harbinger tokens has the name of the Mega Boss that it represents printed on it. That way, when a player reaches in the bag, they don?t know if they?re drawing a regular monster token or a special monster. When they draw a Harbinger token, the Mega Boss monster token that is named on the Harbinger token is placed on the board to start its onslaught.

But the Mega Bosses aren?t all. There are 13 other new types of monsters in the game!
Now there are Centaurs, Cyclops, Gargoyles, Imps, Ogres, and more! And they all love to wreck havoc in new ways.

For example, one of the added monster tokens is the Doppelganger. It isn?t moved, hit, or slayed. It just sits there until another monster is destroyed. When the next monster is destroyed, the Doppelganger token is replaced with the token of the recently destroyed monster as if that monster were just drawn from the bag and placed. So with a Doppelganger on the board be careful what you kill next because it will come back to haunt you.

See why it?s important to keep the reference cards and rulebook handy to know what you?re up against.

The downside of having so many new monster types and special abilities is that the game slows down. Sure they?re cool to add, but because they?re all so unique it takes a long while to get familiar with everything going on.

But they sure all add a lot of Panic!

Sorting it all out
Another thing we love about The Wizard?s Tower expansion is that all the new items have a cool Wizard Hat Icon on them. This makes it so helpful for sorting all the items at the end of a game. That way if we?re tired of getting destroyed so much, we can pull those out and just play with a ?regular? level of panic for a while.

Final Thoughts
Castle Panic The Wizard?s Tower expansion adds a ton of new elements to the game. While it?s played the same as the original, all the new monsters and cards add a lot more to think about. You?ll definitely be glad that you?re working together as a team to fight your way through all this new panic.

We?d also recommend not introducing The Wizard?s Tower to new players. The base game is just great for new players. Adding in the expansion elements in a game with new players is just way too much to take in.

We like having the expansion and being able to challenge ourselves as much as we?d like. If we want more panic, we?ll add it all in. If we?d like not so much panic, but do want some more variety we?ll simply choose to play with a portion of the expansion elements.

One thing we all agree on ? Castle Panic is a great cooperative board game and we highly recommend it.

Summary of Added Components

• 1 Wizard?s Tower
• 10 Castle Cards
• 22 Wizard Cards
• 49 Monster Tokens
• 12 Flame Tokens
• 6 Reference Cards
• Monster Draw Bag

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Source: http://www.theboardgamefamily.com/2013/06/castle-panic-wizards-tower-expansion-review/

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Twinkies To Return To Shelves July 15, Hostess Says

NEW YORK ? Hostess is betting on a sweet comeback for Twinkies when they return to shelves next month.

The company that went bankrupt after an acrimonious fight with its unionized workers last year is back up and running under new owners and a leaner structure. It says it plans to have Twinkies and other snack cakes back on shelves starting July 15.

Based on the outpouring of nostalgia sparked by its demise, Hostess is expecting a blockbuster return next month for Twinkies and other sugary treats, such as CupCakes and Donettes. The company says the cakes will taste the same but that the boxes will now bear the tag line "The Sweetest Comeback In The History Of Ever."

"A lot of impostor products have come to the market while Hostess has been off the shelves," says Daren Metropoulos, a principal of the investment firm Metropoulos & Co., which teamed up with Apollo Global Management to buy a variety of Hostess snacks.

Hostess Brands Inc. was struggling for years before it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in early 2012. Workers blamed the troubles on years of mismanagement, as well as a failure of executives to invest in brands to keep up with changing tastes. The company said it was weighed down by higher pension and medical costs than its competitors, whose employees weren't unionized.

To steer it through its bankruptcy reorganization, Hostess hired restructuring expert Greg Rayburn as its CEO. But Rayburn ultimately failed to reach a contract agreement with its second largest union. In November, he blamed striking workers for crippling the company's ability to maintain normal production and announced that Hostess would liquidate.

The shuttering triggered a rush on Hostess snack cakes, with stores selling out of the most popular brands within hours.

About 15,000 unionized workers lost their jobs in the aftermath.

In unwinding its business, Hostess sold off its brands in chunks to different buyers. Its major bread brands including Wonder were sold to Flowers Foods, which makes Tastykakes. McKee Foods, which makes Little Debbie snack cakes, snapped up Drake's Cake, which includes Devil Dogs and Yodels.

Metropoulos & Co. and Apollo bought Twinkies and other Hostess cakes for $410 million.

Apollo Global Management, founded by Leon Black, is known for buying troubled brands then selling them for a profit; its investments include fast-food chains Carl's Jr. and Hardee's. Metropoulos & Co., which has revamped then sold off brands including Chef Boyardee and Bumble Bee, also owns Pabst Brewing Co.

That could mean some cross-promotional marketing is in store.

"There is certainly a natural association with the two," Metropoulos said. "There could be some opportunities for them to seen together."

The trimmed-down Hostess Brands LLC has a far less costly operating structure than the predecessor company. Some of the previous workers were hired back, but they're no longer unionized.

Hostess will also now deliver to warehouses that supply retailers, rather than delivering directly to stores, said Rich Seban, the president of Hostess who previously served as chief operating officer. That will greatly expand its reach, letting it deliver to dollar stores and nearly all convenience stores in the U.S.

Previously, he said Hostess was only able to reach about a third of the country's 150,000 convenience stores.

Production was also consolidated, from 11 bakery plants to four ? one each in Georgia, Kansas, Illinois and Indiana. The headquarters were moved from Texas to Kansas City, Mo., where Hostess was previously based and still had some accounting offices.

In the months since they vanished from shelves, the cakes have been getting a few touchups as well. For the CupCakes, the company is now using dark cocoa instead of milk chocolate to give them a richer, darker appearance.

Seban stressed that the changes were to improve the cakes, not to cut costs. Prices for the cakes will remain the same; a box of 10 Twinkies will cost $3.99.

Looking ahead, Seban sees Hostess expanding its product lineup. He noted that Hostess cakes are known for three basic textures: the spongy cake, the creamy filling and the thicker icing. But he said different textures ? such as crunchy ? could be introduced, as well as different flavors.

"We can have some fun with that mixture," he said.

He also said there are many trendy health attributes the company could tap into, such as gluten-free, added fiber, low sugar and low sodium.

During bankruptcy proceedings, Hostess had said that its overall sales had been declining, although the company didn't give a breakout on the performance of individual brands. But Seban is confident Twinkies will have staying power beyond its re-launch.

As for the literal shelf-life, Seban is quick to refute the snack cake's fabled indestructibility.

"Forty-five days ? that's it," he said. "They don't last forever."

___

Follow Candice Choi at www.twitter.com/candicehoi

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/23/twinkies-july-return-to-shelves_n_3486930.html

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By taking in Snowden, Ecuador would defy US again

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) ? President Rafael Correa of Ecuador embraces his role as a thorn in Washington's side, railing against U.S. imperialism in speeches and giving WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange refuge in his nation's embassy in London.

But nothing Correa has done to rankle the United States is likely to infuriate as much as granting the asylum being sought by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, who faces espionage charges back home after revealing details of two highly secret surveillance programs.

WikiLeaks, which has been assisting Snowden, said Sunday that he formally requested asylum from Ecuador. Ecuador's foreign minister confirmed receiving the request, and analysts said the precedent set by Assange's case suggested Correa would honor it.

Snowden flew from Hong Kong to Moscow on Sunday, and Aeroflot confirmed that he was booked to fly to Cuba on Monday. The reports said he was then booked on a flight to Venezuela, another South American country whose government has touchy relations with Washington.

Both Cuba and Venezuela previously had been rumored as possible destinations for Snowden, although they now appeared more likely to be only transit points on the way to Ecuador.

"Correa may find it hard to resist the temptation to get increased attention and seize this opportunity to provoke and defy the U.S.," said Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank. "Correa is confrontational and relishes fights. Should he ultimately grant Snowden asylum, one hopes that Correa has thought through the likely consequences of such a decision."

Taking in Snowden certainly would increase Correa's popularity among those who see him as a champion of open information, help him counter criticism of a new media law that some call an assault on freedom of speech in Ecuador and cement his name as a leading voice of opposition to U.S. foreign policy.

But it could threaten preferential access to U.S. markets for Ecuadorean goods under the U.S. Andean Trade Preference Act, and strain already shaky ties between two nations that only last year re-established full diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level.

Some 45 percent of Ecuadorean exports went to the United States last year, accounting for about 400,000 jobs in the small nation.

Giving Snowden asylum for leaking secret information would be "irresponsible," former Ecuadorean diplomat Mauricio Gandara said.

"It would be an illegal act, because what he has done is a crime in both the United States and Ecuador," said Gandara, who was Ecuador's ambassador in London. "It is a confrontation with the people and government of the United States and both (political) parties. It is an unnecessary conflict."

Ecuadorean analyst Grace Jaramillo said Washington takes the Snowden case more seriously than Assange's because it involves an internal leak of intelligence activities that otherwise operate in total secrecy.

"The United States will keep pushing until the end for Snowden to be handed over, and could even resort to commercial sanctions or direct intervention if the case becomes difficult," Jaramillo said.

Yet, granting him safe passage and refuge has appeal for Ecuador as well as Cuba and Venezuela, which have all been criticized for rules limiting independent media.

"This is a case in which I think the U.S. does not look all that good," said David Smilde, a Venezuela expert at the University of Georgia.

"I think it's quite useful for either Venezuela or Ecuador to grant a person like this asylum, because it allows them to sort of deflect attention towards the United States and the United States' own shortcomings," Smilde said.

The Cuban state controls all TV, radio and newspapers. Venezuela has done things like forcing TV stations off the air by not renewing licenses and detaining people for tweets deemed destabilizing. Ecuador's media law, approved last week, establishes official media overseers, imposes sanctions for besmirching personal reputations and limits private ownership to a third of radio and TV licenses.

But Cuba and Venezuela are both in the midst of quiet thaws in long-chilly ties with the United States, and taking in Snowden would likely damage those efforts.

Last week, Cuba and the United States held talks on restarting direct mail service, and announced that a separate sit-down to discuss immigration issues will be held in Washington on July 17.

Diplomats and officials from both countries also report far greater cooperation in behind-the-scenes dealings, including during a brief incident involving a Florida couple who sought asylum in Cuba after kidnapping their own children. Cuba worked with U.S. officials to quickly send the couple back to face justice.

Philip Peters, a longtime Cuba analyst, said allowing Snowden to pass through Cuban territory would not necessarily doom rapprochement, though he acknowledged the fallout would be unpredictable.

"My guess is that it would be a blip, because Cuba, by allowing him to pass through Cuban territory, is hardly embracing his actions, or sheltering him or giving him asylum," Peters said.

It's the same story for Venezuela, which earlier this month agreed to high-level negotiations on restoring ambassadorial relations and easing more than a decade of sour ties. That announcement came after a meeting in Guatemala between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua.

Caracas has huge commercial dealings with the United States, which remains the No. 1 buyer of Venezuela's oil.

"It's much better for President Nicolas Maduro that (Snowden) is not going to Venezuela," said Gregory Weeks, a political scientist specializing in Latin America at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. "It's something that Maduro really doesn't want to have to deal with, whereas Correa, he's already in it (by giving Assange asylum). So of all the places to go, Ecuador is logical."

Being placed on the international stage by Snowden's asylum bid drew mixed reactions from Ecuadoreans.

"People who steal information or any other thing should face the consequences, and Ecuador shouldn't get involved," said Maria Jimenez, a 42-year-old homemaker.

Jorge Rojas Cruzatti, a 34-year-old web designer, disagreed.

"I'm proud of my country ... and more than pride, I'm glad that human rights are being protected," he said. "Other countries wouldn't dare grant this type of support to citizens who are helping protect freedom of expression."

___

Associated Press writers Gonzalo Solano in Quito, Ecuador; Paul Haven in Havana; Vivian Sequera in Bogota, Colombia; and Luis Andres Henao in Santiago, Chile, contributed to this report.

___

Peter Orsi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Peter_Orsi

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/taking-snowden-ecuador-defy-us-again-090726069.html

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Darling Parade Thank 'Unbelievable' Fans For Make A Band Famous Win

Nashville natives talk about their O Music Awards win, which gives them the opportunity to play VMA weekend in August.
By Chandra Johnson, with reporting by Jim Shearer

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1709446/darling-parade-winner-make-a-band-famous-o-music-awards.jhtml

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White Sox capitalize late to beat Royals

By DAVE SKRETTA

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 6:21 p.m. ET June 22, 2013

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Kansas City Royals had a runner on third base with one out in the eighth inning and left him there. The Chicago White Sox had the same situation in the ninth and brought him home.

That about summed up their game on Saturday.

The White Sox eked out a 3-2 victory when ace reliever Jesse Crain shut down the Royals in a shaky eighth inning, and Alejandro De Aza provided his timely sacrifice fly to score pinch-runner Jordan Danks from third base in the top of the ninth.

"We both had the same situation late - had the winning run on third base - and they executed and we didn't," Royals manager Ned Yost said.

It wasn't quite that simple, of course.

Eric Hosmer hit a long fly to right field in the ninth that fell for a triple thanks in part to some miscommunication in the White Sox outfield. But Crain (2-1) calmly got Salvador Perez to pop out and then struck out Lorenzo Cain for his 29th consecutive scoreless appearance.

That kept the game tied going to the ninth inning.

Dayan Viciedo led off with a single against Aaron Crow (3-3), and Jeff Keppinger drew a walk to reach base for the fourth time. Yost brought in closer Greg Holland, and he got pinch-hitter Gordon Beckham to fly out to center field. But that allowed Danks - who was running for Viciedo - to reach third base with one out.

De Aza laid off a couple of pitches out of the zone before ripping a fly ball to right field that was just deep enough to allow Danks to slide home ahead of the throw.

"I was trying to get a pitch that I could make some contact and drive that run in," De Aza said. "The hitters in front me, they all did their job and gave me a chance to drive one in."

Keppinger and Conor Gillaspie also drove in runs for the White Sox, who have taken the first two games in the three-game set after starting 1-6 on their 10-game road trip.

"It seems like we're always on the losing end of one-run games, so fundamentally to get a sac fly to get the winning run, it's a good feeling," Keppinger said. "Hopefully we can build off it."

The Royals, meanwhile, have dropped four straight since climbing back to .500.

"We're all scratching our heads," Yost said. "The consistency of our offense has been a little bit mind-boggling. It's getting them to stay relaxed in situations."

Kansas City (34-38) is 11-33 when scoring three runs or fewer this season.

"It's baseball, man. It's a hard game," the Royals' Mike Moustakas said. "Sometimes you get the job done, sometimes you don't get it done, and that's just kind of how it turns out."

The Royals struck first when Miguel Tejada, starting at second base for the ninth time in his 16-year career, hit a two-out single in the second inning. The 39-year-old then chugged all the way around on a double by Moustakas to give Kansas City the early lead.

It was the first RBI for Moustakas since May 23.

The White Sox threatened in the third when Keppinger singled and Tyler Flowers walked to start the inning. Alex Rios hit a ball down the right-field line that fell foul by just a couple of feet, and then he struck out looking to keep the White Sox off the scoreboard.

At least until the fourth.

Dunn, who was hitting .186 coming into the game, walked leading off the inning. Paul Konerko followed with a single up the middle, and Gillaspie's slow roller up the middle was enough to drive in Dunn with the tying run.

Wade Davis nearly escaped the inning when he got Viciedo to ground into a double play, but Keppinger delivered a single to right that gave the White Sox a 2-1 lead.

Kansas City was poised for a big sixth inning, tying the game on a single by Perez and putting runners on first and second with one out. But reliever Matt Lindstrom entered the game and got Lorenzo Cain to ground into a double play on his first pitch to end the threat.

White Sox starter Jose Quintana wound up going 5 1-3 innings, while Davis made it through seven innings on the warm afternoon. He also gave up two runs for the Royals.

"Tough loss," Davis said, "having a tie game in the ninth inning."

NOTES: Keppinger started at 2B in place of Beckham and finished 3 for 3. ... The Royals activated OF Jarrod Dyson (right high ankle sprain) from the DL and optioned 2B Chris Getz to Triple-A Omaha. ... RHP Dylan Axelrod goes to the mound for the White Sox in Sunday's series finale. RHP James Shields starts for Kansas City.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Returning ... when?

CSN Washington: Bryce Harper wants to take his rehab slowly. The Nationals want him to speed things up. Who will win this battle of wits?

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/52285808/ns/sports-baseball/

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Biological fitness trumps other traits in mating game

June 19, 2013 ? When a new species emerges following adaptive changes to its local environment, the process of choosing a mate can help protect the new species' genetic identity and increase the likelihood of its survival. But of the many observable traits in a potential mate, which particular traits does a female tend to prefer?

A new study from the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis finds that a female's mating decisions are largely based on traits that reflect fitness or those that help males perform well under the local ecological conditions.

Males' bright colors, flashy ornaments, and elaborate songs are examples of fitness-related traits that females appear to have evolved to prefer, according to the study, which appears in the journal Ecology Letters.

An example of these fitness-related traits can be found in the tropical Heliconius butterfly, where diverging color patterns on the butterflies' wings influence mate choice and hence divergence of populations. Another example are Darwin's finches, whose beaks evolved over millions of years with changes in birdsong, an important mating signal, and thus contributed to the rise of new and distinct finch species.

The study settles a long debate in evolutionary biology about the surprising commonality of traits that play a crucial role in both survival and mate choice. It was previously thought that such traits were uncommon and were thus named "magic traits." However, in unraveling the trick behind the so-called magic traits, the study predicts that these magic traits are far more common in nature than expected, and in fact, predicts that female mating preferences may reflect forces of natural selection that were in place during the origin of the species.

"Even if the link between survival and mate choice is not there to start with, it will probably evolve," said lead author Xavier Thibert-Plante.

Understanding the biological basis of mating behavior is important because it can shed light on how species boundaries are formed and maintained.

"Mating preference is crucial for the evolution of new species because it reduces, and may in some cases eliminate hybridization, which can produce offspring of mixed ancestry, slowing down or reversing adaptation and differentiation among emerging species," Thibert-Plante explained.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/SdRQiO23E2A/130619164714.htm

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Chicopee St. Patrick's Parade Committee awards scholarships

CHICOPEE - The Chicopee St. Patrick's Parade Committee has awarded college scholarships to seven young women who participated in the 2013 Colleen Contest last February. The awards were based on academic achievement, community involvement, extracurricular activities and other significant accomplishments. They were presented at a reception at Elms College on Monday, June 10.

The following awards in the amount of $500 each were given:

Chicopee St. Patrick's Parade Committee Scholarships, awarded to: Andrea Coleman, who plans to attend Arizona State University; Ashley Dion, who plans to attend University of Massachusetts at Amherst; and Laura Gibb, who plans to attend Endicott College.

Parade Committee Scholarship in honor of Health New England, awarded to Taylor Berube, who attends Springfield College.

Parade Committee Scholarship in honor of Bud Shuback, awarded to Olivia Korell, who plans to attend Western New England University.

Interstate Towing, Inc. Scholarship, awarded to Emily Simpson, who plans to attend Bryant University.

Ruth and William Corridan Scholarship, awarded to Alyson Sliwa, who plans to attend Lasell College.

Each year, the Chicopee St. Patrick's Parade Committee oversees the city's participation in the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade. With the support of many generous sponsors, its members organize the Colleen Contest and Coronation Ball, design and build the Colleen's award-winning float, and promote Irish pride and culture through many events. In addition to these activities, the committee awards scholarships to young women who plan to further their education at a college or university.

The Parade Committee meets from October through May and new members are always welcome. Plans are now being made to celebrate the committee's 60th anniversary in 2014. Anyone interested in joining the committee, becoming a sponsor, or attending any of the upcoming events should contact President William Stetson at BStetson73@gmail.com.

More information can also be obtained at the committee's website at http://www.chicopeespc.com/.

Source: http://www.masslive.com/living/index.ssf/2013/06/chicopee_st_patricks_parade_committee_awards_scholarships.html

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Sarah Palin returns to Fox: What did she say?

Sarah Palin goes lite on whistleblower Edward Snowden ? 'nothing will ever be the same for this man' ? and calls for 'more revelations' about what a 'big, overgrown government' is doing.

By Peter Grier,?Staff writer / June 17, 2013

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) speaks during the Faith and Freedom Coalition Road to Majority 2013 conference Saturday in Washington. Ms. Palin, the conference's final speaker, rejected calls for an immigration overhaul that includes a path to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally.

Carolyn Kaster/AP

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Sarah Palin is back on ?Fox and Friends? Monday morning.?The appearance?marks her return as a paid contributor to Fox after a multimonth hiatus that began when her old $1 million-per-annum contract with the network expired.

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So did she say anything liberals will find outrageous and tea party members will love?

Well, we?d judge that she was pretty restrained during her chat-up for the F and F team. Her best line came at the start, when they showed?a clip of her speech?from over the weekend at the Faith and Freedom Coalition annual conference in Washington, D.C.

Congress should ?put themselves on Ted Cruz control for a week," said Ms. Palin in the clip.

(Sen. Ted (R) Cruz of Texas was a phone-in guest, which was the way they played that bit, and not her comment that the US should ?let Allah sort it out? in Syria, instead of ramping up military aid to Syrian rebels.)

After that, Palin talked a bit about?her upcoming Christmas book, which she described as a legal primer to ?pushing back on the politically correct who would try to take the Christ out of Christmas," but also a ?festive and jolly? book with recipes.

Then she spent a lot of time conflating the IRS scandal, in which agency officials vetting applications for nonprofit 501(c)(4) status?singled out politically conservative groups for special scrutiny, and recent revelations about the extent to which the National Security Agency (NSA) captures the communications data of Americans.

?This is one big ball of wax of a big, overgrown government that has gotten out of control and the people have had enough,? said the former Alaska governor.

She was not that hard on NSA leaker and self-described whistleblower Edward Snowden, observing at one point that ?nothing will ever be the same for this man? (true!), and also saying that ?I think that the issue again is that government is so large and so intrusive in all aspects of life that we need more revelations, we need more truth about what our administration is doing."

Thus, Palin unsurprisingly appears to be going with fellow tea party favorite Sen. Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky on this, decrying the possible decay in US civil liberties as opposed to branding Mr. Snowden a possible source for Chinese intelligence, which is the ex-VP Dick Cheney approach.

However, on the national airwaves she did not go so far as to repeat the judgment she?d expressed in her Faith & Freedom conference speech that the NSA ?couldn?t find two pot-smoking deadbeat Bostonians with a hotline to terrorist central in Chechnya ... really??

Maybe she?ll ramp things up in appearances to come.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/6g3CtIN7Mtk/Sarah-Palin-returns-to-Fox-What-did-she-say

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Sandra Bullock Might Be Miss Hannigan In 'Annie' Remake

The "Annie" remake may now have a Miss Hannigan to go with Jamie Foxx's Benjamin Stacks. Sandra Bullock is reportedly in talks to take on the role. Also, C-3PO and R2D2 visit Burger Chef in a commercial from 1977 in today's Dailies! » First trailer for Lake Bell's "In A World..." [Yahoo! Movies] » Sandra [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2013/06/12/sandra-bullock-annie-remake/

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Cicely Tyson wins Tony for best actress in a play

Cicely Tyson arrives on the red carpet at the 67th Annual Tony Awards, on Sunday, June 9, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Cicely Tyson arrives on the red carpet at the 67th Annual Tony Awards, on Sunday, June 9, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Cicely Tyson, who returned to Broadway this season for the first time in 30 years, has taken home the Tony Award for best leading actress in a play.

In Horton Foote's "The Trip to Bountiful," Tyson plays a widow in 1953 whose only desire is to revisit her old home in Bountiful and recapture purpose she lost when she left for Houston.

Tyson, 88, beat out Laurie Metcalf, Amy Morton, Kristine Nielsen and Holland Taylor.

Tyson was nominated for an Oscar for her role in "Sounder" in 1972. Other film credits include "Fried Green Tomatoes," ''Bustin' Loose" and "Jefferson in Paris."

She won Emmys for "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" and "Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All." She was also nominated for her role in the miniseries "Roots."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-06-09-Tony%20Awards-Best%20Actress-Play/id-c2605a800369457b8f24f516ff16abea

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