Biden: Virginia GOP Afraid Of The Tea Party

RICHMOMD, Va. ? Vice President Joe Biden continued a busy political pace Saturday, appearing with Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial candidate at the swing state's premier party fundraiser and ridiculing this fall's conservative Republican statewide ticket as extreme captives of tea party ideology.

Biden brought about 1,000 Democrats to their feet repeatedly at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner barely four months ahead of the nation's only competitive governor's race. His appearances at state fundraisers haved evoked speculation that he is laying his footing for a 2016 presidential bid.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we stand for equal rights and women's rights," Biden said. "With virtually zero support from the Republicans, the president and I have moved the country from the worst recession since the Great Depression to 38 months of private-sector growth."

With Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe at his side, Biden took aim at McAuliffe's opponent, state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who won the GOP nomination with strong tea party support and his socially conservative ticket mates.

"There is so much they stand for that is so at odds with the value set of Virginians," Biden said.

The vice president warned that a GOP victory in Virginia would only galvanize the tea party's grip on the GOP in Congress, where he said even longtime moderate Republicans are fearful of a primary challenge if they don't do the tea party's bidding.

"They are so afraid of a challenge by the tea party that they vote against what is the right vote. Imagine what they will do to Barack and me if Terry McAuliffe loses," he said.

A McAuliffe victory, he said, would "send a strong signal to Republicans across America that there's no reason to be afraid of these extreme guys."

Before speaking to activists who paid $175 or more per ticket, Biden joined McAuliffe, a longtime confidante of Bill and Hillary Clinton, in surprising patrons at a Richmond restaurant, shaking hands before wolfing down two plates of fried whiting.

Among other campaign events this season, Biden aided Democratic Rep. Ed Markey in a Massachusetts special election ? Markey won, thus keeping Secretary of State John Kerry's old seat in Democratic hands ? and held a series of closed-door "donor-maintenance" events in Washington.

Sen. Tim Kaine, elected on the same Virginia ballot as President Barack Obama last fall, said it's too early for Democrats to take sides in a potential nomination contest between Biden and Hillary Clinton, but he counseled both to try pragmatism over progressive partisanship.

"I think the Virginia Democratic success model is, we'll let the other guys be the ideology people and we will be the work-together, compromise, make-things-happen party. That's been the model that has allowed Dems to win," said Kaine, like McAuliffe, a former Democratic National Committee chairman.

In speeches warming up the crowd, Kaine and Sen. Mark Warner congratulated gay-rights activists for the ruling that cleared the way for same-sex marriages in 13 states but not in Virginia, where a 7-year-old amendment to the state Constitution prohibits it. And both hailed the immigration reform bill that they supported ? it now faces an uncertain future in a conservative Republican-led House.

The Cuccinelli campaign joined the Virginia GOP in using Biden's visit as an occasion to attack the ticket for Obama's clean-energy initiative, warning that it will devastate Virginia's struggling coal industry and drive up utility bills.

"With no economic plan or message to tout, Vice President Biden and Terry McAuliffe doubled down on an empty strategy of division and false attacks tonight," the campaign said in a statement that referred to the "Obama/Biden/McAuliffe War On Coal" and government-run healthcare as "harmful to job growth and economic opportunity in Virginia."

State GOP Chairman Pat Mullins called it "the most anti-coal slate of candidates ever fielded in the history of Virginia," a distinction intended to lock up the rural, rugged but independent southwestern tip of the state for the GOP in a neck-and-neck governor's race.

Republicans weren't alone in protesting Biden's trip. About three dozen environmental activists opposed to construction of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline stood on a street corner as Biden's motorcade passed, waving placards that read "Say No to Big Oil" and chanting "Hey, Joe, you ought to know, Keystone pipeline's got to go."

___

Associated Press writer Josh Lederman in Washington contributed to this report.

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/29/biden-virginia-gop_n_3523663.html

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Portland's New Streetlights Are Psychedelic, Carnivorous Plants

If you've seen one streetlight, you've pretty much seen them all. They're important, sure, but they're usually not much to look at. The lamps that popped up across Portland are a little bit different. A little more like giant, carnivorous plants.

"Nepenthes" by Dan Corson is a collection of four, 17-foot tall light-up sculptures that devour sunlight, and spit it back out after sundown. Though they share their name with plants known for eating bugs and occasional small animals, these sculptures just soak up rays during the day with solar panels mounted on top, and use that energy to glow for about four hours after dark. Just run-of-the-mill synthetic photosynthesis for these plants.

Made from translucent fiberglass with embedded with LED lights formed around a steel spine, each of the four lamps is structurally identical, but has a uniquely wild color scheme that sets it apart from its brothers. All and all, they seem like a neat represention of the "urban jungle," and it's a good thing they're a little more urban than jungle. [Dan Corson via Designboom]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/portlands-new-streetlights-are-psychedelic-carnivorou-619917815

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Russia's Aeroflot considers leaving SkyTeam alliance: source

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian state-controlled airline Aeroflot sees no benefits from its membership in the SkyTeam alliance, but a decision to leave the group is not for management to take, a source close to its board told Reuters.

Aeroflot is considering leaving the SkyTeam alliance because of unfavorable agreements with other members, in particular U.S. Delta Air Lines Inc , the Kommersant daily reported on Friday.

"There is no point in cooperating with them," a source close to the board told Reuters. He doubted, however, that Aeroflot would drop out of the alliance unless there is a political decision to do so.

The agreement to join SkyTeam in 2004 was signed in the Kremlin, a political stamp of approval largely due to close ties with France. Air France-KLM is a leading member of the group.

The newspaper cited sources close to Aeroflot's board of directors as saying the company was not happy with the development of its routes in the United States, where Delta Air Lines charges relatively high fares.

Dropping out of the alliance could cost Aeroflot $20 million and the airline may consider joining Star Alliance, the biggest airline marketing group, with 27 members.

As a member of SkyTeam, which brings together 19 global airlines, Aeroflot cannot undercut prices offered by other members and could become more competitive by joining the Star Alliance, Kommersant said.

Aeroflot declined to comment on the report.

(Reporting by Maya Dyakina and Gleb Stolyarov; Editing by Elizabeth Piper and Douglas Busvine)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russias-aeroflot-considers-leaving-skyteam-alliance-paper-053936639.html

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Apple TV send to Airport Express Speakers?

I can stream music from iOS to Apple TV but was under the impression that Apple TV can push to other "speakers" (Airport express as an example).? Is that not true?

?

Even so I cannot get the airport express to show in speaker section on my Apple TV.

They both show on my iOS as options to stream to.?

?

Would be great if I could just choose 2!

Any suggestions on tying the two sets of speakers together?

Source: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5138316

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Anthem insurance plan with MaineHealth under review ? Health ...

GARDINER, Maine ? A proposed deal between two heavy hitters in Maine?s health care market to offer insurance next year is raising concerns that patients may have to travel further for care and to find new doctors. The deal could affect tens of thousands of residents and greatly shape the rollout of President Barack Obama?s health reform law in Maine.

MaineHealth, the parent organization of Maine Medical Center in Portland, and health insurer Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan to offer a new insurance product on Maine?s health insurance exchange, an online market where consumers and small businesses can shop for coverage beginning in October 2013. The plans would take effect in January 2014. The exchanges are a key component of the reform law, which aims to widen coverage to 30 million people.

A Friday public hearing hosted by the Maine Bureau of Insurance addressed the network of hospitals and doctors that would provide care to customers who buy the Anthem-MaineHealth plans, which would be available to individuals who buy their own insurance, small businesses and the uninsured.

Workers who have health insurance through a large employer aren?t eligible to shop for plans on the exchange and wouldn?t be affected by the Anthem-MaineHealth deal.

The plans include 32 of Maine?s 38 hospitals, but exclude Central Maine Healthcare, which operates Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital, as well as Parkview Adventist Medical Center in Brunswick, York Hospital, and Portland?s Mercy Hospital.

Central Maine Healthcare officials have denounced the plan as a ?backroom deal? that allows MaineHealth to undercut hospitals that compete with its health system, undermining the intent of the reform law to improve access to affordable health care. Central Maine Healthcare filed a lawsuit earlier this month to make Anthem?s application public before the insurance bureau decides whether to approve the plan. It also launched a website dedicated to defeating the deal, stopanthemsbackroomdeal.com.

Brenda Weeks, 54, of Auburn, has held an individual Anthem policy for 29 years. She?s worked hard to assemble a team of CMMC medical providers who treat her for multiple sclerosis, and now fears losing them, she said.

Weeks, who uses a wheelchair and relies on a ventilator to breathe, said she?s overwhelmed by the prospect of having to find new doctors and a different hospital, as well as a new health plan with unknown costs and coverage.

?I?ve been very loyal to them, ? she said of Anthem, which also insured Weeks through her parents when she was young. ?I don?t like the idea that they are going to turn my world upside down, and that?s what will happen if I have to make these changes.?

Chuck Gill, a spokesman for Central Maine Healthcare, said Friday?s hearing has led to further confusion about which doctors are included in the network, after discrepancies in Anthem?s list were discovered.

?It?s got everyone asking more questions that we didn?t expect and not getting lots of answers,? he said by phone, stepping away from the hearing.

Anthem and MaineHealth contend that their collaboration will lead to lower health insurance premiums for consumers. The hospitals included in the network agreed to significantly reduced payments from Anthem in exchange for having more patients funneled to their facilities. Anthem has said those rate reductions are critical in offsetting extra costs associated with the Affordable Care Act, which requires insurers to offer a wider scope of benefits and prohibits them from denying customers with preexisting medical conditions.

MaineHealth serves much of southern and western Maine, with nine member hospitals and affiliate hospitals in Augusta, Brunswick and Lewiston.

Magnifying the effect of the move by Anthem and MaineHealth is the fact that the only other option on Maine?s exchange next year will be plans offered by a small startup nonprofit, Maine Community Health Options. The plans must be reviewed by the insurance bureau by July 31 and win approval from federal regulators.

Additional insurers could potentially join Maine?s exchange and sell policies in 2015.

About 257,000 Mainers are expected to be eligible to shop for insurance on Maine?s exchange, which will be run by the federal government. Yet, the insurance exchange won?t be their only option for health insurance coverage, and companies can still sell policies off the exchange.

Some of the 33,000 individuals who buy their own insurance may stick with another insurer, Mega Life, which will still sell policies in Maine but not through the exchange. Similarly, many of the 91,000 people who have coverage through a small business could continue getting coverage from several insurers that plan to stay in Maine?s market but not sell policies on the exchange. The third group eligible to shop on the exchange, Maine?s 133,000 uninsured, are more likely to do so, but could choose to remain without coverage, become eligible for Medicaid, or find a way to afford an off-exchange plan.

Both Anthem and Maine Community Health Options are interested in offering plans both on and off the exchange. Plans sold off the exchange wouldn?t be eligible for federal subsidies.

The Anthem-MaineHealth plans would affect not only future Anthem customers, but also existing customers. Anthem has requested permission from the insurance bureau to cancel or stop renewing its ?nongrandfathered? individual and small group policies and replace them with the new ?narrow network? policies.

Colin McHugh, who leads Anthem?s contracting efforts with health providers in the region, said the narrow network would still allow policyholders plenty of choice in who they see for care, according to his written testimony. All of the state?s northern hospitals and at least one hospital in every southern Maine county (except Sagadahoc, which doesn?t have a hospital) will be included, he said.

?The more focused network is still broad, offering members significant choices in high-quality hospitals, primary care physicians and specialists,? his testimony read.

Patients could still visit any hospital for emergency care, according to McHugh.

Anthem has stressed that its proposal with MaineHealth remains in the early stages.

Jud Knox, president of York Hospital, said his facility?s exclusion from the network will force Anthem patients to sever ties with their preferred medical providers unless they pay out of pocket.

?Almost all of these Anthem subscribers will not be able to afford that,? he said, according to his written testimony. ?As a result, these patients will have to discontinue treatment with their primary care providers and discontinue treatment with their customary treating specialists. They will have to decide whether they should forego or postpone treatment, or travel a considerable distance to a new hospital, [primary care physician], or specialist.?

Mercy CEO Eileen Skinner raised similar concerns about Portland-area patients covered by Anthem, and questioned whether Maine Medical Center could handle an influx of tens of thousands of Anthem patients who would have to abandon the excluded hospitals and turn to MMC for care.

?It is still unclear to me how the network was developed and what criteria were used by Anthem to select participating network providers,? Skinner said, according to her written testimony. ?Mercy is a longstanding, low-cost, high-quality Anthem participating provider, yet Mercy was never approached by Anthem with a proposal to join the network.?

A number of insurance carriers nationally have turned to narrow network plans, contending that limiting network size allows them to offer plans with better quality or more efficient doctors and hospitals, which could dampen spending or improve care.

The hospitals excluded from the Anthem network complained that the company failed to take into account hospital cost and quality criteria, which insurers in other states have relied on in devising narrow network plans.

Health insurers in Maine aren?t required to contract with every hospital, but must provide ?reasonable access to services.?

Central Maine Healthcare spokesman Gill also previously criticized the move by Anthem and MaineHealth as an affront to taxpayers. The exchanges will offer federal subsidies to qualifying working families to help them afford insurance. Anthem may be a private company, but the products it sells on Maine?s exchange will be partially financed by taxpayers, Gill has said.

While the provider network has garnered the most attention, it?s just one element in determining whether health insurance under Obamacare will lead to better and less expensive coverage in Maine. No information about how much the exchange plans will cost or specifics about the benefits they?ll include has been released yet publicly. That information, which will affect patients beyond western and southern Maine, is expected later this summer.

The insurance bureau will accept written comments from the public about the Anthem-MaineHealth provider network through next Friday.

Source: http://bangordailynews.com/2013/06/28/health/anthem-insurance-plan-with-mainehealth-under-review/

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Senate passes sweeping immigration legislation (reuters)

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Not a vulture but a drone: South Africa police detain cameraman

PRETORIA (Reuters) - South African police on Friday detained the owner of a radio-controlled helicopter drone carrying a camera that was filming scenes around the Pretoria hospital where ailing anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela is being treated.

F.C. Hamman, a South African freelance film-maker, was escorted away by police along with the helicopter camera he was flying with his 21-year-old son Timothy outside the clinic where Mandela, 94, has spent three weeks with a lung infection.

After nearly four hours of questioning by police, Hamman was released but the drone camera was confiscated.

"From a security point of view, they are concerned. They are inspecting our equipment to make sure it didn't violate any security regulations," Hamman told Reuters, adding police had not pressed any charges for the moment.

"We didn't realize we were breaking any laws," he said.

Hamman said he had intended to offer to media organizations the aerial shots of intense activity around the hospital, where crowds of jostling journalists have mingled with well-wishers paying tribute to South Africa's former president.

"We were careful not to fly over the hospital," he said.

The intense media scrutiny has angered some of Mandela's family. Daughter Makaziwe on Thursday lambasted foreign media "vultures" for not respecting his privacy as he lay critically ill.

Hamman said he had already used the home-built flying camera in other film projects and had also assisted police with surveillance work in operations against suspected drug-dealers in the crime-plagued Johannesburg suburb of El Dorado.

"You can't fly one of those things without a permit," one police officer said at the hospital after Hamman was escorted away. Pretoria police declined to comment further.

The incident came just hours before U.S. President Barack Obama started an official visit to South Africa, which will include stops in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Asked how he thought Obama's huge security detail might react if he launched the flying "eye in the sky" in the vicinity of the president, Hamman chuckled: "That would be a mistake."

(Reporting by Siphiwe Sibeko, Dylan Martinez and Jon Herskovitz in Pretoria and Pascal Fletcher in Johannesburg; Writing by Pascal Fletcher; Editing by Alistair Lyon)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/not-vulture-drone-south-africa-police-detain-cameraman-174627614.html

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Rick Perry, Mansplainer in Chief (Atlantic Politics Channel)

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Bullock, McCarthy challenge male buddy comedies in 'The Heat'

By Zorianna Kit

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actresses Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy are mounting a challenge to this summer's male-dominated comedies with their buddy cop comedy "The Heat" opening at movie theaters on Friday.

The R-rated comedic offerings at the summer box office have so far included three guys heading to Las Vegas to hunt down a gangster in "The Hangover 3," two middle-aged men interning at Google in "The Internship" and a group of male celebrities preparing for the apocalypse in "This is the End."

"The Heat," by "Bridesmaids" director Paul Feig brings together an unlikely duo, pairing an uptight FBI agent (Bullock) with a loud and aggressive Boston cop (McCarthy) to bring down a drug lord.

Amid shenanigans that include stake-outs, family drama, a drunken night and explosions, the pair learns how to work together and a friendship develops.

Buddy cop comedies have long been a Hollywood staple, from franchise films like "Beverly Hills Cop," "Lethal Weapon," "Bad Boys" and "Rush Hour" to more recent films like "The Other Guys" and last year's "21 Jump Street" remake. But they have featured male leads.

Starring two women in such a film required some changes, Feig told Reuters.

The 50-year-old director, who has helped usher in a new wave of female-led R-rated comedies, said he wanted the characters to deal with issues that professional women would face on the job, while also showing women who enjoy being in the work force.

"We wanted to say, 'If you love your job, that's what you should be doing and maybe you might need a friend in a similar situation to be your confidante,'" he said.

Feig's 2011 film "Bridesmaids," about a bride and her friends who suffer a series of unfortunate events ahead of the wedding, was nominated for two Oscars including best supporting actress for McCarthy and made $288 million worldwide.

'THE QUEST' FOR WOMEN IN COMEDY

McCarthy, 42, saw her star rise after the success of "Bridesmaids." She followed the film up with February's "The Identity Thief," which grossed $174 million largely on the strength of her persona, and a supporting role in "The Hangover 3," where she held her own opposite the film's male-led cast.

Bullock, 48, had been mostly absent from film since winning the Best Actress Oscar for 2009's "The Blind Side," focusing instead on being a single mother to her adopted son Louis.

"The Heat," produced by News Corp's 20th Century Fox studio, marks a return to comedy for her, drawing parallels to the quirky neurotic characters she has played in 2000's "Miss Congeniality" and 2009's "The Proposal."

Feig initially was drawn to the Kate Dippold-written script for "The Heat" in part because he felt comedy films in the last few decades have been mostly male-dominated, with women depicted as the ones who ruin the good time.

"The guys are having fun, or they're out saving the world and the woman is saying, 'You need to be home with the family,'" said Feig.

"Either they are killjoys or completely unaware of the importance of what their husbands are doing - neither one of which seems fair to the women."

Feig said he felt some of his favorite female comedians are not being given a chance to shine, citing Sarah Silverman's mean girlfriend character in 2003's "School of Rock" and Rachel Harris' shrewish girlfriend portrayal in 2009's "The Hangover."

"These are movies I love, but at the same time you go, 'Well that's a waste of a hilarious person," said Feig. "I just feel like, 'God, let's right the wrongs.'"

Going forward, Feig said his next project will be a female "James Bond" comedy in the vein of "The Heat," but he stressed he doesn't want to be the only go-to guy for women in film.

"The fact that 'The Heat' is the only studio film coming out this summer that has women in lead roles is almost a backslide," said Feig. "More people have to join me in the quest."

(Corrects Feig's age in the seventh paragraph. An earlier version of this story said that his age was 62.)

(Reporting By Zorianna Kit, Editing by Piya Sinha-Roy and Cynthia Osterman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bullock-mccarthy-challenge-male-buddy-comedies-heat-184336170.html

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Gulf states and BRICS should help Syria: U.S. says

By Dominic Evans

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Gulf Arab states and the fast-emerging BRICS economies should do more to address an expected funding shortfall of billions of dollars for Syrian aid efforts, a senior United States official said on Thursday.

Describing Syria as an "overwhelming and fast-moving humanitarian catastrophe", Assistant Secretary of State Anne Richard said the accelerating pace of the crisis presented an almost unprecedented challenge.

Around 1.7 million refugees have fled Syria, most to Lebanon and Jordan whose small populations are struggling to cope with the influx, and four million more have been displaced within Syria by the two-year conflict between President Bashar al-Assad and rebels.

The United Nations expects the refugee numbers to double by the end of the year and says 10 million in total will need help. It has launched its biggest ever aid effort in response, seeking $5 billion to cover operations for the second half of the year.

But its more modest appeal for the first six months of the year was significantly underfunded, raising questions over prospects for meeting the latest target.

"Traditional donors in Europe feel the weight of economic problems. The world looks to the Gulf states to be new donors, emerging donors," Richard told Reuters. "We are in fact approaching ... the BRICS and Gulf countries."

According to United Nations figures the BRICS countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa contributed just $9.3 million out of a total of nearly $2.1 billion so far this year to U.N. and aid organizations for the Syria crisis.

Richards singled out Kuwait for praise. It delivered on a pledge of $300 million earlier this year, and for handing it over to the United Nations to be part of a coordinated international effort.

But other wealthy Gulf Arab states could do more.

"Traditionally the Gulf states prefer to give assistance bilaterally and sometimes prefer to provide in-kind assistance," she said in an interview at the U.S. embassy in Beirut.

"When I go and ask them to write a check to the United Nations, that represents a departure from their preferred methods of doing things," she said.

The United States pledged $300 million in humanitarian assistance earlier this month, bringing its total contribution since the start of the conflict to $815 million.

Richard, Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees and Migration, was speaking during a visit to Lebanon, a country of four million people which hosts a Syrian refugee population that officially stands at half a million but may be closer to 1 million.

The influx has added to pressures in a country which is already suffering from the spread of sectarian tensions and violence from the Syrian conflict. The cities of Tripoli and Sidon have seen street battles, while the capital Beirut and eastern Bekaa valley have come under rocket attack.

"Without additional help the communities that are hosting these refugees will ... really become strained and this will lead to tensions," Richard said, adding that she was looking at directing U.S. funds towards Lebanese host communities "so that they don't have a backlash against the refugees".

But, anticipating a regional funding gap "in the billions of dollars", she said she had also discussed with U.N. agencies how they could prioritize aid to the most vulnerable cases, even if it meant turning away people in genuine need.

"That's a terrible calculus to make," she said, but one that might be forced upon aid groups by the scale of events.

"I don't think any crisis matches this one in terms of so many (people) moving so fast. That speed ... has really challenged aid workers and all of the countries surrounding Syria."

(Editing by Andrew Roche)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gulf-states-brics-help-syria-u-says-174016439.html

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In rebuff to Bloomberg, New York City Council curbs police power

By Francesca Trianni

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York City Council passed two measures to restrain police powers early on Thursday in direct defiance of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has defended procedures such as "stop and frisk" as necessary to fight crime.

One creates an independent inspector general to monitor the New York Police Department (NYPD) over a seven-year period and make recommendations on how it could be improved. The other expands the definition of racial profiling and allows people who believe they have been profiled to sue police in state court.

Both were aimed at restricting the New York City Police Department's use of stop-and-frisk, a policy of stopping, questioning and frisking people suspected of wrongdoing. Minority groups, civil libertarians and some Democratic mayoral candidates have argued that police disproportionately target minorities, particularly young black and Hispanic men.

"I want to speak from my heart. I implore you, if you've never been a young black or Latino, male or female, in New York City, to please listen to us," said Jumaane Williams, a council member from Brooklyn who sponsored the bill.

Shortly after the vote, Bloomberg, who has made the fight against crime a centerpiece of his three terms in office, promised to veto both bills, forcing the council to hold another vote to override his veto.

Each passed the 51-member council with at least 34 votes, indicating both measures now have the two-thirds majority support to override a mayoral veto.

The inspector general bill passed 40-11 and the racial profiling bill 34-17. A crowd of more than 100 people burst into cheers when the 34th vote was counted after 2 a.m. (0600 GMT).

The vote came after the Washington Post reported that four Central Intelligence Agency officers were embedded with the NYPD in the decade after September 11, 2001, including one who helped conduct surveillance operations inside the United States.

The CIA inspector general found the collaboration was replete with "irregular personnel practice" and lacked adequate control by agency supervisors, the Post reported, citing an inspector general report it acquired from a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.

"We're proud of our relationship with CIA and its training expertise," police spokesman Paul Browne said in response to the report, giving the program credit for helping New York avoid any new attacks since 2001.

The power of police and its effect on the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution have become defining issues in New York City's mayoral race. The amendment guards against unreasonable searches and seizures and requires probable cause for warrants.

A primary election has been scheduled for September 10, and the general election is set for November 5.

Bloomberg and New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly have vigorously defended stop and frisk, arguing that police make the most stops in minority neighborhoods because that is where crime rates are highest.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a Democratic mayoral candidate and Bloomberg ally, broke with the mayor and supported the inspector general, though she voted against the bill on racial profiling.

Former Congressman Anthony Weiner, a front-runner in the race for mayor along with Quinn, has expressed general support for stop and frisk.

(Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Elizabeth Piper)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rebuff-bloomberg-york-city-council-curbs-police-power-074246884.html

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Pro football player Hernandez charged with murder

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, left, stands with his attorney Michael Fee, right, during arraignment in Attleboro District Court Wednesday, June 26, in Attleboro, Mass. Hernandez was charged with murdering Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old semi-pro football player for the Boston Bandits, whose body was found June 17 in an industrial park in North Attleborough, Mass. (AP Photo/The Sun Chronicle, Mike George, Pool)

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, left, stands with his attorney Michael Fee, right, during arraignment in Attleboro District Court Wednesday, June 26, in Attleboro, Mass. Hernandez was charged with murdering Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old semi-pro football player for the Boston Bandits, whose body was found June 17 in an industrial park in North Attleborough, Mass. (AP Photo/The Sun Chronicle, Mike George, Pool)

In this image taken from video, police escort Aaron Hernandez from his home in handcuffs in Attleboro, Mass., Wednesday, June 26, 2013. Hernandez was taken from his home more than a week after a Boston semi-pro football player was found dead in an industrial park a mile from Hernandez's house. (AP Photo/ESPN)

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, left, stands with his attorney Michael Fee, right, during arraignment in Attleboro District Court Wednesday, June 26, in Attleboro, Mass. Hernandez was charged with murdering Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old semi-pro football player for the Boston Bandits, whose body was found June 17 in an industrial park in North Attleborough, Mass. (AP Photo/The Sun Chronicle, Mike George, Pool)

In this image taken from video, police escort Aaron Hernandez from his home in handcuffs in Attleboro, Mass., Wednesday, June 26, 2013. Hernandez was taken from his home more than a week after a Boston semi-pro football player was found dead in an industrial park a mile from Hernandez's house. (AP Photo/ESPN)

FILE - This Sept. 5, 2012 file photo shows New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez speaking to reporters in the locker room at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Hernandez has been taken from his home in handcuffs, Wednesday, June 26, 2013, after a Boston semi-pro football player was found dead in an industrial park a mile from his house. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (AP) ? New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was arrested Wednesday and charged with murder in the shooting death of a friend prosecutors say had angered the NFL player at a nightclub a few days earlier by talking to the wrong people.

Hernandez, 23, was taken from his North Attleborough home in handcuffs just over a week after Boston semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd's bullet-riddled body was found in an industrial park a mile away.

Less than two hours after the arrest, the Patriots announced they had cut Hernandez, a 2011 Pro Bowl selection who signed a five-year contract last summer worth $40 million.

Lloyd was a 27-year-old athlete with the Boston Bandits who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee. He was shot multiple times on a secluded gravel road, authorities said.

Hernandez "drove the victim to that remote spot, and then he orchestrated his execution," prosecutor Bill McCauley said.

If convicted, Hernandez could get life in prison without parole.

"It is at bottom a circumstantial case. It is not a strong case," his attorney, Michael Fee, said at a court hearing during which Hernandez was ordered held without bail on murder charges and five weapons counts.

Lloyd's family members cried and hugged as the prosecutor outlined the killing. Two were so overcome with emotion that they had to leave the courtroom.

McCauley said the slaying stemmed from a night out at a Boston club called Rumor on June 14. He said Hernandez was upset about certain things, including that Lloyd had talked to some people Hernandez "had troubles with." The prosecutor did not elaborate.

Two days later, McCauley said, on the night of June 16, Hernandez texted two friends from out of state and asked them to hurry back to Massachusetts.

Surveillance footage from Hernandez's home showed him leaving with a gun, and he told someone in the house that he was upset and couldn't trust anyone anymore, the prosecutor said.

The three men picked up Lloyd at his home around 2:30 a.m., according to authorities. As they drove around in their rented car, they discussed what happened at the nightclub, and Lloyd started getting nervous, McCauley said.

Lloyd texted his sister, "Did you see who I am with?" When she asked who, he answered, at 3:22 a.m., "NFL," then, a minute later, he sent one final text: "Just so you know."

Within a few minutes, people working the overnight shift at the industrial park reported hearing gunshots, McCauley said. Surveillance video showed the car going into a remote area of the industrial park and emerging four minutes later, the prosecutor said.

A short time later, Hernandez returned to his house, and he and one of the other men were seen on his home surveillance system holding guns, McCauley said. Then the system stopped recording, according to the prosecutor.

Hernandez had recently installed the system and had 14 cameras inside and out, according to McCauley, who said detectives found footage was missing from the six to eight hours after the slaying.

Investigators did not specify who fired the shots. They did not identify the two other people who were with Hernandez or say whether they were under arrest.

According to McCauley, Hernandez and his friends later returned the car to the rental agency, and Hernandez offered the attendant a piece of blue chewing gum. She found a .45-caliber shell casing and a piece of what appeared to be chewed blue gum in the car and threw them out.

Later, investigators retrieved the items from a trash bin, and the casing matched others found where Lloyd was killed, McCauley said. The two weapons seen on the surveillance footage have not been found, he said.

In arguing unsuccessfully for bail, Hernandez's attorney said the athlete is unlikely to flee, is a homeowner, and lives with his fiancee and an 8-month-old baby. He also said Hernandez had never been accused of a violent crime.

As he was led from his home in the morning, Hernandez was wearing a white V-neck T-shirt, with his arms inside the shirt and behind his back. He spit into some bushes on his way to a police cruiser.

Later, as he was taken from the North Attleborough police station to court, two dozen supporters cheered, some yelling, "We love you, Aaron!"

"Words cannot express the disappointment we feel knowing that one of our players was arrested as a result of this investigation," the Patriots said in a statement announcing he had been cut.

The team added: "We realize that law enforcement investigations into this matter are ongoing. We support their efforts and respect the process. At this time, we believe this transaction is simply the right thing to do."

The Patriots drafted Hernandez, who is originally from Bristol, Conn., in 2010 out of the University of Florida, where he was an All-American.

During the draft, one team said it wouldn't take him under any circumstances, and he was passed over by one club after another before New England picked him in the fourth round.

Afterward, Hernandez said he had failed a drug test in college ? reportedly for marijuana ? and was up front with teams about it.

In other off-the-field troubles, a Florida man filed a lawsuit last week claiming Hernandez shot him in the face after they argued at a strip club in February.

And The Boston Globe reported that Hernandez lost his temper and threatened a teammate during an argument in the team's weight room shortly after he was drafted.

Hernandez became a father on Nov. 6 and said he intended to change his ways: "Now, another one is looking up to me. I can't just be young and reckless Aaron no more. I'm going to try to do the right things."

___

Associated Press writers Bridget Murphy in Boston and Howard Ulman in North Attleborough contributed to this story.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-06-26-Hernandez-Police/id-4f6355ed39ac415594ddcd9d4ed431f9

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3 Investments For When The Gold Sell-Off Ends - INO.com

By: David Sterman of Street Authority

As 2012 came to a close, investors increasingly questioned the wisdom of owning gold or gold-related stocks and funds. After all, a commodity known as an inflation hedge is of dubious value when inflation is nonexistent. And for investors who still expected the Federal Reserve's aggressive stimulus efforts to eventually fuel inflation, patience was starting to wear thin.

What began as a steady exodus out of gold in the winter morphed into something a lot more dramatic this spring. In the past few months, gold has endured a pair of scary plunges that has pushed even its most ardent supporters to the sidelines. Gold prices now sit at their lowest levels in nearly three years.

But does the Fed's recent announcement that it will begin to wind down its massive quantitative easing (QE) program change the picture for gold? After all, part of gold's weakness had stemmed from rising expectations that the Fed would soon wind down the QE program. Now that rumor has become fact, has the gold sell-off ended?

One possible scenario for a gold price rebound: The Fed's retreat from QE means that we're moving into the next phase of a grand government financing experiment that has no precedent. Will the coming months represent a quiet phase for the stock and bond markets as investors take the Fed's changing policies in stride? Or should we brace ourselves for greater volatility and economic uncertainty?

If that happens, gold could quite easily move back into vogue, as it is a favored investment whenever there is broad confusion about the market and the economy, as was the case in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Gold finished the past trading week at $1,292 per ounce, and any move back above $1,320 could be a sign that gold bulls are returning. So keep an eye on current gold prices, because if the selling phase has indeed passed, then the stage may be set for the next bull market in gold.

Investors have many ways to invest in gold. Let's look at three very different options, each with their own risk and reward profile.

1. Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX)
This is the world's largest gold miner, with proven and probable reserves of around 140 million ounces of gold (along with a lot of copper and silver). Not only has Barrick been affected by falling gold prices and the diminished profit spreads that that implies for producers, but the company has been beset by its own major mining problems in the Dominican Republic and Chile. Notably, both of those problems are being resolved, and output should return to normal later this year.?

Even if you don't expect gold prices to rebound from here, shares of Barrick Gold now appear oversold as they are still suffering from the perception of the problems noted above. Analysts at UBS, for example, think shares are worth $24.50, or nearly 50% above current levels. If gold prices rebound in coming quarters, then that price target would surely rise higher still. Merrill Lynch has an even higher $29 price target, which equates to 1.5 times the net asset value of its mines. That multiple has historically stood between 1.0 and 3.0; it stands just below 1.0 at the moment. (My colleague Chad Tracy took his own deeper look at Barrick's valuation?earlier this month.)?

2. Royal Gold (Nasdaq: RGLD)
Some investors have soured on gold miners, which tend to repeatedly face unexpected delays in permits and cost overruns on major projects and engage in poorly timed pricing hedges. This gold company skips all that and simply collects royalty checks. Royal Gold started to raise capital in 1990 and now has stakes in more than 200 properties, 36 of which are currently producing gold and throwing off royalty income.?

So what does the company do with all those royalties? Roughly 30% is paid out as dividends, and the rest goes right back into the next crop of mines. Royal Gold has an interest in 23 mines still in development, and another 100 that may be put on track for development in the next few years.?

Yet the reason this stock now holds appeal may not be apparent. Royal Gold is sitting on nearly $400 million in net cash and has an untapped $350 million credit line at its disposal. The company has a history of periodic buying sprees when smaller gold miners run into financial distress. And with gold below $1,300 an ounce, these junior miners are having a hard time accessing capital to develop their mines. Royal Gold provides cash to these miners at times like this -- and reaps the rewards when gold process rebound and royalty payments spike.

3. Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bull 3X Shares ETF (NYSE: NUGT)
Talking about this exchange-traded fund (ETF) right now would seem foolhardy. It is so heavily leveraged to the price of gold that its shares have plunged from $97 in October 2012 to a recent $6.50, easily making this one of the worst investments in recent memory.

Yet that kind of price action can work both ways. So if you are expecting even a modest rebound in gold prices, then this ETF would likely double or triple from current levels in a very short time. To give you a sense of this stock's volatility, gold prices rebounded 1% on Friday, but this ETF rose a solid 2%. Of course this isn't an investment, it's a speculation, and as such, should be just a tiny piece of any portfolio.

Risks to Consider: The global economy is showing signs of distress, and if China or Europe weaken further, then gold continue its downward spiral.?

Action to Take -- It's unwise to call a bottom for gold. Instead, keep an eye on the price action. If gold stabilizes at current levels and moves back up above $1,300 for a number of sessions, that could be a sign that sellers have been flushed out.

P.S. -- With gold trading at its lowest price in years, now may be the time to add the metal to your portfolio. But we've uncovered an even bigger commodities play that's unfolding right now, which could easily turn a $5,000 investment into $50,000 or more in the next five years. To learn more about and Scarcity Real Wealth, which focuses solely on the market's best resource investments, visit this link.

More Accurate than Warren Buffett?
Warren Buffett has beat the market 5 of the past 9 years. Since we started publishing our annual report, we've beat the market 7 of the past 9 years. And we're poised to do it again in 2013. One of our picks has raised dividends 463% since 2004. Another has returned 117% in just over 4 years. Click here for more about these stocks and even some ticker symbols.

Article source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StreetauthorityArticles/~3/mQ9SdT2f13M/3-investments-when-gold-sell-ends-474050

Source: http://www.ino.com/blog/2013/06/3-investments-for-when-the-gold-sell-off-ends/

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Why We Forgive Misspelled Emails if They're 'Sent From My iPhone'

Soon after Apple's iPhone went on sale six years ago this week, you probably started spotting hastily-written emails appended by the words "Sent from my iPhone." And then, a bit later, you spotted a lot more. Of course, the iPhone was not the first email-enabled smartphone to attach such a message to outgoing emails. So did various Treo handsets (remember those?) and BlackBerry phones, pre- and post-iPhone. The iPhone's instant success, and its default signature, simply made the practice far more prevalent. Alongside this trend, a different but related one emerged: the iPhone's stock signature, at first deemed a louche emblem of status, became a built-in forgiveness clause.?Please don't judge me for any typos or spelling errors, "Sent from my iPhone"?suggested.?I am very busy. That's according to a chart published on Tuesday by the author?Clive Thompson, who drew data from a 2012 Stanford study on the perceived credibility of misspelled emails sent with (and?without) a "Sent from my iPhone" signature:

RELATED: A Smartphone Map of Our Nation

RELATED: How Long People Waited to Be First in Line to Buy Apple Products

Thompson comments on the findings of the study, which asked a group of Stanford students to assess the credibility of emails, some of which had the signature, others of which did not:

When the message had correct spelling, grammar and punctuation, the sender was rated as being very credible ? and there was little difference between whether the email seemed to have been composed on a computer or a phone. But when the message had errors in it, things changed: Students attributed higher credibility to the person who?d written the lousy message on a phone.

For these results, Thompson credits "linguistic code-switching" ? whereby people speak differently among friends, family, and coworkers ? and theorizes that the prevalence of AutoCorrect software has, paradoxically, made misplaced words and punctuation more acceptable in digital communication. (But no less funny.)

RELATED: It's All Fun and Games Until Someone's iPhone Blows Up

Indeed, the sociological implications of email signatures go fairly deep, according to others who have studied the subject. In 2006, for example, the technologist Michael Silberman argued that the signature suggested a particular affection for the email's recipient. "If we're responding to you from our phone or BlackBerry, it generally means that we're going out of our way to respond under some inconvenient circumstances," he wrote. "It's not like we took our phone to the cafe to catch up on email. We're risking our life to respond to you while walking, eating, drinking, traveling, or juggling. You can thank us later."

RELATED: The Reality of Augmented Reality

Photo by Chukcha via Shutterstock

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/why-forgive-misspelled-emails-theyre-sent-iphone-214422087.html

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Algae-Engineering Joint Venture Disbands

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Solazyme will try to expand its food business to commercial scale, now that its venture with Roquette is closing.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/25/business/energy-environment/algae-engineering-joint-venture-disbands.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Feeling stressed?

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

Contact: Fiona Downey
fiona.downey@concordia.ca
514-848-2424 x2518
Concordia University

Oxytocin could help you reach out to others for support, Concordia researchers show

Montreal- The next time someone snubs you at a party and you think hiding is the solution to escape your feelings of rejection, think again. Scientists have shown that reaching out to other people during a stressful event is an effective way to improve your mood, and researchers at Concordia University suggest that the hormone oxytocin may help you accomplish just that.

Mark Ellenbogen and Christopher Cardoso, researchers in Concordia's Centre for Research in Human Development are taking a closer look at oxytocin, a hormone traditionally studied for its role in childbirth and breastfeeding, and more recently for its effect on social behaviour. Their latest study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, shows that oxytocin can increase a person's trust in others following social rejection.

Explains Ellenbogen, "that means that instead of the traditional 'fight or flight' response to social conflict where people get revved up to respond to a challenge or run away from it, oxytocin may promote the 'tend and befriend' response where people reach out to others for support after a stressful event. That can, in turn, strengthen social bonds and may be a healthier way to cope."

In a double-blind experiment, 100 students were administered either oxytocin or a placebo via a nasal spray, then subjected to social rejection. In a conversation that was staged to simulate real life, researchers posing as students disagreed with, interrupted and ignored the unsuspecting participants. Using mood and personality questionnaires, the data showed that participants who were particularly distressed after being snubbed by the researchers reported greater trust in other people if they sniffed oxytocin prior to the event, but not if they sniffed the placebo. In contrast, oxytocin had no effect on trust in those who were not emotionally affected by social rejection.

Cardoso, who is a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology, says that studying oxytocin may provide future options for those who suffer from mental health conditions characterized by high levels of stress and low levels of social support, like depression. "If someone is feeling very distressed, oxytocin could promote social support seeking, and that may be especially helpful to those individuals," he says, noting that people with depression tend to naturally withdraw even though reaching out to social support systems can alleviate depression and facilitate recovery.

For Ellenbogen, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Developmental Psychopathology, the contribution of stress the development of mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder has long been a research focus. "I'm concerned with the biological underpinnings of stress, particularly interpersonal stress, which is thought to be a strong predictor of these mental disorders. So, oxytocin is a natural fit with my interests," says Ellenbogen. "The next phase of research will begin to study oxytocin's effects in those who are at high risk for developing clinical depression."

Cardoso says reactions to oxytocin seem to be more variable depending on individual differences and contextual factors than most pharmaceuticals, so learning more about how the hormone operates can help scientists to figure out how it might be used in future treatments.

"Previous studies have shown that natural oxytocin is higher in distressed people, but before this study nobody could say with certainty why that was the case," Cardoso says, "In distressed people, oxytocin may improve one's motivation to reach out to others for support. That idea is cause for a certain degree of excitement, both in the research community and for those who suffer from mood disorders."

###

Partners in research: This research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Related links:

Media contact:

Fiona Downey
Media Relations Advisor
Concordia University Media Relations
Phone: 514-848-2424, ext. 2518
Cell: 514-518-3336
Fax: 514-848-3383
Email: fiona.downey@concordia.ca
Web: concordia.ca/now/media-relations
Twitter: twitter.com/fidow

---

[ | 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: Fiona Downey
fiona.downey@concordia.ca
514-848-2424 x2518
Concordia University

Oxytocin could help you reach out to others for support, Concordia researchers show

Montreal- The next time someone snubs you at a party and you think hiding is the solution to escape your feelings of rejection, think again. Scientists have shown that reaching out to other people during a stressful event is an effective way to improve your mood, and researchers at Concordia University suggest that the hormone oxytocin may help you accomplish just that.

Mark Ellenbogen and Christopher Cardoso, researchers in Concordia's Centre for Research in Human Development are taking a closer look at oxytocin, a hormone traditionally studied for its role in childbirth and breastfeeding, and more recently for its effect on social behaviour. Their latest study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, shows that oxytocin can increase a person's trust in others following social rejection.

Explains Ellenbogen, "that means that instead of the traditional 'fight or flight' response to social conflict where people get revved up to respond to a challenge or run away from it, oxytocin may promote the 'tend and befriend' response where people reach out to others for support after a stressful event. That can, in turn, strengthen social bonds and may be a healthier way to cope."

In a double-blind experiment, 100 students were administered either oxytocin or a placebo via a nasal spray, then subjected to social rejection. In a conversation that was staged to simulate real life, researchers posing as students disagreed with, interrupted and ignored the unsuspecting participants. Using mood and personality questionnaires, the data showed that participants who were particularly distressed after being snubbed by the researchers reported greater trust in other people if they sniffed oxytocin prior to the event, but not if they sniffed the placebo. In contrast, oxytocin had no effect on trust in those who were not emotionally affected by social rejection.

Cardoso, who is a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology, says that studying oxytocin may provide future options for those who suffer from mental health conditions characterized by high levels of stress and low levels of social support, like depression. "If someone is feeling very distressed, oxytocin could promote social support seeking, and that may be especially helpful to those individuals," he says, noting that people with depression tend to naturally withdraw even though reaching out to social support systems can alleviate depression and facilitate recovery.

For Ellenbogen, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Developmental Psychopathology, the contribution of stress the development of mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder has long been a research focus. "I'm concerned with the biological underpinnings of stress, particularly interpersonal stress, which is thought to be a strong predictor of these mental disorders. So, oxytocin is a natural fit with my interests," says Ellenbogen. "The next phase of research will begin to study oxytocin's effects in those who are at high risk for developing clinical depression."

Cardoso says reactions to oxytocin seem to be more variable depending on individual differences and contextual factors than most pharmaceuticals, so learning more about how the hormone operates can help scientists to figure out how it might be used in future treatments.

"Previous studies have shown that natural oxytocin is higher in distressed people, but before this study nobody could say with certainty why that was the case," Cardoso says, "In distressed people, oxytocin may improve one's motivation to reach out to others for support. That idea is cause for a certain degree of excitement, both in the research community and for those who suffer from mood disorders."

###

Partners in research: This research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Related links:

Media contact:

Fiona Downey
Media Relations Advisor
Concordia University Media Relations
Phone: 514-848-2424, ext. 2518
Cell: 514-518-3336
Fax: 514-848-3383
Email: fiona.downey@concordia.ca
Web: concordia.ca/now/media-relations
Twitter: twitter.com/fidow

---

[ | 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/cu-fs062113.php

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Taliban attack presidential palace in Kabul

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? Taliban militants with false papers and military-style uniforms bluffed their way through two checkpoints on their way to Afghanistan's presidential palace Tuesday before jumping out of their explosives-packed vehicle and opening fire on security personnel, according to Afghan officials and eyewitness accounts.

Another carload of Taliban fighters got stuck between two checkpoints and detonated their own car bomb.

The Taliban said all eight of its fighters died in the attack. Authorities reported one security guard wounded in the gunfight and had no word on casualties from the vehicle explosion.

The well-planned daylight assault in a highly fortified zone of the capital is a brazen challenge to Kabul's authority only a week after NATO formally handed over security for the entirety of the country to Afghan forces.

The gunbattle was witnessed by a group of journalists who were waiting to enter the palace grounds for a news event on Afghan youth at which President Hamid Karzai was expected to talk about ongoing efforts to open peace talks with the Taliban.

The palace is in a large fortified area of downtown Kabul that also includes the U.S. Embassy and the headquarters for the NATO-led coalition forces and access is heavily restricted. Some Kabul residents initially thought the gunfire was a coup attempt because the idea of a Taliban attack within the security zone seemed so unlikely.

The attackers were stopped in Ariana Square, at least 500 meters (yards) and several checkpoints away from the palace itself. It was unclear where Karzai was at the time.

The gunbattle started around 6:30 a.m. near the east gate leading to the palace next to the Afghan Ministry of Defense and the former Ariana Hotel, which former U.S. intelligence officials have confirmed is used by the CIA.

Kabul police chief Gen. Mohamad Ayub Salangi said the gunmen jumped out of their SUV and opened fire after being stopped by security forces while trying to use fake documents to get through a checkpoint. All gunmen were killed, and one palace security guard was wounded, he said.

The car bomb then exploded as it tried to enter the area. About 20 journalists waiting to attend Karzai's press event took cover behind a religious shrine, pulling a schoolboy off the street who had been caught in the open on his way to school, as the gunmen in camouflage uniforms exited their black Land Cruiser.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility, saying in an emailed statement that "eight of our suicide bombers were able to reach the most secure area of Kabul," identifying them by name and saying they were carrying hand grenades, a machinegun and rocket-propelled grenades.

"The brave mujahedeen, with special tactics and help from inside, were able to reach their target with their weapons and cars," he said. He said their targets were the CIA building, the palace and the Defense Ministry and claimed "a number of foreign invaders were killed and wounded in the attack."

Smoke could be seen coming from the area of the hotel, but there was no immediate indication any of the buildings were hit in the attack and Afghanistan's Kabul division army commander Gen. Kadam Shah Shahim said he knew of no deaths among security forces or civilians.

The NATO-led coalition in Afghanistan instituted a camp lockdown during the incident and said in a short statement that its forces had been ready to assist but were not called in by Afghan authorities.

The U.S. Embassy cancelled all consular appointments and advised American citizens in Kabul to stay indoors.

Ambassador James Cunningham condemned the attack, and extended U.S. "condolences to all Afghans affected by these senseless acts."

"All of the attackers were killed, without success in achieving their goals ? This again demonstrates the futility of the Taliban's efforts to use violence and terror to achieve their aims," he said in a statement. "We again call on the Taliban to come to the table to talk to the Afghanistan government about peace and reconciliation."

The Taliban have indicated they are willing to open peace talks with the U.S. and the Afghanistan government and just last week opened an office in Qatar for possible negotiations.

But at the same time they have not renounced violence and attacks have continued across Afghanistan.

In the southern province of Kandahar, a minibus hit a bomb buried in the road, killing 11 members of a family, said Kandahar governor's spokesman Ahmad Jawed Faisal. Faisal said the dead included eight women, two children and a man, and two other men were also wounded.

In Oruzgan, the province north of Kandahar, provincial governor's spokesman Abdullah Hemat said Tuesday that six Afghan national police were killed the day before when their patrol was attacked with a roadside bomb.

_____

Amir Shah contributed to this report

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/taliban-attack-presidential-palace-kabul-070200930.html

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Tightrope walk over Ariz. gorge draws 13M viewers

Aerialist Nik Wallenda near the end of his quarter mile walk over the Little Colorado River Gorge in northeastern Arizona on Sunday, June 23, 2013. The daredevil successfully traversed the tightrope strung 1,500 feet above the chasm near the Grand Canyon in just more than 22 minutes, pausing and crouching twice as winds whipped around him and the cable swayed. (AP Photos/Discovery Channel, Tiffany Brown)

Aerialist Nik Wallenda near the end of his quarter mile walk over the Little Colorado River Gorge in northeastern Arizona on Sunday, June 23, 2013. The daredevil successfully traversed the tightrope strung 1,500 feet above the chasm near the Grand Canyon in just more than 22 minutes, pausing and crouching twice as winds whipped around him and the cable swayed. (AP Photos/Discovery Channel, Tiffany Brown)

In this photo provided by the Discovery Channel, aerialist Nik Wallenda walks a 2-inch-thick steel cable taking him a quarter mile over the Little Colorado River Gorge, Ariz. on Sunday, June 23, 2013. The daredevil successfully traversed the tightrope strung 1,500 feet above the chasm near the Grand Canyon in just more than 22 minutes, pausing and crouching twice as winds whipped around him and the cable swayed. (AP Photos/Discovery Channel, Tiffany Brown)

Daredevil Nik Wallenda smiles during a news conference after crossing a tightrope 1,500 feet above the Little Colorado River Gorge Sunday, June 23, 2013, on the Navajo reservation outside the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park. Wallenda completed the tightrope walk that took him a quarter mile across the gorge in just more than 22 minutes. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Daredevil Nik Wallenda crosses a tightrope 1,500 feet above the Little Colorado River Gorge Sunday, June 23, 2013, on the Navajo reservation outside the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

LITTLE COLORADO RIVER GORGE, Ariz. (AP) ? Aerialist Nik Wallenda's tightrope walk over a gorge near the Grand Canyon drew nearly 13 million viewers to the live television broadcast.

The Discovery Channel said Monday that the quarter-mile stunt at the Little Colorado River Gorge was among the most highly viewed shows in the station's history.

It also prompted 1.3 million tweets Sunday, making it one of the top trending topics.

Wallenda took 22 minutes to cross the 2-inch-thick steel cable, 1,500 feet above the dry river bed. He did it without a harness or safety net.

The well-known daredevil contended with the wind and repeatedly called on God to calm the swaying cable.

He wore a microphone and two cameras, one that looked down on the river bed and one that faced straight ahead.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-06-24-Wallenda-Ratings/id-89d2fc05b4c14795a78afba649e08611

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