Thursday, January 31, 2013

Businesses set for penny phase-out, says Retail Council of Canada

Published: January 30, 2013 11:00 AM
Updated: January 30, 2013 11:07 AM

The majority of Canada's retail businesses are prepared for the disappearance of the penny and intend to use the federal government's proposed rounding guidelines when it begins, according to a survey of small, mid and large retailers by Retail Council of Canada (RCC).

"On February 4, most of Canada's retailers will be ready at the cash register to handle the phase out of the penny phase-out," said Diane J. Brisebois, president and CEO, RCC. "While we have been supportive of this initiative all along, we are grateful that the government delayed implementing the changes until this point, as retailers have needed the extra time to prepare."

Brisebois went on to say that these changes are voluntary and that she expects retailers' decisions will be focussed on doing what is best for their customers. While it seems that the majority will follow the federal government's proposal, many will continue to make exact change until the supply of pennies runs out. Others will choose to employ other approaches to providing change to their customers. She also noted that rounding only affects cash transactions and does not affect electronic forms of payment such as credit and debit transactions.

The Canadian Mint stopped producing pennies in the spring of 2012. RCC advocated for the phase-out of the penny to be delayed until after the busy holiday season, and the government agreed. On February 4, the Mint will stop circulating pennies to financial institutions and will also be encouraging them to send back any pennies that they have on hand.

RCC surveyed its members as to: their readiness for the phase-out of the penny; the approach they intend to use for rounding; and the potential costs to their business. The survey found that 55 per cent of retailers are prepared for the phase-out. It also found that 74 per cent of small retail businesses and 75 per cent of medium businesses will round manually at the cash register. However, 63 per cent of large businesses will be changing their point of sale systems. It could cost them more than $100,000 to do so.

"While smaller businesses will do the rounding manually at first and then determine the appropriate course of action, both in relation to cost and customer service, it is not a practical approach for large retailers with thousands of employees," said Brisebois. "This of course represents a substantial cost for retailers to enable them to maintain standardization and meet consumers' needs and expectations."

To answer questions pertaining to the penny phase-out, RCC has created a webpage "The Penny Stops Here". It contains Frequently Asked Questions, such as how the government's proposed rounding policy would work, and useful links for further information.

Retail Council of Canada (www.retailcouncil.org) is the Voice of Retail. Founded in 1963, RCC is a not-for-profit association which represents more than 45,000 stores of all retail formats, including department, grocery, independent merchants, regional and national specialty chains,

? Source: The Retail Council of Canada

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Source: http://www.bclocalnews.com/business/189055071.html

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Estate Planning and Tax Updates - Bear Mountain Capital

What follows is an update from Laura Hoexter and Xan Gerson of Helsell Fetterman regarding the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, signed into law on January 2nd, 2013.? Helsell Fetterman is a local law firm located in Seattle, WA, whose Estate Planning and Probate group is headed by Laura.? Her group maintains expertise in many areas, including estate planning, trust administration, generation skipping transfers, and family business succession planning.

by Laura Hoexter and Xan Gerson

As the ball dropped in Times Square, many of us were sure that the country was headed over the fiscal cliff. But on January 2, 2013, President Obama signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) into law. In addition to many income and business tax changes, ATRA extends the sweeping reforms that were made to the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes in 2010. This newsletter will focus on the estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and outline our recommendations for updating your existing estate plans.

ATRA Transfer Tax Provisions

Estate, Gift, and GST Tax Exemptions

Under the 2010 law, the exemptions against estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes were unified and set at $5 million, indexed for inflation. However, the unified exemption was expected to expire at the end of 2012, dropping the estate and gift tax exemptions to $1 million and the GST tax exemption to $1 million, indexed for inflation. ATRA permanently unified the three exemptions and kept the rate at $5 million, indexed for inflation. For 2013, the inflation-adjusted exemption is $5.25 million, allowing each taxpayer to transfer this amount during his lifetime or upon his death, with no federal estate or gift tax consequences.

Estate, Gift, and GST Tax Rates

Under the 2010 law, estates in excess of the exemption amount were taxed at 35%. Without any Congressional action, the 35% rate was set to expire, leaving taxpayers facing a top estate tax bracket of 55%. ATRA provides a permanent flat estate tax rate of 40% for all transfers in excess of the exemption amount. This rate applies to all three transfer taxes: estate tax, gift tax and GST tax. Note that the 40% tax rate ensures that the flat transfer tax rate will continue to remain equal to or above the top income tax bracket (39.6% for 2013).

Portability of Unused Exemption

Under the 2010 law, a surviving spouse (as defined under federal law) could use his or her deceased spouse?s unused gift and estate exemption. This portability benefit allowed couples who failed to create tax-saving estate plans to take advantage of a full $10 million exemption (indexed for inflation). While the portability was set to expire at the end of 2012, ATRA made it permanent. However, this benefit only applies to federal estate tax. Neither the Washington State estate tax exemption nor the federal GST exemption is portable.

Deduction for State Death Taxes

Under the 2010 law, taxpayers could deduct against their federal estate taxes any amounts they paid to the state in the form of state estate taxes. Absent Congressional action, this deduction would have been replaced with a credit that had been previously phased out. ATRA made this deduction permanent. With some states imposing significant estate taxes, this deduction can be substantial. For instance, the effective combined federal and state estate tax rate in New York, a state with high state estate tax, is 49.6%, while in Texas, a state without a state estate tax, the effective rate is 40%. In Washington, our tax rate ranges from 10% to 19% for amounts in excess of $2 million.

Annual Gift Tax Exclusion

While not part of ATRA, it is important to note that in 2013, the annual gift tax exclusion increased from $13,000 to $14,000. This means that anyindividual can gift up to $14,000 per recipient without having to file a gift tax return.

? Federal Estate Tax Gift Tax GST Tax WA State Estate Tax
Year Rate EXMT. Rate EXMT. Rate EXMT. Rate EXMT.
2011 35% $5.0M 35% $5.0M 35% $5.0M 10% ? 19% $2M
2012 35% $5.12M 35% $5.12M 35% $5.12M 10% ? 19% $2M
2013 40% $5.25M 40% $5.25M 40% $5.25M 10% ? 19% $2M
2014 40% $5M indexed for inflation 40% $5M indexed for inflation 40% $5M indexed for inflation 10% ? 19% $2M

Estate, Gift, and GST Tax Table

The Effect on your Personal Planning

Many individuals are wondering whether ATRA will require them to update their wills.

Some news reports suggest that married taxpayers only need minimal planning if their combined estates are below $10.5 million. Additionally, some news coverage has also suggested that taxpayers can simplify their estate plans, remove the tax-saving trusts, and rely on the portability benefit to shelter an estate up to $10.5 million. We strongly recommend against this for many reasons: (1) the lack of portability of the state estate tax exemption; (2) the lack of portability of the GST tax exemption; and (3) the additional reporting requirements and increased audit exposure. These reasons are discussed below.

  1. Portability and the State Estate Tax. While the federal government allows portability of the federal estate tax exemption, the state does not allow portability of the state estate tax exemption. Therefore, by eliminating tax-saving trusts in your estate plan such as the Credit Trust (also known as the Credit Shelter Trust, Bypass Trust or A/B Trust), you may be increasing the state estate tax due upon the surviving spouse?s subsequent death.

  2. Portability and the Generation-Skipping Tax. It is important to note that while the federal government allows portability of the federal estate tax exemption, it does not allow for the portability of the generation-skipping transfer tax exemption. If your estate plan includes gifts to grandchildren or trusts that will last multiple generations, it may be imprudent to rely on the portability benefit.

  3. Filing Requirements to Preserve Portability. In order for a surviving spouse to properly make the election to use the deceased spouse?s unused estate tax exemption, the surviving spouse must file an estate tax return (IRS Form 706) for the deceased spouse?s estate, even if one is not otherwise due. This means that the surviving spouse must incur the additional time and expense to marshal all assets, gather substantiating documentation for these assets, value each asset and provide appraisals as required, and hire an attorney or CPA to prepare and file the estate tax return. In return, the surviving spouse exposes himself or herself to audit. The portability benefit was adopted to provide those couples who don?t do proper planning with a way to minimize the estate tax liability. We would encourage couples to keep their estate plans up to date and view the portability benefit as an option only in the event that their planning fails.

Recommendation: If your will contains a Credit Trust and the will was drafted after 2005 (when Washington State created its state estate tax), then it was probably drafted to float with many of the foreseeable changes brought about by ATRA. If this is the case, no updates should be needed due to the change in the tax laws. However, ATRA does raise additional concerns for some clients. For individuals who have wills that contain bequests to different beneficiaries based on the amount of exemption available, there may be a need to revisit this division to ensure that it is still desirable. In other words, if your will states that your grandchildren receive an amount equal to your unused generation-skipping tax exemption, and your children get the remainder, this amount would have had very different results had you died in 2009 when the exemption was $3.5 million, versus 2013 when this exemption is $5.25 million.

Recommendation: The portability benefit only allows a person to claim the unused exemption of the last spouse. Widows and widowers who are contemplating a second marriage should consider the economic consequence. For instance, assume Mary was married to Abel. When Abel died in 2013, Mary inherited their combined estate of $7 million, tax free due to the marital deduction. Mary claims portability, hoping to use her $5.25M as well as Abel?s $5.25M and shelter the combined estate at her death. Three years later, Mary is in a relationship with Ben who she is considering marrying. Ben has an estate worth $5M. If Mary does not marry Ben, each of them will have an exemption larger than his or her respective estate, and at death, no tax will be due. If Mary marries Ben, she will lose the ability to use Abel?s $5.25M exemption at her death. Instead, she and Ben will have a combined estate of $12 million and a combined exemption of $10.5 million.

Recommendation: Certain strategies used by taxpayers to move funds to the next generation in a very tax-favorable way have been targeted for termination by the current Administration. These strategies include short term grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), gifts of discounted interests in passive businesses, and sales to irrevocable grantor trusts. While these techniques were not eliminated in ATRA, we feel they are still in possible jeopardy, and we are encouraging clients to take advantage of them before they disappear.

Despite the nail-biting suspense and the last minute legislation, we are thankful that we finally have permanent estate tax laws. While each person?s situation is different, and there may be a need for some individuals to update their estate plans, we can now plan with some permanence.

Source: http://bearmountaincapital.com/estate-planning-and-tax-updates/

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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Cancer Death Rates Higher In Men Than In Women, Report Suggests

Cancer death rates in the UK are more than a third higher in men than in women, a new report says.

The stark contrast between the sexes is revealed in latest survival figures from 2010.

In that year, 202 men per 100,000 died from cancer compared with 147 women per 100,000 - a 35% difference.

When gender-specific diseases, such as prostate and breast cancer, were excluded, men were 67% more likely to die.

  • A lump or swelling anywhere on your body needs checking out

    AXA?s research found that 79% of people were able to correctly identify breast lumps as a potential indicator of cancer. But a lump or swelling in any part of the body, including the armpit, neck, abdomen, groin or chest area, is worth having checked by a doctor.

  • Talk about your toilet habits

    Diarrhoea or changes in bowel habits are most likely to be caused by a stomach bug or eating something that disagrees with you. But if you?re noticing changes that have lasted more than a few days, for example if your bowel movements are looser for three weeks or more, or you notice any blood when you?ve been to the toilet, then make an appointment to get it checked out.

  • Sores and ulcers should disappear quickly ? investigate them if they don?t

    A lot of people get mouth ulcers when their immune system is low or they?re stressed. Generally they?re nothing to worry about and, as the lining of the mouth regenerates itself every couple of weeks, shouldn?t last long. But any ulcer that hasn?t healed after three weeks merits attention from your doctor or dentist. The same goes for any sore or spot that lasts for several weeks without healing ? get it checked by a doctor.

  • Difficult passing urine ? not just an inevitable consequence of age

    Many men find it more difficult to pass urine as they get older, needing to go more often or urgently or being unable to go when they need to. These problems are usually caused by an enlarged prostate, which is a common condition that is not in itself cause for concern. But occasionally these symptoms can be a sign of prostate cancer ? either way, men experiencing these symptoms should see their GP. Similarly, while urinary tract infections are the most likely cause of women having pain or difficulty passing urine, this should pass relatively quickly. If it doesn?t, then any sudden urges to pass urine or the need to go more often should be discussed with your doctor.

  • Lost weight without dieting?

    It?s natural for most people?s weight to fluctuate over time. But if you haven?t instigated any changes in your diet or exercise regime and have obviously lost weight, then talk to your doctor. And if you?re experiencing heavy night sweats you should seek medical advice ? these don?t always have a sinister cause, and can be brought about by certain infections or medications, but they?re worth checking.

  • Coughing up blood needs to be checked out

    If you?ve coughed up any blood, you should see your doctor, regardless of the amount of blood or frequency. It can be a sign of lung cancer, so needs to be checked out.

  • Coughs and sore throats

    Most of us will experience coughs or croaky voices at some point, normally when we?ve had a cold. But as with many other changes to your body, anything that hasn?t gone away after three weeks or so should be investigated.

  • Educate yourself on what to look out for

    AXA?s research found women were more likely than men to identify key cancer warning signs, including breast lumps, changes in bowel habits and irregular moles. But for both men and women, ensuring you?re aware of symptoms to keep an eye out for is important. Knowledge is power: understanding what you?re looking for means you can any changes checked out quickly.

  • Know your own body

    AXA?s research found only 6% of men and 3% of women check their bodies daily for anything unusual. But understanding what?s normal for your own body is essential if you?re to spot when anything has changed. If you do notice changes that are persisting for a long time, or causing you pain and discomfort, then see your GP.

  • Don?t put off seeing the doctor!

    A sizeable 61% of people AXA spoke to admitted they?d delayed seeing their doctor when they spotted changes that could be potential flags for cancer. But early detection of any problems can make a huge difference if any treatment is then needed. Similarly, if changes are harmless your doctor will be able to reassure you. Overall, the sooner you go to see your GP, the better.

Liver cancer death rates were twice as high in men, who also faced triple the risk of being killed by oesophageal cancer.

The difference may partly be explained by men developing hard-to-treat cancers such as those affecting the bladder, oesophagus and liver, according to the charity Cancer Research UK which produced the figures.

Each year around 82,500 men in the UK lose their lives to cancer, making it the leading cause of death in the male population.

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The findings were presented on Tuesday at the Men's Health Forum conference in London.

Professor Alan White, from Leeds Metropolitan University, chairman of the Forum and co-author of the report, said: "The impact cancer has on younger men is often overlooked, but these are men whose life is cut too short by the disease.

"Our report highlights just how big a problem cancer is and highlights the need to understand the reasons why men are more likely to die of cancer. It's crucial that the NHS leads the way in taking a more proactive approach to prevent men both getting and dying from cancer prematurely.

"The Men's Health Forum is campaigning for a better explanation for these differences and more male-focused cancer prevention work so that fewer men are struck down by cancer."

See also:

Half Of Men To Get Cancer By 2027

But Men Don't Get Breast Cancer, Right?

Scientists Help 53-Year-Old Cancer Victim To Grow New Nose

A second report, presented at the same meeting by Cancer Research UK, showed that smoking remains the largest preventable cause of cancer in men, leading to 36,500 cases of new disease each year.

After smoking, being overweight, drinking alcohol and poor diet are the most important cancer risk factors for men.

Catherine Thomson, Cancer Research UK's head of statistics and an author of both reports, said: "Our work highlights the cancer toll for men across the UK. This needs action and Cancer Research UK is supporting a range of research into men's cancers.

"We're one of the UK's largest funders of research into prostate and testicular cancers and this work is leading to new and better treatments.

"Men can help stack the odds of avoiding cancer in their favour by quitting smoking, cutting down on alcohol and eating plenty of fruit and vegetables."

Also on HuffPost UK Lifestyle:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/29/cancer-death-rates-men-women_n_2572660.html

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Futurity.org ? China's indoor air raises cancer risk for women

Increased lung cancer risk among women was strongly attributed to the fine particles produced by coal combustion for heating and cooking, and from passive smoking. Kitchen ventilation systems, such as fans, are not common in China and people are reluctant to open windows because they want to keep heat in and pollution out. (Credit: Edwin Lee/Flickr)

U. BUFFALO (US) ? Breathing indoor air in some Chinese cities carries significant cancer risks, especially for women, new research shows.

While around 60 percent of Chinese men smoke, only about 4 percent of women in China smoke, however women?s rates of lung cancer are among the highest in the world?about 21 cases per 100,000.

Indoor air pollution generates levels of fine particulate matter that are at least double the maximum considered acceptable by World Health Organization guidelines, according to the study published in the journal Cancer Causes and Control. The study is the first to measure particulate matter (PM) levels inside the home and to link it with the incidence of lung cancer in Chinese women.

?Our results show that besides smoking, indoor air pollution contributes significantly to women?s lung cancer risk in China,? says lead author Lina Mu, assistant professor of social and preventive medicine in the School of Public Health and Health Professions at the University at Buffalo. ?That?s why we wanted to find out how much indoor air pollution contributes to lung cancer risk among Chinese women. It has been suspected but not measured.?

Since women tend to be home for longer periods of time and to cook more frequently, housing-related exposure is more of a factor among women than men.

The case-control study includes 429 Chinese women:?197 who had lung cancer and 232 who were controls. Of the 197 with lung cancer, 164 were nonsmokers while there were 218 nonsmokers in the control group. The study was conducted in Taiyuan city, one of the top 10 air polluted cities in the world according to Asian Development Bank?s 2012 annual report. Taiyuan is a large industrial city in northern China, which is home to heavy industry, including steel, coal mining, and processing and electronics plants.

Among the nonsmokers, lung cancer was strongly associated with multiple sources of indoor air pollution, including exposure to tobacco smoke at work, frequent cooking, and the use of solid fuel, primarily coal, for cooking and heating.

A particle mass monitor was used to measure PM levels inside the homes?mostly apartments?of study participants.

?We found that the smallest type of particulate matter is the type associated with the higher risk of lung cancer among nonsmoking Chinese women,? Mu says.? ?For every additional ten micrograms per square meter of fine particular matter, there is an associated 45 percent increased risk of lung cancer.?

Increased lung cancer risk among women was strongly attributed to the fine particles produced by coal combustion for heating and cooking, and from passive smoking. Kitchen ventilation systems, such as fans, are not common in China and people are reluctant to open windows because they want to keep heat in and pollution out.

Also, hot oil, a staple in traditional Chinese stir-frying and deep-frying, produces carcinogens, and is a key contributor.

?Women are at high risk because they are exposed to solid fuel emissions from heating and cooking as well as from passive smoking,? she says, adding that smoking is a key social ingredient in China. ?Men tend to gather and smoke together, often in small, enclosed spaces, especially in offices.?

While in large cities, some restaurants have begun to segregate smokers, people smoke freely in most public places in China. Improvements will depend on significant changes, including a switch to clean energy sources, the installation of better ventilation systems, and public education about the benefits of keeping windows open and curbing passive smoking.

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, Fudan University, the Taiyuan City Center for Disease Control and Prevention,? and Shanxi Tumor Hospital contributed to the study that was funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China, the National Institutes of Health, and the Alper Research Center for Environmental Genomics at UCLA.

Source: University at Buffalo

Source: http://www.futurity.org/health-medicine/chinas-indoor-air-raises-cancer-risk-for-women/

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Cell Phone Towers Pluck Birds

60-Second Earth

Almost 7 million birds are killed each year when they fly into communication towers. David Biello reports.

More 60-Second Earth

  • How does a Venus flytrap know when to snap shut? Can it actually feel an insect?s tiny, spindly legs? And how do cherry blossoms know when to bloom? Can they...

    Read More??

As you chatter on your smartphone, the death toll rises?almost 7 million birds are killed each year when they fly into communication towers that make cellphone conversations possible. Worse, the towers often kill birds that are already rare. So says a study in the journal Biological Conservation. [Travis Longcore et al, Avian mortality at communication towers in the United States and Canada: which species, how many, and where?]

For example, tower impacts kill more than 2,000 yellow rails per year. That's roughly 9 percent of the total population. Ninety-seven percent of all birds killed are songbirds, especially warblers. The red-eyed vireo suffers some of the biggest losses, some 581,000 deaths annually, though that represents less than 1 percent of its population.

The Southeast and Midwest lead the country in tower-bird collisions. That's because these regions have the largest concentrations of the tallest towers, up to 900 feet high. While all of the more than 80,000 communication towers in North America cause problems, the roughly 1,000 tallest towers cause 70 percent of the bird deaths, luring birds to their doom with red warning lights that are always on.

A partial solution is relatively simple: replacing the always-on red lights with blinking ones could cut the deaths by as much as 70 percent. Otherwise, Twitter could have a monopoly on tweets.

?David Biello

[The above text is a transcript of this podcast]?

Yellow rail and red-eyed vireo sounds courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology


Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=b3a6858b1ebbd663ee0a9a175f561fea

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Lionel Messi, Ronaldo lead AP player rankings

LONDON (AP) ? Lionel Messi's four-goal burst ensured that he and Barcelona returned to the top of the Associated Press Global Soccer rankings this week.

The romance of England's FA Cup produced some unlikely names in the Top 10 teams and a previously unknown striker at No. 9.

Thirteeen out of 18 panelists placed Messi at No. 1 on their list of Top 10 players, with Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo in second place after his hat trick. With 10 points for the top position, Messi earned 176 points, followed by Ronaldo with 159.

Sampdoria striker Mauro Icardi, a 19-year-old Argentine who is becoming a fixture in the AP Top 10 as one of the most promising players in European club soccer, was third with 90 points.

Icardi, a product of Barcelona's youth academy, scored four times in Sampdoria's 6-0 rout of Pescara in Serie A.

"The youngster from Rosario scored four times against Pescara and showed why Cesare Prandelli hopes to see him turn his back on his native country and represent the Italian national team," Leonardo Bertozzi of ESPN Brazil said.

Eurosport's Cedric Rouquette said the year has started just like the previous four with Messi slightly ahead of Ronaldo "at the summit of world football."

"Thrill of the week, however, was Icardi's four goals," Rouquette said. "Even if his goals were not technically difficult or inventive, a player needs superior talent to always be in the right place at the right time."

James Porteous of the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong also had Messi at the top and Ronaldo just behind.

"Just hours after Ronaldo scored his 19th hat trick for Real Madrid, Messi scored four against Osasuna as the world's two best players continued their remarkable scoring form," Porteous said.

Barcelona moved back into first place in the team rankings this week with 157 points, well clear of Real Madrid's 115. Bayern Munich was again in third place despite a successful Bundesliga season, with 11 points clear at the top.

Bayern earned 104 points, almost twice as many as fourth-place Borussia Dortmund. Manchester United was fifth with 57 points.

Napoli was in sixth place, and the next three slots are filled by teams with the unlikely names of Bradford, Luton and Oldham. All three lowly English clubs - Luton is not even in the Football League - overcame Premier League opposition in domestic cup competitions, beating Aston Villa, Norwich and Liverpool, respectively.

"My top 10 teams are dominated by lower league sides after a week of cup upsets in Britain," Porteous said. "Bradford kicked it off by reaching the League Cup final, while Luton, Oldham and Leeds were among those teams taking down Premier League opposition in the FA Cup."

Matt Smith, a 6-foot-7-inch forward, scored twice in Oldham's 3-2 victory over Liverpool and earned ninth place in the player poll, ahead of AC Milan striker Stephan El Shaarawy, whose consistent performances this season will likely give earn him a permanent place in the Italian national team.

"A couple of shout outs this week to lower, lower English players for goals in big FA Cup upsets," Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said. "Matt Smith's two goals against Liverpool deserve attention. This may well be the high point of Smith's career, and I salute it."

Edinson Cavani, one of many bright young South Americans playing in Serie A, has been a regular in the AP Top 10 and is in fourth place in the latest survey with 68 points, clear of Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez and Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud, who finally seems to be settling into the goal-scoring rhythm manager Arsene Wenger hoped he would produce at the start of the season.

Two Bundesliga players, Poland midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski and Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic, filled seventh and eighth places.

AP Global Soccer Rankings for week ending Jan. 27th (previous rankings in parentheses):

Players:

1. Lionel Messi, (5), 176 points.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo, (1), 159.

3. Mauro Icardi, 90.

4. Edinson Cavani, (10), 68.

5. Javier Hernandez, 43.

6. Olivier Giroud, 42.

7. Jakub Blaszczykowski, 37.

8. Mario Mandzukic, 36.

9. Matt Smith, 35.

10. Stephan el Shaarawy, 28.

Teams:

1. Barcelona, 157 points.

2. Real Madrid, (1), 115.

3. Bayern Munich, (5), 104.

4. Borussia Dortmund, (4), 57.

(tie) Manchester United, 57.

6. Napoli, 56.

7. Bradford, 48.

8. Luton, 41.

9. Oldham, 36.

10. Athletic Bilbao, 28.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lionel-messi-ronaldo-lead-ap-player-rankings-135811500--sow.html

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Sorry Apple, the BlackBerry Z10 Is Hotter Than the iPhone

I've always hated BlackBerry phones. Disgracefully ugly bricks they were—until the BlackBerry Z10. The BlackBerry Z10 is hot. Truly beautiful, elegant hardware. If the OS is as nice as it seemed at CES, I will totally snatch one up. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/cTvCujMyWvE/sorry-apple-the-blackberry-z10-is-hotter-than-the-iphone

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Research offers new control strategies for bipolar bark beetles

Monday, January 28, 2013

Population explosions of pine beetles, which have been decimating North American forests in recent decades, may be prevented by boosting competitor and predator beetle populations, a Dartmouth study suggests.

Bark beetles are the most destructive forest pests worldwide. Management and climate change have resulted in younger, denser forests that are even more susceptible to attack. Though intensively studied for decades, until now an understanding of bark beetle population dynamics?extreme ups and downs?has remained elusive.

The Dartmouth-led study, published in the January issue of the journal Population Ecology, confirmed, for the first time, that the abundance of a certain animal species?in this case the southern pine beetle?fluctuates innately between extremes, with no middle ground.

"That is different from most species, such as deer, warblers and swallowtail butterflies, whose populations tend to be regular around some average abundance based on food, weather, and other external factors," says Matt Ayres, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Dartmouth and senior author on the paper. "They don't appear and disappear in cycles. Rather, they exist in two stable equilibrium states?one of high abundance and the other of scarcity." Once the population pendulum swings toward the high end, it won't quickly or easily swing back.

The new research by Dartmouth scientists and their forester colleagues could provide the means to limit this seemingly bipolar dynamic, keeping the bark beetles at the lower stable population level.

The studies identify the presence of bark beetle competitors and predators (specifically two other beetles) as the predominant limiting factor that can keep the bark beetles at a low, stable equilibrium. The authors suggest that the presence of these competitors and predators could be encouraged as a control strategy.

"The pine beetles produce pheromones, chemical signals, that attract enough competitors and predators to prevent outbreaks," says Sharon Martinson, a member of the research team and first author on the new paper. "Leaving more dead trees in forests can provide habitat for competitor beetles that rarely kill tree, and for predators that eat both beetle species."

The authors suggest that other pest species with catastrophic impacts may also have natural dynamics that include a tipping point between the bipolar population states. By learning what factors control those tipping points, impacts on ecosystems can be averted through monitoring and occasional intervention strategies.

###

Dartmouth College: http://www.dartmouth.edu

Thanks to Dartmouth College for this article.

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Monday, January 28, 2013

Internet Privacy Day - Business Insider

Today is Data Privacy Day, it seems.

It's a totally invented "holiday," but its spirit is one we can get behind ? don't be an idiot with your information online.

There are a number of tips and tools you can use to ensure that your private data stays where it belongs. We've rounded up some of our favorites here.

Please follow SAI: Tools on Twitter and Facebook.
Follow Dylan Love on Twitter.

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Comments on the PRC Trademark Law Amendments ? China IPR ...

by Joe Simone

?

The National People?s Congress (NPC) issued a draft revision of the PRC?s Trademark Law for public comment in December, setting a deadline of January 31, 2013, for the receipt of comments.? The NPC?s Standing Committee is expected to pursue two or three readings of the draft before enacting it, perhaps as early as mid-2013. ?The NPC is unlikely to provide further drafts for public comment.

The NPC draft builds upon several other drafts prepared mainly by the Trademark Office (TMO) of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) and the? State Council?s Legislative Affairs Office (SCLAO).? However, NPC officials ? particularly from the Legal Affairs Commission (LAC) ? have worked closely with the SCLAO in its research and drafting.

Below is a summary of the key changes proposed in the draft together with views thereon, many of which were previously relayed to the TMO and SCLAO by overseas industry associations and trademark owners.

Bad Faith Registration

Pre-emptive filing of both foreign and local brands remains a serious problem for both foreign and local brand owners, caused largely by the lack of adequate provisions in the current law.?? The NPC draft attempts to address the existing gaps by inserting a general prohibition against bad faith filings:

?The application for registration, and use, of a trademark shall comply with the principle of good faith.?

This general principle is not specifically defined in the draft, and there is concern (expressed over earlier similar drafts) that the definitions of good faith and bad faith will not be sufficient in the law or future implementing regulations thereto, thereby limiting the scope of protection ultimately given against obvious bad faith pirates.? Concerns in this regard mainly center on overseas brands that have not been the subject of advertising and sales inside mainland China, as well as bad faith pirates that have filed for goods and services that are not directly related to those for which the legitimate owner has used the mark.

The draft law includes new clauses in Article 15 that would appear to address some of the foregoing concerns by permitting action against pirated marks covering similar (but not dissimilar) goods and services where:

-??????????????? They have been used previously in China (presumably via advertising and sales, and not mere production); and?

- ?????????????? There is evidence that the pirate ?clearly knew? of the mark through some sort of prior relationship with the brand owner, be it through contracts, business dealings or otherwise.

The existing law already prohibits the unauthorized registration of marks by the trademark owner?s ?agent or representative?, without limiting the goods and services to those that are similar.? Thus, the new language seems intended to cast a wider net.? However, it leaves obvious gaps, including the situation where the pirate can easily be presumed to have copied the mark based on factors such as the inherent distinctiveness of the mark, the copying of fonts, the fame of the victim brand, geographical proximity between the pirate and the trademark owner (or its business partners), etc.?? Some of these factors were in fact referenced in earlier drafts of the law, including the 2011 SCLAO draft.?

It is possible that some or all of these gaps will be resolved by allowing authorities to stop pirates under the general prohibition against bad faith in Article 9.? Some cases may also be addressed through reliance on other provisions, such as:

?-??????????????????? Article 4, which authorities have recently interpreted as imposing a sort of intent to use requirement against trademark warehousers, and

-??????????????????? Article 34 (Article 31 in the current law), which accords protection to ?priority rights? of brands that have been used previously and achieved ?a certain degree of influence? in China.??

However, these provisions have proved too narrow and unreliable in recent years, particularly in cases involving dissimilar goods and those where the brand owner has not been able to demonstrate prior use of its mark in China via local advertising and sales.

?Industry was heartened by new provisions in the 2011 SCLAO draft that would have permitted oppositions and cancellations against pirated marks covering both similar as well as dissimilar and goods or services based on evidence of prior business connections between the parties (see Article 15 above) or mere ?geographic relations?.? Under this draft, protection vis-?-vis dissimilar goods would have been further conditioned upon evidence the petitioner?s mark is registered in China, that it highly distinctive and has achieved a high degree of fame.? Regrettably, the NPC draft deleted these proposed clauses, and it is hoped they will be reconsidered in due course.?

Meanwhile, the NPC draft leaves uncertainty as to whether trademark owners will be allowed to prevent the registration of a pirated mark, as none of the above provisions (Articles 4, 9 or 34) are among the provisions on which oppositions may be based.? Article 33 of the draft permits oppositions by owners of priority rights and ?interested parties?, but only for violations of specifically enumerated provisions, Articles 13, 15, 16, 30, 31 and 32.?

In practice, the TMO, Trademark Review and Adjudication Board (TRAB) and the courts have relied on a range of articles to address a range of violations, and it is hoped that the NPC?s intention is not to restrict brand owners from arguing on the basis of Articles 4, 9 or 34.? ?As suggested above and in prior industry comments, it would also be preferable to define bad faith with specificity, and so as to facilitate action against any egregious cases of trademark piracy?regardless of whether the legitimate owner of the mark has used the mark in China and/or whether the goods and services are dissimilar.

Finally, as noted above, authorities in China have recently begun addressing bad faith registrations in a handful of cases based upon Article 4 of the current law, and on the basis that it implies a condition of bona fide intent to use for all trademark applicants.?

Article 4 states:

?(Where) a party needs to obtain exclusive rights to trademarks to produce, manufacture, process or sell products, it may file applications for registration with the TMO.?

In the few cases where Article 4 has been applied, it was concluded that there was sufficient evidence that the pirate did not have the practical wherewithal to actually use the mark applied for. ?At least one case in which Article 4 was cited as the basis for a decision is under appeal before the Beijing Higher People?s Court, and such appeals may eventually lead to a determination that Article 4 is not a proper basis for addressing bad faith piracy.? Regardless of how the courts decide, however, the NPC has the opportunity guarantee its utility by amending Article 4 to clarify that applicants must have the intention, purpose and/or capability to use the marks they apply for.

Enforcement

The draft contains a number of encouraging enforcement provisions intended to boost the deterrent impact of administrative penalties and compensation awards. These include the following.

Intermediary Liability ? Article 56(5)

This new provision imposes secondary liability for any party that ?intentionally? provides facilitating conditions, thereby assisting another to infringe?.? Similar language already appears in the current Implementing Regulations, and its elevation to the Trademark Law suggests the NPC drafters wish to prioritize such violations.?

Industry has previously expressed concern that the term ?intentionally? may not capture constructive knowledge, and it has therefore been suggested that the language be amended to the more standard phrasing of ?knew or should have known?.? NPC drafters have informally indicated that the term ?intentionally? covers constructive knowledge; but there is still concern that the NPC?s intentions may not be easily understood in practice by would-be infringers, local courts and administrative authorities.

Article 56 does not list out the types of behavior that would be deemed ?assisting? in the commission of an infringement, and industry has previously expressed the strong desire that online service providers and landlords (among others) be specifically listed out in the law or implementing regulations so as to eliminate any doubt about their potential liability and encourage more proactive cooperation in take-down and other joint enforcement efforts.? The SCLAO draft, for example, failed to mention online infringement in any way?as does the NPC draft?and thus these concerns within industry persist.

When revising the draft law further, the NPC will hopefully take close consideration of rules issued in December 2012 by the Supreme People?s Court (SPC) which set out a range of factors for determining liability for online service providers.? While these new rules were intended mainly to address infringements of copyright over the Internet, SPC judges have indicated that the principles therein may also be applied to infringements online of other IP rights, including counterfeiting.?

?The NPC will also hopefully take note of the recent string of decisions against the landlord of the Silk Street Market, which, despite intensive government action and civil actions by brand owners extending back a decade remains rife with counterfeits.? The latest decisions of the Beijing Intermediate People?s Court, now on appeal, suggest that a landlord acting in obvious bad faith may be held liable for infringement notwithstanding the lack of specific knowledge of a particular vendor?s dealings in fakes.

Damages ? Article 62

Article 62 introduces punitive damages of up to three times the claimed harm in situations where the situation is deemed ?serious?, but without specifying the conditions that would qualify as ?serious?.? Hopefully, the future law or its implementing regulations will define ?serious? to include virtually any case involving intentional counterfeiting.

Article 62 also boosts the maximum allowable statutory damages to RMB1 million (US$160,000), double the maximum in the current law.

Interestingly, in cases where the trademark owner presses for compensation based on actual damage, Article 62 encourages the courts to adopt its assertion of losses where the defendant fails to file evidence of its prior transactions or files false data.? The language in this regard reads as follows:?

?When determining the amount of compensation, if the owner of the trademark has presented all evidence it can, but the account books and documents related to the infringement are still under the control of the infringing party, the People?s Court shall order the infringing party to provide such account books and documents; if the infringer does not provide them or those it provides are false,? the People?s Court may determine the amount of compensation by reference to the rights holder?s position and the evidence it has filed.?.?

NB: Awards of compensation are limited by the plaintiff?s obligation (if asked by the court) to provide evidence it has used its mark within the last three years.? It is expected that this provision will mainly be of utility to trademark owners who have had their marks pirated in China and are facing threats of infringement proceedings for production or sales of their own products.? However, this provision in Article 62 does not deny plaintiffs ? even those acting in bad faith ? the right to obtain a permanent injunction against defendants.? Thus, trademark owners are best advised to file cancellations or purchase pirated marks as early as possible.

Article 62 also introduces a new method of calculating damages by way of a deemed royalty.? This may help to simplify the work of plaintiffs that would otherwise have difficulty proving lost profits due to likely disputes over pricing and costs.? Of course, courts will need to determine the appropriate royalty rate to use, as well as the base price of the goods (the infringer?s price or the price of genuine items?).? Hopefully, the NPC?s Standing Committee will clarify these and other issues in future implementing regulations.

Administrative Penalties ? Article 59

Changes made in Article 59 of the NPC draft appear intended to encourage the imposition of higher fines against infringers, particularly in egregious circumstances, such as those involving repeat offenders.? ?Unfortunately, the new provision lacks definitions or other criteria that would increase predictability in the calculation of fines, e.g., by mandating minimum fines in particular cases.? Hopefully this will be achieved in future implementing regulations.

Under the current law, local Administrations for Industry and Commerce (AICs) have the discretion to impose fines up to five times the ?illegal business amount? or total revenues of the infringer; and in cases where this amount is hard to determine, statutory fines up to RMB 100,000 (US$16,000) may be imposed.? In practice, fines rarely reach the higher ranges, and the statutory fines are rarely applied at all.

Article 59 modifies the current law as follows:

-??????????????? It effectively increases statutory fines up to RMB 250,000 (US$40,000) by allowing fines of up to this amount even in cases where there is no evidence of prior sales by the infringer or the total illegal revenues reaches as high as RMB50,000.

-??????????????? To facilitate cooperation by infringers in the investigation process, it allows local AICs to withhold fines where the vendor acted in apparent ignorance of the infringing nature of the goods and provides evidence of the source of the goods.? A similar provision appears in the current law, but the lack of a credible threat of fines has generally rendered it useless.

-??????????????? In cases where the infringer committed its second or subsequent offence within a five-year period or the circumstances are otherwise ?serious?, the AIC ?must impose heavy penalties?.? Very likely, the maximum fines would be five times the illegal business amount, and for small-scale cases, a ceiling of RMB 250,000 would apply.

As suggested above, without more detailed guidelines and definitions, for example as to what constitute ?serious circumstances?, local AICs are likely to continue their current, generally lax, policies with respect to the calculation of fines. ???Industry has consequently recommended that any case of trademark counterfeiting or a case involving an infringer that lacks the required business license or other required permits be deemed ?serious?.

The draft also encourages trademark owners to seek AIC mediation support to settle compensation claims against infringers.? The involvement of AICs in mediation over civil disputes was rejected in earlier drafts of the law for a number of reasons, and industry is divided as to whether it is appropriate.? The main fears are that the AICs will let the prospect of settlements with trademark owners influence their decisions on administrative penalties, thereby reducing their deterrent impact.

Preliminary Injunctions

Article 63 of the NPC draft provides more detailed criteria for the issuance of preliminary injunctions, borrowing largely from existing SPC rules.? The new provisions include the following:

-???????? The requirement that plaintiffs provide guarantees;

-??????????????? Courts must make decisions to issue preliminary injunctions within 48 hours, extendible in special cases by another 48 hours;

?-??????????????? Rights holders must file a normal civil action within 15 days after a preliminary injunction is issued, failing which the injunction will be released

Destruction of Production Equipment

Article 59 provides for the destruction of equipment ?exclusively used? to produce infringing goods.? This language appears in the current implementing regulations to the Trademark Law and it has also appeared in prior drafts of the law prepared by the TMO and SCLAO.??? Industry has objected to this provision on the basis that it severely and unnecessarily limits the scope of cases where the forfeiture and destruction of production equipment may be appropriate.

Trade Name Protection

The NPC draft provides in Article 57 for the protection of both well-known marks and registered trademarks where used in company names, provided that (a) consumers could be confused; and (b) such use would constitute a violation under China?s Anti-Unfair Competition Law (AUCL). ?Chinese courts have been according this sort of protection already for many years, and Article 57 does not substantially change the current state of the law.? Its insertion could in any case help in educating authorities and litigants, thereby helping to promote quicker resolution of trade name disputes.

John Doe Actions?

Under current law in China, and in order to pursue civil remedies of any kind, it is necessary to provide the identity of the defendant.? Given the growing use by infringers of the Internet and the guarantee of anonymity it provides, the adoption of a John Doe rule is strongly recommended.?? Such a rule would, among other things, permit trademark owners to seek orders of ?evidence preservation?, asset seizures as well as preliminary injunctions.

Other Proposals

Prosecution ? Opinion Letters

Article 29 of the NPC draft would reintroduce an earlier prosecution practice under which the TMO issued ?opinion letters? to applicants if it believes that a mark might be registrable following amendment or the provision of an explanation by the trademark owner.? This practice is widely supported by industry, as it would help to reduce the number of rejections and appeals, and thereby ensures earlier registration for successful applications.

Sound and Single Color Marks / Proving Secondary Meaning

Consistent with international trends, Article 8 of the NPC draft would permit the registration of single color marks (such as Tiffany?s light blue), subject to presentation of evidence of secondary meaning.? It would also permit the registration of sound marks.

It remains unclear whether evidence of secondary meaning can be filed incidental to prosecution with the TMO or only following rejection of the application by the TMO and the filing of an appeal with the TRAB.?? Industry clearly prefers the chance to present evidence during prosecution, as TRAB appeals currently take two to four years to be decided.? To these ends, it is suggested that the opportunity to file such evidence be explicitly inserted in relevant provisions, including Articles 11 and 19.

E-Filing and Multi-Class Filings

The NPC draft restates provisions in earlier drafts that would permit e-filing of trademark applications as well as multi-class filings.?

While the introduction of multi-class filings is expected to reduce costs for trademark owners, the exact level of filing fees has not yet been announced, and thus the actual benefits of this proposed amendment remain to be seen.

Elimination of Opposition Appeals

Article 35 of the draft would permit marks that have survived an opposition in the first instance (i.e., with the TMO) to achieve registration, thereby requiring the opposing party to file an invalidation with the TRAB, rather than an appeal (as is currently the case).?? The draft elsewhere permits administrative authorities to suspend action on complaints by trademark owners where its mark is under attack, and thus in principle, the elimination of opposition appeals should not necessarily lead to pre-mature decisions by enforcement authorities. However, the risk of such decisions?including injunctions and compensation orders?is very real, given that enforcement authorities are not required to suspend action, merely given the discretion to do so. ?Industry has recommended retaining the current law to avoid inequities in this regard.?

To achieve some of the benefits of early registration, the NPC may instead want to consider adopting the international practice of awarding protection to applications retroactively to the filing date.? This is already the norm in China with respect to registrations obtained through the Madrid Agreement and Madrid Protocol, and to date, there have been no reports in China of inequities resulting from this practice.

Deadlines for Appeal

In general, most deadlines for appeal that are currently fixed at 15 days are extended to 30 days.? This extension of deadlines has been heartily welcomed by industry.

Consideration could be given by the NPC to permitting further extensions in oppositions and cancellations based upon the mutual agreement of the parties.? Doing so may help to facilitate negotiations and settlement of disputes, thereby reducing administrative burdens on the TMO, TRAB and courts.

Definition of Trademark Use and OEM Exemption to Liability

?Article 47 of the NPC draft would modify the definition of trademark use (including use of brands on products, packaging, trade documents, advertising, etc.), by requiring it be intended to ?distinguish the origin of goods?.? The exact reasons for this new provision are not clear.? However, it is suspected the language would help provide a more solid basis for court decisions ruling that the use of marks by OEM suppliers of goods intended solely for export from China is not infringing.? Industry views on these decisions have been divided, with one side fearing the creation of a new loophole that counterfeiters will exploit and the other asserting that an OEM exception is necessary to protect against trademark pirates and others that wish to unfairly exploit their trademark rights in China. ?

While the legal basis for recent court decisions involving OEM exports have lacked a convincing basis under current law, the holdings themselves have been sensible and avoided sending an encouraging signal to would-be counterfeiters.? Thus, it is expected that the NPC will want to support the current policy of the courts.

?

Comments on the amendment are due by January 31, 2013.?

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Source: http://chinaipr.com/2013/01/27/comments-on-the-prc-trademark-law-amendments/

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Sunday, January 27, 2013

Screen It Sunday : Mom Knows It All. ? PR Friendly New Jersey ...

Screen It Sunday

I?m frequently sent information on upcoming television, DVD/Blu-ray and movie news. I?ll be compiling and sharing the best and most interesting news with you here each week.

J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII

J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.

?It?s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,? said Kennedy. ?J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture.?

George Lucas went on to say ?I?ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller. He?s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn?t be in better hands.?

?To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor,? J.J. Abrams said. ?I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid.?

J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner.

Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg. Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Abrams and his production company Bad Robot have a proven track record of blockbuster movies that feature complex action, heartfelt drama, iconic heroes and fantastic production values with such credits as Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and this year?s Star Trek Into Darkness. Abrams has worked with Lucasfilm?s preeminent postproduction facilities, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, on all of the feature films he has directed, beginning with Mission: Impossible III. He also created or co-created such acclaimed television series as Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe.

Wikileaks

Production Begins on DreamWorks Pictures? WikiLeaks Project THE FIFTH ESTATE!!!

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 23, 2013) ? Principal photography has begun on the WikiLeaks drama ?The Fifth Estate,? it was announced today by DreamWorks Studios. The film about the controversial website stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange and Daniel Br?hl as Daniel Domscheit-Berg, as well as Laura Linney, Anthony Mackie, David Thewlis, Peter Capaldi, Dan Stevens, Alicia Vikander and Carice van Houten.

?The Fifth Estate? will open in U.S. theaters on November 15, 2013 and be distributed domestically by Disney?s Touchstone label. Distribution internationally will be split among Disney, DreamWorks partner Reliance, and deals made through the studio?s partnership with Mister Smith Entertainment.

Following Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Br?hl), an early supporter and eventual colleague of Julian Assange (Cumberbatch), ?The Fifth Estate? traces the heady, early days of WikiLeaks, culminating in the release of a series of controversial and history changing information leaks. The website?s overnight success brought instant fame to its principal architects and transformed the flow of information to news media and the world at large.

Joining DreamWorks as a co-financier on ?The Fifth Estate? is Participant Media. This will be the fifth collaboration between the two companies who previously partnered on Steven Spielberg?s ?Lincoln,? the 2011 Academy Award-winning smash ?The Help,? ?The Kite Runner? and ?The Soloist.? With a focus on real issues that shape our lives, Participant creates social action and advocacy programs to transform the impact of the media experience into individual and community action. Some of their other films include ?An Inconvenient Truth,? ?Good Night, and Good Luck,? ?Food, Inc.,? ?Charlie Wilson?s War,? ?Waiting for ??Superman,?? ?The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel? and the current Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, ?No.?

Bill Condon (?Kinsey,? ?Dreamgirls,? ?The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn?) will direct ?The Fifth Estate? from a screenplay by Josh Singer (TV?s ?Fringe,? ?The West Wing?), based on ?Inside WikiLeaks: My Time with Julian Assange at the World?s Most Dangerous Website? by Daniel Domscheit-Berg and ?WikiLeaks: Inside Julian Assange?s War on Secrecy? by David Leigh and Luke Harding. The producers are Steve Golin and Michael Sugar, with Participant?s Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King joining Richard Sharkey as executive producers. ?The Fifth Estate? is a coproduction between Afterworks and FBO, with Hilde De Laere co-producing for FBO. The film is supported by the Belgian Tax Shelter for Audiovisual Production.

Said director Bill Condon, ?It may be decades before we understand the full impact of WikiLeaks and how it?s revolutionized the spread of information. So this film won?t claim any long view authority on its subject, or attempt any final judgment. We want to explore the complexities and challenges of transparency in the information age and, we hope, enliven and enrich the conversations WikiLeaks has already provoked.?

About DreamWorks Studios

DreamWorks Studios is a motion picture company formed in 2009 and led by Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider in partnership with The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The company?s recent releases include Spielberg?s ?Lincoln,? starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones. The film has grossed over $150 million at the U.S. box office and has been nominated for twelve Academy awards including Best Picture and Best Director. Other releases include ?Real Steel,? starring Hugh Jackman and directed by Shawn Levy, Steven Spielberg?s ?War Horse,? based on Michael Morpurgo?s award-winning book and was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, and ?The Help,? which resonated with audiences around the country and earned over $200 million at the box office and received four Academy Award nominations with Octavia Spencer winning one for Best Supporting Actress. Upcoming films include the comedy ?Delivery Man,? starring Vince Vaughn, the WikiLeaks drama ?The Fifth Estate,? and car racing actioner ?Need For Speed.?

DreamWorks Studios can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DreamWorksStudios and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dw_studios.

DISNEY JUNIOR INVITES ?JAKE AND THE NEVER LAND PIRATES? FANS TO CELEBRATE JAKE?S BIRTHDAY BY SUBMITTING VIDEOTAPED BIRTHDAY GREETINGS FOR THE CHANCE TO APPEAR ON-AIR

? ?Jake?s Birthday Bash? Episode to Premiere Friday, March 1
on Disney Channel and Disney Junior ?

Disney Junior is inviting ?Jake and the Never Land Pirates? fans to help celebrate Jake?s birthday by submitting videotaped birthday greetings for the chance to appear on Disney Channel and Disney Junior. Beginning Thursday, January 31, parents and caregivers can log on to DisneyJunior.com/JakesBirthday to download a printable birthday card for their child to decorate and showcase in a video submission wishing Jake a happy birthday. The videos will be posted on DisneyJunior.com and some will be chosen for air Monday, February 25 ? Friday, March 1, leading up to the debut of a new birthday-themed episode of ?Jake and the Never Land Pirates? Friday, March 1 on Disney Channel (8:30 a.m., ET/PT) and Disney Junior (5:30 p.m., ET/PT).

The ?Jake?s Birthday Bash? experience on DisneyJunior.com/JakesBirthday will also feature downloadable pirate-themed recipes, crafts, party favors and a ?Pin the Tail on the Croc? activity. On Jake?s birthday, Friday, March 1, the site will launch an interactive treasure hunt game where kids help Jake search Pirate Island for his hidden birthday presents.

In the new episode ?Jake?s Birthday Bash,? Jake?s crewmates Cubby, Izzy and Skully surprise him with a special birthday treasure hunt. The episode will launch on iTunes in conjunction with the television premiere on March 1 as part of the ?Disney Junior Birthday Bash!? bundle which features birthday-themed episodes of additional favorite Disney Junior series including ?Doc McStuffins? and ?Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.?

Produced by Disney Television Animation, ?Jake and the Never Land Pirates? consistently ranks among the Top 3 cable TV series in Kids 2-5, and for the 2012-2013 season to date, is the #1 cable TV series in Boys 2-5. The series currently airs in 163 countries and 33 different languages. ?Jake and the Never Land Pirates? is executive-produced by Rob LaDuca. Mark Seidenberg is producer/story editor and Howy Parkins is the director.

Disney Junior reflects the emotional connection generations of consumers have to Disney storytelling and Disney characters, both classic and contemporary. It invites mom and dad to join their child in the Disney experience of magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters, while incorporating specific learning and development themes designed for kids age 2-7. Disney Junior?s series blend Disney?s unparalleled storytelling and characters kids love deeply with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles, and social skills. Disney Junior launched in February 2011 with a daily programming block on Disney Channel. In its first year, Disney Junior posted the network?s biggest yearly audience in the daypart in Total Viewers, Kids 2-5, Boys 2-5 and Women 18-49, increasing by double-digit margins among preschooler demographics over year-ago levels. On March 23, 2012 Disney Junior added a cable and satellite channel in the U.S. Disney Junior channels in Japan, India and Disney Junior Portugal launched in fall 2012, bringing the total number of channels to 33 worldwide.

Source: http://www.valmg.com/index.php/2013/screen-it-sunday-72/

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Video: Dangerous crocodile on the loose in Florida

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Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50597705/

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AP Source: Titans interested in hiring Williams

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) ? Gregg Williams may be a step closer to returning to the NFL after being suspended indefinitely for his role in the Saints' bounty program.

Titans coach Mike Munchak has talked with Williams and is interested in adding him to his Tennessee staff, said a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke Sunday to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the Titans do not discuss personnel moves until they are finalized.

Before the Titans could hire Williams, he must be reinstated by the league. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him indefinitely for his role in the New Orleans Saints bounty program, and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Sunday the league has not yet addressed Williams' potential reinstatement.

Munchak did not immediately answer a message left by the AP on Sunday. The Titans coach has not talked with the media about his team since the day after the season ended.

How quickly the league considers reinstating Williams may take at least a week with the San Francisco 49ers arriving in New Orleans on Sunday to kick off festivities leading up to the Feb. 3 Super Bowl.

Williams is the only coach or player who has yet to return to the NFL in the wake of the bounty scandal.

Goodell just lifted the suspension for New Orleans coach Sean Payton on Tuesday, nearly two weeks earlier than expected. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for eight games and assistant head coach Joe Vitt for six. Four current or former Saints players were also suspended after an investigation found the club had a performance pool offering cash rewards for key plays, including big hits. The player suspensions eventually were overturned.

Williams was the Saints defensive coordinator from 2009-11 and was hired by St. Louis in January 2012 by former Titans coach Jeff Fisher before being suspended indefinitely in March 20112. Williams' son, Blake, also was on Fisher's staff as the Rams' linebacker coach ? but his contract was not renewed earlier this month.

Munchak has known Williams since 1990. Munchak was playing for the then-Houston Oilers when Williams became an assistant coach with the team. They also coached together with the Oilers; Munchak oversaw the offensive line starting in 1994 and Williams rose from defensive assistant to coaching special teams, then linebackers and finally defensive coordinator.

Williams left the Titans to become head coach of the Buffalo Bills in 2001 before becoming defensive coordinator with the Washington Redskins from 2004-07. He also was defensive coordinator in Jacksonville in 2008 before being hired by the Saints in 2009.

Williams also has a relationship with Munchak's current defensive coordinator, Jerry Gray. When Williams left for Buffalo, Gray went with him and served as Williams' defensive coordinator with the Bills.

Even though Gray currently has the job, the Titans' defense needs help and Munchak will be coaching for his job in 2013 after going 6-10 in his second season as head coach. One reason for the losing record was Tennessee's inability to stop anyone; the Titans set a franchise record allowing 471 points in 2012. The only change Munchak has made to his defensive staff was letting linebackers coach Frank Bush go and moving Chet Paralavecchio into the job from assisting with special teams.

In Williams' last season with the Titans, Tennessee ranked first in the NFL in fewest yards allowed, first in passing yards allowed and third in rushing defense. The Titans also set a franchise-record for fewest points allowed with 191 with an aggressive defense.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ap-source-titans-interested-hiring-williams-164240212--nfl.html

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GoldandBlack.com - Relationships led to receiver's commitment



January 25, 2013

FAQs in Deciding upon a Content Management Program (CMS ...

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Piano lessons in NYC

Content management technique remains to be a massive question mark to some internet developers and internet marketers. They?re missing out an crucial factor in internet site development by getting na?ve to CMS. To assist webmasters and internet developers get the benefit of CMS, here are several of the often asked questions about CMS and their answers: What exactly is CMS? CMS stands for Content Management Method. This is often a program that assists in sustaining and expanding web site. It aims to create content and structure expansion less complicated.

What does CMS make? Content management technique shops information in a database. It makes pages only when a web site visitor asks or searches for it. This is helpful specially for web sites that continually updates their facts. So when a web site visitor asks for a particular page, the program will display the page becoming searched for. Some systems cache every single new page and produce a brand new 1 only when some

alterations are created.

Is CMS helpful in publishing web page on various platforms? Content management technique is really valuable in ensuring your web page appears at its ideal in various platforms. CMS makes it possible for you to develop diverse templates that may be appropriate to distinct platforms. This is often carried out with out altering anything using the content.

Is CMS getting employed now? You will discover various big organizations which are already employing content management program. Most internet websites prefer to make use of CMS since of its promising functions and positive aspects when it comes to internet content and structure maintenance and expansion.

What exactly is the price of CMS? The expense varies based on the supplier. Some could charge a big quantity but consists of training on its usage. Other people are inexpensive too. But be cautious in selecting low fixed rate given that most of the time the supplier does

not give added technical support.

Will there be web site restrictions if I use CMS? Content management program breaks up the presentation and content by making use of templates. You will discover systems that restrict templating. But other people do not provide restrictions. You can find also systems that impose restrictions on how the website is hosted. So when searching for a CMS, contemplate asking the supplier concerning the restrictions of the program.

Can I use my existing information base? In deciding on for CMS service, be positive that the program could be quickly linked to your existing database. This makes working less difficult. Most web sites have information stored in their own databases. Simple linking of the existing database using the technique is actually a massive relief for function.


In other Internet and Businesses Online:CMS news:
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