Lisa M. Dietlin: Making a Difference: The World of Giving -- US Charitable Giving in 2012 Increases Again But Slowly

Yes, it's that time of year again when the numbers for donations in the previous year are released and everyone is wondering what happened in 2012. Did Americans make more or less charitable donations to their favorite charitable causes? Will giving ever return to the levels seen in 2007 which was the height of philanthropic contributions before the recession hit?

Giving USA Foundation with its research partner the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, released their annual look at philanthropy in the United States (a survey done annually since 1956) today, and the news for 2012 is very interesting, giving a snapshot of not just the landscape of charitable donations but of our people and country overall.

The good news is that, for the second year in a row, donations to the nonprofit sector increased. In 2012 they increased by 3.5% percent (1.5% when adjusted for inflation). This means gifts made by individuals, including bequests, as well as donations from corporations and foundations totaled $316.23 billion!

Americans continue to be seen as the most generous people in the world. Did you know that giving by INDIVIDUALS -- people like you and me -- account for almost 80% of all donations made in 2012 especially when you include bequests? And this is not unique to last year, but has been the trend for the last few years, even throughout the recent economic recession.

Here is a closer look at some of the interesting facts of this report. While individuals still account for the largest portion of the donations, there was a large increase from the corporate sector -- 12.2% -- to an estimated $18.15 billion. While this is far from the amounts individuals contribute, it is a sign that the strong gains being made in the corporate sector, especially in pre-tax profits, are being translated into higher donations to the charitable sector as a whole. However, even with this large increase, corporate giving represents only 6% of the total contributions made in 2012 and this includes an estimated $131 million made to relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

2012, following trends from 2011, continues to show encouraging signs of a recovery in the nonprofit sector. As shared last year, this steady increase in giving is definitely good news but the recovery has been slow with some experts saying the slowest recovery in the last 40 years following a recession. Some may ask, with so many Americans still struggling with the recovery, how could there be an increase in the charitable donations? Some reading this will question how they can make a difference, often mistakenly thinking that the ultra-wealthy are the only ones able to make gifts to charity. I would counter by sharing that past surveys usually indicate that half of the donations from individuals come from people with household incomes under $100,000. I expect this trend to continue. Remember, Americans, even in tough times, continue to give - neighbors still help neighbors; friends and family members still look out for each other, all believing they can and should be Making a Difference?.

For Americans wanting to make a difference there are plenty of choices. Right now more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations exist in the US and most are trying to change things for the better nationally as well as internationally. And as the IRS receives an average of 100 applications a day from for new nonprofits to be formed; hence, the choices of where to make your donation are endless. To narrow down the options, I recommend looking at the sectors in which you would like to make a difference. See how they did last year; perhaps you will want to choose a sector that did well or one that needs increased support.

Remember, individuals -- just like you -- have an opportunity to affect what gets done and how.

And YOU are able to make the change happen with the issues and causes you care most about by making a donation of $25 or $50, $100, $500, $1,000 or much more.

So in 2012, here is how American giving sorted out...

• Individuals represented, as noted above, 73% of total giving or228.93 billion
• Bequests were at 7% or23.41 billion
• Corporate giving (corporations and corporate foundations) had the largest increase as shared earlier in this blog at 12.2% or18.15 billion
• Foundation donations were up by 4.4% to an estimated45.74 billion

... and where that money is going, with the subsectors that saw increases:

• Education again saw increases for the second year totaling 7% or41.33 billion; this sector still ranks far behind religion, which while flat (meaning no increase or decrease in comparison to 2011) received donations of101.54 billion (another sector that was flat was International Affairs after seeing a 6% increase last year)
• Human Services was up again by 3.8% or40.40 billion; again this includes223 million in support giving to organizations working on Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery efforts
• Health donations also saw an increase for the second year; the increase was 4.9% or28.12 billion
• Public-Society benefit support (such as the United Way, Combined Federal Campaign and other groups that redistribute donations) was up 5.4% or21.63 billion; this sector also received54 million donated to nonprofit organizations assisting people affected by Hurricane Sandy.
• Support of Arts, Culture and Humanities was up by 7.8% with online giving being a strong component of the increase
• Giving to Environmental and Animal organizations rose by 6.8% or8.3 billion

These two subsectors saw decreases in donations:

• Giving to Foundations decreased by 4.6%, but adjusted for inflation that number increases to 6.5%
• Giving to Individuals also decreased for a second year by 6.8%; as an FYI the majority of these donations are in-kind gifts of medications to patients made through the Patient Assistance Program of pharmaceutical companies' operating foundations

So how do you fit in? How can you participate? How do you work to make a difference?

Here are five (5) tips you might want to consider for making your charitable donations this year while ensuring you will be Making A Difference (M.A.D.):

• Ponder the things in your world you care about. What are your deepest interests? Then develop a plan to support organizations that works for change in those areas - locally or regionally or nationally or even internationally.
• Consider the needs of your community, and which nonprofit organizations are handling them; you can find this out by looking online, reading the newspaper, watching a newscast or asking your neighbors, family members or friends.
• Add charitable donations to your annual budget, so that your support can grow without straining your other needs; you can even set up a donation plan so your gift happens automatically on a monthly or quarterly basis via your bank debit card or credit card.
• Teach your children the habit of philanthropy by putting aside a part of their allowance or money they make for making donations; research with them where it can go at the end of the year (and if you match this gift it can go twice as far)!
• Learn about estate planning so you can make a difference far into the future; in fact, you'll find there are planned gifts that pay YOU on a regular basis (look into "charitable gift annuities" to learn more).

Even though 2012 is showing an increase in giving again, the need continues to be great. Some experts predict it could take up to seven (7) years for charitable donations to return to pre-recession giving numbers. It's important to remember that all of us working will ensure those in need will have access to the services and programs. So take a look at where you want to Make a Difference?; there are lots of ways to get there. Just consider, are you M.A.D. today?

To learn more about the study on 2012 giving, please visit: www.givingusareports.org

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Follow Lisa M. Dietlin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/lisadietlin

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-m-dietlin/making-a-difference-the-w_28_b_3455578.html

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What Should I Eat When I Have Hemorrhoids? - Naughtmuch Directory

There is no local treatment to cure piles. The treatment of the basic cause chronic constipation is the only sustainable safeguard against this trouble. To begin the dietetic treatment (foods for hemorrhoids), the whole digestive tract must be given complete rest for a few days and the intestines cleansed. For this the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for at least 7 days. He should have 3 meals of fresh juicy fruits such as apples, peaches, oranges, pineapples, grapes and melons; and drink generous quantity of water. In long-standing cases, it will be advisable to undertake a short fast for 4-5 days before going on an all-fruit diet. The individual during fast may have the juice of an orange in a glass of warm water and a daily enema with warm water to cleanse the bowels and provide the much needed rest to the rectum tissues.

After the all-fruit diet, the patient may adopt a diet of natural foods for hemorrhoids, rich in vitamins A and B but containing less fat such as skimmed milk, butter-milk, curd and cottage cheese prepared from skimmed milk; cooked and dried cereals, whole wheat chapattis, fruits and fruit juices; all non-starchy steamed vegetables except cabbage, dried beans, onions and peas. The ideal fruits for the person with haemorrhoids should consist of papaya, pear, apple, musk melon, green vegetables particularly spinach, radish. Lentils and dal should be avoided as they constipate the bowels. The patient should abstain from meat, fish, sweets, rice, all fried foods, all white flour products, cheese, tea and coffee. Dry fruits such as figs, raisins and coconuts should form part of the well-balanced diet or foods for hemorrhoids.

Never hurry through a meal and never eat to full stomach. Eat very slowly and chew your food as thoroughly as possible. Upon rising in the morning, have 25 black raisins soaked overnight in water kept in a copper vessel, along with the soaking water. The patient with piles should supplement his foods for hemorrhoids with Pilesgon Capsule which is a highly beneficial cure for hemorrhoids. Pilesgon Capsule is made from superior herbs to heal and prevent these sensitive lumps and has a loyal following in India as well as the rest of the world. It has Vernonia Anthelmintica (Kalijiri), an excellent lymph and liver de-congestant thereby promoting overall feeling of good health; Eupatorium Ayapana (Ayapana) which is an interesting aromatic herb inhibiting tumorous growth and is noted for skin protection and revitalization apart from fighting infections and aiding digestion. All the other herbs function synergistically to stop bleeding, pain and further deterioration of the hemorrhoids.

Pilesgon Capsule is really making its presence felt in the realm of natural healing of diseases and is an indispensable companion of a patient with piles making an all-out effort to tone up the entire system and relieve congestion in the rectal region.

Read about Piles Herbal Treatment. Also know Herbal Treatment for Hemorrhoids, Bleeding Piles. Read about Hemorrhoids Herbal Treatment.

Source: http://naughtmuch.com/what-should-i-eat-when-i-have-hemorrhoids/

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Oil posts small loss after hitting high for year

NEW YORK (AP) -- The price of oil fell slightly after it climbed to a high for the year Monday, as the market waits to see the results of this week's Federal Reserve policy meeting.

Benchmark oil for July delivery fell 8 cents to finish at $97.77 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier, crude rose to $98.74, the highest level since mid-September.

Concern that the conflict in Syria could spread and disrupt oil supplies from key producing countries has boosted oil. Jim Ritterbusch, president of oil consultancy Ritterbusch and Associates, speculated that the White House's decision to arm rebels in the country has added $2 to the price of a barrel.

But Ritterbusch and others questioned how much more of a "security premium" could be packed into the price of oil.

"We still have some difficulty associating a minor escalation in the Syrian conflict with any significant supply disruptions from nearby oil producers such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq," Ritterbusch said in a daily note to clients.

Julian Jessop, head of commodities research at Capital Economics, predicted in a note to clients that the U.S. and its allies would respond to any disruption in supplies by releasing oil from strategic reserves in order to suppress any price spike.

Hopes that the U.S. Federal Reserve will maintain its aggressive stimulus measures have also lifted oil and U.S. stock markets. The central bank's policy of ultra-low interest rates has made riskier assets like stocks and oil more attractive than low-yielding bonds.

Some investors worry that long-term interest rates could spike when the Fed tightens monetary policy, threatening the economic recovery. The Fed concludes a two-day policy meeting Wednesday.

The Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard and Poor's 500 index each rose Monday.

The election of Hasan Rowhani as president of Iran helped contain some of the upside in the price of oil. Considered a moderate, Rowhani's election is being viewed as lowering the potential of further conflict in the Middle East, which supplies around a third of the world's crude.

In the U.S., the average price for a gallon of gasoline dropped about 1.5 cents to $3.61. Prices in the Great Lakes region have retreated after soaring for the past month when refinery outages caused a shortage of supplies.

Brent crude, a benchmark for many international oil varieties, fell 46 cents to end at $105.47 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

In other energy futures trading on the Nymex:

? Wholesale gasoline fell 4 cents to finish at $2.86 a gallon.

? Heating oil dropped 1 cent to end at $2.95 per gallon.

? Natural gas advanced 14 cents to finish at $3.88 per 1,000 cubic feet.

___

Pablo Gorondi in Budapest and Pamela Sampson in Bangkok contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oil-posts-small-loss-hitting-193101254.html

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Polymer-coated catalyst protects 'artificial leaf'

June 17, 2013 ? Due to the fluctuating availability of solar energy, storage solutions are urgently needed. One option is to use the electrical energy generated inside solar cells to split water by means of electrolysis, in the process yielding hydrogen that can be used for a storable fuel. Researchers at the HZB Institute for Solar Fuels have modified so called superstrate solar cells with their highly efficient architecture in order to obtain hydrogen from water with the help of suitable catalysts. This type of cell works something like an "artificial leaf." But the solar cell rapidly corrodes when placed in the aqueous electrolyte solution.

Now, Ph.D. student Diana Stellmach has found a way to prevent corrosion by embedding the catalysts in an electrically conducting polymer and then mounting them onto the solar cell's two contact surfaces, making her the first scientist in all of Europe to have come up with this solution. As a result, the cell's sensitive contacts are sealed to prevent corrosion with a stable yield of approx. 3.7 percent sunlight.

Hydrogen stores chemical energy and is highly versatile in terms of its applicability potential. The gas can be converted into fuels like methane as well as methanol or it can generate electricity directly inside fuel cells. Hydrogen can be produced through the electrolytic splitting of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen by using two electrodes that are coated with suitable catalysts and between which a minimum 1.23 volt tension is generated. The production of hydrogen only becomes interesting if solar energy can be used to produce it. Because that would solve two problems at once: On sunny days, excess electricity could yield hydrogen, which would be available for fuel or to generate electricity at a later point like at night or on days that are overcast.

New approach with complex thin film technologies

At the Helmholtz Centre Berlin for Materials and Energy (HZB) Institute for Solar Fuels, researchers are working on new approaches to realizing this goal. They are using photovoltaic structures made of multiple ultrathin layers of silicon that are custom-made by the Photovoltaic Competence Centre Berlin (PVcomB), another of the HZB's institutes. Since the cell consists of a single -- albeit complex -- "block," this is known as a monolithic approach. At the Institute for Solar Fuels, the cell's electrical contact surfaces are coated with special catalysts for splitting water. If this cell is placed in dilute sulphuric acid and irradiated with sun-like light, a tension is produced at the contacts that can be used to split water. During this process, it is the catalysts, which speed up the reactions at the contacts, that are critically important.

Protection against corrosion

The PVcomB photovoltaic cells' main advantage is their "superstrate architecture": Light enters through the transparent front contact, which is deposited on the carrier glass; there is no opacity due to catalysts being mounted onto the cells, because they are located on the cell's back side and are in contact with the water/acid mixture. This mixture is aggressive, that is to say, it is corrosive, so much so that Diana Stellmach had to first replace the usual zinc oxide silver back contact with a titanium coat approximately 400 nanometers thick. In a second step, she developed a solution to simultaneously protect the cell against corrosion with the mounting of the catalyst: She mixed nanoparticles of RuO2 with a conducting polymer (PEDOT:PSS) and applied this mixture to the cell's back side contact to act as a catalyst for the production of oxygen. Similarly, platinum nanoparticles, the sites of hydrogen production, were applied to the front contact.

Stable H₂-Production

In all, the configuration achieved a degree of efficacy of 3.7 percent and was stable over a minimum 18 hours. "This way, Ms. Stellmach is the first ever scientist anywhere in Europe to have realized this kind of water-splitting solar cell structure," explains Prof. Dr. Sebastian Fiechter. And just maybe anywhere in the World, as photovoltaic membranes with different architectures have proved far less stable.

Yet the fact remains that catalysts like platinum and RuO₂ are rather expensive and will ultimately have to give way to less costly types of materials. Diana Stellmach is already working on that as well; she is currently in the process of developing carbon nanorods that are coated with layers of molybdenum sulphide and which serve as catalysts for hydrogen production.

Watch the "artificial leaf" in action: http://www.helmholtz-berlin.de/aktuell/pr/mediathek/video/energieversorgung/superstratzelle_de.html

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/matter_energy/electricity/~3/z8mBjgudw-o/130617111251.htm

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Drake Wants To Sit And Talk To Chris Brown 'Man-To-Man'

'I'm not confrontational but if someone challenges, I'm not going to back down,' Drizzy tells GQ of feud with singer.
By Rob Markman

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1709181/drake-chris-brown-gq-interview.jhtml

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Oman Real Estate Association supports Home Show 2013 as ...

OREA's support for the annual trade show marks a new highpoint in The Home Show's appeal as a definitive showcase of the country's fast-growing property development and home ownership industry.

Now in its third year, The Home Show builds on the stellar success of last year's event that broke new ground in terms of its unrivalled exhibitor appeal, unmatched product and brand representation, and visitor footfalls.

Organised by Global Exhibitions & Conferences (GEC), and powered by Epoc Messe Frankfurt, The Home Show 2013 will take place during 9 to 11 December at Oman International Exhibitions Centre. As with previous editions of this premier trade expo, this year's event has already attracted a distinguished array of property developers and brands as sponsors, exhibitors and participants.

Leading the line-up is The Wave - Muscat, the nation's top lifestyle destination brand, as well as prominent developers and property management firms Alargan, Better Homes and Tibiaan Properties.

The Home Show 2013 is set to place against a backdrop of robust growth across Oman's vibrant real estate and property development market, fuelled by vigorous government economic and infrastructure spending. The current 8th Five Year Plan (2011 - 2015), part of a long-term development strategy set out in the 'Vision 2020, envisions a total investment of around RO16bn in infrastructure projects and other government-funded programmes.

It includes a 45% rise in expenditure on housing, from RO323m in 2012 to RO469m during 2013. The economic outlook for the country remains positive, sustained by buoyant oil prices and expanding non-oil output.

This healthy outlook is fuelling confidence in the real estate sector, as is evident in the mushrooming of Integrated Tourism Complexes (ITC), high-end residential developments, mixed used tourism and residential schemes, and a plethora of stand-alone office and residential projects.

Taking centre-stage amid this promising landscape is the OREA, which has the industry's mandate to help support and align the sector's spectacular growth with the government's vision for the nation's socio-economic development.

"The real estate and property development sector is fast emerging as an important pillar of Oman's economic development. OREA's goal is to help sustain and build on this growth by providing all of the players - big and small - a platform that champions professionalism, best practices, and the pursuit of excellence in the real estate industry. The Home Show 2013 provides us with an excellent opportunity for our young organization to get this message across to all of our stakeholders," said H.E. Engineer Mohammed Salim Khalifa Al Busaidi, Chairman - OREA.

"We are delighted to have the Oman Real Estate Association on board as a strategic partner. Their presence underscores The Home Show's appeal as the flagship trade expo of the Sultanate's booming real estate and home ownership market. Together with our other partners, sponsors, and exhibitors - representing all of the key players and brands in this exciting industry - we are on course to staging yet another outstanding edition of this popular event," commented C. J. Paul, Chief Executive Officer, GEC.

Source: http://www.ameinfo.com/oman-real-estate-association-supports-home-345429

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The After Math: E3 2013 and WWDC 2013

Welcome to The After Math, where we attempt to summarize this week's tech news through numbers, decimal places and percentages.

It was a week where Engadget somehow managed dueling liveblogs. Apple revealed its new mobile operating system, while Microsoft revealed more of its plans for the Xbox One, kicking off a week of gaming news from E3 2013 in LA. Sony soon followed, showing off its console for real, and pricing it a hundred dollars less than Microsoft's next-gen console. Sure, the war isn't over yet, but Sony can arguably claim victory at this year's Los Angeles battle. So let's talk numbers, right after the break.

Filed under: Gaming, Software, Apple, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/V3V75KYZEGk/

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Violent crackdown follows Erdogan's speech

Riot police advanced on protesters in Istanbul's Taksim Square shortly after Prime Minister Erdogan warned the peaceful demonstrators to clear out or be forcibly removed.

By Elena Becatoros & Jamey Keaten,?Associated Press / June 15, 2013

Turkish riot policeman walk outside Taksim Square in Istanbul, Saturday, June 15, 2013, shortly before invading the park with tear gas and water cannons. Earlier today, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned protesters: 'I say this very clearly: either Taksim Square is cleared, or the security forces of this country will know how to clear it.'

Vadim Ghirda / AP

Enlarge

Riot police fired water cannons and tear gas on protesters in Istanbul's Taksim Square and neighboring Gezi Park on Saturday, an intervention that came shortly after the prime minister warned that security forces "know how to clear" the area.

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Protesters had defied Recep Tayyip Erdogan's earlier warnings to leave, vowing to press on with a sit-in that has galvanized demonstrations around the country and dented Erdogan's international reputation.

Saturday's sweep marked the first time in weeks that police had entered the makeshift tent city in Gezi Park, which has been transformed into a national symbol of resistance. White smoke billowed skyward as a phalanx of white-helmeted riot police marched inside the park. They tore down protesters' banners, toppled a communal food stall, and sprayed tear gas over the tents ? urging those inside to pull out.

Protesters carried someone away on a stretcher.

According to NTV television, police shouted to the protesters: "This is an illegal act, this is our last warning to you: Evacuate."

In a show of power before thousands of flag-waving party faithful, Erdogan had earlier threatened protesters in a boisterous speech in Sincan, a suburb of the capital Ankara, that is a stronghold of his Justice and Development Party.

Erdogan warned protesters to cheers from the crowd: "I say this very clearly: either Taksim Square is cleared, or the security forces of this country will know how to clear it."

A violent police crackdown on what began as an environmental protest over a redevelopment plan at the park has sparked a much broader expression of discontent about Erdogan's government, and what many say is his increasingly authoritarian decision-making.

The anger has been fanned because riot police have at times used tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets to disperse mostly peaceful protesters. Five people, including a police officer, have died and thousands of people have been injured, denting Erdogan's international reputation.

Erdogan, who was elected with 50 percent of the vote for his third term in 2011, vehemently rejects the accusations by protesters and points to his strong support base.

A second pro-government rally is planned for Sunday in Istanbul, though Erdogan has previously said that the rallies were not designed as "an alternative" to the demonstrations at Gezi Park, but part of early campaigning for local elections next March.

On Saturday, Erdogan lashed out at what he called the "plot" behind the biggest street protests in his 10-year tenure.

"Over the last 17 days, I know that in all corners of?Turkey, millions and billions have prayed for us," Erdogan said, as he moved about the stage. "You saw the plot that was being carried out, the trap being set." He said his supporters represented the "silent masses."

"You are here, and you are spoiling the treacherous plot, the treacherous attack!" he said, insisting unspecified groups both inside and outside?Turkey?had conspired to mount the protests centered on Istanbul ? and that he had the documents to prove it.

The crowd chanted in response: "Stand straight, don't bow, the people are with you!"

In his speech, he focused on some protesters who have clashed with polices ? at time by throwing stones and firebombs.

"There is no breaking and burning here, we are people of love," Erdogan said. "If people want to see the real Turkey, they should come here to Sincan."

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/RFutqMQUeRg/Violent-crackdown-follows-Erdogan-s-speech

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Evans outpoints Henderson at UFC 161

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) ? Rashad Evans outpointed Dan Henderson in a split decision Saturday night in a heavyweight bout at UFC 161.

The 42-year-old Henderson connected with the first solid punches late in the first round, attacking so eagerly he could hardly keep his feet against the 33-year-old Evans.

"I said, 'What hit me,'" said Evans, who approached Henderson with a lot more caution after that. "Only fools rush in with Dan Henderson."

The second round opened with Evans trying to take down Henderson, but the veteran quickly got to his feet. Henderson was noticeably tired in the third.

"I have nobody to blame but myself," he said. "In the third round I should have got a little more active."

Evans improved to 13-3-1 in UFC and 23-3-1 overall in MMA. Henderson dropped to 6-4 in UFC and 29-10 overall.

Earlier, Steve Miocic unanimously outpointed Roy Nelson and Steve Miocic in another heavyweight bout,

Nelson's looping rights found their mark a few times in the third and Miocic backed off a little to avoid getting caught when he already appeared ahead on the judges' scorecards.

Miocic was asked by UFC President Dana White how he felt after the fight.

"I won right?" he said. "OK, then, I'm happy."

Shawn Jordan stunned Pat Barry with a flurry of punches to end their heavyweight fight after 59 seconds. It started with an uppercut and the referee stopped it as Barry crouched, taking punch after punch.

In a UFC debut for both fighters, women's heavyweight Alexis Davis unanimously outpointed Rosi Sexton in the first women's UFC fight in Canada.

"It's a whole new ballgame," Davis said. "I can't wait to fight again."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/evans-outpoints-henderson-ufc-161-050211614.html

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Gun control still on minds as Sandy Hook massacre anniversary passes

>>> hard to believe, but six months now since the shooting in newtown , connecticut, that left 20 children and six adults dead. gunned down in their classrooms. this week, newtown families went back to washington, d.c. for two reasons, to remember their loved ones and to continue to push for stricter gun legislation in this country. met with lawmakers like senator joe manchin and continued to work with, despite the fact that his gun proposal failed back in april. this woman's 6-year-old daughter was killed at sandy hook elementary.

>> i'm incredibly grateful we're here and have some senators working incredibly hard to support us. and we're not going away. this mother 's heart break that i carry, this life sentence that i have, no one should ever bear this burden, and i'm incredibly grateful for the people still here fighting the good fight .

>> 6-year-old son jesse luis also killed. and kim director of moms for gun sense. thanks to both of you for being with me. neil, it's food to see you again, again, on behalf of all of my colleagues and the country, our condolences.

>> thank you.

>> let's start with the journey that this last half year has taken you on? oh it seems like it was just yesterday that it happened. hard to believe it's been six months, and hard to belief nothing has been accomplished on a national level in six months. i will continue to push for change, for common-sense changes that will help make a difference and make things changes, i want our schools, it will be making it a safer place for our children.

>> you were in d.c. this week, actual until the video clip we just played there, sitting next to the mother of another victim. are you encouraged at all by what's happening in d.c. ? any progress in any of the areas where you have been pushing reform?

>> only thing we can see that was accomplished, a vote in april which failed. turned into a political game . i feel confident there will be another bill back in the senate. i feel confident that this time the bill will pass. more than just a background check that need to change. mental health a big part of making the change effective and being able to identify people who are potential risk and threat.

>> kim, what would you say has been your group's singular success? since the shooting?

>> the biggest success, harnessing the power of mothers and fathers. the tragedy in newtown , we were shocked to discover the state of gun violence in this country. utt a shame it took such a tragedy to do that. we're here. we'll fight this, get awareness out about this issue, legislatively and also from a cultural perspective.

>> a new initiative. trying to get video game companies not to enter into agreements anymore with gun manufacturers. what are they? what are you trying to do about them?

>> that's exactly what we're trying to do. bring awareness. let people know where you spend your money makes a difference. video game companies often get into licensing agreements with gunmakers to place their products in these video games . these video games , as we all know, are often played by videos and teens. this is a back door arrangement, and gun manufacturers are profiting. they are advertising their products with these games. we need this to stop. our report shows that video games that use made up names for weapons are just as popular and just as profitable. they don't need to make these deals. electronic arts has agreed to stop this practice. we want other video game makers to do the same.

>> neil, i know that jesse was your only child.

>> right.

>> and without him, you are calling tomorrow no father's day. what is that? how are you planning on commemorating that?

>> well, every year we used to go to a car show by our home. antique car show at our historical society . something that jesse looked forward to doing. you would get in free if you were a father and a child. and jesse made that point. he would say jesse and daddy here. it's going to be a real hard day . i can't bring myself to go to that car show . i think i'll just take the day and reflect on all the memories we had together.

>> in honor of father's day, the group is trying to get some pretty famous fathers.

>> what are you sporting?

>> we are handing out these ties to congressmen all over the country, asking them to support gun sense. so far, senator schumer has agreed, senator blumenthal, senator muff fooe, representative thompson and representative king. it's important that our legislators know we're not going away. this issue is important to us. we vote, and it matters. we cannot let anymore fathers go through this anymore.

>> thank you so much for your time.

>> thank you.

>> good luck, sir.

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653381/s/2d5686be/l/0Lvideo0Bmsnbc0Bmsn0N0Cid0C52216650A/story01.htm

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Facebook had up to 10,000 US government data requests second half of 2012

Facebook

Staff Reuters

2 hours ago

Michael Dalder / Reuters file

Facebook received between 9,000 and 10,000 requests for user data from various U.S. government entities in 2012's second half, involving 18,000 to 19,000 of its users' accounts, the world's largest social network said Friday.

Microsoft Corp said that in the same period it received between 6,000 and 7,000 criminal and national security warrants, subpoenas and orders affecting between 31,000 and 32,000 consumer accounts from local, state and federal U.S. governmental entities.

The companies said they released the information after reaching agreements about disclosures with U.S. national security authorities.

Several Internet companies have struck an agreement with the U.S. government to release limited information about the number of surveillance requests they receive, two sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

The agreements underscore the pressure imposed on the U.S. government and Internet companies after news leaked last week of a controversial National Security Agency program involving surveillance of foreigners. The disclosure of that program triggered concern about the scope and extent of the information-gathering exercise.

Other Internet companies are expected to release numbers of government requests without breaking out how many originate from the National Security Agency, the sources said.

Google, Facebook and Microsoft have publicly urged the U.S. government to allow them to reveal the number and scope of the surveillance requests they receive, including confidential requests made under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

Google declined to comment.

Ted Ullyot, Facebook general counsel, wrote on the site's blog late Friday:

Since this story was first reported, we?ve been in discussions with U.S. national security authorities urging them to allow more transparency and flexibility around national security-related orders we are required to comply with. We?re pleased that as a result of our discussions, we can now include in a transparency report all U.S. national security-related requests (including FISA as well as National Security Letters) ? which until now no company has been permitted to do. As of today, the government will only authorize us to communicate about these numbers in aggregate, and as a range. This is progress, but we?re continuing to push for even more transparency, so that our users around the world can understand how infrequently we are asked to provide user data on national security grounds.

Ullyot wrote that for the six months ending Dec. 31, 2012, the "total number of user-data requests Facebook received from any and all government entities in the U.S. (including local, state, and federal, and including criminal and national security-related requests) ? was between 9,000 and 10,000."

Those requests, he said, "run the gamut ? from things like a local sheriff trying to find a missing child, to a federal marshal tracking a fugitive, to a police department investigating an assault, to a national security official investigating a terrorist threat. The total number of Facebook user accounts for which data was requested pursuant to the entirety of those" 9,000 to 10,000 requests was "between 18,000 and 19,000 accounts."

With more than 1 billion users worldwide, "This means that a tiny fraction of one percent of our user accounts were the subject of any kind of U.S. state, local, or federal U.S. government request (including criminal and national security-related requests) in the past six months," he wrote.

In a blog post on a company website, Microsoft said its agreement with the FBI and the Department of Justice allowed it to report FISA orders and directives, "but only if aggregated with law enforcement requests from all other U.S. local, state and federal law enforcement agencies; only for the six-month period of July 1, 2012 thru December 31, 2012; only if the totals are presented in bands of 1,000; and all Microsoft consumer services had to be reported together."

The post, by vice president and deputy general counsel John Frank, concluded: "Transparency alone may not be enough to restore public confidence, but it?s a great place to start."

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653377/s/2d500a91/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Ctechnology0Cfacebook0Ehad0E10A0E0A0A0A0Eus0Egovernment0Edata0Erequests0Esecond0Ehalf0E6C10A331938/story01.htm

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Turkish PM vows to stop park protests

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) ? "Lawbreakers" will be removed from Istanbul's Taksim Square, Turkey's prime minister declared Thursday, rejecting the European Parliament's resolution condemning the excessive use of force by Turkish riot police against demonstrators.

Ratcheting up his defiant tone, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears determined to end two weeks of protests that have put an unflattering international spotlight on his Islamic-rooted government and its handling of the biggest street unrest of his 10-year tenure.

Erdogan's comments came a day after his Justice and Development party proposed a referendum over a development plan at Taksim Square that has fanned the protests. Police have repeatedly fired water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters; five people have died and over 5,000 have been injured. The government says 600 police were injured as well.

"This square belongs to the people of Istanbul, the people of the whole country, and to all international visitors. So we cannot allow lawbreakers to hang around freely in this square," Erdogan told local party leaders. "We will clean the square."

Erdogan also lashed out at the European Parliament over its non-binding motion for a resolution that expressed its concern over "the disproportionate and excessive use of force" by Turkish police.

The EU assembly said it "deplores the reactions of the Turkish Government and of Prime Minister Erdogan" ? and accused him of adding to the polarization of the situation.

Just minutes before the EU legislature approved the motion in a show of hands, Erdogan thundered to raucous applause: "I won't recognize the decision that the European Union Parliament is going to take about us ... Who do you think you are by taking such a decision?"

The protests erupted May 31 after a violent police crackdown on a peaceful sit-in by activists objecting to a development project that would cut down the trees in Gezi Park, adjacent to Taksim Square, with a replica of Ottoman-era barracks.

The demonstrations then spread to dozens of cities, rallying tens of thousands of people each night, and broadened to a protest over Erdogan's overall rule.

Protesters have been objecting to what they say is the prime minister's increasingly authoritarian style and his perceived attempts to impose a religious and conservative lifestyle on a country with secular laws ? charges he rejects.

Protesters who have camped out in a peaceful sit-in in Gezi Park remained on site Thursday. Their continued presence by the hundreds has served as a base for large numbers of protesters who have congregated by the thousands on Taksim Square ? usually in the evening, after work.

Also Thursday, 26-year-old Ethem Sarisuluk ? who had been on life support for days ? was pronounced dead, according to family lawyer Sema Aksoy. He was believed to have been hit in the head by a tear gas canister June 1 during protests in Ankara, though lawyers were going to sit in on the autopsy to verity the exact circumstances leading to his death.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/turkish-pm-vows-rid-lawbreakers-park-122945896.html

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AT&T to hire more than 1,800 employees in Texas

AT&T is seeking applicants for more than 1,800 jobs that are now open throughout Texas, US. The positions include technicians to help with U-verse installation, customer service representatives for the company's call centres and openings at retail stores. AT&T is filling these positions immediately. AT&T also recently launched Project Velocity IP (VIP), a three-year investment plan to expand and enhance its mobile and fixed IP broadband networks. As part of Project VIP, AT&T plans to increase the density of its mobile network by deploying more than 10,000 macro sites, more than 1,000 distributed antenna systems, and more than 40,000 small cells. Through this initiative, AT&T plans to expand LTE coverage by end of 2014, as well as expand the AT&T wired IP and AT&T fibre network by end of 2015.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TelecompaperGeneral/~3/R1IJrHir0NI/atandt-to-hire-more-than-1800-employees-in-texas--949314

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How to Pick Your Battles in the War Against Transparency

Are you worried about Barack Obama reading all your emails and listening to all your phone calls? Beefing up your privacy settings is one thing, but fighting in the greater war to protect your Constitutional rights is another. You should do the latter, y'know, to be a good American. Here's how to get started.

Read more...

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/xS2xj3Fv-MI/how-to-pick-your-battles-in-the-war-against-transparenc-513102222

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Who's in charge here?

Getty Images

Given the recent disclosure (which many of us already assumed) that in post-9/11 America the government can and does monitor a lot of the stuff we do, the secrecy-obsessed NFL has even more reason to ensure that its confidential information is secure.

Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com addresses the steps teams take to protect the extensive data distributed to players on an iPad.

With, as Marvez explains, the recent adoption of the iPad playbook by the Chiefs and Jaguars and in light of a report from the Associated Press that 14 teams had adopted the technology as of the 2012 season, half the league has now ditched paper for a hand-held device that makes a wide variety of stuff instantly available to players.

?Our security is very strong,? a Chiefs spokesman told Marvez. ?The iPads will be managed by a mobile device management console along with multifactor level security.?

The measures commonly used include the ability to wipe the iPad clean remotely and the selection of predetermined moments at which the information disappears.? This makes the iPad dramatically more secure than a paper playbook, which can be copied, lost, or stolen.? In 2005, for example, former Dolphins running back Ricky Williams incurred the wrath of Saban when Williams lost his playbook during a preseason road trip to Pittsburgh.

This doesn?t mean teams won?t at least try to come up with ways to access the information.? Football routinely incorporate military principles and mindsets, compelling coaches like Bill Belichick to always say as little as possible for fear of divulging too much to the opposition.? It?s understandable, then, that some teams will be looking and listening and hoping for whatever edge they can get, even if it means hacking iPads.

Concerns over security should be a secondary worry for teams that use iPads, however.? Having playbooks and film and other useful information readily available to a player doesn?t mean a player will actually use it.? For some coaches, having the player in the building watching film is far better than having him supposedly studying film amid the many distractions that go with being at home.

Maybe the next wave in the development of iPad technology for teams obsessed with other teams monitoring the devices is coming up with a way to monitor the devices to determine that, indeed, the players are putting in the time necessary to digest the information contained on them.

So, basically, NFL players who have iPads at some point should assume that the coach is watching you while you are watching film.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/12/jason-garrett-finally-admits-that-he-wont-call-plays/related/

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Awkward... Celebrity Exes Who Work Together

You don't have to be a mutant to get along with your ex -- but apparently, it doesn't hurt.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/celebrity-exes-who-work-together/1-a-538799?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Acelebrity-exes-who-work-together-538799

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GOP leaders court social conservatives

WASHINGTON -- A fresh debate has erupted this week within the GOP over explosive social issues, as House Republicans press for a restrictive abortion measure and a prominent religious conservative urges the party's 2016 prospective presidential candidates to embrace conservative positions on abortion and gay marriage.

The fight for the direction of the Republican Party will be on display Thursday at a Washington conference hosted by the Faith and Freedom Coalition, a group created by former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed. Designed to strengthen the evangelical influence in national politics, the conference gives many religious conservative activists their first look at potential 2016 presidential candidates.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul are among those set to address the coalition on Thursday. Republican stars on the schedule Friday and Saturday include former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Republican National Chairman Reince Priebus.

Reed told The Associated Press that religious conservatives have a simple message for GOP leaders: "Contrary to the conventional wisdom, the pro-life, pro-family and pro-marriage positions that candidates have taken and will take in the future are not a liability at the ballot box, they're an asset."

The Republican National Committee does not necessarily agree.

Just three months ago, Priebus endorsed an RNC report that linked the future success of the Republican Party to more tolerant attitudes on social issues such as gay marriage.

"When it comes to social issues, the party must in fact and deed be inclusive and welcoming. If we are not, we will limit our ability to attract young people and others, including many women, who agree with us on some but not all issues," reads the report by GOP leaders following painful election losses last fall.

Reed dismissed the findings as an unnecessary jab at religious conservatives, but he said that his organization also believes in "the politics of addition."

"We think you've got to add more young people, more Hispanics, more women, more African-Americans - you've got to grow the movement and grow the party," Reed said. "But you don't do that by taking the most loyal constituents that you've got and throwing them under the bus."

While a minority of the American electorate, religious conservatives represent a passionate and vocal voting bloc in the Republican Party. They wield particular influence in the GOP's presidential primaries and caucuses.

In the 2012 general election, exit polls show that white evangelicals and born-again Christians made up 26 percent of the electorate and overwhelmingly backed Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama, 78 percent to 21 percent. But the group appears to be out of step with a slim majority of the broader electorate that supports same-sex marriage and legalized abortion.

The conference begins the same week that social issues were thrust back into the national conversation after a committee led by House Republicans voted Wednesday to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Bill sponsor Trent Franks, R-Ariz., drew sharp criticism during the committee debate when, in response to a Democratic amendment making an exception to the abortion ban in cases of rape and incest, he stated that incidences of rape resulting in pregnancy "are very low."

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., said the statement was "astonishing" and Democrats quickly compared it to the statement of former Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., whose campaign for a Senate seat in Missouri collapsed last year after he stated that the female body is capable of stopping pregnancies in the case of "legitimate rape."

Franks later said that what he intended to say was the later-term abortions, such as those banned under his bill, were rarely the result of rapes.

The bill is not likely to become law, but it enraged some women's groups.

"The relentless assault on women's rights and opportunities proved to be a losing strategy for Republicans in 2012," said Stephanie Schriock, the president of EMILY's List, a national group that helps elect female Democrats who support abortion rights. "They have not learned their lesson."

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/06/13/3448646/gop-leaders-court-social-conservatives.html

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Apple looking at bigger iPhone screens, multiple colors - sources

By Clare Jim, Reiji Murai and Poornima Gupta

Thu Jun 13, 2013 3:59am EDT

(Reuters) - Apple Inc is exploring launching iPhones with bigger screens, as well as cheaper models in a range of colors, over the next year, said four people with knowledge of the matter, as it takes a cue from rival Samsung Electronics.

The moves, which are still under discussion, underscore how the California-based firm that once ruled the smartphone market is increasingly under threat from its aggressive South Korean competitor. Samsung has overtaken Apple in market share through the popularity of its bigger-screen Galaxy "phablets" and by flooding the market with a range of products at different prices.

Apple is looking at introducing at least two bigger iPhones next year - one with a 4.7-inch screen and one with a 5.7-inch screen - said the sources, including those in the supply chain in Asia. They said suppliers have been approached with plans for the larger screens, but noted it is still unclear whether Apple will actually launch its flagship product in the larger sizes.

"They constantly change product specifications almost to the final moment, so you're not really sure whether this is the final prototype," said one person with direct knowledge of the matter.

Apple declined to comment.

UNDER PRESSURE

Apple's possible shift to offer what is often referred to as "phablets" - chunkier smartphones not quite big enough to qualify as tablets - comes as the long-time consumer and investor darling faces pressure to deliver more than one new handset model a year. Critics say its pace of innovation has slowed since the death of legendary co-founder Steve Jobs.

The iPhone 5 launched last September was the first to veer away from the Apple phone's 3.5-inch screen, which Jobs famously deemed "the perfect size for consumers" and had been used in every iPhone since the iconic device was unveiled in 2007.

The current iPhone 5 has one of the smaller screens among the best-selling smartphones in the mobile market, where consumers spend more time browsing the web and streaming content. Samsung's Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 2 have 5-inch and 5.5-inch screens, respectively.

For this year, Apple is expected to launch two new models, widely referred to as the iPhone 5S, with new fingerprint technology, and a cheaper version in plastic casing, supply chain sources have said. Apple plans to dress up the cheaper phone in a range of 5-6 colors to differentiate it from the more expensive model that has traditionally come only in black and white.

The U.S. firm has discussed a price of $99 for the cheaper phone, the timing of which could slip to next year, one of the people said. It's not yet clear what the final price would be.

Apple - whose revenue growth has decelerated from the heady days of 2010 when it introduced the iPad and when the iPhone was the world's top selling smartphone - has sought ways to re-energize its flagship line.

BROADER PRODUCT RANGE

Analysts say the company needs a cheaper gadget to push on in growth markets in China and India, and to counter Samsung's edge in having phones priced up and down the spectrum. China, the world's biggest smartphone market, is set to grow 48 percent this year, outpacing the global increase of 31 percent, according to industry forecasts.

While Apple only offers a single phone model across all markets, it has successfully marketed the iPod music player and its iPad in different sizes and at varying prices. Asked at last month's AllThingsD industry conference why Apple hasn't launched different sized iPhones, CEO Tim Cook said: "We haven't so far. That doesn't shut off the future."

He explained that the range of iPods serve different audiences and needs. "On the phone, that's the question. Are we now at a point to serve enough people that we need to do that?"

Cook noted a larger screen comes with trade-offs on features such as battery life, resolution and brightness.

Test production for both the standard and cheaper iPhone models aims to start next month, with mass production ramping up in August to meet a September launch target, two people said.

"Trial production was originally planned to start in June, but the mixing of colors is taking longer than expected as Apple has very high and idealistic standards," said one source in Asia, adding 20 million plastic iPhones are expected to ship in the October-December quarter.

Japan's Sharp Corp and Japan Display and South Korea's LG Display will supply the panels for the aluminum iPhone 5S and the plastic iPhone, while Hon Hai Precision Industry will assemble the higher-end phone and Pegatron will put together the cheaper model.

(Additional reporting by Mari Saito and Miyoung Kim; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/reuters/topNews/~3/U3Xn24epfjA/story01.htm

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NYC bomb plot details settle little in NSA debate

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Obama administration declassified a handful of details Tuesday that credited its PRISM Internet spying program with intercepting a key email that unraveled a 2009 terrorist plot in New York.

The details, declassified by the director of national intelligence, were circulated on Capitol Hill as part of government efforts to tamp down criticism of two recently revealed National Security Agency surveillance programs.

Najibullah Zazi's foiled plot to bomb the New York subways has become the centerpiece of that effort. It remains the most serious al-Qaida plot inside the United States since the 9/11 terror attacks.

In the rush to defend the surveillance programs, however, government officials have changed their stories and misstated key facts of the Zazi plot. And they've left out one important detail: The email that disrupted the plan could easily have been intercepted without PRISM.

The debate over the surveillance echoes one from years earlier, over President George W. Bush's warrantless wiretapping and harsh interrogation tactics. Critics said the government had gone too far but the administration said the techniques were lawful and kept America safe.

"What is clear from this information released by the DNI is that each of these programs is authorized by law, overseen by Congress and the courts and subject to ongoing and rigorous oversight," said Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Zazi, an Afghan-American cab driver living in the Denver suburbs, was an al-Qaida-trained bomber. In September 2009, he sent a coded message to a Yahoo email address in Pakistan. Months earlier, British officials had linked the Yahoo address to a known al-Qaida operative.

"The marriage is ready," the email said in part.

The NSA intercepted that email, touching off a frenzied two-week investigation in New York and Colorado that led to Zazi's arrest. He pleaded guilty and provided information that helped send two friends to prison.

That much has been known for years. The government has put Zazi back in the news now because the Washington Post and Guardian newspapers revealed the existence of two classified surveillance programs last week.

In one program, the government sweeps up the phone records of millions of Americans every day and stores them in a digital library. That program was authorized by the USA Patriot Act, passed shortly after 9/11.

The second, called PRISM, taps into major U.S. technology companies and monitors emails in the search for foreign terrorists. That program was authorized by 2007 and 2008 laws that allow the government to monitor, without specific warrants, emails believed to belong to foreigners.

When news of the phone-records program broke, officials quickly credited it with thwarting an attack.

"Within the last few years, this program was used to stop a terrorist attack in the United States," said Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

A senior intelligence official confirmed soon afterward that Rogers was talking about Zazi, but offered no explanation.

On Sunday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the Democratic chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, also credited the phone program with thwarting the Zazi plot.

Now, in talking points declassified by the administration, the government says that Internet eavesdropping, not archiving phone records, disrupted Zazi's plans.

The use of PRISM to catch Zazi does little to resolve one of the key questions in the surveillance debate: whether the government needs to take such vast amounts of data, sometimes sweeping up information on American citizens, to keep the country safe.

That's because, even before the surveillance laws of 2007 and 2008, the FBI had the authority to ? and did, regularly ? monitor email accounts linked to terrorists. The only difference was, before the laws changed, the government needed a warrant.

To get a warrant, the law requires that the government show that the target is a suspected member of a terrorist group or foreign government, something that had been well established at that point in the Zazi case.

In using Zazi to defend the surveillance program, government officials have further confused things by misstating key details about the plot.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said investigators "found backpacks with bombs." Really, the bombs hadn't been completed and the backpacks the FBI found were unrelated to the plot.

Feinstein said the FBI had Zazi under surveillance for six months. Court testimony showed Zazi was watched only for about two weeks before he was arrested.

___

Associated Press writer Donna Cassata contributed to this report.

___

Follow Apuzzo and Goldman at ?http://twitter.com/mattapuzzo and ?http://twitter.com/adamgoldmanap

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nyc-bomb-plot-details-settle-little-nsa-debate-194730602.html

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Actress Helen Mirren turns ferocious in new 'Monsters' movie

By Belinda Goldsmith

LONDON (Reuters) - British actress Helen Mirren had no trouble transforming herself from monarch to menacing creature for the new "Monsters, Inc." animated movie, but said she's not so frightening in real life.

The 67-year-old veteran of stage and screen made headlines last month when she stormed out of a London theatre dressed as Queen Elizabeth to berate a group of drummers playing noisily outside in an expletive-riddled tirade. She later apologized.

However the actress, who lends her voice to the terrifying winged monster heading the School of Scaring in "Monsters University", said she does try not to seem scary after being intimidated by certain actors when her career started.

She was even wary she might alienate people when she was made a dame in 2003.

"People may look at me and think she is so scary... but it is not what you're trying to be," Mirren told a news conference on Friday ahead of the release of 3D "Monsters University".

The film is the prequel to Pixar and Disney's hit 2001 children's movie "Monsters, Inc." which made over $550 million at the international box office and is still one of the top 100 best earning movies.

The prequel goes back to when the small, green one-eyed monster Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal) meets the huge, blue-and-purple monster Sulley (John Goodman) at Monsters University and the mismatched monsters can't stand each other.

Mirren voices Dean Hardscrabble, a dragon-like monster with a centipede body, who throws Wazowski and Sulley out of the School of Scaring, prompting them to join other monster misfits to compete in a Scare Games tournament and become best friends.

"Monsters University" is one of a list of family films being released this summer that includes 20th Century Fox's "Epic" in which singer Beyonce takes a voice part, "Despicable Me 2," "Turbo" with Ryan Reynolds as a racing snail, and "Smurfs 2".

Mirren, whose list of accolades from a career spanning nearly 50 years includes an Oscar for the 2006 film "The Queen", said voicing an animated character was a new challenge for her but she had learned that fear was something to conquer.

She said one of the best pieces of advice she was given came from a former headmistress who told her that the worst thing about fear is fear itself.

"I have lived by this ever since," said Mirren, stressing that she had had to work hard to get to where she is now.

"You have to get on with. My fears are my business and nobody else's and I deal with it. The other thing is to pretend that you are not frightened. Act."

"Monsters University" opens in U.S. theatres on June 21 and in the UK from July 12.

(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith, editing by Paul Casciato)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/actress-helen-mirren-turns-ferocious-monsters-movie-155430686.html

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